Crafty Christmas Presents

I haven't died, I promise. :)  Things have been super busy around here. Now that the holidays are over, I actually have time to think again. Quick update: I never did get the other 3 mario mushrooms done for my sis but she was thrilled with the one I did get done and never did complete any washcloths. There should be an award for most projects started and least projects finished...I'd win every time. lol.

Between me and my daughter, we should be decked out for a while.

My daughter got the large knitting machine. She has already whipped up 2 scarves and is totally in love with it. I got the little knitting machine. It does i-cords VERY quickly. I also got a 10" pair of US size 8/5.00 mm stiletto point, bell capped knitting needles from Signature Needle Arts. After tax and shipping they were $41 but this is only my second pair in 2 years. I'm totally in love with them. They make knitting so much easier.

Close ups of everything

Hope everyone had a wonderful christmas with their families.

Update 10/27/11

Ok. So lots has happened in a very short time. Through a very long series of disastrous events, we lost our house and moved in with my mother. So my crafting has taken a back burner.

Now that we are settling into a routine, I'm finally finding time to craft again. I'm working on a set of Mario Brothers Mushrooms for my sister. I actually have one of them done. Now I just have to finish the other three. ;)

The Digits of Pi scarf I was working on for my hubby got packed and I have no idea where it is at the moment.

I've been working on knitting some dishcloths using the Ballband Dishcloth pattern found on most Peaches & Cream yarn labels. I'm still on my first one but you gotta start some where.

Will write again soon...I hope.
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All done!

Here is the second completed set. See the following links for original patterns:
Mittens:
www.spudandchloe.com/blog/2010/05/baby-mitts-free-pattern/
Booties:
www.bernat.com/pattern.php?pid=4187&cps=21191
Hat:
mycrafty-creations.blogspot.com/2011/07/simple-knit-newborn-baby-hat.html
The hat is a variation of the pattern I posted back in July of this year. Here are the alternate directions:
Beginning at the end of Rnd 11.
Rnd 12: k2tog around.
Work I-cord for about 3".
Bind off. Knot I-cord.
Simple enough. Enjoy!
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Fun Fur Flip Flops

Did these in about an hour this morning.
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials:
Caron Simply Soft in Watermelon
Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes in Cotton Candy
I/9-5.5 mm Crochet Hook
1 pair of flip flops
Gauge: Not the least bit important. ;)
Pattern:
Holding both strands of yarn together throughout, starting on right-hand side of (while looking from top down) work a row of as many single crochet as you can fit across strap. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Enjoy!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Meet Figaro

We got a new kitten today. We decided on the name Figaro. (We have a thing for Disney cats ;). ) Anyway, so far Bagheera doesn't like him. Any suggestions on getting them to get along better?
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Where has the time gone?

Haven't had much time for crafting here lately. Been worn out from work. Cake decorating is harder than it looks.

I am working on another baby hat, mittens and booties for a friend. I try and work on them a little every day. I have the mittens and one of the booties done. Just leaves the other bootie and the hat. I don't work on monday so I'm definitely gonna try and make time for this set. Will get a pic of the entire set when its done. Hopefully within the next week.
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CYA and Scarf Update

This is the link to the image where I found the pi chart I used for the scarf.

http://www.theflossbox.com/gallery/cross_stitch/2007/pi_day

This is me officially saying that I did not design the pi symbol in the scarf I am knitting. I Google searched images of pi and this was one of the results. I zoomed in to like 400% and charted it out in a spreadsheet program on my computer. I don't know who it is, but I give full credit to the designer. I only used what the image depicted because it was available on the internet.

Anyway, it's going well. I've made it passed the equals (=) sign and am about to begin the numbers. Looking forward to it.

Digits of Pi Scarf

Finally! Something worthy to show for what I've been learning recently. :)
I've been learning to double-knit. The pattern can be found on panandora.blogspot.com. The pattern is not my own inspiration but adding the Pi symbol at the beginning was my idea. I Google searched images of pi and a cross stitch design showed in the results. After much zooming in I could actually chart out what the image showed and...Ta-Da!
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Need A Laugh?

