Minnie Tp and Another Washcloth

 Way back, in the beginning of May, I had started to design the partner to the Mickey Mouse Toilet Paper cover. My beautiful cousin got married this past Summer and I was told that her bathroom was done with a Mickey Mouse theme. I had a difficult time figuring out the skirt, but after several designs, I settled on a skirt made of Sashay yarn. It was easiest to ruffle.  I finished this design at the end of June, just before their wedding. The pattern is now up for sale at ($1 USD). You can also bundle with the Mickey Mouse TP cover pattern for a discounted price of $1.50 USD!

This Simple Stripes Dishcloth was made in early July for a June Dishcloth CAL. I used Lily's Sugar and Cream yarn and I love it! The pattern is a free crochet download!

What are some projects you are working on?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Gondor Scarf - Finished and New Pattern!

I finally finished both the pattern and the scarf! Whoo! There were only a couple things that I had to fix with the pattern which is a huge win for me.  The pattern is now avialable for download at $1.99 USD.

I am working on several other pattern designs, at the moment. I just started writing out the Lord of the Rings blanket design, and I'm waiting on the "TreeBeard" hook I ordered, so that I can start making the actual blanket. Hopefully, that means I will be able to start it on Monday. 

I'm sorry that my "Tapestry style" patterns do not have a graph. I haven't quite figured out how to manage graphs on my computer. 

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Gondor Scarf (WIP)

Since the new year started, I have been able to draw out three new pattern designs. Two of them are blanket designs and one is a scarf. One of the blankets and the scarf are designs inspired by Lord of the Rings. Oh, yes, I'm going fan girl in some of my designs.

I was looking for Lord of the Rings patterns and there aren't very many out there. Most of what is out there, are knitting patterns. Trying to knit and not drop stitches frustrates the cookies out of me. So, I had this grand idea that I would come up with a few crochet designs for Lord of the Rings fans, or those who know someone who loves Tolkien's works.

I finished handwriting the pattern for the Gondor Scarf and now I'm testing it before it moves to a typed and published version. So far, this is where I am, and of course I had to use my Sauron hook for the project. I am hoping to have the scarf and pattern finished by Friday.

Just a heads up, this pattern will not be a free download.

Some people "geek out" over Star Wars, some over Dr. Who. Me? I geek out over Lord of the Rings.

What do you "geek out" over?

Feel free to leave a comment and check out my other posts! I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Let's Go, Red Sox! Finally!

It is finally finished! I have been working on designing a Boston Red Sox blanket for my husband who is a huge fan of the team. I started designing it in February and just finished the complete pattern and blanket, today.

It started out as just an idea. I had only designed a couple of hats and scarves at that point and I was just playing around with ideas. I bought some graph paper and made multiple sketches of the logo's. I decided on this one, a larger version of it and started actually writing the pattern from the graph paper.

The digital download will not have the graph, mostly because I'm not super great with technology to make 146 boxes on a page. But all of the directions will be written out.

I don't know how I feel about the border. It is a puff stitch, which I thought of because it looked kind of like balls and this is a baseball team. Jerad has only put the blanket down (because I can't wait until Christmas to give people their gifts), to fix some delicious food.

What do you think of the blanket? Be honest, please.
What is your design process?

Feel free to let me know in the comments below, and check out my other posts!

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved

Corban's Winter Hat (Free Pattern)

 

I must have been hit by the inspiration arrow, lately. Here is another free pattern download!

I don't have a very creative title for this one but the person I designed this for is one crafty dude so his name may be just the ticket, even though most of you do not know him. My brother-in-law wears hats often. For Christmas, I usually make him a couple of winter hats so that he can wear them to school and when one gets dirty, he still has another one. 

Last year I made him a replica of one that he lost in the mall when we were trying to find him a suit for our wedding. He was so distraught over losing the hat and so happy when he received the replica. Corban is very quick to say what is on his mind and often times it is funny and I try not to laugh when I shouldn't. 

This design, I almost did not write out because it is a basic hat pattern with an addition. I don't remember the last time that I looked at a basic winter hat pattern but I've been making winter hats for a couple of years. I know that I misplaced the one I used for my first couple of hats and I just started doing my own thing. It is a basic double stitch hat with a band running across the front and a button.

