Random Pattern Find - Crown

Today's random pattern find is a crown. This was inspired by my daughter asking me to make her one and me obliging! Isn't this just perfect? I decorated the crown with snowflake beads, pearls and pale pink seed beads.

This pattern is very cute and works up quickly. It's a free ravelry download that you can find HERE.

I worked up this pattern last night using a G hook and following the 2-3 year instructions. I figured the larger hook size would compensate for the fewer stitches. My tension ended up being to tight so I had to remake it. I used the asme hook, the same size instructions but with a looser tension and it worked perfectly. My daughter absolutely loves the crown, it took less then an hour (beads and all) and would be sure to sell great at craft fairs! Or even for costumes.

With how much my daughter loves Frozen I can see me making her a blue one so she can be Queen Elsa for Halloween :p In fact, she decided even with it being pink it made her a Queen Elsa. I wonder what my neighbors thought of our performance. See, with her being Elsa, I ad to be Anna which automatically meant I had to bust out with "Do You Want to Build a Snowman". ;)

So... on to the changes I made because that just tends to be what I do. :p

The first one I made was the crown instructions and I felt it would look better with with 4 rows of sc instead of just 3... so on the second one I used four rows of sc. The three would probably look great on a smaller size but for my daughter, I wanted the base to have more substance to it.

The first time I made the crown I followed the first set of instructions. For the second time I figured I'd make the tiara. I don't know if it was just me... but they came out identical :p. Still cute though! For material, I used Sugar N Cream cotton. I also was worried about the chain constricting stretch so I did a foundation of sc to start rather then a chain.

I hope you enjoy this free pattern that I found and worked up and are able to use some of my own changes to inspire your own creativity!

Free For All Market Tote

Hook: I

Material: Red Heart Super Saver

Gauge: 20” long & 10” wide

Round 1) Using magic circle, ch 1, 12 dc in circle, join to first dc with sl st  - 12 dc

Round 2) Ch 1, sk first st, 2 dc in every st around ending with 2 dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 24 dc

Round 3) Ch 1, sk first st, sk first st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st* around ending with last dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 36 dc

Round 4) Ch 1, sk first st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 st* around ending with last dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 48 dc

Round 5) Ch 1, sk first st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 st* around ending with last dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 60 dc

Round 6) Ch 1, sk first st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next  4 st* around ending with last dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 72 dc

Round 7 – 9) Ch 1, sk first st,  dc in next st and in every st around ending with last dc in sk st, join to first dc with sl st – 72 dc

Round 10) Ch 1 (does not count as stitch), *dc in next 3 st, ch 2, sk next st* around, join to first dc with sl st – 54 dc

Round 11) Sl st to ch 2 sp, ch 1, *sc in ch 2 sp, ch 4, sk 3 dc* around, join to first dc with sl st

Rounds 12 – 26) Repeat rounds 10 & 11

Round 27) Ch 1, sc in every dc and ch 2 sp around, joint to first sc with sl st – 72 sc

Round 28 - 29) Ch 1, sk 1^st st, sc in every st around ending with last sc in sk st, join to first sc with sl st – 72 sc

Round 30) Ch 1, sk 1^st st, sc in next 2 st, ch 50, sk 10 st, sc in next 26 st, ch 50, sk 10 st, sc in last 24 st ending with last sc in sk st, join to first sc with sl st –  52 sc; 20 ch  

Round 33) Ch 1, sk 1^st st, sc in every st around ending with last st in sk st, join to first sc with sl st (tie off at end of round 33) – 152 sc 

Also released this week: 

Click photo to get pattern links.

Random Pattern Find - Crochet Hook Case

(click to enlarge) 

This week's random pattern find has quite the story behind it. See, I did this pattern: Crochet Hook Case  (can also be found HERE) last night and this morning in quite the rush. I had originally found a square I was going to do... but after the fiasco I had yesterday... I decided it was time. I was going to make my own crochet hook case.

See, I had bought a case a long time ago. It was from Hobby Lobby... and not all that expensive... and it broke rather easily. So I was just throwing my hooks in it to keep them all in one place. But... then I wouldn't zip it and they'd all fall out. I'd also just leave them around.

Naturally, one day I lost one. That day was yesterday. And the hook I lost was my absolute favorite hook (the blue one you see in the image) and, aside from the green one, it was also the most expensive hook I have ever bought myself. I just love it. So, as I sat down to work on a new pattern that I haven't released yet (but it will come in at least three sizes so be excited lol) and went to grab my hook only to find it missing... I went crazy. Like... pregnant lady that wants a pickle when there aren't any crazy. 

I picked up the couch. I dumped it upside down. I was CERTAIN I had put that darn hook on the couch and it had fallen through. Then I hear it. A soft clatter telling me that SOMETHING is in the couch and the clatter made me certain it was a hook. So I peel back some of the underneath fabric and there is nothing. So I tip the couch another way to make the hook fall again. 

