My New Winter Hat!

Hello! Hello!  OK.  So, I know winter is more than half over, but I wanted to make myself a new hat.  I pulled out my scrap skeins and my crochet hook.  This took me awhile, because I didn't follow a pattern.  I just made it up as I went.  Sorry, I won't be posting directions for this one :)! 

My favorite color has always been some kind of hue of blue.  Right now it is almost a turquoise blue.  In this hat, I used several different stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, double crochet cable stitch, and a double crochet shell.

I LOVE my hat!  My husband thinks it is an old lady's hat.  He tried to explain it to me, but I still didn't get it :).  He doesn't have to wear it.  My little princess loves it, too.  She wants one just like it "except it needs to be purple and pink and have ears" is what she said (lol). 

Thanks for joining me today! Hope this inspires you to create your own work of art :) -Dari

Finished Project: Crochet V-Stitch Newborn Hat

I finished it!  Yea me!  I am really excited with how it turned out. Someday I may get ambitious and write up the pattern. It will have to be soon, though, while I can still remember it and before I give the hat to my new little neice (lol)!  I found the little flower pattern at http://www.daisycottagedesigns.net.  Lauren posted the instructions for this cute little thing on March 11th.  I thought it would be the perfect finishing touch to my hat. 

Thanks for stopping!  Hope you have a great weekend. -Dari

Work In Progress: Dainty Crochet Newborn Hat

It has been way too long since I posted any crafts.  I love to see everyone else's finished creations.  There isn't anything amazing about the photo you see above, and I'm sure no one else is going to "pin" it or share it anywhere, but I have been working on this for over a week!  That's right.  This little piece of work has been quite the unintended project.  

My sister had her baby last Monday, and I love to make hats.  I think every baby should have a hat (or 12).  I chose this purple skein from my stash, because my sister's favorite color happens to be purple.  Anyway, a newborn baby hat should only take an hour or so to make, right?  That's what I thought; however, I had decided on a lacy pattern that got lost in the variegated colors.  So, I ripped it out and started with another stitch.  This time a shell pattern.  The same thing happened.  I just wasn't pleased with the way it looked.  I have ripped this hat apart at least 6 times.  

Finally, I have settled on a stitch that looks dainty and yet doesn't get lost in the changing colors of the yarn.  What? You ask.  A simple V-stitch using Double Crochet. Now that I am finally settled on a stitch pattern, I may actually finish it soon!  Look for the finished project soon! Thanks for stopping by. -Dari

Patriotic Apron with Crochet Flower

Hello! Hello!  I finally finished these three aprons that I started a month ago to sell on my Etsy shop.  Life has been very busy the last little while.  There are always excuses, right?  Please tell me I'm not the only one!!!

As I mentioned before, I have 3 of these available for sale.  As with all of my creations, they are created as I go meaning that during the creative process I tweak each one to modify it and it takes on a life of its own.  I have a really hard time duplicating the same thing exactly, because I always think, "Oooh.  That would be better," or, "I wonder how that would look."  The first one I made is a perfect fit for me.  That being said, I had to enlarge the next two, because I realize that not everyone is the same size as me.  Each of these aprons has a different red button in the center.  One apron has fabric ties.  One has ribbon ties.  However, they all look the same and so I posted the best picture.  (I have come to the conclusion that I need to learn how to take better pictures).

I thought I would share the crochet flower pattern with you, because it is so easy and is a very versatile embellishment. I used a size H crochet hook and medium (size 4) Simply Soft yarn.  The source is from the book Crochet Stitches: Visual Encyclopedia.

Ch 5, sl to form ring.
Ch 7 (this counts as dc & ch-4 space), *2 dc in ring, ch 4.* Repeat 5 times.
Dc in ring, sl in 3rd ch of beginning 7-ch.  Do NOT turn (should have 12 dc).
*Sl, sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc, sl* in each ch-sp around.  Fasten off.

