5KCBWDay1 - A Day in the Life Of - Friendly Car Pillow Pal -

When I first decided to take part in the 5th Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week... I decided to make a car. I had NO idea this is what I would end up with. It was fun and challenging though and the story I wrote to match it was equally fun. :p I have to admit, I was actually using a photo of a Ford Fusion 2013 for my inspriation though I think it looks more like I was watching the movie Cars with my children. :p 

So, since the first topic of the week is "A Day in the Life of" I wrote a poem about what my kids might enjoy doing with a crochet car! Enjoy the story that depicts a day in the life of this crochet car (no images because it was raining today when I planned on taking them... actually, on second look, it is snowing lol). I hope you enjoy the poem (written to the tune of green eggs and ham) and then the pattern is free (for now or forever, I don't know) and will be after the story. 

Let's Go Play Today!

Today let’s play
Go play today

I like to play
I like to play
Lets go play
right away!

Would you like
To play with cars?

Oh yes, oh yes
Let us play
With all of these
Fast cars today!

Should we race them
Here or there?  

No they cannot race
Here or there
I would prefer them
By the chair

Hurry, hurry
So we can play

That’s what I want

To do today!

Can we play cars
In the sun?
That would be
so much fun!

The sun may be fun
I agree
But maybe instead

Around the tree?

I want to play

Everywhere!

Let’s go, let’s go

Over there!

Oh I really love to play
I could do it all the day!

Then let’s go play

With this box!
We could fill it
With these rocks!

No! not the box
And no to rocks!

I just want to play
With cars today!

We can play out in the sun
I promise you, it would be fun!
We could go play by the tree
In the shade from noon to three

Can we? Will we?
In the sun?
I promise brother
It will be fun!

No we can’t
Race in the sun

I would rather
By the tree
In the shade
So we can see!

Now let us race, around this tree
Lasting from noon to three
We did not race in the sun
It wouldn’t be very fun
We did not play with a box
Or fill it with a ton of rocks

Instead we race around this tree
In the shade so we can see

The race is over
The day is done
Boy didn’t we
Have so much fun!

- I really want to make a video about this car and me reading the story so I might just do that today and insert it here later. We shall see! (I need to brush my hair first! lol. I literally woke up and got straight to finishing this darn project). - 

And... the pattern!: 

Hook: G
Material: Red Heart Super Saver
Gauge: Non-essential – large gauge - large car, small gauge - smaller car

Difficulty: Advanced – not because of the stitches so much as because of making them all work together.

Hints & Tips:

-          Do not substitute the ch 5 with a magic circle when making the tires.

-          Ch at the beginning of a round does not count as a stitch (so when it says ch 1, sc in next st the ch 1 doesn’t count as a st so you’ll put the first sc in that same st)

-           Let me konw if you find any errors. This is the most complicated pattern I've designed so far, so if you run into any confusion don't be alarmed. Just message me and I will get back to you to see if I can help you sort it out just as quickly as I can!
-     You really have to manipulate the stuffing in order for it to take shape. If you'd like it stiffer, you may want to consider using canvas or cardboard to force it to hold its shape. If you want the soft pillow then you can consider sewing different areas to try and get it to hold its shape. The surface crochet really helped mine to holds its shape but I did use some yarn and sewed the bottom of the windshield to the base of the car just to kind of force that part to stay down so it didn't round out as much. 

Tires:

With Grey

Round 1) Ch 5, join to first ch with sl st, ch 1, 2 sc in every ch around, join to first sc with sl st – 10 sc

Round 2) Ch 1, 2 sc in every st around, join to first sc with sl st, tie off  – 20 sc

**Repeat rounds 1 & 2) 7 more times for a total of 8 rims**

With Black
Round 1) Join in any st with a ch 1, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* around, join to first sc with sl st – 30 sc

Round 2) Ch 1, sc in every st around, join to first sc with sl st, tie off  – 30 sc

**Repeat rounds 1 & 2 on all rims**

To join:

Take two tires, place the right sides together, join in the back loops of both tires and pull up a ch through them, sl st around tire in back loops only until you have 4-5 st left. Fold the tire outside right (so the outside faces the inside) add your stuffing and finish joining with a sl st (this will create a small seam). Two tires will become 1 perfect little tire.

