blast from the craft past

Check out the crafty goodness I found at my parents’ place this past weekend! I was finishing up the sort/purge of my old bedroom, before my parents move to Singapore, and came upon a bag of stuffed animals.

I found some old best friends, of course. I love that my uncle, in his mid-twenties when I was born, kept giving me white toys.

best friends

But I also found some nifty, crafty items–both homemade. First up, the birth of amigurumi! Crocheted in the late 70s, this ice cream cone was made for me by my mom.

late-70s amigurumi!

I wish I knew crochet well enough to figure out how to make those blumpy spots of melting ice cream, because otherwise I suppose this would be pretty easy to make. I say this, of course, but I know nothing about crocheting toys–any experts out there got any ideas or patterns? I’ve been itching to try some amigurumi, but my crochet skills are pretty nonexistent. I used to claim I knew how to crochet, but a friend recently pointed out that I wasn’t doing enough wraps on what I thought was a double crochet, so I shrug and now claim that I could know how to crochet, if I put my mind to it. And I’m thinking about putting my mind to it soon.

The other find was my first sewn toy, made in Home Ec in 6th grade.

shark pillow

I remember that we had a choice of animals, but I have no idea what the other options were. I feel as though most people made the shark. I’d forgotten all about this guy until he came peeking out of the bag. I think smaller versions would be very cute for baby gifts!

37 Responses to blast from the craft past

  1. Ashley says:

    Your post made me laugh out loud — I have the chicken that I made in 6th grade home ec still, too (don’t know why I chose the chicken but I think it’s because that’s all that was left to pick).

  2. Elizabeth says:

    Oh my god – I sewed the same exact shark pillow in junior high home ec. I haven’t thought about it for years – but now that I see your photo I remember it exactly. What are the chances?? Was it some kind of standard junior-high-home-ec-issued-sewing-pattern? I have no idea what happened to mine…

  3. Laura says:

    hum. maybe you’re my twin as well. The last time that I went to my parents house I picked up (among other things) a bag of my best loved stuffed animals and crafty things that I made as a kid including two L-shaped pillows. I made the pillows (my initials) in 7th grade Home Ec after I finished making the required sweatpants. I wish I could have made a shark instead.

  4. dee near Berkeley says:

    This is off-topic but I want to download the Zokni socks, but all I get is pictures with gibberish. Any idea what’s wrong? I have a Mac, btw, if that makes a difference. It’s a really cool sock….

    Thanks

    dee near Berkeley

  5. nova says:

    I love the ice cream cone. Fiberlicious, truly. I never took home ec, it wasn’t offered in my schools (the administrators thought of themselves as progressive, I guess). I love all the cuteness on this post today. It makes me wish that I had sat through a a home economics class or two!

  6. carrie m says:

    so much awesomeness in this post!!! in my home ec, we made gross biker shorts. blech. the ice cream cone is fabulousness. and i think that i had all of those stuffed animals….

  7. Leslie says:

    Good lord–I had to do a double take when I saw that frickin’ shark! I had the same one on my bed from 1980-84. Take that Discovery Channel Shark Week!

    Heh! And how hilarious that there are like four other people commenting on the same thing.

    Hmm… Perhaps there’s a chance to redo that a create a sew along.

    We’ll single handedly bring back these sharks from being nearly extinct! Go sharky!

  8. kelp! says:

    That ice cream cone is so. cool.

    Heh, I still have an ostrich that I hand-sewed in middle school, although poor Ozzy looks pretty worse for the wear.

  9. Rachel says:

    Wow, that shark looks like a fun project! I think our Home-Ec classes made lame-o aprons. I took shop instead (you could only pick one).

    “Blumpy” is an excellent word.

  10. Leah says:

    I love your shark!!! It’s so cool, in my home ec we just learned to do laundry, make an omlette & balance a check book. Man did I miss out!

  11. Lynne in Memphis says:

    Pattern is from Annie’s Attic. They don’t show it anymore, but they do have cakes and cupcakes. I still have my ice cream cone, too!

  12. Goldie says:

    Awww, the pix are so cute – thanks, Mom for saving these! The ice cream cone is hilarious! Of course, I am partial to the seal…

  13. Shannon says:

    I made the shark in junior high home ec as well, back in… 1980? Everyone else in my class who made the shark made it in blue, but I somehow thought mustard yellow with green fins would be a good idea. My mother still has it on prominent display in her TV room. Ouch.

  14. Susan Strebel says:

    AHH! I totally remember when we made those sharks in home ec!!
    I think mine might have been a little lopsided. Didn’t we also make white sweatshirts?? The thought of it still haunts me to this day.

  15. Maggie says:

    OMG! I recognize that shark! I made a goofy bear, but it was in the same line of patterns.

    And i am looking for those patterns! Anybody know what company made those patterns or where to find them??? Everyone around me is pregnant or with toddler so it’s time for a revival of the jr high stuffed animal/pillow!

  16. Kathy says:

    Funny! Talk about a blast from the past!I made the shark in blue and in green (named Herman and Hermione, don’t ask why, I have no idea), to go along with my dad on road trips. Would love to find the whole range of these patterns to make with my granddaughter! Talk about a blast from the past!

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