Hat hair

 Needed a way to display scrunchies in action lol... 

DC hat.. started with 6 DC's .. 3 rounds of increases .. finished with a round of SC.. just added fringe long enough to pull back as a pony tail..

HDC tip for even rows

I love the look of hdc tbl ( half double crochet through back loop USA term ) 

However it hasn't always been a mindless stitch for me..  I tended to skip the last stitch if I don't count every row.. 

Decided to place markers in the back loop of each stitch on the end of the row.. takes way less time than counting each stitch or frogging a few rows ...

 I am sure I'm not the first one to think of this but a reminder every now and then doesn't hurt lol 

Guaranteed not to miss the last stitch..

Just remember to put it in the right spot when you start your new row

 

Sewing again

 Been picking up fat quarters when I see them on sale/clearance.. now the Halloween ones are out so I had to get a couple of packs of those, right ;)

some I plan on using for small quilts or pot holder and such but I thought I would keep mask supplies in stock just in case.. if for no other reason than personal use.. as it turns out sales on the limited number I have in my shop are ticking up again.. 

 I pull out the fat quarters to start ironing them.. 

when I buy them I spray them down with rubbing alcohol, after removing the label.. never do it the other way around... trust me on this... makes a mess of the glue ..Ugh 

 Let dry then spray with water and iron on high heat.. tightens the fibers up nicely but takes a fair amount of time to "dry" them with an iron.. especially with the high humidity not common in our area

personally I like masks, two January's running now I haven't had the flu..  or major allergies either spring.. we've been using them for yard work, cleaning out the chicken coop, painting anything that normally sets off our allergies, but I didn't think to put one on before ironing the new fabric.. why do people feel the need to scent everything anyhow.. 

add the wet weather to that, after a few hours of ironing .. I had way more than I realized ( clearance price of 25 cents a fat quarter for puppies and hearts and some pretty animal prints that will make a cute baby or lap blanket ) ... playing with a rotary blade or doing anything that was so detailed was out of the question at that point..

 to pass time while working on crafts I run YouTube videos, gave up cable and regular television years ago  ...  YouTube craft videos is a favorite pastime of mine.. 

this time I put in quick sewing projects.. stopped in the middle of pulling out the fat quarters to make a cute bag pattern I saw being made..

 

scrunchies are apparently a thing again.. 

I have never worn one, the last time I had my hair in a ponytail was like preschool.. when I couldn't get away from my mother fast enough lol

 normally I find it a painful experience .. I have super fine hair, lots of it but so fine it takes a tight band to keep it in place .. 

seeing all of these different techniques for making scrunchies with minimal cutting involved, with all my fabric sitting in front of me.. I had to give one a try.. 

Made a blue one using amounts called for... it was fun to make, fairly fast although I used the ladder stitch to close up the opening as I was not using a coordinating color of thread.. was just playing around so didn't bother .. even at that it was pretty fast.. nothing like doing the out of sashay yarn.. now that took time .. 

 

             not too bad for using black yarn

 

 

 took three wraps.. or is it twists .. around my hair to hold but it did hold.. without pain.. 

That of course meant I needed to try again, so I shortened the amount of elastic but added to the fabric both by two inches.. 

Having the Halloween fat quarters in front of me and intending it to be for me I had to go with skulls... with a black background.. so closing the opening was super quick this time.. using the method of seaming and stitching the elastic together at the same time, just leaving a small side opening to finish off.. 

 

left a bit of a flat seam but not real noticeable when wearing, only took two twists .. perfect .. 

 

 

side by side comparison of size and closing seams.. 

Got called outside to help out so I only got one done, but wore it for hours without an issue.. dang too bad I just cut off about 9 inches of my hair lol..

I am so going to be making more of these 

Scrap yarn

Another use for small bit of scrap yarn.. 

 

 

 ... use a fork to make small pom poms, mix and match colors

 

 

 

glue on some googly eyes ( clear drying craft glue )

 and some felt feet and you have a new yarn critter lol

 

 

 

add craft magnets or leave as is.. 

I might try adding a key chain to a few 

 

Playing with beads

Strained my arm, elbow, neck, wrist  etc crocheting orders, a 20 hour day after a week of 12 hour days was enough to call for a long break.. thankfully it was at the start of warmer weather here so yarn item orders was at a stand still .. 

