I was asked by a friend to make a beard beanie for a kid and I figured I've made mustaches so beards can't be that much harder. I was really intimidated by it the more I thought about how I was going to make it but I finally decided on crocheting some bobbles...I just finished my first go at it and I think it turned out pretty fantastically!
What do you think?
Nicole
I always have people asking them to help them learn to crochet or knit so I thought I would share a couple of my favorite tips and tricks.
Stitch 'N Bitch books: These books by Debbie Stoller are great. I bought the crochet book, The Happy Hooker, to help me become a more proficient crocheter and it definitely worked! I became so confident that I was able to begin making my own patterns. I bought The Knitter's Handbook when I decided that it was time for me to be able to knit on my own. (I could knit if my aunt helped me get started.) This book has been a God send! It has the best instructions and I use it every time I get ready to knit for a refresher.
2. Crochet Lite Crochet Hooks: I adore these things! I can't seem to find them in stores anymore but Amazon has them. I have them in my favorite sizes, H and J, and they are perfect when you have low light, you just flip the switch and turn them on. They are also great because they are ergonomic.
Short Knitting Needles: When I first started knitting I thought that the long needles were the way to go. They look more impressive when you're knitting too! Come to find out if you want to knit while you sit on the couch they are the WORST! The needles hit the couch and it's very annoying!
These are just a couple of my favorite things, I could go on and on about notions and things but that would be an excessively long post. I hope that these little tips will help even just one of you in your crocheting and knitting adventures!
Nicole
I made an awesome set of beanies for the Morris triplets last year before they were born and they looked absolutely adorable in them! Here's a picture of sweet little Liam in his.
Well as much as I can't believe it Isabella, Liam and Aiden are all a year old! I thought that it was only fitting that I make them new beanies for this winter season.
For the boys I decided on lumberjack inspired beanies. Green for Aiden and navy for Liam.
For sweet little Isabella a purple and black beanie with a ruffled brim.
Ginny sent me this picture of the three of them in their hats.
Aren't they the sweetest?!?! I just love them. I'm not sure how Nich and Ginny do it, three babies and full time jobs but they have three of the sweetest little babes! I'm sure Ginny must have her moments where she breaks down and cries but I've never seen her anything less than thankful for her precious little ones. I love how Aiden cries when I laugh, how Isabella never cracks a smile and how Liam is such a littlelovebug. These three steal my heart!
Until next time!
Nicole
Lately I know I have been posting a lot of my sewing projects from my sewing class and I have been neglecting my normal crafty area of crocheted and knitted creations. I made a few sketches of things that I want to crochet. Included are two sweet amigurumi creations and an idea for Christmas ornaments to raise money for water wells.
I'm hoping I can get the owl and chihuahua dolls finished soon. I really hope to make 100 ornaments for November / December and raise some money for an amazing organization to help build water wells.
What do you think of my ideas? Do you have any suggestions for me?
Until next time.
Nicole
My friends Mike and Summer are expecting a sweet little baby girl named Sophia Rae. She's due to be here in late September / early October and I attended a baby shower for her last weekend. I asked Summer what colors Sophia's room is and she said pastels mostly purple with some green. I was really excited to get to work and make a couple sweet little gifts for Miss Sophia.
First it was booties. I wanted to try something a little different than I normally do with the booties and I put a side closure on them with one button. I was really happy with how they turned out and would definitely make these again.
Next it was a beanie. I decided on using green for the main color in the beanie and added a sweet little leaf and some buttons for accents.
Then I got ambitious and decided to make a little teddy bear for Sophia. I found some variegated yarn that was in the right color range and I'll be honest...it didn't quite turn out like I expected. I think there is a quirky charm to the little bear, but it's kind of so ugly it's cute! The little bear has grown on me and I really like the little bow and side smile.
Summer's older daughter Savannah loved the teddy bear so I think it was a hit! What do you think?
Until next time!
Nicole
Sorry I've been missing a bit this week. Since we leave on Monday for our 2 week trip and Mr. Coleman is marrying our friends Dan and April today, it's been a busy, busy week!
I just wanted to drop a quick little post about the barrette I made for myself to wear to the wedding today. First I went through my yarn and found three colors that match my dress for the wedding.
Then I went to work on making a leaf and a couple little flowers from "100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet." I can make my own designs but I was in too much of a time crunch to be more original.
Once I got them done I found a couple of buttons I liked and sewed them on.
After that I took a simple hair barrette, added some ribbon to keep it all from getting glued together when I added the leaf, then I hot glued on the leaf!
VOILA!
What do you think? I will post a picture of it in my hair once I am all dressed and ready! I can't wait to see Mr. and Mrs. Herchek for the first time after their nuptials!
Until next time!
Nicole
Two days ago I found out that a wonderful couple I know are expecting a sweet little boy or girl in the not so distant future. I wanted to make them a little something to congratulate them on their big news.
I know that they don't want to find out the sex of the baby so I went with a lovely mint green, a bright green and an ivory for the beanie. They are avid gardeners so I decided on a leaf accent for the side of the hat.