I decided to add the band because I didn't want it to seem too plain with just the one color of yarn I was using. For this hat, I used Lion Brand's Homespun "Gothic" yarn. It is dark purple with a touch of black. Purple happens to be Corban's favorite color and since he is now entering high school, I decided to make him a hat that is more adult but still had a touch of flavor. I found a few black buttons that didn't have a flower design and chose the one in the picture.

I must say that I am quite proud of this design, no matter how simple.

I hope that you are able to enjoy it as much as I do and as much as Corban will, come Christmas. Now, to make him a "Creeper" hat to go with the scarf that I made him last year.

What do you think of the added flavor to the hat? Does it look like something a teenage boy would wear? 

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

The Turtle Shuffle

I just finished the Turtle Shuffle Scarf design and the scarf itself. The design is a free download from my store in Ravelry and I intend to keep it a free download. I call it the Turtle Shuffle because if you look at the stitches you can kind of see little turtles shuffling along to keep you or your loved one warm in the winter months. The single crochet acts as the head or tail of the turtle and the double crochets act as the shell. I can also see little feet under the shells.

I came up with the name one my walk to work. I remembered, for some strange reason, a movie that my husband and I watched a while back, when we first started dating. I don't remember which movie it was but it had kids and there was this one boy that the others wouldn't let in past the front gate unless he did the "Truffle Shuffle". I feel so bad for the boy.

Anyhow, I was going through a list of words because I didn't like the way "Turtle Scarf" sounded and "Turtle Neck" is already taken and I don't know many people who like the suffocating feeling of the constrictive shirts. When this scene popped into my head I laughed and said "Turtle Shuffle". I thought of a few other titles that I can't remember now because this one just seemed to stick.

So, there you have it. A free crochet pattern design and a finished Christmas gift. Now,  I have three scarf gifts finished. I have seven more to go but I think that I'm going to start on some hats. To be honest, I'm getting bored of scarves and I have just as many hats and earwarmers to complete.

I am still working on one of the three shawls. I actually like how it is coming along. I will write a post about it, later.

Both of my blankets are actually on pause for the moment. I thought I had enough yarn for the afghan swap one but I'm about ten rows short of an afghan. So, another trip to the yarn aisle and I should be set on that one, but we shall see if I can get that yarn on Thursday. The other blanket's design is sitting in our friend's vehicle. I accidentally left that and the unfinished swap blanket when we went for a drive to pick up a really cool, antique sewing machine desk...thing.

Feel free to check out some of my other blog posts and leave a comment below. I always enjoy hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

To Make A Hole, You Must Start Digging

After a couple of slight panic attacks over Christmas, which isn't for another couple of months, and writing a list of gifts to make (which can be found in my earlier post, Dear Santa, May I Borrow Some Elves?) I have begun to make somewhat of a dent.

So far I have made 2/10 Scarves. I am in the middle of designing a third.

I used a basic Double Crochet stitch for one scarf:

and I used the "Strawberry Wine Cable Scarf" Pattern for the second:

I also made a couple of colorful headbands with some yarn gifted to me by Nina:

The yarn is 50% Soy Silk and 50% wool. South West Trading Company, Karaoke-299
 I also used the Double Shell Headband Pattern, which is a free pattern, for these two.
I absolutely loved the yarn for this and I'm going to look into getting more yarn. The Soy Silk tones down the wool's scratchiness. Wool doesn't usually make me itch but some wools do seem a little rough. This one is so soft and smooth, I wish you could feel it through the screen!

I am about 40 rows away from being finished with a blanket that I have been working on for a while. My goal is to have that finished by the end of this month. To do that, I want to try to crochet at least 5 rows a day (starting tomorrow because I work all day today). If I kept to this, I should have it finished by the 25th of September. Then I could concentrate on finishing the design for the hubby's blanket and the rest of the smaller projects.

The scarves will only take me a couple hours each, if I use patterns that I already have, and stop designing new ones. The shawls will take a little longer. Which, I started on one shawl and I'm really loving the pattern. I will make a new post about that, since this one is already stuffed with pictures. 

So, right now, I am working on  a new scarf design, a shawl, and a blanket. I want to finish this scarf and another scarf before I switch over to hats. 

