Cute Summer Hats

As much as I'd like to say summer is fast approaching, it doesn't seem to be happening this year.... at least not yet...so to give me warm thoughts during this very cold spring, I've decided to get a head start on some fun stuff for summer.

To start off, I've decided to make some summer hats.  My boys love their summer hats, always have.  We usually have a few for both so they always have a choice!  I found this great pattern on Craftsy and decided to try it out.  My boys loved it.  I made one for a 6 month old, one for a 3 year old and modified the pattern (pattern is only goes up to 3 yrs) for a 7-9 year old.  There are cute summer themed appliqués, a sun, a starfish, a goldfish, and a boat that come with the pattern.  My boys decided they didn't want any embellishments, so I left the hats as is. 

Leave as is or add a nice scalloped fringe and it would be super cute for a little girl!

I bought the pattern from Craftsy; here is the link.

What Does the Fox Say?!

Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingering-e-ding!  Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingering-e-ding!  Grr-ing-ding-ding-ding-dingering-e-ding!  What the fox say?

I couldn't resist myself!  My children went through a huge phase where they'd want to hear this song all the time.  I came across this awesome looking fox hat free pattern and I had to give it a go so that my kids could play around.  

Yesterday, while my eldest son watched me write this he asked me to play the video again...and then asked me to make a hat for all the animals named in the song!!!! Guess I know what I'm going to be busy with in my free time!!!  Let's see, there's the dog, cat, bird, mouse, cow, frog, pig, duck, fish and elephant...I might be missing something, but I'm sure they will let me know! 

My son trying to strike a pose like a fox!!

A link to the awesome Fox Hat pattern by Goodknits here

Megaman vs. Protoman

For hallowe'en my eldest son wanted to be Megaman, a retro video game character, automatically making my younger son wanting to be Megaman as well... What one does, the other one follows!

I had no idea where to get such a costume so I decided to crochet one up.  It all started with Megaman's famous helmet.  I found a helmet pattern on Etsy, which included a pattern for the ears.  I increased the length, added a finishing edge, the stripe and square at the top of the hat and a chin strap to complete the look.  I came up with a super simple pattern for the shorts after the shorts we bought did not fit him correctly.  I also came up with a straight forward, simple pattern for the leg and wrist warmers (one wrist warmer was just solid blue while the other was a Megabuster--Megaman's weapon, with all the decals to go along with it).

Once I had the Megaman costume done my youngest decided he didn't want to be Megaman anymore but rather his rival brother, Protoman!  I used the same helmet and ear piece pattern for Protoman but omitted the chin strap.  I also had NO IDEA how to create the pattern that goes on the front of Protoman helmet which stumped me for a couple of days.  After several attempts, I finally came up with something and threw it all together.  I also made a set of leg and wrist warmers (one solid red and the other in the Protobuster style).

My husband made the cardboard leg toppers and busters that went over the leg and wrist warmers.  







A link to the pattern I bought from Etsy can be found here.

The hats and wrist warmers are super fuzzy.  They have been washed countless times since hallowe'en because the boys play with them a lot!

Let it Snow! Some more!

Here are some of the headbands I've made for my children with the Let It Snow! Quick & Simple Headband. I've actually made a few more in different colours, but alas, I didn't think to take photos and they now belong to other people.

These headbands are great when the weather isn't super cold (for those really cold days, try the Let It Snow! Simple & Quick Hat). The kids love them. If they are not wearing them as a headband, they put them around their necks like cowls, so really they have two purposes for my boys!

I really enjoy crocheting these and have gotten a lot of compliments on them.

A link to the pattern by Oombawaka Designs can be found here

Let it Snow! Quick & Simple Winter Cowl

Let it snow!  With a design this beautiful, bring on that cold white stuff!

I was lucky enough to pattern test this beautiful winter cowl.  I truly love the design and how elegant it looks.  This cowl is so incredibly versatile, so many different looks, one for every personality!

Put it together with the Let it Snow! Simple & Quick Winter Headband (shown below) or the Let it Snow! Simple & Quick Winter Hat and you have a fabulous look, even on those cold, cold days!

Below are links to the patterns by Oombawaka Design
Let It Snow! Simple & Quick Winter Cowl
Let It Snow! Simple & Quick Winter Headband
Let It Snow! Simple & Quick Winter Hat

A Colourful Bouquet

Roses, sunflowers, poppies and daisies!

I originally got into the idea of selling my crochet projects when I started making hair clips for myself. I'd wear them out (either casually...spring or summer and more formally in the fall and winter... for specific events) and I would have so many people asking where I got them from.  I'd reply that I made them; everyone kept telling me to sell them.  It wasn't until I ran into a friend of mine, who, at the time had a little 2 year old daughter who was wearing almost the exact flower hair clip that I would make.  I asked my friend where she picked that up and was told that she got it from Clair's.  I was stunned and really toyed around with the idea of selling but had no idea how to get started and get my product out there.  There are so many people selling hair clips, it was very overwhelming.

I love making flower hair clips because I can customise the type of flower, their colour and size and embellishments (if any), and style.  I love how something so small can enhance a hairstyle so dramatically!  I also love how I can quickly crochet one up if I feel like wearing one.  I love the tiny ones with the glass bead in the centre, a few of those on a formal hair-do elevates the elegance just that little bit more!

I have given many away to friends and family so my stash is a little low.   It has been a while since I've made them, I should make some more, soon! 

I have a friend coming over so I can braid her hair, I will ask if I can put some flowers in and take a photo to show you how nice they look and how they add just that splash of colour!  I will also make some time and crochet different types of flowers and post photos.  

These flowers also make great accessories for scrapbooking, card making and gift toppers!

Before the Fox, there was the Owl

Back to school time, owls were everywhere.  There were owl inspired blankets, key chains, hats, mitts, coasters and toys....basically, you name it and there was an owl for that!

I was looking for a really cute owl hat to make for my son back in September.  I came across this super cute pattern by Rhondda Mol, owner of Ommbawaka Design, and I fell in love with it immediately, it's such a cute hat.  I crocheted it up on one of our trips home from Windsor, On (visiting the grandparents).  I asked my eldest to model the hat for me because I was making the hat for him; he told me he didn't like it very much because he was afraid the kids at school would make fun of him for wearing it.  I told him if he wore it for one day and he really didn't like it, I wouldn't make him wear it after that and I would give the hat to someone else.  After school on Monday I asked if he wanted me to give the hat away, he forcefully replied "No way!!"  I asked him what changed his mind and he said "All the girls think I'm really cute with it on!"  It was so funny!!  The hat turned out to be such a hit at school (especially with all the little girls).  He has worn this hat almost every day since October 2013.  Now he switches between his Poke’ball hat and his Not Another Owl Hat hat depending on the weather (the Not Another Owl Hat is super warm).

A link to that beautiful hat designed by Oombawaka Designs can be found here.