new felted bowl in the shop

i love these little felted bowls.  the texture just begs you to hold them.  and the little heart inside?  it's there to remind you what's important.

also, yellow rocks.

WIP- hyperbolic ruffle scarf

i've been working on this scarf for what seems like forever now.  i'm thinking of using orange in the final single crochet row as a contrasting edge.

i am basically making this up as i go along.  it's based on a hyperbolic plane, which is super simple once you get the concept.  you are basically increasing every stitch in every row, so the number of stitches in each row increases exponentially.  that's what creates the ruffle.  it kind of reminds me of those whelk egg sack things that wash up on the beach here in sw florida.

so here's what i've done so far...

chain to desired length of scarf.

2sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st to end.

ch 1, turn.

2hdc in each st to end.

ch 2, turn.

3dc in each st to end.

i'll post the full pattern when i'm done, but i'm thinking of adding just one more row, orange, of either 2sc or 2hdc.  i can't wait to finish it.  and if you don't feel like making one of your own, buy this one!   i'll list it my shop.

xoxo, 

aja

update:  I started the last row of single crochets in burnt orange and it looks soooo amazing.  Then I ran out of yarn :-/  soooo, need to remedy that and get this bad boy done.  Cheers.

last minute valentine bunting TUTORIAL, crafting with kids

this project is fast and easy and uses materials i found around the house.  ani is 2 1/2 years old and had a blast stamping little hearts, so i think it would be appropriate for kids of just about any age.

what you'll need:

• cereal box
• red paint (i used finger paint)
• toilet paper roll
• string or twine
• hole punch or craft knife

that's it!

first make a heart shape out of a toilet paper roll.  i used this tutorial here for inspiration.

next, cut squares out of a cereal box.  they don't have to be perfect, or even all the same size, as long as your stamp fits nicely. 

now dip that bad boy into the paint and stamp one or two hearts on each square.  this is a perfect time to practice counting!

 keep going...

 there, last one.

now either punch a hole in the top two corners with a hole punch or cut a small slit with a craft knife.  either way.

then string 'em up, baby!  i used hemp twine because i had it laying around and i like the way the color blends with the cardboard color of the cereal box.  details, people!

hang it up and enjoy.  you don't even have to wait for the paint to dry!

beanie mania

i've been working at a whole slew of beanies lately.  i don't know why, but for a while, i couldn't make a beanie to save my life.  they kept spreading out like plates or coming out too small.  granted, i have a big head and just about any pattern is going to be too small, but still.

i finally found a pattern that works up nicely no matter what yarn i use or what size hook.  the increases make sense to me and i can easily adjust the size without making the hat go all wonky.  that's sayin' something because let me tell you, i've tried out some patterns.

so which pattern did i finally use?

quick easy winter beanies

shazah.

the white one is cotton and a bunch of those are going to a friend of mine who makes and sells tie dye clothes.  i can't wait to see how they turn out!!

the rest are wool, which i love for it's stretchiness.

may your head be cozy warm.