Body Fame:

Row 1) Using the chainless foundation technique, *sc 64, 3 sc in the next ch, 20 sc, 3 sc in the next ch* repeat *-* twice, join to first sc with sl st – 180 sc

Positioning tires:

First tire: Lay out the rectangle you just made, place each tire in its prospective spot. Starting with the back on, begin whip stitching the ch (from the chainless foundation) to the back loops on the back of the tired (so the stitches won’t be visible). You will whip stitch a total of 18 stitches so the body of the car cups the tire.

Second tire: This tire will go in the 8^th st from the corner – repeat  instructions from first tire

Third & fourth tire: Repeat first and second tire on opposite side.

Body Between tires: Make 2

Row 1) Using the chainless foundation technique, sc 16 – 16 sc

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, sc across – 16 sc

Row 3) Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc to last st, 2 sc in last st – 18 sc

Row 4) Repeat row 3 – 20 sc

Row 5) Repeat row 3 – 22 sc

Row 6) Ch 1, turn, sc in every st across – 22 sc

Row 7) Repeat row 3 – 24 sc

Row 8) Repeat round 3 – 26 sc

Row 9) Repeat row 3 – 28 sc

Row 10) Repeat row 3 – 30 sc

Row 11) Ch 1, turn, sc in every st across, tie off – 30 sc

Back Wheel Fender: Make 2

Row 1) Using chainless foundation technique, sc 9 – 9 sc

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, sc to last sc, 2 sc in last sc – 10 sc

Row 3) Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc to end – 11 sc

Row 4 – 8) Repeat rows 2 & 3 until you have – 16 sc

Front Wheel Fender: Make 2

Row 1) Using chainless foundation technique, sc 7 – 7sc

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc to end – 8 sc

Row 3) Ch 1, turn, sc in last st, 2 sc in last st – 9 sc

Row 4 - 8) Repeat rows 2 & 3 until you have – 13 sc

Both sides:
Row 1) Join at end of side with a ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc to end

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, sc to end

Front Fender:

Row 1) Join in corner space with a ch 1, 2 sc in corner, sc to end, 2 sc in other corner – 24 sc

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, sc to end, join to side with sl st

Row 3 – 12) Repeat round 2

Back Fender:

Use the instructions for the front fender except  you will only put 1 st in each corner (not 2) and

Bottom of car:

You will be working in the foundation row for this (the frame).

Join in corner of car that has more st after the wheel then the other side with a ch 1

Row 1) hdc in every st to wheel, ch 10, hdc in every st to next wheel, ch 10, hdc to corner (you do not stitch in either corner, the ch 10 goes behind the wheels

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, 2 hdc in first st, hdc in every st (including ch) across, 2 hdc in last st

Row 3) Ch 1, turn, 2 hdc in first st, hdc in every st across, 2 hdc in last st

This should put you at the fender that is shorter than the other – this is the trunk and you will not do any more increases on this side.

Row 4) Ch 1, turn, hdc in first st, hdc in every st across, 2 hdc in last st

Row 5) Ch 1, turn 2 hdc in first st, hdc in every st across

Row 6) Repeat round 4

Row 7) Ch 1, turn, hdc in every st across

Row 8 - 17) Repeat row 7

Row 18) Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc in every st to end

Row 19) Ch 1, turn, hdc in ever st across to last 2 st, hdc2tog

Row 20) Repeat round 17

Row 21) Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc to last 2, hdc2tog

Row 22 - 23) Repeat row 20

Sew the other three edges of the floor to the sides of the car working evenly (use the whip stitch)

Trunk Lid:

Join in last st of the right side of the car with a ch 1 (does not count as a st but does count as a sl st)

Row 1) sc in back loop of next st (back fender) and every st across, sl st in first st of side of car (in back loop only)

Row 2) Sl st in next st, ch 1, turn, sk all slip stitches and sc in every sc across, sl st to side of car in back loop only

Row 3 – 7) Repeat row 2 – tie off at end of row 7

Hood:

Join in corner of front fender with the side and the front attach – you will pull a loop from the side and then sl st that into the first st of the fender

