What I am up to...

It has been a busy crafting week.  I finished up an order for this adorable baby Elvis costume:

and a Peanut the Pup.

 

I also worked on this crochet mask cover for my daughter to wear at work.  This is not a CDC approved mask.  Rather it is a cute cover to wear over paper masks to extend their life. It can also be worn as a reminder to NOT touch your face.  These do not filter germs, but they may reduce large droplets from escaping when coughing or sneezing.

When she wore hers, one of her friends ordered this cat version.

Unfortunately all this hook work has caused my wrist, which was injured in a car accident a few years ago, to act up again. Looks like I am going to have to put myself in a crochet time out. 

The good news is that the weather is warming up here and I can start to transplant my seedlings to the garden.  Sunflowers were planted today.  The echinacea will probably go in tomorrow. My Lemon Balm, peppermint, sage and thyme have already popped up and are looking great.  Only one of my yarrow plants are making a comeback; I may have to order or forage some more of that.  The chamomile seedlings are doing great and should be ready to transplant in a few weeks. 

I am working to restock my Etsy shop. I have a few crown ideas floating around in my head, a cuddle cat, a few birds in nests, maybe a doll or two.  What would you like to see in the shop?

Friday Features - May 8

I was saddened to read today that the local pool, a popular gathering place for many families with children and teens, has decided not to open this season at all.  It was disappointing given that my state is currently in the process of reopening.  We have one of the lowest number of Covid-19 infections in the country (only 5 states are lower than we are), and yet three weeks before pool season is to open, they have already made the decision to close for the season.

I am sure they put quite a bit of thought into the decision.  Taking in to account the probable decline in attendance, the cost of staffing and maintaining the pool, the difficulty of finding lifeguards when they may be struggling to get certified due to social distancing, not to mention the increased sanitation protocols that may be required.  I doubt the decision was made lightly.  But it is disheartening that while many of us are being cautiously optimistic that we may return to a more normal life in the near future, we are seeing that the new normal may be very different than what we hope for.  Only time will tell. And whichever side of the Covid-19 situation you may be on, I am sure we can all agree that the eventual goal is to find our way back to a life in which our children can play with their friends, we can grab a cup of coffee with our pals face to face, and we can all return to work. 

The news of the pool, though, did get my fingers itching to create something for those summer gatherings, whether it be a day by the pool, a picnic in the park, or a visit to a farmer's market.  So today's Friday Feature is bags galore!  Something to pack your stuff in and bring it wherever you may go.  So without further ado......

First up is this adorable foldaway mesh bag from Fei at I Heart Gantsilyo.  I have to be honest, I had to look up what gantsilyo was.  It is Filipino for crochet!  Anyways, I love that the mesh is tight enough that small items aren't going to slip through, but it is open enough to not be super bulky.  I also love that it rolls up and secures closed.  That means I can toss it in the back of my car to keep for those spur of the moment Aldi trips.  (For those of you unfamiliar with Aldi, it is a discount grocery store that does not provide free bags.  You either bring your own to pack your groceries in, or you purchase bags from them.)  You can find this pattern here.

I really like the texture on this one, and it is sized to be a great oversized purse, or diaper bag, or whatever you decide to use it for.  And Kat over at Krazy Kabbage includes directions on how to line it too!  You crochet the bottom first and then work the sides perpendicular to the bottom, attaching to the bottom at the end of the rows.   Find this pattern here.

And since I don't want to leave the knitters out, since I am sure you are hungering for some summer bag fun too, here is the Thistle Market bag from Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands.  This pattern can be easily adjusted smaller or larger.

All the patterns above are offered free of charge.  If you choose to make one, be sure to thank the pattern designer for sharing and let them know I sent you.  Have a great weekend!

Foxglove and Friends

It looks like things might be opening up again soon around here.  We are still in phase 1 of the reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic, but I can't help but be excited at the prospect of visiting the park again with the kids.  One good thing that has come of being at home all of the time is teaching the kids some new skills.  My 11 year old has crocheted borders on 4 fleece blankets to donate to God's Tiny Angels, a local organization that collects and distributes newborn and preemie items all over the country. 

