My Favorite Beanie Pattern

     One of my favorite things to crochet are beanies. They are quick to work up and you can make them into just about anything you can imagine.They are a great little project to work on while watching tv in the evenings and only takes a couple hours to complete.

     Since I went back to work last year, I am outside a lot more often. With these colder temperatures blowing in, I decided it was time to dust off the crochet hooks and make some beanies. I went to the store and decided to get some soft, chunky yarn. I made 6 nice, warm beanies fairly quickly.

     This pattern makes it easy to add stripes to your hat. I've also used this pattern to add mohawks, hair, ear flaps with braids... I've even used it to make baby cocoons. The possibilities are endless!

     One of my favorite things about this beanie pattern is it's easy to adjust to the right size. You can always stop when it's the right circumference or when it's long enough. I use the pattern more as a generic guideline and make each one specific for the person I've made it for.

     Now, onto the pattern. I usually use a double crochet, but I have made them with half doubles and I've even made some with single crochets. It all just depends on your personal preference and what your needs are.

Round 1:  Magic Ring. CH 1, 10 DC inside ring. Join into first DC. (10 DC)

Round 2: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch and into each stitch around, join to first DC (20 DC)

Round 3: CH 1, 2 DC into  same stitch, 1 DC into next DC.**2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into                      next DC. Repeat from **around. Join to first DC (30 DC)

Round 4: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 2 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into                  next 2 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (40 DC)

Round 5: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 3 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into next 3 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (50 DC)

Round 6: CH 1, 2 DC into same stitch, 1 DC into next 4 DC, ** 2 DC into next DC, 1 DC into next 4 DC. Repeat from ** around. Join to first DC (60 DC)

Round 7-20: CH 1, DC into same stitch and each stitch around. Join to first DC (60 DC)

Finish off and weave in ends.

     And that's all there is to it! What kind of beanie should I try next?

My New Favorite Crochet Pattern

   A while ago, there was a picture circulating Facebook of a cute little baby blanket with a bear on it. It kept popping up on my news feed since I know a few crocheters and all of my friends know I crochet. After about the 3rd time someone shared it with me, I thought I would look into this thing called corner to corner (c2c) crochet.

   I did a quick google search and found how to do it. It looked easy enough so I figured I would try it out. All I needed was a graph with a picture.

   Now, those of you that know me, know that I don't ever do anything the easy way. When it comes to crafts, I'm of the "go big or go home" club. I grabbed some graph paper and a pencil and got to work.

   I wasn't really sure how the sizing would work, so I just guessed and made myself a little graph.

   My brother in law and his wife both went to University of Utah so I figured I would make my first one for them. Plus, my littlest one idolizes said uncle and so if it turned out small, I had a fall back person to give it to.

   It turned out small (of course) so I made a few measurements, tweaked the graph, and got back to work.

   I had two super happy people when I was done!

   Once I finished the Utah ones, I decided they were the perfect size for a baby blanket. Since my sister in law was pregnant, I decided to make another one. I didn't have a ton of time to get it done before the baby shower, but I gave it a go; and I finished it the night before.

   Then my very own sister got pregnant. My sister and her hubby had been waiting for this for years. They were super excited and they both LOVE Batman. So, of course, I had to make them one as well.

   So, how do you do this corner to corner crochet? Let me show you. Once you get it down, it's so easy. I have one that doesn't have any color changes so it's pretty mindless work while you are watching tv.

   First, decide what you want. You can do a solid color or you can find a graph; or make one if you're into that kind of thing.

   To begin, chain 6

   Double crochet into the 4th one from the hook.

   Then do a double in both of the remaining 2 stitches. This is your first square

   Flip your square and chain 6

   Double crochet in the 4th, 5th, and 6th stitch. You now have 2 squares.

   Slip stitch into the chain space on your first square in the first row and then chain  3.

   Double crochet 3 more times in the chain space. This completes your second row.

   You are going to continue in this way. Every time you flip, chain 6 to make the growing square. Always slip stitch into the chain space of the next square from the previous row, chain 3, double crochet 3.

   As soon as you have your square as long and wide as you want, you are going to slip stitch into the chain space of last square on the previous row.

   Slip stitch across the square you just made.

   Chain 3

   Double crochet 3 and then slip stitch into the next square. This part is the same as the growing squares.

   You are going to continue back and forth until you close your square. Then you tie it off and weave in the ends. You now have a square!

   This is my new favorite crochet pattern. There are patterns to go around and finish off the sides if you want a boarder. I added one to the small Utah blanket and the SF one. The other two I left as is. Both ways turn out great! I love the look of it and it's so simple. You can make all sorts of designs and pictures on it. The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to start my next one. I just need to decide what I want to make and then graph it up. Any ideas?

What I Have Been Working On

   Here are a few things I have been working on.

   I helped Chrissy get ready for a Harry Potter birthday party for her daughter. We made a Golden Snitch cake. It was pretty simple to make. We used my ball cake pan and then frosted it with vanilla frosting. I added some swirls and such to give it some texture. We then used some gold food coloring spray to color it. The wings are cut out of some thick paper and taped to tooth picks. Easy peasy!

   My eight year old kiddo has had two surgeries in less than a month. This has given me plenty of time to sit around and crochet while I wait for a whimper or a "Mom, I'm hungry/thirsty/in pain/cold/tired/can I watch..." Since I have a hard time just sitting, I usually have some sort of project going.

