Monday, October 31, 2016

Halloween Shirts for the Whole Family

This post contains affiliate links.

I made coordinating Halloween shirts for the whole family. There's a "secret ingredient" that I used for all of these shirts that might surprise you.  Can you guess what it is?



Catherine's shirt is a heavily modified Free Hoodie from Brindille & Twig.  I shortened the sleeves, omitted the hood and pocket, and added a ruffle to the bottom.  Removing the hood meant that I had to add a neckband; I used the 80% rule and it worked splendidly. The ruffle was a width of fabric and then gathered and attached with a serger.  I am super happy how her shirt turned out!


Dominic's shirt is the School Bus T-Shirt from Oliver + S.  (I won my pattern during a sew-a-long with Whimsical Fabric.)  Dominic really, really, really loves green right now so he was quite happy with his shirt.  


My shirt is the Lane Raglan from Hey June Patterns.  (This one is actually from the pre-updated pattern.  I have yet to print the updated version.  I will.  Eventually.)  I think this is my favorite pattern to wear.  

Don't worry, Hubby isn't missing out on the fun!  (It is "fun", right honey?)   He's getting a GreenStyle Men's Hudson Hoodie.


Did you guess my "secret ingredient" for these shirts?  It's a pair of leggings.  Well, two pairs actually.  I found cute pumpkin leggings in the juniors department at Walmart for less than $4 and all I could see was fabric.  I snatched them up and I think they worked wonderfully for these shirts!  What do you think?  Surprised?  Or did you see it coming?

The black cotton lycra is from NR Fabrics.  It has a great weight and stretch.  It's definitely a quality fabric.  The green is from Girl Charlee.  It's a bit lighter weight and the stretch is a bit less.

Happy Halloween!



Yarn Fanatic Party #67

This post may contain affiliate links.


It's a new week!  I can't wait to see what you've all be busy creating.  I finally finished up my Peacock Hood blog post.  (The actual crocheting took me no time at all compared to writing up the pattern.)  I'd love to hear what you think of it!

Link up any of your yarn projects!

The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:

  • Add a link to the Yarn Fanatic Party to your post or party page.
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!  Or even link a Facebook or Twitter photo.  (Just make sure your settings are set to "public" so that we can all see it!)
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos here on the blog and via social media, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • Please do NOT link directly to a paid pattern.  You may link to your blog, which in turn links to the pattern.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

A Free Crochet Pattern: Peacock Hood

 This post contains affiliate links.


I loved crocheting this Peacock Hood!  I was lucky enough to get my hands on a couple of Caron Cakes in Gelato during the initial release.  I knew I wanted to crochet something using the crocodile stitch and, after much frogging and indecision, happened to create this adorable hood.

I must admit, I was originally hoping that this could be a one skein project, but that didn't happen.  It uses about one and a third.  (Which means that I have another Caron Cakes project in the works!)

I used my H hook.


A bit of a disclaimer: This is an untested pattern.  I wrote the pattern using the notes that I made while crocheting.  If you make this pattern I do welcome your comments and corrections, but please be kind.
1. Chain 109.   This is a multiple of 6 + 1, which is generally recommended for a crocodile stitch starting chain.  (It's 18 x 6 and then add one.)

2. Build your feather foundation, also sometimes referred to as the crocodile stitch ladder.  Do this by chaining three (which will act as your first double crochet stitch). Double crochet into the fourth chain from the hook.  *Chain one.  Skip two chains. Two double crochet into next stitch.* Repeat till end where you should work two dc into the final chain.


3. Turn your foundation ladder so that it is hanging down.To make each feather (or crocidele scale), you’re going to work stitches around the posts of the double crochet stitches that serve as the ladder rungs.   *Chain one then five double crochets down the post of the ladder, chain one, and then five double crochets up the post of the other rung pair. Skip the next pair of rungs.*   Continue along the length of the foundation row/ladder working down and then up each set of rungs.  You should end with a feather/crocodile scale in the last pair of rungs for a total of 19 feathers.  Note: You will need to flip your work around a bit as you're working.

4.   At this point your feathers are going to look a bit ruffled.  Don't worry!  This next row works as both the foundation for the subsequent row and locks the previous row neatly into place.  You are now going to work pairs of double crochet, separated by one chain, worked into the gap between one of the pairs of double crochet stitches below.  You will alternate between working your dcs into the space between scales as well as into the gap between dcs.  This means that you should have the same number of double crochet pairs throughout this entire section and that they should line up on top of one another.


