Missing the South

Missing the South
Missing the South...

Sunday, September 7, 2014

More Football with a Free Baby Bootie Pattern

Hey y'all!  I did not use a pattern for the hat.  Just HDC all the way to the silver, where I began using alternating DC, SC, and then on the next row, did a SC in each DC and a DC in each SC (make sure you have an even number of stitches!)  This was just to give it some texture.  The ruffled trim is just SC in 1st st, HDC, DC, HDC in 2nd st, SC in 3rd st, then sl st in 4th st.  Repeat around.  Very simple.  Of course, you need to have a number divisible by 4 to do this one.  So, basically, your last HDC row should be divisible by 4 to do the alternating textured stitch and the ruffle.  If you need this typed up clearer, please just ask.

The cute little booties were from a free pattern that I found.  Aren't they darling?  The originals were watermelon shoes but she has since come up with candy corn colors!!!  The link for the free pattern is: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-oh-baby-watermelon-shoes.

The bow is a pattern that I bought from Mamachee (Tara Murray) so I cannot share it but any bow will do!

Enjoy!  Let me know if I can clarify!  Have a great week!

Janice



Sunday, August 24, 2014

It's Not Just About Football...It's About People, Too!




A few weeks ago, a potential customer messaged me about a hat that I had in my Etsy store for a little girl. She asked if I made them for women and what the price would be.  It was an Alabama Crimson Tide Cloche.  (I am an Auburn fan....but I have many, many Alabama friends and customers).

She told me she wanted it for her aunt who had lost her hair to chemo.  When I read that, I knew that there was no way that I could charge her for that hat.  Since I am involved in making hats for cancer patients, I just told her that I would make the hat and send it to her at no cost.  It was for a good cause and I could never charge for it.  Reminded me of the day that I was sitting in the chair at the salon getting my hair cut and saw an older lady getting her head shaved.  I knew why and just wondered how much they charged someone for something like that.  The lady left the shop and I suddenly saw the hairdresser run to the back of the shop, crying.  When I went to leave, I learned that my wonderful husband, who had been sitting there waiting and watching, had anonymously paid for the lady's haircut and the hairdresser was so moved that she had to run out crying.

With that being said, I am not writing this post or doing this for recognition.  Please do not tell me what a gracious thing I am doing.  I am not the one with cancer.  I have lost many loved ones to cancer.  I watched my father die a slow death, not to cancer but something just as bad.  I have realized that, as much as I love my Auburn Tigers and pull against the Alabama Crimson Tide, life is not a football game.  Life is no game at all, it is full of good and bad, joy and pain.  Life is fragile.  Every second of it.

Making this hat for a lady with cancer, who loves the football team that I pull against every Saturday, was the least that I could do to, hopefully, bring a smile to her face, a moment of joy, and help her to forget for a few seconds that she has this awful thing called cancer.


Friday, August 8, 2014

And my latest obsession...

Thanks to the request of a friend/customer, I started playing with barefoot sandals.  I looked at a picture of a cute pair that she had found and I made up my own pattern to get them to look as much like the original as possible.  As soon as I get it typed up, I will share.


NOW, I want to make some with BLING!!





Latest projects, too much fun!

We were preparing for a cruise and I decided that I really needed a cool camisole to wear over my skimpy tanks and to dress up some skirts.  I found a wonderful free pattern on Pinterest, which I will share with you. It was very easy so now I am working on one for my mother-in-law in Pistachio!!!



Here's the FREE PATTERN!  As you can see, I did one less row of scallops but will do all three next time.  It was long enough but I want it longer.  May try a waist tie or belt.

http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/crochet/floral-cami


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

My New Team Spirit Hat - I love it!!

Gosh! I just love this hat...the pom poms make it soooo cute!    Just had to share this morning.  I usually make the tigers or the team logo but, as I was working on an order for a customer, I was inspired to try the big pom poms and I love it!   And...football season is right around the corner.  Can't wait!

Have a blessed day.


Thursday, July 17, 2014

Chemo hat give-away! Please help!