After making 1000's of masks I decided to put the cloth on the back burner for a bit and pull out my beads instead.. been too long.. I still plan on being able to get things set up so I can more easily jump between  crafts or more likely combine crafts.. but spring time means yard work is a must..so my craft room progress is on the slow side, still happening though so all is good :) 

I pulled out my little bracelet sized beading loom, decided to get one a bit bigger.. this was my first project on it...

First off just like yarn, the type of beads you use really matter.. 

for this project I went with some that are on the not so uniform in size.. while many had to be tossed as they were just to misshaped, you can see how much the size varies in this photo.. both are from the same tube of size 11 beads.. 

there is a place for these beads in my opinion in creating unique items, I normally use them when sewing on to fabric or buttons as I like the "boho" vibe they give projects, kind of a old world feel..

 

When working on a loom project plan on extra time for sorting through the beads though.. in this case a lot of extra time.. while I do like how the over all project came out I wasn't happy with the amount of wasted beads for the silver lined ones.. of course I picked those to be the main color before I realized just how misshaped they were... very glad I got them on a 50% off sale lol.. the other types were no where near as bad.. to be fair the price was really low even before the half off...  think it was $3.99 for a huge tube ( from hobby lobby ) . . and will work really well with a sewn on project.. I do like the over all look, however I doubt I will buy them again, patience is absolute must when using these.. 

I used nymo sized D .. jumped between needles... using an big eye needles for the main weaving and an inch long one for the weaving in of the warps and tails 

 weaving in the ends took even more patience.. I did set it down more than once lol .. next step will be to add it on to the front of a bag.. I have yet to create.. over all happy with it.. 

Since I finished the weaving of this one I have made well over a dozen bracelets, some are completely done but most are waiting for the gluing of the warps and ties to be added.. that will require setting up outside so I want a bunch to do at once, I am working on the color charts for them... will have the written out instructions as well as lettered chart.. still working out how I want them laid out.. 

I really like the written patterns for larger pieces.. earrings are easy enough to just use a chart but some of what I have in mind definitely need it written out..  

The Mittens Fingerless Gloves

 

This pattern requires the knowledge of color work and working in the round

Yarn

All yarns used are by Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight (4)

Coffee

Cafe

Buff

White

American terms used.

I did not keep track of yardage, I am making them for myself then thought others might like a pair, I have one done right now so I might get to that if time allows other wise it didn't take large amounts. 

 The ribbing is made working flat, turning after each row, using single crochets working in the back loop only. Then seaming closed picking up stitches along one edge.

The body is worked in the round in spirals ( don't join at the end of rounds, placing a stitch marker helps with keeping track ) using the center single crochet ( CSC )... sometimes call the waistcoat stitch or the knit stitch, this stitch creates a tight thick fabric perfect for warm mitts... there are many videos on YouTube as to how the stitch is made but pretty much you go through the center of the single crochet instead of the top loops... I had never tried the stitch before as if I wanted a knit item I would just knit it, but after playing with t for a bit I realized how wonderfully thick it is. Not the easiest stitch  but worth the effort. 

The thumb gusset is worked at the end of the rounds, then the stitches are joined over top of it.

I used a size 7 US 4.5 mm hook with a pretty tight tension. In CSC it works out to 7 sts by 10 rows per 2 inches.

Both gloves are made the same.

Ribbing

Using the color coffee 

1) chain 12, leaving a long tail for seaming, 10 inches works well for me, single crochet into second chain from hook, single crochet to end, chain 1 and turn

2) going through back loop only single all stitches, chain and turn 

repeat row two until about 7 inches long don't fasten off just place a stitch saver or bobby pin in stitch to secure until seaming is done, use tail to seam ends together. 

still using the color coffee, chain 1 then pick up 32 stitches along the edge of the ribbing rows, don't join at the end of round, switch to the color cafe, work in ends as you go

Of those of you who like prefer written patterns over charts  continue on below, otherwise jump to the color chart

 

Body of Mitt

In color Cafe work

 ... all gusset and increase stitches will be done in cafe ...

