Yummy Yarn Cakes!

 I ordered my new Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder way back in early March, but it was on back order until April 5th. Boooooo! But finally April 5th came and a few days later, so did my new yarn ball winder.
I did a lot of research trying to figure out which one I wanted to get. I had a few things I knew I wanted.

My requirements:

• I wanted it to make yarn "cakes" (Cakes= cylinders of yarn usually flat on the top and bottom).

• I wanted a manual crank one and not an electric one. (I can't wind yarn in a hurricane if the power is out with an electric one and there isn't much else to do them. :)
• I wanted it to be under $50

In my search I had only found one that really fit all of my needs. That was a Lasic Yarn Ball Winder. Then my friend Kendall over at Up in Stitches clued my into one that Knit Picks sells. It met all my requirements, got decent reviews, came recommended, was inexpensive and seemed perfect! So I go it! YAY!

  I love that I can clamp it on to a table top or attach the handle to use it. The only struggle I had was getting the beginning tail to stay on, but really I think that will work out once I get some experience using it. It's relatively easy to work. My kids are 4 and 5 and both had no problems cranking it once I got it started.
(Just a disclaimer, I am no way affiliated or attached or getting paid for this review, I just love it, but Knit Picks, feel free to email me and we can talk! Hehe)

Look at that pretty wind! So orderly and neat! So much better than the half used skeins all flopping around in my yarn storage! Is it just me or do all skeins of yarn just look so much better all wound up?!
  
So that's my super pretty yarn cakes. Now I just have to figure out if I want to store them differently then in the tubs that I usually store them in. I saw a really cool yarn wall that used peg board. That would be awesome, but I think keeping it out of sight from my husband might be a better idea. :)

Do you have a yarn ball winder? Do you like it? Which one do you have? Feel fee to leave me some comments letting me know!

How I organize my yarn stash

If you crochet or knit you will already know that yarn multiplies while you sleep. First you have just a little grocery bag, then you upgrade to a basket, then a tub and before you know it you have 16 tubs and some bags and a basket or two! So how do you organize and sort all of this multiplying yarn?! This is how I do it!

My yarn collection started small and has grown to over 774 skeins (last time I counted). That number has and will change from that as I use and buy more, but that's a whole lot of yarn!!! I even weighed each of my tubs! Combined, it is over 188 pounds!

 

I sort my yarn by weight, color and brand. All of my worsted weight yarn is sorted by similar or very contrasting color. For example I have reds and oranges in one box, but yellows and greys/black in another and so on. I have 1 tub that has all Lion's Brand Hometown USA. I got a lot of it on sale during Black Friday. Until I use it all, it will just stay in it's own tub because there is so much of it. I have a tub for all Bulky #5 yarn and another for Super Bulky #6 yarn. Also the novelty fun fur yarns get their own box. There are also tubs for the variegated yarns that have multiple colors in the skein.  The colors I use the most I have put on the shelves so I can get to it easier.

I also utilize these canvas storage boxes I got at Walmart on clearance for $3. They have a metal frame inside and hold up really well!

 The front of each of my storage tubs is a label letting me know what's inside. I find it helpful for the boxes that have the Bulky and Super Bulky yarn inside.

 

Finally I have 2 of these large glass containers. I like putting my small balls of yarn it in for a little pop of fun color. :)


So that's it! That's how I organize and store my yarn! Not necessarily pretty, but very functional for me!

Do the Bunny Hop!!

You all should be proud of me. Why? Because for the first time in I don't know how long, I didn't procrastinate on making a holiday gift. I almost always wait until the night before to make a holiday item for my kids. But not this time! Here we are  11 or so days away from Easter and I have already finished my kid's Easter basket item. Whooo hooo!

I got the pattern from The Green Dragonfly. It's free too! It was so easy to work up! You should head over to her blog and get the pattern!

How to crochet a graph into a hat!

Have you seen all the really cool graph patterns that Nicole of Boomer Beanies has been drawing up?! Aren’t they awesome? If you haven't seen them yet, click here to go check out the album of graphs! 
I love the Lego ones, the Denver Bronco one, and the cute owl! You could do so much with these graphs! Hats, scarves, washcloths, and even room decor. I could definitely see an owl made up in the colors to match a little girls room, then framed and hung on the wall. 

When she started releasing all these free graphs, there was a ton of interest on her fan page! But so many didn’t know how to even work the graph into a hat. They liked them, but were lost. Nicole would comment under the photos with quick directions, but I felt there needed to be more. I messaged her and asked her if I could do a tutorial to help some of her fans use these really cool graphs. Together we came up with this simple tutorial for both a beanie version and a slouchy hat version. If you don’t know how to crochet a graph hat or change colors, the following tutorial should help!

Beanie Version

Slouchy version

When you work this hat, instead of working in a circle, you are working a rectangular panel. When you finish the panel, it should be as long as the circumference of the head it should fit. 

Approximate Circumference (Or Hat Length from Row 1 to last Row):

14 inches for Newborn

15 inches for 0-3 Months

16 inches for 3-6 months

17 inches for 6-12 months

18 inches for 1-2 years

19-20 inches for child

21 inches for Teen

22 inches for average adult

23 inches for Large Adult

24 inches for X-Large Adult

Gauge: Using “H” hook and SC with Worsted Weight Yarn 10sc = 3 inches.

To obtain gauge:

Make a chain a little over 3 inches. Do 1 SC in 2^nd CH from hook and across. CH1 turn and SC across until your swatch is a little over 3 inches. Then with your ruler count how many stitches you have in 3 inches. Adjust hook if needed to obtain my gauge above. If you need more help, see this post.

