Hello again!

I hope you found the last post, where we talked about the unique Sanrio head-molding exercise, helpful!

Today, we’ll be bringing out the sewing kit, for we will be learning how to sew, or much rather, embroider on the face of sweet Miss Kitty White!

You will find that this technique is used for some other Sanrio characters as well, like the Little Twin Stars, Tuxedosam, The Sugarbunnies and of course My Melody and her goth but cherry-loving rival, Kuromi.

Let’s get started!

Exclusive Hello Kitty Crochet Tip#2: It’s in the eyes, nose and whiskers

As mentioned in “Basic Body Parts” (pg 93), you simply have to sew on the facial details using embroidery floss and a series of vertical or horizontal backstitches. Some of the patterns include specific instructions on where to sew the nose/eyes, and also how many stitches are needed.

Hello Kitty and her daffodil-coloured nose:

Step 1: Hold the head piece so that the flattened part of the face faces you.

Step 2: Count to Round 12.

Step 3: Start sewing directly below this round. The idea is for the nose to run from the start of Round 13. You can add on more or less stitches — mine usually consists of about six to eight horizontal backstitches.

Psst: You will find that the positioning of the nose/eyes can drastically change the look of your Hello Kitty. The best way to go about it is to ensure that the line of the nose falls directly below the eyes 🙂

Hello Kitty and her brownie fudge eyes:

Step 1: Visually zone in on the third stitch away from the left/right hand side of the nose.

Step 2: Move this point two rows above to Round 11. This is where you should start sewing on the eyes.

Step 3: Simply embroider from Round 11 to Round 12 using vertical backstitches. I used 12 backstitches for each eye.

Step 4. After knotting off the ends at the bottom of the head, give the embroidered eyes a light pinch to make them slimmer and more oval-shaped.

Step 5: You can also gently press the eyes in to create a 3-dimensional kawaii look.

Do note that My Melody, and also Kuromi, have bigger winks than the rest of the gang 🙂

Hello Kitty and her chocolate-straw whiskers:

Step 1: Zone in on Round 11, on the third stitch away from each eye.

Step 2: Make a horizontal backstitch, which is two-stitches long.

Step 3: Repeat process to make the top and bottom whiskers, which should fall below Round 10 and Round 12.

And there you have it. Enjoy!

P/S Up next, we’ll talk about jazzing up the basic hood 🙂

Happy Thursday!

Have you started on making your own Tuxedosam from our all-new pattern in Hello Kitty Crochet?

Tell me how you like the updated design!

If you’re finding it a tad challenging to make the tubby guy’s hat, please do refer to this pattern instead:

Tuxedosam’s hat:

With white yarn:

Round 1: 5 sc in magic circle {5}.

Round 2: Inc each sc around {10}.

Round 3: *2 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat 5 times {15}.

Round 4 – 6: Sc in each sc around {15}.

Round 7: Inc in each sc around {30}.

Round 8: Inv dec all around {15}.

Change yarn colour to navy. Leave a long white yarn end for sewing later.

Round 8: Inc in each sc around {30}.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Yay!

Konnichiwa! 

It still feels like a dream…it’s been barely a week since the release of my book, Hello Kitty Crochet and the love has been steadily pouring in nonetheless!

I’m very excited for all those who have yet to receive your books, I’m sure you’ll love the 25 patterns that I’ve lovingly put together for you. Write in and tell me which is the first pattern you went for and why! I’d love to see your work and share it here on my blog 🙂

In the next few posts, I hope to share a series of exclusive Hello Kitty Crochet tips, to help you make Miss Kitty White and the rest of her pals as picture-perfect as possible!

Ready? Let’s go!

Exclusive Hello Kitty Crochet Tip #1: The ever-important head-molding exercise

As mentioned in the “Special Techniques” part of the book (pg 11), most of the head patterns require a good squeeze to mold them into shape.

Step 1: Crochet as normal.

Step 2: When it’s time for stuffing, simply shape and squeeze the head piece so that the front (where the face will be) has a flattened appearance.

Step 3: Stuff with polyfill fibre according to this newly-shaped shape.

Step 4: If necessary, give it a few more squeezes after you fastening off.

Tada! There you have it! Unique Sanrio character-shaped heads! Try it and let me know what you think 🙂

P/S Next up will be all about giving Miss Kitty White a sweet and cute face! Plus, don’t forget to send in a picture of yourself and where the Hello Kitty Crochet books can be found at your local bookstores to join my exclusive amiguruMEI giveaway contest!

Are you guys excited? It’s about 15 days till the release of Hello Kitty Crochet!

I just received my advanced copies and I’m so pleased with them! I’m sure you will be too when your copy arrives!

If you still haven’t purchased a copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover on the top right sidebar of this blog 🙂

Many have been asking me about the contents of the book. All I can say is: everybody loves a good surprise! Here you can see Chococat, My Melody, Hello Kitty, Keroppi and Badtz Maru. Just who else have made it into the book? Let me know your guesses!

I hope you like Miss Kitty White’s pattern! 🙂

I love how cute yet sturdy the book is! I had a great time working with senior designer Amanda Richmond of Quirk Books, who have been ever so accommodating with my still-developing photography skills. I think she did a fabulous job with the design!

It still feels like a dream that I have a book to my name, and one that is attached to Sanrio and Hello Kitty too!

P/S Please do let me confirm on the availability of the book in Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore. If all goes well, I may just get to meet all you Hello Kitty fans at a book-signing event! Stay tuned 🙂