By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/25/2012 
With October fast-approaching, I thought it was time to share this quick pattern.
Andrew, who’s 4, has decided he wants to be Darkwing Duck for Halloween, this year. Yes, the cartoon character from the early 90s. I can thank my husband for introducing that one to the boys. He’s dressed in a purple double-breasted blazer, a cape, mask, and hat (no pants because cartoon ducks don’t wear pants). I searched a few thrift stores for a purple blazer, but couldn’t find one. I DID find a white linen/cotton blazer to dye, though. I also picked up some purple fabric to make a cape and he has a gray fedora that will do just fine. I only needed to figure out the mask situation (and find him some white pants, because no way he’s going pantless).
I know I could make one out of the same purple fabric, but I got the idea in my head that he needed a mask made of yarn. I wasn’t near my computer when I made this grand decision, so I whipped one up just winging it. The results were pretty damn cute.
I would have just called it a day after that first try, but I soon realized the elastic was in the wrong place. I made it sort of cat-eye shaped, so the elastic is attached at the top corners. Since the top sits on his eyebrows, whenever he emoted, the mask shifted. Big boo! I spent the evening thinking about how else to make it and the next morning I crocheted and frogged and crocheted and frogged and finally got a simple shape that was also simple to crochet (2 rounds!!). Make a bunch and hand them out at Halloween!
I’ve provided some photos to help aid in the construction. It might sound a little tricky, but after the first you’ll get ’em made in like 5 minutes, I bet!
You’ll need: worsted weight yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice), 5mm (H) hook, and some elastic.
Ch 21, slst into first ch to make a loop (left in above photograph).
Ch 23, slst into 21st ch from hook to make second loop (right).
This leaves you with 2 loops connected by 2 chains.
Ch 1, SC into next 2 chs, 30 SC into the loop. Shift them around so they’re evenly arranged around the loop. They’ll all fit!
SC into the back of the center 2 chs, 30 SC in next loop.
DO NOT JOIN.
SC2tog across the center 2 sts, *[HDC in next 5 sts, DC in next 4 sts, HDC in next 5 sts] 2 DC in each of the next 2 sts, repeat from [ to ]*
SC2tog across center 2 sts; Rep from * to *, slst into first st. Finish off, weave in ends.
Cut an 11″ piece of elastic and attach each end to each side of your mask. I used 3/8″ black elastic. You can adjust the size to fit the head you’re making the mask for.
Put it on and enjoy! Feel free to adjust the pattern to fit your head. If the 30 stitches around the eye opening are too big or too small, change the size of the beginning chain loops! You’ll have to change the second row, too. To get the shape, I split the stitch count in half then added taller stitches to the top, bottom, and side.
sorry, I’m not as cute as my kid, but he hasn’t been feeling well, so I’m not going to force him to pose for me.
As with all things things that can be made for children, please supervise them when they’re playing. The mask can knock out their peripheral vision and they could bump into things! Show your little one how to adjust the mask to fit around their eyes. It took a while for me to get used to having it on my face. It was pretty annoying at first, but I wore it for a bit!
[Text-only version of the pattern may be viewed HERE.]
ETA
Here is my little one wearing a purple mask with his Darkwing Duck costume! The only adjustment I made to the mask was to assemble the eyeholes with a pipe cleaner instead of a crochet chain, then worked the pattern from “30 SC into the loop…” It makes the eyeholes easier for kids to keep…umm…open? It keeps them from shifting into their eyes!
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By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/20/2012 
A new doily blanket pattern!
See, I’ve been quiet around these parts, but I’ve been keeping busy. Two kiddos in school equals twice as much homework and, even worse, TWICE AS MUCH LAUNDRY. Alas, sometimes I’ve gotta check out and just sit on the couch & crochet all day.
I finished this up a few weeks ago, but then it took me a while to write out the pattern and even longer for me to sit down and type it up. My process for pattern-making usually goes something like this: crochet while writing it out w/my favorite pencil, then type it up, crochet it again, checking pattern for typos, take photos, compose pattern + photos into pretty PDF file. I sort of did the same this time, except I stopped writing while crocheting about halfway through. REGRET set in immediately. I had to crochet it again by feeling out the stitches and wrote down what I was doing, changing things up a bit in the process. I got burnt out by that, so it took me a few days to sit down with it and type it up.
NOW. I had originally planned to release the pattern tomorrow, but I want a few more days with it. I’m going to go over the pattern a few times to check for typos and consistency in the directions and I’ll see if I can crochet another one this weekend. My mom’s birthday is coming up, so it’ll be the perfect gift!
I hope to see you back here sometime next week with more details plus tons more photos!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 07/24/2012 
Hello, friends!
I have been wanting a new slipper for a while. I kept putting it off because I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t start exactly like my Mary Janes. I knew I wanted something bold, but timeless.
