Friday, February 27, 2009

West Coast Represent


My wares: not just for blogs anymore:

That's right. Cardigans are so hot right now. Due North of Mexico, our model shows out the perfect sweater for the San Diego weather. Que caliente!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Green Berets

Hi! I just finished an adorable new beret. I saw an ad in Nylon magazine for a Brixton beret, and I knew I could make one like it. All I had was torn-out ad to go by, so I think it came out pretty good! Here is the ad:
Yes I know I am a copycap...HA, get it?! But why pay $30 for the hat (here), when I could make one myself for $5 in my favorite, favorite color of all time? I love making something that looks just like what you find in stores and not necesarily like a homemade handicraft.

Later when I found the hat for sale online, I could see close up that my stitches were quite off; but I still think it looks pretty close! The cap part is rounds of dc-tc-dc cluster, ch 5, dc-tc cluster, ch 1. The rim is 3 rows of hdc in blo, and the final edge is a row of slst-dc-tc-dc repeats.

Here is my hat next to the Brixton Flapper Hat:


Sunday, February 22, 2009

Emily Brimmed Hat

Yey! After repeated threats and harrasment, Emily has finally sent me pics of the hat I made for her! As one of my number one blognob followers, I have to shout out my love for her & her support! She requested the Redd Up Yer Head hat in a purple/pink color. If anyone is ever down for a TeaBeans original, feel free to request; but unfortunately since neither yarn nor money grow on trees, I do ask that you pay for the cost of yarn and shipping and send a pic!

For your enjoyment, the Emily Brimmed:
The Emily Brimmed came out way better than the Redd Up Yer Head, and I was sad to part with it; but it's in a better place now.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Peachy Python Sweater

Good evening! Today as I was leaving work, I said good-bye to my co-worker Alex, and he said, "nice hat!" Of course I said, "THANKS I MADE IT! YOU JUST MADE MY NIGHT!" Hahaha...it was great. I was wearing the Blue Bonnet Bell, and it really did make my night. Unless, of course, he actually thought it was ugly and just burst it out, kinda like when you see someone with a really bad hair cut.

Moving on... tonight I unveil the Peachy Python wrap sweater. Once upon a time, I had a beautiful peach wrap top from J.Crew. I loved it forever, but it wore out; and so I decided to make myself a new one using the pattern from Lyon Brand Yarn that I used for the Creeping Rose Vine Cardigan.
You have to register to get the pattern, but it is called V-Stitch Wrap-around Sweater. I followed the pattern as normal for size small, but started increasing by adding V-stitches to the end of each row only (1 inc made). Once it reached my waist, I added two buttons, one at the end of each row. One button faces outward and shows on the outside; the other button faces inwared so you cannot see it. I made long chains after this and sc back across and around the entire outside of the sweater. It came out perfect, and I can't wait to wear it once the weather gets warmer! Sorry the pics are so blurry, but hopefully you get the idea!
Original J.Crew Wrap Top
(Photo Credits: AJVK)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Hats on the Beach!

Hi Everyone! Sorry my posts haven't shown anything new lately. I promise this week I will have one or two brand new crafties up! Until then, do check out the hat I ultimately wore to the beach:


Yes, we love the Mr. Owl Hat! Cutest hat ever, and I have enough yarn to make another if someone would like to purchase for the low low price of $29.99. Holla!

I do also ask that if you purchase Mr. Owl Hat that you send pics for my blog. I am hunting Emily down and shooting her (with my camera) in the hat I made her!

But I wasn't the only one wearing TeaBeans hats on the beach. Iron Martin was sporting my wares too!:

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Don't Be Shy!

If you want to be like Iron Martin, reading my blog and enjoying the fruits of my labors:



Don't be shy! Show your TeaBeans support, and follow my blog! If you have a gmail account, it's easy. C'mon. You want to.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Whoooo Made an Owl Hat?


Owls are very much the fashion right now, and I think they are too cute. I saw this hat in a search for an owl applique design, and I knew I could make an adorable owl hat of my own design. I definitely borrowed from her colors, but otherwise, this pattern is entirely my own. Here is a brief explanation of how I made it.

Using Lion Brand "Jiffy" yarn and a US 8/5.00MM hook, I made two cones. Two rows 9 hdc, two rows, 18 hdc (inc by 2 in each hdc), two rows 27 hdc (2 - 1 hdc in each hdc), two rows 36 hdc (2- 1 - 1 hdc in each hdc), two rows 45 hdc (2 - 1 - 1 - 1 hdc in each hdc). Join two cones, continue in rounds around for head 63 hdc until desired length is met. Then I made some ear flaps and some owl eyes using rounds of trc.

Here is my initial design in my notebook. Very technical, I know. I think it came out just right -- and on my first try! Even though I am not smiling as much as the happy camper in the drawing! Although I did not upload a picture of it, the top view actually does look remarkably like that lame drawing (the 2nd picture is the bird's eye view of the hat).Iron Martin says this hat is the "money maker" for our (as yet non-existant) shop. He is trying to come up with names. So far: Owl My Chin, Owl the Hell Are You, the Whoo Whoo Hat. I refuse. I call it the Mr. Owl Hat. Sorry your owl names were terrible, Marty.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

A Beautiful Day Fer Crochet!

Bad news, TeaBeans fans... Katiebeans's computer has become once again infected by a virus. Grr! If we have to pass a day without some new crochet, I apologize! Rest assured, Katiebeans is hard at work on a beautiful new peach wrap cardigan. Here's a tantalizing taste of what is to come:
  • Cardigans!
  • Hats!
  • Cuffs!
  • Mittens!
  • Necklaces!
  • Floves!
  • Made-to-Order pieces!
  • Requests?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

My Wares: Not Just for Blogs Anymore!

Creating for the masses. Here is Creeping Rose Vine cardigan in action:
Busy crocheting some special orders and working on bigger projects. New stuff to come!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Put on Your Pinking Cap

"...or you might get stuck with a crappy hat." --NatalieDee.

Today marks a monumental occasion. I have a blog follower that wasn't forced to follow me like Marty was. Yay! Thanks for being a trendsetter, Sheetal! Now that you are following TeaBeans, maybe everybody will see how cool it is!

I also got my new crochet book in the mail. Psyched! But I was a little disappointed at how barren the cardigan supplement was. Boo!

Today I wanted to post a funny NatalieDee, but also I wanted to post something crafty. I put on my Pinking Cap, and came up with the brilliant idea to do both! Here is an old beret I made for K.Jo last year from the pattern I used for the Candy Gossamer: