Moving: I Made The Switch

Yes that's right. I officially switched over to Wordpress. So far it's been a pretty good decision, because I've gotten a lot more traffic to my blog, but we'll see. If you would like to continue reading my blog, please head over to my new blog HERE! Thank you guys! See you on the other side! :D

Crochet: Red and White Mesh Hat

After all those Christmas gifts, I decided to spoil myself with a hat of my own. Since finishing it, my mother wants one exactly like it, and a scarf to match. Oh well. At least it was an easy project haha!

I used a pattern from Meladora's Creations found here. This hat was simple and came out really nice! I love the colors, and it's nice and warm too! For the pattern, after the headband part was done, I did 1 row of red. For the rest of the hat, I did 2 rows of white and 4 rows of red. Then I turned the hat inside out and closed it up with a bunch of slip stitches until the hole was closed enough.

I used up almost the entire red yarn ball I had, so I used the remains in a red and white pom pom. I wish I could put a pom pom on every hat. I'm obsessed with them!

 This pattern has a few advanced stitches, but they are quite easy to figure out. The result is so worth it too! You can use any and EVERY color you want! It'll turn out awesome no matter how you do it! Post your results in the comments!

xo Link

Crochet: Minecraft Enderman Beanie

I had a post a couple of weeks ago where I showed off a Minecraft Creeper Beanie, and since that sibling had a twin, I kind of had to match their gifts. They are both obsessed with Minecraft, so I decided to make it an enemy in the game he always talks about.

Again, I used Oombawka's Double Crochet Beanie pattern found here. I didn't really use a pattern for the eyes. I just started around the 8th or 9th row and played with the size of the eyes until I found one I liked. I again tried to do the entire hat pattern by memory (which I have completely memorized by the way) and it once again came out like a plate. I don't know if you guys have this problem, but it completely baffles me, and I just don't get why it happens every time I do it without a pattern. But it worked out in the end, so that's all that matters.

xo Link

Crochet: Treble Slouch Hat FREE PATTERN

Okay wow this hat was actually a huge pain to make. It took FOREVER, only because I went through a billion designs before I stayed on one. If I had just stuck with the one design I picked in the end, it probably would have taken me half a day at most. It's actually a pretty design, and builds up quickly, so it's a perfect project for beginners!

At first I started with a puff stitch, but I don't think I was doing it right, so it didn't look very good. I then tried each basic stitch in a number of different designs until I settled on one.

I'm using American terminology

Crochet hook: H

Medium worsted weight yarn

Stitches used:

Slip stitch (sl st)

Double crochet (dc)

Treble crochet (tr)

Back loop only (BLO)

Row 1: Chain 11, DC in second ch from hook, continue to end. Ch 1 and turn.

Row 2: Dc in BLO to end, ch 1 and turn. Repeat row 2 until you have a strip that is long enough to stretch around your head. Make sure it's snug, because it will stretch out after a few wears.

Row 3: Ch 4 (this will count as your first tr), tr in next two st, ch 2 and skip a st. [tr in next 3 st, ch 2 and skip a st] Repeat "[ ]" to the end. Sl st into top of ch 4 to finish row.

Repeat row 3 until it reaches the length you like. Try it on and hold the top together to see what it might look like and feel like, and make it as snug or as slouchy as you would like. I did 12 rows, where it wasn't too slouchy and wasn't too snug. 

To finish, turn inside out and pull up a loop through each chain space. When there is too many stitches on the loop to pull any more through, yarn over and pull through each loop. Keep doing this until your hat it securely tied off at the top. Finish with your preferred finishing method and weave in ends.

Super simple project for beginners and it comes out so nice! This is my first pattern, so let me know if you made it and feel free to ask any questions in the comments below!

Crochet: Minecraft Creeper Beanie

I have 4 younger brothers, and like most boys right now, they love Minecraft. So I decided to make my two twin brothers Minecraft themed beanies. The first one is based on the ever popular Creeper.

