Eight Months Off?

I can't believe it has been eight months since my last post!  No, I haven't given up crochet.  In fact, I've probably completed more projects in the last eight months than I did during the time I was posting more regularly.  Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I am still around and still creating.  I'll post about a commission project I did around Christmas soon.  It was a lot of fun!

Happy Hooking!

Rasta Mon!

This pattern caught my eye a while back, and I finally got around to making it this week.  I've always loved this combination of colors and the whimsy of the fake dreadlocks is great.  I expect to have a lot of fun wearing this hat to Halloween parties, MINI get-togethers, golf outings....  Yeah, can't wait to see the look on some folks face when I show up to the first tee wearing it.

Persistence Pays Off

When I found this pattern for a lion amigurumi, I couldn't wait to get started and add this guy to my collection of favorite finished objects.  Little did I know he was to become a thorn in my side for weeks.  I don't remember exactly why, but I became a little bored with the project early on and kept picking up other things to work on instead. 

Finally, about a month ago, I finished all of the body parts and construction and had a nice, female lion.  I grabbed the yarn for the mane and started reading through the pattern and promptly put "her" up on the shelf in my room.  I was so confused by what they wanted me to do, I just decided it was good enough. 

So, I saw "her" sitting there every day for the last few weeks and it really bothered me that I couldn't finish what I started.  I decided to give it one more try and dove into the pattern head-first just following instructions one row at a time.  Unfortunately, it wasn't to be quite that easy.  I ripped out my work twice and decided to set "her" down again. 

Then, as I was laying in bed that night meditating, an alternate way of creating the mane came to me, and I saw clearly how to make it work.  I started last night and it came together even better than I had pictured in my mind.  So, through the magic of modern yarn technology, "she" has finally become a "he" -- I present to you, Leo the Lion!

A Little Coffee Wisdom

I joined a new group on Ravelry (Breakthrough Crochet) and found this pattern on their Summer Crochet Along.  It was a quick little project that really adds a nice bit of whimsy to a coffee mug.

V-Stitch Headband by JuliChu

I found this pattern a while back and stuck it in my queue on Raverly.  I was looking for something quick and easy to crochet yesterday while I was watching the NASCAR race and decided to pull it out and give it a shot.  It was really simple and repetitive, which made it a great TV watching project.  I finished it up today and had Cindy choose a button she liked.  She liked it so much that she wants me to make more in a variety of colors.  I think I will try it in cotton next, so she has one that is a little more summer friendly.  If you want to know more about JuliChu, check out her blog.

Thanks Juli!

Lady Bugs Dancing on Roses

I was finally able to complete a hat that fits my three-year old daughter -- and in her favorite color as well!  She chose the ladybug appliques that really give the hat a nice pop.  The yarn is "Rose Petal" from the  Lily Sugar'n Cream Scents collection and has a nice, subtle fragrance that she really likes.  The pattern is a slight modification of my trail hat design - I just adjusted the top and side rows to fit her head as I went.  As you can tell from my past posts, I really like this design and am already working on another in camo colors for my seven-year old son!

I know a lot of people with allergies don't like the scented yarn from Lily, but I really enjoyed working with it.  The subtle fragrance would waft up occasionally and remind me of walking through botanical gardens.  I will definitely give some of their other scents a try when I get the chance.

The Princess and the Pea

My son is in a homeschool group production of The Princess and the Pea later tonight, and my wife and I crocheted these little Peas in a Pod for each of the cast members and the directors to remember their hard work on the play.  It was a lot of fun making them together, and I can't wait to see what the kids think.  My wife took care of the peas while I handled the pods.  These are quick and easy to make!  If you are interested in the pattern, it came from a book called Yummy Crochet by Kristen Rask.  We got it at Barnes and Noble as part of a gift set.  There are lots of other cool "yummy" amigurumis in there too!