~ cute sunhat, how to draw a crochet diagram, Bass Coast Australia

 

Cute Sunhat

 

This week I made a little sunhat for a toddler. I have been looking everywhere for a nice hat with a floppy brim and I just couldn't find anything I liked - or should I say that sat nicely in the "cutie cute cute" category of my mind.

 

And as you would - I thought to myself ... "well why don't I just make one" !!!

 

So I did - look at how cutie cute cute it came out:

 

This being the google age I did start off with a search and found a pattern - so I didn't have to design one from scratch. It is super easy and FREE - called "Peach Happy Sun Hat" and you can get the instructions for it at:

 http://stitch11.com/peach-happy-sun-hat/

 

I made two small adjustments in my pattern. The first is that I adjusted the hat part to fit the head of the toddler I was making this for. I didn't actually measure it but took a piece of yearn and wrapped it around the baby's head, then cut that yarn and used it as my measurement to make the hat. I love doing it this way it works a treat!

 

So for my version of the hat I omited the increase round 7 and just DC for that row.

 

The second adjustment in my version of the hat is that I used 100% cotton that is thinner than the yarn used in the pattern, so for the floppy bit of the hat I needed to make it slightly longer - and to do this I repeated Round 14 a couple of times more till I had the right length. Et Voila! A cutie cute cute 100% cotton sunhat. I love it!

 

 

A diagram promised

 

Now, the diagram for the granny square I made last week.

 

Last week I whipped some granny squares togethers remember these: [click here to go to the link, then come back to this page to read further ....]

 

Though I read both patterns and diagrams I find it so much easier to convert a pattern to diagram for the next time I need to make it. Not only does it act as a memory trigger but it also helps me visualise the final item so I can plan any adjustments should they be required.

 

I decided to illustrate in 4 steps how I would turn the completed square into a diagram. Here goes.

 

 

 

Step 1 - bring together

- the completed crochet item - in this case the square I made

- a clear file pocket / sleeve

- a permanent marker. I like to use one thats really thin and "pen" like - so I use Steadler permanent Lumocolor - size F

 

 

Step 2 - prep

- place the crochet square in the sleeve and tuck the sides to the back so it won't shift around. Secure it in place with tape.

It is important that the item can't move around else you're pattern marks won't align properly and you're diagram could well end up being a hot mess...

 

Step 3 - mark away

You can see in the picture that I pretty much draw the stitch marking on top of each stitch I crocheted. I try and do this immediately after I've made an item so the pattern is still fresh in my mind.

 

Step 4 - grand finale

After I've mapped out the markings I pull off the tape, remove the item from the sleeve and hey presto I have a diagram of the square!

 

 

 

I like to place a white sheet of paper in the file pocket / sleeve and then put it in my crochet file.

 

 

To see a picture of the final diagram click here: [click]

 

 

 

If its a pattern I use often, sell or gift to others I would turn it into a computer diagram - I'll show you how next week.

 

 

 

What inspired me this week

 

This week I spent some time down on the Bass Coast in Australia - and in particular a lovely town called "Inverloch" and really loved the nature in that stretch of land.

 

Here is a photo of the view from our room - there are wetlands between the room and the beach and hearing birds chirping at the sunset and dawn was just so nice I feel revived and refreshed.

 

 

 

Now before I start sounding like a toothpase commercial I'll put my pixels down and send you warm pixie smiles for the week.

oOo

~ Krista block 11, yarn bombing and milk milo

 

This evening I'm writing my blog with Star Trek Voyager on the tele. Its one of my favourite shows I love how Captain Kathryn Janeway handles herself with such poise and dignity. Sometimes that can be a far cry from real life and a bit of escape is needed ... yes, a crochet project; some good escapism on the tele; and dare I add a milk milo to that as an evening treat... njum. devine

 

 

This weeks Krista block - number 11

 

 

I think this might be one of my favourite blocks sofar. The square structure is so nicely contrasted with the rounded  flower its just so eye catching I can't wait to make it in a variety of colours.

 

 

It will probably be a bit overkill to have an entire blanket made up of this square BUT THEN AGAIN you've got to live a little heh!

 

If you're after the pattern for this block or any of the Krista blocks I've made sofar click on this link they are available for free:

http://promotions.spotlight.com.au/Facebook/Tabs/block_of_the_week/botw.aspx

 

Quick granny squares for yarn bombing

 

 

I'm quite enjoying the yarn bombing craze and made this for somebody's project. Its a variation on the granny square and I'll write up the pattern and post it in the diagram section next week. I've taken these photos to illustrate how very different effects can be reached with the same pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 And then a few of the starter rounds just for some fun ...

 

 

Yes I do love the granny square and all its varieties.

And crochet.

And Star Trek Voyager.

And a nice hot milky milo that is calling my name.

