Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts

Knit & Crochet Cable Projects

Don't you just love the cable vest? It looks so comfy and with the blue jeans and plaid shirt it looks so casual. I love to knit, but my fingers these days are not cooperating with the knitting needles. So I prefer to crochet. I'm pretty sure that this pattern could be converted to a crochet pattern. Maybe down the road I will try to duplicate it in crochet. But for those of you that love to knit, I think it would be a beautiful addition to anyone's wardrobe.

Paton yarns has this "free" pattern. Just click on the picture below and you will be redirected to the pattern. I have also included some really cute crocheted sweaters and vests at the bottom of this post from Pinterest.
 
Knitted Cable Vest Pattern                              

Stitches and Tutorials
As I said in my opening, I don't knit much anymore. The hands just don't work well with the knitting needles. I prefer crocheting...not so hard on my hands. I love using different stitches when I'm crocheting scarves, hats, headbands, baby sweaters, pillow wraps and adult pullover sweaters. I also love learning new techniques in crocheting. My Grandmother would be very proud that what she taught me oh so many years ago has turned into a love in my life. 
Here is an example of a pillow wrap. I love Dollar Tree. They have so many ideas for decorating. This pillow was made out of two bathmats from Dollar Tree. It took about an hour to complete.  No sewing with this pillow, everything is glued. I used twine for both sides and did a whip stitch to complete. I added a cabled pillow wrap to it. I love the way it turned out!
Once I became proficient in making the cables, I started making sweaters and scarfs. On the sweater I used the cables as the main stitch, but added a cross stitch at the top. The scarfs were very easy and allowed me to learn how to make the cables better. I didn't use a pattern for these. I just went for it. I love this sweater and my neck scarfs, especially on those cold winter days we are now experiencing in the Northland.

Crochet Cable Stitches and other Creative Stitches...
There are so many videos and websites to learn just about anything. The videos below are so very informative. I love to learn new things and these videos really help with beautiful crochet stitches. Making a crochet cable is easier than you think. I have made many sweaters using the Unraveled Mitten tutorial. Once you get the hang of making cables, you'll want to make lots of new things. 
Here are a few more really nice stitches. I think the camel stitch looks a lot like a knitted ribbing stitch. The remaining videos are on beautiful stitches that could be used for sweaters, afghans and etc.
...by Bella Coco Crochet                                        
by Bella Coco Crochet
Every year I do one craft show here in the Twin Cities. I bring all the pretties that I have made throughout the year. It's such a fun weekend. It's also my social event of the year. Meeting and greeting hundreds of people is so much fun. So many people have stories of their own about crocheting. I've had many people ask me to teach a crocheting class. Although it is tempting, I would rather do what I am doing...no pressure. I have taught my Granddaughters to crochet and they are now making adorable amigurumi stuffed toys. If you have never seen this type of crochet item, I have a few pictures below that might interest you. www.passionatecrafter.com My Granddaughters have made so many of these cute little projects.
One Final Thought...
Well, that's it for today. Winter is very long, but when you have a few projects to keep you busy during the winter it goes pretty fast. My favorite thing to do is cooking, but the next best thing is crocheting. It totally relaxes me. I do hope you find a little time to create something really cute with the cable stitches.



Here are a few pins I picked out that I thought would go great with this post. All adorable and pretty easy to make. Maybe one of them will catch your eye. I also found a great website for knitting and crocheting many years ago. The name of the website is "Drops Design". It is a pattern company in England and they have thousands of beautiful free patterns. Just click on their logo and you will be redirected to their website. Worth the look...


Always remember..."Life's short...eat dessert first!"...words to live by! 

Sweet Baby Hoodies

 A Quick and Easy Christmas Present...
This sweet little hoodie is a favorite of mine. I've made it a number of times for brand new members of our family. It's a quick and easy pattern from Yarnspirations for newbies or experts alike. If you want to make a special little gift for that new baby, or you want to make it for kiddos a little older, the sizes for this pattern are for 6 months to 24 months. A great Christmas present!

Sweet Baby Hoodie-"Free Pattern" 
Here is a little snippet from the pattern. It can be made for little baby girls or boys. With just a few changes it can be feminine or masculine. It can be made in just a few hours. I'm an avid crochet enthusiast. I've literally made thousands of items. Of course, what do you do with all the crocheted items? I found some craft shows to show my wares. It's definitely a labor of love and when I sell something, I can go out and buy more yarn...LOL!.
  "Free Pattern"
Click on the picture or "Free Pattern" and you will be redirected to Yarnspirations website for full instructions on making this cute little hoodie.
Here are a few samples of this pattern by other contributors. Every one that I have made has turned out so dang cute. Something special for a new member of your family or friend's family.