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved. 

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

Thank you for the encouraging comments on my last post. I really do appreciate them. I'm not sure why I felt so obsolete but you are absolutely right! Even if she makes gifts and makes more than I can, the gifts that I make for people will always be unique just as the ones my mother makes. I have always felt at ease when I gift things I make because they are unique (and can't be returned). So, thank you for encouraging me when I was in a bit of a funk.

Since the last post, I have been working hard. Yesterday was my first day off in seven days and I worked over 40 hours. Yay! I have been working on some new designs and updating the Country Squares Market Bag.

I love the four square base of the market bag but I'm not happy with how the rest of the bag turned out. It doesn't seem sturdy and even though I wasn't increasing my stitches it seemed as if the sides were expanding. So, although I said the revision would be up this past weekend, it is still a work in progress. I need to figure out the sides of the bag. This pattern will probably end up being seaparate from the Country Squares because I am thinking that only the base will be made with the same pattern. Thankfully, I have my trusty stitch book that my hubby gifted me for my birthday. That should help a bit.

Anyway, here's the base:

Now, I did finally write the pattern for the Strawberry Wine Ear Warmer! This is a free pattern download from Ravelry. The scarf is still being tested but is up for sale. The ear warmer will remain a free pattern.

Because I still have some yarn left over from the scarf and ear warmer set, I am going to try my hand at some fingerless gloves. Before I do that, I need to actually, successfully make a pair of fingerless gloves.

If you know any good patterns for crochet fingerless gloves, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
I always love hearing from you and thank you, again, for your encouragement.

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

Strawberry Wine Cable Scarf

I have been wanting so badly to figure out how these cable things work. No thanks to Youtube and google, I managed to figure out (I think) the basics of this kind of design. I couldn't find a pattern for exactly what was in my head, so...I made one. I wanted to make this a bit more intricate and give it a different name with different colors but we see how that worked out.

This pattern is currently being tested, but can be found here for $1.00 USD. You can use this code: 25SAVORS      to take 25% off of the pattern making it only $.75.

I am currently working on three project designs now:
I have promised to expand the Country Squares market bag and I'm hoping to have that finished and updated by this weekend. This week is a little crazy with all the kids coming back to college and me being needed more at the store, but I will find time to get it done.

I am also working on an earwarmer design.

Finally, I am trying to design that, more intricate, cable scarf that I was wanting to do in the first place. It will be in two colors with a nice border and probably some tassel as well. Who doesn't love tassels? Answer: Me when I have a Freddy cat who likes to play with my yarn. But, this new scarf design will have tassels because that is what the picture in my head looks like. First, I will have to sketch out the design which is where I went wrong with this scarf.  But I do love this scarf.

I called it "Strawberry Wine Cable Scarf" because at the time that I was trying to come up with a name I was listening to Country music and the name of the color is "Mixed Berries". One of my favorite Country songs as a kid was, "Strawberry Wine" by Deana Carter.

What inspires some of the titles of your designs/projects?

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

New Ravelry Group and Coupon Code!

This is just a quick post, today.  I started a group on Ravelry for anyone who enjoys my designs, to join. You can ask questions about the designs, get help if you are stuck, join in on some CAL's and test my designs before they are published.

Also, here is a coupon code for a 25% discount on any pattern in my store: 25SAVORS
You can use it on more than one pattern. Right now, my only paid pattern is Country Squares Market Bag

M-I-C-K-E-Y!

Mickey Mouse Toilet Paper Cover

 I just finished designing this lovely Mickey Mouse, inspired, toilet paper cozy. I know someone who is getting married within the year and her bathroom is decked out in Mickey Mouse things. I don't know if she actually has a toilet paper cover, or use for one. I think that they are pretty interesting, now that I know they exist, and will probably be making more in the future. So, she is going to be getting at least one. I have an idea for a Minnie Mouse cover and a couple other Disney inspired designs.

This is my first design that is for sale, on Ravelry. It is on sale for $1 USD. It was really easy to come up with, honestly it was easier than the market bag which I may change that to a selling pattern as well. I'm not sure though. What are your thoughts on this new design?

Thank you for reading. We actually reached 1,000 views today! Which has me super excited as well. That is something that I could not do without you beautiful people. 

