Fall is Coming...

               Well happy summer everyone!   I apologize for my neglect during these past few months, but my goodness I am having such a wonderful time :)   Hubby and the girls and I have had a great summer this year, lots of fun and excitement.  I have been crocheting and knooking, but haven't had much computer time to share any posts.  I have completed a very cute hedgehog pillow, progressed quite nicely on an afghan and even started knooking a pair of socks!  Again I could go on and on about how great the knook is.  I went on to Etsy and bought some smaller knooks so that I could make socks and mittens with real intricate knitting patterns!  This has brought much joy to my life lol.
                At the beginning of summer on a lazy hot and humid day, I sat with a steaming hot and delicious cup of black coffee ( I prefer Folgers), waking up and surfing Ravelry <3.  My oldest daughter was sitting with me and she seen a very cute and simple creation, an apple cozy.  She just fell in love with it.  She almost immediately began insisting that I absolutely must make this for her teachers.  With summer vacation already started, it was too late to give this as an end of school year gift, so I suggested giving them to the teachers as a Welcome Back from summer gift.  She really liked that idea, and I like the twist on the classic leaving an apple on the teacher's desk.
                This is a free pattern that I found online.  I tried a few different ones, but this one looked the best when finished.  There is an optional leaf attachment in the pattern, but I decided not to use it this time, I don't have the right color green on hand.  But it is really cute.

               I found the free pattern here, Crafty-Anna.  This quick little project only took me a couple of hours to finish.  I plan on making at least 6 more.  I highly recommend this one.   I used Bernat Handicrafter yarn and an H hook.  It fits an average size apple.  The pattern is easily adaptable to make a smaller or larger cozy. 
Thanks for looking and Happy Hooking!

Knook Crazy

Happy Spring to everyone!  It has been absolutely beautiful lately, I can't get enough of the sunshine and birds chirping :o)  I hope you all have been receiving great weather also.  
I have been an avid crocheter for almost 11 years now.  I love every loopy stitch, and I love to challenge myself with new techniques.  I have not been so successful in my attempt at knitting however.  Those long needles are too awkward and my stitches always fall off the points, and the stitches seem to be kind of backwards compared to good ol'crochet.  Until now!!  I have seen this wonderful product advertised for months, and finally found it at my local Walmart.  The Knook!

I've had it for about a month now, and haven't been able to put it down.  I'm actually truly knitting!  Not in the traditional way, but in a way that works for me.  I cannot even describe in words how happy this makes me!  Leisure Arts also has lots of instructional videos for left and right handers to get you started.   Including cables, knooking in the round, increasing and decreasing, as well as basic garter, stockinette and knit stitches. Knook Videos They offer a few basic projects in the included booklet, but I wasn't satisfied with something so basic of course.  I went right for it and found a nice easy knit pattern on Ravelry for a cute little fuzzy lamb.  Fuzzy Mitten Lamb   I finished it in a few days, and have been knooking a sweet little sweater to go with it. Sally's Sweater.   The lamb took more concentration being my first official project.  The sweater however is absolutely hypnotic, just stockinette stitch.  So relaxing!  There is an advanced beginner kit also available that includes different size knooks and longer knook cords for bigger projects.  I might just try my hand at making my own knook hook!  And I can't wait to try knooking some socks :o)  I could honestly talk about knooking all day long lol.  You must try this product, you will not be disappointed!

Pretty Petal Pixie Hat

Hello out there fellow hookers!  Today I am posting a new hat that I made for my youngest daughter.  I am quite pleased with this one I must say.   These girls of mine have so many hats, it's quite ridiculous really!   But they are so quick to whip up and there are sooooo many possibilities, how can I resist?  With that in mind, I am going to start making hats whenever I possibly can and donate them to charity and to hospitals.
But anyhoo...I have tackled and succeeded in conquering the beautiful 'crocodile stitch'!!!   This one technique has been showing up on Ravelry for quite sometime, with a price unfortunately.  But thanks to the power of Youtube and a wonderful free pattern found deep in the corners of the internet it has been done!!  Now for me, the written pattern I found was a little confusing, but as soon as I watched the youtube video it all became so clear, and soooo easy!! 
I started fiddling with the stitch and made a beautiful neck warmer for myself.  It is all black to match my coat, so I didn't take a photo because you can't see the stitch definition.  So after that I decided to figure out how to make a hat. 

