daydreaming at night crochet scarf: FREE pattern

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

I'm a sucker for variegated yarns. Always have been--I just love the colors of them. Especially when I ran across Red Heart Boutique's Unforgettable Yarn in Dragonfly. I had to grab it immediately and then I started creating something. This one scarf I have been working on and off for almost two months, and after all that I just love the way it turned out. The colors look beautiful in this pattern and are so eye catching, the colors is what inspired the name of this, Daydreaming at Night.  The colors look so whimsical, but have a deeper tone to them which made me think of night.

Tuesday PIN-spiration Link Party

This week I'm honored to be co-hosting the Tuesday PIN-spiration Link Party! Here are two fellow bloggers that I've enjoyed to get to know over the last few months; Amy and Rhondda.

Meet Your Hosts:

Amy from The Stitchin' Mommy

Follow Amy:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+

Rhondda from Oombawka Design

Follow Rhondda:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ 

Our picks of the week:

(left) Sweet Potato Patties with Black Beans - Pickle Bee
(right) Baby Girl's Woodland Nursery - The Turquoise Home

(left) Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies - Far From Normal
(right) Scrap Busters for Your Keys - Two Crochet Hooks

Featured Blogger:

This week our featured blogger is the amazing Charlotte from CrochetbyCEDdesigns!

 "Hi!  I'm Charlotte from CrochetbyCEDdesigns!  You can usually find me with a crochet hook in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.  I love all things yarn and crochet related and love learning new things.  I started the CrochetbyCEDdesigns blog just for fun and to write pattern reviews for fellow crocheters and I have now recently taken the jump into the writing world of crochet-I hope you enjoy what you see!"

Here are two great posts from Charlotte's blog:

(left) Crochet Coffee Sleeve | (right) Burst of Color Crochet Cowl

You can find and follow Charlotte on these social media platforms:

Facebook | Pinterest  | Twitter | Etsy

Check out all of the projects that have been featured here plus some of the party favorites on our Tuesday PIN-spiration Pinterest Board: 

Follow the Tuesday PIN-spiration Features and Favorites Board on Pinterest!

     







 

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 Thanks for partying with us! See you next week! 

 By linking up to Tuesday Pin-spiration, you are allowing the use of your pictures if you are featured here. Please note that your pictures will NOT be used for personal use. A proper backlink to your site will always be provided!

World Wide Artist Blog Hop

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

Last week, Rebecca of Little Monkeys Crochet invited me to join in on the World Wide Artist Blog Hop! You can check out her post here.

I first met Rebecca when I offered to test one of her crochet patterns (review and link to patterns can be found here).  We worked really well together, to the point where I began to ask Rebecca more and more questions about building my blog.  She's been a great help and I'm thankful for her continued guidance, and hopefully, we will meet one day!

So, let's get started with the: The World Wide Artist Blog Hop

slightly slouchy beanie: FREE PATTERN

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.  Any yarn mentioned was bought with my own money and Lion Brand did not sponsor this post--I just genuinely love their yarn!

I once made a slouchy beanie, and just never liked the way it turned out--ever since then I have been on the hunt, and after finding this Lion Brand Tweed yarn in Acadia Tweed, I had the plan that I wanted to make this slightly slouchy beanie.  I say slightly, because after making it and putting it on, I realized the 'slouch' wasn't as slouchy as compared to other beanies, but I liked it.  Again, I am in love with this yarn--it's soft, it's colorful while still be neutral and matches with everything.  I can't wait for it to cool enough so I can wear this--I know I will definitely be using it for my trip to New Orleans next month!

Flower Patterns Round-Up

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

One of the first things I learned to make as a crocheter was a flower.  You could probably say that it was the item that started this whole thing.  So, when I decided that I wanted to do my very first pattern round up, I knew it was going to be about flowers.

Pictured:

1.  Simply Collectible Crochet's Easy Crochet Flower Headband

2.  Snappy Tots' Colorful Blossom

3.  Cre8tion Crochet's Large Crochet Roses

4.  Danyel Pink Designs' Crochet Lazy Daisy Afghan

5.  Little Monkeys Crochet's Pansy Flower Pattern

6.  My Hobby is Crochet's Dahlia Flower
  

Even more goodies are below, make sure you check all of these great patterns out!

