Crochet Toddler Halloween Costume – “Eye Candy”

Sep 23, 2019 | Corner, DIY Crafts, DIY Holiday Crafts, FREE Patterns, Halloween, Uncategorized

Last year my toddler grandson, Jett, dressed up as a “Chick Magnet”; I made him a chick costume and his parents made him a “magnet” to carry around or wear around his waist. This costume earned him an honorable mention in their local costume contest.

This year in keeping with this play on words we decided to dress him up as “Eye Candy”. The eye part was easy, but it took us a while to decide what type of candy he should be and what it should be made of. In the end we thought candy corn was appropriate for a little boy and that a crocheted sweater will work instead of the sack dresses we saw online, those were just too girly.

So I crocheted him a hat, which he could actually wear any time with or without the “eye” and this sweater. I show the fringe on the hat both braided and unbraided, either way is cute. The sweater can be worn later by removing the “eyes” or even for Thanksgiving by replacing the “eyes” with a turkey applique.

To download free pdf version click here!

The pattern I have here is for a size 2T sweater and a child’s hat that will fit a 20″ head circumference.

I used a large hook size so it didn’t take long to make.

Hat:

Hook Size K 6.50mm
#4 yarn in Yellow, Orange, White, Black, Brown, Gray

2ch counts as 1 hdc.

Ch 2 with white

Rd. 1: 7 sc in 2nd. ch from hook (7)

Rd. 2: Ch2, hdc in same st, *hdc in next 2 sts, 2hdc in next st,* repeat *, join (10)

Rd. 3: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next st, 2hdc in next st, join (14)

Rd. 4: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts,* repeat * 1 time, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2, join (18)

Rd. 5: Ch2, hdc in same st, *hdc in next 4 sts, 2hdc in next st,* repeat * 2 times, hdc in next 2 sts (21)

Rd. 6: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2*, repeat * around join, (28)

Rd. 7: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts*, repeat * around, join (35)

Rd. 8: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 4 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts*, repeat* around, join (42) – Change to Orange yarn on last st.

Rd. 9: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 5 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts, * repeat * around, join (49)

Rds. 10- 19: Ch2, hdc in each st around (49) – Change to Yellow yarn at the end of Rd. 17, continue same for Rounds 18 & 19. Do not fasten off you will work first earflap – slst in next 6 stitches and continue as follows:

Row 1: Ch2, hdc in next 13 sts, ch 2, turn (14 hdc, chain 2 counts as 1hdc)

Row 2: hdc2tog, hdc in next 9 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (12)

Row 3: hdc in each st, ch 2, turn (12)

Row 4: hdc2tog, hdc in next 7 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (10)

Row 5: hdc in each st, ch 2, turn (10)

Row 6: hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (8)

Row 7: hdc in each st, ch 2, turn (8)

Row 8: hdc2tog, hdc in next 3 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (6)

Row 9: hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog, fasten off (4)

Count 12 stitches across front of hat, join yellow yarn to next st and repeat rows 1-9 above, but do not fasten off. Ch 1, sc around the hat, join to the first sc, fasten off.

Tassels: make 2

Cut (4) strands of orange, yellow, white 10″ long. Fold strands over to form a loop at the top. Take a small strand of orange yarn and slip it thru the loop and knot. You will use this to tie tassel to earflap. Take another strand of orange yarn and wind it to the top of the yarn strands about 1/2″ from the loop. You will now have a tassel. Repeat then tie tassels on to the middle of the earflap. Trim ends or braid then trim ends.

Inner Eye:

Hook size F 3.75mm

With black yarn Ch 2

Rd. 1: 6sc in 2nd. ch from hook, join – switch to brown yarn (6)

Rd. 2: ch 1,sc in same st, *2 sc in each st*, repeat * around, join – switch to white yarn (12)

Rd. 3: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, *2sc in next st, sc in next st*, repeat * around join (18)

Rd. 4: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts, *2sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts*, repeat * around, join (24)

Rd. 5: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 3 sts, *2sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts*, repeat * around, join (30)

Rd. 6: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 4 sts, *2sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts*, repeat* around, join (36) fasten off leaving 6″ tail for stitching

Outer Eye:

Hook size F

With yellow yarn Ch 2

Rd. 1: 6 sc in 2nd. ch from hook, join (6)

Rd. 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st, *2hdc in each st*, repeat* around, join (12)

Rd. 3: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next st*, repeat * around, join (18)

Rd. 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts*, repeat* around, join (24)

Rd. 5: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts*, repeat* around, join (30)

Rd. 6: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hadc in next 4 sts, *2hdc in next st, hdc in next 4sts*, repeat * around, join (36) fasten off leaving 6″ tail for sewing

Sew inner eye into outer eye. Sew finished eye to the middle of the front of the hat.

