Crochet Ladies' Navy Blue, Cornflower & Grey Beret

I had fun making this hat not only because blue is one of my very favorite colors but because the beret style is so fashionable and flirty.  When designing this beret, I wanted it to have a subtle feminine scalloped pattern, so I added rows of variously sized scallops through the middle.  The brim of the hat fits snug around the face, covers the ears and is edged with a feminine scalloped design.

I just love the color combination, but it could be made in any color combo--or even in one solid color. The possibilities are many!

When I tried this hat on for sizing purposes, I fell in love with the style and color.  I have never considered myself a "hat girl", but this hat changed my mind.  My husband even commented on how much it complimented my face shape and eye color--and that's significant coming from a man who barely notices a new haircut.  ;)  I am definitely making another for myself!

This hat is available for immediate shipping at my Etsy shop!  Just click on any of the images below to be directed to the listing.

This hat is very similar to one I made for my niece a few years ago as a Christmas gift.  Here is my daughter modeling it below.  She's my little camera ham, for sure!

Thanks for visiting my blog!  Please come again any time!

Take care!

A Busy Crochet Christmas

I have been a busy Christmas elf lately and just realized how badly I've been neglecting my blog. Though I haven't shared much new lately, that's only because I only have two arms, and they have been elbow deep in yarn for weeks.  Now that a spare moment has presented itself, I'd like to share the new designs on which I've been working.

The Crochet Christmas Elf Hat

I made these one day when the Christmas spirit overcame me, and I just had to let it flow freely through my crochet hook.  These hats have a long, thin tail with a pom pom at the end, and the brim includes white ribbing that fits snug onto the head.

These particular hats were purchased by a customer, who wanted them for her grandchildren's busy Christmas baking day.  They were a huge success!  She shared a photo from their special day, which I am giddy with excitement to share.  Here they are below--three adorable Christmas elves sitting with their grandfather.  The sweetness in this photo is nearly unbearable!  THANK YOU to their grandmother and parents for permitting me to share their precious faces!

A few days after she shared this photo with me, my customer's daughter-in-law commented on my Facebook page that her son loves his hat so much that he sleeps in it. Oh my, how sweet is that!

I also made this hat for my daughter in cobalt blue with snowflake appliques and a tassel including two small pom poms and a tiny snowflake.  Immediately upon posting this photo on my Facebook page, I received an order.  I am also using the same snowflake concept to create a future navy blue newsboy style hat per another customer's request.

I also made my son a green elf hat.  His is a bit different.  Instead of a long, thin tail, he wanted a hat "like Santa's but green".  I decided that he would get a kick out of finding our family's Christmas elf modeling his new hat.  He, of course, thought that was the best thing ever.  Here is "Elf Christina" wearing his new hat.

The Crochet Men's Christmas Green Bow Tie

One of my colleagues is quite the character and wanted something fun and unusual to wear during the holidays.  He wanted something eye-catching that would be a fun conversation piece to wear to parties and work in general.  He gave me one of his old bow ties to reference for size and shape, and this is what I created.  Here he is--my first male model! He was quite pleased with his new bow tie.

The Crochet Chunky Infinity Scarf & Ear Flap Snowflake Hat with Fluffy Lining

This is the warmest, most luxurious hat and scarf set I have ever made. The scarf is my Chunky Infinity Scarf made in blue variegated chunky yarn, and I made a navy blue & cornflower ear flap hat to coordinate.  This set was made per a customer's request to give as a Christmas gift.

This hat is special because it is lined with the same super soft chunky yarn used to create the scarf, which adds a generous layer of extra warmth. To finish the hat, a coordinating decorative border and snowflake were added. With winter in full swing here in Western New York, this set will definitely come in useful.

If you are interested in ordering this hat for yourself or someone else, just shoot me an e-mail at my Etsy shop, and I can create a custom order just for you!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  

Here's wishing you a very happy holiday season!

Crochet Convertible Mittens with Easy-Expose Thumb

When one of my customers requested a pair of mittens to be designed for her, she presented me with a challenge.  She is a photographer, so she needed a pair of convertible mittens that would not only expose her fingers but her thumb as needed as well.  She didn't want to fumble with a thumb flap on a photo session, but instead a thumb slit positioned where the pad of the thumb sits inside the thumb sleeve.  The mittens needed to consist of non-bulky yarn, have long wrist cuffs in a scalloped design, be a specific color and include light brown wooden buttons.  The top picture below is what I initially designed.  The same customer also requested a second pair of convertible mittens (pictured below made in green yarn with a shorter fingers flap), which she could give as a Christmas gift.

