Category: Uncategorized

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Dinosaur Popsicle Holders

I’m so late posting about these!  It’s September, and everyone has started going pumpkin spice crazy.  At least here in Houston it is still in the 90s, so it’s still popsicle weather, if not popsicle season.

A couple of months ago I saw some popsicle holders on Pinterest and thought, wouldn’t that be a fun knit or crochet project?  They are effectively a popsicle cozy, and I make cozies all the time.  I came up with several ideas I wanted to make.  My two-year-old is obsessed with dinosaurs right now, and I knew he would love a dinosaur popsicle holder.  It seemed natural to crochet a dinosaur body and let the popsicle be the tail.  These turned out too cute, and my two-year-old loves them!

Buy the e-book with all three patterns for $5 on Etsy here or on Ravelry here.

Materials:

Go to this link to buy a kit with everything you need to make these dinosaurs on Amazon.

  • Worsted weight yarn in a variety of colors (my favorite is Vanna’s Choice)
  • Size H tapestry needle
  • Tapestry needle
  • Popsicles!


Stitches Used:

Please comment below with any questions!

 

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Bombshell Shorts Week 4

I did not get a lot of knitting accomplished over the last week.  My parents came into town.  Then my husband and I both caught my dad’s illness.  Here’s a progress picture for the Bombshell Shorts.  I’m still loving these cables!

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Tennarisukka Ankle Sock

I’ve been participating in Socks with Sarah, verrrrry slowly.  Most days I only knitted one row.  I finally finished my first sock.  I’ve been making Tennarisukka ankle socks.  The pattern for the socks is free, and they have really fun texture.  They fit really nicely and are much cuter than the white sports socks I wear all the time.  These are definitely my new favorite socks.

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Difficulty:  Easy-Moderate

Time Required:  10 Movies

Overall Experience:  Excellent

 

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Okaasan Hug Monster

My husband bought me a book of crocheted monsters, Crochet Bakemono, last year.  I just got around to making one of them, Okaasan, for Valentine’s Day.  Okaasan just begs for a hug.

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I had a few issues with the pattern.  At first it wasn’t making sense at all, then I realized it was written in British terms rather than American.  It’s confusing because we use the same terms, but they mean different things.  There was very little instruction on how to cut out and apply the felt pieces.

Difficulty:  Easy

Time Required:  3 Movies

Overall Experience:  Fair

 

 

 

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Obsessed with Bombshell Shorts

None of my recent projects have featured cables, and I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I cast on Bombshell Shorts!  I’ve been obsessed with these cables this week and basically neglecting my other projects.  I also really like how the shorts are fitting thus far.  Please ignore my spandex-clad booty.

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Grandma Sula’s Peanut Butter Cake

I made my great-grandma’s peanut butter cake for work today.  Something is a little off in the recipe I was given, and I always end up improvising.  I decided to actually record what I think I did last night so I can repeat it!  The cake turned out delicious.  It was mostly gone before 9:30 this morning.  The powdered sugar heart was added at the last minute to make it holiday appropriate.

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Cake Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of flour
  • 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons of baking soda
  • 2 cups of white sugar
  • 1/2 cup of butter
  • 2 eggs, beaten

Icing Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 6 tablespoons of coffee
  • 1/4 cup of peanut butter

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Grease a 9 by 13 inch pan
  • Cream white sugar, 1/2 cup of butter, and 1/2 cup of peanut butter
  • Beat in eggs
  • Sift flour and baking soda in another bowl
  • Mix the milk and apple cider vinegar in a liquid measuring cup
  • Add the flour mixture to the first mixture alternating with milk
  • Pour batter into pan and bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center of the cake clean; the cake should be a dark golden brown
  • Allow the cake to cool
  • Using an electric mixer, mix the powdered sugar, remaining butter (melted), peanut butter, and coffee.  You may want to adjust the ingredients for taste or consistency.  Adding more sugar will make the icing thicker.  Adding more butter and coffee will turn the icing into more of a glaze.
  • Ice the cake
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KALs, KALs, KALs

I’ve knitted a ton this week and have nothing finished to show for it.  Here is a progress picture of all three of my current knit-a-long (KAL) projects.

  • Socks with Sarah is still going steady.  I’ve knit at least one row on the sock everyday that I’ve knitted since January 15.  (I think there have only been two days that I haven’t knitted.)  I don’t have much to show for it.  Sock knitting has tons of tiny stitches and it hasn’t been my main focus.
  • Multiplicity is tons of fun!  Learning to double knit was enjoyable, and I love the two sided fabric.
  • Of all knitting techniques, I think cables are still my favorites.  Bombshell Shorts lets me cable to my heart’s content.

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Etsy and KALs

Over the past few years, I’ve opened my Etsy store twice and never sold a single item.  Over the last few months, a lot of my friends have requested me to knit or crochet something for them.  They almost always ask if I have an Etsy store.  I finally ran out of orders, and decided to try Etsy one more time.  I gave my shop a facelift and uploaded pictures of all of my recent original projects that I could make quickly if ordered.  Check out my new and  improved store here.

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In the mean time, I’m working on designing Alice in Wonderland inspired top hats for the Crochet Crowd’s challenge.  My designs are top secret until after the competition is over.  I’m also starting two additional knit-a-longs (KALs) in addition to Socks with Sarah.  The KALs are hosted by Holla Knits, the same blog that hosted my last KAL.  I’m making Multiplicity and Bombshell Shorts over the next three months.  Cast on day is today.  I’m excited!

