Katiedid Crafts

What's in My Stash

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

I have had this yarn so long I have already finished projects with two out of the three skeins of yarn in these pictures!

I went to a local art fair with a friend over the summer and came out with nothing but yarn, go figure right?!

This yarn was my absolute favorite! I adore how the colors look when they are loosely knit with some big needles. I made a gorgeous cowl and headband from this one skein.

This was a maroon yarn I purchased because it is the school colors of the volleyball team I coach. I used this to make some adorable headbands!

This is the lone yarn yet to be used. I just couldn't help myself! I have a weakness for wool yarn for some weird reason. Plus, it was on clearance. How can you say no to that!

Unfortunately, I in the store the purple looked like royal blue. It was quite a surprise when I saw it again when I got home. Just shows how important lighting is to decide what color something truly is.

Soon there will be pictures up if the great pieces I made from these great skeins!

Flower Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

I made this hat for a friend that has her own photography business. She told me exactly what she wanted and this is what I came out of it. I must say I really love this hat. Probably not as much in real like but I like this as a photography prop. It's just charming and incredibly girlish.

I will be getting a pattern out for this hat, hopefully quite soon. I just wanted to get some pictures out, because I was so pleased with the outcome of this hat!

New Year, New Goals

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

I know it seems ironic, I haven't posted in forever and then here comes January and I resolve to get back in the groove and get posting again. Honestly, it really just worked out that way. At any rate, I do have some new goals I want to accomplish within the next few months. I really was in quite a groove with my regular posting and even just my knitting in general. Then the fall came volleyball season followed by a trip to London and the holidays. People that blog every single day are horribly committed. Its quite impressive.

In the near future, I would like to get a shop set up. I have dabbled around in Etsy, but I just am not in love with it the way many people are. There is definite value in the marketing you can get from using such a popular website but then again I believe these boutiques have their own niche. I see these gorgeous little online boutiques that are just so adorable it makes me want to buy things I could easily make myself.

I also am looking into the possibility of my own site. Sorry Blogger but I may be bidding you adieu this year. Once again, I am would very much like a website that is mine, especially if I do open my own shop.

And finally, I will be posting more. Many people start blogging with these lofty ideas of posting every day or five days a week. It just for many people with a full time job just isn't possible. So I am committing to posting more. I have a few great hats I have made over the past few weeks that are very cute and I will hopefully be finishing up on the patterns soon.

As far as actual projects, I will get through an actually pair of socks! Not just one lonely sock. Two. A pair. That someone can actually wear. My sister knows of my sock problem and gave me a book that shows you how to knot two socks at once. I haven't really had the chance to delve into this book but I will soon.

So stay tuned!

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Fierce but Friendly Dragon

This a really great pattern for a dragon. You can make him fierce or friendly. Or black or green. Or in my case navy and gold. Mine however looks quite strange right now as he only has a body and looks like a deformed snake. He will achieve a great look quite soon though.

However, he is for someone else so I can't really even name him. I guess I can't even say for sure it is a him and not a her. If this was my dragon, it would be a her and I would make her green and call her Saphira. Probably because I am in the middle of reading Eragon. Last month this would have been a Norbert.

I am actually really enjoying this pattern and I will hopefully have it done by the end of the week! You should definitely check out the pattern and make your own lovely little dragon.

Reveling in Ravelery- New Baby

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:37:00 +0000

Daisy Baby Mary Jane Shoes: What a great spin on a classic baby shoe. I really don't think you could go wrong with these shoes! you can customize to whatever colors you would like to use and have a great unique addition to a shower gift!

Anthrologie Inspired Flower Headband

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:51:00 +0000

I love Anthropologie inspired accessories. There are great tutorials all over the blogging world of great jewelry and knit wear that you can make yourself for a fraction of the cost. This past winter I had found a few different knit headbands I wanted for myself, or for gifts. The Anthro Inspired Plaited Headband was another one of these fabulous headbands.

Onto the specifics:

Items Required:

- worsted weight yarn in two coordinating colors

- size H crochet hook

- size 7 circular needles

- plastic darning needles

Pattern:

Cast on 72 stitches. Join in the round.