Rebeckah's Treasures' Crochet Remembrance Poppies

Posh Pooch Designs' 6 Petal Crochet Flower

Raising Robertsons' Deer Daisy Woodland Crown

Daisy Cottage Designs' Large Daisy Crochet Pattern

Crochet Memories' Chrysanthemums Napkin Rings

Crochet Bear Newborn Beanie with Bow: FREE Pattern

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

Again, a pattern that comes from a friend wanting something adorable for her new niece.  I love cute little bears, my husband even gave me one when we were dating long distance, there is just something about them-so cute and cuddly.  So, this is a pattern that is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  I knew that I didn't want to do a basic beanie, I wanted to add some texture to it, so that's why I decided to make most of the beanie have the cross stitch, just using the half-double crochet, instead of the double crochet.  The same technique I used in my coffee sleeve pattern.  So, here comes the bear and bow pattern!

bursts of color crochet cowl--FREE Pattern

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog.

If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

I love fall and everything that comes with it and knowing that Christmas season will be here before we know it doesn't hurt either! So, with fall right around the corner I wanted to make a simple cowl that works up quickly with some great Lion Brand Heartland Tweed yarn in the color Mount Ranier-I picked this yarn up on whim during one of my many trips to the craft store. I have loved how this works up and adore the speaks of color in the yarn. I picked out this one in particular because it is mainly grey, and I love the way grey goes with just about anything.

So, with all that being said, I introduce you to the bursts of color crochet cowl!  As I was editing the
pictures, I was trying to think of a name and notice all the little bursts of colors in it, and so it is written. 

Scrunched Newborn Beanie: FREE Pattern

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog. If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

I tend to get a lot of custom order from friends, as I am sure a lot of crocheters get.  And, sometimes I have to turn them down because if the time I get and what needs to be done, I just can't do it.  But, this time is different.  I had a friend approach me about, what I am calling, a "scrunched" beanie.  She showed me a picture and I was immediately thought, "pattern idea!"  So, here it is.  

Hot Off the Hook, Part 2

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog.

If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

It's time again for a new blog post--this time another Hot Off the Hook, also my first blog since my new logo, thank you Josh!

I feel like I have been working on so much for than just the two items, but this is what has come off my hooks in the last week.

First up is an infinity scarf that was a custom order for someone across the border in Canada.  I always tend to get scarf orders early and most of the time they are from Canada--I wish I could only enjoy a scarf early too!  This one is grey with beautiful black buttons instead of the first one I made, a bone color scarf with wooden buttons.

New FREE Pattern: Crochet Coffee Sleeve

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog.

If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

I've been waiting to try and write my own pattern for some time now, and this week I finally got around to doing it!

For the longest time I have been searching for a coffee sleeve pattern that I could make for some of my travel mugs that are thin and sometimes can be hard to grab because the heat radiates through them--I had bought some, but after making them, they just didn't turn out the way I wanted them to.  So, I decided to make my own pattern to give a nice textured feel to the sleeve--introducing you to the Crochet Coffee Sleeve by CEDdesigns:

Crochet Coffee Sleeve in Mustard

Hot off the Hook!

Long time, no blog!  My husband and I have been crazy busy around here and I'm excited to try and get back on a routine with this blog.  I've missed working on it..so let's dive right in!

This blog will be the first of a new series called Hot off the Hook.  In these series, which I hope to do twice a month, I will go over what has recently came off my hook.  It will be similar to my pattern reviews, but with more than one completed project in a post.

pattern review: baby cocoon crochet bowl

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog.

If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

One of my favorite projects to make is any type of of photo prop!  I love that they are, most of the time, different items and a crocheters creativity can really be shown through the making of photo props.  This Crochet Baby Cocoon from illbeyarned does not disappoint.

This pattern is easy to understand and with using Lion Brand Homespun Yarn, it works up quickly with a great stretch.  At first I was beginning to think my gauge was off, as it looked small, but the more rounds you work of the pattern, you start to notice that it is growing and has that stretch you look for in a cocoon pattern so it looks snug on the baby in the final picture.  I love that this pattern suggests you use Lion Brand Homespun Yarn--before this pattern I had never used it before--and the color choices are just top notch and the quality of the yarn is fantastic.

Crochet Tutorial Series, Part 1: The Magic Circle

I typically make a lot of beanies...it just is something that is quick and easy to do.  However, the one thing I disliked most about making beanies was the annoying little open hole in the top of them after you would make your initial circle.  I wanted to be able to find a way to make that hole disappear...introducing you to the Magic Circle.  Not sure how long ago this has been around, but I am so very thankful that I found it and want it to share it with all of you!

So, grab your favorite yarn and crochet hook and get ready to learn one of my favorite crochet tips.

