Tag Archives | baby crochet

The Craftys Awards – Nominations now open

By Yolanda on December 13, 2016 in Business, Crochet Projects, Giveaways / Contests, Home Decor, Kids Crochet, Knitting, Miscellaneous, Sewing Projects 0

Craftys Awards time

It’s time for The Craftys Awards and that means nominating your favorite crafter. The Craftsy Awards were created to celebrate the best of DIY and Crafts. The categories range from traditional such as knitting, crocheting, sew, and scrapbooking to a category known as “geek crafts.” The Craftsy awards were launched in 2014. This is such a great way to recognize our creative community. Crafters have submitted so many awesome projects that selecting a winner will not be an easy task.

Craftys award

I am so honored to have been selected as one of the judges for this year. Here is the list of the other judges. So many talented people on the judges panel.

The Editors of Babble
Marisa Pawelko – Modern Surrealist
Yolanda Soto Lopez – All Crafts Channel
Marly Bird – Yarn Thing Podcast
Beth Kingston – Kingston Crafts
Vickie Howell – DIY Network / HGTV
Ed Roth – Stencil 1
Mark Montano – Big Ass Book of Crafts
Galit Lebow – FoodStirs
Amber Kemp-Gerstel – Damask Love

The best in show winner will receive $1,000 and each category winner will receive $200.

Some of the Categories include the following. Please go to thecraftsy.com to a complete list and instructions/rules to enter:

Baby Crafts
Craft Blogger
Crochet
Knitting
Decorative Painting/ Mixed Medium
Edible Crafts
Geek Crafts
General Crafts
Sewing

The winners will be announced in a Live stream in February 2017 from New York City. There are so many great sponsors for the Craftsy Awards. If you are a creator and would like to participate you can nominate yourself or another person for an award. Please go to the website thecraftys.com in order to enter. and learn all about The Craftys awards. You will also be able to see the complete list of categories and sponsors. Each year this event has grown. with over 400,000 votes submitted.

Here is a link with the official rules: Official Rules

Good luck and get those nominations in. Let’s do our part to get recognization for all of those awesome crafters out there.

Crochet Fun Snood – Kids of all ages will love this

By Yolanda on November 5, 2016 in Baby Crochet Projects, Crochet Hats, Crochet Projects, Crochet Womens Garments, Kids Crochet 1

Kids of all ages will love this crochet fun snood. It works up quickly when using chunky weight yarn. I used the Bernat Blanket Yarn from Yarnspirations. It is soft and I really like the texture. I used the color: Pumpkin spice. The ears I used the chocolate color. The ears and the snood can be made in other colors if you prefer. I think this snood is a fun way to stay warm. The Bernat Blanket yarn is nice and warm. I made the adult/teenager size. You can purchase Bernat Blanket Yarn from your local Joann’s store or go online to Yarnspirations.com for more selection.

Crochet Fun Snood

Please keep reading for instructions and link to Video Tutorial Continue Reading →

Bernat Stitch Along is Here! Today I share the first clue

By Yolanda on October 3, 2016 in Home Decor, Knitting 2

The Bernat Stitch Along is Here! It has finally arrived. Today I share Week 1 / Clue 1 of the Bernat Mystery Blanket Stitch Along. If you haven’t purchased your supplies yet it isn’t too late. Just visit your local Joann Fabric and Craft Store or go online to: Joann.com to purchase your Bernat Blanket yarn today. There are some colors that are only available thru Joann retailers.

Here is a sneak peek at the clue. As you can see it is a beautiful diagonal rib design. DO NOT be intimidated by this pattern. It is created using only a Knit and Purl stitch. It is just the sequence of those stitches that creates this beautiful pattern. The great thing about this blanket is that there is no sewing. It is a knit as you go. One of my least favorite things is having to seam pieces together as finishing them. This blanket design eliminates that. Once you’re finished other than sewing in any tails you will be ready to enjoy your blanket. That is my kind of knitting fun.

If you have been wanting to learn to knit I would recommend you watch the videos. I knit Continental style which I believe is an easier style for crocheters to use when learning to knit. Since most crocheters (ok, right handed people) already hold the yarn in their left hand and continental knitting requires you to hold the yarn with your left hand you are already ahead of the tension game. Meaning you are already used to having the working yarn on your left hand and controlling the yarn tension with your left hand. It might make it easier to learn. I also think it is a much faster knitting method once your learn and build speed. The most important thing is not to be intimidated. Knitting just like crocheting merely requires some instruction, patience and practice. In no time you will be a pro. Don’t give up!

