Sunday, April 27, 2014

Bullion Butterfly Beanie

A Free Crochet Pattern


I definitely feel like I have been in a funk. I have been designing, and I have ideas, but then I just kinda get stuck when it comes to writing or finishing the whole project or picking the right yarn for the project.

So I decided to make/design something that I love. Baby hats. I kept it simple so I would not get stuck on not wanting to write the pattern out. Even in it's simplicity it has a great texture and visual appeal to it.

If you are new to bullion stitches there are some good Youtube videos. There is only one row that uses the stitch in the hat so it is great for beginners. There is also one bullion stitch for the butterfly body.



Bullion Butterfly Beanie

Yarn: Caron: Simply Soft
Hook: H
Notions: yarn needle
Size: newborn, (3months, and 6 months) in parentheses
Pattern Download: 
This is a free pattern that can be downloaded through my Ravelry Store.
download now 

Pattern Instructions: 

Round 1: with an adjustable loop, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), 8 (9,10) hdc in the adjustable loop, pull the adjustable loop tight and sl st into beg hdc.

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in the first st and in each st around for a total of 16 (18, 20) hdc, sl st into beg hdc.

Round 3: Ch 1, 1 hdc in the first st, 2 hdc in the next st, {1 hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st}, Repeat {to} 6 (7,8)more times, for a total of 24 (27, 30) hdc.

Round 4: Ch 1, 1 hdc in the first 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, {1 hdc in the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st}, repeat {to} 6 (7, 8) more times for a total of 32(36, 40) hdc.

Round 5: Ch 1, 1 hdc in the first 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, {1 hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st}, repeat {to} 6 (7, 8) more times for a total of 40 (45, 50) hdc.

Round 6: Ch 1, 1 hdc in the first 4 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, {1 hdc in the next 4 sts, 2 hdc in the next st}, repeat {to} 6 (7, 8) more times for a total of 48 (54, 60)  hdc.

Round 7- 14 (16, 18): Ch 1, hdc in first st and in each st around for a total of 48 (54, 60) hdc.

Round 15 (17, 19): Switching to new color,  Ch 2 (does not count as a st), make a bullion st using 5 yos, in each hdc around for a total of 48 (54,60) bullion sts.

Round 16 (18, 20)- 17 (19, 21): Switch back to first color, repeat round 7. Finish off at last row. Weave in your ends.

Bullion Butterfly

I have made a picture tutorial for the butterfly. You can find it here for a better understanding!

Ch 6, dc in the 3 ch from hook, 1 dc in the same ch,  3 dc in the next ch space, ch 3, turn, 1 dc in the dc just made, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in the next dc, ch 1, dc in the next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 2 dc in the last dc. Finish off. First wing is finished.

 Join with a ch 3, in the beginning ch on the opposite side of the start, 2 dc in the same ch, 3 dc in the next ch, ch 3, turn, 1 dc in the dc just made, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in the next dc, ch 1, dc in the next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 2 dc in the last dc. (second wing made). Sl st down to the beginning two chs, ch 5, bring the ch 5 up over the butterfly and sl st into the first ch st of the start of the butterfly, make a 7 yo bullion on the opposite side of the butterfly, sl st in the first ch. Finish off. Weave in your ends.

To make antennae: Ch 14. Finish off. Attach the antennae like you would a tassel.   



More Crochet Patterns You Will Love 

Minnesota Layette Set

Tulips Aplenty Dress

Friday, April 18, 2014

Coil Baskets

I want to share some inspiration with you. I have been really jealous of all the home decorating sites that have the giant baskets that sit under end tables and such. You know what I am talking about. Like this one from World Market or This one from Pottery Barn. So obviously those are out of my price range. That meant I had to come up with something else. I had been seeing how to make crocheted coil baskets on Pintrest, so I thought that I would give it a try. I decided at first that I would use t-shirt yarn for the coil part, and size 10 thread for the crochet part.
It ended up being to small. But it is perfect for my daughter's Easter Basket this year. I love how it looks, even if it was to small.

I knew that I then had to come up with something bigger to use as my coil. We just moved again to another apartment and that means I took inventory of everything we had and if we really needed everything. I came across some clothesline that we have moved with 4 times and we still had not used it. I thought, "finally I can use this. I'm so glad we kept packing it up."
The clothesline was 100 ft, and it was just the right amount I needed. When I was done, in went "some" of my scrap yarn. I am designing another scrapgahn to help use it all up so be on the look out for it.


Recipe or loose guideline.

Size: The basket ended up being 11 inches tall with a circumference of 35 inches.

Materials: 100 ft of clothesline, 4 balls of Sugar and Cream cotton yarn.
Hook: H



I started by tying a knot with both the clothesline and the cotton together, then just using the cotton I made 8 sc around the clothes line.

Then I moved the clothes line so that it would wind around and I started to make 2 sc in the starting sc and then I made 2 sc in each of the next 7 sc (making a circle), With a stitch marker you can keep track of where your starting sc is, or like me you can just wing it, but I would recommend the stitch marker.

One the next level I made an increase st every other sc, the next level I increased every second st, the next level I increased every third st. I continued increasing in this pattern till I got to round 10.

 I made one more row of an increase every 10 stitches. At this point I had gotten to the part of the clothesline where it had stopped coiling around itself.  After that I just crocheted around and around and around. I ended with 33 rounds.


For the handles I crocheted 15 sc around the clothesline without going through the sc below, skipping 15 sc, then I crocheted 30 sc, then 15 sc without going below and skipping 15 sc, then I crocheted another 30 sc.

I also made this small rectangle one with t-shirt yarn and Luster Sheen yarn.

 For This basket I used t-shirt yarn and size 10 cotton thread.
 
These baskets were a lot of fun to make. I hope they bring some inspiration for you to think outside the box.

More Crochet Patterns You Will Love


Crafty Containers

Here We Go Do-Se-Do Scrapghan

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Cinnamon Nutella Twists

 A Yummy Recipe


Do you remember forever ago when I posted about my homemade biscuit mix. If Not you can Find it here. I have another recipe for you that uses that mix. My Family and I have a new love and that is hazelnut spread. I especially love it with ice cream. Unfortunately I do not have an ice cream recipe for you but a breakfast one.

This week my daughter asked for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I did not have 3 hours to make her real ones so I made a quick version with biscuit dough, and I also decided it needed hazelnut spread with it. And a side of strawberries. It was so good, I have to share it with you.

  Ingredients:

2 cups of biscuit mix
2/3 cup of milk
hazelnut spread
sugar and cinnamon mix

Put two cups of the biscuit mix in a bowl and make a well, pour in the 2/3 cup milk in slowly incorporating it into the mix, if is ends up a little sticky you can a little more mix. It should form a ball that you can kneed slightly. At this point you have biscuit dough.

Roll it out how you would for biscuits, but not as thick, less than 1/2 an inch. Slather on a layer of Hazelnut spread then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Cut the dough into long strips that are about 1/2 in wide. I usually end up with 10 to 12 strips. Twist each strip and place them on a baking sheet. Cook them in a 425 degree oven for 12 minutes or until they are golden brown.

You can also glaze these if you want, but they are pretty sweet without.

More recipes you will love:

frozen pizza crust

frozen waffles