Punkin Heads

Here is the long ago promised pumpkin hat pattern.

I decided to try my hand at pattern writing because I couldn't find a pattern I liked for a pumpkin hat. Below is what I came up with. Remember, this is my first attempt at pattern writing, and I am still pretty new to crocheting. Use this pattern as it is written or use it as a jumping off point for your own ideas. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!
I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn. For the Lucy size I used a J hook (6.0mm) and for Freddy's I used an H hook (5.0mm). If you want it to be bigger use a bigger hook or add more increasing rounds; smaller hat, smaller hook or less increasing rounds. You will also need a stitch marker [I used a safety pin for a marker because that is what I had within reaching distance of my spot on the couch. :) ]

STEM:
With green chain(ch) 20. [For the baby sizes I think I chained 12, play with it until you find the size you like]
In 3rd chain from hook, do 2 double half crochet(dhc).
Do 3 dhc in each chain to the end.
Finish off.

HAT:
Round 1: Ch 2, 4 single crochet(sc) in 2nd ch from hook, do not join, do not turn.
Round 2: 2 sc in next 3 sc, 1 sc in last sc, place stitch marker 7sc
Round 3: 2 sc in each sc 14sc
Round 4: {sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 21sc
Round 5: {sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 28sc
Round 6: {sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 35sc
Round 7: {sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 42sc
Round 8: {sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 49sc
Round 9: {sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc} repeat 56sc
Round 10: sc in each sc around, continue until hat measures approx. 8" 56sc
Last Round: {sc in next 6 sc, decrease} repeat 49sc
Finish off.

TRIM:
Girl: Turn hat inside out and hold it with crown away from you.
Join green with a slip stitch, ch 2, double crochet(dc) in same stitch as join, ch 2, 2 dc, {skip 2 sc, 2 dc in next sc} repeat around. [You might need to only do one set of dc at the end of the round.] Join with first 2 chains. Finish off.
Boy: Leave hat right side out. Join green with a slipstitch, and slip stitch all the way around. Join with first slip stitch. Finish off.

If you have any questions or correction let me know!

A New Place to Play

Today I wrote my first crochet pattern and it made me realize that I needed a place to store things like that, so here we are. Now I can store and share what we make without boring the uninterested parties who visit my other blog. :)

This blog will focus on the many many many crafts my kids and I (try) to do. There will be a little bit of everything: kids crafts, crochet, knitting, tie dying, pottery, cooking, hooking, Lucy (and soon Freddy) painting... Who knows what we will come up with next.

For this first post I will share the pictures from this weekend's tie dying. (I will post that crochet pattern as soon as I can get a picture of my model wearing it.) I am really glad we took the time last week to experiment and figure out what works and what doesn't. The shirts from this batch came out great!






These are all of my shirts from this round.







A couple of tips that we have learned: the more patience you have the better your shirt will come out; don't rinse your shirt for at least 24 hours after dying it; before washing your shirt soak it in apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes or so; use color catcher sheets (made by Shout, sold in the laundry detergent aisle) the first time you wash them; if you are doing lots of different colors like we did sort your stuff and soak/wash similar colors together.


























I love this pumpkin shirt! The idea for it came from Family Fun Magazine. I get tons of great ideas from every issue. A lot of the stuff in it is for kids who are older than mine but we are getting there.















My family is going to look so good this Halloween!

















This one feels a little Superman-ish. I hope Freddy and Lucy don't look back on pictures of this and hate me for making them wear all of this stuff.













Freddy is going to be the coolest kid around with the hundred and one tie dyes I did for him. :)

This all got started because I bought a bag full of white onesies for him at a yard sale. A few of them had small stains and I thought "hey we could tie dye these!" And here I am three dye sessions later, staying up too late to blog about crafts. ;)









This one is a craft to do a craft with. It is a piece of muslin, any ideas on what to do with it now that it looks so pretty?