Crochet Stone

(my Ravelry notes)

Crochet projects were not on my list for this month. On the contrary, I made a conscious decision not to include any knitting or crochet projects. You’ll have to blame it on Ravelry. I found my self browsing though their thousands of projects late saturday night and I came across this doily and knew I wanted to work on it during General Conference the next day. I didn’t have the thread it called for or a hook that small but I did have some pretty thin (single ply?) DMC Cotton Perle’ and a 1.4mm  hook to fit it, both much smaller/thinner than I had ever worked with, so I got started.

I followed the pattern exactly until I got to the first pretty picot edge and just loved it so much. I instantly started thinking about crochet stones and  remembered I had one last stone from my spring trip to Hawaii last year. I tried it on and knew it was meant to be. It fit perfectly around the face of my stone. Perfectly!

So, following the pattern for a few more rows but modifying it so it would decrease, than winging it for the last few rows, I worked on this for the last few days whenever there was a minute I wasn’t busy with something else.

Now the joints in my hand are stiff and sore. Working with such thin thread and small needles proves to be a bit more trying than supplies I’ve used before. However, it was worth it. I love the results so much. You can get so much more design on a stone this way and it is so pretty and delicate.

So, happily I add this as my second gift for the month. I hope there are some nature lovers out there that will love this as much as I do.

Read Full Post »

Crochet Newborn Hat Pattern

Things have been very nonproductive in the making and creating department this week. I’ve actually been off my feet for some self proclaimed bed (couch really) rest.  However, Saturday started look up again and so I took advantage of a slow Satruday morning to finish this little pattern up.

The size is for newborn only. I suspect that you could make it larger by adding some length and to the number of increase rows to make it just about any size.

(click on the photo to go to the pdf or look for it on the free patterns and tutorials page)

Enjoy

Read Full Post »

Newsboy Hat

Yesterday I crochet up a couple of newborn sized Newsboy Hats. Neither of these are for me. The first is a newborn photo prop for a friend and the second is for a little lady who will be born this summer.

Pattern can be found here. My notes for these hats are on Ravelry here and here.

I love the texture of these little hats. I think I will make one up in a bigger size for my summer baby boy. I think in a chunky handspun yarn in undyed Merino. Mmmm, that sound wonderful, the perfect accessory for my little guy this winter.

More crocheting will have to wait until after April. I’ve got too many projects that need to be organized and prepped for my Birthday Give Away this year.  Less than two weeks left!

Read Full Post »

I almost cried

when I saw it for the first time. There is was, all completed and ready to save as a PDF.

I admit that it was all a little rushed in the end but after stopping and starting this project again and again over the years, I decided it was time to just finish it.

And I did!

You can find it listed on my Free Patterns and Tutorials page or simply click on the pic in this post for a link to the PDF.

*** Update***

It has been brought to my attention that I left out part of the pattern. I will add it here until I have a minute to put up a new PDF.

Jacket – Front Left

Front Left

Cast on 14 sts.

Row

1-3 Work in moss st.

4 K12, P1, K1.

5 K1, P1, K1, P11.

6-11 Repeat rows 4 and 5 three times more.

12 Cast off 3 sts, K to last 2 sts, P1, K1. (11 sts)

Place marker at last cast off st.

13 K1, P1, K1, P8.

14 K1, Skpo, K6, P1, K1. (10 sts)

15 K1, P1, K1, P7.

16 K8, P1, K1.

17-18 Repeat rows 15 and 16 once.

19 Cast off 3 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)

20 K3, {K2tog} twice. (5 sts)

21 Cast off 2 sts, P3. (3 sts)

22 K across.

Cast off remaining 3 sts.

Read Full Post »

For Real This Time

I’m almost done.

The pattern is completed, the animals are completed and so are the clothes. All faces have been sewn on and so have the buttons. Pictures have been taken and they have also been edited. Now I just need to cross my fingers that adding pictures to the pattern wont give me a headache like it has in the past, print it to a pdf and upload it to patterns and tutorial.

Soon. For real. It should be done soon.

Read Full Post »

A little something for baby.

There is nothing like a bit of crafting to get yourself impatient for your little one to arrive. About a week after finding out I was having a boy I headed off to the yarn shop and picked up a bit of cotton self striping yarn for a hat.

Each of my babies so far have come home in the same blue check outfit and a Mother made crochet/knit hat just for them. This little guy will be no different.

I even had just enough yarn with just enough stripe rounds left to make a pair of little booties (they seem more like socks) that actually match each other.

