Crochet Nativity Set (Part One)

I am so excited to finally post about this project I have been doing this year.  The idea came from a fellow crocheter and blogger, Chelsea from A Chick w/ Sticks.  But of course, I really wanted to make it my own.

(I actually made 7 sets, but had already sent out 2 before I remembered to take pics!)

I made 7 Nativity Sets.  Well, they aren't complete YET.  Since I am making so many, I have scheduled this as a 3 year project.  This year, my family received these:

This basic set included:
Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Angel, and stable carrier case.

You can find the original patterns here:
Mary
Joseph
Baby Jesus
Manger
Angel
Stable Carrier Case (Crocheted Cheche)  (Update: this pattern can now be found on Ravelry! Yay!)

And then I made my own adjustments:

For the figures, I didn't want finger puppets, and I wanted to make them bigger.  So I used a G hook, and then I used the stuffing option that the pattern gives.

Mary: I gave her some white trim.

Joseph: I used a darker green, and I added a belt for him.

Baby Jesus:  I made the baby with the smaller hook required in the pattern, I tried it with the G but the baby was WAY to big!  Then I made the manger from the magazine pattern -- but I made the straw a little more loopy.  AND the manger is reversible... so I can turn the straw in and put baby on top if I want.

Angel:  I didn't like the pattern wings -- I thought they looked more like a butterfly's.  So I designed my own.  I wanted them to look graceful and "falling".

Stable Carrier Case:  I actually made this a little bigger than the pattern asks for.  I also made the star bigger too.

NEXT YEAR

This project is the first installment of a 3 year project.  This next year (2014) I will be adding the shepherds, some sheep (my own design), and a donkey (which will be my own design as well), and my family members will get to add them to their collections.

In 2015, I will be doing the 3 wise men, and a camel (again, will be my design).  I will be including the patterns for FREE on this site when I get them done so you will be able to add them to your own nativity sets... yay!

-Cat

2015 UPDATES!!!!

The Nativity Part 2 is up!!!  It includes the links to the shepherds and my own patterns for FREE for the Donkey and the Sheep!!  Click here!!

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Cute Sock Monkey Hats

So I had to share my cute little sock monkey hats I made for my nephews. All I can say is that it's about time I got them done! Whew, sick kids will do that to your schedule. Lol.

These hats are so easy and fun to make.

The pattern is from our very own Cat! She wrote this pattern and used to sell it in her etsy site until she closed it. If you would like to purchase the pattern you can contact her through email at (nutsinanutshell(at)gmail(dot)com). Or if you want to purchase it I am selling them in my etsy shop here. I make them in all sizes, newborn to adult.

I made these with 100% Pure Wool for the majority of the hat. The wool was really easy to use. I had no problems with it. It went very smoothly following her pattern. I loved that there were so many options available in the pattern. I made identical hats so my 2 yr old nephew would steal his younger brother's hat. The pattern has different mouth options and ear flap sizes too.

I really enjoyed making these for my nephews. It was a lot of fun and I have another one on my list to make. My husband wants one to and I've been promising it for forever, it's about time I got it done!

~Heidi

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Free E-Book!!

Ok so I had to share this awesome FREE e-book. There are so many great patterns in here!

"Winter Fashion for Toddlers + Baby Crochet Patterns"

These are just three of the nine patterns that are included in this book. You can get download it here.

There are sweaters, jackets, boots, hats, etc. A lot of super cute ideas and patterns! There are 40 pages in this e-book. Sweet deal! Don't wait, run on over and get your free book now. It's really easy to do. You enter your email address to sign up for the newsletter and it will start downloading. It's very easy to do and if you decide you don't want to get the emails you can unsubscribe. I love taking a look at the emails and seeing what crafts they have.

Enjoy! And if you do make something from the patterns we'd love to see pictures!

~Heidi Pin It

Pumpkin Hat Pattern

This past week a friend of mine asked if I could make a pumpkin hat for her new little niece that is arriving next month. I was thinking about making the one from our blog.