Sweaters I Love to Make...
My specialty is making team hoodies for kids under age 3 and cute little girl hoodies. I've made hundreds of them. Of course, I have to have an outlet for my crocheting addiction...LOL... So once a year I do a craft show to sell them. I really do love making them!



One Final Thought...
I have made so many sweaters in my life and I never get sick of making them. So small and so cute! I do hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did researching and finding the cutest sweaters I could. I've made the "Sweet Baby Hoodie" many times...and again never get tired of making them over and over again!

Always remember...Life is short, eat dessert first!"...Words to live by! 

Orange Blossom Afghan

Oh so many years ago my Grandmother taught me how to crochet. It was a labor of love for her. I also learned to knit when I was in high school and made many knitted items. I loved both needlecrafts, but I always have leaned more towards crocheting. So much so, that I started a little craft business called "Handmade by Hoffy". I love making hats, mittens, and accessories. I also love making afghans. 

Granny squares are still so popular for afghans and other crocheting projects. I started this post writing about the Orange Blossom Afghan, which I think is so beautiful. But, I decided to also showcase some age old Granny Squares. You remember those, right? With all the different ways of making granny squares these days, I thought it was fitting to right something about them, but first lets talk about the Orange Blossom afghan.
The "Orange Blossom" afghan pictured above is from "Garns Studios-Drops Designs". I found this website many years ago. There are thousands. and mean thousands of "free" patterns for knitting and crocheting. The patterns are written in many languages. I've made a few of their items. It is a great resource for the avid knitter or crocheter.

Orange Blossom Afghan Pattern
Just click on the picture of the Orange Blossom Afghan and you will be redirected to their website for the pattern. It's a great pattern and I love the colors they use...

Measurements: approx. 92 x 136 cm / 36 1/4" x 53½"

Here is what you will need for the Orange Blossom Afghan
Materials: DROPS PARIS from Garnstudio-see note below
500 g color no 17, off white 
200 g color no 13, orange 
200 g color no 38, raspberry 
100 g color no 01, apricot
100 g color no 14, strong yellow
100 g color no 33, medium pink

NOTE: Many of the Drops Design yarn is available on Amazon with "free shipping" if you have Prime. However, the "Paris" yarn appears to only be available through Drops Design on Amazon but shipping is extra and pretty pricey. I believe that you could use any type of yarn that you desire on this project. A good cotton yarn or a polyester worsted yarn would work also. 

Here are the conversions for yarn purchased in the United States
500 grams = 18 oz. of yarn (approx.)
200 grams = 7 oz. of yarn (approx.)
100 grams = 4 oz. of yarn (approx.)

CROCHET HOOK size 5 mm / H/8 – or size needed to get 14 dc x 8 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4'' x 4''. Each square should measure approx. 22 x 22 cm / 8¾" x 8¾".

Now On To The Granny Squares...
Back in the day, granny square capes, vests, and sweaters were all the rage. I believe these days granny squares are pretty much used in large afghans and baby afghans. There are so many beautiful patterns for afghans and this post is going to highlight a few. Also, I would like to show a few granny square options for those beautiful afghans.

Here are a few granny square designs and tutorials that I also think would make beautiful afghans.
 
Flower Granny Square
 
 
 
 

No matter what design you use for a granny square, they are all beautiful for any afghan you would like to make. I love the colorful granny squares. You can use up all those little balls of yarn that you have left over from other projects. I have hundreds of ball of yarn left over from all the items I make for "Handmade by Hoffy". Someday, when I'm done making items for other people, I'm going to use up every one of those little balls of yarn. It will be my memory afghan of all the things I've made.

One Final Thought...
I hope you enjoyed my post on granny squares and beautiful afghans you can make yourself. Like I said in the beginning of my post I love to crochet. There's something about it that makes me relax. My sister-in-law, who worked in an after-school program with elementary kids once told me when the kids were getting a little crazy she would bring out yarn balls and crochet hooks. They would settle down instantly. There's something truly relaxing about a ball of yarn and a crochet hook...
How to remove nail polish with "One" cotton ball   
I bet you're thinking there's no way, right? I don't remember where I got this little hint, but it really works...
  1. First unroll the cotton ball.
  2. Tear the cotton ball into 10 small pieces.
  3. Dip your cotton balls in nail polish remover.
  4. Place each piece on either your toe nails, or your finger nails and let set for a few minutes.
  5. Remove the small cotton ball pieces and viola' the polish is gone.
Also, after you have removed the polish make a paste of 1 T. of hydrogen peroxide and 2 1/4 T. baking soda the mixture on your nails. Let set for a few minutes and then wash the mixture off with soap and water. Your nails will be pearly white like you never had polish on them at all.

Always remember...Life is short, eat dessert first!"...Words to live by!