Weekend Pattern Sale

As part of releasing my patterns in 4 sizes (newborn - 12mo)  I will be highlighting a pattern every weekend and posting it for 1/2 price on the Craftsy website.  Sale will be from 9am mst Friday 3-30 through Sunday 4-1 at 6pm mst.

The feature pattern this time will be the Diamond Infant dress

The 1/2 price will ONLY be on the craftsy site so it will be instant download.  The link is here: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Diamond-Baby-Dress/4277

Pattern Sizing

I have finally updated my Ribbon & Lace Dress pattern to include 4 sizes (newborn - 12mo).  I have emailed out the updated version to everyone who already purchased it and have updated my Craftsy pattern store.  If you purchased it and for some reason did not receive the update, please email me at craftingfriends4you@yahoo.com with your paypal email address and I will verify the address and send out another copy. 

If you are interested in purchasing this pattern, you can get the instant download here: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/Clothing/Ribbon--Lace-Baby-Dress/7317

If you would like a discount, use code FRIENDS25 on Etsy to receive 25% off http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftingFriends4you

This next week, I will be working on updating the rest of my infant patterns to include 4 sizes also.  I have started writing the patterns for 18mo - 4T.  These  sizes will be released as a seperate pattern - hopefully within the next month. 

Emerald City Dress

It has been a while since I posted, so I figured I'd better get some updates on here.  I have been BUSY :)  I have had most of my dress patterns tested and have them for sale on Etsy, Craftsy and in my Facebook Shop.  I will be placing the Buy Now option for patterns back on the blog to make it easier for you. 

Originally, I only wanted to focus on Newborn dresses but I have been bombarded with requests for larger sizes.  That has been my focus the last couple of weeks.  I designed the Emerald City Dress and this is the first of my patterns to have multiple sizes.  The hard part of this is that I don't have any infants near me to try them on.  The good news is that I made the pattern large enough to fit my 2 girls, so they will each be getting a new dress :)  The smallest size has been tested and ok'd and I'm waiting on 2 more before I release it.
 My picture of the original -smaller Green dress has disappeared from my computer somehow, but a picture of my 2yr old wearing her Emerald City Dress

Angelique Baby Dress

I have a group of wonderful ladies who are testing the pattern for this "Angelique" Newborn Dress pattern.  As soon as they are finished and I make any changes that may be needed, I will post the pattern for sale.  The pattern will include instructions for a Short version and Long version.  This is more of an Intermediate pattern.  It takes some concentration and as I learned, it's best to use some stitch markers on this and I think I will laminate it so I can use a wet erase marker to track where I am at.  Once you get through the first 7 rows, it is a breeze.

This picture is of the Short dress.  I will be adding a few different touches to it. But I'm happy with how it turned out.

Instant Download Patterns

I finally have them posted!  It took a couple of weeks to  type up most of my baby dress patterns, but they have been written, typed up, tested by others and posted for sale. 

The easiest way to purchase any of these patterns is to visit my pattern store on the Craftsy website and with a click of a button, you will have your pattern ready to start and become addicted as I did :)
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/17685

The Second way to purchase is on my Facebook page store.  This is not instant download, but I have been able to send the patterns out rather quickly, so you won't wait very long.  If you are a fan of the page, you will receive 10% off your order. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafting-Friends/180595232008676

And the third way is in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftingFriends4you
For Patterns only - you can use code FRIENDS25 and receive 25% off your pattern purchases (for a limited time only)

The first few that I have released are very simple to make, yet are very pretty.  I wanted to get them out there so that even a beginner can make a dress.  I don't want anyone being as intimidated to crochet clothing as much and as long as I was.  After making the dresses that I have, I wish I would have started years ago. 1 Dress can easily be made in a single day...Can you imagine how many I could have made if I would have started sooner? 

I hope everyone is having a great week so far and enjoy your extra day in the year tomorrow.  Happy Leap Year!

Spring is here - Even if it snowed!

I resisted long enough!!!  I finished up all the orders I had for hats and couldn't hold off on making baby dresses any longer.  As I was making them last summer, I wrote directions down for each design.  That notebook is somewhere in this house, but I haven't found it yet.  There have been so many people asking for the patterns that I decided to make more and write them up as I go - AND type them up when I'm finished so they won't get lost again. 

This dress was finished yesterday and the pattern is being tested by someone else as we speak.  Most of my dresses can be made using 1 skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn.  The buttons and ribbon I was able to find totally complete the dress!

