Crochet Mason Jar Cozy-Mini Pattern

Hello again! It's been probably a year, but I just felt like doing something creative and decided to share it even if no one reads this blog anymore. I decided to make a mason jar cozy with a lot of scrap yarn lying around after I ordered some EcoJarz lids. They're these adorable lids you can pop on your mason jars so you can bring them on the go. The ones I bought from Amazon also come with stainless steel straws, and I am excitedly awaiting them.

Picture from EcoJarz.com

I figured a cozy could protect my hands from hot drinks and prevent a slippery, condensation-y glass. It worked out pretty well, I think!

My basic pattern used a size H hook, worsted weight yarn, and single crochet, as well as a magic loop, single crochet decrease and increase.

The sea foam yarn was Red Heart Soft in, I believe, sea foam, while the raspberry and pumpkin yarn are part of a vintage stash I received as a gift. I'm hoping the cozy will help with breakage, but I'm not sure. Has anyone had an incident dropping a mason jar, with or without a sleeve? I imagine that would be bad and always wonder how people bring around their jars so freely. I'd be worried about shattering it.

Basically, I chained about 26 stitches to see the amount it took to wrap, while stretched, around the jar. Undid those stitches, then started a magic loop. Single crocheted 5 sts and slip stitched the circle closes. Single crochet increased in every second stitch until the circle grew to have 26 stitches. I then added about five increases evenly around so the cozy would fit the larger middle, as I found it was a bit too tight at first. I crocheted to the top of the jar, switching colors for stripes, and then decreased five stitches to fit the tighter, contouring top. Fasten off and done!

It took me maybe 2-3 hours, and if I rated myself as a crocheter from 1-5 (with 1 being beginner and 5 being advanced), I'd consider myself a 2-3. Perhaps a 2.5. I got a lot of help from Ravelry and this site.

I might open an Etsy shop soon with these and some other things!

Thanks for reading!

So I Got Some Yarn...

...and I think I may be in love. Seriously. The yarn is so soft and squooshy and cuddly... It's a DREAM to knit with. I got this totally gorg Malabrigo Rios, and I think it's the prettiest yarn I've ever knitted with. I also got some Malabrigo Merino Worsted and some Plymouth Encore Worsted. It's amazing. I'm currently working on a scarf. Whenever I get new fabric or yarn, i get the same thrill that some people get when they buy a new pair of shoes. Do you know that feeling?

o(^__^o)

Food and Stuff

Craving a pumpkin pie milkshake. Never tried it before but it looks delish. Don't you just love A Beautiful Mess? If you haven't heard of it, you should go take a peek. Cool recipes, tutorials, outfits--everything. Plus, I've always wanted to drink out of a jar.

I remember I once went to this great place in SF for crepes. Strawberry and kiwi crepe: sweet strawberries and kiwis, dollops of sweet whipped cream, and a light (well, maybe not) dusting of powdered sugar. So good. I want one. Another recipe.

Also, I'm looking for small, quick projects I can make with scrap yarn. Any suggestions? (coin purse pattern)

And, a very crummy picture of a non-crummy bowl of strawberries. See ya.

(o^__^)o

Slouchy Hat Pattern

As I've said before, I just opened a new Ravelry shop, and I currently have... 2 patterns! My newest one is a slouchy hat. I did this 'photo shoot' on Christmas day, which was fun. I may have mentioned before that I knit this for my sister's Christmas present. I knit it with 2 strands of worsted weight yarn held together in a teal color with cheapy Red Heart Super Savers. I don't really like it, as it's scratchy and stiff, but I'm not willing to spend a ton on something amazing like...mmm...Malabrigo? I don't know; I use mostly yarn you find in a craft store. However, after blocking and washing it'll loosen up.

This is the perfect project for a beginner, as it's super duper easy. It's knit with big needles and super bulky yarn, or two strands of worsted weight held together. It can be knit in the round, too, for an even quicker knit. You could start in the morning, finish by noon, and wrap it up for your friend's birthday present in the evening. Well, I don't know if I could go that fast, but... maybe you could? I'd use a more quality yarn, however, like Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (yes, to me that's extremely good quality). It's super long so if you're not 'digging' the slouchy look, you can fold up the brim for a beanie.

Yes, I know, I look creepy from the side with my nerd glasses on like that... like some creeper... but I promise you, I'm smiling.

