Crochet Hat Pattern

I've been looking for an easy crochet hat pattern that can be tailored for many sizes, but now I don't have to do all the work.  This free crocheted hat pattern has all sizes from adult to infant.  When I finish crocheting my purple wool vest, I am going to use this hat pattern to make a matching hat before I box them up to send off to Wool Aid to warm some cold child in a poor chilly part of the world.

Making these hats requires that you know how to do the Adjustable Magic Circle, so pay Crochet Spot a visit and learn how.  Lol, I just had to go there myself for a reminder course.  ;)

A picture:






Doesn't seeing these make you want to make 1 or 5??  Wouldn't these hats look gorgeous with a crocheted flower on the side too?  I thought so too!

=) Gayle

Crochet Mitten pattern

No it's not mine, but I did find this apparently easy Women's Mitten Pattern , and I hope to give it a try soon.  I like easy patterns as my mind seems to get bored after awhile with more complicated patterns.  LOL, or maybe I am just too easily distracted, hmm?

Here's a picture of those pretty mittens too:




So go on, crochet up a pair for yourself and maybe one for your favorite charity too!

=)  Gayle

Edited to add:  I think that I need to make up a pattern book for all these great crochet patterns I am finding a printing off.  Just something simple, like say a 3 ring binder with page protectors.  Though only 1 page protector per pattern as I am too poor [lol, well maybe too frugal is a better description] to have enough of those clear page protectors for each page of pattern.  I have been printing off LOTS of patterns.

Purple afghan pictures

Okay, I never did figure out what was going on with my phone and posting pictures, but I was able to upload them okay to Google+ and just discovered that I can post them on here.  So without further ado, here are the shots of the purple and cream afghan I am making for when K moves into E's room.

Just looking at the above picture, I think that I'm 1/6 to 1/7 of the way finished with her afghan.  Good news to me.  ;)  I have to tell myself things like this to keep me motivated or it will join the rest of my UFO's in the basement.

Someday i will make E her own afghan to go on her bed too.  Oh my, I've got to get back to working on her afghan, just realized that i haven't worked on it in over a week, maybe more like two weeks?  Lol, I should also come through here and fix my typos, please forgive me I have no extra time just now as I need to get bread going in my machine for dinner.

Happy January and 2014 want-to-do's

Hey everyone!!

The sun is shining and it makes me feel happy even if the temperature makes me feel cold and the several times I was awake in the night make me feel exhausted.

So have been thinking again of "resolutions" for the new year, maybe more like want-to-do's though some are need-to-do's.

In 2014, I want to:

• make at least one sweater -- maybe more.
• make one project a month for my charity crafting group (well 12 items for charity this year), it's a Yahoo group called All Crafts For Charity or AC4C.
• do more with Tunisian crochet
• make a quilt for each child (if I finish the binding on the purple quilt for E, I will count that) -- strip piecing would be quick and easy.
• toilet train K,
• do my Physical Therapy faithfully no matter how much it hurts.
• open last of boxes from moving in -- lol, we bought the house 4 years ago, it's long past time I did all this.
• save money to buy bookcases -- very badly want to get my good books up higher above K, T, and E's reach so keep them from being torn up so much.  I do enjoy reading books and I would really like to see what we have.
• hang pictures on the walls -- I'll do it myself this time if I have to.
• Did I mention that I need to de-clutter a bunch of "stuff"?  Oh yeah, I've got to go through everything!!  Get rid of some fabric and yarn (oh heaven forbid), plus heaven only knows what else around the house.  Some of those glass items-still-in-the-boxes from my what my Mom gave me and wedding gifts that have never been used, well they can go too -- perhaps I shall list them on the the online yard sale places on Facebook.
• Move K into E's room, maybe do a bit of light decorating to show that girls live in there.
• Get my boys and hubby to help me more with the garden, and then with canning this summer & fall.  Last year taught me that I really cannot do it all alone.
• lol, and  ... well bickering kids helped to forget whatever it was.
• but maybe do more baking from scratch yet again.

Well, that's plenty.  I have already begun to do some of these things.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

It's now 2014, January 2nd to be precise and my boys are going back to school today.  I miss them! We actually had some fun together during this Christmas holiday break.

But now I have been thinking and doing some reading online this morning, apparently most people who make resolutions don't keep them.  I know that to be true of myself, though mine is from procrastination.  I'm very good at procrasinating!  ;)

Anyhow, I was thinking that I won't make resolutions, but there are some things I would like to learn how to do, or to do better.

