Friday, September 21, 2012

Taco or Fajita Seasoning

1 c. dried minced Onion
1/3 c. chili powder
2 T. Cumin
3 tsp. crushed red peper
1 T. Oregano
4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp corn starch
Combine all the ingredients together and store it in a cool dry place. I like to put my in clean baby jars. One recipe fits into 2 jars.  2 T. equals one taco packet.


If at all possible I like to make most things from scratch, that way I know what is actually going into my food. This is a recipe that I go to pretty often and I like to stay stocked with. My daughter is in the WIC program so we always have, rice, beans and tortillas on hand. Because of that Mexican night happens pretty frequently in our house. Like tonight when it was just Abigail and I for dinner. I had some left over chicken so I made some simple quesadillas. Then I made re-fried beans by heating a T. of oil in a pan, then I added a drained can of pinto beans, with a 1/4 cup of water and 2 tsp of the taco seasoning. I used a potato masher on it till it had the consistency of  re-fried beans. I also plated everything with sour cream and salsa for dips. (I have not found a 3 year old who does not like to dip things.) Everything was done in about 10 minutes.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Curling Baby Set



A free Crochet Pattern







I feel like this is a pattern that has taken a long time to come about. I also feel that if I don't get it out soon it will stay on my computer forever. I'm sorry if there are a couple of mistakes and inadequacies, but at the same time I have confidence in the simplicity of the pattern and its easiness to make adjustments.


I had a time deciding if I wanted a diaper cover that fit over cloth diapers or disposable diapers. I went ahead with the dimensions of a cloth diaper. Also when making them I felt like they were really long and that they would end up at the babies armpits. My first attempts were way to short, don't be afraid to make it longer.


Now that I have told you everything wrong with my pattern I will tell you what I love. I love the texture. I wanted something that was absorbent so I chose the front and back post stitch to give it extra padding. The moms that have tried them have been really excited about how well the diaper covers work. I also love that it can have multiple colors in it. And I can not forget the little booties they are way cute, and they work up in about ten minutes.





Yarn: Size 4: loops and thread or red heart. One skein makes a cover, hat and 2 booties.

Hook: J/10 6mm

Notions: thread and buttons

Size: small, medium, large
Diaper covers
Length: 13 (15, 17)
Front: 5 (6, 7)
Back: 11 (13, 15)
Hats:
newborn, 0-3, 3-9, 9-12

Gauge:15 sts 13 rows equals 4 inches

Stitches Used: ch, sc, dc, sl st, fpdc, bpdc, sc2tog, sc3tog,

Copyright:Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.

Where Can I Get This Pattern?


This is a free crochet pattern on the blog. Just keep scrolling down to see this pattern. By having it free on the blog I am able to promote the pattern more and share it with more people. I also feel that I bring some trust to my readers who can read through the pattern before they decide if they want to purchase the pattern.

If you would like to purchase this pattern that is ads free and printer friendly, it is available for Download through my Ravelry Store For $3.00.

<------------>buy now<---------->




Diaper cover

Row 1: Ch 4, make 17 (19, 21) fdc (18, (20,22) dc altogether).

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), turn, {skip 1 st, fpdc in next st, go back to missed st and fpdc}, repeat {to} 7 (8,9) times, dc in first dc .

Row 3:Ch 3, turn, bpdc in each st across, dc in last st.

Row 4- 12 (14, 16): Repeat rows 2 and 3 ending on row 2

Row 13 (15, 17): Ch 3, dc in same st for an increase, bpdc in each st across 2 dc in last stitch.

Row 14 (16, 18): Ch 3, fpdc in next st, {skip 1 st, fpdc in next st, go back to missed st and fpdc}, repeat {to} 6 times fpdc in next st, dc in 3rd ch of ch 3.

Row 15 (17 19): Repeat row 12(14, 16).

(For larger sizes you may find that you will want to add another increase row. )

Row 16 (18, 20): Ch 3, {skip 1 st, fpdc in next st, go back to missed st and fpdc}, repeat {to} 7 (8) times dc in 3rd ch of ch 3.

