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.

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.

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.

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!

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.