These include:

• learn how to knit better -- need to figure out how to keep my edges smooth and even.
• Make a sweater, or several -- but at least one.
• practice crocheting socks, I want a pair of handmade socks.
•  Continue practicing to make thing with Tunisian Crochet, learn more stitches.
• And those other 2 or 3 things that I only seem to think about in the middle of the night, such as get my Etsy shop back up and going! 
• Maybe make some slippers too -- I found a cute pattern called Birchbark slippers (through www.crochetpatterncentral.com, Tunisian crochet).

Also I have things I need to work on in regards to my family,

• Be gentler and more loving with ALL of my children, not just my baby -- its always been easier for me to be nicer to the babies than to the older children.  And with first son going through puberty, well its becoming more difficult some days to be gentle and loving with him. However since I love all my children, I need to work more on this.
• Read my scriptures more on my own, and
• Keep up on my personal prayers, AND
• Try to attend the Temple at least once a month -- it will be hard with my baby and my 3 year old, but I'm still going to try to do it.
• I also need to plan if not weekly, then at least 2, dates a month with my husband.  Something more than movie & dinner each time, or some variations on it. 

Oh hey, I get my lovely red leg cast off next Tuesday, January 7th at TOSH in SLC.  Then I get my "walking" cast on and will likely start doing physical therapy around then too.  I will work up to full weight on my foot, 25% a week at a time, but it's progress.  I will also be able to bathe with both feet in the tub!!!  I am really looking forward to that one!! Until then, we have some super cold weather coming up, I think I'd better make myself a toe sock for my cast.

Purple afghan and baby sweater

Okay so I promised I would post pictures of the purple afghan I am making for Miss K and the purple sweater I am making for baby E. I am amazed at how quickly the sweater came together, but I have had lots of time to just sit. So here they are:

Ok something funny is going on. I'll try later to post pics of the afghan from my phone. Lol. Maybe thAt's my problem, I'm posting from my iPhone.

Happy December Days

So its been 3 weeks now since my foot surgery, and I've done little except sit for all this time.  I did go to SLC last Tuesday, yes in the midst of that horrible snow storm (we got about 18-20 inches from it & the following storms), and get my permanent cast put on my foot, bright red for the season (and because I didn't like any of the other choices available, no golden sunflower yellow, sad for me).  Here we've been so careful for weeks and all that day, then when we got home (only 12-1/2 hours of driving for a normally 5-6 hour trip), I slipped and fell in the garage in melted snow water -- oh the pain, crying, bruises, etc that followed; I took pain pills for the first time since Thanksgiving night.  I actually ended up crawling into the house that night.

My bright red cast has also been decorated with my children's names, we promised them they could do this.  Lol, I must admit, I don't see many people with a cast on anymore that has been written on, has this become an old fashioned idea now?

However, I have started an afghan for my Katie's bed for the day she moves into Ellynn's room using this pattern (imagine it in soft  medium and light purples and cream), though my color scheme is a bit different.  I will take a picture when I have more done on it so you can see what I mean.  I have played with the pattern as I have been crocheting on it so some parts don't look exactly as shown here.





Then I got thinking about making Ellynn a sweater, and went looking for an easy pattern this morning.  This one is what I found, I had  actually read it before so I hunted until i found it.
 
















I will use the same colors of yarn for it as for Katie's afghan.  I sincerely doubt that I will complete either item before Christmas, though maybe the sweater as it looks to be easy.  I really like this version of the hexagon sweater though with its' cute ruffles so may do it instead of the basic one.

I am thinking of making 2 sweaters actually if the first one turns out as easy and cute as it looks, then will use this cute baby hat pattern to make matching hats, though without the stem and leaf.  She has a free downloadable pattern in several sizes, I really like that as I don't have to figure out my own then.  ;)



I think I will also start making flowers again for my Etsy shop, which has been in 'vacation mode' for over a year now, ever since I started fainting while being pregnant with Ellynn.  I may also make more flower (or other different motif) bookmarks too.  Lol, if not for me to sell, than for Ellynn to carry around in her mouth as she crawls -- it seems to be a favorite thing for her to do with mine.

I also need to figure out a few easy handmade Christmas presents too... but better not mention my ideas here (until later) just in case any of that family happens to read here.  ;)

And someday soon, I hope to get my children's pictures from Halloween posted here.  I am rather proud of the costumes I made for both Joseph & Katelynn (aka Katie).

