Everythings better when its Free!

So here is the deal. I have been wanting to run a sale/discount for my etsy shop for some time and have decided to go a slightly different route. I am giving anyone who follows (you can start following by clicking the Follow button on the right) my blog free shipping on any one item in my shop, and 1 dollar shipping on each item after that.

To be qualified you have to choose Other as your payment option when you buy and mention this with your screen name in the message to buyer. This is only valid until Labor Day, or until my shop runs dry.

Hurry and buy before someone else does.

Hand Warmers

So it is starting to get cold in the mornings at my house. It wouldn't really bother me except that my hands get so cold I want to just curl up in a blanket, which makes it hard to crochet. I was so close to breaking down and buying one of those blanket backward robes... snuggie I think, when I decided to search for hand warmer patterns. I searched ravelry, crochet pattern central and found some, but none that really made me love them. Then I did what I do best, I made my pattern. This is what I came up with:
I really loved the look of ribbed knit work, but I hate to knit. Good thing I recently rented a book from the library that shows you all sorts of Stitches and Techniques. (the book is called The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches, by Reader's Digest) This book is awesome. I found the technique to make a fake rib in this book.
I really love how it turned out and cannot wait to make the matching one to finally be able to crochet, even when it is cold. I will be selling this pattern online once I iron out the kinks. Let me know what you think!

Giveaway??

I am thinking about hosting a giveaway closer to Holiday season and wanted to know what you all would like to see given away. I am thinking a nice scarf, or maybe a custom hat. Tell me what you think.
I would love to hear more from you all. I just finished an afghan that had been taking up all of my time, so now I am free to do more blogging and crafting. I also want to know what other free patterns you are interested in.

My Craft Corner Cricut Giveaway

Hey all you crafters,
There is a new site in town. My Craft Corner. I have already signed up. You can add pictures of your crafts, blog about anything, and chat with other crafters. Right now they are giving away a new circut expression by provo craft. You know we all want one of these. All you have to do to enter is join the site (you already want to) and comment in the forums. How easy is that! I want to win so bad. Oh... If you join... tell them I sent you (craftytortoise).
www.mycraftcorner.com

Knitting....

Oh how I hate it. I don't think it is too hard, or complicated. I really like all the patterns you can create I just hate knitting. I think my hate is stemmed from the knitting needles. They are so pointy and get in my way, and my stitches are always falling off.

I decided to give knitting another try last night. (I never learn) It went no where. I have been working on a bright pink gorgeous easy scarf for etsy, or myself (we will see when its done) for like 8 months. I just cannot knit more than ten rows, and this is a tiny scarf, without poking and screwing up. I just frustrate myself.

I think the reason I just keep trying is that my Great Grandmother was a fantastic knitter. When she died I got all her crafty stuff (mostly knitting and thread crochet). I really want to enjoy knitting and keep her tradition alive, I just get so darn frustrated. Maybe I am just a true crocheter at heart.

Another Treasury!

"I have no idea.... What to call this treasury" is where you can find my recycled magazine coasters! They were featured today in another treasury with some other great items! Make sure you check it out before it disappears!

Baby Baby Baby

There is nothing better than babies, especially when they are not my own!

I just found out that both my cousin, and my sister in law are pregnant! WHOO HOO! I am so excited for them... and for me! This means i get to crochet them baby items... and buy new yarn!

I went yesterday to buy yarn with my husband (bad idea). Don't get me wrong, he is patient, but I like to look at all my choices and after asking him 3 times if these green's went together he was trying to figure out why they were different than the last ones.
I don't want to give too much away, just in case the mommies try to sneak a peek, but I will be showing a little bit in the posts to come!

I really love crocheting for etsy, but being able to crochet and then see the look on their face when you give it to them is priceless!

What's Red, White, and Black all over?

This great hat of course! I started creating flowers a few months ago. I loved this one made by crocheting a long strip and then stitching it together in a circle. I added the red button to spice it up a bit and then when I crocheted the hat (for of course a different project) I realized that the two were meant to be one. That was when this hat was born! I just love it, and wish that I would have made it in my size. This one is a Child size hat and is available in my Etsy shop, but I am willing to make the same hat in a different size. Don't you just love the simplicity!

