Happy 4th of July! - Lookit me, I crocheted!

Here I am!!! Yes, I had a busy first part of the year. Now I am in recovery and working on re-entering society. I’ve wanted to pick up a needle and yarn and get a little project going, but for some reason I just could not. Finally, it happened. This past weekend I was watering a plant housed in a red, white and blue striped pot and it struck me that I could do a quick project for the upcoming Independence Day holiday. Late on Sunday I trekked to JoAnn’s and picked up some red, white and blue yarn. The project was complete by Wednesday and I’m happy to say that I’m back in the game!!

The vague details: I used Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted yarn in Snow White, Royal Blue, and Really Red & a 5.5mm/I needle. I like this yarn because: 1. It was relatively inexpensive and 2. It is soft, and nice to work with. Roughly speaking, here’s how I did it: I crocheted nine granny squares, and then strung them together. To do this I chained 18, then single crocheted along the side of the square, chain 7, single crocheted across another square, and so on until I reached the end and finished with a chain of 18.

~~ Queenie

Pattern Share: Bebe Hat

Queenie and I have enjoyed the experience of collaborating on several projects.  Of all of them, creating and maintaining a blog has been one of the most difficult.  But I refuse to give up!  I love avoiding things that I have otherwise neglected, ie. houseplants, housework, phone calls I don't want to return, etc.  Also I hate enforcing deadlines on myself.  In a word, I'm a procrastinator, one of the best!

So where have we been?  What have we been up to?  Well, Queenie had been busy with a family event that took place in May.  Now that that is over, hopefully we'll see more of Queenie on the blog, sharing her experience as a beginning knitter.

I, on the other hand, have been quite busy doing....everything you can think of...including whipping up a simple pattern for a knitted baby hat.  Monterey gets a bit chilly sometimes, so it's always nice to have something warm to throw on a baby or toddler's head.  Here's the pattern, it is easy and ideal for beginners:

Bebe Hat
You will need:
Yarn:  I used Ella Rae Chunky Superwash.  Use any bulky yarn.
Needles:  Cast on with size 9 circular needle-16"
Switch to size 10.5 circular needle-16", after ribbing
Switch to size 10.5 double pointed needles for decreasing
Marker

K2TOG: Knit two consecutive stitches together


Pattern:
Cast on 48 (54 for toddler) using long tail cast on.  Being careful not to twist, knit into the first stitch to close the circle.  Place marker.
Ribbing: K2, P1
Repeat ribbing pattern until ribbing measures 1.5 inches.

Switch needle to size 10.5 circular.  Knit all rows for 3 (4, 5) inches.  (4 inches for toddler size, 5 inches to make a slouchy hat)

Begin decrease, and switch needle to size 10.5 dpn after the first four rows.  Make a note of which needle is the beginning of your row.


Row 1: K4, K2TOG repeat to marker.
Row 2 (and all even numbered rows): Knit to marker.
Row 3: K3, K2TOG repeat to marker.
Repeat Row 2 (switch needles here)
Row 5: K2, K2TOG repeat to marker.
Repeat Row 2
Row 7: K1, K2TOG, repeat.
Repeat Row 2
Row 9: K2TOG, repeat.

Cast off and weave in ends.

I made a matching poncho to go with the hat, using a pattern called Baby Gaga.  The flower was my own pattern.

When gift giving, be sure to include washing instructions!  Happy knitting!

Disaster-crafting inaction

When I posted yesterday about my experience with Briddy's Let Me Call You Sweetheart pattern it was my attempt to post something. Anything.

Truth is, I haven't had much of a heart to pick up a project since a fiasco I had with a pattern on....Saturday.  I'm trying to make the Sidewalk Shawl.  Everything I've read of the pattern is that it's relatively simple to make. So it should be simple for me too, right?  Maybe not.

On Saturday night I sat down with a hook and a skein of Caron Simply Soft in Passion. At first I tried to read the pattern off of my iphone, but there are a lot of steps and I had to rip it at least once because something was not right.  Then I recalled that I had printed out the pattern and it was in a binder downstairs. I took a break, got the binder, and sat down again to begin the pattern. I think I ripped it two more times, never making it past the fifth row.  I haven't crocheted or knit since.

