Pretty (Useful) Christmas Granny Pentagon Trivet

I am in love with these colors... I currently have three projects lined up with this Cream and Burgundy Caron Simply Soft. This green is Bernat Satin, which is exactly like Simply Soft. I love it <3  The other three projects also have a light grey, kinda silvery Simply Soft. There will be pictures later. Promise. :)

Two five-sided grannies are single stitched together with wrong sides facing each other. I was lazy and didn't actually darn in my ends, I simply left them kinda long and tied them together in bunches, then made sure they were stuffed inside when I stitched the grannies together.
Which I did with the cream yarn, as you can see. To make the grannies, follow a basic granny patter, but with five beginning clusters instead of four.
Granny1
Row1-Green
Row2-Cream
Row3-Red
Row4-Cream
Row5-Green

Granny2
Row1-Red
Row2-Cream
Row3-Green
Row4-Cream
Row5-Red

Now lay your grannies with wrong sides facing each other. Insert your hook in a corner. ALL OF YOUR STITCHES WILL GO THROUGH BOTH LOOPS OF BOTH GRANNIES. It comes out lumpy if you don't. anyway, hook in corner? good. Holding your border color yarn, yarn over and slip stitch. Single stitch once in the corner, then in the top of each DC. For the CH1 spaces, you can stitch into the chain stitch, but it's much easier to just stitch into the space, and it separates your clusters better.
Do this all the way around. You can do either 1 or 2 stitches in the corners.
If you want a hanging loop, when you get to the corner you started in, single stitch, then chain about twice as long as you want your loop. Slip stitch in the first stitch and fasten off.

 My mom was so happy when she saw this brightening up her china hutch. Apparently I'm talented. XD I'm just glad when things turn out the way I want them to.


Blessed Be, and Happy Hooking during the Holidays!

Making progress, I'm making progress!

On my to-do list, that is! Made two sales this week, one from my Etsy store, CraftsbyChi, and one from a local game store that stocks my custom crocheted dice-bags. Check out their Facebook page, Olde World Games.  I've also finished one of the arm warmers in Commission from a Friend, minus the sewing, I've actually posted a pattern and am damn near done with the Rainbow Waves Scarf (which will be posted upon completion) that is a gift for my gayest friend ever. <3
I still need to do a scarf for my friend in Blue and Black Stripes, to match his beanie gift from last year. The arm warmer needs to be sewn, and it's mate made.
I need to make a Green and Grey Stripes Beanie for my nephew.
Then there's something for my brother, but I don't know what, yet.
I'm planning on making scarves for a few of the homeless people that are around my store often. They need something warm.
I have this idea for a hot-bowl holder....
Crochet ornaments and tree topper.

OH, and I taught my mom how to do a granny square today. That was fun. And she gave me dome pretty new scissors. They're blue. Titanium. I am very happy.

Well, Blessed Be and Happy Hooking during the holidays!



So I made a hot-bowl holder! I made two Granny Triangles  ( check out this pattern  http://ahappyone.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/half-a-square-squared-sort-of/  ) and single-stitched them together along two sides. Very pretty yarn, will post pattern and pictures. 
Also started the Blue and Black Stripes Scarf for my friend, which I will post later.

Arm-warmers for all!

So these lovely little wrist warmers (they're too short to appropriately call them arm-warmers) were made for while I'm at work freezing my palms off in my drive-through (yes, MY drive-through). While they were originally for me, I gave them to my manager who has very poor circulation due to heart problems. I had been planning on making some for him anyway, so it worked out. I told him he doesn't get a Christmas present though!

A close-up of the pretty ( but not too girly haha) V-stitch pattern. Works up real quickly and takes no time at all.

They really work well. They're just the right length to tuck under or over sleeves and my palms stay toasty on freezing cold Tuesdays when they power-wash they parking lot twenty feet from my window. -_-
I also made a pretty burgundy pair that I actually sewed wrong, but they came out fine.

See how nicely they fit over my sleeves? Very comfy, and they add a nice pop of color to my mostly-black winter wardrobe. I also have a longer set that's dark teal. I loooove them.