   My friend had twin girls so I made her babies these. I don't have a picture of them in it yet since they are still in the NICU. They are doing well, just not home yet.

   I have a favorite YouTube gamer guy. He does a segment on Board Game Breakfast. They have board game news and such. Anyway, he does a segment called Head in the Clouds so I made him this dice bag. I thought it was rather cheesy, but he loved it!

   His YouTube channel is Pair of Dice Paradise, so I also made him this mat. He can use it for his games or hang it on his wall. Whatever he'd like.

   There's a game convention coming up called GenCon. Since there are so many gamers that can't make it, last year they started a GenCant. It's silly fun and run on Twitter. People and game companies donate prizes and there are giveaways involved. I made this dice bag to donate this year.

   That's all of my projects I've done recently. I hope the kiddo stays healthy now so we can get back to some sort of normalcy and enjoy what's left of their summer break. What projects have you been working on? Feel free to share in the comments!

Crocheted Bows

   I was on Pinterest one day, looking at different Nerd Craft Crochet things and I saw someone that had crocheted a bow. I thought that was a brilliant idea so I clicked on the link. It took me to Etsy. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem at all with people selling their items. I've sold a good number of things myself. It just meant there was no pattern so I had to figure it out for myself. If the pattern isn't too complex, that's not a hard thing to do. Here is what I came up with.

   First, crochet a rectangle. One of the great things about homemade crafting is, you can make it whatever size and color you want. This is seven rows tall and about twenty stitches long, half double crochet.

   I like to add a little trim. Single crochet all the way around your rectangle.

   After you decide what type of bow you want, cut out/sew/embroider whatever embellishments you would like to add. Mine is cut out of felt.

   While your hot glue gun is heating up, finish the bow. Cut a piece of yarn to wrap around the middle of the bow.

   Take your rectangle and pinch it in the middle so that it is bow shaped.

   Use your piece of yarn and wrap it around the bow a few times, leaving both ends out so you can tie it in a knot.

   After you you tie it off, trim off the ends.

   Next, very carefully hot glue your pieces together if you need to.

   Add a little dab of glue onto the center of your bow.

   Place your embellishment. The bow is now ready.

   I like to just slip a bobby pin on. You can also hot glue it onto a hair clip.

   Bows are a fun accessory to add to any outfit for any occasion, especially if you can figure out where to get bow-tie clips. How cute would that be?

   Shameless plug: As always, if you would like to order anything, feel free to shoot me an email via the contact form or leave a message with your email and I will get back to you.

How To: Crochet a Granny Square

   I had someone ask me if I had any suggestions for a beginner crochet project. My very first project was an ottoman cover that I made out of granny squares.

   I tried to find the website I used, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I decided one thing that is lacking in the crochet community is how to do things at a beginner level. I am assuming that if you are learning how to do a granny square, you already know the basics of crochet. If you need help with how to do a certain stitch, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. Granny squares use a chain stitch, double crochet, and a slip stitch. This post has many pictures to try and show you every step.

   To begin, you are going to tie a slip knot. This is done by taking the end of the yarn and tying a knot around the part attached the skein. This keeps your yarn from accidentally coming undone.

   Slide the loop on your crochet hook and tighten it down. You don't want it too tight as it will have to slip off the end of your crochet hook.

   Chain six

   Put your hook through the loop next to your beginning knot.

   Slip stitch your chain closed so you have a circle. (yarn over, pull through both loops)

   Now we are going to start forming your square. At the beginning of every round you are going to start by chaining three. This counts as the first double crochet.

   Do two more double crochets. You will be going through the middle of the circle.

   And then chain two.

   Next, do three more double crochet and then chain two. Most crochet patterns have a pattern within the pattern. This one is three double crochets followed by two chain stitches.

   Do it two more times. You should now have four sets of three double crochets followed by two chain stitches.

   Next you are going to slip stitch into the top of your chain three at the start of the round.

   You now have the beginning of a square. Granny square stitches are done in the chain two spaces, so now you need to get over to the space in the corner to start your next round. Slip stitch in the next two spaces to move the yarn to the corner.

   Your last slip stitch should end in the beginning of the corner space. Since we are starting a new round, chain three.

   To form the corners, you will do two sets in each corner. This is the beginning three chain followed by two double crochets, chain two, and then do three more double crochets followed by another chain two. This is how you will do every corner in your granny square.

   Continue doing two sets in each space around.

   When you get back to the beginning, slip stitch it closed, then do the two more slip stitches to move to the corner space.

   Chain three to start your round.

   Do the two sets to form your corner. There is now another chain two space along the edge of your square.

   Do three double crochets, followed by a chain two, in the space along the side.

   Continuing around your square. Two sets in the corners and one in each chain two space along the side.

   Continue doing as many rounds you need until your square is the desired size, slip stitch to the corner and tie off your yarn.

   Next, sew in the ends.

   However you feel best about keeping it snug so it doesn't come out, is fine.

   You now have a granny square.

   Granny squares are great! You can use any size hook and make them as big or small as you'd like. Just continue the pattern around until you get your desired size. If you want to be creative, you can even change colors for each round. I have seen many beautiful afghans made from granny squares. You can also use this pattern to finish off a blanket, I've seen the same stitch pattern made into hats, box covers and many different projects. You can connect the squares many different ways to make any kind of pattern you'd like. The possibilities are endless!