Maybe I am being a bit dramatic. After all, it's only been 5 days. Nevertheless, it has been awhile.  I think the reason I haven't worked on anything is not just because I was Disastercrafting with the Sidewalk Shawl, but also because I was doped with antihistamine on Monday which caused me to sleep for half a day, I've been super busy at work and I'm totally into the book I'm reading (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - all three books in the series are a must read).

What have I learned from this Disastercraft experience?

Some patterns require solitude in the beginning. The shawl seems very do-able, but I think I need some time alone to concentrate on getting it started. I'll try again this weekend in a room by myself with a soothing cup of earl grey by my side.

How do you get through those first few "*cast-on, rip* repeat until you get it right" moments of your project?

And a gratuitous piccy of some Simply Soft in Passion:

Pattern Share: Let me Call You Sweetheart Headband

Look familiar to you? Yes, it's Briddy's Let Me Call You Sweetheart Headband!! When I got home from work last Friday I was really excited to find Briddy had posted this pattern. Sitting next to me in a bag was a skein of Vanna's Choice in Scarlet AND an I hook. It didn't take long for me to get a chain going for this project. (btw, what is the crochet version of casting on?)

I'll admit the first go at the pattern didn't turn out well because my tension was way too tight and I ended up with a weird circle shape and no hint of a heart. Even though I had to rip the work and start over I didn't mind at all.  The yarn is light and soft, and the pattern is clear so this ended up being a fun Friday night project.

p.s. I really would like to know what the crochet version of casting on is called.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart Headband Pattern

I love making things for my daughters!  One thing I have noticed in accessory trends is headbands.  The bigger, the bolder, the better.  Apparently headscarves are also hitting the runways, but for now I'll focus on headbands.

Here is one I made for VJ, my oldest.  Her friends at school are going gaga over it!  

The pattern that I used can be found at Tif Matthews blog.  Thanks Tif!

Great look for late winter/early spring, but I wanted to think ahead to warm weather, but I only got as far as Valentine's day....

Instead of a flower, I went with a heart and made three skinny chains using a size "I" crochet hook and worsted weight yarn.   I'm planning to make a few more with different variations of the heart.  Here is a pattern for the headband.  Enjoy and please share a photo of your finished product with us to briddyb@gmail.com. We would love to see your Let Me Call You Sweetheart headband! 

Yarn: Any worsted weight.  I used Vanna's Choice in pink.

Needle:  size I crochet hook

sc: single crochet

dc: double crochet

tc: treble (triple) crochet

ss: slip stitch

Crochet the heart:

Chain 5 and form a circle with a slip stitch. 

Row 1: Chain 3, dc into the ring, repeat dc 8x, tc, dc 9x, chain 3, ss into ring

Row 2: Chain 6, *dc, chain 1*, repeat * to * 8 times, tc, chain 1, repeat * to * again 8 times, chain 6, ss into ring

Row 3: Chain 4, ss into the first dc in row 2, *ss, sc, ss into the dc space* repeat * to * 18 times, chain 6, ss into ring and bind off.  Weave in ends.

Crochet the headband.

Easy Peasy!  Chain 60, connect with a slip stitch and bind off.  Make three of these.  

Attach the heart to the headbands.  (I spaced them evenly in three spots and attached them with small lengths of yarn, and then wove the ends into the back of the heart.)  

Find the "bottom" of the headband and gather the three headbands together.  (I stitched them together in one spot using the tail ends.)

Enjoy, and feel free to point out any errata!  

1/29/12: I was thinking that if you want a headband with a button, you could:

Chain 4

Row 1: SC into the second chain from hook.  SC in next two chains, chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: SC three times, ch1 and turn

Rows 3-6: repeat row 2

Sew your button onto this square.  Use a smaller one since the buttonhole will be the size of one stitch.

Make the rectangle with the buttonhole:

Chain 4

Row1: SC into the second chain from hook.  SC into next two chains, chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: SC three times, ch1 and turn

Row 3: repeat row 2.

Row 4: SC into first SC, SS into next SC, and SC into last SC, chain 1 and turn.

Row 5: SC into first SC, chain 1, SC into next SC, chain 1 and turn.

Row 6: SC into first SC, SC into chain space, SC into next SC, bind off and weave in ends.

