Pay It Forward: The Projects

Well, I finally got my Pay it Forward/First Five projects finished. Here's what I made, who I made it for, and why. I found this project to be really satisfying and may just repeat it periodically.

Sara's Project

Sara strikes me as the sort of woman who is very simply elegant. She is also a woman who suffers frequent migraines and other severe headaches.

I remembered seeing a pattern for an eye mask in Handknit Holidays and I thought it just might fit the bill. I knit it using a 100% silk yarn that was an absolute pleasure to work with. I filled it with flax and lavender. Flax retains temperatures well, so it can be cooled off in the refrigerator or warmed up in the microwave, depending on what temperature would feel more soothing.

The combination of the weight, the darkness a mask provides, and the optional temperature control have eased many a headache for me and I hoped they'd do the same for Sara.

Relax!

Laura's Project

Laura is an avid reader. As many avid readers also like to dabble in writing (ask me how I know...) I thought Laura might be able to get some use out of this notebook cover. The pattern is based on one presented in 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders but I altered it a little. The yarn is a really scrumptious handspun that I bought at a festival a couple years ago. I just really love the idea of taking a simple notebook and making it look a little more sophisticated and special.

It could also be used to cover and protect a paperback book (or just hide the cover of a trashy novel!) when she's reading it, if she prefers.

Write on!

Andrea's Project

Andrea is a stay-at-home mom who is utterly devoted to her kids and her husband. This is a wonderful trait and she should be applauded for it! Unfortunately, sometimes when folks are too devoted to others they forget about themselves. Andrea has admitted that she never takes any time for herself - it is just not a priority. She has ALSO told me that she has a super-bitchin' soak tub that she has NEVER used.

So I decided to make soap holders for Andrea. His and hers, so she didn't have to feel guilty about an indulgence just for her. Shared bath time can be fun AND indulgent! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

I used a pattern from the book 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders and some high quality cotton yarn. As I was making the set I thought, "I wonder if I couldn't make some soap to go with these? Handmade soap could be quite indulgent while not promoting guilt - ya gotta bathe! Why not bathe with something luxurious that was made just for you?" Andrea's soap is a lovely softening goat's milk base with lavender and vanilla to enhance the relaxation properties and oatmeal for exfoliation.


Indulge!

Crystal's Project

Crystal loves entertaining. She loves to cook for friends and she loves to get her party on! I thought, since she gets pleasure out of preparing food and drink for her loved ones, maybe I could give her a little pleasure during the planning stages. I thought a reusable grocery bag might be just the ticket.

I have several patterns for reusable shopping bags, but my favorite is this one.

I like the drawstring feature, but if Crystal doesn't she can easily remove it. It allows the bag to be more compact, so she can throw it in her purse.


This way, I figure one friend - me! - will be with her while she shops - thus extending the joy of entertaining.

Party on!

Linda's Project

Linda was tough for me because she is a very crafty chick herself. There is nothing I can do that she cannot do, too. That made things a little tougher on my end. The project I chose is no exception.

Linda loves jewelry and she loves the ocean. I made this jewelry box using seashells and sand from the beach. I like the open weave of the top for storing earrings. I hope she can get some use out of this and that it will remind her of the beach when she's not near it. I've made one for myself, too, and that's what it does for me!

Cowabunga!

Cass's Project

Cass was not one of my 'first five', but she was the one who sent the project out in the first place, and I wanted to send her a little something in the same spirit to thank her.

Cass is a righteously cool little chickadee. I think of her always as an earth mother. Cass knows herself and wants her children to be free to know - and, more importantly - be - themselves as well.

Like many good earth mothers, Cass is into yoga. I'd made a bag for my own yoga mat years ago using a pattern from Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis. I love the cables that loosely represent the tree pose. They are so fun to work. I knew Cass would feel the joy I experienced making it when she used it.


I had intended to make it using organic soy yarn, but when I went to pick that out I found this gorgeous green recycled cotton. Recycling is good karma, no doubt. And everyone knows that redheads like Cass look good in green.

Namaste.

Matt's Project

Matt was also not one of the first five, but he used my posting to initiate a fair trade. Matt is an amazing artist as well as a kick-ass bass player and he promised me an original work of art in exchange for a black toque he could wear on stage.

Um? No brainer.

Matt lives in a state where it's warm a lot more often than it's cold, so I didn't want to use wool for his toque. I used, instead, a high quality cotton DK. This is one of my favorite yarns and I have made untold numbers of baby sweaters using it because it is so darn soft.