So, as a disclaimer, I have no idea who wrote this pattern. I got it from a friend who found it somewhere, probably on the interwebs. If this is your pattern and you want it taken down, please comment and let me know, I certainly don't want to steal anyone's hard work.

V-stitch Armwarmers
H hook
worsted weight yarn in pretty colors

Ch 35
DS in 6th chain from hook, Ch 1, DC in same space
Skip 2, *DC, ch1, DC* in the 3rd chain. ( ** is V-stitch, hereafter VS)
Repeat for 9 more VS. You should have 2 or 3 chains left after you're tenth VS.
DS in the last chain.
CH 3, turn, VS in CH1 space of VS on last row.
VS in CH1 space across for the remaining 9 stitches.
CH 3, turn, VS in CH1 space 6 times.
Ch5, SS in 5th stitch. ( you're counting both the double stitches and the chains here) You should have about 7 more stitches until you get to the CH3 from turning. SS in each of them.
CH3, turn, VS in 3rd stitch. (well, my friend said the 3rd, but really, if the 2nd or 4th is right above the VS below, do it there. You want them to line up)
Now you're supposed to VS in each 3rd, including in the ch, but again, make them line up. You should have 2 VS before the CH5, and one in the chain, and then pick up in the CH1 space after, then VS across as before.
How many rows you do now depends on how long you want them. The black ones shown above are 9 rows. I don't remember how many the red ones are, but they came out perfectly square, and I sewed them wrong heehee. My teal ones were 14 I think.

When you have them as long as you want, sew the edges together. I'm not sure how to explain it, but just make sure you sew the long edges so that the thumb hole is horizontal.
I also did an extra row before the thumb hole on the black pair for a slightly longer-over-the-fingers pair.
Have fun with your arm/wrist warmers!



EDIT 1/21/2012  For the thumbhole, I figured out an easier way to do it that also keeps you at the same number of rows  on each side. Instead of  CH5 and ss across, Ch5 and just skip one v-stitch, V-st into the next one and finish the row normally (in v-st). next row, when you get to the ch5, just do one vst in the 3rd ch, continue as normal.

EDIT 1/27/2012 Here are some pictures of those turquoise arm-warmers!

Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!!

Commission from a Friend

 A friend of mine who uses a bicycle as his main form of transportation commissioned these from me. He really needed something to keep his hands warm and still have the use of them. He actually wanted a much looser spiral, but he's very happy with the way they're turning out.

Incidentally, he has huge hands.

It's done in Caron Simply Soft white and black, and Vanna's Choice in some dark grey I've had a while. All in single stitch.

CH 45 (for giant hands. just make sure that it goes around the palm of your hand, and that it's divisible by the number of colors you're using. i.e. 45 is divisible by 3 = 15.) with one color.




okay sorry my non-existent readers im way to unfocused for this typing shit, so, good night.

Big Sis Little Sis hats

So my co-worker is having a baby girl in the next couple of days, and already has a three-ish year old daughter, so I made some matching hats for the sisters.The older girl has a big poofy pom-pom made by my sis-in-law from the same colors plus white. The baby has a big white flower/star thingy, it's pretty. I need to get my tired husband home, where there are no internets, so this post will be a little short. Also, I'm not posting the pattern tonight, but for experienced hookers, it will be easy. Basically, Make a 5-sided granny square. Keep doing rows until it's a little bigger 'around' than the head it's for. Then, on the next row, instead of doing 'Ch1, 3DC,Ch2,3DC, Ch1' at the corners, just do 'Ch2, 3DC, Ch2'.( I promise to better explain this later <3 ) Next row, do 3DC clusters (again, laaaater) instead of 3DC in the Ch1 spaces around. For the next 4 rows, just DC in every stitch around.

More cute pictures coming  soon, promise!<3

I Met a Little Girl who Crochets!!

