Pointy gnome hats

Don't know which is keeping me busier --
spinning yarn or making baby hats with it.
Both are so much fun!

One of my earliest successful skeins was from
a bit of red alpaca blend that I bought at a show last year.

 It needed some more length so I added white trim.
The other two were made with handspun yarn from The Fine Lime.
Each one is $30 including shipping.

Two more gnome hats in masculine colors and 3 month size.
Made of my own handspun yarns.
$30 each including shipping.

  These are gnome hats made with store-bought yarns.
Two newborn sizes and the green one a 3-6 month size.

$20 each including shipping.

More newborn-sized gnome hats in a rainbow of colors.
$20 each including shipping.

Second attempt at spinning

What an improvement with my second attempt at spinning. 

Thinner and more even yarn.

No more of that thick-and-thin yarn

unless that is what I am going for specifically.

 I've had the lime green roving since last fall

and brought the bamboo silk yarn more recently
with plans to make myself a shawl.

Amazing results when the two of them are plied together!

And the resulting scarf is thick and cushy

and shimmery all at the same time.

I can't wait for it to be done and for when I can wear it.

Let the sun shine

Like my yarn ball holder?

No need for a fancy one when a 50¢ garage sale find will do.

 I'd had my heart set on making myself a summery shawl

from this cotton turquoise yarn I had recycled from a sweater.

It just wasn't meant to be as I hated everything I tried.

Turns out, it makes better sun hats for wee ones anyway.

I was able to finish two of these during our weekend away.

This one is a 6-month size and the other one is 2-year size.

They are $20 each, including shipping. 

Let me know if your wee one needs some cute sun protection.

Newborn prop hats with rosettes

Before the pixie bonnets my habit was creating

adorable newborn prop hats with rosettes.

The Crystal Palace Yarns are from my local yarn shop.

 Each is referred to by its yarn color name.

All are ready to ship for $26 incl. shipping.

Send me a message if you would like one.

(Click on the photos for a larger view.)

"Rose Petals" 100% wool Iceland yarn.

"Flame" 100% wool Iceland yarn.

"Valentines" in wool blend tick-and-thin yarn.

"Picnic" in wool blend tick-and-thin yarn.

Wildflower on top, Misty Green at left and Pink Lady at right.

Sunflower on the left and Tulips on the right.

Pixie baby bonnets -- and a new model

Here are my latest crocheting obsession --

sweet little pixie-style bonnets,

most with rosettes and braided ties.

And notice how I have graduated from photographing

my hats on a ball of yarn to a baby doll head.

I found her on eBay and am on the search for more.

Not sure if I will find another one as cute as her.

  

Newborn size with rosette in pink acrylic.

$20 incl. shipping.

  

Newborn size with rosette in purple acrylic.

$20 incl. shipping.

 Newborn size with rosette in black-and-white baby alpaca.

$36 incl. shipping.

Newborn size with rosette in handpainted boucle yarn.

$30 incl. shipping.

 SOLD! But I can make these in any infant and toddler size. 

Babyweight acrylic with rosette, lace trim and extra-long braids.

$22 incl. shipping.

"Little Red Riding Hood" in red acrylic. Size 6-12 months.

$18 incl. shipping.

Off my hook

I've been busy making small items with my hooks and yarn.

So satisfying to finish a piece within minutes instead of hours.

I just end up making many multiples of the same things.
All are perfect for using up last little bits of yarn.

First, it was many colors of baby booties.
 I once tried to make them from a pattern that
worked in the round but this one made of straight rows
and then folded in half was so much faster.
And just as cute!

I've always loved these full and round rosettes
but never knew how they were created.
All you have to do is crochet 3 relatively simple rows
and then roll and sew to hold them in place.
They look great on hats or headbands
or anything you want to give a feminine touch.

With a nod to spring, I used some pretty cottons

to create textured scrubbies in granny square stitches.

They can be used to wash your face or your dishes.
I like them best to scrub vegetables, then toss in the laundry.