The pattern is a simple Double Crochet beanie. I always have to end up using a pattern, because if I don't, they end up looking like plates. I have NO CLUE WHY, but it drives me nuts! The pattern I use is from Oombawka Design found here. FYI, Oombawka also posts a new free crochet pattern every day on their Facebook page. I love seeing their posts!

I made it in the medium size, and on row 7, I started creating the pattern for the face. I found the pattern on Craftsy here.

It was very well received. By that, I mean he screamed and showed everyone he came in contact with when I handed it to him. I really like how these beanies come out! They're simple and so easy to make fancier with fun designs.

xo Link

My 2015 Resolutions: 10 Things To Do and 10 Things To Stop

I know this post is probably going to be overlooked because everyone is like, "ugh here we go another person who is going to make a resolution and give up in a week". But I don't care! I need to write it down and see which ones I accomplished at the end of the year. A LIFE resolution of mine is to complete everything on my list of resolutions for at least one year. Yeah, I haven't accomplished that yet. One day at a time.

I also want to have a list of stuff I plan to stop. Some of the negative things I have let seep into my life. I really want this year to be a year of happiness, regardless of any challenges I may face. I hope I can inspire you guys to do the same. Making goals to take negativity out of our lives is just the start of a more positive world.

10 Things To Do

1. Learn to knit, needle felt, embroider, cross stitch, etc.
2. Get my GED
3. Start up my crafting business
4. Be a better mother, wife and sister
5. Become more immersed in my religion
6. Have a clean home 85% of the time
7. Learn to drive stick shift
8. Make 3 cosplays for myself
9. Get back into shape after baby
10. Beat my husband's gamer score on Xbox360

10 Things To Stop

1.  Stop judging others for whatever I may disapprove of
2.  Stop using the internet for pointless reasons as much
3.  Stop nagging
4.  Stop being a couch potato
5.  Stop judging my body
6.  Stop worrying about what others will think of me
7.  Stop spending so much money on pointless purchases
8.  Stop eating so much junk food
9.  Stop assuming the worst
10.  Stop giving up because whatever I'm doing doesn't look "perfect"

What are your resolutions this year? What do you plan to learn and what do you plan to stop doing? Let me know in the comments! I love hearing everyone's goals for the year! It inspires me to do mine as well. Good luck and happy new year!

xoLink

Crochet: Slouchy Summer Hat

This has to be one of my favorite hats I have made so far. This is SUCH a cute hat and one I am so proud of. I plan to make at LEAST 2 more for myself and my mom. I think the color I used helped as well.

I used a pattern from Ravelry found here. This pattern was actually really easy and worked up really fast. I love the textures on it and love that it's not too thick. It's definitely a perfect hat for summer.

I did do things a bit different with this hat. For Rows 5, 11 and 12, I did a pattern on and off of BLO. Row 5 was BLO, row 11 was normal, and row 12 was BLO again. When I finished row 14, I realized it wasn't slouchy enough (the gauge was being weird) so I repeated rows 8-14 until I was satisfied with the slouch and did row 15 in the opposite of the previous row. (depending on if it was BLO or not)

Halfway through the pattern, I realized it also required knitting. Which I cannot do. (yet) So instead of knitting the headband, once I was done making the main part of the hat, I chained 11 and did 10 dc in BLO and ch 1 until it was long enough to stretch around my whole head, then with the hat inside out, I used sc to stitch it to the hat. I'm sure it would work just as good (if not better) with a sl st as well.Then I just finished it in my preferred way and wove in the ends.

I also ended up making a second hat which turned out better than the first. I unfortunately can't remember what I did differently, but I didn't have to repeat any rows. I didn't realize that until I was done though, because it turned out too slouchy and I have to fold the band back in order for it to not look like a fashionable hair net.

This hat is perfect for people who are beginners with knowledge of the basic three stitches. It's simple, but looks fantastic. I recommend you give it a try!

xo Link