Swimsuit!

I've had this cotton yarn on hand for a few years now.  I bought it when I knew nothing about yarn and it was the best I could find to match my nieces coat. I was never thrilled with how my toque turned out since it had no stretch. I thought about wash clothes or something similar but was never motivated (boring)
I had a brilliant idea the other day that I could make my daughter a bathing suit. She adores swimming so it was perfect. I scoured the internet for a pattern since this was out of my comfort zone but to my luck nothing was found (not even a paid one) Any thing i did find was for a 2 piece and since she's an active kid I wanted it to be a single piece, with ties to accommodate a growing girl since there is no elasticity in cotton.

Elliot - 2 years old

Going to test it out in the bathtub this week and see how much it stretches out once wet.

Sock Monkey

Back in January I made a little sock monkey hat for my friends new baby. I loved it so much that I made another one for my little girl. Since we're heading into summer I made it a little big so she can grow into it. I made a few modifications so I'll repost the instructions

For: Elliot 1 year
Hook: I
Yarn: Cream, Pink, and Ash Grey







Head
With cream yarn
Row 1:  Create a magic loop, Chain 2 (I do not count this as my first dc) 10dc. slst to first dc (10dc)
Row 2: chain 2, 2 dc in same st. 2dc in remaining 9 st. slst to first dc (20dc)
Row 3: chain 2, dc in same stitch, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc (30dc)
Row 4:  chain 2, dc in same stitch,  dc in next st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 2 st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc  (40dc)
Row 5:  chain 2, dc in same stitch,  dc in next 2 st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 3 st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc  (50dc)
Row 6:  chain 2, dc in same stitch,  dc in next 3 st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 4 st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc  (60dc)


Change to pink yarn (or colour of choice)
Row 7: chain 2, dc in same stitch, dc in each st, slst to first dc  (60dc)


Change to ash grey yarn
Rows 8 - 17: repeat row 7 with grey yarn
Tie off


Ear flaps.
Row 1. chain 2 in 13th st from back of hat, 8dc in same stitch - Flip
Row 2. chain 2, 2dc in same st, 2dc in next 7 st, Tie off leave long end.


With needle and long end of yarn sew ear flap down (attached already in the middle) with my stitch i find it fans out to cover 3 st on each side, so I skip 3 st and sew it onto 4th. from the inside of the hat weaving to make sure there are no gaps. (I'll try to take a photo of this so you can see what i mean, i'm having a hard time explaining it) 
Repeat on other side.


Mouth
Chain 27 - dhc in 2 ch from hook, dhc in next 22 ch, 3dhc in last chain, dhc on opposite side of chain in next 22 ch, 3 dhc in final ch. tie off leaving long strand to sew onto hat.
With same colour as stripe sew line in middle of the mouth.


Ears

Row 1:  Create a magic loop, Chain 2 (counts as first dhc) 5dhc. slst to first dc (6dhc)
Row 2: chain 2, dhc in same st. 2dhc in remaining 5 st. slst to first dc (12dhc)
Row 3: chain 2, 2dhc in next st. *dhc in next st, 2dhc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc (18dhc)
Row 4: chain 2, dhc in reamaining 17 st (18dhc) Tie off

A few creations to share

Bad Kimberly - I've been crocheting away and haven't been documenting how I've made these hats. But I'd like to share some images anyways.

Hello Kitty - for Laura [age:6]

Tiger - for Spencer [age:3]

Woodland Pixie - For newborn

Penguin for Jenna [age:1]  but my sizing was WAY off and now it's for my 3 month old daughter lol

Sock Monkey

It's been cold out, so no better time to curl up on the couch, pop in a movie and bust out the yarn. Yesterday's creation: SOCK MONKEY! and I'm really happy with how she looks

For: Baby Aqsa (newborn)

Hook size - I & F

Yarn - Cream, ash grey, and pink - medium weight

I hook

With cream yarn

Row 1:  Create a magic loop, Chain 3 (counts as first dc) 9dc. slst to first dc (10dc)

Row 2: chain 3, dc in same st. 2dc in remaining 9 st. slst to first dc (20dc)

Row 3: chain 3, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc (30dc)

Row 4: chain 3, dc in next st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 2 st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc  (40dc)

Change to pink yarn (or colour of choice)

Row 5: chain 3, dc in next 6 st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 7 st, 2dc in next st - repeat from * slst to  first dc   (45dc)

Change to ash grey yarn

Rows 6-12 : Row 3: chain 3, dc in each st, slst to  first dc  (45dc)

Ear flaps

Row 13: (5 st from the back) ch 3, dc in next 8 st. Turn.

Row 14: ch 3, dc2tog, dc next 3 st, dc2tog, dc in last st. Turn.

Row 16: ch 3, dc2tog, dc, dc2tog, dc in last st. Turn.

Row 17: ch 3, dc3tog, dc in last st. Turn.

Trim - I used the pink and cream together but would look great using pink, cream, or grey

sc in every st around hat. 

tip: sc2tog where earflaps meet hat. 3sc at point of earflaps. This will give a smoother finish.

Monkey ears - grey yarn

Row 1:  Create a magic loop, Chain 2 (counts as first dhc) 5dhc. slst to first dc (6dhc)

Row 2: chain 2, dhc in same st. 2dhc in remaining 5 st. slst to first dc (12dhc)

Row 3: chain 2, 2dhc in next st. *dhc in next st, 2dhc in next st - repeat from * slst to first dc (18dhc)

Row 4: chain 2, dhc in reamaining 17 st (18dhc) Tie off

F hook

Monkey mouth - cream yarn

Chain 22 - dhc in 3 ch from hook, dhc in next 17 ch, 3dhc in last chain, dhc on opposite side of chain in next 18 ch, 2 dhc in final ch. tie off

Fasten monkey ears on just under the pink stripe, with a yarn needle. 

Fasten mouth so there is one row of grey under with yarn needle.

sew pink line on mouth with yarn needle

use cream yarn to attach eyes.

sew in loose ends and your done :)

The Dainty Daisy

The Shell Stitch Beanie  by The Dainty Daisy is by far my favorite hat to make. It's so simple but looks like it took a lot of talent. I get comments on the one I made for Elliot all the time. My photographer LOVES this hat and begged me for more.
I took the flower from Neanners Shop. Unfortunately since she had issues with people stealing her photos and using them as her own she has deleted her free patterns.

Photography by Deanna Nilson

Daddy's Princess

I wont take credit for this pattern. I found this hat pattern on Ravelry, but decided I only wanted the crown part so I chained the appropriated # of chains and followed the the part of the pattern.

Photography by Deanna Nilson

Ellie Fett and Chewbaccie

My hubby is a HUGE star wars fan so while awaiting for the arrival of our child I designed a Boba Fett Toque. Once our Elliot was born I made a bow added for "girlify" it. I havent written down the pattern for this (or the R2D2 one I made for hubby) but one day I'll look over the hat and write it down. It was a little big when she was first born but fits her GREAT now at 6 weeks.

Photography by Deanna Nilson

Hubby picked up this 2' Chewbacca up at a Star Wars Exhibit in Seattle last April. Our Nephew nicknamed him Chewbaccie.