Wednesday, October 4, 2017



Episode 12 of MelodyCrochet podcast has been published. And I am going to be doing Vlogoween! Can't wait to get to see you every day this month! Happy October, friends! Please send me suggestions about things to make and places to go and what to share. 

Podcast Show Notes and Tags


Yarn and Gifts


Patterns (on Ravelry)


Alongs

#SeptemberShawlAlong
#Vlogoween

Mentioned



Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Reflections Baby Blanket - A Free Pattern

Hello Friends!

Link to Pattern on Ravelry

I hope that this post finds you well and stashing. It's the closing of a beautiful summer full of surprises and crazy weather. I am here to post a little pattern for a baby blanket that I created for a friend that is expecting a baby any day now.

It is called the Reflections baby blanket. It is simple and catchy. You will have one done before you even realize you started it. I think we have all noticed the new fun yarn cakes that are popping up everywhere.

There are the Caron Cakes:


There are the Premier Sweet Rolls:


There are the Bernat Pops:



There are the Lion Brand Mandala:




And my most recent experiment ...the Yarn Bee Sugar Wheel. I was gifted with one cake and lucky enough to find another to match it.



Grab two that match and make one of these blankets. Even if yodon'tdont match just leave out the center contrast color and let the colors land where they will. It is still going to be gorgeous. Mine was made for a baby...but at 36" by 26" I think it would make a great lapghan for anyone.









Thursday, July 6, 2017

Episode 7 of the MelodyCrochet Craftcast!


Hi! I hope that you will spend a little time with me today talking about my recent projects and celebrations! What did you do recently for Independence Day, Canada Day or whatever you celebrate locally?

FOs

Baby Blanket

Piano Baby Cocoon

WIPS

Beach Bag by Zeens and Roger

Blurre Shawl by AddyDae Designs

Easter Socks


Aquisitions


Red Heart Super Saver Stripes - Flemenco Stripes

Caron Simply Soft - White, Lavender and Grape

Lion Brand Mandala - Wood Nymph


Malabrigo Sock - Solis

Muffins - Recipe


Have a nice week!!
I would love to see you in the MelodyCrochet Ravelry group! and please add me on Instagram for yarny news and family fun. And food.

Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins (Gluten Free)





  • My husband is gluten free so we always try to go gluten free when we make treats so that we don't leave him out of the fun. He isn't allergic to gluten. He is following a low inflammation diet because last year he was suffering some sciatica pain and found that taking out gluten made him feel a lot better REALLY fast. So he is very dedicated to this way of eating. This is not a diagnosis. Just passing on his experience and why I usually choose to make things gluten free. We really don't miss it. We do eat a lot more corn tortillas and oatmeal now, though. 

  • I am gearing up for the July Forth celebration so these went into some cute stars and stripes cupcake cups and onto my holiday themed doily. As one does. ;)

    These turned out really good! And so fast and easy. I would just love to share my version of the recipe with you!

  • Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins

  • 2 cups good quality gluten-free flour blend
  • 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend has xanthan or guar)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup  brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup plus a few extra for the topping of Hershey's Special Dark Mildly Sweet Dark Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 375F degrees. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

Mix the flour, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Salt and Baking Soda in a medium bowl. Whisk until incorporated.

In a medium bowl mix the pumpkin, brown sugar, coconut oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients all at once and stir just until mixed. 

Fill each cup 2/3 full and top with a pinch of brown sugar and a few more chocolate chips just to spoil them. 

Bake 15-18 minutes or until they spring back after you touch the top. 

Enjoy and please tag me on instagram if you make them! @melodycrochet


Monday, July 3, 2017

The Piano Cocoon and Hat




Hi everyone! I hope this post finds each of you well.

It was an amazing June but we are so excited to celebrate the 4th of July! Lots of decorating and plans for the day have taken place. But, I wanted to make a little something to commemorate the holiday. So I wrote up a pattern that several people have asked forever since I shared my first one.

It's my Piano themed Baby Cocoon and hat!

I have made lots of these and the pattern evolved over the years.

It is available on Ravelry and on Etsy.

And since it's the holiday this will be free on Ravelry until July 5th with the coupon code "Freedom". I hope that you enjoy it and that you will please tag me with any pictures that you take of it on the little ones. I just love seeing them!

Take good care!! Melody

Friday, June 16, 2017

MelodyCrochet Podcast Episode 5 - Crochet, Knitting, and that evil machine

Episode 5 of the MelodyCrochet podcast was just published!









