Modelled on my head, 'cuz I don't have a headform yet.
Actually managed to get a pretty GOOD closeup!!!
SO, Sis, there’s your hat. I ended up doing it in two shades of blue because I just didn’t have enough of that royal blue to completely finish it. But I’ve already had 2 people compliment me on it – May came over yesterday and saw it, and today Hayley came over. They both said they liked it, so I’m hoping you will too. 
Your hat. Eet ees done.
JUST finished it. Like 5 minutes ago. I needed something small to work on during the coffee morning at Your Namesake’s school, so I grabbed a ball of blue yarn and my hook and got half of it done while sitting there, drinking tea, and basically just shooting the breeze for 2 and a half hours. 
So… do you want a preview or do you want to be surprised? :-p
*I’m posting this here, because I know you always see my posts ASAP. Just as easy as emailing you, but a little quicker, since I already have the blog open every day.
I call this my “Hair Hider” hat on my Ravelry project pages, because I wanted something big enough to tuck my hair into on those days when I’m running late and don’t have enough time to do my hair, or those days when I’m just sitting round the house and don’t FEEL like doing my hair. But what it is, really, is just a simple beret.
Note: Pattern is for the beret ONLY. Embellishments, if you want any, are up to you.
Materials Needed:
Ch 4, join with a sl st in first ch to form ring
Round 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc 11 into ring, join with a sl st into top of ch 3.
Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each st around, join.
Round 3: ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 4: ch 3, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 5: ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 6: ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 7: ch 3, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 8: ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 9: ch 3, dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 10: ch 3, dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of the next 8 sts, 2 dc in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Rounds 11-15: ch 3, dc in each st around, join.
Round 16: ch 3, dc in each of the next 7 sts, dc2tog in next st, *dc in each of the next 8 sts, dc2tog in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 17: ch 3, dc in each of the next 6 sts, dc2tog in next st, *dc in each of the next 7 sts, dc2tog in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 18: ch 3, dc in each of the next 5 sts, dc2tog in next st, *dc in each of the next 6 sts, dc2tog in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 19: ch 3, dc in each of the next 4 sts, dc2tog in next st, *dc in each of the next 5 sts, dc2tog in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join.
Round 20: ch 1, sc in each st around, join.
Round 21: ch 1, sc in blo in each st around, join.
Round 22: ch 1, sc in blo in each st around, join.
Round 23: ch 1, sc in blo in each st around, join.
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Note 1: I made this specifically to fit my own head. I have absolutely no idea if my head is average size, bigger than average, or smaller than average. I recommend trying it on after Round 19. If it’s too big, decrease one more row (ch 3, dc in each of the next 3 sts, dc2tog in next st, *dc in each of the next 4 sts, dc2tog in next st**, repeat from * to ** around, join). If it’s too small, frog back one row and do one row even (ch 3, dc in each st around, join). [Or, if you’re REALLY anally retentively perfectionistic like I am, frog back ALL your decrease rows, do an extra row even, and THEN do your decreases, making sure you do one less than the pattern dictates.)
Note 2: You can easily make this hat even more slouchy if you want. Simply do more increase rows.
I literally just looked up a flower pattern on the Ravelry database, picked one, and did it in the same yarn I did the hat in. If you’re on Ravelry, here’s a quick search link for you: click me. If not, here’s a link to the appliques list at Crochet Pattern Central: click me. What you do, where you put it, what color you do it in… it’s all up to you. Make it your own. Give it your own flair. Be creative!
CD Coaster
I’ve made several of these over the past few years. For some reason, Syrina is fascinated with them and almost ALWAYS ends up walking off with one of them (and most of the time ends up breaking the CD that’s inside of them). They’re great for using up scraps of yarn and, if done in cotton or wool (non-synthetic fibers, that is), they can be used as trivets as well as coasters.
I first found the pattern on Priscilla’s Crochet, when it was still being hosted on AOL. (If you didn’t know, AOL closed down all their websites and blog hostings last month, so a lot of people had to move it or lose it, not just Priscilla Hewitt.) With Hubby being such a computer geek, we’ve ALWAYS got spare CDs floating around that I can snag to use for this kind of stuff.
Basically it’s just two circles, roughly the same size as a CD, crocheted together AROUND said CD. The disk just gives it some strength and shape, really.
one side
I used to do just sc (single crochet) around the edges, although the original pattern called for rsc (reverse single crochet). I couldn’t figure out how to DO rsc. But I’ve recently had an “a-HA!” moment and it finally clicked, so I did the rsc originally called for here.
the other side
They’re not the most glamorous of projects, but they’re infinitely useful. They keep the surface (table, desk, whatever) from getting those sticky tea/coffee rings, and they soak up any dribbles or spills from the cup as well.