These are both crochet with just a simple half double crochet stitch. I’ll have a pattern for the hat sometime soon but the socks were just quickly made without taking any notes. For the hat I used one of my other kids newborn hats, that I knew fit well, as a guide and just tried to make the socks 3 inches long in the foot so it will fit on a little baby. Hopefully the ties will help to keep them on his feet.

I cant wait to meet the little guy who will wear these little items.

 

Read Full Post »

Little Pieces

Lots and lots of them to be more precise.

Back in 2005 and 2006 I had grand plans to finish overhauling my knit bunny pattern. Adding instructions to make it a bear and some really cute clothes. I’d add a link but for some reason all my old links aren’t working anymore, hmmm. Well, here I am again. The pattern is finished. All I have left is to knit up a sample set for pictures. Correction, all I have to do is sew up all my little knit pieces and take some pictures.

My original plan was to make a cute little booklet full of illustrations and tips. Since the pattern has sat for so many years and to prevent 6 more years from passing by I’ve decided to scale things down a bit and simply get the pattern finished. Take out some of the bells and whistles and simplify the format so it works for a PDF that hopefully wont be a too long.

So, hopefully in the next month (I’m really hoping it wont take longer) I’ll have a pattern ready to show you.

Read Full Post »

Knitting again

It has been quite a while but I’ve picked up my needles again. It took me a while to find them too. They were scattered among various started and finished projects in various places of storage. Sheesh! The last time I remember knitting regularly was when Bron was a baby and that was almost 6 years ago.

It’s about time!

Read Full Post »

Inspiration

*** Thanks for your thoughts on cleaning. I finished reading the book and am in the process of making the things I learned apart of my routine. I’ll let you know if it work out. ***

While teaching a new friend to knit the other day I became inspired to work with fiber again. It had been a couple of years since I picked up a pair of needles and was enjoying it again. I restarted some long unfinished stockings and realized real quick that I needed something different. That just wasn’t the project for me right now.

On friday I read this post and was reminded how very beautiful Margaret Oomen’s work is and also that I remember seeing a tutorial out in blogland somewhere. After a little search I found the tutorial and got to work. For some reason I was having trouble following the directions and decided to try covering a stone with an improvised pattern. There was a bit of trial and error but I love how it turned out.

I loved revisiting the crochet hook as well. It had been more years than I remember since I had used one of those. And just like the tutorial stated, I could not make just one. Here is my own little still life.

Now my brain is thinking colors. Wouldn’t a stone look pretty in a robin’s egg color or something. We’ll see if I get around to it.

Read Full Post »

Bunny and Books

With a big paper out of the way this last Friday, I took a much needed break from schoolwork on Saturday. In order to rejuvenate myself I got to work finishing up the bunny I started the weekend before and then knit up her dress on the way to IKEA.

 

That evening I got to work on these books. I think they turned out so cute. I didn’t think that I would like the binding but I really do.

Update – If you would like to have one of these books for your own, I have added the one on the left to my etsy shop.

Read Full Post »

fall hat

upon request i have been trying to figure out the pattern to this hat (the cream one). here’s bron modeling my first try. 

the hat was intended for a baby, obviously my sizing was off. i should have used different sized needles since i knit so loose. now i just need to work on the size, find a good gauge, and knit it up again. i’ll post the pattern in free patterns when i get it done.

Read Full Post »

booties are done

ok, i can check them off my list.

i just love how they fit in my hand. soon there will be a little guy who will fill these with his tiny feet. too sweet. holding these make me hungry for a little one again.

for these booties i used a pattern from this book. (classic bootie pg 13) i did however make a few changes. i made a rib cuff instead of the roll top increasing the number of rows to 15 and did seed stitch instead of the written sockinette on the top of the booties. i also added the ties. they give a little extra help with keeping them on extra busy feet. i used super soft and yummy baby bamboo yarn in snuggly blue, with size 4 needles. 

Read Full Post »

the plan

wow! thanks for all the quilt love. did someone link to my blog? i have received so much traffic and so many e-mails the past few days. anyway, thank you.

so, my summer is coming to the end. i have one more week until we start homeschooling again, and than at the end of september i will start taking classes again. last year once school started for me i had very little time to do anything other than school related stuff for my kiddies or myself. it was kinda depressing not to be able to hang out with friends or go to church functions (other than sunday) or anything. if i had finished my homework and was willing to stay up late i could squeeze in a little crafting time but that didn’t happen very often at all. oh well. i figure that this year will be the same, so i dont have any grand plans in the works as far as projects go. i do however have a short list of things i want to finish before i start classes.

