Yarn Projects Part 3: Tension

Good morning!  I hope you are doing well!  Today's lesson is on tension.  Not the tension you get from work, or school, but the tension you put on your yarn when making those gorgeous yarny goodies.

When I first started crocheting, my tension was ridiculous!  It's no wonder I have arthritis in my poor hand!  I would hold the yarn with a grip like a life line.

I am still a tight crocheter, but I have let up on the tension somewhat.  Here are two examples of what I'm talking about.

I totally ran out of yarn on the larger
swatch, but I think I got my point across.

These swatches are both made with the same number of stitches, the same number of rows, the same hook, and the same yarn.  The only difference in the two is the tension (and the one I ran out of yarn).

In the top swatch, the tension is so tight.  Probably exaggerated, but still, that's how I used to crochet.

In the bottom swatch I barely held the yarn.  That was difficult. 

See?  Big difference.  The tension you use in your yarn endeavors will affect the outcome of a pattern, just as much as the hook and yarn sizes.

I hope you've found this little series to be informative and fun!  I have a great time doing stuff like this, and I'm thinking of doing more crochet type posts.  What do you think?  Any ideas?

Yarn Projects Part 2: Hook Size

Hello!!  I'm back with part two of the Yarn Projects series.  The other day I talked about yarn size, and how it can affect a project.  If you missed out on that one, check it out here.

This week, I want to show you how hook size can really do an number on your project.

Like I said in the last post, my patterns aren't specific when it comes to type of yarn or hook size.  I tend to stick with patterns that don't require a gauge.  Other patterns will specify a type of yarn and hook to work it up correctly.

Take a look at these granny squares.  They are all the same pattern, same yarn, just different hooks (the letters next to the squares are the hook sizes).

I sure hope these posts are informative for you!  I am enjoying writing them.  Is there anything else you would like to see me write about?

I'll see you guys next time for the last installment of my crochet series: Tension!

Yarn Projects Part 1: Yarn Size

Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk about yarn sizes. 

As you may know, I'm terrible at writing crochet patterns.  I enjoy making new things and sharing them with you, but I just can't seem to write them very well.

So, I just want to explain that {most of} my patterns are subject to interpretation.  They are completely customizable, and gauge  is not always imprtant.  That us not always the case with pattern, though.  Especially if you're making clothing.

The photo below shows how different yarns can work up very differently.

These circles were made using the first five rounds of the pattern from my HDC Bag, and each one was made with a 4.5mm hook.  The only difference in each I'd the type of yarn.

{I don't know the type of yarn for the green circles, one is thin, the other chunky.  The blue and white is 100% cotton, the purple I'd 100% acrylic.}

As you can see, these circles are all different sizes, and this will affect your yarny  projects.

For sweaters, or such, the pattern will specify the type of yarn to use, so the correct gauge is achieved.  For projects like the ones I write up, you can adjust the patterns to accommodate your yarn size, making the finished product the size you want.

*I started out writing this post with yarn size in mind, and it exploded into a three part article!  The next post is going to be about hook size, I hope you'll stop back by for that!*

Valentine's Day Goodie Bags

**UPDATE**  I apologize, I had the settings wrong for the pattern for the bag.  It's fixed now!  Hope you enjoy!

Oh, wow!  I think I'm actually going to be early with a post!!  Here is a little Valentine's Day goodie bag I whipped together for Youngest's teachers. 

Made using HDC and a couple of rounds from the V-Stitch bag, I think it turned out quite cute!

Here's the pattern I wrote up quickly.  Let me know what you think.  As always, I have to add the disclaimer that I'm terrible at writing instructions, so if you see an error or have a question, don't hesitate to get in contact with me!

The heart is a free pattern from Everything Etsy. 

Just fill it with your gift of choice, and there ya go. 

Hope you guys have a happy Valentine's Day!

Little One's Hand Wreath

I want to make one to
match my decor
year-round

You know, sometimes I have a hard time putting the stuffs into words.  I am oh so eloquent in my head, but then I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), and I write and rewrite until I finally give up.

So, here's real me trying to set up a blog post about November being the month of Thanksgiving, a time when one will look around at all they have been blessed with (an awesome family, a home, or even just breath in their lungs), and give thanks.  This isn't going to be a sappy thanks post.  I don't do sappy.  I do more speaking of my mind (which isn't a very sappy mind).

What I wanted to put together, though, is a cute little DIY child's hand wreath.  I am most thankful for my husband and my children, and I want to celebrate them, so here's a little something to do just that.

This DIY takes no time, at all!  

Here's what you need:

Scissors
Construction paper
Pen/pencil
Glue
Round piece of cardboard
Ribbon or burlap

Directions:

♡  Have your sweet cutie trace his/her hand multiple times (enough to make a wreath)
♡  Cut out sweet little traced hands
♡  Glue in a circle around the piece of cardboard.  They can touch in the center, or leave some cardboard showing, it's up to you.
♡  Make a bow out of your desired ribbon.  I found a quick, easy bow tutorial on Pinterest.
♡  Glue blow to cardboard
♡  Attach hanger of some kind
♡  Enjoy your Little's hand wreath!