I used a pattern from the righteous Debbie Stoller's Son of Stitch 'N Bitch.

And then I made one for myself.

Rock on!

Sue's Project

Technically, Sue was not in the first five either. She posted a comment then deleted it, silly woman with an itchy finger on the delete button!!! But the comment went to my e-mail anyway, so I figured she was SORT OF in the first five...

Also, Sue is easy to gift!

Sue has confessed on separate occasions to a bag/purse obsession, an addiction to coffee, and a love of the color blue fueled by a love of the Nittany Lions. What better gift than a 'coffee clutch'? (I know! Groan! I crack myself up!)

The perfect size for your keys, your wallet, your phone, and a couple Starbucks gift cards!

The purse was crocheted from another Debbie Stoller book, Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker using a durable nylon yarn. The embellishment is all me. I've made quite a few of these bags, and my signature "thang" is that I line them with old T-shirts. It's environmentally conscious and it gives a little funky cred to a simple clutch, I think. I know Sue is a very charitable gal, so, since I didn't have a Penn State T-shirt in my stash, I lined hers with an old 'Race for the Cure' T.


Shop on!

Hey! Paying it forward was way fun! Try it!

CassCozie Phase 2 (3?)

Well, the last time you saw the CassCozie, it looked like this:


When I got it back from Kim, it looked like this (minus the sleeve - I forgot to take a picture before I started working!):



I sent it back to Kim today looking like this:


This is WAY more fun than a Snuggie! Watch this space!

Looney Luna

Like many many others, we went to the midnite (well, 12:09, to be precise) showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. In years past when there was a midnite movie or book release party, we'd put some time and effort into costuming. Not as much time and effort as SOME folks put into it, but, you know, some.

Some years ago, my mom made cloaks for the girls. They were fully lined and lovely. These cloaks were worn for Halloween once or twice as well as for every movie and book release. Plus a little bit of general dress up. They were well worn and well loved.

Last night we're pretty sure Liv got the last use out of hers. It was a little tight and a little short, but it still worked, we thought.

Liv decided she wanted to be Luna Lovegood. A lovely choice. Everything other than the cloak was her own doing. First of all, she figured the best way to conjure Luna (AND give her something to do during the long wait before the movie) was to make herself a copy of The Quibbler. Which she proceeded to read upside down.

She found a template online and copied it, then glued it to construction paper. Initially she tried gluing that to an actual magazine, but she ran into some logistical problems she hadn't expected. Ever resourceful, she used the three hole punch to piece her covers together with a few pages from another magazine. (Once at the theater, she definitely wished she'd thought to add more content)

Quibbler good to go, robe on, hair curled (not in these pictures - Mom wasn't too quick with the camera), wand at the ready, a couple hours till showtime.

What to do? What to do?

What anyone would do, of course. She crocheted a holster for her wand in Ravenclaw colors. She had some problems with the tip of the wand poking through the loosely crocheted fabric, so she lined it. I was so proud of her ingenuity I could hardly see straight.

Yep, there's no way I can deny this one. I'm pretty sure she's mine.

BMC Wrist bag

This pattern was adapted from one originally found in Stitch 'N Bitch Nation by Debbie Stoller. I'd made a few of the bags following her directions, then made some alterations. Most notably, I added the applique and I made the bag slightly larger. This one can comfortably accommodate my camera, cell phone, notepad, credit card, license, a few bucks and a key chain. Not MY key chain, but a key chain.

BMC Wrist Bag

Materials
black worsted yarn - I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. 1 skein will make several bags. I think it would work well with nylon, too, and intend to try that soon.

lime green worsted yarn - I used Sugar and Cream because the color was great. You'll just need a small amount of this.

knitting needles size 6

crochet hook size F

beading needle

yarn needle

sequins (green)

seed beads (peridot and amber)

silver beads with an opening wide enough to be strung onto yarn

alphabet beads and/or other charms (optional - mine says BMC, of course!)

