An old craft revisited and shared

For years I have owned a couple pairs of knitting needles. Determined that one day I would be able to knit as well as crochet. This was not to be. I would try and try and try and I would mess my tension up so badly that I would end up with some kind of mess that looked as though I had tossed my yarn to a cat to bat around. It was okay, I always had my crochet to go back to and I LOVE to crochet. Truly I do. I dream about different yarn color combinations and yarn textures as well as what I could make and for who.

Now here I am pregnant with my 4th child and having to spend more time resting then I want to, hubby's orders. After reading the Twilight Saga twice, my thoughts once again drifted to those knitting needles nestled safely with one of my many piles of stash yarn. ( I'm an addict for yarn, but it's ok I tell my hubby. I like my addiction just fine. ) During one afternoon at nap time I settled myself in with YouTube, yarn, and needles. Whoo Hoo! Victory. Tension was perfect, no dropped stitches and I made myself an over sized washcloth. Used it right away as well so no pictures were taken to share. I liked everything about it. Maybe even more than my crochet ones. The texture, the flexibility. I could not keep my hands off if it. So battling the skin condition of a teenager with this pregnancy, I decided to make a face cloth as well. A rectangular one to use with my bar of soap. Love it! Soaps up beautifully and feels so so good on my skin. Now I am making some granny smith apple green ones for my shop. Really liking green this summer.

My kids naturally wanted to know what I was doing so I got brave and decided I would try to teach my 9 yo. Previously she had wanted to learn crochet but just picking up the hook seems to send her into panic so that will be revisited when she is older. Bracing myself I showed her how to cast on. Amazing! She did it. No tears, no frustration, just wonderful enjoyment of the fiber art. What a gift I felt I was giving her. Then we moved to learning the garter stitch. She is now working on her first washcloth, pink of course, after having made a scarf for one of her barbies. Now she has had to frog this project 3 times so far but has kept with it. Then one day on youtube someone said a nursery rhyme that use to be used to teach kids to knit. Brilliant. Now she says this when she knits and she is doing marvelous. In walks in my 5 yo and 2 yo. They have learned the nursery rhyme as well. The 4 yo is still learning to hold her needles and the 2 yo holds on to them with mommy. My little chanters. This is such a fun adventure to be sharing with them. My 9 yo came up to me the other week. "Mom, I really like having this time with you to make stuff. Just you and me." Smiling I chocked back tears. Still my baby after all. I am pretty sure I would have been crying anyway, pregnant or not. I am so blessed.

So here is the nursery rhyme that now echos in my house instead of cartoons. :)

In the front door,
Around the back,
Take a peek,
Out comes Jack

This is used for the English version of knitting. I do not know if it would be the same for Continental. I think it may be easier for kids to learn English first.

As a side note. My 9 yo who frets at the hook wanted to learn how to do a provisional (invisible) cast on. Daddy (yup, the man is amazing and constantly blows me away. I love it.) stepped in to help her watching youtube with her to learn as I was also learning it. I wish I would have had the camcorder on.

Cream and Brown crochet baby lovie! New today

I just added this in my shop today! It is a popular design and between my two shops I had customized 3 of these. Two of them were to match a blanket I had made for a little boy using the same pattern. It now happily lives in Texas with a little boy who I am told adores it. That there is better then any feedback I could hope to have in my shop!

My littest one is my model today. She completely took to her role as well. We had so much fun and then as reward for all her 'hard' work, we had a grand time playing at the park. Dos Picos park is here in Ramona, CA and it is the best one, my favorite anyway. Ducks to feed, updated play equipment, fishing, hiking, etc. As an added bonus the sprinklers turned on while we were there! Go for it kids! They all had a blast and so did I.

What a blessing to be able to stay home with them. The sacrafices we make out weigh any material object that more money could buy us in leaps and bounds!

Making a chore a little nicer with color

These are new today in my shop. I have been working on them this last week and finally finished them for their photo shoot. I am so excited about these. I love when a crochet project can get me excited and these do. The colors just make my senses wake up! I am going to make a set for me to use in the house too. Oddly enough the ones I use are dark colors or white or ecru. These ones are so much more exciting! If you want to read all the great things about going green using crochet cotton cloths then check out my new shop at http://www.4lilmonkeys.etsy.com/

New in Shop

I must admit that morning sickness has kept me from posting as I like to and made it even more challenging to get things in my shop as well as to get our schooling done. Schooling comes first, but I was able to get two new things in shop this last week.

