Shawls

Hi Everyone!

Every once in a while, I will have this uncontrollable obsession with shawls--I will sit for hours looking at shawl patterns, favoriting almost every one I come across on Ravelry, never being able to find that "perfect pattern" that is easy enough that I won't give up on the first round and difficult enough to keep me interested.  That is what it has been like this weekend. 
So, here is a quick round-up of some of my favorites!

How can you NOT love this one?  It is f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

http://www.universalyarn.com/pattern.php?pattern=508

I LOVE the pineapple patterns on this shawl!  Beautiful!

http://www.abc-knitting-patterns.com/1030.html

I love how this capelet looks with the ribbon at the neck! So pretty!

http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/14010.aspx

Don't you just love openwork shawls?  I really like the edging on this one too!

http://www.caron.com/projects/dz/dz_trellis_shawl.html

This shawl is by far my favorite-- the pattern is SO amazing, isn't it?

http://homegrownandhomespun.wordpress.com/mystery-lace-weight-shawl-cals-2011/aleatha-shawl/

Have an awesome week!



UFOs

Hi Everyone!

This week I thought I would talk about UFOs.  When some people hear the term "UFO" they think of "Unidentified Flying Objects", but us crafters know what it really stands for---Unfinished Objects.  Maybe you are like me and have the beginning of about 10 blankets in the back of your closet, with a couple dozen halves of shawls thrown in for good measure.  If I unwound all of the unfinished projects I have, I would probably never have to buy yarn again in my life.  Seriously--If anything, I would at least have enough to last me a few months.  I think the problem is that I have an incredibly short attention span when it comes to projects.  I blame all the genius people who come up with all those "I have to make that RIGHT NOW!" ideas.     
So, what about you?  Do you have a zillion UFOs or do you actually finish the projects you start?
  

Star Wars Twi'lek Hat Pattern

Hi Everyone!

It is finally here-- the January Pattern!

As I know I have mentioned about a million times, I love Star Wars!  I was trying to think of a creative way to make a Star Wars hat (because I totally love the little droid and Yoda hats some people have made) and then it hit me-- a Twi'lek!  I crocheted a hat to look like Aayla Secura, a Twi'lek Jedi Knight. 
For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, here is a picture (courtesy of wikipedia.)

Aayla Secura

And here is my version:

Just to answer the question before it is asked, yes, that IS a lightsaber holding up the head.  Sometimes you have to make do with what you have.  In my case that just happened to be a plastic lightsaber.  Moving right along... 



I used Red heart for this project because it kept the shape nicely.  I also used a size G hook.  

You will need:

Blue and brown yarn (Sorry, I forgot the names of the colors!) 

A yarn needle

Stuffing or quilt batting

(Blue)

Chain 3

Round 1:  DC in 3^rd chain from hook 9 times, slip stitch into chain 3 to end round. 

Round 2:  Ch 3, DC in same stitch.  2 DC in each stitch around, Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 3:  Ch 3, 2 DC in next stitch.  *DC in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch* around.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 4:  Ch 3, DC in next stitch.  *2 DC in next stitch, DC in next 2 stitches* around.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 5:  Ch 3, DC in next 2 stitches.  *2 DC in next stitch, DC in next 3 stitches* around.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 6-9:  Ch 3, DC in each stitch around.  Join with a slip stitch to end round.  End off. 

Round 10:  Join brown yarn in last DC.  Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, Join with a slip stitch to end round.

Round 11-12:  Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

At this point in the pattern you will be starting the first earflap. 

Ch 1, sc in next 9 stitches.  *Ch 1, turn.  Sc2tg, sc in each stitch up to last 2, sc2tg* Continue until there are only 2 stitches left. 

*Ch 1, sc in next stitch, turn* until the strap is long enough to reach halfway around your chin.  End off. 

At this point in the pattern you will be starting the second earflap. 

Fold the hat in half and attach your yarn in the stitch on the other side of the hat that lines up with where you started the first earflap. 

Ch 1, sc in next 9 stitches.  *Ch 1, turn.  Sc2tg, sc in each stitch up to last 2, sc2tg* Continue until there are only 2 stitches left. 

*Ch 1, sc in next stitch, turn* until the strap is long enough to reach halfway around your chin.  DO NOT END OFF!