1-3 Grab your yarn and place it over your index finger, then wrap the tail around your middle finger twice; next take your crochet hook and place under the two strands sitting on your middle finger.
4-6 With your hook, grab the yarn that is sitting on your index finger and pull through then chain 1 to lock in the magic circle.
7-9 Make the amount of stitches that you need (for this I made 8 HDCs), begin to pull on the tail to pull close; and lastly, join with a slip stitch to the first stitch or you can continue working in the round, whichever way your pattern calls for.

pattern review: criss-cross and basketweave coffee cozies and FREE pattern!

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me with publishing this blog.
If you decided to make a purchase, I will then make a small profit, at no extra cost to you.

I've been wanting to challenge myself lately when it comes to crochet...so I did something I have never done before, I tested a pattern for Rebecca over at LittleMonkeysCrochet.  And let me tell you something, her patterns are so easy to read and to understand and make great, I mean great, projects!

I tested the criss-cross and basket-weave cozies--and they turned out just great.  She uses a H hook for the criss-cross cozy and a G hook for the basket-weave cozy, but to obtain the right gauge I had to go up to a J hook and a I hook (respectfully), yes, I know I have tight tension ;)

Both patterns have great notes and helpful hints before you even begin the cozies.  I love how on the criss-cross pattern, Rebecca even includes precise measurements for the button placements--which, in my opinion, really helps make the loops make a perfect criss-cross under the handle.

Yarn used: Caron Simply Soft in Watermelon
Hook used: Addi Swing hook in size J

new house, new yarn room

You read that title right, my husband and I bought a new house a little over a month ago.  So, with this new house I got a new yarn room, or in other words, a craft room.  As the room has flourished into exactly what I wanted, I have fallen in love with it over and over.  The inspiration came from this photo.  That photo is a sermon series graphic from the church I work at, BridgePoint Church.  The colors catch my eye first, but the the true reason why I love it is because it is a chevron pattern.  So, there's the inspiration.

After the inspiration was found and the house was bought, we bought paint and went to work.  The thing about this color is that it's great for my yarn room but also works as a guest bedroom color since we will eventually have a white daybed in the room for when we have guests over.

the before.  boring beige.

But before I go any further, let's look at a before picture.

After the painting, of course we had to buy furniture.  IKEA here we come!  With the paint color being a little bright and bold, I wanted to add some crispness to the room with white furniture, we bought two desks and put them in the corner for a corner desk with basic white legs, 3 floating wall shelves and two cabinets with glass doors for my yarn storage and a drawer unit that's perfect for my printer to sit on but also holds all my shipping supplies nice and organized and out of sight.  And lastly, a pop of color with my blue desk chair.  The glass doors on the two yarn units are beautiful and add a girly touch to the room but still allows me to see my yarn collection.  I have other miscellaneous yarn storage in one half of the closet (not pictured in the final picture), that I have gathered from Joann's, Woot.com, Target and an office supply store.  The yarn storage in the closet is for yarn that I don't always grab or go to, more of my specialty yarn.

pattern review: crochet giraffe

A few years ago it was the year of weddings and this last year it's been the year of babies!  So, for one of my friend's daughter I wanted to challenge myself and try and make something different than what I normally do...so I bought this Crochet Giraffe pattern off of Etsy.

I was very hesitant and slightly scared when it came to doing a crochet stuffed animal, but I was up for the challenge.  I decided to use a variegated pink and white yarn for the body part and a white for the accent parts.

Overall, the pattern is extremely easy to use and I was able to learn a little more crochet skills.  I am typically used to working in the round but with joining the rounds together at each end, this pattern calls for working in continuous rounds (where you don't join at the end of each round).  I had to get used to working with stitch markers, and that took some time, but it is easy to get the hang of.  Something else I had to get used to was not holding my yarn so tight.  I have a tight tension when it comes to crochet and with a pattern that calls for a DK weight yarn (weight 3) I kept wanting to hold the yarn extremely tight and became problematic in being able to work with the pattern due to me making it so small.

pattern review: Basic Beanie

College/NFL Themed Crochet Beanie

I learned how to crochet from my mom right before I got married. It is something my mom and I still  enjoy talking about today. But, when I really got hooked (no pun intended) I needed to find new patterns that were readily available and reasonable priced. I began the search on Etsy.

If you haven't been exposed to Etsy, you should definitely check it out. It's a great website where people sell either vintage or hand-crafted items from all over the world.

One of the first crochet pattern vendors I found was Posh Patterns. I ended up buying one of their three pattern bundles; one being their basic beanie pattern. Since I was still a beginner in the crochet world (and new to patterns), I needed something simple and basic. This looked like the perfect pattern and it turned out to be just that.

