Showing posts with label anime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anime. Show all posts

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Metrocon 2015: Bunnies! Bunnies Everywhere!

Something that I've been wanting to do for a few years now is to go to Metrocon, if only for a day (and let's face it, I probably couldn't handle an entire weekend) and see one of Parle's panels live. The only other con I've been to is Anime Boston back in 2013, and I wasn't really able to cosplay for that one. So, naturally, when my family moved down here to Florida one of my first thoughts was "Oh cool, Metrocon is in driving distance!"

This time, I was able to actually put together a full cosplay inspired by the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. I thought since I was going as a rabbit, it would be a great chance to leave a bunch of tiny bunnies at the convention.


I'm still learning the basics of sewing (I took better to knitting and crochet), so almost everything is store-bought. The jacket was from a Salvation Army store, and the scarf was on sale at Old Navy's. I made the ears by cutting them out of felt and using hot glue to attach them to the headband and shape them. I used blush on the inside of each ear to get the pink coloring.

As for the tiny bunnies, I've been trying to phase out my old tags made from the colored index cards. Any new bunnies are now tagged with a sheet from a notepad with the same message I've used. I made a bunch of bunnies specifically for Metrocon with the new tags, so that they would be all nice and, well, unbent.


The total number of bunnies I ended up stuffing in there was 38. I knew that bag would come in handy someday!

I wound up hiding only a fraction of that number, but I had a lot of fun with it regardless! There were a couple of times where I left a bunny, not-so-subtly walked away and came back to find it gone or someone inspecting it. Those are the times where I really love being a part of this group/movement, because even if it's only for a second or two, I love being able to brighten someone's day.

At some point while I was waiting for Parle's first panel of the day to start, I had gotten out some bunnies to hide/give away. I guess one or two had fallen out of my bag while I was fiddling around, and I didn't notice. A few minutes later, I noticed someone handing Kelly from Parle Productions a familiar looking purple bunny...and realized it was one that I had made. Only, I hadn't left a purple bunny anywhere at the convention.

I asked if the guy had found it somewhere else (I was a bit confused and seriously trying to remember when I had last left a purple one-I like to keep track, more or less, of how many I leave around) and it turns out he found it lying on the floor. So thanks dude, because otherwise it would have ended up in the trash more likely than not!

After I explained to Jack that I had been leaving bunnies like that one around the convention, he turned and yelled "I found the Bunny Lady!"

So yes, I had an awesome time. Hopefully, if I can get my act together next year, I can go and really swarm the place with tiny bunnies. Then I might finally make a dent in my stash. Hey, all the more excuse to make more, right? Seriously, these little guys are so much fun to make.

 
[The original Tiny Bunnies Movement Group can be found over here: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-tiny-bunnies-movement]

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Totoro Amigurumi Pattern



"To-to-ro? You're Totoro!"

After years of bumping it back on my queue, I actually sat down and made a Totoro amigurumi!

I'm sure the spirit of the forest needs no introduction, so I'll just say that this movie is very special to me since it was the first Miyazaki movie that I ever watched. One of my earliest memories is of watching our old, subtitled VHS copy and already being somewhat familiar with the story. And now I have my very own Totoro! As you can see, he's the perfect size to hang out in a teacup, or ride along on all your adventures.

I also wrote down the pattern as I went along this time, so if anyone else wants to make one, here's how I did it.

You will need:

Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in "Charcoal Grey" (Yarn A)
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in "White" (Yarn B)
Size "G" crochet hook
9mm safety eyes
fiberfill stuffing
yarn needle
scissors

Stitches/techniques used:

single crochet (sc)
increase-make 2 sc in one stitch
decrease-crochet 2 stitches together, making 1 stitch. I prefer to use the invisible decrease.
magic ring/circle

Eyes (make 2)
Round 1: with Yarn B, 4 sc in magic ring (4)
Rd 2: *inc* around (8) Fasten off
Place safety eyes in middle of white circle; do not fasten backs.

Belly Patch

Round 1: with Yarn B, 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rd 2: *inc* around (12)
Rd 3: *inc, sc in next st* around (18) Fasten off

Tail

Round 1: with Yarn A, 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rd 2: sc around (6)
Rd 3: *inc, sc in next st* (9)
Rd 4: sc around (9) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Head and Body

Round 1: with Yarn A, 5 sc in magic ring (5)
Rd 2: *inc* around (10)
Rds 3-5: sc around (10) Fasten off

Repeat rounds 1 through 5-DO NOT FASTEN OFF. Chain 5,and sc in one of the sts on the 1st ear. sc in next 2 sts, chain 5, sc in 2nd stitch from the first chain, sc in next stitch. place marker. (26)

Round 6: sc in 1st stitch, dec across next 2 sts, sc around to last 7 sts, dec across 2 sts, sc in last 5 sts. (24)
Rds 7-13: sc around (24)
-attach eyes and stuff head-
Rd 14: *inc, sc in next 3 sts* around (30)
Rds 15-19: sc around (30)
-start stuffing!-
Rd 20: *dec, sc in next 3 sts* around (24)
Rd 21: *dec, sc in next 2 sts* around (18)
Rd 22: *dec, sc in next st* around (12)
Rd 23: *dec* around (6) Fasten off.


Sew up hole in top of head with mattress seam. Attach belly patch to belly; cut length of Yarn A and embroider two upside down Vs to the top of the belly. Stuff and attach tail to back. Weave in ends.


And now you have your very own Totoro! Be sure to supply him with lots of acorns and his own umbrella. :)


 Disclaimer: This pattern is my own property and may not be sold or distributed. Unfortunately at this time, I am not giving permission to sell items made my patterns. Otherwise, you are free to do whatever you want with the finished items. Gifts? Freebie prizes? Amigurumi army to take over the world? Go wild. :)