Boob beanies available

Be it in support of the importance breastfeeding

or breast cancer awareness, people are wearing boob hats.
What a phenomenon it has turned out to be!

So, thanks to a pattern from Inner Hooker,
I've been making and selling them for a few weeks now.
You can find them in many sizes in my Etsy shop
or you can email me directly at redhenstudis@aol.com.

Newborn to child sizes are $18-20 plus shipping.

They can be any natural skin color combination or all pink.
I have cute little pink and black skull tattoo appliques
that can be added if you would like.

Tween, adult and extra large sizes are $23-25 plus shipping.
Again they can be any natural skin color combination or all pink.
They come with a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.

Are you man enough to wear a boob hat?
My neighbor Joe is showing support for his wife
who has had numerous breast biopsies lately.
I hear he rarely takes it off and proudly wears it everywhere.

Going roving

Awhile back I experimented with felting bowls

I'd crocheted from recycled sweater yarn.

It was an absolute failure.

Our new high-efficiency washer combined with unknown

yarn content and they didn't felt very, well, efficiently.

So I've bought some wool roving to try it with next.

The solid color yarns are Bernat Roving and

the multi-colored ones are from Crystal Palace Yarns.

Can't wait to show you what I have created!

Granny's homespun blanket

Hubby and I had a date night last week -- to the craft store!

Some women might wonder how I convinced him to go.

He was the one who need to go and I tagged along.

He needed some illustration board for a project,

and I got some to help with my company rebranding.

(More on that at a later date.)

While there, of course I had to look at the yarn aisle.

Not that my yarn stash needed any new additions.

Really couldn't resist these bright jewel tones

in Lion Brand Homespun Yarn though.

They were at a great sale price after all.

Having used the turquoise one for a hat in the past,

I was drawn to that colored yarn first.

The others fell into place after pulling out hue after hue

to see what would work best with each other.

Feeling its super-soft texture I knew I would make

a thick and comfy granny square afghan from it all.

Loving it so far!

This pattern works up so easily and quickly

and the bright colors are so yummy.

One last Christmas post -- with crochet directions

I know I'm running a little late on this,

since I am posting even after the Epiphany

but I don't think it can wait a whole year.

These are the Christmas-themed crochet projects

I worked on during the month of December.

For my son's kindergarten holiday party I made three hats

with the super-easy elf hat pattern from CrazySocks Crochet.

The other homeroom mom and I didn't dress up for Halloween

so we agreed to kind of get dressed up for Christmas.

The teacher and the two of us looked very festive!

The pointy crochet idea kind of stuck with me,
so  I started making decorations red and green too.

Specifically 75 Santa hats for immediate family members.

Yes, I said 75. I am one of 6 and my husband is one of 9.

Between our siblings, their spouses and their children

the numbers have really risen in the last few years.

Each red and white hat was packaged with a gold hook
for hanging as ornaments on the recipients' trees.
A nephew put his on a nutcracker from his collection.
(He's allergic to nuts, so how ironic is it
that he has a bunch of nutcrackers?)

Since I made quite a few of them while watching
"Gnomeo and Juliet," I want to make gnomes with beards.
I could also adapt my leprechaun hats this year!

As the holiday season wound down,
I used the same stitch pattern to make a few evergreens,
adorned with white buttons and glitter snow.
I simply stuffed them with polyfiber with unfinished bottoms
but felt or fabric could be sewn on as bases.

 CROCHET SANTA HATS OR TREES 

I used a H hook and worsted weight yarn in the appropriate colors. The ch 2 at the start of each round doesn't count as a stitch. At the end of a round, join to first stitch not the ch 2. (The best way of hiding your seam.)

Ch 4 and john in first ch to make a loop.

