The Hamster Party

Something a little different for this blog .... a mini story!

Martha and Max were getting weary of the long winter, being cooped up inside. As they spent yet another day looking outside at the snow, they decided it was time to spice things up a bit. Martha called her friend Athena to invite her and her husband Apollo to an impromptu dinner party that night. Athena's cousin Cassie and her husband, Cooper, were visiting from Paris so Martha was thrilled to invite them as well .... the more the merrier!

Martha and Max

Athena and Apollo

Cassie and Cooper

Martha wanted to make it a very lively gathering, and she knew her sister, Margie spoke French so she would be able to talk with Cassie and Cooper as well, so she picked up the phone to extend the invitation to her and her husband George.

Margie and George

Hamsters are very small animals, so Martha knew many more friends could be entertained comfortably, and they had plentiful supplies stored, more than enough for a gala celebration. Michelle and Morris would be happy to come, as would Barb and Dennis.

Martha was smiling from ear to ear at the thought of having her friends over for the evening!

Michelle and Morris

Barb and Dennis

At last it was time for the party, and all the guests arrived in their evening attire!

Martha ushered everyone into the living room for a group photo before the sun went down. 

The men gathered together to discuss the exercise wheel and how to improve it, while the ladies found it more interesting to discuss the bits of world news they were able to pick up from reading pieces of newspaper that lined their nesting area. 

After a wonderful meal of dried corn, fresh carrot slices and crackers, the men decided to entertain the ladies with a lively rendition of "At the Hop". The ladies were very appreciative of the song!

And that is the short story of Martha and Max and the Hamster Party!

The hamsters were all made based on the Alan Dart Hippie Hamster pattern, however I modified the pattern to make it smaller, and I incorporated other changes, such as making the feet using an I-cord, and using crochet for the ears and some of the clothing. All of the clothing is my own design. I am quite pleased with the tiny suits on the men and the fancy dresses on the ladies! 

Mouse Power!

Now that I have a good handle on the crochet bunnies, I switched to mice. A dozen little mice are now ready to go, all dressed up for the wedding! This is the same pattern as the other little mice I made, which is actually called Christmas Mice by Celia Webb.The Mouse pattern on Ravelry I am having a most enjoyable time designing their clothing!

Bride and Groom and 6 Wedding Guests

Bride and Groom with the Attendants

The groom appears to be enjoying the sun in these pictures! :D

Individual Mice Couples

And of course, the bride and groom! 

Penguins perhaps

Another possibility to be considered for the wedding favours ...... PENGUINS!

I started with a crochet amigurumi pattern for a penguin, which turned out very cute, but also very large. This is a Lion Brand free pattern.  Penguin pattern here I did not make the hat and scarf but may go back and do so at a later date. Back to the pattern searching for me ....

I found a pattern for tiny knit penguins that looked like a good possibility. Except, they really were very small - about the size of an adult finger.  Small very cute knit penguin pattern

The first penguin is in the back but you can barely see him even though he is huge compared to the others! :D

Second Couple I made

First Couple I made

A double wedding I guess! :D

Using this pattern as a base, I cast on 20 stitches and followed the colour sequence given in the pattern to knit a rectangle. ( They actual pattern had no shaping at all but I increased 2 stitches at the side for the body so it is a little chubbier than the pattern gives. The rectangle is sewn together and gathered at the top to make the head and body, and a gathering thread is used to define the neck. Then the back and wings are made by knitting another rectangle. I altered the given pattern once again by decreasing the last few rows that would attach to the back of the neck so I did not have to gather it when sewing it on. I crocheted the eyes, beak, and feet. To make them a bride and groom, the lady got a bouquet to carry and a tulle veil, and the man got a bow tie, boutonniere and top hat. It is hard to dress a penguin, I discovered, so they did not get any clothes!

The weather here continues to be definitely wintery so making penguins was not at all out of line. The wedding is in Sept though so perhaps the penguins would not appreciate the warmth of that season! :D

My goal for the Ravellinic Games is to make 1 of the little creations every day of the Olympics. I am on track so far, but it is only the second day of the Olympics! :D

The Bunny Wedding

 This is a Lion Brand free pattern for a cake topper, really, that I adapted to make a wedding party of bunnies! The bride and groom are made exactly from the pattern, but the yarn was perhaps a lighter weight than the others so they are a little smaller than the attendants and wedding guests.  Now that I have a good feel for the pattern, I will make another bride and groom and also some additional wedding guests in more colours.

I need to give credit (or blame!) for the bunny overload to my son and future daughter in law! I am having such fun making these little guys and gals! 

I think I may also make a wedding party of penguins, and mice. Time will tell!

Other things I have been busy making include my matching cowl, beret and fingerless mitts, and a large polar bear complete with snow suit. And another cake topper designed by Alan Dart that might merit its own post ...