My best crochet tip for cool Spring and Summer Baby Hats!

You guys, this is the best tip I have for making baby hats in the summer which are COOL, airy, and great for the beach, no matter what pattern you use:

You don't want fuzzy yarn in the summer! Just thinking about putting a fuzzy warm yarn hat on at the beach makes me itch all over! Well, it makes your baby itch all over too! (Lisa, you know what I mean!) So what do you do, suspend crochet till fall? NO! Here's the best way to make a summer baby hat which is cool: use crochet thread!

What do I mean by crochet thread? I mean the balls of no. 10 cotton crochet thread like the ones you see in the photo above. No. 10 Aunt Lydia's is great, any brand which has a non-fuzzy feel to it, and a tiny strand. Double up, crocheting with TWO strands, not one, and don't use a steel thread crochet hook, but keep it speedy with a size H, I or K aluminum crochet hook.

If the pattern calls for baby weight (sport weight, or number 3) yarn, use these two strands, and keep the hook the same size as the baby pattern normally calls for. Do check your gauge: make sure that a few rounds with your crochet threads and hook are the same size as the same rounds with your baby yarn and hook.

A caveat: the hat will be less stretchy, and the work will look more airy and open. Shell stitches, double crochets, and granny square hats are good for this summery technique. You may want to choose a pattern that has a tie under the chin, and you may also need to starch any brims. But the payoff, oh my! A baby hat that is just a little like a straw hat. Quick to dry, good for air flow, good for a tiny bit of sun protection (not much).

This was the idea I pursued in my various summer baby hats:
Here's a double crochet hat worked this way: Cool Thread Crochet Hat on Amazon

A granny square hat: Brimmed Granny pattern on etsy

And my hat collection which includes both of the above:
http://www.amazon.com/Susans-Baby-Hat-Collections-ebook/dp/B00BR2AAY6/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364475035&sr=8-15&keywords=susan+kennedy+crochet

BUT, crochet your own patterns this way, and see how cool crochet can be for summer!

I'm so happy that my baby hats are revised and all collected in the same place!! Here they are on etsy, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble .

I only have one more little hat that's trying to get out of my head and on paper, and after that I think the next ones up are animals and scarves that have been lying around, their patterns halfway written. Sad!!

Thanks for looking, and have a super time with all your projects!!

Susan

www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com
Susan's patterns on Amazon

Irish Baby, Free shamrock garland pattern and New March Hat on my pattern store!

 

Click here to see this brand new pattern on Etsy!!

My New St Pat's Hat for a tiny little leprechaun!! Must say, had to look up the spelling on that last.

Okay, I'm kinda proud, I like how quick this little hat is. It only takes you 30-40 minutes to make the smaller sizes, and yet it's made from a more delicate looking sc stitch (except for the brim). Super!! The chains in the pattern make it faster than that clunky but much-loved old dc. Ladies (and guys), yes that dc is fast, but it looks so homey!! I mean, I like homey, but not THAT homey! And when I say homey, I mean home-made, ha!

And a sweet little brim that looks old-fashioned, almost like a little derby. So appropriate for a St. Paddy's day baby hat.

Click on the link right above the picture to see the crochet pattern on etsy, and HERE IS HOW TO MAKE the shamrock garland! Just crochet a tiny circle of three chains, joined, then form three leaves in that circle: (ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st in center), three times - then ch 9 for the stem to the next shamrock, and you're off!! The pattern shows you more, obviously: the cap pattern, a larger shamrock garland, lots of photos...have fun!!

To see more, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Susan

Learn how to make a super easy chained Pom Pom and Check out My Valentine's Baby Hat Pattern!

A new Baby Hat! This is my "February Baby" hat and it brings together that fast modified-granny stitch with some heart appliques and a nubby little pom pom which takes 5 minutes to make. (It's just chained). READ ON for how to make this nubby, sassy and best of all, easy chained Pom Pom.

If you want to see the pattern on Etsy, click here

If you'd like to learn how to make the easiest Pom Pom ever, here's what you do:

Simply chain with medium yarn and a size J hook for approximately 12 feet of chains. Tie off both ends. 

With a yarn needle or just a crochet hook, run a thread or yarn through loops approximately 3 inches apart. (see photo below)

Then simply pull on your strand, and the lengths of chain stitch will pull up and form a delightful nubby ball. Tie tightly and sew to your project!

Again, if you'd like to see the full pattern with lots of photos and detailed instructions for the hats in Preemie, Newborn, 3 month and 6 month sizes, as well as instructions for the Pom and two Heart Appliques, just check out the pattern on Etsy.

Thanks for looking and have a super crafty day!

To see more, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

Susan

Crocheted Kitty with Santa Hat and Please Test my Horse design!

My Kitty Comes with a Teeny Tiny Santa Hat! Here's the pattern on etsy, and it's coming out in the next two days on Barnes and Noble's Nook Store and Amazon's Kindle Store. I'm so happy!

I've been trying to finish my pony and bunny appliques and lots of other stuff, but I can't seem to get them done! Actually the pony should be out this week too, but only as an ebook, not for sale on Etsy : ( 

If you want to see my ebook patterns you can

look at my items on Amazon or see the same ebooks on Barnes and Noble.

