12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 6

Week 6

Pine Cone Ornament

(http://planetmfiles.com/2008/12/18/free-crochet-pine-cone-pattern/)

I have crocheted this ornament before, like some of the others. What I love about this pattern is that it is great for individuals who want a more "natural" feel to their tree. I would say that it is also very "country" like the star ornament in Week 5. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. What is even better than all of that? Well, it is such an easy pattern. Yep! That seems to be the theme I am going for in this countdown - quick, easy, and Christmas-y.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

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 Cafe Latte.

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

Uses for finished product

• gift
• ornament
• Attach to a mason jar gift
• Without a holder you can use it for a nature display.

Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the photograph of my previous crochet project. So you will have to wait until the reveal to see it!

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 5

Week 5

Granny Square Star

(http://ahappyone.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/free-pattern-friday-granny-star-ornament-netflix-freebie/)

I recently found a cute little pattern that works up rather quickly and will look fantastic on the Christmas tree. It can be made in various colors to suit your own personal color scheme. The colors I chose match the type of theme I go for on my own tree. I was actually in the hospital waiting for my sister to deliver crocheting these. It is easy to pay attention to other things and crochet them once you have the pattern down. Anyone who has crocheted a granny square shouldn't have an issue with that.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

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 Burgundy.

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

Uses for finished product

• gift
• ornament
• Attach to a mason jar gift

This pattern is so cute! I can't wait to see if you like it.

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 4 Reveal

This week's pattern was super fun for me. I absolutely LOVE snowmen and chose my colors to match the majority of my ornaments - cherry red and white.

Additional Notes about Pattern:

• Some suggestions if you have come here and not followed the pattern. Be sure to stuff your snowman as you go. It is difficult to maintain shape. I was able to stuff more into the head after Rnd 7.
• Overfill each section so you do not regret the shape after you have finished.
• The project lasts about 30 minutes from start to finish for me. That time will vary depending on your crochet speed.

Now, I personally did some changes to the pattern to suit what I wanted. First, I did not put a face on my snowman. I like the just plain look, and I don't have to worry about small beads falling off and my cats eating them! Secondly, I put a hanger on the top of mine with a ch 16. Instead of weaving in the ends, I added a bow that seems to suit it. Lastly, I did only one row on my scarf so that it was a thinner scarf. I like it better.

Here's the photo:

As you can see, it is cute as a button without the face and hat as well.

I want to suggest that you change the pattern to suit what you want. If you don't want a face, don't do one. If you want a smaller snowman, do so! Make the pattern fit what you need.

Looking forward to Week 5,

Sarah

Announcing New Pattern

Good morning readers! This beautiful autumn morning gave me a great idea for a Christmas ornament. Most people don't know this, but I am a writer outside of designing crochet patterns with some writing friends. One has become a very good friend to me. This morning, I decided I wanted to send her a set of crocheted ornaments for Christmas, but the one thing I wanted to include was a book ornament. I was hoping to find one so I didn't have to waste brain power, but there wasn't one to be found.

What was a girl to do? Well, design her own of course! So I am introducing a new pattern available through Ravelry and Craftsy. This pattern is available at an introductory cost of $1.99 USD. Get it while it is on sale!

Where you can get the pattern:

Ravelry Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/book-ornament

Craftsy Link: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/home-decor/book-ornament/118173

12 Weeks of Christmas - Failure Ornament

Week 5

Fancy Ornament

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

Please note: This is another Lion Brand pattern and requires a Lion Brand account. If you participated in Week 4, you will already have an account setup. If you have not, it takes only a few minutes of your time.

***Note*** There is some corrections for this pattern at the top of the pattern to the left of the photo. Please make sure you follow these to create your ornament right.

This is a pattern I have never worked up simply because of the complexity of it's look. In actuality, it does not seem too complicated. What it does require is counting, a stitch marker, and patience. This is one of the most complicated and time consuming ornaments that I have on the list. It is one I have wanted to try and recreate for my own tree.