And they’re washable. I have put them through the washing machine with no problems, although most of the time I just stick them in the dishwater when I’m washing up and stick them in the drying rack to dry.
All Shawl, Front
Modelled by me, because it’s for my best friend’s Christmas present, so she won’t be getting it until next month.
All Shawl, Back
The last few rows were hell, but it’s my own fault. I loved the color and shine of the Beach Belle too much to think about what all those bobbles were going to do to my stitching. I mean, it was doable… but GAH! 
However, I think the finished product was well worth it. Yeah, even if I DO say so myself!
I’m considering sewing some beads on the picot points of the edge, though. The Beach Belle has a tendency to curl up on itself, which is making the lace kind of hard to really see. If I put beads on there, it may pull the edge down just enough to make the lace portion more visible. I haven’t decided yet. Mainly, it depends on if I can find beads that I think will “go” with the shawl.
I already know she’s going to like it, though. She came over a few days after I’d first started it, saw it, and remarked on how pretty it was. I told her WHAT it was (a shawl) but I didn’t tell her that it was for HER. Hehehe… I can’t wait to see her face when she opens it on Christmas Day! 
There’s this woman I “know.” You know, in the internet sense of “knowing” someone. And not only does she have an awesome sense of style, but she wears these AWESOME scarves. I mean, her scarf collection ALONE makes me green with envy.
So me, being the crafty person I am, decided to make myself one. It took me a while to find a pattern that would work the way I wanted it to (and ended up with one frogged attempt), but I finally stumbled on the perfect pattern for the Classic Cotton that I picked up from that charity shop a couple weeks back.
At first, I was having a hard time finding a pattern that spoke to me. So I asked for some suggestions on Ravelry. One of the suggestions I got was the “My Blue Jeans Shawl” pattern. So I tried that one first.
Scharf, take one.
I LOVED the pattern, but unfortunately it wasn’t going to work. I would have run out of yarn LONG before I was anywhere near finished.
So I frogged it, and went looking again.
Most of the suggestions I got, I absolutely loved, but some of them just weren’t feasible for me right now. A couple were published in American crochet magazines – which I can’t get here. I have heard of other UKers being able to get their hands on a few, but I’m lucky to find a few crochet HOOKS here where I’m at. Crochet magazines? HAhahahahaHA!
There were a few that were pay-per-download, and while I really did like the look of them, I’m just not in the position to be forking out money for patterns right now. Not when there are millions of patterns available free on the web. (Okay, maybe not millions. Thousands, though? Definitely.)
And then yesterday morning, I was flipping through my Happy Hooker book while having my morning cuppa, and as soon as I opened the book, it fell right to the page where the Sweet Pea Shawl was pictured. (Linky-link takes you to the designer’s own website, but if I understand correctly, it was published in the Happpy Hooker first.)
PERFECT!!!
Actually, I’ve been drooling over this shawl pattern for a couple of years now. I “met” Amie (NexStitch) on Crochetville a few years back, and as soon as I saw her patterns… I was in love.
And I’d bought my Happy Hooker book back in September (actually, I have a post in my drafts about the books I bought, that I never finished), but this is the first thing out of that book that I’ve actually made.
And I don’t know whose idea it was to do a symbol chart on the pattern – could have been Amie’s, could have been Debbie Stoller’s – but I am SO grateful that they did. (Edit: Got it straight from the designer’s mouth [or fingertips, to be specific]. It was Debbie Stoller’s idea to put the symbol chart in.) For one thing, having that symbol chart made it easier to adapt the pattern to a smaller size. For another, having that chart in front of me made it easier to visualize what I was supposed to be doing.
So, without further babbling on, this is what I ended up with:
Scharf, take two!
Actually, if you look REAL close, you can kinda-sorta see the symbol chart between the open spaces in the scharf.
And this is how it's supposed to be worn.
The length in front was perfect, but I felt like the sides (when wrapped around my neck) were too short. So I just took what was left of the yarn, and made tassels out of it. Perfecto!
Oh yeah, and this only took 2 of the 4 balls of yarn I have. I’m considering taking the remaining yarn and making some fingerless gloves to go with it. 
… when you’re working on an ever-increasing pattern, and you’re down to the last stretch of one row… only to find a mistake you made at the BEGINNING of the previous row.
Seriously. I’m at row 2 of the lace edging of the All Shawl, which at this point is friggin’ HUGE (and I’m making it fairly short, at least for a shawl) and I had to rip out almost ALL of the lace that I’d done so far.
