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

Celebrations!!!

In the last week, I have become an aunt again, not once but twice! Our family grew with a little girl and a little boy. I am so happy to have two new bundles of joy in my extended family. To celebrate, I am offering a coupon code for my Ravelry shop!

How it works:

Add at least two patterns to the cart. Input the code. The cart will adjust to give you one free. You can also buy more than one pattern and get more than one free! No pattern is off limits!

Use the code auntyagain to get this great deal.

Please share!

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 Reveal

Oh boy! This pattern was a brain teaser. I am a pretty good pattern reader. I have no issue with seeing mistakes and even correcting them, but this pattern needs a serious re-evaluation by Lion Brand. I have left a message stating as much on their Facebook page. Despite the issues I had with the pattern, I do feel like the ornament turned into an alright ornament.

What I did to create my ornament:

• Because I was using a thicker yarn, I chose not to double strand.
• I stuffed the pattern as I went.
• I shaped as I went as well because the bottom portion was leaning as I crocheted the second portion.
• I almost stopped after the second portion was shaped. It would make a cute ornament.
• I decided that the H hook was too large for this pattern, even if it is my favorite hook. The sc2tog holes were slightly large leaving the stuffing for viewing.

Because of the issues, I probably will never use this pattern again.

What do you think?

Sarah

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

What I am working on....

Despite a few hours in the hospital this morning where I witnessed my nephew being born, I have accomplished a few things for a photo shoot on Monday. It was completely unplanned. You know how that goes. I am left here scrambling and crocheting my little fingers off to try and get things accomplished for Monday.

I will be quite honest. I did not have much of a plan in place. He was born during fall. It is my favorite season. It also is my birthday season, so I chose a "fall" type scene. Who doesn't love fall leaves, pumpkins, and pine cones? Well, my goal tonight was to try and get started once I decided the theme.

What I accomplished in the space of a few hours (minus the bit I took to cook) wasn't as much as I wanted, but it was a start. I could always wait a few weeks to take pictures, but I really wanted to newborn phase.

Here are the photos:

The pumpkin pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-pumpkins

As you can see the pumpkins are not quite finished. I haven't done the stems or leaves. One thing I am not doing though is trying to create the sections with the yarn in the big one. It seems like a lot of work to make a small little yarn needle go through that. If it were a real pumpkin, it would be 2-4 pounds!

The maple leaf pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maple-leaf-8

The Elm leaf pattern: http://www.fiberfluxblog.com/2014/10/free-crochet-patternone-round-fall.html

Okay...I will admit. The Elm leaf pattern snagged my attention because it said one round. The designer has two other types of leaves, but it was so tiny that I would have to make TONS to do what I want even with a size H hook. 

The maple leaf pattern though...oh it's perfect! It works up super quick. I did have to keep reading the pattern, but after a few of these I might begin to remember it. As you can see from the following photos, I am doing them in orange (carrot) and green (medium thyme) for now. My plans are to crochet them in burgundy and a medium brown.

If you are planning a fall scene, please use these patterns! They are all quick and easy for a beginner. And let's face it, they would look darn cute on a Thanksgiving table!

Happy Crafting!

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