Super Easy Gift ! Mug Cake Mix with labels and Crocheted Holly Leaf

I'm so proud!! I looked at mug cake mixes for little gifts all afternoon, then modified them so that they were easier and yummier! I wanted a recipe which a) didn't flow over the edges of a medium size mug when baked, b) wasn't gummy from lack of oil, and c) required water, not milk, when the recipient was mixing and baking them.

If you want these CHEAP, easy, pretty, and FUN gifts, purchase or wash up pretty mugs...then make up little cellophane bags with four ingredients:

1 ½ Tablespoons  chocolate chips, 
2 Tablespoons self-rising flour, 
2 Tablespoons sugar, and 
1 Tablespoon of powdered cocoa in bag. 

Close with twist tie and place in mug, enclose entire mug in cello bag then add bow. If you want to print up my mix instructions AND tags which can go on your mugs and which explain baking to your recipients, you can get the printable labels and instructions as a pdf here.

And if you'd like my little pattern for the Holly Leaf you can add to the bow
(see below) you can see it at this page of my Etsy crochet store. Basically make a little crocheted leaf with picot bumps for holly points, and 3 little picots for berries! But the pattern is nice because it has pictures and tells you how to make the motif into a garland. 

Thanks for looking at my favorite teacher gift for this year! Merry Christmas!!!

Susan

www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com 

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