Friday 22 July 2011

FO Friday - another secret project sees the light of day

Hooray! Another birthday has been and gone, and I can now reveal yet another secret project I've been sitting on for weeks.

This time, it was for my Dad. You may remember the Secret Birthday Shawl I made for my Mum's 60th earlier this year. Well, this week it was Dad's turn to reach that particular milestone, so a little while ago I put my thinking cap on and tried to find a project for him that would be just as awesome.

My first thought would be a nice hat/gloves combo he could wear to rugby games in the winter, when the rain is lashing down and the winds are howling, a nice hand-knit woolly hat and gloves would keep him lovely and warm. Sadly, my knitting fu is still weak, so that will have to wait. Also, who wants to receive a big woolly hat and gloves as a present in July? Maybe he can have those for Christmas. Next year. If he's lucky*.

So I thought I'd do something a little sillier, and hopefully put a smile on his face.


Pattern: Amigurumi Basic Doll by Beth Ann Webber
Yarn: Sirdar Bonus DK
Hook: 3.5mm

Quite clearly, I've made a fair few adjustments to the basic pattern. I modelled my design on a photograph of one of Wales's most hardworking rugby players - Colin Charvis.


I did the shoes and socks by replacing the skin colour with black and white respectively, crocheting into the back loops only when I reached the top of the socks to try and create a ridge at the top of the sock, to make it look like they were on the outside. I think it worked.

The shorts and top I improvised, worked flat then sewn together around the body. The shorts are sewn to the body, but the shirt is not. I was foolish, and attached the head before doing the shirt - if I did this again, I would make the shirt in the round first, put it on the doll like you would dress a person, then attach the head.

The hair is made by crocheting the first half of the head pattern in the hair colour to make a wig cap. I used the loop stitch to create the effect of Colin's curly hair. The eyes are just small rounds of white with a small black safety eye in the centre.

The three feathers would have been a bit tricky to embroider, so I improvised with three white lines on his left breast.

This is a proper sized rugby ball, for size comparison.
Yes, it's signed by the 2005 Grand Slam winning Wales team.

Dad had the cheek to ask me why he didn't have a number or name on his back, or any advertising on the front of his shirt!

You know the drill, more FOs over at Tami's!

*That sounds really uncharitable, but in my family we do have a tradition of not giving each other gifts; I'm only making the exception for birthdays this year because they're all hitting milestones. Both parents turned 60, and my brother is turning 30 in a couple of weeks!

17 comments:

  1. Haha, the hair is so amazing!

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  2. That's so cool!!! Love the way you did the hair :)

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  3. Wow it's fantastic and also in time for the best tournament of the year, the Rugby World Cup!  So excited!  Are you planning on doing the entire team?

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  4. That is so awesome, and I find when ever my Father jokes around with me it is his way of expressing that he really like something! Great job! Very inspiring and way better than hats and a pair of mitts!

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  5. Lol it would be fun to do the whole team, but I don't think I've got the patience for doing all of those arms and legs!

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  6. Coolest 60th birthday gift ever!  I love the way the hair turned out (and thanks for sharing the info about how the head is half made in the hair colour to form a sort of wig cap, which is an excellent idea...) and the sock-ridge you created looks great. 

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  7. That is awesome! The likeness is great. I have some family who would definitely agree that that is the best doll ever.  Go Wales! (Good thing your dad is a huge fan cause that would make one heck of a voodoo doll ; ) 

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  8. Wow. That's a pretty good likeness I'd say. And good for you to come up with something crafty for your Dad!

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  9. I love it!  You did a wonderful job  making it look just like the rugby player.  What a thoughtful gift!

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  10. Total fun!  Gosh your parents are young.

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  11. Alittlebitsheepish22 July 2011 at 17:35

    He looks great, what an awesome present :)

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  12. Sarah - Crafts From The Cwtch22 July 2011 at 18:33

    Fab gift! And as for the comments, I hope he got a poke in the ribs for that!!! :) 

    Have a great weekend 
    x

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  13. Congrats on getting another project finished, you're moving right along with your list.  Cute little guy.

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  14. Wow, awesome. I like the expression on his face!

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  15. I love this, so cool....wow.  I bet really your dad was chuffed!!

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  16. That is so awesome!!!! It totally looks like him.

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  17. Wow - too cute, what a great idea! I're sure your dad will love it

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