LOVE this hat!

Hiya! :) I'm still here as always... never far from yarn, hooks and needles! Just didn't have a chance to post as often. :(

I found a really CUTE crochet hat pattern last night on Ravelry, and I started crocheting this hat right away!!! :)

 
Inauguration Chapeau for Beth"(Free!) by Ellen Bloom
Yarn: Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends (Discontinued)
Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/inauguration-chapeau
This pattern has all the good things. - It's easy to follow and I believe you can make any sizes with any yarn and any sizes of hooks just by adjusting number of rounds and length of the tie. I have a big head :D, and I have lots of hair so most hats sold at stores don't fit me, but this one does! This hat is definately not going anywhere!

I have some more projects to post here soon. ;)

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How is everybody's summer going? :) Mine has been hectic as always working, studying, trying to entertain my son and help him with his homework, practicing the violin, etc..... BUT! We did get away a bit (first time in 3 years!) in Atlanta, Georgia! We visited Georgia Aquarium and The World of Coca-Cola. Watch You Tube videos of these two places:

Georgia Aquarim (You Tube)
World of Coca Cola (You Tube)
My boy loved the aquarium, and he took tons of fish photos until my camera didn't let him anymore. :D
I used to live in Georgia about 15 years ago... It sure felt strange to visit there again! :) I was exhausted during the trip, but I'm glad I was there to spend fun time with my family. I think I needed a change of scenery more than I thought I did. :D I even swam in swimming pools at the hotel we stayed! I'm glad to have found I still can swim. - Last time I was in a swim suit was... 17 years ago. :P It was also great to meet up with hubby's friends and their families there as well! What nice people! :)

Chunky Cap

Just very quickly I want to share with you my latest crochet project. :)  This one is very easy, fast, and the pattern is free too!


"Chunky Cap" from January 2008 issue of Crochet Today!
You can also download a free pdf on their website.
Yarn I used: Red Heart Light & Lofty
This hat makes me miss snow.  This one's going to my sister. :)

A very simple skateboarder beanie

My hubby who skateboards had been asking me to make him a simple beanie.
He wanted "small stitches with thin yarn" for his beanie so I was thinking about knitting it with stockinette stitch and sportweight yarn... But I just didn't feel like knitting or using sportweight yarn so I just started crocheting it with single crochet stitches and rather thin worsted weight Caron's Simply Soft hoping that he would like it.

Result?

He didn't like it, he said he loved it and it was exactly like how he wanted it to be! :) He went to show the beanie to some of his skateboard buddies as soon as it was done, and that made me happy. :)

Check out other crocheters beanies made with this pattern on Ravelry!  
Anyways, I was relieved and thought maybe some of you may like to make one too. ;D
I used only chains and single crochet stitches.
I believe many of my visitors don't even need the pattern because it's really just basic hat pattern, and there may be similar one out there already, but in case some of you are beginner crocheters and you need some practice project...
Here is what I just sat and did one day to make the beanie. :D

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Skateboarder's Beanie    Revised on 3/4/07
~ This pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only ~

Finished Size
It should fit most adults. :)

Materials
* Worsted Weight yarn (I used Caron Simply Soft) - Color A (Main color) & B (Bottom edge).
* U.S. Crochet hook H8 / 5MM.

Gauge
With US H8 hook, 17 sc and 20 rows = 4"

Variations
With this pattern, variations are endless using different color patterns, and you can make different sizes easily too.

• If you need SMALLER beanie, crochet fewer increase rows (odd number rows), then just crochet evenly until the beanie is deep enough for the person who is going to wear it.
• To make a BIGGER beanie, skip 1 or 2 even number rows (just skip Row 6 OR Row 6 & 7) then follow the rest of the pattern.
• If you don't like the "join" on each round showing, you can just crochet continuously in round marking the first stitch with clip-on marker.  However, if you are adding borders/color works, I recommend joining the beginning and the end of round with slip stitch. 

Beanie

Note: Start from the top of the hat.
Rnd 1: With A, 8 sc in an adjustable ring, sl st in first sc, tighten the ring.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each St, sl st in first sc. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, 2 sc in next st, * 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (24 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same st and next st, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (32 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (40 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc around, join with sl st to first sc. (40 sts)

Repeat Rnd 6 on EVEN NUMBER ROUNDS until Rnd 16.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (48 sts)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (56 sts)
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (64 sts)
Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (72 sts)
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (80 sts)
Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (88 sts)

Rnd 18 - 36: Repeat Rnd 6. Fasten off. (88 sts)

Rnd 37: Attach B, ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (88 sts)

Weave in ends.
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Your support will help me keep offering free patterns.
Thank you so much and happy stitching!

Holiday Projects

Hiya. :D I bet you all were thinking, "Where in the world did Chie go???". LOL
Well, I am through making Christmas gifts, mailed out the ones that had to be mailed, and I only have some wrapping left. (^_^) We put up our Christmas tree, put outside lights and house decorations too.

Here are some of the things I made.

   
The beret pattern is from Coat's & Clark's booklet called "Accessorize!", which I got from my local WM. It has crochet and knitting patterns ONLY for Red Heart's Light & Lofty yarn. I used P hook instead of suggested N hook. It's probably just me, but I can't use this yarn with smaller hooks than P. (^^; The mini scarf is made with repeating HDC row and DC row.

I used Toe-Up Crochet Socks pattern to make the mini stocking ornament. The yarn is Lion Brand's Chenille Think & Quick in Scarlet 113 and white Fun Fur. I'd like to thank wonderful Sharon to make this ornament possible. *bows*

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Now it's time for me to plan Christmas meal! It's always a bit frustrating because I am not so familiar with traditional American holiday dishes. You see, sushi or tempura for Christmas is just so... improper (or not?)! LOL This year, I am planning on making lots of sweets, and I am definitely making this, this, and this! Yummy, yummy... (=^_^=) Cara is a talented knitter & crocheter who uses both yarn and thread!

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I am very excited about upcoming Crochetville thread crochet CAL(temporary link) which is going to start around Jan. 7th 2005! In fact, I'm too excited I couldn't help but to start making a doily with this pattern from Celt's Vintage Crochet, and it is almost finished. To be honest, I cannot recommend this pattern to beginner crocheters just because there are some errors on the pattern, and the doily on the picture cannot be accomplished just by following the pattern. (-_-;) There is an error on the 1st row so it's confusing at the very beginning. But with some experience of making doilies, the error shouldn't be hard to correct. Celt's Vintage Crochet has tons of BEAUTIFUL thread crochet patterns, and I love it!
Hopefully next time, I will be able to post a picture of my finished doily. (^_-)*

Just a quick post :P

I finally finished my linen hat. :)))



I just love this hat, it's so earthy. :) I am repeating this, but it feels really soft, and it has nice weight that helps sit on my head really well. I couldn't make it exactly like the original, and I still like the original better, but I think it's OK. :P

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Now I have 39 squares done for my 63 squares CAL.