{Be}ing Crafty

~ {Be}ing Crafty ~
 

This page is dedicated to my mom.  Growing up, I would watch her hand make things.  I always asked if i could help, or have her teach me "how to" and she never turned me down. She ALWAYS encouraged me to try new things, and was always patient while teaching me to do what ever it might have been.  She always showed me how to do things just so.  My favorite hobby/craft she taught to me was Crochet.  Ever since I was little I loved to watch her at work [listening to Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote or QVC on TV in the back ground]. 

My Mom, she has amazing talent and I am grateful she passed some of it on to me.

 

About a Little Boy and his Little Bear

"Little Bear"

This cute little bear I crocheted for my little guy for his 3rd birthday. His favorite TV show happens to be Little Bear and so I decided to make him his very own. 

You can find the pattern I used below.
[Link to my Pinterest Board] [ Link to the (free) Crochet Bear Pattern]

* Note:The only changes I made to this pattern was lengthening the head and the body to the proportion I liked.  Also the nose, mouth and eyes...did my own thing.

 



one HAPPY boy

"THEE" Hat

Everyone can were a hat... some can were some hats better than others.  I look great in a cowboy hat however this is something I would never wear more than once (maybe for Halloween).
It just isn't my style.

I have crochet plenty of beanies... but this one, this one is "THEE" Hat for me.  It fits my personality, my style and I will never feel out of place with this on my head. 

You will find this Butterfly Crochet Stitch Slouchie Beanie pattern on YouTube here. 
This lady is amazing and can literally crochet anything. 

 

Note: While crocheting my beanie, I  changed only one thing...

• Instead of single crocheting the 70 stitches to create the base chain for the circumference of the hat, i used this technique  called a foundation double crochet stitch in it's place. (I think it is easier than fiddling with a skinny chain.)  Then I followed the pattern subtracting the number of single crochet rows 1-6 to 4 since a double crochet equals the same height  as 2 rows of single crochet.  (kind of confusing if you are just beginning...)  This is a great stitch to use in place of the puff stitch. It has the same effect, just a little more delicate.

 

 

Citrasolv Transfering 

Above are pictures I took during my own attempt.

I decided to make my 3 year old ABC blocks using this CitraSolv method I discovered through the oh so fantastic Pinterest.

Directions for this project can be found at lillblueboo.com here.

 

Note:  While doing this process I discovered some musts

 

• Finding a Laser printer/copier that will work is the tricky part.  Trial and error. 
• Don't forget to print out your design in mirror image... i wasted time not remembering this step.
• Sometimes the pieces of wood pre-made ready to go have bar code stickers on them... the citraSolv take it right off, like Goo Gone.  Allow the area were the sticker was to dry completely before continuing with the project (if your design has to cover over where the sticker was.) 
• Taping your design down is a must! (if at all possible)
• Do not use anything but a Q-tip to apply CitraSolv onto small projects like this.  Be sparing with it, a little goes a long long way!
• When burnishing the design onto the wood, pressure is key.  You can see I used the end of a pair of  fingernail clippers.  I used tons of pressure, i thought for sure I'd rip the paper... never happened.  Make sure to go in all directions.  I would lift up the design a little and peek to see how it was transferring.  Place the design back down and burnish more if needed. 
• I did 26 3" blocks.  From the looks of the bottle of CitraSolv after I was finished, You won't need much.  I can barely tell I used any. 
• This technique works on fabric as well.  Tutorial can be found here

 

 

 

Let's Go Fishing!

 

These crochet fish are just adorable!  I loved how they turned out!

The pattern can be found through my pinterest board

here or the Direct link here.

 

In addition to the original pattern for these fish, I wrapped a magnetic washer (make sure it is magnetic... not all washers are) in yarn and attached it as the fishes mouth.  Also on the large yellow one in the picture below, I added fins.  No pattern for the fins, just winged it.