As I worked this pattern up, I noticed a very bad issues with the pattern. It was poorly written, which does not make much sense for a Lion's Brand pattern.

Suggestions:

• Use a smaller hook. I have used an H hook to complete mine and the holes are a bit bigger than I would like with the sc2tog. For a personal ornament, it may not matter. But if you want to give this as a gift, I would suggest a G or an F hook.
• Stuff as you go! You cannot go back and restuff. 
• Stop at round 24. The pattern does not match the photograph and was causing me grief and frustration. So I chose to stop after I finished round 24 and sewed the top together. Then I created a ch 16 holder and tied the ends into a bow so I didn't have to weave them in!

I normally would not even add a pattern that is so poorly written to my blog events; however, I do like the finished product. It is nothing like the photograph, but that has to do with the pattern. I look forward to showing you what I have accomplished. So I am going to be providing this as an additional pattern if you want to try it.

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 4

Week 4

Lion Brand Snowman

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-snowman-ornament)

(http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80967AD.html)

Please note: Before starting this pattern, it requires an account with Lion Brand's website. It is a free website and takes less than 2 minutes to register. 

What I love about this pattern is that it is another adorable pattern. I LOVE snowmen, so this one just fits the bill. The first time I made it was for my mother a few years ago. It is pretty simple to follow. It does work up a little bit slower than the first two simply because of the added steps.

Here's some photos from previous makes. Excuse the photo quality and background. These were not meant for blog posting.

Before scarf and hat

After scarf and hat. And you can see my kitties to the right!

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 Burgundy and White.

Extra requirements:
Fiberfil
Scissors
Stitch marker (if you need it)
Small mm beads for eyes (optional)
     -6 mm recommended

Uses for finished product

• Without the holder, this could be a cute baby rattle or toy. If you make it into a toy, do not put beads or other embellishments on the snowman.
• Ornament
• a cute gift
• An embellishment to a gift

Look forward to seeing your finished products!

Sarah

12 Weeks Christmas - Week 2 Reveal

The Week 2 ornament is one of my patterns that includes a cute, easy to make, quick mitten pattern. What I love about small patterns like the stocking and the mitten is that I can fit them into a busy schedule with no problem. Within 5-10 minutes I have a completed ornament that I can give as a gift or add to my overflowing Christmas tree. As the weeks progress, the patterns will get slightly more time needy.

I have used tons of colors of yarn on this ornament and it still looks adorable.

Like last week, I used "Christmas-y" colors to crochet the mitten. Here's the pictures:

Hanging up.

From last year.

In the above pictures you can see two different ways to accomplish the handles. I did one as I was crocheting (the first picture). The second picture was an addition of the handle by adding yarn to one side and attaching it to the other after about 15-20 chains.

What is your favorite type of ornament?

Sarah

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

Clothespin Snowflakes - Photo Heavy

I recently saw a pin on Pinterest for a cute and inexpensive ornament that had my heart aflutter. Snowflakes, snow, and snowmen are my most favorite ornament and Christmas decoration out of everything. I can pass up Santa for a good snowflake! So when I saw this cute little pin, I knew I had to try it. I already had the glue sticks. I had the ribbon. All I needed was the clothes pins!

A few weeks ago, I found myself in the craft section of my local Walmart looking for clothespins. They had a set of 18 or so for almost 4 dollars. That makes this project less budget friendly. So I headed to the laundry section to see if they had a better pack for cheap. They did! A 50 pack for about $0.97. That is more than budget friendly as I could pick up 3 packs of 50 for the price of 1 in the craft section.

Materials:
50 pack of Wooden Clothespins from Walmart ($0.97)
Glue sticks (In stock)
Glue Gun (In stock)
Ribbon (In stock, but cost $1.00 per spool)

Optional: paint, glitter, craft glue, paint brushes


Now, for the instructions. I will be posting a set of pictures with the instructions below it. Please view all the instructions before beginning the project.

