What is Lumigurumi? This unusual word refers to a new fashionable trend in needlework, which is closely related to amigurumi. If you are friends with crochet, then you probably know that amigurumi is a hobby in which various toys and figures are woven from threads using a crochet hook.
Today, Rainbow Loom rubber bands are at the peak of popularity, we wrote about them in the last article, and now you know that you can weave beautiful bracelets from rubber bands
. But needlewomen went further and began to create not only jewelry from rubber bands such as bracelets and rings, but also began to weave toys and various figures from rubber bands. And so a new direction of the most interesting hobby for the whole family appeared - lumigurumi.
Mikrusha will tell you what can be woven using multi-colored rubber bands, what figures and toys can be made from Rainbow Loom rubber bands: ponies, horses, minions, hedgehogs, lambs and other animals and more.
Let's start with horses - ponies and the horses themselves.
How to weave a pony from rubber bands. Video.
You probably know that a horse is a symbol of love and prosperity in the home, so a small rubber band horse, made with great love with your own hands, will certainly be a pleasant gift for loved ones, for example, a mother or a friend. Such a horse made of rubber bands can become a faithful companion if you make it as a keychain, or maybe just decorate a child’s room. If you have a daughter between the ages of 3 and 7, Pony Horses are probably one of your favorite cartoon characters. You can make such a pony from Rainbow Loom rubber bands and such a horse will become your favorite friend, because it was made by mom with love. But the most important thing is that to make a rubber toy using the lumigurumi technique, you don’t need to be a pro with a fancy machine. You just need a little desire and patience. And you can weave it on a fork, as you know!
Necessary materials
Before starting work, watch videos and master classes in this area, then decide on the choice of figurine and prepare the necessary materials. It is better to stock up on a large number of multi-colored rubber bands in case some break during work. To make figurines of people, birds, and animals, you will need small beads for the eyes and nose, and for the volume of the figurine, filler, for example, cotton wool or padding polyester. Prepare the necessary working tools. Each lumigurumi figure begins to be woven from an amigurumi ring, usually on one post of a large Rainbow Loom loom or using a slingshot. But even without a machine, you can weave this ring only on a hook.
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What is the peculiarity of knitting figures from elastic bands using a crochet hook? Many craftsmen like to use a crochet hook when weaving various figures. You can choose a regular hook or a specialized Rainbow Loom to work with. The best hooks are metal ones , as they are strong, more durable, and also better grip the elements in the work. Small figures are most often woven on a hook, but there are many products that look natural in a small size. For example, the following berries and fruits: cherries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pineapples. Baskets filled with fruits and berries look original.
Many needlewomen make various vegetables: zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, as well as bananas, oranges and much more. Typically, such products are used for children's games, but they can also be used in decoration. Using a crochet hook you can also weave flowers, insects and other small figures. Weaving large toys using a crochet hook is a very labor-intensive and complex process.
For those who, upon first acquaintance with the art of lumigurumi, want to do something more difficult, we suggest making a funny giraffe on a hook. This cheerful, bright and voluminous toy will be a good friend to your child.
How to make Mickey Mouse from rubber bands. Video.
Well, who doesn't love Mickey Mouse? We liked our cute eared friend both in childhood and our children now. Mickey Mouse is a popular cartoon of our childhood, but it is not so often seen in stores on toy shelves; it has long been supplanted by other more modern ones. However, you can make your own Mickey using Rainbow Loom bands.
It will be great if the characters from Walt Disney come to life and find a new life in your home. If you don't like toys, you can make a cute bracelet out of rubber bands and put a Mickey or his friend Minnie figure in the center.
Making a giraffe
To complete the work you will need the following materials: a hook, multi-colored silicone rubber bands (black, white, red, orange and pink), filler (sintepon or cotton wool).
Step-by-step instructions for weaving an animal:
- We will weave a giraffe using a lumigurumi ring. We cast on a ring of six loops. We attach a clip to the outermost one. We weave the second row with an increase in each loop.
- We also add in the third row, but through one loop. We weave four more rows of one elastic band per loop. We change the elastic bands to pink ones and weave three more rows of one elastic band into a loop, in this way the giraffe’s tummy will turn out to be striped. In the next row you need to change the elastic bands to orange ones and weave three more rows. Then we begin to decrease. We weave two loops, one elastic band in each, and the third and fourth loops together. Next, we make two rows of one elastic band per loop.
