Military Appreciation Month- Crochet and Knit Donations

This year I decided to dedicate my time and my yarn stash to supporting the troops!

I've been working hard these past few months and I plan to send my handmade hats and scarves to service members. Being a military veteran myself, I know it's important for those in service to feel appreciated and connected to home when away from family. Also, who doesn't love getting mail?!

Operation Gratitude is an amazing organization that sends care packages to deployed troops, veterans, first responders, recruit graduates, wounded warriors, their caregivers, and military families. Every box has useful items donated from individuals and service-friendly companies. To date, they have sent out over 2 million care packages!!

If this sounds like your jam, there are so many ways to help! Click HERE to see how you can donate items, your time, or organize a collection drive. You can also request a package for a service member you love.

You're probably here because you knit or crochet and may be interested in the patterns I use. I'm mostly doing hats because they're my fav and maybe I'll throw in a few scarves to mix things up a little. There are some pattern suggestions on the Operation Gratitude website but you can use any you like. I know men outnumber women in the military, but I can't bring myself to make only big man head sized hats. I want anyone who receives one of my hats to be able to actually wear it so I tried to find hats that are more one-size-fits-all designs. There are some I like more than others. Check my Ravelry project page for notes. Here are some patterns I've used that are pictured...

Crochet

Crochet Seafarers Hat

Men's Textured Beanie

Lakeside Beanie
Birch Wood Beanie

Knit

Fair Isle Hat

Ribbed Beanie(used regular worsted weight, CO 80 to 5mm straight needles)

Double Brim Knit Beanie
I like to live on the edge, so I tend to make stuff up as I go and I don't always follow instructions. I looked at a few patterns for double brimmed beanies and then I just did whatever I wanted!

With circular needles, I cast on 82 and knit about 30 rows. After that, I folded up the bottom and picked up those stitches and knit them together. I knit 28 more rows and then did some decreases until it was too uncomfortable with my circular needles(I don't have any double pointed needles yet) I cut a long tail, stitched through the loops on my needles and cinched it together. Voila!

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The Dark Rainbow Scarf

Free Crochet Dark Rainbow Scarf Pattern

I've been thinking about this scarf for a while. I wanted to make something rainbow that would be appropriate for an adult and not look like something for a little girl. I saw a woven one online that I really loved. I've been back and forth on how to replicate something like it. I screwed around with multiple swatches before I landed on this pattern that I feel looks like what I was imagining in my head. My intention was for this to be a Pride scarf, but it also has a very Pink Floyd vibe. Whatever you see when you look at this design, I hope you love it like I do!

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn. My black yarn is Michael's Loops & Threads-Impeccable(1 ball), rainbow colors are Red Heart Super Saver
• K(6.5mm) hook for main color AND N(9mm) hook for rainbow
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Stitches used: American Crochet Terms

• FSC = foundation single crochet
• slst = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• ch = chain
• BLO = back loop only

Add to favorites on Ravelry!

A few things first...

• You don't have to count all these stitches! Just start your FSC and go until it's as long as you want it to be, easy peasy. 
• Same goes for the width. You like how mine looks? Cool, do that many rows. Add or subtract rows to make it the width you prefer. 
• Now, the one thing you have to listen to me on is the two size hooks. The black FSCs and the single crochets are done in the smaller hook. The slip stitch rainbow is done with the larger hook. I tried multiple times to use the same hook with the slip stitches. Even though I was really conscious of keeping it loose, it still got tight enough to pull those rows out of whack. You could see it in the overall shape of the scarf and especially on the bottom edge of the scarf. If you don't have those exact size hooks, just get close and give it try, it will depend greatly on your own personal tension anyway.
• There is a black slip stitch row on top of the purple before I switch to the single crochets. If you don't do that, the purple row will disappear on one side. Just trust me.

Get Started!

Row 1  with smaller hook(6.5mm) in black yarn, FSC until it measures about 64 inches or whatever you prefer. Ok, I counted, it's 180 FSC

Row 2  with larger hook(9mm) change to red yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 3  change to orange yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 4  change to yellow yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 5  change to green yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 6  change to blue yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 7  change to purple yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO

Row 8  change to black yarn. ch 1, turn. slst across in BLO. ch 1, turn

Row 9-22 with smaller hook(6.5) sc across in BLO, ch 1, turn (14 rows)
Tie off yarn after the last stitch.
I wove in my ends, but it would also look great to do fringe. Weaving ends is a little tricky with the slip stitch colors. You have to kind of sew back over your stitches to blend it in. Make sure you double back so it doesn't come out.
*My finished scarf measures 64"long x 5"wide

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Trip To Barcelona, Spain

My International Travel Adventure

This past fall my family went to Barcelona, Spain! This was mine and my kid's first international trip ever! Here are some tips, ideas, and observations that you may find helpful if you're planning a European vacation.

Crochet Gifts 2018

This Year's Crochet Christmas Gifts

So I know I haven't blogged that much this year, but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing stuff! The last few weeks I have been hard at work getting my crochet gifts done. Here's what I have along with where you can find patterns. 

Want to see more of my finished projects? You can check out the project gallery of my blog as well as my Ravelry projects.

Asymmetrical Shawl

Pattern- Tango Shawl, Moogly

Yarn-Lion Brand Shawl In A Cake

Knit Slouch Hat, Fur Pom Pom

Pattern- Freestyled this! Child sz, CO 74(5mm needles). Ribbed band, 12 rows purl, 10 rows knit

Yarn- Hobby Lobby, I Love This Yarn, black and Elements Flower

Pom Pom- DIY'ed that

Hat with Beard

Grey Hat Pattern- Bright Stripes Beanie, KT And The Squid

Beard(small)- Bobble Beard, Ashley Marie

Plaid Hat Pattern- Kids Plaid Hat, Whistle and Ivy

Heart Earflap Hat

Hat Pattern- Valentine Heart Earflap Hat, Classy Crochet

Purple and Grey Hat

Hat Pattern- V-stitch Winter Beanie, Over The Apple Tree

Ralphie Rabbit

Pattern: Ralphie Rabbit Raglow

Grey Stripe Pusheen Cat

Pattern- Stripey Cat

Cowl

Pattern- Stargazer Cowl, Left In Knots

Yarn- Lion Brand Scarfie

Christmas Years Past Projects

2013   2014   2015   2016

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Decorative Wood Sled

Decorative Wood Sled From Recycled Wood

Our wood swing set had seen better days, plus my kids have pretty much outgrown it anyway. We decided to take it apart and there it sits in the back yard until we get around to trashing it. When we starting decorating for Christmas, I had a light bulb moment! We could build a rustic sled with the wood! It's already weathered and the perfect red color. Just throw on a Christmas bow and some rope to finish it off. (Hint: found the rope at the dollar store)

I don't have any pictures of the process, but anyone could freestyle a design depending on the size wood you have and how big of a space it will go in.

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