[Not a tutorial] - Making my own custom safety eyes (& chatty channel update)

[@QueenOfMoggies]

the ‘knot my idea’ series sounds so fun!!!

[@NutmegCrochets]

Congrats on your engagement! I'm so excited for all the news for your channel. Sounds great! You also gave me some really good ideas on customizing eyes. I literally just did my first pair yesterday!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks! I had so much fun making these! They can really make a project stand out as just little bit more special, right?

[@lazycat66]

What are you talking about? Knot my idea is a fantastic name! =D Enjoy your break, you certainly deserve it!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Haha thanks! Maybe I should keep the name 😂

[@sockerplinga]

Knot my idea is a great name! Pun is the way to go! :D And the new dragon looks awesome! I should start working on the dragons you have made so I'm up to date when he is out. :) And the ideas that you got are all good! I do love the D&D-stuff, and a huge mantis! And an even bigger spider! (says the girl who is afraid of them). Have a great time on you vacation and congrats to the engagement! :D

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Im not the biggest fan of spiders, and yet I always seem to need a bigger one 😂

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

Any cryptid would be amazing like the Chupacabra, Mothman, Jersey Devil, Yeti & Mothman. Another idea could be a ballerina jewelry box, complete with a music box :) , Alien, traditional spaceship, or a Phoenix! - super cool with flaming red, orange & yellow feathers!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I could run my channel on your inspiration alone for years 💜😂 these are all terrific!

[@LoveableHuggables]

Can you make a video that explains the process of making your custome safety eyes?

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

You know what I would love to see you create??? Something like a wizard's staff!!! The gem could be several safety eyes put together or use sparkly yarn, or silver rivets to outline the gem or....or.... the list is endless but it would be *AMAZING* whatever you came up with :))) A simple dowel to support the handle adorned with some kind of vine or SNAKE! ACK!!!! anyways...getting out of control here :)

[@taipanbrown1286]

Hey keep up the great work!, I love your stuff!! Your dragon designs are so interesting!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks! 🙂

[@jayne_dough97]

I like the customised eyes, I need to give that a go I second the Cheshire cat, I'd love a good Cheshire cat pattern

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

I would love to see the monster from the Alien movie with the 2nd alien monster coming out of its mouth - creeeeeepy!

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

I purchased a cheap silicone eye mold (1/2 dome) on eBay to make resin eyes. I got them as large as 40mm. I also purchased dyes so that I could have different colored pupils including glow-in-the-dark ones. My backings are going to be the large round flat backings of earings (1cm round). This way I can use a normal or rubber backing to attach my custom-made eyeball :) *AND* ...Glitter also tends to creep into anything I make, lol!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I would love to do something like this, but resin intimidates the heck out of me!! Let me know how you go? Also glitter is life.💜

[@SkeinSpider]

Congrats to you and your fiancè! I hope you have a great time celebrating with your family. Love the name for your new series, the pun is on point 😂.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks! Will hopefully be a bit of fun 😁

[@blissfuloblivion4617]

Congratulations! I wish you all the best! I am new and I just found you, what I've seen so far, I can only say, you are amazing! I love your imagination and your designs come to life in such a great way. You have opened my eyes and expanded my world with your video on designing. And now finding this one on customizing I cannot wait to start doing it. Thank you very much for your work and your videos. Warm greetings from Germany xoxo

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

Loving the *KNOT* MY IDEA title xx

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks!

[@katenovah]

Ehi, I really like this idea for costumizing safety eyes. A couple of questions: what brand are the markers? And where you found the transparent eyes? Or you made it?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

The markers are "anko", which is just the kmart basic brand. They were $4-$8 (can't remember 😅) for the pack, and while the colours aren't super vibrant, they are great for stuff like this. The eyes are just from ebay. I buy in lots of 25-50 sets from whatever listings look legitimate, it changes each time 🙂

[@amara560]

Congrats on your engagement! I love the Chinese zodiac requests :) I'm thinking of doing a CAL in 2022 and how cool would a zodiac a month be? (If that is attainable at all). The eyes look gorgeous :)

[@ComplicatedKnots]

That would be a really cool idea! I was just going to do one a year (unless they come out of the bucket of course) 🙂

[@amara560]

@@ComplicatedKnots Honestly just a CAL in general for next year would be really cool imo :)

[@BlackRavenD]

Knot my idea is an amazing name! Keep it, please 😍

[@netty062]

I've never bought eyes before, a link to an amazon purchase would be great! I cannot tell if I can make the painted ones clear in order to paint them myself. You're very creative

[@cannibalpotato11]

I would love to see a Goblin and I would like you to add to the list Mothman because I love Mothman and there are no patterns of him. Also congrats on your engagement! 💍 So happy for you! Also those eyes are beautiful!!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I've seen mothman come up a couple of times. Cryptids are pretty cool in general actually...and thanks!!