Round 1: Ch 2, 6 dc in loop, join with sl st to first dc. (6 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts* twice, join. (8 dc) 

Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts* twice, join. (10 dc)  

Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts* twice, join. (12 dc)   

Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts* twice, join. (14 dc)   

Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 6 sts* twice, join. (16 dc)  

Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts* twice, join. (18 dc)  

Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts* twice, join. (20 dc)   

The Santa hats are 8 rounds tall, 7 in red and 1 in white trim. The trees were anywhere from 6-9 rows tall. If you prefer something taller, continue on with the increase pattern until it is the size you would like. 

Crochet stacking bowls-- with free directions

Most of my crochet projects aren't done from a pattern.

I find stitches I like and experiment.

My project from yesterday is one such example.

While in bed watching a "Law & Order"marathon, 

I hooked these three little stacking bowls.

Below, I am sharing my directions with you.

 

CROCHET STACKING BOWLS

I used bulky wool yarn recycled from an old sweater and an I-hook. You can use whatever you have on hand and adjust the size hook for your yarn, no need to check gauge. For a tighter weave, you can substitute sc or hdc for dc.

ROUND 1: Ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to create a ring; ch 2 (counts as 1st dc now and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with sl st in 1st dc. (Join all rounds this way and do not turn at the end of the rounds.) (12 dc)

ROUND 2: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around; join. (24 dc) 

[STOP INCREASING HERE FOR SMALL BOWL. SKIP TO ROUND 5.]

ROUND 3: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, dc in next dc (2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc) 11 times; join. (36 dc)

[STOP INCREASING HERE FOR MEDIUM BOWL. SKIP TO ROUND 5.] 

ROUND 4: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, dc in next 2 dc (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc) 11 times; join. (48 dc)

[STOP INCREASING HERE FOR LARGE BOWL. CONTINUE WITH ROUND 5.]

ROUND 5: Ch 2, sk st with ch 2, sc around; join.

ROUND 6: Repeat round 5.

[STOP HERE FOR SMALL BOWL.]

ROUNDS 7-8: Repeat round 5.

[STOP HERE FOR MEDIUM BOWL.]

ROUNDS 9-10: Repeat round 5.

[STOP HERE FOR LARGE BOWL.] 

After you get the bowl as wide and as tall as you want it, weave in ends and turn right-side out, so the pretty stitches show on the outside of the bowl.

I prefer the textured look of these, but bowls crocheted with wool can be felted by running them repeatedly in the washer and dryer until they are your desired sizes.

You can also make them any size you want. Continue following the pattern increases for a wider base [ROUND A: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, dc in next 3 dc (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc), then ROUND B: Ch 2, dc in same st as ch 2, dc in next 4 dc (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc), ETC.] and make more rounds up for a taller bowl.

You can do what you wish with your finished pieces, but I'd appreciate credit for the pattern and a link back here. Share your photos too!!!

My most recent hats

Winter is officially here and
here are some of the hats I've made recently.

Gotta love elf hats and my new pom pom maker!

And what do you think of the mohawk hat at the bottom?

 A few of them, and some others, are for sale on Facebook.
Let me know if you would like one!

Shopping sprees

Between the fiber festivals and craft fairs I went to this fall,

I've added to my stash, though I should be trying to use it up.

I have a hard time using the "good" yarn I buy though.
Want to make something extra special, usually for me.

Here are 3 wool yarns.

The top one is a hand-spun, bulky denim tweed.

The middle is hand-dyed worsted Norwegian wool

The last two red and white are fingering weight

and were seconds from a mill in Maine.

Any suggestions on how to use them?

I always go for the bargain bins at shows,

and don't mind buying vintage stock.

These are both wool and about $2 a skein.

I'm thinking of using them together.

I'm also building up my roving stash.

I have used the drop spindle once to make some yarn,

just enough to make a sweet flower brooch.

Need more time or to find someone who gives lessons,

in both spinning and felting, to get the most of these.

And I couldn't resist these cute pewter buttons with bagpipes!!!

I still have a stash of Scottish wool tartan and solids

I would love to pair these with.

Maybe a bag for me .... to carry my latest yarn projects in.