Sock monkey hat pattern

My sister asked if I would make a hat for one of her friends who is expecting a girl and is planing a monkey themed nursery.  Of course I said I would so I headed to pinterest to get inspiration!  This is what I came up with:

I loosly used this pattern: http://knottyknotty.blogspot.ca/2011/03/free-sock-monkey-hat-pattern.html  to make this adorable little Monkey hat.

I didn't think the hat was looking baby sized so I made some changes in the pattern.  The following is what I ended up doing to create this hat:

Size:
0-3 months

Yarn:

Red Heart worsted 4 Medium Purple
Red Heart worsted 4 Buff Fleck
Red Heart worsted 4 Pale Plum

Hook:
G/6-4.25MM

Hat:

Start with Pale Plum.
Round 1: Magic ring (if you have not made one yet here: http://www.crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx is a good tutorial), 11dc in ring, pull tight, join to first dc, ch2.
Round 2: 2dc in each dc around, join in first dc, ch2. (22dc)
Round 3: (2dc in first, dc in next) around 11 times,  join to first dc, ch2. (33dc)
Round 4: (2dc in first, dc in next 2) around 11 times, join to first dc. (44dc)

Change color to Medium Purple
Round 5: ch1, sc in each st around, join to first sc. (44sc)
Round 6: Repeat round 5.

Change color to Buff Fleck
Round 7: ch2, dc in each st around, join to firsd dc. (44dc)
Round 8-11: Repeat round 7. Fasten off. Weave in ends.


Earflap:

Start with Buff Fleck.  Find center of hat, count out where you would like both earflaps.
Attach yarn to hat.
Round 1: 9dc, ch2, turn. (9sts)
Round 2: dc2tog, dc in next 5 st, dc2tog, ch2, turn. (7sts)
Round 3: dc2tog, dc in next 3  st, dc2tog, ch2, turn. (5sts)
Round 4: dc2tog, dc in next, dc2tog. Fasten off. Weave in ends. (3sts)
Repeat earflap on other side of hat.

Trim:

Attach Buff fleck yarn to hat at end of earflap. sc around in each st, going around earflaps.

Ear and Mouth:

I used the pattern as shown for both the ears and the mouth: http://knottyknotty.blogspot.ca/2011/03/free-sock-monkey-hat-pattern.html

Carefully place ear and mouth and fasten to hat.


Braids:

For the braids I used (2) 24" strings of each color. Folded the bunch in half as attached as if it were a fringe.  I then braided the yarn with each color seperated as a (4) string bunch. Knot at the end and trim the ends.

Pined it, Made it, it worked!

This project, like so many of mine, was something I made over a year ago, Feb 2012.  During one of our gatherings on a Wed. night at my house I decided I was going to try making something I had seen on Pinterest.  I had some yarn left over from a previous project so I only had to buy some ribbon for the ends.  The tutorial I followed is called "The knotted headband."  I like to think of it as a Celtic knot.

 

The tutorial is great, it was very easy to follow, had clear instructions and pictures, and was true to the final product.  Best of all this was a quick project, I would say no longer than 1 hour to complete the entire thing.  You can find the tutorial here: http://youseriouslymadethat.blogspot.com/2011/02/knotted-headband.html

 

 

One week I decided to wear my knotted headband to dance class.  Everyone loved it, I got many compliments and when I told everyone I made it they seemed surprised. A few people asked me to make headbands for them as well and I happily said yes.

 

 The light pink headband was the first one I made.  I was able to make the second one, a dance class request, with the same spool of ribbon as my original.

 

This is a progress picture of another one I'm working on.  I will have to go pick out another spool of ribbon to finish it.