[@soulsoulsoul634]

I'd love to know more about the way you customise the eyes! I tried a cupple of years back with wot little info I could find, but they were a disaster! Are they glass eyes or plastic? As much as I like the tutorials you make l love videos were you chat! Congrats on you're engagement! If you are in vic I hope you managed to have youre get together before the latest lock down.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

The smaller ones are clear plastic, and the larger are just black. Most of this was done with a cheap pack of acrylic markers from kmart! Thank you! I worry sometimes that those sorts of videos will make everyone unsubscribe 😂 Im luckily based in Western Australia, and we've honestly had possibly easiest time of this than anywhere else in the world. Hopefully everyone in Melbourne (and everywhere!) is staying safe 💜

[@Fallinghoshi]

Lots for D&D requests- I’ll add one more. Owl Bear

[@ComplicatedKnots]

How is owl bear not already there!! Thank you for adding it!!!

[@kca4552]

congrat on your engagement.love your work

[@official_chad1nner380]

I would love love love to see a birds of paradise series because there are so many in lots of different variations

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Ooh a terrific addition to the list!

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

I am still working on the GIANT version of your *CHONK* . I ran out of yarn :( Being that we are still on a FULL LOCKDOWN (...again), yarn purchases are *NOT* ALLOWED, unless you want to pay the blown-out-of-proportion prices on Amazon, which I am not a willing participant.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Im sorry to hear that 😔 do you have any old tshirts, sheets, curtains? I've always wanted to learn to make tshirt yarn...hopefully the lockdowns are all over before it gets to that!

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

@@ComplicatedKnots No worries! MEGA CHONK will be amongst us one day soon (I hope)

[@slopez2016]

Congratulations on your engagement!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks! ❤

[@Winefred213]

Do you have a video where you not just show how you customize your own safety eyes but explain what you are doing and how you do it? Also where do you get just clear safety eyes to do this with…Amazon maybe? Also do you sell your safety eyes? If so do you have a link to purchase some?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Hi! I don't have a video, because I'm colouring them in with paint markers, just for fun. The clear eyes were purchased off ebay, but I also paint just plain black ones, or random coloured ones. It's not really a skill when I do it, though I'm sure there are people out there who have made it an artform.

[@JustKeepSwimming1986]

Congratulations!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thanks 🙂

[@missykim510]

Knot My Idea, is the perfect name! You should make some dinosaurs to celebrate ;) Or you could make some dinosaurs to celebrate your engagement!! Nothing says "forever" like a dinosaur! (The tiny dog's name is Zod. I HAVE SPOKEN!)

[@ComplicatedKnots]

The dinos should be happening June/July, never fear 😂 Zod is fun, I'd want to make it "The Zod" though!

[@BoogEOogEWoogE]

I love the eyes you make. I went to your etsy site but didn't see them - are they sold out? If so, are you going to make more of them; and, if not, I would love to purchase some of them... Any info is greatly appreciated.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I don't sell them! They are cheap plastic eyes that I doodle on with cheaper acrylic markers (think $4 for a pack of 8 pens from Kmart) or sharpiers. It's super easy to make your own!!

[@1SolReflection]

@@ComplicatedKnots do you coat them with anything to prevent the acrylic from scratching off? I've never tried painting them before! I really wish I had found your channel a year ago when I started learning crochet. I'll be watching all your videos! You are amazing!!!!

[@lavenderrainbow5041]

Another creation could be combining 2 creatures together or something inanimate like a clock with octopus legs.

[@daniellehadley6892]

Congratulations on your engagement! That is so exciting! By chance do you think you could release the next dragon pattern on your etsy page before the video, I want to be able to get the supplies to make it. I made the second dragon and absolutely loved it. Now I am going make the next size one for my mom's NEW fiance. Have an awesome trip!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

...I promise, if the pattern is done first, I will upload it to etsy early. Normally the pattern is done as part of my video editing process. How about once I know what the tools and materials are for him I'll respond to this comment again to let you know? 😄

[@daniellehadley6892]

Sounds like a great plan. Thank you for doing all of these cool patterns! Also a pangolin would be really cool to see.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Hello, I know it's pretty late in the week, but I am always running behind. Just popping in to say you will need 8 ply acrylic yarn in a main body colour (55g), and 28g of a belly colour, as well as a small amount of black, and pink for a tongue. Other than that you will just need a pair of 21mm safety eyes, and stuffing :)

[@daniellehadley6892]

Thank you! I can’t wait for the next dragon pattern to go live. Congratulations again on your engagement. Happy crocheting!

[@firstlast993]

thank you....again

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thank you again!

