Layers in April

Some days you have to be creative.

 Whatever that means to you is exactly what makes art so amazing.

 For me I love to pick up a hook and see where it takes me. 

Sometimes it leads nowhere and sometimes it leads me here.

A little sleeveless sweater for layering. 

I plan to work a pattern up for this soon. 

Just trying to get through these last few weeks of the semester.

beat the heat tank

 Still waiting for the cool weather to kick in around here. So to beat the heat on our short walks to pick up the 5yr old from school I made a little tank top prototype. This looks very basic and very boring I know. I will say the exciting part is hidden though. Gotta figure out a cute stitch pattern and work out the kinks.

 If you have ever been interested in my pattern making process this is part of it. First I write up a quick sketch so technically this is step 2. Now it's back to fix shaping and get a little more creative. 

Vintage baby blanket

I love this little blanket!

It's just one of those things you see on Pinterest and pray the link takes you to the pattern.

Initially it didn't but a few weeks ago I finally found a pin that did.

I hopped at the chance to make this and I will be making more.

The pattern as it is written turns out a very small carseat size blanket.

It's absolutely perfect for baby gifts.

And even more importantly it's insanely easy to work up.

The hardest part is the first row.

Go check out the projects page on Ravelry, it's pretty amazing :)

Those sweet sweet slippers you see were made by

Sarah of Ball Hank n' Skein

Back at it...

I apologize for my absence. It has been a very busy and stressful few months. We have moved, bought our first house (which is a fixer upper) and the hubby has just recently deployed to Afghanistan. Among other things of course. So while things are not in as much order as I would have hoped they would be at this point. I am finding it necessary to pick up the crafts again.

My brain is jumping with ideas and I miss sharing them here....

So with that, I made a little ear warmer headband today, thought I would share...

J hook/ Worsted

US terms

Size: Adult

3sc per inch/ 2 clusters per inch

2dc cluster: *YO insert hook in st or sp indicated, YO and pull up a loop YO and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * once more, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Ch 56, join to starting ch.

Working in each chain accordingly..

Row 1: ch1, 7 sc, 4 hdc, 32 2dc cluster, 4 hdc, 8 sc, join to starting chain.

Row 2: Repeat Row 1 fasten off.

Turn and work on opposite side of starting chain (starting chain will become the middle)

Repeat Row1 and 2  making sure you are working with both front sides outward.

Embellish with flower/ribbon/button etc. if desired and keep warm. :)

Baby Shower....

There are a few things about the Army life you can count on. 1. You never know what's going to happen next 2. Your hubby is always gone and 3. Everyone is or has recently been pregnant.....:)

 That being said, I attended a sweet little shower today and had a good time getting out of the house and blabbing about motherhood to a room full of moms. You would think me being the most seasoned mother in the room I would have a lot to say. But I didn't say much, just sat back watched the happy chaos and snapped a few pics here and there. 

I figure if I always make handmade gifts and take a few cute pics I will secure my invite to the party...Right?!?

 So  I made another baby bunting and knit up a little wurmy hat to go along with the outfit I found. I thought it was funny and oh so obvious that I was the only knitter/crocheter in the group because as soon as they saw my package they knew who it was from and the Mommy reluctantly asked if she could keep the bunting?!? To which I replied  "please don't throw it away" haha.....She is a sweetie though, and since I did embellish the bag with the bunting I can understand her questionings a bit. But more then anything I was just glad she liked it.

Wish I was going to be around to see the little guy when he is born but moving day is quickly approaching and 

us moms know how comfy those babies can get in their mommy's belly. 

So we will see, but either way I wish you the best Darline :)

Wrap Vest among chaos

Seems that the stress of the impending move(2weeks) to Texas, accompanied with the acceptance that the unit my hubby is going to recently left for a 12month deployment to Iraq. Is causing quite the drive for a creative outlet. Over the past few weeks I have sketched multiple ideas for crochet garments and have even quickly whipped one up in a small size to see if it would work.

Well what do you think???

It's a wrap vest that is seamless. And darnit I am pretty proud of myself for the rather unique way I kept it that way . And if you are like me with crochet you are looking at it wondering how the heck I did it?!?!

I do plan on getting a pattern written out in time, so......

The next step is to tackle a grown up version and keep notes when I do so I can make up the pattern.

I don't know what chaos the next few months will bring, but here's hoping it continues to inspire me.

And even better, keep me sane :)

p.s....Yes she is holding a toothbrush. She is teething and so I will gladly accept a toothbrush in the shot as long as she is happy and has a smile on her face :)

Granny Square top tutorial

This top is very versatile and can be made in any size and use most any yarn. The pattern starts after working the size of the granny square needed to fit across chest and slightly wrap around side. I made a 2t size with worsted yarn and H hook.

Make 2   *front and back


Front
Starting with a 9 row granny square.


Row 10..slip stitch to ch2 space, slip stitch in ch2 space 2x, ch2 2dc in the corner space work in pattern to 4th corner (leaving last side un-worked/neckline) work 3 dc in that corner.


Sleeve 1... 
Ch3 turn, work in pattern til you have 5/3dc groups ch2 turn hdc evenly across ending with 2hdc in the starting ch3 space. Ch2 turn repeat hdc row back down sleeve. Ch1 turn sc across working 2 sc in ch space below.


