Crystalites Crochet Hooks by Susan Bates (Review)

I just recently purchased a set of these Crystalites crochet hooks by Susan Bates from shopredheart.com. I was ordering some new yarn anyway and decided to grab these just to try something new. They only cost a few dollars. I had never used a plastic hooks before. I mostly use the aluminum ones.

There were things I liked about these hooks and things I didn't really like. One of the things I did like, was that each hook is a different translucent color. I have already memorized which color is which sized hook. I also liked that these hooks came with a clear plastic case with the sizes of each hook printed on the outside. So very easy to store and find the hook you are looking for. Something I didn't like about these, is that in the description it stated that the head of these hooks is designed to reduce wrist fatigue. I didn't get that effect when I used them. My wrist seems to tire just as fast as they do with my aluminum hooks. Another thing I didn't like about these hooks, was that my yarn did not smoothly run across the surface of them. It would almost catch on them at times and it actually got a little annoying. I only tried them with 100% acrylic yarn. I'm not sure if using a different yarn I might have had a different experience with that. One thing about these that I noticed is that they are slightly shorter than the aluminum hooks and even the bamboo hooks that I am used to. I had to adust the way I held my hooks. 

Overall I would rate these hooks a 3 out of 5. I will most likely continue to use my aluminum and bamboo hooks more than these. I think I will try to use a different yarn type with them just to see if they work any better with it. If I do that i may post an update about that. If any of you have used these and had better luck with different yarn types let me know. If anyone is interested in purchasing these hooks I found mine on shopredheart.com for around $7. Happy Crocheting!

Crochet Toilet Paper Cover

This is a crocheted toilet paper cover that I made for a request. She requested that it be made with a lighter purple color and that she did not have a preference for a specific kind of flower. Her bathroom theme is white and purple, so I went with a white flower. I decided to create a new type of flower just for this cover. I really really like it a lot. I cascaded the flowers across the top and down one side of the cover. I embroidered yellow centers onto the flower to add a touch of color. I added little green crochet spirals to bring out the colors of the whole thing. I thought it came out really pretty. She loved it too!

Here is a close up of the flowers I designed for this cover.

Side view of the cover.

Puff Stitch Hat

This is my completed crochet puff stitch hat. This hat pattern in by Teresa Richardson (The Crochet Geek on YouTube). I love this hat. It was very easy to make and I followed right along with the video tutorial. I was actually unfamiliar with the puff stitch before making this hat. I really like it though and it was easy for me to learn. Teresa is a great teacher. I am already thinking of a few patterns of my own that I can incorporate this stitch into. The flower in the picture is actually one of my own patterns. It is posted here on the blog: http://crochetcrazymama.blogspot.com/2011/05/spring-bloom-pattern.html. I thought adding the flower made the hat even better. There are many ways you could accessorize a hat like this one. This was another awesome pattern by Teresa!

Baby Cupcake Hat Pattern

Baby Cupcake Hat

Written by Adrena Donnelly 2012

a.k.a Crochet Crazy Mama

Size: Newborn

What You Need:

Size I/9-5.50mm Crochet Hook

Soft 4Ply yarn in Brown, Pink, and Red (I used Caron Simply Soft yarn)

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Skill Level: Easy

Abbreviations:

Ch=Chain

HDC=Half Double Crochet

FP HDC= Front Post-Half Double Crochet

SC=Single Crochet

SlSt=Slip Stitch

St(s)=Stitch(es)

*= Repeat from * as directed

Body of Hat

With Pink, Ch 5, join with a SlSt to beginning Ch.

Round 1: Ch 2, 9 HDC into the center of the loop. Join with a SlSt to top of beginning Ch 2.

Round 2: HDC in same St, 2 HDC in each of the remaining Sts around. Join with a SlSt to top of beginning Ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2, * 2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in the next St. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt to top of the beginning Ch 2.

Round 4: Ch 2, 1 HDC in the next St. * 2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 2 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt to top of the beginning Ch 2.

Rounds 5-8: Ch 2, 1 HDC in each St around. Join with a SlSt to top of the beginning Ch 2.

