Crochet: Amigurumi Bunny Egg


Crochet: Cupcake Containers


Crochet: Georgia, doily blanket


Crochet: Simple Mask


Crochet: Lizzie slippers


Knit: Honey, DK slouch hat


Crochet: Mary Jane Slippers


Knit: Nell, slouch hat


Crochet: Willow, doily blanket


Knit: Terzetto, hat


Crochet: Simple Statement Wreath


Knit: Colorwork Recipe


Crochet: Glory, doily blanket


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Crochet: Amigurumi Lion

28.365: leon

Did you hear the news? Kitschy Digitals now carries knit and crochet patterns! There are only crochet patterns, right now, but I do believe they have plans to add more in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Pattern: Roy the Lion by Amy Kember
Hook: 5mm (H-8)
Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in mustard, honey, and cream

I bought this pattern pretty much immediately after Danielle tweeted about them. It’s by Amy Kember (check out her Etsy shop; contact her about buying a lion, if you can’t crochet!) and is probably the cutest amigurumi I’ve ever made. I made a lot of those Japanese amineko cats when I first learned to crochet and then I stopped making amigurumi for years and now…well, let’s just say I’m glad there are several children in my life!

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Crochet: Cupcake Containers (a proper tutorial)

18.365: cupcaking

9.365: plate of cupcakes

I’ve been making cupcake containers for years and never really got around to elaborating on the process. With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, I thought this would be a good time to share how I make them. It’s pretty straight-forward and essentially a permanent cozy over a used plastic container (yogurt, sour cream, etc). These steps will help guide you for whatever size you have on hand. I suggest using containers that are shorter, as they make the cutest cupcakes. The container used in the photos is 8 ounces.

Warning: This tutorial uses hot glue, so be careful! Keep an eye on your glue gun and take care of your fingers!

Materials
-Plastic Food Container With Lid (yogurt, sour cream, etc.)
-Worsted Weight Yarn in 2 colors
-5mm/ H Crochet Hook
-Worsted Weight Yarn in 2 colors
-Hot Glue Gun And Glue Sticks
-Yarn Needle
-Optional: -Small amount of Red Yarn

crochet-cupcake-bottom

First, we crochet the bottom of the cupcake. Start by making a chain that is as tall as the container + 1. I chained 8. Leave at least 12″ of tail yarn.

For the first row, single crochet in the second ch from your hook and in each chain after.
Row 2: SC in the front loop only across all stitches. Ch 1, turn.
Row 3: SC in the back loop only across all stitches. Ch 1, turn.

Repeat Row 2 & 3 until you have a rectangle long enough to stretch around your cozy. Do not fasten off. Seam the edges shut using your beginning yarn.

Single crochet around the edge your working yarn is at. Make one stitch into the side of each row. Slip-stitch into first stitch, then slip-stitch into each stitch, to tighten up the round.

Attach it to your container using hot glue along the top edge first, then you can add a line of hot glue along the bottom edge, stretching if you need to.

04

Now, we’re going to crochet the cupcake top. We crochet it amigurumi style. If you are going to add scallops later, work in the BACK LOOPS ONLY:

Single crochet 6 stitches into a magic loop. Cinch it shut. Do not join. Work the rest of the rounds in a spiral.

Round 2: 2 SC into each st. (12)
Round 3: *1 SC into next st, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (18)
Round 4: *1 SC into next two sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (24)
Round 5: *1 SC into next three sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (30)
Round 6: *1 SC into next four sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (36)

Continue increasing evenly until you have a circle that is just about as big as your lid. Make 2 or 3 rounds of 1 SC into each st (no increasing), depending on how tall you want the “frosting,” then fasten off. You should now have a dome shape to cover your top. I like to finish simple tops with a round of crab stitch.

FOR SCALLOPS:

Re-attach the yarn at the top/center of your work into the front loop of your first st. Chain 1, *skip two loops and make 5 DC into the next, skip 2 loops, and slst into the next; Rep from *, spiraling down the top into the front loops. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

05

Turn your cupcake top over and position the lid as above. If you did not add scallops to your top, position the lid at the edge of your top.

