Repeat Customers Are Amazing!

So, I’m busy gearing up for Keen Halloween, and I get a message from a customer. “Oh no,” I wonder, always thinking the worst, “did the pompom fall apart?” As I was clicking to read, I was already calculating in my head if I had the yarn left to fix it (I do that for people).

But no – she wanted to buy more hats! It was the lady who saw the Martha tam at Phoenix Comicon, and then contacted me through my Etsy store to see if I’d sold it yet. I had not, so it was hers! She didn’t even realize that it was a cosplay piece, she just loved the hat.

So now, some lucky person is going to get one (in a different color) as a gift! And her child absolutely needs a Rainbow Dash hat, and who am I to refuse such a request.🙂

If you want to make one yourself, the pattern is listed for free on the Midnight Designs site (there’s also a link to the pattern on her Ravelry). I used the Wool-ease yarn and hook size suggested, and it’s so soft and gorgeous. You definitely don’t need to be a Doctor Who fan to love it!

Of course, this means I have to put my skulls on hold for a bit, but I promise to post them as soon as I can.

 

 

Recovering From Con – Crocheting Lanyards

While getting ready for Phoenix Comicon, I saw some pretty crocheted “tape” patterns at Sheru Knitting, and thought “those would make cool lanyards to hold badges”. After all, so many people wear them with their work IDs as well, so wouldn’t people love them?

My main thought was, “would someone pay hand-crocheted prices for them”.

When I got to the con, a LOT of people were selling printed ribbon lanyards … at double the lowest price I was thinking of selling my crocheted ones for – and they were selling! Maybe in large part because PhxCC went back to putting their con badges in a pin-back holder rather than lanyards. Some people thought it was to force people to buy their branded merchandise, but as a business person I can tell you – once you have to buy over 100,000 of something, every penny counts!

So here’s my first effort, made with this pattern:

OK, it was folded wrong and I forgot to add the clip WHILE crocheting, but that’s how we learn, lol. In the pattern she used crochet thread and a 1.5 mm hook; I used a 1.25 mm in this example. I like it, so I’m going to continue to use it.
(I also always use the measurement for the hook instead of the number or letter; I have three “G” hooks that are actually three different sizes if you look at how many millimeters they are. And when doing gauge swatches, there was a difference.)

If you’re going to make some yourself, before you sew the ends together, don’t just guess if it’s going to lay right (like I did) – put it on a model, or yourself in a mirror and pin it (or tie with a bit of yarn or string). When you’re wearing a lanyard that’s a flat ribbon rather than a round cord, you definitely don’t want a weird twist up on your neck annoying you, lol.

Feel free to post your creations in the comments.🙂 Also check out the SheRu site; she’s got many cords & ribbons, some of them beaded. I’ll have some of them up in my Etsy store by next week.

This time I have an excuse for not posting forever!

Guess who has a table at Phoenix Comicon this year!!

As you may or may not know, there is a waiting list for booths and tables at PhxCC. I relaxed after the deadline for payment had passed … but apparently, that’s when some that didn’t get paid for become available. I didn’t have the fee saved up, so I had to borrow some of it. One I get to pay back with half of my hotel room, so yay!

I’ve also had to start working furiously to stock up on stuff, lol. Tonight, I’m working on re-formatting my patterns into a half-fold booklet so I can print some up & sell at the con, for those crafty folk who’d love a Pony hat or Splatoon finger puppet, but can make them themselves.

So anyway, if you’re going to the con, look me up at table AA1305

No cupcakes for you, sorry

Reblocking a cheap hat

I loves me some Agent Carter!!!

I’ve always loved the clothes of the 1940’s anyway, and already have a bunch of dress & pants sewing patterns anyway.

Stetson has re-released the classic red Aviatrix hat that they use on the show, but since it’s made with a fine, classy wool felt, I can’t wear it. I’m not just “eeewww it’s itchy” allergic, it’s more like “oh dang, hives” allergic (and it’s not the lanolin, either, so using super-wash merino or alpaca doesn’t help. Trust me, I spent money experimenting with different yarns. Also, I’m not allergic to lotions that contain lanolin).

