Category: Crafts

Pattern testing done: Ladybug beanie hat

Aynaria 8 Comments

I really enjoyed crocheting this ladybug beanie hat.

Crochet ladybug beanie hat 3

It only uses a basic crochet stitch; single crochet, but  I’ve always loved seeing single crochet in finished objects, and even some of my fancier designs will showcase this simple stitch. 

It took less than three hours to complete this preteen crocheted ladybug beanie hat. Due to my daughters having long, thick, and curly hair, it couldn’t fit her head. Note to self, remember you must make adult size hats for your daughter’s head. For some reason, I forgot this small fact, when I agreed to pattern test the preteen size.  But to be fair, up until now the hats I’ve crocheted for her weren’t from patterns. They were my own creations, and so I measured as I went. If you’re a Ravelry user, I created a project page for this crocheted beanie hat.

The crochet designer is Alaina Smith, and she’s a Ravelry user. Her profile states she’s a homeschooling mother (love them) and she’s been crocheting since she was 11. Her profile says she learned knitting also, but she forgot how. I had to chuckle at that since for me it was the reverse. I kept up with knitting, even though I learned crochet also. But, I did forget the little amount I’d learned, up until this past December when I relearned crochet.

Further research shows that she sells her crocheted items on Zibbit. I must say it’s nice to see that she’s not underselling her work. I would be curious as to how she does with some of her higher end items. What people need to realize is, that it can take a lot of time to make handcrafted items. Some people (crafters and buyers alike) really need to realize that the time spent making the items isn’t “free”. 

Crochet: Learning new stitches; frogging mistakes

Aynaria 2 Comments

Last evening, I was finally able to squeeze in some crochet time. But it wasn’t long, perhaps twenty minutes?

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to share…  since I frogged (ripped out) the stitches. In hindsight, I should have taken a photo anyway. It’s a new stitch I’m working on, and since my first crochet attempts weren’t satisfactory (at least for me) I frogged it. But you know what? It’s nice to keep record of the incorrect way to do something, since later you can see how much you’ve advanced. And if you share those mistakes,  perhaps it can be an encouragement to others learning too. Since they realize that others, experienced the same obstacles, and were able to move past them?

I must say, I don’t have any remorse about doing that. Perhaps I’m conditioned to this process, since I’d do that with sewing via a seam ripper, and with knitting too. With knitting, it’s much more painful to rip those stitches than crochet, that’s for sure. But with those crafts, I’ve gotten to a point where it’s rare that I have to rip out anything. And the same holds true with the basic crochet stitches. I rarely mess up, but with new crochet stitches… I might. Especially, if the directions aren’t explained well. Which is what happened last evening, if I have time I’ll log onto check out a crochet video tutorial on YouTube.

Today’s going to be busy, and I’m unsure if I’ll have a chance to crochet that much. In less than two hours, we’ll be heading to the 9:00 service at our Lutheran church. Afterwards we’ll come home and hang outside. It’s such a beautiful day.

Who knows, I might have a chance to sneak in a few crochet rows at that time. But I’m not counting on it. However, If I do get the chance… I’ll be sure to post pictures of some of my attempts with the new crochet stitch.

Coraline wasn’t completed yesterday, as I’d hoped, since we spent most of our time outside. However, the crocheted Coraline, will be finished in time for my daughter’s birthday. We’re holding my daughter’s birthday celebration after she returns home from school tomorrow.

Knitting 101: How to knit; video tutorial

Aynaria 2 Comments

Recently, I received an email from one of my Celebrate Life readers…

In their email, they asked why I haven’t written about knitting on this site. No reason really, there’s a lot of crafts I don’t write about here, sewing, jewelry making, soap making, are just a few but over time I guess I could post pictures of some of my other crafts. I still do many of them, but recently crochet has been on the top of my list. Understandable, it’s my newest craft. I crochet often, so I can improve, and someday (hopefully) my crochet skills will be at the same level as my other crafts.

I started knitting when I was eight-years old, since that time I’ve made quite a few knitted items.

Currently, I’m not knitting anything. Crochet has my undivided attention.

