Friday, November 14, 2014

crochet : baby hat & booties

Everything's coming up babies!
At least that's how it feels at work this year.
Is there anything cuter than little baby hats and booties done up in crochet?
I put this little set together for a colleague who just had her first baby girl.


The hat is my own pattern, included at the end of this post.
The booties are an adaptation of this pattern from Croby Patterns.

You can get the pattern for the flower here on Ravelry.


Crochet Baby Hat

Yarn: Lily and Cream 100% cotton yarn in Stormy Skies
Hook: size G, 4.00 mm

Make a magic circle.
round 1: chain 3, 11dc into the ring, join with a slip stitch, pull closed (12)
round 2: ch3, dc in same stitch, 2dc in each stitch around, join with sl st (24)
round 3: ch3, dc in same stitch, *1 dc in next stitch, 2dc in next; repeat from * around, join with sl st (36)
round 4: ch3, dc in same stitch, *1 dc in next 2 stitches, 2dc in next; repeat from * around, join with sl st (48) 
Note: the hat pictured above is intended for a newborn.  At the end of round 4, the diameter of the circle should be between 4 and 4.5".  For a larger hat, continue rounds of dc increases (ie. 1dc in next 3, 2dc in next; 1dc in next 4, 2dc in next; etc...)
rounds 5-7: ch3, dc in next stitch and each stitch around (no increases) (48)
round 8: ch 3, dc in next 2 stitches, *ch1, skip next dc, dc in each of next 3 stitches; repeat from * around, join with sl st (36dc, 12 ch1 spaces)
rounds 9-10: sl st to first ch1 space ch3, 2dc in same space, *ch1, skip next 3 dc, 3dc in next ch1 space; repeat from * around, join with sl st (12 groups of 3dc, 12 ch1 spaces)
round 11-12: ch1, sc in next dc, *2sc in ch1 space, sc in each of the next 3 dc; repeat from * around, join with sl st.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

I have not had a chance to test this pattern yet, so crochet at your own risk!  If you try it out before I do and notice a problem, please post it in the comments below.  Thanks so much!

Happy crocheting!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

gratitude journal 2014

It's gratitude journal time!  

The inspiration for this year's gratitude album came from this pin from Kesiart.
She created hers as an Advent calendar (genius!), and the moment I saw it, I knew it would be the perfect format for this year's mini album for our family's Thanksgiving Day gratitudes.

The frame is from IKEA.
I simply cut paper 3 3/8 x 5 and stapled pockets of 3 3/8 x 2.

Then embellish the pockets (I kept mine super simple).  Hole punch and thread onto a binder ring.  Family members will record this year's gratitudes onto coordinating Project Life cards.

I scored a metal tag on clearance at Michaels for like 40 cents!  G is for Gratitude (and Great deals!).

You can see past years' gratitude journals 

HERE