Back to School and Back to Stitching!

This year, all three of my kids, for the first time, are in school. The littlest started kindergarten and we’re all still trying to get used to it. I miss my little friends at home! The upside, of course, is that I have more time to do things at home. Working moms and stay at home moms alike, I’m sure, welcome that “Back to School” season when they can start getting just a little more time to work on a few projects.

Some projects you could actually do while your kids are at school and finish by the time you drive to pick them up or before they hop off the bus! I kid you not. How about greeting your kids with an afterschool snack AND an afterschool plushie?

Using my Baby Monster pattern, I was able to whip up three monsters in just a couple of hours. I used the exact same pattern and look at the results I got!

Worsted, Bulky, Double Bulky!

My Baby Monster pattern was written to make little pocket-sized monsters, but I wanted to experiment with using chunky yarn and bigger hooks.

Let’s take a look at what I decided to use.

From the top: Bernat Sheep(ish) by Vickie Howell and a D hook, Bernat Softee Chunky and an N hook, double strands of Bernat Softee Chunky and a Q hook

I used my original pattern, reprinted below, adding feet to a couple of them, but keeping the rest of the pattern the same. I used felt for the biggest monster’s eyes.

Baby Monster by CraftyisCool

Head/Body: 

Starting at the top of the monster’s head, with desired yarn and an corresponding hook (see above), make an adjustable ring, chain (ch) 1, and single crochet (sc) 6 stitches into the ring. Pull the ring closed with the loose yarn tail.
R1 (Row or Round 1): 2sc into each st (12) 
R2: (2sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep around (18)
R3: (sc into next st, 2sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep around (24)
R4-12: sc into each st (24)
Fasten off OR continue on to make feet.

Optional Feet:
R13: (Hdc, 2 dc) into next st, (2 dc, hdc) into next st, sl st into next 5, (hdc, 2 dc) into next st, (2 dc, hdc) into next st, sl st into next st
Fasten off. Set aside.

Base:
Make an adjustable ring, chain (ch) 1, and single crochet (sc) 6 stitches into the ring. Pull the ring closed.
R1: 2 sc into each st (12) 
R2: (2 sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep to end of rnd (18)
R3: (sc into next st, 2sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep to end of rnd (24)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Finishing:
Insert safety eyes if desired, following package directions. For a child-friendly toy, use a safe fabric glue and arrange felt shapes to create the features. Stitch a smile with black yarn and a yarn needle. 

Line up the stitches from the base with the stitches of the bottom row of the body and begin sewing them together, stitch to stitch. Stuff the body fully before closing up the last few stitches and tucking the end inside.


Using a regular D hook and worsted weight yarn gives you a cute little monster that would be adorable as a keychain (just add a loop of elastic and keyring to the top). 

Worsted weight Bernat Sheep(ish) by Vickie Howell and a D hook

Upsizing to a larger hook and chunky yarn makes a bigger monster that’s just as cute but more huggable. 

Bulky weight Bernat Softee Chunky and an N hook

Using the largest hook I had, a Q, and double stranding the chunky yarn, I got an awesomely chubby and squeezable stuffed monster! Hold two strands together while you crochet, following the same pattern, and use a really big hook. What a difference!

Double stranded Bernat Softee Chunky and a Q hook

Although it takes a little getting used to, crocheting with a large hook and thick yarn can even be used in amigurumi! Who knew? As always, it is best to keep your stitches as tight as possible, even with the huge hook and yarn, because big holes in your fabric will mean stuffing showing and coming through. 

With all of the available colors of Bernat’s Softee Chunky (which has recently gotten even more chunky, by the way) I foresee a rainbow of big chunky Baby Monsters decorating children’s playrooms, teachers’ classrooms, and Halloween mantles everywhere! Of course if you still love the little ones, Vickie Howell’s Sheep(ish) and its trendy color range is where you will definitely find some inspiration. 

Lovin’ his new chunky Baby Monster!

Crochet Today!

Is this thing on…? Sorry, it’s just been a little while since I’ve blogged! There’s a reason, I promise! I’m nearing the end of a long journey I’ve been on. You know, just writing a book. The writing part was the hardest, I think. Making sure everything makes sense, is put together in an easy to follow format, and gets my point across at all–that’s tough! So now I’m almost done with the fun part: crocheting up all the stuff that’s going to be in the book! I can’t WAIT for you all to see. I’ve posted a few sneak peeks over on the Crafty is Cool Facebook page. Have you seen them?

