12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 9

Week 9

Snowflake Ornament

(http://flowergirlcottage.blogspot.com/2013/11/easy-crochet-snowflake-pattern.html)

I have mentioned previously that I absolutely love snow and snowmen. I may not like to get out in it, but it's beauty is something to behold every year with a breath of anticipation and reverence. So when I crochet ornaments, one kind I love completing is a snowflake. Who doesn't enjoy snowflakes? Imagine that on your tree...snowflakes covering a green tree, simulating actual snow. Well...maybe not, but you can imagine right?

So this week's pattern comes from a blog called Flower Girl Cottage. It is a quick and simple pattern without much frills. What makes this pattern so great is the versatility it provides. You can use any color you wish (light blue, white, even silver) and still have wonderful snowflakes.

One note before you start the project. Part of the pattern is written incorrectly. The woman of the blog states in the comments that she is not a professional pattern designers, which is more than fine. As I am able to write patterns, I did spot an issue.

Her Pattern: 
Round 1:
Ch 4 (this counts as as hdc, ch 2) Hdc, Ch2 (5 times) into the circle or magic circle

Correction:
Ch 4 (counts as hdc, ch 2), hdc, ch 2 (5 times) sl st to 2nd st in ch 4. This creates 6 clusters.

The only issue was closing the round.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners with a little advanced knowledge about sewing

Hook Size: G or H hook (I used H.)
    Recommended - H, but G will make it slightly smaller.

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in  White.

Extra requirements:
Scissors
Stitch marker (if you need it)

Uses for finished product

• embellishment on a present
• ornament
• hat embellishment
• garland

For a hanger: On final sl st, ch 15 and sl st to the same spot. Fasten off and sew in all ends.

Come back on Monday to see the finished product! I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving here in the U.S. Please have a safe holiday and a holiday weekend. If you do your shopping, be wary of the mass amount of people and kind to others.

12 Weeks Christmas - Week 2

Week 2

Crochet Mitten

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-mitten-ornament)

This little pattern is my own pattern that I offer free on my Ravelry page. Despite not being updated yet to the new format of my patterns, it has all the important information like materials and abbreviations. If you have any questions about how this pattern is written or if any instructions are unclear for you, please contact me at dandecreation@gmail.com. I will contact you as soon as I am able to help you!

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

Hook Size: H or I hook (I used H.)

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Paddy Green, Cherry Red, Medium Thyme and Burgundy. 

Uses for finished product

• gift
• ornament for tree
• hiding small candies
• hiding a ring

Like the stocking ornament in Week 1, this ornament has an open top that allows you to hide small objects on the tree for a "Hide and Seek" game. Not only does this add a little more fun to your holiday, but after the game is finished, you have a beautiful ornament on your tree.

There are many ways to embellish this pattern. You could sew on sequins or other beads. You could use extra yarn and sew a pattern into the main colored portion.

Look for the reveal on October 13, 2014.

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 1 Reveal

If you are like me, the weeks leading up to the holidays equals tons of stress and busyness. So, my plan has been to create one thing for each week leading up to Christmas in hopes to have something done. I do have a large family who loves receiving homemade ornaments, so my focus is usually geared toward that. In Week 1, I provided the pattern for a cute little Christmas stocking from Daisy & Her Things as a way to kick off the 12 Week Countdown. It is an easy pattern that eases everyone into Christmas making mode. Boy did it deliver.

Great factors

• Easy pattern to follow
• Quick project
• Scrap buster with no purchases required (only due to having yarn already)
• Serves multiple purposes (gift, hiding small gifts, and ornament)
• In U.S. Terminology

Bad factors

• The pattern does not give many instructions for beginner crocheters. Some may not know how to read a pattern.

Are you ready to see the finished product?

Here you go!

Not hanging up

Hanging up, but not on the tree.

Obviously, it is much too early to put them on the tree for photos in October. As it gets closer to Christmas, I will take some photos of them on the tree and update photos.

How did you enjoy this Week's ornament?

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 1

Week 1

Stocking Ornament

(http://daisyandherthings.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/free-pattern-little-christmas-stockings/)

As I attempted to create a balanced list of ornaments that represented the holidays for me, I came across this 2011 pattern by Daisy & Her Things - a cute little Christmas stocking! How could you not fall in love with this little guy or girl if you like? I am sure I made it previously, so I can be sure that this pattern is easy for all levels of skill.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

Hook Size: G or H hook (I used H.)

