Baby Boy Blanket

This is a gift for one of my cousins who is having a boy.  Its a circular chevron in the round in the colors baby blue, and chocolate. 

I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who has not attempted both a circular blanket, and done chevron before.  I had a few issues while working it with rippling but I manage to work most of them out, by doing a round with no increases (the brown rounds).  I also started my rounds in a bad spot, where my joins where on top of a skip/decrease section and it floated to right after and my count got messed up so on the next color change I just cut the yarn and did a standing DC start 3 stitch's from the tip of the point before my previous join.

I do not have a pattern, as I worked on this on the go at a friends, and during new years at a party and didnt write down what I did but it should be similar to any of these patterns on Ravelry.   FYI if you dont have a Rav account make one now, its free, they wont spam you with emails, and there are ton's of patterns including some of mine you can find with there customizable search tools.

Remy is here!

I do not offten get to see photos of the items I make for people which is ok, but I alway love it when I do.   Remy 8lbs 2oz born June 9, 2014.  They got some professional photos taken and used the turtle set I made in one of the shots here it is. Jessica Donna Photography took the photos.  So much better then a stuffed cat no?

Turtle Power!!

Symbolizes longevity, good luck, wisdom, and support.  The turtle has a amazing symbolic history across culturs those are just a few.

I hope some of them are imparted into this cute baby set I just finished for Beck who is expecting soon.  I didn't have a baby to photograph them on so I made due with my stuffed tabby.

Sea Creatures *Patterns*

***UPDATE*** You can now download the PDF booklet for these patterns

I was asked by my aunt Mary to work up a few sea creatures for a friend who is about to have a baby girl.

I am going to start off with a dolphin pattern--

Dolphin,
Worked nose down.

Dolphin
Grey yarn - worst weight
H hook
Stitch Marker

Start off with a magic ring or your preferred starting in the round method.  Here is a video of me showing you how to start a magic ring (from my penguin pattern).   I am working in a continuous spiral which is why I am using a Stitch Marker so I can keep my count.If you like, you can slst and join rounds at the end of each round everything else should work exactly the same.  Make sure to stuff as you go, and add in your eyes (if your doing safety eyes).

Start of the Decrease

R1 Sc 3 (3)
R2 Sc all (3)
R3 Sc all (3)
R4 Work the next four stitches into the same stitch (its an increase)- HDC DC3, in the next stitch work DC3 HDC, Sc in last stitch. (9)
R5 *Sc 2, inc* repeat (12)
R6 *Sc 5, inc* repeat (14)
R7-8 Sc all (14)
R9 *Sc 6, inc* twice (16)
R10-12 Sc all (16)
R13-14 Sc 4, hdc 8, sc 4 (16)
R15-16 Sc all (16)
R17 Sc 6, dec twice, sc 6 (14)
R18-19 Sc all (14)
R20 Sc 4, dec, sc, dec, sc 4 (11)
R21-22 sc all (11)
R23 sc2, dec, sc 2, dec, sc 3
R24 sc all (9)
R25 *Dec, sc* repeat
R26-27 Sc all (6)
R28 Stuff it as much as you want now, this row will close off the body. - Sc 2 (or how ever many it takes to get to the side of the tail) Pinch the opening closed flat, SC threw first 2 stiches held together, then sc threw the next 2, and last 2 (3)

Start of tail.

R29 Chain 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc2 , hdc, slst (the slst should be in the middle of your 3 sc from the body), slst, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc2, hdc, slst (the slst should be in the middle of your 3 sc over prevous slst) FO

Dorsal Fin Make 1

Chain 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc inc, dc, extended dc (yarn over, put a hook threw the stich pull up a loop, yo and work one loop, then yarn over and work 2, yo work 2), ext dc, fo leave long tail for sewing onto the top of the body

Sew the Dorsal fin onto the top of the body, making sure you are sewing along the last ext dc to the bod. I sewed mine in starting at row 13

Side Fin's Make 2

Chain 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc inc, ext dc inc, fo leave long tail to sew into body.

Like with the Dorsal fin, sew along the last ext dc into the body.   I sewed mine in on row 10/11 depending on on which side your sewing it to (the spiral will put one starting at 10 the other at 11 if you joined all your rows then start them in the same row).

If you used safety eyes you are finished!

