New Hair + the new hat is under way

The hair turned out great. I didn't know it would be wavy until this morning when I put some mousse in it and let it air dry. I've always had limp baby fine hair, so this is a surprise. But I've heard that hair changes as you get older and since I'm facing the big 3-0 this year....

Anyway, work has begun on the new hat. I'm using some Plymouth Galway in aqua that I had sitting around. It's turning out cute and I'm taking meticulous notes. I've already come up with a cute name for the pattern as well, so we're moving right along.

I think this will be all for now, though. My neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, pinkie are beginning to ache. I foresee a trip to the chiropractor in my future....

New hat for new hair

No pattern today. I've got one in the works in the dusty attic of my head. It's tumbling around up there, wondering how slouchy it wants to be and how the cables might look when it's all done.

This afternoon, I get my hair cut! Why, you might ask, is that so significant to warrant a mention here? I've not had my hair cut professionally in almost three years, just by my husband while I hang my head over the back of a kitchen chair. It now reaches to just above the waistband of my pants, but it's all scraggly and full of split ends. Two years ago, for my birthday, my mom gave me a gift certificate to the stylist she uses, but I haven't made the time to get it cut. So anyway, I'm pretty excited!

The weather has been such crap here lately. Thaws out in the afternoon and freezes up at night, which means our lane was been a horrible slop fest. We talked about getting a small loan to buy the rock and gravel we need to put down, but that would interfere with my getting a new vehicle. Dilemmas, dilemmas. Our tax return would be able to cover it, but then we wouldn't be able to buy the new kitchen table we would like. I know, I know. I need to be thankful for the table I have and the vehicle I have, the country house and lane that I have. I know.

So, back in January, on the 16th to be precise, I went to a little yarn shop in Springfield. I was looking for yarn to make a gorgeous blanket in the Interweave Crochet issue that I had gotten awhile back. I sat down with the helpful proprietress and looked at color cards and chose colorways that most closely resembled the ones in the blanket. I ordered the yarn and payed for it, and she gave me one skein that she did have in stock. She told me that the yarn would take a week or two to arrive and that she would call me. I called after two weeks came and went and was informed that the yarn had not come in yet, but that she would check with the manufacturer and get back with me. I let another two weeks go by and called again, and was informed that it still had not shown up and that she would check in on Monday to see what was going on, and that if I didn't hear back from her by Tuesday that I should call. It's now Wednesday and there's nary a ring on my phone. It's very aggravating. I will be calling her again today and hang it all if I made a nuisance of myself. I have, after all, payed for the stuff.

Small child is wanting juice now and I must jump in the shower so that I'm ready for work on time. What a day! I might post a pic of the new 'do when I get home, if I end up liking it.

Alright now, I'm nervous and scared! I'm glad I don't bite my nails anymore, I'd just have stubs today! =o/

Elena's Booties

Elena's Booties

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby

Hook: F

Notions: 2 1/4" buttons

Magic Loop: Make a slip knot with a 4" tail. Place slip knot on hook, wrap yarn tail around your fingers to make a loop and stitch into the loop.

Round 1: 8 sc in Magic Loop. Pull tail to tighten, and join with a slst to first sc. Ch 3.

Round 2: 2 dc in each st around, join with a slst to first dc. Ch 2.

Round 3: 1 hdc, 2 hdc in next. Rep to end. Join with a slst to first hdc. Ch 3.

Round 4: Dc in each st. Join with a slst to first dc. Ch 3.

Row 5: Dc in first 16. Ch 3. Turn.

Row 6: Dc in each st. Ch 3. Turn.

Rows 7 -11: Rep Row 6. At end of Row 11, ch 1.

Row 12: Slst in first 8. Fold in half, right sides together, and slst sides together. Turn right sides out, and ch1.

Shoe Edge: Work 16 sc along edge of show, sc in same st as last dc in row 5, hdc in next, dc2tog, dc in next 2, dc2tog, hdc in next, sc in next. Work 16 sc along edge. Slst in 1st sc to join. Ch1.

Row2: Sc 12. Ch 13. Skip first 5 ch. Sc in next 8. Sc in 12th st of Row. Sc in next 2, sc3tog, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sc3tog, sc in last 15. Slst in first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in ends.

For left bootie: Work as for right bootie up to Shoe Edge Row 2: Sc in first 15. Sc3tog, sc 1, hdc 1,dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sc3tog, 3 sc, ch 13, sk first 5 ch, sc in next 8, sc in same st as last before the ch-13, sc in last 12. Slst in first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew buttons to match button holes.

Disclaimer: I've only partially tested this pattern. Please let me know if anything is amiss. Thanks!

Elena's Bonnet

Elena's Bonnet

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in pink
Hook: G
Notions: 1 1/2" button

Magic Ring: Make a slip knot leaving a 4" tail. Place slip knot on hook. Wrap yarn tail around fingers and sc into loop made. Sc 11 more. Pull on tail to tighten and slst into first sc to join. (12 sc)

Round 2: Ch 2. Hdc in same as join. 2 hdc in each st. Hdc in same st as join. Join with slst to 1st hdc. (24 hdc)

Round 3: Ch 1. Sc in next st and around. Sc in same st as join. Join with slst to first sc. (24 sc)

Round 4: Ch 2. Hdc in join. *Hdc in next. 2 hdc in next. Rep from * to end. Hdc in same st as join. Join with slst to first hdc. (36 hdc)

Round 5: Rep Round 3. (36 sc)

Round 6: Ch 2. Hdc in join. *Hdc in next 2 sts. 2 hdc in next. Rep from * to end. Hdc in same st as join. Join with a slst to first hdc. (48 hdc)

Round 7: Rep Round 3. (48 sc)

Round 8: Ch 2. Hdc in same st as join and next 39 sts. Turn. (40 hdc)

Round 9: Ch 2. Hdc in each st across. Turn.