So this post is kinda different. No pictures, because it's about a person.
At work the other day, I was crocheting on my break, as usual. We take our breaks in the lobby ( I work at Taco Bell). A young girl and her mother came in, and the girl goes, 'Look Mo,m, she's crocheting!'
A little later, after they had eaten (still on my meal break) I asked the mother if she crocheted. She said no, it was her daughter that did. I talked with the little girl a bit, and learned that she is 8 1/2! I gave her my Red Ring Bracelet, which I haven't posted yet, but don't worry, I have pictures.
Her mother said they come to my Taco Bell every Wednesday, and that she would see me next time. I'm so excited!
Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

Under the Sea Crocheted Pendant Necklace

This gorgeous double-strand necklace was inspired by a glass pendant of unknown origin. I have lots of jewelry-type things that I have no idea how I got.. The yarn is Caron Simply Soft Paints, colorway is Oceana (I believe). Two cabone rings make up the clasp. (see Softy Baby Bracelets ). I really love this necklace. The pendant hangs to cleavage (I don't measure things...) and the top strand is a loose choker. This beautiful necklace is completely metal free! (except maybe inside the glass pendant, I don't know how they make those)

Decorations are courtesy of craft time with the nephew. I did more crafting than he did, but oh well. Maybe I'll take pics of those and post them, even though none of them are crocheted <3
Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

This necklace is now for sale in my Etsy shop!

Awesome Camo Dicebag for teh Brother

My sister-in-law got this cool camo yarn and used most of it for..... something. So I asked if I could steal it for a dice bag for her husband, my brother. This is the result! It's tall because I wanted to use up as much of the small ball as possible, but wanted it to work quickly. I hate working in large rounds, it takes forever haha. Also, I was at my best friend's little sister's Hallowe'en sleepover. 5 eleven-year olds, 3 nineteen-year olds. I needed sanity.

All those dice fit in there!

Close up of the drawstring.
If you want the pattern for my dicebag, see my 2-Hour Dicebag, and just make it taller.
Background decorations courtesy of craft day with the nephew <3
Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

Softy Baby Bracelets

Super soft pastel baby yarn and two sizes of cabone rings (little plastic, or other things, rings that you crochet around) come together to create this adorable bracelet for a baby girl.

Purple, blue, yellow, pink and white medium weight baby yarn is crocheted around two cabone rings, one smaller than the other, which slips into the larger one. Completely metal free, this makes a great baby fidget bracelet. I have done a few of them now, this was the first. I tried it in my nephew, and he absolutely loved it. He cried when I took it off of him, so I had to make him one. I used emerald green Caron Simply Soft (not the actual name of the colorway, sorry), and now he never takes it off. Unfortunately, Simply Soft isn't made to stand up to noodles, mud, Nerf sword-play, trips the park, etc., etc., in a day of the life of a 4-year old. This just means I try to salvage the rings and make him  a whole bunch of "power couplets" (he will be an engineer, I just know it. That's what he calls them.)

And here's one I made with my Serenity Garden yarn. I think it's name is Heathers or something. It's like a pastel rainbow with white and no blue.

 I couldn't get it to lay flat. Isn't it pretty though? They come out so cute, and they only take about 10-15 minutes, and tiny amounts of yarn. I don't have much scrap yarn yet, because I'm still fairly new to crocheting and buying yarn, but these are great scrap-busters. Annnnnnnnd, yes, I will post the pattern!

Choose your yarn, hook, and cabones. They can really be any size, so long as the smaller one fits through the larger one after being crochet around (which roughly doubles with a fine yarn, and triples with a thicker yarn).
Tie a slip knot, insert your hook.
Insert your hook through the hole of either cabone ring. I usually start with the larger.
Single stitch around the ring, as if it were a magic circle. (If you don't know how to do a magic circle, look up The Art of Crochet by Theresa on Youtube.)
Stitch halfway around the ring. If you want it to be exactly half, crochet all the way around, counting stitches, then undo half.
Chain roughly 23. This will depend on how long you want the bracelet and the thickness of your yarn. Experiment!
Insert hook through the other ring.
Single stitch aaaaaalllll the way around till you get to the chain again.
Single stitch into the last chain (the one closest to your hook), and across the chain to the other ring.
Insert hook into the first ring, and crochet the other half (remember how many you did for the first half?).
Slip stitch into the first stitch (it may be helpful to transfer your loop onto a smaller hook to make the slip stitch easier.) Finish off and your done! Do a ton of them to make a play chain for your kid/s, or for a mother or mother-to-be you know. With such a huge variety of yarns and rings, you could even do a dainty, beaded one with a fancy clasp.
My overall favorite thing about these, though, has to be that they are metal-free. I have somewhat metal-sensitive skin, and I have a friend that cannot have metal touch her skin at all, so these make great alternatives to traditional metal jewelry and clasps. I have more crocheted jewelry to post, too! I'm so excited XD.
Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