4" black zipper

black thread

Bag
- with black yarn, cast on 28 stitches
- work 6 rows garter stitch (k each row)
- begin stockinette stitch (k on front, p on back)
- work even until piece measures 4 1/2 " from beginning (end on k row)
- k next row (on wrong side) this will form a nice fold
- k next row (on right side) - return to stockinette stitch
- when folded work hits garter stitch section, switch to garter stitch and work 6 rows.
- cast off

Lime Applique
- with green yarn and crochet hook, ch 3.
row 1: 5 hdc in 3rd ch from hook
row 2: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each hdc
row 3: ch 2, turn. Hdc in 1st sc,* fpdc over hdc in row 1, skip next sc, hdc in next hdc* repeat from * to * across
row 4: ch 1, turn. *Sc in first st, 2 sc in next st* repeat from * to * across
row 5: ch 2, turn. Hdc in first 2 st, *fpdc over fpdc from row 3, hdc in next 2 st* repeat from * to * across.
Do NOT turn
work sc evenly across straight edge of applique, easing to fit. Work hdc in back loop only of round 5 as follows: *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st* repeat from * to * across. End w/ slip stitch to first stitch.
cut yarn and pull through loop to secure


Assembling
Place applique on bag in desired position. Tack down neatly with green yarn and yarn needle.

Secure sequins around outer edge with peridot seed beads.

Randomly secure amber seed beads to areas between "spokes" on lime.

Using black yarn, sew or crochet side seams.

Carefully hand sew zipper into place using black thread.

Cut 3 30" lengths of black yarn - secure a knot 6" from one end. Braid tightly until braid measures 14". Draw through opening in zipper pull. Knot one end tightly to the other, forming a wrist loop. Bead silver beads and/or alphabet beads/charms onto each of the 6 loose strands. Varying the length of each a little bit adds charm. Perfection is overrated. Tie a knot securely after each bead has been strund and trim the yarn to your preferred length.

As always, this pattern is mine, so please - feel free to use it to your little hearts content, but don't make a profit from it.

Please contact me with any confusing directions or errata and I will address it (to the best of my ability) promptly.

The Sky's the Limit!

Lea's May Dance was last night. A girl can't go to a semi-formal without a cell phone, but she doesn't want to carry a clunky purse. Lea didn't like the thought of a clutch, which is (or at least WAS!) my go-to bag of choice when the situation called for something a little fancier than an everyday purse. What to do, what to do?

Enter the zippered wrist purse. I found a pattern for this little bag in Stitch and Bitch Nation, by Debbie Stoller. I modified it slightly, adding a defined fold for the bottom.

It holds a cell phone and not a lot more. Lea got her cell phone and a lipstick in there. As I was making it, I thought about how handy something like this could be for me when I don't need the whole arsenal that I regularly carry in my bag. This holds my phone, a credit card, drivers license, a couple bucks and a key (but not my key ring...) Perfect for a night out! Perfect for a shopping day, when the bags get overwhelming (like I have shopping days when the bags get overwhelming anymore...). It would even be great just to hold credit cards or gift cards or a cell phone within a larger purse. How about feminine items? What a neat, cute way to keep those tidy in your purse (and eliminate embarrassment when they inevitably fall out).

I think this is really just a cute little bag with almost endless possibilities. I immediately whipped one up for myself using brown yarn and wood beads in place of the more blingy beads used on Lea's bag. I'm thinking for an even more casual look, I could eliminate the beads completely and do appliques (literally endless possibilities there... my head is spinning!). I could spell out initials with the beads rather than just going with a linear pattern for them.... Oh, I see every woman I know getting one of THESE soon!


They take very little time and very little yarn, so they're going to serve as stash busters, too. I tend to lean towards more neutral colors/schemes for myself - but for such a small project, I could actually go nutty! Make them to match specific outfits!

Lea all set to go to her big dance

We Heart Art!

Three Bay B Chicks, Domestically Challenged and I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor have been sponsoring "We Heart Art" week all week. For more details on this event, scoot on over here.

Personally, I have never had much luck with paper arts. Or clay arts. Or performing arts. But I took to yarn and needles like a duck to water. I was crocheting clothing items for myself when I was in fifth grade. (Of course I was in fifth grade in the era of crochet's hey day - potholder vests, crocheted suits and dresses, floppy hats. Yeah, I'm old. Whatever.)

I put crochet hooks and knitting needles in my kids' hands as soon as they had the fine motor skills to handle them. Both of them tried several times (with long lapses in between) before it really clicked for them. When crocheting clicked for Liv, it was like an artist's dream come true. You see, Miss Liv refuses to consult a pattern. She knows what she wants things to look like and she knows what she can do and she does her best to reconcile those two notions.

Here's a little showcase of a few of the things she's designed recently:

The drum kit was from a - well - a kit, but she did put it together. The doll is all her, baby. She crocheted the doll and then set to work creating a wardrobe. The above picture depicts her in her goth fairy ensemble. Dig the red wings!

