missy42's MelodyDrama's Mermaid (original) (raw)

December 27, 2009 MelodyDrama really loves mermaids, and since she was coming over on Christmas, I figured I’d make her a yarn-crafted mermaid.

Before starting, I checked out several different mermaid patterns and took in the details and shaping that I liked in order to come up with my own design. Melody likes stripes, so I used a self-striping yarn for the tail. Shaping it took a few tries before I got it the way I liked it, but I think the finished tail came out really cool.

I hate sewing on a bunch of little pieces for these amigurumi-type creations, so the main part of the tail and the body are all one piece - even the shell bra I crocheted into the torso as I worked. The arms were worked seperately, but they too were crocheted in. The fins on the elbows were likewise crocheted onto the arms before the arms were attached to the body.

The only bits I had to sew on were the two fins on the tail and the head. The eyes are french knots and the mouth is embroidered on.

Finally, all I had left to do was the hair. Using up the remainder of the pink yarn I used for the bra and the mouth, I had just enough to make two cord-like strands of hair. But after that, I was stuck. I really didn’t want to do a whole head of cords for the hair. It would take too much time, and I didn’t want this mermaid’s hair to look like it was all dreadlocks.

I’ve never done hair for an ami before, so I had to look up the various techniques. Some of them looked really time-consuming, and occasionally required materials I didn’t have readily available. So, I went with the simplest and quickest I could find: a sort of tasseling technique.

I didn’t quite finish doing the hair before I had to wrap it up a semi-bald mermaid and put it under the tree. But MelodyDrama, being a crafter herself, seemed to understand. So now, all this mermaid needs is the rest of her hair and a name.

January 8, 2010 Finished the hair this evening! Or at least I think I have. I have a few different colours in cotton that I’m going to ask MelodyDrama if she wants woven into the hair.

Now that this mermaid has her hair, she’s looking really adorable! I brought her to Stitches is an Art this evening to give to MelodyDrama, but she wasn’t there. I guess that means I have a chance to take some pictures before I hand her over, though. Hopefully, I’ll see MelodyDrama this weekend to give her her mermaid.

Jaunuary 12, 2010 Finally saw MelodyDrama last night and gave her her mermaid. I have yet to hear what her name is, yet, but I’m sure she’ll get one. I had brought a few more colours that I had in cotton to see if MelodyDrama wanted any more dreadlocks in those colours. She chose the Hot Purple, so I added a few of those last night. It sounds like she might also get some tattoos and maybe even a belly button ring soon. We definitely agree she’s a hippy mermaid.

♥