Makes and Takes Spotlight

I was featured on Makes and Takes Spotlight! Laurel commented on the last blog post for my One Seam Headbands and told me I should submit. I checked out the website because I had never really spent a lot of time of it. I won't be making that mistake again. I love that site. I saw a few things I would LOVE to try. Including this 4 minute chocolate cake. Can we say delicious? Who wouldn't want to get a fabulous fix in under four minutes.

Also those yarn balls look like so much fun. I know I have seen that project before, but this was a new inspiration for me. I seriously need to get back on my crafting kick...

But that's besides the point. The point is check out Makes and Takes. So much fun!

One Seam T-shirt Headbands

I love headbands. They are cute, easy and fun. Also they are great for hair that needs to be washed. Or when you sit at a computer all day and want to get your hair out of your face. I also wear them to play sports. Notice I didn't say workout. I play sports. Working out just isn't for me. The point is, headbands are multipurpose awesome creations.

I was in desperate need of a well fitting headband because they can't be too tight. It is so difficult to find a headband with the correct thickness and tightness. So clearly the option is to make my own. I grabbed some old t-shirts, scissors, a really old hot glue gun and sewing machine and my best friend and got to work.

We started by cutting up the t-shirts. Everyone has some old t-shirts that they never wear. Use them for something and clear out your drawers. The more colors the more you can mix and match. We cut three inch wide strips the same length as your head. Then 1.5 inch strips 12 inches long to make the flowers.

I then pull on the 3 in strip to make the ends curl up a little bit. Fold the strip so tat the curled edges are facing each other. Then sew up the ends with a one inch seam using both a straight and a diagonal seam to ensure it doesn't come out.

After that plug in your hot glue gun and let it heat up. While you are waiting for it to heat up, take the smaller 12in strip and twist it a little in your hands. Then wind it around so it begins to look like a little rosette. You can glue as you go or just glue it on when it's completed like I did. The most important thing is to remember to put the flower off to the side. And yes, I am saying this warning sincerely as I made that mistake. Cute.

These headbands are so easy to make you can whip them right up even if you can't sew you could even get away with glueing the ends together!

Start using up those old t-shirts now!

Why Haven't I Made This?!

Cutest hat ever right?! Once I finish the Owl Hat I am working on I think that this shall be my next project.

Speaking of projects, I have been very stagnant in my knitting. And crafting. And being creative in general. My new job has been keeping me very busy! Which explains why I haven't kept up with my resolve to blog at least twice a week.

Now that I feel like I have adjusted to my new schedule, I think I will get back into the groove. And that means maybe start on a hat that looks like this!!

Quick Bows

I saw some cute little crocheted bows a few weeks ago and made a few. I live for quick projects that are functional. But then I thought about all the people who can't stand the thought of betraying their craft of choice.

So for all you knitters out there... here is something for you. Think of this as a birthday present for you-all but on my birthday.


Easy Bows

Items needed

Size 10 needles

Worsted weight yarn

Plastic needle

Cast on 9 using a provisional cast on.

Row1: knit to end

row2: purl to end

Repeat these rows till piece is about 7 inches long.

Graft the stitches together using the Kitchener stitch leaving a long tail.

Pinch the piece together and wrap the tail around the middle.

Then I cut a very small piece of felt the same color as the bow and a bobby pin. I stuck the bobby pin onto the felt and then hot glued the felt down to bow. I made sure the tail end of the yarn was also hot glued down to secure it.

Now you have a great bow that you cab customize to your needs! All in a few minutes.

Boba Fett Hat Pattern

I was asked for a Boba Fett hat approximately a year ago. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift 2009. That obviously didn't happen unless I was severely behind on my blogging. Nope, just severely behind on my projects.

Fast forward to 2010. I decided it was time to buckle down and pump this hat out. Turns out waiting this long and mulling over a projects makes it better. I was so happy with how this hat turned out.

It is a very basic hat design with some colorwork on it. I tried to make it as simple as possible because I had so many projects to do.

To go into a little bit more detail on the colorwork I simply switched colors, making sure I twisted the strand when changing colors as to not have a hole. VERY IMPORTANT! Then once I was finished I tied the loose end up and trimmed them. I also attempted burning them slightly to make sure the knots stayed. This worked for me but can be risky.

What you need:

Worsted weight green, black and maroon yarn.

darning needle

size 10 circular needle

stitch marker

Boba Fett Hat Pattern

Cast on 80 stitches

Join in the round making sure not to twist your stitches.

Round 1-3: Green 30, Maroon 6, Black 8, Maroon 6, Green 30. I worked these rounds in a K2, P2 pattern to the end.

Round 4-6:Continue in the same colorwork pattern as stated above with Knit the entire round (take out the Purl stitches)

Round 7-9: Maroon K36, Black K8, Maroon K36

Round 10-12: Black K to end

Round 13-15: Maroon K to end

Round 15- desired length of hat: Green K to end of round (I made my hat coming to about the middle of my ears aprox 5-6in.)

Decrease Rounds:

Round 1: *K8 K2tog* to end of round

Round 2 and all other even rounds: K

Round 3: *K7 K2tog* to end of round

Round 5: *K6 K2tog* to end of round

Round 7: *K5 K2tog* to end of round

Round 9: *K4 K2tog* to end of round

Round 11: *K3 K2tog* to end of round

Round 13: *K2 K2tog* to end of round

Round 15: *K2tog* to end of round

Take darning needle and tie off remain stitches and weave in ends.