I would like to give these hats to two beautiful ladies who have lost their hair due to chemo.  If you know of someone, please email me or comment below with your information.  I hope someone would like to wear the watermelon hat.    Please, no gimmicks or cons on this.  Please also make sure that they would like the hat and want to wear it so that I can make sure it goes to someone who would truly use it.  They are both adult women sizes and are made from 100% cotton yarn.

Thanks.
Janice



Monday, June 30, 2014

My New FUN SUN Hat




I used my Vintage Cloche pattern to make this fun hat in cotton.  (The pattern is below in a previous post.) I changed the brim a little by making my first two rows "1 sc in first st, then 2 sc in 2nd st, repeat around TWICE).  I did not need to do any more increases after that! I added a few extra rows to the brim to make it more of a sun hat.  The yarn used in this hat is Peaches n Cream but plan to make my next one using Hobby Lobby's I Love That Cotton Yarn!

You may want to use a size larger hook if your cotton yarn seems a little heavier than your acrylic, which I think this particular yarn does.

The bow is from a pattern by Tara Murray (Mamachee) so I cannot share that pattern but there are plenty of bow patterns out there for free!

Enjoy!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

And the WInners Are......




Mary Lou Ruiz!!!  Congratulations!  








and Jo Anne Zavala, congratulations!


I will mail it tomorrow!!  I will send an email requesting your mailing address!







Saturday, June 14, 2014

Another Giveaway (see my first one also)





I bought this yarn and cannot use it because it has wool in it.  I am allergic to wool but I know someone, somewhere can use it.  It is three skeins of Lion Brand, Wool Ease, 6 oz. yarn.  See my other giveaway.  I will pay for postage just to find it a good home and make someone's day.

Drawing will be Saturday, June 21st.  Please leave your name and email address.  I will notify the winner and post it on here next Saturday!

Thanks,
Janice


Yarn Giveaway








We are moving and I am consolidating and purging.  I found this yarn that I have been storing and, at first, I was going to give it to Goodwill.  Then, I remembered how some of the ladies on the blogs and Facebook pages I am a member of were so excited when they found yarn bargains at yard sales.

On that note, I want to say, yes, some of the yarn has been used, mostly when I was re-learning how to crochet a few years ago, but I switched to different yarn after I started selling on Etsy and I hate to see this go to waste.  If you like Red Heart Super Saver or Craftsman yarn, then this is for you.

I will do a drawing on Saturday, June 21st, and will send this yarn to the winner free of charge, even paying for the postage.  It has been stored in a smoke free, pet free home.

If you are interested, please leave your name and email address below so that I can let you know if you win.  I will also post the winner next Saturday.  I know it isn't much, but free is free and someone would love to have it!

Thanks!  Good luck!

Janice

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

SDS - Saturday Down South - We Love Our Football

Yes, I am one of those....SEC football fanatics.  Nothing on Earth is as exciting as SEC football!   The countdown to kickoff has started so I wanted to feature a few of my hats and things, as well as some of my favorites by others.


Just me and the hubby at the Peach Bowl a few years back!





            Yes, I am actually wearing a Bama logo on my head!!!  War Eagle and Roll Tide!



Just love this pacifier clip!







Friday, May 23, 2014

My latest team hat!

I love doing team hats!  We are big college football fans and I get requests for all kinds of team hats.  This UVA hat is my latest.





Some others I have done are Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Va Tech.



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Vintage Cloche

My Very First Pattern!!!!  Here it is!  Thanks so much to my testers who made this pattern much easier to read!!!  Enjoy!  Feel free to share photos

GO TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE LINK TO THE PDF VERSION!