Then when you make the chains for the headband, start by slip stitching into the rectangle, one chain strand in each of the three SC.  Attach with a SS into the other rectangle when you are finished with the desired number of chains, and bind off.  

I hope that isn't confusing!  :) 

Mysterious Abbreviations

The only thing preventing me from being dubbed a DisasterCraft is that I'm not made with yarn, glue or glitter. Or at least that's how my mind feels at times.

As much as I love exploring the world of crafting, sometimes I get stuck on the most simple of things. Take, for example, abbreviations.  I am too often stymied by abbreviations.  Not the abbreviations used in patterns, because those are usually common enough that explanations are abundant.  I'm talking about those used often in blogs and web-sites.  Most recently I have found myself happily meandering through Flickr streams, or Ravelery projects, when I come upon an abbreviation.  Progress halts, and I'm sent off in search of the meaning of these little letters.  It has often been difficult, but eventually the mystery is solved.  Here are the first two abbreviations I encountered that caused me great grief:

WIP - Work in Progress

FO - Finished Object

(ok, it's a short list, but they've caused me enough grief that I felt this was important to share)

And THEN yesterday I had this interchange with dear Briddy, who was unaware of my difficulties with common crafting abbreviations:

Briddy: I'm going to go cash in a gc at the lys so that will be a fun blog!

Me thinks: Huh?! What does that mean!? Oh no, not again!! But, at least it sounds like fun!

Me cooly replies: What does that mean? gc at the lys?

Briddy: giftcard, local yarn shop

Me thinks: oh man, I've got a lot of learning to do

Thanks to Briddy, I now have two more mysteries solved:

GC - Gift Card

LYS - Local Yarn Shop

In spite of the temporary, self-induced frustration, I learned new things. I also re-learned the importance of asking for help.  I'm glad to have people in my life that have knowledge that they are readily willing to share with me. I simply need to remember that often, in order to find the answer, one must first ask the question.

And with that I would leave you with this question: Do you have any abbreviations that I should be aware of?

The Uh-Oh Danger Donut Disaster

Disaster Craft is a blog about learning from mistakes, sharing techniques and shortcuts, and generally poking fun at ourselves while we (Queenie and Briddy) tackle projects that require skills we have developed (or need to develop).  That being said, let me share with you my latest disaster:

On December 9, 2011, I woke up (my eyes were open, but brain function was minimal), put on my bathrobe, and headed downstairs.  Unfortunately, I missed the top stair.

I proceeded to fly through the air in a Charlie Brown missed punt fashion and landed on my back/tailbone about halfway down the staircase.  It knocked the wind out of me and the pain was overwhelming.  I dragged myself to the couch and tried to keep calm enough to wish the kids a good day at school.  As soon as they left I got myself back upstairs and back in bed.  The pain was excruciating and I could not move without my husband's help.  

Fortunately, x-rays showed that it wasn't broken.  But I still had 4-6 weeks of recovery time ahead of me, and those first few weeks I spent laying on my side.  Driving anywhere was impossible, even as a passenger.  I was able to sit at the table for dinner with my family after purchasing my new best friend- the inflatable rubber donut.

Of course, I was embarrassed.  "Everyone is going to think I have hemmorhoids!" I whined to my husband.  

So I did what any crafty gal would do.  I went to the thrift store and bought an ugly sweater to cover my donut.  My hope was that it would make it look less therapeutic.  

I found this extra large sweater at the thrift store:

Isn't it hideous?  But the price was right at $1.50, and considering my selection, one of my more appealing choices.  

So I proceeded to cover the donut:

And voila!  I just knew that people were no longer going to see me as a hemmorhoid victim.  I was now a NASCAR loving hemmorhoid victim.  (It looks like a safety ring they would throw out at the final lap.) 

Okay, so maybe it wasn't inconspicuous (couldn't I say it was Chanel inspired?).  I was eager to put my tender tush on it at dinnertime.  

I was extremely disappointed when I sat down on it.  The beautiful quality of rubber is that once you put your butt on it, it stays put.  Once I covered it in the obnoxious sweater, it slid around like a Jamaican bobsledder at the Olympic trials.  I had just created what a friend referred to as the "Uh-Oh Danger Donut."

So, my donut is plain, but I'm happy to report my rear is recovering beautifully.