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Paddy Green, Cherry Red, Medium Thyme and Burgundy. 

Uses for finished product

• a small gift holder
• an ornament
• for small candies
• hiding candies on the tree
• a gift for someone special

This is a quick pattern that can be used to hide candies or other small trinkets on the Christmas tree. My mother in law use to do this with her sons when they were young. I have no experience with it as a child, but my husband has told me stories of finding tiny kisses and other things hidden on the tree almost like an Advent calendar activity.

Please check back on Monday to see the finished product. If you want to participate in this activity and submit a picture, please email them to dandecreation@gmail.com with a name and a photo. I will add them to the blog to share.

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Dangling

Hello friends! Another week of firsts.

First earrings to sell

As you can see, there are two different kinds. My little sister requested me to make two sets of these earrings for her in-laws Christmas gifts. I had given her a pair of each a few weeks earlier for her Christmas gift. The red five petal flower ones actually have some gold thread weaved in. The other pair is some pale blue snowflakes.

I actually enjoyed crocheting these. I thought about adding them into my product line-up; however, there were no bites to purchase. So I did not continue.

Would you like to see a pattern for these?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Reading what?

Hello friends!

Today is the day that I share some exploits of the past...and by exploits, I mean craft/crochet that I did. In the coming weeks, I am going to share some of my "firsts." By that, I mean that I am going to share with you the first time I completed a certain type of item. The horrible, the improved, and the best, in essence.

This week's share: My first designed kindle cover - Love Themed

I created this cover around Valentine's day as a product in my Etsy shop. It was never purchased. I am thinking about creating the pattern to sell on my Ravelry and Craftsy pattern stores. I have some ideas for a technology set. We shall see how that goes.

What was your first cover like?

Sarah

It's been three weeks since my last......blog post....lol

You know those moments in time where you are so busy that you can hardly see straight and the stress is almost too much to take? Well, that has been me in the last three weeks. I had an unfortunate encounter with a woman bent on making my life horrible for the last three weeks. Don't worry. I am not going to vent here! I just wanted to clarify. I am in college, attempting to get a BA in English. I am just 3 classes away from finishing. So you can imagine my frustration at being teamed up with someone who cares little for anyone but herself.

Now that I am finally rid of her, I can get back to my stress-free programming! I.E. pattern making, preparing for autumn craft fairs, crocheting, and my writing. It has been too stressful to even think about any of that.

If you notice, I did a Share it Saturday late last night to show what I was up to - now free from stressful, uncaring people.

What I really am up to is something very tedious, but necessary. Any crafter who attempts to sell their product will understand. Since I had the opportunity to join a juried show with my crochet with shows in November and December, I thought I would do ornaments.

1. I LOVE crocheting ornaments.
2. I LOVE Christmas.
3. I LOVE imagining my ornaments on other people's tree or given as gifts.
4. It is extremely easy to decorate a booth for Christmas.

What more could I ask for?

So, tonight I am doing two things - making a list of ornaments that I could potentially make and making them while timing myself.

Timing myself, you ask?

Yep! Timing myself. I am not the type of crafter (anymore) who wants to forget the time aspect of crochet. I believe that there are many undervalued crochet products being sold with no one the wiser. 3x the cost of the material is okay for someone who just randomly sells things; however, for someone wanting to be in a juried show that requires true value, no sales, and representing the actual product - well it is not okay.

This is my formula.

7.25 (federally mandated minimum wage in the U.S.) (divided) / how many I can make in an hour = total for just 1 of those items.

Total of 1 item + (material costs x 3) + packaging costs + taxes = true value of the item

Take the pine cone for example. The small version allows me to get 4 done in an hour. When dividing 7.25 by 4, I get $1.81 for making them just as a wage. I have not weighed the item or found the proper packaging, but I can assume that my price would be between 5-8 dollars per pine cone.

That is the true value. That is what my work is worth. And that is an uncompromising price and value for my work.

As you can see, it is a busy evening and week for myself. I hope that you are still around to view more future posts.

Sarah