Material Mondays - Crochet Baby Hat

Crochet Baby Hat

So I've been out with the crochet needles again, trying my hand at perfecting hats.  This time though on a smaller scale for a baby!

At some point I will follow a pattern....

This one though was done free style, I knew how wide the head should be, so using this as a guide and knowing how I wanted the hat to look I carried on.

The hat with accompanying flower can be worn to the side or to the front, I personally like it worn to the side.  The baby that it is intended for was born last week and I contemplated attempting a pair of booties, got a bit carried away trying to do it without a pattern and ended up with quite a few oddly shaped samples. So for now we will have to do with the hat!

If you are considering learning how to crochet, or any other creative activity check out Craftsy online courses, at the moment they are doing a special offer on some of their classes, and they are offering some free mini courses. Click here.

Have a blessed day, see you tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesday.

Material Mondays - Owl - Crochet Makes

Owl – Crochet Makes

The owl is made using an amigurami pattern.

This was a really easy pattern to make and you can vary the size and colours of yarn used.  As with most toy based products if you are going to make them for children you have to make them safe and follow certain criteria.

I was quite interested in the amigurami patterns that I have been seeing and decided to try my hand at it using a thicker wool to get a quicker result, and Ollie was born... the glitzy owl.  My owl is made from two toned chunky wool and I decided to put beading the beak and around the eyes.

The bead give his beak and his eyes a bit more sparkle.  This is such an easy pattern that you can finish in a couple of hours, the thing that took the time was adding the beads.  I am looking forward to improving on Ollie when I make the rest of his family!

Owls have always been associated with wisdom and knowledge, it is interesting how two simple pieces of equipment (the wool and the crochet needle) can go on to produce some lovely pieces and I will be sharing more as the weeks pass. 

If you are considering learning how to crochet, or any other creative activity check out Craftsy online courses, at the moment they are doing a special offer on some of their classes, and they are offering some free mini courses. Click here. 

Remember the Capturing Moments mini journal competition is still running and will end on Wednesday, you have up to 4 chances to enter and maybe you might be the lucky one to win one of the mini journals.  I am planning on throwing in a few extras as a surprise, so make your way over to the post and leave your details!

Have a blessed week, see you tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesday.

Material Mondays - Crochet and Fabric

Welcome to Material Mondays - Crochet and Fabric Monday Makes a selection of posts where I share what I’ve done with fabric and crochet, things that I have been experimenting on, trying to perfect and hopefully things that will inspire you to give it a go for yourself.  The only way to get better at something is to keep practicing.  I don’t profess to be an expert, but I am willing to give it a go, and extend my creative abilities and even see how some techniques can be altered and used in my mixed media work.  

To check out what I have made click on the link:

Crochet Necklace

Painted Recycled Fabric

Recycled Bag Journal

Chunky Button Fabric Journal

Crochet Neck Warmers

Crochet Baby Hat

Amigurumi Owl....

Fabric Journal

Crochet Wrist Cuffs

All things fabric

I've been experimenting quite a bit with using textiles and making fabric journals, with my first exposure to fabric journals being with Teesha Moore with her fabric journals and Mika Diaz with painted pages. They both have different styles and are very inspiring.  I have also been stepping up with the crocheting, graduated from the circles and squares and actually making functional items.  It is a very relaxing activity, among some of the things that I have started include jewellery, and scarf’s and a hats!  I will share what I have done when I finish the pieces.

Crochet was never something I was keen on.  Growing up I was used to seeing my mother crocheting and making table decorations, all intricate and delicate looking, (I’m sorry that I didn't keep any of them).  I’m not sure what became of them, perhaps they gave way to more modern table adornment.  I stumbled across a site called Craftsey and they introduced me to the side of crocheting that I never explored.  But more and more crochet and fabric are now becoming integrated within some of my work.  I’m not sure if I will make a crochet blanket but I do love the many things you can do with crochet.   Fabric it is also so versatile and you can do so much with it, especially if you have recycled, painting it and giving it a new lease of life.  I was inspired by some of the quilts that I saw whilst on holiday earlier this year and also many of the textile artists and quilters that I have met online Carol - Jehjireh Spirit.  I recently got a kindle copy of the story of Estella Weaver Nukes who made Franklin Roosevelt's Postage Stamp Quilt written by Kyra E Hicks and I have been inspired to write a short story about quilts that were passed to the women of the family and the magnificent colours and patterns and story that the pieces of materials and designs tell - this is a work in progress.

Reusable Crochet Journal Cover

My first showing for the ‘Monday Makes is a journal cover for one of the Capturing Moments mini journals. 

I have made a reusable crochet cover for a along with pockets to store items in for crafting.

Using simple straight forward pattern the inserts are the same for the ‘capturing moments mini journal and has a bead to button it that has been decorated using Bead enhancing glue.  I am looking forward to working in it!

Some of the items will be for sale and I will list it on my website.  If you like something, what you get will be made with love.  If you are interested in learning how to crochet or quilting etc there are lots of links on you tube, you can also check out Craftsy who run online classes and at the moment have a selection of free online classes for you enjoy.

Crochet Makes - Beenie Hat

I have been busy in the studio painting and creating a range of things that I will share over the coming week.   One of the things that I have kept up with is crocheting.  I have found it to be a great way to relax, I've even signed up to Craftsy - a community for people who make things.  I took a class by Linda Perrman, she has a really relaxed and clear style to her teaching.  Craftsy are giving a 7 day free trial on any course, and it's well worth checking out, whatever the craft you are into.

Anyway I've been having problems with finding a hat that I liked, so I thought I would make one, and have been quite pleased with the results.  It's a beeny hat, probably better for use in milder weather. I didn't follow any pattern for this one, but will definitely for the next, it was great to challenge myself and see what I could come up with.  The great thing I am finding with crochet is that with a few tools you can make some beautiful things, and once you understand how to read the patterns then you are well away!

The flower is detachable so if you make a few that are different colours you have a new colour combination every time.  I will be adding some beads to the rim.  The black wool has some silver thread running through though you can't see it in the picture.

I made the head out of recycled bags and paper mache, will let you see how it started out during the week, will be painting this as well......  I have been seeing how many things I can make out of recycled materials, anyway that's for another post. I hope you are having a blessed weekend, and wish all the mothers out there a very Happy Mothers Day for tomorrow!