Mar 18, 2019 | DIY Crafts, DIY Projects, FREE Patterns, FREE Printables
Spending time with your children or grandchildren can be a real joy, but it’s also a golden opportunity to help them learn without even realizing it. With the latest exam data showing that just 42% of Hawaiian public school students are reaching proficiency targets in Math – the same percentage as in the previous two years – helping your child to be confident in numeracy is really important. Whether they’re following a delicious pancake recipe with you or working out how to make their Lego pieces fit together, kids need numbers. Thankfully there are lots of fun ways to support your child at home and build strong math foundations for life.
Laying fun foundations
Teaching professionals have found that simple math games can help to introduce your kids to mathematical principles in a fun way. Card games like Uno can teach them about matching colors and numbers, and counting the cards you need to pick up. Classic board games such as Monopoly help them learn to count numbers on dice, move spaces and count money; you could even get the Hawaiian edition to brush up on their local knowledge too. These traditional games are also wonderfully sociable and easy to play with less active members of the family too.
Math on the move
In a recent vacation survey, 64% of families were planning road trips as an affordable, easy way to travel. If you need something to keep the kids entertained, having some simple math games to hand can really help. Counting cars of matching colors is a nice easy game for all ages. You could also prepare colorful flash cards to test each other on your times tables as you travel.
Mother Nature’s math class
For a really easy way to make math part of everyday life, simply step outside. As a local study finds that the average Hawaiian youth spends 3 hours a day on video games, make it your mission to step away from screens and get out into nature. Children can learn to spot shapes in nature, count petals, birds or study the shapes of different types of leaves. For a fun craft project, teach them to make a kite.
Math doesn’t have to mean sitting at a table with sums; you can use it when you bake together, make crafts or visit the park. By making numbers fun, approachable and relevant, you can remove some of the barriers which may make children feel less confident about the subject. Whether the child in your life is going to be an astronaut or sell their own paintings, math is at the core of life; help them find a little joy in it.
Nov 26, 2018 | Christmas, Corner, DIY Crafts, DIY Holiday Crafts, FREE Patterns
There are many patterns for Santa Hats out there. This is one of my favorites. I love the thick and fluffy trim!
I made two of them for my twin grand kids, Harper and Sadi. Loved it so much I made some for the other grands and my sister-in-law’s grandkids as well. I used the free pattern from Creatiknit which I accented with Holly Leaves and Berries. I added a cute gingham bow to Harper’s hat. I tied a large jingle bell at the tips so the kids jingle when they walk. FUN!
The pattern uses #6 worsted yarn and a Size N hook, the stitches work up very quickly! Instead of using #6 worsted yarn for the hat body I used one strand of #4 yarn in red and one strand of #4 Caron Simply Soft Party yarn in sparkle red. I held both strands together while making the hats. For the white trim I used Bernat Baby Blanket Super Bulky #6 yarn in white. I used this for the pompom too. The holly leaves and berries are made with #4 yarn in green and red. I made the bow using 5/8″ ribbon.
Hook Size N 9mm
#4 worsted yarn in red, sparkle red, and green
#6 bulky yarn in white
Yarn needle
Click here for Santa Hat Pattern from Creatiknit!
Click here for Holly and Berry Pattern from Ravelry!
Don’t have time to make this hat? No worries check out my
Etsy Shop! I’d love to custom make one for you!
Want a thinner Santa Hat? Here’s another free pattern I used to make a thinner version,
click here!
Aug 27, 2018 | Corner, DIY Crafts, FREE Patterns
I have twin grandbabies, Harper and Sadi. I made them these cute elephant snugglies. They are very simple to make, they’re basically an over-sized granny square with a stuffed elephant head attached to the middle. It took me just a few hours to make each one.
I used the free pattern from DenDennis Amigurumist but added my own border. For the blue border I used a simple slip stitch/chain 1 pattern all the way around; for the pink one I used a picot type pattern to make it look lacier.
All the parts start with a “magic circle”. Click here to learn how to make a “magic circle” from Crochet Me.
The Granny Square is made with clusters of 3 double crochet stitches with a chain 1 in between and chain 2 for the corners. The Elephant head is an amigurumi using single crochet. Instructions for granny square and elephant head are from DenDennis Amigurumist. Lacy border trim is optional, instructions are at the bottom of this post.
Click here for basic instructions from DenDennis Amigurumist.
Blue Border Trim:
The border trim is the 14th. round and is repeated all the way around the square. Complete granny square as instructed but do not fasten off. Instead proceed to round 14.
Round 14: slip stitch into first sc on round 13; *chain 1, slip stitch into next sc; Repeat from * all the way around; slip stitch to first slip stitch on this round. Fasten off.
Pink Lacy Picot style trim:
Complete granny square as instructed but do not fasten off. Instead proceed to round 14.
Round 14: slip stitch into first 2 sc on round 13; *chain 3; go BACKWARD and slip stitch into first sc on round 13; go Forward skip stitch (this would be the 2nd. slip stitch made before you went backward); slip stitch into next 2 sc on round 13; Repeat from * all the way around; slip stitch to first slip stitch on this round. Fasten off.
Aug 20, 2018 | Corner, DIY Crafts, FREE Patterns
My sixth grandchild was born just a few days ago. As I’ve done for my other five grandchildren I made this grandson a crocheted blanket, actually I made him a couple of blankets. This one is a simple Cluster Stitch Crocheted Baby Blanket.
I found this free pattern by Leelee Knits. It’s simple and easy to make, easy enough for beginners!
