Very Happy

  It's been far too long since I have used my Sewing Machine. I was raised by two avid sewers so of course, I became one too. While my boys were little I sewed so many things.. curtains, furniture covers, pillows, and more but mainly I sewed clothes. I made baby clothes for my own kids and for gifts. I made tons of summer shorts and uniform pants. I even made myself a few things over the years. I really enjoyed it and was not too bad if I do say so.

  Insert many years of College and working, working and working towards my Teaching Credential, Teaching and raising my boys. Between classes, homework, planning lessons, housework and trying to be a good mom sewing and pretty much any other type of crafting was impossible.

  It took a few years of being a stay at home -actually work at home mom- to start to feel that old desire creeping back. I started with crochet and have been avidly pursuing that for a few years now but the sewing machine beckons me. I tried a couple of years back but if you know my son there was no way to sew with him literally in my lap so curious about the machine and every item that sewing requires. So it has sat and sat and sat. 

 Not any more--I am happy to say I created an area for my machine. Not an easy task in our bursting at the seams home.

 It certainly doesn't compare to any of the craft areas/ rooms on some blogs but I really am quite happy with my little corner. Even better --I got to actually make something.

    I needed a gift for my son's lovely girlfriend and since I know she is quite fond of purses I found a super cute little bag to make.

   Of course though Steven no longer is under foot my Kitties were just too enthralled by the new machine to stay away. Stash had to be right in the midst of it all.

    Apples came to see too

   This is the purse and I am pretty pleased with how it came out. My son assured me it was well liked which is the best reward.

  So now my spare moments what are those have been joyously perusing sewing patterns and I have come across some really awesome Must Do's. Don't worry though Crochet will always be my first love

Loving Every Minute

 There are times when I love Crocheting even more than I normally do. It fluctuates based on what I am making and who it is for. I have noticed that gift items and Custom Orders increase my pleasure dramatically. Though I enjoy making items to add to my shop something changes when I know it is already spoken for.

  The last couple of months I have been in Crochet Heaven. A significant number of custom orders and a gorgeous dress are the cause. The dress was a gift for our soon to arrive grand-daughter and it took over 2 months to make. I loved it. 

  It started when I saw the pattern on Crochet Garden's Ad on the Crochet Pattern Directory Page. It was just beautiful and I knew I had to make it. The recipient was easy- Baby Emma due in August. So I begged  asked my Step-daughter if she would like it. She graciously said yes and I was on my way.

  I decided to go all out since I knew it would be quite an undertaking so instead of the regular Cotton Thread I would normally use I splurged on Bamboo Thread. Seriously the difference is amazing. The feel is super soft and the drape is just lovely. My only complaint is that the white isn't super white- almost has an off white look to it. I am attributing this to the nature of the material.

  Of course any well dressed girl must have the proper shoes for her outfit and so I needed something a bit more special to wear with this dress. I am an avid lover of Irish Crochet and so the idea to add an Irish Crocheted Rose to the top of Mary Jane style booties seemed perfect.

  I am very happy with the end result. As most creators, there are things I would change or do differently next time but overall I couldn't be more pleased. Most importantly Stephanie loved it.

Custom Orders and New Listing

   So the move feel thru -insert crying face here- and the reality that it takes just as much time to 'move back into' your original home as it would have to move to the new one sets in. We are probably 80 percent unpacked and continue to unpack every day. 

   In between boxes and cleaning I have had the joy of working on some neat projects... three pairs of custom ordered booties, a sweet pair of little girl booties newly listed for sale and a gorgeous dress/ gown that I have been working on for a couple of months for our soon to arrive Grand-daughter Emma. 

   Summer days are just perfect right now so we are off to the coast to check out the newly opened Crafted for a much needed break. If you live close by come check it out too. Hope your day is awesome

Custom Order and New Listing  

 

 

n

 

Quick Post and Share

We are currently up to our eyeballs in boxes, packing away for our move to Long Beach next week. Exciting but exhausting and very time consuming. Couple that with lots of custom orders- WHICH I LOVE- time is precious. 

So just a quick post till after the move where I wanted to share two amazing pattern shops for those of you who crochet or those who may want me or someone else to make you something dreamy from these. The patterns are simply wonderful. Enjoy

Mon Petit Violon

CROCHET GARDEN

It's Live

  Well I have been hard at work building my Crocheted In Love website and I am super excited to say IT'S LIVE --Yes it's finally up and running and though there are still refinements and pages I plan on adding, the majority of it is good to go.

  It's been awhile since I designed a website and I forgot how time consuming it can be. All the editing and design layout and backgrounds and fonts and on and on and on... BUT

it was sooo worth it

  So please take a few minutes and look it over. Comments and Likes would be appreciated--criticism in small doses is ok too.

Hope you love it 

Crocheted In Love

So excited...

I have been hard at work on a web site for Crocheted In love! I can't wait to share it with you but it isn't quite ready for the public yet :)

In the meantime I wanted to share some pictures of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Crocheted Items to make...i.e. Booties! I just adore making them- seriously there is nothing I like more than booties. They are so small and adorable and go on the most precious little feet! Any size, color, shape and style you desire you can have. 

I recently finished a custom order for 3 sweet pairs of booties and also have a few new patterns I am dying to get to. Here are some pics ~ hope you like them too!