Alien Beanie Pattern

My favorite pattern to date! I just made this for a group of MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers). I wanted to make something that was neither boyish, nor girlish. I had a lot of trouble thinking of something great. Then it hit me. Alien Hat. Super cute and fun to create this pattern is available here for just 6 bucks for 4 different sizes.
I love it!

I'm in another Treasury

I was featured in another Etsy Treasury called "Drink's on me". My recycled square coasters are up there along with a lot of other great coasters. Take a look at the Treasury Here! If you don't know what an Etsy Treasury is here is a brief explanation. It is a mini list of items that the etsian believes are worth showing the world. Anyone can make a Treasury as long as there are less than 333 in existance. This one will time out on Friday at about 7pm. So hurry up and take a look!

Unravel me

While at a GoodWill store (we were looking for shelves to help our new house become a home) I happened to pick up some sweaters. I had heard that you could unravel them to harvest the yarn for future projects. I had also heard that you can find really nice yarn/sweaters for next to nothing at charity shops like GoodWill.
I bought 3 sweaters the cotton variety took them home, washed them of course and started away.
"How hard could it be to unravel a sweater"
HARD
I then searched the internet for tutorials. I found a great one HERE that included pictures and step by step instructions.

Once I followed that I was able to salvage most of the other 2 sweaters. I got a ton of yarn and though the process is time consuming and you get littered with little yarn bits It was worth it to get high quality yarn for next to nothing.
I even used some of the yarn to make the flower on my free hat pattern.

I encourage others to repurpose yarn this way. It helps give old sweaters a new home. Just read the instructions first.

Back to School

School is getting ready to start whether we like it or not. It's time to get ready! Here are some things to make DIY style for your little ones that are about to go back to school.

• Make book covers from paper bags. I loved this because I got to decorate my own book cover. A good tutorial is here: DIY
• Sew your own pencil case out of their favorite fabric. I guarentee they will want to carry this one around. DIY
• Start crocheting them Hat and Scarf sets before it gets too cold. DIY
  

Don't forget to label EVERYTHING. Have fun with it buy some fabric paint for the fabric items and let your kids get artistic as well.

Hat Pattern

So I made a hat for a friend today. It is adorable! I used a soft acrylic chocolate yarn for the hat, and recycled sweater yarn combined with a soft acrylic pink yarn for the flower.
This is the pattern. I warn you it is not perfect and you may have to customize it to fit your own needs.

Made to fit 3-6 months with a finished size of 15 inches around, and 6 inches in length.

Hat:

1. make magic ring, sc 8 in ring (8 sts)
2. continue around marking the beinging stitch with a stitch marker, 2sc in each sc (16 sts)
3. *1 sc in first st, 2 sc in next* repeat around (24)
4. *1 sc in first 2 sts, 2 sc in next* repeat around
   
5. *1 sc in first 3 sts, 2 sc in next* repeat around
   
6. *1 sc in first 4 sts, 2 sc in next* repeat around
7. *1 sc in first 5 sts, 2 sc in next* repeat around
8. *1 sc in first 6 sts, 2 sc in next* repeat around
9. sc around until you reach approx. 5 inches in length
10. join to next st. chain 3, (from this point you will be doing a twisted dc stitch also called a crossed dc stitch) dc in st behind your chain 3. *Skip 1 st, dc, than dc in the skipped stitch* repeat around. Forming a twisted dc row. (look online for a tutorial if you have trouble)
    
11. join. Make a shell border by: chain 1, sc in same stitch, *Skip 2 stitches, 8 treble crochet in next stitch, skip 2 stitches, sc in next* around. Adjust skipped number of stitches in the end if needed.
    

Finish off your ends and tuck any loose ends in.

Flower:

1. make magic circle, sc 5 around
2. in each stitch *ch 4, cluster 3 treble crochet, chain 4 join w/ sl st to next st.* repeat around
3. Fasten off and tuck in any loose ends.

Let me know if you have any problems. I will try to address any issues in the pattern you have.