first let me show you the cute blankie i finished this last week. i followed the happy things tutorial again. it turned out way cute. i took my time and top-stitched each stripe since i wasn’t going to use batting and quilt it. when i finished the top i simply cut out some flannel the same size and bound it pillowcase style. i also added a few ties using embroidery floss, to keep the back from shifting away from the top. oh wait, before i sewed the flannel to the top i appliqued on an “e” with matching fabric. than i stitched around it with contrasting floss.  i love blankies like this. just perfect for wrapping a little one.

the e stands for elliot. a little boy who just arrived last week.

ok, now for my plans. i want to finish up these projects before school starts at the end of september.

the robot quilt: the top is done now i just need to quilt and bind it. the only problem is that i am not sure how i want to quilt it.

the self striping yarn project: i knit up a tube when i was on vacation in idaho but decided it was way to big to make as a purse so i frogged it, reset the yarn and started over with a smaller purse. the tube is completed as well as the strap. now i need to sew up one end of the tube add lining and a zipper and sew on the straps. i am much happier with the size. the biggest dilemma with this project is that i can’t decide if like the side showing or the inside better. i turned the tube inside out a realized that i like that side as well.

and than i have this fabric that i am dying to make into another quilt.

oh and one last thing. i have a friend who is need a pair of booties. i think the booties will come first since this week i will be traveling and they can come with me. i could also sew up the lining on the purse and bring it since it needs to be sew in by hand. yes, i think i will do that.

so anyway that is the plan. who knows how much of it i’ll get done. i’ll see you again if i make any progress.

Read Full Post »

subtle stripes and another quilt

i left town last week and took my spinning wheel with me. i almost didn’t bring it but was so glad that i did. the yarn turned out to be very beautiful on my self striping attempt. here’s the wip. the stripes are subtle but they’re there. hurray!

it’s going to be another lined bag.

here is another finished quilt. why am i making baby quilts? who knows, but there are two more tops waiting for me to finish.

Read Full Post »

a couple of projects finished

yesterday i headed over to laura‘s and got to work on the skirt for thisbe. i was surprisingly painless. i hadn’t sewn clothes for her since she was a toddler. i have to say that i wasn’t a fan of the fabric she picked out at joann’s the other day but when put together as a skirt it turned out pretty cute. it was made from the 3 peas tutorial here at kuky ideas.

i also finished the purse i started at the black sheep gathering. adding the lining and zipper was much easier than i thought it would be.

i also think it’s pretty cool how the yarn i spun up self striped. now that i have finished this i am going to try and dye my own roving to see if i can get it to self stripe again.

Read Full Post »

Not Quite In Time For Santa

I have finished two stockings. Well I do still need to put names on them. I figure that I will wait until I finish them all and then put names on, just incase someone has strong feelings toward or against a stocking. I didn’t finish knitting mine until christmas day and I didn’t finish weaving in loose ends until last night. I plan on having it ready for next year.

I have been doing a little sewing. I have made a baby blanket for a little girl due to arrive next month. I plan on making a matching bib if I can get around to it.

Read Full Post »

All Knit Up

So, I’ve got Bronwyn’s stocking all knit up. Now I need to duplicate stitch her name or something, probably  the letter B, and than Bron’s will be done. I don’t plan on starting my stocking until after finals as knitting is very distracting and addicting.

Read Full Post »

It’s Not What You Might Think

I finished all my homework. Really, I did.

I finished the heel and gusset and I am now working on the foot. I don’t know how far to go before I start decreasing for the toe. I am hoping homework is quick and easy this week too. I want to finish this so I can start on mine.

I am so unhappy with my pictures. It is not a finacial priority to buy a new camera right now. I am sad that all my pictures are tuning out like this and that I was forced to make the choice to:

Post with no pictures, or Post with blurry ones. I went with the obvious for me but someone else may have choses the other. 

Maybe I’ll ask Santa for a new one. Do you think he can make quality cameras in his toy shop?

Read Full Post »

Time Is Limited

Well school has picked up and it seems I only have a couple of hours for myself each week. I have been cutting into my study time a little and started Bronwyn’s Christmas Stocking. I am following Laura‘s pattern except I am making it a little bigger so I can knit it on 16″ circulars. I plan on duplicate stitching her name or maybe just a B or maybe something or nothing else. I have finished the leg and now I need to divide for the heel but I need the recommended book to do this. I have ordered it from the library and they say it’s in but I really need to focus on homework for an other day so I’ll let it sit for now and maybe if I am desperate (I probably will be) I will pick it up tomorrow and cut into my homework just a little. It’s so hard. Doing crafts is so addicting. It is all I can do to keep myself focused on anything else. Balance right? It’s all about balance.