If you didnt use safety eyes, either sew on buttons/beads, embroider on eyes, or felt on eyes.  I used some black ww yarn, and made french knots for eyes so it would be safe for the baby this toy is going to.

Octopus, and a Jelly fish.
They will be nearly the exact same thing,with the Jellyfish having one extra step for its ruffle.

I will be using my Octo pattern found here,  I will add the pattern with the Jellyfish adjustment here, the adjusted row will be all in bold so if you wanted to make a cute pair like I am you don't have to go flipping threw the site looking for it just skip the Jelly row, also with some minor adjustments so it has 8 legs instead of the 6 in the original pattern.

For the Octo I will be using-
Yellow ww yarn
Black yarn for eyes
H Hook
Stitch Marker (working in continuous rows)

For the Jellyfish I will be using-
Pink WW yarn
Black yarn for eyes
H Hook
Stitch Marker (working in continuous rows)


R1-Magic Ring 8 sc

R2- Increase (Inc) in each stitch (16)
R3- Inc, sc repeat all the way around (24)
R4- Inc, sc2 repeat (24)
R5-R10 SC all (32) (you will repeat this round till you have 8 rows)
R11- Dec, sc2 (24)
JELLYFISH ROW- This is worked in the front loops of row 11-skip if you want a normal Octo

Finished Leg, next to a Ch 14 so you can see the size difference.

R11JF- I slst my gray yarn, into the front loop of the previous row and chained up 3.  If you want the jellyfish ruffle to be the same color as the body just slst into the first front loop with working yarn then chain two.  Work 3dc into each FLO st all the way around ending with a slst into the top of your starting chain, FO (or if you working in one color slst three times into the post to get the working yarn back to the working stitch row.
 R12- Dec, sc (16) This will all be worked in the back loops of row 11 not the R11JF.  If using safety eyes you should add them now.
 R13-Legs row- Dec in the front loops only, chain 14, Dc 3 in the 3 chain from hook, dc2 into each chain back up (Your leg length will be about 1/2 to 2/3 of the size of your chain, so if you want smaller/longer leg's just chain less/more stitches, with ch 14 my leg's will be short) Repeat 7 more times leaving you  with 8 legs and 8 sc. sl st into the first dec.  (8)
 R14- Dec all in back loops of R 13(8)
FO leave a long tail.  Weave tail threw 8 stitches, stuff firmly, and cinch the bottom close and secure weaving tail threw the body.

If you didn't use safety eyes, now is the time to sew/felt on your eyes.

I crocheted mine-

Eyes make 2-
 MR Sc 6 FO, leave long tail for sewing and embellishing the eyes.

Clown Fish

I will be using the following-
Orange ww yarn
White ww yarn
H hook
Stitch Marker

This pattern is worked with the rounds joined, not continuous as the previous patterns.  So you need to know how to do a color change (work the last yo in new color then pull threw before doing the slip stitch to join the round), end each row with a slst and chain.  I do not cut the yarn between color changes, I carry it up along the inside, you can cut color changes if your not completable working with 2 strands at a time.


With Orange
R1- MR sc 6
R2- Inc all (12)
R3- Inc, sc (18)
R4-5- Sc all (18)

R6- Inc (do 3 stitchs into one), sc 8, Inc ( 3 in 1), sc 8 (22)
R7-8- Sc all (22) Switch to white on the last pull threw of last stitch before you join round with slst
R9- Sc, Inc (3 in 1), sc 10, Inc (3 in 1), sc 9 (26)
R10- sc all (26)
R11- sc all (26) Switch to Orange at end
R12-15- sc all (26) Switch to white at the end of round 15
R16- Sc 2, dec  (3 into 1), sc 10, dec  (3 into 1), sc 8 (22)
R17-18- sc all (22) Switch to Orange at end of R18
R19- Dec (normal Dec this round where you only work 2 into 1), sc 4, dec, sc 4, dec, sc 4, dec, sc 2 (18)
R20-Sc all (18)
R21- Dec (2 in 1 normal again), sc 4 -repeat 3 times(15)
R22- Sc all (15) Switch to white
R23- Dec (2 in 1), sc 3(13)
R24- Sc All till 2nd from last stitch then dec (12)
R25- sc all (12) Switch to orange and secure white yarn and cut it off
R26- sc all (12)
You should make sure your eyes are in if your using safety eyes, and finish stuffing.
R27- Slst loosely into the first and second stitchs. Now like in the dolphin pattern we are going to pinch the opening shut, and sc across it (which is why we did the slst to get to the starting point for the closur make sure you are making it from top to bottom and not side to side as with the dolphin). Ch 1, sc across threw both layers (6)
R28-Ch 3 (counts as first dc), Dc 3 times in the first stitch, 2 Dc in next st, Dc next 2 st, Dc 2 in the next stitch, Dc 4 in the last stitch. (12)
R29- Sc all FO (12)