Round 1-3: K2, P2 to end of round

Next three inches or the headband (or however long you want to make it): Knit to end of row

Final 3 rounds: K2, P2 to end of round

Rosette Pattern is found here.

I sewed the Rosettes onto the headband but you could also use a hot glue gun. I however had a few bad run-ins with mine so I opted for the safer choice.

Hope you enjoy my pattern. I know it's summer right now, but it's never too early to get a jump on Christmas presents!!

Reveling in Ravelry- Fedoras

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Well I didn't used to like these. I believe strong dislike would probably be a better term. They are kind of growing on me. Slowly growing anyways. So of course I always am thinking, I need to make one.

So I hopped on Ravelry. I found a few ones I liked and even one that was made of straw and one with a pattern in Japanese.

Take a look at the ones that made the cut:

Novi Hat: This one, as far as coloring, looks to me most like what I picture when I hear the word fedora. I also really do like the brim.

Straw Fedora: I must say, I think this one is my favorite. I love the idea of paper yarn because it looks so unique!

Crochet Fedora: I love the yarn used in this hat! I definitely would change the red, probably to green.

There really aren't too many great patterns for a fedora, much less free ones. This may be something in which I need to invest. We shall see...

Baby Minion Hat

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:18:00 +0000

Many people have become familiar with my Despicable Me Minion Hat Pattern. Now we have a a slightly revamped version for the little minion in your life.

All I did to mix this up was start with less stitches than I did in the adult sized one. I started with 54 stitches and basically guessed my way through the rest of the hat. I will say I think it turned out adorable.

Anthro Inspired Double Plait Bobbies

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:46:00 +0000

Here is something else that I knew I wanted from Anthropologie that I was going to refuse to pay $18 for- Double Plait Bobbies. I love the idea of cute little bobby pins that have a little bit of sass of glam to dress them up. So after seeing these I knew I needed to try some myself.

Want some of your own? Here's how:

What you need: hot glue gun, skinny ribbon, bobby pin, hair pin (as pictures above you can see the hair pin in wider than a bobby pin and doesn't pop out at the end as a bobby pin does) I haven't tried this with using two bobby pins so I don't know what the end result would look like.

After you get your supplies together you take the hair pin and your ribbon and slide it through as I did above.

Fold the outside edge into the middle and use a dot of glue to put it in place.

Flip the pin over so you cannot see where you glued it in the back. If there is ribbon sticking off the edge just trim it down with some scissors.

Here you need to take the ribbon and pull it up towards you and over top of the right bar of the pin and slide it back through the middle. Kind of like you are braiding it in with the hair pin. Then continue by pulling the ribbon over top of the left bar and slide it back through the middle so it pops out on the bottom side of the right bar.

Continue to "braid" the ribbon through the hair pin until you reach the bottom. There you take another dab of glue to hold the ribbon in place and wrap the ribbon around the whole pin at the bottom and glue into place again.

Here is another one I made in blue with slightly thinner ribbon. Try different colors and patterns and see what creative things you can think of!

Bailey Bear's Bear

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:54:00 +0000

I must say I really do think that this bear turned out quite adorable. That most certainly doesn't mean it was glitch free and easy. I also would change a the way I knit this. If anyone is considering making this bear, do it in the round! It was a ton of seaming! About halfway through the seaming process, I broke my last needle at a Fourth of July party. That to say the least, added immensely to the irritation at the seaming.

I also added the bow to the bear to give it an extra little punch of cuteness. If you are interested in adding the bow, you can find it here. If you want the whole package, the bear was made by Debbie Bliss.

Overall, this bear is adorable and squishy and perfect for a new baby boy or girl. Also, with enough preparation, it would make a great shower gift!

Reveling in Ravelry- Harry Potter

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:53:00 +0000

All good things must come to an end...

Wait wrong series- I think I just gave myself away as a Star Trek nerd. Anyways, with the end of the Harry Potter series coming to a close I wanted to pay tribute. I was looking for unique patterns this week- not just your run of the mill scarf. So I hope you enjoy my picks as we say goodbye to Harry, Ron and my boy Draco oh well maybe I am the only one that's a fan of him. I have always been a sucker for the villains

Puppet Pals: Here is a your opportunity to get some of your favorite characters on your fingertips. Most HP fans have at least heard of or seen the puppet pals videos. Now you can create your own with six different characters! Here are Harry and Co and Snape, Voldy and Dumbledore are here.