Please check out some of my other posts and feel free to leave comments. I love hearing from you.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Always the Ambitious One

I have been trying to work on a design for a crochet top, for the past week or so. I was able to design most of one side, but I seem to run into trouble along the neckline. It is more of a mesh top and I'm thinking that the part I have already designed might, possibly, be to small. Although it could work for a size small...possibly a medium. The neckline is not broad enough. So, I frogged (rip it, rip it) what I could and left what I couldn't. Which means I just frogged the neckline and kept the rest. Ha!

I decided that until I make at least one top that isn't a poncho or a jacket type pattern, I will be putting this design on hold. I still have the sketches and the written part of what I have designed. But that neckline is a pain in the patootie.

Although I am disappointed that I have to let this one slide for who knows how long, I am relieved that I actually get a chance at working on my other design ideas. Things that I do know a bit about like scarves, hats, fingerless gloves, potholders, more bags....etc.

The one I really want to work on takes a cable stitch. Ambitious me, has never done one and the beautiful stitch book that my husband gave me for my birthday shows me how to make little cable stitches. I'm not sure how to make one wide, celtic type, woven, cable stitch. Apparently google is confused and shows me cable cars. Thanks, Google, not what I was thinking but nice views.

So, if anyone knows of a website or a book that I can reference on how to make a wider cable stitch, please let me know! I have this really cool design that I would love to do and the border that I want is going to be kind of like a braided rope. I'll have to figure that one out too but it will be fun!

What projects are you working on? Let me know in the comments below!

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

A Challenge of My Own Design

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good challenge. In fact, I often try to prove people wrong, within reason. I feel sorry for my doctors who tell me that I will never be able to sprint again because I didn't get the surgery to repair my knee. I graduated high school when everyone was telling me that I wouldn't make it. Never mind the fact, that I nearly dropped out to work, but thanks to some incredible teachers and my boss, I stayed. I was also told that I wouldn't make it through my freshman year of college and even though it took me six years and a few changes in my major, I graduated!

Granted, I'm still working on the whole running part but I'll be darned if I let anyone tell me that I can't do something without trying. Sadly, there are some parts where I got hurt in the process. For instance, when I was seven, we had this swing set with monkey bars (oh, yeah, it's that kind of story). My brother and I were always challenging each other. He would tell me that I couldn't do something, in that older brother kind of way, and I would try to prove him wrong. Most of the time it worked, but this time...he was right (don't tell him I said that...reputations and all). Anyhow, he told me that I couldn't skip two bars on the monkey bars and proceeded to show me that he could. My arms were a little too short and I couldn't even skip one. I knew this but, tried anyway because I've never let a challenge go without a fight. I got up to the top of the ladder, reached up, grabbed one bar and swung myself to reach past the two ahead of me. I ended up somehow flipping and landing on my wrist; breaking it. One challenge that I didn't quite meet. BUT I am proud to say that I can, now, skip two bars...maybe even three.

Long story to introduce a challenge of my own, that isn't so dangerous. I work at a clothing store and we get new shipments in, every day. I see most of the clothes before they hit the shelves and we have been getting a lot of yarny crochet/knit clothes in for the fall. This has me super excited! Some of the clothes has inspired me to try my hand at making similar pattern styles for crochet. I am working on one now that I have one side nearly finished. I'm just trying to figure out how to increase for the neck but it is going to be fun! So far, this is what it looks like:

Now, this is my first clothing design. I find it a little ambitious, even of myself, because I have only ever made one poncho and one shrug. I messed up, big time, on the poncho, and had a million questions with the shrug. I don't quite have the hang of closed necklines so this is going to be one interesting, yet harmless, challenge. No broken bones involved. So far, I like how it is turning out. I probably won't get to work on it until Sunday night or Monday. This next step is going to take a bit of thinking and playing with yarn.

Also, this is my finished Baktus! I frogged it (sorry Adrienne) because I didn't follow directions the first time. I will continue, with different yarn, with the way I was doing it before. Adrienne said that it would probably turn into a triangular shawl. I love triangle shawls!

And the little blond blob,is Sasha:

 

She is being an old lady today. She is around 8 years old and most days acts like she is still a puppy. I think the rain is making her sleepy. 

