When looking for the perfect beanie for the lovely Mr. Dunning, an ingenious idea came to me – a POKEBALL.  It’s the perfect balance of nerdiness and cute, and just as I thought, it’s been a big hit!  Not only with Mr. Dunning, but in my Etsy shop as well.

If you know someone who has to catch ‘em all, this is the perfect Christmas gift.  I also plan on adding some Pokeball hacky sacks to my shop as well.  Snatch them up before they’re gone!  (Not really, I can make more!)

I’ve decided that a fun new item for my Etsy Shop could be some Hacky Sacks/Footbags!  I plan on making many, many more colors soon!

They are made with 100% cotton yarn and stuffed with lentils.  They’re medium filled, so they form nicely to whatever surface they come in contact with.

Whether you juggle, are a kickass hacky sack player, or just want some fun little balls to throw around and maybe play tag with or whatever else you can think of, these are perfect!

I cannot guarantee that I’ll have all these colors once they’re sold, so get them while they’re hot!

(The blue one is not bigger than the others, it’s just a closer photo.)

Hey everyone!  I’m sorry it’s been a while since I updated this blog.  It wasn’t because I haven’t been crocheting because I certainly have lately!  I’ve made several custom order giraffes, a couple hats, and another Yip Yip Alien, but what I’ve been enjoying the most has been these precious little treasure pouches!

I designed the pattern for one for myself to hold onto some really special items and since then I’ve made one for both my in laws!  =D

My father in law loves to go metal detecting, so I designed this pouch with him in mind.  It is about twice as large as the other two (the yellow one is approximately 3″ wide and 3″ deep and the blue/brown one is about 2″ wide and 2″ deep) measuring approximately 5″ deep and 4″ wide.  It has a strong belt loop on the outside for ease of carrying and depositing treasures.

All three pouches are 100% cotton.

As always, I’ve listed them on my Etsy Shop and I really hope these catch on because they are perfect for storing and carrying all those valuable things that tend to either get jumbled around inside our purses/bags, or just for safe keeping.

I’m just here to say that I’m really excited because I just bought this for myself!  =D  I’ve needed a project bag for a long time, and when I saw this one I just knew it was perfect!  I had browsed her bags before, but I really wanted either a dark green or brown bag (my favorite colors), so I jumped when I saw this one up today!  I suppose I could eventually make a project bag myself, but I love supporting other Etsyers and I was just thrilled with the “Keep Calm and Carry Yarn” idea.

(Here’s a bit of history about the original “Keep Calm and Carry On” propaganda posters if you aren’t already familiar.)

These adorable bags are available from JennieGee’s Etsy Shop!  I’m sure I’ll eventually post photos when I receive it.  Can’t wait!  Okay, I’ll stop with the excitement.  =P

Support handmade!

Today I finished working on an extra long scarf for our friend John.  He lives up north and couldn’t find a scarf long enough and big enough for his liking, so he asked me to make one.  He wanted it in colors to match his motorcycle!

My sweetheart doesn’t look too enthused to be my model, does he?  =D

This scarf was extremely easy and fun to make.  Just a simple alteration between double crochets and single crochets made with an extra bulky yarn.  I used Lion Brand’s Homespun USA.  On one hand I really love working with extra bulky yarns because they’re so soft, but on the other they are murder on my hands.  Projects made with it usually take me a little longer because I can’t work as long at a time as I can with smaller weights.  The results are definitely worth it though.

This was also my first attempt at attaching fringe, and I have to say, it was fun and a lot easier than I initially thought.

I’m really happy with how this project turned out.  It will definitely be warm and toasty on those cold winter days!

And as always, these have been added to my Etsy Shop for those interested in owning one themselves.  <3

I’ve been making a great deal of pot holders lately.  I’ve made sets for my aunt, myself and for my grandma and since they’re so cute, easy and practical I’d write up a pattern for them.

SayHedgehog’s Pot Holders

Materials:
- Cotton yarn (remember to NEVER use acrylic to make these because it will catch fire).  I prefer to use Sugar’N Cream yarn and it takes about one ball to make one set of two pot holders.
- Size H crochet hook
- Large sewing needle

Steps:
Row 1: Ch 26, Turn.
Row 2 – 25:  Sc in back loop only.  Ch 1, turn. (26) Repeat.
Edging:
Sc in each stitch all the way around your work (100).
Ch 2 (counts as first hdc) and 2 hdc in corner.
Hdc across (23) and 3 hdc in each corner.  Repeat 3x.
Loop:
Ss into second chain that made up the first hdc.  Ch 7.  Ss into stitch containing first ch.
Fasten off and sew in ends.

These are fun to make and can make an excellent gift for almost anyone in your life.  If you make some too, please share your photos cause I’d love to see them!

Happy hooking!

One of my old friends requested a rainbow colored mini jelly and he came out just super cute!  These guys are so much fun to make and even more fun to give away!  Perhaps one day I’ll write up a pattern for these little guys, but until then I’ll enjoy hooking them. 

It was a pleasure to make and send out this order for the lovely Heather!  I hope she enjoys them!

A friend of mine requested that I make a set of two animals for her – a baby giraffe and monkey.  I had a really great time making these guys, especially the giraffe.  I’ve made many monkeys over the years, but I had never attempted a giraffe before.  I am rather pleased with just how adorable he turned out and I hope Paige will be too. 

Making animals, especially for kids, is really just so fun and rewarding.  It’s supremely nice to know that your hard work goes to someone who loves it just as much as you, so I thank all of you who’ve given me that opportunity. 

Aside from making critters, I’ve been making pot holders.    These (at the time, incomplete) sets were for my beautiful Aunt Pat and I’m currently working for a couple sets for myself and for my grandmother.  Fun to make, pretty and functional!  Can’t really beat that!    It also beats the hell out of buying them from the store.  There’s something that’s just so much more special about having handmade in your kitchen.

I will post when I complete the other sets as well as a couple more amigurumi’s I’m working on, so until then, happy hooking!

Today I finished my latest project, a granny square table rug.  I wasn’t really sure what I was making when I started this project.  I just felt like making granny squares and using up some yarn I had an abundance of.  I didn’t have enough to make an entire afghan, so after making a few squares I thought I could turn them into a table rug (not sure what the proper name for that is, ha!) and the colors made me think of  my of my grandma.

She loves roosters and has like a million rooster related things in her house and the colors in this remind me of a rooster, so hopefully she will like it and find a place for it in her home.  Either that or I suppose it could be used around Christmas for decoration.

Crochet boredom produces weird things.  =D

My next few projects will be cutesy little things like I normally do.  I’ve had a few requests for different amigurumi critters and of course you’ll see them here when they’re completed.

Also, I’m thinking about participating in the Bernat 2010 Mystery Afghan Crochet Along.  I think it sounds like a lot of fun, but the only thing holding me back is the cost of the yarn right now.  I think it will make a really great Christmas present for someone special, so it just might be worth the cost, I think.  (Help me justify this!  LOL!)  I’ve been quite bored with my normal crochet creations, so perhaps something like this will do be good.  We’ll see.  I’ll certainly keep you posted if I decide to do it.

Anyway, until next time and happy hooking!

Okay, this should be my last jellies post for a while cause I’m sure you’re getting sick of seeing them.

Today I worked on making a smaller version perfect for hanging from a review mirror or some such place.  They measure approximately 5″ in length.  This particular jelly doesn’t have a face, but one can always be added to future orders. 

As always, they’re on my Etsy Shop.