But, I have been thinking about knitting socks… a lot. I’ve always adored knitted socks. I still haven’t tried crocheted socks yet… but I will.

Mass produced socks can’t compare to quality hand knitted socks; knitted socks are much better. If someone ever knits you a pair of well-made knitted socks, be very impressed. They most likely think you’re awesome. Since knitted socks, at times, can a while to create.

I vaguely remember knitting a few pairs, in my twenties. In fact, I still have the few pair I made. I went through a period where I’d have huge bursts of creative energy. Ok, I still get those now (sort of like the crochet kick I’m n) but I can’t shut myself off the outside world, being a mommy, and all. But back in my twenties,  on weekends, when the crafty bug hit… I’d lock myself in my downtown apartment for the entire weekend, and tune everything out, focusing on my creativity.

For those interested in learning knitting, check out the basic knitting 101 video tutorial above. Unlike Dan’s humorous knitting 101 video tutorial. The above video will get you started with the basic stitch.

What I do like about Modeknit’s knitting video is she does part of the video in slow motion. Perfect, for someone new to knitting. That’s why Teresa Richardson aka Crochet Geek, is my favorite crochet teacher on Youtube. The majority of her crochet video tutorials are done in this manner; and it’s how I learned to crochet.

I do think when we go on vacation in July, knitting needles will be accompanying my crochet hooks. Of course, I’ll be bringing yarn too.

I’ll most likely add knitting back into my routine at the end of July or sometime in August. After all,  I do have a few long-term knitting projects on my to do crafty list.  So you’ll definitely see me knitting socks, and perhaps at least one gorgeous knitted cardigan, as some of my works in progress.

Knitting 101: knitting made easy

Aynaria 5 Comments

Who knew knitting could be this easy?

I like humor, and did get a chuckle out of this video, however, if you want to knit. You’ll have to look elsewhere.

Here are a few of my favorite statements from this video…

“We’re not making mistakes; we’re making experiences!”

You can use the point of this one, to pick up the crap that you dropped!

Don’t worry about it! It’s only glue, only glue…

I started knitting when I was eight-years old, and even at that young age, I knew knitting wasn’t this easy. Fast forward 33 years, and it still isn’t. I still enjoy knitting, but it’s not as easy as Dan would like you to believe. Of course, you can purchase knitting machines. But those aren’t “easy” either.

What’s important to remember, when attempting something new, sometimes it will take time. Take for example, crochet, it took a few weeks before I was able to do the basic stitches without wanting to pull my locks out in frustration.

What’s my regret? There isn’t a similar  how to crochet video tutorial. Check out this post for a link to a knitting 101 video tutorial.

Crochet pattern testing: crocheted ladybug hat pattern

Aynaria 7 Comments

Girl ladybug

A few days ago, I offered to test another crochet pattern for a Ravelry designer.

This time it’s an adorable crocheted ladybug hat. It’s a small crochet project…

Knowing how much my daughter adores ladybugs, as do I, and seeing a generous project deadline. I jumped at the chance to be a pattern tester.

The crochet designer had a nice range of crochet hat patterns to choose from; infants to adults. I chose the preteen-teen hat.

While it’s true that my eight-year old daughter does have a child sized head, she also has a lot of hair. It’s halfway down her back, and it’s also very curly and thick. I often keep her hair braided, or styled in two stranded twists. Which explains why I offered to crochet  the pre-teen/adult size hat, right? All that hair won’t fit in a child sized hat.

This won’t be my first time crocheting hats. I’ve made several already, but I didn’t follow a pattern. I just played with a variety of crochet stitches. And after practicing with my crocheted stitches, my crochet skills improved, and I was able to make my first crocheted hat for a person. I’d made several for my daughter’s Monster High dolls.

I still have that first human hat I’ve made. Occasionally I’ll look at the hat and marvel at how much my crochet has improved in a few short months. I’ve come a long way. So much so that I’ve gifted a few recipients with them; father, daughter, and, nephew. Oh, I even was able to crochet a dreadlock wrap for my locks too.

