Why I crochet...

Why do I crochet?

Well it all started when I found out that I was going to be an Aunt to twins. I thought, what I wonderful thing for me to do for them! Make them something special from their Aunt Lindsay. So I asked a friend to teach me and since then I've made them so many things. From blankets, to hats, even sock monkeys!

It has since evolved into so much more. When I lost my mom back in 2009 it became a way for me to cope a little with that loss. My mom was a knitter so it is kind of a way for me to carry on what she did, even though I have never been able to knit.

Then in May 2012 I found out I was pregnant! My first thought was, what should I make this baby

first! I started making things right away even before we found out boy or girl, pink or blue. Since both my husband and I are Florida State University Alumni I started with the obvious colors, garnet and gold. By August it was time to find out boy or girl. I told my husband after the doctor appointment I wanted my next stop to be the craft store so that I could get my yarn! I was anxious to get things ready for this little one! And what color did I get? Blue!

This was after my trip to the yarn store :)

My son is now 3 years old and I have made everything that I can think of for him. Blankets, hats, booties, bibs, animals, even coasters (at his request)!

OK enough about my little guy, I can talk about him all day! Back to why I crochet. Back in 2013, after my son turned 1, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This diagnosis has been a lot

for me to wrap my head around; I still don't think I have fully come to terms with this fact. It took me a lot to just type that out.

One thing I want people to realize is that having MS doesn't mean that you are sick. That's probably why I haven't said it out loud (at least not online). I don't want to be treated differently because of this. Crocheting has helped me get through this though. It makes me feel normal to do something that I loved to do already.

Bottom line, crocheting helps me relax and not think about it for just a little bit. And at the same time I get to make gifts for my friends and family! I would love to try and grow this into selling my items online one day, but for now I'm keeping busy making baby gifts, Christmas gifts, and birthday gifts for everyone. 

So why do you crochet?

Criss-Cross Baby Hat

Lately I've been busy working on projects and haven't been able to write down my latest pattern. This week I took the time to write it down. It goes along with the theme of a few of my other patterns that I've done on here. You could make the Criss-Cross Baby Blanket, the Criss-Cross Baby Bib, and this hat and you would have a nice set for a baby gift!

Criss-Cross Baby Hat

Size 0-3 months

Size H hook

Baby type yarn

Row 1: Using a magic ring, CH 3, 11DC in ring. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 2: CH 3. DC in same stitch. 2DC in each stitch around. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 3: CH 3. DC in same stitch. DC in next stitch. 2DC in next stitch. Repeat this pattern around to the beginning of the row. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 4: CH 3. DC in same stitch. DC in next 2 stitches. 2DC in next stitch. Repeat this pattern around to the beginning of the row. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 5: CH 3. DC in same stitch. DC in next 7 stitches. 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat this pattern around to beginning of the row. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 6: CH 3. DC in next stitch and each stitch around. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 7: CH 3. Skip next 2 stitches. DC in next stitch. DC in previous stitch. 1 criss-cross stitch made. Skip next stitch. DC in next stitch. DC in previous stitch. Continue in this pattern all the way around. DC in first stitch skipped. Join at top of CH 3.

Row 8-15: Repeat rows 6 & 7

Row 16: CH 3. DC in next stitch and each stitch around. Join at top of CH 3. 

Row 17: Option 1 - CH 1. SC in same stitch and each stitch all the way around. Join at first stitch. Finish off. This is the option I did in the picture.

               Option 2 - CH 1. SC in same stitch. Skip next stitch. 5 DC in next stitch. Skip next stitch. SC in next stitch. Repeat this pattern around to the beginning of the row. Join at 1st SC. Finish off.

If anyone finds anything that I might need to change in the pattern, please let me know! Enjoy and please send me pictures if you do this pattern!