Friday, May 25, 2012

Princess Britt

Have you ever worked with Mesh yarn?  I dind't know anything about it except that others have made some very cute scarves with it until a week ago.  A friend of mine saw a dress on Etsy that she really wanted me to make for her baby that is due this summer.  It is a very pretty tube dress using mesh yarn as the skirt.  I purchased the pattern - not realizing she had already purchased it also (and she doesn't crochet) so that I could make one for her.  Upon reading the required materials, we began our search for the mesh yarn - and Oh Boy - it's not cheap!  I checked all the local stores and even asked sales associates about it and none had heard of it. 

She didn't want to spend the money ordering it online and also paying shipping (I wouldn't have either). So I decided to try and come up with my own version using just the Caron Simply Soft yarn....This is my end result:

It is in the testing phase and I have seen a few photos of it on babies and I LOVE it!  It is so stinkin cute :)

Then, later that week, I stopped by Joann's craft store to see if by chance they had some mesh yarn.  To my delight, they had 1 box and only 1 box (I asked) of Red Heart Sashay and there were only 5 skeins left.  They are $5 each and there was only blue or teal to choose from.  Not having used it before, I didn't want to stock up on it if I didn't end up liking it so I bought 1 of each color (should have bought them all!)  I came home and was excited to give it a try on my own pattern and here is the end result for that:

Both versions will be included in the "Princess Britt" pattern.  The Straps are written up as optional for Newborn size, but will be needed for infants/Toddlers who are mobile.  I will release the infant pattern which will include 5 sizes: Newborn - 12mo and then the Toddler Pattern which will be 18mo-4T.  I am debating on even larger sizes...It would be extremely easy to work out, but I will wait for feedback from my fans before I decide.

Heidi from Heidi's Hook https://www.facebook.com/HeidisHook?ref=ts was one of the testers for the NB size and has written up a pattern for leggings to match :)  They are darling and I can't wait to see it all together on a baby. 
This pattern will be available in the next week or so and I will post a link when it's up and running.

I hope the weather for your Holiday weekend is full of sunshine - Have a wonderful holiday and travel safely my friends!

Kate

Friday, May 18, 2012

Pinwheel Applique

It is a very rainy day her in Utah!  Luckily - I love the rain :)  I hope you are all off to a great start for the weekend.

I have released the pattern for the Pinwheel Applique that I added to the Toddler Oh Snap dress. 

Pinwheel Applique Pattern


Pinwheel Applique
Size G hook
Gauge: 8DC & 4 Rows = 2”
Materials: Small amount of WW yarn

Center: Ch 8 & Sl St into 1st Ch to form a ring
Ch 1, make 16 SC in ring, Sl St in Ch 1 to connect

Petal 1: Ch 13, Dc in 4th Ch from hook, 
            2DC in next 4 Ch Sp,
            DC in next 5 Ch Sp, 
            SK 1 SC of ring, Sl St in next SC







Petal 2: Ch 10, Sl St in 8th DC from 
             ring of previous petal,
            Ch 3, DC in 1st Ch Sp from Sl St just made,
            2DC in next 4 Ch Sp, Dc in next 5 Ch Sp, 
            Sk 1 SC in ring, Sl St in next SC



Petal 3-8: Repeat Petal 2

Petal 9: Ch 10, Sl st into 8th DC from 
            ring of previous petal, 
            Ch 3, DC in 1st Ch Sp, 
            2DC in next 2 Ch Sp,
            DC in next Ch Sp, 
            Sl St in bottom of Ch 3 of 1st petal,
            DC in same Ch Sp, 
            2DC in next Ch Sp, 
            DC in next 5 Ch Sp
            Sl St in final SC of Ring, Fasten off & weave in ends

Center:
            With 2nd color, Sl St 1st skipped SC of ring
            Ch 1, SC, Ch 3, 3DC in same Stitch
            *SC in next Skipped SC of ring
            Ch 3, 3 DC in same stitch* Repeat 7x
            Sl stitch in beginning Ch 1.  
            Fasten off and weave in ends



Purple Pinwheel Applique

I had fun making it and adding it to the dresses.  I had the pattern tested to make sure others could understand it.  The purple one was made by Jennifer from  https://www.facebook.com/LittleLuvies?ref=ts on facebook.   She is using it on a bag she is making.  I would love to see how you use it. 
Kate

Monday, May 14, 2012

Oh Snap Toddler Dress

#3 Release in the Mama Mia May event is the Oh Snap Toddler pattern.  It will be available as an instant download on Craftsy on sale for $3 for 1 week and then will be moved to $5.  During this time, the Oh Snap Infant pattern will also be on sale for $2. 
Here is the link to the pattern
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Oh-Snap-Toddler-Dress/15353?fresh=true

I finished the dress today and I still think it needs a ribbon around the waist, but I don't have a good color to match it right now. 
And remember that you can still get 25% off everything in my Etsy shop through the month of May by using code MamaMiaMay.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day weekend.
Kate

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Toddler Ribbon & Lace

#2 Release in the Mama Mia May is the Ribbon and Lace Toddler dress patterns.  It includes instructions for 4 sizes: 18mo, 2T, 3T, 4T along with directions for 2 different styles.  The regular looks more like the infant dresses where the skirt pattern is long.  The Drop Waist Dress has a longer body and shorter skirt.  The dresses you have seen my girls wearing in photos is of the Drop Waist.  The purple dress shown here is also the Drop Waist style.

The Toddler pattern is only available on Craftsy right now for instant download. It is on sale for $3 for 1 week and then will go to $5. 
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Toddler-Ribbon--Lace-Dress/14762



To celebrate the release of the toddler pattern, you can also get the Infant Ribbon and Lace pattern on craftsy for 1/2 price right now ($2). http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Ribbon--Lace-Baby-Dress/7317

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mama Mia May

I am finally able to start releasing my toddler dress patterns.  I will be celebrating (hopefully) 1,000 fans on my FaceBook page this month https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafting-Friends/180595232008676?ref=tn_tnmn  and have a fun multi-vendor giveaway going on. 

With Mothers Day coming soon, I wanted to do something fun.  So...EVERYTHING in my Etsy shop will be 25% off if you use code MamaMiaMay at check out.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftingFriends4you

To start the release of the toddler patterns, I will be adding them to the Craftsy website individually at a sale price of $3 for 1 week.  After that, they will be $5 each.  As soon as they are all released, I will have them available in a pattern pack for $18.

The Snap Dragon dress pattern was released today and you can get it for instant download here: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Snap-Dragon-Toddler-Dress/14257

As I was trying to finish this dress today in order to have a  photo for the pattern, this is what I started with

I liked it, but wasn't sure on the flower placement.

Taylee LOVEs it!


I still need to put the buttons on the back, but I felt like it was missing something. So....I remembered I had some pink ribbon and gave it a shot.

And now I just need to do the buttons and she will be able to wear it to church :)  My friend Julie was awesome and made the girls some slips to use with these dresses.   http://sewinsanity.blogspot.com/

This is so fun!  The girls have even started requesting new colors for dresses - not sure I would be able to keep up with them, but it's great to see them wear something I have made :)

I would love to hear ideas of things you would like to see here, or on my other pages.  Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think.
Kate