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

Free Christmas Ornament Tutorial!

Handmade Christmas Ornament

So I wanted to make something cute for my Christmas tree that wasn't your typical Christmas red and green.
I found this cute fabric:

 I picked what image I wanted to use and used the lid of a mason jar as a template to draw a circle around the image.

(I apologize for the quality of the images. The only time I have to do this is when my son is napping and the light is never very good at that time of the day)
Then cut out the circle. Do another one for the back side.

Then embellish the sides any way you want. I chose to sew beads in the owl's eyes and embroider the word "love" on the side. I would have done more but didn't have a whole lot of time.

Then you are going to want to cut some ribbon about 6 inches long (or longer if you so choose). That's going to be the hanger for your ornament.

You want to aim the loop towards the middle of the circle, then put the two sides together with right sides facing eachother, like this:

You can pin them in place if it helps. Then you are going to want to sew about 1/4" or so around the ornament, leaving about 2" open so you can turn it inside out.

Turn the whole thing inside out.

Then stuff the ornament through the opening.

Then you are going to want to sew the opening shut.

Then you can finish decorating it any way you like. I ended up sewing lines around the sides so I could crochet around the ornament.

You can also sew beads around the ornament like this:

You could also cut around the owl instead of doing a circle. Whatever you want to do!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I am going to try to do more like this in the future.
Anyway, I hope you all have a happy holiday!
XOXO Cori

Be nice or I will stab you

I love the Bloggess

Ah Christmas. This is the time of the year when I usually noticed people being a little nicer to each other; they usually seem a little happier and friendlier. Usually.
I haven't really noticed it much this year and it makes me sad. I still have people standing in the middle of the aisle at the grocery store so I can't get through even though I know they are fully aware I am standing there because my kid is yelling, "Mama, look! Cookie Monster!" People are still cutting me off in traffic and letting the door slam in my face instead of taking two seconds to hold it open for me.
My two year old has better manners. He at least knows how to say, "excuse me."

I find myself more and more either yelling out loud or saying in my head, "Didn't your parents ever teach you manners? You are a grown ass adult!"
I love my parents. My parents made sure to teach my brother and I manners.
My parents, like every human being on Earth, are not perfect. Yes, I wish they would have spent more time with me as a kid, I wish they would have taken just 30 minutes out of their day to have a tea party with me or build a fort out of blankets and the kitchen table, I wish they would have paid more attention to me, and I wish they would have played board games with me.
Do you know how badly it sucked for a kid who loves board games and card games to grow up in a family who refused to play with said kid? I quickly learned that "maybe later," translated to "hell no, go find something to do by yourself." Of course that didn't keep me from trying.
I can count on one hand how many times I played Mouse Trap correctly (as a game with another person) instead of the countless times I pitted the red and blue mice against the yellow and green mice to see who could capture the other first (the blue and red were usually the good guys). I guess I should be grateful that it helped spark my creativity, at least.

Mouse Trap

Thank goodness for puzzles and Solitaire.
Instead of rebelling to get attention, amazingly enough I just accepted that I had to entertain myself and eventually started to enjoy being alone. Despite being lonely and feeling like I didn't fit in with my family, I learned a valuable lesson: to be comfortable with myself. I know so many people who aren't comfortable being alone and have to constantly have people around them and I am grateful. And I am grateful that it helped me learn how to use my imagination and be creative.

I am grateful that I know to teach my son that it's okay to be alone sometimes and to be okay with himself. Alone time is therapeutic and healthy. But I am still going to play with him, too.
Yes my parents aren't perfect, but some things they got very right.
Whenever we would go to the store I would witness my Mom holding open the door for a stranger, she would always move out of the way if someone needed to pass her and she would say, "excuse me," and she was always friendly to the people in line with her or the person at the checkout. For no reason. Because she is just a nice person. That always stuck with me.

Hug

I find myself doing nice things for strangers for no reason and I think of my Mom.
When I hear my son say "Thank you!" it melts my heard and makes me feel like I am doing something right. Hopefully I am teaching him to do nice things for other people for no reason and just maybe they will remember it and do the same. It's a long shot, but I can hope.
For my son and any future children I might have, I promise to never ignore them and never make them feel like they aren't important enough to pay attention to. I will always build forts, have tea parties, and play dress up them. I won't forget how to be silly.
I promise to not wait until they are adults to let them in and to never make them feel left out. I will teach them the value of loving themselves for who they are and being okay with needing alone time.
And I will teach them to be nice people.
We need more nice people in this world.
Happy Holidays!