Lonely Snowflake

Do you ever get hit with a desire to say or do something kind of strange? Most of the time I ignore these desires, but sometimes they wiggle out of the folds of my brain and manage to escape into the real world and I end up telling a stranger on the escalator with me at the grocery store that I like the cart conveyer belt because it's like putting your groceries on a roller coaster. Or I start singing along to the song on the loudspeaker at a clothing store. Well, I've done it again, this time in crochet. I made a snowflake. Just one. I didn't really feel like making a garland, or a table runner, or a blanket. I simply desired to make one small crochet snowflake. So I did.

I chose this free pattern from Red Heart. It was fun and easy to follow. My desire has been satisfied. So, now what do I do with my lonely crochet snowflake? I suppose I could make it an ornament as the pattern suggests. Do you have any ideas?

Friday Focus: Sarah Moss

During my last year of my bachelor's degree I took a painting class just for the heck of it. I've always been pretty bad at painting and I wanted to improve. Part of our third painting assignment was to make a magazine collage and then bring it in to emulate on our canvases. My professor stood looking at my painting for several minutes as I did my best trying to copy my collage filled with flowers, frills, and shiny bits. Finally, she looked at me rather seriously and said, "You like things that are pretty, don't you?". She said it almost like an accusatory revelation. At the time her observation made no sense to me. Of course I liked pretty things, doesn't everyone? Doesn't the word indicate things that are good to look at? Several years have gone by and I think I finally understand what she meant. There is a certain aesthetic that comes to mind when one ponders the word pretty, and it isn't necessarily an aesthetic that everyone can identify with. Soft colors, sweetness, a little je ne sais quoi. If you've ever taken a look at my Pinterest board for crochet you've probably seen what I'm talking about. So yes, I do like things that are pretty.

Pretty is what I think of when I look at the work of Sarah Moss with Momma's Got Mojo. She is a relatively new designer and I think she's got a good thing going. Her patterns capture the chunky and bold style that has become popular recently while also being feminine. She's here with us today to talk about her exciting new love affair with crochet.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I was bit by the crochet bug only two short years ago and my hooks haven’t left my hands since. An old friend of mine from college was selling some of her crocheted pieces at that time and I became one of her customers. I greatly admired her abilities and she really inspired me to give crocheting a try. It soon dawned on me that I loved all things yarn so I decided I needed to teach myself. I picked up a copy of the book “Crocheting for Dummies” and the rest is history. I now affectionately refer to my friend as my “Crochet Nemesis.”

Why do you crochet?
I crochet for many reasons, mostly because I seriously go through withdrawals if I can’t get some crochet time in every single day. I believe we all have an innate desire to create and crocheting fulfills that desire in me. I get great satisfaction when a project turns out exactly how I had envisioned it, and I am challenged to improve my skills when I completely bomb a project. It’s also a way to bring in a little extra income as my heart is truly at home with my two young children and my supportive husband. I homeschool the kiddos during the day and I work part-time evenings as a Social Worker. My late nights are busy finishing the occasional custom order that I am roped into against my will by my awesome and loyal customers (unlike most crocheters, I am not a fan of custom orders) or writing patterns which is my true love when it comes to crochet.

Crochet Favorites
I think most women’s purses are filled with items that are essential to their livelihood such as hand sanitizer, make-up, their pocketbook, an ID, cell phone, maybe some tissues. My purse is filled with crochet hooks, yarn needles, scissors, and a measuring tape. I never leave home without a giant crochet hook and some super bulky yarn. I can’t get enough of chunky, squishy, cuddly crochet goodness. I also love incorporating ribbon, wooden buttons, bows, silk flowers, or any other fun and unexpected materials into my crochet pieces. 

What are you working on right now?
I suffer from severe crafting ADD and am usually working on several projects at once. I have a whole notebook full of pattern ideas I cannot keep up with but I take a break from crochet “business” in December in order to make handmade goodies for my loved ones for Christmas. However, I foresee a new year filled with bows and bling as I am currently working with another small-business owner who specializes in handmade bows and flowers that I will be incorporating into my next set of patterns. I’m thinking that some flirty boot cuffs, fingerless mitts, and a new style beanie is just the thing to chase the mid-winter blues away come January.

A few finished objects...
One of my most popular patterns, the Oversized Sweater Shrug, is my kind of fashion and crochet. It’s simple yet stylish, one-size fits all, and so easy to make even a beginner can tackle it!

I don’t have a fashionable bone in my body, so thankfully, many of the pattern ideas I get are a result of a request made by my fashionista sister. The Cables and Ribbons Wrap is one such pattern and was designed after she asked me for a wrap dressy enough to wear to holiday parties, yet versatile enough to look great with jeans.

