Looklooklook!

A new pattern! I haven’t published a new pattern since…uh…(shuffles papers) June. Wow. June! Anyway, this is almost cheating since this pattern has been ready to go since the beginning of the year, but it’s so satisfying to get it published and complete.

It’s a great snowy owl, and I designed it to enter in a Harry Potter - themed crochet pattern contest in the first part of the year. (Alas, I did not win.) The pattern is available to purchase over at Inner Child Crochet, for those interested.

I really like it. Interesting story, this owl is based on a stuffed owl I’ve had for more than a decade. My older sister and I were in a book and toy store - I think I was about twelve - and I just had to have the book of Klingon novels and the owl. (It’s really a gorgeous owl.) I didn’t have enough for both, and I begged my sister for the money to make up the difference. She let me have it, and as a result couldn’t buy something for herself that she wanted.

…I sure hope I paid her back for that…

Sweater Number Two Plus Something New!

Well, I finished the second sweater!

Sheesh. I really don’t like doing the same thing twice. This may become problematic… Still. They turned out well, and they look cute together.

Plus, if after all these babies turn out to be girls (the doctor told us she’d give us a 20% chance that they were not boys. Woo!) they’re gender-neutral enough to do well. Do you like them? Well, if you want to make one of your own, you can find the pattern over at Inner Child Crochet. (For free!)

Now that I’ve finished them, I’m taking a brief baby-clothes break to work on something for myself:

Pattern is Shrug Springs Eternal by Nikki Adams. (Rav link!) I need to expand my lightweight shrug collection, since all of the knee-length or better maternity dresses I can find are sleeveless - and I don’t do sleeveless. I’m using Red Heart Lustersheen Multi in Ocean, and I think it’s a beautiful color. Hopefully I’ll have that finished soon!

I Suppose I Might as Well Tell You

Since, given the nature of the blog, you ought to figure it out pretty quickly. When I had my appointment the other day, we had another ultrasound. There was some pretty strong evidence that these babies are…

Boys! (Yes, we did ask the doctor to double-check. Let’s just say the images were pretty convincing.) We were more surprised than anything else, because we had been so sure that we were getting girls. And I am a bit bummed that I don’t get to make flowers and dresses. AGAIN. But do you know how much knitting I would have to do to outfit two girls in everything I’ve ever wanted to make for daughters? A LOT. Like, an impossible amount. So that’s a bit of a relief. Let me say, too, that the amount of mayhem we expect to have with four boys - so young - is both daunting and really, really exciting. It will be a zoo…and I’ve always loved the zoo.

But! Most of you will have just stopped by for the pattern.

Basic Baby Beanie

Materials:

• Lion Brand  Wool-Ease (197 yd/180m
  per 85 g/3oz skein); about 50 yds per hat. Hats shown in Denim.
• H/8 -  5.00mm hook

Gauge: 12 sts x 10 rows in hdc = 4″

Size: Newborn (to fit approximately 15″ head)

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• hdc = half-double crochet
• inc = make two stitches in next st
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch

Note: US pattern conventions used.

Directions:

Do not join rounds.
Rnd 1: Ch 3; make 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: [Hdc inc in next st] around. (16 hdc)
Rnd 3: [Hdc in next st, hdc inc in next st] around. (24 hdc)
Rnd 4: [Hdc in next 2 sts, hdc inc in next st] around. (32 hdc)
Rnd 5: [Hdc in next 3 sts, hdc inc in next st] around. (40 hdc)
Rnds 6-15: Hdc in each st around.

To finish, sc in next st, sl st in each of next two sts. Finish off, weave in ends.

These hats are very quick to make (I made both of them last night while Greg tried out a new video game), and you could easily make two out of a  ’standard’ 110-yard skein of worsted.

Watch this space for more baby boy items. I’m feeling better.

Surprise! New Patterns!

Well, as you may have guessed, I got the pattern for the snowboarding hat written up very quickly.

Now you can knit your very own Appi Slopes hat (creatively named after the place where my husband bruised a rib on Monday, hahaha).We’re not done yet, though! That doesn’t count as one of the six in production I mentioned a few posts back. These next patterns do - yesterday the spring issue of Crochet Uncut was released! I have two patterns in this issue that I’ve been just waiting to show off since January. First is a lovely hat:

which I’ve decided to call Meredith.  You can’t see all of the hat in this picture, but when I have it I like to show a different picture than you’ll see in the pattern for the blog reveal. Go check it out!

Last but not least for today, I have puppets. (I love puppets.)

They’re Spring Finger Puppets, and they’re just begging to go into an Easter basket. They’re really, really quick to make, use teeny, tiny scraps of yarn, and the kids love them. All three fit into the little bag styled after an Easter egg, and in all I just think it’s an adorable set.

In other news, I’m getting my wisdom teeth extracted tomorrow, so I don’t expect to post for a few days. Wish me luck.

Remember This Guy?

You can now buy the pattern for the Sweet Little Horse at my site! It would make a great companion to the Sweet Little Cow, also available. You know, I have six more patterns in various stages of publication. Keep an eye out for those!

In other news, we went on a little trip today and I took tons of pictures. The next post should be a nice long one.

Nice day today.

Sorry for the long breaks, guys, but I’m preparing multiple design submissions for end-of-the-month deadlines. That includes one I got two days ago…you’d think they’d want to give designers more than two weeks to generate a quality submission, no? Apparently not. As a result I haven’t been throwing as many party favors for Inner Child Crochet’s second birthday as I’d intended.