                                             
Ladies’ Vintage Cloche
By:  Southern Love Crochet                                 


GAUGE:  10 rows,  9 HDC = 3 inches
   
YOU WILL NEED:
  • Size I Hook
  • Size F Hook
  • 1 Skein Acrylic Worsted Weight Yarn (I use Red Heart Soft or Caron’s Simply Soft Yarn)
  • 1 Contrasting Yarn (small amount, less than 1/8 skein)
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Pearl buttons or beads (4)
  • Needle and thread (to match contrasting yarn)


To begin:  Using the Size “I” hook, CHAIN 2  (or use magic circle)

Row 1:  In 2nd chain from hook, 8 HDC, sl st in 1st hdc, ch 1 (8)

Row 2:  2 hdc in each hdc of row 1, slst in 1st hdc of same row, ch 1 (16)

Row 3:  *2 hdc in 1st hdc of row 2, 1 hdc in next hdc of row 2, * *repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 sets, slst in 1st hdc of row 3, ch. 1 (24)

***Now you will start to change the locations of your increase stitches so that you will have a more rounded shape instead of “corners” or a hexagonal shape. 

*** You will also use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each row as you will be  crocheting in the round until  you have 18 rows.

Row 4:  *2 hdc in 1st st  of previous row, 1 hdc, 1 hdc*,  *repeat 7 more times* for a total of 8 sets  (32)   DO NOT JOIN!!



******PLEASE NOTE: after Row 4, any stitches before the *...* and any  stitches after, together form another complete set, they are just broken up to vary the locations of your increases.  So, for each row, you are actually crocheting a total of 8 sets of each sequence.



Row 5:  hdc in each of the 1st 2 sts of previous row, *2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 3 stitches*,  *repeat  times 6 more times* and then 2 hdc, 1 hdc in last hdc.  (40)

Row 6:  1 hdc in the 1st st of previous row, then  *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts,*  *repeat 6 more times , then 2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc each in last 3 sts to finish row.  (48)

Row 7:   hdc in each of  1st 4 sts of the previous row, then*2 hdc in the next st, hdc in next 5 sts*, *repeat  6 more times*, then 2 hdc in next st,  1 hdc in last st of round. (56)

Row 8:   hdc in 1st 13 sts of previous row, then *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 13 sts*,  *repeat 2 more times*, then 2 hdc in last st of row (60)


Diameter at this point should be approximately 6.75, which should result in an approximate circumference of 21 inches. (depending on tension in stitches).

BODY:

Rows 9-18:  HDC in each st around.
Join to 1st stitch in same row with slst, tie off

Change to contrasting color for band

BAND – Join contrast color to previous row with a slst

Row 19:  SC around , including 1st (sl st) (60)

Row 20: SC around (60), sl st in 1st sc of row, tie off for color change
****For a thinner band, crochet only ONE ROW (19) using hdc instead                                                                    of single crochet. 


BRIM:  Return to your original color

Row 21:  Foundation to begin brim:  join to band with slst and sc in any stitch, sc around., sl st to join to 1st sc,, (60)

ROW 22: hdc in joining st, 2 hdc next,  continue 1 hdc, 2 hdc around,  sl st to join to 1st hdc (90)

ROW 23: hdc in joining st and all st around (90); join with slst to first st of row and tie off.

(if you would like a wider brim, add additional rows.  If you do so, I recommend that you do an increase on row 24 to keep the wave in the brim:  {*8 hdc, 2hdc*  x 10}   (100 stitches total)



TRIM:  change back to contrast color                      


Begin anywhere on the brim:

Slst in first hdc of brim, then 1 ½  sc  in next HDC,    continue alternating slst and 1 ½ sc around.              

Join to 1st slst, tie off.    
      
 *Pictures and instructions below for 1 ½ sc*                                                                                    


*1 ½ Stitch Explained:  (see close up pictures below and on next page)

**1 ½ stitch:  when you normally crochet in a HDC, you slip your hook right under the top two threads.  There is always one thread immediately below these top two stitches (I call it the “filler”) and above where the stitch joins the previous row.  Alternate with slst around.





For a 1 ½ sc, insert hook around 3 threads instead of the normal top 2.  (see the 3rd thread?)











FLOWERS:
Use same yarn as contrast and Size F Hook
(Larger if you want larger flowers)

This calls for a magic circle.  

If you don’t use the magic circle you can do this:  just chain 3, instead of two (this would be your chain two in your first petal of the flower} then begin your DC in the very 1st chain].   I do it both ways and they turn out the same. 