Tomorrow, after dropping my daughter off at school, I’ll stop by the local yarn store and pick up yarn in a dusty rose; works perfectly with her complexion. That will be the color of the ladybugs body. The dots will be a dark chocolate brown. I think it will look lovely.

I’m at the point where I can read the patterns without to much of an issue. The few times, I’ve run into issues, with published patterns, a simple online search cleared up the questions I had. So I figure I can do the same here, if I should run into issues.

I’ve already printed it out the crochet ladybug hat pattern, and I must say I’m impressed with how thorough this crochet designer is with explaining her pattern. I’m looking forward to crocheting this hat. It shouldn’t take too long, perhaps three hours?

I’ll be starting on it this weekend. I’ll most likely crochet this ladybug hat, while my daughter, and I are watching a movie.

Pattern testing update: I’ve completed the crochet ladybug beanie hat.

Granny squares and Coraline; Work in Progress Wednesday

Aynaria 17 Comments

Last evening I did something for the first time… 

I started crocheting granny squares!

The reason to get moving with grannies has everything to do with the wonderful Pammy at Scotty’s Place.

She posted a picture of a gorgeous floral afghan. And I wanted to learn how to make those squares. What I didn’t know was I’d have so much fun making them.

 

Granny Square afghan 2

With a printed tutorial in hand, I didn’t find it hard to make crocheted granny squares. The green and brown were my test squares…

Granny Square afghan 1

I decided I wanted to try citrus colors and chose the lavender, and lime green. I thought the colors would work well together.

Once I completed the lime, I loved how the colors looked great; but I thought something was missing? And so I added another row with  the mustard yarn. I love the look; it’s so bright and cheerful, that I most likely will turn this into a project.

 Eventually I’ll be making a floral granny square afghan, but will be deviating from this floral granny afghan square a lot. I already sketched out the afghan that I’ll be creating.

Amigurumi crochet Coraline 2 05 09 12

I’m still working on my daughter’s amigurumi Coraline. The poor girl still needs a haircut!

I had to put this project on hold while I worked on some last minute Mother’s Day gifts. I should be finished my crocheted Coraline by the end of this week.

What am I reading?

Well, I’ve been reading a lot of granny square tutorials. Who knew there were so many ways to make them? 😉

 Sites I’m linking too

  1. Tami Amis WIP
  2. Yarn Along
  3. Frontier Dreams
  4. Crochet Addicts CFS
  5. The Crochet Way
 

 

Crochet: I love this floral granny square afghan

Aynaria 8 Comments

Home Garden Flower Afghan

I’ve been working on a Yo-yo flower afghan for the past few months, but I’ve avoided crocheting granny square afghans…

Most of the ones I’ve seen, have looked nice but I wasn’t interested in making those. I wanted an afghan with lots of flowers, and the look I wanted… well, I wasn’t seeing.

I eventually knew I’d see a granny square afghan pattern that would be saying, “Come on Opal, crochet me!”

Well that’s happened…

A few days ago, Pammy posted this crocheted floral afghan on her site Scotty’s Place. I think it’s gorgeous. Look at all those flowers! We have a large and small flower gardens scattered around our property. So yes… it’s safe to say that I adore flowers.

I believe this week, I’ll learn how to make granny squares. Pammy was kind enough to send me a video tutorial of the joining method, and there’s always YouTube if I run into any issues. And… my mom is the queen of afghan making. So I should be set, right?

This week I’ll start on a small granny square project. Perhaps a granny square pillow?

Next, I’ll have to decide on the color scheme for this afghan. My colors will differ from the ones pictured in this photo. After that’s sorted, I’ll head to my local yarn store and purchase  the required yarn for the afghan. I’m actually excited about this crochet project. It should keep me occupied for a while.

Initially, I was trying to decide who should I give the completed floral afghan too? But, the more I think about it… I believe I’ll keep the first one. It most likely will grace my daughter’s bed. She loves bright colors as much as myself, so there’ll be plenty of those colors on display with the first afghan.

The second one I crochet will be gifted to someone special. I just don’t know who will be the lucky recipient…

Photo Source: Scotty’s Place