They are a set of Kitchen Dishcloths. One cloth is a traditional square shape and the other is round like a pin-wheel (at least that is what it reminds me of). I love the round pattern, it is so unique. Each set took me a couple hours to complete and was nice and relaxing to make. One is in a rust color ombre and the other is in a spring color ombre, nice and bright.

New in Shop for the American Heart Association

Every minute, someone's mother, daughter, wife or sister dies from heart disease and stroke in the United States. As many of you may know February is National Heart Awareness month, so in honor of this the Helping Others Street Team (HOST) is sponsoring this challenge, the Heart to Heart Feb HOST challenge, and it is open to everyone on Etsy who would like to participate, not just HOST members. Profits from your listing sale MUST be donated to the American Heart Association.

Above is my entry item. It is an Overlapping Hearts crochet bookmark. This bookmark is made using 100% mercerized cotton. Bookmark from top to tassel is 20" long. Each heart is approximately 1" long.

Friday sale is for the babies!

PINK CROCHET LOVIE

BROWN AND BLUE CROCHET LOVIE

NEWBORN FLAPPER BEANIE

Today's special is for the babies. 10% off the above items. Great Christmas gifts that they will keep forever.

Mention my blog in message to seller and discount will be refunded to your paypal account. Offer valid till 11:00pm EST.

Hump Day Sale!

Today's special: 10% off all washcloth sets. Soft, absorbent and environmentally friendly. These make great stocking stuffers.

Just mention my blog in message to seller and discount will be refunded to your paypal account. Valid till 11:00pm EST.

Happy Shopping

Birthday(Friday) Special!

This day 9 years ago, my first baby girl was born. She is one of the most precious people in my life and though I was scared ( lack of mommy handbook will do that) my husband and I managed to get her to her 9th birthday. Today she got to pick the special.....

All Flower set Washcloths are 10% off today. Valid till 11:00pm est. Please mention my blog in message to seller. Discount will be refunded back into your paypal account.

Happy Shopping!

Colder weather is coming!

With winter months here and my children everywhere, I wanted the warmth of a scarf without the hassle. I love scarves but my children would rather pull on the them and tighten them around my neck. I needed something to keep my neck warm without being to tight ( I cannot wear turtle necks without feeling as though I am being strangled).

This is now available in my shop. And of course while I was out on my twice a week shopping trip today I happen to find some more yarn that needed a good home. LOL

These may make it as neck cowls as well. Definatly the cashmere will. Keep an eye out, those cowls are next and they will be $40 each.

Friday Special!

Can you feel the buzz when you go to the store? Holiday shopping is here and will only become more intense as we get closer. So skip the lines, the gas and the stress and shop ETSY.

Today's special is 10%OFF baby blankets in my shop. Don't see a color you are looking for.....let me know and I will make you one with the 10% OFF offer. Just make you that you convo me sometime today(11:00pm est). Discount will be refunded back into your paypal account.

Valid till 11:00pm EST.

Happy shopping!

Hump Day Sale!

10% OFF all Washcloth sets today. Valid till 11:00pm EST.

Great for yourself or as a gift. All lovingly handmade by me in my smoke-free home.

These are thick, durable, soft and machine wash and dryable. So what are you waiting for?

Happy Shopping.

Mention my blog in message to seller and discount will be refunded to your paypal account.

Secret weekend special

20% OFF this beautiful crochet bag. Take a look over at my shop. www.RachelsAprons.etsy.com

The bag is constructed using 100% cotton yarn so that it will not stretch like an acrylic yarn would.

Perfect to use for trips to the mall, market, grocery store or you local craft fair.

This is valid until 11:00pm EST Sunday 11/2/08

Friday Special

Ah. Some mornings it is harder to get up than others. :)

Here is your Friday Special for the week!

Click on my title to be taken to my etsy shop. There you will find crochet wash cloth made of 100% cotton. Never tried one? Now is the perfect time. I am offering 10% off all orders of wash cloths today until 11:00EST.

Make sure to add blog to your message to seller at check out. Your discount will be refunded back into your paypal account.

They make great stocking stuffers or a wonderful addition to a gift basket.

Happy Shopping!

Friday Special !

10% OFF all tote bags including those with sale pricing. Happy Shopping!

Please mention my blog at check out and your discount will be refunded back into your paypal account. Valid till 11:00 pm EST.

What's New?

