Flove Love

I am a flove-loving kind of a gal. It's A-OK to love a flove. This is an old flove made from leftover yarn of another flove (soon to be featured on Teabeans). This flove was designed by me, Katiebeans, with a feature I love love floved on an old pair of mitten-floves my mom got for me for Christmas one year. I don't know if it has an official name, but I call it the "thumb." Creative, no? But whenever I look for floves, I have trouble finding ones with "thumbs!" As you can see in the sign-language E above, the top of the thumb folds off like a mini-mitten, just for the thumb. It's an amazing feature!

Have you loved yer flove today?!

Snowy Day Sweater Dress

Hi everybody! Snow is the theme for blog nobbing these past days! I finally finished the sweater dress I have been dreaming of for a year now. It is called Snowy Day. The first sweater dress I made took a mazillion years. After hat fest 2008, I saw how quickly I could make stuff with big puffy yarn and thought it would be perfect for my dream sweater dress.
I started crocheting in rounds from the neck down using the original pattern I had used for Sunday in Greenwich. I found a square pattern for the chest, and I switched to sc for the mid section. The top part of the dress is made with dc-ch in rounds, and the sleeves are sc in rounds. I sewed in a working button on the back, which I think adds an extra charming touch. I finished with a shell stitch I learned from Crochet magazine. The shell stitch is dc-sc in one stitch around, turn, and dc-sc the other way. After a LOT of measuring, trying on, and pulling stitches out, I finally have an adorable and super warm sweater dress! I ended with a green color from my Mossy Beret, and I may still add pockets to match.

This is the first project I have tried to work out gauges for because I was so mad that the first version didn't work out. The gauges worked great, but as usual, I have not written anything down. Katiebeans's collection remains a mystery.

The first time I wore this dress was to see Wicked on Broadway. The bathroom attendent complimented me while I was in line, saying my dress was so cute. She was blown away when I told her I made it. Needless to say...I was PSYCHED!!!

Postscript: I wanted to make a sweater dress that was both fashionable and unique. Here is an example of a sweater dress sold at Urban Outfitters:

Snowflake Floves & Pattern

Hello! Tonight I am going to try to write down my first pattern. I came up with this idea for a stitch and thought it would look pretty on a flove. I hope that no one else has come up with this stitch before, but someone probably has. I call it a "snowflake" stitch (although it is more like a pattern/applique? What do you think other crocheters?).

The pattern starts in the middle of the hand and is worked downward toward the wrist.

Snowflake Floves Pattern

Notes:
Hook: USH8/5.00MM
Yarn: Alpaca (will add more info later)

Bottom Part of Hand
Ch 41
Row 1: In 2nd ch from hook, sc across (total 40 sc). Slst to first sc to form ring.
Row 2: Ch2 (acts as dc), ch 3, tch in next sc, sk 2, 3 dc in same sc keeping last loops on hook (cluster formed), sk 2, tch pulling last yarn over through all 3 dc and tch, ch 3, *dc, ch 3, tch in next sc, sk 2, 3 dc in same sc keeping last loops on hook (cluster formed), sk 2, tch pulling last yarn over through all 3 dc and tch, ch 3* repeat from * 3 more times, (total of 5 snow flake bottoms formed). Sl st to ch 2 from beginning.
Row 3: Ch2 (acts as dc) in top of ch2 from Row 1, sk 2, tch in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, 3 dc in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, tch in top of 3 ch cluster, sk 2 *dc in top of dc, sk 2, tch in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, 3 dc in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, tch in top of 3 ch cluster, sk 2* repeat from * 3 more times (total of 5 snow flake tops formed). Sl st to ch 2 from beginning.
Row 4: Ch 1, *3 sc over top of 2 ch sp, 3 sc over top of next 2 ch sp, ch 1* repeat from * 5 more times (total 30 sc). Sl st to ch 1 from beginning.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each sc and sc in ch 1 sp across (total 35 sc). Sl st to ch 1 from beginning.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across (total 35 sc). Sl st to ch 1 from beginning.
Do not fasten off.

