This Mermaid's Hair Wants to Eat Me

I finally got the head in a proportion that I like, then added hair. Lots of hair. Way, WAY too much hair.

Should I just put it in pony tails, or remove the bottom five rows of it? Or both?

Meanwhile, DH and I think that I should make the tail fins longer. After that, I need to design arms and decide whether or not to add a simple face. Also, it occurs to me that I will need to knot every single one of those yarn ends to keep them from fraying.

Thoughts?

Crochet Mermaid Body is Complete!

I've been stressing over the shape and finally have something I really like.

Bryan and I also think this shape would make a great shark or whale...which would solve the problem of what to make the non-mermaid loving nieces and nephews (with the exception of one who loves horses, and I found a free horse purse pattern I want to try for her).

Crochet Pumpkin Pie Slice

I'm not happy with how the crochet whipped cream turned out, but this slice of pumpkin pie is still stinkin' adorable.

Crochet Boy's Hat - Pattern To Follow Later

Okay, this could be a girl's hat, too, but there aren't enough boy patterns out there, not in sewing or knitting or crocheting or anything. I crocheted this hat to donate to my local Head Start program, and people are always making and donating cute girl hats with flowers and poofy pinkness and lace. There are never enough boy things to go around.

I used Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn. It needed to be very washable, but I also wanted it soft, and her yarn is softer to the touch than Red Heart Super Saver.

This is how it looks with the bottom edge folded up, if they don't want it down completely over the ears. I used a v-stitch in one row to make it easier to fold. A v-stitch leaves lots of gaps, so there's less yarn in that row and less resistance when folding.

Become a Follower of This Blog!

That's not an announcement, it's an order! ;-)

I tend to think of follower gadgets as bragging, but lately I've felt lonely on this blog, so I'd like to know; are you reading it regularly? Has it inspired you at all? Should I put more time into it or just let it die? Are you mad because there's too much sewing and not enough crocheting? Would you rather remain anonymous and don't want to bother becoming a follower but at the same time don't want to see the blog disappear, either?

Boost my ego a little and leave a comment or become a follower or both!

There's really no label to fit this post - should I create a Mindless Babble label? Put it under "Children" because I'm whining? Maybe "Eco Frienndly" because no trees died in the making of this follower gadget?

Wool Longies From A Sweater

"Longies" are wool pants used as diaper covers. That's right, you put them over a cloth-diapered butt. Wool is incredibly absorbent and makes an excellent diaper cover.

The favored way of making them is to knit them, but I can't knit, and I have never found a crochet longies pattern that made a good fit. Buying them is cost prohibitive, and for good reason - 100% wool yarn is not cheap, and it is time intensive to make them.

So, what's a cloth diapering mama to do?

Sew them from a thrift store sweater.

I bought a sweater at Value Village for $4.00 - normally $6.99, but when I donated a small box of items, I got a $3.00-off coupon in exchange.

I made my 4 year old son's longies with the sweater sleaves. You just take a pair of pants that fit, fold them in half, and line them up on a sleave with the bottom of the pants lining up with the cuff. You cut from the crotch up to the top and over, leaving 1/4-1/2 inch for a seam on the side and 1-inch for a seam on the top (to leave room for elastic).

After you cut two sides, turn one inside out and place the other one inside it, so right sides will be facing inside. Pin, and sew the side and crotch area (don't sew the top!).

I did it once with a straight stitch and then again with a zig zag.

The next pictures didn't turn out, but once you sew the crotch, you turn the pants out and fold the top over an inch to make a casing for the elastic. Voila! I always try the pants on with the elastic just safety-pinned together to make sure it won't be too loose.

These are Deirdre's longies:

I used the front and back of the sweater for hers, with a Butterick pattern I have. They are baggier, and have a bigger backside than front area, which she needs because Connor will usually get up at night and only needs a fitted diaper "just in case." Deirdre needs lots of doublers at night.

Plush Candy Corns

...because it is one of my most favorite candies ever. Except, they don't stay on my nature table. The children love them and slept with them last night.

The felt is made from recycled bottles.

Quilt Patterns I Actually Like

Frankly, I'm not a huge fan of patchwork quilts. I appreciate the care that goes into them, but the look does not normally appeal to me.

Every once in a while, though, I find a bed quilt or quilted wall hanging that speaks to me.

This one is called "Cirque De La Mer," but was translated as "Jewels of the Sea." It actually says "Circus of the Sea," and I think its real name changes the feel of the quilt. This pattern is free.

Another unusual choice for me. I'm not a fan of modern style, either, but I really love this quilt and hope to attempt it someday. This pattern is also free.

This one is called "Twiggy," and I could absolutely have it strung over my bed or up on a wall, though with less plum coloring. Free Pattern.

I don't like the fabric in this picture, but with the right soft colors, I could throw this on my bed. It feels less grandmotherly than the typical quilt pattern. Free pattern.

I could not put this one on my own bed, even with sages and soft browns, but I could put it on a child's bed. Once I figure out how to cut and sew perfect circles. I'm not very good at them. Also a free pattern.

Felt Placemats

I whipped up these simple felt placements in about 20 minutes, start to finish.

I traced a fork, a small cup, and a DVD for the dish.

I demonstrated the placemats just once to my 21-months old daughter and she had it down. Nice and easy!

How I Learned To Crochet, or, Happy International Crochet day!

In honor of International Crochet day, I thought I'd let you in on a little secret - I learned how to crochet because of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Bryan and I were both layed off from the same company soon after these events (and because of them - our department was reduced and moved across country) and spent a lot of time at the Magnolia Branch of the Seattle Public Library. We both decided to pick up hobbies to keep ourselves from going crazy, and I specifically wanted something to help distract myself from self-injury, since I was unmedicated and prone to scratching myself obsessively under stress.

I picked up a crochet instruction video on VHS and learned to crochet by watching it. It was very easy to follow and the instruction was fantastic. Granny squares are actually a great beginning project.

It was hard for me when I started doing solid squares- one time I even threw my whole project across the room - until I learned to always count my stitches. I'd stop short of the last stitch because it looked different from the others and ended up with trinagles instead of squares. Once I picked up the habit of counting, I learned one of the great secrets to crochet - count your stitches, count your stitches, count your stitches. I still have to do it, with my backpacks, with hats, with butterfly wings.

It just so happens I've been able to find that video I used online:

Classic Crochet - Granny Squares With Dianne Hills

It isn't made anymore and when you search for it, only one tiny picture comes up, but that's her, and wherever she is, thank you.