With my sister getting ready to have her second child, I am feeling some inspiration for baby blankets. Crochet ones that is. My description for my latest baby blanket sums up how I feel about them.

Imagine giving a gift that will be welcomed by both mother and child. An heirloom piece for the child to carry with them to share with their children. That's what giving a handmade baby blanket does.

My children have theirs and I have mine still.

I have made this blanket with both the mother and child in mind. Soft and cuddly that will only get softer with washes, and easy to care for with a manageable size to be able to take everywhere for mom. This precious blanket is the perfect size for the car seat, stroller (either on the babies lap or over the stroller as a cover), a quick trip to Nana's or to always have in the diaper bag. This blanket is sure to be the most prized gift!

And it is true! My children still have the baby blankets that were made for them. Notice I said blankets. Each of them has at least 3 and even though my eldest is now 8, she still very much loves her blankets. Long have they forgotten about the ones with the shiny satin site and pretty bunny embroidered on it. Their crochet blankets are the ones that they still use. Long car rides, blankets for their dolls, trips to the doctor or sleep overs have all been seen to with their blankets.

I truly believe there is something magical in crochet baby blankets. Especially when they are no longer babies and they still reach for them.

My head is exploding with ideas for blankets now. The one above is the ever classic and traditional pink. The one I am working on now is brown and pink. Using two strands of yarn makes me want to squeeze this blanket every time I touch it. It will be super warm for the winter months ahead as well and chic with those color choices. I think the border will be pink and I may add a pink flower on the cover of it. Maybe a hat to match! Those cute ear flap ones. Oh I love those! LOL, see I am getting ahead of myself now. It is any wonder I get anything done at all.

Happy crafting!

Staying on track......

This is something that I will admit I am pretty horrible at. Hence all the lists. On my list still, to crochet those 3 white cloths and photo them! See, horrible. Good thing God and can forgive (and that no one had ordered them).

So what did I find so much more intersting then cloths?

I love a challenge and if I can learn something new, even better. I have come to really appreciate the internet. For example, these last two days I learned how to make a crochet and fabric dress. Something I have never done before. I do not have a serger so I learned how to finish a raw edge (I don't have pinking (sp?) shears either) with a special stitch on my machine. Then I also learned how to make ruffles with machine basting stitches......too technical? I have now decided that while I can live without the serger, I really really want a ruffler foot for my machine. Yeah internet.



Here is the finished product. It turned out so good and since I also was able to figure out how to machine sew the crochet bodice to the woven fabric skirt, it will stand the test of my friend's daughter. Here is a picture of my daughter wearing it. Yes it was in the morning and finishing the dress was more important than brushing hair this morning. At least I was able to put aside my artistic tendecies to make them breakfast. :)

And if all that wasn't enough to be proud of myself for..........my hubby was impressed! I heard a WOW hun, that looks really good. Then he had to touch it so I know he liked it. Score one for the girls back home! (my 8 year old latest phrase)

Buisness cards......Check!

Oh yes. After months of saying, " Today, I will get those buisness cards done." they are finally done. However I refuse to disclose just howmany months it took. That's my secret.I am so proud I got them done that I took pictures. Yes! I am lame, I mean cool enough and now with homeschool done for the year officially to have the time to take pictures. So here you are.......

I would love to say that I got it right the first time but it is more like the second. Oh well, I crochet, not make buisness cards.

I am doing good this morning. Out of 11 things on my to do list (you know you have one to) I only have 3 left.

1.Crochet 3 more white dish/wash cloths for etst to make a set of 4

2.Take pictures off all the others that I crocheted this weekend (2 hot pink, 1 white, 2 natural)3.Put 1 basket of laundry away

The last one will most likly not get done. I have no problem washing the laundry, after all, it stinks. But to put it away......I homeschool so there are days when wrinkled cloths are ok. :)

What else to I have to do? I am making a market bag out of all 100% cotton yarn. I made myself one already and I love it. The holes are not so big that my cell will fall out or pens and I can use it for the park (sand shakes out), I have used it to replace what would normally fit into 3 plastic grocery bags (yeah!). I love it because when I go to check out the bag girl looked at me, smiled, and under her breath asked the checker lady, "What am I suppose to do with this?", truly puzzled. I smiled and said, "Fill her up as much as she will hold".

Oh horror. My daughter just now is talking about when she buys a horse!!! I need to go and find some other educational channel other then animal planet. We have a zoo as it is, but that is another post entirely. ;)