The Shtick I Do

Camera tricks are sometimes necessary when taking pics of kids and infants and there are so many out there to choose from. One easy way is to have cute little "pets" on your camera lens! I made one just for fun (and to give to a friend of mine that's wanting start her own photography business).  This is a really SIMPLE and QUICK project that will take less than an hour for the intermediate crocheter. So you advanced peeps will be able to whip one out in no time at all - but here's the great part - this pattern is also perfect for beginners. Materials: Scrap yarn in the color of your choice size I/9 5.5MM crochet hook elastic hair band yarn needle scissors Attach your yarn to the elastic hair band with a slip stitch and chain 1. Round 1: 30 SC around the elastic hair band. Join with a slip stitch. Chain 1. Round 2: Double Crochet in each stitch around. (30) Join with a slip stitch. Chain 3. Round 3:   ** 1 Double Crochet in the next 2 stitche...

Here's another great project for this hot and humid weather we've been having. A quick and easy lanyard perfect for keeping up with your keys as you enjoy the outdoors this Summer. Materials :   (I used the swivel hook) Small amount of cotton yarn, color of your choice Size G crochet hook scissors embroidery needle lanyard swivel hook  or  keychain split ring Stitches used : Single Crochet (SC) Chain (Ch) Make a slip knot and chain a number that equals the length you desire for your lanyard. I chained 80. Try it on by holding it across the back of your neck and pinching the ends together to make sure the hook/ring will fall in the right place. (Don't attach the hook yet) 1 : SC in second chain from hook and in each ch across. When you get to the end, tie off, leave tails loose. 2 : Slip the hook/ring onto your work. Close the lanyard by using the tails to sew the two ends together. Tie off securely, weave in ends and trim. 3 : Cut a piece o...

This simple Star Snowflake will look great adorning your tree, that beanie and scarf set you just made or place it on a package for some added flair. Grab that hook and let's get started. Materials : Yarn Bee Soft Secret in White (good substitute would be Caron Simply Soft) size E/3.5MM hook scissors yarn needle for weaving in ends Stitches used : (American Terminology but  here 's a converter for you) Chain (ch) Single Crochet (sc) Slip Stitch (sl st) Gauge  is not important to this project. Note : You can use the Magic Circle technique for this pattern if you wish but using the chain method provides a more "airy" feel to the finished piece. Pattern : Chain 6 and join to form a circle. Ch 1. R1 : *SC in circle, ch 5. Repeat from * for a total of five ch 5 spaces. Join to top of first SC made. R2 : Sl St to next ch 5 space. *SC, ch 2, SC, ch 3, SC, ch 2, SC in the ch 5 space. Repeat from *  around  for each ch 5 space. Join to top of first SC m...

Happy Thursday!  Well, why not? Celebrate everyday. Right? Today I have a pattern for you in one of my favorite yarns of all time! You might recognize it from the Cluster Stitch Scarf I posted in August of last year. This time I wanted to make something that wouldn't take as much yarn and frankly, not get in the way if I decided to wear it out to eat. Scarfs and bulky cowls (like my On the Fringe Cowl ) are great for warmth and frigid wintery weather BUT are definitely in the way when trying to eat some Broccoli Cheddar soup while you're on date night at Panera . I heard that thought, " Why not take it off? " well, I'll tell you, I like to stay warm. The past couple years I've taken to wearing long sleeves even in June. (Weird, right?) Anyway, here it is, in it's gem-colored beauty! Super Simple Cowl Pattern Materials : 1 skein Deborah Norville Serenity Garden yarn; color - Gems size I9 - 5.5MM hook scissors yarn needle Notes :...

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...

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought I'd make some "heart" related posts over the next couple of weeks. Appropriate. This is a pattern I adjusted from last years' post of a heart pin and I just made it onto a bookmark. You should be able to get one made in under an hour if you're a pretty quick hooker.  Pattern: Heart to Heart Bookmark Materials: Lily Sugar 'n Cream Cotton Yarn in Rose Pink and Yellow size I crochet hook (9 or 5.5mm) scissors embroidery needle for weaving in the ends a book for length measurements Gauge is not important for this project. Stitches used: (American terminology but here is a comparison chart) Chain (ch) Single Crochet (sc) Half Double Crochet (hdc) Double Crochet (dc) Triple Crochet (tr) Slip Stitch (sl st) Large Heart Large heart Round 1 Make a Magic Circle . (The following stitches are all done inside the Magic Circle ) Chain 3, hdc, 2sc...