Green and white baseball cap

OK, here is the green and white baseball cap. 

 

I'm not sure which of the three patterns I like the best.  But... if I had to choose one, I would pick the pattern I used for the white with blue trim hat.  I think it is because of the half double crochet stitch -- I just like crocheting that stitch and I like the 'finished' look of the stitch.

Well, now I'm back to crocheting barefoot sandals.  I found a pattern I like, but I don't want to pay $5 for it.  So I'm working on another.  If I get the stitches right and the directions written correctly, I'll post the pattern.  Might be a while though....

As always, all caps are available at CraftyPastimes.etsy.com

bye,

k

White and blue baseball cap

These little baseball caps are so cute and fun to crochet.  This cap is a little larger than the white cap I made last week.  And I followed a different pattern using a half-double crochet (I really like this stitch).  I like the brim better on this cap.

 

Yesterday I found another pattern so I'm crocheting a new cap in solid green with white trim.   I'll let you know which of the three patterns I like the best.


Again, this cap is available at CraftyPastimes.etsy.com.

Baseball Cap

Look at this cap!  I just loved making it and am really happy with the finished cap.  Some little boy or girl will look soooo cute in it.  

A great cap for the summer baseball season and the perfect hat for a photo prop.

I crocheted the baseball cap in soft 100% cotton yarn which is just the right weight for warm weather.  This hat is crocheted in a double crochet stitch.

The hat measures 14" around -- 3 - 9 months old baby.

I found another pattern in a half-double stitch that I kind of like, too.   When I finish that one, I'll post a picture.

As before, if you like this cap, it is available at CraftyPastimes.etsy.com.

Obsessed with barefoot sandals

Remember a couple weeks back I mentioned that I purchased a set of barefoot sandal patterns.  The design I really liked looked relatively  easy to make -- keep in mind that I have been crocheting for yeaaaaarrrrrs.  I'm not an expert, but I can read a pattern and work most stitches.  For some reason, I just could not get beyond row 3.  The design was not what was in the picture.

So....   I gave up on that pattern.  My newly designed barefoot sandal is one I pictured earlier.

 

I like them a lot, but they do take a long time to crochet.  The thread is DMC #5 which is not too fine, but does require a bit of care not to get the thread turned around.

So, I decided I needed to create a simpler design and I used DMC #3 (a little heavier and easier to work with).   I like this one, too.

 

Now I just need to rewrite my directions and hope that I can follow my notes which are full of crossed out lines and erasures!

If you are interested in the last pair of sandals or a grey pair of the first, they are available at CraftyPastimes.etsy.com

Next on my 'to do' list is a little boy's baseball cap.  I saw a pattern which is really cute, but not free.  However, a pattern picture -- I forget the correct word -- was available so I'm counting rows, double crochets, and single crochets ( X    and     ---X--- ). 

I'll post a picture when I finish the cap.

k

Baby Barefoot Sandals

These are just the cutest things I've seen in ages.  Little girls love 'em, too. 

 

Next on my list of items to make is another pair of barefoot sandals for little girls, but these will be white, pink and coral with bead embellishments.  Some little girl will love them, too!

 

Barefoot Sandals

Well, I crocheted a few pair of barefoot sandals.  What are barefoot sandals?  You have seen them.  Little lacy triangles or circles of crocheted thread that cover the top of a foot and tie in the back around the ankle.  Brides who are getting married on the beach often wear barefoot sandals -- jewelry for your feet!

A customer asked if I could make them.  I'd never really thought about crocheting barefoot sandals, but I told her I would give a try. 

I love 'em!  Finding patterns was an issue.  Lion Brand yarn has a really easy pattern.  Though the pattern is simple, I like them especially in DMC Perle thread #5.  I'm going to try another pair in DMC Perle thread #3 -- not sure if the barefoot sandal will look as fine in a heavier thread.