My Swanky Chicken Trivet Potholder pattern is a great reflection of who I am as a person and crochet designer. Fun, funky, and unconventional, these zany little chickens definitely march to the beat of their own drums and make a welcomed addition to anyone’s kitchen decor.

The Cables and Ribbons Wrap is my favorite of Sarah's patterns, no contest. When I saw it in the search results during one of my usually Ravelry sweeps I practically gasped out loud. It is just. so. pretty. You can check out all of Sarah's designs, from pretty to funky, on Ravelry, Etsy, and Facebook. Thank you so much for telling us a bit about you today, Sarah!

Cozy Crochet with a Friend

The holiday season is in full swing here in the city. If you've never been in a big city during the holidays, I highly encourage you to visit one sometime. The excitement is buzzing and there are lights and decorations high and low.

It's been unusually cold outside lately, but that doesn't bother me. I've been spending my time indoors being roasty-toasty. Once a week I get together with my friend Katie, the manager of our complex, to spend the evening crocheting and chatting in the comfy clubroom. It's been so fun to watch her work on her project. She just recently finished the large blanket she's been working on, Ellen Gormley's Sunny Spread. It looks amazing!

Having finished her blanket, Katie spent our last meeting putting together classic popcorn and cranberry garlands for her Christmas tree. Her project smelled so good!

It's so fun having friends who share my love of crochet. Katie and I are hoping to expand our crochet circle. In fact, another resident recently gifted Katie a beautiful scarf that she made following a pattern in a Japanese-style crochet book.

I hope that you are all enjoying winter as much as I am and spending time with friends and family. Happy hooking!

Urban Craft Uprising

This past Saturday I sauntered over to Seattle Center to check out Urban Craft Uprising. It's awesome living within walking distance of such a popular urban hub, especially since I did something a little crazy... I stood outside for two whole hours so that I could get my hands on a swag bag. What are swag bags? They are UCU's increasingly popular door-buster bags full of delights contributed by the vendors. Only the first 100 people in line each day get one, so competition is fierce!

Happily I was there in time to be number 83 and got my swag bag. Can you spot my shadow in this picture? I had to wait hours to get my bag, so I'm going to be a jerk and make you wait until the end of this post to find out what was inside! I thought standing in line was going to be awful, but the lovely people in line with me made it awesome. We had a great time together while trying not to lose our toes to the cold.

There were so many gorgeous handmade items at UCU and I got several holiday gifts while I was there. I'll bet you can guess what else was there... crochet! There were many crochet and yarn related vendors present. Here is a sampling.

Kristen Rask of Schmancy was there selling adorable plushies and promoting her new kits and books. She also did a book signing. Aren't those cacti awesome? Kristen runs a toy shop here in Seattle.

The folks over at the Yarnia booth had many beautiful cones of yarn for sale. If you visit their store in Portland, Oregon you can arrange your very own custom skein of yarn. You can also do this online. Cool! Someone in line with me got one of the cones in their swag bag. I was so jealous! They had two small swatches pinned to every cone, one knit and one crochet. I really appreciated that since most of the time it seems that only a knit swatch is provided.

Anna Sharp of Victory Garden Yarn had delightfully squishy, soft, and cosy crochet winter items for sale in bold colors. I should have asked her what yarn she uses to make her items. It was the softest wool acrylic blend I've ever felt.

Diana Schreiber of Moss was so friendly! Here's a confession: I don't usually like crochet jewelry. It can sometimes be a little gaudy. However, Diana's pretties weren't gaudy at all. They were sweet and delicate with accents of beads and metal. Her tension is perfect. I ended up walking away with a holiday gift for a family member. Truly stunning pieces. To add to her awesomeness, she even dyes the thread that she uses herself.

Yarnarchy was showcasing some eye-catching yarns. I wanted to buy some so badly, but I'm not allowed to buy any more yarn until I finish the projects I'm working on! Fooey. At least she has an Etsy shop so I can snag some when I'm ready. I mean, just look at those beautiful greens and purples! It's like a garden.


In addition to being filled with talented vendors, the exhibition hall was also filled with fabulous craft enthusiasts. Many of them were sporting crochet accessories. I asked a few kind souls if they would mind me taking their picture. They graciously obliged me!

This woman and her darling baby were both wearing crocheted hats. Giraffe baby hats have been really popular this year in the crochet world. It's obvious why. What a cutie!

This felted crochet bag caught my eye from far away and I wove my way through the crowd to get a better look. It's fabulous! This amiable lady also had rad purple hair. Outfit success in my opinion!

A fuchsia crochet cap adorned the head of this genial attendant. The top kind of reminds me of the Divine Hat. I love seeing more and more people wearing stylish crochet items out and about.