 

For more great projects like this be sure to follow my "Too legit to knit" board on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/hccarroll/

 

Another Blanket for Guendie

So it's been quite some time since our last post, not because we haven't been busy crocheting, but because all of our lives have been quite full.  We've all been working on making gifts for the babies that are entering/have recently entered our families... something must be in the water!  Anyhow, I thought I'd send a quick blog out here before I get too sidetracked with taking care of baby.  After making two afghans for Guendie I wanted to make a real special afghan for her.  I bought some cute pink and variant yarn and started on a new stitch.  After about 4 incredibly long rows, I wasn't happy with how it was turning out and after showing Marvin it, he said it looked a little old lady, so that project went to scrap.  I then realized that I have a pattern I really like, one that I've used three times before on afghans and twice on scarves... I would make my baby version of the Classic Style Afghan from this blog I posted a few years back.  I originally started with just pink, blue and white, but after crocheting those three colors together realized it looked a little too patriotic, so I went to the store and bought a purple skein.  This pattern was great because it only used 2 skeins of white and 1 skein of each color (in Jo Ann Sensations Cuddle brand).

Baby Afghan and Headband

With a little of the leftover yarn I made a baby headband to match the style of this blanket and then created the flower I did for my cousin's headband last year (read how to make it in this old blog).  I still have some extra yarn in these colors so I'll probably make more headbands as little Guendie grows.

Giraffe Hat Pattern

A few weeks ago I just finished my little monkey and had time to start a new project. Marvin suggested I make a little Christmas gift for his cousin's daughter. So I checked my Pinterest pins and found a giraffe hat that would be perfect for her. The pin took me to the site ( http://damnitjanetletscrochet.blogspot.com/2011/12/giraffe-beanie-with-earflaps_13.html?m=1) and I started this project. It was a fairly easy and quick pattern to make since the directions were very clear to follow. At first I had sewn on some eyes but I didn't like them so cut them off and opted for buttons instead. After I finish my current blanket which just needs a border, and the blanket after that, I intend on making more hats and headbands for baby Guendie.

Christmas-time Crochet

It's that time of year again where everyone is putting out their holiday decorations and/or making some new ones.  Last night was my company's internal holiday party and everyone really got in the spirit of things.  A co-worker of mine had asked me to crochet her a Christmas Wreath.  She gave me some green yarn and I was able to make the wreath below for her.

A simple wreath

For the pattern all I did was crochet a chain that I thought would be a good side for the inside of the wreath.  I then did a double crochet in each chain and joined.  For row two I did a double crochet in two stitches followed by 2 double crochets in the next one, and repeated till the end and joined.  And for the last row I did a double crochet in five stitches followed by 2 double crochets in the next one and again repeated till the end and joined.  Luckily I was at HDH making this and good ole Ethel had some red yarn for me to use and weave in to give this otherwise bland wreath some character.

I gave the finished product to my friend and she put it with the rest of her decorations. 

Then later in the day our holiday party started so I was walking around the agency keeping my eye open for some crocheted gems... I was surprised that there were so many items this year!  Here were some of the most memorable crocheted items I could find:

Large crocheted Santa that someone's mother-in-law made

In the area that decorated with a '70s theme they threw lots of crocheted afghans everywhere.

Here's another crazy Santa, his hat and face are crocheted..

Pink Monkey Pattern

With Baby Guendie coming to us in a little under 4 months, I have a list of lots of projects I want to work on for her.  With one afghan out of the way, I thought it was time to make a little stuffed animal for her.  I really wanted to make this, since Marvin and I want to take monthly pictures of our baby with a stuffed animal to see how much she grows each month (and if it's something I've made I feel it will be more special.)

After picking out a monkey theme for her room I found this pattern on pinterest and knew I'd have to make it for her.  Overall I really enjoyed this pattern, it was clear and easy to follow.  Using only single crochets, slip stitches, and decreased single crochets.  I was just about to post that my mouth didn't turn out as pictured in the pattern, but this could have been fixed by easily adding a few extra rows to make it bigger.  Now after I re-read the pattern I see that I actually WAS supposed to do that... whoops!  At the time I saw it was smaller, but thought that a monkey's mouth can look like that... sort of like Curious George, so I decided on assembling the mouth to the head as is.

Guendie's little pink monkey.

I promised my little niece that I'd make her one in blue, so I'll have to do that in a couple months after I get all these baby things done. 

Santa stocking

Woohoo! It's finally done!

This isn't one of my crocheting projects but I thought it was blog worthy for two reasons.
1. Most people who like to crochet also like other crafts
2. This has been taking away time from my crocheting projects

I purchased this felt stocking kit back in December of 09 and have been working on it a little bit each year. Finally I decided Kevin needed a completed stocking for the Christmas season this year so I made it a priority to get this project off my list. Check it out!

