Sassy Vee Slouch

Introducing the Sassy Vee Slouch. Can be made with or without pompoms (both shown) or can be made with braids. Adult size but it fits my 10 and 3 year olds as well. Order at the introductory price of $16, this weekend, January 8-10. Starting January 11th it will go to it regular price of $20. Choose up to 3 colors.

To Order

Find me on Facebook or give me an email at sweetcheekshandmadecrochet@gmail.com

First Completed Project of the New Year

As I was finishing up the Kayla Sweater I mentioned in my last post my younger daughter came up to me asking for a sweater too. Now being 3 she asked for a few interesting color combinations before taking my suggestion of a more suitable color combination, Sorry but pink, purple, orange and blue are not going together in one garment. She happily settled for pink and blue. After finishing her sweater I posted pictures on my Facebook yesterday.

My older daughter is excited to wear hers to school on Monday when she goes back from winter break. My youngest promptly got peanut butter all over hers after pictures. What's a mom to do?  

WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday and I decided to start sharing my WIP (Work In Progress for anyone that doesn't know) on Wednesdays.  Right now I am working on The Kayla Sweater by KT and The Squid for my older daughter, Jordis.

The colors are RHSS in Grape Fizz and Delft Blue. Jordis picked out the Grape Fizz as a Christmas gift for me so I decided to make something for her with it. It was a little hard to find a decent match to the Grape Fizz because of Red Hearts lack of coordinating their variegated colors with a solid to match. 

 I've had this pattern since it's release in 2014 but haven't made it yet. It comes in both girl and women sizes. Girl sizes are available in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Women sizes are available in XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, and 3X.

I am planning to make my younger daughter a sweater using this pattern as well. This should be finished by the end of today and I'll post the finished product.

Out of commission from a yarn related injury.

Between the hooded cowl I made my daughter, the tree skirt I made myself and 2 orders that came in, I was hooking fast the last 2 weeks. By midweek last week, I was suffering the consequences of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Watching yourself crochet so fast that your hook is a blur and you're going along might seem pretty awesome, but you will pay for it later on,,. at night when you're awaken by the numb, tingling pain in your arm. Being the stubborn hooker that I am, I pushed through to do my orders. I slept with a wrist brace and stopped crocheting for 5 days. Now that might not seem like a long time to many people and usually it wouldn't be that bad for me either but I had plans and ideas.

 I have a toddler sweater idea that I want to design and a few blog posts that I need to crochet examples for. I feel like a child who has candy in front of them, but can't eat it. I'm crocheting a little today but I'm limiting myself and taking a lot of breaks with stretching but I'm going to continue to take it easy for a few more days. Now, where's Ryan Gosling when you need him?

And one more....

Finished project, well kind of.

Here's something I just finished... sort of.

It's a tree skirt for my Christmas tree. I have a beautiful 7 ft tree that's nearly 5 ft in diameter at the bottom. I had a 44 inch tree skirt from a previous, smaller tree I had. This tree skirt was too small for my 7 footer and looked rather silly to me.  I found this pattern on ravelry and knew this was the pattern I needed. I changed the color placement a bit but the stitch pattern is the same. I then added a different border.

 The closest border I can link you to is this one that uses only 2 colors. I played around with it to make it work for my 4 colors (there are 2 white). Let me tell you, it was no fun to do. I ended up sitting on the floor all day so that I would be less likely to lose my stitches that weren't on a hook at the time. The final size was 56 inches, a full foot longer in diameter than my original one. Now I just have all the ends to weave in. But that's for another day. Why not, they're hidden at the back of the tree anyway.

Have a great day and don't forget to stop by my Facebook.

Where have I been?

Well, I'm going to be honest. I'm horrible at social media. I'm not a twitter loving, instagram posting kind of gal. I spend my days with my children and my yarn. However, I've decided that I need to get myself out there more. I have more great pattern ideas just waiting to go from a thought, to a written pattern. I'm still selling my items and you can check me out on Facebook to take a look at them. I'll try to become more active on this blog and hopefully get some more patterns out there.