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- Decrease two rows through one loop. We will again have six loops. We take the filler and stuff the giraffe’s belly. Then we form the neck: weave one elastic band into each loop for eight rows. You can weave more rows, then the neck will be longer; if fewer, it will be shorter. We also fill it with filler.
- Let's start weaving the animal's head. Again we start with a ring of six loops using white elastic bands. The second row, as before, goes with an increase in each loop. The third is through one loop. Then six rows - one elastic band per loop, also with white elastic bands. We take red elastic bands and decrease them in every second loop. We continue to weave two more rows, one at a time, into a loop. We fill the head with filler and decrease it in each loop until the hole is completely closed.
- Making giraffe paws. To weave the front ones, we cast on a ring of six loops with white elastic bands. In the next row we add to each loop. Next are two rows - one elastic band per loop. We change to red elastic bands and continue to weave one row with a decrease in each loop. We weave seven rows of one elastic band into a loop. We fill the paws with filler and make a decrease in each loop until the hole closes. We weave the hind legs in the same way, only in each loop we weave one rubber band not seven rows, but five.
- Making ears. We use white elastic bands to make a ring of six loops and weave one elastic band into a loop. Take the red ones and add one row to each loop. We assemble a ring of four loops with white elastic bands. We weave one row of one elastic band into a loop. Then we change to red ones and weave three rows of one elastic band into a loop.
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- Let's make eyes. To do this, we wind one black elastic band on the hook and throw it onto the white one. We attach the ears and horns, giving them shape. Then - the head and paws. We insert a wire into the neck so that the head holds well. We secure the paws with additional rubber bands.
The cheerful and bright giraffe is ready! What we got, look at the photo below. We hope our master class helped you master a weaving technique such as lumigurumi.
And here is another interesting selection of videos on making various figures using the lumigurumi technique.
How to weave a minion from rubber bands. Video.
Minions - these cute, funny yellow creatures will conquer any heart. After the release of the last cartoon with them, the love for Minions only intensified. Why not weave a Minion out of rubber bands? It will serve as a fun toy for a child; you can attach it to a keychain or put it in the car to lift your spirits. You can even weave a phone case with the look of a minion, which will have a funny look and perfectly protect the phone with its rubber layer. All you need is desire and blue and yellow elastic bands for bracelets.
Features of crochet lumigurumi weaving
The hook is often used by craftsmen to make figurines using various techniques. For work, both a regular device and a special tool for Rainbow Loom elastic bands are applicable. But experienced craftsmen recommend giving preference to metal hooks, since they are much stronger and their service life is much longer. Some needlewomen believe that such hooks are more convenient for hooking elastic bands while working.
Small figures are usually crocheted . There are a large number of models that look quite natural at a small size. For example, any berries such as cherries, gooseberries or strawberries. Miniature copies of various fruits are also very popular among beginning craftswomen: oranges, apples, lemons, pineapples, bananas. From such rubber fruits and berries, some create entire fruit baskets that look very original.
You can also weave a variety of vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants and many others, even models of planets. They can be used very successfully for interior decoration or as children's toys.
Using this technique, using a hook, you can make larger toys, it will only be a little more complicated and take a little more time.
How to weave an owl
One of the most favorite models among many needlewomen is an owl made from lumigurumi rubber bands. Perhaps this character owes such a high popularity to the fact that the owl symbolizes wisdom. A loved one can be very happy if you give him a stylish keychain in the shape of an owl, so many needlewomen begin their acquaintance with this technique with it. True, it is much more difficult to weave such a toy than models with simpler shapes - orange, banana and others. In order to make an owl, you will need:
- Rainbow Lum silicone rubber bands (multi-colored for different parts of the model);
- filler (cotton wool, wool, padding polyester, etc. are suitable);
- a special hook for this weaving technique (or a simple crochet hook).
The diverse world of lumigurumi
Initially, a machine was created that was an ordinary board with nails driven into it. According to its inventor, a Malaysian of Chinese origin Chong Chun Ng , it was supposed to help his daughters weave baubles. Later the machine was improved and called Rainbow Loom.
Nowadays the lumigurumi technique is popular all over the world. Such figurines are sold at every turn, although making them yourself is not as difficult as it might seem. There are very popular videos on the Internet that tell in detail how to weave colorful bracelets from lumigurumi rubber bands to suit every taste. It is enough to have the material itself - rubber bands of the desired color and padding, and also know the weaving pattern. As a result, a rainbow bunny, dog, kitten or monkey may be born.
