Crochet pattern prob: Edwards Menagerie - Alexandre the blue Russian cat

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So far so good on this pattern until I got to the ears - they keep coming out looking like an elf hat instead of the lovely curved cat ear shape in the picture.

Whilst i'm no super expert, I'm not a beginner either & I just can't see where I'm going wrong!!

I'm hoping someone on here might've done the pattern and know where things might be going tits up for me!

this is what it's meant to look like: www.deramores.com/alexandre-the-blue-russian-cat-in-toft-dk-digital-version

Isn't it the sewing on that changes it from elf hat to ear?

I have the kindle version of the book but I've not had chance to look at it yet.

I've got that book too. Will have a look at the pattern later. Can you post a pic of yours as I'm not sure what you mean by elf hat. Like soupdragon says a lot of the trick to a good ear is in the sewing on so could just be that.

When I put ears on, I tend to pin the corners where I want them and then pull both layers back at the centre and pin this were it makes the ear look right.

Good tip soup. I really struggle with getting both ears the same. I always seem to end up with one perfect ear and one looking a bit dodgy

Ok next time I'm at the laptop I'll get a picture up so you can see what I mean...

One suggestion, not directly related to the ears, is that you look at how to do an invisible decrease as it gives a better finish.

Actually' it looks like this is how she describes in in the techniques section at the back of the book.

Thanks SoupDragon, I discovered the invisible decrease fairly recently and wish i'd known about it earlier!

Anyway, as promised, here's the pic of my crap cat 'ear'!

I think the shape will change when you sew it on.

I've just read the pattern and had a look through the book and there isn't really anywhere you could have gone wrong. If anything it looks a little longer but it will probably be the seam allowance and by the time you have sewn it on it should be fine.

I've just bought this book earlier today!

here to learn

Keep us posted on your progress zing
I got the book for christmas but I have a couple of projects I need to finish before I start on something from it.

I bought loads of yarn at Sandown Craft Show on Saturday.

mainly to make toys - I saw the book at JL at Christmas but it was 15 or quid. bought it off Ebay, new for a tenner!

while I'm waiting for book to arrive I'd started making a cocoon for BabyZing to have naps in. It's with a yarn called Garland from King Cole. it's so soft and scrumptious, he'll be very cozy indeed.

*or 20 quid

How are the ears coming along OP? Is it looking anymore catlike.

zing I'm jealous of your yarn shopping spree. I'm not allowing myself to buy anymore until I've used at least some of my stash but its oh so tempting. Lucky babyzing Garland yarn is lovely.

we are extending house this year so probably last yarn/fabric shopping spree for a very long time.

where is my book? come on....
I know she uses alpaca yarn but do you think DK cotton or bamboo mix will be ok?

wonder if I could make a giant red giraffe out of the Garland yarn!

cocoon is done btw. it's yum. now DD wants one!

Giant giraffe would be fab!
I don't think I will be using the alpaca yarn. As nice as it looks its a bit out of my price range for toys. I would think cotton or bamboo would be fine. I also like the look of Ramsdale DK as it seems to be available in similar colours to the ones in the book. The thing I like about making toys is anything goes really as gauge is not so important.

I bought Sirdar Snuggly varigated yarns - they are bamboo (or bamboo & cotton mix?) and were very cheap, 1 pound/50g ball!

I really love working with Wendy Supreme DK and Rico Essentials , both 100 % cotton. They are a close match in yarn thickness and feel, so vety goid combine. the latter has amazing colours! (these I got off Ebay)

I'm sure the Snuggly yarn will blend well with the other 2.

off to try and make a hexagon African flower.

This is what she says about the yarn

Naturally, I recommend using TOFT yarn to guarantee that your animals look just like mine, but the patterns will work in any other non- fancy spun yarn. The resulting animals will vary drastically should you choose to work up an elephant in blue acrylic yarn, or a lion in yellow cotton, but the patterns will work if you match your hook size to your yarn and check that your tension makes a dense, crisp fabric.

There's no way I would use alpaca for a toy as it's generally hand wash only. The Drops alpaca yarns are good value I think but I'm still not sure I'd use them for a toy. I would probably go for a cotton type yarn, although this won't have the fluffy look. You can brush other yarn to make it fluffy once you've made the item but it's not quite the same.

I suppose it depends on what and who the toy is for. If its going to sit on a bed or a shelf and look pretty its not such an issue but if it is actually intended to be a toy for a child to play with then it definitely does need to be washable or at least spongeable. I've made quite a few jointed thread bears that have been more ornamental so I've used beads for eyes and anything from crochet thread to mohair yarn. It's amazing how the same pattern can look so different just from using a different type of yarn. Please post any pictures of your finished animals. It would be great to compare and see just how different they can look.

I agree.

As an aside, if any call for being weighted with beans in the bottom, Hama type beads work well!

Working on other ear tonight - still not convinced that it will look much different when sewn on! Anyway...

Good luck with it zing let us know how it goes. As long as they are roughly cat shaped and both look the same(ish) it will be fine. I do have trouble with ears though so I know how you feel.