Hello Kitty Cake ♡

I baked a cake today for my birthday friend 😀 She and her daughter loves Hello Kitty, so I thought to surprise them by making a very cute cake!!

I’d love to introduce my quite healthy Hello Kitty cake. I mean “healthy” by not adding any artificial color to make it. Okay, please let me show you how I’ve done it 😀

First, bake a sponge cake. You can use whatever recipes you like. Once the sponge is done, you will wait and let the sponge chilled since it is much easier to cut them when it’s cold.

Then, slice the sponges into 2 to 4 layers. Also, you will cut the sponge’s outline as the face of Hello Kitty. You don’t have to be so nervous about this 😀

On each layers, spread a whipped cream and put some fruits, and make layers. I used lots of sliced strawberries since my friend’s daughter loved them 🙂 You’ll also cover the top and side of the cake nicely with the cream!

Now, the most important part is to put eyes, nose, whisks and the bow!! I’ve used sliced strawberries to make a bow. For the eyes and whisks, I used chocolate. (Precisely speaking, I had ganache at home, so I just used them by shaping them nicely by pushing and rolling them.) For the nose, I’ve used a chestnut.

Now, Hello Kitty is ready to be eaten!!!

Maybe you will try to make one for your friends or for the party you’re planning? 🙂

I’m sure it will brighten up the atmosphere and people will love it 😀
I hope you will enjoy making this cute cake ♡

A Big Angel Smile in Pink

I have a lot of nice neighbors with kids. In the evening, when it gets a little less hot, they always come out and play around with the other kids.

Kids are genius in terms of making friends and adapting to a new environment and culture. They get new friends very soon. They master multiple languages at once, so I see some children speaking in two or more different languages (English and their parents’ languages).

I wish I had those abilities… !! Anyway, just wishing is not enough. We always need a first step to achieve a goal, no matter how big it is 😀

When I moved to this apartment, I met one neighbor and he told me that his wife just gave birth to a baby girl. I thought it would be very nice to make her a baby cap. It took me some time, but I finally saw her outside and she gave me a huge cute smile to me !!! She is already 5 month old… Time flies!!

How cute she is!! How big smile she has!! I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls and a smile is the most important factor to make girls look beautiful!! So, please always keep smiling 🙂 ♡

Here Summer Comes!! Ponytail With A Pretty Bow??

This week, it was hot here in California. According to the weather forecast, it reached up to the mid-90 F… Oh, I couldn’t stand staying under the sun, so I’ve dedicated a lot of my time to do another tutorial here.

Since it’s getting hot recently, I put my hair up in a ponytail almost everyday. So, I assume that there are lots of girls who need this hair bow now!! I’m trying to put more effort on making it easier for everyone to understand. I hope you will like it! Well, let’s get started 🙂

◆Materials◆

Worsted Weight Yarn (Medium 4)

• Red: BERNAT Satin (CRIMSON)

Size G(4mm) Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
(Safety pin)

◆Size◆

If you follow the instruction below, it will be around 4″ width. If you want something bigger, you can increase a number of ch in the step 1 and increase the number os sc in the following rows.

◆Pattern◆

*** It’s easier to start every row with 1 ch and to end each row with a slip stitch since you will see where you started the row which you are working on.

*** I like the seamless surface, so in this tutorial, I take this method. You just have to keep going, but it may be difficult to see where you started the row (especially when you are working on even rows). So, it’s better to use a safety pin to mark the first stitch of each row.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

1. ch 9
   • Ch 8 as a foundation of the oblong, and the extra ch 1
   • You will treat “the 2nd ch (from the hook)” and “the last ch” as “the increasing zone”
   • You will just make 1 sc for the middle 6 st

   

2. 2 sc in the 2nd st from the hook, 1 sc for the next 6 st, 5 sc in the next st, 1 sc for the next 6  st, 3 sc in the next st (same st with the st you made 2 sc at the beginning) (22 sc)
   
