Early Christmas Gifts

On our way to Michigan I was busy making hats for Ethan's cousins. I still have about 5 more to go before Christmas but I am just going to be making beanies so that shouldn't take very long. I am sticking with hats because they are simple and cheap. Being new to the crochet world (almost 3 months now), I didn't want to take on any difficult projects because there are 11 cousins!


I have fallen in love with this hat and I love the colors! I am going to make matching thumb-less mittens to sell with it. I think this is the pattern I am going to use. This hat is not for anyone one in the family. I made this on the way home because I wanted something to do in the car. It is for a newborn-3 months.


This is really cute on! I am not sure who this is for but I will think of someone :)
This is Zachary's hat. The colors are navy blue and green.

This is Benjamin's hat. Similar to Zachary's.

I am not quite sure I love the white part of the flower but it will do and I think the hat will look great on Annie (This is Ella and her head is just a little too small for this hat but I wanted to put it on someone so I could take a picture).



Ella is so cute (even if she didn't want me to take a picture of her)! This picture isn't doing the hat justice and it looks so good on her!

Oh ya! This hat I made and it is the slouchy hat I featured last week on my blog. I gave this to my sister-in-law Cindy and made another one for one of my other sister-in-laws.

If you have any questions about one of these hats or want to know where I got the pattern, you can email me or just leave a comment.

Free Pattern of the week is:

Fancy Ornament by Lion Brand Yarn

Mini Post #1

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I sure did with all my husbands family in Michigan! I haven't posted in a bout a week due to all the traveling I have been doing but I will surely post something later today or tomorrow. Here are a few things to hold you over that inspire me!

This is by jcrew and even though it is sold out, it has inspired me to maybe make one!
This is a really awesome crocheted rug. I can imagine it takes one huge hook to make this thing!

I really like this pillow! I am going to look into a pattern so I can make a few for my couch.

Urban Slouch Hat

I've been wanting to make one of these and finally did and love it! Ever since I learned to crochet (thanks mom!), my craft life has become so much more exciting learning new things all the time. The best thing about crocheting your own hats is you get to choose the color to your liking and it fits exactly the way you want it to!

*Sorry in advance for the dark pictures. I was having lighting issues yesterday while making it and it was raining outside so that didn't help :(

This hat pattern is by Vickie Howell. There are a few different sizes you can choose from (small/medium or large/extra-large). I chose the medium.

Start off by making the band to the width desired for size. This band is 22" long.

Next you will single crochet or sew your band ends together.

Now the the fun part! Make puff stitches row by row until you reach the desired length. I ended at 11". Don't know how to make a puff stitch? Vickie tells you how here.

Once you have finished all your beautiful puffy rows and your hat looks like a tub, you are ready to "pinch" the edged together. Here she does a video demonstration on how to finish it off.


Yay! Now you have a beautiful hat that you and everyone else will love! This hat it very simple to make but a little time consuming. I made mine in about 2 1/2 hours (Ethan was sleeping for 2 of those hours). Again, here is Vickie's pattern and happy crocheting!

The Neck Warmer

Neck warmers are cozy, pretty, fashion statements and whoever made them up is pure genius! Scarves are great but can be hard to stuff inside you winter coat. Here are some neck warmers that I love.

Flower Gale- lace cowl neck wrap by whispertwister
get pattern here

this seller is so talented and out of all the neck warmers I have seen I have leaned toward every single one of hers!

dream away cowl. get pattern here

this creamy cappuccino cowl is so elegant! this will be my after Christmas project.
get pattern here

this tucks nicely into a jacket or coat and you can keep your friends guessing if it is crocheted or knitted (crocheted). It is also made Patons Silk Bamboo

so it will be very soft

here is a warm neck warmer in mustard yellow sold on folksy.com


the aztec chevron chunky cowl
purchase here

If you don't have time to make a neck warmer, take a scarf that you haven't used in a while (or one that you love) and sew together the ends. If your scarf has been crocheted, it is really easy to let it out to make it the length you want. You can add things like flowers or a ruffled edge to make it new again.

Weekly Update:

I have finished the 2 hats for my friends girls and 2 flowers. I still need to make the other 2 flowers but I will need to find a red and pink yarn that will go nicely. I have also made a hat for one of my nieces for Christmas and have 2 more to make for my other 2 nieces. I am actually thankful this time for the 12-14 hour drive to Michigan so I can get some things done on the journey up there for Thanksgiving. I need to learn to take better pictures!

this is for one of my nieces and the bow was fun to learn and make.

