Crochet Newborn Puff Stitch Beanie

I have only made 3 puff stitch beanies in my (crocheting) life. Okay, I lied. I've only completed 2 hehe. The latest one I made (or started) never got completed. It takes so long to make and then I got distracted with other projects.

I wanted to make another (the 3rd) and decided if I made a smaller one, I'd probably be finish sooner and not get distracted.

I followed the free pattern found here. The pattern is for a slouchy beanie in a woman's size but I just made it smaller.

When starting with the brim, I made it about 13" stretched and then joined with a slip stitch. Going up on the hat, I stopped when it measured 6". Using a yarn needle, I cinched up the top.

I decided to add a cute little flower. I followed the free pattern here. I wanted to be able to clip it on so I attached a clip to the back side instead of attaching it to the actual hat.



I didn't even glue the clip. I put it through a few stitches on the bottom. This will be used as a prop so I'm not concerned about making it secure. Of course if you are making it for a baby to wear, you probably want to sew the flower to the hat securely. 

It's so tiny and darn cute!

And I printed these cute little cards using Microsoft Word.

How cute is this 10 pound newborn?!

Crochet Jellyfish

So my friend posted this tutorial on my Facebook page and although I've pinned tons of Jellyfish patterns, I haven't made one (shhhhh!). It's a good thing she reminded me :)

The free pattern is available here by One Dog Woof. I didn't realize how big it was until I was done making the head. I thought they were smaller but still, very cute! 

Honestly, I didn't read the whole pattern. It's a very simple beginner's project and works up quickly. If you're a beginner, I recommended reading her pattern carefully because I actually had to re-do my attachment of the bottom piece to the top because I wasn't paying attention (I know, shame on me!) hehe.

Update: I felt all giddy when asked if my photo can be used and was featured with some other jellies:

Also, I made a green and blue one at the request of my oldest son during our camp trip over the Memorial Holiday Weekend. 

Crochet Dream Catcher 2

Okay, I just finished my first Crochet Dream Catcher. I made it for my friend's daughter. I was working on this one for my son. This is not a tutorial so check out my first Crochet Dream Catcher for additional information on how I made them. 

For the eye of this dream catcher, I followed the free pattern here. I didn't complete the pattern. I stopped after round 6. It was the perfect size and any larger would have not fit the hoop I am using. 

I didn't cover the hoop in fabric for this one because I purchased a green hoop (his favorite color) and wanted the green to show.

I wanted one accent piece in yellow but didn't have a ribbon or fabric I loved so I took a "gold" yarn and chained the length I needed. I then added blue, white and green beads at the bottom of it on both ends. I figured I would do the same to match on top. I love how it turned out!

Using the same cotton thread for the eye, I made cute little tassels! I ended up only using 2 of them.

Crochet Dream Catcher

I'm so inspired by all the beautiful Dream Catchers I see on Pinterest. I'm making one for my son who just loves Dream Catchers but a friend saw my HandmadebyPhanessa Instagram post and said her daughter wanted one. 

I decided to make her one first before I finish the one for my son (I still need some additional supplies to finish his).

I used a 8" embroidery hoop (inner hoop). I purchased a few fat quarters in shades of pink and the rest of the stuff I already had. 

Supplies (I used):

8" Embroidery Hoop (inner piece)
Yarn (Red Heart Super Saver)
5.5mm Crochet Hook
Fabric Strips (Fat Quarters)
Lace Ribbons
Ribbons
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Hot Glue
Large Wooden Beads
Beads

The eye of the dream catcher was made following this Free Coaster Pattern. I used a 5.5 mm hook and Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in White.

I cut pieces of the fat quarter fabric to wrap around my hoop. They were about 3/4-1 inch strips. I used hot glue to secure it. I had random yarn, ribbon, fabric and lace around that I added to the bottom portion.

Once I completed the middle piece, it looked small but I knew that it would stretch. Using another piece of long yarn, attach the eye by threading through the chain spaces on the tips. Once I was done. I went back and pulled on the yarn to make it tighter and it'll reach closer to the hoop. I didn't want it to touch the hoop.

Start attaching your fabric (ripped looks better), ribbons, lace and whatever else you want to add. I used about 2 pieces for each different piece I had. When measuring the pieces, make it twice as long because you will fold it in half and loop it through the hoop. I decided that I want the outside pieces to be shorter and coming down like a "V" shape.