Work Sc evenly across top of granny square (this is the neck line) 


Sleeve 2...
Ch3 work granny pattern in next 4 ch1 spaces in 5th space 1 dc ch2 turn hdc evenly across working 2 hdc in ch3 space. Ch2  work  hdc across. Ch1 turn sc across 2 sc in corner and sc across top til you reach sc worked for neckline. (about 5 sc) slip stitch and fasten off.


Repeat for back

You now just need to join them together. You can pretty much do this any way you like  but I like to have a little give in between them so I have written up the way I like to do this. Hopefully it is not to confusing for you.


Joining side seams
Put right sides together. Starting with the top layer in the ch2 space of bottom corner. Make your starting loop pull through the top layer of ch2 space, Ch2 and slip stitch from front to back of bottom layer.  *Yarn over and dc into the next stitch in the top layer. Then from front to back in the bottom layer insert hook and pull yarn through both loops on hook. Repeat from * Work up to the bottom sleeve seam then sc the two sleeves together and fasten off.


Repeat for other side seam. 


Joining neck line..
Starting from top corner shoulder seam work the joins the same as side seam til a little after the sleeve for both side. (about 10-12 stitches)


Weave in all ends and turn right side out. 


To finish it off I like to add a few rows of hdc (unjoined) to the front and back of the bottom edge                   

                                      

Hope you enjoy and please let me know if I forgot something or if you have any questions...:)

Mix it up....

I have been experimenting with joining my crafts lately. I don't know what it is about packing that makes me want to go crazy and craft. But the thought of locking up all my supplies for possibly a few months has got me chomping at the bit to do a lot of something. So crochet/knit/sew it is. And in any form I can get it.

This little dress for Sophie was a quick day project. And yes I made it up as I went along, which as you know is the way I like to do things around here. She even kept it on for like 2 hours. But I think maybe that's because it took her that long to figure out how to get it off. haha...And yes I am aware that my daughter is severely lacking in the hair accessories dept. But as you can imagine by how hard it is to keep clothes on her. Bows or ribbons of any sort is pretty dang near impossible. So if she is known throughout blog land as that messy haired kid I guess I will have to be ok with that...:)

 And then after working the Aviatrix last week and realizing how insanely easy it is to pick up stitches for knitting I had a go at a crochet beanie with a knit trim...Love it!!! I really think the two textures work well together. Opens my mind up to all sorts of possibilities.....

And for those who are curious about the granny square top, I will write up a quick tute soon. It's a little bit more involved then just sticking to squares together but not much so keep an eye out for that if you are curious...Hope you are all having a good week, 4 left before we are on our way to Texas......

A granny square top

A quick project with simple construction and sweet results is exactly what hits the spot these days. And after seeing  a few granny square tops around the web I caved and made one for Sophie. It was the perfect thing to work on in between searching for a new home in El Paso. Which has been pretty much the only topic of conversation around here for the past week. We have about 6 weeks before it's time to hit the road. And I know all to well how quickly that sneaks up on you. I am counting my lucky stars that I have crochet to calm my nerves and cause me to take a break from all the stress....

Cool Kid Beanie

I know I have been quiet lately but with summer, the impending move next month and just life in general, I haven't had much time for much else. That being said I do plan on getting at least a few more patterns written up this month so now that I have finished up The Cool Kid Beanie  I am off to the next.

This thing can be made in pretty much any size. So here is me in the Adult version :)

If you want to make your own Cool Kid Beanie I just recently added the pdf to Ravelry for $1

Enjoy!!!!

Granny Bag....

I finally finished up that granny square project I started about 3 weeks ago...The actual bag has been done for about a week but I hesitated on the fabric lining. (not my strongest skill)...

Upon finishing, I got the "Alexis eye roll" because she knew what was coming next.....Model please....

 



I promised to be quick about it and leave her pretty little face out. Which helped, until I said let's go out back. Where the temp reached well over the 100's today...UGH...

So please pardon the not so fancy pics of my latest project, it's better then nothing right?

And if you are interested in the details I  Raveled them of course :)...

The friendly owl

     When you need a little quick crafty project to put a smile on your face in times of hectic chaos...
                                                           This little owl does the trick...
                                                                                  Raveled

Finished him up this morning and as soon as Sophie woke up she pretty much claimed him as her own.

A little double smile from Momma,

can't beat that.

In other news. Our short time here in California is almost up.

Scott got orders to Fort Bliss, Texas. So looks like we will be going through the

crazy moving process again even though we have barely been here over a year.

Gotta love Army life......



Monkeying around

Just had to make up a little monkey hat to throw in my photo prop stash. And of course  had to try it out on a few monkeys of my own. One was pretty OK with it, the other....not so much....You know me though. I will take what I can get.

As for pattern I just basically worked up a hat with ear flaps and added some circles to the sides but if you want a pattern more concrete then that there is this one.....Easy Monkey Hat

And this one, not quite pattern but a little more tutorial ....DIY monkey hat


Now who can get their monkey to wear it the longest????

Cause every cool kid needs one.