I want to ride my bicycle

"You have to do stuff that average people don't understand because those are the only good things."

 -Andy Warhol

With national yarn bomb day coming up in June I did something special to celebrate, I yarn bombed my bike.

It needs background music :)

I treat you to the spectrombo-ness of it all:

And then we had some fun:

Have a great day!

Photos in this post are courtesy of Nodin Weddington.

 Do not use without written permission.

Technicolor Dream Coat

I'm still super busy with family but I go crazy without crochet so I have been slipping in some here and there.

 I used this pattern. I made it from acrylic yarn (caron and red heart) single strand with a J hook. I promise the purple is more purple in real life. I had to work from pictures of the finished jackets because when I started it the website with the pattern was down.

To see more pics of my jacket- Technicolor Dream Coat

Derby Hat

Oh man, I knew this month was going to be busy but I didn't know how busy. My poor little mind is doing back-flips and because of this it just hasn't been up to full creative power.

I did manage to find time to finish my hat for a Kentucky Derby party.

 

I got the hat in Colonial Williamsburg when I was a teenager. It had pink ribbon roses but I cut those off to make my derby hat. 

The red flowers are Crochet Geek's Slinky Crochet Flowers

The white flowers are Crochet Geek's Small Crochet Flowers

and the leaves are from my own Sakuramochi

 

The flowers were worked with size 3 crochet thread and a C hook. The leaves were worked with cheap embroidery floss and a size 0 steel hook.

Sunny

It's bright a sunny here and hovering in the mid to high eighties. (Sorry to rub this in Omaha) This lovely weather has made me train harder than normal. 5k is just not enough to suck in springtime so I have been doing up to 10k. My soul has been happy but my feet have not. I had to take a break to heal. 

Anyway, I made some suns. This are a little bigger than your palm and would make a cute accent on a fridge or a silly hat.

What you need:

Scrap yarn, I used assorted acrylic

Size F (3.75mm) hook

Polyester fiber fill

Clip to keep place

Yarn needle

Scissors

Pin back or magnet 

Sun front:

Worked in continuous rounds, do not join rows

• Chain 2
• Round 1: work 6 sc in first chain
• Round 2: work 2 sc in each sc around - 12 st
• Round 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around - 18 st
• Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around - 24 st
• Round 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around - 30 st
• Round 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around - 36 st
• Round 7-9: sc in each sc around
• Finish off and break yarn

Sun back:

Worked in continuous rounds, do not join rows

• Chain 2
• Round 1: work 6 sc in first chain
• Round 2: work 2 sc in each sc around - 12 st
• Round 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around - 18 st
• Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around - 24 st
• Round 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around - 30 st
• Round 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around - 36 st
• Finish off and break yarn

 Sun rays or petals (border):

Work through both layers to join, make sure the right sides are facing outwards.

Edging- *sc, skip one, dc2 trc1 dc2 (in one stitch), skip one
Before last point loosely stuff the sun.

This pattern is for private use only. Do not distribute or publish this pattern in any other form. If you like this pattern and would like to share please link to this blog.

Thank you.

Wedding Potholders

It's spring time and that means wedding time. This time the happy bride loves cookbooks and cooking. We bought her some baking items from her registry and we are going to embellish the gift with a lovely cookbook and a stack of handmade potholders.

I'm making two stacks of potholders, one for the bride and one for my sister in law. Sorry ladies, it's a surprise which color you get. Also, the cookbook pictured is not the one going with the gifts. 

What you need:

Worsted weight cotton or bamboo yarn

Size I (5.5 mm) hook

Scissors

Yarn needle

Cotton batting (optional)

I like the twist cotton, it's pretty

My potholder was inspired by this potholder. I wanted one a little smaller and thicker.

Potholder:

Make 2

Chain 2 at beginning of each round, slip stitch to join rows

• Round 1: 12 dc in a magic loop, pull loop tight and sl st to first dc to close round
• Round 2: Work 2 dc in each dc around
• Round 3:  *2 dc in next st, dc in next st, rep from * around 
• Round 4:  *2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around 
• Round 5:  *2 dc in next st,  in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around 

Finish off and break yarn on first side. On second side do not break yarn (yet).

Stack sides on top of each other with right sides facing out.

Work through both layers to join

Edging- *sc, skip one, dc 5 (in one stitch), skip one

If you want an even thicker potholder add a circle of cotton batting before closing up fully.

In last stitch- sc, chain 10,  sc back in same stitch. This makes a loop for hanging.

Tie knot and weave in end.

Oh, here are some pics from my mini vacation last week.

Yes, he does have his tongue out

 

It was such a pretty day

Party boat

BA Octopus

I'm finally back! I bet you all thought I drowned in my yarn box. 

Well, I'm back and I have a BA octo for you. (BAO- Big Ass Octopus, the nick name while working on it stuck)

What you need:

Worsted weight acrylic yarn in main color and scrap black for eyes

Size G (4.0 mm) or 7 (4.5 mm) AND a L (8.0 mm) hook

Polyester fiber fill

Clip to keep place

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Please note this amigurumi uses a lot of yarn and fluff. I didn't count yardage needed but I was working from a Caron one pound. If anyone brave person can let me know the yardage I would love you for ever!

Octopus Body:

Worked with G or 7 hook

• Chain 2
• Round 1: Work 6 sc in first chain
• Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around - 12 st
• Round 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around - 18 st
• Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around - 24 st
• Round 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around - 30 st
• Round 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around - 36 st
• Round 7: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts, rep from * around - 42 st
• Round 8: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts, rep from * around - 48 st
• Round 9: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 7 sts, rep from * around - 54 st
• Round 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 8 sts, rep from * around - 60 st
• Round 11: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 9 sts, rep from * around - 66 st
• Round 12: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 10 sts, rep from * around - 72 st
• Round 13-24: sc in each sc around - 72 st
• Round 25:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 10 sts, rep from * around - 66 st 
• Round 26:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 9 sts, rep from * around - 60 st 
• Round 27:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 8 sts, rep from * around - 54 st 
• Round 28:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 7 sts, rep from * around - 48 st 
• Round 29:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 6 sts, rep from * around - 42 st 
• Round 30:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 5 sts, rep from * around - 36 st 
• Stuff lightly
• Round 31:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around - 30 st 
• Round 32:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around - 24 st 
• Round 33:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around - 18 st 
• Finish stuffing (firmly)
• Round 34:*sc2tog, sc in each of next 1 sts, rep from * around - 12 st 
• Round 36:*sc2tog around - 6 st 
• Finish off and weave in ends

Tentacles:

Worked using double yarn and L hook

The tentacles are worked just like the tentacles of my other octo creations.

Daddy Octopus

Check out the link above and familiarize yourself with the process if you haven't made one before.

• Chain 9
• sl st into first ch to create ring
• * ch 14
• 3 dc in third chain from hook
• 3 dc in each chain
• sc around center ring
• repeat from * till you have 8 tentacles, you may need to scrunch tentacles closer together to fit all on the ring
• Weave in ends

Finishing Touches:

Sew tentacles to bottom of body ball.

Using a doubled scrap of black scrap yarn stitch two eyes. I did 4 stitches per eye.

Weave in all left over ends and you are ready to play with your new cutie.

BA Octopus on Ravelry

This pattern is for private use only. Do not distribute or publish this pattern in any other form. If you like this pattern and would like to share please link to this blog. Please do not make and sell this item on Etsy or other online store/auction. You may make and sell items for local craft fairs and offline fund raisers.

Thank you.