Baby Boy Afghan

It appears to be baby season again... so after I created this baby girl afghan, I started on a baby boy afghan.  I got the pattern online from Redheart.com, it's the "Crochet Aran Afghan" an intermediate pattern.  The pattern itself was fairly easy, however I did not like the bobble stitch in this pattern.  With previous bobbles I haven't had an issue with them, but if you give this one a try, perhaps you'll see what I mean.  If not, it might just be me. 

Another nice three dimensional pattern.

Overall I enjoyed this pattern, however the edges got a little wavy, and the border didn't really help that.  I again made this one that the baby can grow into through their toddler years. I'm glad to be done with this pattern so I can start work on my pink monkey!

The finished product.

What was CeeLo wearing???

Now this isn't my typical kind of post, but after watching The Voice last night I couldn't help but state the obvious... what was CeeLo wearing? I have to admit that I not a regular to the show, so I apologize if any of the following comments are misunderstood.

Don't get me wrong, I am a lover of crochet, and usually most crocheted things but I do draw the line somewhere between, baby blankets and CeeLo's closet.

For those of you who didn't see last nights ep let me describe it to you, it was what appeared to be a crocheted, patriotic afghan/pancho with matching saggy cap.

CeeLo...
*was it freezing in the studio?
*must have been laundry day.
*you donated all your money to the political campaign and all you got was this lousy outfit.
*Betsy Ross was your great great grandmother and your honoring her by wearing one of her first projects.
*Your hopping on a plane to Colorado, to return to your hippie commune, right after the show.
*You needed a project to finish up all your spare yarn from the political campaign.
*when you get board with the singing you can make something out of the fringe.
*you wanted to make sure your singers can see you through the bright lights on stage.
*Does The Voice pay you in yarn?

That's all i've got for now while still keeping this clean... feel free to add to the list.

Photo credit: NBC

New to hooking?

This reminds me of our dear friend Emalina, and our "HDH Initiation" blog from 8/5/10 :)

Thank you obeycrochet.com for this wonderful sketch!

Halloween Crochet Ideas

Looking for some crocheted Halloween Ideas?  Try renting/buying Nicki Trench’s book SuperScary Crochet: 35 Gruesome Patterns to Sink your Hook Into, which boasts that ‘these toys and accessories are murderously macabre rather than the usual cute and cuddly.’ I recently rented this book from my local library to see what kind of fun decorations could be made for this upcoming season. While I don’t think I have time to work on any of these little projects this year, I thought I’d share them with the rest of you. It’s a fun little pattern book to pick up because each of the patterns has a little story behind how the object you’re crocheting has become haunted or evil!

Here’s a picture of ‘Willy the Wily Wolf’ scarf from her book, this would definitely be a conversation starter.

Or perhaps you could make this pattern...

Make this pattern from the book, "Bubbles In Trouble."

There are a bunch of other great ideas in the book too, from making the killer tomatoes to more creeped out dolls and vampires.

Will hook...

Hehehe

Picture credit to http://www.obeycrochet.com

Prayer Shawl Ministry Afghans

Two weeks ago when I went to church, we decided to go to the my husband's old church since his retired pastor was coming back to do the sermon.  While there I noticed a large rack of quality afghans at the entry way, as well as a handful more near the pulpit. 

This greeted me as I entered the church.

I opened my church bulletin and saw that they had a 'Prayer Shawl Ministry' going on.  It mentioned that 'as each shawl is being made, the person will be praying for the recipient.' I thought this was a nice idea and perhaps one day I can make one of these.  However, upon further reading this bulletin I saw that these could be made for any reason (medical, death, celebration of engagement, birth of a baby, divorce, illness, jail, loneliness, celebrate a friend).  So perhaps we're all making these prayer shawls already.  Because with each project I create I'm thinking about the person I'm making it for... I just need to add a prayer in there too :)

Baby Bobble Afghan

For my birthday this year, my mother-in-law got me a huge bag full of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn.  I received the basic colors - pink, yellow, blue and green.  Since there again appears to be a boom in people who are pregnant near me, I decided I would make a pink and yellow and then a blue and green afghan. So I went to my local library to pick out some new crochet books since I wanted a new pattern.  For my pink and yellow afghan I wanted to use the Baby Bobbles pattern from Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet.  For me this pattern was perfect, because it had the bobbles that I love to make while adding a new spin on the overall appearance of the afghan.

