Monday, June 10, 2013

Rib-A-Roni chemo cap free pattern

Still on my quest to donate hats to cancer patients, I decided to try the Rib-A-Roni hat pattern designed by Jane Tanner of Windy Prairie Designs.


This turned out looking super cute in the Red Heart With Love yarn Plum Jam colorway.


I made the hat a little long on purpose, so the wearer can fold or roll up the brim for a jaunty look on warmer days, but on colder days, they can pull the hat down over their ears and stay comfortably snug.






Sunday, June 2, 2013

Dangle lotus earrings free pattern

I came across the chart for this simple but pretty crochet hoop earring quite by accident on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/flordecactus/crochet-earrings/


However, I was unable to locate the pattern chart at what was listed as being the originating site (crochet-plaisir-over-blog.com).

As you can see in the photos, I made my first pair of earrings without the beads indicated in the chart.


I tend to find it easier to work from written instructions rather than charts, so I transcribed the chart below.

CROCHET DANGLE EARRINGS WITH BEADS

Supplies: 1 pair of 3cm diameter latchback hoop earrings; size 3 cotton thread; size C (2.75mm) hook; 10 beads of your choice (5 for each earring), optional. (If not using beads, see alternate instructions below.)

String 5 beads onto cotton thread. Leaving a long tail, make a slipknot in the thread and place slipknot on the hook.

Row 1: Working around the earring hoop, sc 38. Turn.

Row 2: Sl 7; ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; dc in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; dc in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Turn.

Row 3: In first ch loop: (sc, hdc, 3 dc, place bead, dc, hdc, sc.) Repeat ( to ) in second ch loop. In third ch loop: sc, hdc, 2 dc, 2 tc, place bead, 2 tc, 2 dc, hdc, sc. In fourth ch loop: ((sc, hdc, dc, place bead, 3 dc, hdc, sc.)) Repeat (( to )) in fifth ch loop. Sl to join to foundation sc row. FO. Weave in ends. Repeat process for second earring.

CROCHET DANGLE EARRINGS WITHOUT BEADS

Supplies: 1 pair of 3cm diameter latchback hoop earrings; size 3 cotton thread; size C (2.75mm) hook.

Leaving a long tail, make a slipknot in the thread and place slipknot on the hook.

Row 1: Working around the earring hoop, sc 38. Turn.

Row 2: Sl 7; ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; dc in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; dc in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Ch 6; sl in 5th sc from ch. Turn.

Row 3: In first ch loop: (sc, hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sc.) Repeat ( to ) in second ch loop. In third ch loop: sc, hdc, 2 dc, 4 tc, 2 dc, hdc, sc. Repeat ( to ) in fourth and fifth ch loops. Sl to join to foundation sc row. FO. Weave in ends. Repeat process for second earring.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Smiling Joe skullcap

I figured my honey needed a cool costume-like hat to wear next Halloween (so he can at least try keep up with my awesomeness while I am wearing MY skull balaclava and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters).

So I made him Darleen Hopkins' Smiling Joe, the Skull Hat/Creepy Beanie.


Looks like I will need to make him another one that's slightly larger! LOL!


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Pink Roswell alien hat

I purchased several of Darleen Hopkins' character-ific crochet hat patterns some months ago, and I figured it was about time I got started on making them.


This is my interpretation of her Roswell Alien Hat pattern. I made it in pink because I thought the unexpected color might appeal to a cancer patient with a slightly quirky sense of humor. :-) This hat will be donated to my local cancer center.





Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Beaded chemo cap free pattern

This is the Seamless Beaded Cancer Cap by Amy Depew. I was looking for a chemo cap pattern that incorporated beads to give it a fancier look than just the yarn by itself, and Amy's pattern was the perfect solution.


Amy also includes detailed instructions (including a video tutorial) for how to place the beads and get them to stay on the outside of the hat, which was very helpful. When you're crocheting in the round, those darn beads tend to want to slip to the inside of your work -- and we definitely don't want that to happen.