Side fin's 2-in orange
Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc & dc in next ch, ext dc in all remaining ch st (7)
Ch and turn, sc across, sc twice in last stitch, and work along the bottom (ie no chain and turn) sl st across (should be 5 st) FO leaving long tail for sewing to body

Top Fin

Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc remainder ch st's.  Work 2 sc into the post of the last hdc and FO with a long tail.

I made the same eyes from the previous pattern, all that is left is to sew everything in!



Simple Star Fish Pattern

This pattern will be so simple.

Legs -Make 5

R1- MR 6
R2- Sc all
R3- Sc all
R4- Inc, sc2 repeat (8)
R5- Sc all
R6- sc all
R7- sc all
R8- sc all

Leave a tail for sewing legs together.

Once you have all 5 legs, stuff them, then holding two legs together sew two stitch across both legs, skip two stitches on one leg, pick up new leg and tail and sew together two stitches of both legs.  You should have two stitches on either side of the connected legs that are unworked, continue this till you have all 5 connected and form a ring with the first and last legs sewing the same middle set of 2 stitches together.  Now all you need to do is whip stitch along the top stitches that where unworked, and cinch them shut and repeat on the bottom with one of the tails.  Weave in all ends, tucking all tails and you are done.


Seahorse Pattern

Seahorse on a stick!! (stick not included)

1- mr 4 slst ch1
2-sc all
3- inc*3 all  slst ch 1 (12)
4 sc all
5 sc all
6 sc 2, hdc 8, sc 2
7 sc 2, hdc dec 4, sc 2 (8)
8 sc, hdc 6, sc
9 sc, hdc 6, sc
10 sc all
11 sc all
12 inc 2, sc 4, inc 2 (12) (switch to continuous rounds)
 slst 4 -This is the  new star of the round of each round make sure to put your Stitch Marker here.  All remaining rows worked in BLO-
13 sc all (12)
14 sc 6, inc 6 (18)
15 sc all
16 sc all
17 sc, dec 2, sc rest  (16)
18 dec 2, sc 5, inv 2, sc 5
19 sc all
20 dec 2, sc rest (14)
21 dec, sc5, dec, sc 5 (12)
22 dec, sc 4, dec, sc 4 (10)
23 sc 2, dec, sc2, dec, sc2 (8)
24 dec, sc 2 rpt (6)
25 sc all
26 hdc 3 slst 3
27 sc all
28 sc 2, dec 2 (4)
29 sc all
30 sc all
31 dec, sc (3)
32 sc all
33 sc all
34 sc all
35 sc all

Leave LONG tail, fnish off and close up tail.  Roll the tail in a spiral like in the picutes and sew it as you roll to secure it.

Dorsal Fin

Chain 6, in the 2nd chain from hook sc across.
Chain 2 turn and hdc back arosss and slst down theend side.

Leave long tail to sew into the back of the body with.

I made french knots out of some black yarn for eyes but feel free to use safty eyes or buttons or beads.




Great White Shark
Last but not the lease, my shark!

1 mr 4
2 sc all
3  inc sc
4 inc all
5 sc all
6 sc all
7 switch to white- inc, sc2 inc, switch to gray, sc 2, inc, sc 2 repeat
8-White-inc, sc 4, inc, GRAY-inc, sc 3, in 2, sc 3, in
9- sc all White in white, gray in gray
10-18- sc all White in white, gray in gray
19-grey dec, white sc 4, grey dec, sc6, dec*3, sc 6
20- sc all grey
21- dec, sc 4
22- sc all
23-dec, sc3
24- sc all
25-dec, sc 2
26- sc all     

Tail 

Pinch opening closed and sc it shut in the same manner as the Dolphin tail.  Ch 5, slst in 2 ch from hook, sc, hdc, dc 5, ch 4, slst in 2nd ch from hook, sc all slst in last st

Fin's

Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc & dc in next ch, ext dc in all remaining ch st (7)
Ch and turn, sc across, sc twice in last stitch, and work along the bottom (ie no chain and turn) sl st across (should be 5 st) FO leaving long tail for sewing to body.

