Pin-tastic Friday

My pintastic Fridays are going to be used to link up the top five awesome pins I found this week on Pinterest.  If you don'f follow me already on Pinterest please do so.  Here are the pins I think are the best of my week:

1. Block Stitch Tutorial
2. One Skein Cowl
3. Invisible Decrease
4. Clever Color Change for Amigurumi
5. Knitting Increases

Do you have some favorite new pins?  If so, link them up in the comments below :)

Free Heart Pattern

I needed a heart pattern for a project and none I found on the web really did it for me.  So I wrote one myself and I'd like to make it available for you to use :)

Free Heart Pattern:

Materials:
Any weight and color yarn you'd like to use
Any size hook you need for your yarn of choice
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Create a Magic Circle and chain 2.
Crochet all of the following into the magic circle: 3trc, 3dc, chain 1, trc, chain 1, 3 dc, 3trc, chain 1, slst.
Pull string tightly to close center circle.

WIP Wednesday

Although it is a day late, I thought I would let you see my latest WIP (work in progress).

I have been making hats for my family for the coming winter lately, well since I got my new knitting needles from Knitpicks anyway, and I found a few awesome patterns on Ravelry and I have been on a knitting kick... big time!

First I made this little beauty for me:

The pattern can be found here.  It was a quick work and while easy to knit had some challenges.  I've never done wrapped stitches and this was a good test for me.  This was also the first time I tried to use the Magic Loop method for knitting in the round.  I love it!  I cannot stress how much easier it was to knit this hat using the magic loop method rather than using DPNs.

Second is this, which is currently on the needles and is our WIP Wednesday highlight.

Originally, I wanted to do this hat in a lovely gray yarn but it is a chunky/bulky weight yarn and the pattern calls for worsted weight.  I am not good enough in knitting yet to modify a pattern to work with a different yarn size so I changed to Vanna's Choice in Chocolate. Mr Little Bird picked this pattern for himself out of a few I showed him on Ravelry. I like this pattern a lot.  It is very easy to read and understand, plus works up quickly.  Again I chose to Magic Loop this hat as opposed to doing the DPNs; which will likely be the method of all my future "in the round" knitting will be done in.

What are you working on?  Do you have the fall crafting bug yet?  Mine always comes early but when it hits, it hits with a vengeance and nothing else can be done :)

Coming soon...

First of all I wanted to thank you all for your patience while I figure things out here at home. Getting schedules organized and created for two small children isn't as easy or as quick as I thought it was going to be. While baby bird #2 is a great sleeper she is not the most predictable on her actual times. Plus little bird #1 needs playtime with Mommy bird too:-)   that being said, things are normalizing now so posts, patterns and overall interactions will be coming at a more regular clip now.

Now on to the coming soon part. I have filmed a few video tutorials and I have taken pictures for a few written tutorials on crochet. The first ones will be about creating a chain, single crochets and half double crochets. There will also be a post on crochet abbreviations and how to use the abbreviation to read patterns.

If there is something specific you'd like either a visual(picture) or video tutorial on, please let me know. Just leave me a comment, I'll be sure to get started on what you want to see asap:-)

Its that time of year again...

How I love the Fall.  Things get so busy!  Between orders coming in like wildfire, patterns selling like hot cakes, family visits and parties to go to there is just not enough time in the day!

I love the colder weather, even though I am a cold person by nature, I HATE being hot!  Summer in Virginia tends to be long and relentless so every Fall it is the sweet relief I need to recharge my batteries.  We had a ton of rain this year during the Spring and Summer so there really aren't the traditional fall colors springing up everywhere like usual.  It was just too wet.  Everything is going from green to brown fast!  But despite the lack of colorful awesomeness that is usual I have been enjoying the cooler weather.  And with that cooler weather comes the yarn crafting bug.  I have been crocheting and knitting up a storm!  Working on a baby blanket for my new little one due in February, I've made several hats for her and hope to make a few more too :).

One thing that has been a big part of my Fall has been Pinterest.  I'm slightly addicted obsessed with Pinterest.  There are so many good ideas out there, from decorations to crochet and knitting patterns to recipes.  There is never a lack for new things coming up and I often find myself eating lunch or breakfast and browsing Pins. If you'd like to follow my boards click the button on the side bar.  If you don't/haven't visited Pinterest, I highly suggest it.  Much fun and inspiration can be found there.

I hope you all are doing well and hope you are finding all the inspiration you need for your crafts in one place or another. Until next time...

Sara

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

If you are hungry, do not read this post until you have eaten :)

Today is my husbands birthday.  Every year I make him a spice cake of some form or variety, as per his wishes. This year though I did not ask him what he wanted.  I just made him something I knew he would love, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip bread.

Now I must preface this with I did ask him if he wanted bread or muffins to which he responded, bread!  I found the recipe here and being the chocolate and pumpkin freak he is I immediately knew he would love it.  Super simple to make; just measure, mix, and bake.  The end result was delish! I probably would have preferred it with fewer chocolate chips and more pumpkin and spices but overall he is thrilled so I am too!

If you are looking for a nice fall treat give this a try; you won't be disappointed. :)

Business as usual...

Hello everyone!  Hope this little message finds you happy, healthy, and in good spirits!

I have had a few orders recently and been working to get them done, but in that time I have also been knitting!  I am suddenly quite taken with it.  I guess it is because back in the spring I taught myself how to knit Continental style and since then things have just seemed to click!  Knitting is so much easier and faster when you have good tension and less movement!  I started knitting my soon to be baby daughter a checkerboard blanket in pink and purple, and also made my first hat.  Its a little big for a newborn but will probably fit her perfectly next fall :).  I started another hat and this one seems like it will fit a newborns noggin much better.  Once I have the blanket and second hat finished I will post pictures of them.

I found an awesome recipe today.  Fall is sorta synonymous with apples and pumpkins in this house and the author of "Smashed Peas and Carrots" Blog was kind enough to share a recipe for apple strudel today!  I love apple anything and this looks so yummy!  Take a look here.

If you have any super yummy pumpkin or apple recipes, please share in the comments below.  I am always looking for a good treat for fall!

Sara