Pretty Little Sunhat

So, I recently did a few projects with lace, and became completely obsessed with it. I love the way it looks when I finish a piece, like something you would easily find with a high price tag at a boutique. No, I still haven't started that veil, and yes, the projects take about 10 times longer than their worsted weight counterparts. That said, I love the fact that a ball of crochet thread (along with the accompanying project) fits in my everyday purse instead of a separate yarn bag. That said, I managed to lose the 1.5mm crochet hook frequently. So I now carry a hook case with me as well, instead of just tucking it into the skein.

Anyways, this beautiful little Sunhat Pattern is one that I found through Ravelry. It was very accurate as far as sizing went. I used a larger hook, so I omitted one round of the center hat circle. It is sized for 1.5-3 year olds, but since it was a gift for Scarlett's first birthday I wanted to keep as close to that sizing as possible.

Yarn: Aunt Lydia's Classic Cotton Crochet  Thread (size 10) in Orchid Pink
Hook: 1.5mm metal lace hook
Pattern Link: Sunhat PDF
Modifications: I omitted one row of the center circle, and I don't recall which one. I also finished it off early, since I made the shell pattern rows longer than required. I don't think I deliberately planned any of that, I think my fingers were killing me and I just gave up. I worked on it for about 4 hours straight while on a flight layover in Atlanta. Besided, the little flowers on the edge look so cute the way they are!

The Verdict: I love it! Can't wait for Jennifer to get some nice pix of Scarlett wearing it!

And here it is!!! So CUTE!!!

Scarlett's Springtime Baby Set

My sorority sister, Jennifer, is pregnant with her first child, a little girl to be named Scarlett. This is the set I made for her baby shower.

For all Projects -
Hook: 3.5mm
Yarn: Red Heart Baby

Size: 3-6 Months

Dress - Click Here for Pattern Link
I didn't heavily modify this pattern, I just left off the little sleeves and did 1 row of hdc sts along the inside where it buttons. Somehow it ended up being a little wider along the circle than the pictures show, but thats just more room for little babies to crawl! The button closure was replaced with a velcro one, for ease of dressing. I liked the look of the buttons, so I sewed those on the front anyways. Flowers added are simple puff-stitch mollies - Click Here for Tutorial.

Ruffle-Butt Diaper Cover - Click Here for Pattern Link

This one was a heavily modified version of the 0-3 month pattern. Still a bit large for a newborn. Start with 1/4" elastic instead of 1/2". Work rounds 1-10 as written. Work round 11 such that the first and last 17 sts are worked in the back loop only. This leaves the front loop for where you can attach the ruffle later. This also establishes the back center. Work the pattern for row 10 twice more, then repeat row 11 (as rows 12-14). Repeat row 10 twice more (as rows 15-16). Bind off your yarn, and re-attach 12 sts to the right of center. Follow pattern as written for row 14 (first row of "crotch) but in back loops only. Follow pattern as written for remainder of patten, through row 33.

Ruffle Butt: Attach yarn at the end of one of the front loop lines left at rows 11, 14, and 17. Ch 1 + 2sc in first st and 2sc in each loop across. Ch 1 and turn. (sc + ch1) twice into each st across. Switch colors. With new color, ch1 and sc in each st across. If the ends of your ruffle won't stay put, tack them down with a small piece of scrap yarn. Repeat on each of the remaining front loop lines.

Booties - Click Here for Pattern Link
Heavily modified this design. Work rounds 1-2 as written. Rounds 3-4 simple dc in each st around instead of increasing by 1st. Skip to instructions for row 6 leaving a 2-3 st gap for the foot. Stop at row 8 and sl st the heel shut. I completely changed the cuff, so see my pattern notes below.

Cuff: attach yarn at the heel. Sc in each st around in same color as foot. sl st through the first st of the round, switching to second color. 3dc in each st around with second color to create the ruffle cuff.

UPDATE: Scarlett looks adorable in her springtime set! (Too bad its fall!)

A Shameless Request

For those of you who know me and my family personally, you know that my step-mom is still in the process of recovering from surgery. She will tell you that early cancer detection screenings are what has now, essentially, saved her life. To support others who have dealt with their own battles against cancer, we are both helping with the Michigan Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day. She will be a volunteer, and I am still in the process of getting set-up as medical staff.

In the meantime she is fundraising money, so that women everywhere can be able to have these valuable preventative screenings. Please click on the link below and make a donation.

Donate to Save a Life

Since I know you're awesome and are going to jump all over that donations link, here is a link to a cute spring flower pattern, as my thank you :)

Crochet Spot: Simple Spring Flower