12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 9 Reveal

I hope that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. I spent my week having a wonderful get together with my extended family and a private dinner with myself, my husband, and our roommate. I used my lone pumpkin to make our pie.

This week has been a fun and easy time with crochet. Small snowflakes are not only the perfect way to decorate the tree, but this pattern is super easy and quick. That means you can spend less time crocheting gifts and ornaments and more time with your family. Especially in the week of Thanksgiving, having some extra time to spend with friends and family is amazing.

Despite the small issues I mentioned in the first post about the pattern and lack of a holder, these things are simple to correct. It worked up very easy and I had no issue understanding the pattern as a designer. If the corrections were done, this would be a perfect snowflake pattern to rely on.

Now, I am going to show you the photo of my completed ones.

If you were to crochet these with a sparkly yarn, they would glitter in your tree! You could also string them together between chains of yarn and make a garland. Such a versatile pattern!

Looking forward to Week 10. We only have 3 more weeks to go. 

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 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

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

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

Snow Pictures

Just sharing some beautiful snow shots from TN!

Cozy in Bed

It is in the quiet of the morning that I usually like to take time for myself - without much distraction.  I can think on what I want to accomplish and plan for the future.  The cats are usually quiet.  The house settled into just creaks.  This morning...at 5:38 a.m., I am curled up in bed under the covers because of the snow.  At the base of the beautiful Smoky Mountains, we tend to get a lot of snow in January.  We can pass Thanksgiving with just a flurry.  We can even pass Christmas without a speck of white.  Yet, the moment the calendar flips to January 1, our winter season truly starts.  For a week we have experienced ice, snow, rain, warm weather, rain, ice, snow, and freezing weather.

Tonight...it is the latter part.  It is still dark out, but here are a few pictures of our beautiful snow.  I have mastered how to take snow pictures.

Without a doubt though, I am still trying to stay warm and thinking of the future.  And realizing that 6 a.m. has come way too early.  Tonight, I apparently have been in curriculum making mode.  No...I do not have any children, but I have a degree in Elementary Education and LOVE making worksheets, lesson plans, and fun units as something fun to do.  People have movies.  I have making worksheets.

*shrugs shoulders* What are you gonna do?

I have been thinking about offering homeschool resources as I make them!  Is there anyone out there that would like that?