New voodoo doll holiday ornaments available!

Howdy!
Well, it's been far too long since I've written. Lots of things going on.
For one, I have been working on getting some voodoo doll holiday ornaments done. I was able to make 5 between holiday gift crafting and commissions. Here they are:

So cute! I need to make some for my Christmas tree.
Unfortunately, I probably won't have much time to make anything new for awhile. I will soon be on "maternity leave" because I am having another little mischief maker, due in February. Between a newborn and a three (almost four) year old, I won't have much time for working.
I am 32 weeks as I write this:

I am working on making an Alice in Wonderland theme (with an emphasis on the Mad Hatter) for the nursery. Here's what I have so far:

I think the white rabbit needs a pocket watch.
I have been playing around with different doll patterns so that I can eventually develop my own. Hopefully it won't be too long. So, stay tuned!
If I don't get the chance to write much, happy holidays everyone!
-mischiefmaker

Look what I made!

Hello! I had been working on gifts for some friends who are having a baby and I finally was able to give the gifts to them, so now I can share all this cute stuff. Yay!

I got the idea for this blanket from this website but had to alter the it a bit because the baby yarn I used was a lot smaller.

The Daddy has a skeleton collection, so I altered this lovey blanket pattern and made a skeleton instead of a monster.

Again, I saw these cute skeleton booties and couldn't resist. Same with this aviator cap.

I just bought a pack of suspender clips and whipped up this pacifier holder.

This amish puzzle ball was really fun to put together. You can take it apart and put it back together again.

I just thought this loop baby toy was cute. I put bells in it so it would jingle.

The baby's room is a robot theme, so I made this robot wipe cover using Rebecca Danger's book Knit A Monster Nursery.

Finally, I made this robot rattle using this pattern as a guide. I put bells in a plastic Easter egg, duct taped the egg shut and put it in the rattle so it jingles.
I could have kept going, but I ran out of time. I had a little too much fun making all this stuff.
Anyway, now on to all the other millions of projects I have going on.
XOXO

Look! Pretties!

Hi guys!
It's been awhile. Sorry! Busy busy little bee here.
This weather is killing me. I can't handle it. I think I've talked about it before, but I am allergic to the sun so this 80+ degree weather makes me feel like I am severely hungover and all I want to do is hibernate in my house and just sit under the swamp cooler. I am worthless in this weather.
BUT...I'm trying to get out and have fun for my son.
Needless to say, my crafts have been suffering because of this. I've been trying to get dolls made for the wonderful Curating The Cool but the going has been slow. They have an awesome vintage shop in old town Lafayette and have just opened up a shop in Denver around 32nd and Lowell. My son got an old Two Bad toy from He-Man there and loves it.

Also, I have three spots open for my knitted narwhal class tomorrow at Share Denver if anyone is interested! You know you want to!

Look how cute I am! You know you want to make me ;)

My son named him "Snacks."
I have about a billion ideas in my head for classes I want to teach, but one I am considering is a macrame plant holder.

Anyone interested in taking this class?
I've been playing a lot with embroidery hoops, especially with crochet. I am toying with the idea of making a crocheted dream catcher.

I'm still working on the pattern, trying to get it as taut as possible. Another possible class? Eh?
I am planning on taking a month off of teaching so I can work on a few of these things, and hopefully get my energy back. My husband is even considering teaching something.

Anyway, I had better go prepare for my class tomorrow.
Bye!!

My stupid introverted nature

Hey guys, what's new? Seriously, I need something new.
I am currently sitting in my sun room (I usually do everything in the living room because there is cable there and I am a total t.v. junkie) hoping that the bright yellow walls and change of scenery will inspire me.
Nope. I am supposed to be working on a top-secret project for the Easter Bunny who has hired me as his helper (because helping people should be what Easter is all about) and am instead perusing the internet, listening to Tori Amos' Night of Hunters for the millionth time today and not getting anything accomplished. Again. This is the third day in a row.
Then I realized that I have a class next week that I am totally unprepared for because lately all I do is stare at the wall while my mind wanders who-knows-where. But seriously guys, take my class. KNITTED NARWHALS! Mama needs some new shoes. And new everything. I'm broke.

Sigh. I hate being uninspired. I don't feel like myself. And I don't feel like I am being the best mom I can be right now.
I never have any energy. It takes forever to get myself out of bed.

Shhh...go back to sleep. You don't hear anything on the baby monitor...

 So, Jess and I try to donate blood when we can (we are both O- so we are always being called in to donate) and I have been denied four or five times. I finally decided to go to the doctor and it turns out I am anemic. No surprise there. But it does explain why I never have any energy. I thought I was just lazy.
But now I have to take prenatal vitamins and iron supplements. So no one get any funny ideas!
My oven died. I'm sad. I have never wanted to bake more. Why?????
At least we just got our tax return so we can (sort of) afford a new one. BUT, WHY?!? Why does life have to be like the movie UP? We just got a little extra money that we could totally use to stash away in savings or save for a college fund for Sam or a new cute little dress for me (I can't remember the last time I got to buy myself new clothes or shoes or anything besides craft supplies so I can make a measly few bucks here and there) but NO we have to buy a new fucking oven. I hate being a grown up.
Obligations. Holy crap on a cracker why the holy hell do I have so many obligations?!? When did this happen? I remember as a kid being bored on a Friday night because I had nothing to do and now I can't even remember what I did yesterday or what I am suppose to do tomorrow. I love my people and I love spending time with them, don't get me wrong. They wouldn't be in my life otherwise. But I never get any time to myself and then am expected to socialize and act like a person. I am burnt the fuck out. I can't be a normal human being when I have no time to recharge.