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming

your way. xo

 

oOo

~ pretty pictures and a missed eclipse

 

Pretty pictures this week. I'll start with the lovely Christmas themed blocks I received from the crocherati this week. They brighten my day every time I look at them...

 

 

 

Then also a picture of the blocks I received in secret in the previous round:

 

 

 

Another block is one that I finished, block 10 of the Krista throw. The links to the Krista patterns promotion has changed, but all patterns to all the Krista blocks can be found via this [updated] link:

http://promotions.spotlight.com.au/Facebook/Tabs/block_of_the_week/botw.aspx

 

 

 

 

I really enjoy showcasing these squares I'm receiving alongside my own work because over time a unique blanket is forming in front of our eyes. Truly remarkable when one thinks of all the love put into each stitch; all the well wishes from someone whom you've never met - and in all likelihood never will meet. I'll call it what I think it is ... a real blessing!

 

 

Eclipse

 

 

One thing I was looking forward to this week but missed out on was the solar eclipse on the 13th. The northern part of Australia would have had a much better view of it but I wanted to see if there would be any effects as far south as Melbourne. The time for this would have been at 6:30 am.

 

Unfortunately I slept right through it so I can't comment on whether any effects were visible or not...

 

I am not an expert on these things, but after experiencing a full solar eclipse about ten years ago my ears pick up at the mention of a coming eclipse as it was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had.

a trip down memory lane if you dare...

 

It was in Africa and if I remember correctly it happened in the afternoon. The entire area went suddenly dark - almost the same dark as just after dusk ... but an eery golden syruppy kind of hue. Add to that the air almost felt thick and it looked so golden I wanted to reach out and touch it ... and all the animals and insects held their breath collectively.

 

I was so engrossed in the experience I was completely not interested in looking at the sun - but instead went for a walk around the area. The eclipse in its entirety only lasted a couple of minutes, but being part of that surreal experience is still so vividly with me I can close my eyes and be back in that moment.

 

Definitely worth travelling for methinks. Maybe next time....

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo

oOo

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ sacrificial blog; baby beanies, worst haircut ever

Sacrificial blog

 

30 little hats take the place of my Krista block this week - and as such this space is dedicated to them and their cause.

One of the crocherati ladies mentioned a cause and a challenge. The challenge is to make 1,000 beanies before the end of November. The cause is to be part of a keepsake memory box for the parents who experience loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss.

So this week instead of making my Krista blocks I bought some acrylic wool and crochet these little beanies and in doing so my heart goes out to anyone who has experienced this kind of tragedy.

Boxed and ready to go...

 

The pattern

 

I stuck to a basic pattern as the wool is not a solid colour. The pattern I followed was shared by one of the crocherati ladies, Suzie, and follows the good old beanie outline to start with.

 

Using UK terminology:

 

Row 1: Inside magic loop, make 10 htr

Row 2: 2ch (start), 2htr in ea st to end. Join with sl st in 2ch start. (20 st)

Row 3: 2 ch (start), * 2htr then 1 htr *. Repeat to end. Join with sl st in 2ch start. (30 st)

Row 4: 2 ch (start), 1 htr in ea st to end. Join with sl st in 2ch start.

 

Repeat Row 4 till you have the desired length of the little beanie. Mine had 9 rows in total.

 

 

Now I'm getting all emotional and before I take you down that emotional path with me let me change the topic completely and tell you about the haircut I had earlier this week. I shall dub it:

 

Worst haircut ever

 

A couple of months ago I lost a few inches off my hair - I just took the scissors and cut it off.

 

"that's crazy" I hear you think, yet that's not the story of the worst haircut....

 

After my scissor attack I've noticed that my hair has many split ends and is difficult to brush so I thought I'd go for an actual haircut and have this sorted.

 

I went to one of the cheap and cheerful hairdressers - $12 for the cut. Though I recon $12 is still plenty, but that's a different story.

 

Of course I did some recon - allbeit "incognito" as part of the conversation. Yes the dude liked cutting hair. Yes he's been doing it for 8 years. Yes he'd like to open his own hair salon one day. Yes he specialises in female hair....

 

Also I kept my requirements minimal. I asked if he could layer the towards the bottom so that it thins out - I have curly hair and it can look quite bushy if I'm not careful.

 

Of course this would not be a problem. of course....

 

He cut-cut here and cut-cut there and before I knew it my hair felt very short and close to my ears. And then I saw the time and had to run so I'd dry it at home no worries...

 

You can see where this is going can't you. Allow me to illustrate using paint the vision versus the final cut..

  

Its really terrible. Every time I brush it it looks like I'm wearing a triangle of hair on my head. Actually its quite funny, but it would be more funny if it wasn't happening to me but rather a Dilbert cartoon. Actually, I n have the hairstyle of Alice in the Dilbert cartoons. ha ha ha ha!!!

