Home is where the hearth is

8/26/2016

I found this cute cross stitch on Pinterest. The link took me to seller SFStitch, but item was unavailable. I'm hoping the pattern will become available again because Azeroth has indeed come to feel like home after all these years of playing World of Warcraft. I especially loved the earlier expansion that added a garrison which gave nod to the original Warcraft games.

The latest expansion, Legion, officially goes live in just a few days. Are you ready?

So much to explore and so little time Sigh

I was lucky enough to have someone gift me with a pre-order of the Legion expansion. This gave me the opportunity to create a Demon Hunter a couple of weeks prior to the official launch. The only problem I'm having is that I have so little time right now to indulge in my monster-killing hobby. I did, however, find enough time to create a new character and get as far as starting on my garrison. I hadn't been able to play in months, so it was like coming home. Here are some screenshots of my first day back in Azeroth.

So here she is, my new Demon Hunter. About to enter the world that has become my home away from home.

Screen shots from Azeroth

Sure, i love my Blizzard games and play when I can, but the truth is that I am certainly no expert gamer. I know there are some of you out there who really know the world of gaming and I'm hoping that you will step forward and offer your expert opinions on your favorite games.

No detailed gaming review, but I do have a new pattern to share !

I first made these amigurumi crochet hearthstones a few years ago. I have found many patterns online that were my inspiration to try making a version of my own. I will post links to some of the other patterns I've found after sharing mine and you can decide which one(s) you want to try.

Clyde's Amigurumi Hearthstone Pattern

Supplies: Crochet hook size: H/8/5 mm
                       Worsted weight yard - White and Blue
                      Stuffing and Yarn needle

Round 1: Ch 2, 5 sc in first ch (do not turn. You will be working in a continuous spiral).

Marking the first stitch of each round is advised! I found it helpful to make sure I counted the stitches in each round before going on to the next one just to make sure I was staying on track.

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around (10 stitches)

Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc* around (15 stitches)

Round 3: *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* around (20 stitches)

Round 5: sc in each sc around (20)

Round 6: *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc* around (25 stitches)

Another thing I found helpful was to write down which round I completed each time as it can be difficult to count your rounds when working in spiral.

Round 7-14: sc in each sc around (25)

Method I used for sc decrease = place hook under next sc, yo and pull through that stitch, then place hook under next sc, yo and pull through that stitch, yo once more and pull through all loops on hook.

Round 15: *3 sc, sc decrease* around (20 stitches)

Round 16:   sc in each sc around (20)

Round 17: *2 sc, sc decrease* around (15 stitches)

Round 18: *1 sc, sc decrease* around (10 stitches)

Round 19:   sc decrease around (5 stitches)

This is where you stuff with Poly-fill or other stuffing (more is better)
I used end of the crochet hook to make sure stuffing was pushed evenly into the hearthstone.

Round 20 :   sc decrease until down to 1 stitch.

Fasten off and secure ends. You may want to shape a bit with your hands and squeeze the stuffing into the areas that provide the exact shape you are looking for.

To make the swirl design, I used a blue worsted weight yarn and chained 35-40 (depends on your tension and how long you want your swirl to be). After finishing the chain, leave a tail that is at least twice as long as your chain before cutting yarn. Lay out the chain in the design you want. I used straight pins to hold it in place (just don't squeeze the hearthstone too tightly while finishing your design, or you may end up with drops of blood on your hearthstone!) Once the design is laid out as you want it, use the yarn needle with the long tail of yard to secure the design to your hearthstone using up and down stitches in the middle of each stitch on the blue chain. Hide ends.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about this pattern in the comments.
I am thinking I may hang my hearthstone from my rearview mirror (after putting a few drops of my favorite essential oil blend into the stuffing!) If you make your own hearthstone, please share a picture. I'd love to see. You are welcome to share this pattern with others, but please provide a link back to this post if you share it anywhere online.
As promised earlier, here are links to some of the other patterns that I found out there that gave me inspiration to try making one of my own.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hearthstone---world-of-warcraft    $4

http://www.sabrinasomers.com/hearthstone-amigurumi.php    4 EUR

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-wow-hearthstone    Free .pdf download
This one is worked in 2 halves and then sewn together, but has the shape I liked

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wow-hearthstone     $1

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