The main reason I wanted to check in here is because something happened this month that I just can’t believe! There’s a full page article all about my work in the July/August issue of Crochet Today! I’m beyond proud. The awesome writer of the article did a great job. Thank you LeeAnne Jones!

Crochet Today July/August 2012

If you haven’t seen it yet, you won’t be disappointed. Crochet Today always has a fun mix of wearables, home stuff, and toys, and this month is no exception! I’ve bought a couple of copies at Wal-mart, and plan on buying several more when it hits newsstands at Jo-ann’s right up the street.
Bear with me over the next couple of weeks as I get down to my deadline. I’m loving every busy, crazy, stressful, yarn-filled moment!

My Latest Projects

Since my last post I’ve been pretty productive, so I wanted to show you some things I’ve been working on!
This is a photo-intense post, so get ready…

I made this doll of a birthday girl and her pet cat, including a little kitty hat her mom had made her! She had a little removable tie-front cardigan with tiny flowers on one lapel. Word is, she loved it!

I got an order for two pets for someone’s birthday. The first was a bulldog, who is ADORABLE, and the second I haven’t finished yet, a Boston Terrier. I got to deliver this one in person, a rare treat, and she loved him.

Next up, a doll I made for a well-known bartender that works at the hottest bar/live music venue here in Austin, the Mohawk. He’s got a famous beard and is into Jiu-Jitsu. I made one doll for the Mohawk, and two dolls in Jiu-Jitsu outfits for his twin daughters. I sewed his little Western shirt out of an old one I had. His t-shirt has a Mohawk logo iron-on. Nice beard, right??

Someone you might recognize, Questlove, or DJ Questo, of The Roots, also known as Jimmy Fallon’s house band. I loved making him. I made him a little hair pick out of glittery black Sculpey clay, drumsticks that I carved from a long wooden dowel, and little red hoodie. I was able to go to The Roots’ show at the Mohawk during SXSW and hand-deliver the doll to Questlove himself! He loved him and told me it was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever given him! I was thrilled. 

Last up is a project I actually did almost a year ago, but just got this picture! My husband wrote to the people at Rancho Obi-wan, Steve Sansweet’s mecca of Star Wars collectibles. He has the largest Star Wars collection in the world and has worked for Lucasfilm and written several books about Star Wars. He was kind enough to pose with my Salacious Crumb, which I sold in the Stitch Wars Strikes Back show last summer. Awesome, right?

I’ll post some more finished projects soon. I’m working on a really large order this week and then continuing work on my book. This summer I should be more able to take custom orders, my FAVORITE thing to do! Thanks for reading!

Inca Eco from Galler Yarns Review/Blog Tour

One of the greatest things about what I do has to be getting new yarn. If you crochet or knit, you know exactly what I mean. You pick it up, squeeze it, smell it (don’t lie, I know you do), and feel the strands, thinking HARD about what you can make so that you’ll have an excuse to buy at least two skeins. We’ve all been there.

When I got this new Inca Eco yarn from Galler Yarns, I couldn’t put it down. It’s 100% cotton, which usually means stiff yarn that rubs my hands raw when I’m crocheting. I don’t know how they did it, but this yarn is amazingly soft. I hand wound it into a ball and it was a pleasure. Seriously. I almost NEVER work with 100% cotton because of how it is to crochet, but I was in heaven working with this yarn.

I got Lavender, one of 15 colors, dyed with eco-friendly low environmental impact dyes. The other colors include Ecru, Butter, Sage, Blue Stone, Blossom, Rose, Aloe, Aqua, Denim, Espresso, Wine, Raspberry, Navy, Black. It comes in 100 gram/140 yd skeins and is a thick/thin textured yarn with beautiful stitch definition. 


The pattern I chose for this yarn in this delicious color had to be for Spring. I had been wanting to make these cute little “Lady Mitts” from Becky Joiner for a while now, and I thought they’d be great for the “cool in the morning, warm in the afternoon, cool in the evening” weather we get this time of year.