Row 17- 22 (19- 24, 21-28): Repeat rows 2 and 3 starting with 3 and ending with row 2

Row 23 (25, 29): Ch 7 (9, 11) , dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 (4, 6) chs, bpdc in each st across, at last dc add 4 (6) fdc.

Row 24 (26, 30): Ch 3, {skip 1 st, fpdc in next st, go back to missed st and fpdc}, repeat 13 (16) times dc in 3rd ch of ch 3.

Row 25 (27, 31): Ch 3, bpdc in each st across, dc in last st,

Row 26 (28, 31): Repeat row 24.

For all sizes: Sc in in each st around diaper cover for a border, and in each corner st add 2 sc.

Sew on four buttons to the front of the diaper cover to match up with the open holes in the stitches.










Hat:

Round 1: Ch 4, 8 (9,10) dc in 4th ch from hook, ( 9 (10,11) dc total).

Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), 2 fpdc in starting st and in in each 1 around, sl st into first fpdc. 18 ( 20, 22) stitches total

Round 3: Ch 2, {fpdc in next 2 fpdc, go back 1 st and fpdc} repeat {to} around, sl st in beginning fpdc.

Round 4: Ch 2, {2 fpdc in first st, fpdc in next 2 st} repeat {to} around, sl st in beginning fpdc.

Round 5: Ch 2, {skip 1 fpdc, fpdc in next st, fpdc in skipped fpdc}, repeat {to} around, sl st in beginning fpdc.

Round 6: Ch 2, fpdc in each st across, sl st in beginning fpdc

Rounds 7- 12: Repeat rounds 5 and 6

Round 13: Sc in starting st, and around sl st in last st.

Round 14: Repeat round 13. Finish off. Weave in all ends

For larger sizes it might be necessary to add more rows.




Booties (newborn size only)


Round 1: Ch 7, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, 4 sc in next ch making a turn as you go, sc in next 4 ch, 2 sc in last ch, sl st in beginning sc.

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in starting sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next 3 sc, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sc, sl st in beginning sc.

Round 3: (in bl only) ch 3, dc in each st around, sl st in beginning ch 3.

Round 4: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), {sk 1 dc, fpdc in next, fpdc in skipped dc}, repeat {to} 3 times, tog3fpdc for next 3 dc, {sk 1 dc, fpdc in next, fpdc in skipped dc}, repeat {to} 4 times, sl st into beginning fpdc.

Round 5: Sl st into next st, sc in next 6 st, sc3tog, in next 3 st, sc in next 7 st, sc2tog in last 2 st, sl st in beginning st.

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in same st, and in next 5 st, sc3togin next 3 st, sc in next 5 st, sc2tog in last 2 st, sl st in beginning st. Finish off. Weave in all ends.



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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

A Preschool Busy Bag: Button Patterns

With Abigail as busy as ever I have been desperate to come up with things that I can do with her and more importantly things that she can do by herself while I need to do something else. I have started a collection of busy bags for her that she can pull out whenever she is feeling bored. To clarify a busy bag is an activity that can fit into a Ziploc bag, and generally they are quiet things that she can do without my help. I came up with one the other day that she likes and I think you will too.

Button patterns:
Materials: copy paper, laminate paper, markers, colored buttons that match the colors of your markers


The first thing I did was cut the paper into four long strips, I used 3 pieces for 12 total strips. Then I drew 5 to 9 squares across each strip of paper. I used different colors of markers to make different patterns in the squares, and I always left the last square empty. You can make the patterns as complicated as you want depending on your child's ability. Once that was done I laminated the strips with laminate paper. I would suggest working in small amounts. I was over expectant in my abilities and made a huge mess of my papers. Once that was done, with Abigail right in the action I trimmed all the edges down to make the strips as presentable as possible. And lastly we played the game together. We would say the pattern as we went, "red, blue, red, blue, and what goes next? Red. and Abigail would then put a red button in the square that was left empty. Simple as that.