Sweet Toddler Summer Tank

Edit: It has been almost a year and these tanks still fit my now 3 year old  who wears 3t.

I created this tank top after some frustration with the limited selection of free crochet patterns for toddlers.

This is very simple and I'd rank it as EASY. This is my first pattern so I hope it is understandable. Don't hesitate to ask questions and I'll do my best to help.

Before I decided to add flower appliques. Gotta love that crazy curly hair.

Please ignore the horrible lighting, my camera isn't a very good one.

For this pattern you will need

• 5 ounces of worsted weight yarn. I used Red Heart Super Saver.
• 1 5/8 inch button.
• H/8-5.00mm hook (or hook to obtain gauge)
• needle for weaving in ends
• stitch markers or safety pins

GAUGE: 14 sts = 4 inches
SIZE: approximately 24 months or 2T (chest 21.5 inches)
Chain 2 at beginning of each row/round counts as stitch

Special Stitches
Double V stitch: 2DC, Ch1, 2DC in same stitch. This may go by another name but this is what I call it.
V stitch: DC, Ch1, DC in same stitch.
Shell: 6DC in same stitch.
Spike: Refer to Craftsy SP-2

Chain 73

Row 1: HDC in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. 72 stitches
Row 2-6: chain 2, turn, HDC in each stitch across. 72 stitches

At the end of row 6 bring the ends of the row together and slip stitch into the beginning chain or the row as pictured. From this point on you will be working in rounds without turning.

Round 1: chain 1, SC in each stitch around, join to first stitch. 72 stitches

Finish off and change colors

Round 2: Ch2, in same stitch {DC, Ch1, 2DC} makes first Double V stitch, *skip 2 sts, in next stitch make a V stitch, skip 2 sts, in next stitch make a Double V stitch. Continue from * making 10 more Double V stitches and 11 more V stitches. You will end with a V stitch and slst to top of Ch2

Round 3-13: Slst into chain space of Double V, Ch2 DC, Ch1, 2DC in space, *in next ch sp make V stitch, in next ch sp make a Double V stitch. Continue from * making 10 more Double V stitches and 11 more V stitches. You will end with a V stitch and slst to top of Ch2

Round 14: Ch1, SC in each stitch and chain of the row below, slst to beginning.

Round 15: SC in each st.

At this point the top should measure a little over 10 inches.

Fasten off and change colors.

Round 16: Ch1, skip 2 stitches, *in next stitch 6DC (shell), skip 2 stitches, spike, skip 2 stitches. Continue from *, join with slst. 16 shells.
Finish of yarn.

Top should now be 11 inches

At this point we will mark the places for the straps.

Starting in on either side of the center back count over 10 stitches, mark this stitch. Count over 3 more stitches, mark this stitch. Count over 14 stitches, mark this stitch. Count over 3 more stitches, mark this stitch. The markers you just placed are for one strap. Now to to the other side of the back and repeat this for the other strap. Once both straps are marked there will be 12 stitches between the front straps.

Row 1: Join yarn to the first marked stitch on the front, Ch2, HDC in next 3 stitches.

Row 2-14: Ch2, turn, HDC in next 3 stitches.
Straps will be 6.5 inches long

Cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing to other side. Line the end of the strap up with the marked stitches on the back and whip stitch together. I like to go back across after stitching because it makes me feel better knowing how my daughter pulls on her clothes.

Repeat for other strap. I crocheted both straps before sewing to the other side. You can do them however you want.

Now add your button and weave in ends. Use any of the spaces between the top row of HDC for buttonhole. I like the adjustability of this rather than having a specific loop for the button. I can button it a little tighter if needed.

Now you can add an applique if you would like. For this shirt I don't want an applique but for the pink one I used Mollie Makes small flower pattern. However it is written in European/British terms. For a conversion chart go here.

Ignore the cushion stains, I only meant this photo to be shared with a friend but this one is currently in the wash so I had to make do.

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