I liked the little bobbles and small v-stiches it created in the different color for yarn each row.

As you can probably tell from my previous posts, I usually aim to not change yarn.  It's one of my least favorite things to do.  The afghan is done and then I need to spend hours sewing in the ends... yuck!  So when I saw that this pattern changed yarn at the end of each row, but had a fringe for them all instead of being sewn in, I thought I'd give this pattern a try.

It took awhile to cut all the fringe,but it was definitely easier than weaving in each end!

This pattern came out to be 40"x50" with the fringe, so it will allow the baby I give it to, to grow into it through its toddler years.  I also loved this pattern because it was a relatively quick pattern that was easy to follow.  One row of bobbles and single crochets, then next row just double crochet and then repeat till you reach your desired size.

Final result, ready to gift!

I have a good chunk of pink and yellow yarn left that I hope to make an Owl hat with it.  The pattern seems relatively easy, but I first need to finish my green and blue afghan that I just started.  So hopefully I'll be able to post about that one soon and then get started on the hat!

HDH gets a visit from the East!

Last night was our monthly HDH meeting.  We had the distinct pleasure of welcoming two new members to join us. It was exciting because they were from out of town and of the male persuasion!   After our potato dinner and bangers in the mouth, we sat down, turned on “The Devil Wears Prada” and got to work.  I had the pleasure of teaching Herman how to crochet, while Hazel taught Ken the stitches.  We both taught them the double crochet and it seemed as though we made some good progress.  After we explained the differences of knitting and crocheting as well as the difference between needles and hooks, the guys seemed to really enjoy their experience.  

I mean look at Ken, he seems excited!

Look at Herman showing off his stitches to Ken!

Herman seemed to really take an interest in the basics of crocheting, asking questions that we didn’t even know the answers too.  I feel it made Ethel, Hazel and I want to learn more about our favorite hobby and perhaps even blog about this more!  He now has earned the bragging rights to explain which end one should properly pull yarn from on a skein. (Writing this I now realize that I failed to explain what a skein is to Herman, not sure if Hazel told that to Ken…whoops!)

Ken started with a rather fuzzy and plush yarn and realized that this might not be the best yarn to use for a beginner project, so he checked out my surplus bin and picked a different yarn to restart his project.  He then couldn’t stop talking about how yarns differ from one skein to the next.  Anyhow, they both genuinely seemed interested in their projects and wanted to learn more!

After asking more about their needles and then having us explain to them for the fifth time that Hookers use HOOKS and not needles, Herman and Ken felt a little stupid once they realized their mistakes.

We've all been there. (Must click on photo to enlarge their amazing faces!)

Overall, we all had a great time catching up and crocheting.  We even got to watch some Arrested Development!  Stay tuned for more blogs to come this month!  It seems HDH took a little bit of a summer vacation from blogging, but now your inboxes will explode… I hope!

We all really got into our projects by the end of the night.

Happy Labor Day!

How are you spending you're Labor Day?  Im taking advantage of they day off by getting some crocheting done!

What in Yarnation - Toilet Decor

So I had the pleasure of going out to lunch with a fellow HDHer today, who reminded me that today is the last day of August and hence the last day to blog for it.  Unfortunately I had to finish my work day and then immediately get in my car and drive 3 hours away.  Currently half way through this drive, I again realize I have limited hours left to get this done.  So this is one of those moments where I'm thankful to have a smart phone. I've been taking crochet photos with it for quite some time now, and luckily have an awesome gem that I MUST share with the people of the internet... Another What In Yarnation blog, but this time about their most intimate of spaces, the bathroom. While visiting my dear friend in MN, I was again was able to stop at What in Yarnation, only at their new location. It was even more amazing than last time. Again they offered an abundance of crocheted and knitted projects all over the place. However my favorite craft of theirs that was on display was the one on their toilet. I was in awe of their craftsmanship of this purple decor with a beautiful white border (pictured), that i just needed to share this with the world. If you visit this place be sure to check it out. It was another great visit, complete with long walks to a bridge, sand volleyball and only two of the four out-of-towners getting poison ivy.  Crochet your bathrooms up with some amazing toilet decor, HDHers

Gift from Grandma

I'm writing this blog a little overdue (ok like 8 months overdue) but I'm still writing because it is something close to my heart.