Should I not post again until 2014, may you all enjoy a lovely (and warm -- it's been in the negative temps here already) Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year too.

=) Gayle

Baby Headbands and Crochet

So baby E is 7 months old now, and as I sometimes do, I put a cute [made by Mama] crocheted flower on a headband on her yesterday for Church.  Well, as usual, there was a red mark on her soft little head where the closure of the headband had rested. So... I was thinking just now that I should make her some crocheted headbands with some of my crocheted flowers.  And perhaps I can figure out a way to make them stretchy -- maybe crochet elastic thread  in with the yarn.  Now I know several people who've recently had baby girls join their grandchildren, so maybe I will practice on E and then make extras for my friends.

So these are patterns I've found that I like.

http://www.free-crochet.com/detail.html?code=FC01106&cat_id=305

http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/04/crochet-seed-stitch-baby-headband-free-crochet-pattern.html

And a very cute purse I could make up to give to my equally cute 2 yo daughter K:
http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/03/crochet-seed-stitch-purse-free-crochet-pattern.html

http://crochetdreamz.blogspot.com/2011/07/baby-headband-with-flowers-free-crochet.html#.UiTqHD_9W8M

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/headband-pattern-the-genius-headband


 http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Crochet-Accessories/Pretty-Little-Headband


http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Crochet-Accessories/Dread-Head

http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Crochet-Accessories/16-Crochet-Headband-Patterns-and-Accessories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwUtNUA-660

 http://charmedbyewe.com/six-free-crochet-baby-headband-patterns/

And of course, my all-time favorite source for crochet, www.crochetpatterncentral.com --

 http://christinassunshinehaven.com/Baby_Items/baby%20flower%20headband.htm

http://allicrafts.blogspot.com/2010/12/free-pattern-baby-headband.html

http://aprildraven.blogspot.com/2010/04/flower-headband-free-pattern.html -- and the little girl's shirt in this one is cute too.

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/crochet-a-flower-hairband/130613

 http://crocheterie.blogspot.com/2012/02/crochet-hair-clip-hat-and-flower-free.html

http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_party/sspar_flower_headband.html

http://www.crochetville.com/community/topic/131860-buttercup-flower-headband/#entry2342912

http://shala-beads.livejournal.com/155301.html

http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/shell%20headband.html

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/small-flowers-lace-headband

http://www.nyanpon.com/2012/09/flower-girl-clips.html

http://crochetncrafts.com/crochet/mini-rose-hair-clip.html

http://www.beginner-crochet-patterns.com/poppy-flower-headband.html

http://cre8tioncrochet.com/2013/03/crochet-flower-hair-clip/

http://atypicalcrochet.blogspot.com/2011/03/crochet-head-scarf.html

Just for a few ideas.   ;)

Flowers & leaves

I can't recall if I've posted about this before but really who cares?  ;)

 

I finally found these cute little daisies though I was originally looking for  tiny sunflowers, then I found these leaves and I knew I was all set.

 

All set for what???  Well, to make some simple bookmarks like the one that was made for me.  Should I remember to do so, I will take a picture of it to show off.  Usually though when it's loose, it's hanging out of baby K's mouth, lol.  Makes a nice teething object I guess.

Basically, now, all you do is make a flower, then make a chain several inches long and then make a leaf at the end, or the other way around of leaf first then flower, which ever you prefer.

Anyhow, now I'm going to try it, so I will post about how it went later.

Tuesday Jan 3rd... record posting day for me!

I think I posted 4 times in a row that day?!  Hmm... but I was just excited because I'd found so many fun things I just wanted to share with everyone (not that very many are interested in my blog, I know it's pretty boring lately).

Today I'm just kinda blah... then I go cough cough cough, hard as can be then I feel like crap again.  I couldn't relax and get to sleep until almost 5 am this morning, I woke up at like 7:43 am so I got a bit of sleep, but I think this might be one of those days when I lay on the floor & let the kids play on or around me. 
Part of my not sleeping is because hubby is gone to Kansas for 3 months, though he might get to come home for a week or so each month; and other part is because I get settled & comfortable then I start coughing like crazy until my lungs burn, my throat feels on fire & my heart is racing crazily.  I feel like it's the same cold baby K has but then again it seems related to this breathing issue I have & still need to get tested for (to see do I have asthma or is it COPD), guess I should try harder to find out, but it's hard to go out in public when you feel so crappy and people look at you weird when you cough hard like that.

