The Secret Method

So Chloe Nightingale on Ravelry and Crochet Me has made, quite possibly, the easiest hat ever. And the best hat to use as a template to make a myriad of different hats from one simple pattern.

She calls the hat The Secret Method Hat and if you haven't tried this hat, you have to!

Since I have to make a ton of hats for SLCitizen and now for Whole Planet (more on that in a sec) Chloe's hat pattern is ideal. Its super quick and the hats turn out warm and perfect.

Now, if you're not down for an entire hat made of single chains (it can get REALLY tiresome) that you should tweak this pattern into something a little more varied, but if you can hold out for a single chain hat, yours will look like mine above. A really tight, very simple hat but absolutely worth it.

Now. Whole Planet. I was approached a couple weeks ago by my bosses to see if I would be interested in donating my time and projects to our Whole Planet Foundation at work. How could I really say no to micro-credit loans to women in developing nations. I dare you to try. You won't succeed... So I said yes, and sold 2 hat and a pair of booties with all 40 dollars going to the foundation (sweet!). Now I'm back to my hooks to make some more stuff and see what I can't sell. Ah giving. How good it it feels.

Hope your weekend is swell and your hands are hookin!

Baby Booties

So in my last post I made a reference to these super cute baby booties Well here are a pair of the ones that I've done.

I thought they needed a little something on the toe to break up the green so I made a button out of some baby weight white yarn. (Really simple, sc 10 in a magic loop, then 2 sc in each sc, sl st together and you've got a button!).

I also lopped off the top of the boots because 1. I hate putting baby feet in anything taller than a sock and 2. It wasn't working and it looked weird so I just made them super simple, basic little slippers.

There were some problems with the pattern, I'm not going to lie and its a really rough one to try and read because she wrote it kind of funny but once you get it right these work up fairly quickly and obviously they're adorable. If you've got some fingering weight yarn and a D hook, this is your kind of pattern.

Now, my nose needs to get back to the grindstone.

Keep on hookin!

Ho hum

So it rained today. All day. And I have absolutely no inspiration and an enormous deadline due. Crap. I made some itty bitty baby slippers based on this cute little pattern. It takes some reading and investigating to understand the phrasing on the pattern at first, but it comes and its a great one. I didn't like the top so I just lopped it off and now I have little tiny slippers. Adorable.

Anyway, if anyone know of some good hat patterns, send them my way!

photo from freefoto.com

Photos Galore!

So as promised, here are the photos of the projects I finished out of the new book I bought.

Here's the Alpine Hat:

I used Cascade 220 so its washable but still has the warmth and heaviness of wool. Its also a good kelly green. Perfect for St. Patty's Day. I got the skein at Blazing Needles (my favorite yarn shop in Salt Lake City). The picture makes it look a bit washed out here but I promise its a much deeper shade.

I love how the small cables wind around themselves in this pattern, as opposed the fatter cables usually associated with cable crochet.

Here's the Aran Pillow (which I might just make into a purse...). This is the easiest pattern in the world but it looks so complicated which is awesome cuz you look like a pro without breaking a sweat. I hate sweating while I hook. Plus you can brag about your skills and no one will be the wiser! I made the other side out of a denim blue, both are Bernat Alpaca which is REALLY soft and feels a lot more expensive than it is.

A new, new book

So I decided I really didn't like the Interweave book. The only pattern I really liked, I could get for free at Crochetme so what's the point of owning a book of patterns you'll never do.

So I went back to Barnes and Noble and bought this book:

It's full to the brim with great new stitches, really handy techniques and amazing projects. I have loved every minute of working with this book. The patterns are super easy to work and they, from my experience thus far, have had no problems.

The other thing that I love about this book, is how beautiful the pictures are. I just love looking through it at all the pretty projects and stitch swatches.

I'll be honest, I bought the book for the Alpine Cable hat. I've seen it on Ravelry, but I could never get the pattern because it was in this book. But the pictures online were so beautiful and I have always wanted to work it. Plus Lisa Naskrent and Crochet Garden always have the most unique patterns that are I am always drooling over. (Too bad Whole Foods doesn't pay me enough to buy all the patterns I want...)

Well I did and I am soooo happy to announce that this is a GREAT pattern. Its GORGEOUS, its new and its different. I'll put up pictures when I'm not in the middle of Eastern Idaho without my camera.

I'll also post pictures of the Slip Ring Aran pillow. Another great pattern. Its uses the front post double crochet and a popcorn stitch, with a worsted weight yarn so its a thick, with great texture. I'll put up some pictures of that too.

Anyway, I'm going to post more, I have A LOT more yarn and a lot more ideas for projects. Plus, I'm not enjoying salt lake so maybe if I lock myself in a room full to the windows with yarn I'll be happier.

Keep on hookin!

photo from DRG Publishing and BarnesandNoble.com