1-5 ) in CSC ( center single crochet ), work in spirals placing maker at the of round to keep track

6 - 7 ) CSC to last st., increase   

8 ) CSC to last 2 sts., inc x 2 ( I like to put a stitch marker at the beginning of my gusset stitches as well as the start of the round )

From this point the color work begins , all stitches will still be worked in CSC however I will refer to them by their color now... so .. cafe1, white 3 .. would mean do one center crochet in color cafe and the next 3 in the color white

9 ) cafe 1, white 1, ( cafe 3, white 1 )x 7, cafe 2, inc 1, cafe 2, inc 1

10 )  cafe 1, white 1, ( cafe 3, white 1 )x 7, cafe 2, inc 1, cafe 4, inc 1

11 )  cafe 1, white 1, ( cafe 3, white 1 )x 7, cafe 2, inc 1, cafe 6, inc 1

12 ) white 3, cafe 1, ( white 3, cafe 1 )x 8, inc 1, cafe 8, inc 1

13 )  white 3, cafe 1, ( white 3, cafe 1 )x 8, inc 1, cafe 10, inc 1

cut colorway cafe and pick up colorway buff 

14 ) white 1, buff 1, ( white 3, buff 1 )x 7, white 2, skip 14 sts. ( gusset sts. ) join with the start of next round

15 ) white 1, buff 1, ( white3, buff 1 )x 7, white 2

16 ) ( buff 3, white 1 )x 8

cut colorway white and pick up coffee 

17 - 18 ) buff 1,  coffee 1, ( buff 3, coffee 1 )x 7, buff 2

19 - 20) ( coffee 3, buff 1 )x 8  

21 ) buff 1, coffee 1, ( buff 3, coffee 1)x 7, buff 2

22 ) ( buff 1, coffee 1 )x 16

cut both buff and coffee, pick up cafe

23) cafe to end

24 ) cafe to end, fasten off 

weave in any ends

Happy Turkey Day

At this time last year I saw a random video on YouTube .. talking about a virus .. knew right then things were going to get rough... 

I put everything I was working with on hold.. all of the yarn items that I had spent months getting ready for holiday sales online and in town.. started to look into making face masks.. got my bearings and spent the next 10 months almost exclusively working on masks.. got a break when an order went awry and had to replace a crochet scarf  and tiny thread bag.. oh and one order for two custom tiny thread bags.. 

going from working with yarn or beads 10 to 12 hours a day to working with fabric 16 to 20 hours a day was a shock to my whole system.. I kept telling myself I would be able to play with yarn again after masks were more widely available.. not that I don't love playing with fabric or really wanted to help any way I could... I just had so many yarn projects I wanted to do as well..

I am still making masks.. but started getting more requests for yarn items.. only thing to do divide my time between crafts.. which is much easier said than done.. I have very limited working space.. takes a fair amount of time to switch everything out.. so half of the week is play with fabric.. got a couple of landscape quilts that need to be done besides the masks, bags,  pot holders and clothing items.. the other half of the week is all yarn time.. got a couple of free form hats that must be along with the shawls, fingerless gloves, scarves and bags.. at some point the beads are going to come back into play along with my looms..

Pulled out many of my finished items that had been waiting to be listed in my shop.. took hours but got some usable photos and they are now listed on Etsy.. two of the hardest parts for me.. photos and coming up with names for the items.. 

photos.... wind wasn't helping much but it was so bright the colors showed nicely.. 

names... yeah I came up with Red Scarf... LOL 

Stay safe

Halloween Blue Moon

 

Had a blast staying home Halloween night, home grown pumpkins, enjoying the blue moon..

 was cloudy coming over the mts

 

 as it came over head clear and very bright 

with a halo

 

Quilts in my future

My grandmother used to make the most wonderful quilts.. she was so thrifty in her crafting it was awe inspiring..
not one bit of anything was tossed if it could be reused..
my favorite quilts were the ones she made out of grandpa's overalls for the top and his flannel shirts on the underside...
she used whatever fabrics that were worn too much for a sturdy outer side piece on the inside.. didn't matter if they matched weights she would layer the light ones..

 then she tied them with yarn as they got so heavy it was impossible to machine stitch them..
They were so heavy you could barely move under them.. the idea of the new weighted blankets makes me laugh.. they have nothing on hers lol..
Movement may have been limited but you were definitely toasty warm..

very functional and to me beautiful..
she would let me help cut and even do some sewing.. on her treadle machine.. at the time I started helping I was about three so it was a very big deal to me.. she knew I  couldn't get it moving too fast as I wasn't able to reach the treadle very well.. but loved every second of it..