Round 10: Ch 1. Sc in each st across. Turn.

Round 11 & 12: Rep Round 9.

Round 13: Rep Round 10.

Round 14: Rep Round 9.

Row 15: Ch 4. Skip 1st 2 sts. (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next. *Skip 5 sts, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next. Repeat from * to last two sts. Ch 1. Dc in last st. Turn. (7 lacy scallops)

Row 16: Ch 4. (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in each ch-3 space. At end, ch 1, dc in 3rd ch of turning chain. Turn.

Row 17: Rep Row 16.

Row 18: Ch 1. Sc in top of dc. Sc in ch-1 space. *Sc in 2 dc. 3 sc in ch-3 sp. Ch 3. Slst into last sc made. - (Picot made) 2 sc in same ch-3 sp. sc in 2 dc. Rep from * to end. Sc in ch-4 space. 2 sc in 3rd chain of turning chain. Do not turn.

Edge: Work sc evenly around the side and neck edge to the beg of Row 18. Slst into 1st sc of Row 18. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Strap: Join yarn in sc corresponding to end of Row 14. Sc in same st as join. Sc in next. Turn. Work a sc in only st. Work 24 Foundation ch. Ch 4. Turn. Skip 2 sts. Slst in next 22 sts. Slst in same st as 2nd sc at beg of strap work. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Sew button to opposite side of bonnet.

Disclaimer: I have not tested this pattern. Please let me know if anything is amiss. Thanks!

Elena's Dress

A friend and coworker of my in-laws just had his first baby and my mother-in-law asked me to stitch something up for them. This is what came about.

Disclaimer: I've not tested this pattern, so please let me know if something is amiss. Thanks!

Elena's Dress

Size: Newborn

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby (Sport DK weight) in pink: 1 skein
Hooks: E, G and H
Notions: 2 stitch markers, 3 - 3/8" buttons

Finished measurements:
From shoulder to hem - 1o"
From side to side (not around) - 7.5"

Stitch guide:
HdcFch – Half double crochet foundation chain
Picot – ch 3, slst into last st made.

With G hook:
40 HdcFch. Or 42 chs. Turn
Row 1: Ch2. *Hdc in next. 2 hdc in next. Rep to end. Turn (60 hdc)

Row 2: Ch2. Hdc evenly across. Turn

Row 3: Rep Row 1. (90 hdc)

Row 4 & 5: Rep Row 2.

Row 6: Ch2. *Hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st. Rep across from *. turn (120 sts)

Row 7: Place marker 40 sts from ea edge. Ch 2. Hdc in first 16 sts (Back right), 5 HdcFch+, skip 24 sts (right arm hole), hdc next 40 sts (front of garment), 5 HdcFch, skip next 24 sts (left arm hole), hdc across remaining 16 sts. (back left). {+ can also just chain 5)

Row 8: Ch4. Skip 1 st. (2 dc, ch3, 2 dc) in next; *skip 5 sts, (2 dc, ch3, 2 dc) in next. Rep from * to end. Ch 1. Dc in last st. Turn [14 (2 dc, ch3, 2 dc)]

Row 9: Ch 4. (2 dc, ch3, 2 dc) in each ch3 sp. At end ch1, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn

Row 10: Rep Row 9. At end do not turn. Join with slst to 3rd ch at beg of row. All rows will now be worked in the round.

Row 11 & 12: Ch4. (2 dc, ch3, 2 dc) in each ch-3 sp. At end, ch1, dc in dc of prev round. Join with slst to 3rd ch at beg of row.

Row 13-15: With H hook, cont in est patt.

Row 16-19: Ch 4. (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) in each ch-3 sp. At end, ch1, dc in dc of prev round. Join with slst to 3rd ch at beg of row.

Row 20: ch1. sc in ch-1 sp. *Sc in next 3 dc, 2 sc in ch-3 sp, ch 3, slst into last sc made (picot) sc into ch-3 sp, sc in next 3 dc. Repeat from * around. Sc in ch-1 sp. Sc in dc. Join with slst to 1st sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends

Neck and back opening:
With E hook: Right side facing
Join yarn with slst to last sc of neck on back right side. Sc in same st as join. 2 sc in side of st. Work 19 sc evenly along edge. Sc tog the dc and ch4 of the join of row 10. Work 18 scs evenly up opp edge. Work 2 sc in next . Sc around neck opening. Join with slst to 1st sc.

Row 2: (Slst, sc 2) in next. Sc 18. Sc3tog. (Sc 5. ch4.) three times – button holes made. Sc in next 1. sc 2 in next. Slst in same st. slst in next, fasten off. Weave in ends.

Sew three buttons to match button holes.

Arm hole:
With G hook.
Round 1: Join yarn with slst to first missed st. Work 32 sc evenly around. Join with slst.
Round 2: (Ch5, skip 3, sc in next) 6 times. Sc in next 8, do not join.
Round 3: (Sc 4, picot, sc 3) in ea ch-5 sp. Sc in next 2 sc. Slst in next. Fasten off. Weave in ends.


Flower: (small amount of Bernat Baby Coordinates in white and 5th Avenue Superwash Merino in Lovely Lime)

With E hook and any dk weight yarn:
(Ch 6. 3dtr in 6th ch from hook, ch5, slst in same ch.) 5 times. Slst in the bottom of first petal to join. Fasten off. With second yarn of choice, make 5 surface slst at the bottom of each petal. Leave long tail. Attach flower to dress. With a yarn needle and the long tail of second yarn make a French knot and pull through to the inside of the dress. Fasten off.