Here's the materials. I chose to not use paint and glitter, although I am looking into adding that later.

Twist the clothes pin until the twisted one pops out the spring.

Lay the one side off and pull off the spring.

It should be relatively easy. I have no use for the spring, so I just toss them.

Now you are let with both sides. Lay the sides with the straight sides up. Make sure the cut outs are facing the same way.

Place a line of glue along the pin.

Now that it is on, place the two sides together. Match up the cut out.

Here you can see what the glued pin looks like.

Tie the ribbon. I am going to show pictures of how I do it, but feel free to do it how you feel comfortable.

I actually added my ribbon into the pin as I glued it for the most stability. It is about an inch from the top of the pin.

Next, add some glue to the bottom of one pin and attach another completely opposite.

In the center, add another bead of glue and attach another pin.

Repeat for the other side.

Now, in each area between two pins, add glue and another pin. I did have some issues getting the pins to completely adhere due to the angle, but I just added some glue up the sides so the angles attach.

Here's the completed snowflake.

From one half of the package, I got three snowflakes. These are unpainted, but still beautiful.

One thing I would caution you about is that the glue does snow, but can be covered with paint and glitter to mask. I do not have a problem with the view of paint, but some may. The original pin shows these snowflakes stained as more of a vintage look. What I say is to do what you like with them!

In about 30 minutes, I had all three completed including taking photos for this post! That is a quick and inexpensive ornament. The cost breakdown is below.

Costs

8 clothes pins  -   $0.16
1/2-1 hot glue stick   -   $0.10
Hot glue gun  - free
Ribbon     -$0.16
_____________________
Total Cost - $0.42


Each pack of wooden clothespins (50) can make 6 snowflakes.

Happy Crafting

Sarah

Introducing a New Pattern

The Swirl Ornament

Red and Green

Short and Long

This pattern is the newest ornament and pattern in my Ravelry shop. As I prepare for Christmas, I will be uploading and introducing more and more ornaments for my store. At this time and for the foreseeable future, this pattern will be available for the price of $2.50 U.S.D.

Here's the links
Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-swirl-ornament
Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/home-decor/the-swirl-ornament/114771

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

12 Week Countdown to Christmas

Hello blog readers! If you are reading this, you may be searching for the perfect holiday craft to create for someone you love or for yourself. I know that as the days tick by and creep closer to Christmas that I begin loosing days I can craft toward my goal - a true homemade Christmas. Perhaps I inherited the gene, but sometimes I end up too stressed or busy to accomplish the goals I set each year regarding gifts and purchase some in the weeks leading up to the holidays. This year, I am preparing!

Beginning October 2nd, I will be posting a new ornament to crochet that should be usable by any skill level. The patterns I choose may be free and some may not be; however, the respective owners need to receive all credits. Please respect everyone and keep the patterns free by not copying and giving credit to the people who deserve it.

Throughout the weeks, this blog post will be updated to include every week of the countdown for an easy way to view the entire list. I will also label every post with Christmas Countdown. This new event will replace both the Make it Monday posts and the Throwback Thursdays posts.

I am so excited to be able to bring this countdown to you.

Here's how it works

• On Thursday, I will be providing a post that includes a link to the pattern and my goals for the end result. This will include a list of all materials necessary to complete the product.
• On Monday, I will post a picture of the finished product and my thoughts on the pattern or any changes or embellishments I did.

If you happen to want to participate by sending in photos, please do so by sending them to dandecreation@gmail.com. Remember to post a good photo and the name you want to be known by. I will post the pictures on my blog to show!

It is that simple! I post the pattern. I make the product. And I am one step closer (and you) to giving them as gifts around Christmas.

Planning on participating?

Sarah

Share it Saturday - Pine Cone Ornament

This week's Share it Saturday is a quick little project that will end up as a pattern in the future. I love the look of them; however, I think there should be some changes made to it.

