Cute Canine Companions
by Ez-Kabob in Craft > Knitting & Crochet
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Cute Canine Companions
These little dogs are made with yarn and pipe cleaners.
If you add a pin, you can wear them and take them wherever you go!
If you add a pin, you can wear them and take them wherever you go!
You'll Need...
- Pipe Cleaners
- Yarn or embroidery floss
- Glue (white glue or similar)
- Googly eyes
- Safety pins or pin backs (optional)
Shaping the Pipe Cleaner
The pipe cleaner will form the base, or "skeleton" of the dog.
You can either follow these instructions or make up your own dog shape method.
Start by folding over the tips of the pipe cleaner to help prevent painful pokes.
Then fold over a larger amount of the pipe cleaner for the snout.
Next, bend the pipe cleaner up into two ears.
Fold it straight down to begin the leg, then up a bit, back down, and up to form both legs. Think of it kind of like a W.
Bend the pipe cleaner back right below the level of the head, then bend it down to make the back. It can be as long or short as you want it to be.
Form the back legs the same way as the front.
Shape the remaining pipe cleaner a little to make the tail.
You can either follow these instructions or make up your own dog shape method.
Start by folding over the tips of the pipe cleaner to help prevent painful pokes.
Then fold over a larger amount of the pipe cleaner for the snout.
Next, bend the pipe cleaner up into two ears.
Fold it straight down to begin the leg, then up a bit, back down, and up to form both legs. Think of it kind of like a W.
Bend the pipe cleaner back right below the level of the head, then bend it down to make the back. It can be as long or short as you want it to be.
Form the back legs the same way as the front.
Shape the remaining pipe cleaner a little to make the tail.
Wrapping the Dog
Now you can start to wrap the dog in yarn or embroidery floss. Put some of it parallel against the body, then wrap around that to secure it. You can glue it down if that helps, but it's not necessary. Wrap along the back towards the neck and head. Don't worry if it looks extremely skinny, you can always come back and wrap it some more to bulk it up.
Wrap along up to the front legs. As you wrap down it, make sure to leave some space so that the yarn doesn't slide off the end. First wrap down one, then up, and then down the other, and back up. Next wrap down the snout. To give the it some shape, do some extra wrapping as you come back and get nearer to the ears. Then you can go up and wrap each ear. Again, and as with all the limbs, don't go all the way to the end.
If the head is disconnecting, you can wrap around the neck, as in the 6th picture, to join it. Then go down along the legs, just like you did on the ears.
Wrap along the back again, and down the back legs. Then wrap the tail, and back down to the dog's back. Now you can wrap it as much as you like to make it whatever thickness you want.
Wrap along up to the front legs. As you wrap down it, make sure to leave some space so that the yarn doesn't slide off the end. First wrap down one, then up, and then down the other, and back up. Next wrap down the snout. To give the it some shape, do some extra wrapping as you come back and get nearer to the ears. Then you can go up and wrap each ear. Again, and as with all the limbs, don't go all the way to the end.
If the head is disconnecting, you can wrap around the neck, as in the 6th picture, to join it. Then go down along the legs, just like you did on the ears.
Wrap along the back again, and down the back legs. Then wrap the tail, and back down to the dog's back. Now you can wrap it as much as you like to make it whatever thickness you want.
EYEBALLS!
Time to give your dog some eyes! Put a little blob of glue on one eye, and press it onto one side of the dog's face. Repeat with the other side.
Pin for Wearability - Optional
If you want to wear your dog as a pin, you'll need to add a safety pin or pinback.
It's a good idea to let the eyes dry first. I didn't, and needed to re-glue one after I added the pin.
Open the pin. Put a little drop of glue on the dog, on the side you'll attach the pin to. (The glue isn't absolutely mandatory here, but I find it helps.)
Wrap the yarn over the side of the pin touching the dog. Go slowly. Be careful not to poke yourself or wrap the pin closed. When that's done, wrap a little bit outside the pin and get ready to glue the end down.
It's a good idea to let the eyes dry first. I didn't, and needed to re-glue one after I added the pin.
Open the pin. Put a little drop of glue on the dog, on the side you'll attach the pin to. (The glue isn't absolutely mandatory here, but I find it helps.)
Wrap the yarn over the side of the pin touching the dog. Go slowly. Be careful not to poke yourself or wrap the pin closed. When that's done, wrap a little bit outside the pin and get ready to glue the end down.
Gluing the End Down
Cut the yarn. Trim it so that you have enough to glue down the tip.
Put some glue on the dog and press the end of the yarn into the glue. You might need to add a bit more glue now, or later if it comes unglued.
Put some glue on the dog and press the end of the yarn into the glue. You might need to add a bit more glue now, or later if it comes unglued.
Huzzah!
Your dog is complete!