Ugh!
To give it some context, here’s the most recent uploaded photo:
All Shawl I
I’ve done a lot more than it shows in this photo (and have taken more recent ones, just didn’t upload them yet). There’s 15 rows of burgundy, 3 rows of the Beach Belle, 15 more rows of burgundy, 3 more rows of the Beach Belle, and 8 rows of burgundy to get to the lace edging. It’s nearly finished, and might have been finished tonight if I hadn’t had to send it to the Frog Pond.
Oooon a happier note…
Birthday shout-outs go to my mother and my nephew Luke, who both had birthdays today (okay, technically yesterday but I’m still up, so to me it’s today). It’s kind of freaky the way my husband’s side of the family have the EXACT SAME BIRTHDAYS as some of the people on MY side of the family. One set of birthday-sharers even have the same FIRST NAME!
Freaky, I tell you. F-R-E-A-K-Y.
Yesterday was my sister J’s 28th birthday!!!J, I put this here ‘cuz I knew you’d see it. I apologize for not sending you a message yesterday – the other Birthday Jackie had me all tied up pretty much all day (and night), so I hardly got 5 minutes to myself (you know, between that and normal everyday family/kids/house stuff). But I didn’t forget about you! I hope J and the kids spoiled you rotten. Loves ya!!!
While out shopping yesterday, I stopped into a couple of charity shops. I’ve been wanting to make some curtains to put up under my kitchen counters – not only will they make the kitchen look neater in general, but it’ll help keep that area clean (I found this out when I made curtains for cabinets that had no doors in the last house we lived in). And rather than go out and buy brand new fabric to make curtains with, I figured I’d have a look in the charity shops for bedsheets that I could use instead. So that was the whole point of going there in the first place.
Of course, I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did find something that satisfied my fiber lust!
Paton's Beach Belle, in a peachy color.
…and…
Paton's Classic Cotton, in what I think of as Cotton Candy Pink.
They were in a bin, unlabeled (the bin, that is), but when I asked? THREE for a POUND! All that yarn up there only cost me three pounds!
I got more of the Beach Belle because I’m planning on using it as an accent color for the shawl I’m making for my best friend’s Christmas present. (Using the All Shawl pattern by Doris Chan. Have I ever mentioned how much I love that woman? ‘Cuz I do. She creates some of the most beautiful crochet patterns I’ve ever seen, and most of them are a lot easier than they look.) But I was really tempted to just buy the whole bin. As it is, I think I only left about 4 balls of yarn. 3 of the Beach Belle that had lost their labels and started to unravel, and 1 of the Classic Cotton. I thought “why be greedy?” At least leave SOMETHING for other people.
Speaking of patterns… I was checking out my blog stats today, and I came across this post, linking to Caitlin’s V-Stitch Scarf (the pattern page). Okay, first? I have to admit, I let out a little squee when I realized she was using MY pattern. But just look at that handspun yarn! It’s absolutely GORGEOUS! That is going to be one beautiful scarf when it’s finished!
So… I got invited to be a mod on one of the Rav boards – Crochet on Ravelry. I’m going to be one of the CAL (Crochet-a-Long) mods, which means I’ll be responsible for setting up a CAL – from planning to actual crocheting stage. It doesn’t mean that I have to be participating in the CAL (I don’t have to actually make the item picked), I just have to be kind of “in charge” of the whole thing. Only one per month, which the main mod estimated to be about 2 hours a week or something.
Well, considering I’m on Rav ALL THE TIME anyway, I jumped at the chance. I highly doubt it’s going to even ADD to my time on there. It’s just going to give some of my visits purpose, instead of just “hmm… I wonder if anybody’s posted in the last hour?”
And we’re due for another CAL thread. Considering it’s getting close to *cough* Christmas *cough*, I thought a Christmas-themed project might be a good idea. So I started searching the database for Christmas crochet.
And I came across this:
Christmas Tree Hat
Isn’t it ridiculous? But I love it! (Sis, couldn’t you just see a few choice members of our family actually WEARING something like that on Christmas Day? HAHAHA!)
I don’t think I’m going to pick that one, mostly because it’s a pay-per-download pattern. I wanted to find something free, so that everybody would have a chance at taking a crack at it. I still don’t know what I’m going to come up with, but I’m going to keep looking.
But ah… the gems I’m going to uncover in my search!
 | Heather on Syrina’s version of the … |
 | madhurij on Syrina’s version of the … |
 | Sissy on We need sponsors!!!! |
 | nuckingfutz on Hair Hider 2.0 |
| Sissy on Hair Hider 2.0 |
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