Round 9: Ch 2, Working in back loops only, 1 HDC in each St around. Using Brown, join with a SlSt through the beginning Ch 2 and last HDC.

Round 10: Ch 2, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts, FP HDC in the next St. *1 HDC in each of the next 4 Sts, FP HDC in the next St. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt to top of beginning Ch 2.

Rounds 11-15: Ch 2, 1 HDC in each of the previous HDC, and 1 FP HDC in each of the previous FP HDC around. Join with a SlSt in top of beginning Ch 2.

Round 16: Ch 1, SC in same Ch space. SC in each remaining St around. Join with a SlSt to beginning Ch 1. Tie off and weave in yarn ends.

Frosting

Attach pink to any St on row 9. Ch 2, 2 HDC in the same Ch space. 3 HDC in each remaining St around. Join with a SlSt to top of beginning Ch 2.

Pom Pom Cherry

Using the Red yarn, wrap yarn around 2 fingers several times and then cut leaving a long tail. Thread yarn needle. Weave yarn tail  through middle section of the yarn on your fingers. Don't poke yourself! Pull yarn from fingers and while holding the center of the bunch of yarn, pull the yarn tail tight. Secure it with a few knots. Carefully cut ends of yarn bunch, and then fluff out your yarn. Trim ends until you are satisfied with the size of your pom pom. Use remaining yarn tail to sew the pom pom to top of your cupcake hat.

Crocheted Shell Stitch Scarf

This is a scarf I recently made. I have never made a scarf that wasn't double crocheted back and forth over and over again, so this was a first for me. I really enjoyed making it. I found the pattern for this scarf on YouTube. I followed along with Teresa Richardson's (The Art of Crochet and/or The Crochet Geek) tutorial. It was really really easy to make, and worked up really fast too! I love the shell pattern, it gives the scarf a lot of texture. I had to add some fringe to mine, although she didn't include that in her pattern. Scarves just HAVE to have fringe if you ask me lol. I made this using Redheart Super Saver yarn in "Off White". The color is great because it goes along with many outfits. I've worn this scarf out a few times recently when it was super cold and it really helped to keep me warm. I really like it a lot!

Here is a closer shot of the shell stitches.

Here is a shot of the fringe I added to both ends of the scarf. I just love fringe on scarves. I remember I used to braid all of the little strands on my scarves when I was younger. :)

Crochet Baby Cupcake Hat w/ PomPom

 

This is a new baby hat that I designed. It's a cupcake! Doesn't it look delicious? :) This hat would fit a newborn baby but can be made larger. I made this one using Caron Simply Soft yarn. I think it is just adorable! Different colors can be used so that it can be worn by baby girls or boys. I will be sharing the pattern for this hat with you soon. (Probably later today)  I would love to see your finished hats. Feel free to share them here on the blog, or you can email me at CrochetCrazyMama@ymail.com and I can post them here. You could also share photos on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrochetCrazyMama-Blog/196370060448021 .

Striped Slouchy Hat Pattern

Striped Slouchy Hat

Written By Adrena Donnelly 2012

a.k.a. CrochetCrazyMama

Size: Adult

What You Need:

Size I/9-5.50mm Crochet Hook

4Ply yarn in 3 Colors (Color A, B, and C in pattern)

Yarn Needle

Skill Level: 

Beginner/Easy

Abbreviations:

CH = Chain

HDC = Half Double Crochet

HDC dec = Half Double Crochet Decrease

DC = Double Crochet

SC = Single Crochet

SlSt = Slip Stitch

St(s) = Stitch(es)

* = Repeat from * as directed

Foundation Round: (Using color A) CH 5, join with a SlSt to the beginning CH.