Wrist
Ch 21 (or longer depending on how long you want the wrist). Now working perpendicular to previous stitches on garment.
Row 1: On 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch across (total 20 hdc). Sl st to sc on hand in blo.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, hdc in flo across (total 20 hdc).
Row 3: Ch 2, turn, hdc in flo across (total 20 hdc). Sl st to sc on hand in blo. Sl st to next sc on hand in blo.
Row 4 - 15: Repeat rows 2 - 3.
Row 16: Sl st each hdc on row 15 to row 1.
Do not fasten off.
Note: I shortened my rows in row 2 so that the wrist decreased in length. Optional of course and I left this off to make the pattern easier to follow.

Shell Edging
In Row 3 of Wrist you start with ch 2 so there should be little spaces at the end of the wrist.
After sl st to join wrist, turn, and start working perpendicular.
Row 1: Ch 1, *6 sc in 2 ch sp of wrist end, sc in next 2 ch sp* repeat from * around and finish with sl st to first ch 1.
Fasten off.

Top Half of Hand
Switch colors and begin at start of first piece. Work in rounds on right side of garment so snowflake stitches match.
Row 1: Sc in each sc across, sl st to beginning.
Row 2: Ch 10 sk 4 sc, sl st (thumb loop formed), sc, *dc as closely to above dc in first snowflake, stitch, ch 3, tch in next sc, sk 2, 3 dc in same sc keeping last loops on hook (cluster formed), sk 2, tch pulling last yarn over through all 3 dc and tch, ch 3* repeat from * 3 more times (4 snowflake bottoms made), dch in same sc as tch and sl st to thumb loop.
Row 3: Sc over thumb loop, dc over first dc from row 2, *sk 2, tch in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, 3 dc in top of 3 dc cluster, ch 3, tch in top of 3 ch cluster, sk 2, dc in top of dc* repeat from * 3 more times (4 snowflake tops made), sl st to thumb loop.
Row 4: Sc over thumb loop 4 times, sl st to snowflake stitch, turn, sc over thumb loop, sl st to snow flake stitch, turn.
Row 5: Sc over thumb loop, *3 sc over 2 ch sp on snowflake top, 3 sc in next 2 ch sp, ch 1* repeat from * 3 more times, sl st to beginning sc.
Row 6: ch 1, *6 sc in sc, sk 1, sc, sk 1* repeat from * 7 more times (total 8 shells).
Fasten off.

Thumb
3 Rows sc with decreases (sc tog 3 times) or however fits. Last row sl st.
Fasten off.

I would love if someone would try this and tell me if the pattern works! Maybe I will want to make these later after my website blows up, and fools be wanting my wares.

Are You Dying?

I mean...are you? You should be dying of cuteness overload right now.

Dad Dad Daddy-O Blanket

When I started college in 2000, I met a girl who taught me how to crochet square blankets. She showed me how to crochet hdch clusters in rounds and how to change colors. I made an incredible black and red blanket that started with 7 rows of black, then 1 row of red, then 6 rows of black, 2 rows of red, 5 rows of black, and so on in that fashion. The blanket ended up to be about 6 sq ft or more, and it was super awesome. Unfortunately, I gave it away; and I will never see it again or have a picture of it. It's kind of like the big legendary fish that got away but is still discussed by old fishermen at the bar and when they buy their bait at the bait shop. Or wherever they might buy their bait. Well the fish blanket legend lives on in the Dad Dad Daddy-O Blanket. Crocheted exactly as the original fish blanket, Dad Dad Daddy-O currently resides in a closet in Pittsburgh, a testament to why you don't crochet elaborate gifts for people who don't ask for them.Side note, I am using a version of Microsoft borrowed from a friend since my computer crashed, and apparently if you don't/can't register it, the software loses many of its applications. I am worried my Microsoft Office Picture Manager will give out and a friend recommended Picnik. Honestly, check it out. It is amazing.

Hat Fest: FIN

And so Hat Fest comes to an end with Le Chapeau de Tara. This is the final version of the Reversible Sweater Dress/Hat. I stopped increases on the original pattern I was following when I thought the hat was big enough. I added a brim using a pattern I found online, stitching it to the beanie in blo to create a division between the parts. Then I finished with slst in every st around the hat, and I did slst over the brim to further create the division. Comfortable and warm, Le Chapeau is a simple hat for any occasion!