Cover about 2″ of the edge of your top with hot glue and then immediately attach the crocheted piece to it. Hold for at least 30 seconds for optimal adhesion.

To get the best positioning, glue the opposite point, then glue all of one side.

Add about a handful of poly-fil stuffing into your top. If you over-fill it, you will warp the container top, so be careful. You also don’t want to under-stuff it because the crochet part might collapse.

Once you are satisfied with your stuffing, carefully glue the rest of the lid on. After I finish gluing it all, I like to add extra glue along the edge of the crochet/plastic just to make sure it’s stuck on completely.

goldcake2

OPTIONAL: Cherry!
Using red yarn, crochet 4 SC into a loop, cinch it shut. Make sure this beginning tail gets crocheted inside the cherry.

Round 2: 2 SC in each st. (8)
Round 3: 1 SC in each st. (8)
Round 4: 1 SC in each st. (8)
Round 5: 2SCtog, around. (4)

Fasten off. Weave in this end, then have it come out the top of the cherry. Cut it, leaving about 1″ sticking out the top. Trim as needed to keep it sticking up.

ruffcake2

cupcake

Ta-da! You have a little cupcake container made from your recycled food containers. You can make them for loved ones on their birthdays! They make nifty little trinket boxes. Just sayin’.

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Crochet: Glory doily blanket (purple!)

14.365: Glory, Glory

from the center

glory2

My weekend project was a purple/pink Glory doily blanket. Oh, how I love lace in bright colors! This one is for a baby shower I’m going to, this weekend, but if you’re interested in a doily blanket of your own, see the shop.

My next project is going to be a baby blanket for another baby (a boy due in March, but I want to get it done now). Last year, I made a big red blanket for his brother. I’m thinking chevrons, this time. Golden chevrons! I’ll keep you posted.

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Last Day of Winter Break

07.365: at play

January 7, 2013. My kids’ 3-week vacation ends. We spent a chilly hour at the park.

I took photos with my Nikon 1 (affixed with the 18.5mm f/1.8 lens). I am in love with this little camera. I still adore my D7000, but this baby is just so handy! I also don’t feel like such a weirdo when I bring it out. The giant DSLR makes me feel like I’m screaming, “LOOK AT ME! I have a camera! I take photos! Ask me to take your photo!” when I bring it out. I need to work on my confidence.

Anyway. I love this camera and it helps me capture special moments with my boys. I didn’t even notice I was taking photos of each of them doing the same thing (sorta) while we were there.

They did some:

climbing
climbing,

crossing
crossing,

balancing
balancing, and of course–

sliding
sliding! Fast slides are the best.

It was pretty great. They’re back at school and, I gotta say, I miss these faces.

hanging out

seven years and seven months

First Project of 2013

swallowtail1

01.365: dream in color

Technically, this could be the last project of 2012, but I won’t be finished with it for at least another week. I took a break to work on a doily blanket order, because heeeeyyy– I still have a shop!

Anyway, I cast on December 29. I was browsing Ravelry and remembered this yarn I won in a giveaway from the WEBS yarn store blog…in 2011. Over a year ago! It’s pretty luxe for my taste, so it remained zipped away in a bag, only to be taken out and admired every once in a while. I don’t think I could ever knit cashmere socks, so when I decided I should knit a shawl, this yarn came to mind immediately. It’s Smooshy with Cashmere by Dream in Color (here). It’s supremely soft and the colors are nothing short of perfect.

swallowtail-closeup1

swallowtail-closeup2

I’m using the tried and true Swallowtail Shawl pattern from Evelyn Clark (on Ravelry), which is now available for free! I first knit this pattern when it came out in Interweave Knits (Fall ’06). I started it in March of ’07, then it hibernated through the Spring, and I finished it at the end of summer. I am a crocheter first, so this is the most intricate knitting I’ve ever ventured. I hope to change that, this year! I want to write more crochet patterns, of course, but I also want to knit more complicated designs. I guess this could be considered a crafty resolution! Get intricate. Work my crafty brain out! And also blog more. I miss craft blogging.

Did you set any crafty resolutions?? I want to know!