Then I purchased a pattern and for some reason just could not get it right.  Don't know what I was doing wrong, but eventually wrote my own pattern.  Creating patterns is really quite a chore.  I think I am on my fourth revision and I'm still not sure about it.  But I did complete two pair of barefoot sandals - one in grey and the other in cream.  I like them both. 

I'm not sure which color I like best. 

Anyhow, I have several new ideas for barefoot sandals and will post them as I go along.

The sandals shown above are reserved for my customer, but I will be  posting others on Etsy so check the shop in a week or so.  (CraftyPastimes.etsy.com)

Another little girl's hat

I love this yellow -- so fresh and darling.  Can't you just see a sweet little thing running around in this!

The hat is a simple beanie in double crochet.   I crocheted this hat with yellow acrylic yarn (really soft) and added a two layered flower.  The back and center of the flower is a purple and grey mix and the petals are a light blue -- a nice contrast of colors.

 

The hat is available for purchase at CraftyPastimes.etsy.com

Little girl's summer hat

I love making these little girl hats.  They are soooo cute and I can just imagine some sweet little thing dancing around with her new hat!

This hat is made of 100% cotton and has a darling little ribbon at the brim (purple and white flowers).  

You can see this hat and others at CraftyPastimes.

More wrist cuffs or wrist braclets

Wrist cuffs or wrist bracelets are fun to crochet.  They don't require much time and really offer an opportunity to be creative -- try out different stitches and patterns.

I finished these two cuffs this weekend.  The red and green cuff is made with sport sock yarn.  It is very light and delicate and feels great on my wrist -- not heavy or bothersome.  The cuff slips on and does not open up.  I  added the vintage green buttons for a little extra style.

 

This purple and grey cuff opens with a button and buttonhole (created by skipping a couple stitches and making a couple chains in the next row).  I love these colors and the picot edging.

 

 Both of these cuffs are available at etsy.com/shops/CraftyPastimes.

Crocheted wrist bracelets or cuffs

While crocheting some really colorful and cute coffee cup cozies, the cozies reminded me of wrist cuffs and bracelets!  So I am experimenting with different stitches and yarns to create wrist cuffs or bracelets. 

Wrist cuffs are very easy to crochet and are completed quickly.  I haven't written out a pattern, but I may try.  Writing out a pattern is not all that easy -- it is much easier to just create!

These bracelets were crocheted with cotton yarn.  The white cuff measures 2" x 8" and opens with a button and buttonhole.

 

The black cuff is also made with cotton yarn and measures 1 3/4" x 9".  The ends are attached so it does not open up.  The unique black button is for decoration.

Both these items are available at Crafty Pastimes -- www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPastimes

Coffee cozies

Well, working on those wrist warmers started me thinking of coffee cozies -- also known as coffee sleeves, mug warmers and a variety of other names.  So I hunted around the Internet and Ravelry looking for just the right pattern.  I didn't find it.  I did find a few that I liked - I just didn't love them.  I may have to get creative and crochet a new pattern from scratch.

Here are pictures of the cozies I did make.  They were all pretty easy to crochet.  I used cotton yarn (Sugar and Cream).

Really simple coffee sleeve with flower in single crochet - use a cozy instead of the cardboard sleeve available at coffee stands.  These cozies are small enough that you could carry one in your bag or tote.  I do like bright pink.  Think I will make one for myself!    ;')

Another is a cup cozy that fits a standard coffee cup crocheted with a half double crochet stitch.  I like to make the bands somewhat narrow so the edges do not touch the bottom or top of the cup.  This eliminates tipping the cup or getting lipstick on the top edge.  Also, who wants to taste yarn with their coffee or hot chocolate??

A third cozie is one which fits the whole cup.  The sides and bottom are crocheted in single crochet.  The bottom acts as a coaster. 

Here are a few websites with free cozy patterns:


Martha Stewart Crafts

All Crafts    (has pictures and patterns for over 100 different cozies)

Crochet Pattern Central     (many different types of cozies)


If you do not have the time to crochet a cozy, you can purchase one or more at my Etsy shop   (http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPastimes)  .

