Free Shell Infinity Scarf Pattern

It's here!  A little early Christmas present for you... the Free Shell Infinity Scarf Pattern!  Just click the link to open a printable pdf version.

And if you want to look it over not in pdf form, here ya go...

Materials:          Worsted Weight Yarn: I used  Red Heart Super Saver Medium (4) Yarn                                                                                   

                           Size  I/9– 5.50 MM Hook

                           Yarn Needle

Abbreviations:   sc= single crochet

                            dc= double crochet

Row 1:  Chain 20,  sc in second chain from hook, *skip 2 chain 5 dc in next chain, skip 2 chain, sc in next chain.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  (3 shells)

Row 2:  Chain 3, 2 dc in first sc, *skip 2 dc, sc in next dc, skip 2 dc, 5 dc in next sc.  Repeat from * 1 more time, then skip 2 dc, sc in next  dc, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in last sc. (2 full shells, and 2 1/2 shells)

Row 3: Chain 1, sc in first dc, *skip 2 dc, 5 dc in next sc, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * 2 times more.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you make 94 rows or until your scarf is 52 inches long.  Fasten off, leaving a long tail end. Using your yarn needle and the long tail end, stitch the two ends together with a whip stitch. 

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Merry Christmas and happy crocheting!

Cardboard Stencil Tutorial and Free Template

I've been playing around with stencils since posting my Stenciled Watercolors Tutorial.  In fact,  I ventured to make my own stencil out of cardboard.

 Here's what I ended up with... I love this one!  It's so happy and flowery :)

Want to make one of your own?  Just keep reading, follow my little tutorial and take advantage of a little freebie too!

Cardboard Stencil Tutorial 

Materials:

• cereal box
• exacto knife
• cutting matt
• scissors
• scotch tape
• paper cutting template of your choosing, or you can use mine- just click on the link below!

Free Flower Template

Step 1:  Print out the template and tape it to the back side of an opened-up, flattened cereal box.  I trimmed around my template a bit to make it fit better.  Lay it on top of the cutting matt.

Step 2:  Using the exacto knife,  cut around the edges of the template.  You have to press pretty hard with the knife to get through the cardboard, so you may have sore fingers afterwards, like me.

Step 3:  Punch out the cut-out sections.  Your stencil should look like this....

All done.... now go and use your stencil for whatever crafty projects you have planned :)

tip:  You can try laminating your stencil if you want to use it with watercolors like I did.  I couldn't fit it in my laminator, so I covered it in packing tape.  Not that professional-looking, but hey, it works!

Shell Stitch Crochet Hat- Free Pattern

A Happy Valentines Day to all!  I hope you are feeling loved and showing some love today :)

To celebrate, I'm sharing a little something I've been working on for almost a month now-  a crochet hat pattern!

This is my first official pattern, so I had to make three hats times to make sure I had it written correctly.  But now it's finished and I'm sharing it with all you crocheters out there for free!   I would love for some feedback on my pattern, so if you try it out, be sure and let me know how it goes!  Or, write me with any questions.

The pattern is just for the hat- no flower included- sorry.  The pattern for the flower comes from Melody Maria Fulone on Ravelry.com.  I tweaked it just a little bit for my own preferences.  I used a K hook instead of a J and made the second row of the flower on the front instead of the back.  Then I just flipped the flower over-  I like it better that way :)

So here's the pattern for the Shell Hat. (You can click on the link below to download a pdf to print off)

Shell Hat Pattern

Shell Hat

Size: Woman’s medium 20inch
(stretches 1-2 inches).

Materials:
Worsted Weight Yarn
Size US H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle

Abbreviations:
ch= chain
dc= double crochet
st= sitch
sc= single crochet

Notes:
·  Beginning ch 2 counts as a dc.
·  Rounds 7-12 are worked in a shell stitch variation.
·  Rounds 8, 10 & 12 are worked with the ch 2 as the beginning of the shell. The final 4
dc of the round are worked right next to the beginning ch 2 and joined with a slip stitch
to the ch 2 to complete the beginning shell.


Cap
Round 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in 3rd chain from hook. Join with slip stitch in top of beginning ch3.
[ 12 dc ]
Round 2: Ch 2, 1 dc in same st as join, 2dc in each st around. Join with slip stitch in top of
ch2. [ 24 dc ]
Round 3: Ch 2, 1 dc in same st as join. * 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st. Repeat from *
around. Ending with 2 dc in last st. Join with slip stitch in top of ch2. [ 36 dc ]
Round 4: Ch 2, 1 dc in same st as join. * 2dc in next st , 1 dc in next 2 sts. Repeat from *
around. Ending with 2 dc in last 2 sts. Join with slip stitch in top of ch 2. [ 48 dc ]
Round 5: Ch 2, 2 dc in same st as join. * 1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from *
around. Ending with 1 dc in last 2 sts. Join with a slip stitch in top of ch 2. [ 60 dc ].
Round 6: Ch 2, 1 dc in same st as join. 1 dc in each st around. Join with slips#tch in top
of ch 2.