5. It's time for another row of feathers!  However, the feathers need to be offset from the row below, so this row will have 18 feathers.  Chain two, skip the first set of double crochets/ladder rungs, and work your feather into the second set.  Continue as before, with five double crochets down the post of the ladder, chain one, and then five double crochets up the post of the other rung pair. Skip the next pair of rungs.


6. Repeat steps three, four, and five until you reach your desired length, to replicate my project you need seven rows of feathers.  It works best to end on a row with 19 feathers.

7. For the final row of the scarf portion of the hoodie the locking in mechanism changes slightly.  Work as step four instructs, however, use single crochet stitches over the first four feathers, switching to double crochet between feathers four and five.  You will mirror this for the other end of the scarf; between the fifth and fourth LAST feathers switch back to single crochet.



8. Now for the hood! Slip stitch (with the v's on the wrong side) to the first double crochet group.  Work 12  feathers into the double crochet row as normal, stopping once you reach the single crochet stitches.

9. Work step four's locking in row, only crocheting in the double crochet stitches.  We are no longer worried at all about the scarf part -- that's finished!

10. Work 11 feathers, this is the offset row so it has one less.


11. Continue working rows of 12 feathers, foundation, 11 feathers until your hood is as high as you'd like.  Mine is 14 row of feathers (not including the scarf portion).

12.  For the final locking in row use single crochet instead of double crochet.

13. At this point you will have what looks like a long skinny rectangle with another rectangle on top of it.  Fold it in half and slip stitch across the top.

14. Weave in ends and enjoy!





I used one of my Lilla Rose Flexi clips as a shawl pin for Catherine's Peacock Hood.  It would be super easy to add some fun buttons or toggles as well.


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

$50 Home Chef Gift Code (Ends 11/11) US


Looking for an easy to use meal service without a binding, long-term delivery contract, but with easy to follow meals that taste amazing? If so, we think you will love Home Chef! This innovative meal service allows you to skip the grocery store and prepare delicious meals in 30 minutes. Each week, they include new recipes and made with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients that are delivered right to your door. Best of all, they are the type of recipes that might leave you drooling when you go to Pinterest. To learn more about this meal service, make sure to watch the video below and check out Budget Earth’s Home Chef Review!


Want to try this service out for yourself? Budget Earth and some of their favorite blogger are excited to be working with Home Chef on this awesome giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Code to Home Chef so that they can try out some of these awesome meals for themselves. To learn more, make to read the rules below and then enter through the giveaway form.

Home Chef $50 Gift Code Giveaway

  • One lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Code to HomeChef.
  • Open to US Only.
  • Winners will be chosen at random through Rafflecopter via Random.org.
  • Sweepstakes ends November 11th 11:59pm ET.
  • Winner will be notified via email.
  • Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
  • Budget Earth & associated blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment.
  • Must be 18 years or older to enter Rafflecopter.
  • Only one entrant per household.
  • Void where prohibited.
  • Entering the Rafflecopter means you agree to terms above.
  • Good Luck!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize shipment or fulfilment.  This giveaway is not affiliated with any social media.  The Philosopher's Wife was not compensated for this giveaway.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Yarn Fanatic Party #66

This post may contain affiliate links.



Thank you for joining me for another week of the Yarn Fanatic Party!

Did you see this lovely sweater that was linked up last week?  You really need to click through to her blog, Ana Love Craft, to see all the pictures of the sweater in Lisbon!  


Link up any of your yarn projects!

The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:

  • Add a link to the Yarn Fanatic Party to your post or party page.
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!  Or even link a Facebook or Twitter photo.  (Just make sure your settings are set to "public" so that we can all see it!)
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos here on the blog and via social media, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • Please do NOT link directly to a paid pattern.  You may link to your blog, which in turn links to the pattern.  



An InLinkz Link-up

Friday, October 21, 2016

Circuit Scribe Giveaway (Ends 11/4) US

With the holidays fast approaching I am going to be participating in a few more group giveaways.  I'm hoping that this will give my readers, that means you, the chance to win a little something extra to make Christmas giving a bit easier.

Check out the Applebee's Giveaway (Ends 11/2/16)!



Holly from I Like It Frantic is the host for this giveaway.  Here's what she had to say about this product:
Circuit Scribe allows yourself or children to get immersed in STEM. It's a great way to learn about circuitry and how it all works.  I got to test the Ultimate Maker Kit and even took video of my son turning on a light after drawing the circuits. Imagine sitting in study hall and creating a paper city. Students can now build and light up houses, create a pressure sensitive driveway or a street lamp circuit! Science, technology, engineering and math all combine as youngsters draw lines with their easy-to-use Circuit Scribe! As their website and online store explains, “our non-toxic silver ink makes creating circuits as easy as doodling.” With a range of kits and bundles to choose from, holiday giving this year can ramp up from ho-ho-ho to whoa!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the US 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Rafflecopter) will be contacted by email. Winner has 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this giveaway. I Like It Frantic (and any other blog participating, including The Philosopher's Wife) is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Yarn Fanatic Party #65


This post contains affiliate links.


