Jan Mystery Create Along Reveal

Have you ever done a Create Along? 

I've done a few Crochet Create A-longs and they are so much fun! I've had never done a mystery one though and I have to say I absolutely loved it! 

What's a create along you say? Its a pattern we work up together in a big group. For instance, the one I participated in was a mystery! We got info such as yarn weight and gauge and how much we needed. All I had to do was choose the yarn and size to make. I got clues every few days for two weeks. So I had an on going  project which is kinda nice so I felt like I could work on it a little at a time. It was fun to guess what I was making too! 

The Create Along I participated in was hosted by the wonderful Melody's Makings! She has a fabulous group of crochet and knitters. They are helpful and fun to share your projects and ideas with! It truly is a special group! I love that she has  Crochet & Knit versions of her create alongs too! It was hard for me to decide which one to do. I actually started both but ultimately worked on the knit version instead. 

I decided to use Lion Brand Hometown USA in the color way Portland Wine. Purple is my favorite and I had two skeins. 

So I only had to pick up one extra.

Clue #1- After the 1st clue I had no idea what I was making! I enjoyed making the cables though. 

 

Clue #2 - Still wasn't sure what it was going to be but liking my results so far. 

Clue #3- ta-da I knew what it was as we formed a bonnet and started adding to it. 

Clue #4 - All Done! I love this. I made the Adult version which fits me fine but My daughter looooves it more and she wants to wear it. She asked me to make a matching one for her dolly too. 

 I ran out of purple on the bind off. So I decided I'll add some accents in grey. The hood is big for her but I have a solution. I'm going to add a pull string in grey around the hood and big pom poms on the ends! I just haven't had time to add those on just yet! Aren't the cables lovely on this! I enjoyed making this with super bulky yarn too! It's so warm and cozy and pretty quick to make for knitting. 

Knit Cable Hooded Cowl

It was a wonderfully written pattern and

 such a fun mystery create along! 

Melody is actually hosting another one next month and I'm totally going to join in! It's called the Wisteria Create Along and there will be a crochet & knit version! I love the name of this and I have no idea what it will be but I just now it's going to be great and sounds like it will be a great project! I just need to pick out some yarn.

Will  you join the fun with me! Just click below for full details! There is all kinds of fun with this and I know it will be amazingly done by Melody's Makings! You won't regret it! 

Have fun!! 

Knit, Purl, Pray : Book Review

There is nothing better than a quiet moment to yourself with your yarn! Lately I've been working to shut off the noise and to reflect on my quiet time while I work on my creations. 

I was so excited with the opportunity to review a new devotional book! It's perfect timing! This wonderful new book is called Knit, Purl, Pray - 52 Devotions for the Creative Soul by Lisa Bogart.

 Don't worry crocheters this book is for you too! It really could be for anyone crafty. I've read through several of the devotions already and they have each spoken to my heart. It's light reading with a simple verse and thoughts to reflect on. Most readings are just a page or two! 

Sometimes for me working with yarn, well, is work and this book has reminded me about the things I truly do love about working with my hands and yarn. This book feels like your having chat with a friend that understands your craft. 

It's helped remind me to be a blessing to others with my craft and oh so much more. So thankful for the simple truths and reflections in this book. It's a great addition to your day.

I was also thrilled to see that there are four knit patterns included in the book. A great slouchy beanie and three coffee cozies. I'll admit I don't knit much but I do know the basics. I love cabling so I just had to make all the coffee cozies! I love them and learned some new technics along the way! 

I'll have to make that hat soon too! 

I used some lovely pale shades of Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn Worsted. Aren't they pretty! 

Fits perfectly on my cups! Crocheted up several washcloths too! New pattern coming for those soon! 

Coffee, Crochet and Quiet time go perfectly together! 

If you would love to pick up this book you can find it on Amazon
Knit, Purl, Pray

You can also get to know the author 
Lisa Bogart on Facebook 

Thank you Worthy Publishing for sending the book to me! 
It's fabulous! 