I had the idea for a wrap shoe, but I was stuck on the same sort of construction as the Mary Janes (from the toe to heel). I knew FOR SURE I wanted something that was crocheted in one piece.
I picked up some yarn and started with the toe and made some interesting shaping, but once I got to the sole I realized it was way too similar to the MJs. I frogged it and started over.
This time, I started at the heel! Working back and forth across some stitches, I shaped the heel a bit, then crocheted a sole for a few more rows. When I got toward the toe, the fun began! Using a combination of increases and eventually some decreases, I ended up shaping a wrapped toe.
I wasn’t in love. There is my confession. It looked OK after I seamed it up, but I was kind of meh about it. I thought about it for a day and then started another pair. After I finished the first, I made the quick decision to seam up the second one with the wrap going in the opposite direction. Aha! That’s what was missing.
I was in love.
And now I want to share it with you! Visit the pattern page HERE. It’s FREE and there are even some photos to help guide you during the assembly. Truly, it’s the only tricky part. I would suggest crocheting both slippers first, then sitting down to assemble them. I used Vanna’s Choice because it comes in such a great assortment of colors and tends to hold up really well.
Let me know what you think! Add your project to the Ravelry page so I can see your slippers!
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By Lisa Gutierrez on 07/09/2012 So long mason jars, hello organization!
I fell into the trend of using mason jars to hold most of my craft tools. I have no less than 4 mason jars on my craft shelf with various hooks, needles, markers, pens, buttons, and random notions. There is no order and when I need to find a certain something I almost always end up dumping one or two of the jars onto my floor. It’s more than a little frustrating. Even my circular needles are crammed into an old tin box. Oh, the tangles!
When the folks over at Jordana Paige asked if I would be interested in reviewing their newest organization product–the Crafter’s Tool Butler–I visited the product page and seriously gasped. Something that would not only hold my knitting/crochet accesories, but help me ORGANIZE? Yes, please! This is like a crafter’s dream.
(Beautiful packaging! The back of the box also shows the list of features.)
There is no right or wrong way to organize your things in this. There is even enough space between the zippered pockets to keep a pattern or two. I love that it isn’t craft specific. I could put anything in there! This could be my journaling case with notebooks and a random assortment of markers. Alas, my markers actually look nice in mason jars. My random assortment of needles and hooks are better suited for the Butler.
It features:
• Six flat pockets for all sizes of double-pointed needles and crochet hooks.
• Four zippered accordion pockets for circular needles with label inserts for custom numbering.
• Mesh pocket for small items such as safety pins, stitch markers and darning needles.
• Knitting needle and crochet hook inventory chart.
Yes, there are little cards for you to make note of what you are storing. So considerate! I don’t know how many times I’ve emptied jars/bags/whatever looking for something I am SO SURE I placed in there. This totally eliminates ever needing to do that again.
After fixing your things inside and just relishing in the fact that you won’t lose your most favorite H hook again, you get to zip it up and stare at the beauty on the outside. This thing is pretty. It’s a textured vegan “leather” bound case that measures 10.5″L x 2″W x 6.5″H. I have the bronze case, but it also comes in black onyx, deep red, and eggplant purple. It has a clean, classy design.
If someone you love is having trouble keeping their hooks or needles organized, this would be the perfect gift! Check out Jordana Paige to see other lovely knitting bags, patterns, or even a directory to locate one near you.
Save the page for July 18 when Jordana Paige will be having an “imperfect” handbag sale benefiting The Pre-Eclampsia Foundation. A new bag will be posted every hour for $50 and ALL of it gets donated. Amazing. Click the image below to see the full blog post on the JP blog.
Disclosure: Jordana Paige sent me the Crafter’s Tool Butler to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed here are my own.
By Lisa Gutierrez on 06/27/2012 Both Anya and Glory utilize a variation of this stitch. There are photos accompanying Anya (in both Lace Love and the separate pattern), but not Glory. Since I got a question about it, I decided to go ahead and post them. I hope they help anyone who has been confused by this part of the pattern(s).
The directions (from Glory) are as follows:
Ch 5, DC in 4th & 5th ch from hook, *DC in next ch-sp, Ch 3, 2 DC AROUND stitch just made; Rep from * around, slst into beg Ch 4.
Let’s break it down into two photos:
First, you chain 5 and make your DCs in the 2 last chains from the hook. Then, you DC into the next space, Ch 3, and make your 2 DC AROUND that first DC.
 
See how the clusters look like they’re leaning? Continue as such until you get to the end of the round. Complete the round by slip-stitching into the beginning chain. The corners of the clusters (the chain 3 of each cluster) are what you’ll be crocheting into in the next round.
I hope these help! As always–if you need any help with a pattern, please email me (lisa @ goodknits.com), or ask the group on Ravelry! It’s still pretty new, but if I’m not around, I bet someone else could answer your question.
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