 

At least its an opportunity for me to practice different ways to style my hair. And apparently an opportunity to draw random drawings in MS Paint.

 

 

So what's up for the next week

 

 

From a crochet point of view this week I need to finalise the next round of granny squares to send out to the crocherati. I'm tempted to make myself a duplicate of the square I make my secret recipient so that my blanket grows faster and I can expand on the origins of the blanket's story.

 

I also want to have a look at some alternative patterns for the organisation making memory boxes for parents of little stillborn angels.

 

And I am being encouraged to put some of my thoughts into a book. I am very passionate about the art of crochet and am very excited about its revival in popularity. To this I would also like to help preserve some of the heritage crochet samplers and in sodoing help introduce that to a whole new generation of crafters.

 

But that is the dream, and one for another week.

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo

oOo

... Spring all around ~ Krista blocks 8 and 9 ~ Red Heart baby hat

Sunset over the bird sanctuary

I thought a nice brisk walk through the bird sanctuary would clear my head with the fresh spring air all around us.

 

As always there were a good selection of not only parrots, but also crickets and frogs - and a whoooole range of sounds I couldn't identify.

 

Then amongst all his nature the sun set slowly behind the trees as the birds quieting down. Here is a picture of the sun setting over the bird sanctuary.

Krista crochet blocks

On the crochet front I not only made the Krista block 8, but also block 9.

 

I'm really chuffed with how pretty the number 8 block came out - a different take on the granny square but its almost binary in the way the two sides contrast each other and build with each new row. I think I'll be making more of this one...

 

Krista block 8

 

 

 

Krista block 9 

 

The pattern to all the blocks in this throw (which are free) are at:

http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

  

 

 

Baby hats - another free crochet pattern

I'm also looking for a nice pattern for baby hats to go towards charities over this festive season.

 

On the Red Heart website I found a lovely pattern called "One Ball Baby Blanket and Hat".

 

This little guy was so easy to make, and really fast - it only took about 20 minutes end to end. Add to that its such a cute hat and I think I'll take a larger crochet hook and make one for myself as well. 

 

 

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo

oOo

next Krista block, a melbourne sunset, a picture of a table

 

I felt so inspired this week. It started off with a beautifful sunset over the bay here in Melbourne, I think Spring is really lifting my spririts and putting a spring in my step. 

 

 

 

 

Then I went shopping with a good friend and saw a lovely butcher's table with a "for sale" sign on it. The store manager suggested I make an offer with a promise to call me back. And she did the very next day - after a small revision in my initial offer the table was all mine.

 

Getting it home was good fun as we rented a van and I became a tradie for the day - a very gratifying experience, even though it was a bit spur of the moment....

 

 

 

Today I managed to finish the next block in my Krista throw - am really enjoying working my way through these. The link to all the blocks in this throw (which are free) at:

http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

 

 

 

And so another week comes to an end...

 

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo

Granny Square, A surprise, Boye vs Inox

A granny square surprise...

 

What a great week this was. A little parcel arrived in the mail and it was the granny squares from the "Crocherati" I mentioned in a previous post. Not only one, but three arrived in the parcel, here is a picture of them - I hope you can see the detail in it - the work is so intricate and the colours are spot on in this Halloween month!

 

 

 

It fills me with such joy to think that someone made these squares with love and best intentions. These form the first of my granny square blanket and I feel so blessed (and slightly emotional) to be part of such a special project.

 

That said - I can't show you the granny squares I sent out because that would totally give away my anonymity - so you'll just have to trust that it was awesome!

 

 

Another surprise gift....

 

 

Then another good surprise - a full set of Boye crochet hooks in a hot pink case.

 

The hook itself is a slightly different shape from the Inox crochet hooks I've been using for the last 30 years and it took me on a trip down memory lane...

 

I remember as a little hyperactive girl that everyone thought of me as a handful. It wasn't easy to keep my attention on anything for very long before my mind and my feet would wander out into the glorious world that held all that wonder...

 

Living in Africa at the time I had a wonderful nanny from Venda, named Flora, who used to crochet the most glorious creations. Flora couldn't read the crochet language but could read and interpret the crochet diagrams. Her favourite publication was Crochet Monthly and even though a premium price to her pocket she would always have the latest copy on hand to try current projects.

 

Flora taught me to crochet when I was about five or six years old. She patiently explained the diagrams to me and many a day we sat crocheting on a grassy knoll under the African sun. Flora also give me my first couple of Inox hooks - I say 'couple' coz I'll never forget the stern talk she gave me about taking better care of them, and how this hook would be the last she'll ever give me. Bless her heart she gave me two more - which I use to this day.

 

Quite emotional actually - and when this set of Boye hooks came in the mail I wasn't exactly sure how it would work out.

 

But it was a gift and I had to give it a fair go.

 

And as it turns out I love them.

