Basic Pumpkin

I often like to use a very basic pattern to start a new project.  I think if you have a jumping off point, you can get creative from there and really make something your own.  With Fall and Halloween just around the corner, here is a basic pumpkin pattern.

Basic Pumpkin

Materials:

*I Hook

*Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Pumpkin and Spring Green

*Scissors

*Poly-Fill or grocery bags (of other filler material of your choice)

*Notes:

Special Stitches used: DCdec=Double Crochet Decrease

-Instructions for DCdec: YO and insert hook into stitch.  YO and pull through 1 loop.  YO and pull through 2 loops.  YO and insert hook into next stitch.  YO and pull through 1 loop.  YO and pull through 2 loops.  YO and pull through remaining 3 loops. 

Start with Pumpkin.

Make a Magic Circle, or Ch 4 and sl st into first chain made. Ch 2.

R1: 8 DC in center.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R2: 2 DC in each stitch.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R3: *2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in following stitch* Continue to end of round.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R4: *2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches* Continue to end of round.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R5-10:DC in each stitch around.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R11-14: DCdec in next 2 stitches.  DC to end of round.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R15: Dcdec to last stitch.  DC in last stitch.  Sl st in first DC.  Fill with Poly-Fill or other filler material.

R16: Change color to Spring Green.  Ch 2.  DCdec around.  Sl st in first DC.  Ch 2.

R17: DC around.  Sl st in first DC.  Tie off and hide ends.

I used grocery bags to fill my pumpkin and I am able to pull a grocery bag out of the stem of the pumpkin.  If you do not want this small hole at the top, simply sl st across the stitches after DCing around in R17. 

How-To Tuesdays: Slip Knots & Chains

I realize that many of my friends don't know much about crochet.  I am a crafter of all kinds, but have found that crochet is by far my favorite.  Once you get it down, it's a great way to keep your hands busy.  It's very soothing, and can be a relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day or on a lazy Sunday.  So, I would love to share it with you!  Ready for a crash course in crochet basics?  Here we go!

To begin crocheting, you don't need much.  Just a crochet hook, some yarn and some scissors.

This picture just won't rotate, I'm sorry!

To begin, we need to attach the yarn to the hook using a slip knot.  Here is a video tutorial, and then a picture tutorial.  :)

Picture Tutorial

Hold yarn between ring finger and pinky finger

Wrap yarn over the top of index finger, behind fingers and back to top of index finger

Insert hook from right to left, under first string, over second string

Using hook, pull second string under the first

Grab both the end of the string and the string attached to the rest of the yarn (the skein) and pull gently

This creates the knot

Let go of the end of the yarn, but pull gently on the yarn still attached to the skein.  This will bring the knot to the hook.  You'll want the yarn to be snug against the hook, but not so tight that the knot isn't able to slide easily up and down the hook.  This is important, as you will be sliding the yarn across the hook when you make your stitches.

Now, you can begin creating a foundation chain!  A foundation chain is the beginning of your piece.  The number of chains you make will determine how big your piece will be.

Start with a slipknot.  Lucky you, you just learned how to make one!  ;)

Wrap the yarn over the hook.  From the bottom, wrap the yarn up and behind the hook, then down and in front of the hook.

Using the hook, pull the wrapped yarn through the existing loop on the hook.

Continue the process again.

When following (or creating) a pattern, a chain foundation is the most common way to begin.  Practice the chain technique until you can comfortable move through it.  You don't want your chains to be too loose, or your work will easily stretch and look sloppy.  You also don't want your chains to be too tight, or you won't be able to reenter them to continue your stitches.  Keep your stitches about the size of the circumference of your hook.  You'll have to gauge the tension by feel.  This takes time and practice, so don't feel bad if it takes you a while to get it!  It took me a while before I really got my tension down.

This takes a bit of coordination and getting used to, so don't feel bad if it takes a while to get it down!  In fact, why don't you take this week to practice?  ;)  Come back next Tuesday and we will learn our first stitch!

Fall Lace Scarf

Ah, the leaves are changing!  I love this time of year.  Pumpkin, apples, cooler weather and of course, the beautiful colors!


To get us ready for the cooler weather that comes with the fall, I put together a pretty lace scarf.  I wanted the stitches to be light and airy, since fall doesn't mean freezing temperatures, only cool, crisp air.  I hope you all enjoy it!

