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Following a Vintage Amigurumi Poodle Down a Rabbit Hole

November 10, 2014 21 Comments

Vintage Crochet Poodle Nail Polish Cover Amigurumi via handsoccupied.com

Like many crafters, I learned my hand making skills from family members. She’s come up on this blog before, but one of my foremost crafty forebears was Great-Grandma Louise, who lived to age 102 and crafted nearly to the end. My mom was one of her 20 grandchildren, and the crochet poodle that led me down a rabbit hole (and eventually to this post) is one of her many creations.

My mom, along with her sisters, each received a bottle of nail polish in differently colored, crocheted poodle outfits. Why? Because crafting in the 1960s was all kinds of amazing. A phone chat with Mom confirmed that this aqua creation had to have been made between my mother’s birthdate and 1967 due to a family move from Iowa to Minnesota that year.

Vintage Crochet Poodle Nail Polish Cover Amigurumi via handsoccupied.com

A bit about the nail polish

For me, a nerdy librarian, getting to research the nail polish bottle this poodle was crafted around was almost as awesome as getting to have this handmade heirloom in the first place. This research also helped narrow the time frame this might have been made in. The nail polish within the poodle cost only 23 cents, featured a pink polish (or at least it looks pink now!) called Fiesta Fire, and the brand of the polish is Smartee.

VIntage Smartee Nail Polish in Fiesta Fire, 29 cents via handsoccupied.com

A quick google of “smartee nail polish” (and you obvs don’t have to be a librarian to think to search for that!) led me to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s website. There’s a page on the CIPO site for the Smartee trademark, claiming that it was registered in 1964, but the page says that the name Smartee may have been used as early as 1952. Based on this and my mom’s info, I think mr. nail polish poodle was likely made between 1964 and 1967.

Vintage Crochet Poodle Nail Polish Cover Amigurumi via handsoccupied.com

As far as I can tell Cameo, Inc., the company who manufactured this nail polish, is a still-operating company in the Toledo area. Assuming I’m right (since they don’t seem to have a website to confirm this), they are a contract packager of goods, including toiletries, to this day. And where do I get this assumption? This directory entry from Packaging Digest, of course. In case you were wondering, Packaging Digest seems to be a huge packaging industry publication.

A really cool gift idea / how to make a nail polish poodle!

With the holidays coming up, this 50-year-old idea from my Great-Grandma is so perfect if you’re looking for a quick handmade gift. Looking at this poodle (and having a good familiarity with my grandma’s other self-designed work), I can see a lot of double crochet stitches and an increase here or there. I have no idea what yarn she used, but I’m pretty sure based on the early 1960’s time frame and the look and feel of the yarn, my guess is it’s some kind of mass market acrylic. And looking at the size of the stitches, it’s probably an F or G hook.

What it looks like Great-Grandma did was buy the nail polish and size the poodle cover to it. If you know how to crochet a circle, you can crochet a nail polish poodle!

Great-Grandma’s Pattern

Please note that even though my Great Grandma made this, the pattern is the intellectual property of this blog. Please don’t steal my patterns, it’s been happening a lot lately, and not in awesome and fun fair use ways. If you’ve ever got a question for me about this, please email me – I’m happy to chat! 

Supplies:
some yarn
appropriate crochet hook
sewing thread
needle
scissors
pom pom maker (optional)
scrap ribbon
3 seed beads
3 sequins
a tiny piece of red felt
snap closure

Abbreviations:
st – stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
dc2tog – double crochet 1 stitch over 2 sts (New to this? Here’s a tutorial.)
(x) – number of sts that should be in the round
[x] – repeat the pattern listed for the number of times specified in the pattern

Bottle end of the poodle (worked from the bottom up)
1. 
Make a foundation row with 10 sts using the magic ring method.
2. dc 2 sts in each st around (20 sts)
3-5. dc in each st
6. dc 9, dc2tog, dc 9 (19 sts)
7-8. dc in each st
9. dc 8, dc2tog, dc 9 (18 sts)
10. dc in each st, pull tail through last loop, weave in ends

Brush/head end of the poodle (worked from the top down)
1. Make a tight foundation round with 12 sts using the magic ring method.
2. sc in ea st
3-6. dc in ea st
7. [dc, dc2tog] 6 times (18 sts)
8. dc in each st, pull tail through last loop, weave in ends

Finishing your poodle!
Make eight 1/2″ pom poms. Sew one where you’d like the poodle’s tail to be, and one for each of the poodle’s 4 legs. Sew one to the tip top of your poodle’s head, with the last two alongside for ears.

In the center of where your poodle’s face will be, sc 4 tight stitches to form the dog’s muzzle. Sew on a tiny felt tongue under the muzzle. Using one sequin and one seed bead per eye, sew eyes on your poodle. 

Just like with the eyes, use one sequin and seed bead to attach a collar to your poodle. To add some definition to your poodle’s nose, sew some stitches to the end of its muzzle. Attach the snap closure to the two halves of the poodle so they line up. Slip the poodle over your nail polish, and you’re good to go!

If you’re unsure where to sew what, refer to the photos throughout this post for a guide, and this GIF should help you see where all of the add-ons are placed. Of course, this pattern was designed to fit a bottle of nail polish that hasn’t been manufuactured in decades (in 1995, the company even let their trademark on the Smartee brand name lapse). So this pattern should be thought of mostly as a guide for how to DIY a pattern to fit modern nail polishes.