I am very happy with the beanie overall. I really fell in love with the color combination and the leaf detailing. I think that the buttons really set off the leaf and make it more complete. Either way mommy and daddy to be loved it, which is really all that matters!
What do you think? Do you like the leaf detailing?
Until next time.
Nicole
I just wanted to share a little bit of what I have been working on the past couple of days. My cousin Lisa is expecting her FOURTH child in a few short weeks and she has asked me to make a baby hat for the baby. The fun thing is Lisa has no idea if she's having a boy or a girl. I guess you have to do something to keep it exciting once you get to baby #4!
She has asked me to make a beanie for her with flowers that are interchangeable on the side. This way is she has a little girl she is ready with a hat for pictures. In preparation for this challenge I bought "100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet" by Lesley Stanfield.
I can make flowers without a pattern but I thought it might be fun to see what I can do from this book. I have made a few of the flowers from the patterns in the book. From left to right; Old-Fashioned Pink, (but I made mine green to fit with Lisa's color requests,) Geranium, Hellebore, Irish Rose and Lazy Daisy.
I think I like the Hellebore or the Irish Rose best for this project. What do you think? I made a sweet little white hat with a fun ruffled brim. Here is a pic of each flower on the hat. (Sorry the pictures aren't the best, I took them with my iPhone.)
I definitely think I will make some of these from now on, they are just too cute! The flowers will be interchangeable with a button that is sewn on the hat.
Which are your favorites? I know Lisa gets final say on this particular project but what do you think for future projects?
Until next time!
Nicole
When my friend Melanie told me that she had a gift for me from her recent trip to Japan I had no idea that she was going to bring me home some crochet/knit Japanese amazingness!
Melanie brought me this book full of crochet patterns and these awesome bamboo knitting needles. I will have to figure out how to convert the sizing for the needles, or I guess I could just use my knitting gauge tool; and since the book is in Japanese well...I won't be following any of these patterns any time soon. BUT I will be using this book for some inspirations for my own upcoming projects. Here are a few of my favorite things from inside the book.
1. Supplies
Two things I think of when I think of Japanese culture are bright colors and fun. This page of supplies you'll need is both of those things. I love the colorful crochet hooks and the little flower pouch for the hooks.
2. Sweet little bear faces.
These sweet little bear faces on scarves and wallets is so cute! I love the sad little panda face.
3. Cute little animals.
The little dog with glasses...or the black cat with a band aid...the embellishments on the elephant. They are all just so fun.
4. Accessories.
These accessories are so fun. The mini fingerless gloves, the pouches worn around the neck with iPods in them or the scarves with skeleton embellishments.
5. The cherries!
By far my favorite little piece of inspiration from this book is the cherries. I just love the simplicity of them and how they attached them to the little lunch container. I will be venturing out to make my own cherries I am sure of it!
6. The bat pencil pouch and the little red octopus sushi dude.
There are four pencil pouches featured in this book but the little bat is my favorite of the four. His wings and fangs and button eyes = adorable! The little red octopus sushi chef (that's what he reminds me of and since there aren't any captions to tell me what he really is this is what he is going to be to me,) just tickles my fancy. I'm not sure what it is about him but he's so cute.
Inspirations can come from many different places. What's somewhere unusual that you have gotten inspiration from lately?
Until next time.
Nicole
I had no idea until about an hour ago that Monday was the Observed Holiday for the 4th of July. This is the kind of thing that happens when you don't have a job. Either way traffic was awesome yesterday thanks to the holiday that I had no idea was happening!
I spent the day at Sid's Tattoo Shop with Mr. Coleman while he got his arm tattooed with what might be the most amazing dad tattoo I have yet to see. He got old school headphones because he shares a love of music with his dad and has some old pictures of him with his dad listening to music with these big old headphones on. I must say that I felt pretty horribly for Mr. Coleman's poor elbow but on a positive note..I think Los did a stupendous job and that it turned out fantastically!
I spent my time at the shop crocheting as usual. It's a great place for me to get stuff done because I can just work on my projects and still chat with everyone. I always get something done when I'm there because we are always there for at least 4 hours. Yesterday I worked on a lumberjack hat sample. I got the bulk of the hat finished, (well all the crocheting is completed,) and I need to find the perfect buttons so I can complete it. It's hard to tell in the photo but it's actually red with yellow trim, not white. (The picture is a bit over exposed.)
I also worked on my afghan for a bit and it is coming along nicely. I'm on the second set of rows and it's getting larger and larger. I love the bright colors. I wish there was a way to photograph how vibrant they really are but I just can't seem to get a great picture of it.
Now I'm off to Trader Joe's for some groceries and then to Michael's to search out buttons for the lumberjack hat and another one I have in mind! It's a nautical themed one for a girl and I can't wait to get it worked up! I'm also going to look into making my own mannequin head type thingy so I can take proper pictures of the beanies. Wish me luck!
Until next time.
Nicole