Beginning Chains:

Newborn & 0-3 Months- Ch 22

3-6 months- Ch 25

6-12 months- Ch 26

1-2 years- Ch 27 (35 for slouchy hat)

Child- Ch 28 (36 for slouchy hat)

Teen- XL Adult- Ch 30 (38 for the slouchy hat)

Chain according to size above, if you want a slouchy hat, chain the number in parentheses.

Row 1: 1 SC in the 2^nd CH from hook, and in each CH across. CH 1, turn.

Row 2: 1 SC in each ST across, CH 1, Turn

NOTE: You can work in BOTH LOOPS - or – in BACK LOOP ONLY

Difference in Back Loop and Both Loops:

  

Back Loop Only

Both Loops

IF DOING BACK LOOP, FOR GRAPH DESIGN ONLY WORK EVERY OTHER ROW IN FRONT LOOP AND BACK LOOP TO KEEP THE TEXTURE OF THE HAT
 
Repeat row 2 until you are about 1/3 of the way to the desired length (Shown above)

With the right side (or outside) of the hat facing you, start the graph. You will need to rotate the graph on its side (See Photo Below). If you need help with changing colors, jump down to the bottom for a photo tutorial.

I decided to do the LEGO mini-figure head for my 5 year old. 

Left Handers

Right Handers

Start at the far right side (For Right Handers) or the left side (For Lefties) of the graph. We’ll be working from the bottom of the picture to the top. You can either carry your yarn or cut and weave. Either way is fine it's just a matter of what you prefer. When you get to the end of the row, finish off (tie off), cut the yarn and join to the first stitch of the row you just did. Yes, it will make a lot of tails, but if you crochet over them as you go, it’s not a big deal. The reason for this is to keep the backs of the stitches to the inside. It will create a more uniform look and better outcome. If you want to turn and carry you can, but that’s a little more advanced.

IMPORTANT NOTE: IF YOU ARE WORKING IN BACK LOOP ONLY YOU WILL NEED TO EXCHANGE EVERY OTHER ROW FOR FRONT LOOP AND BACK LOOP TO KEEP THE TEXTURE YOU HAVE GOING ALREADY. YOU WILL CONTINUE WITH BACK LOOP ONLY AFTER YOU FINISH THE GRAPH AND ARE WORKING IN ROWS CH 1, TURN. (SEE PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM)

After you finish your graph picture; SC in each ST across, CH 1, turn. Repeat until your panel measures the same length as the circumference you need (given at the beginning of the pattern). 

Bring the two shorter sides together with the right sides (outside) facing each other, SL ST through the last and first row of sc that you did all the way to the top (crown); Tie off and weave in all tails. Thread 2 strands of yarn through your yarn needle, and weave up and down around the top of the hat in every other row; pull tails tight to cinch it closed. Tie a knot with the tails and weave them in.

Trim

 Join your yarn at the back of your hat. HDC evenly around. Join with a slst to the first HDC. Fasten off, weave in ends.
You can add a 2nd or 3rd round if desired. Change it up, add different colors, have fun with it!!!

A. Finish last stitch completely before color Change
B. Pull the new color through the loop and tighten up both colors. (like a SL ST)
C. SC with the new color.
D. Find your next color.
E. Loop it on to your hook.
F. Pull through the loop and tighten up both colors.
G. SC with your new color. Complete your graph.

 

 



FOR GRAPH DESIGN ONLY WORK EVERY OTHER ROW IN FRONT LOOP AND BACK LOOP TO KEEP THE TEXTURE OF THE HAT

Crocheted Home Decor?

Why not?!
I've gotten the urge to re-do my living room decor. Well I take that back. Re-do implies that I once did. I did not. It's got the basic "decor", you know, curtains. That's about it. I'm so indecisive that I'm afraid as soon as I do something, I'll change my mind and want to do something different. But I'm sucking it up and just doing it!
I have an idea what direction I want to go in. I decided I am going to make some wall pictures. Here is the first one!
I'm thinking a series of 4, all the same colors, just worked up differently. Maybe mounted to some canvas boards and hung on the wall. I'm not sure how just yet, but I like it so far!

Crochet 101: How to check Gauge

 

 Crochet 101: How to check your Gauge

You might be wondering, "What do these pattern writers mean when they say, 'Check your gauge!'?". Gauge is oh so very important!!! It might seem like a waste of time. Who really wants to crochet rows then rip it out when there is a really cool pattern you just can't wait to complete sitting right in front of you? I know when I first started, I didn't want to wait. Then I learned that spending the 5 minutes (or less) needed to check gauge was much better than spending an hour on your project then having to rip it out because it's too 2 sizes too small to fit on the pestering anxiously waiting 3 year old.

So what is gauge? Your gauge is how tight or loose you crochet. Gauge varies from person to person and it may vary for you from day to day. If I am really frustrated, I crochet tighter. So make sure you check before you start any pattern.

Let's say the pattern says the following:

With Worsted Weight yarn, using H hook, 10 SC=3 inches.

That means that with your H hook, in 3 inches you should have 10 SC.

To check:

Chain a length at least 2-4 stitches longer than the gauge indicates with the hook and yarn recommended. In this case I would Chain 13 with my H hook and worsted weight yarn.

Chain 13

Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain 1, turn your work. (12 sc total)

The second ch is not the one closest to the hook, but 1 more over.

Chain across

 Single Crochet in each stitch across. Chain 1, Turn. (12 sc total) Repeat this row 1 or 2 more times.

Chain 1, turn.

Sc across.

Take your tape measure and measure 3 inches. If there are 10 stitches and only 10 stitches, you have the correct gauge!

Exactly 10 stitches! Correct!

 
If you have more, go up a hook size and repeat the checking process.

Way more than 10 stitches. WRONG!

If you have less, go down a hook size and repeat the process.

Way less than 10 stitches. WRONG!

When you get your gauge right, you are done! Now rip it out and start your really cool pattern!