So, I finally found an acrylic hat from one of those inexpensive Chinese sites that had the correct size brim. So many hats have the short trilby style look rather than the full fedora!

I was thrilled when it got there! To keep the shipping inexpensive as well, it was shipped rolled up in a plastic envelope. I knew that hats could be re-blocked, but I’d never done it before, so it made me nervous.

To the googles!! The first few sites that I read were very complicated, and used a garment steamer, which I don’t have. Thank goodness I finally found a great tutorial from someone who used a steam iron! She starts right from scratch, so if I ever feel like doing that, now I know how, lol.

trying to keep the flipped-up part in place as it dries

I’m ridiculously excited about how it’s coming out. I steam the crap out of the top parts until they’re hot, then smooth out the wrinkles with my fingers. It’s working out better than I expected! For the brim, I just ironed it flat, then curled up the brim with my hands. I was blowing on it to cool it down, but then decided to set it down until it dried out. Now, to figure out the best way to form the flipped-down side.🙂

And yes, if it works well enough, they’ll be in my Etsy store! Not real soon – it takes a while to get to me from overseas, lol.

Where I Discover C2C (Corner to Corner) Crochet

I’ve always loved making graphed designs with beads and cross stitch, but my main love is the yarn arts. Filet crochet has always been there for solid-color work, but while I’ve done it in color, it doesn’t really look that great.

Enter C2C. Excuse me while I fan myself from how excited I am with this whole subject.

 

 

It’s Rainbow Dash!

 

I KNOW, RIGHT?!?

You can use any sort of grid pattern for this – this is one that was made for Perler beads. My next project will be done using some of the Celtic knotwork graphs I’ve been collecting for decades.

Thanks to the Repeat Crafter Me blog for introducing me to this awesome technique! It’s reversible as well, so it’s great for afghans & baby blankets, too.

Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest

*whew* – I survived!

YES, it was in December … but then I was shipping holiday orders then vending in January at a smaller craft sale. Busy, I tells ya. But here I am.🙂

I’ve been searching for hours for the pic a friend took of my table. It’s hit that “stuff I know I have but the Universe doesn’t want me to have it black hole”. Here’s a much better one, though – my Faux-lita wig/hat found it’s forever home!

 

I don’t always run out from behind my table to take a pic of my customers, but Teh Cute was too much to resist. Seriously. I know you’re not even reading the rest of this blog post because you can’t look away. Me either. Later.

READY!

Hey, look at that … I said I was working on getting my patterns online, and I actually did it! Get the Pacman Hat pattern here.

Writing Up My Patterns!

Hi guys!

I’ve been super busy filling custom orders and designing new stuff, and totally NOT getting around to writing up the patterns of mine that people have been asking for. First up will be the Pac-Man ghost hat. Which is now Video Game Ghost Hat, after receiving a letter from Bandai’s lawyers, lol. YOU CAN’T TAKE THE SKY FROM ME! AGAIN!

Next pattern will be the pony hat pattern. It’s rather involved … not because the hat is complicated, just that there are so many parts. And a few extra now – one of the custom orders I got was for the Equestria Girls version of Pinkie, who wears a headband with yellow ears sometimes. I guess; I like the cartoon, but haven’t seen the movie yet.

Breakfast on Your Head

DONE with Phoenix Comicon, finally. I love helping plans come together, but I don’t get much else done when I do, lol. While relaxing, I found this AWESOME pattern online for a bacon scarf. Instead of a flat ripple, it was all “curly” like real bacon! I was in love. Then a friend said “Now all you need  is a fried egg hat.” My friends are geniuses.

 

Bacon ‘n eggs ‘n croissant – ON YOUR HEAD!