Wrist warmers

A couple weeks ago I purchased some cotton yarn -- very colorful purple and green.  Then while looking through patterns, I came across a pattern for crocheted wrist warmers.  The perfect item for this great cotton yarn.

The pattern is really easy, but I found myself making all kinds of mistakes and redoing row after row.  I'm not sure what my problem was so I reprinted the pattern after enlarging the font and adding line spaces between the rows in the pattern.

Those changes did help.  Of course, I had a lot of practice reading the directions, too!

After seeing the last picture above, I decided I didn't like the shape of the front wrist warmer.  I made another which looks much better. 

Easter Cards

A woman I met at Curves a few months ago invited me to a cardmaking class.  I had thought about making cards a few years ago, but just did not pick up on it.  So, now that I have some extra time, I thought I'd give it a try.

Over the last few weeks I purchased some card making materials:  card stock, Easter stamps, ink pad, stamp cleaner,  cards and envelopes and a couple punches.  I found myself wanting to buy more and more, but another friend recommended only buying what I need at the time --  otherwise, one will end up with all kinds of stamps and die cuts that aren't needed or are duplicates.  Sounds like good advice.

I find making cards kind of relaxing and definitely creative!   Deciding what to make is a challenge for me.  I'm not really 'artsy' so I find the process much easier if I have an example to follow.  I changed some of the colors and a little bit of the format on some to create my own design.  I am hoping that I get faster at this cause I spent a whole afternoon just making a few cards!

Here are a few examples of the cards I've made:

Note:  These cards are now available at Two Yellow Daisies

Ready for Spring

After crocheting the little white hat in the previous post, I decided to make another.  I love this sweet green hat with two purple butterflies.

A darling hat for a little girl ( 3months to a year old or so).   Measures 6" top to bottom and 16" in circumference.

I used a cotton and polyester yarn in bright green I love crocheting with this cotton/poly yarn as it is soft and holds its shape nicely. Perfect for spring and summer.

Little girl's hat and cotton yarn

Last week I started working with cotton yarn.  Nice.  I like it very much.  The yarn has a smooth feel to it and the hat I made has a 'finished' look to it.

This pattern was an experiment with the shell stitch.  I'm sure I have a pattern someplace with directions to make a hat with this stitch, but I decided to create as I went along.  With a few tweaks, I think this will be a nice pattern.

The flower is made with cotton yarn, too.  A big flower as you can see.  It covers most of the hat.  Some little girl will really like it!

Newborn beanie and flower

Love this little beanie and flower.  The beanie, sized for a newborn,  is made of the baby blue and green acrylic yarns (Red Heart)  and is adorned with a crocheted flower over a felt base and a felt button on top. Perfect the new Spring baby!

The first flower I made was a little too big for this small hat so I changed the pattern a little.

 Instead of a full double crochet (dc), I did four half double crochets (hdc) and no edging.

The second flower is not a lot smaller but is a better fit for the beanie.  I cut a circle of white felt and added a felt button (purchased at Joann's).  Then sewed the items to the hat.

I like the felt button instead of a plastic or wood for a little one.

More flowers

I'm really getting into crocheting flowers.   Today I made the cutest little newborn beanie and decided to add a simple touch to it.  I cut out a circle of felt with my pinking shears and later tonight I'll crochet this flower. 

Then I'll sew the flower to the felt circle and add a felt button I purchased at Joann's.    I'll post a picture of the finished beanie.

Instructions for this flower can be found here.

Toddler's owl hat

This hat was so much fun to make and sooooo easy to crochet.   You could make the hat in any color you like.  I chose a dark green and baby blue.  The eyes can be flatter on the hat, but I decided to give the eyes a little bulgy (is that a word?) look.

The tails are braided using the green, blue and gold yarns. 

The hat measures 8" top to bottom (not including the tails) and 17 " in circumference. Terrific little hat for baby or toddler and a great photo prop. A terrific picture for the photo album!   More information at Etsy 

I found the pattern on Ravelry.  If you are not familiar with Ravelry, visit the site soon.