By time the 7th movie is out everyone has taken a quiz to find out which house they would be in. I, obviously, would be in Slytherin. But if you really want to know for sure, you will have to knit up your own Sorting Hat.

Dressing up for the premiere? Whip up this Mad Eye Moody patch to complete the look. Or save this one for Halloween. HP will still be cool.

Broomstick Bookmark: Since the movies are based upon books, I knew I need to include this bookmark. This would be a great addition if you gave someone these books as a gift!

But remember, no knitting during the movie!

Owl Hat Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:39:00 +0000

Many of you remember my owl hat I posted about here. I made these hats for someone that has their own photography business. I had gotten some pictures from her of the hats. Her pictures are obviously leagues better than mine.

Seriously how adorable?! I am still drafting up the pattern for this hat. It will come eventually!

Reveling in Ravelry- Gather 'Round the Campfire

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:22:00 +0000

Welcome to my online bonfire! Who doesn't love to sit around a fire on a cool summer's night!

Check out some of the great things you can knit or crochet to go along with it!

Campy and the Mallows: Well to start this party, we definitely need to start with a fire. This one comes with a bonus of mallows on a stick. Sadly, one of them is looking a little burnt.

Hot Dog: Perfect dinner for those looking for something over a fire. Although I must say I prefer some ketchup on top of mine...

Amigurumi S'more: What is a better treat while gathering around the fire? I love this little guy!

Find them on Ravelry:

Amigurumi S'more

Hot Dog

Campy and the Mallows

What's in my Queue?

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:16:00 +0000

In case you haven't noticed, I really enjoy my Star Wars. Imagine my excitement when I found this cute little guy in my queue.

Who doesn't love a little furry Ewok? Little, furry and quick to make. Check our Ravelry or Etsy to find many other Star Wars amigurumi as well. I am definitely making it a priority to make this little critter soon.

Reveling in Ravelry- Fourth of July

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:20:00 +0000

I know, it's so cliche, but it was bound to happen. Right? Well hopefully everyone will find plenty of time to whip up a project or two while you're out about about this weekend. Here are some fabulous ones to incorporate into your party this year!

4th of July Toilet Paper Topper: Having people over? Keep extra toilet paper available in your bathroom without simply having it sitting out. Plus it stays with the theme!

Checkerboard Picnic Blanket: If you're going to see some fireworks then check this out! This project will do double duty! Keep the kids occupied while your waiting for the fireworks to start and provide them with something to sit on. Who doesn't like to kill two birds with one stone?

4th of July Beach Bag: Spend the day at the beach with your new beach bag. This things will hold a ton. No matter where you end up on Independence Day, you will have a great bag to lug around.

Beverage Can Holder: Perfect holder for your drink of choice this weekend. Although, I must say, I agree with the picture. Coke is definitely the best choice!

Hope everyone has a safe, wonderful, RELAXING holiday weekend! I know I plan on it!

Ravel it:

4th of July Toilet Paper Topper

Checkerboard Picnic Blanket

4th of July Beach Bag

Beverage Can Holder

Changes are a'comin

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:16:00 +0000

It's always good to grow and strive for improvement. I believe so anyways. With that said I have decided I am going to make some big changes around here, all of which are for the better. New hosting, new domain, new new new!

Hopefully, this transition will be smooth and easy. I am aiming to have all my content and links moved over easily!

I have Interest in Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:38:00 +0000

My sister always tells me when she finds cool websites, or crafts or whatever. She introduced me to a very cool website called Pinterest.

Basically it is a very creative way to keep track of all the awesome things your run across on the interest. Instead of having a bazillion bookmarks as I do- you simply pin them. Then of course they had to make it so other people could see exactly what you are doing so you can follow people's pin boards.

So let me know if you want in invite or follow me here.