That's it!  Hope you enjoy! -Dari

Crochet Earrings

I think I am doing pretty good with my new system.  I have posted for the last three days.  Go me!  Yesterday I took 10 minutes and finished the top pair of earrings (teal).  They are made out of cotton yarn.  To make: I used a size F crochet hook. ch 5, sl to join.  ch 1, 12 sc in center, join to top of first sc. * ch 3, skip 1 sc and sl into next. Repeat from *.  sl into base of first ch.  fasten off.  The rest is really simple.  I opened the earring and inserted around one yarn segment closing with needle nose pliers.  Then I attached the charm to the bottom of the earring using a jump ring (I think that's what it is called) by opening it up and attaching a segment of yarn and the charm to it.  Then I used needle nose pliers to close it.

The second pair (purple) is made using regular (weight 4) yarn.  Both types of earrings were made from scraps, and I can't remember what brand they are!! Honestly, I am not all that concerned about wasting precious brain cells to try to remember, either!  Anyway, using a size F crochet hook, I chained 16.  Then I sc in the second ch from hook twice, *1 sc in next, 2 sc in one after*.  Follow this pattern to end. Ch 1, turn and repeat the same pattern.  Fasten off and weave in ends.  After playing with the curlique and deciding  where the best place for the earring to be attached to (I had technical difficulties and must confess that I pulled the earrings apart a few times before I was satisfied with how they hung), I closed the loop with needle nose pliers.

I know these instructions are simple.  I hope they make sense.   These were really easy and fun to make.  If you don't understand the directions, just leave me a message, and I will try to help.  

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Dari

Mother's Day/Stash Buster Crochet

Wow!  We have been so busy lately.  It seems like yesterday that I posted, and yet I know it wasn't yesterday.  We have been gathering bids to build our house.  I finished school with my kids. We bought a new refrigerator.  We are trying to get the garden in and do some yard work.  Oh, and of course, the never ending mommy tasks of cooking, cleaning, and laundry!  I have not had a lot of time for crafting as you may have guessed.  That's OK (I think?).  There is a season for everything.

I never posted my Mother's Day gifts I did and thought I would share those.

I really liked the way they turned out.  I know our mothers appreciated them.  They also know that I am a practical person and so they got a practical gift.  The crochet Swiffer pattern is my own.  You can reference my post about the crochet Swiffer cloth for the pattern. stamped two lunch bag sized brown paper bags with ink to coordinate with my homemade cards, folded the top over and punched two holes into the bag.  Then, I just threaded a ribbon through and tied it.  Very easy and cute.     

Stash Buster: Knitted Baby Hats

I finally finished the two baby boy hats I was knitting for two friends.  Once again I forgot to take a photo of my yarn before I began.  I found a very simple pattern at http://twentysomethinggranny.blogspot.ca/2013/01/knitted-baby-bow-hat.html. However, I misread the pattern for the first one (on the left) and didn't give a border between my ribbing and my color change.  I like it, though, and the recipient won't know I messed up!  The second one I chose a k2 p2 ribbing and deliberately made thick stripes.  These were very easy and whipped up quickly. 

The photo of the card is not the best.  I didn't realize it until I uploaded it.  I folded a piece of white cardstock in half and cut the top 2 corners on a diagonal.  I cut a piece of patterned paper slightly smaller than the dimensions of the white card base and then cut it in half.  Next, I cut a piece of light blue cardstock. the same size as the dimensions of the card base, but instead of cutting it in half, I tore the edge.  I cut out a small frame with a darker blue cardstock and inked the edges white.  I adhered it to the card using pop up adhesives.  On white cardstock I stamped the baby blocks and used watercolor pencils and a blending pen to give it a soft pastel look.  I adhered it to the card with a pop up adhesive square, too.  I cut a small rectangle, inked it, glued it to the top, and punched a hole in the middle.  I tied a piece of translucent ribbon on top and finished it by stamping the sentiment with an olive green ink.

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Stash Buster Crochet Newsboy Hat

 

Hello! Hello!  I have wanted to post something "yarny" for a week, but I've been caught up in trying to educate my children.  Amazing concept, huh?  I have done quite a lot of things with My Princess for preschool and will have to post about those adventures soon.

Anyway, I LOVE hats.  I also love to be outside and wanted a new hat for me.  That, too, is an amazing concept.  My children are always asking, "Who's that for?  I want one, too."  Well, this hat is actually for Me, Myself, and I!

I was searching Pinterest for some ideas and ran across a really cute design on  http://crochetncrafts.com/crochet/cross-over-long-dc-hat.html .