The only changes I made to the pattern were the number of rows and the edging. Since Inca Eco is thick and thin, it works up a little bulkier so I did a reverse single crochet edging all along the top edge instead of the picot edging Becky designed.

What do you think? Cute little Spring accessory, right? Thanks Galler Yarns for letting me try this beautiful yarn!

This post is part of a 15 day blog tour, so make sure you visit these blogs over the next several days!

Monday, March 19 – Day 1 – In the Loop in Norfolk, MA (shop website)

Tuesday, March 20 – Day 2 – Knit Purl Gurl

Wednesday, March 21 – Day 3 – FreshStitches

Thursday, March 22 – Day 4 – Crafty Is Cool

Friday, March 23 – Day 5 – Cute Crochet Chat

Saturday, March 24 – Day 6 – Redshirt Knitting

Sunday, March 25 – Day 7 – CraftSanity

Monday, March 26 – Day 8 – Craft Gossip with JD Wolfe

Tuesday, March 27 – Day 9 – Crafting a Green World with Julie Finn

Wednesday, March 28 – Day 10 – Crazy for Ewe in Leonardtown and La Plaza, MD (shop website)

Thursday, March 29 – Day 11 – Crochet Concupiscence

Friday, March 30 – Day 12 – KRW Knitwear Studio

Saturday, March 31 – Day 13 – About.com with Sarah E. White 
Sunday, April 1 – Day 14 – Underground Crafter
Monday, April 2 – Day 15 – Monarch Knitting and Quilts in Pacific Grove, CA (shop website)

Galler Yarns is also going to be posting free patterns for Inca Eco on their blog every Friday during the tour, so check back there tomorrow. Check here to see if there’s a store near you stocking Galler Yarns.  Here’s a link to all the info you need on this lovely new yarn!

Have any of you used Galler Yarns before? What would you make with this yarn?

Free Pattern Friday! Dr. Suess’ Sneetch

We have shelves and shelves of kids’ books. I’m kind of a hoarder in that regard. I love going to Goodwill or the Salvation Army store and picking up armloads for 50 cents each. If you looked through our books about 75% would have a thrift store price tag on them. I try to get my kids to pick a different book every night, but you can only read a Spongebob beginning reader book so many times before you want to put it through a shredder. Dora the Explorer books and books based on kids’ movies, the same. When you read a really good children’s book, however, you don’t mind when your kid asks for it for the 5th time that week. Take the Sneetches, for example. Does my five year old understand that its a story about non-conformity and prejudice? Probably not. But he does think that Sylvester McMonkey McBean is pretty kooky. He likes to see them all pay “ten dollars eaches” and have those stars disappear and come back again in his amazing machine. But I have a feeling that when he’s reading the story about bellies with stars and others with “none upon thars”, he’ll grow up with a little more of an open mind. Its what Dr. Suess would have wanted.

Before you get started, some inspiration. If you haven’t watched this before, I encourage you to take a minute now, because it is just plain awesome. The catchy 70s music will eat you up!

This crocheted amigurumi sneetch is easy to make and fun to play with. His belly star is attached with velcro so he can take it off and put it back on again. He’ll be invited to all the marshmallow toasts and frankfurter roasts that way.

Sneetch:

You will need:

Materials:
Yellow worsted weight yarn
Gray worsted weight yarn
White fuzzy yarn (baby or “cloud” yarn)
White felt
Green felt
6mm black safety eyes
Black embroidery floss
Small piece of velcro, just the “hook” side, sew-on type