Read Full Post »

Not Too Crazy Yet

I had my first day of class on Thrusday and I dont start my other class until today. So I got in a little knitting time this weekend. These are for a friend of my dad’s. My camera broke so I am using my daughters and it is very overcast. This explains the poor photo. My dad is coming to get them this morning so I had to do the photo shoot now if I wanted to document them. They turned out cute, good photo or not.

-Update- My dad decided not to pick these up that day so today I decided to give it another go with the picture. The results are better but sadly not as nice as I would hope. I was really hoping I wouldn’t need to get a new camera. Thisbe’s just doesn’t seem to take as nice of pictures. Oh well.

Read Full Post »

Bear with Striped Sweater

This little guy was knit up with cotton yarn using my pattern again. I made him for a child so he has  saftey eyes. I followed the pattern with the exception of the eyes and I used size 4 needles instead of the recommended 5. The sweater is not with the patter either. I needed one that didn’t have buttons.

Read Full Post »

Knitting in a Round

For some reason I have always been against circular needles or double pointed needles. If a pattern says to use them I always try to convert the pattern to two strait ones.  I don’t know what I was thinking. I knit up the pink striped hat on two strait needles and it took me the whole weekend. I decided to give it a go with 16″ circular ones and I finished both the green striped one and than the cream eyelet hat in one day. Granted I did have more time to give the hats that day but I was blown away by how much faster it is to knit  in a round. From now on I will not hesitate to knit in a round.

Read Full Post »

The Pattern’s Almost Done

I have been taking a break from making things, trying to figure out why I make them and where my time doing it should lie on my priority list. High on my list of craft things is this Bear/Rabbit Pattern. I need to finish it. The pattern is done. Someone has test knit it for me and I have done all the fine tuning I want to do. I just need proofread one more time, maybe add another illustration, make a couple of little guys for a cover photo and print it out. Ok I guess I’ve got a ways to go, but I have come a long way.

Here is a little guy dressed in green overalls. I made him in cotton with safety eyes so he’ll be ok for a child.

Read Full Post »

Green Hat, Booties and Bib

Just wanted to post a picture of my latest knitting project, I have finished the bib pattern now all I need to do is post it.

Read Full Post »

Knit Bib

I figured out what to do with some of my cotton yarn.

This is my first attempt at a bib. I am happy with its size and shape. I had trouble trying to figure out how to make the neck straps curve but I think I got it. The neck is big enough that Bronwyn should be able to use it for a while. I was going to make it close with a snap but I had too much trouble with that so I used Velcro.

I am going to make one more and than I’ll post the pattern in Free Patterns.

Read Full Post »

Pink Stripes

Here is another hat /booties set I finished for My Etsy Shop.

Read Full Post »

Stripity Stripes

Aren’t these too cute? Know anyone with a baby boy?

I made these for my Etsy shop. They are made with  Tahki Cotton Classic yarn. I figured they would be great for those cooler spring/summer nights when your out and about.

I tried them on Bronwyn and I just love how they look and fit.

Read Full Post »

Is there too much of a good thing?

Yes Yes I know MORE BOOTIES!!! I just cant help it. They are so cute. I love to make things for our little ones. I actually made two pairs exactly the same. One pair for Bronwyn and the other for a friend at church. The good news is that there is always a baby being born at church so if I so desire I can make a dozen.

These were made with the same Cotton Classic Tahki Yarn as the green and purple ones.

Read Full Post »

Mary Jane Booties

 I have finished the pattern for these Mary Jane Booties. They should fit a new baby for the first few months. I have filed the pattern in Free Patterns if anyone is interested in knitting up a pair for a precious little one.

Read Full Post »

more booties

First I want to apologize for the quality of the photos. I can’t seem to upload pictures without drastically reducing the quality right now. Also Bronwyn wouldn’t hold still so I had a hard time getting a picture in focus.

With that said. These first booties are my favorite. I love the way they fit and look. They are made from a pattern in this book. I added the crochet ties and used size 3 needles instead of 5 to make them small enough to fit Bronwyn, but otherwise I followed the pattern. I made these and the mary jane booties with Tahki Cotton Classic.

These are my first attempt at making my own bootie pattern.  They need a higher back and smaller strap to help them stay on better. Other than that I think they are real cute. I got lots of compliments at church yesterday. When I give them another try with the back fixed I’ll post the pattern.

Read Full Post »