Vintage Crochet Poodle Nail Polish Cover Amigurumi via handsoccupied.com I just think an amigurumi nail polish cover would make such an amazing and easy gift for my girlfriends, and it’s an idea my Great-Grandma had nearly 50 years ago. Whoever gets a poodle costume-wearing bottle of nail polish this year will also get a personal story (or at least a link to this post, lol – depends how busy I get!) to go along with a fun handmade gift and my number one favorite cosmetic – nail polish. :)

 

Filed Under: Crochet, Free Patterns, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: amigurumi, easy christmas gifts, free crochet pattern, handmade gifts, midcentury crafts, pom poms, poodle, smartee nail polish, vintage crochet pattern

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. elise

    November 10, 2014 at 10:09 am

    Thank you for making my day. My grandmother was also super-crafty and made all her own sewing & crochet patterns. I remember crochet bottle-poodles from my youth (born ’64) but never saw one this tiny.

    Reply
  2. Cindy G.

    November 10, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    I think I had one of these when I was a kid. But, for some reason, I think it was crocheted around a “nip” bottle of vodka (empty, of course). I’d love to crochet up a bunch of these for gift giving, but I’d have to find the perfect recipient… one who can appreciate crocheted poodles and alcohol! If my grandma was still alive, it would be a perfect gift for her :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      November 10, 2014 at 6:46 pm

      Oh man! Your grandma sounds like she was way cool!

      Reply
    • elise

      November 11, 2014 at 12:59 pm

      Cindy, I had the same idea! I just made one sized for a nip bottle and he’s adorable. Another idea is maybe make them to cover small hand sanitizer bottles?

      Reply
      • Heidi

        November 11, 2014 at 4:14 pm

        Oh I like that! And maybe include a loop and button for hooking it to a purse?

        Reply
        • Cindy G.

          November 14, 2014 at 6:18 pm

          A hand sanitizer cozy would probably be a gift that more people could use, but I still think I need to make at least one for the nip bottle in memory of my Gramma (she was definitely a character). I could hang it as an ornament to remind me of her :) Thanks again for sharing your pattern!

          Reply
  3. Debbie Price

    February 4, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    My grandmother made these poodles, in a bigger size, for her 7 daughters! She made them to fit a bottle about the size of a tall soda bottle or perhaps it was a wine bottle. I haven’t seen the poodle in years and years, so not sure about the bottle size. I have never seen a pattern for anything like it before now! I will be trying this out soon. Love your blog so very much and I am doing your beginner knitting class here on the blog. You are a very talented girl! Hope you have a terrific evening!
    Hugs…

    Reply
  4. Trisha

    March 18, 2015 at 1:00 am

    At 60 I finally restarted crocheting again which I had stopped doing when I had my kids. Now I am enjoying the leisure time I have to do it in. I remember seeing the big bottle poodles in my teen years and always wanted to do one but never got around to it then. I was glad when I stumbled on your blog and found your nail polish idea. My 10 yr. old grand daughter will love this idea. I’m trying to get her interested in trying to learn to crochet by tempting her with fun things to make and this definitely falls into the cool category.

    Reply
  5. Marie

    March 19, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    This is adorable. Thanks for sharing. Being a granma I think I’ll try a few of these for gifts too. I hope and pray I’ll still be knitting and crocheting forever too. I needed hand reconstructive surgery and am recovering from it yet. The first thing I ask was if I would still be able to crochet and knit if they did the procedure. I was told yes but some women I’ve talked to since haven’t been able to do their crafts because they have more pain, so sad. I’m hoping that I’ll figure out some inventive ways of being able to continue crocheting and knitting. I’m sorry, I’m rambling but when I saw this it brought back many memories of my youth. Thanks a bunch Sweetie.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      March 21, 2017 at 7:56 am

      You’re most welcome!

      Reply
  6. linda

    June 23, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this cute little pattern. I have made a large one for a hair spray can. I am going to make this one for me to put in my travel bag. By the way, I so enjoy your newsletters, thank you.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 27, 2018 at 10:07 pm

      You’re welcome, Linda! I’d love to see a hair spray can poodle! 😆

      Reply
  7. Brenda Lindsey

    June 23, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    My grandmother made one for me and one for my sister during the sixties. They were also sized for a wine bottle. However she stuffed ours. :). :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 25, 2018 at 8:31 am

      I love it! Do you have any photos?

      Reply
  8. Karen

    June 24, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    Hi I decided to request your posts on a whim. They are so fun and informational. I am 74 and dabble in many crafts including knitting and crocheting. The polish poodle is so cute. I have a frien that has several poodles and is a rescuer for poodles. She has been having some rough times I hope to be able to make this cover. Will let you know later! Karen

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 25, 2018 at 8:31 am

      Can’t wait to see! :)

      Reply
  9. Jenny

    May 17, 2021 at 2:35 pm

    Thank you so much for posting and sharing this pattern. I just finished one for a birthday gift. Turned out so cute.

    Reply
  10. Andreia c

    October 18, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    I was asked by my local public elementary school whose mascot is a tiger to make a bunch of these. I see your pattern any idea on how I go about turning a poodle into a tiger????

    Reply
    • Heidi

      October 20, 2021 at 11:37 am

      My first idea is to alternate colors each round. Shouldn’t be too bad! Best of luck. :)

      Reply
  11. Josie Massingill

    February 27, 2022 at 3:45 am

    Thank you so much for this pattern! I remember the big poodles that went around wine bottles from my childhood, and this tiny one is just the cutest thing ever! I can’t wait to make one :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      February 28, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      I bet those look super cool too! :)

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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