Second rug... fail

In my first ever rug post I used the same pattern as I have used here but I just kept making one big granny square.

The only problem is that I did slip stitch the whole way around and obviously did the tension too tight and now it folds in.

I believe that it is the tension that was incorrect but wondering if anyone else has any other solutions?

First ever rug

Finished my first ever granny square rug yesterday.... Or so I thought. I gave it as a present today and had forgotten to sew in one of the threads. So technically I gave someone an unfinished present. Not very thorough. :( sadly only realised as they opened it in front of me!

But I was happy with how it turned out and knew the person I was giving it to would appreciate it more than a store bought toy for their gorgeous baby.

I however underestimated the amount of yarn I would need and ran out of the purple colour. So my rug was a row or two smaller than I had wanted but figured it was still suitable for pram outings and the like.

I like the colours I chose and how it lay flat after I stitched the squares together. Just still kicking myself that I forgot to sew in the thread!

I got the granny square pattern here granny square pattern

It had pictures and explained everything nicely for a crochet newbie like me. A good granny square to start with.

joining granny squares is the page I looked at to decide how to join them.

Crown addition

I added elastic to the pattern I made in the previous princess crown post and it works great!
I even have had someone ask me to make them one!
I just didn't join the crown as I worked and just turned it so it was one big strip and then I added in folded elastic so that it could fit many sizes and stretch further.
I'm very happy with the result. I'm going to give one as a present now.

Baby rattle

I remembered seeing something similar to this somewhere so this was my second attempt at making something up.
I made the head first then made a tube for the handle. I put a bell in the handle then did crisscross around the bell to make sure there was no chance of it moving.
I wanted fatter ears so that the baby could grab them. I think if I did another one I would taper in the ears a bit more.
I'm actually surprised I could make up characters now with such limited experience. I know my two attempts are not raging perfect successes but I really like them and hope the baby destined to play with this will like it.

First made up amigurumi - no pattern!

I decided to have a go at making an amigurumi without a pattern. I just made this up as I went along.
I wanted to give it as a present but I think the legs are too fat and out of proportion so don't want to give it as it doesn't look perfect.
It sits up nicely though which was my aim. I only stuffed the ends of the legs so that the upper leg would go flat when the toy sat up. I had made the legs a bit fatter to try and compensate for this but maybe I didn't need to.
Overall I was happy with it but still need to make improvements.

Princess crown

I learnt a new stitch making this! The puff stitch. I love how easy YouTube makes learning things.

The pattern for this can be found here Stitch11-princess crown

I also followed Stitch11 on Facebook as they have some cute patterns. This pattern is for babies all the way through to children. So cute! It didn't take too long either.

I wonder if it is possible to make with an elastic piece at the back so that when their head grows it stretches nicely.

Rabbit and sleeping bag

Today marks 6 weeks since I first did my first crochet stitch making my monkey amigurumi!

My latest creation though is this bunny. I found the pattern for the bunny on Sharon Ojala's blog amigurumi to go

My bunny looks a little cross compared to Sharon's cute bunny.

This was the first time I used safety eyes as I hadn't wanted to before because I was nervous my baby would bite them off. Needless to say this one isn't going to be played with for a little while.

I changed the pattern slightly which wasn't necessarily a good thing or an improvement but I wanted to see if what I thought would happen would, they did but didn't improve it but hopefully good experience for if I ever make my own character.

I also made a sleeping bag for the toys I've made. It is just a little pouch with a pillow attached at the back. My child is taking things to bed now so made it so that the toys can go to bed too.

I didn't have a pattern for it. I just made a pouch then a long patch doubled over and stuffed to make the pillow.

Have not decided what my next attempt will be. I have a friend who has just had a baby girl so will look for a present I can make. Any suggestions?