It's my birthday week!  I'm going to work hard this week to make sure I have some extra time for reading, crafting, game playing, and a Disney visit.  

Thank you to everyone that linked up to last week's party.  Did you see Arabian Knits' Saint Nicholas stocking? Woah!  It looks so intricate and fun.  The colors are amazing.  Also, can I just say, I love the composition of her photo?  The books and the stocking go so well together!




There are a few great yarn-y giveaways out there right now that I'd like to share with you.


Let's see what you've been creating with yarn!


The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:

  • Add a link to the Yarn Fanatic Party to your post or party page.
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!  Or even link a Facebook or Twitter photo.  (Just make sure your settings are set to "public" so that we can all see it!)
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos here on the blog and via social media, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • Please do NOT link directly to a paid pattern.  You may link to your blog, which in turn links to the pattern.



Sunday, October 16, 2016

Our Library Bag #3

This post contains affiliate links.




Too Many Pumpkins was yet another enjoyable book I added to the library list based on Sarah's October Picture Book List.  I've been trying to get my hands on lots of fall picture books for the kids.  Living in Florida is awesome (swimming in October!) but I do miss the traditional fall details -- changing leaves, sweaters, boots, jeans, and the like.



It's a classic.  The illustrations and the story are sweet.  Dominic, appropriately, calls it the "blue book".


We haven't read Scrambled States of America just yet,  It came highly recommended by another homeschool family, so I'm going in with great expectations.  We shall see!





Yes, I borrow books from the juvenile section for myself.  I am loving The Mysterious Benedict Society.  Quirky?  Check.  Odd secrets and a sense of mystery?  Check.  



I've also picked up my first Stephen King book.  My husband really enjoys much of King's writing and I asked him to pick one for me.  He gave me a variety of choices but I think I will start with Hearts in Atlantis.  

I currently have 44 items checked out on my card, with 12 books waiting for pick up tomorrow!  What's in your library bag this week?


Monday, October 10, 2016

Yarn Fanatic Party #64

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Monday!  I hope that you are in for a wonderful week.  (A week without hurricanes.  "Matthew" was kind to us in central Florida.  My thoughts and prayers are with those who were not so lucky.)  Do you have yarn goals for the week?  I have three projects that I'd like to completely wrap up.  

One of my favorite yarn-y projects from last week is this adorable sweater knitted by Sarah.




Link Up at The Yarn Fanatic Party!

What have you created with yarn?  It could be something you crocheted, knitted, or anything that used yarn.  (This is the YARN Fanatic Party!) It can be a new project or an old one.  I can't wait to see what you've created!

The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:

  • Add a link to the Yarn Fanatic Party to your post or party page.
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!  Or even link a Facebook or Twitter photo.  (Just make sure your settings are set to "public" so that we can all see it!)
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos here on the blog and via social media, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • Please do NOT link directly to a paid pattern.  You may link to your blog, which in turn links to the pattern.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Our Library Bag #2

This post contains affiliate links.

We're rather veracious readers in our house so I thought that it would be fun to highlight a few of the gems we've brought home from the library.  Here's just a small sampling from this week's bag:





Catherine and  I started the first Boxcar Children book together as a read-aloud.  I loved these books as a child!  I literally read every single one.  (It looks like you can get the Audible edition for free right now.)  I just might be hoping that she will want to do a lot of more of these as read-alouds.




Magic Tree House #6 finally came in at the library, and it was quickly devoured.  Along with #7.  Now we're working on Midnight on the Moon.



Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip is a sweet little adventure book.  The illustrations are lovely.  I've added a few of Beskow's other books to my holds list based upon this book.



Rarely does a week go by without checking out something from the Dr. Suess section.  This week it's Wacky Wednesday.


While not technically in our library bag, since we own it, this is another book that we've been reading.  I'm not sure that I'm ready to introduce Charlotte's Web at this stage, but this book is quite a delightful read-aloud by the same author.  

There's quite a few more books that we currently have checked out.  We are holding steady-ish right now at 32 items on loan.


Wednesday, October 5, 2016

WIPS

This post contains affiliate links. 

As always, I have more Works In Progress than any sane craftist should have.  This week I've added two scarves to the pile -- one knit and one crochet -- and I picked up some yarn to try crochet color pooling.  Both are my own patterns -- hopefully coming soon to the blog! The crochet scarf (in the blue) I think would work better in a solid color.  I am loving the texture of the red scarf!