If you recall it's this one.

You can find the pattern posted here. It's really cute and I thought it would be great for her. But the very next day I got an email with several crochet patterns, and there was this little cute newborn pumpkin hat. I just thought it would be so perfect, so I had to try it out. I love this one we have but I do love to try out new patterns, so I had to make it. I'm planning on doing a pattern review on it. I just have to buy more yarn! I used the last of it up giving the pattern a try. So look forward to the review coming, hopefully by early next week.

 You can find the pattern here. Here is a picture of their hat:

And here is mine:

I did change up the stem and vine color but kept to the orange. I just love how it turned out. I'm thinking of running over and trying it out on my new little niece. I think she'd just look so adorable in it. Also, if you are interested in it and aren't a crocheter, I am selling them at my Etsy site here.

If you try it out let us know how it went for you and send pictures!

~Heidi

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New Season, New Projects!

Here we are again. It's October and time to get out all that winter gear. It was snowing last week at my family's house. Brrr... And here it's been in the 60-70s. Ahh, how nice. ; ) Lol, it is getting cold here too but hopefully not too fast. I'm enjoying the great weather.

So much has happened in the last few months. Cat has moved states. Amy and Cat both have started their own businesses. It feels like I'm the one that things are staying basically the same. Though I do have to brag that I have the cutest new niece. She was just born last week. Soo cute! I can't wait to get her into one of my hats. : )

Onto my latest projects. I have a list a mile long and I just can't get to anything during the late Spring/Summer. It's just crazy here and hey, it's hot. So making my little crocheted creations goes on the back burner. But now, it's Fall and cooling down to very nice temperatures. So without further ado I wanted to introduce my projects.

Halloween Fun Hat

We sponsored Cat's Summer Fitness Challenge at her other blog. This is the hat that I made for it. It's so festive, huh! It was a lot of fun to make. You can check out the challenge at her blog and the challenge here.

My other project is:

Utah State Aggie "Big Blue"

I have to admit I am not the creative one. I can use a pattern, I can make things and try them out, but I just am not creative. Cat is sooo creative. She created this pattern and has been making the USU Big Blue hat for a couple of years, but with her recent move and new business venture she just doesn't have time to make them. I bought her pattern a couple years ago and with her very gracious permission she is allowing me to make and sell them now. I wanted to add a little something, and that's where the pink Big Blue comes in. Every little girl I know loves pink. I wanted to give people options. Here are my infant Big Blue hats. (Adult hat pictures will be forthcoming, I just need to get to the store to get buttons!)

Honestly, what do you think?

Do you like the pink one? I really want an honest opinion and would love your response.

They are a lot of fun to make and I think they turned out really cute. If you would like one, I will be selling them in my Etsy shop. You can find both the Big Blue and the fishnet beanie here. Or you can contact Cat about purchasing the Big Blue pattern. Now onto the next pattern on my list!

What have you been wanting to make? Have you made anything new this year/season? Share pictures with us and we'd love to have a whole post about YOU, our fans and what you've been up to.

***Update: I finally was able to get the right buttons. Who knew it could be so hard to find the perfect one! Lol. Anyway, here's my adult sizes. 

~Heidi

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Rose's Scarf from "Boomtown"

Any Doctor Who Fans out there?

If you are a fan, and you crochet or knit, I am pretty sure you didn't miss the fabulous scarf that Rose wears in the episode called, "Boomtown" in season 2.

If you aren't a fan.  Sad for you.  I mean really.  Just sad.

Some friends pointed me that way a couple months ago when I was down sick.  I thought I had wasted an hour of my life after the first episode.  But my friends assured me to get through the first season and I wouldn't regret it.  They were right.  I am totally hooked.

