Granny Stripe Hat

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This Granny Stripe Hat is my first of the Granny-Spiration Project.  (Read more about this below, and be sure to enter the giveaway!)  This is an easy hat to crochet and works up quite quickly.

I used an H hook and Caron Simply Soft.

A note about fit and size:  This is a slouchy hat.  My lovely model has a larger than average head circumference for her age.  This hat would properly fit teens and ladies.

Chain 5. Join.

Row 1  *Two dc, chain 1*around until there are six groups of 2dc.

Row 2  Crochet 2 groups of 2dc in each chain one space of previous row, make sure to chain one between each group. (12 groups of 2dc)

Rows 3 &4 Crochet 3dc in each chain one space, keeping the chain one between each group.

Row 5 Crochet 2 dc groups of three in each chain 1 space (always have a chain one between each group)

Row 6 - 10 3 dc groups in each chain with a chain 1 between each one.

Row 11 HDC around.

Rows 12 through 15 HDC in the third loop.  Finish off.

This Month's Giveaway is sponsored by EyeLoveKnots. 

One winner will receive a $10 Etsy Card to spend in any shop on Etsy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 or older to enter. Open to all countries. Gift card has been purchased in US Dollars. If recipient is outside of the US, to use gift card, must go into Etsy settings and temporarily change to US Dollars. Void where prohibited. Winner has 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen. EyeLoveKnots is responsible for prize fulfillment and shipment.


New Granny-Spiration Projects will be shared from your hosts the first Saturday of each month. Post times will vary. You will be able to link up from 9am EST on the first Saturday of the month, through 11:59pm EST on the second Thursday from the start date - specific dates are on top of the Rafflecopter form - giving you almost two weeks to link up and enter the giveaway! Please share projects that are family friendly, and GRANNY INSPIRED through use of regular granny square or solid granny square, granny stitch pattern or other afghan square in the form of a free pattern, pattern review, or inspiration piece. Not limited to crochet or knit.

*Please make sure to link to your post, and not your homepage.

 *If you don't have a blog, you can still share with us by creating a Free Flickr Account - powered by Yahoo. Add your projects there, and then come back here with the link for the project.

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 *Features may be chosen at the discretion of each host. By linking up, you give us permission to feature your item.

An InLinkz Link-up

Crochet Owl Purse FREE Pattern

This is a sponsored post.  This post may contain affiliate links.

Did you enter September's Yarn Giveaway?

The 24/7 Cotton Yarn that Lion Brand sent me really is project inspiring.  I've been crocheting up tons of new projects to share with you!  Here's one of my favorites.  Catherine loves it too!  Which means it's a win-win project!  Those are the best!

Pattern Notes

• Use a G hook except where noted.  
• Pattern assumes a bit of crochet knowledge -- for example, there are no notes to chain one and turn at the end of a row.  
• This is not a tested pattern.  I simply made notes as I freehanded this purse.  As such there are most assuredly mistakes and inaccuracies.  I do think that there is enough correct information here for you to replicate my project.  
• Due to the above (assumes previous knowledge and it's not a tested pattern) I would say that this is an intermediate crochet pattern.

Front
I am only sharing the barest of instructions here for the crocodile stitch.  I am working on a full photo tutorial for this section, but for now this pattern presumes that you know how to crochet the crocodile stitch.  (Here's a great Craftsy class all about the crocodile stitch.)

Start with a chain of 25.
Make your starting ladder for the crocodile stitch.
5 crocodile scales in rose
4 scales in tangerine
5 scales in lemon
4 in sage
5 in aqua
4 in rose
5 in tangerine
4 in lemon
5 in sage
4 in aqua
5 in rose

Crochet the final "locking in" row with single crochet instead of double crochet stitches.
Single crochet across the top.

Back and Flap

With tangerine yarn
Chain 2
2 sc in stitch
2 sc in each (4)
2 sc, 2, 2sc (6)
Without breaking yarn sc down one side and up the next side of the triangle.

With rose yarn
8 sc across
Please note for the following 8 rows you will be adding two stitches to each row.  To do this single crochet two stitches in both the first and the last stitch of each row.
10 sc
12 sc
14 sc
16 sc
18 sc
20 sc
22 sc
24 sc
24 across for approximately 35 rows.

Strap
H hook -- with two strands of yarn, one auqa and one sage
ch 5
4 single crochet across
Repeat until you reach your desired length


Eyes
Chain 2
6 in first chain.
Two sc in each stitch (12)
2 sc in next st, sc in next st (18)
sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st (24)

Add black buttons.

Construction

Assemble using your prefered method.  I used slip stitches, which give an added detail but bulky seams.  I think next time I will use a whip stitch and some thread for a more understated seam.

Free Crochet Coaster Pattern using Lion Brand's 24/7 Cotton Yarn

I received this yarn from Lion Brand.  This post may contain affiliate links.

Coaster are a great crochet project.  The are satisfying to make because you can whip a couple up in no time if you're an experienced crocheter, but even if you're a beginner it shouldn't take too long to have a completed project!  They're also perfect for trying out new stitches and techniques, since they're so small.