For this Cluster Stitch Crocheted Baby Blanket I used 3 skeins of Lion brand Ice Cream yarn in Cookies and Cream color. I love the variegated colors of that yarn!
I pretty much followed the pattern, but I used a size K 6.5mm hook instead of the size J 6mm hook the pattern calls for. I wanted the stitches to be a little bigger and a bit looser. I tend to make my stitches tighter and I find that using a larger sized hook makes my stitches looser. But really you can use any size hook to make your cluster stitch crocheted baby blanket.
I also added 2 extra rounds for the border so my cluster stitch crocheted baby blanket came out just a bit bigger than the one in the pattern. Really you can make this blanket whatever size you want using any color you want.
Click here for the free pattern from Leelee Knits!
Aug 13, 2018 | Corner, DIY Crafts, FREE Patterns
I’m in Vicenza, Italy welcoming my sixth grandchild. Of course I had to make him a baby blanket, just like I did for all my other grandchildren. This time I decided to work with this lovely 100% cotton yarn made here in Italy. I choose a dark gray color to coordinate with his solar system themed layette set from Crate & Barrel. The yarn is so soft and silky that I decided the yarn itself should be the the focus of this Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket.
In short I wanted a simple design so that one could focus on the look and feel of the yarn. So no fancy stitches for this chunky yarn baby blanket! Just a plain double crochet with a single crochet border.
This Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket is so easy to make and it because the yarn is so thick it works up pretty quickly. If you have the time you can actually finish this project in a day!
The only down side, sort of, to this project is that the cost of the yarn can quickly add up. I used very good quality 100% cotton machine washable yarn that came in 100 gram balls that cost more than $10 each. I used 12 balls so this blanket cost me about $120. But the cost is easily cut by either using a less expensive yarn like Bernat Blanket yarn that is sold in 10.5 oz. skeins for about $7 a skein. Or you can make the blanket smaller. Mine measures 36″ x 24″. Because of the yarn weight it’s actually a good idea to keep this chunky yarn baby blanket on the smaller side, it can get heavy!
Here are the directions to make this Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket.
Supplies:
Size K 6.5mm crochet hook ( I use a wooden bamboo hook but use a hook you’re comfortable with.
Chunky Yarn – any brand any color
You’ll need about 6 skeins minimum, more for larger blankets
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Directions:
Stiches: CH – chain
SC – Single Crochet
DC – Double Crochet
SL – Slip Stitch
CH 63
Row 1: Double Crochet in 4th. CH from hook (CH counts as first DC of this row), DC in each stitch across, CH 3, turn. 60 DC
Row 2: DC in each stitch across until you get to the 3CH on the row below, DC in the 3rd. CH, CH 3, turn. 60DC
Repeat row 2 until the blanket is the length you want it to be. Then the next row will be the beginning of the boarder.
Border Round- CH 2 (counts as 1 SC), *SC to the the last stitch, (SC, CH 2, SC) in the last stitch of the row, this will be your corner, Turn work and SC evenly down the side until you reach the last stitch, (SC, CH 2m SC) in last stitch of the row, this is your next corner*, Turn work Repeat between **, SL to the top of the CH 2 at the begining of the boarder round.
Repeat – Border Round 2 times, fasten off.
Weave yarn ends and joins into the blanket using the yarn needle
Hope you love this Chunky Yarn Baby Blanket! Share your creations we’d love to see them!
Aug 6, 2018 | Corner, DIY Crafts, DIY Projects, FREE Patterns
My youngest daughter is having her second child any day now. I’m here at her house in Vicenza, Italy, waiting for baby’s birth. You might say I’m on baby watch. Anyway for her layette my daughter decided on a planetary or solar system theme. We ordered the crib set from Crate & Barrel complete with crib sheets, blanket, and changing pad cover. To complete the look I made her a crocheted solar system crib mobile.
You might be wondering how one goes about crocheting a solar system crib mobile. It’s really simple! After all what are the integral parts of a solar system crib mobile? Why planets of course! And definitely a sun in the center. So what are planets? They nothing but balls of varying sizes and colors.
That’s right think of that 6th. grade science project when you made a model of the solar system using styrofoam balls! In my case I made crocheted balls in colors to match the planets and varied the sizes, you know Jupiter represented by the largest red ball, the earth in blue and green, and so on. Of course the sun was yellow! By the way this was a great way to use yarn scraps from other projects. This mobile didn’t cost me more than the price of the hoop which was about $1.50 at Walmart.
Ok I didn’t make ALL the planets, just Jupiter, Saturn (with a crocheted ring tacked to the center of the ball), Earth, Pluto, and Venus. But feel free to add as many of the planets as you want.
To make the balls I used this wonderful free pattern I found on Craftsy. It gives directions on how to crochet 5 different sized balls and if you need a larger ball just follow the increase pattern and add as many rounds as you want.
After I made all the planets I attached them with yarn to the inside ring of a wooden embroidery hoop. The planets obviously hang down and to hang the solar system crib mobile on the ceiling I attached 4 equal lengths of yarn to the hoop and tied the tops together in the center and folded it the tips over to form a loop. Pretty much just follow the pictures, it’s pretty much self explanatory.
So here’s what you’ll need to make your own solar system crib mobile:
Yarn – you can use any color you want. I used Yellow, red, blue, green, orange, purple, black, and white.
1 inner hoop of embroidery hoop set – you can use either the wooden ones or the plastic
Pattern from Craftsy click here!
Hope you love this idea! Share your solar system crib mobile pictures, we’d love to see them!
