dread tam

I had made this hat a while back with a knifty knitter & scraps of yarn. It has been at my desk at work for some time. I was sitting there today thinking hmmm I wonder what it would look like with a real brim. Well I had a pair of circular needles with me, thanks to my nifty new needle roll for the previous posts & worked up a brim. I really like it & almost want to keep it for myself but it kinda snug for my big mellon so I listed it on etsy. It was super easy & a great way to use up scraps.

Basic cloche pattern

Working with 2 strands of worsted weight held together or 1 strand of bulky
K hook

join each round with a slip stitch into the top of the ch2

Round 1: Chain 4, join with sl stitch
Row 2: Ch 2, 8 HDC in ring, join to beginning ch2
Row 3: Ch2, work 2 HDC in each stitch around
Row 4: Ch2, work 1 HDC in same stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch, *2 HDC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch* around
Row 5: Ch2, work 1 HDC in same stitch, 1 HDC in next 2 stitches, *2 HDC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next 2 stitches* around
Row 6: Ch2, work 1 HDC in same stitch, 1 HDC in next 3 stitches, *2 HDC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next 3 stitches* around
Row 7: Ch2, work 1 HDC in same stitch, 1 HDC in next 4 stitches, *2 HDC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next 4 stitches* around
Row 8: Ch2, work 1 HDC in same stitch, 1 HDC in next 5 stitches, *2 HDC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next 5 stitches* around
Row 9-15: Work 1 HDC in each stitch
Row 16: ch2, HDC in next stitch, *HDCtog over next 2 stitches, work 1 HDC in next 5 stitches*, repeat
Row 17: ch2, HDC in next stitch, *HDCtog over next 2 stitches, work 1 HDC in next 4 stitches*, repeat
Row 18: ch2, HDC in each stitch around
Row 19: ch2, 2HDC in each stitch around

So in simple words. Work 6 increase rows, 6 regular rows, 2 decrease rows, 1 regular row & 1 increase row

This is a basic formula for a cloche, so you can change it up with different sitches/colors etc.

I try to check this pattern every couple months with fresh eyes to make sure I didn't forget anything. So if you see a problem let me know.

Latest etsy item

I just finished this puffy stitch hat. Its my original pattern, I may play with it a little to get the spaces smaller but I like it. But man did it take a lot of yarn to make. This may turn into a stash buster pattern. After listing it I made another sale on a panta YAY! I really wish I could live off of my etsy shop but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Owl swap

This post is going to be mostly pics. I'm not feeling too chatty lately but I wanted to share the awsomeness I received today from woobie on craftster.

This too cute emboridered pillow & pouch that will be my new eyeglass case.

the back of the pillow. A handcarved stamp (too cool) and a little felt pin.

a needle roll w/needles. I've been getting into knitting a lot more lately so this will be handly & it has little pockets so I can use it for my crochet hooks too. And a cute little pair of earrings that I think will match a bunch of my outfits

This adorable little backpack

And the cute little charm bracelet some fluffy yarn & the little notecard that came with it

Eco-friendly etsy items

I listed 2 new items on etsy within the last 24hrs. I love making earth friendly items, I hope they sell well.

This cute little market bag AKA an alternative to plastic shopping bags was made from a pretty sturdy acrylic. Isn't the color great? Anyways I came up with the pattern & I really like it. It stretches to almost double its size (check out my shop for pix of it packed full).

I also listed some pink wash cloths made from recycled cotton. I thought they would be a great gift for an environmentally friendly mommy to be. The yarn is sooo soft.

Chuckles & I went to see Aliens vs. Predator 2 on new years. It was an ok movie. Noting really great or horrible about it. Although they did one big horror movie no-no. The killed kids & pregnant women. I was totally not happy with that. I would wait for it to hit the $1 theatre or video.

In crafty news. My shop has been doing really well. I thought Jan would be pretty slow but I sold 4 things in the last 48hrs WOO HOO.

I listed these cut little owl pins. I wasn't really sure about the price but 1 is already gone. Maybe I'll make a couple more since I have a couple ties left. I really like them & may make a couple for myself.

Nintendo pillow

So this is one of the things I made for the boi for x-mas. Can I tell you how hard it is to make christmas items for someone who doesn't like anything I make. This did get a huge smile though YAY!! My brother who is also a gamer thought it was pretty cool. It was made from a fabric similar to sweat pant material I found in the dollar bin at Wal-mart. All of the "parts" were made from felt so I wouldn't have to do any hemming. It was pretty easy. I did almost all of it on the machine except for the red buttons & the 2 black middle buttons which I stitched by hand.

I also made a big guy robe. Casual Male sells robes for $80 isn't that ridiculous. So I took a regular men's robe which fits everywhere else just gaps too much in the front and added a flannel trim all around the front. It ended up making a natural hood which chuckles loves during the winter after a hot shower. I've only taken before pics so I will have to post them later.