Tools:
Size E crochet hook
Yarn needle
Embroidery needle

Body:
Rnd 1: Starting at the bottom of the body with yellow yarn, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 6 into the ring. Pull tail tightly to close hole. (6)
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each st (12)
Rnd 3: (2 sc into next st, sc into next st)* repeat around (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc into next st, sc into next 2 st)* rep around (24)
Rnd 5: (2 sc into next st, sc into next 3 st)* rep around (30)
Rnd 6-9: Sc into each st (30)
Rnd 10: (Sc2tog, sc into next 8 st)* rep around (27)
Rnd 11: Sc into each st (27)
Rnd 12: (Sc2tog, sc into next 7 st)* rep around (24)
Rnd 13: Sc into each st (24)
Rnd 14: (Sc2tog, sc into next 6 st)* rep around (21)
Rnd 15: (Sc2tog, sc into next 5 st)* rep around (18)
Rnd 16: (Sc2tog, sc into next 4 st)* rep around (15)
Rnd 17: (Sc2tog, sc into next 3 st)* rep around (12)
Rnd 18: (Sc2tog, sc into next 4 st)* rep around (10)
Rnd 19-21: Sc into each st (10)
* Insert stuffing into the larger bottom part of the body before you proceed with the neck (or you’ll be sorry)!
Rnd 22: Sc2tog, sc into next 8 (9)
Rnd 23: Sc into each st (9)
*Change to gray yarn at last st of Rnd 23.
Rnd 24: Sc into each st (9)
*Change to yellow yarn at last st of Rnd 24.
Rnd 25-26: Sc into each st (9)
*Change to gray yarn at last st of Rnd 26.
Rnd 27: Sc into each st (9)
*Change to yellow yarn at last st of Rnd 27. You can cut the gray yarn. Work the next few stitches over the end to secure.
Rnd 28: Sc into each st (9)
Fasten off and cut tail short. Stuff the neck and set aside.

Head:
Rnd 1: Starting at the nose end of the head with yellow yarn, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 4 into the ring. Pull tail tightly to close hole. (4)
Rnd 2: Sc into each st (4)
Rnd 3: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep to end (6)
Rnd 4: Sc into each st (6)
Rnd 5: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next 2 st)* rep to end (8)
Rnd 6: Sc into each st (8)
Rnd 7: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep to end (12)
Rnd 8: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next 2 st)* rep to end (15)
Rnd 9-10: Sc into next 5 st, hdc into next 5 st, sc into next 5 st (15)
Rnd 11: Sc into next 5 st, hdc into next st, dc into next 3 st, hdc into next st, sc into next 5 st (15)
Rnd 12: (Sc2tog, sc into next 3 st)* rep to end (12)
*Cut tiny ovals from white felt. Cut a slit in each oval and insert the eye, then insert the eye into the face as shown, and attach washer on the inside. Stuff the head.
Rnd 13: Sc2tog around (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Weave tail through last row of stitches to close hole, then down through bottom of head. Sew onto body and weave in ends.

Arm (Make 2):

Rnd 1: Starting at the shoulder with yellow yarn, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 5 into the ring. Pull tail tightly to close hole. (5)

Rnd 2-8: Sc into each st (5)

Rnd 9: 2 Sc into next st, sc into each st (6)

Rnd 10: Sc into each st (6)

Row 11: Ch 1, and fold the arm flat. Working through both layers of the arm, sc across the end 3. This closes the arm. It does not need to be stuffed. Turn and work the next row across the top. (3)

Row 12: (Ch 3, sc into 2nd ch from hook and next ch, then sl st into next st)* rep across for three fingers.

Fasten off with a sl st and sew arms to body.

Leg (Make 2)

Rnd 1: Starting at the toe end of the foot with yellow yarn, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 3 into the ring. Pull tail tightly to close hole. (3)

Rnd 2: 2 Sc into next st, sc into each st (4)

Rnd 3: 2 Sc into next st, sc into each st (5)

Rnd 4: Sc into each st (5)

Rnd 5: 2 Sc into next st, sc into each st (6)

Rnd 6: Sc into each st (6)

Rnd 7-8: Dc into next 3 st, sl st into next 3 st (6)

*This forms the heel.

Rnd 9-13: Sc into each st (6)

Rnd 14: Sc into next 4 st, sc2tog (5)

Fasten off and sew to bottom of body as shown. No stuffing is necessary.

Finishing:

White mane:

Cut four inch long strands of white fuzzy yarn. Insert hook into a stitch around the neck just above where the arms are attached, and pull up a loop of the white yarn. Pull ends through loop to fasten to neck. Do this all the way around the neck twice. Try to keep strands close together. When you’re finished, trim the strands as shown.

Face:

Using black embroidery floss, embroider a straight vertical stitch for the smile on one cheek, then a line all the way across (using three even horizontal straight stitches), then another short vertical line on the other cheek. Do not cut floss. On last stitch, insert the needle back into the head, and come out at the very top of the head through the yarn (do not come up through a “hole” in the stitches or the floss will not be secured). Knot the embroidery floss close to the surface and cut it about 1/2″ long for the Sneetch’s hair.