If you need a laugh this morning, check out this link: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/08/how-to_no-sew_nipple_tassels.html

I follow FaveCrafts on twitter and the asked, funny or inappropriate?

What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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Always Gotta Be In The Big Middle Of Things

Cats are so much fun until they need to be in the big middle of things. :D
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WIP Wednesday

 

These are the 2 scarves I'm working on. 

The pink one on the left is for me. It's supposed to be 72" but I think I'll end up stopping somewhere around 60". I'm using Caron Simply Soft in Soft Pink. This is my first attempt at anything with cables. So far I think it's going well. The pattern can be found here: http://www.caron.com/projects/ss/ss12_reverse_cable_scarf.html. 

The camo one on the right is for my husband. Not sure how long I'm going to make it but probably somewhere in the vicinity of 60" as well. Just using a simple k2, p2 ribbing. For a man you can be too frilly or he won't wear it. 

WIP Wednesday

Once again, I'm late posting.

Things in progress:

• k2, p2 rib scarf for the hubby.
• reversible cable rib scarf for my daughter
• crochet sampler afghan found in season 2 of knitandcrochettoday.com 
• Click "free patterns," then "season 2," and scroll down to the bottom to show 224: teens get stitching. The square of the week for that episode is actually the pattern for the full afghan. You have to register on their site to be able to download the pdf but as it's free to register, it doesn't seem like too much to ask.

So far I've done about 12" on my husband's scarf, about 8" on my daughter's scarf, and 3 squares of the sampler afghan. I haven't been able to find the pattern for my daughter's scarf online anywhere. I got it for free from the Michael's location in Wichita Falls, TX. Don't know how copyrights work about me uploading an image of it since it's offered for free. Will do some research on it. The sampler afghan is slow work. I kinda got bored with it and haven't worked on it in about a week or so. I plan on working on it some this week.

Will get some pics up soon. Still figuring out my new phone and that's the only camera I have at the moment.

FO Friday

Well, I have nothing to report finished this week. I have 3 things in progress, but I'll discuss them on Wednesday.
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Shame on me...

I've gotten really bad about posting here lately. So I've decided to do a couple of things that a lot of yarn crafting blogger's do...WIP Wednesday, Thought for Thursday, FO Friday, etc. As I think of things for the other days I'll start doing them too. Maybe then I can get in the habit of posting more regularly.

So for my first Thought for Thursday I thought I would review a yarn I recently tried out.

I was browsing the new pattern listings on www.CrochetPatternCentral.com to see if anything caught my eye. I found the pattern by Bernat called "Trapper Hat." Inspired by a hunting cap design, I thought it would be interesting to try. So I ordered the recommended yarn from www.Knitting-Warehouse.com. When the yarn came in I was so excited that I started the project within an hour of UPS dropping off the package. I ordered the Bernat® Fab Faux (70 g/2.5 oz; 23 m/25 yds) in Chinchilla. Overall, the yarn is pretty on the skein and worked. However, I didn't like how the pattern ended up. I guess I crocheted it too tightly because it looked more like a saucer than a toboggan. I was very disappointed with it but my sister loved it so I let her have it. Also, if you have allergies, I wouldn't recommend this yarn because the fibers tend to come loose. I've been sneezing and had a runny nose for 2 days now.

Overall evaluation:

• Weight: Super Chunky
• Bad for allergy sufferer's 
• Would definitely use again...but with a different pattern. 

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Simple Knit Newborn Baby Hat (2 Versions)

Version 1

Version 2

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Materials:

2 colors of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn

-MC (ex: 0394 Lullaby)

-CC (ex: 0724 Baby Pink)

Set of 4 or 5 US size 7/4.5 mm dpns

Stitch marker

Yarn needle

Instructions: (For both versions.)

With CC, cast on 56 sts and divide on dpns as follows:
If using set of 4 dpns: Needles 1 & 3: 20 sts. Needle 2: 16 sts.
If using set of 5 dpns: Needles 1, 2, 3, & 4: 14 sts.
Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. Place stitch marker at 1st stitch.
Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 1".
Change to MC and knit around until hat measures 2½ - 3".
Change back to CC.

