Booties

Here's the newest set of booties I've made. I've seen booties like this online and I thought I would have a go at it. It took me a couple times but I finally got it the way I wanted it. Even after I finished this pair, I thought of a few more things I would change, so the pattern is still a work in progress. I'm making a pair of brown and pink ones for my friend, Afton, who is having her first in February. As soon as they're done I'll post some pictures.

Flower Beanie Pattern

So I wrote out the pattern for the beanie. I'm not sure if it will make any sense to anyone but me so hopefully you can use it. Also let me know if you have any problems or questions. I will be glad to help you out. Please enjoy.

Flower Beanie

Size G hook

Main color:

Ch 4. Join to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch1. 14 sc in ring. Join in 1^st sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 2. 2 hdc in each sc around. Join in 2^nd ch on beginning ch 2.

Rnd 3 & 4: Ch 2. 1 hdc in next st. (2 hdc in next st. 1 hdc in next 2 sts.) repeat between () around. Join.

Rnd 5: Ch 2. Hdc in each st around. Join.

Rnd 6: Ch 2. Hdc in next 2 sts. (2 hdc in next st. 1 hdc in next 3 sts.) Repeat around. Join.

Rnd 7: Ch 2. Hdc in each st around. Join.

Rnd 8: Ch 2. Hdc in next 3 sts. (2 hdc in next st. 1 hdc in next 4 sts.) Repeat around. Join.

Rnd 9 & 10: Ch 2. Hdc in each st around. Join

Rnd 11: Repeat rnd 8.

Rnds 12-15: Repeat rnd 9. Join with contrasting color at end of rnd 15.

Rnd 16: Repeat rnd 9. Join with main color.

Rnd 17-19: Repeat rnd 9.

Try on a little head at this point and see if it is long enough. The shells on the edge will only add another ½” or so.

Rnd 20: Ch1. Sc in same st as joining. (Skip next 2 sts, 6 dc in next st. Skip next 2 sts, sc in next st.) Repeat around. (You may need to do a little adjusting near the end to come out even skipping only 1 st instead of two, for example.) Join and finish off.

Flower (6 petals):

In center  color ch 3. Join to form ring. Ch 1. 12 sc in ring. Join with petal color. Sc in same st as joining. (Ch 4. 2 dtrc in next st. Ch 4. Sc in next st.) Repeat around. Join in 1^st sc. Finish off. Sew onto hat with needle and thread.

Another Flower Beanie

I liked the beanie I made for my friend's little girl so much that I decided to make one for Iris. I added a stripe to this one and made the flower with six petals instead of five. So cute.

Flower Beanie

I made this beanie today at our first craft group. (You can see about the group HERE.) I like the colors and the flower turned out cute. I'm excited for this group. To have time set aside just to craft. It is a little hard with the kids still running around, but at least they have other kids here to run around with.

Another Repurpose

I have another repurposing project I just finished that I want to show you. I went through my sweaters and found a couple more that I absolutely love but that don't really fit anymore. I just haven't had the heart to get rid of them. I'm glad I didn't. Now that I know that I can make Iris new clothes out of my old ones, it's a lot easier to "get rid of them". So here is what the sweater looked like before. I really liked this sweater. So comfy. 

I took the sweater dress that I made a while ago and turned it inside out and laid it on top of the new sweater. I wanted this one to be a little more loose so I didn't cut right next to it. I added about 3/4" for seam allowance and to make it a little bigger.

This is how it looks after cutting.

Then I took the sleeves and laid them on top of the sweater sleeves. Line up the ends and that way you don't have to hem the sleeves. Again, leave enough for seam allowance.

For the second sleeve I just laid the first one on and used that for the pattern so that they would be the same.

Then I pinned the sleeve onto the sweater making sure to line up the middle of the sleeve with the shoulder seam on the sweater.

To sew, since I don't have a serger (someday) I just straight stitched and then zig zagged the edges.

This is what it looked like after sewing on the sleeves. After this I just folded it in half matching up the bottom edges and then sewed one seam from the edge of the sleeve around to the bottom edge. On both sides. And I was done. The best is that there is no hemming or making collars. 

And it looks so darn cute. My sister informed me that sweater dresses are very "in" right now. Iris loves them. She likes being my little model, when I can get her to sit still. Donevan thought the whole thing was pretty funny.

That's how easy it is. Hope I inspired you to go through some of those clothes you just can't part with and make something "new" and wonderful.

The Recipe

I had some requests for the chocolate truffle recipe. So here ya go.

Easy Chocolate Truffles

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk in saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Transfer to medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in desired covering and/or decorate them.

I actually dipped the balls in candy melt and sprinkled them with red and green sugar.

A lot easier than I thought. Good luck and let me know if you try them!

I mentioned that I was really into repurposing lately, and I finally took some pictures of some of the other stuff I've done. This shirt I made for Iris mostly because we didn't have any coordinating shirts for family pictures and she was the only one that didn't have anything grey. So I took one of my old long sleeved t-shirts that I don't wear anymore and made one for her. I love how it turned out, especially the ruffles on the front. You can see one of the family pictures on my other blog HERE.

I didn't know what to do for Donevan's Christmas outfit. I'd have to say that girls are easier in that department. All there really is is sweater vests. I didn't have time to crochet one, so I decided to make one out of an old men's sweater vest. Of course I wanted to have a nice shirt to go under it too. So I used an old men's button-up shirt and made it into a little boys shirt. I think they both turned out quite nicely. I tried to get some pictures of him in the outfit, but that boy doesn't sit still for very long. Next time he wears it, I'll have to snap some.



This year for Christmas treats I tried my hand at making chocolate truffles. They were surprisingly easy and very yummy. I think I will have to make them more often. Let me know if you want me to post the recipe.

I  have two little  hands, folded snugly and tight.

They are tiny and weak, yet they know what is right.

During all the long  hours till daylight is through,

There is plenty indeed for my two  hands to do.

-Bertha A. Kleinman

Getting it done is my problem.

The Winner...

I went to random.org and entered the number 5 since only 5 of the commenters actually became followers and the random number it gave me was...

1

I gave each of the followers that commented a number and number 1 is...

Shari!

Congratulations Shari, I'll be sending your pendant soon.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope that this year I can bring you some of my ideas and crafts and that I can inspire you to use your own creativity. Best wishes for this brand new year.