Coming Up

Hello, folks! Life has been crazy busy, and isn't about to slow down anytime soon... but hopefully my day job will wind down in the next month or so, and I will have more time for my personal projects!

Some of those projects include you guys! I really want to get down some patterns that I've been working on, as well as a few more tutorials for YouTube - I can't wait to share them with you guys! I've also started using Periscope, and I really like it! Right now it's just WIP updates, but I also hope to provide help and tips, too, so keep and eye out!

In the meantime, I've been dreaming up a learn-to-knit series, using wash cloths to build skills. I will be doing washcloths because they are small, quick, and useful. Because they complete quickly, the new knitter will be able to move on to their own projects sooner than if they learned on a scarf or cowl. I would love to teach the series in person, but I will probably do it through YouTube, first, and see where it goes from there.

Tutorial Thursday: Spring Cleaning Scrubby

Hello! Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday Thursday! The next few weeks are all about Spring Cleaning! Not so exciting perhaps, unless you consider cleaning out your yarn stash equally as necessary as scrubbing down the kitchen, which I do.

So to start with, you can clean out the stash AND clean the house with these lovely scrubbies! One in knit, the other in crochet, depending on your preference. Now you have an excuse to go for the yarn stash before scrubbing!

Tutorial Tuesday: "Swiss Dot"

I really love seed stitch, but depending on the yarn, sometimes it can be a bit much. I wanted a dotted look, but less compressed... Now, I have been playing around with patterns quite a bit, and after doing the striped cup cozy I thought I would apply the same method with dots.


What I came up with were two Swiss dot inspired patterns:

"Swiss Dot" No. 1 is a bit of a closer dot and works well for smaller items, like cozies.

"Swiss Dot" No.2 is a bit more spread out and subtle, and good for scarves or blankets.

Below are both "diagram" patters, as well as written patters, for each.

Tutorial Tuesday: a man hat

Hello! It's been ages since I posted anything...

Well, I survived finals, and now I am busy making hats for the (little) men in my life.

I scoured the internet for visor hat patterns for my nephews and this is the one that I decided to go with.

Photo from www.redheart.com

It is the Streetwise Hat pattern from Red Heart Yarn - it's a free pattern on their website. I sized it down a bit for my nephews, or I should say nephew, because I have only completed the hat portion of one so far. I wanted something that was a little more interesting than just single crochet hat, but also something that would be simple to make.

You can follow the hat-making process on Instagram if you like - @themadewithloveproject

I am starting another cap too, a knitted one, but that one is top secret until after Christmas...

Happy crafting!

Stephanie
MWLP

Tutorial Tuesday: Crochet Bow Headband / Ear Warmer

Searching through various blogs for cowl patterns a couple of weeks ago I stumbled on this cute headband. I decided to try my hand at one with the leftovers from the navy cowl I just made (you might have seen the pictures on Instagram). I think that this will be a great gift for one of my sisters - I won't say which (I have three).

I found the free pattern and tutorial on People Webs blog, right here.

Photo from peoplewebs.blogspot.com

She includes detailed instructions and step-by-step photos for you, which I think is great!

This is another great project for a beginner because it is all single crochet! This makes it a nice relaxing project too because it doesn't require a ton of concentration or counting... I have been making mine while I ride the bus.

This could also be done in a knit version using either garter or seed stitch...

I am going about mine a little bit differently - rather than working the length of the piece, I am working the width. When I make a second one I will work the length instead, and then let you know what I think of the two methods... My reason for working the opposite way is that I am not sure about the suggested length and want to make sure that it will be the right size. But, like I said, we will see how it turns out.

If you don't want to make your own, she does sell them on her Etsy shop!

Be sure to check out her blog and shop - she has a ton of great stuff!