Ninja turtles

Looking for teenage mutant ninja turtles (TMNT) crochet patterns on the web, I found quite a few:

• http://wolfdreamer-oth.blogspot.ca/2011/03/tmnt-michaelangelo.html
• http://knittedtoybox.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-tmnt.html
• http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=209461.0#axzz38zEvPrR0
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-crochet

However, I ended up paying for this pattern on Etsy, because it was just too cute. Baby mutant ninja turtles, yeay!

I received loads of help on this one with sewing them all up and creating their little weapons. The weapons were not in the pattern, nor was the belt and the elbow/knee bands, which come on handy to pose the turtles with their weapons.

Leo's katanas are made from an old saw blade spray painted silver and partially covered in yarn to simulate the hilt. Raph's sais are paperclips twisted into shape, again with yarn wrappings for hilts. Mikey's nunchuks are chunks of cocktail sticks joined by an old key chain part. And Donnie's staff used to be a twig found on the road that was whittled down and wrapped with yarn in the middle.

Beware, your pizzas are no longer safe with these around...

Kokeshi crochet

Kokeshi are Japanese dolls, traditionally made from wood. But you can make them from your favourite yarn too thanks to several free patterns out there!

We mainly based ours on an excellent video tutorial on youtube: part 1, part2. We weren't too fond of the big belt, so opted for a smaller version made by simply using chain stitch. Also, we added some extra embroidery to the neckline and front of the kimono.

Some more free patterns can be found here:

• http://www.craftymamasanchez.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/new-year-new-post.html
• http://lascosasdemisimisi.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/kokeshi-amigurumi-patron.html
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-kokeshi-doll

I also found a nice free pattern for Japanese lanterns and since I had time to spare whilst travelling...

The character on the lantern is a nice way to personalize it. Mine is supposed to mean 'mindfulness', since crochet is one way to 'meditate' / be in the present moment :-)