One of my inspirations for starting to crochet has been my Nana.  For years and years I have memories of visiting my Nana and watching her crochet the same afghan pattern.  She always made it in a creme color solid, no stripes.  She left a 2" fringe on each row cutting off the yarn at each end.  It was this solid pattern that worked into the row below to make a raised diamond pattern when the afghan is finished.

I loved watching Nana work on the afghans, her fingers moved so fast it was like the yarn knew exactly where to go.  She had made so many of these, she didn't use a pattern, and often didn't seem to pay attention to what she was doing.  She had been taught the pattern years ago from her husbands, sisters, cousin in law... or something like that. Over the years it seemed like she had made one for almost everyone she knew.  This ones going to my sisters niece out east, that one went to my sister in California, the next ones going to my friend down the roads daughter.

I had asked her several times if she would teach me how to make one but she had this way of changing the subject before giving me an answer, I guess not this year.  A few years back my sister was given one for her birthday. I was so envious, for years I admired this afghan and now she got one.

Well finally my time came. The Christmas of 2011 was Hazel's year for the afghan.  The family was un-wrapping gifts at Nana's as is the tradition.  I opened up a gift bag, pulled away the tissue and saw the cream colored yarn, the diamond pattern and knew that was it!  Thanks Nana, maybe one day I can learn to make the same afghan.

Stitch and Pitch

To the hookers of hump day:

Let this be known that this is my first blog of this century.  I am taking the honor of writing about our first stitch and pitch at game of the season at Miller Park.  We were watching the Milwaukee Brewers play against the Toronto Blue Jays.  The event occurred on Tuesday June 19, 2012.  Let me tell all of you that are reading this that this was the event of 2012.  I would highly suggest that everyone who is able to attend these future events of stitch and pitch should attend because it was great.  To recall a few of the events of the evening: 

(beginning of game)

1. The starting pitcher for the Brewers was appearing in his FIRST major league baseball game.  Let me just say that he did fairly well for his first game...until about the 5th inning.  His first at bat he hit a double in left/center field.  He did not do well at his 2nd at bat.  The very next day he was sent back to the minor league.  

 (ABOVE: Pitchers first MLB pitch)

(BELOW: Pitcher's first hit, getting a double - made out at his second at bat - and left the game prior to his third at bat)

2. We were all getting our drinks of choice.  I got a free soda because a person the was in front of me with a DD coupon and was not going to be using it.

3. There was also a moment of mistaken identity...someone (no names will be stated) thought that there was a male stitcher a few rows ahead of us, BUT it was a female with a butch haircut!!

(the one on the Right)

4. I was learning how to not just do a new stitch, as well as a new pattern.  Some stitchers were getting frustrated my the number of questions I was asking.

(the blanket I was working on thus far, it is still a work in progress)

5. As we were getting prepared to leave the game some gentleman were attempting to sit in the family section with there alcohol and were promptly asked to leave the section.  If was fun to watch, cause the section was pretty much empty besides them sitting there.

It was an enjoyable, all be it hot, fun evening with the ladies of HDH.

(a mother playing words with friends on her cell phone, while her 10 year old daughter was crocheting)

The Last Frontier

I've recently returned from a trip to the amazing state of Alaska and I couldn't help but notice the crocheted products in all of the stores.  One thing that particularly caught my interest were these adorable headbands, hats, and fingerless gloves, I saw in several stores. 

Assortment of Alaska Chicks Products

All of these products are made by a company named Alaska Chicks.  Alaska Chicks is a company founded just in 2010, based out of Palmer, AK.  There products range from distressed furniture and home decor to T-shirts and hoodies, to crocheted items like in the picture.  For more products mad by Alaska Chicks, check out there website: http://www.alaskachicks.com/