Reveling in Ravelry- Beach Animals

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:04:00 +0000

I decided I was going to start a weekly series of different Ravelry patterns I come across and love. I am going to try and keep within a theme each week and if you have a pattern that goes with the theme feel free to comment!!

This weeks theme is beach animals. I am so ready for summer and the official calendar start of summer was this week. So I figured we should give a nod to the start of summer.

Duuuuude the Sea Turtle- So cute and I have recently been loving little animals that are so quick to knit!

Little Lobster- I first came across this adorable little lobster while browsing but the real gem was discovered when I actually looked at the full picture instead of the thumbnail- the mermaid. I mean what gets more summery and beachy than that!! So here is a pdf of both patterns. Little Lobster and Baby Mermaid.

Fishing Game- How many of you ever played the magnetic fish game with the little fishing poles when you were younger? Because I certainly did all the time!!! This is a highly portable version of this game and the water even turns into a carrying case for this game!! This would be a perfect game to bring to the beach for the kiddies!!

Jellyfish- Speaking of games, if you're Dory from finding Nemo, we can bounce on top of the jellyfish. I love this little guy and I think he would look super cute in many different colors. I just love how the little spirals come down as the tentacles!

Throughout the post I linked directly to the blog posts so you could quickly check out the details of the projects.

Now here you can share your work on Raverly

Duuuude the Sea Turtle

Lobster and Baby Mermaid

Fishing Game

Jellyfish

Bailey's Bear

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +0000

This is me betting on the fact that certain people do not read my blog. Because I am just way too excited about finishing this project to not share it. This is the most adorable little knit bear ever. I immediately fell in love with it. Then I found out a family friend was having a little girl and were planning on naming her Bailey, nickname- Bailey Bear. Clearly this meant she needed this bear.

So instead of posting my pictures just yet here is the info from Ravelry.

Teddy Bear

By: Debbie Bliss

Direct link to pdf pattern: here.

I would however change one major thing about this pattern. I would absolutely knit it in the round if I ever made this again! Gorgeous pattern way too much seaming.

Anyways, still so very cute. My pictures will come at a later date.

National Knit in Public Day

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:58:00 +0000

... and of course I participated. For those of you wondering, it was June 11. So if you missed it, you will have to wait till next year. I knit at not just one but two grad parties. I surprisingly got a lot done while I was talking to people.

Here is my proof of participation...

Feetie Socks

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:25:00 +0000

I know, I know, these should be called footies. But our youth pastors daughter, calls them feetie pajamas and feetie socks, so I find that much more fitting. Plus it's way cuter.

Anyways, I wear flats to work basically every day. And I normally don't wear socks, which is gross. I know. This is place to be honest. Besides this is the solution.

I kept looking on Ravelry for little footie covers or ballet socks. I found a few ballet flat sock patterns I might try and there even was the one I started here. Those by the way, still aren't finished. But then I decided wipping something up of my own would be better.

Here's how we started off. I am fairly pleased so far. Hopefully we will get everything finished up soon and my feet will be much happier. Plus everyone will be happy because I will post the pattern so you can have happy feet too!

Viking Hat

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:12:00 +0000

I finished a project on one of my "Why Haven't I Made This Yet?" posts. What a great feeling. Seriously. I have zero use for this as I have no children and the ones I know are girls. Still love this hat. It's adorable.

Another reason for needing to find a baby I can borrow...

This is clearly not Jasmine's best look. Not sure I could ever replace her. She is a faithful model. She probably just needs to get a slightly bigger head. Instead of digging out my old Barbie styling head, I just searched for more stuffed animals.

Meeko also doesn't have a big enough head. He is too busy eating anyways.

Clearly my family HATES Disney. As evidenced by all the old stuffed animals and dolls and Disney references. I was thinking while I was taking all these pictures I should figure out how to make a little hat with a tiara attached to go along with this.

Overall, I think this is a great hat and I love how it turned out! Maybe there will a pattern to follow.

