Why I crochet....

It began back when I was about 7 years old.  My Mom taught me how to make a single stitch crochet square.  I fell in love with it and continued to make my little squares and granny squares for a few more years then gave it up (teenage life).

When I was 18 my Mom passed away. I did not touch a crochet hook again until me and my husband started trying to have our own baby.  It was then, I once again discovered the art of crochet.  I made so many booties, hats and sweaters that I didn't know what to do with them.  Most of them I sold online and some I gave to friends who had little ones.

Then I discovered miniature crochet and began making my own patterns from scratch.  I made all sorts of fruit outfits and some animals and foudn a love for them! I mostly use a #7 crochet hook. It's my fav! I had an older style Susan Bates and it is the only one I would use.  I absolutely love the hook at the end of it.  One night it suddenly developed a burr next to the hook. I was devastated. I would file it down ever night because I could not find another like it anywhere. I thought I would never again find the perfect hook.

On a trip to my sister's house in West Virginia.  I was visiting her house when she walked in with a medium sized, old, wooden wine bottle box.  I immediately began to cry! I had not seen that box in almost 20 years.  Need I say, it belonged to my mother and housed every single crochet hook and knitting needle she ever owned! I was overwhelmed with joy that my sister was entrusting it's contents to ME! She explained that she never opened it and she knew how much I loved to crochet and thought maybe I would want to use some of the items.  Well to my delight, I found a replacement for my #7 steel hook!! She had the EXACT same hook in that box.  I will never use another and absolutely cherish ever stitch I create with it. Not to mention, using my Mother's hook makes me feel a little closer to her now!!

Photo Prop Double Crochet Baby Cocoon

I've been looking through my knit to crochet book  trying to find the perfect stitch for a Baby Cocoon Photo Prop.  I wanted a versatile stitch that could be used plain for a boy or embellished with a simple large flower for a girl.  In the book, found a few cute girl type stitched and some that were quite boy in style. However, none of the girlie pattern would work for a boy and I didn't want to make a sex specific one.  I should also note, I wanted something that would make up quick! So, I decided to go with the double crochet pattern. It's simple and classic is style and will provide spaces for the toes and fingers to peep through.

I went to a closeout store near my house the other day and found some wonderful, soft medium weight yarn in a few nice fall colors. The brand is Vanna's Choice Lion Brand Yarn. I like the yarn colors in her line and was ecstatic to see the price at $3.00 per 7 oz skein!.  I purchased 4 skeins. Taupe that looks more light grey/brown mix. Pearl Mist which is like a mixture of white, linen and tan. I also purchased rust which looks like a burnt orange and kelly green for a different project.  Pretty colors if I say so myself.  In case you were wondering, I made a preemie pumpkin hat for a cousin.  She should be bringing her baby home for Thanksgiving. I thought a pumpkin hat would be perfect for the occasion!

Well, without further adieu, here is the very simple pattern I designed! I hope you like it!

The Double Crochet Baby Cocoon!

Materials:
Yarn: 1 (7 oz) skein Vanna's Choice (Lion Brand Yarn) or a like Medium Weight (4) yarn
Hook: K or larger
Just keep in mind the larger the hook the larger the holes and cocoon. I used a K with the Taupe color which should fit a newborn and an N with the Pearl Mist for a larger baby.

Pattern:
Start with a Magic Adjustable Ring. Youtube has some great instructions.



Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 11 dc in the ring, pull tail to tighten the ring hole and join with slst in top of ch 3 (12dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around , join at top of ch 2 (24dc)

Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, rep from* around and join (36dc)

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in next st, *2 dc in next dc in next 2 dc, rep from* around and join (48dc)

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in next 2 st, *2 dc in next, dc in next 3 st, rep from* around and join (60dc)

Rounds 6-22: Ch 2, dc in each dc around and join (60dc)

Round 23: Ch 1, sc in each dc around (60sc)

Round 24: Sl st in each sc around, finish and weave in ends.

I'm only half finished both cocoons at the moment. I will add pictures as soon as I finish them to give an idea of how they look when using different size hooks!

I am also making simple hats to go with each cocoon provided there is enough yarn.  I am hoping to purchase more colors and sell them through my Facebook page.  

Pinwheel Candy!