3. 2 sc around in the increasing zone. (2 sc for the 1st 2 st,  1 sc for the next 6 st, 2 sc in the next 5 st, 1 sc for the following 6  st, 2 sc for the next 3 st) (32 sc)
   
4. 2 sc, 1 sc around in the increasing zone. ((2 sc, 1 sc) twice, 1 sc for the next 6 st, (2 sc, 1 sc) 5 times, 1 sc for the following 6  st,(2 sc, 1 sc) 3 times) (42 sc)
   
5. 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc around in the increasing zone. ((1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc) twice, 1 sc  for the next 6 st, (1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc) 5 times, 1 sc for the following 6  st, (1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc) 3 times) (52 sc)
   
6. 1 sc around (52 sc)
   
7. 1 sc around (52 sc)
   
8. 1 slip stitch (sl-st) around (52 sl-st)
   
9. Cut the yarn and bring the yarn to the very center of the backside with a yarn needle
   
10. Shape “M”, leaving the center and the both ends to low, and making somewhere in the middle (around Row 4) high. Sew a little bit with the yarn to keep the form.
    
11. Here, we’ll work on the center ring. ch 14 and make a loop by joining to the 1st st with sl-st
    
12. 2nd row: sc around (14 sc)
    
13. 3rd row: sc around (14 sc)
    
14. Cut the yarn, leaving some length (enough with 10″). Trim the both ends with a yarn needle. Leave the long end yarn.
    • I recommend to tie  those two strings together, just in case, before cutting off the short yarn (shown in the picture).

    

15. Put the oblong (you made at Step 10) through into the center ring.
    
16. Insert a string of elastic hair band into the center ring and bind it up.
    
17. Sew the backside of the bow with the yarn needle. At this point, it’s better to hide the joint point of the hair band.
    
18. Trim the rest of the yarn, and it’s DONE!!!
    

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

If you are with me till here, thank you so much for your patience!! It was challenging for me to explain the flow with lots of photos, but I hope many people will find it easier to understand this tutorial and eventually enjoy making a bow for the summer!!

You can also use the bow as a decoration of your bags, clothes or hats!! Please enjoy customizing it as you like!!

I will always be happy to see your works ♡ Please feel free to leave comments or questions 🙂

Handmade time!! My First Tutorial to My Knotty Friends :)

I thought you would be interested in making beanies by yourselves. So, as a first project of my crochet tutorial, I’ve picked up Hello Kitty beanie which I’ve already uploaded in the previous blog. If you like it, please feel free to make one by yourself 🙂 I will also be happy to see your works once they are done!! Then, let’s get started 🙂

◆Materials◆

Worsted Weight Yarn (Medium 4)

• White: CARON SIMPLY SOFT (WHITE)
• Red: BERNAT Satin (CRIMSON)
• Black: CARON SIMPLY SOFT (BLACK)
• Yellow: Sugar’n Cream (YELLOW)

Size G(4mm) Crochet Hook
Size H(5mm) Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle

◆Size◆

If you follow the instruction below, it will probably fit for 1 year old baby. But everyone uses a different tense when we crochet, so the outcome might be in a different size. If you want something bigger, you can just add an increase row and some even rows. I strongly recommend to check before stepping forward to the even rows (in this instruction, it’s at the end of Row7) if it fits the head size. You can always adjust the size as you like 🙂

◆Pattern◆

*** It’s easier to start every row with 2 chains and end each row with a slip stitch since you will see where you started the row which you are working on. If you take this method, please don’t forget to count this 2 chains as 1 hdc. (So, you need to skip 1 “hdc” in the instruction below, starting from Row 2.)