Begin decreasing as follows:

R1: k5, k2tog; rep around.

R2 and alt rnds: knit around.

R3: k4, k2tog; rep around.

R5: k3, k2tog; rep around.

R7: k2, k2tog; rep around.

R9: k1, k2tog; rep around.

R11: k2tog; rep around.

Version 1

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in ends.

Make a 1-1½" pom-pom and attach to top of hat and enjoy.

Version 2

Rnd 12: k2tog around.

Work I-cord for about 2 - 2½".

Bind off. Knot I-cord.

Enjoy!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Completed Baby Set

Baby Set

Was planning on waiting to post these until the hat was done, but I'm having trouble finding one that I like. Anyway, a friend of mine's neice is having a baby shortly after thanksgiving and I decided to knit a set of mitts, booties and cap. Here's my progress so far.

Crazy Ruffle Ring

This one is fairly easy and quick to work up. Pattern here: http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-crazy-ruffle-ring/

You can't really tel but it was worked in Burgundy and white.

Homemade Yarn Bobbin

So I started working on the front side of the pillow and I quickly discovered that changing colors so much is slightly problematic when it comes to keeping the yarn untangled. I was watching an episode of Knit & Crochet Today and they were making a knit cushion on which they did change colors a lot. They used yarn bobbins. (Duh!) Of course I don't have any and the closest store to buy any is 60 miles away. I was talking to my husband about making me some wooden ones when he suggested cardboard. (2nd Duh!) So I googled images of yarn bobbins and found a very good picture of some made by the Susan Bates company. I just drew the image on the cardboard and cut it out and voila! Cheap and quick yarn bobbins.
Hope this helps somebody...
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A New Crafter is Born...

My 7 year old daughter, Angelique, asked me to teach her to knit today! YAY! My inner crafter is downright giddy! I am in desperate need of tips and tricks to make it simple for her. I am self taught. I didn't have anyone to teach me. I actually even taught my mom. :) But for a 7 year old, I am clueless.

Please help. Any and all tips are very much appreciated!

We are starting with a small pillow. The original pattern is a large pillow but it is made in 4 smaller parts that could be made in 4 small pillows instead. The front is pretty detailed and I would do that but the back is strictly stockinette stitch so we figured she could do that. Or if she has too much trouble with it we could change it to garter stitch and it would look fine.

The pattern can be found at KnitandCrochetToday.com. Go to Free Patterns. Then click on Season 2. Then scroll down almost halfway to Show 210: Stitching with Kids. You have to register to download the free pdf but that's free too.


Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Happy 4th of July...A bit late

Meant to get on here earlier but just wasn't able to make it happen. Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.

Crochet Brim Hat (Newsboys Style Beanie)

Well...the large hipster doily didn't happen. I think I may have found a typo in the pattern and I'm waiting on the designer to email me about it. So I did this instead:

It is the Crochet Brim Hat featured on Knit and Crochet Today. I think it turned out very cute. Will definitely get some use out of this one. Pattern can be found here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-brim-hat. I didn't like the flower though. So I used the Crochet Motif VI: Six-Petal Flower Motif. Pattern found here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60147.html?noImages=.

Bagheera's New Collar

Just finished a patriotic collar. Pattern can be found here: http://poshpoochdesignsdogclothes.blogspot.com/2011/05/slip-on-patriotic-dog-collar-crochet.html

Hipster Doily

Worked this one up last night before bed. Pattern can be found here: http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-hipster-doily/. I used Red Heart Super Saver in Mistletoe and an I/9-5.50 mm crochet hook so it turned out to be 12" in diameter instead of 7" like the pattern states. Tonight I'm going to work the Larger Hipster doily. Pattern found here: http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-large-hipster-doily/. Will post pictures tomorrow of the end results.

One of these days I'm going to get a digital camera with more than 2 mp...