Thumb Slit

As you can see in the below picture, the thumb slit is positioned where the pad of the thumb sits.  

The picture does not include a snap closure for the thumb slit, since the customer wanted her thumb to slide in or out as easily as possible.  However, if a snap closure is desired, that could be arranged.

If a thumb slit is not desired, I can certainly crochet them without.  

Fingers Flap & Easy-Expose Thumb

The middle button on the top of the hand attaches to the loop on the fingers flap at the tip of the mitten when it is folded back to expose the fingers.  The two smaller buttons on the side are for decoration only or could be omitted entirely.  

In this picture, you can also see my thumb poking out from the thumb slit.

Top View of the Closed Mitten

This is how the mittens look with the fingers flap closed.

Palm View

This view shows just how much of the fingers are exposed with the finger flap open. Also notice the scalloped design from the wrist cuffs is continued along the edging of the fingers opening.

In this picture, the finger cover does not attach to the palm.  If a velcro or button closure is preferred at the palm of the hand (where the cover sits when it folds back over the fingers), that can be arranged.

The Yarn

The type of yarn I used in both of these projects was Bernat's Vickie Howell Sheep-ish Yarn in Greyish and Oliveish.  I like this brand of yarn because it is 70% acrylic + 30% wool and relatively easy to clean (cold water & dry flat).  It is also super silky soft and helps to retain hand warmth.  If wool is not desired, another light yarn could be substituted.

How to Order

If you are interested in purchasing a pair of these Convertible Mittens for yourself or as a gift for someone else, please feel free to visit my Etsy shop.  For the Convertible Mittens Etsy listing, simply click on one of the above pictures, and you will be directed to that specific listing.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my blog!

Crochet Camouflage & Pink Baby Set

This unique set was a special request from a friend to give as a baby shower gift.  Her friend and husband love hunting and the great outdoors, so she wanted something that would suit their personalities while also being feminine.  She didn't have a specific style in mind.  She simply requested that I create something beautiful.  This is what I designed.

The Circle Baby Sweater

I call this the "Circle Style Baby Sweater" because it is fashioned similarly to a circle skirt.  It could be worn as a sweater or over a onesie as an adorable dress with a cute pair of ruffle-butt bloomers.

The Beanie Hat:

This hat includes a feminine scalloped edging and an over-sized flower with a button in the middle to coordinate with the buttons on the sweater.

Mary Jane Style Bow-Toed Booties

My favorite bootie style for baby girls is the Mary Jane.  They are so adorable and easy to put on and take off.  These booties do not include a button strap closure like most Mary Janes.  They do, however, include a strap that fits snugly around baby's ankle.  I made the soles in pink yarn to coordinate with the rest of the outfit.  I prefer the soles of booties to be a different color, since I feel it gives them more dimension.  To finish, I added a sweet pink bow across the toe for a bit more pink feminine flair.

I must admit that while crocheting this set, I was very nervous.  When I first posed the idea of a camo & pink set to my customer, she had complete faith that I would create a "masterpiece" (her words exactly).  I didn't admit it to her, but I was skeptical that it would actually turn out cute.  Surprisingly, as I worked on it, the combo actually began to grow on me.  In fact, it grew on me so much that I'm thinking of making my own daughter a camo & pink hat & scarf set.

When I shared this set on my Facebook page, it was astonishing how many people liked and commented on it.  But the true test was finding out whether my friend liked it.  Much to my relief, she said the LOVED it.  Phew...!

This particular baby set is not listed in my Etsy store, but I would be more than happy to recreate it for anyone interested.  I would simply create a custom order just for you.

Before starting this project, I poured over the Internet for days before finally coming to a decision on what to make.  There isn't much out there for little girls that involves hunting and camouflage.  I personally have an aversion to pink camo (because where would anyone hunt wearing pink camo anyway--Mars?  Hehehe...), and I didn't like the idea of making a Carhartt look-alike for a girl because it seemed too masculine.  If you're looking for something suitable for a little girl while also honoring your hunting roots, this just might be the solution for you.  :)

Thanks for visiting my blog and allowing me to share my crochet creations with you.  Come again if you please!