I started from the bottom, making my base chain long enough to fit around my sweet girl's head and starting working upward.  Now here is my trick!!  Instead of decreasing in the round as I neared the crown, I simply made an extra row and then weaved (wove?) my yarn back and forth to cinch the top closed like you would a hooded sweatshirt.  And voila!!  I used Bernat Satin yarn for the whole project.  I improvised the leaves (there are 3) and the cute little curly vine on top.  
My daughter loves this hat!  She thinks it looks like something that Tinkerbell or one of her friends might wear :o) 
Here are the helpful links that I used. Crocodile Stitch video tutorial , please keep in mind this video shows you how to start a neckwarmer.  With some adjustments you can make whatever you like!  But this video is super awesome at showing you this technique so check it out!
And this link, Crocodile Stitch Hat  is for an adult size hat.  I just made my adjustments to make it a lot smaller for my 3 year old. 
I had so much fun with this project, I hope you all give it a go.  The end result is worth any headache it may cause you!  If you have any questions I am always happy to help, just send me an email!   A big thank you to http://cats-rockin-crochet.blogspot.com for posting the free pattern. 
Thanks for looking and happy hooking!!

Urban Shells Beanie

         Wow, February already?!  I have noticed that once you're older, time just flies by!  I'm not sure that I like that lol.  I have been crocheting like a boss lately, I am so happy to have had some extra time to be crafty.  Lots of hats, cowls, and I'm still working on a ripple afghan.  I think that next time I feel brave enough to accept the daunting task of making an afghan I will make one made up of squares instead!  I just get too bored on such a big project! 
         Today I would like to share with you my new hat.  I received a beautiful new coat from my wonderful hubby for Christmas, and of course had to make some matching accessories!  I have had it finished for some time now, but am just getting around to sharing it today.  I found the pattern for free on Ravelry, so I hope everyone will check it out and make one for yourself or as a gift. 
The pattern is available in many sizes from baby to adult.  Here is a pic of me wearing my new hat. 

          I love the scalloped edge, so pretty! You need to be comfortable with fpdc, if you aren't familiar with this stitch, look it up online, there are great tutorials out there! The FREE pattern can be found as a Ravelry download here, Urban Shells Beanie . Unfortunately the link directly to the designer's blog isn't working right now.  I will check it out later this week and post it if it becomes active.  So please go to Ravelry and check out this pattern, there is even a matching scarf! 

Thanks for looking and Happy Hooking!

Funky Monkey

     Hello out there!  I hope everyone had a great holiday season and are enjoying the new year so far.  I had a great time visiting with friends and family.  I think that may be the best part of the holidays for me!
     So I've been a busy girl crossing items off of my w.i.p. list.  I haven't been so great at sharing everything :o(  But I will catch up!  My latest item to fly off the hook is a sock monkey hat for my oldest daughter.  I was browsing on Ravelry (what a surprise)  and found this cute pattern.  It works up quickly and you can add so many personal touches to make each one as unique as the lucky girl or boy you will be giving it to.

 

        I opted to go with a pink monkey for my daughter.  She absolutely LOVES it.  And nothing feels better than when someone truly appreciates the work and thought that goes in to creating a gift made especially for them.  I posted this on Facebook and I am getting so much wonderful feedback from friends and family, so thank you if you're reading.  I always enjoy the confidence boost lol.
        The pattern can be purchased through Ravelry .  If you're not on Ravelry, what are you waiting for??? But seriously, here is a link for you, Sock Monkey Hat .  The pattern is very well written and includes many sizes and even an optional flower for a pretty finishing touch.  Well I'm off to enjoy my day off making another hat for my youngest daughter! 

Thanks for looking, and happy hooking!