I did french knots again for the eyes.

I think if I make an other shark, I will need to adjust the belly patch so it doesn't have that slant to it.

Gift for Miss Jordan -WIP-

 Birthday Gift 

for 

Miss Jordan

 I have seen these booties all over for a while now.   
This is the Crocodile Stitch Child Boots designed by Lianka Azulay.  I had to make a few adjustments to the pattern, I made my soles in black so her mom can add black puff paint making them non-slip if she wants with out it being noticeable.   I made some stitch count adjustments as well to get the size just right for her so they would not be to small or large.

I am using one skein of Chroma Luau WW, with a sole of  a few yards RHSS black. 

I think the baby size in this boot look the best, I realize the bigger the shoe the more noticeable the flaws in the pattern.  The front decreases have left some gaps that when the shoe is stretched are noticeable.  The directions for finishing the soles could use better defining I fallowed what they wrote, and did not get the right stitch count I had to go back and modify how I worked my corners.  Fallowing their directions I always came up 4 stitches short so I made two increases in each corner instead of putting 2 stitches in each corner as the pattern called for.

If I ever had call to make an other pair of these boot's I think I will make the sole I wrote for my other boots and just make sure I end with the right amount of stitches because it is more foot shaped and less rectangular, these booties I would call super wide width if you use the patterns sole, that is coming from someone who has wide width feet herself.

I still need to find some buttons to use and sew them on for closure, and weave in all my ends.  The photos are of the semi-finished right boot.  I am going to start the left boot now, sadly I did not end in a spot where they will be perfect matches, the left will start with the sherbet orange instead of the blood orange like the right boot.

Hat season!

Apparently Minions are 'IN' right now.  My sister wants me to make Jordan a girly minion hat.  I bought a pattern for this project, but reading over it I don’t like st count, its done in odd numbers and they have jagged color changes.  So I will be tweaking the patter, just a itty bitty tiny lot. I think I will make the base hat a normal yellow beanie, then add a band for the eye and strap sepratly then add in all the girly details.  It might take longer but I think it will look better then the patter I bought -,-

She also has a friend at work who wants 3 hats, piggie, owl, and a fox!

~~update~~

More hats requested!!  I will also be making a Yoda and Leia!!  I really hope I don't get my hats sizes mixed up I will have to make sure they all are pinned with a note or something.

I have to run out and pick up a few supplies I am short on since I made all those toys I haven't restocked my stash and I am low on a few key colors.

I will be updating this post with my WIP (Works in progress) photos as I get started.