Woody's Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Woody's Roundup

Right here every day

Woody's Roundup

come on, it's time to play

There's Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl

(yo-de-la, you-de-la, yo-de-la)

Bullseye, he's woody's horse

(grrr...he's a smart one)

Pete the old prospector

and Woody the man himself

of course

It's time for Woody's Roundup

He's the very best

He's the rootinest tootinest cowboy

in the wild wild west

Woody's Roundup

Come on, gather round

Woody's Roundup

Where nobody wears a frown

Bad guys go running

Whenever he's in town

He's the rootinest, tootinest, shootinest, hootinest cowboy around

Woody's Roundup

Hopefully, that song isn't now stuck in everyone else's head like it is mine.

Finger Knit Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:59:00 +0000

Well I don't normally wear jewelry but I figure most people wouldn't even count this. Right? Well either way I love this because it's comfy, easy and cute. Can't ask for much more can you. Oh wait and it was free. I cut up an old tank top I was getting rid of. It's spring everyone is cleaning out their closet. Okay, now it's perfect.

I did this in the car on my way to a friends house because well I felt as though my outfit was too plain. So I was blog browsing and saw an idea which led me to make this.

Have any of you guys ever hand knit when you were little? I used to do it at my Nanny's house with these neon colored little bands. I obviously stole all the green ones from my sister's bags and would make many potholders that would probably leave your hand scorched anyways and many many bracelets. This on is much different than the ones I used to make because I only used one finger. Had to make it easy on myself my friend only lives 10 minutes away.

Want one for yourself? Um of course you do. Here's how it's done.

I started at the bottom of the tank top and I cut one strip around in a big spiral. I went around the tank three times and had extra to spare at the end.

Now starting this is the hardest part and after you get that done your will be cruising in no time!

Take one of the ends and put it across your palm then wrap the long end around your index finger as shown above.

Unfortunately this picture is just a little out of focus. So hopefully I can explain this so that it makes sense. Now you take the short end of the fabric and you flip it over the to the back side of your thumb AND over the other end of the fabric.

Now you wrap the long end across the front of your finger so that there are two strips across your finger. Now you flip the bottom over the top. Then you will only have one strip left. Now you take the long end of the fabric and bring is back across your finger. You don't wrap it around your finger you simply drape it across the front of your finger. So the first time you lay it over, it will go from in between your thumb and your index finger to between your index and middle finger. Then you flip then your will drape it back across the in between your thumb and index finger. Then you flip again. You continue on in this pattern until it's long enough to wrap around your wrist twice. The to tie it off I took the loop off your finger and pull the tail end through and pull. Then just use the other tail at the beginning to tie it together and enjoy!

Hoppin' Hat

noreply@blogger.com (KatieDid Crafts) — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:39:00 +0000

I always see the cutest hats around the internet. I see loads upon loads of ideas that I couldn't even hope to attempt them all. My Ravelry queue is packed and I have a whole file full of ideas. This one, however made it out of the to-do box and onto my faithful model, Jasmine.

It also made it onto an actual baby. This picture was taken by Stefanie at BP Studios. If you in the metro Detroit area check her out here!

I used size 10 needles and worsted weight yarn. Cast on 52 stiches. Work in a 2x2 rib pattern for about an inch. Then switch to pink yarn. Knit only in the round for about an inch and a quarter in the pink. Switch back to gray for the next inch. Then switch to blue and knit for an inch and a quarter.

Now here is the trickiest part of this whole hat. take half your stitches and put them onto a spare needles or a scrap of yarn. Then you join the first set of stitches into a round. Switch into the gray yarn and knit about 5 rounds. Switch to your dark pink and knit for five rows. Switch back to gray and knit about five rows. Then switch back to green. Here I just knit until I felt like the ears were long enough. Then I decreased as following:

- *knit 3 k2tg* till last set of 5 stitches. this one I knit one then k2tg twice

- knit a round

- *k2, k2tg* till end of round

- knit a round

- *k1, k2tg* till end of round

Take remaining stitches and tie them off.

Then do the other ear in the exact manner.

To get this hat to scrunch up like that all you need to do it take some scrap yarn and a plastic needle. I just slid the yarn through the hat until I achieved the desired effect.

Then your hat will look at fabulous as this...

Oh Jasmine, my ever faithful model. I wish her head was a tiny bit bigger, but for now she will have to do. I think I just need one of my married friends to have a baby I can outfit in all this stuff!