Featuring : Love Me Ragged By Tracy

I'd like to introduce to you one of our newest sponsors :

Love me Ragged by Tracy

Blog Interview questions

Where are you from?     

The Central Coast of California (Grover Beach)

What do you specialize in?  

Photography Props for all ages

How long have you crocheted?   

on and off since I was 8

Where do you draw your inspirations?

 Myself, my daughters, nieces , nephews, sister in law and even my dad.

Do you have a item you've made that is super special and why?  

My sleepy owl hats (especially the hot pink and green) It was the first animal hat in my shop and the first one I received pro photos of. My sister in law Nicole is a professional photographer and when I showed her the pink and green owl hat I had crocheted, she totally loved it and that is really when I decided to change directions with my shop. Since I listed the owls I have sold so many. They are so cute and very popular! I have dreams that I am crocheting them and nightmares where I forget to make and ship them. lol

What other crafts do you like to do? 

 I love making rag quilts. Originally that is what my shop was about. I couldn't come up with a name and my sister in law Nicole came up with Love Me Ragged and it just stuck. It was perfect! I will continue making them again in the future.

Do you donate or give back any portion of your sales to charity or an organization?  

I recently found out about "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" and for those of you who don't know about this organization please visit their website and read about them  they really are amazing! I will be making donations to them. I have made a few other donations recently. It feels really good to give back!

Why do you love to crochet? 

I love taking a ball of yarn and creating something by hand for a child that can be cherished for a lifetime. Handmade items are always special! Especially if it's for a photo shoot because when I receive the feedback that the mommies just adore my props, I know I am doing a good job and that's the best feeling. I also love seeing the babies in my hats! That is rewarding in itself.

Who taught you to crochet? 

Both of my right handed grandmothers. I am a lefty and with a lot of patience (mostly on their part) and practice, I was able to learn the art of crochet the backwards way!

On a More personal note: 

Fun questions: 

if you could have a super power what would it be?  

The ability to cure cancer!

If you had a million dollar how would you spend it  

Buy my brother a house, my dad a truck & toy hauler and the rest to St. Jude

What's your favorite color?

 Pink

If you are a salad what kind of dressing do you have?

 Definitely blue cheese

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a child?

         A nurse! I'm pretty close Certified Medical Assistant

Favorite movie and why? 

The Notebook. Best love story ever! They never stopped loving each other. Reminds me of my grandparents.

Thanks so much Tracy for sharing your lovely shop with us! 

Please check out Love Me Ragged by Tracy 

facebook. blog  and

 Etsy 

Coupon code: facebook2012 for 15% off entire purchase (expires Feb 14th)

Featuring: Sweet Crochet Creations

I'd like to introduce you to one of our newest sponsors Carrie Bennett of 

Sweet Crochet Creations

I've asked her a few interview questions so we can learn a little bit out her and her shop:

 Were are you From?

Monterey, CA (but am now in the San Francisco Bay Area) 

 How long have you crocheted? 

I think I learned when I was really young - maybe 8?  I remember crocheting a sweater for my Cabbage Patch doll!  But I recently picked it back up when my husband started doing photography professionally.  It's kind of like riding a bike, but I had to figure out how to read patterns and learn a few new stitches.  There are some great resources online.

What is your favorite stitch? 

Probably a half double crochet.  Or maybe any decreasing stitch...since that usually means I'm almost done!  lol 

What do you specialize in ? 

Crochet hats for all sizes 

How did you get started in your business? 

My little shop started because I was making hats and props for my husband's photography business (www.colejbennettphotography.com).  Clients started asking about purchasing the hats, so I happily obliged.  :)  I just added some items to my etsy shop and I'm hoping to get a little busier this year.  My mom actually helps a lot too.

 Do you have an item you've made that is super special and why?

Recently, an old friend asked if I could create two police caps for unborn twins, due any day.  They lost their father to prostate cancer while their mother was pregnant and he was a beloved police officer.  I was on a mission to find a pattern.  I found one, tweaked the pattern a little, and made the hats.  I added their father's badge number as well as a baby blue ribbon, which signifies prostate cancer.  The girl's hat has a little flower as well.  I'm looking forward to seeing the babies with their hats (any day now), and I hope they cherish them.  

On a more personal note: 

 If you could have a super power what would it be ? 

FREEZE TIME - all I ever want is more time!  To crochet, to sleep... 

 Favorite vacation spot or travel destination? 

My favorite vacations have been in Mexico.  My honeymoon in 2005 was in the Riviera Maya and I've been to Cancun twice in the past few years. 

What did you want to grow up to be as a child? 

Either a teacher or a pediatrician because I wanted to work with kids. I ended up a high school guidance counselor, so I'm still working with kids - just the big kids.  It's a rewarding job and you can't beat the school year's schedule! 

Thanks so much Carrie for sharing your shop and a little about you! 

Please check out Sweet Crochet Creations on Facebook and Etsy!

Chain-less Foundation Heart Headband

Need a simple project for Valentines day! This one is perfectly sweet! 

Chain-less Foundation Heart Headband

Materials : Small amounts Thick and Thin Handspun Wool Yarn (wpi 3-4-5) 

I get mine from Ilashdesigns

N/P -15- hook (10.00 MM) 

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Measuring Tape 

You can really make this any size but I'm focusing on NB

(you can find a general sizing chart here for any size) 

For Newborn we want it to measure around 13 inches. This headband will have about a two inch stretch so it can fit 13-15 inches (nb-3month) 

We are going to use a method called a chain-less foundation. If you don't know how to do it. I have a video linked up to help here

Headband

- work a sc chain-less foundation for about 20 chs (measure your headband un-stretched. Should be about 13 inches long. You may need to increase or decrease your stitches based on the type of yarn used)

 Join to 1st ch, (be sure your work is not twisted ) Fasten off and weave in ends. 

*Note if you work your ends to the right side of the headband you can tie it off and the heart will cover it! 

Heart Appliqué

Pattern use with permission by Sara Sach of Posh Pooch Designs
-This is actually a design by my late Grandmother! 


 (N- Hook) -
Round 1 -Ch 3, work in the first ch from the END, 3 tr, 3 dc, chain 1, 1 tr, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 2, sl st, leave a 8 in tail of yarn, and pull to the back.


Closing the Hole in the Center:
Thread the tail of yarn on to the yarn needle, then on the back side of the heart draw the yarn through all the loops in the circle, and secure the yarn. Fasten off but leave about 8-10 inches to attach to headband. 


Attached the heart to the seam where we joined the headband. It will hide it nicely! Try to weave off your ends to the back stitches of the heart. That will keep your work secure and no knots of loose ends in the headband itself. 


*Other yarn options.
 I've seen several stores coming up with a non-wool thick and thin you can try these or you can also use your favorite bulky weight or two strands of worsted Weight for this project. Just be sure to measure your headband so that it is two inches smaller than the size of the head measurement  and it will come out fine!


If you have any questions or see any mistakes (which happen :P) Feel free to contact me using the contact tab and I will try to get back to you within 24 hrs!


Enjoy! 

Copyright ©2012 Calleigh’s Clips & Crochet Creations All rights reserved. These instructions may not be photocopied or reproduced in any manner. They may not be sold. I have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. I cannot, however, be responsible for human error, or variations in individual work.

Actual finished product may be sold. My Etsy shop name ID and URL web page address must be mentioned in listing or wherever item is displayed: Calleigh’s Clips & Crochet Creations by Elisabeth Spivey http://www.calleighsclips.com