a dose of cuteness

WIP October Edition

Active Projects (work on one or more of these every day or close to that)

• Troll Hat for sale
• Yoshi hat for Fulghum family
• slippers for sale (also for nieces and friends)
• Restock Stockings--make a few patchwork
• Flap Hats-sale, also B&R Ful.
• Bearded Hats for Kristi's son, Kaden, and Joanie's boys

Back Burner, but still on the stove

• Restock gloves, black, heather gray
• Make flowers and maroon and hot pink for package decor
• Make African Flower stockings
• Make more baby dresses
• make more slippers
• try a new pattern of dishcloths

• Make more scrubbies-restock and also try a new pattern
• Go through old stock, either donate or re-purpose items that are consistent non-sellers
• Crochet legwarmers
• Make a scarf/cowl like the one Tonia asked about.
• Make a hairband something along the lines of this.
• Go through clear tote and make sure all is dealt with there
• Finish plarn bag 

Someday, (I hope!)

• Reclaim yarn from thrift store sweaters
• Make/Design Beret
• Design/Make Potholders (for wedding gifts)
• Make/Design Soap Socks/Savers for family, gifts, possibly etsy shop.(popcorn stitch on one side, plain on the other. (Make a soap saver, perhaps like this one)
• Re-learn to tat.

Image courtesy of vrangtantebrun

• Make/Design/Refine Convertible Mittens pattern
• Go through specialty yarn, imaginate (scarves?)

Stocking Name Labels--How To

I had a customer recently ask me if I could make some kind of name label for a Christmas stocking for her daughter. The stockings I crochet are a little problematic with that kind of a request because the tops of the stockings aren't straight across as is true of traditional stockings. So, I did a google image search, found something that I thought might work, and put it together. 

Since I have a habit of remembering how I do these kinds of things, I thought I'd write up the instructions here. 

So, start out by printing the name you want, in large type, on cardstock.



Then, take the "slider cutter" and cut the name out. I like to line up the bottom of the name with the top of clear plastic on the slider, then cut. 



Then I line up the top, 


then each side.




Take a hole punch and punch around the name. My particular punch works well if you line the edge of the punch with the edge of the paper. 







Crochet shells around the paper, three in each hole, except on the corners, where you'll do six.



Finish off and weave in ends.

Make a hanging "rope" by crocheting forty chains. Attach to corner of label.

Chunky Ear Flap Hat - a pattern

This isn't the best picture of the hat, but how cute are these two??

I put together an ear-flap hat for one of my nieces lately, and it turned out so well that I decided to make a few more. Those turned out so well that I thought I should get the pattern written down so I could make them again in the future.

Chunky Ear Flap Hat
Sized for 8-9 year old person

Use Bulky Yarn - I like Lion Brand Hometown or Red Heart Chunky Soft
Size I hook

Round 1: Magic Circle, chain 2, 8 more hdcs
Round 2: 2 hdc in each hdc, 16 hdc total
Round 3: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next, around, 24 hdc total
Round 4: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next 2 hdc, 32 hdc total
Round 5: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next 3 hdc, 40 hdc total
Round 6: hdc around, increase by 5 hdc evenly around, 45 hdc total
Round 7-13: hdc around, 45 hdc total

The hat should essentially be a beanie at this point. Check against recipient if available, add or remove rows according to fit.

Earflaps:

#1:
Join in the 6th st from the seam.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same stitch and into 9 stitchets, turn 10 sc total
Row 2: Ch 1, sc around turn, 10 sc total
Row 3: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 9 sc total
Row 4: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 8 sc total
Row 5: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 7 sc total
Row 6: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 6 sc total
Row 7: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 5 sc total
Row 8: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 4 sc total
Row 9: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, fasten off. 3 sc total

#2:
Skip 13 st across front of hat and join in the 14th st. Repeat instructions for #1.

Joining anywhere in the hat, sc around, at ends of earflaps, make sc, ch 3, sc in each end. Fasten off.

Braided Ties:

Cut 6-12 strands of yarn 24" long for each braid. Loop yarn around your finger and pull through the ch 3 space on the earflap. Pull the ends of the strands through the loop and pull tight. Braid and knot the end.

Striped Slippers - a "quick and dirty" pattern

I've been working on these slippers lately, and thought I'd post my notes here for easier finding.

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit a smaller child

Size g hook

Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 scNext round 16
Next round 19

Continue in a spiral with each round being 19 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.

Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 15 st for three rows. Then increase to 17 sc for two rows, then 19 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 19 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off.

 * *

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit a 9-year old

Size g hook
Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 sc
Next round 18 or so sc
Next round 22 

Continue in a spiral with each round being 22 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.
Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 17 st for five rows. Then increase to 19 sc for two rows, then 21 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 20 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off.

**

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit an adult

Size g hook
Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 sc
Next round 18 or so sc
Next round 22 

Next round 25

Continue in a spiral with each round being 25 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.

Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 20 st for five rows. Then increase to 22 sc for two rows, then 24 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 24 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off, making a ribbing of 24 sc if desired. (Ribbing will need to be stitched to top of sock.)

WIP September Edition

Active Projects (work on one or more of these every day or close to that)

• Restock Stockings--make a few patchwork
• Flap Hats-sale, also B&R Ful.
• Slippers for Kendee and Eliza
• Bearded Hats for Kristi's son, Kaden, and Joanie's boys
• 
  

Back Burner, but still on the stove

• Restock gloves, black, heather gray
• Make flowers and maroon and hot pink for package decor
• Make African Flower stockings
• Make more baby dresses
• make more slippers
• try a new pattern of dishcloths

• Make more scrubbies-restock and also try a new pattern
• Go through old stock, either donate or re-purpose items that are consistent non-sellers
• Crochet legwarmers
• Make a scarf/cowl like the one Tonia asked about.
• Make a hairband something along the lines of this.
• Go through clear tote and make sure all is dealt with there
• Finish plarn bag 

Someday, (I hope!)

• Reclaim yarn from thrift store sweaters
• Make/Design Beret
• Design/Make Potholders (for wedding gifts)
• Make/Design Soap Socks/Savers for family, gifts, possibly etsy shop.(popcorn stitch on one side, plain on the other. (Make a soap saver, perhaps like this one)
• Re-learn to tat.

Image courtesy of vrangtantebrun

• Make/Design/Refine Convertible Mittens pattern
• Go through specialty yarn, imaginate (scarves?)

Crocheted Troll Hat

This will be quick, as I'm blogging when I should be making supper. But, a friend of mine asked me to make her a Troll hat for her infant. Since I was up for a challenge, I headed over to KnottybyNeedles and bought the pattern listed here.

Then, through some trial and error, I worked it up!



And then, since my daughter was so envious, I let her choose some colors out of my stash, and worked one up for her as well.





What can I say? I'm just a softie.