I have made the flowers so they can be removed. I still need to make the red and pink.


Free pattern of the week

This pattern is from JJ 's Crochet Blog

Materials

• Size P crochet hook (11.5mm)
• Super Bulky Yarn. I used Lionbrand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in a heather gray, but any bulky yarn will work.

Special Stitches

FCH – Foundation Chain (or single crochet): Chain 2. Insert hook in the first of two chains. Yarn over, draw through loop (chain stitch just created). Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. (Single crochet created). You now have two fch completed. *Insert hook in upper loop of stitch just created. Yarn over, draw through loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.* Three fch completed. Repeat from * to *across for desired number of chain stitches.

HHDC – Herringbone Half Double Crochet. Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. (This will be a little awkward, but it’s correct. You might have to use your left thumb and forefinger to really hold the stitches so you can pull through both of them.) Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.

Directions

FCH 45. (If you can’t quite get the foundation chain, don’t panic! You can do a regular chain 45 and still be fine. A FCH just creates a stretchier base which will be better for your cowl, but either works!)

Round 1: Chain 2 (counts as first HHDC now and throughout). HHDC in each stitch across. (45 HHDC)

Round 2: Chain 2, turn. HHDC in the BACK LOOP ONLY of each stitch across. (45 HHDC)

Repeat Round 2 9 more times or until yarn ends.

Fasten off, leaving a 12″ tail to whip stitch ends. Match short ends of rectangle and whip stitch together. Weave in ends.

Have a great day and happy crocheting!

Booties and Slippers GIVE AWAY!!!

I love little girl shoes! Too bad I don't have a little girl to make lots of hats, booties and shoes for... I do have a lot of friends and family who have girls and therefore I can make them and be happy :)

I am not sure if these were on my list of things to make this week (probably not), but I couldn't resist and I am so happy the way they turned out!!! I made up a pattern for the slippers so if you want it, let me know and I can email it to you. The boots are from esty.com and I am very happy with how the pattern out!

click here to purchase this pattern. These are size 12 months.


My pattern :) Needs buttons on the back. These are size NB-3 months.

Tell me why you would want one of these and who they would go to and I will be the judge of who gets them!

This next week:
2 beanies
4 flowers
1 scarf

even during the most busy times i can find time to crochet

I haven't been able to post in a few days because I have had a really busy weekend with a birthday party for my niece, hosted a murder mystery party and had some much needed girl time with my friends last night!

Friday night my mom and I got to crochet together for the first time. It was a lot of fun and a little humorous. Chris was out of town so she came over and we went yarn shopping and out to dinner before settling into my living room and I taught her a new pattern. I think both hats turned out really nice! I will post a picture of hers soon.

Here are two hats that I made this weekend (the gray one I did with my mom) . One still needs a flower or bow. Sorry it is sideways...

Here are the next projects I plan to start this week or next plus I am going to start working on my friends hats that she is ordering for her girls for chistmas.

This scarf is by BBfromOz
I will probably do this in a cream color.

This scarf is by SeeJaneCrochet
This one is going to be for a friends birthday so I am going to use a color of her choice.


Pancho made by shelby1998
This might be for me I am not sure quite yet if I want a pancho...

Something For Myself!

Out of everything I have made so far, I have only crocheted 2 things for myself. I do like them though! I am thinking about making a neck warmer next or wrist warmers...





I found the scarf on Youtube.com . I made my chain smaller because I wanted a skinnier scarf and I used a size K/101/2-6.50mm hook. The yarn I used was mustard yellow from Vanna's Choice by Lionbrand.

For the hat, I purchased this pattern on etsy.com. It was so easy to make I made it in one night just watching my favorite Tuesday night shows :)

If This Doesn't Make You Want to Crochet, I Don't Know What Will...

Little turtle by PoshPatterns

Beanie with flower by Poshpatterns
(I purchased this pattern!)

Classic Snow Boots for boys or girls by CrochetBabyBoutique

Button booties by Designs by Tara Murray

Baby girl crossover booties by Ceradka Designs

Moccasins by crochetdreamz


Chunky Tan Cowl by Carlitto

Chunky scarf cowl crochet by CandacesCloset

Retro jute summer bag by LuzAmigurumiPatterns

I don't know about you but this makes me want to crochet it all! Sell it and keep one for myself!