Star:

Cut a star from two layers of green felt. On one of the pieces, sew a tiny patch of velcro with the rough hook side. Using the same green thread, sew the layers together with a whipstitch close to the edge. The rough velcro will stick to your Sneetch’s belly. You may need to periodically trim the fuzz that may come up from removing and applying the star.

Hope you have fun making your own little Sneetch. What a great baby shower or birthday gift it would be to give Dr. Suess’ amazing book with your own handmade little Sneetch! If you make one, I’d love to see a picture of him! Post him to the Ravelry page or on CraftyisCool on Facebook.

Happy birthday, Dr. Suess!

Have a Heart!

You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to start blogging every day! OK Let’s start at every OTHER day. I know blogs are way more interesting when there is new content more frequently and that is my goal.
So for today’s post, I want to tell you about a class I’m teaching this weekend at The Knitting Nest in Austin. It should be pretty fun, really easy, and you will go home with probably several projects!

If you’re a mom, I KNOW you are busy. Working moms feel like they don’t have enough time at home and stay at home moms feel like they are being pulled in all directions all the time too! As women we are caretakers, maids, chefs, frugal shoppers (me! me!), school liaisons, and if we are lucky, we like to do fun things for ourselves.

This Saturday, indulge your crafty side and your mommy side. I’m teaching a crochet class to make teeny tiny crocheted hearts for Valentine’s Day. That’s not all. Stacy, the ultra-crafty mom and grandma, who also happens to run the Knitting Nest, will have cards and all the supplies you will need to make handmade Valentines so your kids will bring the most popular cards to the party! It will be really easy. Did I say easy? Even if you’ve never crocheted before, I promise, when I’m done with you, you will have a stack of little crocheted hearts to make Valentines with.

The little heart is attached to a jumbo paperclip and detaches from the card to use as a bookmark. Cute, right?? Inspired by a pin on Pinterest, these will be the coolest cards ever. All the kids will love ’em.

While this is an awesome class for the grownups (not just Mom, of course!), kids can get in on the action later in the day at a Friendship Bracelet class. I know when I was growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, Friendship Bracelets were HUGE. Every week there was some new design someone was making. We put one on and KEPT it on. Never took those things off, even in the shower. I remember pulling tights over my Friendship Anklets, feeling like such a good friend. 🙂

If you’re interested in either of these classes, please call the Knitting Nest at (512) 291-8866 to sign up. I’m also continuing my Thursday morning classes (every other week) with my next class on Thursday, February 16th at 10:00. We’re making amigurumi, of course!

Free Pattern Friday! Austin Owl Amigurumi

Last year I participated in the Renegade Craft Fair here in Austin. It was so much fun and I hope I have time to do it again next year. (This year is definitely OUT–ahem…book….!) I wanted to design something with an owl since everything Renegade is represented by an owl. I put together about 150 kits each containing materials and tools to make a tiny Austin Owl amigurumi. I designed the pattern to be accessible to beginners and seasoned crocheters. They are fun and customizable since they can be made in any color imaginable and with teeny tiny fabric scraps. When I’m not crocheting I also like to sew (mostly Halloween costumes and the like) so I’m no stranger to leftover bits of fabric that I hate to throw away. It’s fun to put colors together in unexpected ways to make these cute little guys. I’ve had this pattern in my Ravelry shop for a while now but I wanted to set the owls free! Get it?

Austin Owl Amigurumi

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn (any color)
Polyester fiberfill
Fabric
Felt
Two small (~ 3/8″) buttons

Tools:
Crochet hook (I used size E, 3.5mm)
Yarn needle
Craft glue OR matching thread

Body:

Rnd 1: Starting at bottom of body, with yarn and Hook, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 6 into the ring.  Pull closed.

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each st (12)

Rnd 3:  Working in back loops of each stitch only (BLO), sc into each st (12)

Rnds 4-7: Sc into each st (12)

Rnd 8: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next 5 st)* rep to end of round (14)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff the owl. Thread the yarn needle with the yarn tail. Flatten the top edge so that you have one long seam of 7 st to sew through. Whipstitch the seam closed, knot the yarn tail and hide within the body of the owl, clipping the tail close to the surface.

