Knit-Knack

Every so often a new form or craft rises in popularity quickly for both those who design it and those who collect it. Such is the case of Amigurumi crochet which hooked its own following a few years ago and has continued to grow ever since. Amigurumi means crocheted or knitted, stuffed doll. Most people simply call them “cute”, and what originally was designed as a little girl’s toy now has a great following with adults.

A long spiral is formed out of single crochet stitches to form each portion of the doll, usually a body with head and limbs. Handcrafters find the dolls easy and quick to do and also have found a use for their leftover yarns that have been piling up in the closet.

There are literally hundreds of designs available with new ones popping up all the time. It is easy to find patterns on the internet and avid crafters have produced books with many more. Each part of the crocheted figures are filled with polyester or cotton stuffing and then sewn together. They may have felt, button, or other embellishments for facial features and other detail work.

While a lot of the dolls are made in the shape of animals such as cats, panda bears, owls and bumble bees, other patterns make “cuteness” in the shapes of cars or trucks, boats or submarines. There are even cookie and cupcake patterns.

Crocheting Amigurumi is not difficult. You don’t have to have crochet experience just the will to learn the single crochet stitch. There is no need to learn to increase or decrease stitches because it is made in the spiral. Learning simple crochet technique can be done watching a video on the internet, or from diagrams in a book. You can take a lesson or two from a crafting store or learn from a friend. You will be so excited about creating your little doll, that by the time you practice, you will probably have already finished the crocheting part of the project.

Amigurumi dolls are cute. Their large heads on smaller proportioned bodies, makes them quite endearing, well, and “cute”. If you are not a crafter and are looking to purchase some Amigurumi crochet dolls, they are available on various websites and online auction sites as well. Be prepared to spend a little or a lot.

If you like to do handicrafts, you will appreciate the free Amigurumi crochet patterns available online. A range of simple projects are yours for the asking with free crochet patterns .

NYC is known for being an exciting creative place so it is certainly no surprise that some of the coolest craft fairs in the United States call New York City home. Whether you are traveling to New York City (you should always use New York Hotel Deals for hotel reservations in the city, by the way) or you are lucky enough to live here these are the top five craft fairs in New York that you may want to see.

The One of a Kind Show is a juried arts and crafts show held in November every year. You will find truly unique items that cannot be found at any big box retail store. The One of a Kind Show can be found in Manhattan at 7 West 34th St. It is directly across from the tourist attraction known as the Empire State Building.

The Renegade Craft Fair is held every year in June and it’s located in the McKarren Park in the hipster capitol that is Williamsburg Brooklyn. Known as one of the funkiest craft fairs in the United States, you won’t find your grandmothers crocheted potholders. It’s filled with true cutting edge artists from around the country.

The Union Square Holiday Market runs from November through Christmas and is filled with a great assortment of talented artists in New York and the surrounding areas. Buy your loved ones unique gifts and support local artists at the same time. This Market is outdoors and a very festive experience for you and your family.

The Fort Green Artisan Market is located adjacent to the Greenmarket on DeKalb Ave. near the Forte Greene Park. It’s open from April until October. This artisan market features a very wide range of collectible art and design pieces. All of the items are sold by the person that made them which creates a more personal market experience.

Brooklyn Artists and Fleas is located on in a large warehouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s north side at 129 N 6th St. This market is open on the weekends and provides an environment for creativity and community. For a truly hip Brooklyn experience do some browsing at this market.

If you can’t make it to one of these craft fairs in New York then you can try ordering handmade jewelry on etsy as an easy alternative.

If you can find a Handmade Jewelry Online Store that offers free shipping that’s a big bonus. That’s what Oliver Handmade Jewelry offers.