This is the same ensemble, but with an added cape. (and an added proud artist)

This doll has several other outfits - fancy dresses, more capes, she's got a bangin' wardrobe!

Often Liv will become inspired by something I'm working on. That happened with my mushrooms. I found these awesome little felted mushroom patterns online and I knit one in every design. Super cute, right? Well, Liv thought that the little red and white toadstool looked like a good home for a fairy. I told her to knock herself out. Soon we had this little fairy taking up residence.


Isn't it awesome when you can make your own magic?


Not wanting her fairy to be lonesome, she quickly concocted a gloomy little friend for her to hang out with. There was a green-skinned Elphaba at one point, too, but a friend loved her so much that Liv gifted her with it.

Knitting and crocheting and other needlecrafts have brought me so much peace and joy; I am so thrilled to have passed that down to my girls.

And I am REALLY psyched to see where Liv's talents with the needle might take her.

CassCozie - Phase 1

This is what the CassCozie looked like after the raglan shaping was done and I slipped it off the needles to send it to Kim (as modeled by the lovely Lea)


Of course now Lea and I are both wanting one... you don't suppose we could get anyone to do half the work for one for ME do you? Those long rows were startin' to get MIGHTY boring... but when Kim sends it back it will be all shiny and new and I'll be anxious to work on it again.

What's on the Needles?

I haven't been updating much, because I've been working hard on my 'pay it forward' or 'first five' projects. I have several done, but I don't want to post anything until they're ALL done and received. It's driving me crazy, because I'm totally ready to show off the finished products. That will be one big show-offy post a few weeks down the line.

In the meantime, I got started on another time consuming project - the CassCozie. Another Facebook-driven project, now that I think about it! My friend Cass doesn't knit but a few of her friends do. She jokingly asked us to make her a snuggie. I said, "I think we could do this..." It's a serious stash busting project - my goal is to not spend a penny on it, we'll see how that goes. It's my very first round-robin type project. I'm knitting till I'm bored, then sending it along to someone else who will knit till she's bored then send it back or send it along to someone else. As a stash buster, it is taking on a serious 'coat of many colors' effect that I think is kind of cool. I think it will be even cooler when other people's stashes get thrown in. I imagine it will be quite a while before that one is completed, but it should be quite the thing when it's finally done!

Next quick project on deck: A little bag for Lea to carry to her May dance. I'm thinking a little drawstring bag she can wear around her wrist. Pics soon!

Hat Day

I recently read this post at The House of Heavy Sighs and I was quick to say, sign me up!

A couple years ago for Christmas, my lovely friends the Baskinds bought me the book Knitting for Peace. This is a book which I highly recommend, by the way. Not only are the patterns cute (my initial motivation for wanting the book in the first place!), but there is contact information for many charities who accept handknit items as well as guidelines. There are also inspirational stories, including my personal favorite, the story behind Peace Fleece (one of my favorite yarns now). So. A lovely and heartfelt gift that continues giving. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I made several of the Jester's caps for the cause (does anyone else think 'Gone With the Wind' when they refer to 'the cause'? Just me? Ok.)


I think they turned out pretty cute.

Here's the best part: As I was finishing up the last one, my youngest asked what I was doing. When I explained it to her, she said, "I wanna make a hat for the babies."

"Cool."

"These aren't the sort of babies that are obnoxious and get into things and chew on your glasses, are they?" (Olivia was disenchanted towards that sort of baby)

"Nope. These are teeny tiny babies who are working really hard to grow into that sort of baby."

"Ok. They should get their chance."

Olivia crocheted this.


Olivia is a good kid.

Here's one of mine on the doll, in case it was hard to imagine from the flat pics.


They are so wee. It is hard to imagine the head that will fit nicely into such a small article of clothing. I checked and re-checked my gauge and measurements. They were correct. I showed one to my sister, whose only daughter had been a preemie. She assured me that they looked just right.

I hope they are.

I'd forgotten how good it felt to knit for something beyond the sheer joy of it. When there was a purpose behind it, that joy was multiplied.

You worry about growing strong, little one. I'll worry about keeping your head warm.

Punk Rock Princess

Lea asked me to make her a tulle skirt to wear over jeans. (That's sort of a lie. She asked me to make her a tutu.)

I had some pink tulle lying around (don't you?) so I said, let's give it a shot. Keep in mind, please, that I am not a seamstress, so anyone who actually sews could probably do a lot better job of this, but this is what I came up with:


Cute, right?