Finishing:

Cut a small egg shape from the fabric for the owl’s tummy. Glue or sew the patch onto the owl. Cut a small triangle from felt and glue to owl for the beak. Glue or sew two button eyes to the owl’s face.

Pick your colors!

Whooooo is making a whole nest full of these?

These would be cute little Valentine’s day gifts! Once you get going on them, they are quick and fun to make. If you’re not ready to commit to Valentine’s, how adorable would these be in your Easter basket?
Hope you enjoy these little guys!

Book Review and Giveaway! Crocheted Softies!

** Thanks for all the entries! Out of 123 comments, the winner was #51, CuCuCreates, who wants to crochet a crocodile! I bet it will be awesome! Thanks for playing!

I’m sure I’m like most people that crochet. When I started, it was all about gifts. I gave away pretty much everything I made, either to my kids or other people’s kids. I loved finding cute patterns for stuffed toys that  made great gifts. Gifts for kids, particularly stuffed animals, are so fun to make and usually take a lot less yarn and time than bigger projects (like afghans or sweaters!).

Win this! Keep Reading!

In Stacey Trock’s new book, Crocheted Softies, you will find patterns for 18 adorable animals from around the world! These aren’t just the typical teddy bears and bunnies, but awesome patterns with texture and detail that kids will love on for years. She starts off the book with a thorough introduction to crochet. You’ll learn all the basics, plus special stitches Stacey uses for adding character to her crochet designs. I especially love the details she gave regarding making the toys child-safe (like crocheted eyes), and her diagrams for assembly are some of the best I’ve seen (and I’ve read LOTS of crochet books!).

She starts off with a basic animal shape, then elaborates with different animal patterns (her elephant is especially adorable) and goes all the way around the globe (continent by continent!) and then into outer space! Check out her hilarious alien! What little boy wouldn’t think that was totally cool?

Zork the Alien! from Crocheted Softies

Another thing about the book that is really cool is just the way Stacey crochets. See how her creations have little ridges all around? That’s because she crochets into the back loop of all of her stitches. Her book says that it helps hide stuffing. By doing it this way she can crochet with a larger hook, and I’m guessing it makes her toys larger in the end too. Interesting! I like the texture it gives to her toys!

My absolute favorite pattern in the book is Salty the Crocodile! It reminds me so much of a vintage handmade crocodile toy a friend had. All those nubby crocheted bobbles in rows on his back and those cartoonish eyes just bring this little guy to life. Love him!

Salty the Crocodile from Crocheted Softies

Stacey has done a great job using natural fibers throughout this book. You’ll be inspired to try out new textures and materials when you’re crocheting, I’ll bet. 

So now that you are all clamoring to get this book, who wants to win an autographed copy? I’m going to give away one copy of the book, which Stacey has signed, to one lucky winner. This would make a fantastic gift to anyone, since the projects are a great introduction to crocheting! 

All you have to do to enter is to comment with an animal you’d love to crochet! Make sure you also leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. I’ll pick a random entry this THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th, around 5 pm central time, and ship the book asap so you can wrap it up or keep it for yourself! (But you better get some yarn because you’ll want to make one of these cuties for the holidays!)

EDIT: Here’s a list of animals inside!
elephant
giraffe
orangutan
panda
crocodile
kiwi
owl
snail
penguin
walrus
moose
crab
alpaca
snake
fish
jellyfish
alien
macrobe
microbe

Free Pattern Friday! Crafty Christmas Cottage

Crafty Christmas Cottage Village

A few years ago I found a set of tiny cardboard glittery houses at the Salvation Army. Since then I’ve collected a few others, mostly new ones and not the vintage treasures with the little cellophane windows. I love those things! They give an instant retro vibe to our Christmas decor and a magical glow when they’re lined up on a bed of plastic snow.

Working with yarn to make these little houses, you get to pick any color you want, embellish the outside with soft felt doors and windows, and trim them with icicles. I made three in my favorite retro Christmas color combo. They are crocheted in one long piece for the house, another piece for the roof, and the bottom is left open so that you can get fancy and put in one of those adorable little electric tea lights. I wish my camera would have captured the glow these little houses were giving off! Finish off with a good sprinkling of plastic snow and a dusting of fine iridescent glitter: magic!