 

I made the next square, Krista block 5 (see the link to all the Krista block patterns below) with a Boye hook and Magnum Soft Acrylic 8 ply yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

How did the Boye hooks compare to Inox...

 

It took a bit of getting used to as the Boye hook was very sensitive - not sure if my other [Inox] one is blunt after all the years of use, but the sharpness of the Boye grabbed hold of the wool with a ferocity I soon got used to - I worked my way through the pattern quickly and the learning curve of initially splitting the wool didn't last very long.

 

I am ever so grateful to Flora for teaching me to crochet - a pastime that taught me to focus my mind as a youngster and a comfort in times when I was feeling low.

 

To Flora and my trusted Inox hooks I say "thank you".

 

To my Boye hooks I say "get ready for the future, I hope you're ready".

 

The link to all the Krista throw blocks are free and accessible via this link:

http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

 

And so another week comes to an end...

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo

Practicing what I preach - tension wobbles and a koala amigurumi

Practicing what I preach


This week I made the next block in the Krista series, made a couple of granny squares from the popcorn tutorial I linked in last week - and also tried my hand at the koala amigurumi I posted in the previous post.


One of those three activities were successful - two of them not so much....


Tension wobble


So my block for week 5 is a bust. The pattern is easy enough to follow but somewhere along the line the tension got a bit wobbly and all the discreet pulling and pushing is only making it look weirder and weirder. So will make this one again...

 

 

Popcorn joy


I am absolutely in love with making granny squares with the popcorn stitch - (link in the previous post).


A couple of weeks ago I bought DK (double knit) in a skintone colour. This acrylic yarn was a little bit thinner than I expected and I wasn't sure what I would be doing with it. 


When a call went out for donated granny squares that would be joined to form blankies for a palliative care unit at a hospital I knew it would be put to good use. I recon the fleshtone colour would probably blend in nicely with most colours - here's a pic of how it ended up looking.
 

Amigurumi koala

 

Putting my money where my mouth is, I made my first little amigurumi ever. I used the same DK yarn as for the popcorn granny squares and looking at the little dude I kinda like him even though he's probably one of the most flawed amigurumi's ever.


The pattern was easy to follow - and very straightforward. Problem is that my tension was on the fritz and having to stop and start a couple of times did not help the attempt. Will also add that I did not enjoy adding the arms, legs and ears - probably my least favourite bit of the experience.


Here's a photo of the little guy, who sadly will not make the charitable gift pile but instead will find a place at home. Thought it would become a doggy toy but the more I look at it the more I think it's gonna sit on my shelf - he's definitely growing on me - squeezing his eyes tight as he smiles at me. cute.

 

That's my craft story this week - warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo

oOo

A block, another facebook group, ideas for charity toys

Sofar I am still able to make a block a week - here's what block 4 looks like:

 

This one was super easy and took less than 1/2 hour to make!

[link to all blocks in the Krista throw: http://www.facebook.com/events/113761348749961/#!/Spotlightstores/app_371522569543043]

 

Joined another group on facebook!

I found the coolest group on facebook - its a granny square exchange and though specific to Australia I'd like to share the concept.

You participate in making a granny square block of 4 inches (10cm) across - and then yours as well as the granny squares made by others are exchanged anonymously. In this manner you build up a granny square blanket - and even though you don't know who contributed a particular granny square you know that it was made by like-minded people and with love!

A secret society... with benefit to only those in it... mmmm, I think I might be part of the "crocherati" now ha ha ha!

For this I found the cutest popcorn granny square tuturial. It follows the same method as for a normal granny square, but each segment is made out of a popcorn stitch. It is super cute and is called "Crochet Geek - Crochet Granny Square Puff Stitch 5 Rounds".

If you want to see the tutorial as well here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY08Feh03pI

 

Secret Santa

Another project I'm participating in is the "Secret Santa" game. Also anonymously gifts are exchanged within the group. The rules are simple - it has to be handmade (and with love of course!) and within a set price range - usually not in excess of around $10.

 

For this I found the coolest idea - it is a crochet bath puff that is made out of cotton. And as it just so happens I recently bought some cotton yarn at the Wool Mill... a plan is born!

Sorry if I'm your secret santa and you're reading this - but I found the idea at:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010816055315/members.aol.com/lffunt/bath.htm

 

 

Toys for charity

Toys for charity is high on my Christmas list as well and I've mentioned the koala amigurumi I would like to try. It will be my first amigurumi but I'm not too worried as the link not only includes the pattern but also a tutorial.

See it at: http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/11/crochet-koala-bear-amigurumi-tutorial-pattern.html.

Ok I'm going to commit to making one this week, in addition to the next block in my Krista throw. Am all excited now - a little personal challenge!

Time for me to drag the bones off to bed - have a very good week

 

- warm pixie smiles coming your way. xo -

 

oOo