Slip stitch in between the 2 stitches at the end of the side of the chin strap you are on.  Ch 1, sc twice in same stitch.  SC down the edge of the earflap, around the hat and up the next earflap.  Once at the end of the chin strap, slip stitch in between 2 stitches.  Ch 1, sc twice in same stitch.  SC down the edge of the earflap, around the hat and up the other side of the other earflap.  Join with a slip stitch. 

*This sounds REALLY confusing, but basically all you are doing is single crocheting around the edge so that the edge will look clean*

Lekku (The long blue tails hanging from the hat)

*Make 2* (Blue)

Round 1:  Ch 3, DC 4 times in 3^rd Ch from hook.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 2:  Ch 3, DC in same stitch, 2 DC in each stitch.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 3:  Ch 3, DC in next stitch and in each stitch around.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 4 - 25:  Ch 3, 2 DC in next stitch.  DC in each remaining DC.  Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

End off. 

Now you can stuff the Lekku.  You can use regular stuffing, but I used some strips of quilt batting that I had.  Now use a yarn needle and blue yarn to sew the Lekku onto the hat.  They should be sewn more to the back so that they hang down rather than to the sides.  

Ears (The little blue things on the side of the earflaps)

*Make 2* (Blue)

Ch 3

DC 6 times in 3^rd chain from hook.  Slip stitch in Ch 3 to join. 

End off. 

Now sew the ears onto the side of the earflaps. 

Wraps (The brown things wrapped around the Lekku)

*Make 2* (Brown)

Chain 170, finish off. 

Now wrap around the Lekku, you should be able to wrap all the way from the top down and halfway back up.  I recommend gluing the wraps on, as they do not stay in place if you just tie them on. 

Ties for Chin Straps 

Attach the brown yarn to the end of the chin strap and chain 10-20, depending on how log you think it needs to be.  End off. 

Repeat on other chin strap. 

And NOW-- You are done!

This hat was so much fun to make--- I hope you have as much fun making them as I did!

As always, if you have any questions, find any mistakes, ect... just let me know! 

Enjoy!  And-- May the Force be with you!



Egg Cozies-- Adorable or Pointless?

Hi Everyone!

OK... time for another random post! 
So, what I was thinking about this week (because, I obviously have nothing more important to think about!) is egg cozies.  
We've all seen them-- some of them make me really excited, like this R2D2 egg cozy I saw recently.
But, honestly, what is the point to an egg cozy?  I've given it much thought, but I still come up blank.  Does anyone actually use them?  I wouldn't think so.  If any of you do, please leave a comment and prove me wrong! 
On the other hand of it, they are really cute!  You can find a pattern for an egg cozy for SO many clever things.

So, what do you think?  Adorable or Pointless?

     

Blog Titles

Hi Everyone!

For a random post this week I was thinking about blog titles...
Some people come up with craft-blog names that have these genius little puns mixed in, or just fit perfectly with what the blog is about.  I think some people really have an amazing talent for naming blogs.  Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. 
I went crazy trying to think up a blog name-- I knew what I wanted to post about, but I had no idea to sum it all up into one short, catchy name. 

I actually asked for some suggestions---one of which was "The Daily Doily."
At that point, I had never crocheted a doily before.  Ever.  So, instead I went with my first idea--"Stitching Up a Storm Crochet."  

What is your blogs title?  (And if you don't have a blog, what would you want to call one?) 
I would LOVE to hear from you guys!

Have a great Day! 

3 Happy Things

Hi Everyone!

As promised, here is a random post for this week! 

3 things making me happy this week...


YARN: Don't you just LOVE yarn?  I am having so much fun playing around with some Vanna's Choice this week!

Shrink Art: I've been trying out shrink art and I REALLY like it! 

Weaving: I saw a tutorial at Natural Suburbia for branch weaving--here-- SO FUN!



So, what are you guys loving this week?

The Results Are in...

Hi Everyone!

Ok, so now that I have an idea of what you like best, here is the schedule I am going to try to follow for posting:

Random--  A Random post every week (Sunday)

Patterns-- A pattern at least once a month


--And I am going to try to throw some tutorials and finished objects in there as well. 

I know what you are all thinking.

"Um, did you actually look at the poll?  Random was 50%, Tutorials were 75% and patterns were 100%.  That means we like the PATTERNS best!"

Sorry about that!  I wanted to keep this realistic, and I know I would not have the patience to make a new pattern every week-- however, I am sure I can do one monthly. 

THANK YOU to the 4 people that voted!  You guys are A.W.E.S.O.M.E!