This is really fun to knit; instant gratification. Please take the time to look! Thanks! :)

(o^__^)o

My New Ravelry Store-Bowed Fingerless Gloves

I opened a Ravelry store! My first pattern in the store:

Bowed fingerless gloves! I'm so proud... This took me forever... Please take the time to take a look. :)

(o^__^)o

Bow Earwarmer Knitting Pattern

One of my winter inspired projects... a bow earwarmer! A nice gift for someone who wants to keep their ears warm. Modeled, per usual, by my sister.

Materials: US 15 needles, 2 balls of worsted weight yarn or 1 ball of super bulky yarn (you don't need a lot), darning needle, and scissors

With two strands held together (or 1 strand if you're using super bulky yarn), cast on 8 stitches. If you want it wider, cast on more stitches. Knit till it can fit snugly around your head while stretching it. Bind off. Sew the two ends together. To make it bunch up, pull the end of the yarn you're using to seam the headband until it scrunches up. Now wrap some yarn around the bunching for the middle of your bow, tie the ends off, and you're done!

(o^__^)o

Happy Belated Father's Day! (and my fisherman's bracelet)

Sorry I didn't say Happy Father's Day on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday; I was a bit busy and only available to complain about swimming. Anyways, what we did was:

1. we went out shopping and driving around at Palo Alto on university avenue

2. we had a delicious home-cooked meal of pulled pork bbq sandwiches

3. gave our daddy our presents.

All in all it was a fun day for me.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! o(^__^o)

Oh and I made a new icord bracelet. I like to think of it as a fisherman's bracelet because of the natural color and the large knot in the center.

I used some thin string/twine and double pointed needles.

What i did was:

CO 3 sts, leaving a long tail, about 5" to tie the bracelet off with.

K the first row.

Now flip the needle around so the sts are at the bottom.

Then slide the sts up to the top so the working yarn (string, whatever) is at the bottom stitch.

(see? the yarn is coming from the bottom stitch)

Now k the row again, bringing the yarn up from the bottom. Now slide the sts to the other end, flip the needle over, and k the row again.

Repeat till the length around your wrist plus a little more. To bind off, just pull the string through the sts and pull tight. Cut the thread about 5."

In the center of the icord, tie a figure eight knot: Make a loop, twist it once, and pull the end through.

To close the bracelet, tie overhand knots on the ends so they don't unravel and use a fisherman's knot for an adjustable bracelet! Tada! You're all done.

Convertible Weekend 3-in-1 Shrug Knitting Pattern

Funny; I'm a lazy knitter. I've knitted a hoodie before (ok, so it was a hooded vest)! You'd think that would stop making me so lazy and get me started on some big project, like an afghan or something. But nope. I think making that sweater last year gave me an excuse to say, Ok, I've finished my mission to do a sweater. Now I can tell people I've actually knitted one! But yesterday I told myself, "I'm going to make myself a shrug! It's not even as big as a sweater!" But once I cast on those 48 stitches on size 10 needles, I didn't even finish 3 inches before unraveling. Again I thought of my vest last year. I had cast on, like, 54 stitches maybe? And here I couldn't even cast on 48. So I just grabbed some us 19 needles and started. Only 36 stitches? Oh, yes please. This is the lazy shrug. And it's convertible! It can be a shrug, a scarf, or a cowl. Oh, how beautiful.

Materials: US 19 needles, worsted weight yarn (I used some leftover Caron One Pound. Yardage is maybe 200 yds? 300? Maybe less. Just experiment.), tape measure, scissors, darning needle.

Level: beginner

CO 36 sts. Knit every row in garter stitch till it's about 36-40." Depends how long you want it to be; short sleeve, long sleeve, 3/4 sleeve... doesn't matter. Now bind off.

Take the finished length of the piece (mine was 35") and subtract 22." Now take your new number (35 - 22= 23) and divide by 2 (23 divided by 2 is 11.5). This number is x. Now fold your piece in half lengthwise and sew both edges towards the middle, leaving a 22" gap between the sewn sections for the armholes. So now insert your arms, and the edge of the shrug should drape against your neck. Done! Or if you want a cowl, place the whole tube on your neck. Or tie it around for a scarf! You could also just sew the whole tube closed for a cowl/scarf.

My sister and I did a whole photo shoot. Those are her glasses, by the way, from Nordstroms for $10. Of course she had to post a dorky pic of me buried under a mound of blankets, hiding from the camera, saying 'my sister is so cool.'

Oh, and do you recognize the blue/black shirt? It's my slouchy raglan (tutorial here) with a black and gray shirt underneath.