*** I like the seamless surface, so in this tutorial, I take this method. You just have to keep going, but it may be difficult to see where you started the row. So, it’s better to use a safety pin at the first stitch of each row.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

◇Step 1: Face with Size H hook, White yarn◇

1. Row 1 : Make a double magic ring (magic loop). Ch 2, and 7 hdc in the magic ring. (8 hdc*)
   • An easy tutorial on magic ring is introduced here: “How to make double magic ring”
   • You will count Ch 2 at the beginning of the row as 1 stitch
2. Row 2 : 2 hdc in each stitch around (16 hdc)
3. Row 3 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next stitch around (24 hdc)
4. Row 4 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 2 stitch around (32 hdc)
5. Row 5 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 3 stitch around (40 hdc)
6. Row 6 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 4 stitch around (48 hdc)
7. Row 7 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 5 stitch around (56 hdc)
   • You may adjust the size here.
8. Row 8-16 : hdc in each stitch (56 hdc)

 

◇Step 2: Ears with Size H hook, White yarn◇

1. Row 1 : Make a double magic ring (magic loop). Ch 2, and 5 hdc in the magic ring. (6 hdc*)
   • An easy tutorial on magic ring is introduced here: “How to make double magic ring”
   • You will count Ch 2 at the beginning of the row as 1 stitch
2. Row 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next stitch around (9 hdc)
3. Row 3 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 2 stitch around (12 hdc)
4. Row 4 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 3 stitch around (15 hdc)
5. Row 5 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 4 stitch around (18 hdc)
6. Row 6 : 2 hdc in the 1st stitch, hdc in the next 5 stitch around (21 hdc)
7. Cut the yarn long (around 10″) for sewing purpose.
8. You will make two of these ears and sew on the face with the yarn you left.

 

◇Step 3: Eyes with Size G hook, Black yarn◇

1. Row 1 : Chain 4
2. Row 2 : Sc in the 2nd stitch from the hook. 1sc, 3sc, then 1sc in the following 2 stitch. Finish with slip stitch at the 1st stitch of the row.
3. Cut the yarn long (around 5″) for sewing purpose.
4. You will make two of these eyes and sew on the face vertically.

 

◇Step 4: Nose with Size G hook, Yellow yarn◇

1. Row 1 : Chain 4
2. Row 2 : Sc in the 2nd stitch from the hook. 1sc, 3sc, then 1sc in the following 2 stitch. Finish with slip stitch at the 1st stitch of the row.
3. Cut the yarn long (around 5″) for sewing purpose.
4. You will sew the nose on the face horizontally.

 

◇Step 5: Whiskers with Yarn Needle, Black yarn◇

1. Embroider whiskers with a yarn needle just as you like. You can adjust the length and angles of them, which will make a difference of the expression of the Kitty.

 

◇Step 6: Bow with Size G hook, Red yarn◇
*I posted a tutorial on making a bow in the other article. I introduced very much in detail with step-by-step photos. So, please check the instruction.

Here is the title of the article:  Here Summer Comes!! Ponytail With A Pretty Bow??

◇◇Make oblong & Center ring

◇◇Put together

Insert the oblong into the center ring and sew not to move around. Then, sew it onto the right side of the ear (from your view point).

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

♡♡♡ Thank you so much if you follow the instruction all the way till here. ♡♡♡

Now it’s done!!! I hope you liked how I made Hello Kitty!!
If you find some difficulties to understand some parts, please just leave a comment!! Enjoy making “lovely handmade things” by yourself 🙂

A Symbol of GIRL

What character do you think is the symbol of girl??

I would say… Hello Kitty 🙂

When I was little (about 20 years ago… wow time flies!!), I was not really a “Kitty girl”, but she was already very popular. I can still see lots of Hello Kitty everywhere even here in California!! I’ve got really amazed by her popularity 😀 Do you know that wherever you visit in Japan, you can find regional Hello Kitty goods!! (We call them “Gotochi Kitty-chan”.) I have many friends who like to correct these goods!! So, if you like Hello Kitty and if you have a chance to visit Japan, why don’t you try to find and collect the Gotochi Kitty goods??

Hello Kitty’s weight is same with 3 apples and her height is same with 5 apples!! Wow. I’m not sure how many apples I need to describe my weight… I wouldn’t like to think about it… 😦

I think my stuffed cow is now satisfied with Miss. Pretty!!