I used the same white yarn to add the large wooden beads. You'll need a yarn needle that will fit through the holes of the beads. Luckily I have even smaller ones (for the little beads later). Make sure to tie a knot on the bottom so the beads don't fall out.

I used chain stitches to make a loop on the top to hang. Adding cute little beads makes it so pretty!

I can't wait to give it to my friend's daughter!

Crochet V-Stitch Slouchy Hat

I am in love with this yarn. I saw an owl hat made with this yarn and I had to order it! I've always liked Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice yarn. It's soft and easy to work with.

I wasn't sure what I was making. I made one similar and forgot to write it down. So I decided to make another one.

To purchase the pattern, please visit my shop at Handmade by Phanessa. You may also request a custom order on this hat (if you do not crochet).

The brim is made going into the back loops only (BLO) and is crocheted as wide as you want the circumference to be.

Apparently have a small adult head. The circumference of my head is about 21 inches and I stopped crocheting when it reached about 16 inches. The band and yarn used was so soft and stretchy. I've made hats before where I thought I needed more length and it ended up being too loose after wearing it a few times because it stretched so much.

The brim is then sewn together and the hat is worked from bottom up.

Once desired height is reached, you just cinch it up and weave in all the ends!

 

When I made this "rust" colored one. I added double crochets on top and decreased until it got small enough to close up. It doesn't have the same bunched up look on top.

Crochet Granny Square Shrug

I have been on a mission to do at least one large project I can wear. I recently made a Crochet Chevron Blanket and it was a large project (for me, anyway). 

I wanted to make a cocoon/shrug. I found a few on Pinterest. There was one I really liked but it didn't really have a pattern. I decided to give it a try anyway because the instruction provided was easy to follow. The "recipe" can be found here.

I was a little nervous and scared about following the recipe since I wasn't sure if it would fit me. I kept putting it on my back to see if it was a fit. In the end, I made the granny square 41 inches (following the recipe).

I was super excited when I finished it but it turned out really big for me. I didn't follow the recipe as far as adding the short sleeves and collar portion because that would have made it even bigger. At this point I'm not sure if I will keep it as is or rip it back a little and make it smaller.

The problem is I want it long but I'm not wide so I need it in a rectangle shape in order for it to fit me. 

I used Red Heart's (Super Saver Accents) Putty color. the stitches are Granny Squares in rounds until you get a square. I used a 5.5mm hook since that's what the yarn recommended. 

Granny Square:

ch - chain
st - stitch
dc - double crochet
sl st - slip stitch

Starting with a magic ring,

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as the first double crochet through out pattern)
2 dc into the ring, ch2 (you now have your first cluster of 3 dc)

*3 dc into the ring, ch2
Repeat from * until you have 4 sets of dc clusters of 3
sl st to the top of the ch 3 st

You need to always start on the corner chain 2 space. To do that, you'll need to slip stitch until you get to the chain 2 space.

sl st into the next 2 stitches and then sl st into the ch2 space,

 Ch 3

Round 2: 2 dc into the ch2 space, ch2, 3 dc into the same ch2 space
*3 dc into the next ch2 space (corner), ch2, 3 dc into the same ch2 space
Repeat from * into all 4 corners.
sl st into the next 2 stitches and then sl st into the ch2 space

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc into the ch2 space, ch2, 3 dc into the same ch2 space
*3 dc into the next space between the previous ch3 clusters 

When you're not working in the corners, there is no ch 2 spaces. The ch 2 space only happens in the corner spaces of the square.

3 dc into the next ch2 space (corner), ch2, 3 dc into the same ch2 space
Repeat from * all the way around
sl st into the top of the ch3 st
sl st in each st until you get to corner again

Repeat until your piece measures 41 inches. 
Each corner of the square will be (3 dc clusters, ch2, 3 dc clusters)
Each edge will be just 3 dc clusters into the space between the previous clusters (no ch 2 spaces on edge of square)

The last round will be dc all the way around.

Fold square in half with wrong sides facing out. sl st from open edge going in towards the folds leaving about 7 inches for an arm hole. I find that if you slip stitch the inside loops only, it creates a flatter seam. It's a personal preference. Do this for both sides

Turn the piece inside out with the right side of the stitches on the outside. I stopped here. You can follow her recipe on the provided link to add sleeves and a collar but it would have been too big for me (as it already was too big).

I think the hardest part of this project was figuring out the size. I really think I will put it apart down to the size I think will fit me better. More to come soon!