Yarn Talk Thursday: Knitting and Hearts

Well Hello! Have you missed me! Things have been far to quiet here on the blog and Facebook! This season has been an incredibly hard one for sickness! My dear kids got the flu & Strep so we battled that for a week and then they kindly shared there germs with me! I ended up with the Flu and upper respiratory infection the following week. Then a felt good for about a day. Then, I got a raging Sinus Infection! Ouch! Still dealing with that some this week but lets just say to many visits to urgent care for one month! I sure am looking forward to feeling happy and health again! 

All the sickness took away from crochet time and really the desire to even try! I have several designs in mind that I want to work on. It's so hard to choose where to start again! So since I don't have any thing new ready for you just yet I thought I would share a few projects that I hadn't had a chance to share yet! 

I've been playing around with knitting for a few years now. Finally started to catch on to it more within the last year! It was time to try something new! I found a fun free pattern for a knit/crochet slouch and I was immediately drawn to it! I don't know why I was so scared of cables! Honestly knitting cables is easer that crocheting them! I think it's just easier to see the stitches and they lay so perfectly in knitting! 

If you know me I love a good slouch hat! This one starts with a knitted brim and then the rest of the hat is worked in crochet rounds. Pretty simple and easy to adjust! I didn't really follow of slouch part directions of the pattern as I knew how I wanted it to lay from designing some of my own slouch patterns previously, (you can see that here)  but I did follow the brim directions exactly! 

Isn't this a pretty color too? I love my jewel tones! I used my favorite worsted weight yarn. Hobby Lobby's I Love this yarn in Antique Teal. 

I'm sure you'll want to make one too! Your in luck because it's a free pattern 

Dana Cable Slouch Hat by RAKJ Patterns

My next project was just for fun! My MIL saw these on pinterest and asked if I could make them! Of course I said! Any excuse to try a new pattern! I love this Graphing technic! It gives really clean lines and after making 10 graph hats right before this project for a large order using a different technic I think I'll try this next time instead! 

These are also a free pattern

Heart & Sole Slippers by My Hobby Is Crochet

I worked these up using The same hook suggested but wasn't sure what yarn to use as I don't really have any DK weight in my stash. I went with Vanna's Choice worsted weight and it worked up perfectly. I only use one skein for both slippers of the main color.  Now my MIL and I have small feet size 6 so you may need an extra skein :) 

I followed the pattern exactly but I did crochet pretty tightly to match gauge but I do that naturally. The only adjustments I made was to the length of foot portion by removing a few repeats and I just went by my foot for measuring! Following everything else it came out perfect!

These are so squishy and soft! I'm going to have to make me a pair to keep! Maybe in purple :) 

My Hobby is Crochet also just released these in a child size too! 

You might be able to whip up a pair for Valentines Day next week! 

So which on will you make? 

Current Projects and Crochet Cables

I've been obsessed with crochet cables lately! I've been able to test some fun patterns and been inspired to maybe try some of my own cable ideas eventually but I have no idea when! So many ideas and so very little time. Here are a few great cable projects I've done in the past few weeks. 

My friend Rachel over at Silly Stitches wrote this really awesome pattern for a cabled cowl 

called the Myrna Cowl. 

The pattern even includes directions for a cozy, furry lining. This is super warm and fun to make! I made this with Lion Brand Tweed stripes and just looove the way the colors worked up.  

If you love this as much as I did! Then your in luck because she is having a 20% off sale in her 

Etsy Shop Items and Patterns this weekend! Just use the code: 20percentssale

You can see her other two amazing cable patterns I've made here

Cables Button Slouch and Mitts

With all the fun inspiration of cables I'd had, I decided to try my hand at this 

"It's a Hoot Beanie" again. 

I'd made this one around Christmas 2012. It came out smaller than anticipated so it was perfect for Calleigh. I just added a fuzzy trim and big ol' pom pom for fun.  

