Crocheted Beanie

My Favourite Things

Today's project is a simple beanie for 6 to 12 month olds.  I'm sure that the pattern could be adapted for an older child as well or even for an adult.  I like this pattern because it is quick and simple and also very adaptable.  Perfect for winter time and those upcoming Christmas/Hanukkah gifts!  Enjoy!

Crocheted Beanie

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Pirate Granny Squares

Repeat Crafter Me

I love this idea!  If you are looking to make a blanket with granny squares for a boy this would be perfect.  It's boyish but still so cute and, in my short time crocheting, I haven't run across anything like this yet.  I think it's a perfect idea and with Christmas time coming up, would make a great gift for a grandson, nephew or son.  Click on the link to get the pattern from Repeat Crafter Me!

Pirate Granny Squares

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Linda's Turtle Potholder

I love turtles.  My favorite color is also green.  Needless to say when I saw this pattern I knew that it was going to be something I had to try. I'm not sure when I'll get to it since I have so many projects that I say I am going to do next but it is one I will do at some point.

I think this is so cute and I think it would also make a great gift too!

Here's the link to the pattern:

Linda's Turtle Potholder

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Finished Rope Rug

Okay, I finally finished it!  I am really happy with the way that it came out too.  I think I might want to make it a little bigger since I am putting it somewhere other than where I originally had planned to.  I left the end unfinished so if I wanted to add more later I could.  I just need to go get more of the rope that I used.

It's a little uneven and it's not as perfect as I would like it but I am proud I finished it and I think that for my first time tackling a project like this it is pretty damn good!

Chunky Crocheted Basket Pattern

Crochet in Color

Today's project comes from Crochet in Color.  It's a very cute Chunky Crocheted Basket with handles!  I've had one go at a crocheted basket so far and let's just say that it was not all I hoped it would be :)  I really want to make one of these so I feel it being moved to the top of my project list very soon.  As always, I will be sure to post my next attempt at one.  The only reason I didn't post my first attempt was because I tried it before I started my blog.  Good luck!

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Crocheted Baby Blanket

Recently my friend's sister had a baby.  I have known my friend and her family for about 16 years so I almost feel like she is my sister too.  I am crocheting a baby blanket for her as a surprise and I am really excited about it.  I started out with this pink skein of really soft yarn but then I ran out.  I thought it would be big enough to do the whole blanket but it definitely is not!  I have another skein of the same yarn in purple so I will probably continue on in that.  Here is my progress so far.   

I'll be sure to post photos when I am all done!  It's not fancy but I wanted the stitches to be somewhat tight so it would be extra warm.  I basically started with a single crochet, the next row is a half double crochet, the next row is a double crochet and the last row is a triple crochet.  I have just been repeating that pattern over and over.  I'm pleased with how it is turning out and it's perfect timing since we are heading into winter here in upstate New York!

Claudia Scarf

Little Slice of Life 

Today's pattern comes from the site A Little Slice of Life.  I think that this scarf looks incredibly cozy and warm.  I also love the photo that the blogger took of it.  Looking at the pattern, it seems pretty easy to make.  I love how finished and professional it looks.  I feel like you could walk into a store and find other scarves that look just as "done" as this one.  It doesn't really have a handmade look to it which, depending on the circumstances, could be just the look you might be after!

Little Pumpkin Crochet Pattern

Petals to Picots

I love this pattern!  This is one of the cutest pumpkin patterns I have seen this season.  Definitely check out this website also for tons more free patterns.  Petals to Picots is packed with information for crocheters such as definitions for common crochet terms, tutorials, abbreviations, a symbol chart, hook sizes, etc, etc.  It's a great place for information if you just want to brush up on your skills or are a beginner picking up a hook for the first time.

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Crocheted Turkey Coasters

Today's awesome project comes from the site Craft Passion (click on the text to go directly to site).

I have seen so many cool projects on this site!  There are a ton of resources on there as well and it is not just for crocheters, there are recipes on there as well.  These are relatively simple to make too so head on over and check them out!  Not only would they make really cute coasters, but you could also use them as place cards at your Thanksgiving dinner.

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Crochet Winter Headband

Crochet Winter Headband

Well unfortunately it is that time of year again if you live in the northern part of the US.  Time for snow, cold, frost, freezing temps and all that other fun stuff!  I love the look of this headband.  I also love that you can tie it instead of having to slip it over your head.  I think you can get better placement this way.  Ladies, you know what I am talking about.  Click on the link above and it will take you right to the original blog post by Crochet Me  Enjoy!

