What is a pair of mitts without a hat to complement them?
Nothing, I tell you! And awfully cold if you live in Canada during the winter... no one likes frostbite.
Today's hat is from the same pattern book that I used for the mittens from day 17. It is an easy project - 30 rounds of single crochet with gradual increases, and one row of reverse single crochet to create the brim. I can make one in an evening as I've completed the pattern several times. If you are new to crochet, it may take you two evenings, but certainly no more. Definitely a project for beginners.
Warm woolly hats... ah...
But I'm still not ready for winter - give me the sunshine!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Day 17: Warm Woollies part 1
I am not a fan of winter. I don't like being cold, I dislike how long it takes to trudge through the snow, and I hate wearing sock. Winter requires all of these things.
However, I am a fan of making nice and toasty warm things to keep me and my loved ones from being as cold. It's Canada, we need our woollies!
I have made several sets of hats, mitts, and scarves over the years and tend use the same pattern time and time again. This familiarity allows me to make a pair of mittens in a single evening. The pattern is pretty easy - single crochet, sew up the side seam, and more single crochet to make the thumb. It's one of the first patterns I ever used after graduating from making granny squares, so I would definitely recommend it for beginners - it's a Patons pattern.
Remember, the more wool the better when it comes to winter!
However, I am a fan of making nice and toasty warm things to keep me and my loved ones from being as cold. It's Canada, we need our woollies!
I have made several sets of hats, mitts, and scarves over the years and tend use the same pattern time and time again. This familiarity allows me to make a pair of mittens in a single evening. The pattern is pretty easy - single crochet, sew up the side seam, and more single crochet to make the thumb. It's one of the first patterns I ever used after graduating from making granny squares, so I would definitely recommend it for beginners - it's a Patons pattern.
Remember, the more wool the better when it comes to winter!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day 16: Tree of Life on the Fridge
The Tree of Life is a beautiful image that has been stitched, painted, tattooed, sketched, scorched, and otherwise recorded for a long, long time. And now, it's been punch needled.
A bunch of friends and I took a class in the spring to learn how to create punch needle projects. It was a great evening filled with laughter, jokes, and just plain fun! We had picked a design for the class a few weeks earlier (the aforementioned Tree of Life), and got down to work with our own selected colours and flare. It's amazing how many ways the same pattern can be interpreted! Punch needle is not a difficult technique - it simply requires the correct tools and materials, a little patience, and a good imagination (you stitch from the back, so if you are writing something, you have to do the mirror image!) - overall I would rate the project as medium in difficulty, most likely because I had never tried this type of project before!
The problem was, however, after that class I had no idea how I was going to finish the project - no idea what I actually wanted it to be! So it sat on my crafting table for months, taunting me... until yesterday when I was cleaning my kitchen (random, I know). I was about to through out a magnet that was on my fridge when I realized that it was not much bigger that the punch needle project. The wheels started spinning, and with a few more rows of thread and a glue gun, I now have a much prettier and craftier magnet on my fridge.
You never know where inspiration will hit!
A bunch of friends and I took a class in the spring to learn how to create punch needle projects. It was a great evening filled with laughter, jokes, and just plain fun! We had picked a design for the class a few weeks earlier (the aforementioned Tree of Life), and got down to work with our own selected colours and flare. It's amazing how many ways the same pattern can be interpreted! Punch needle is not a difficult technique - it simply requires the correct tools and materials, a little patience, and a good imagination (you stitch from the back, so if you are writing something, you have to do the mirror image!) - overall I would rate the project as medium in difficulty, most likely because I had never tried this type of project before!
The problem was, however, after that class I had no idea how I was going to finish the project - no idea what I actually wanted it to be! So it sat on my crafting table for months, taunting me... until yesterday when I was cleaning my kitchen (random, I know). I was about to through out a magnet that was on my fridge when I realized that it was not much bigger that the punch needle project. The wheels started spinning, and with a few more rows of thread and a glue gun, I now have a much prettier and craftier magnet on my fridge.
You never know where inspiration will hit!
Day 15: Decorative Cookie Jar
I love glass jars. I love organizing. I love cookies! A match made in heaven, don't you think?
I have a bunch of jars in the kitchen labeled for sugar, flour, tea, and coffee (all of which get used on a frequent basis!). I also have a large, lonely cookie jar. It doesn't say cookies. It doesn't say treats. It's a very lonely little jar... there should be a song - check the Country/Western station.
Well, the jar has now had life breathed into it! Or, at least, a little decoration. I've mentioned before how much I love the decor elements that my company sells - especially the decals (see the project from day 1 - Butterflies on the big blue wall). So, to make my cookie jar more special, I took a chocolate brown decal (appropriate colour, wouldn't you agree?) and applied it to the jar - it sticks just as well as on the wall, and can be wiped with a damp cloth if it gets mucky. It's a cute picture of a song bird - sweet and pretty, just like chocolate chip cookies!