Fall Lace Scarf

*Materials: 

*H Hook (5.50MM)

*1-2 skein(s) Caron Simply Soft Yarn in Garnet or Autumn Red

*Scissors

*A book (yes, seriously)

Main Piece:

-Chain 27

-Row 1: DC in 3rd chain from hook, and in each chain to end of row.  Ch 3, turn.

-Row 2: Skip first DC.  *[1 DC, ch 1, 1 DC] in next stitch.  Skip next 2 DC* and repeat from * to last 2 stitches.  Skip next stitch.  DC in last stitch.  Ch 3, turn. 

-Row 3: 3 DC in each ch space to to last ch space.  1 DC in last ch space.  Ch 3, turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 to desired length.  

**NOTE: My scarf has the pattern repeated to 70 rows, but this is because I ran out of yarn (I used less than 1 skein of yarn, probably about 3/4 of a skein).  This is a good length for one of my daughters, but not for an adult.  I'd recommend continuing the pattern to at least 100 rows and then deciding how to proceed from there.

-When desired length has been achieved, repeat row 2. 

-DC in each stitch and chain across.  Tie off, weave in ends.  

Fringe:

Here's where you book comes in.  :)

Take your yarn and wrap it width-wise around the book.  Start at the spine: 

You need to determine how much fringe you want.  I did 1 string (2 strands when attached) per DC space.  I think it would have looked even better with 2 strings (4 strands when attached) per DC space, but alas, I ran out of yarn.  For 1 string per space, you'll need 25 strings, so wrap it around 25 times.  Double that if you'd like.  

When you have it wrapped around the amount of times desired, Cut straight across the middle of the spine.

To attach the strands, decide which end you want to begin with.  Starting from the left, insert your hook in the first stitch.  Take your first string and place the center of it on the end of your hook, then pull it up through the stitch.  Hook the remaining strands and pull through the loop.  Continue on each stitch across. 

Ruffle Bag

I grew up with two brothers.  I was the only girl (and the youngest), so I was a little bit spoiled.  However, I was never afraid to play sports or climb trees with my brothers!  The older I get, the more girly I get.  Not that I won't still yell at the TV if my football team is driving me crazy!!  But, I will make sure I'm pretty while I'm yelling.  ;)

I have a love for lace, pearls and ruffles.  :)  Girly things are beautiful!  This bag was inspired by my love for ruffles!

I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn in Vanilla.  Again, my apologies for having no pattern for this bag!  I made it in two pieces, the front panel is ruffled and the back panel is not.  You could easily do two ruffled panels if you wanted to!  Both sides took about 1 skein of yarn each, and the non-ruffled panel was crocheted using two strands to give it some extra strength.  The back panel is made of DC's and so is the strap.  It's  a fun and sweet bag!

Hello, world!

I am beginning this blog due to the sweet encouragement of my loved ones...  I have always been one to create (art, crafts, deliciousness, trouble...) and would like to share some of those ideas with you!


My apologies for what I'm sure are to be very uneventful posts in the beginning.  As I have been creating projects, I had no intention of posting them on the Internet.  So, I have no patterns for these projects since I just pulled them out of my head.  If there is something you are truly in love with, let me know and I will attempt to recreate it, either for you to buy or to get you the pattern.

I also apologize for the quality of these photos.  I just took them with my phone's camera - again, I had no intention of sharing them with the world! You get the point, though...

This was created using Caron's Simply Soft yarn in Persimmon

My adorable model ;)

Another adorable model...  You'll see a lot of these girls!  This is a rosette tee I made.  I used 2 shirts of the same color and made the rolled roses from strips of fabric from the second shirt.  The end result is super cute and this is still one of my daughters favorite shirts.  However, since this is a somewhat heavy fabric, the shirt is weighted down on the side full of flowers.  If I were to do this again, I'd make less flowers, OR...

...I would do what I did with this shirt.  This is a white shirt, but I used a lighter fabric to make the rosettes.  The fabric is actually one of those thin towels you can get at the dollar store, cut into strips about 2 inches wide.  The length of the strip will determine how big your rosettes will be.  I rolled the fabric over itself, then rolled it into a circle shape while I stitched with a needle and thread.  Only took about an hour from start to finish.

I have plenty of other ideas, but I wanted to give you a little sampler of what will be here until I can finish up some other projects.  I hope you all enjoy this blog!