Feel free to check out my other blog posts and see what projects I have completed!

What inspires you to crochet/knit/design/craft?

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Country Squares Market Bag

My new job has kept me pretty busy but I did get a second pattern written about a week or so ago! I struggled a little bit with this one but I finally got it to work. This pattern is a free download on Ravelry.com.  It honestly didn't take much time, to make, after all of the sketching and figuring out the stitches was finished. I think that I really like this market bag (and all market bags for that matter).

 I think that I like the market bags so much because there is so much stretch room! Also, we have a farmer's market that is open on Thursdays and Saturdays, just a couple of blocks from our apartment. I can't wait to start putting some fresh veggies and fruits in the bag! Yum!

The bottom of the bag is a Granny Square, though I did the square much different than what I am used to. However, my experience with Granny Squares are over 300 tiny squares to make a motif blanket.

I'm not sure what I want to create next. I think that I'm going to try and figure out how to do a cable stitch and perhaps write a scarf pattern for that. Or, I'm thinking of writing a unique purse pattern for my niece, who is 3 years old. We will see what time brings us. Time and sketches.

What kind of bags do you like to make?

As always, feel free to leave comments below and to check out my other posts!

Please remember, that you are beautiful and well loved.

My First Crochet Design

I have been racking my brain, and playing with my yarn, all week just trying to figure out what to make for my first design. I finally did it! This one was accidental. I was thinking too big for my first design, I think. I am quite the ambitious individual. I was trying to make a market bag because I like that the bottoms can be different designs and I have tried all week to make one using different bottom designs.

I didn't like how this would have turned out for a market bag so instead of frogging (rip it out, think of what a frog sounds like "Rip-it, Rip-it") I decided to stop at the two petal rows and make it into an ornament for our Christmas tree. I already love the pattern (not to toot my own horn) because it is simple and I can see it in any color. It comes to be about a three inch diameter with potential to grow if more rows were added.

This is a free download from my Ravelry store.

I hope to come up with more designs that are, hopefully, better than this one. Also, I'm still designing that market bag! It will be done! I am determined. I figured out the bottom I just need to figure out how to make the sides without it getting too big in diameter.

Have you written a craft pattern? What are some of your methods? What is something that you are working on right now?

Feel free to let me know in the comments below! Also, check out my previous posts!

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

I've been working on a pattern!

Have you ever had that moment when you know exactly what you want to make for someone and you spend hours searching for the pattern that matches the picture in your head, only to reach the horrible conclusion that no one has made a pattern for it yet? I most certainly have. From potholder designs to shawls to blankets. I have a picture in my head of what I want to make and no pattern to go off of.

I have been thinking of writing my own patterns ever since I started to crochet, back in 2013. I never have because I wasn't comfortable with knowing what stitches to use and all that good stuff. Now, that I know a lot of stitches and have crocheted enough that I think I have grasped the concepts of a good design, I'm going to try my hand at it.

The pattern that I am writing, right now is one that I have spent months trying to find on the internet and in craft stores. My husband is a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox, baseball team. I know, I know, but to each their own. Me? I'm an Arizona Cardinals fan but I don't even think they are in the same league. All judgement aside, I decided that I wanted to crochet him an afghan for Christmas. Yes, I am aware that it is only June but it takes me a few months to make a blanket. I have two that I need to make right now.

I couldn't find a pattern for the Red Sox, anything, anywhere. It was difficult enough finding a hat for him, last year. Which my Aunt Amy got him and he loves! So, I decided to make a pattern. It took me a couple of days to actually draw out the pattern and then I transfered it to graph paper (difficult to find the amount of squares I needed). Now, I am working on the blanket and writing out the pattern as I go. So far, I'm on row 22 but I'm not even a quarter of the way yet.

I'm not sure how long it is going to take to write the pattern. Probably as long as it is going to take to make the blanket. I am really enjoying writing the pattern and I think that I will write more after this. I am also thinking of selling my patterns on Ravelry and possibly Etsy. I wouldn't sell them for much but it would be a great way to keep my yarn stash growing so that I can create new patterns.

What is your method of pattern writing, if you have written one?
What is your favorite pattern (it doesn't have to be yours)?
Feel free to let me know in the comments below! Also check out some of my other posts!

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.