Snail

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I wanted to crochet a snail. Seems simple and straightforward, yes? But there went my weekend...

My trials began with a pattern I found on-line - this one, to be exact. I know it's not a snail per se, but it looks like a snail and, more importantly, looked simple. So I set about to try the shell...



The one side was okay, though not really spiraled enough... but the other... *shudder* Okay, maybe I messed up. I'm not great at decreases, I know this. So I try again, this time only crocheting in the back loops...



Not bad! ...on the first side. If I could crochet left-handed I could just make two fronts and crochet them together! Sadly, I'm not that ambidextrous.

Fine. I'll make my own snail. How hard can that be?



GAK! Very, evidently. But I learned a lot. Triple crochet gets the right shape, but is too holey (towards the end of the body I was just trying to get it done to see how the shell would sit on it). That increase in the body, while it makes it the same size as the shell, isn't necessary. So, try try again, eh?



Not... bad, actually. The shell's not *quite* right, but maybe a little tweaking...





Okay, not the greatest yarn, I admit. He's a 70s snail. Still, I think the pattern's not bad, for only the third thing I've made up (and the boob and the blood drop were way easier).

Any comments, suggestions, criticisms would be appreciated! I'd like to make him the best snail he can be...