Seeing the designer's hat is worth the click.  You cannot see the Long Double Crochet pattern very well in my picture.  I think the black hides it.  

Once my hat was finished, I crocheted a little flower out of the bright light blue.  The pattern for this is the flower I used for my Tropical Flower Headband.  You can download that pattern on my website daris-corner.weebly.com. After I crocheted the flower, I hot glued it to an alligator clip so that I can interchange different flowers/motifs according to my mood.

Wishing you a wonderful day!-Dari

Stash Buster Knitted Dish Cloth and Swiffer Mop Cloth

OK, so I am taking an online knitting class and finished my first knitted dish cloth.  I am pretty pleased with the results (with the exception of the white pointed corner).  I will have to learn how to decrease and cast off without a funky point!  Any words of advice are welcome! Although this is not a 100% stash buster project, it began as one.  I got half way through the project with the pink and realized that I didn't have enough to finish, so I bought some white (the dye lot did NOT match). Go figure!! 

After I finished this, I immediately began crocheting a Swiffer Cloth for my sister-in-law.  I helped her this morning with some of her cleaning and decided she needed one.  She doesn't like purchasing the disposables.  They are expensive.  Who would?  Anyway, I had an almost full skein of the white yarn I purchased for my dish cloth and thought it would work just fine.  I typed up my pattern and posted it on my website if you would like to use it. 

Hope you enjoy my yarn creations!

Stash Buster #12 Gel Ice Pack Pillow

I am so excited about this one for lots of reasons! First, it is very practical and needed at the current time in my life; second, I love the way it turned out; and third, I used a new stitch which is really fun.
So, what am I so excited about? Gel Ice Pack Pillow.  I have been layering washcloths and ice packs on my face for a couple of weeks now. During one of my moments of frustration I thought, "I should make something that would keep these layers together."  Some of the best inventions are created out of necessity!

 

 

I even remembered to post a picture of the yarns I used from my stash.  As you can see, most of my yarns are not in beautiful balls.  Once upon a time.  I don't even remember when that part of my life went out the door!

I wanted to share an up close photo of the sedge stitch I used.  It is one I will definitely work with again.  To create this stitch you need any set of 3 stitches + 1.  For the chain base, add 2.  Turn.  Skip 2 ch, HDC & DC in next stitch; *skip 2 ch, SC, HDC & DC in next st, repeat from * until end.  In last stitch, SC only.
Consecutive rows: Turn, CH 1 (counts as SC), HDC & DC in same st, skip 2 st and repeat from *. That's it!  It has a nice subtle texture and pretty pattern.

To top this off, I made homemade gel packs.  Oh! No! I forgot to take a photo of one.  However, here is the recipe.

HOMEMADE GEL PACKS

1/2 C rubbing alcohol
1 C  water
Blue food coloring
ZipLoc sandwich bag
Food Saver bag and sealer, opt.

Fill sandwich bag with ingredients.  Seal. Place in freezer overnight.  How simple is that?  They work great!

Stashbusters #9-#11 Amigurami

Hello! As I am looking at my pictures, I realized I haven't glued the eyes onto my turtle, and I don't have an individual photo of my knitted bunny (lol)! Oh.  I also forgot to take photos of the yarns I used from my stash.  Oops! I created the snail with the intention of using her for "My Phonics" preschool mat curriculum I am working on, but alas she is TOO big.  She is about 7 inches long.  For my educational purposes, this won't do.  From my little princess' perspective, that is just fine.  I will have to make a mini snail. The turtle with the missing eyes (lol) is for my oldest son.  He really wanted a cute puppy, but after my ugly cheetah I made for my second son, I lost the excitement to make a puppy.  I might have to practice some more, but amigurami is not my favorite.  The knitted rabbit is my second attempt at knitting.  I found a really good tutorial at http://josoandsew.wordpress.com/tutorials/knitted-bunnies/.  I made mine 15 stitches larger than she did.  I think I will make one a little smaller than hers.  It is very cute and a very good beginner project. Yea!