I loved chatting with this lively lady. She told me her colorful thrifted crochet hat often sparks compliments. She looked so radiant with her bright hat, coat, and scarf.


Did you think I'd forget to show you the contents of my swag bag? No way! Here's what I got.

A printed doll dress, a notebook made from a used book, a macaroon, a soap sample, a bookmark, and a gift tag. All in all a great morning at the craft show! Urban Craft Uprising happens twice a year, so if you missed it this time around there's always summer. Maybe I'll see you there!

Friday Focus: Norma Lynn Hood

This autumn I started baking a lot more in an effort to increase my skills. Every Wednesday for the past few months I have put on my apron, pulled out the ingredients, and gotten to work. I have made banana bread, maple cookies, chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cupcakes, orange cupcakes, and pumpkin roll just to name a few. I hope to continue baking once a week for the foreseeable future. What do I do with all of the treats? While Alex and I definitely eat some (read: too much) of them, I love to share them with the people in our apartment building.

Norma Lynn Hood whips up tasty treats as well, but her ingredients aren't flour, sugar, or vanilla. She crochets treasure cakes that she turns into sachets. How sweet is that? Even sweeter is the fact that she also shares her treats with others by selling the treasure cakes to raise money for charity. Though treasure cakes are her main claim to fame, she also has many other amazing patterns. Her kind heart and beautifully imaginative designs will soon have you asking for seconds. Settle in with me on this chilly morning and let Norma Lynn warm your heart as today's featured designer.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I first saw a crocheted piece in Macy’s in 2001.  It was a white ribbed tank adorned with a pink carnation made of yarn.  I was instantly captivated and studied the flower for a few minutes.  I didn’t dare buy the garment because of its overpriced value, but I suddenly had a deep urge to make myself that flower.  That moment was a door to a new world for me.

So I walked into a local yarn shop shortly after and described to the worker the beautiful piece I saw.  With incessant confidence he responded, “That’s crochet.”  I was sold.  I bought my yarn and the hook, and immediately afterward, he gave me my first lesson in crochet.  I first started off crocheting a swatch.  He then told me that my next step would be a dishcloth, but with my itch to replicate the flower, I bypassed the dishcloth, bought a pattern and went home.  I successfully produced my first ever crocheted flower days later!  After that, I mostly taught myself with the help of basic crochet books and since, I've created a website with loads of free patterns and recently started selling several on Etsy.  I’ve been crocheting for 12 years. 

Why do you crochet?
I crochet for therapy and entertainment.  The beneficiaries: me and my health, my family, friends and non-profit organizations.  It’s a win-win for all parties involved!  

Crochet Favorites
Almost all of my work and patterns include Tahki Stacy Charles Cotton Classic with a 3.0mm hook.  It’s my absolute favorite yarn to crochet with.  It’s a smooth yarn that passes through my fingers with ease for tight tension.  I also love working with Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread 10 with a 1.10mm hook. 

What are you working on right now?
My niche in crochet is food.  No matter how much I try to deviate and try crocheting cowls or create a pattern for a hat, I come right back to food.  Right now, I am working on more pasta patterns. 

A few finished objects...
Pasta Party: These pasta patterns include farfalle (bow-tie), fettuccine, penne lisc (smooth), penne rigate (furrowed), ravioli and tortellini.  It’s definitely a party when crocheting these pasta pieces! 

Egg Birdhouse: Using jute yarn and a piece of twig from a random plant, this pattern builds a home for our feathered friends.  Provide cute dwellings for our cohabitants!

Love in Cursive: This appliqué can add the spice of romance or simple love to any project.  

What a feast for the eyes. I love Norma Lynn's aesthetic. The pasta is so realistic! Her work can be found on her website and her Ravelry page. Thank you so much for serving us some comfort food today, Norma Lynn!

One Skein To Rule Them All

If you're as nerdy about crochet as I am, you might have noticed that there are some trending patterns. Some patterns seem to explode in popularity. Everyone just has to hook them up. One of these patterns is the One Skein Scarf, and for a good reason. It's sweet and lacy-looking while still being a good beginning project. I had some of that difficult Homespun hanging around and needed a good, simple project for it. It was a match made in heaven!

I used the entire skein of Homespun, even experiencing a rare and magical moment: I only had about a foot of yarn left at the end! Since the scarf is fairly thin, I made mine extra long for wrapping. It would also be cute as a short, light, and airy scarf made with thinner yarn. Have you made the One Skein Scarf? We'd love to see a picture!

Kat Goldin and the Super Awesome Life-Saving Crochet Hat Chart

You needed to make a hat for your cousin Joe Shmoe for the holidays. You found the perfect pattern. You bought the perfect yarn. You selected the proper hook. You put a few hours of work into it...