This project and/or pattern is not an original from me.  Please refer to the original author for details on selling or distributing the patterns or finished products.  I do not own this pattern and/or website linked to in this post.  Also, I will always specify on my blog which links will be affiliate links.  I promise that I will be upfront and honest about which links can generate me money directly.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Vista Print

So if you read my other blog post about May Books you will already know that I love Groupon.  The other day I was checking out their daily deals and I spotted one for Vistaprint.  I had decided to get some business cards and other things for LaBelle's Crafts like some car magnets and maybe some letterhead.  I checked out Vistaprint to see what types of products they had and decided to go for the deal on Groupon.  The deal was for $70 worth of products from Vistaprint for only $17.  I figured how could I go wrong?!  I received my order a few weeks ago and I am very happy with how everything looks.

Business Card

Car Magnet (I purchased two, one for each side of my car).

Key Chain-this was an unexpected purchase but I still had money left before I reached $70 and you could only use the  Groupon in one order.

Bottom of the letterhead-Those bumps in front of the address information was from me leaning on the letterhead to stop it from blowing away and the marks from the concrete coming through-nothing to do with Vistaprint.

The top of the letterhead

Note cards-These ended up being free because I purchased the most basic business card to use as note cards since I didn't like the note cards that they had.  The basic business card is free all the time, it had nothing to do with the Groupon order.

The whole lot.
Click here to head over to Vistaprint and check out their great products!
(affiliate link)

There are two things that I received that I did not photograph.  I also got a tote bag with my logo on it which has all of my yarn in it.  Since it was full I completely forgot to take photos of it.  I also ordered some small stickers that I wanted to use to close tissue paper I wrap around my products before shipping but they came out way too small.  Since I saw the Groupon deal I have since seen a similar deal on Living Social, another discount site similar to Groupon.  This deal was for $50 worth of merchandise from Vistaprint for $10.  Again, how can you go wrong?  I also purchased this deal and ordered more letterhead, a pen with the LaBelle's Crafts logo and larger stickers to use instead of the ones I purchased.

Crocheted Rope Rug

Here it is.  The mother of all crochet hooks!  The size S.

I saw a really cool pattern for a rug that you crochet out of rope.  Seemed like a pretty ambitious project so I thought I would give it a try.  After purchasing my size S hook I searched for some rope.  After searching in a couple of places and finding that 300 yards of rope is going to be more money than I wanted to spend, I stopped over at Ocean State Job Lot and found some Mainstays clothesline (I thought that brand was Walmart but I could be wrong) which was much cheaper then anywhere else I had looked.  It was a good size, 3/16ths and 100 feet per roll.  I started out with 3 rolls to see how far that would get me and I am in to my second roll.  The pattern calls for the rug to come out to 4 feet wide which is a little wider then I would like so I may only use the 3.  I figured I can always get more if I need it.  This is my progress so far!

I'm not sure why those two gaps are there but they seemed to have disappeared since I've continued on.

It's pretty tiring for my hands, which are small to begin with, working with such stiff material and such a large hook but I am happy with my progress so far.  When I'm finished I will hide the end that you see sticking out in the middle of the beginning circle.  I stopped at this point because I had reached the end of the first roll of rope.  I taped and sewed the end of the rope to the beginning of the new roll of rope.  It came undone the first time I did it so I had to go back and tape it some more.  Hopefully this time it will stay.  I can't wait to show you the finished product!

May Books

 So I will definitely state that I love the discount site Groupon (affiliate link) .  I always seem to find so many good deals on there!  One of the great deals that I found a few months back was for "May Books".  Unfortunately I can't remember the exact deal that I purchased on there and it was before I started my blog so the deal is no longer offered.  However, I really love the notebooks that I got from May Books and I wanted to share them with you.  The links to May Books are not affiliate links and I do not receive any money for you clicking on the links and/or purchasing any items through them.  I just really enjoyed them and had a pleasant experience with them so I wanted to post about it on my blog.

They have a ton of customizable options for your notebooks which I love!

  

This is just a journal with lined pages only which I am using for a food diary.  Which is the notebook on the far left.

This one has a weekly agenda in it but you write the dates of the week in yourself.  I love this one because it also has a place for additional notes on the right side.  This one I use to plan out my business schedule.  This is the notebook in the middle of the first photo.

