Holiday Crafting 2011- Naughty and Nice Themed Gifts

This year, I thought it would be appropriate to

ask my gift recievers to contemplate whether they have been naughty or nice this year.  With no indication of what was in the box, random selection was going to tell them if they've been good or bad.  

Here's how I set it up.  I chose six packages to be "naughty" and six to be "nice."  On the nice items, were nice names such as "Oh Soup Divine" and "Winter Wonderland Bath Icicles" and "Jingle your Bells" coffee.  The naughty names (which were mostly thought up by my husband) were names such as "Cream of Elf Soup" and my personal favorite, "Stocking Stuffer Stomach Pumper Coffee."

After having named all of the items, I put them all into random boxes, along with my crocheted washclothes, potholders and loofahs, stamped the box with either "Naughty" or "Nice" and then wrapped them all in plain brown Kraft Paper and tied a simple ribbon around them.  I then attached my "Have you Been Naughty or Nice?" stamped tags that Lily and I made, and voila!

 

Needless to say, even if someone was deemed "Naughty", they still thought I was very nice!  It was a lot of fun making them, and is an excellent project for children.  I recommend only doing one item at a time, having all the stuff ready before hand, and your child could definitely help you on this too!  I know Lily really enjoyed helping everyone make their gifts!

How To Crochet Series: Episode 7, Advanced Stitches

Now after you've mastered the Intermediate techniques, the world is really your oyster.  You are ready for almost anything that can be thrown at you and I'm sure that many good things are to come!  Take advantage of the following resources to learn about and discover more interesting crochet techniques!

Here is a list of a ton of stitches for your reference

After trying some intermediate patterns, you might be ready to attempt arigurami, complex afghans, gloves and clothing!

www.crochetpatterncentral.com
www.mypicot.com
www.lionbrand.com
www.redheart.com
www.bernat.com
www.ravelry.com


I hope that this tutorial series has helped you get a better grasp for what to do and where to look for more information.  Also, don't be afraid to use your google skills and look up videos on youtube or more help.  It's available out there and you no longer need your mom to teach you how!!!

Enjoy the art of crocheting! :)



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How To Crochet Series: Episode 6, Intermediate Stitches and Projects

Once you feel like you've mastered the simple stitches, joining, finishing off and working in rows, you might ask yourself what is next?  There's much much more- and some things may seem like they belong in the beginner section... but remember, a beginner in crochet needs to learn how to work flat first, how to do the simple most basic things before moving on to things with dimension, difficult stitches and more confusing patterns.

Crocheting in the Round

The first thing I want to talk about is crocheting in the round.  This essentially means you work in a circular fashion, not usually turning your work at the end of the row, just building up from it.  This is the most common way to make a hat.  Granny squares work in the round, even though they look like they are working in straight lines.
My favorite way to begin working in the round is with the magic ring method.  Here is another link on a different way to do the magic ring.
Here is another way to work in the round:
The Joined Rows Method

Increasing and Decreasing
Some patterns may not make a simple shape and may call for you to add or remove stitches from a row.  You can't just drop it, or make one appear, so what do you do?
How to Increase and Decrease

Intermediate Stitches

Stitching on the Post (otherwise known as Front Post (FP) or Back Post (BP))
Puff Stitch
Popcorn Stitch

you should now be ready to attempt projects such as hats, mittens, pot holders, and granny square or regular intermediate level afghans.


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How To Crochet Series: Episode 5, Finishing off and Joining Together

Now that you've completed your pattern and it tells you to Finish (or Fasten) off, what do you do?
It's very easy, depending on what you are wanting to do.  If you are just finishing off for the end of the pattern, follow this link:
Fastening off
If you are joining a new color or if you ran out of yarn and need to add another ball, follow this link:
Joining a new color or a new ball of yarn 

Of course, there are now those silly little strings left from where you snipped everything, and you need to work those into the piece.  This is called Weaving in the Ends.  There are a couple different ways to do it, if you are joining pieces together, you can either use the ends to join (if you left them long enough) or you can hide the ends under your seams, or you can just use a yarn needle to hide those ends into the piece.  Here are a couple of links on how to use a yarn needle to hide your ends.

Weaving in Ends 1
Weaving in Ends 2

Now lets say that you are working on a larger piece, where you have multiple pieces to fasten together.  You're going to want to figure out what style is best for you to get the appearance that you would like.  Each method produces a varying look that will depend on your color of yarn, and how the pieces are joined together.  There are some ways of joining that create a nice pattern between the motifs, and others that are meant to be hidden.  It's all just a matter of personal preference and how you would like the pieces to join together.  I've included links to all of the varying methods that I know of, and they all include pictures of how the stitches will look when worked together.