Basket Weaving Coasters?

I recently got a library book this week all about basket weaving. My intentions were to get an idea how to basket weave so that I could apply it to my magazine coasters. Boy was I surprised when they turned out so good!
Here are my new creations using nothing but magazines, creativity and an acrylic seal.These babies are up for grabs in my Etsy Shop. I really liked making these, and with the new knowledge I can't wait to jump up to recycled magazine baskets!
Lesson Learned: Go to the Library often!

Sizes Smizes

So if any of you has tried to make a hat you will realize that it is not as easy as it looks. I have been working on a line of baby hats for my etsy shop... They will be up next week so feel free to take a look. I decided to make my own pattern and I worked one up so fast. Then I gave it to my model... a 3 month old baby boy. It was of course way too small. I did some research online and came up with this chart:

• months.............circumference.............length
• 0-3....................14 inches.......................4.5-5 inches
• 3-6....................14-16 inches.................5-5.5 inches
• 6-12..................16-18 inches..................6-6.5 inches
• 12-24................18-19.5 inches..............6.5-7 inches

Now according to my model the chart is off by 1... her 3 month old has a head circumference of 16 inches... so I made him a 6-12 month hat and it fit great.
Other than that the hats look good, and if I follow the chart the hat comes out correct... with the length substantial for the circumference.

Anybody out there have the same problem I am having? I could use some help figuring these hat sizes out. Do you know of a site that gives correct sizes?

Unfinished

All of you out there with projects just sitting in dust raise your hand. (Hand Raise) I can't count how many projects I have started and pushed aside for the next one. Too many I can tell you that. I decided to look into the darkness and pull out those unfinished projects. Here is my collection:

• 2 out of 4 sewn quilted coasters
• 1 half cut quilt (not even sewn at all!)
• 3 unfinished scarfs (I don't even remember who I started making them for)
• 2 half hats
• 3 partly crocheted baby blankets (I even used the rest of the yarn for other projects)
• 1 barely there rug
  
• 1 attempt at weaving
  
• 2 attempts at spinning (its harder than it looks)
  

My list is big but I am sure more of you out there do this too.
Tell me and others about your unfinished closet of crafts in the comments!

Yarn Yarn Yarn

Ahh... When I think about yarn my heart starts to beat so fast, but as most people out there I buy up more yarn than I can actually use in one project. I find myself with lots and lots of left over bits of yarn that I cannot for the life of me figure out what to do with. Not enough for a scarf... forget a blanket (unless you want it to look like confetti exploded). So I figured I should do some exploring and see what I can use those small, and even smaller bits of yarn for that would actually make me feel good about using up all my leftovers.

I have finnaly come up with a few... some big, some small... projects to help us all with those pesky leftovers:

1. Baby Hats- use little yarn and are perfect for finishing up those leftover balls of yarn, especially if you have some great color combos.
2. Crocheted Flowers- are great for itty bitty bits of yarn just laying around. They also look fantastic attached to hats, scarfs, even blankets.
   
3. Slippers- epecially baby booties are perfect for small amounts of yarn, just make sure you have enough to make 2.
4. Crocheted Toys- great for baby's or pets. Let your leftovers be the inspiration and let your little ones enjoy your hard work. (my tiny turtle pattern is perfect for this)
5. Jewelry- That's right jewelry. Crocheted necklaces and bracelets are all the rage right now.
6. Storage- Make yourself a little bowl to keep your rings in, or a larger one for odds and ends.
7. Drink cozy- save yourself the 2 bucks and make your own drink coozie.
8. Coasters- very little yarn needed here, and you can mix and match colors with the seasons.
   
9. Face scrubbies- These little cotton ball replacers are perfect to get rid of some yarn, and help you save the environment at the same time.
10. Ipod/Phone case- Keep your phone or mp3 player safe with a small case and rid yourself of that last leftover ball of yarn... you know the one that keeps unravelling in your bag.

I am sure there are more ideas out there.. but this should keep us busy for a while and clear out some room so we can go shopping for more yarn!