Bernat Stitch Along – Week 1 Clue 1

Bernat Stitch Along Supplies and Info:

As you can see I have chosen the Teal color for my first week’s clue work. I love how soft this Bernat Blanket Yarn feels. It reminds me of a soft mini-marshmallow. When you visit the Joann website you will be able to download the written pattern along with the knitting charts. Here is the link:

Joann supplies and info page The yarn supplies needed for the knit and crochet versions are different so be sure to check the version that you are going to be following. Both blankets are completely different so if you crochet and knit you can choose to do both. There is no repeat. I also wanted to remind everyone that Joann’s has created a special Facebook event page for both knitters and crocheters. There you will be able to see and post photos, share your progress, and ask questions. It is a fun community and a great way to get support and help each other on this adventure. Here is the page: Bernat Stitch Along Facebook Page I will also be posting some updates on my own Facebook Fan page. Please be sure to visit my page and become a fan. I also will be doing some Facebook Live videos for you. Click here to become a fan: All Crafts Channel Facebook Fan Page

Some of your favorite knitters and crocheters will also be participating and blogging along. Kristin Magnus of Good Knit Kisses will be knitting along and sharing her progress with all of you. Sarah Zimmerman of RepeatCrafterMe will be stitching the crochet version and sharing her experiences. I hope you will join me and all of the knitters and crocheters who are participating. It won’t be any fun without you. I will sign off now to give you a chance to go and watch the video on YouTube or you can click on the video below. Good luck!

Autumn is here and it’s Pumpkin Hat time

By Yolanda on September 20, 2016 in Baby Crochet Projects, Crochet Hats, Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs, Holiday Projects, Kids Crochet 5

Pumpkin hat time is here. It seems everywhere I look traces of Autumn are finally arriving in my neck of the woods. OK, so I live in San Diego, California and there aren’t many signs of the seasons changing. However, stores are now decorated with items that remind us it’s Autumn. Pumpkins are making an appearance in windows and advertisements. Halloween is just around the corner. Pumpkin spice lattes are brewing and I am crocheting pumpkin hats.

I decided to design a pumpkin hat that can be worn by babies to adults. I used medium weight acrylic yarn for my hat. The hat in the photo I used an H hook however by adjusting the hook size the hat can be made for various sizes. Here is a suggestion for hook sizes. Please remember that everyone crochets with a different tension and these are just suggestions. I used a fpdc (front post double crochet) stitch to simulate the ridges on a pumpkin. You can choose any shade of orange and green for your hat. You could even choose a ten or brown color as pumpkins come in a variety of colors.

Continue Reading →

Easy to Crochet Flower Headbands

By Yolanda on August 20, 2016 in Baby Crochet Projects, Crochet Hats, Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs 0

Crochet Flower Headbands are so quick and easy to make. I’m aways looking for ways to use up my many partial skeins of yarn. It seems those partially used skeins keep multiplying. I hate to throw them away and sometimes there isn’t enough yarn to make a big or medium sized project. I saw these little stretchy headbands at my local Dollar Tree store. I liked them but they were just too plain. I decided to add some crochet flowers to the headbands to make them a little fancier. Here is what I came up with: Crochet Flower Headbands.

You can also just make the flowers and add them as embellishments on hats, scarfs, etc. I have included the link for a free video tutorial on the last page of this post for visual learners.

Crochet Flower Headband

Supplies needed for your Crochet Flower Headbands:

Stretchy headbands (purchase at store near you)

Small amount of yarn (approx. 3 oz.) of your favorite color. You will need a minimum of 2 colors. One for center and one for petals

scissors

yarn needle

stitch marker (optional)

Crochet Hook J/10 6.0m (for middle flower)

crochet hook H/ 5.0mm (for 2 side flowers)

The above flower cluster is made with 3 flowers. One large one in the center and 2 small ones on the side.

To begin Crochet Flower Headbands:

(with contrasting color) Magic circle, (leave a long tail to sew flower onto headband) ch 1, 6 sc into circle, pull shut

Round 1: (Working in front loop only) sl st into 1st sc, (to close circle), sl st into next sc, *[ch 2, 3dc, ch 2, sl st into next st]* all in same stitch. Petal made. Rep from * to * until you have completed 5 petals, sl st into same st.