Joining Pieces:

• Invisible Sewn Seam, also known as the Mattress Stitch
• Slip Stitch Seam, and a second link for the Slip Stitch
• Single Crochet Seam, and a second link for Single Crochet
• WhipStitch 
• Back Stitch 
• Lacy Joining 

I'm sure that if you play around, you can find one that you like!  Do you remember those gauges that you made (or that I hope you made) a couple tutorials ago?  This would be a good thing to practice with these squares.  Take each one and join them with a different type of joining and see which ones you like and which ones you don't!  It also makes a great reference if you label each seam with which style that you did, and then in the future, you can reference it to see which one you like for the project you are currently working on!


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How To Crochet Series: Episode 4, Reading A Pattern

Every pattern that is published (truly published, like in a book, not just the internet) has to follow yarn standards so that everyone who buys or uses this pattern will be able to read it once having learned just one standard.

US Standard Crochet Abbreviations

UK and US Stitch Term Comparison

Here is my little image of how to read a pattern:

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How To Crochet Series: Episode 3, Picking a Pattern

Now that you know all about the basic stitches, lets cover how you should go about picking your first pattern to start with.  If you like, you could go out and buy a book on crochet and it would walk you through the easy to the harder patterns.  Chances are, however, if you are reading this blog, you have access to the internet, where there are probably millions of free patterns floating around.
The trick is to find a pattern that works for you as a beginner, yet is something that you really enjoy.

I recommend starting with something simple and square or rectangular.  It gives you less shape to worry about, and ultimately, less complex stitches. A great starting point for anyone is a scarf.  They are quick to do and very easy, and make great gifts!

I would recommend staying away from very large projects, such as full size afghans, sweaters, gloves, socks, and arigurami for your first project.  They're very tempting, but it is also easy to get frustrated and give up on something large or complicated if you make it your first project.

How to find a pattern that you like:
I have many resources that I use to find patterns, and most of them are large scale yarn companies or the sister websites of crochet pattern central and knitting pattern central.  They both contain (mostly) well written patterns and pictures to help you out.

My favorite Links:

Ravelry
Crochet Pattern Central
Lion Brand Yarn
Bernat Yarns
Red Heart Yarn

Now, what to do when you get there.... Look for the categories, find one that you want to search and go there, look through the patterns that they have.  Make sure that it says "Easy" or "Beginner" and it is something that doesn't have any complicated stitches to add to it.

I might also recommend that you start with something like my Curly Scarf pattern that was a big hit at christmas the year before last.  :)

Now that you have your pattern, make sure that you have the needle size that it calls for and the yarn that you want to use and you are ready to go!

Stay tuned for our next Episode, How To... Read a Pattern!


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How To Crochet Series: Episode 2, how to make a gauge

Whenever you are working with a new project, new yarn, or anything, it is usually very helpful to make a gauge.  This lets you know if your stitches are on track and the size that they are supposed to be.  If a pattern says that your gauge should be 4" x 4" after a 10 x 10 stitch count, then it should be.  If you get a gauge that is 5" x 5" it could throw off your whole pattern.  If your gauge is smaller or larger than it is supposed to be, it's not that you are a bad crocheter, it is just that either your yarn is a slightly less (or more) bulky variety than they used in the pattern, or perhaps you crochet looser or tighter than the person who wrote the pattern.

So, on to how to make a gauge.

Example of a square gauge.

The pattern will typically tell you what you are looking for.  This is an excerpt that I pulled from the current pattern that I am working from:

"Rnds 1 and 2 of Motif C = 4 in. (10 cm) BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles."

Now, this is for a pattern worked in the round, which we haven't gotten to yet, but all the gauges pretty much work the same.

This particular pattern is telling us that if you do the first and second round of the pattern for Motif C, it should equal 4".  It even tells you what to do if it isn't!

Now, if you take the small moment that it takes to make the first two rounds of motif C before you start, then you'll know if your pattern will work and turn out to be the correct size or not.

Here are a couple more examples of gauge guides from other patterns:

• "Gauge: Each motif measures 4 inches square."  From a granny quilt, where the gauge is even helping you move further along in your pattern.
• "24 sts = 4”;  13 rows = 4” in Pat St." This one is telling you that 24 stitches across and 13 rows should be equal to a 4" x 4" square.  This one is for a large blanket, and making that four inch sample before you start will ensure a nice piece.
• "4 sts = 1 inch; row gauge is not important."  With this one, they're telling you that the width is the only thing that matters, not the height.

