Weekend slouchy hat - Free pattern

Good day internet.

 

 

I thought I'd share my latest little something or other with all of you out there.

I wanted a nice light slouchy hat, since the weather is getting warmer but I needed it to have a little warmth to it so I chose bernat's roving (in flint if anyone is interested)

This project uses pretty much an entire ball of yarn (I had a tiny tiny bit left over.) and a 6.5mm hook.

I also used some 1.5 inch ribbon  I had lying around.

 

The pattern:

Ch 6 sl st to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as first dc here and throughout) *dcin ring, ch 1,* six times, slst to ch 4 space.
Round 2: Ch 4, dc in same space, *ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in same space* repeat around  slst to ch 4 space.
Round 3: Ch 4, dc in same space, *ch1, dc in next space, ch1, dc in next space, ch1, dc in same space* repeat around. slst to ch 4 space
Round 4: Ch 4, dc in same space, *ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in next space, ch1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in same space* repeat around, slst to ch 4 space.
Round 5: ch 4. dc in same space * ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1, dc in next space, ch 1 dc in same space* repeat around, sl st to ch 4 space.
Round 6 -11 : Ch 4, dc in next space, *ch 1, dc in next space* repeat around, slst to ch 4 space.
round 12: Ch 3 (counts as first hdc here and throughout), hdc in next space and each ch 1 space around (do not hdc in the actual stitched of the last round. just the chain 1 spaces). Slst to chain 3 sp.
Round 13-17, Ch 3, hdc in next stitch, hdc in each stitch around. sl st to ch 3 space. Fasten off at the end of round 17 and weave in ends.
I used 1.5 " Offray robbon in "mudpie" to embellish mine. Just use your crochet hook to weave your ribbon in and out of round 11. I went "over" 2 stitches, "under" 1 around and finished off with a little bow. Burning the cut edges of my ribbon with a lighter to prevent fraying.

PS Sorry for the not so awesome pictures. I posted them via my tablet.

Sweet Spring baby hat

It's been a while since I made a new post!

I haven't been working on new patterns lately but I did whip a little something fairly recently to go along with the little star blanket.

It's just a little hat, but it sure is some sweet - so I thought I'd share it with you, internet. 'Cause I love you like that.

What I used:

A small amount of baby weight yarn, doubled. - feel free to use sport or worsted weight

hook to match yarn wieght- I used a 5mm hook

yarn needle.

My hat measures about six inches long and about seven and a half across the brim.
It's meant to be a newborn to three month size. - you can adjust the size by adding or subtracting a few stitches in the beginning round or adding/subtracting a round of increases.

I used a contrasting color on round 9, if you want to do this just join the second color in the slip stitch of the previous round and change back to your main color when you slip stitch round 9 closed.

Chain 4 and slst to form a ring

Round 1: ch3, 14 DC in ring, sl st top of ch 3.

Round 2: Ch 3, Dc in same stitch, *DC in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch* around. Slst in top of ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 3, Dc in same stitch, *Dc in next stitch, 2 DC in next stich* around. Slst in top chain 3.

Round 4: Ch 3, Dc in same stitch, Dc in each stitch around. Slst in top of chain 3.

Round 5-9: Ch 3, Dc in same stitch, DC in each stitch around, SlSt in top of chain 3

Round 10: Ch 4, dc in next stitch, ch 2, 2 DC in same stitch, Ch1, skip 2 stitches (2 DC, ch2, 2 DC) in next stitch - first shell made, *Ch 1, skip 2 stitches, shell in next stitch* repeat around, slst in third chain of ch4.

Round 11- 13: Chain 4, Dc in first chain 2 space, chain 2, 2 dc in same space *ch1, shell in next ch2 space* repeat around, slst in third chain of ch4.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

I used this pretty little flower to embellish mine and we're done.

A cute, quick little pattern for those warmer days ahead.

Just a quick update. Also a quick tutorial of those sweet little crocodile stitch baby booties

Happy October everyone!
I've been super super busy with the cold weather coming up. Making hats and slippers, blankets and a few gifts. I'm planning a trip to Nova Scotia/ Prince Edward Island next week and I've been doing some quick finishing up of projects I wanted to share with you all out there.

picot flowers

I finally finished something for myself this week! I made this slouchy hat out of some bernart roving in a lovely coral colour and embellished it with a couple of these picot flowers and a few leaves of my own design. It's warm, soft and fuzzy, even if the flowers are a bit too big.

Work in progress

I also did some delving into the crocodile stitch. Finally. There are a lot of different tutorials out there to get the desired effect. I find this one to be the best/easiest.

I decided to try to figure my own method of making those cute crocodile stitch booties I keep seeing everywhere. It was super easy. But I did learn a couple of helpful hints that I'll share with you.

I just made a pair of baby slippers in a "mary jane" style and omitted the strap then added an extra round decreases and another round of stitches at the top of the slipper, fasten off as you normally would then tie your yarn on what will be the "outside" of the bootie and began the round of crocodile stitches. (as you'll see mine have the "seam/buttons" up the back- I should've done 'em up the side).