Stash Buster #8 Tropical Flower Headband

OK, so it is really UNUSUAL for me to post more than once a day! As you may have noticed, I haven't been consistent with posting on a regular basis for a while. I don't have that much free time with homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, creating, etc., but I have been under the weather and so I have had a little more time lately. As I was browsing on Pinterest earlier this morning, I ran across a really pretty crochet flower and thought, "That would be perfect for the headband I want to make." Unfortunately, it did not have a corresponding pattern. I printed the picture and picked it apart and thought, "I can do that!" Of course, I had to get to work while the puzzle pieces were in my mind!

The result? My tropical flower headband!!  I love it.  I am uploading the pattern, which I typed up today, too, onto my website.  The link is on the right column.  I am just tickled with the way it turned out.  If you like it, let me know!

Happy hooking!

Stash Buster #7 Beaded Watch

Hello! Hello! I bought a watch face at Michaels on clearance a year ago with the intention of making myself a watch. Well, it took me almost a year to get around to it! I am quite pleased with the results. I used a HDC Multiple Cluster stitch. It gives the fabric a nice texture. To work a HDC Multiple Cluster stitch, you need a any stitch count of 2 stitches + 1. So, you could have 8+1=9 or 20+1=21. For the base chain, you need to add 1 more. At the beginning of the row, chain 2 (counts as 1HDC), *1 MC (multiple cluster) by YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, draw loop through, YO, draw through 2 loops, skip 1 st, [YO, insert hook into next stitch, YO, draw loop through] 2x in same st (6 loops on hook), YO, draw through all loops on hook. Wah! Lah! Repeat from * across row. You should finish an MC in last stitch. HDC into same place and turn. Begin again. Have fun. Hope you enjoy!

Stash Buster #6 Crochet Book Tote

I am so excited to share this. I have been working on it for 2 weeks now. I finally finished it last night. This is my new scripture tote. I got the inspiration from Laura at http://tillietulip.blogspot.com/. I just love her daisy granny. She has a free tutorial on her blog. I put a fabric lining on the inside. It has 2 pockets, one on each end. One of them is divided into smaller pockets for pens, etc. After I finished the handle, I decided I wanted to embellish it with a matching daisy. I had to modify it, however, because I didn't want it to be a granny square. So..... DAISY EMBELLISHMENT PATTERN 1) I began with a magic circle and did 11 sc into the center. SL into top of first one. 2) With pink color, I SL into any space, *then chain 4, 2 TC (treble) in same space, chain 4, and SL into same space. 3) SL into next space and repeat from *. To finish off SL into base of first petal. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Really easy! I added a corkscrew instead of leaves. Using brown yarn, chain 32. Turn. HDC in 3rd chain, 2 HDC in each of remaining chains. Fasten off. Weave in ends. I ended up using more yarn colors than I had originally posted. Here is what is left of the colors I ended up using. Thanks for stopping!

Heart Dish Scrubby

OK. Here is my latest scrubby. My 9 year old likes it better than all the others. It is one of my Stash Buster Projects. I used a new stitch (for me) called the Trinity Star. It is a really fun stitch. There are actually little stars throughout the piece. You can't tell very well because of the variegated colors in the yarn. I think I will use a solid color the next time I use this stitch. This is my own design; however, there are a couple of areas where I don't remember what I did to finish it. I worked it as one piece starting with a square, then I added one rounded top, but after that it got complicated. I single crocheted around some area in order to get to the other corner to do that round, then I single crocheted, and then I slip stitched, and then.... you get the point. I should have written it down!!! The scrubby portion began as a circle, but then I added 2 rounded parts and used up the last of my nylon netting, so this is the last scrubby I am doing for awhile. Yea! Kind of. I have had a lot of fun making them, and they are a quick project. Oh. I almost forgot. I used yarn and a blanket stitch to adhere the scrubby to the dish cloth. My next project is not going to be so quick. I am making a book tote. Here are the yarns from my stash I am planning on using.