You in One of My Hats

More Hilariousness

Blue Bonnet Bell Cloche

I am not sure if this is obvious from previous posts, but generally I get my inspiration from when I go shopping. Half the time I look at clothes, I think to myself or say to Iron Martin, "why would I spend $50 on that when I can make it?" And of course, the cost of the yarn itself is usually twice that, and it takes 10 hours to make something without a pattern when I could have bought it in 5 minutes. Those arguments aside, here was the inspiration for the Blue Bonnet Bell Cloche, an adorable $42 hat at Anthropologie:

I absolutely loved this hat, and thought it was so adorable on; but I could not bring myself to buy yet another grey hat from Anthropologie, since I already have two, especially for $42. Eh, maybe I will still buy it...

I started this hat as a beanie, which normally has increases of hdc in every row for the back of the head and then levels off. Once I was done making the normal beanie, I started with increases of hdc in exactly the same way as I left off. I didn't want it to look like a bucket hat so I only made a few that went entirely around and then worked it like a big brim.I am loving sea foam colors lately so I bought a couple skeins. I kept insisting that I never mix colors, and it was going to be entirely sea foam. Once I got to the end of the beanie, I realized my sea foam wasn't going to make it so I added in some navy blue (left over from the first bell cloche I tried to make!). I added a little flower applique to the band, which I think makes it totally adorable. Maybe I'll add some better pictures later since I look terrible in these, and I think it makes the hat less cute by association. I wear it every day!

Reversable Sweater Dress/Hat

Believe it or not: this hat also turns into a sweater. Technically, yes. It's name postmortem, Sweater Dress/Hat was just a normal brimmed cabbie hat until I pulled it apart to make a sweater dress (soon to be featured on TeaBeans). But its legend lives on in pictures, and here they are for your viewing eyeballs:The pictures are dark, but you can get the idea. Sweater Dress/Hat is a big beret with a brim. Evidently I misjudged the gauge because this hat turned out WAY bigger than the picture. (I think I pulled a pattern from LionBrandYarn.com, but I can't remember.) At any rate, it was a pretty cool hat with a ribbing pattern (blo-style), but it was just too big and heavy. The hat is still stylin though. It did looked very much like hats featured in Urban Outfitters and Free People. See for yourself:

Savannah Baby Hat

My brother had a baby girl! My Christmas gift to baby Savannah was an orange ear flap hat with a big pink flower on the side. I used a flower pattern I found in my Crocheting School book and a hat pattern I found online. I modified the hat pattern to have a shell edging that I got from a scarf I bought at H&M. The shell pattern is 5 dch in one st, sch in next st, 5 dch in following st around. I think it came out adorable! Look at the beautiful model herself:

It's Funny Because It's True

See more hilarious comics here!

Happy Flappy, Flap Happy

Going on a beach trip! Bought a new coat for my February beach trip, and I needed a hat to go with it since the hood kept blowing down. What good is a hood in the blustery cold if it's just goin blow off? Riddle me that, Mr. Coat. Riddle me that.

Katiebeans in her new coat and hat:I'll call it the Flap Happy Hat. It's a flappin shame I like the Redd Up Yer Head hat better, and I'll probably be wearing that to the beach now. Well, you win some; you lose some. And when you read my blog, you always win an eye-full of of crocheted crap awesomeness.

This sweet mama was crocheted up during The Return of the King with an 8.00mm hook and some thick fuzzy yarn. I started--as with the Redd Up and Lady Jadie--3dch clusters in increases. When I reached the end of the increases, I switched to switching vertically and in hdc ribbing. If anyone out there is really interested in my patterns, I can probably try to write any of them down. Most of the time I make it up as I go and instantaneously forget what I did or how many stitches it took or whether I used a chsp or not. Anyways, this hat is a little tighter than I would have liked and not really my style right now, but still kinda cool.

All this yarn is costing me an arm and a leg, which I guess is okay because all I have made recently are hats... hats to keep my head warm after I am all out arms and legs.

Lady Jadie Snowy Ski Cap

Never am I so lucky that I get a perfect product on the first try, let alone from a pattern idea that exists only in my mind. I wanted to make a cap that was simple but delicate. I chose a super soft yarn in a snowy cream color. The back starts as 3 dch clusters as the cap increases. The outside of the cap is ribbed dch that I made extra long so it could be flipped up. This one is called the Lady Jadie Snowy Ski Cap.