When I saw this scarf, I REALLY wanted one.  And I am not a scarf person... never have been.  My neck is short, I inherited a stocky-Scandinavian look.  But I REALLY liked this one.  So I did what any modern crocheter/knitter would do, I Googled it.  Turns out that the costumer just picked up the store at some little shop there in London and had no idea what the colors or pattern was.  Just great, thought all my fellow crafters out there.  However, they were not to be deterred.  Someone got some close up shots and figured that it was knitted and came up with her own pattern.  Nope don't knit.  Moving on... finally I found a pattern written in crochet format.  But no pictures.  It was alright, I told myself, I would try it out anyway and see what happened.

All the knitters and crocheters warned that the yarn in those colors was impossible to find.  Most determined that the scarf was probably dyed or something else.

I searched all the stores and the internet and they were right.  Those colors are no where to be found.  So I settled for some other colors.  And I wasn't disappointed with how they turned out either!

I actually couldn't decide between two different ways, so I made two scarves and here is what I used:

You can find the pattern HERE! (or here)

Design by Elizabeth at vivonelcarmelo.livejournal.com

Scarf #1:

 I used Impeccable Impecable by Loops & Threads sold at Micheal's:

• Color# 02008: Summerset
• Color# 02006: Southwest

I did two rounds of the pattern before switching colors (so every 6 rows), I did it with the 2nd scarf as well.  Only there are 2 colors in the above one, and 4 on the other.

Here I am playing model with the scarf above.  Don't laugh.

Scarf #2:
I wasn't satisfied with just the scarf above.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVED it. But I wanted something with lots MORE different colors like the original Rose scarf.  So I came up with this one:

The yarn for this one was a little thinner, just a different brand is all, and so the scarf is about an inch thinner.  Which is fine with me because the variety between the two is great!  Now I have a scarf for every outfit!

Here is the yarn I used for this one:

I used Red Heart's With Love series (Now I am not a fan of Red Heart normally, but the With Love series is super soft!) I found 2 of these colors at Jo-ann's and the other two I had to order from Walmart:

• Beachy
• Waterlily
• Autumn
• Fruit Punch

Here is me once again playing model.  Same No Laughing rule applies:

Anyway, whether or not you are on Team Doctor, this is a lovely scarf, easy and quick to make (I made the 2nd in a couple hours while I watched a movie the other night), and just plain fun to wear!  

Happy Crocheting!

-Cat

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Updated Striped Hat Pattern!! (3 Sizes!)

I finally got this pattern worked out for Child/ Women's/ and Men's sizes.  This pattern IS different from the other version... but I thought this was a little easier to follow.



Materials: 

· I hook (hat body) and H hook (bottom rim)

· 4 colors of Worsted, Med yarn. (I used Vanna’s choice Sapphire, Chocolate, Mustard, and Olive)

Special stitch: 

This diagram shows where the horizontal bar (or diagonal looking stitch) is located (on WRONG SIDE of rnd):

ALL SIZES:

Ch 4, ss to 1st ch to form loop (or do a magic circle), ch 2.

Rnd 1: With color #1: Work 8 hdc into loop. Join with ss to back horizontal bar (or diagonal loop -- that's what it looks like to me!) behind beginning (you will do this through the whole pattern! See special stitch picture above) ch 1. Change to color #2. (8) ch 1.

Rnd 2: Work 2 hdc in same st as joining (always do this at the beginning of each row). 2 hdc in each back diagonal st around. This will make the stripes stand out, so remember to always do it throughout pattern. Join & change to color #3. (16) ch 1.

Rnd 3: 2 hdc in same st as joining, 1 hdc in next st. * 2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 4. (24) ch 1.

Rnd 4: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 2 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 1. (32) ch 1.

Rnd 5: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 3 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 2. (40) ch 1.

Rnd 6: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 4 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 3. (48) ch 1.

I used 3 colors on this one
and it just didn't have the
same look as the 4. For
beard pattern see links
below!

Child's Size: (Small)

Rnd 7-18: hdc in each st around changing colors after each row. (48) (Note: always feel free to make the hat shorter or longer by taking out rows or adding them)

Rnd 19: With H hook: sc in back diagonal loops around.

Rnd 20-22: sc around in each sc stitch.

Fasten and finish off.