Just A Quick Note

Early in my years of crocheting, I invested in an interchangeable steel hook set. Over the years, the nut that holds the tip in quit staying tight while being used. Today I had an idea. Wrap the threads with some teflon tape a couple of times. It works fantastically!
Hope it helps somebody. :)
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Mrs. Micawber's Beachy Little Bracelets #2 & #3

Did these today to get a feel for the bracelets I will be teaching to my sister. Patterns can be found at the following web addresses:

• Bracelet #1: http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/2011/05/bead-crochet-101-beachy-little.html
• Bracelet #2: http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/2011/05/bead-crochet-101-beachy-little-bracelet.html
• Bracelet #3: http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/2011/05/bead-crochet-101-beachy-little-bracelet_10.html

They are all really easy, fast and fun to make. You could probably make all 3 in one afternoon. I will most likely be making many more of these to gift to people. 

Ring Around the Rosy

Just finished a crocheted ring. Only took about an hour or so. Pattern is here: http://www.crochettoday.com/crochet-patterns/ring-around-rosy 

I used a steel hook size 1 and it turned out a little small. I think I'm gonna give it to my daughter.

You know you are a yarn crafter when....

people give you yarn just because. :D

Thank you Dinah!

Auron's Blanket is done!

Finally finished Auron's blanket last night and he loves it.

The pattern can be found here: http://bohoknits.blogspot.com/2011/03/classic-granny-square-blanket.html

Beaded Bracelet

Just finished making the bracelet found at http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/2011/05/bead-crochet-101-beachy-little.html with my sister. Neither one of us was able to make it perfect but the one I made fit her wrist and the one she made fit my ankle. lol

Here is my picture.

Here is my sister's picture.

Mrs. Micawber has 2 more bracelets in this series and we are going to be making them when she's in town or when I'm up there visiting her. We will definitely post pictures of the end results.

Angel's Granny Square Blanket

Well I already used up the Bernat Baby Blanket yarn. lol Sure didn't take long. About 5 days and I had this done. It's just a basic granny square that before starting each round I turned instead of continuing in spirals. This way there is no definite front or back. Just perfect for a 7 year old drama queen.

Let me know what you think.

Free Pattern: Gift Card/Business Card Holder Sleeve

This card holder is crocheted longways with the opening on one of the short sides. I got the original inspiration from Rachel Choi's Simple Business Card Sleeve which can be found here. I got some variegated (or multicolored) yarn that didn't stripe the way I wanted to so I tried crocheting it a different way to come up with the results I wanted. Hope you like it. Feel free to sell finished items made with this pattern, however, please give credit for the design to me. Thanks.

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: Will fit standard sized gift cards and business cards.

Materials

WW yarn (example: Red Heart Super Saver in Mistletoe #0979)

I/9 – 5.50 mm Crochet Hook

At least 1 stitch marker

Yarn Needle

Gauge: Not critical. However, make sure your foundation chain is 1 ch longer than the width of your card.

Notes

• Pattern is worked amigurumi style (or in spirals). At the end of each round, do not join with sl st and ch 1. Instead, sc in first stitch of previous round.
• Place the stitch marker in the 1^st stitch of each round.

Instructions

Ch. 10, loosely.

Rnd. 1: Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Working in open loops on opposite side of chain, sc in each ch across. (18 sc)

Rnd. 2: Sc in each sc around. (18 sc)

Repeat Rnd 2 to desired length. Mine ended up being 15 Rnds.

On last round, sl st the last 7 sts. This will make the tops even.

Fasten off, use yarn needle to weave in ends, and turn right side out.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

New Yarn Day!!!

I got 3 balls of this one to make a blanket for my daughter. Although, I'm pretty sure it's gonna take more than this. It is Bernat Baby Blanket (the new version) in 03305 Pink/Blue.

I plan on using this one for the Gift Card Holders. Very Christmas-y. It is Red Heart Super Saver in 0979 in Mistletoe.

Also, started working on a blanket for Auron using Red Heart Super Saver in Banana Berry. It's a Giant Granny Square.

Here is the yarn:

And here is my progress so far:

The pattern can be found here: http://bohoknits.blogspot.com/2011/03/classic-granny-square-blanket.html 

Card Holder Update

These get my total up to 13 of 82.