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Energo Potholder

My office got a new toaster oven a couple of weeks ago.  My colleagues and I were sitting around the lunchroom talking about it and noting that one of us should bring in a potholder.  One of them mentioned that it would be really cool if I could knit the company logo on a potholder.  Challenge accepted!

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I doubt that anyone else wants a knitting pattern for an Energo Engineering potholder.  If I’m wrong, comment on this post, and I’ll be glad to share!

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Hello Kitty Hat

One of my coworkers asked me to make a Hello Kitty hat for his 3-year-old daughter.  He wanted it to be primarily pink rather than white (white and 3-year-olds don’t mesh well).  I knitted a hat and crocheted the Hello Kitty face from the Hello Kitty scarf that I made for my sister last year.  I chose a lattice pattern to put around the bottom of the hat to make the hat more feminine.  Afterwards, my coworker asked me to make the same scarf I made my sister.  I would have incorporated some gray into the hat as well if I was planning to make the scarf from the beginning.  The set did turn out really cute!

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Disclaimer:  Feel free to make this pattern for your personal use, for your platypus, for charity, or to sell.  The only thing I ask is that you please do not sell it on Etsy.  If you are interested in purchasing a koozie from my Etsy store, you may do so here.

Materials:

  • Vanna’s Choice Yarn in Berrylicious (P)
  • Vanna’s Choice Yarn in White (W)
  • Vanna’s Choice Yarn in Black (B)
  • Vanna’s Choice Yarn in Radiant Yellow (Y)
  • 5 Size US 7 Double Pointed Needles
  • Size H Crochet Hook

Stitches Used:

Instructions:

Band:

Cast on 84 stitches with P, knit in round being careful not to twist

R1-R4:  (k2, p2) 21 times (84 stitches)

R5:  (tr, p2) 21 times (84 stitches)

R6:  (k2, p2) 20 times, k2, p1 (83 stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row

R7:  (pr, pl) 21 times (84 stitches)

R8:  (k1, p2, k1) 20 times, k1, p2 (83 stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row

R9:  (tl, p2) 21 times (84 stitches)

R10:  (k2, p2) 20 times, k2, p1 (83) stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row

R11:  (tr, tl) 21 times (84 stitches)

R12:  k83, leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row (83 stitches)

R13:  (tl, k2) 21 times (84 stitches)

Knit each following row until the hat is 5.5 inches long.

Crown:

R1:  (K4, K2tog, SSK, K4) 7 times (70 stitches)

R2:  K70

R3:  (K3, K2tog, SSK, K3) 7 times (56 stitches)

R4:  K56

R5:  (K2, K2tog, SSK, K2) 7 times (42 stitches)

R6:  K42

R7:  (K, K2tog, SSK, K) 7 times (28 stitches)

R8:  K28

R9:  (K2tog, SSK) 7 times (14 stitches)

Cut the yarn with several spare inches.  Thread a tapestry needle and pull yarn through all 14 stitches on needles.  Work in ends.

Hello Kitty Face (from Made by K):

Switch to crocheting with W and crochet hook.

R1:  Ch5, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 3 stitches (4 stitches)

R2: ch1, turn, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in bottom of same sc, 3 sc in bottoms of next 3 sc, sl st to 1st sc of current round (12 stitches)

R3: ch1, turn, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 2, 2 sc in next stitch x 3, sc x 4, 2 sc in next stitch, sl st to 1st sc of current round (18 stitches)

R4: ch1, turn, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 6, 2 sc in next stitch x 3, sc x 6, 2 sc in next stitch, sl st to 1st sc of current round (24 stitches)

R5: ch1, turn, sc x 2, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 6, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 8, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, sl st to 1st sc of current round (30 stitches)

R6: ch1, turn, sc x 3, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 8, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 2, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 10, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, sl st to 1st sc of current round (36 stitches)

R7: ch1, turn, sc x 3, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 10, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 2, 2 sc in next stitch, sc x 2, sl st, hdc, ch1, dc in same stitch as hdc, ch 1, trc, ch 1, dc, ch1, hdc in same stitch as dc, sl st, sc x 4, sl st, hdc, ch1, dc in same stitch as hdc, ch 1, trc, ch 1, dc, ch1, hdc in same stitch as dc, sl st, sc x 2, sl st to 1st sc of current round and break off and work in ends (52 stitches)

Embroider eyes and nose on face using B and Y.

Hair Bow:

R1:  With P, ch5, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 3 stitches (4 stitches)

R2:  Ch1, turn, sc 4 (4 stitches)

R3:  Ch1, turn, sc2tog twice (2 stitches)

R4:  Ch1, turn, sc 2 (2 stitches)

R5:  Ch1, turn, sc 2 in next stitch x 2 (4 stitches)

R6:  Ch1, turn, sc 4 (4 stitches)

R7:  Ch1, turn, sc 4  break off and work in ends (4 stitches)

Pinching center of bow together, sew the bow onto the face while wrapping the yarn around the center of the bow

Connecting the Face to the Hat:

Modified sc (msc):  When you insert your hook under top 2 loops of the stitch below, also insert it under the hat loop directly underneath the stitch on the face, yarn over, bring loop through hat loop and face stitch, yarn over and bring loop through both stitches on hook.

Hold the face in place on the hat.  With P, sl st to any stitch on R7 of the face, ch1, msc in same stitch.  Msc in each stitch on face except trc, place 3 msc in each trc, after completing all msc, sl st in first msc.

Embroider whiskers on face.

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Difficulty:  Moderate

Time Required:  5 Movies

Overall Experience:  Excellent