I've been loving Lion Brand Heartland so I thought I'd try to make a cabled Owl slouch, but I ran out of yarn! I'll have to grab another skien to add a brim to make it slouch more. I also would recommend  doing the owl cable hat in light or brighter colors. I was excited for this charcoal color but you can't really tell the owls are there very well. They just don't pop. I like the way this one turned out but I still have some finishing details I'd like to add. 

Have you tried crochet cables? What did you make? 

Giveaway : Cabled Button Hat and Mitts

Recently a friend of mine made an amazingly adorable hat and shared it in our Facebook group! Many people asked about the design which she freehanded. Many hoped she would design it but she'd never written a pattern before. With encouragement, she decided to give it a whirl! I'm so glad she did! It's a great design that I had the privilege to test!

 It's seriously my new favorite hat! I know that you will love it too!

It is an intermediate pattern, but not to difficult. I love the way she explains how to work the cables and she's given me a new love for reverse single crochet. (we kinda had a love hate relationship but I think I have it down now) The construction of the hat is great! If you love slouchy hats (which seem to be the popular style this season) then you will really like this hat! The cabling on the brim make it thicker, so it's warm and cozy. 

Add some personal flare by adding a big button or 2-3 small buttons. I've even seen few make the brim one color and the hat body another or variegated! So many options! This makes the perfect gifts by pairing it with the matching fingerless gloves!

Here are my samples:

Made this one with impeccable, I can't remember the name but it's black with jewel tones metallic thread. It's really pretty in person. The button is black with glittery sparkles too! 

It's my new favorite!!

Wanted to make another because I loved the pattern so much! Chose a more neutral tone and a soft yarn. My new favorite Lion Brand Heartand. It's a cream heather. 

I wanted to make matching gloves with the Heartland but I ran out on the 1st glove so I told my hubby to pick a color. He said purple. I found a skien of Bernat Sheepish in Plumish. Gorgeous color!! I added a winter touch of sparkly snowflake buttons. 

So let's get to that giveaway! 

Rachel of Silly Stitches has graciously allowed me to offer you a chance to win both crochet patterns and offer a 30% discount on the pattern today only (Monday) in Raverly!! 

Use the Code : ccccaddicts 

Cabled Button Slouch and Cabled Button Mitts

Giveaway will run Mon Dec 2nd - Wed. Dec 4th Mid. Central

A Winner Will be Chosen on Thurs. Dec 5th. - Winner will be notified by email and will be responsible to contact the winner to claim the prize with in 48 hrs or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Neon Yarn Creations

I don't know how I feel about neons being popular in clothing right now! Reminds me to much of my 80's childhood. Haha! I like warmer jewel tones myself. I discovered Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn Neons. The colors are vibrant and the yarn itself seems a little bit softer that their regular worsted which is already great. I think I bought one in almost every color. It comes in Yellow, Pink, Orange, Fuschia, Purple, Green and  Blue!

Here are a few fun things I made over my Thanksgiving vacation! 

This hat is a pattern by Speckled Frog Crochet

You can find it here (it's my all time favorite newsboy pattern) 

I used the Green Neon and Black to match my sons winter coat. (He loves Green!) 

This hat pattern is by a local friend of mine Boomer Beanies

You can find the pattern here

I used the Purple! Calleigh's favorite color! She absolutely loved this hat! 

This was my 1st attempt and cables and I was very please with the pattern and the results. I want to make this hat for me. It's just to fun! 

This last hat was my inspired by my hubby! He's in the picture above, which he took himself from his cell phone. (Don't tell him I showed you....hehe!) He never models for me. 

We're big Thunder Basketball fans around here! So he was excited to see these colors! They are perfect! I had a hard time last year trying to find the right ones! So I hope these stick around for a while! My hubby loves slouchy hats right now. I think I've whipped of several and finally sat down and wrote out the pattern for the slouchy. 

You can find it free here in a previous blog post with links to download a pdf if desired

Sunset Slouchy

So maybe neons are not for you but maybe step out and try something bright! 

I do love these colors and quality! Give it a try! 

If you don't crochet I'd love to make you anything you see here in any size! Just contact me through the contact me tab and we'll chat! 

What would you make with this yarn?