I want to thank everyone that has subscribed with a giveaway! Head over to the MelodyCrochet Podcast group to enter the giveaway for a copy of the Sunday Shawl Pattern from Alia at The Little Bee!



This week we talk about a new place I visited, I share an amazing swap package that I received, I go on and on about sewing on that evil machine and discuss my sons birthday last week!



Tea: Chai from Trader Joes (Nom!)



Here is some information on the projects that I discussed this week!

Willowfall Cowl by Remade By Hand

Malabrigo Sock in Light of Love on Size 5 Needles.



Sunday Shawl by The Little Bee 

I Love this Cotton on a Clover J Hook



Mystery Machine Sock

Regia 6-Fadig (means 6 Ply...aka Sport) on Size 1 Chiaogoo Twist interchangeables on the mini wire.



Unicorn Yarnachino Yarn

My Creative Garage



Beach Bag - Free pattern!

Zeens and Roger on the Hobbycraft website (link on Ravelry)

Caron Cake in Fairy Cake on a G hook



My shorts pattern was NewLook A6271 ...I omited the waist band and just cut the waist two inches higher than suggested and did a fold over elastic tunnel.



My skirt pattern was just traced from a skirt that fit me in a way that I like.



Pineapple Tank

Red Heart Baby Sheen on an F Hook



Speckled Space Socks

MelodyCrochet Sparkle yarn and size 0 Addi Turbo Sock Rockets



Bendy Arrow Shawl

Malabrigo Sock in Dewberry (Purple) and Indicieta (Green)



KALS/CALS



Brontealong with LoveSockWool



Summer Romance Along with Crochet Luna and Crochet Cakes



Let me know what you think and what you are working one! Take good care and see you next week. (((hugs)))








Wednesday, June 7, 2017

MelodyCrochet Podcast Episode 4!

Did I mention that I started a podcast? No?! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to leave you out. But, the idea of starting was a little overwhelming. Very little organizing or admin was done because I didn't want to make it any more work than it was for fear that I just wouldn't do it. But I did it! And I'm really glad that I have. I also started a little ravelry group for the podcast, please come join us! It's my next bit of admin to attack. I would love to hear from you for support as I learn. 

I will be posting show notes there and here. I will just link to hear from the group. I tried to just do the notes on there but I am so much more used to formatting on this platform. I will also be posting more here about my projects. I have been making quite a bit. I just have not been writing much about my endeavors. What have you been working on? I'd love to hear! But here is the show notes for episode 4!






Finished Objects

Ripples of Happiness by Sucrette (she has the most amazing blog...it makes me want to crochet everything in my home!



WIPS



She has the most colorful instagram feed! She will make you want to crochet every pattern in every colorway that you see! So pretty. 

Bendy Arrow by Charlotte Bory of the Charlotte and Gus podcast!

housed in a bag that was gifted to me and made from this pattern:



New Stuff!

In this episode I talk about these new-to-me items!

Chiaogoo Twist Interchangeable Knitting Needles in Mini needles and cable
Regia 6-Fedig Sport weight sock yarn 
Daiso Crochet Hooks 
Project bay from the Target Dollar Hot Spot. 



Dream Knitting:

Campfire Cardigan Jess Coppom



KALs/CALs
#Brontealong with LoveSockWool podcast


Summer of Romance Crochet and Knit along with Crochet Cakes Podcast and Crochet Luna Podcast (#SRCAL)

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

I crocheted a blanket!

Hi guys! Hope you are all doing well. 

Things are good here. I do love when summer comes. But the oncoming heat is no excuse not to gift a little girl with a blanket. Hopefully,  she will be able to enjoy this blanket for years to come. 

And here it is! I hope that Waverly loves it. :) 


And the supplies!

I was able to use a hefty mix of worsted weight acrylic from my stash for this: 

Hobby Lobbys Crafters Secret - A35 - Purple, A Grape Fit 
Hobby Lobby - I Love This Yarn - Lavender, Teal, Pink and Tropical Pink Red Heart Super Saver Solids - Lavender Big Twist - Value - Light Teal 


and I used my trusty size J clover hook!

The pattern that I used was the Ripple of Happiness pattern by Le Monde Du Sucrette. This beautiful, free and SUPER wiggly ripple pattern went so fast!





Please note that I do use affiliate links. The Amazon links give me a little money if you purchase anything. Which is awesome and GREATLY appreciated. The other links are all just for your information purposes. Sadly, the ones to the stores directly do expire...if that happens I will try to take care of the link as soon as I know about it. 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Little Goth Doll




I made a doll for our dear friend Kate. She wanted a voodoo doll and I wanted to make a cute one. Here is the compromise. I found a pattern and just mimicked it. I would have followed it but it was a little pricey and did not look like anything that I couldn't duplicate.