[@megankwisdom]

Name the pupper Francesco/Francesca! Idk why but it looks like it would be named that to me 😊

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Terrific suggestion! 😁

[@shannangibbins9660]

Your amazing and I love your designs is there any chance you will be uploading more than once a week also congratulations on your engagement x

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Thank you! I would love to be doing multiple videos per week, I just haven't quite worked out how to make that work yet. I'd love to do designing/techniques/chats on a Tuesday, and then a pattern every thursday or Friday....oh for more hours in the day 😂

[@alveshecrd]

Love this thank you what kind of paint pens do you use

[@ComplicatedKnots]

They are the generic Kmart brand, "anko" :)

[@alveshecrd]

@@ComplicatedKnots I’m guessing acrylic?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I believe so, but they don't specify 😂 they are "alcohol-based opaque pigment paint markers"

[@mora-chan1489]

Congratulations on your engagement! Can i ask ehat type of markers you're using?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Kmart acrylic paint markers :)

[@mora-chan1489]

@@ComplicatedKnots thank you ❤️

[@kathenson6118]

What kind of paint markers are good to use?

[@kitwickliff]

I actually really dig the "not my idea" series name.

[@Smr-bc3cn]

Can you say what type of glitter tape it is you use on your safety eyes? Or show a video doing that in itself?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Its just cheap washi tape from kmart! They sell tubes of like 8 rolls for $2.

[@darthlaurel]

Why has this never occurred to me to do?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

It only recently occurred to me 😂😂😆

[@ilidezmc8295]

Hi!! I'm really new to your channel and I'm just FASCINATED Each one of your tutorials are just magnificent, and I love every design of yours (The spider and octopus ones are just- 🥺🥺✨✨✨) So... May I ask some questions? Hah xd I'm 16 and Mexican, I want to start crocheting seriously and sell some of my dolls for paying my school spenses, do you know where can I start?? I already made somethings on my own, but there's so much more I feel a little overwhelmed JAJSJ. Anyways, thank you in advance. I hope you are doing well with your family ^^!!

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Welcome!! I have a million pieces of advice on learning/making/selling crochet, but I'll try to focus on a couple that you might not find elsewhere. 1. Cheap acrylic is perfect for toys. Don't waste your money on fancy stuff (unless it makes you happy, in which case, go nuts) 2. If you plan to sell online, make sure you take good, clear, pretty photos. Natural light makes a huge difference. 3. Most patterns are just the same basic stitches in different configurations. Don't be scared of trying something if it looks complicated, just read the pattern the whole way through before you start, and try googling if there's anything in there you don't understand. I hope this helps, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer :)

[@ilidezmc8295]

@@ComplicatedKnots Thank you for the advice!! It helps a lot, really 🥺🥺 And, I do have more questions hahaha, I hope I'm not being bothersome xS. Sometimes I have some problems reading the patterns bc of the abbreviations in english are a lot more different compared to the Spanish ones XD. Do you know where I can get a video or table with every crochet stitch and see which is which in my language? 👉👈 Another question, how do you mettle the cost of every doll? And, how do I make clothes for my dolls without a pattern? I want to be original, but I'm afraid I don't have the knowledge to do so yet •́ ‿ ,•̀

[@ComplicatedKnots]

@@ilidezmc8295 cool 🙂 ok so there are lots of cheat sheets to help you translate, here's one I found: images.app.goo.gl/i1spb39EpHv3tGGFA Pricing: this is a huge topic on its own, and there are lots of different opinions. I personally track how much of each material I used for a pattern (half a ball of yarn, 1 set of eyes, etc) and work out my costs. You need to make sure those are covered as a bare minimum. Then I do research (mostly on etsy for me) - what are similar things selling for? That tells you what people are willing to pay. It's my personal opinion that you can't calculate a price based on how long it takes to make. Clothing: If I were you, I would start on ravelry, looking at free doll clothes patterns. Get comfortable with them, then start adjusting them - Change the colours and add stripes/patterns, add/subtract extra rows to make something longer/shorter, that sort of thing. That way you'll learn the basic shapes of things, which is a good foundation for designing your own. Good luck! 🙂

[@theamzefeed5493]

Where do you get your clear safety eyes?

[@roshanmohan9218]

Can you make your moth pattern next PLEASE!!!😍

[@Love_of_writting]

Does acrylic colour remains permanently on the safety eyes.or it's temporary

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I've not had an issue with it coming off, but I only started trying this about a year ago.

[@AngelPerez-gz6zy]

Can you please make a sloth and I love the name knot my idea

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I will add another sloth to the bucket! Thanks! 😁

[@israelosilva]

knot my idea is a great pun , well I love puns so I am not the best person to talk about it though.

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I say "subscribe to make the puns stop". I'm lying. The puns will never stop. 😂

[@jennout1]

Can i ask what type of pen you used?

[@ComplicatedKnots]

Absolutely! They were generic paint markers from Kmart, here's a link: www.kmart.com.au/product/8-pack-paint-markers/3028818

[@ComplicatedKnots]

I will say the colours didn't turn out very vibrant, and next time I'll probably try to find different ones.

[@dekushrublily]

i clicked on this hoping for a tutorial, not a vlog update. ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