...only to find that it was too small.

Okay, maybe you made a mistake or something, so you frogged the hat and re-made it. It was still too small. Um, what? You knew you followed the pattern exactly that time. You checked the yarn and the hook. The smiling hat-wearing man in the example picture was starting to make you angry. Maybe you tried the hat one last time before burning the pattern and yarn in a revenge fire and getting your cousin a pet rock instead, vowing never to make a hat again.

What gives? Well, there are several reasons that a hat can turn out too small, too large, too long, or not long enough. First, it's possible that there's an error in the pattern. A quick check of the pattern's rating, example pictures, and reviews can help you figure out if that's the case. Everything seems in order? Check your yarn. Some yarns, especially nicer ones, are not necessarily labeled with crocheters in mind. It might say it is between 4mm and 5mm, but it's closer to one or the other and using the wrong hook will make a significant difference in the item size. You might crochet more tightly or more loosely than the designer and the difference in your tension is affecting the item size. It may even be something as simple as the designer preferring a different brand of hooks. Even though you'd think a metric label would indicate standardization, two 6mm hooks from two different brands can make different sized stitches. I know, right? What kind of nightmare are we living in?

Here's the bottom line... your gauge is off. Most of the problems above are problems with gauge. No, don't run away! Please don't shut down when you hear the word "gauge". It may be easy to ignore gauge in the short term, but in the long term you will be a better crocheter if you take the time to understand it. Remember learning geometry in school? All gauge means is length times width. If a pattern says "5 rows by 5 stitches = 2 inches by 2 inches of single crochet" it means that, using the yarn and hook called for by the project, if you single crochet a square that is 5 stitches across and 5 rows tall it should measure 2 inches on each side. This is what's called a gauge swatch. If your swatch is smaller you are crocheting too tightly for the pattern and need to loosen up. If your swatch is larger you are crocheting too loosely and need to increase tension. You can also try sizing your hook up or down and checking the gauge again.

OR...

...you can be a renegade with me and go off the grid off the pattern. Hate trying to change your tension or hook to meet the gauge? The chart I'm about to link you to was created by Kat Goldin for Slugs on the Refrigerator. Go read part one of her amazing tutorial and then come back for a chat. Back? Great! So, her explanation has a lot of interesting and useful information in it. Part two has even more. For our purposes today the only thing you really need to pay attention to is the chart of standard hat measurements. Look at the column marked "Flat Circle Diameter". That is your holy grail of hat awesomeness. Say you pull the charred remains of Joe Shmoe's hat pattern out of the fireplace and have another go at it. Work the pattern and notice as you go 1) the stitch pattern and 2) where you stop increasing. Consider the following hypothetical pattern:

Start with magic circle.
Round 1: Work 6 dc into ring. Sl st in first st to join. (6)
Round 2: Ch 3. Work 2 dc in each st around. Sl st in first to to join. (12)
Round 3: Ch 3. Work 1 dc in first st and 2 dc in next. Rep around. Sl st in first st to join. (18)
Round 4: Ch 3. Work 1 dc each in first 2 sts and 2 dc in next. Rep around Sl st in first st to join. (24)
Round 5: Ch 3. Work 1 dc each in first 3 sts and 2 dc in next. Rep around. Sl st in first st to join.  (30)
Round 6: Ch 3. Work 1 dc in each st around. Sl st in first st to join. (30)

The stitch pattern here is simple double crochet. To find where you stop increasing, I want you to look at the counts at the end of the rows. Notice how they go up by 6 each time? That's because you are increasing at a regular rate. You started with 6 stitches in the first round and now you are adding 6 stitches to each subsequent round. This results in a flat circle. But wait, the stitch counts for rounds 5 and 6 are the same! That means that round 5 is the last round of increases. After that you're just adding to the height of the hat.

It's time to break out your tape measure. According to Kat's chart, the diameter of your circle at the end of round 5 should be very close to 6.75 inches since you are making a hat for a man. If the circle diameter is greater than that your hat will be too big. If the circle diameter is smaller than that your hat will be too small. Here's how to fix this without changing gauge: frog a round if the circle is too big or add a round using a regular increase if the circle is too small. Do this until your circle comes as close as possible to the required diameter. It's that easy! Then finish the rest of the pattern. Note that your stitch counts at the ends of rounds will now be different, but as long as you are following the style of the pattern you'll be just fine doing this with simple hats. You can even check your hat height against her chart too! She deserves a medal.

Let me know if there's anything in this post you need help with. I realize it's a bit long. With some know-how and a little luck you can now tackle any hat pattern without fear (or fire).