Row 1) Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc to end, 2 sc in last st, join to side with sl st (you will be working in the back loops only)

Row 2) Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc to end, 2 sc in last st, join to side with sl st (this should level the hood with the sides of the car)

Row 3 - 18) Working in both loops – ch 1, turn, hdc in every st across

***Fold car inside out, sl st both sides of hood to sides of car working through loops evenly (and in the back loop of the side stitches only) – when finished fold outside in again

Edging: Sc in every st around car (including the hood and trunk stitches)  

***You will do the following roof and window instructions on both sides.***

Roof:

Join in corner of hood and side – you will have your sc position with 1 in the side and 3 in the hood

Row 1) Ch 1, sc in next 4 st

Row 2 – 50) Ch 1, turn, sc to end

Sl st to trunk of car

Window:

Join in corner near hood and roof

Row 1) Join in first st, ch 1, sc in next 28 st (this will put your window about halfway over the back wheel)

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, sc in every st across

Row 3) Ch 1, turn, sc dec, sc to end

Row 4) Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc to last 2 st, sc dec in last 2 st

Row 5) Ch 1, turn, sc dec in first 2 st, sc to end, 2 sc in last st

Row 6) Repeat row 4

Row 7) Ch 1, turn, sc dec in first 2 st, sc to last 2 st, sc dec in last 2 st

Row 8 - 10) Repeat row 7 – tie off in last row

Windows/roof:

Join in corner of hood and first part of roof already completed

Row 1) With blue, Ch 1, sc in every st across

Row 2 – 14) Repeat row 1

Row 15 – 38) With main color, repeat row 1

Row 39 – 50) With blue, repeat row 1

You are now going to sew all the flaps together so that the car is hole. This will leave two triangles at the back of the car that you will fill in with pink once you have it stuffed.

Once car is stuffed, join at bottom of one triangle with pink. There aren’t specific instructions here. You’ll sc while attaching to the sides with a sl st much like you did the trunk or sides of the car. You’ll need to decrease as you see fit to do until you reach the top.

This will leave one hole left. Finish stuffing as much as you will need as once you close up the other hole it will be VERY difficult to get more stuffing in. I used almost an entire 454g bag of fiber fill so it took quite a bit!

Using the surface slip stitch method you will outline all the windows in black.

Make two eyes consisting of a magic circle and 11 hdc.

The mouth is a chain 15 (unless that is to short or long for your liking) and then sl st back down the chain.

Glue on eyes and mouth.

All the loose strands I just stuffed into the car.

Progression photos to help you along the way: 

My testers had access to progression pics I posted on my facebook profile that may have helped them out. I thought I'd post them in the hopes they help you out as well! Here they are with a description. 

So, these are my tires. I actually used cake pop sticks to prop them up to help. These little stickes proved VERY useful but are not required to make the project. They just help. And they are not the width of your car so they aren't an exact fit. You could get those sticks you use for cooking meat on a grill and trim them to fit the exact size once you have the frame on and KNOW the side :) 

Alright, so this is my frame attached to the tires. As you can see it gives the images of the very underneath of a car. The sticks really did help (but aren't required, like I said). I sewed them on by using the "chain" of the foundation row so that the top of the stitch was actually loose which contributed to the look. 

This was a side right after I attached it. 

 

Both sides are attached. As you can see, the sticks are still helping. They kind of served the purpose of holding it up and showing me the frame hadn't gotten twisted. You do not want to twist the frame! 

Here you see the rest of the sides done. 

This photo has a LOT done. You see the front sides of the car done and the floor is done. 

Here is a good window shot! You can see the triangle that gets left open that will allow you to stuff and how the window looks before it is sewn on. 

After it is all sewn on (minus the triangle for stuffing. 

In this one you see me starting to do the surface slip stitch BEFORE I finish stuffing. I feel it helped the shape come together. 

This is the last pic I took before I added the eys and took the photos at the top. The only "special" thing I had to do to keep shape was kind of sew the top of the hood by the base of the window to the bottom of the car to pull it down. But you have to be careful with this so you don't get really bad indents in the hood. 

Hope these helped! 

Something my daughter said while I was making it that I want to remember forever:

Emeny: I’m so excited that you’re making me a car.