Crochet dish scrubbies

I am so excited! For Christmas I made my Mom a simple dish scrubby (nothing cute-sorry Mom). Since then I came across mooglyblog.com's flower crochet dish scrubby pattern. It is adorable! I had to make it, and I had a ball of nylon netting I needed to use up for the Stash Buster Challenge along with some cotton yarn. I am very pleased with the outcome. After I got done with that flower scrubby, I had to design my own! I really like it. Now for the pattern: In magic circle, SC 10 and join with a SL into first stitch. Row 1- Ch 1 and SC in same stitch. 2 SC in each of remaining st. Join. (20 st). Row 2- Ch 1 and SC in same st. 2 SC in next stitch. *SC in next 2 st then 2 SC in next stitch.* Repeat until end. Join.(30) Row 3- Ch 1 and SC in same st. *SC in next st., 2 SC in next.* Repeat until end. Join. (40 st). Row 4- Ch 3 (counts as first DC). 2 DC in same st. *Remove hook and insert into first of three DC and the last one (loop). Pull through. Ch 1. Skip one sc and do 3 DC in next sc. Repeat from * to the end. Join. I ended up with one extra space. Terrible of me, but I left it. Join. Row 5- Ch 1 and SC in same st. SC in next 2 st. 2 SC in next. *SC in next 3 st. 2 SC in next. Repeat from * to end. Join. Row 6- Ch 3 and skip 1 sc. SL in next sc. Repeat until end. join. Hanger- Ch 30 and SL into stitch at base. *Ch 3, skip 1 Ch and SL into next Ch. Repeat from*. Join with SL and fasten off. Scrubby: Magic circle- 10 SC and join. Row 1- Ch 1 and SC in same stitch. 2 SC in each remaining st. join. Row 2- Ch 3 (counts as DC). FPDC in same st. *1 DC in next st. 2 FPDC in next st. Repeat from * to end. Join. Fasten off. Attaching scrubby to dishcloth: I centered my scrubby into the center of the wrong side of the dishcloth. Using my yarn, I did a running stitch around coming up and back down around the single Double Crochet stitches. This accentuated the uneven texture created by the FPDC even more. Hope this makes sense! Enjoy.

Stash Buster Challenge

I really go through different craft phases. I love to crochet, but this winter I have done a lot more. Doing homeschool, preschool and piano lessons, I have not had a lot of time to pull out projects. Thank goodness for yarn! It can sit on my rocking chair or the kitchen counter always ready for me to pick it up for just a short time. It has also been very therapeutic for me to relax and relieve stress. I came across some fabulous crochet blogs/websites and started seeing a little icon about the Stash Buster Challenge. I looked into it and thought, "Hey! That sounds fun." Honestly, though, I have been contemplating it for several weeks now- not because I don't have a stash, but because life is so crazy right now I didn't want to commit myself to something that I couldn't carry through with. The result is that today you not only get to see my stash, but you also get to see several of my finished Stash Buster Projects. Who knows- maybe I'll post more often (smiles)! This is my lovely stash. It is quite a hodgepodge of everything! It will be fun to see how much of it I can use up this year. I love this hat pattern! The designer is Linda Permann. She is a very talented designer. This hat is called "The Little Sister Hat." The pattern gives specific instructions for ALL head sizes. The website I found the pattern at is www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/little-sister-hat/34620. I made this hat for one of my husband's cousins who is going through chemo right now. Both pics are of the same hat, but I made 2 different bows. Amazing how much they affect the look of the hat! The flower pattern is also given on this site. Thanks Linda. My youngest brother loves bow ties, and his birthday is coming up next week. I whipped up a really fast bow tie with the "crunch" pattern. One of my desires/goals this year is to experiment with different stitches. I found this in a book titled, "Teach Yourself Visually Crochet," by Keim & Werker. I have been crocheting for years, but I have had a hard time finding different stitch patterns. This is a great resource! Anyway, to make this stitch, simply make your foundation chain the desired length. Ch 1. Turn. SL into same st. HDC into next ch. *SL into next ch. HDC into next ch.* until the end. When you get to the end, Ch 1 and turn. If your last stitch on Row 1 was a SL, you will do a HDC in the same stitch as your chain. If your last stitch on Row 1 was a HDC, you will SL into same stitch as your chain. You will continue to rotate between the SL and HDC. It's that simple. Hint: make sure you insert hook into stitch top and not into the extra front stitch. I know you can't see it in the pic, but there are diagonal lines that run horizontal throughout the piece. It is very cool! Happy Valentine's Day! This is what I made for my husband, kids, friends, ...... I had lots of fun making them. I do have a problem- that is I don't ever stick with the same thing for long. I have to modify or change things. I guess that is what spices my life up. Thanks for stopping by! More to post soon.