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!

Hats, Hats, & Hats!!

One of my favorite things to crochet is a hat. They are just so easy to finish and there are so many different patterns to choose from you can make any kind of hat you want!

For Halloween, my son dressed up as Marshall from Paw Patrol but he wouldn't wear the hat that came with the costume. So, I decided to try and make a pumpkin hat so he would have something to keep his head warm. Here he is in his pumpkin hat:

He rushed out on Halloween night to go trick or treating so I didn't get a picture of it with his costume. The pattern was so easy. Here is a link: http://amray1976.blogspot.com/2015/09/crochet-pumpkin-hat-all-sizes.html

I love the look of the character hats but have only made one, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hat. Here is my son modeling that.

Here is the pattern for this hat: https://whittymomma.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/free-ninja-turtle-hat-crochet-pattern/

My favorite hat that I've made so far is a football hat. I made this hat for my son when he was about 10 months old. He is 3 now and somehow this hat still fits him! Here he is modeling this one.

Here is the link to this pattern: http://littlebucketcreates.blogspot.com/

I hope everyone enjoys a few of my favorite hat patterns! 

Frogging a Project

Frogging: the process of ripping out and undoing your crochet stitches when you make a mistake.

At some point, all crocheters will frog all or some of one of their crochet projects. I have done this many times myself. In fact, I just recently had to frog part of my American Flag Blanket project. As I got further along, the stars just were not laying in the right positions and I didn't like how they were starting to look. So I made a decision. I frogged the stars and am starting over!

I had a little helper taking the stars off :)

I think it took less time to take all of those stars off then it did to get them on the blanket!

Now, I'm starting over and making the stars smaller so that they fit better on the blanket. You just have to learn from your mistakes and don't get upset if something like this happens!

If this happens to you while you are crocheting, don't get upset. Know that you are not alone. Every crocheter has had to do it at some point. If you are like me, you want to make sure that your project looks perfect!

American Flag Blanket

For the last few months I have been working on an American Flag blanket. It's slowly coming along! I used this pattern for the flag http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/afghans/american-flag/. For the stars I just used the pattern that is on the site with the flag. Right now I'm sewing on all of those stars so I'm hoping to be done soon! Here is what it has looks like:

I love how it is turning out so far! I will post pictures of my completed blanket. It's for a baby that was born in September, but this blanket is big enough that the baby will be able to use it for many years to come!

Once I get this completed, be looking for a new baby hat pattern!

Hats

Here are a few hats that will soon be available on my Etsy shop.

The red, white, and green was originally made for my little boy, but it didn't turn out quite like I wanted for him. It's just a simple hat that will be perfect for a little one during the holidays.

The other little hat was made with some yarn that I found in my stash that I thought would be perfect for a sun hat for a little girl. It is made with a decorative criss cross stitch.

Still crocheting!

Just because I've been absent from here, doesn't mean that I've put my hook down. It just means that I haven't had as much time as I did in the past to keep everyone updated on my most recent crochet endeavors.

On January 4, 2013 my son, Lucas, was born. Ever since then he's been keeping us on our toes. Can't believe that he's already 2 years old!

When he does give me a little bit of free time, I'm usually crocheting. Here are a few items that I've made recently:

I've made 3 of these! About to make 1 more!

My son wearing the football hat that I made for him.

Baby hat that I made for Lucas when he was born

Baby blanket I made for a family member

I have many other projects that I've done from blankets, to scarves, to hats. I will be also opening my Etsy shop so be on the look out for that if you might interested in purchasing any of my handmade items!