Sushi Rug

When I first saw the phrase "Sushi Rug" in an etsy.com alchemy request I was thrown back. I knew that sushi was the new thing, but I would have never guessed that it would be decoration. I had done a few rugs in the past and decided to ponder this and give it a shot. I was super excited when I was met with a buyer who was as excited as me to have her dream rug created. I had a few snags here and there as I created this rug. The center was the toughest part, after I figured that part out the rest was just time consuming. All in all I was super thrilled how this came out.

Made of all cotton fabric in a braided style this rug is almost my favorite creation, but if you would have told me a few months ago that I would be making a sushi rug I would have laughed. Now, I think its the best and most unique rug I have ever made.

Wedding Decorations

Ok... So I am getting married in June, and I was having such a hard time finding cheap, but nice decorations for the church and reception site.

Flowers are gorgeous, but cost so much!

Christmas lights are nice, but give off a load of heat, and for a June wedding... not a good idea.

Fabric swags seemed like a way to go, cost is ok, but its been done so much, I wanted something different.

Then I found something that I truely fell in love with. Chinese white paper lanterns. I loved them... they look great, are pretty cheap, and they give a great feel to the room if you hang them right. I only had one problem. Again they are the hit of the season, so everyone is doing them.

I decided to put my own little spin on them. Since it will still be daylight outside during my reception I needed something that caught your attention, but didn't make the room look overwhelming. I started out with trial and error. I tried papper mache (the glue and water kind) with strips of paper trying to make something like this.

That I could spray paint white and hang from the ceiling.

Well of course, I failed at first, just making a ball of paper in the end. So my mind switched to something more string like, Yarn! I said. So I tried with yarn, and this time switching to a flour and water mixture. It worked, but did not spray paint well... So I decided to use some old twine I had left over from a few years ago. Eureka! It looked great! It spray painted wonderously and cost me nothing! Now I just need to make a few (thousand) more.

After I make a few more I will post pictures here, and maybe put a little tutorial up for other DIY Brides out there.

Teeny the Tiny Turtle

This is Teeny the Tiny Turtle. He is my first free pattern, and he is really easy to create.

Materials:

2 differnt colored yarns (I used a light green for his head, and a dark green for his shell)

G Crochet hook (you can use others, but the size will change)

Black yarn and needle to embroider the facial expression

Stuffing (I use fiber fill)

Size:

He is about 4 inches long, and 2 inches tall

Pattern:

This pattern is formed in rounds using a marker to mark your starting stitch, remarking each time you come around. Also uses the magic circle method which can be found on the internet.

Shell:

Round 1: Using magic circle method, sc 6 into circle and pull tight to form a ring. Mark the first stitch. (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)

Round 3: *2 sc in first sc, sc in next* repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: sc in each sc around (18 sc)

Round 5: *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat around (24 sc)

Round 6: sc in each sc around (24 sc)

Round 7: *3 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc* repeat around (30 sc)

Round 8-10: sc in each sc around (30 sc)

Round 11: In Back loops only, *sc2tog in first sc, sc in next 3 sc* repeat around (24 sc)

Round 12: Back to normal, *sc2tog in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat around (18 sc)

Round 13: *sc2tog in first sc, sc in each sc* repeat around (12 sc)

Stuff now

Round 14: sc2tog in each sc around (6 sc)

Fasten off, close the hole in the shell and hide your yarn tail.

Head:

Round 1: Using magic circle, sc 6 in the circle to form a ring. Mark your first stitch. (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)

Round 3: *2 sc in first sc, sc in next* repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat around (24 sc)

Round 5-7: sc in each sc around (24 sc)

Round 8: *sc2tog in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat around (18 sc)

Round 9: *sc2tog in first sc, sc in next sc* repeat around (12 sc)

Stuff now

Round 10: sc2tog in each sc around (6 sc)

Round 11-13: sc in each sc around (6 sc)

Fasten off and leave long tail for attachment.

Finishing:

Attach the neck of the head to the underneath of the shell and stitch it on so that the head sits properly. (I find that I have to stitch his head to the side of his shell) Embroider the face, and your done!

Enjoy your own Tiny Turtle!