Begin with Magic Circle   (leave a tail of about 4-5 inches for attaching flowers to hat)

First Petal:  Chain 2, 2 DC, Chain 2, sl st to circle;  

REPEAT THREE MORE TIMES (total 4 petals)

After final slst, CLOSE THE MAGIC CIRCLE, then from your final slst, cut off leaving another tail of about4- 5 inches, tie both tails together, tightly, double knot.  Use tails to connect flower to hat.


Make four (4) flowers total.


LEAF: (make as many as you want, I use two)

Chain 12
SC in 4th ch from hook, then  sc, hdc x 3, sc, skip 2 chains, then slst in last chain.  Tie off.

  
COPYRIGHT   © Southern Love Crochet  and  @  Kutenkrafty on Etsy
Please do not copy or sell my pattern as yours in any way.  I worked very hard to make this pattern and tested it many times.  You are more than welcome to sell items from my pdf patterns. I ask that you include a note about the item being a ‘Southern Love Crochet” design on the tag or a link to my shop 
www.etsy.com/shop/Kutenkrafty when selling in an online store (like Etsy).



Click to get a PDF Version of this pattern from Google DriveClick here for PDF/printable version of the pattern. THANKS!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

More Beautiful Results are IN!

Thank you so much to Anna Patten.  Your hat is beautiful also. I love the additional color added to the hat with the green leaves.  It is fun to see all of the different versions of one pattern.  Thanks, also, for your valuable feedback!  You guys work so quickly....



Coming Soon! My second pattern ever! Keep your eyes out!

This is actually my first real pattern but I have not had the time to put it into written form, which I am working on now.  I saw a picture of the actual shawl, with no pattern, but I had to have it so I made my own.  It should be ready to test in the next few days!  Check back in to look for it.  My FREE Vintage Hat Pattern will be available within the next few days.



First tester's results...Awesome!

Thanks so much to Betty Dixon.  Beautiful job!  Looking forward to receiving more end products.  FREE PATTERN to follow in a few more days!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Coming Soon - Being Tested

My new Vintage Hat Pattern is currently going through the testing process and will be avaiable HERE ONLY as a free pattern.  Please return over the next few days, as I hope to have it available within 48 hours!

Isn't it gorgeous?  Would make a great summer hat and a great hat to make for that special chemo patient!  I am sure they would LOVE IT!


Sunday, May 4, 2014

I just had to have it!!


In the middle of two crochet projects and with several items to do for my Etsy customers, I decided last night that I needed (wanted) a new wreath on my door.  I had the burlap, which had been lying around for a month or so.  I always have wreath frames.  I put the burlap on there first and then couldn't figure out how to jazz it up.  I realized that I had bought a wooden "K" but I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what color to paint it, whether to paint a pattern on it, and how to apply it to the wreath (where it would look good and where it would not ruin the burlap).  So...I played with a few colors and then I decided that I wanted the "distressed" paint look.  I finally decided on a mixture of gray and white.  Not too bad.

This morning, as I was getting ready to hang it on the door, I wanted to add just.one.more.thing. I went through my box of flowers (while my husband rolled his eyes) and found the blue ones.  Then, I found the little fuzzy looking things.  Finally, it all came together.

Things like this just sometimes take a little time.  Not too bad for a "night before" project.

My New Hat and First Pattern!!


















I crocheted and tore apart, crocheted and tore apart a hat that I was making for a friend.  She had given me an "idea" of what she wanted.  She wanted it in off white and it seemed that everything I made just looked so boring!  Finally, after about 3 weeks of doing that, I came up with an idea for her.  She loved it, I loved it and I have even sold a few in my Etsy store!  Persistence pays off!

And...I just love the little flowers!  Sort of vintage looking, don't you think?


I  am currently working on writing my first two patterns and this is one of the two.  I think I am almost done.  I am making one more hat to test it before publishing it.  Being my first pattern, it will be a freebie.

Keep your eyes open for it!