Leia front view

Leia Side view

~~~~~~~~SIDE NOTE~~~~~~~~

Also a big thanks to Katie Board I finally got some Kahoot's comfort grips for my hooks! I am pretty sure these are the ones you recommended.  I finally found them at a Hobby Lobby over here but they where well hidden and only had two in stock.  I dont care much for the dark green I wish they had them in the bright purple color shown on the packaging but none the less I hope these help.

 These hat's will be the first projects that I get to use them on.  Extra special thanks to Christine (my sis) who bought them for me!

Finished Juicy Fruits blanket!

So I finished!! I love how the colors seem to wiggle upwards. Now I feel like running around screaming 'I finished it!!!' My second baby blanket and this one is perfect, 40x36 inches evenly.

I would realy like to make this pattern again in black and gray only larger say 60x80.  Only thing stopping me is lack of yarn and $$$ to buy said yarn would take like 30 skeins.

Speaking of yarn my husband is so cute he came home the other day with three skeins of yarn, red/green/blue for me for no reason at all and two crochet magazines. I love that he thinks of me when he sees yarn its sweet.

Now that is this out of the way I am going to focus on what I am calling my 'Fall into Me' spiral vest.

Little Pigglet Hat

This is a little baby pig aka piglet hat my mom asked me to make a while back.  Miss Jordan my niece is doing her best to sport it in her rebellious way.  I think it might be a bit small on her because her head is larger then the average for babies her age, she is just growing like a weed!  I do so hope she doesnt get to big for the booties I made her by Christmas!!!  If she does I might just have to do a bootie giveaway.

Finished Boots for Miss Jordan!!

I was out and about today.  Can  you believe that Michel's craft store doesn't carry buttons? I walked the whole store 3 times and no employees even asked if I needed help until I was walking out the door.
 Wound up going to four stores before I found the perfic buttons to finish off Miss Jordans Boots.  But the good news is I now know of a good strip mall that has 3 stores in it all related to sewing and crafts they are called Kirkwood Knittery, The Right Fit, and Sew it Seams. Just after the intersection of N Kirkwood Rd and Manchester (10724 Manchester Rd, St Louis, MO 63122)  I got these buttons from Sew it Seams for only $2.08!!
 They are heart shaped thin pieces of shell that feel as light as a feather and have a beautiful pearl like shimmer to them.  BTW the color in the close up is the accurate color of the yarn for some reason my camera makes it look more yellow then it really is unless I am right one top of what ever I am shooting.

Oh if only I was rich.... I would have bought so much stuff from each of them, they all had items I wanted but I have no current need/use/money for.

Eeek now that these are finished I have to go back to my Beatles delema -.-

Sneak Peak 97% Finished

I thought I would post a peak at how the boot is going.
This one should be the left boot it still needs some finishing touches like the button closure and weaving in some tails.  I need to get someone to model these for me in better lighting my dark little corner does not do them justice, then again neither does my cell phone camera. 

Now I am off to decode my scribbles so I can rewrite them for a right boot!!

New Project WIP- Kicking boots for Jordan!

 I know I said I wouldnt start on an other personal project untill I finished 'The Beatles' but.... come on these are gonna be so cute when they're finished!!

I am writing the pattern as I go so when I make the second one it will look the same.  Working with 'Love this Yarn' in toasted almond. 

So far I have the base of the boot finished just have to make the wrap-a-round boot leg.

 

If these do not fit Miss Jordan I will probably throw them up for sale before trying to make an other pair so I can purchase more yarn!!

This boot is approximately 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide (at the toe, the heel is about 2in) the ankle circumference is roughly 6 inches round and is stretchy enough to adjust for a wider foot/ankle.

When they are finished they will wrap around the ankle and button shut.  They should be easy enough to slide on and off without having to unbutton but just in case the options will be nice if you need to put them on over bulky or frilly socks.

Bookmarks and procrastination

I don't know about you, but it seems like I horde bookmarks.   I am going threw my list trying to organize them and I have no idea what half of them where marked fore.   >.<   

I seem to have bookmarked a lot of crochet sites that sadly no longer exist so I think know if I see a pattern I like instead of bookmarking it I need to download or copy it even if I don't think I will make it right away.  

I am using my bookmark mess as a excuse to procrastinate working on the Beatles dolls, the farther along I get with them the more and more I dislike how they are turning out.  I told myself that I can not start on an other personal project till I finish them.  So I am putting off making a Christmas present for my niece and other birthday's related gifts.  

I just hope I don't forget what I want to make her I have a cute idea for crochet boots.  I saw a few on pin crest but they where $35 so I thought to myself why not just make up a pattern myself.  It cant be to hard I already made a baby flip flop pattern I could use that as my base and work up from there.




>.> 
<.< 


 

Mizzou themed Girl hat

Finally finished working on this one.  I wasn't sure how I was going to do the girls hat and still keep it girly and not looking like a bumble bee in the gold and black.  I thought I might do kitties ears and strips but as i was getting into the 3rd round of strip's I realized it looked to much like a bee theme and unraveled it all.

So its a  pretty basic hat with a black stripe at the bottom with a twisted edge stitch.  I made three different sized little daisy chain flowers with a pearl embellishment.

I am not sure if the edging I did has a real name I just came up with it when I set my work down and come back and realized about 3 stitches in one of them  looked wrong.  Apparently my hook got twisted around and I had not noticed it but it made for a cute edging.

Mizzou Tigers Baby hat

Front View

A friend wanted to know if I could make her two baby hat's with the Mizzou Tigers colors and theam one for a boy and the other for a girl.

So here is the boy version a basic 12in baby hat with ear flaps in gold and black.  I tried to make this one look like a foot ball helmet with a tiger logo on one side and the Mizzou 'M' on the other. 

Left Side

Right Side

Back

I am not yet sure what I will do for the girls hat.  Maybe a cute shell stitch with a big gold and black flower with the tiger in the middle of the flower?