Crafty Christmas Cottage

You will need…

Yarn (all worsted weight):

  Your favorite color (for the house)

  White (for the roof)

Hook:
  Size E/3.5 mm (or your favorite! The larger the hook, the larger the house!)

Notions:
  White felt

  Craft glue

  Electric tealight (optional)

  Plastic snowflakes (optional)

  Glitter (optional, but not really!)

Key: 
BLO: crochet into back loops only

ch: chain 

rep: repeat

sc: single crochet 

sl st: slip stitch

st: stitch 

House:

With your favorite color yarn and an E hook, ch 9.

R1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook and next 7 ch (8)

R2-8: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (8)

R9: Ch 1, turn. Sc into BLO of each st (8)

R10: Ch 2, turn. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and next 8 st (9)

R11: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (9)

R12: Ch 2, turn. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and next 9 st (10)

R13: Ch 1, turn. Sc into next 9 st (skip the last st) (9)

R14: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (9)

R15: Ch 1, turn. Sc into next 8 st (skip the last st) (8)

R16: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (8)

R17: Ch 1 , turn. Sc into BLO of each st (8)

R18-32: Repeat R2-16.

R33: Turn. Fold the piece into a house shape so that R1 and R32 meet. Sl st the edges together. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Roof:

With white yarn and an E hook, ch 12.

R1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook and next 10 st (11)

R2-6: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (11)

R7: Ch 1, turn. Sc into BLO of each st (11)

R8-12: Ch 1, turn. Sc into each st (11)

**If you’d like, you can sc around the edge of the roof to make a smooth edge, as I did with the pink and the red houses. 

Fasten off and leave a long tail. Thread a yarn needle with the tail and sew the roof to the house. The roof will have about 1/4″ overhang all the way around. Weave in ends.

**If you have a problem with the roof curling up, spray it with spray starch and let dry flat or iron with a warm iron before you sew it to the house. DON’T use a hot iron on acrylic yarn!

Embellishing:

Cut door and window shapes from white felt and attach to house with craft glue. 

Cut long narrow strips from white felt. “Fringe” the edges by snipping in two directions along one edge to make a zig-zag pattern. Glue the strips to the edges of the roof as desired for icicles.

Hope you like these! I’ve been looking forward to this pattern for a long time!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays! God Bless!

2,000 Facebook Fans Contest!

Over the weekend my Facebook page got its 2,000th fan! To celebrate, I’ve come up with a contest to reward a couple of lucky people.

The main reason I started CraftyisCool was to make stuff for my kids. Then every time there was a birthday or holiday, I made something for someone. If you make stuff, you know the absolute feeling of joy that comes from using your hands to make something and giving it to someone you care about. The look on his or her face, the comments, the appreciation: they are the payoff for your hours of hard work.

I’ve been on the other end of this too. I have a big family and now that there are lots of grandkids, we adults draw names at Christmas to buy one gift for one person. Last year my twin sister knit me a pair of slippers. I cried! The sentiment was so touching. I know the hard work that goes into something like that and it just made me feel so special to know someone had spent the time to make something just for me.

So here’s the contest!

FIRST: Like CraftyisCool on Facebook (if you haven’t already)

SECOND:
Post a comment below telling everyone either:
1) the best handmade gift you ever gave to someone and their reaction;
OR
2) the best handmade gift you ever received and how it made you feel.
Also include your email address and your choice of prize (listed below).

On Friday, October 28, at 5:00 cst I will randomly select TWO winners from all of the comments and post them here and on my Facebook page. Each winner will receive a special CraftyisCool amigurumi kit! The kit will include a hard copy of a pattern, the yarn needed (a full skein in the colors I recommend), and any notions (eyes, thread, etc). If you crochet, you’ll get a full project to make for the holidays! If you don’t crochet, this will be the perfect jumpstart! Or you can gift your package to someone you love.

You will get your choice of these kits:

Alice

Oompa Loompa

Assistant Regional Manager

Pee-wee Herman

Conan O’Brien

PLEASE remember to LIKE CraftyisCool and PLEASE include your email address in your comment. I will not be able to directly contact you if you won unless your email address is included in your reply!

Thank you so much for liking what I do! Be sure to let your friends know too.