The Shtick I Do

This is a short week for me since I'm speaking at the Women's Emmaus Walk starting on Thursday. That's why I'm posting a day early =D  This week I've been practicing my talk and working on something that's near and dear to my heart: cancer caps. I've made several and if you follow me on Instagram you've seen the ones that I posted. Here's a few for you to see. LOVE the elephant button on this color blocked hat. Plain and simple but oh so soft and warm! This is a pattern I hope to have ready next week and may not be given to the Cancer Center since it's so seasonal. This is made in the same style as the Pumpkin Hat but is more appropriate for the Cancer Center since it can be worn at any time. I really like this variegated yarn with the orange. Simple orange and cream hat with a single crochet edging. This one is made with #8 thread and has flowers made with #10 thread. Really like how this one came out. ...

Since the Walk to Emmaus is happening over the next two weekends (this weekend for the men and next weekend for the women) I thought I'd repost this great hat! Perfect for the cold weather days ahead! To celebrate the Walks I'm offering a coupon code that will last until the Women's Walk ends on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 4PM. Use coupon code FALLWALK2015 at checkout to get the pattern at half price! Click >>HERE<< for the pattern with coupon already loaded and ready for check-out. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= Delores DeColores Slouch Beanie My beautiful daughter Maeghan models for me. The body of the hat has a lot of room and give for those with long hair while still laying nicely for those of us with shorter locks. This hat is quite easy to make and will match a myriad of styles and colors. The small heart-shap...

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because of some things happening in the family: I had an aunt (only 5 years older than me) to pass away from a sudden illness. We grew up more like sisters than aunt and niece. I can even remember arguing over who got to play with what toy. Memories like that bring a smile to my face every time I think of them. I just wanted to let you know that I hadn't fallen off the face of the Earth and that I am still crocheting. I'm working on a new pattern today, as a matter of fact. It is available as a downloadable PDF through Ravelry. Just click >>HERE<< to be taken to the pattern. Time will make the passing of my aunt less painful and I will always remember her as my older sister. Peace and blessings to you all, ~~Karen~~

Well, it's finally finished and ready for you to follow along here on the blog <OR> you can go to Ravelry and download a PDF to keep for your very own! Click this link >>HERE<< to be taken directly to the Ravelry page for your free PDF. Start with a Magic Circle ((or chain 4 and join to form a circle, ch 1.)). Rnd 1 8 HDC in circle, pull tight. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 2 2 HDC in each stitch around. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 3 *1 HDC in first stitch, 2 HDC in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 4 *1 HDC in the next 2 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch.  Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 5 *1 HDC in the next 3 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch.  Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 6 *1 HDC in the next 4 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch.  Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first HDC. Ch 1. Rnd 7 *1 HDC in the ne...

When do you start on your Fall and Winter crochet items? Now, of course! I'm linking my Free Tomas Turkey Beanie (for adults) that's available on Ravelry as a PDF download. Just click   >>HERE<< and you'll be taken right to it. There is also a photo tutorial on how to make the tail feathers! This hat is great for those Fall Turkey Trot runs! It's also a great time to get started on other hats as gifts and items for selling at craft fairs. And these little things will sell fast IF you can get them ready for the Thanksgiving holiday season - so get busy now! =D Here's a link (and a coupon!) for my Delores DeColores Slouchy Hat, click >>HERE<< ! You can get this hat for FREE until Monday, August 10 - it ends at 12noon. Use the coupon code >> FALLCROCHET << at checkout to get the PDF for FREE. Don't wait until the last minute to get started on those holiday and craft fair items! Get bu...

Some of you may have heard about the Walk to Emmaus. Some of you haven't. It's a rather difficult thing to describe in just a few words; suffice it to say that it may be called a Walk  to Emmaus but it's definitely a Waddle Home .  I've had the joy of being on two of these Walks, one as an attendee and one as a presenter. I was overly blessed both times. This last time, after being a presenter, I was so inspired by the ladies that attended that I had to just MAKE something! Have you ever been that touched?  I came home and decided to make Delores DeColores! (Those of you that have been understand that DeColores part!) My beautiful daughter Maeghan models for me. The body of the hat has a lot of room and give for those with long hair while still laying nicely for those of us with shorter locks. This hat is quite easy to make and will match a myriad of styles and colors. The small heart-shaped button at the top adds a bit of whimsy to the piece. It c...