This notebook has two types of views.  One is the weekly agenda with the weeks pre-printed into the notebook as you can see in the photo above.  This is the notebook on the right side of the first photo.

The second view for this notebook is a monthly calendar view.

http://www.maybooks.com/ (not an affiliate link)  That link will take you directly to the site.  Unfortunately my photos did not come out that great.  It was a sunny day but I think a cloud had just come by so it darkened them a little.  My photos certainly do not do the notebooks justice!

I can't testify as to their customer service since everything went smoothly with my order and I had no need to contact them but I think you could consider that a good sign.  These notebooks are handmade of course, they are custom after all, so shipping does take a little longer then you may be use to but they alert you to that right up front.  Since they do have so many customizations you can choose from, I was very happy that my notebooks came out exactly as I had ordered them.  I definitely recommend May Books.

Yoga Bag

So I bought the book, One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! (affiliate link) and my friend Stephanie invited me over for a craft night.  I decided that since it would be my first sewing project, I wanted to start with something simple.  I found a pattern for a yoga mat bag and decided that since I have a yoga mat and no bag for it that would be my project for the night.  Unfortunately I didn't take pictures while I was at my friend's house of the measuring and cutting but I did photograph my progress while I was finishing the bag at my own house.  Here are all the pieces already cut, my sewing machine, my sewing kit and some of my living room in the background!  

Here's a close up of all the smaller pieces the pattern called for. 

The one thing that I did complete while I was at Steph's is the pocket for the outside of the bag.  It was very simple, just cut out two rectangles (I think the measurements were 8 inches x 6 inches), and sew the two "right" sides of the pocket together leaving one side open so you could flip it right side out.  Then press the open portion together and sew that closed.

Next you pin and sew the pocket to the front of the bag. 

Then you sew down the sides of the bag with the "right" sides facing together.

View of the bag now flipped "right" side out.

This is where I stopped following the pattern because I could not figure out the next instructions!  They wanted me to put the strap on the bag next and I couldn't figure out how they wanted me to do it so I improvised and just sewed the strap on the back seam of the bag a few inches from the top and bottom.

Next I sewed the bottom shut which was another improvisation from the original pattern.

This is the last step I completed.  I folded over and pressed the fabric at the top of the bag to make a clean edge.  The only thing I have to do now is take some elastic cord and fish it through at the top to make a drawstring and I will be done!

Finished Butterfly

So I finally finished my butterfly I was crocheting and I am proud to say that the second time around it turned out much better.  I'm looking forward to making more!

Here are the finishing photos.

Now I can add more embellishments if I want to.  Things like antennae, eyes, etc.  I was just happy to get it done and have it come out like the photo!

I've already started my next project and it's a sewing one this time.  I'm almost done with it so when I finish it up I will be sure to post my progression so you can see my first sewing attempt.

Practice

In beginning of this business venture of mine, I decided that I needed to practice my crochet stitches.  Here are some photos of washcloths/dishcloths/pot holders that I made to practice.

Nothing fancy.  I just wanted to practice the basic stitches so that when a pattern called for switching between types of stitches I wouldn't really have to think about it, I could just do it automatically.

LaBelle's Crafts Mascot

So I really love butterflys and the business cards I had printed up for LaBelle's Crafts a few years ago and the Etsy banner I created both have butterflys in them.  I decided that I would like to have a sort of mascot for LaBelle's Crafts so what could be more perfect than a butterfly since I already have that established on a few of my items already.  That way when I am out places I can take photos of my mascot so people can see where I've been.  I thought it would be kind of a cute idea and if I do it and decide that it's not that great I can always stop.

This is how I came to decide what my first project would be.  I found a really cute butterfly pattern on Ravelry (my new favorite site!) and started from there.  To be honest, it's not going the greatest so far.  This is what I had after about half way through the instructions.  

It seemed to start off good but I don't know what happened from there!  I decided that it was too much of a mess and I would have to start again.  I ripped the whole thing out and started over.  This is what I have so far the second time around.

A much better start, I feel.  Most of the time when I do anything I rush so I am going to force myself to take my time on this one so I can do it the second time and not have to make it a third!  I really do like this pattern so I'm not giving up even if it doesn't come out right this time around.  

Here is a link to the pattern on Ravelry if you want to see what the finished product is suppose to look like:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-butterfly

I'll post more photos when I get more done!