Anyway, to make it up to you, I’m having a SALE!

What? A sale? I’ve never had a sale before. That’s right, because I just now (this very day) figured out how to create discount codes with my cart system. I’ve got it now, though, and as a result when you order more than $10.00 of merchandise you can save 25% on your total order by using the coupon code:

HAPPYBDAY

(Please let me know if you try to use the coupon and it does not work, but I checked it out myself, and it should.) So go! Take a peek and see if you want anything, because this code will expire on January 22nd, at 11:59 pm. (Although I’m not sure which timezone that stamp will go by.)

 Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do!

Warm and Simple

Sometimes all you want is something soft and warm and simple to get the job done.

Hmm, I guess this proves it - I really am that pale! Anyway, I made these slippers as one of Greg’s Christmas presents, so obviously I couldn’t show you before. They may not look like much, but these are very special slippers. They were rigorously designed in compliance with previously determined husband-preference specifications. Please note that the slippers are 1) black, 2) plain, and 3) big. You’ll have to take my word for it that they are cozy, warm, and absolutely not itchy at all. You may also notice that they’ve been knit with a princess foot for maximum comfort. (That’s right, honey. I made you princess slippers.) And you know what? The directions are so easy I’ll lay them out right here.

Simple Man Slippers

Materials:

• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick - 2 balls
• 1 pair US 13/9mm straight knitting needles
• One big yarn needle

Gauge: (Edit: HAH! I found it! I knew I wrote it down. ) I swear I measured this before I shipped them off, but it’s lost…the amount you cast on should be enough to go around the ball of his foot with a little wiggle room. 7 sts x 12 rows = 4″ in stockinette

Finished Size: Made for size 11.5 man feet (Edit: 11 1/2″ from toe to heel)

Directions (make 2):

Holding yarn double, CO 20.

Row 1: k5, p10, k5
Row 2: p5, k10, p5

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 32 rows have been done.
k2tog across, cut yarn leaving a long tail of yarn. Weave tail through last 10 sts, pull tight. Fold slipper in half (like a giant, black hot dog bun - make sure the stockinette sole is inside!) and sew top of foot closed four or five inches. Sew back edge closed. Weave in all ends. Enjoy!

Ideas for modifying size: Basically, these slippers are a rectangle of knitting with decreases in the last row to make the toe fit better. If they are too big around, cast on fewer stitches, making sure that the stockinette portion for the foot roughly matches your foot in width. If they are too long, work fewer rows (until slippers are just barely shy of your foot length) and perform the decreases. (These tips should help increase the size, as well.)

Hope this helps!

Greetings from the Future!

It’s 2009, and the weather’s fine! This January also marks the second anniversary of Inner Child Crochet’s creation, and let me tell you - I have some special things in store. (If you go over to the site, you may notice a few right away.) Chief among those is a stealthy release of a long-delayed pattern.

As of this month, it’s been three years since I made that sweater. I’ve been holding onto it, trying to get the guts up to grade it into different sizes, but I just don’t have the skills yet. (Still.) But in the size it was designed in, it’s a perfectly good pattern! So I’ve published it, free, in a single size,  with guidelines to help adjust the sweater for a custom fit.

Three other patterns made it onto the site today. Saucy!

Is now available to purchase individually.

The fireman hat is available, free!

And a cute little baking set is available, also free. So go visit the site, click around, have fun, and Happy New Year!

I’ve Been Busy

…and busy with yarny stuff, might I add. Today Crochet Uncut released its second issue ever (its first mini-issue), just in time for last-minute Christmas crafting! In case you’re still not familiar, Crochet Uncut is a new crochet-themed e-zine, just getting started. Now, being the crochet-supportive designer that I am, I’ve been keeping an eye on them. When Darlisa (the brains of the operation) mentioned that she might put out themed mini-issues, I suggested that a last-minute projects issue would be fun and timely. She decided to go for it - unfortunately, with the short notice, she had a hard time getting submissions - and that explains why, of the seven patterns in this mini-issue . . . four of them are mine. So! Head on over and check out:

Kirsten,

Simple Speedy Cowl,

Mossy Mini-Clutch, and…

Miniature Sweater Ornament. I told you I’ve been busy!

Takin Care of Business: Contest Winners!

Wow, there were so many great entries that it was really difficult to pick out the best three. Fortunately, I was able to disqualify one excellent poem because it was written by my sister! (Whom I suspect of simply being drawn helplessly to a poetry challenge, but hey! If you want the patterns just let me know, I’ll send you any you like.) Let’s read that poem now:

Let’s have a round of applause for that excellent poem and honorable mention! Now, for the third place winner: Aimee!

Congratulations, Aimee! You will be receiving free copies of my Good News Newsboy, Shooting Starf, and Sweet Cocoa Cloche patterns. I hope you enjoy them!

Let’s move on to our second place winner, Holly!

Holly, for that excellent haiku, you will be receiving a Toy Bundle, which includes 5 patterns: Chaco, Lloopy Llama, Silly Monkey, Scarlet Macaw Hand Puppet, and the Jungle Bugs! Happy hooking!

Our first place prize goes to an entry so well written, lengthy and … humorously up-front about it’s purpose, that it was an easy pick for the win. Congratulations, Joe - and therefore, Jackie.

Congratulations, Joe and Jackie! You’ve won a copy of every pattern I currently publish. (Joe, that’s gotta count for something.)Winners will be personally contacted as soon as possible and delivery arrangements made. Thank you, everyone who entered! It was a blast - I hope you enjoyed it, too.