 

Since the scarf pattern was free on the internet, I think it’s only fair that the hat is, too. If you’ve ever crocheted a hdc hat before, this will be very, very familiar to you.🙂

Fried Egg Hat

You’ll need:
Sz J (6 mm)  & sz H (5 mm) hooks, worsted weight yarn in egg yellow and off white/aran

Hat is worked in a spiral. If you prefer to join each round, start the next with a ch 1

With J hook:
Round 1: 8 hdc in adjustable loop [8 sts]
R2: 2 hdc in each st around [16 sts]
R3: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in the next st) 8x. [24 sts]
R4: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 2 sts) 8x. [32 sts]
R5: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 3 sts) 8x.  [40 sts]
R6: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 sts) 8x. [48 sts]
R7: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 5 sts) 8x. [56 sts]
R8: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 6 sts) 8x. [64 sts]
R9: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 7sts) 2x, 1 hdc in each remaining st around [66]
R10: 1 hdc in each st around [66]
R11-R15: repeat R10 [66]

Switch to sz H (5 mm) hook and white yarn

R16: Working in FLO,  hdc in ea st around.
R17: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 7 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [74 sts]
R18: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 8 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [82 sts]
R19: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 9 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [ sts]
R20: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 10 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [ sts]
R21: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 11 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [ sts]
R22: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 12 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [ sts]
R23: (2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the next 13 sts) 8x, hdc in ea of two remaining sts. [ sts]
R24: *Skip 2 sts, 6 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st*, repeat around.
R25: Work a row of crab stitch (reverse single crochet) around, fasten off.

Croissant

Ch 29
Row 1-10: sc across, ch 1, turn (28)
Row 18: dec, sc in next 24, dec, ch 1, turn (26)
Rows 19-21: sc across, ch 1, turn (26)
Row 22: dec, sc in next 22, dec, ch 1, turn (24)
Rows 23-25: sc across, ch 1, turn (24)
Row 26: dec, sc in next 20, dec, ch 1, turn (22)
Rows 27-29: sc across, ch 1, turn (22)
Row 30: dec, sc in next 18, dec, ch 1, turn (20)
Row 31-33: sc across, ch 1, turn (20)
Row 34: dec, sc in next 16, dec, ch 1, turn (18)
Rows 35-37: sc across, ch 1, ch 1, turn (18)
Row 38: dec, sc in next 14, dec, ch 1, turn (16)
Rows 39- 41: sc across, ch 1, turn (16)
Row 42: dec, sc in next 12, dec, ch 1, turn (14)
Rows 43-45: sc across, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 46: dec, sc in next 10, dec, ch 1, turn (12)
Rows 47-49: sc across, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 50: dec, sc in next 8, dec, ch 1, turn (10)
Rows 51-53: sc across, ch 1, turn (10)
Row 54: dec, sc in next 6, dec, ch 1, turn (8)
Rows 55-57: sc across, ch 1, turn (8)
Row 58: dec, sc in next 4, dec, ch 1, turn (6)
Rows 59-61: sc across, ch 1, turn (6)
Row 62: dec, sc in next 2, dec, ch 1, turn (4)
Rows 63-65: sc across, ch 1, turn (4)
Row 66: dec across, ch 1, turn (2)
Row 67: sc across (2)

FO and weave in ends; leave thread on tip to sew down.

To keep it’s shape, you could roll it up around a pipe cleaner or floral wire. I didn’t because I was sewing the edges to a pat of “butter”. Start from the widest end and roll up; secure with a yarn needle or pin while you sew up the tip. Or glue it, whatever, it’s your food!

Butter:

Ch 6

Rows 1-12: Sc 5 across, ch 1, turn

Fold in half, sl st around all four edges

 

You don’t have to sew them together exactly the way I did, have fun with it. Now all your vegan friends can have bacon as well!

 

Oh wow, look how long it’s been since I’ve posted…

Sorry, been busy!! Starting in Sept I got slammed with not-Jayne hat orders for Halloween. I thought I’d have a break before holiday orders started, but I was wrong, lol. Then came the first of the year “I have holiday money to spend” orders. They’ve slowed to a trickle now, and I somehow ended up with an extra newborn-sized hat. Well, what else could I do?