Here's how I did it:

I had an approximately 2 yard length of tulle. I folded it in thirds lengthwise, then folded the top over about an inch and a half to form a casing. I pinned this fold in place and basted it down.

I cut along the bottom folded edge, now giving the skirt three distinct layers.

Then, along the lower edge, I used black crochet cotton to define and clean up the raw edges. Using a very small crochet hook, and working directly into the tulle, I created a simple single crochet-chain three border. I did this for all three layers.


I then fed 1 1/2 inch elastic cut to fit Lea's waist through the casing and she tried it on for size. It looked pretty cute, but there was a lot of bulk around the waist. Lea is quite slender, so she can sort of pull that off, but I still wanted to clean it up a little bit.

My first thought was a wide black ribbon belt, tied in a big pretty bow in the front. Every time we tried to use ribbon, though, it slipped and scrunched up. This called for something stronger. We found a black leather tie belt (from an old coat, I believe) and thought that would fit the bill. It worked pretty well, but we quickly realized we were going to need belt loops. I wanted to use black ribbon, but we didn't have any around the house, and at this point I was bound and determined that we were going to complete the full project without spending a penny. So we used a sheer pink ribbon. I cut four lengths of ribbon about the length of my arm and folded them over the casing. I held them in place by sewing some decorative skull buttons. (Which, yes, I also just happened to have lying around...)


I never DID do more than baste the casing down, but since Lea (and her friends!) love the skirt and it may see more than a little wear, I think I'm going to have to attach that more securely.


Here's the total look. Not bad for a mom who can't sew, eh?

Pay it Forward

A few days ago I received the following note from a friend on Facebook:


The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.

- What I create will be just for you.

- It'll be done this year (2009).

- You have no clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be a mixed CD. It may be a poem. I may draw or paint something. I might bake you something and mail it to you. It may involve yarn. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

And in return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make 5 things for 5 others.

Now I was immediately intrigued, particularly since the person who posted the note is a gifted painter and I am not. Hoping for an original piece of art for my home, I quickly responded and re-posted the note. I almost immediately had my five responses.

My gut impulse was to find a satisfactory design and make it for all five. A purse, perhaps. Something pampering. Something like that. Then I re-read the post. What I create will be just for you. How could I, in good conscience, treat it like an assembly line project? Besides, it was supposed to be almost a surprise, even though they signed up for it. Give it some time to slip to the back of their mind, then when it arrives it will be a lovely surprise.

I posted a note with all of their names on it above my desk, where I look at it many times throughout the course of the day. As I learn things through their posts about these women, I write them on my notes. Interests, dreams, favorite colors... and the ideas started coming. I won't say they're coming fast and furious, but they're coming. I know for sure what I am making for two of these gals, and I am happy with my plan. I am sure I will become equally inspired by the other three as our conversations unfold.

I think this is an awesome idea! I love working on things for people that don't have that deadline of 'birthday' or 'Christmas' or anything else. Just within a year. When I think of the right thing. Just for you.

When I've completed all five projects, I'll post them, but not before. You never know who's poking around on the interwebs and I sure don't want to ruin anyone's surprises!

Friday the 13th

Honest, sometimes I make things that are not pop culture references. (sometimes I say things that are not pop culture references, too, but it doesn't happen often...)

First, let me give credit where credit is due. CakeWrecks inspired me. Now this is a blog which makes me laugh almost daily, but it usually doesn't inspire me. My cake decorating skills are not even on a wreck-worthy level. But today? Well, I thought I could do something with what she presented today.

So without further ado, I present to you: Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees cookies.



Inspired, but not directly copied by the designs presented on CakeWrecks as well as the links within that post.


Here's the quick and easy cheat:

I purchased chocolate chocolate chip cookies and fondant. I sandwiched 2 cookies, using strawberry jelly as a filling. I rolled out the fondant then cut out large circles for each mask (I used a sandwich crimper - use what you've got - freestyle, if you have a steadier hand than I) I then cut out eyes using small cookie cutters. Again - use what you've got. I used a thick toothpick to place the rest of the holes. I pressed the fondant 'mask' over the cookie sandwich and, voila!


I did almost ENTIRELY rip off the note John M. posted on CakeWrecks. Since mine were for adolescents as an after school snack, I changed the cautionary portion a little bit. Mine went like this:

Hey Guys!

In honor of that hockey mask wearing patron of this unlucky day, I have made you some delicious Jason Voorhees cookies. Much like the diabolical monster, these tasty treats are dark and ugly on the outside, but they have a sweet, red, gooey inside (like many of his victims. You just won't need a machete to find it).