Sweater: Size 2 will fit chest size 21″ Size K hook. Ch 2 counts as 1 dc

BACK:

Row 1: With yellow yarn – ch 41. Hdc in 3rd. chain from hook and in each stitch across, turn (40hdc)

Row 2: Ch 2, *fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st* repeat * across, dc in last st, turn (40 dc)

Rows 3-5: Repeat Row 2 (40 dc)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (40sc)

Row 7 – 8: Ch 2, dc in each st across, turn (40dc) – change to orange at the end of row 8

Rows 9 – 26 repeat row 7 (40 dc) – change to white at the end of row 26

Row 27: Repeat row 7 (40dc)

Row 28: Slst in first 4 sts, ch 2, dc in next 31 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, turn (32dc)

Row 29 – 41: Ch 2, dc in each st across, turn (32dc),

First shoulder:

After row 41 you will start the first shoulder

Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, turn – leave remaining sts unworked (5dc)

Row 2-3: repeat Row 1 – fasten off

Second shoulder:

With right side facing you count 5 sts from opposite end, join yarn to next st and repeat 3 rows of first shoulder

Front:

Work same as the back up to row 35

Row 36 will start first shoulder as follows:

Row 1: Ch 2, dc in next 8 sts, turn – leave remaining sts unworked (9dc)

Row 2: Slst first 2 sts, ch 2 in next st, dc in remaining sts, turn (7dc)

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, turn – leave remaining sts. unworked (5dc)

Row 4 – 11: Ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, turn fasten off

Second shoulder:

With right side facing you count 9 sts from opposite end, join yarn to next st and repeat 11 rows of first shoulder

Sleeves: Make 2

Row 1: With Yellow chain 37. Hdc in 3rd, ch from hook and in each stitch across ( 36hdc)

Row 2: Ch 2, *fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st* repeat * across, dc in last st, turn (36 dc)

Rows 3-5: Repeat Row 2 (36 dc)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (36 sc) Change to orange at the end of the row

Row 7 – 31: Ch 2, dc in each st across, turn (36dc) change to white at the end of row 25

Row 32: Ch 2, dc in same st, dc in each st across, 2dc in last st, turn (38dc)

Row 33: Ch 2, dc in each st across, turn (38dc) fasten off

With yarn needle and right sides facing stitch front and back together at shoulder.

Stitch sleeves in body by fitting sleeves into the armholes – see picture

Stitch sleeve seams and side seams together. I matched the yarn color to the color blocks on the sweater and sleeves.

Neck line trim:

Attach white yarn to one shoulder at the neckline. Hdc in each stitch around, join to the first hdc.

Rd. 1: Ch 2, *fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st* repeat * around, dc in last st, join

Next round: Repeat round 1, join and fasten off. Weave all ends securely.

Eyes:

Make inner eye same as for the hat but fasten off after round 4 (24sc)

Make outer eye in gray same as for had but fasten off after round 4 (24hdc)

I made 6 eyes and attached to the front of the sweater, but you can make however many eyes you want.

6 Baby Showers Themes

Jun 1, 2019 | Bridal and Baby Showers, Corner, DIY Boys Party, DIY Crafts, DIY Girls Party, DIY Holiday Crafts, FREE Patterns, FREE Printables

Should your baby shower have a theme? Here we’ll help you find the perfect theme to kick off your new life with your baby as you explore dozens of creative baby shower theme ideas.

Picking a baby shower theme should reflect the personality and interests of the parents, but narrowing down all of the options can be a hassle. Depending on if your shower is a neighborhood potluck, a gender reveal or a simple Sunday brunch, we’ve gathered hundreds of baby shower theme ideas that will delight any parent-to-be.

This gender neutral baby shower theme features vintage toys, sweet baby’s breath flowers, and white decorations.

Elephants make great baby shower themes for girls that your guests will never forget!

Your favorite iconic children’s toy is great inspiration for a baby boy shower theme, like the classic sock monkey.

