Princess Leia Beanie/Wig Pattern

Hi Everyone!

I have finished the free monthly pattern!  Yay!  I could not be happier that there was an extra day this month!

In honor of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace coming out in 3-D this month, I made another Star Wars themed hat--this time it is Princess Leia!

Here is a picture where you can see her hair, found here. 

And here is my version:

To make this hat, I just made a simple beanie and attatched a bun to each side.  I wrote the pattern to make a beanie like I made, but you can really take any plain hat pattern and just attach the buns-- this would be good if you needed it to be in another size.

I used some brown Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a size H hook for this project.

Here is the pattern for the main hat:

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.  

Round 10-14:   Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, Join with a slip stitch to end round. 

Round 15:  Slip stitch in every stitch around and end off.

Here is the pattern for the buns.

Round 1:  Ch 3, 6 DC in 3rd Ch from hook.

Round 2:  Ch 3, DC in each stitch around and end with a slip stitch.

Repeat round 2 until the length measures 18 1/2 inches.  If you want the buns to be larger, just add more rows. 

To turn these into buns, I used a hot glue gun to glue them as I rolled each one into a bun.  Then I glued the middle of the bun to the hat.  To make it look like the buns are not just sticking out of the side and are actually attached to the hair, I used a yarn needle and some yarn to sew the edge of the bun to the hat.  This gives it a really neat look- it makes the different layers in the bun stand out more.

That is it!  I hope you enjoy the pattern!

Have an awesome day- and May the Force be with you!

-Stitchingupastorm 

Curacao Shawl WIP

Hi Everyone!

I recently purchased Doris Chan's book, Amazing Crochet Lace and I am happy to say that I finished one of the patterns from the book today!
I used the pattern for the Blue Curacao shawl, and it was super fun!

I used Caron Simply Soft yarn to crochet the shawl--not because I really thought it would work well, but I wanted to try the pattern out with yarn I am not incredibly fond of before I got any nice yarn for this project. 

I have no idea if blocking will work at all with this yarn (I've never blocked anything before!) but I thought that the worst that could happen is I would have to wait for it to dry. 

Here is the shawl blocking:

Notice the pineapples?  I couldn't be happier with this book! 

I will let you all know how the blocking goes!

Have a great week!

Beaded Crochet

Hi Everyone!

Have any of you ever tried crocheting with beads?  I did recently, and I am really enjoying it! 
I used this awesome tutorial from Notes from the Something.  You would not believe how easy it is to make crocheted necklaces!
 
Here is the necklace I made: 

I really like how it turned out!  Unlike the tutorial, I used a thin wire for my necklace because that was all I had on hand at the time, but I actually really like how it looks with the blue/green beads!

Crocheting with beads is something totally worth trying!  So fun!

Have an awesome week!

*Note*-- Stay tuned!  The monthly pattern is soon to come!

Pineapples--to be, or not to be?

Hi Everyone!

I have had pineapples on my mind this week--the crochet stitch pattern, not the fruit-- and I was wondering if any of you know of a pattern that would be good to learn the stitch.

I LOVE how pineapples look, but I have actually never tried a pattern that uses them!  Of course, I also think that they look more like pinecones than pineapples...

So, anyone have a pattern they would recommend that uses pineapples?  I tried to look for some myself on Ravelry, but I got bored really quickly-- there are WAY too many pineapple-doily patterns! 
Really, does anyone expect me to crochet a lace doily that will never, ever be used?  I don't think so.
And of course, because I am incredibly impatient, I would want to get the the pineapple part of the pattern fast.  I'd rather not wait until row 23 to start on it. 
I think the criteria I have has just about canceled out every possibly pattern!  Maybe I just wasn't meant to crochet pineapples after all!  But, seriously, if anyone knows of one, leave me a comment!

What stitches are you using (or hoping to use!) this week?   

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!