Sponge bob square hat

The weather is getting colder people are think of Christmas. I had a request this week to make two Sponge bob inspired hats - one for a 2 year old and the other for a 4 year old. As Sponge bob is square I thought a square hat would be appropriate. I made a few visits to various websites to check out  what colour his clothes are. I then went into town and four shops later found the right shade of yellow. 
Here he is 

I would have liked to have added his teeth but that would have made the hat too big. Doesn't look too bad for a first attempt.

Teaching my daughter to crochet!

My daughter has been nagging me all week to teach her how to crochet! She has been patiently waiting until Saturday......today! I have a hook and some yarn for her but had no idea where to start. So good ole Google to the rescue I have found this wonderful site so now feel a bit more confident in where to start.


Two hours of teaching on day one and we have two chains attached to a hair bobble with a bead on the end. I think its going to be a long process but the joy on her face when she made her chains was lovely to see. Such pride in her work - don't often see that when you are only 6 years old. So more crochet chain making for her tomorrow.

Day 2 - As soon as she got up she picked up the hook and wool and started to make more chains. She seems a bit faster today and the chains are growing, she said she is finding it easier than yesterday so that is good. The problem now is going to be to get her to do anything else!

Dinosaur hats

I have had a request to make two dinosaur hats for little boys. I have decided to go for a basic beanie with a tail then add some stuffed spikes.  I am half way through making one and it's looking good so far. So glad the concept is working!  I am hoping to finish the first one tonight as I had to bribe my youngest son into going to breakfast club is morning by promising him that I would make him one too! He is such a task master he will be reminding me everyday until its finished.

Here is the hat in progress

 Completed Dino hat. ^^^^^^^^

 On to the next :)

Both hats now completed and blocked all ready to go to their new owners.

My happy son modelling the hats!

Sugar skull scarf pattern

I have designed a pattern for a skull scarf. I searched and searched the interweb for a basic pattern but could not find anything that inspired me to make it so I decided to have a go at making my own. I am only part way through making the item so the pictures are added as I go along. I have only done the skull design and am developing the eyes and decorations to make it look pretty.

Here is the pattern

Halloween skull scarf


I used dk weight yarn - 50g main colour and scraps from my stash for accent colour
mc = main colour
ch = chain
st = stitch
dec = decrease
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch


This pattern in written in English terms. I used a size 2.25mm metal needle and used purple for the main colour and black for the accent colour.

Head - make 14

Row 1: with mc, ch 12, dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in each chain across, turn (11)
Row 2: ch1, 2 dc in first st, dc across to last st, 2 dc, turn (13)
Row 3: Repeat row 2 (15)
Row 4 & 5 : ch 1, dc across, turn (15)
Row 6: ch1, dec dc over first 2 st, dc across to last two st, dec dc, turn (13)
Row 7: Repeat row 6 (11)
Row 8: Repeat row 6 (9)
Row 9 - 11: ch 1, dc across, turn (9)
Row 12: attach accent colour ch 1, dc across, turn (9)
Row 13: attach mc. Ch 1, dec dc over first 2 st, dc across to last 2 st, dec dc, turn (7)
Row 14: ch 1, dec dc over first 2 st, dc across to last 2 st, dec dc, turn (5)
Row 15: ch 1, dc across. dc in each row end and st around head. Join to first dc. Fasten off

Eyes

Round 1: magic ring,  6 dc in ring (6)
Round 2:, ch 1, 2 dc in each dc. sl st into first dc. Fasten off (12)

I made 14 eyes and 14 flowers I then decorated the skulls with an eye and flower in each head. 

Making up
Sew together 7 skulls chin to head, twice
connect two separate sides head to head so you have a left and a right side.


Any comments or problems with pattern please let me know :)

completed pattern pic to be added when I have finished

Baby headbands

Today I have been playing with cotton and made a baby headband. I have used scalloped edges to make it look pretty and added a little butterfly and flower to pretty it up.

I previously made headbands using acrylic wool which had more give in them but did not look quite as nice.

my iphone also takes better quality pictures than my old HTC too!

A beautiful little model wearing first headband.

Funky Faces

One of my hobbies is face painting and glitter tattoos. I have three children (two still small enough to humour my fads!) that I regularly practice on. I have got my glitter tattoo box out at parties and weddings and the kids keep quiet for ages......they also keep me busy and active which is good! I have face painted at a few events at my children's nursery, but mostly at birthday parties. I have recently discovered Diamond FX face paints which are brighter and easier to use than Snazaroo which I previously used. I am also experimenting with one strokes and am booked onto a workshop in Bristol in November which I discovered through illusion magazine which I am very excited about.

As you can see from the pictures children are not always happy about having their faces painted!

Toyz and stuff

 I have made a few stuffed toys since learning how to crochet which I have given as presents to teachers at the end of term, donated as raffle prizes and given as gifts to various friends and family. As many of the toys have been one off makes I wanted to keep pictures of everything that I have made so that I don't forget everything that I have done. So here is a collection of the toys I have made.

I will add new toys as I make them. Especially as Christmas is coming I'm sure there will be some festive makes to keep my fingers occupied.

Phat hats and other stuff I've made

This was my first attempt at a crochet summer hat for my niece. I loved how easy it was to make and the flower was really cute and set the hat off lovely. Unfortunately it was too small for her when I finished which led me on to look for average hat / head sizes on the interweb.  I have learnt from my mistakes and now have started to make some winter hats that actually fit the people that they have been made for! 

 I have been busy this week with hat making maybe because the weather is getting colder.

I have made this cute owl hat for my sister, and have made one each for my children, my daughters is pink and purple sparkles whilst my son's is blue and brown! Even though he insists that he likes girl colours! The hat did not take too long to make and I used a pattern that I found on Ravelry by  Sarah Zimmerman  as a basic guide to follow. I found that the sizes on the pattern came out a bit small so added a few rows extra to make the hats wider and longer.

I have since been asked to make a bunny hat for a friends 4 month old daughter. She wanted the same basic design as the owl hat but in sparkly white and baby pink. It  had to have ears and a face. I practised all weekend making different shape and sizes until I got a basic ear shape.
And here it is.

I had a request to make a tiny owl hat for a 3 week old baby, it took an hour to make as its so small. Mum only wanted one colour for baby Bailey which was a bit easier as no colour changes :)

Here is the finished item, which I will get to deliver to her later.