Thursday, June 7, 2012

making a draw sting.

If you have a daughter like mine. One that is tall and skinny, you probably have a hard time finding pants and bottoms that fit. I have made a simple tutorial on how to add a draw string. This does not work for all bottoms but it is a good solution for bottoms that have elastic.
1st step: Make two small holes in the front of the pants where a button would normally go
2nd step: measure out the ribbon or string that you want to use, making it longer than what you will need to go around the waist. and cut.
3rd step: attach a safety pin to one side of the ribbon, then guide the safety pin through one hole, around the waist and out the other hole.

 Take the safety pin off, tie knots on the ends of the sting or ribbon and you are done.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Crochet Spring Welcome Sign

A Free Crochet Pattern


This is a pretty little design that can add some impact to your front door or entry way. I made a simple diagram for the filet part, and it is also written out. Basic stitches that you need to know to completely finish the project are: ch st, dc, sc, shell st, sl st, and fdc. 

You do not have to use embroidery floss for the flowers, left over size 10 crochet thread works great too. 
Also I left it out in the rain one day, and it re-dried misshaped, so it would be advisable to keep it dry once it is hardened.

Where can I Get This Pattern
This is a free pattern here on the blog and in my Ravelry store. Just keep scrolling down to read this pattern.
A pdf of this pattern is available for download.
 <--------> download now <------->
This link will take you to my Ravelry store and the pattern is set as free no promo code needed.

Spring Welcome Sign Pattern



Yarn: size 10 crochet thread
Hook: steel hook 8
Notions: embroidery floss colors yellow, green, brown and light blue, embroidery needle, starch, and colorful ribbon. 
Notes:  A mesh consists of a dc, ch 2, dc. A block consists of 4 dc. The end of a mesh is the start of a block so if you make a mesh it would be dc, ch 2 sk 2 stitches and dc. A block would be the dc just made plus 2 dc in the ch spaces or 2 dcs, dc in next dc. (I'm pretty sure I just confused you more.)


Written Instructions

Row 1: ch 50, dc in 8th  ch from hook, *ch 2, skip 2 ch dc in next ch* repeat to end. 15 mesh
Row 2 and 3: make 15 mesh
Row 4 and 5: 2 mesh, 11 blocks, 2 mesh
Row 6: 10 mesh, 2 blocks, 3 mesh
Row 7: 4 mesh, 2 blocks, 9 mesh
Row 8: 6 mesh, 4 blocks, 5 mesh
Row 9: 4 mesh, 2 blocks, 9 mesh
Row 10: 10 mesh, 2 blocks, 3 mesh
Row 11 and 12: 2 mesh, 11 blocks, 2 mesh
Row 13: 15 mesh
Row 14: 6 mesh, 7 blocks, 2 mesh
Row 15: 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row 16: 6 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 17: 2 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row 18: 6 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 19: 15 mesh
Row: 20 and 21: 2 mesh, 11 blocks, 2 mesh
Row 22: 15 mesh
Row 23: 2 mesh , 7 blocks, 6 mesh
Row24: 6 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 25: 2 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row: 26: repeat row 24
Row 27: 2 mesh, 2 blocks, 3 mesh, 2 blocks, 6 mesh
Row 28: 15 mesh
Row 29: 2 mesh, 7 blocks, 6 mesh
Row 30: 6 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 31: 2 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row 32: repeat row 30
Row 33: repeat row 29
Row 34: 15 mesh
Row 35: repeat row 29
Row 36: 7 mesh, 1 block, 7 mesh
Row 37: 5 mesh, 2 blocks, 8 mesh
Row 38: repeat row 36
Row 39: repeat row 29
Row 40: 15 mesh
Row 41: repeat row 29
Row 42: 6 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 43: 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row 44: 6 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 2 mesh
Row 45: 2 mesh, 1 block, 5 mesh, 1 block, 6 mesh
Row 46 and 47: 15 mesh

Edging:

Row 1: with right side facing join at bottom corner under the “w” skipping 2 meshes, (2 sc in next mesh, *sc in st, 2 sc in mesh*, repeat 2 times for a total of 8 sc in group, ch 5, skip 1 mesh,) repeat ( to ) till corner, in corner space 2 dc, ch 3 2dc, ch 5 skip 1 mesh, then continue repeat till next corner. End row with a ch 5, sl st into starting sc.

Row 2: sl st into next 2 sc ch 1 sc in same stitch and next 3 sc,* skip 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc  (shell st. just made) in ch loop, ch 3, skip 2 sc sc in next 4 sc* repeat till corner, at corner ch 7, 2 dc in 5ch loop, ch 2, 2 dc in 3ch loop, ch 2, 2 dc in 5ch loop, ch 7, skip 2 sc sc in next 4 sc, start repeat till next corner, finish with a ch 7, sl st into beginning sc.

Row 3: sl st into next 2 sc, ch 1, *sc in same st, and next 1, ch 3, picot, ch 3, dc in center of shell, picot, dc in same st, ch 3, picot, ch 3,* continue till corner in each corner dc picot dc in each loop, till corner is rounded, continue repeat till next corner. Finish with ch 3, sl st into beginning sc.

Big Flower: (make 3, 1 skein of floss makes one flower)
With brown, make an adjustable loop, make 7 sc in loop, pull tight and sl st into beginning sc, ch 2 sc in same st, and in each sc around for 14 sc total,
Petels: change color to yellow joining with *ch 3, make 6 fdc, 3 dc in last fdc made making a turn, 1 dc in each fdc ch, sl st into next 2 sc of round 2,* repeat till you have 7 petals.

Leaf: (make 4 to 6, 1 skein of floss makes 3 leaves) 
ch 9, sc in 2nd ch from hook, and next 2, hdc in next ch dc in next 2 dc, sc in next 2 ch, 3 sc in last ch making a turn, sc in next sc, dc in next 2 dc, hdc, in hdc, sc in each sc. Finish off.

Small flower: 
Make adjustable ring, in ring make* sc, 2 dc, sc* repeat 3 times. Pull ring tight.  Finish off.

Attach flowers and leafs in a pretty fashion.
Starch sign till hardened, and add ribbons if wanted.
(I found that leaving it out in the rain was not a good idea.)

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Pin for Later!




Sunday, April 29, 2012

quick easy and cheap blueberry oatmeal pancakes

This is a recipe that has origins from my dad. He would make all kinds of different flavored pancakes for us, and all he would use is muffin mix. Really this recipe has no limits and you can expand from just the blueberries.

1 blueberry muffin mix (for this recipe I used a mix that makes six muffins)
1/4 cup of quick oats
1 egg
3/4 cup of milk

Add the mix and the oatmeal into a bowl, I like using my 4 cup measuring bowl because it has a spout. stir it up. Add the egg and the milk. Using a fork stir just till everything is mixed. If it looks like you need a little more milk then add it. At This point it should look like pan cake batter. Pore batter onto griddle making medium sized pancakes. When bubbles start to appear, flip. I know this last part is different. Normally you would wait till the bubbles start popping, but if you do that you will end up with very brown pancakes. Serve while still hot.

I got about 12 medium sized pancakes out of this. I also tried the recipe on the waffle iron, but the results were not very good.