She also loom knits, but I really want to teach her how to knit without a loom.  Fortunately a few years back I stumbled upon Foxglove and Friends.  This is a great story curriculum that teaches knitting in a fun, storybook kind of way.  It was created by fellow homeschool mama, Grace Young in 2017.  She graciously offers the year long program as a free download on her site Foxglove and Friends.  I love that it begins with making your very own set of knitting needles!  What a great way to help them to own the craft.  It walks you through how to make a hat, foxglove finger puppet, finch finger puppet, scenery to play with, blanket, and bag to store it all in. 

The program is broken into sections with an adorable narrative story to go with each part.  Directions are clear and easy to follow-not only the pattern directions but the directions for mom to implement the curriculum too!  We are waiting for it to stop raining here so we can find a set of relatively straight sticks for each of the girls to begin their journey.

 It will be my first time trying to teach knitting.  Both of my adult girls learned to crochet. To be honest, for years knitting intimidated me.  I dropped stitches frequently when I was young and was never taught how to pick them back up, so my frustration with the craft grew with every project I had to rip back until I finally just quit.  It wasn't until many years later that I picked up my needles again.  Have you ever taught young children the craft of knit or crochet?  Any pointers you want to share?  I would love to hear them!

Friday Features

Hooray for Friday! Or at least I THINK it is Friday. Who knows anymore as one day bleeds into the next.... So to break up the monotony I thought I would share some cute Covid patterns from around the web with you.  I do realize that this is a serious virus and that many people have been affected by it.  I am in no way attempting to minimize the virus.  But I do think that finding something to smile about helps lift the spirits, and who couldn't use a bit of that?  So here we go...

Toilet Paper roll from Next Stitch

Remember when you could walk in any store and find toilet paper?  Anymore I almost want to shoot streamers in the air when my local stores have any on the shelf.  If you aren't there within an hour of the store opening you are pretty much out of luck.  Mimi over at Next Stitch decided to commemorate this tp shortage with a cute amigurumi roll so that you never have to be without. Find the complete pattern for free here, or visit her Etsy shop for an ad free PDF version.

Joyce Overheul over at The Flying Dutchman Crochet Designs created this adorable little virus to "encourage people to stay home". Her pattern is available for free on her website here.

Then there is this quick adult size crochet mask.  The site says that the "team designed this mask following the CDC's recommendation that homemade masks can be used to effectively help stop the spread of COVID-19."  It is lined, although it does not appear to have a pocket for additional filter material.  That is easily remedied by only stitching the lining to the crochet portion at the top and bottom, leaving the sides open to slide the filter material in.  You can find this pattern here. You will need to download it from the site by selecting the download button, but it is a free download.

And the last thing I want to leave you with is the cute video that Matthew West created, Quarantine Life:

Stay safe!

Ear Saver pattern

Like the rest of the country I have been quarantined, 36 days and counting here, and trying to stay busy.  Homeschooling of the littles has continued, despite our state public schools now being canceled for the remaining portion of the year.  The house still needs cleaned and the yard still needs work.  One good thing to come of this is that I have picked up my hook and begun to work on some projects again in between sewing masks for our local hospitals and working up some ear savers.

I have also reopened up my Etsy shop.  Recently I made a few of these cute little Peanut the Pups to donate to our American Heritage Girls troop.  Theywill be added to the HUGS bags we make and donate to local foster organizations.  My 2 year old son absolutely loves them and carries them all over the house.  I may have to make him one of his own once things open back up and these actually make it to our AHG group!  You can find Peanut in my Etsy shop if you want one of your own.  Here are a few pics:

 

Most of what I have been working on, though, are these little ear savers to be worn with the masks that so many are wearing to protect themselves from the Covid-19 virus.  Prolonged use of the masks is causing their ears to become sore.  This little device allows you to hook the ear loops of the mask over the buttons behind your head, thus relieving the pressure on the sensitive skin behind your ears.  They are super quick and simple to work up.  Here is how I make mine....

You will need:

Cotton worsted weight yarn, or yarn of your choice.  

3.75 mm hook (size F)

yarn needle
2 buttons

chain 15 stitches.  Work dc in 3rd stitch from hook and each stitch across to last stitch.  In last stitch work 3 dc.  Turn your work and dc in each stitch on the opposite side.  Your last stitch should be in the same chain as the beginning stitch.  join to top of chain. Weave in ends.  Sew button to each end. 

See?  Super simple!  Stay safe!