Spring and Summer Crochet Patterns

For people like me who cannot put down the hooks for the warm weather, we need a few extra patterns in our stash that scream spring and summer!  I have gathered some of my favorite warm weather patterns for you you to check out.  Enjoy!

Photo Credit

Clockwise from top left:  Pillow Case Dress, Tiered Rainbow Sundress, Glam Girl Shrug (Free Pattern!), Sweet Heart Cardi, Reversible Pullover, 4 Seasons Play Dress, Cannon Beach Cowl, Tank Top

Crochet Kids' Art Display

Here's a quick and easy way to show your kids' art. This little project took me less than 20 minutes total!  Love easy! Basically it is just a long chain between two eye hooks.  I used cotton because it does not have that much stretch to it to prevent it from sagging too much. Here's a brief tutorial.

Materials:  Worsted weight cotton yarn, about 10 yards or so. 2 eye hooks.  Crochet hook, size K.

Step 1:  Using two strands held together, slip stitch your yarn onto an eye hook. Make sure the crochet hook you use is not so large that it won't fit in the eye of the eye hook.  I used a K hook.

Step 2:  Chain out to desired length.  I chained about 5 feet.  Leave a large loop tail.

Step 3: Screw your eye hook attached to your chain to the wall.

Step 4:  Mark where you want your second eye hook (not attached to the chain) and screw it in.

Step 5:  To attach chain to second eye hook: Insert crochet hook through eye hook, pull through a loop and single crochet over the eye hook.  It's a little akward but I couldn't figure out how else to do it! 

Step 7: Fasten and weave in your ends.  Voila!!!  You're done!  I got some cute metal clips and attached a few of the latest and greatest drawings and paintings.  You can also stick feathers and stuff in the chain.  Very cute, very easy, very fun!

Happy Hooking!

Crocheting While Camping!

Caught in the act!

Crocheting While Camping!

Bootie Pattern Progress

I am still working on the newborn baby bootie pattern and hope to have it up and running by next week.  One of the highlights of getting this ready has been seeing the results of the pattern as it is tested.  Thank you to Emma way down under in Australia (don't you love the internet?!?!?) for quickly making the ankle style bootie and providing extensive and insightful notes to this newbie pattern maker!  I absolutely love her results . . .  the colors are so cute!   Stay tuned for more.

Ball Hank n' Skein GIVEAWAY!!!!

Help me celebrate my 1 monthiversary on Etsy by entering my fabulous giveaway.  I will close the giveaway and pick a winner using this random number generator on Sunday July 2, 2011.
What You Win:  Any one item from my Etsy shop marked "READY TO SHIP."  This includes a number of my booties, leg warmers, a hat, the leg warmer and hat set, or a bib!!! 

How to Enter:  You get one entry for each of the following:

(1) Leave a comment below;

(2) Follow my blog and let me know you are following it in your comment;

(3)  Follow me on Facebook and let me know you are in your comment.  THREE CHANCES TO WIN!! (ooooooooooooh).

Spread the word - Share this post with your friends! 

Good Luck and Thanks for your Support!!

Happy Happy Joy Joy Wall Hanging

After making the meditation cushion (I'm still working on the lining, but it is 99% done!) I needed to get back to rainbow world so I started making these darling little crochet sun/flower type thingies.   I had in mind a garland or bunting to try to sell on Etsy - come to find that there are just tons and tons of garlands and bunting for sale on Etsy.  So I went for a mobile/wall hanging made from a crochet covered wire hanger.  If you are interested in covering hangers yourself, check out this handy little tutorial.  The only thing I would add to the tutorial is stick one end of the hanger under your arm while you crochet to get some leverage. I'm just in love with this little project and so is my daughter.  For now it is up on her wall.

I used cotton yarn, mainly Lily Sugar n Cream, but also some Lion Cotton (which is very nice and I think about twice the yardage per ball).

Pattern for little flower/sun thingies - I used a J hook:
Round 1: ch 3, 6 dc in 2nd ch from hook (7 dc) join with sl st
Round 2: ch 2 (counts as first dc); 1 dc in sl st from previous round, 2 dc in each remaining st (14 dc) join and fasten
Round 3 (picot edging): sl st into previous round with cc, *ch 3, sl st into same st., sc in next st.*  repeat from * to * around (14 picots).

Connect flowers to wire hanger with varying length chains and sl st. to hanger making sure the mobile is balanced.

Musings on the Trinity Stitch

I'm always looking for crochet stitches that give you a nice drapey knit-like feel.  Let's just put it this way - I love the feel of knit without having to knit.  I know it will just take practice to get better at knitting, but for now I am having so much fun and get so much pleasure from crocheting that I'd rather just find great crochet stitches that look or feel knitty.  Back to my point . . . the trinity stitch.  Wow, it is so beautiful and definitely feels drapey and fabricky.  So far my favorite stitch is the granite stitch but trinity is a close second.  So my question is, how did the trinity stitch get its name?  I did a google search and couldn't find the answer right off the bat.  If anyone knows, please comment and share!  My guesses are either because the stitch looks kinda like a cross or because the stitch creates 3 tiny little lines between stitches.

I'm working on a cowl featuring the trinity stitch and just love the texture feel of it.  I think I stated in my last post that I wasn't going to do anymore cowls for awhile.  Okay for real, this will be my last cowl for a little while at least.  This one is very simple and is coming out beautifully.  I'm working with Debbie Bliss Andes yarn and WOW, that is some soft luxurious yarn! It is mulberry silk and alpaca and just a dream to work with.

For a great tutorial on how to do the trinity stitch check here.