Got this one from Micheal's HERE. I copied and pasted it because I am not sure how long it will be on their website and I wanted to be able to access the pattern at Halloween! SKILL LEVEL:  Easy SIZE: One Size About 3 1/2 in. (9 cm)  MATERIALS: G hook worst weight yarn (any colors) yarn needle STITCH EXPLANATION: sc2tog (sc decrease) Insert hook into st and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook. NOTES: 1)Work in continuous rnds; do not join or turn unless otherwise instructed. 2)Yarn amount is sufficient for multiples of Pinwheel Candy.

CANDY Inner Swirl With A, ch 31. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. Fasten off. Outer Swirl With B, ch 51. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. Fasten Off. WRAPPER (make 2) With B, ch 2. Rnd 1: Work 4 sc in first ch. Place marker in first st for beg of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is completed. Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around – 8 sts. Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. Rnd 4: Work 2 sc in each st around – 16 sts. Fasten off. FINISHING Align Inner Swirl on top of Outer Swirl and roll the Swirls into a circle. Sew to secure circle. Sew 1 Wrapper to each side of the Candy. Weave in ends

Cookie Sandwiches!

Sandwich Cookie (AKA Oreos) 

I used:

• Brown, yellow, pink, white and baby blue yarn
• yarn needle
• G crochet hook
• small strip magnets (round ones work too)

Directions:

Round 1: 15 dc in an adjustable ring
Round 2: ch 2, dc in same dc, 2 dc in each dc around (30 dc)
finish off

• 2 brown, 1 white (oreo) 
• 2 yellow, 1 white (vanilla) 
• 2 brown, 1 pink (strawberry) 
• 2 yellow, 1 chocolate (reverse oreo) 
• 2 brown, 1 any color (flavored frosting) 

Layer the colors and sew them together through all three layers to form the cookie.
An alternative option, make double the amount and place a magnet inside each so your little one can take the Cookie apart just like the real ones! 2 brown, 2 white, 2 brown each section gets whip stitch sewn together with a magnet in the center.


Pictures to follow!

S'mores Anyone!

I've came up with a S’more crochet pattern which I modified from a pattern I found here.
My daughter LOVES this version!

The modifications I made to the pattern makes the pieces of the S'more more durable so they do not have to be attached together. The S'more can be made and re-made as many times as your child wishes. My daughter likes when the items come apart. You could also add magnets to the inside of each layer to make them stay together.

I used:
Worsted Weight yarn colors: Brown (chocolate), Tan (graham) and White (marshmallow)
Crochet hook G or F
Gauge is not important
scissors
yarn needle

Graham Cracker - (make 2)
Row 1: ch 14, dc in third ch from hook and in each ch across: 12 dc
Row 2 – 6: ch 2, turn, dc in each dc across: 12 dc
Row 7: ch 2, turn, dc in the back loop of each dc across: 12 dc
Row 8 – 12: ch 2, turn dc in each dc across: 12 dc

to finish: fold over at the back loop and sew up the remaining 3 sides. The double layer will make the cracker thicker and more sturdy.

Chocolate
Row 1: ch 12, dc in third ch from hook and in each ch across: 10 dc
Row 2 – 5: ch 2, turn, dc in each dc across: 10 dc
Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc in the back loop of each dc across: 10 sc
Row 7 – 14: ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across: 10 sc

to finish: fold over at the back loop row and sew up the remaining 3 sides. To make the “chocolate ridges” do a back stitch line down the center of the 2 bumps on the dc side. This style gives the chocolate more of a realistic look.

Marshmallow
Round 1: with white, make an adjustable base ring, ch 2 and make 6 sc in the adjustable ring, pull the ring tight, place a marker in the first ring: 6 sc
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around: 12 sc
Round 3: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) around: 18 sc
Round 4: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) around: 24 sc
Round 5: sc in the back loop of each sc around: 24 sc
Round 6 – 10: sc in each sc around: 24 sc
Round 11: sc in the back loop of each sc around: 24 sc
Round 12: (decrease, sc in next 2 sc) around: 18 sc
Stuff marshmallow just a little bit of fiberfill
Round 13: (decrease, sc in next sc) around: 12 sc
Round 14: (sc decrease) around: 6 sc
Finish off and sew marshmallow shut.

If you want the marshmallow to have a slightly dented top and bottom then pull the tail through the entire marshmallow to the bottom loop around the center of the bottom of the marshmallow and pull back up, loop around the top of the marshmallow and tie off. Run the end back through the center of the marshmallow to finish off.

And here is a picture of the little lady I made this for!

Yes, I made the hat she is wearing too! It was for her 2nd birthday party.