Talk about an easy project!
Pictures are up on flickr - have a look!
I have a bunch of jars in the kitchen labeled for sugar, flour, tea, and coffee (all of which get used on a frequent basis!). I also have a large, lonely cookie jar. It doesn't say cookies. It doesn't say treats. It's a very lonely little jar... there should be a song - check the Country/Western station.
Well, the jar has now had life breathed into it! Or, at least, a little decoration. I've mentioned before how much I love the decor elements that my company sells - especially the decals (see the project from day 1 - Butterflies on the big blue wall). So, to make my cookie jar more special, I took a chocolate brown decal (appropriate colour, wouldn't you agree?) and applied it to the jar - it sticks just as well as on the wall, and can be wiped with a damp cloth if it gets mucky. It's a cute picture of a song bird - sweet and pretty, just like chocolate chip cookies!
Talk about an easy project!
Pictures are up on flickr - have a look!
Day 14: Sweet Teddy
So, after the god of chaos, I needed to balance out my karma again - or at least try to!
We found out about another pregnancy in the family (not me!), and so baby projects are going to be prevalent over the next few months. I've had a pattern for a sweet little crocheted teddy bear for a while, and hadn't tried it before, so no time like the present!
The pattern wasn't too difficult, and used less than one skein of yarn. A little embroidery floss was used for detailing the nose and feet, and a new darling was created.
I'd say this project qualifies as medium in difficulty. As with Cthulu, the stitches are done on the round, and careful attention is needed not to get lost!
We found out about another pregnancy in the family (not me!), and so baby projects are going to be prevalent over the next few months. I've had a pattern for a sweet little crocheted teddy bear for a while, and hadn't tried it before, so no time like the present!
The pattern wasn't too difficult, and used less than one skein of yarn. A little embroidery floss was used for detailing the nose and feet, and a new darling was created.
I'd say this project qualifies as medium in difficulty. As with Cthulu, the stitches are done on the round, and careful attention is needed not to get lost!
Day 13: Cute Cthulu!
Cthulu. God of Chaos.
I have some pretty twisted friends, so when I found a book full of crocheted Cthulu, vamps, ninjas, zombies and more, I couldn't resist trying it out! (Plus, the god of chaos has been having way too much fun at my expense lately).
These projects are about a medium in difficulty - mostly because they are completed in rounds, not rows so it can be difficult to keep track of where you are in the pattern.
I made the eyes out of polymer clay, and glued them on with a glue gun (what did we ever do before glue guns?) I do have to say that they are absolutely adorable!
With all this crazy cuteness, anyone else having flashbacks to a notorious Buffy Halloween episode?
"Whose a little fear demon!"
"Zander, stop."
"Why? Can he hurt me?"
"No, it's just tacky!"
Or something like that...
Anyway, pictures will be on flickr later tonight for your perusal!
I have some pretty twisted friends, so when I found a book full of crocheted Cthulu, vamps, ninjas, zombies and more, I couldn't resist trying it out! (Plus, the god of chaos has been having way too much fun at my expense lately).
These projects are about a medium in difficulty - mostly because they are completed in rounds, not rows so it can be difficult to keep track of where you are in the pattern.
I made the eyes out of polymer clay, and glued them on with a glue gun (what did we ever do before glue guns?) I do have to say that they are absolutely adorable!
With all this crazy cuteness, anyone else having flashbacks to a notorious Buffy Halloween episode?
"Whose a little fear demon!"
"Zander, stop."
"Why? Can he hurt me?"
"No, it's just tacky!"
Or something like that...
Anyway, pictures will be on flickr later tonight for your perusal!
A moment of sadness in our journey
It's been almost a week since I've written on this blog, and for that I apologize!
Friday the 13th truly lived up to its reputation this year as I came home in the evening to find out that my cat, Kestrel, had passed away very unexpectedly.
Needless to say, I was shocked and heartbroken. Just not in the mood to connect with the world in general.
The crafting has continued, but I did miss a couple of days, which I will make up over the next week or so. I'm still determined to finish 365 crafts this year!
Happy crafting, and give your cats an extra snuggle from me tonight.
Friday the 13th truly lived up to its reputation this year as I came home in the evening to find out that my cat, Kestrel, had passed away very unexpectedly.
Needless to say, I was shocked and heartbroken. Just not in the mood to connect with the world in general.
The crafting has continued, but I did miss a couple of days, which I will make up over the next week or so. I'm still determined to finish 365 crafts this year!
Happy crafting, and give your cats an extra snuggle from me tonight.
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