Life is really hard. I'm going to build a fort and pretend no one can see me.
You know what I would love? Besides a million dollars. A trip by myself. Like Marge Simpson when she went to Rancho Relaxo. Somewhere I can sleep all day and then get pampered when I wake up. Somewhere I can recharge and not have to take care of anyone. By myself.
Oops. I'm an introvert who needs time to herself but then I went and had a kid. DOH! I guess I just have to take this little time I get to myself while Sam's sleeping and just appreciate it. Even though I'm not getting anything done.
Okay, enough of that. I'm done venting. Sorry about that.
Hopefully I will snap out of this soon. I had tons of ideas for projects and not nearly enough time to do all of them and now I can't even get motivated to knit a tiny bunny for my son. I have failed the Easter Bunny.
Ah crap. Sam's birthday is coming up too and I haven't even set a day for the party yet. It's in a few weeks. I'm fired.
But that's life. I will get out of this funk (hopefully) soon. I expect the prenatal vitamins to kick in at any moment and I will be bouncy and happy and full of vitamin infused hair and nails. Because no one can help me but myself, dear friends. I have learned that over the years.
I so very much appreciate having an ear to vent into and a little understanding while I'm off in my own little world getting myself back together again.
With any luck it will happen soon. I miss me.

UNICORN!!!

Just a quick note to show you my newest pattern in my shop today:

UNICORN!

He/she can be made with any color yarn. You could even give it rainbow hair!

Okay, I am off now to make some chicken and corn chowder for dinner.
Bye!
-Cori

Start the new year with the basics

Happy New Year!

To start out the new year, I thought I would go back to the basics for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet.

So I am going to show you how to do a zig zag pattern that you can use for afghans or scarves. This is the pattern that I first learned on.

I usually use worsted weight yarn and like a size G (4.00 MM) hook. There are some pretty soft acrylic yarns out there nowadays. I like Caron Simply Soft.

Caron Simply Soft

Abbreviations:

Ch - chain

Sc - single crochet

St - stitch

Sk - skip

To begin most crochet projects, you need what’s called a foundation chain. To start, you have to make a slipknot.

Make a loop with your yarn

and pull the working yarn (the yarn attached to the skein) through the loop.

Then pull tight. If you need more explanation, this video gives more detail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8GnAnrHXSs

Once you have your slipknot, you are going to have to make your foundation chain. The foundation chain is the starter row that you work off of.

To make a chain, you need to do what’s called a yarn over. Yarn over is basically wrapping your working yarn around your needle.

 So wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull it through the slipknot.

Here’s another helpful video on making a chain if you need further explanation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjoVWbYhWuc

For this example, I am going to do a pattern of two "mountains," with 10 stitches on each side. Then you need one stitch for the top of each point and two stitches for each dip.
So we will need to make 50 chains, plus one for the turning chain for a total of 51 chains.
This is just an example; you can make as many points (or mountains) as you want using as many stitches per point as you want.

So you are going to turn your work after you get the 51 chains made. Working in the back loops only from here on out,

Back Loops Only

make a single crochet in the second chain from the hook (skipping the turning chain), then another sc for a total of 2 sc. Working in the back loops only makes a nice ridge that goes well with this pattern.

To make a single crochet you put your hook through the back loop,

yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop.

You should now have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over again and pull through both loops on your hook.

 Here is a helpful video if you still need more instruction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCDA44Sijx4

Next, you are going to skip the next ch and sc 10. Then you want to do 3 sc in the next st. This is going to make the point of your “mountain.”

Then you want to crochet 10 more times (one crochet in each stitch). You should now have your first “mountain.

Next, you want to skip the next 2 stitches. This is going to be the dip in your pattern.

Crochet 10, crochet 3 in the next stitch, then crochet 10 again. Sk the next ch and 2 sc.

You have crocheted your first row.

It is very important to keep track of the number of stitches you make so that you keep your “mountains” nice and even. I learned how to crochet when I was eight years old and wasn’t very good about counting my stitches and it turned out very uneven.

To make the next row, you need to make your turning chain, so chain 1 and turn your work. Skipping the turning chain, 2 sc and sk the next ch. 10 sc, then do 3 sc in the next st. 10 sc, sk next 2 sts, 10 sc. 3 sc in the next st, 10 sc, sk the next st, 2 sc.

Repeat this row until you get the desired length.

If you want to have different colored rows, it is best to have an even number of rows per color.

To change color, you want to start at the beginning of a row. When you are making your turning chain, yarn over with the new color and pull it through to make the turning chain.

Then you are free to work the row in the new color.

When you are finished, weave in all the ends. 
There! You have learned how to do the zigzag pattern.

You can do this pattern and make a scarf with two points or you can add many points and crochet yourself an afghan. You can do as many or as little color as you want.
I hope you enjoy this free pattern. I have a new pattern that I am working on and hope to have it in my shop soon. So check back often!
-Cori