While I was working I wrote up the pattern. It will work for this and any type of doll that you might want to make. Just change up the colors. I will be making many more. It was so much fun and worked up so quickly!

I used less than one ball of each color in I love the Cotton from Hobby Lobby. I think that cotton is the best yarn to use for amigurumi. It keeps its shape and cleans up well. It feels really nice when you are making it and photographs beautifully. It takes color best when you are adding detail shading. Use a brush, not your fingers. It's hard to tell in the above picture...but her skin is shimmery ivory. I tried to capture that but it really messed with the color. So here is a close-up that captures it a bit.


In other news we are so pleased to see signs of spring. I have already bought roses and berries to plant. The weather still has a chill but the sun is out and the birds are singing. In the morning it is hard to get out of the big warm bed but when I do the drives to school at sunrise are right out of a picture. I just want to photograph and share each one!

I am on the hunt for a good couple of purple yarns to make my next shawl out of. I want a variety. I am dreaming up a fade shawl. But I might make Arabella next instead.

xo,
Melody

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Bun Hat - a free pattern



Messy Bun Hat

There are a ton of bun hat patterns popping up everywhere. But they were lacking a little something for me. I went ahead and took the inspiration and made it my own.

I used Unforgettable Yarn from Red Heart 70 grams/200 yards total. That it is less than one ball but this hat is worked holding two strands together. I was making more than one hat (of course!) so I just held two strands together from separate balls of the yarn. If you are just making one hat I would divide the yarn prior to starting your hat...this is not a great hat to work from both ends of the ball on, in my opinion.

Surprisingly, since I worked from the outside of both balls the yarn colors changed in the same way at the same time so you can hardly even tell I held two strands together when looking at my hat. Next time I will be making one where I start on different colors. I love my Tealberry colorway and would love to see those colors play together even more.

I work in rounds for the body of this hat. I do not slip stitch, chain 2. I just work in a spiral all the way up. The decreases I make are taken at the seam in back. To make this easy to see I put a locking stitch marker so that I have a mental reminder of where the back seam is.

So here is what I used!

1 ball of Unforgettable Red Heart Yarn separated into two balls.
I hook
H hook
Locking Stitch marker 
Yarn Needle to weave in the ends

I used these stitches and abbreviations!

sc - single crochet
sc blo - single crochet through the back loops only (when looking at the top v that a stitch makes, you are working only in the branch that is farther away from you.
hdc - half double crochet
dec hdc - decrease half double crochet
yo, insert into next stitch, yo, pull back, yo insert into the second stitch, yo, pull back, yo and pull through all of the loops on the hook.

And here is what I did!

We will start by making a long strip of sc in the back post only that will fit around your head. It will be 70 rows of 8 single crochets.



With your I Hook while holding 2 strands of yarn together chain 9, turn
sc in the second chain from the hook and across (8sc)
*ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch across (8sc) in BACK LOOPS ONLY*
repeat * to * 68 times. Do not Fasten Off.

This ribbed band of 70 rows should fit nicely around the head of most teens and women. Its stretchy!

When your band is complete place fold in half lengthwise (like in the picture above) with right sides facing and single crochet these together to form a loop. This is your hat band and will look much neater in a color changing yarn that it would if you used a Back Post/Front Post Double Crochet. I make alot of baby hats this way too because they grow so quickly. This stretchy band makes it so they can wear the hat longer.

Now to make the body of your hat!

Continuing with the same I hook and the same yarn strand (still held double) that you had not fastened off after seaming up the band.

1) chain 2 and HDC in each stitch along the side of your hat band across (70) place marker as the start of the next row.
2) *hdc across until the last 4 stitches before marker, half double crochet decrease 2 times*
3-7) repeat * to * 5 times. Change to H hook
8-10) repeat * to * 3 times

We have decreased 2 stitches per row for 9 rows now. We are down to 52 stitches and the hat is nearly done. We will now decrease a bit more aggressively so it really hugs the top of your head to show off that messy bun!

11) hdc, dec hdc around to the marker
12) dec hdc around to marker.
13) sc around to marker, slip stitch into the first stitch of the row and FASTEN OFF! *confetti*

Weave in your heads, take a picture, post it to Instagram and tag me (Im MelodyCrochet).

Keep warm guys!

With love,

Melody

There are affiliate links in this pattern. Thank you SO much if you use them. I only link to things that I have used and enjoy.






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