This one is called "Ribbon & Lace"  and will be for sale in my etsy shop within the next week or 2  http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftingFriends4you 

and in my FaceBook shop

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafting-Friends/180595232008676?ref=tn_tnmn

Bzz Review for Comforts Brand

As many of you know, I am a Bzz Agent and receive free products to try and give my opinion on.  The most recent product was the Comforts brand wetwipes and sippy cups.  I received 1 box of wetwipes and 2 sippy cups shown here:

First, the wetwipes:  I really liked them.  I had never tried Comforts wipes prior to this campain.  They are a strong wipe and you won't have to worry about them ripping when you are changing a diaper.  The only thing I did not like was the moisture.  I prefer wipes with a little more moisture than these had, but that is is personal preference - it doesn't make them bad.

Second is the sippy cups:  These were Great!  I love that the lid for the cup is connected and even better...there is a spot for it to hide when your child is drinking and it won't get in their way.  I wish I had known about these a year or so ago. 

Comforts also has diapers, training pants, and formula and is sold in Kroger stores such as Smith's, FredMeyers and Ralphs. 

I also received some coupons for 20% off  and have some left.  If anyone is interested in a coupon, let me know and I will send one to you.

<img src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/comforts.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=2503732401&Campaign=4438292618&Uid=1212185&token=284602a74cff1b55ccf8980451e2abb6" alt=""/>

NFL Hat Collection

The latest NFL hat is the Houston Texans.  I still have a bunch of team logos that I'm working on making hats for.  The collection is now over 20 teams.  When I started this project, I never imagined it would go this far, but I'm excited that everyone is loving them. 

If there is a team logo you are looking for and would like to either buy some hats or just the logos, let me know and I will see if it's available.

Lady Bug

Every once in a while, I have to take a break from hat orders and make something else.  I'm really getting the itch to make more baby dresses, but have resisted so far.

 A week or so ago, I decided to order some patterns for photo props from Calleighs Clips (linked here)https://www.facebook.com/Calleighsclips?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/Calleighsclips?sk=app_169505045786  My sister is a photographer and is always doing so much for the rest of the family - I thought it would be great to so something for her.  Here is the first of many to come photo props I get to surprise her with :)

SuperBowl Contest/Giveaway

I decided to have a little fun with the SuperBowl coming up this weekend.  I am hosting a contest over on my facebook page for a chance to win your choice of an NFL hat.  All you have to do is head over to Crafting Friends facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafting-Friends/180595232008676

Find the post for the contests and leave a comment letting me know who you think will win.  (you must "like" the page in order to be entered)  Those who choose the winning team will be entered in a drawing for their choice of one of my NFL hats!  I must have at least 20 comments for it to be worth while, so once you get there, please share the post with your family and friends.  Good Luck everyone - Lets make this fun!

This is available in Youth/sm adult size.
Any other, will be a different version of logo

I do have logos for a few other teams that I have not had time to make hats for yet.  If your favorite team is not pictured here, let me know what it is and I will see if the logo is available.  I also am accepting new orders.  Just click on the "shop now" on the left side of the facebook page to take you to my shop. 

Thanks for your support!

Valentines Scarves

The newest creations I've been working on:  Red scarves for Valentines (or any other day you need a red accent) 

The first one I made using the waffle stitch - at least how I think the waffle stitch is.  It looks slightly different than what I remember from another blanket, and maybe I should have looked up directions to make sure I was doing it right.  Even if it's not correct, I like how it turned out.

It is 4 ft in length and 5-6" in width.  I love the texture on it, though I can't decide if I want to put fringe on the ends or not....(I'm leaning towards - yes)

 

Don't you just love my lampshade as the model?  One of thes days I will break down and buy one of those fake head displays to use for pictures - but until then - work with what ya got!

This second one was a little harder to get a picture of the texture.  My camera kept wanting to take a photo of just a plain red scarf.  It isn't even close to being finished, but I love it and couldn't wait to share.  I have the directions written down and graphed already in order to post it for sale when I have a final picture.

I love how the hearts turned out.  What do you think?  My next one, I'm going to do the hearts a different color than the main scarf and see how that turns out.  Now, I'm sure there are most likely other things out there that are similar to this, but it was fun to come up with my own.