As you can tell, there are many ways of wording a gauge, but each one explains a great deal about how the project will work up and lay.


Save yourself time in the long run, and make a gauge today!

An extra resource


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A few of my favorite Afghans... a list

Here is a list, with pictures, of my favorite afghans.   I may not have completed some of these, but I have plans to complete them at some point in my life.  Hopefully you'll enjoy looking at them as much as I do!

1. This one is in progress! Temair Throw
2. Mandala Throw
3. Scrap of Beauty
4. Country Tweed Afghan
5. Branches and Berries
6. Medallion Circular Throw
   Arrow Stitch Afghan
7. Urban Granny Throw
8. Cat and Mouse Throw {To be made for my daughter}
9. Diamonds and Tweed Blanket {Almost done with this one!}
10. Graphic Circles Afghan
11. Mosaic Afghan {just got done, need to weave in ends and block}
12. Galaxy Afghan {This one has been on the docket for a long time, perhaps after I finish up the ones I'm working on?}
13. Groovyghan {Also in progress, to be finished after the other three are finished up}

So as you can see, I've got one finished, just needing weaving, and three in progress.  I've just got too many that are sitting around waiting to be finished!!  But, after these are done, then the list will be down to nine!  Who else needs an afghan? :)

Custom Jewelry Display Case!

Back again with another one of our new products that will hit our website this fall!

This one is a custom designed jewelry display case, and they're wonderful!  Since it's custom made for you, you have many options!  Choose to have hangers for earrings, necklaces, bracelets or pegs for rings, pick your colors or patterns and you'll receive a design that is truly one of a kind!

Custom Jewelry Display Case for earrings necklaces, and bracelets, $30.  Add pegs for rings for just $5 more!

Up and Coming this Month!

It is officially SEPTEMBER!!  If you are like me, you're wondering what happened to the rest of the year.  It feels like it's been eaten up by something and it's never coming back.  We've done lots this year, but there is also a lot that we've not had time for, or just been to lazy for! 

But... the good news is, with the holidays coming up, there's lots of designing to do!!  This month we have the following items planned:

• Halloween crafts and decoration

• Christmas Gift making (this has been an ongoing project that started January 1)

• Several new items for the home to be part of our new product lineup

• and a super special photographic project that has been in concept phase for a long while

We look forward to taking you on our holiday crafting journey this year!

Adorable custom dress!

Just wanted to show you all this fantastic new custom dress that is going to be part of our new lineup!  It features a hand knit top with two select fabrics used as the bottom!  It's pure cuteness! 

And as always, custom versions are available!  Don't like the colors? no problem!  Just send a request and we can make one just for you!

Available in sizes 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12mo -2T, 3T and 4T.  Headband has a tie and is One Size Fits All.

The set, Dress + Headband is $50, For just the headband, $10.

Craft Studio Update!

News:

As part of our forthcoming release of our new studio here at LiLu Studios, we are preparing a wonderful 7 day tutorial on how to start crocheting, the basic stitches, and how to teach yourself, online!  Look for our new How-To series to arrive in the next week, along with sneak previews of our new product line that will be available on our website!

For today, we wanted to share some inspiration!  Here's just a few cool things that we've seen recently that you might enjoy!

  For those of us who craft our children's halloween costumes, or our own, or even our own decorations, we've got to start early, and for me, now is about that time.  I start first on the decorations, so that they're ready to be displayed when the first of October rolls around and then they're also done and out of the way so that I can work on the costuming!  Here's a list of the craft projects that we've been eyeing to add to our usual bats and garbage bag ghosts and paper towel ghosts!  (See our tutorial from last Halloween!!)

• Yarn spiderwebs
• Box Town, could also be used for a christmas scene...
• Fantastic little paper pumpkins that can also be favors or placeholders
• Paper bats
• Perching Blackbirds
• Trick or Treat Banner
• Monster Jars
• Halloween Wreath
• Ghost Luminairies
• Great list of craft options
• Pumpkin Can Lanterns
• Spooky Sign
• Awesome plate decoration
• Frankenstein Luminairies
• Another Link full of Awesome Ideas
• Candles

Well, that's our list for right now... we'll pare down what we actually do to about 5-6 projects, and we'll post pictures as we complete them.  In the meantime, look for our upcoming How-To Tutorials and much more to come!