Medium Pine Cone Ornament

Small Pine Cone Ornament

As you can see, they are so cute! I can see these on a tree. What about you?

Sarah

Make it Monday - Sled Ornament

I announced this pattern on Saturday as part of my "Share it Saturday" routine! But first things first, here is the material list again:

• glue gun
• glue sticks
• popsicle sticks (9 - 8 for sled and 1 just in case)
• sturdy scissors
• paint color of choice
• scrap paper or newspaper
• paint brush
• yarn/twine/ribbon

 While this is a REALLY early Christmas ornament, I am preparing my booth with products for Autumn shows. The goal I have is to have many choices to purchase and have fun while I make them. I saw pictures of a similar sled on Pinterest and developed my own.

*Note: While this is a somewhat kid friendly project, I would remind everyone to use safety goggles and allow an adult to deal with the hot glue.

*Note: Although this project is pretty quick, you must leave time to dry.

1. Plug in glue gun to heat up. Be sure to place it on a piece of scrap paper to catch any dripping glue.

2. Cut one stick into two equal parts with a small overage. Two of these parts will fit across the bulk of the sled.

3. Place 5 popsicle sticks next to each other with the middle stick the highest, the next layer down just slightly, and the last two down further.

4. Using hot glue, place a small line of glue near the upper part of the sled and place 1 of the support beams from step 2 on top. I squished mine down to create a better hold. Repeat further down the sled.

5. Place a small bead of glue on each support beams at the very end and place the runner, holding in place until the glue hardens. Repeat for opposite side.

6. Allow time to dry.

7. Using paint brush, paint the sled on one side. Let dry. Repeat on opposite side. Let dry.

8. After cutting the ribbon/twine/yarn to the desired length for the hanger, place a small bead of hot glue next to the top support brace on the underside of the sled. Quickly place one end of your hanger into the glue. Repeat on opposite side.

You can obviously embellish this sled how you want. I have ideas to put names and the year on the sled so that whoever receives the ornament will have a date for memories in the future. I would love to see any projects you do with this tutorial. You can send the photos to smchatton.writer@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page, Dande Creations, to share.

I found packages of popsicle sticks at my local Dollar General on sale 25% off. I bought 5 packs for $3.75. I did pick up a new pack of glue sticks a few weeks ago, but you hardly use half a stick for just one sled. I also had crochet thread to create the hanger; however, the price is very low with the amount you use. Paint was also relatively cheap. For me, it was free. I had purchased paint samples at Lowes when we painted our kitchen and it was the perfect time to use them. The beautiful, deep blue was a perfect winter-y/Christmas-y color.

Costs

8 Popsicle sticks - $0.08 on sale
Hot glue stick - $0.16
Thread - Free
Paint - $0.10
-------------

$0.34 per sled
Round up to $0.40 for thread (generous)

So for 40 cents, you have a sled.

My packs of sticks had 80 sticks so I can get 10 sleds from one pack! What a great, frugal way to make gifts for the holidays, crafts for the kids, or products to add to your holiday craft booth!

Happy Crafting,

Sarah

Share it Saturday - Upcoming project

This week I thought I would give a preview of what I will be doing for my next Make it Monday project. I saw this idea on Pinterest recently and wanted to give it a try. For a few years, I have been a big supporter of giving ornaments for Christmas. Last year I gave mittens and my Medallion ornament to most of my family members as a handmade sentiment for the season. This year, I do have similar plans to provide handmade ornaments; however, I have not decided quite what I want to do.

As I prepare for Fall, I know that I need and want to add Christmas ornaments to the roster. (The list gets longer each day.) When I saw this pin, I thought...well that is a relatively easy project that looks adorable in the tree. So, I tried it. The pin did not include a tutorial as the blog just contained multiple pictures. So going with a rough idea, I created a cute version.

Here's the preview!

Can you guess what it is?