Feel free to link up any of your finished yarn projects at my weekly Yarn Fanatic Party.


I'm also super excited because my library hold for The Mysterious Benedict Society finally came in! Speaking of books, I've started a new post series called Our Library Bag.  


So much crafting and so many books . . . so little time!

Linking up with Small Things and Frontier Dreams.




Monday, October 3, 2016

Yarn Fanatic Party #63

This post contains affiliate links.


Welcome to the sixty third Yarn Fanatic Party!  This weeklong party is a celebration of all things yarn.  I'm a little crazy about yarn, are you?

I have to ask, how many of you are on board the current color pooling crochet craze?  Anyone?  I'll admit that I went through my stash to see if I had any appropriate yarn and came up empty.  Of course, this means that I stopped in at Michaels with my coupons to pick up some yarn.  I'll let you know how it goes!

I always enjoying browsing through the amazing talent that links up here every week.  Julie's Candy Corn Coasters are so cute and seasonal!  (I'm totally diggin' the coaster holder too.)



Here's a blast from the past, this is a pumpkin hat that I crocheted for my niece a couple years ago.  (She's getting so big!)


Before we get to the linky there's one last thing I'd like to share with you.  I stumbled across this Rudolf crochet set on Amazon.  Oh my goodness, the cuteness!  (Who's started Christmas knitting & crochet?)



Link Up at The Yarn Fanatic Party!

What have you created with yarn?  It could be something you crocheted, knitted, or anything that used yarn.  (This is the YARN Fanatic Party!) It can be a new project or an old one.  I can't wait to see what you've created!

The only rule is that everything you link to must be family friendly.

I would appreciate it very much if you:

  • Add a link to the Yarn Fanatic Party to your post or party page.
  • Follow The Philosopher's Wife.
  • Check out some of the other yarn goodies people have finished.
  • Leave comments here, there, and everywhere.  (Please, take a moment to visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.  I want this to be a supportive community of yarn lovers.)  
  • If you're not a blogger, but want to participate, feel free to upload a picture from Flicker!
  • By linking up you are giving me permission to share your photos here on the blog and via social media, with the appropriate credit, of course!
  • Please do NOT link directly to a paid pattern.  You may link to your blog, which in turn links to the pattern.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Our Library Bag

This post contains affiliate links.

We love books.  Library cards are just as important as driver's licenses.  At least one of us stops in at the library once a week.  I constantly have multiple books on hold (often the maximum number of 20).  Currently I have 31 books checked out on my card.  Here's a peek into our library bag this week:  


I really enjoy fairytale retellings.  There's a ball, there's a prince, there's a rocket, and there's Cinderella.  What more do you need?  (This is totally a kid's version of Cinder, which is a really fun young adult book.)




We only recently started the Magic Tree House series.  I think we like it.  We typically finish each book in a day, and have read the first five in less than two weeks.  (I didn't check them all out at once either, I wasn't sure how well they would be received.)  We are waiting, none too patiently, for #6 -- all copies at the library are currently checked out.  Don't worry though, we are next on the holds list.





I've lost count how many times this series has been recommended to me.  I finally added it to my list and we brought it home Friday.  I think we're going to try to read this as a family starting this weekend.



Catherine was asking some pretty hard hitting questions about electricity the other day so I did what every good homeschooling mom does: I checked out just about every age appropriate book on the topic that I could find.  This particular Magic School Bus book is fantastic.  I learned so much!







I have some huge issues with some of the recurring themes in Thomas, especially in the newer books, but Dominic loves trains and it's easy enough to edit a story on the fly for a two year old.  (Because I know someone is going to ask: my biggest beef with the Thomas stories is that I hate the idea that someone's worth is directly tied to how "useful" they are.)






I'm putting Journey, Quest, and Return together because they are a trilogy.  A wordless trilogy.  They literally are picture books.  But wow!  The books are beautiful and tell a lovely story, each one is truly a work of art.  We've "read" them multiple times now and each time we gleam a little more.  These books are immensely satisfying and enjoyable for the whole family.  I highly recommend all three.  



I'm, shockingly, only reading one grown up book at the moment.  I finally got my hands on a copy of A is for Alibi.  I love a good mystery and this series has been recommended to me numerous times, but I refuse to start a series anywhere but the beginning -- and our last three libraries didn't have a copy of A!

Oh wait, I lied, I'm also reading Confessions: The Murder of an Angel.  It's rather blah at best, so it barely counts.

What's in your library bag this week?