Bean Bag Tutorial

If you remember, I made bean bags for the Fall Festival at the boys' school.  Any chance I have to craft something up, I'm going to take it!

Here's the little tutorial on how to make these bean bags, and find a use for those old, worn out jeans in the process!

What You'll Need

■  Old Jeans
■  Scissors
■  Thread
■  Ruler
■  Beans (I used black eyed peas, I'm not sure if there's a better kind, I actually didn't Pinterest this at all!)

How To

■  Lay out Jeans, measure the desired dimensions. (Mine were 3"x3")
■  Cut out
■  Sew together on three sides
■  Add beans.  I actually weighed each of mine to make sure they were identical (I told you in the Fall Festival post that I put way too much thought into it!).
■  Sew closed on 4th side
■  Throw!  I mean, that's the fun part of bean bags, right?

I've seen some with X's and O's embroidered or painted on them for Tic-Tac-Toe.  That looks like a cute idea, but make sure you do that before sewing the beans inside. 

Enjoy!!

Pinterest Project Sunday - Braided Fabric Bracelets

Hello!  So, I'm seriously excited about this week's Pinterest Project Sunday.  I found these little braided fabric bracelets at Home Heart Craft.

Again, I had all the supplies already (I'm seeing a theme...).  I went on a little buying frenzy when Marine Parents sold some of her scraps.  You don't even need to have fabric.  For these, you can use ribbon, scraps, whatever.

I even added a little charm to personalize them.  Hubby said they look very Punky Brewster.  I'll take it.  :)

See ya next week!

~Amanda~

Pinterest Project Sunday - Painted Bottles

Hi there! I hope everyone had had a great week. Mine has been spent with a sick child, but overall, not too bad.  I'm glad I got this project done last weekend so it could be ready for today, or there wouldn't be a Pinterest Project Sunday!

This one was super easy (again), and I had all the items at home already. Bonus!

I found a tutorial for it here.  It's not in English, but I think there is a translate button (I found it once, but then when I went back to the website it wasn't there. Probably something I did.)

Even if you can't get it to translate, there is a picture tutorial that is very easy to understand.

Here is my finished product:

I wanted to get a better picture, but I had to wait till nightfall because the pictures kept coming out too dark. 

These bottles used to be Yoohoo bottles, and the one in the center is a mason jar.  I used some Crayola paint and just poured enough in to coat the jars. 

Because I used Crayola, the paint isn't water proof, so they can't be used as vases, but if you use something oil based (I guess) then it should have no problem. 

I hope you liked my project.   Check back next week for a new one... If I can get Pinterest to work right.  Someone hacked my account!  It doesn't look like any of my pins have been messed with, but they changed my website and the city.  Apparently for little while I pretend lived in Paris.

I think I've gotten everything back on track, so I'll get to work tomorrow on another project.

If you guys have any suggestions for a project, please let me know! It doesn't have to come directly from Pinterest, it can be from Tip Junkie or Indulgy (both of which I can get lost in), or any other site. 

I love to hear some suggestions! You can comment here or on Instagram or Twitter (@littlebeachbird for both).

See ya next week!

~Amanda ~

Pinterest Project Sunday - DIY Lip Scrub

For my first Pinterest Project Sunday I decided to go small.  Well, it wasn't that I decided as much as I was kind of forced.  I had a great project all lined up, but I didn't get to explore it in depth, so I didn't want to post something that I've done half way.  I'm more of an all or nothing type of person.

This, though, is awesome.  It's a DIY Lip Scrub found at Kouture Kiss.  

This winter has been harsh, and I'm subject to dry lips and skin, even during the summer, so I figured it was time to give this pin a whirl (I'm not going to post the how-to, I don't want to take credit for the stuff that someone else does, so you'll have to check out the website above for the deets).

Let me tell you, It may look like some funky goop, but this stuff is awesome!  I had all the ingredients on hand, so that made it even better.  The picture below isn't very glamorous, but it's what the goop looks like.

I slapped this stuff on my lips, followed the directions on the website, and LOVED it!!  My lips were so smooth!  They were so smooth that I decided to try it on my hands, too.  My hands hurt, they get so chapped.  I work with paper a lot, and I wash dishes and my hands constantly, so I desperately needed something to help.

The result:  Smooth hands and lips!  I think this is something that can be done every night when I shower, then add lotion and Chapstick to keep the moisture.  Oooh, maybe try it on my feet for the summer!  Yeah!

Well, I am going to explore some other pins to try out for next week, so I'll see you guys later!  I hope you enjoyed this post.  I know it wasn't a huge project (some of them won't be, being a working mom can really leave little time for crafts), but I'll try to get some done that are more in-depth.

Check back with me on Wednesday, I'll have a post on the 365 TCL Crochet-A-Long Blanket!

See ya!

~Amanda~