2-Hour Dice Bag

This really took me a little less than 2 hours, maybe 1 1/2. I used my lovely Serenity Garden Gemstones yarn and my trusty E hook, but you could use any yarn and a matching hook. So ridiculously simple...
Okay, so
Ch 2, 6 single stitch(SC) into the 1st chain. DO NOT JOIN. This is worked in rounds. Increase (2SC in one) around. [12 stitches]
*Inc, SC in next* around [18]
*Inc, SC in next 2* around [24]
*Inc, SC in next 3* around [30]
*Inc, SC in next 4* around [36]
If your base is big enough, stop increasing. If you want it bigger, keep going!
Now just Sc around and around and around and... etc. etc. until it's tall enough. Slip stitch.
Now *DC in next stitch, Ch1, skip next stitch, and DC in next* ( I actually have a DC in every stitch for a more ruffley top, either way works well.) around.
For the draw string, cut a piece of any yarn you want ( I used Bernat Satin in a pretty forest green) twice as long as the circumference of your bag. (okay, I just cut about 14-16 in and trimmed the excess). Fold in half and use your hook to thread it through the Ch 1 spaces, all the way around. If you have a bead with a large enough hole to fit all 4 strands through, use it! If not, don't worry. Tie the ends of the yarn together and trim. Make sure the drawstring slides easily and you left enough slack to open the bag. Voila! A one of a kind dice bag for you or your favorite nerd! Or, if you don't want o make your own, check out my Etsy shop, Craftsbychi. www.etsy.com and search for craftsbychi. I'd love to make you one! Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

Happy Hubby Pentacle Necklace.

My husband has had this metal pentacle necklace for quite a while, and one day I decided to play with it. He loved it, and so it stayed. I used black Patons Grace 100% mercerized cotton and an E hook and just single stitched around. For the points of the star (which lay on top of the circle) I just tucked them back a bit. I started on the1/5 of the circle to the right of the loop and chained 1 behind it. I then threaded red Patons Grace though the chain, going back over a few links on the end to secure. This was done sometime in summer, and it's still completely intact. Well, the clasp broke, but that has nothing to do with the crochet hehe.
Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!

Autumn Song Pentacle Coaster

So as you can see this coaster isn't very big, but it could also make a cute patch or add a hanging loop and hang it as an ornament. For this I used Serenity Garden yarn in Gemstones and a F hook. This yarn changes color very slowly, but each stitch is a different shade, making for a gorgeous medley of color. Here is the pattern for the pentacle. 
Materials:
Any weight yarn
2 colors (or do the whole thing in one color, or mix it up!
Matching hook
sk-skip
ch-chain
sl- slip stitch
sc- single Crochet
dc- double crochet


Directions:
With first color
CH 5 join with sl.
1. Sc in loop 10 times join to begining with sl

2.* Ch. 7 sk next sc sl in next sc* repeat 4 more times (5 loops formed) join begining with sl.

3.* in ch7 sc 4 times, ch 3 ,sc 4 times* around in all loops tie off

4. with color 2 attach to any star pt in loop* ch 8 and sc in next star pt* repeat around join with beg sc

5. Ch 3 dc in same sc(2dc),* in ch 8 loop dc 10 , 2 dc in sc* repeat around join with sl in beginning ch3

It works up really quickly and this yarn just makes gorgeous stars. Blessed Be and Happy Hooking!