Today though I hope to have a nap then get some sewing done.  I really miss sewing & plan to get a bunch done while hubby is away; plan to crochet up a bunch of my flower hair clips, say 3 or 4 of each solid color of yarn I have to be ahead a bit in case I start making a bunch of sales this winter and I can be ahead.  Have been thinking of all kinds of other things to make to add to my Etsy shop inventory, and I plan to give some sneak peeks of what these are in coming days & weeks on here.

For now though, time to go take care 3rd son T as he's still not potty trained (though he'll grumpily go sit on it if I tell him to, just won't do it on his own & hides away when he goes in his diaper); have decided not to push it much right now though, just too exhausted to care much.  Seriously if this stubborn kid of mine wants to have a sore bum, so be it!

=) Gayle

Another crochet link

Have I mentioned the CrochetSpot before?  No?  Well It's a great place to go visit if you like to crochet as much as I do, there's always new patterns she's made up (well there's more than just one "she" I guess).  But today, I like the article on how you can use the "magic circle" in more than just starting out your piece.  I haven't read the whole article, but will.  So you want to see it?  Alright, go here to check it out!  I'm on my way there right now too.  ;)  Plus on the main page, there's a new pattern for a sweater I want to go drool over... because I'm just not brave enough to make sweaters yet.

=) Gayle

More crocheted flowers

Have been using the Eggbird Designs flower pattern to make some cute little crocheted blooms.


 I like using the Caron Soft yarn because it makes smaller flowers, but in some colors all I have is the heavier worsted yarn so the flowers are much bigger than I want.  I've been thinking about buying more Caron yarn, but for now am just going to use what I have.  I plan to make at least 2 flowers in each solid color I have, then either use them for Katelynn or sell them in my Etsy shop -- haven't decided for sure yet.  But really, look at this pattern, can you imagine the nearly endless color combinations?

=) Gayle

Button Flower Pin crochet pattern

I repeatedly find then lose this pattern, so have hunted around & found it yet again, now I have decided that I need to post it so that the next time I lose it again I can just come here to look at it to refresh my memory on how to make them.

Okay so I originally got this pattern from www.yarncat.com/ButtonFlowerPin.html, however it appears that this website is no more.  I believe that this is the owner of the pattern here, but she doesn't display any patterns on her blog.

These are flowers that I have made using this pattern, though her pattern only shows two rows & I've added a third row of flower petals.  And yeah, the date thingy is off on my camera, all is accurate except the year, these were taken in 2011.


Anyhow, in it's entireity (word for word), here is the Button Flower Pin crochet pattern, Design2004 by Catherine Lindsey.


This big flower pin works up so fast, you'll want to make on to match every outfit in your closet!  Search through GRanny's button box for interesting vintage buttons.  [Her example was made in vintage Red Heart Classic Brushed yarn in Ebony Sparkle.]

You'll need:
small amount of yarn/thread,
hook to match, shank button, safety pin.

The example uses worsted weight yarn, a G hook, 1/2" shank button, 1" safety pin, and is 3-1/2 inches across.  (I also tend to use a G hook.)

To make:
Leaving a long tail for sewing, ch 4, sl st to form ring.
Round 1:
Ch 1, (sc in loop, ch 3) 6 times.  Join with sl st to first sc (6 loops).
Round 2: 
Ch 1, in each loop work (sc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch1 , sc).  Do not join. (6 petals)
Round 3:
Ch 2, sl st in back stitches of second dc on first petal of Rnd 1.  Ch 5 (sl st in back stitches of second dc of next petal, ch 5) 5 times.  Do not join. (6 ch-5 loops)
Round 4:
In each ch-5 loop work (sl st, ch 2, 6 dc, ch 2, sl st). Fasten off, weave in end.

Using long beginning tail, sew shank button and safety pin on back of flower.

butterflies & flowers

So I've been crocheting up flowers for my niece Andrea's booth at Mt. Pleasant's Spring Fling (or whatever it's called), and the started thing about how fun it would be to make some butterflies too.  So I went to Crochet Pattern Central's free directory & looked for butterflies, then started perusing the selection.  Thus far I have fallen in love with these, and I think that after I make a bunch of flowers for Andrea, I am going to make up a few of these little cuties for my baby.  Maybe even applique them on the next dress I make for her, or make little hair clippie things for her.   :)  The possibilities are endless.

What do you think?