I hear it again! It's coming from the arm. And would you believe this couch has NO way of getting INTO that arm unless you take the fabric off. I can't lie. For a second I considered cutting the fabric on the side of the couch. A couch can be replaced and this was my favorite hook that I can only get online or in the city an hour away! Fortunately my common sense clicked in for a breif second there and I knew slicing the side of the couch in my desperation to find a $10 hook was silly. That didn't cause me from undoing some stables and lifting the fabric though! Finally, I got my video camera in there (the one on my phone) and saw the hook on the screen. It was a freakin' cheapie hook that I could not care less about! I have five of them somewhere in this house! 

Oh how angry I was. And depressed. I know you probably think I'm kidding but yesterday was not a good day for me. I REALLY wanted to work on that pattern and I wanted THAT hook! Finally, my husband gets home and can't believe that I damn near tore apart the couch... he helps me look some and after he searched for about 15 minutes... he finds it in a silverware drawer that my child probably stuck it in. Or maybe I did, its hard to say... I was being crazy after all. 

So there you have it. This is the reason my random pattern find is a crochet hook case and not a afghan square. Because I cannot lose my hooks again. I just can't. My couch won't be able to take another session of missing hook. :/ 

Changes I made to the pattern: 

I added a border, didn't do the top flap and used velcro instead of a button. Oh and because I didn't do the top flap I used a button. :)

Border:
Simple shell border. 5 dc in 1 st, sk 2 st, sc in next st, sk 2 st and then repeat. For the corner I did 2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc.

For the pouch in the middle I did do a border on that. I sc in every st acround (I didn't put extra stitches in the corner) and then I sl st across the top, sl st 9, ch 3, sl st in next 9 which will give you a space for the button.

For the velcro, just glue it :p

I didn't do the flower. I figured the shell edging was decorative enough. :)

Enjoy!

Decorate Your House Round Up - 10 Free Patterns

This round up was inspired by my need to decorate my house (though I never have time). I really want to get some things up on my daughter's wall and haven't had the time to design what I have in mind (don't worry, I will eventually haha) so I figured I could look at some other designer's ideas and share them with you!!

Some of these I had never thought to make and others I've made my own variation before. :) Just click the image to go to the link! 

1) 

This beautiful creation comes with two links. First we have the designer of the square and then we have the lady who decided to put them all together into the form of a pillow. These two's creativity combined into one fantastic item that can surely decorate your couch, bed or chair with dainty perfection. 

2)

I just discovered the beauty and simplicity that is the pineapple stitch not to long ago, so naturally I find pineapple stitch patterns more appealing now. I don't know why it took me so long to learn this stitch... for whatever reason it just looked so terrifying and difficult but it is anything but that!

3)

 This pattern has a couple of appealing qualities to it. First, it's genius. I absolutely hate soap residue on my tub. Hate it... hate it... HATE it. Lol Something meant for cleanliness just shouldn't leave anything grimy behind. Anyways, this functional little dish fixes that problem and will throw you out of your comfort zone by introducing you to a different material to crochet with. 

4)

These curtains are so beautiful! And better yet, they are simple. I love simple. Simple can be really nice in this complicated world in which we live. It wasn't until Tamara Kelly of Moogly designed her chevron curtain pattern that I realized that you can use crochet for curtains. I must have lived a sheltered life because I clearly had no idea just how much can be done with crochet!

5) 

The pattern search that led to this pattern find was inspired by my grandmother. Growing up she always had these little crocheted motif looking things on her couch and chairs. As they were used by people, they became worn out so she asked me if I would make her a set (which I did). I had never realized that they served a purpose outside of decoration... they kept the oils of peoples arms off of the arm rests which caused the fabric to last longer. Amazing right? 

6)

Doesn't this look absolutely eccentric? (I love that word.) The colors are bright, it would go with absolutely anything and it is definitely decorative. If you want to crochet a pillow for your living room or bedroom, I highly suggest this one because it looks amazing :p Oh... and the best part? The point is to use your scrap yarn! 

7)

I absolutely love the way this looks. It reminds me of sea shells and sand from the beach. It just screams "bathroom decor" and I love that. I had always gone and bought the sets wal-mart has but I don't think I will ever do that again. I'll just make my own!

8)

This set is beautiful isn't it? Let's focus on the pillow though as I think pillows make GREAT home decorations. I mean, growing up it was always a pain moving the fifteen (slight exaggeration) pillows from my grandmother's or aunt's couch... but as an adult myself, I completely get why. It's beautiful!

9) 

Here is another pineapple stitch toilet cover set just for you! This one is slightly different in that the pineapples are a little larger.... so now you have some variety in what you do! Woot. :D 

10) 

Let us end this round up right by doing another chair set. This is so ... vintage lol and honestly, I think this may be something that the older generation did so patterns like this were more common back then. I wasn't able to find a single "modern" version of this... but that's okay, now I have a reason to come up with one of my own! Enjoy.