SECOND: A color change in the middle of your project. When working the last stitch before a color change, yarn over for the final time with the new color and pull through the remaining loops of previous color. This will give you a smoother change
THE THIRD: Running of yarn mid project. Insert your hook into next stitch, yarn over with new yarn and pull through. Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook. Continue on with your pattern.
STUFFING YOUR PIECES
It is very important to keep the shape of the finished piece in mind when stuffing. You can’t just cram your pieces full of stuffing and expect them to turn out correctly.
Take the photos to the left for example. The one on the far left is what the finished piece should look like. The one on the right is what happens when you stuff the piece to full capacity without regard to the shape. That is why there are reference photos for each individual piece of the patterns, so you can replicate the finished plushies as closely as possible.
It is also very important not to over stuff, crochet will stretch and leave gaps between the stitches and the stuffing will show.
FINISHING YOUR PIECES
SC ALL TOGETHER
This method only works well if you have ten or less final stitches in your last row. Two hooks are needed for this technique. To work it you put the first hook through the front loops only of half your stitches.
Then using the second hook (the first is still in your piece) repeat the process for the remaining stitches.
When you’ve reached the end, yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook. Remove working loop from hook and transfer to waiting hook.
Pull through the remaining stitches and pull through. Work a chain or two and pull thread all the way through the stitch
SEWING IN THE FRONT LOOPS
This method is the cleanest I’ve seen, and creates a finish that nearly mimics the beginning of your piece. When you reach the end of your piece and pull the thread all the way through the stitch. Take the tail and thread a needle. Run the needle under the first loop of each stitch like a whip stitch.
FINISHING OFF
When you finish off for the purposes of this book, you simply work a chain (or two if you like) after you last stitch and then pull thread all the way through the stitch. This creates a knot to keep your piece from unraveling.
Other tips and tricks
For the purposes of this book only all rows are worked by turning the piece at the end of the row, and all rounds are worked in a continuous loop.
Joining with a single crochet: Secure your yarn to your hook insert into stitch yarn over and pull through work. Yarn over and pull through both loops. If your pattern calls for you to join with a double crochet, yarn over before you insert you hook into stitch and work like you would a regular double crochet
When I finish a piece that is going to be sewn to the body of a plush, I like to leave a tail long enough to sew it with. Using the tail eliminates a few extra ends to weave and makes the piece a little more secure. This is especially handy with miniatures as you can use the length of thread to sew your finished piece into a terrarium scene.
When sewing your pieces together don’t sew straight up and down, it will leave a very noticeable seam. Instead sew on a diagonal across the stitch to make the seam invisible.
If you’re sewing on a piece that needs to be symmetrical, it is very helpful to pin the piece in place with straight pins. But keep an eye out not to snag your yarn.
If you forget to place your safety eyes before you finished the piece ( I do it a lot), you can remedy the problem by using fabric glue and gluing the eyes onto the piece. *Note do not do this if you are making the toy for a child, safety eyes are the safest way to go for children's toys. With miniatures this is not really an issue as you will most likely be using beads or French knots for eyes.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
1. Always, always have clean dry hands. The floss will pick up any dirt or oils on your fingers. Likewise wet floss will pick up any dirt or grime on your hands and leave you with a streaky finished piece
*A good way to spot clean a miniature is to use a q-tip and a bit of peroxide. Soak the q-tip with the peroxide and dab it on the dirty portion of your piece. Do not scrub just let it bubble and dry on it’s own. Test your thread first to make sure it won’t bleach out.
2. Good lighting is key. Working with the small stitches will result in eyestrain, give yourself the best lighting you can to make it easier on yourself.
3. Keep your projects away from furry pets! Pet hair in a mini is a nightmare.
4. Have patience. It’s going to be tough starting out the new pieces, the thread is tiny and if your stitches are tight you’re going to end up having to undo and redo the beginning rows, possibly more than once. It’s just part and parcel of crocheting on a smaller scale.
5. Hook size is very important. You need a hook that will give you a good size stitch for the thread you are using, if the hook is too small the stitches will be too tight and your finished piece will be stiff and full of puckers. Not to mention working on it will be difficult and frustrating.
6. You might want a thimble. I poke myself on a regular basis with the tiny hooks. They are small, metal and sharp, just like a needle and I frequently find myself bleeding and tender after working on a miniature.
7. If you are working with multiple strands of floss, be careful not to cross them into a stitch. They can get caught up in knots that won’t pull out easily if at all.
8. When you are weaving in your ends, and you’ve pulled the thread back out the fabric, cut it as close to the body of the work as possible without cutting into your thread. Then just insert your sewing needle into the body nearby and run the tip of it under where the thread is showing and it will snag it and pull it into the body.
HOW TO WORK A FRENCH KNOT
Insert your threaded needle into your piece, having it come out where you want your knot to be.
When you’ve
