Crochet Paper Valentines Edging

Only days before I realized that I needed to make Valentines, I gave away all my scrapbook paper because "I wasn't going to get into paper crafting". When I decided that it was time to make Valentines I knew that I wanted to crochet them, and after browsing through google images I determined that I would crochet around card stock... even though I had just gotten rid of all my paper. So I asked my mom (of SpareThymeInk), who daily swims in paper crafts, if she would help me cut out some paper hearts with holes around the edge on her Silhouette Cameo (a paper die cut machine...will try to post cutting file soon.)

So this is me "not getting into paper crafting"

The pattern is actually very similar to my fleece baby blankets...except that (depending on what edging you do) it matters where you start.

With crochet thread and any crochet hook that will fit through the hole you punched, (I used a #2),
Rnd 1: sc in the start stitch, ch 1, (sc, ch 1) in each st until you get to the corner stitch.

(sc, ch 1) 3 times in the corner stitch

(sc, ch 1) in each st until you get to the start stitch again, then sl st in the 1st sc, (NOTE: For the rest of the pattern you will only be working in the sc sts.)

Rnd 2: (Hdc 5 in nxt st, sl st in nxt st) all the way around (NOTE: you don't have to do anything different for the corner st), sl st in 1st sc of rnd 1, fasten off, weave in ends. Write your message. (I tied to refrain from using the ones I marked the stitches on.) <3

Baby Football Hat

My very first crochet sports item... I generally don't care for football nor almost any sport, but even so I am very pleased with how this pattern turned out. I had looked at a few different patterns that were similar on Ravelry but couldn't find one that was free (yes...I'm a penny pincher...hey, why buy something that you can easily do yourself for free?) and in the right size. So long story short... I ended up writing my own pattern. Pretty much the most complicated thing in this pattern is the magic loop or switching colors.

Size: 0-3months

Tools:

I/9, 5.5mm crochet hook or size needed for gauge

Large Yarn/darning needle

 Gauge:

9 rows of 14 dc each (ch 2 at the beginning of each row)  = 4" square

Materials:

Brown worsted weight yarn (MC)

White worsted weight yarn (CC)

With MC make a magic loop, ch2 (if you would like to avoid the magic loop, ch 3 and pretend the 1st ch is the magic loop)

Rnd 1: dc 12 in magic loop, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 2: ch 2, dc 2 in ea st, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 3: ch 2, (dc 2 in nxt st, dc 1) repeat around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 4: ch 2, (dc 2 in nxt st, dc 2) repeat around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 5-6: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 7: ch 2, dc around, switch to CC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with MC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with MC, draw through st, yo with MC, draw through 2 loops, yo with CC while holding the tail, draw through 2 loops, DO NOT cut the MC), sl st in 1st dc

Rnd 8: ch 2, dc around, switch to MC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with CC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with CC, draw through st, yo with CC, draw through 2 loops, yo with MC from the last time you changed colors, draw through 2 loops, cut the CC)

Rnd  9-14: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 15: ch 2, dc around, switch to CC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with MC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with MC, draw through st, yo with MC, draw through 2 loops, yo with CC while holding the tail, draw through 2 loops, DO NOT cut the MC), sl st in 1st dc

Rnd 16: ch 2, dc around, switch to MC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with CC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with CC, draw through st, yo with CC, draw through 2 loops, yo with MC from the last time you changed colors, draw through 2 loops, cut the CC)

Rnd 17-19: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc, fasten off after Rnd 19 and weave in tails with darning needle

Lacing: make a ch at least 6in long, fasten off leaving a 6in tail, attach the beg tail to the top of rnd 14 (I just tied a knot), thread the ch on to the needle and complete the stitching as shown...(If you need more instruction for the stitching or otherwise please leave a comment and let me know)

Cozy (Pink/Blue) Baby Layette

     If you have followed my blog for some time you may think this looks familiar and it should because I've posted the hat and booties before (here), since that post I have added to the set a blanket and a matching gift bag that I absolutely love!

     For the bag I use a hole punch to make the holes, and then I sc in each one all the way around, then I sl st to join the end.

      The blanket is very similar to the other fleece blankets I've made in the past (here) except I found I could "cheat" (because of the fluffy yarn) by only doing a single round and not doing a ch in between each sc.

     I think using  Red Heart Baby Clouds definitely ties the whole set together and allows me to make a matching baby girl set.

     Because I used the Provo Craft Knifty Knitter blue round loom for the newborn hat it was easy to adjust the size (by switching to the green loom) of it when I had the opportunity to make a matching "big sister" hat! :)

    The gift tag below was done by the author of Spare Thyme Ink who does many beautiful things in the paper crafting world!

Doughnut Pin Cushion... Yummy, but sharp

When I first saw this pattern I thought it was simply a play food doughnut which the author had used beads as sprinkles. I thought that in itself was pretty cool. Obviously, I did not read the title very well. After realizing that it was a pin cushion, I just had to make one... and I hardly ever sew.

What a brilliant idea. Here is where you can find the pattern http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32761.

My Homemade Yarn

Okay, I know you're wondering..."What in the world is that?"... And "What does that have to do with crocheting or yarn?" Okay maybe you already know, but about a couple of years ago that is what I would have wondered.

 "That" is my handy, dandy, home made version of a drop spindle.  To see what a drop spindle is and what it does should be clear after watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXTWgMeMgI After I watched this I couldn't wait to start spinning my own yarn, and even though drop spindles are relatively cheep I was able to make my own without having to wait for a package in the mail.

This is the results of my first attempt at using the drop spindle. I started with wool roving I found on ebay. :)  For the most part its pretty even except at the very beginning. I am now knitting it into a little hand bag.

Crochet Slipper Socks

These are one of my favorite pairs of around the house socks. They are great to wear over another pair of socks or just by themselves. Unfortunately, as with many pairs of crochet socks I cannot wear them with my shoes on.

The pattern for them is quite simple and doesn't require the knowledge of very many stitches. These socks were actually one of the very early patterns I tried. For they longest time I was only doing single crochets and chain stitches. In case you are wondering what the pattern is    http://www.crochetandknitting.com/socks.htm. I would also like to make it clear that this is not my own pattern, and I am quite grateful to the author.

Crochet Converse Baby Shoes

   I just absolutely love this pattern, it is very simple and the only stitches you need to know are ch, sc, sl st, hdc and dc. Tutorials for these stitches except the sl st and hdc can be found here.

    Unfortunately, I found the pattern on Ravelry and can't find it elsewhere, so anyone who would like it would have to become a member of Ravelry if they aren't already.

    If you would like the pattern here is the link http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-baby-converse.

   I would totally recommend this pattern to a advanced beginner (one who has done several patterns). The directions were given with many photographic references so as long as you know the stitches you should have no problem.