Skulls and cactii from the desert are the ultimate decor for a modern chic themed baby shower right now.

An amazing boy baby shower always includes adorable decorations, sweet printable details, a delicious assortment of desserts (cake, cookies, and candy) and charming details. This yellow vintage baby shower features the cutest duck printables, old children’s books, gingham checks and vintage glassware. You will be smiling over all of the bright, cheerful details.

A new baby definitely calls for tossing some confetti in celebration! This confetti baby shower is a unique theme and fun way to honor an expectant mother. Recreate the look by incorporating plenty of confetti inspired dots throughout the decorations and treats. You can DIY paper circle garlands by punching circles of varying sizes in party colors and sewing them into strings for hanging. Wrap boxes in polka dot paper to display a variety of delicious treats like cookies, cupcakes and cake pops.

Star Wars Crochet Patterns – Round Up of Free Patterns

May 4, 2019 | Corner, DIY Crafts, FREE Patterns

May the Fourth be with you! Today is, you guessed it, Star Wars Day! Disney’s acquisition of the Star Wars franchise back in 2012 pretty much ensured that there will be many more Star Wars films in our future. Along with installments of the final trilogy of the Star Wars saga we’ve been treated to a couple of stand alone movies such as Solo and Rogue One. Of course this has sparked a new generation’s interest in the franchise and is creating many new fans.

The new Star Wars movies have sparked lots of conversations and speculations in our family, such as “is Rey somehow how related to Luke and Leia?” or “who is Finn? Is he Landau’s son?”. I’m sure these conversations are occurring in many households, after all every household has at least one Star Wars fan, right?

As a rule Star Wars has always been popular pretty much since it first opened 40 years ago. But the new movies make the Star Wars franchise soar to even higher levels. Specially given that Disney now owns it and has been marketing each movie months before they premier.

This past Christmas we ran into many Star Wars toys, puzzles, shirts, and other merchandise. In fact we bought some for the boys. I thought with the renewed popularity of Star Wars it would be a great idea to round up a few crochet ideas for Star Wars themed projects. There are many out there!

This article contains affiliate links.

So if you’re a big Star Wars fan, or knows someone who is, these ideas will come in handy.

Courtesy of Not All Who Wander Are Lost 32

I love this blanket by Not All Who Wander Are Lost 32! I’m sure it’s a labor of love! But what Star War fan wouldn’t love it? Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Pops de Milk

This Death Star Throw Pillow from Pops de Milk is another one of my faves! It would be awesome with the blanket! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Unwrapping Mommy

If you don’t want such a big project this cute Yoda Coffee Cup Cozy from Unwrapping Mommy is a quick project. All Star Wars fans will love it! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Crochetverse

Your little Star Wars fan (or maybe not so little) will love this BB-8 Hood by Crochetverse! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Mia’s Atelier

Everyone loves R2D2! Here’s an amigurumi of our favorite droid from Mia’s Atelier. Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Jen Spears on Ravelry

R2D2 is a popular guy, here’s a beanie by Jen Spears on Ravelry. Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Dearest Debi

Here’s something practical for Star Wars fans, a Light Saber Pencil case from Dearest Debi.

Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Dearest Debi

Another idea from Dearest Debi are these Light Saber Hilts, perfect for holding light saber ice pops! Great idea for a Star Wars themed party! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of That Farm Girl Teacher on Ravelry

Storm Trooper Throw Pillows are super cool! Here’s a pattern by That Farm Girl Teacher on Ravelry. Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Alli Hartley on Ravelry

Your little Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader will love this Light Saber by Alli Hartley on Ravelry!

Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of The Happy Hooker

One of my favorite characters is Yoda. I love this baby Yoda hat from The Happy Hooker! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Alu Ka on Ravelry

Here’s a cute Yoda baby blanket to go with the hat by Alu Ka on Ravelry. (They call it a blanket, I would call it a snuggly) Whatever you call it, it’s still super cute! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Geek Central Station

Han Solo Amigurumi from Geek Central Station for Star Wars fans of all ages! Click here for pattern.

Courtesy of Geek Central Station

You can’t have Han without Leia! Here’s a Princess Leia Amigurumi also by Geek Central Station.

Click here for pattern.

$Making Math Fun For Life$

Making Math Fun For Life

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.

Thick and Fluffy Santa Hat – Free Pattern

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!

DIY Crochet Elephant Snuggly – FREE Pattern

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.

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