Balls, and JJ Top

Finished my holiday blouse just in time for Christmas Eve. Got to use rhinestone vintage buttons from antique mall in Bellingham. This pattern was ridiculously easy. Credits to Burdastyle for another awesome FREE pattern.

Would like to finish a ton of other sewing projects including those using another massive fabric find at Value Village. Unfortunately, it is back to work at 6:00 AM on Saturday for another long week. Balls. Merry Christmas, though.

Holiday Things

More making things, although not as much as I should be. Finished another puffy hat for a gift, and now am working on hand warmers. These should not take me more than a few more days to make. They are basic 2x2 rib on the cuff, and then a seed stitch all around. I am working with double pointed needles because I hate sewing stuff together at the end, and I think it looks nicer without the seams.

Awesome fabric!!

I picked up YARDS of awesome fabric from Lynnwood Value Village yesterday. I am dreaming of turquoise sweaters, ruffly tops, and corduroy pants with big black buttons. And most of all a furry coat with this amazing print!!!

Unfortunately, the yardage is only about 1.5, but I WILL make it happen!!

Puffy Hat Knit/Crochet Hat Tutorial

Christmas time! This means making stuff non stop for us crafty peoples. I have been making hats lately which are super easy.

I am not real big on crochet/knitting patterns; I hate being creatively confined to the gauge and yarn and needles required for the pattern. What I usually try to do is loosely follow a basic pattern and use it as a guide to make my own modifications.

In this pattern, I have provided a basic, simple crochet hat pattern using the puff stitch. Really, you could use any kind of stitch.

Puffy Hat

Materials

• basic crochet and circular knitting skillz
• any kind of mid range yarn
• appropriate size crochet hook for chosen yarn
• corresponding size set of double pointed knitting needles

Basic Stitch Abbreviations

• st: stitch
• YO: yarn over
• lp: loop
• ch: chain
• K: knit
• P: purl

Special Stitches

• Puff Stitch (PS): (YO, insert hook in st, draw up long lp) 3 times, YO, and draw through all loops on hook, ch1.

Step 1:Crochet Hat

Round 1: Make a loop and start doing an even number of puff stitches into it.

(NOTE: Since this pattern is not for a specific yarn, you will have to determine how many stitches you will need to work in the initial loop according to the size of the yarn. Do as many stitches in the loop that fit comfortably)

Round 2: In each ch1 spot of previous round: PS, 2PS, repeat.

Round 3: Same as Round 2.

Round 4: In each ch1 spot: PS, PS, 2PS, repeat.

Round 5: Same as Round 4.

Round 6: to Last Round: PS all around.

End at a Round you deem appropriate. I usually try mine on. You want it to be not quite finished so that you can add the knitted ribbing at the bottom. Cut yarn and pull through to finish the crocheted section of the hat.

Step 2: Pick up stitches onto double pointed knitting needles.

On bottom edge of hat, pick up one stitch per crochet loop with the right side of the hat facing you. This will keep the bump that happens when picking up stitches on the inside of the hat.

This is the bump that happens when you pick up stitches.

Double check that you have an even number of stitches. If not, pick up one extra so the ribbing will be even all the way around.

Now begin your ribbing. I am doing K1P1. A stitch marker for the beginning of your Round maybe helpful.

Looks like a weird mushroom.

Make it as long as you want. I am making mine really long so that I can flip it over....

I am planning on adding a rhinestone pin on it, then giving it away to someone special.... even though I love this hat and want to keep it!

Sad Sorry Blog

:-(

No, I have not totally abandoned you, blog. Actually I was hoping to be posting more that I got a cool new(used) camera. But I the connecter cord thingy is MIA. Boo.

ANNOYING because I have been making all kinds of cool shit but have nothing to show for it!

Meanwhile I sit around and crochet with my yummerz peppermint latte and wait for 6:55 to roll around so I can get the fuck out of Hot Shots!

Watercolor food & Crocheted stuff

Awesome crocheted afghan I made last year....

...and alex wearing it

Also here is my watercolor food in a old window frame! Cool!

Alex's Quilt

Alex's quilt:

Yellow, brown, and blue squares. Quilted with yarn ties.

Finished Creation: Coffee Date Dress

I just finished sewing my first BurdaStyle pattern. I screwed up quite a bit, as I am still kind of teaching myself basics, but the print is so loud, you can hardly notice that the darts don't exactly match up, AND it looks really good belted. Hooray for me! I am going to make a wintery version soon in a heavier fabric, but lower neckline REOW.

Make your own, courtesy of ElaineMay.

http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/coffee-date-dress

More Projects

New stuff I made:

Heart apron:

Made with super cute feed sack print from Quilter's Loft.

Bird Bag:

Made out of 50's birdcage print and a discarded leather purse strap from my momma.

Never Ending Project #1

Currently knitting a cardigan on size 2 needles since forever ago.Only just started left side. Things I have learned:

a. Aluminum needles suck balls for knitting with TINY thread. So many stitches sliding off!

b. Spending the scrill for good yarn: totally worth it.

c. I have not the patience for small gauge knitting. Seriously, this is taking way too long. I want to wear this mofo!

In other news: ant invasion in the kitchen ended in ant massacre.

Yessss.