Family of hats

Yesterday's project: Matching hats for a grandma and 2 great-grandaughters :)  Such a cute idea.  The pattern for the large hat is from DaisyEzyCraft on etsy and can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/66507792/symbol-crochet-pattern-and-colorful-step?ref=pr_shop

I thought the pattern was easy to follow.  The only issue was the pattern was only for an adult, so I had to just adjust it for the smaller versions.  I love the baby size (anything baby is cute). 

Wishing you all a warm, safe and wonderful weekend!

Blog updates

Can someone tell me why blogger sometimes sends out duplicate posts?  To those of you who follow by email, I appologize.  I don't understand why you have received duplicate emails of posts from days earlier.  I don't know how 2 posts were updated or posted an hour ago - since we weren't home.  I noticed it when I checked out the blog list I follow and mine were on top.

Has anyone else had this issue, and if so, how did you fix it? 

Jazz Scarf

And it's finished :)

Utah Jazz

I had a request to make a Utah Jazz scarf, but they wanted the Jazz logo to be part of the scarf pattern and not on top.

The only graph I have ever made or followed, was for the American flag afghan I made for a Veteran in my town. (he was an amazing man and I knew he would appreciate it and respect it).  The flag afghan really only used 1 or maybe 2 strands of yarn attached at the same time, so it was not difficult at all.  This project, I knew would take some thinking and many working strands of yarn at a time.

I graphed out the logo and started crocheting.  The first attempt didn't work out how I thought it should, so I ripped it apart :(  I re-graphed it again, hoping to make it better and sure enough - after crocheting a bit - I didn't like that either... so, I slept on it and decided to pick it up again the next day.  This time, I altered the way I did the stitches just a little and was on a roll!!!  I started the graph on Jan 16th and here it is the 20th and this is what I have accomplished.

I'm quite pleased with it and have graphed it out on the computer for future use.

It could be worked into so many differnt things- scarf, pillow, frame it and hang it, but that will have to wait for now.  I have a bunch of hats that need to be made.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Keep it safe and stay warm

Rams Mohawk Hat

And the latest addition to the NFL hat family I have created is the Rams.  I started the base of the hat while waiting for the logos to arrive in the mail and had to start over when they arrived.  The shade of blue was slightly different than I thought it would be and their 2nd color is gold.  The "gold" yarn would not have looked good with the logo, so luckily I hadn't started the spikes of the hat yet.  Though there are limits on yarn colors to match, I think this turned out great.

NFL Playoffs

With the NFL Playoffs in full swing and some great games going on, these hats are going fast!   If you are looking for a way to support your team - here it is.

I have a good selection of team logos currently available and can order many more if needed. Not all team logos are available, so if you don't see your team listed, please email me the name of the team and I will let you know if I will be able to get it.

4 Sizes available: Newborn, Toddler, Youth/Small Adult and Large

$20 each (shipping w/in Cont US included) 

You may custom order hats:  with or without the mohawk and with or without the earflaps.
To do so, please email me at craftingfriends4you@yahoo.com with details and I will be able to send you an invoice.

Welcome to 2012 Everyone !!!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Safe and fun New Years.  I am not usually one for New Years Resolutions, but this year I actually made a few. 

1.  I Love to cook and have a cooking blog www.katewscookbook.blogspot.com I get tired of cooking the same things over and over again, so this year I decided I would be better about making a Monthly menu and trying a bunch of new recipes. By doing this, I will not be making as many trips to the grocery store (saving us $$) AND  it will help resolve the issue of wondering what to cook.

      I already have the menu for the month of January complete and it is posted on the blog.  Most of the recipes are either written on the blog or if you click on the name of the food, it will link you to the recipe. 

2.  I have been so busy making orders for customers (which is fabulous) that I have not had time to write up a few patterns I have created.  I made a blessing dress for a friend and stopped in the middle of it to make hats. I pulled it out the other day to finish and realized I might not have written all the directions down - So, this year I am going to be better about completing projects BEFORE I start a new one.  Now that the dress is complete, I am starting a 2nd one this week to make sure the directions are understandable and then I will post the pattern for sale.

I want to say thank you to those of you who follow my blog and those who just check in every once in a while.  It is surprising to me to see the many different countries that people are from.  When I began this blog last year, I never imagined so many people would visit.  It amazes me how fast things can be shared. 

I would LOVE to see any of your projects made from patterns posted here.  If you feel up to sharing your creations, please email pictures to craftingfriends4you@yahoo.com .

Here is to a wonderful start of a new year  :)