Round 7: Ch 2, skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st. * Skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st. Skip 2 sts, 5 dc in
next st. Repeat from * around, slip stitch in top of beginning ch 2.
Round 8: Ch 2, skip 1 st (do not count join st as a st), 1 dc in next st. * Skip 2 sts, 5 dc in
next st. Skip 2 st, 1 dc in next st. Repeat from * around, ending with 4dc in last st next to
beginning ch 2 (to complete beginning shell). Slip stitch in top of ch 2.
Rounds 9: Ch 2, 4 dc in same st as join. *Skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st. Skip 2 sts, 5dc in next
st. Repeat from * around. Ending with 1 dc in 2nd to last st. Slip stitch in top of ch 2.
Round 10: Ch 2, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st. * Skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st. Skip 2 st, 1 dc in
next st. Repeat from * around, ending with 4dc in last st next to beginning ch 2 (to complete
beginning shell). Slip stitch in top of ch 2.
Round 11: Ch 2, 4 dc in same st as join. *Skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st. Skip 2 sts, 5dc in
next st. Repeat from * around. Ending with 1 dc in 2nd to last st. Slip stitch in top of ch 2.
Round 12: Ch 2, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st. * Skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st. Skip 2 st, 1 dc in next
st. Repeat from * around, ending with 4dc in last st next to beginning ch 2 (to complete
beginning shell). Slip stitch in top of ch 2.

Rounds 13, 14 &15: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as join. 1 sc in each st around. Slip stitch in top
of first sc.

Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Happy Crocheting!  And, as a note, please do not use my pattern to make items to sell and Please do not redistribute or sell this pattern as your own. Thanks :)

Reverse Applique T-shirt and a Free Pattern

Here's a look at my latest sewing project... a reverse applique T-shirt for my little guy.  The idea came from Sweet Verbana.  She has a great tutorial for the reverse applique technique.  It's pretty simple and I had fun doing it!  I even added some stitching around the edges to make it a little more interesting.

I ended up drawing my own design for the applique.  It's based on one of my son's toy tractors :) I even scanned the drawing and turned it into a PDF to share with everyone else who wants to make one!  But beware, all those curves are pretty tricky to stitch around on the sewing machine.

Just click on the link below to bring up the PDF and print away!

Free Tractor Applique Pattern

And here's my little guy in the one and only tractor shirt... as he plays with a part from our carpet cleaner and some string! He's quite inventive with the things he finds to play with :)

Felt Ghost and Spider Templates

 Last year I came up with these easy and inexpensive Halloween decorations- little ghosts and spiders made of felt.  The ghosts I hang in the window and the spiders I stick to the wall.

I got these out yesterday to start my Halloween decorating and decided that I needed some more.  Well, I didn't save the drawings I used to make these from last year, so I decided to draw them up again and share the templates with you!

Yay!  Free stuff is good!  So just click on the link below to get a PDF template to make your own felt ghosts and spiders.


Felt Spiders and Ghosts Template

Printable Alphabet

Today I'm sharing a free printable alphabet!  I just printed this out on card stock and laminated it.  It involved TONs of cutting (especially because I doubled up on the paper to make it thick enough), but my son absolutely loves it!  So, to make your own, just click on the link below, print it out, and start cutting.  Enjoy!

Free Printable Alphabet

Printable Happy Birthday Sign

For my husband's birthday last weekend, I made a birthday sign!  I plan to re-use it for my son's birthday next month, since its laminated and should last a long time.  If you would like to make one too,  click the link below to get a free PDF file of the letters I used to make it.  Just print out your letters, cut them out with some pretty card stock, and glue and laminate- if desired.  Happy Birthday planning!

Birthday Sign PDF

Printable Bookmarks

 I love the lazy days of summer!  With it being so hot out, I'm staying indoors and reading more that usual.  Hence the need for some more handy bookmarks.  I designed a few that I'm sharing today.  Just click here to download a pdf.  Print your bookmarks on some card stock and laminate them if you wish.  Happy summer reading!
P.S.  What's your favorite book you are reading or have already read this summer?