So, enjoy! And remember, it's never a good idea to make out with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Ever. Especially not in the woods. Or anywhere. Ever. Jason hates that.

Love,
Mom

If I were to do it again with the advantage of a little more forethought, I might make chocolate cupcakes with a jelly center and proceed to decorate them the same way. I might also use a chocolate chip or a jelly bean or something to define the nose on the hockey mask. But given that I did these on the fly, I think they came out pretty good.

So tell me? Who's the coolest after-school-snack-making-mom-on-Friday-the-13th? Aw, you don't have to answer that. I am.

Nannerpuss Amigurumi

A friend was enchanted by Denny's new spokesman and asked if I could knit her a Nannerpuss. I said I probably could, but I'd rather crochet one.

I added a thin gauge wire around each of the "peels" to make the Nannerpuss poseable. If you are making this toy for a young child, you would need to adapt this pattern by eliminating the wire and the googly eyes.

You can probably find yarn in your stash to make this project. You don't need to use "the good stuff" to make this project cute. Certainly a plus when you're making something on trend and just for giggles.

If you'd like to make one of your own, here's how I did it:

Nannerpuss Amigurumi
Materials needed:
About 1/2 skein Vanna's Choice baby in Duckie (or any worsted weight yarn in a banana-like color)

Small amount dark drown - also in worsted weight

Crochet hook size H

26 gauge wire

2 googly eyes

Small amount black felt

Small amount fiberfill stuffing

Craft glue

Directions:
With dark brown yarn, ch 2
Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round - do not join work)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around. Break off dark brown.
Row 3: Attach yellow. 1 sc in back loop only of each sc
Row 4: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 5: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc)
Row 6: sc in each sc around. Work even until piece measures approximately 5" from the beginning (or to desired length)

When desired length is reached, slip stitch in next stitch.

First "peel"
Row 1: ch 1, sc in front loop only of next 3 sc; ch 1; turn
Row 2: sc in each sc across; ch 1; turn (3 sc)
Rows 3-18: repeat row 2
Row 19: draw up a loop in each sc; yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook. Fasten off

Second through eighth "peel"
Attach yarn to main piece in next sc. Repeat directions for first "peel"

Base
with yellow, ch 2
Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round - do not join work)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around
Row 3: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 4: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc) Do not fasten off.

Stuff "nanner" section lightly with fiberfill. Position base right side up over opening. Slip st base to nanner, tucking in loose yarn ends as you go. Fasten off.

Hold wire along one "peel". Attach yellow yarn at base of same peel. Sc along edges, over the wire. Work up and down along each "peel". When you have gone around all eight peels, join yarn w/ slip st. Fasten off. Cut wire and twist it on itself (attach the beginning to the end). Weave wire through stitches along the base to conceal it. Weave in yarn ends.

Attach googly eyes (1 or 2 - your choice - Nannerpuss has been pictured both ways) with craft glue.

Cut a small moustache from black felt and attach with craft glue.

Pancakes
Materials Needed:
Lion Brand Cotton Ease - 1 skein each maize and almond

Crochet hook size H

Directions:
Holding one strand of each yarn together, ch 2

Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round, do not join)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
Row 3: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 4: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc)
Row 5: (sc in next 3 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (30 sc)
Row 6: (sc in next 4 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (36 sc)
Row 7: (sc in next 5 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (42 sc)
Row 8: (sc in next 6 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (48 sc)
Row 9: (sc in next 7 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (54 sc)
Row 10: (sc in next 8 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (60 sc)
Row 11: (sc in next 9 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (66 sc)
Row 12: (sc in next 10 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (72 sc)

sl st in next st, fasten off

Make a second disc in the same manner. Hold the two discs together, wrong sides facing. Using one strand of ecru, join then through the inner loops only using reverse sc (crab stitch). Fasten off. Weave in any visible ends.

Make as many pancakes as you desire for Nannerpuss to perch upon. One skein of each of the yarns listed makes about 3.


I am relatively new to actually writing out a pattern, so please be gentle with me. Kindly point out any errata or areas of confusion in the comments and I will address them immediately. As always, this is my work. Please: personal use only. Thanks.

Why Another Blog?

I feel myself wanting to talk about my knitting, crocheting, various craft projects. I want a forum in which to show off my own work and the work of my daughters. I want a place to post the patterns that I design. I want to do all of this without imposing it on the folks who have dropped by my personal blog and who may not be interested.