Lion Brand provided me with some of their 24/7 Cotton Yarn for these coasters.  It's available in 24 beautiful colors and the mercerized cotton should hold up very well to lots of use, which is ideal for coasters!  I personally found this medium weight yarn to be an absolute pleasure to crochet.  With 186 yards I have plenty for a plethora of coasters, or a couple of other projects.  The yarn is very soft and has a great sheen to it.  I also really love the way that this yarn is constructed; it's not constantly splitting like many other cotton yarns.


Have you used this yarn yet?

Crochet Coaster Pattern

I used the recommended crochet hook size for this yarn, which happens to be a G Hook.

1. Chain three.

2. 11 dc in first chain.  (This means that there are 12 stitches when you include the starting chain.)

3. *Single crochet between the dc stitches then chain one.*  Repeat around.  (This should give you twelve single crochet stitches and twelve chain one spaces.)

4. *3 dc cluster in chain one space, chain 2* around.  (This should give you 12 puffs and 12 chain two spaces.)

This cluster is done as follows: Make 3 half-complete double crochets into the chain one space, leaving the last loop of each stitch on the hook.  Yarn over and draw a loop through all 4 loops on the hook to complete the cluster.

5. *3 dc in chain 2 space, chain 1.*

6. Single crochet in each stitch and chain one space.  Fasten off, weave in those tails, and enjoy!

The five colors I used in this coaster are: Tangerine, Jade, Lemon, Aqua, and Rose.

I will admit, I really, really, really dislike weaving in the tails at the end of a project.  While I love all of the color in the above coaster, I also think this crochet pattern is really pretty with just two colors -- and I was just able to carry the yarn up to the next row for many fewer tails!

This one uses Aqua and Jade.

This one uses Lemon and Rose.

I hope that you like this free crochet pattern!  If you make any coasters using this free pattern feel free to share them on my Facebook Page, or tag me on whatever social media you use! I'm also on Instagram, Ravelry, Pinterest, and Twitter.  

I love linking up with these bloggers!

A Sewing Project: The Fox Hat

Dominic needed a pool hat.  I happily decided to sew him one.  I have been very happy with the hat that I made for Catherine a while ago.  I had some adorable fox fabric in my stash.  While technically the hat is reversible, the other side is just plain boring grey.

I used the same free pattern from Oliver + S that I used before as well as the same method of construction by Jessica.  (Her method eliminates hand sewing.  I appreciate hand sewing as a skill  . . . but it takes so much time!)  This hat needed to be practical, not perfect.  

My handsome little model wouldn't stay still for more than .0009 seconds, so these are the best shots that I got.  Of course, he (and his sister) were eager to get to the pool, so I guess that I can't really blame him, can I?

Just curious, did any of you notice my "big" mistake with this hat?  

I was kicking myself for not paying closer attention to what I was doing.  The foxes on the back of the crown are standing on their heads.  (Yes, I realize that now EVERYONE will notice my mistake.)  When I was first laying out the pattern to be cut I remember thinking, "OK, Rachel, just be careful that you get the foxes straight."  Whoops. 

I love sharing my projects around the blogosphere.  

All Seasons Infinity Scarf

A few weeks ago this scarf was a feature of both my Works In Progress and What I Wore Wednesday posts.  Today I thought I would share how I made it!  This is a super simple crochet project -- you only need to know the basic stitches.  It also is very versatile; you could use just about any yarn and hook, you can also make it as skinny or as wide as you'd like, and you can make it as short or as long as you'd like!

I used Fan 12 from Super Stitches Crochet to create this scarf.

Fan 12
Ch: multiple of 4 + 3
Row 1: Work (2 dc, ch1, 2 dc) in 5th ch from hook, * skip 3 ch, (2 dc, ch 1, 2dc) in next ch, repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip 1 ch, 1 dc in last ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 3, skip first 3 dc, *(2dc, ch 1, 2dc) in ch-sp, skip next 4 dc, repeat from *, skip last 2 dc, 1 dc below 3rd ch of tch, turn.
Repeat Row 2.  (See end of post for full citation information.*)

I just kept repeating Row 2 until I didn't have enough yarn to complete another row, then I slip-stitched the ends together.  (Making sure to line up all the stitches!)  This wasn't a large skein of yarn, but I am happy with the length.

*Super Stitches Crochet: Essential Techniques Plus a Diction of More Than 180 Stitch Patterns, by Jennifer Campbell and Ann-Marie Bakewell (Watson-Guptill Publications: New York, 2007), page 100.

I love sharing my project at various awesome blogs! Check out my Crafty Links page or the following to see where I linked up! 
A Fine Craft Guild

Crochet Kindle Cover (or a Clutch)

Since the craft show this weekend was such a bust, I had plenty of time to work on a new crochet project.  I had seen this free Lion Brand pattern before and wanted to give it a try.  Technically it called the "Perfect Purse"; however, I believe a better use for it is as an e-reader cover.


I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Pagoda and a size G crochet hook.  (This color is absolutely beautiful in person, but I am having a difficult time photographing it.) I followed the bulk of the pattern exactly--with very few deviations.  I used a slip stitch to bind the sides and altered the button a little.

My Kindle fits in perfectly.

Here's the button variation that I did.  I'm not in love with
it, but I like it a lot better than the original.

The lacy flap is so pretty.  It really adds a nice touch.

While I am very happy with the way this turned out I think I am still partial to my own hot pink case, so this one just might end up in my Etsy store one day soon.  (Unless my sister is planning on getting an e-reader soon, because this color is so her!)

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