Custom order above and future booties below 

PS- Haven't forgotten about the flower hat pattern. It should be ready to post very soon

Sneak Peek + Lately

  So I have been hard at work trying to perfect my newest free pattern. This time is will be for a baby girl and it has the most darling and unique trim. It's this very trim that is prolonging the actual posting of the pattern. It has a tendency to pull the edge in tighter than is needed so I am reconfiguring the hat to accommodate this effect. In the meantime I wanted to give you peek at the hat though keep in mind it hasn't been blocked and no flower centers have been added.

  Also I am adding a couple of pics of my latest offering on Etsy. They are the most adorable baby sandals! A friend recommended I make them and I am so happy I listened. Hope you like them too!

 

X's and O's Infant Beanie Style Hat Pattern

As promised here is my next FREE Infant Beanie Style Hat Pattern. The hat is a guarantee that baby will be full of hugs and kisses! The name is inspired from the combination of the Puff Stitch round and the Cross Stitch Round. Cute name for an adorable hat! 

This hat is equally appropriate for a boy or a girl just by changing the color choices. Ok enough said... here's the pattern:

Supplies:

Size: 0-3 months Crochet Hook Size: F

Worsted Weight Yarn: One Skein of Main Color and Small amount of Contrast Color(s)

**Using a Larger Hook size will increase the size of the Hat (see end of pattern)

 

Puff Stitch Directions: *Yarn Over Hook and insert thru stitch. Pull up a loop and pull thru*  Repeat from * 3 more times. Yarn over and pull thru all loops on hook. Chain 1 to close. Puff Stitch Made

Directions:

**Chain 3 Counts as DC throughout Pattern 

Round 1: Chain 4, Make 11 DC in 4th chain from hook. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (12 DC)

Round 2: Chain 3, DC in same stitch, 2 DC in next stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (24 DC)

 

Round 3: Chain 3, 2 DC in next stitch, *DC in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch* Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (36 DC)

 

Round 4: Chain 3, DC in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch, *DC in next two stitches, 2 DC in next stitch* Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (48 DC)

 

Round 5: Chain 3, DC in next stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (48 DC)

 

Round 6: Chain 3, DC in next two stitches, 2 DC in next stitch, * DC in next three stitches, 2 DC in next stitch* Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (60 DC)

 

Round 7-10: Repeat Round 5

 

^Optional- Fasten off at end of Round 10 and Join Contrast Color with slip stitch in first DC (where joined before fastening off) 

Round 11:  Chain 1, SC in same stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first SC (60 SC)

 

Round 12: Chain 1, Work Puff Stitch in same stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first Puff Stitch (60 PS) 

 

Round 13: Repeat Round 11

 

Round 14: Chain 3, DC in first SC before joining (of  last round), * Skip next SC, DC in next Stitch, DC in skipped Stitch* Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (60 DC)

 

Round 15: Repeat Round 11

 

^Optional- Fasten off at end of Round 15. Join Main Color in first SC with a slip stitch

 

 Round 16:  Chain 1, Reverse Single Crochet around. Join with a slip stitch to first SC 

 

Fasten Off, Weave in all loose ends 

 

** If you need help enlarging this pattern please feel free to contact me directly or leave your comments below and I will explain several ways to enlarge this beanie :) 

"Just Like Daddy" Infant Hat Free Crochet Pattern

This is my original pattern for a sweet infant baby hat/ beanie. Hope you love it! 

Size: 0-3 months Crochet Hook Size: F

Worsted Weight Yarn: One Skein

Bulky Yarn and larger Hook Size will increase Hat Size

Directions:

**Chain 3 Counts as DC throughout Pattern

Round 1: Chain 4; 11 DC in 4th chain from hook. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (12 DC)

Round 2: Chain 3; DC in same stitch. 2 DC in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (24 DC)

Round 3: Chain 3; 2 DC in next stitch; * DC in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with  a slip stitch to first DC (36 DC)

Round 4: Chain 3; BPDC in next stitch; FPDC in next 2 stitches; *BPDC in next 2 stitches, FPDC in next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (36 DC)

Round 5: Chain 3; DC in next stitch; 2 DC in next stitch; *DC in next 2 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (48 DC)

Round 6: Repeat Round 4

Round 7: Chain 3; DC in next 2 stitches; 2 DC in next stitch; *DC in next 3 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC (60 DC)

Rounds 8-10: Repeat Row 4

Rounds 11-12: Chain 3; DC in next stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to first DC

Round 13: Chain 1; RSC around. Join with a slip stitch to first SC.

Finish off and Weave in all ends.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or clarification and please add pictures of your version! I would love to see them

While I was Away :)

   Sheesh! I have had a few blogs in mind for a few weeks now and didn't realize how much time I let slip away since my last post. Think that pretty much some up my life in the past couple of years

So while I have been not posting I have been hard at work on

**several custom orders (loving it!) 

**a few items I have wanted to make for so long -YES!!!

**I also have finally finalized and posted my Octopus Hat Pattern for sale!

**Working on two original baby hat patterns that I am going to offer for free

   Pattern design is something I have wanted to do for so long and I am so excited and ecstatic that it is becoming a reality. I currently have 6 original patterns for sale and as soon as I take pictures I will be posting my first free patterns!! I have more projects in mind and can't wait to share them as well.