Most of you know that Katrina from Kat Knap Crafts is my daughter, right? Well, if you didn't, you know now!  She's helped me out tremendously by contributing to the Tomas Turkey Beanie  by making a photo tutorial for the tail feathers in this pattern.  This photo tutorial is now available in my Ravelry Store !  Thanks a bunch, Kat! What would I do without you?!?! Image by Katrina Reid from Kat Knap Crafts PS:: This pattern also makes a GREAT leaf!

Anyone remember this beanie that I made last year? It's alright if you don't. That's not the point of this post =D I finally got an on-going issue with Ravelry resolved and this pattern is now available as a FREE PDF download! Follow THIS  link and look to the RIGHT you'll see a box that says "ravelry downloads free ". Click on the word " download " that follows the green arrow and it's yours! I own this pattern in its entirety and you DO NOT have permission to reproduce this pattern in whole or in part on any website, blog or internet or written avenue. You DO NOT have permission to print this pattern for resale or free distribution  in whole or in part in any format.  My permission is granted ONLY for SELLING of and PERSONAL USE  of the COMPLETED WORKS from this pattern. I f you sell the completed item online,  include a link to this blog  post . 

Not that my home is Paradise but I do consider it a place of comfort and rest. Guess what's happening here? A complete bathroom re-do! Okay - stop going "ooohhh" and "ahhhhh". This has turned into a waking nightmare. We only have one bathroom in the house! It was supposed to be simple; change out the tub and remove a window. When one of the workmen stepped THOUGH THE FLOOR it became something else entirely . . . ** sigh ** BUT I have been able to get through most of the stress with what? That's right, ladies and gentlemen! Crochet! My therapy, my place of relaxation and zoning out! LOL Here's what I've done this week: A stack of hats for the Cancer Center. I just took 63 hats to them and I'm starting on my next lot! A Presentation Dress for my sister's baby due at the end of this month, she may deliver before then but we'll see. It had to be white so I used a light-weight yarn and the pattern (mostly) from the Little Sweetie Dr...

I promised this last Friday, and then made myself a liar. Rather, the hospital made me a liar. Happy Valentine's Day, but in lieu of recent events detailed at my blog  Kat Knap , I have decided to present you with the pattern for my basic newborn beanie instead of a Valentine's Day oriented pattern. I realize that this pattern is simple, but there are a couple of reasons I'm choosing to give this to you as opposed to something a bit more extravagant. One, I have a newborn, so I know  that this size will fit him, and he is about the "average" newborn size. The circumference of his head at the time I tested this pattern was 13" if you would like to use that as a reference. It fit him well, and with a small margin for growth. Second, this is quick and easy. It would even make a great starter project for anyone who is just learning crochet. Lastly, you can take this pattern and turn it into WHATEVER YOU WANT. Innovation - also covered on my most recent blog post...

My lovely sister, Shelon - who has the blog Gems from God , has requested a pattern for how I made this spike stitch beanie so I'm going to post that for today. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to share pics of your hat over on my Facebook page, Crochet2002 !   Spike Stitch Beanie Materials : 2 colors of Red Heart Soft size I/5.5MM crochet hook scissors yarn needle for weaving in the ends Close up of the Spike Stitch Stitches used : Chain (ch) Slip Stitch (sl st) Single Crochet ( SC ) Double Crochet ( DC ) Spike Stitch ( SpSt ) Magic Circle I use American terminology; here's a converter! US UK chain(ch) chain(ch) single crochet (sc) double crochet (dc) double crochet (dc) treble (tr) half double crochet (hdc) half treble (htr) triple crochet (trc) double treble (dtr) slip stitch (sl st) slip stitch (sl st)         (Image from Yarn Forward ) NOTES : As always the color choice is your own but for a more dramatic...

Let me introduce you to one of my cohorts in crochet, the  Styrofoam head . I've had her for a couple of years now, but before we became so close, I would look at others' crochet posts and be envious of their heads. Kinda silly, isn't it? Jealous of a Styrofoam head? Sorta like being jealous of a plastic lamp? (10 extra points if you know that movie reference!) I finally decided I needed one when I got started, in earnest, making hats. Previous to this I would use things like lamps, large balls of yarn, my children. Let me state something here: My children are only Thing s sometimes . (*gasp* another reference! Do you know this one? C'mon! It's easy!) I got my head at Sally Beauty Supply , with a coupon, for about $2.19. Which is nominal when you compare to other places. Now I'm in the market to get her a boyfriend. I've seen some around but keep hesitating to purchase him. I'd rather pay another $2.19 instead of the $10+tax that I keep seeing him at...