Now, I wanted to provide a material list.

• glue gun
• glue sticks
• popsicle sticks - at least 9 (8 for sled and 1 just in case)
• scissors
• paint of choice - I am going to use some brown I have sitting aside
• paint brush
• scrap paper or newspaper
• twine/yarn/ribbon

I have not decided what I am going to use for hanging, but I will decide before Monday. One thing I have seen is that this project is easily transformed so children can join in. Instead of hot glue, you could use Elmer's or similar glue. The drying time would just be greater.

The goal for me was a quick, simple project that make a good end product and obviously, a great ornament. I hope you visit on Monday to see how to put this together!

What are your crafting plans this weekend?

Sarah

What am I working on....

We made the decision to try to sell this fall at our local market and start working on building up stock to participate in future craft fairs. So this morning, I went through what I had already made and packaged to make a list of what I need to make. Anyone who has done this knows how daunting it can be - the inventory and the lack of inventory.

Yes, I know it is April. But, I started working on Fall/Christmas stock because some of them are a) easy to make, b) great in between project fillers, and c) a little elaborate. Yesterday, I posted that I was struggling with what to do next, so I started on something I enjoy - ornaments. My goal is a bit on the larger side, but that's okay. Better to shoot for the moon than shoot for just a few feet in the air.

I wanted to start small because it was late in the night. This is what I did last night:

Christmas Stocking Ornament in Dark Orchid

This morning, after inventory I chose to do my own pattern - Medallion Christmas Ornaments. I ended up developing two other sizes, which I might release as a e-book closer to Christmas! Today, I do not plan on actually creating the medallions by sewing them together. I am just making the sides. I've gotten 4 sets of sides done so far - with many interruptions!

Aren't they lovely? The coloring is off, but they are red and green. I plan on making many colors and having some for purchase in my Etsy shop closer to Christmas.

What are you working on today?

Sarah

Recovering from the Holidays

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, crafters like me tend to take a break from last minute gifts quickly crocheted/knitted/crafted to wrap and box.  That is exactly what I did.  I made it about a week before the itch to create came back to me.  As I neared the end of 2013, I glanced at the amount of patterns I started to design and develop and almost cried.  There was around 25-30.  How could that be?  How could I have started that many projects and never finish? 

*shifty eyes*

Okay!  Okay!  Like some...if not most...crafters, I have put myself in a position to jump from project to project without committing to finish.  Which is how I now have a huge tub of scrap yarn from unfinished WiPs that I frogged.  For those non-crocheters/knitters, WiPs stands for Work in Progress and frogged is...rip it out or ribbit.  Not only have I know have lots of scraps, but I amassed a large amount of yarn over the last few years without really using it.

This...is how I came to one of my goals for 2014.

1.  Do not buy any new yarn until I use a majority of what I have.  (Yep...crafters...I made the goal.)

2. Finish the patterns I started to develop in 2013 by the end of 2014.  This gives me a lot to do and perhaps some new revenue.

3. Create a list of items I want to develop into patterns and try to finish them as well.  So far...the list hit around 20.

If you have been keeping count...that is around 50 patterns to develop and attempt to sell this year.  And that is how I find myself tonight...alone...in the bed...under the covers attempting to stay warm, crocheting one of my old 2013 patterns.  It is turning out cute if I do say so.  Either way, I wanted to share pictures of my tree this year.  We usually do not go all out and this year is the same.  It's simple and fits the handcrafted, passed down ornaments from our childhoods and some I created myself.

Our 2013 Christmas Tree

Underneath is the small tree skirt I made. 

And this...is one of our newest ornaments.  My roommate and one of my very best friends is a HUGE coffee drinker.  So, he received this coffee mug ornament (with the coffee the way he likes it) as a gift from me.  He loved it!

Either way, I hope that you had a wonderful holiday - whatever it might have been.  Have you decided to create goals for 2014?  Or just going with the flow?

Sarah