I found it beneficial to skip a stitch between my V stitch and Single crochet when I set up the "scale" on the first go around. You'll also want to to a chain and turn (working back and forth rather than in rounds) on the crocodile stitches. Starting a new colour is easy enough, just fasten off and tie on at the end of the "scale" and set up your row of V stitches in the new colour (you want the set up and the scale in the same colour). Then you just fasten off and weave in your ends as with every other crochet project and add some cute little buttons.

I just used the "turning chains" as button holes but you can sew little loops on for button holes. So, there you have it. They're super cute and really easy. I'm working on a big pair of boots with jute bottoms in this style for myself.

Oh My Little Ponies!

she still needs her cutie mark

I loved  My Little Pony when I was a kid, I mean who didn't right? They're so cute and the show was seriously fun.

Of course we all know that our favorite (and some new) ponies made a comeback a few years ago with my little pony friendship is magic. I couldn't even believe that they got cuter. But they did.

Of course, little miss (and little guy) are super in love with the show and the lovable characters (we have many, many pony toys to prove it).

It's Pinky Pie!

Which is why, with my recent forays into toy making  I started looking for pony patterns (among other bits of geeky awesomeness), because you know, I'm the coolest mom ever. There are some pretty cute options out there for making little ponies, which are completely adorable, I can't wait to give them a try. I'm thinking they'll be great little stocking stuffers.

Lucky for me I found the mother of all stuffed pony patterns. Go. look. It's amazing. Like wow! So impressed by this one. It's clear, detailed and simple to follow and it just comes together like nothing. 

needs more stuffing and patience

I decided to try this pattern out for myself and made a pinky pie for my little ones. She's awesome. The kids are in love with it and so am I. I must admit she's wonky because I rushed through the pattern, I was just too excited to take my time. Which I didn't. At. All. It shows in the final construction of the pony. She's all wonky but the kids love her and did I mention how freakin excited I am about this pattern?! Seriously.Go. Make a pony.  I'm going to finish her cutie mark up and start another one for little man. So exciting! Such a wonderful pattern! 

Homemade yogourt, Almond milk style! (and make your own greek yogourt)

So, lately I've been seeing lots of make your own yogourt posts on blogs and websites. Awesome.
The basic method is to give your milk (about 4 cups) a little boil then cool it down to a baby bath temperature, then you add 2 tbsp of any yogourt with live bacteria cultures and maintain that warm temperature for 8-12 hours(I put a container in a bowl of warm water, in the oven just below the 150F setting) and taadaaa! Yogourt!

But, I can't have dairy (lactose intoler-boo!) I drink almond milk. It's super yum.  Searching the interwebs for a method of making yogourt with almond milk brings results that generally involve crazy things like making your own almond milk using arrowroot powder to thicken and using yogourt  starters from health food stores. Which is great, but I'm not going to do that. I don't buy those things regularly and I don't intend on doing so JUST to make yogourt. Not when I have store bought almond milk in the fridge and a 90% lactose free yogourt I picked up on super sale. So we improvise.

What I did:
I used 2 cups of almond milk and 1 tbsp of the yogourt
gave the milk a little steam and cooled it down then stirred in the yogourt and transferred it over to a container. Which I placed in my bowl of water in the oven then I just left it alone overnight. (about 12 hours).
When it came out though, it was basically liquid. Almond milk doesn't thicken so well. So I cheated and added some vanilla pudding mix and stuck it in the fridge for a few hours.
That didn't thicken it enough so I decided to switch up my methods and turn it into a Greek yogourt.

Did you know you can make your own Greek yogourt? Seriously, out of any old yogourt, either your home made stuff or that tub you picked up on sale. You see, Greek yogourt is just a thicker, creamier version of the regular stuff. It's just had most of the liquid strained out. Neat huh? All you need is a strainer with a container underneath it (to catch the liquid) and a cheesecloth (fold it in half, twice).  If you don't have a cheese cloth you can also use a coffee filter. I used a coffee filter.

How to make Greek yogourt:
Put your cheese cloth or coffee filter in the strainer, put the strainer in a bowl or over a container to catch the water.
Dump your yogourt in and be patient. Once it's a consistency you like just pour it on back into it's container and put it back in the fridge. Enjoy.

Final results are that while very tasty, the almond milk yogourt is still very thin. Almond milk just doesn't thicken. What I'm going to do next time to solve this problem is just use  a bit of corn starch and water boiled into the almond milk to thicken it. Then I'll cool it and carry on as normal. The pudding mix works fine, I just don't like vanilla and would rather it plain.

Let me know how yours turns out.

Newspaper seedling pots! Aka I love me some pinterest.

Like every other mom/crafter/woman in the modern world. I am completely in love with pinterest, if you don't know what pinterest is. Just do yourself a favor and clicky clicky on that link and just go check it out. Enter anything you want into that search bar. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Right?! If you want to, you can even follow my pins it's mostly crochet and crafty things. Anyhoo, my love of pinterest led me to the idea of making little flower pots out of a sheet of newspaper by rolling it around the can. King of perfect for the seedlings I have started. I usually just use an old egg carton to start them off but I like this option as well as you can get a bigger plant going before you put it in the ground. And just like egg cartons you can just shove the newspaper pots in the ground when it's time. I'd imagine they're going to be plenty easy to break apart if I need to as well. Exciting.
You can find the tutorial over at Cottage Hill's pretty amazing blog.