This week is flying by, hard to believe its Wednesday already. Not too many work in progresses to show today, that’s because most of my projects are complete!
Hopefully, I’ll be able to feature them and my amigurumi Coraline in Finished Object Friday. I’ve missed the past two.
But, back to Work in progress Wednesday…
Coraline is one of my favorite books by Neil Gamon…
By the time I discovered Coraline, I’d already read numerous books by Neil Neverwhere, MirrorMask, American Gods, Angels & Visitations… are just a few that I read. I love his writing style, and although Coraline is considered a children’s book, the dark plot kept me hooked, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. That’s not the first time I’ve done that with one of Neil Gamon’s books.
Towards the end of last week, I did a search for amigurumi and Coraline. Makes sense, right? I’ve only been making a ton of amigurumis over the past few weeks. Might as well start checking out amigurumis based on some of my favorite book and gaming characters, right? My search led me to Sharon Ojala’s lovely site, and her crocheted amigurumi Coraline. More on Sharon, including links to her free patterns, at the end of this post…
I really loved Sharon’s Coraline, and started making my own… uhm well my daughter’s amigurumi Coraline towards the end of last week. I wanted to deviate from the free Coraline pattern, but my daughter requested it be similar to Ms. Sharon’s, ok I can do that…
Since my daughter was enamored by the Coraline she saw, I dug up my worn copy of Coraline and gave it to my daughter to read. She loves the book, and has almost finished reading it. Since she started reading it, she now carries the unfinished Coraline with her, when I’m not working on it.
I was really excited about starting this amigurumi project, making amigurumi animals, isn’t new to me, but I am new to making amigurumi dolls. Because of that, I’m having fun making Coraline. To be honest, I could have had this doll finished a lot sooner, but I’m taking my time with her, savoring the experience, and learning some brand-new techniques such as crocheting the legs in a different way than I’m used to, and crocheting actual fingers!
Thus far, my favorite part has been creating the face, and rooting her hair. I’ve done plenty of hair rooting, but this is my first time to hair root an amigurumi doll.
And here’s a closeup of Coraline. I wanted to embroider the eyes, but my daughter wanted buttons, and so buttons it is.
Coraline is almost finished. Coraline’s hair needs to be trimmed, and I need to complete her legs, boots, and create the arms, and fingers. I’m looking forward to crochet fingers, since I’ve never done that before.
Hopefully I’ll have this completed by Friday, perfect timing for us to watch Coraline the movie, again! Yesterday, my daughter was sick, so she stayed home from school. We watched the movie, instead of waiting until Friday.
Will I make another Coraline? Of course, I adored the book, and have had fun creating the first Coraline for my daughter, but I want one for myself.
With my crocheted Coraline, I’ll be making some modifications with the Coraline I create; different hair, outfit, facial expression, I’m looking forward to making one for myself.
Where can I get the free pattern for amigurumi Coraline?
This pattern is a free design by Sharon Ojalo, if you haven’t checked out her website, Homemade Obsessions, you should. Sharon’s extremely talented, and friendly. I’ve enjoyed chatting with her via Facebook. In addition to the free amigurumi pattern for Coraline (which also has a video tutorial) Sharon also has numerous other free amigurumi crochet patterns, so stop on by her site, and check out what check out her amigurumi patterns.
Sites I’m linking too
- Tami Amis WIP
- Yarn Along
- Frontier Dreams
- Crochet Addicts CFS
- The Crochet Way
LOVE this! LOVE the hair especially! The color of the hair is way cool! Your daughter is more beautiful by the day!
Jennifer recently posted..Mango Chia Smoothie
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Opal Reply:
May 9th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Thanks @Jennifer, You’ll have to send me your postal address so I can surprise you with something soon.
Opal recently posted..Amigurumi: Crocheted Coraline
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Oh my goodness! Your daughter has grown so much! Beautiful girl!
So I am kind of commenting on many of the previous posts here. I think it is so cool that you are crocheting. I attempted to learn how to crochet when I was a teen, and just didn’t have the patience to stick with it. And now I lack the time. *sigh* However, I may give it another shot one of these days. Seems more productive way to “chill out” than playing spider solitaire.
DragonLady recently posted..Maniacal Monday #4
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 8:53 am
Thanks @DragonLady, She’s growing so fast. She’s eight-years old now.
I didn’t learn crochet as easily as I’ve learned other crafts, but I hung in there. You should give it a try again; I enjoy it since it relaxes me, and I get to make some nice things too. These video tutorials on how to Crochet were what I used when I was learning.
Opal recently posted..I only purchased two skiens; Caron Simply Soft
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Surprise??? Ooooooo
I will drop you an email 
Thanks girl!
Jennifer recently posted..Hero Card
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Oh, she looks great! If you’re a fan of Neil Gaiman, you should really check out The Graveyard Book — it’s such an awesome read. Enjoy finishing up your doll!
Paula @ KnitandSeek recently posted..Work in Progress Wednesday v.92
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Thanks @Paula @ KnitandSeek, I’ll be sure to check that out. That’s one book I don’t think I’ve read.
Opal recently posted..I only purchased two skiens; Caron Simply Soft
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It’s looking great so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing your version with mods.
Marie/Underground Crafter recently posted..Doubts
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Hi @Marie/Underground Crafter, I’m looking forward to moving on to “my Coraline” too, I’ve done a few sketches, and am curious to see how they turn out when I crochet my Coraline.
Opal recently posted..Crochet Amigurumi: Coraline update
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Very cute! Your hair looks very convincing; sometimes people don’t put enough hair and then it looks lifeless!
Minding My Own Stitches recently posted..work in progress Wednesday
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 8:59 am
@Minding My Own Stitches, That’s something I wanted to avoid, not putting enough. There’s three rows of rooted hair, and I spaced them close together. It took a while to create, but I had fun doing rooting the hair!
Opal recently posted..Amigurumi: Crocheted Coraline
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Your daughter is so beautiful and the doll is coming out fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing her finished. Ahh, it was only days ago when I thought she was just a disembodied head!
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 9:00 am
Thanks @teeni, I’m going to try to have her complete by tomorrow. That way my daughter will have Coraline to hang out with, when we watch the movie (again) tomorrow night.
Opal recently posted..Pattern Testing; Cuttersaur is complete
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Oh how fun
My son is supposed to be working on an amiguri Wimpy Kid 
I am not sure why he stopped!
Rachel recently posted..In Memoriam 1921-2012
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Hi @Rachel, I’m thinking of making that one for her too. My daughter has read that series, she loved it. How cool that your son makes amigurumi? My daughter is inspired to advance with her crochet because of the adorable Coraline doll.
Opal recently posted..You’ve come a long way, baby…
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Coraline is looking great! The hair is fantastic and your daughter is really cute
Liz recently posted..WIP Wednesday 31 and Yarn Along
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Opal Reply:
May 10th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Thanks @Liz,
I’m having so much fun with this doll. Now, my daughter wants me to make a doll that looks like her.
Opal recently posted..Coraline: Three years late, but I’m looking forward to the movie…
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Yes, your daughter is going to be one pretty lady, that’s for sure…and so sweet of you to make all these lovely stuff for her. Certainly means so much more than those commercially-bought ones – these works of heart, money just can’t buy.
suituapui recently posted..Ketipang payung…
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Opal Reply:
May 11th, 2012 at 5:31 am
Thanks @suituapui,
It’s so nice to make things for someone who appreciates them. It’s my hope she’ll continue to appreciated handcrafted items, as she becomes older. I’d like to think I’m training her well. She makes me handmade things too. I cherish those gifts.
Opal recently posted..Crochet Amigurumi: Coraline update
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