Basic Crochet Beanie with Flower

Crochet Button Beanie

It uses basic crochet stitches such as chaining, single crochet, slip stitch and double crochet. You also increase in the first four rounds by crocheting 2 double crochets in a previously made double crochet. It's a basic process that a lot of patterns use and it's really easy to pick up. I added the wooden button for a little extra something and I think it turned out quite cute.


I have bought other patterns from Posh Patterns and found them to be easy to read and well written. I have had to contact them a few times for help with a pattern (due to me not knowing how to read patterns) and they were very helpful. I never hesitate to contact them when I have a question about a pattern because I know they are willing to help.

If you are new to crocheting and are looking for a pattern to try out, I would definitely recommend this basic beanie pattern. Also, here is their bundle deal, I personally think it is a great buy!

Remember, you can find any of my items in my Etsy shop, CEDdesigns.

works in progress #1

I don't know about any of the other crocheters out there, but I constantly have works in progress (WIPs).  Whether it's a blanket I can get easily bored with or just small orders that I keep putting off, I always have something working on my hooks.

Here are my WIPs:

-coffee koozies

Materials:

- Michael's Impeccable yarn in Lavender

- Red Heart Soft in Berry

- Red Heart Super Saver in Baby Pink and Shocking Pink

- 1" white button

- Susan Bates Hook in G size

Original listing in my Etsy shop, Crochet Coffee Koozie

-bellflower infinity scarf

Materials:

- Caron Simply Soft in Ocean

- Susan Bates Bambo Hook in H size

Original Listing in my Etsy shop, Crochet Infinity Scarf (Bellflower Pattern)

-star afghan

 Materials:

- Red Heart with Love Yarn in Peacock and Bluebell

- Addi Crochet Hook in J size (not pictured)

Listing Coming soon to my Etsy shop!

What are you working on this week?

pattern review: Mermaid Photography Prop Set

Crochet Mermaid Cocoon and
Bikini Set w/ Headband

Photography by:
Luna Bella Photography

Today is all about a pattern review!  I partner with Luna Bella Photography regularly with making her photo props from her newborn photography sessions.  We had talked for awhile about doing a mermaid set for a newborn and last fall we finally did!  This was the end result, isn't it just darling?

I purchased the crochet pattern off of Etsy (where I find most of my patterns) from LonghornPrairie's shop.  Not only was LonghornPrairie great to work with, the pattern was also very easy to understand and she even includes a video with the pattern to help out with starting a chain less foundation row.  She also has a video for the fin part of the tail as it also includes a chain less foundation row.

Photography by:
Luna Bella Photography

In the original pattern, the headband only calls for one flower to be added, however, to add a bit of a tiara/crown look to it, I decided to make the headband have three flowers instead and added the pearl buttons to give it an even more girly look!

The bikini top is a piece of cake and, again, very easy to understand.

Yarn used:

Caron Simply Soft in Soft Pink (bikini top and flowers)

Caron Simply Soft in Baby Brights (mermaid tail and headband) 

Hook used:

Susan Bates Bamboo Handle in size H

Gauge:

8 DC = 2"

You can purchase this pattern by LonghornPrairie here.

crochet hooks

Left: Susan Bates
Center: Addi
Right: Susan Bates Bamboo Handle
All in size J

In addition to crochet projects I will feature on this blog, I will also try to give tips and tricks about crocheting and crochet accessories. 

This week, it's all about crochet hooks!

Believe it or not, there are different types of crochet hooks. The two I will be focusing on today are inline and non-inline (tapered). I am sure there are more out there, these are just the two that I have in my own collection and that I am most familiar with.

First off, the difference between the two. Inline has a sharper and more slanted throat (where the yarn rests), while the non-inline has a more rounded and smooth throat. I prefer the inline as I crochet pretty tight and I feel that the inline helps with that. I do have some crochet hooks that are non-inline, just like the Addi Swing Crochet Hook (size J) pictured. I prefer the Addi hooks when I know I am going to be doing marathon crocheting--in other words, not stopping very often. I find that the handle they have on their hooks are much easier to hold for longer periods of time.

You can also tell another difference between these two particular brands is that one has a more pointed tip (Susan Bates) while the other (Addi) had a more rounded tip. When crocheting more loosely (bigger stitches, larger yarn or larger hook) I tend to gravitate towards the more rounded tip and then when crocheting something more tightly (smaller stitches, smaller yarn or smaller hook) I gravitate toward the pointed tip--that way I have a more precise feel when going into the loop I am crocheting a stitch into.

But, what is most important is that you use what ever feels best for your crocheting style and comfort.

What's your favorite style of crochet hook to work with?