Friday, October 27, 2017

Episode 14 and Shownotes!



Finished Objects

Filet Skull Jumper

Dishcloths - Tunisian



WIPS

Oracle Shawl - Voolenvine

Cozi Cardigan by BobWilson123



Purchases and Presents this Week (What Have I Done?!)

Loops and Threads Cozy Wool

Fake Fur for Pompoms

Salt and Pepper Shakers from Target

Quirky Monday Crafts on Etsy for Caleishas gorgeous Bags

Rowan Summer Crochet Catalog

Earthly Hues

Vessel Yarn Co

Amandas Quilts N Such





Make Alongs

Brooklyn Knitfolk #BKHipsterKAL

Cozy Cottage and Crochet Luna are having the #SSTCAL

Pinfeathers and Pearls Podcast is having the #Mintalong





Please note, I do use affiliate links whenever possible. Its how I keep free patterns and content coming on a regular basis. I really appreciate your support in helping me share what I love with you full time.

Filet Crochet Skull Jumper



Hi! I hope this post finds you and yours doing well! It's a blustery fall day here in Texas. I recently finished a project that I just could NOT wait to share with you. It has inspired me to do SO much more filet crochet that I am currently designing more to wear so I can continue this look after Halloween.

I love horror and the spookies. My inner child is a little goth left in me from the 90s and I cherish her. Friday the 13th is something I celebrate so I planned this project as my "Friday the 13th Project". So, that morning my yarn, materials and pattern were all set aside and ready to go. I even did a gauge swatch. I was not let down. This was the perfect celebration crochet.

The "Filet Crochet Skull Jumper" is a pattern by Pony McTate. Pony has a few other patterns on Ravelry, as well. I am going to need a rapture top. Maybe a scrappy one, too. And her new sweater might need to happen, too. I have a holiday sweater along coming up November 1st in the Ravelry group. This one is tempting!

So, lets talk about the pattern. It was originally found in issue 59 of Simply Crochet magazine. I get that on my phone every issue so it was easy for me to access. But, the pattern can also be bought on its own here for $4.75 USD. The pattern was clear and simple.

This is a picture of the original pattern:



My modifications:

First off...no band on the bottom. That would have stolen my zest for this project. Just leached the fun out for me right off the bat. I just chained very loosely for as many stitches as I would need, plus 3 and then double crocheted back. Keep in mind this is worked in two pieces. Front and back. And then you sew them together. You can then add sleeves. I chose not to. I made is so wide that it practically formed its own cap sleeve.

I used an Boye Ergonomic Size 3.75 hook (an F) instead of the 4.5mm hook suggested. It sounds odd. But, I sized down my hook because I sized up my yarn. I went with Aran weight "I Love This Cotton" yarn instead of the sport weight "Yarn and Colors Must-Have" cotton yarn. I don't have easy access to The Must-Have  but it looks to have very similar drape and texture to the I Love This Cotton that I used. And this yarn has been sitting in my stash for YEARS. I love the color and just couldn't make myself turn it into a dishcloth. The ideal swatch size was 4 inches. After downsizing the hook my swatch was 6 inches wide and having a 50% larger skull was perfect in my eyes. BINGO!

I used the swatch to do the math on how many squares I wanted in my top. I figured out that I wanted 6 blank squares below the design and 4 blank squares above. I needed 10 free squares on the right and left of the widest part of the skull. This was all just a quick doodle on some 10 squares per inch graph paper (buy it here or print it from here). Having this on paper makes creating any new designs very simple. I think I'll need a big rose for Spring.

Outcome:

I love it! Its soft and comfy and just enough festive to walk around in all month long before a holiday. This was a fast project, simple enough for a beginner. I could not recommend it more.

Have a great day! Love always,
Mel

As Always this post is full of links and some are affiliate links. I would so appreciate you using them if they help you at all. Just to be fully open and honest I do sometimes receive compensation when you click them.

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

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