Newsboy Hats and Beanies

A friend of mine asked me to make some hats for her little one and how could I refuse when she was asking me to make a hat as cute as these little newsboy hats...
I was surprised at how fast they worked up.


Oh my, I know I'm partial...but he is adorable handsome! I didn't actually make this hat for my L1, (he just happened to be the model), so it's a little snug on him.





Another newsboy hat in blue.


And three beanies to complete the order.

First Two Knitted Projects!

So at the beginning of January, I took a little time to jot down a few goals for the new year. One of those goals: LEARN TO KNIT. I have tried and failed at least three times before to teach myself to knit and I knew I needed help. Luckily, Chad had gotten me a gift certificate to my favorite yarn shop for Christmas and it just so happened that they were starting a new Beginning Knitting Class.

I completed the class this week as well as my first two knitted projects:

Potato Chip Scarf...

This scarf is full of mistakes just as a first project should be. The biggest issue was that it turned out way too short and thin for the intended wearer (me), but works just fine as a kids scarf.



Slouch Hat...

I spotted this hat at the yarn shop a year ago and fell in love with it. But alas, I didn't know how to knit and therefore could not make it myself. Ha! That is no longer an issue.


I so wish I had better lighting in these pictures so you could see just how pretty this yarn is.


Ah...a rare self-photo.

Showcase of Fingerless Gloves

Tailored Gloves

Preppy Striped Gloves

Playfully Pink Gloves

Snowflake Gloves

Sweetheart Gloves

Arrow Hat

Hubby wears a hat I made him to work in the winter and his boss mentioned that he would like a hat made of alpaca. Never wanting to miss a chance to work with a fine yarn, I went searching on my favorite website for free crochet patterns and found this new link to the Arrow Hat created at LiLu Studio.

I wish you can see the beautiful ribbed pattern that works up, but I had horrible lighting when I took my pics last night AS SOON as I finished it. I couldn't wait until the morning since Chad was taking it to the boss today.


Don't I have a handsome and sweet husband? He sweetly agrees to my every whim...even modeling my latest crochet creation at 11pm at night.

Snowflake Fingerless Gloves and Hat Set

Last winter I made A8 a pair of fingerless gloves, so this year H5 has been asking for her own pair. Personally, I love fingerless gloves for their cuteness and functionality. I think every girl should own at least one pair. The basic pattern for these gloves are pretty much the same as A8's gloves, but I tweaked it just a bit.




Snowflake Fingerless Gloves

Hook Size-I (5.5)

Yarn- 1 skein Lt. Purple (Color A)
1 skein White (Color B)

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
fpdc = front post double crochet
bpdc = back post double crochet
sc2tog = single crochet two together
Rev. sc = Reverse single crochet

With Color A, ch 18. Join with sl st into 1st ch.

(Please note: I made these for my 5 year old daughter. You will need to stop here and measure accordingly. Everyone's hands are going to be slightly different. Basically, what you have chained should wrap around the width of your child's 4 fingers. This glove will be worked from the top down to the wrist, leaving a hole open for the thumb.)

Round 1 - Sc in each ch around. Do not join at end of round, continue working around marking 1st stitch of each round with marker.

Rounds 2-7 - Sc in each sc around. Do not join at end of round, continue working around marking 1st stitch of each round with marker.

(Please note: Stop here and measure your child's hands again. You have just made the part of the gloves that covers the fingers, minus the top edging which you will add later. Next you will be working the rows that include the thumb opening. If you feel that the glove should be longer add one or two rounds accordingly before moving on.)

Row 8 - Continuing around sc in each sc around, but TURN at the end of the round. (Thumb hole begun.)

Rows 9-14. - Ch 1. Sc in each sc. Turn.

Round 15 - Sc in each sc around. Sl st in 1st sc of row. (Thumb hole complete.) DO NOT TURN.

Round 16 - dc in each sc around. Join with sl st in the top of the 1st dc.

Rounds 17-20 - (Change to Color B for Round 17 and alternate between Color A and B for each round.) *fpds, bpdc" around. Join with sl st into 1st stitch of round at the end.

Round 21 - Sc in each dc around. Join with sl st. Tie off.

Thumb:
Round 1 - Using Color A, attach yarn with sl st at the base of thumb hole. Sc in each space around. Do not join, continue around.

Round 2 - sc2tog all the way around. Do not join, continue around.

Round 3 - Sc in each sc around. Sl st to join. Tie off.

Edging:
Rev. sc around top of thumb opening and finger opening in Color B. Optional: Add simple snowflake embroidery on glove using Color B as shown in picture.




I would love to give you the pattern for the snowflake hat, but to be honest with you, I didn't write it down as I was working it. It's just a simple dc beanie with a shell border. I added an edging of white and embroidered snowflakes around the hat.

Stay warm and Merry Christmas!

Better late than never.

I promised my stepmom an afghan for her birthday...on October 31st. I seriously worked furiously on it...once I finally got it started about 3 weeks before her birthday. Yes, I am a professional procrastinator.

I presented her with a half-done afghan in October and a promise to get it done before Christmas.

Wait a minute...it's 2 weeks before Christmas now. I guess that means I actually finished early! ;-)

Organization is Beautiful!

So, I'm a pretty simple girl when it comes to shoes. Depending on the season, I will generally choose 2, maybe 3 pair to rotate through. They are almost completely worn though by the end of the season and then I buy a new pair.

However, I had a significant amount of shelf space dedicated to just my shoes in my walk-in closet...a sincere waste of space if I've ever seen one.

I'm mean, seriously... I only need space for about 3 pairs of shoes. The rest can totally be packed away until I need them again. I could find a much better use for FIVE shelves....so I did.

Isn't it just beautiful?!


Before my stash was all packed away in bags, and I had to rummage through each one to find yarn for a new project.


Along the top shelf, I have sorted tubs crochet hooks and supplies, thread yarn, cotton yarn, and specialty yarn.


The shelves are, of course, sorted by color. It is so pleasing to the eye that I just want to stand in my closet and look at it. I know, it's a little insane.