 I have dabbled in sewing ever since..
 made a large part of my kids clothes..
made some for myself..
but never got to those quilts I had dreamed about doing..
 I plan on doing some purely out of salvaged fabrics.. recreating what she made I highly doubt I can pull off..
I am not lucky enough to have such a strong sewing machine or wringer washer for that matter..
grandpa used to have to help wash them as lifting when wet wasn't an easy job...
machines these days couldn't handle it :( ..
I do want to try a few others.. what we used to call fancy ones.. she was pretty good at them too..
I have been making masks for months now.. I didn't think to safe the smaller pieces of fabric until I had made a few hundred or so..
Dawned on me I could stitch them together to make a bigger fabric.. found out afterwards it's crumbs quilting for small pieces and scrap quilting for the bigger ones..

I am as careful as I can be when cutting fabric so there isn't much 'waste ' to begin with but I  did take a couple of hours off to just play with making bigger pieces... 

Good practice for my future quilting projects 

Stay safe.. wear a mask.. wash your hands.. 

Best wishes 

Facemasks.....

Been planning on making freeform knit, crochet and beaded jean bags again for some time now.. took up strap weaving.. learned more freeform crochet techniques.. worked on my beading designs... last step to take was to dust off my sewing skills.. was gifted a vintage sewing machine.. perfect.. timing.. not for making the bags I have dreamt of for ages now.. no the timing was perfect for making facemasks..

I had also been looking into making facemasks for a bit now too.. allergies are not fun in the slightest.. son has been asking for a knit or crochet one.. I gave a few tries at it but just can't get a tight enough tension to stop anything but the cold weather ..

 so as it turns out as this virus was just starting up.. I was already seeking info on good designs.. learned surgical mask are meant to keep you from spreading your germs not so much to keep you from picking up germs, although any face covering will help to some degree.. 

The style they refer to as N95 form-fitted and meant to keep you from picking up any germs.. 

Polypropylene liners are breathable, washable and affordable..

Elastic straps behind the ears hurt after awhile.. ties don't, can be adjusted, washes and doesn't matter if they stretch after time as you just retie them..

Bias tape is time consuming and a bit of a pain to tie.. my solution shoe laces.. 

Outter layers of cotton fabric .. 

To make the mask form fit over the nose I shaped a piece of 20 Gage jewelry wire and stitched the fabric around it.. so if need be you can make a small cut and replace the wire with a new one and just close with a couple of hand sewn stitches .. 

Double seam everything... These need to be durable

The sides need to hold shape as well.. not buckle out.. so placement of the ties should be adjusted with that in mind.. but I noticed that didn't always work... double seaming around the nose did though.. so I started to add a lot of stitches to each side.. not the neatest looking seams lol.. but they work... 

as I am getting all of this worked out.. the masks were suddenly needed by many...  

Friend in the medical field asked if I could make some not knowing I was making one right then.. 

Heard Joann's was asking for help to get millions made.. 

Posted about this on Facebook..

So many requests came in for masks there was no way I could afford to keep it up without help.. asked if anyone wanting some could donate some supplies... turns out if you don't know how to make things like this getting the supplies is a pain.. much easier to hand a couple of bucks to the person making them...

Too many requests .. to deliver all .. socal distancing is definitely helping.. 

plus the risk is too high for family members.. now what.. Etsy puts out the plea for anyone who can make masks to please do so as they are getting requests for them.. win win...

Then hear how the post office is hurting... Bonus win

I am using the funds after costs to get more supplies.. I lost count how many I've made dozens and dozens ago.. spending 12 to 16 hours a day.. vintage sewing machine was heating up too much.. the machine my husband said couldn't be fixed he revisited.. good as new.. much stronger than the other one.. has a better zig zag ability.. doesn't over heat as fast.. but when it does I just switch between them.. 

Please stay safe out there... 

D