Women's Size: (Medium)

Rnd 7: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 5 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 4. (56) ch 1.

Rnd 8-20: hdc in each st around changing colors after each row. (56) (Note: always feel free to make the hat shorter or longer by taking out rows or adding them)

Rnd 21: With H hook: sc in back diagonal loops around.

Rnd 22-24: sc around in each sc stitch.

Fasten and finish off.


Men's Size: (Large)

For beard pattern see links below!

Rnd 7: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 5 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 4. (56) ch 1.

Rnd 8: 2 hdc in same st as joining, hdc in next 6 st. * 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 st. Repeat from *. Join & change to color # 4. (64) ch 1.


Rnd 9-22: hdc in each st around changing colors after each row. (64) (Note: always feel free to make the hat shorter or longer by taking out rows or adding them)

Rnd 23: With H hook: sc in back diagonal loops around.

Rnd 24-26: sc around in each sc stitch.

Fasten and finish off.



NOTE:  The beard patterns are my own design, but I haven't had a chance to write them up yet.  HOWEVER, you can find a similar patterns for free HERE and HERE!!

Happy Crocheting!

-Cat

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A Couple Owl Hats for Boys

Here are a couple owl hats I made for some boys.  Their mom sent me a picture of their coats and I tried to match them.  I think they turned out pretty cute!

-Cat

PS this is my personal design, but you can find a free pattern that is similar here: FREE Owl Pattern! Pin It

Introducing the Bunny Backpack!!

So I really wanted to make something for my daughter for Easter. I'm not much of a decorator so everything basically has to have some purpose other than sitting on a shelf gathering dust. And dust it does collect because I just can't seem to get stuff up and down on a regular basis unless it's Halloween or Christmas, lol. Anyway so I was talking with my husband and he whips up some really cute backpack designs. Now it's a lot easier and faster for him to draw his design than it is for me to create it but creating it is still a lot of fun. Introducing the bunny backpack...

You can tell by this picture that she absolutely loved it!

Here's some more pictures of just the backpack itself.

I actually had a bunch of ideas on how to make it work out and then they failed. So I turned to trusty Google and found a really cute bunny hat pattern. It's by Rhondda at Oombawka Design. Just now as I went to get the link I found a new blog post with a revised version of the pattern with six size options. You can find the post here.

It was a fun pattern but the ears weren't right when I crocheted them. I had to modify the pattern. Disclaimer: I have not checked out the new pattern to see if it works since I just found it. I'll try it out for next time.

If you're a crocheter stay tuned for the pattern for this backpack. If you're not and you'd like this, you can purchase one here. I can customize any color and size you'd like, just let me know and we can work it out.

I hope you all have a great March! 

~Heidi

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The Piggy Hat!

My Mom was talking to my niece and she really wanted a piggy hat. She had been looking for one but just couldn't find one she liked so my Mom asked if I could make one. I thought that was a pretty sweet deal because then I had her Christmas present idea. : ) Win-win!

Here's what I came up with:

Needless to say she loved it! It was exactly what she was looking for. : ) It was a lot of fun to make. If you aren't a big crocheter but would like one you can purchase one at my Etsy shop here.

Happy March!

~Heidi

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Free St Patrick's Day Patterns

I can't believe March is tomorrow! It's here already, crazy I know! I wanted to get out some St Patrick's Day ideas for you to try. Is there anything specific you have been wanting to try? Here are several fun patterns. Let us know if you try any and share pictures, we'd love to see them and share with other readers.


Click on the titles to be taken to the pattern at the original website.

To start off with here is a fun coaster.

Shamrock Coaster

Pot-O-Gold Coaster

Irish Shamrocks Afgan

Leprechaun Door Hanger

Three and Four Leaf Shamrock Patterns

Irish Door Hanger Greeting

Shamrock Doily

Last but not least...

Irish Beret and Beanie Hat Video Tutorial

Written PDF Pattern is available at the website.

(Aren't these just so cute!!)

I hope you enjoy these patterns and have a great time crocheting!

~Heidi Pin It