The farther into winter I get, the more I want to crochet scarves and shawls! But I'm trying to finish what I have which is halfway done. Ha!

The first three people to send me a note can get this pony applique pattern for free, if they'll just - ahem - proof it one more time for me!! I need testers! Do send me an email to susanlinn @ bellsouth.net (you have to take out the space) rather than just commenting, I can let those comments sit without noticing them.

Anyhoo, here's the pony:

Best wishes to all, and thanks for your kind notes and interest!

---------------------------

To see more, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

Susan

How to Weave a Scarf, Free Scarf Flower Pattern And Coupon For my Etsy Patterns!

Crocheting Friends, I've been maniacally working up new patterns! I have halfway written patterns for nature-based scarves, a very cool ruffled flower (see the photo above) which I'll give you the pattern for below, two horse appliques and a camel applique which was just a failed horse attempt, ha!! You can check out my new "Muscadine" scarf pattern which would work well with the "Woven Tie" treatment I'm going to show you below, AND type in "WINTER2012" at checkout at my My Etsy Crochet Pattern Store to get 16% off of any of your pattern purchases for all of those gifts you're making! I chose 16% because 15% sounded cheap, so there you have it.

I've been enjoying "Impeccable" yarn by Loops and Threads. It has such a nice feel, and you can fly when you work with it. It just wants to cooperate! You know what I mean. Kindof like wool feels, but that wonderful-to-work-with wool hates my skin, and my skin hates it. One of these nature based scarf patterns is worked in a grey in the "Impeccable" Line, you can see how it looks when it's all woven in that cool pinterest way (check out the photo below)

The first step in tying a winter scarf in this doubled over "Woven Tie" method is to fold your scarf in half and lay it across your neck, with the ends on one side, and the folded over loop on the other side (see below)

The next step is to draw only one of the ends through the loop which is opposite it.

(see below)

The third step is to stretch that loop part down so you can insert your hand and twist it halfway around

(see below)

And the last step is to reach across, grab the other end of your scarf, and draw it through the now twisted loop (see below).

You end up with a nicely woven neckwarmer, it has some interest and flair! Of course, I can't let it alone and have to top it off with a flower tie, (below) which I'll tell you how to make if you scroll down. 

You can do this "Woven Tie" treatment with any reasonably long scarf, and you can add the flower which is detailed below. BUT if you want the pattern for this ruffly-twisty-seaweedy scarf which I am calling my "Davy Jones" scarf because it's so macabre and creepy....you'll have to wait until I write it up! It's supposed to look like something Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean would have worn, and it's also supposed to look like a natural form, maybe even a little like freeform crochet. But with a pattern.

So here's how to make this ruffly, thick flower, which you top off with two chained ends so it becomes a scarf tie (again, you'll have to get the pattern when I put it in my store, if you want step by step photos and a diagram):

Ruffled Davy Jones Flower

Start with a chain 3 and a join to form a small ring. This makes a tiny circle which will give you a little more working room, which is needed for the long double crochets. (here's a youtube video showing you a long double crochet stitch)

Rnd 1: Chain 2 and work a circle of 12 dc in the small ring just formed. Join.

Rnd 2: Work 18 long double crochet stitches, working completely over the 12 dc, inserting your hook into the center of the circle. Join.

Rnd 3: Ch 1 and work *(3 sc in next st, 3 dc in next st) around the circle, inserting your hook into the round below once again, which forms the distinctive holes in this flower. Join.

Either make your flower into a pin by sewing it to a pin back, or attach two lengths of 45 chains to either side of the flower to make it into a tie which can encircle a scarf and give it a floppy, flowery point of interest. 

Enjoy!!

If you would like the formal pattern for this flower or for its matching scarf, I'll hopefully have them written up and available soon.

To see more of my original crochet design work, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

Have a super crafty Christmas and thanks for checking out my blog!

Tagging strategies for crafty etsians

I thought I'd post today about etsy, because it's my bread and butter, in a yarny sort of way.
I've spent the morning redoing my tags and titles on a lot of etsy items, I'll let you know in a few days if it seems to have been effective.

If you're an etsian, you probably have noticed that they've redone their approach to tags. I never understood how those squishy rules about tags worked, and was afraid I'd tag- gasp- unethically. It seemed that you weren't allowed to use two or three word tags, and certainly had many restrictions on what types of inferences your viewers might make based upon your tag.

But with the new changes, I think it's easier and more sensible. Two and three word tags are allowed: I use "crocheted flower", "crochet flower" easy crochet flower", etc. This legitimately attracts shoppers to your item who might be trying to find...a crocheted flower!

My advice is to make targeted tags like this, even though they sound repetitive. Look at the keywords shoppers actually use to find your items, or items like yours. Make some targeted or specific, if your item is unique, and make some general.

Here's a super post about ways to make your etsy items more visible and successful: http://craftybird.hubpages.com/hub/20-Ways-to-increase-traffic-to-your-Etsy-Shop . A lot of those tips are ones you're probably already using, but like me, you might need a little kick in the pants to remember their importance.

If you'd like to see my original crochet designs on etsy,

click here
and you can also see them on Ravelry , a cool pattern site, and on
Amazon's Kindle Store

Have a super crafty day!