Round 01: CH 2, 11 HDC through the space in the center of the chain loop. Join with a SlSt to the top of the CH 2. (12 Sts)

Round 02: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 2 HDC in each of the remaining Sts around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 03: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in the next St. Repeat from * around. Using color B, join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Round 04: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in the next St. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 2 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 05: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each St around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 06: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each St around. Using color C, join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Round 07: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 2 Sts. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 08: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 09: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDc in each St around. Using color A, join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Round 10: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 4 Sts. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 11: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 5 Sts. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 6 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 12: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each St around. Using color B, join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Round 13: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 2 Sts. *2 HDC in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Rounds 14-15: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each St around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC. At the end of row 15, using color C join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Rounds 16-18: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each St around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC. At the end of row 18, using color A join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Round 19: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 2 Sts. * Work a HDC dec in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 20: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. 1 HDC in each of the next 3 Sts. * Work a HDC dec in the next St, 1 HDC in each of the next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first HDC.

Round 21: CH 1, HDC in the same CH space. Work 10 HDC dec. 1 HDC in the next 33 Sts. Work 10 HDC dec. HDC in last St. Using color B, join with a SlSt through first and last HDC.

Rounds 22-24: CH 1, DC in the same CH space. 1 DC in each St around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first DC.

Round 25: CH 1, SC in the same CH space. 1 SC in each St around. Join with a SlSt in top of the first SC. Tie off and sew in yarn ends.

Striped Slouchy Hat

This is my new slouchy hat design! It took me a while to perfect it the way I wanted, but I am happy with the way it turned out. This is a beginner pattern. I will be sharing this pattern with you all today. So make sure to come back and look for it if you are interested. I would love to see how yours turns out! I made this one using RedHeart Super Saver yarn. I think depending on the yarn you use this hat will be a little slouchier. Is "slouchier" even a word? LOL Anyway, this hat is for an adult size, but decreasing the amount of stitches in the increase round, or using a smaller hook you could always make the hat smaller. The same goes for making it bigger, just use a larger hook, and/or add a few extra stitches to the increase round. Hope you all like it! :)

ChiaoGoo Premium Bamboo Crochet Hooks (Review)

I recently spotted these crochet hooks on ebay and I read up on them a little and decided to check them out. I purchased 3 of them in different sizes. I am sometimes a little nervous when buying stuff on ebay because you can't always trust sellers on there. Well fortunately this seller was awesome. Although the packaging looks like it came from overseas, this product actually shipped from here in the US and it only took a couple of days! :) These were brand new items that were still sealed in the package and everything was just as described. These weren't very expensive either, only about a dollar more than I normally pay for aluminum hooks.

These hooks are made from a premium Chinese Moso bamboo. This is a very strong bamboo. They are handcrafted, which I find amazing. They had a couple of different colors, but I went with the natural ones. The  size is laser printed on the hook so that it will never fade, another great feature. On the back of the hook just opposite of the size, a word has been laser printed in both Chinese and English. The 3 hooks that I got had Freedom, Peace, and Love printed on them. 

When compared to aluminum crochet hooks (which is what I have most commonly used), they measure up about the same. Stitches come out exactly as they do with the aluminum ones. The tip has a slightly different angle to it which to me seems to grab hold of a string of yarn very easily. Yarn flows very smoothly across the surface of the hook. The bamboo hooks weigh much less than the aluminum ones and don't seem to tire out my hands as fast. One thing I liked a little more about these is that they are warm when you touch them. Aluminum hooks are always cold when I first pick them up. 

Overall I like these hooks a lot. I am actually thinking of purchasing a few more in different sizes. I won't stop using aluminum hooks all together, but I can definitely see myself switching between them and the bamboo much more in the future. If you are interested in finding these, the seller has a website. Visit  http://verticalproducts.com/  to find these bamboo hooks, knitting needles and other neat products. You can also search for them on ebay if you wanted. That's where I got mine! :)

Crochet Yankees Blanket

I made this blanket for a request. They requested that the blanket represent the Yankees baseball team. I decided to use the colors from one of their uniforms, dark Navy Blue and Gray stripes, with White lettering. I made it using Red Heart brand yarn. I purchased some felt letters and used another larger piece of felt for the Yankees team symbol. I hand sewed on all of the felt pieces, which felt like it took longer than the crocheting part to me. LOL. I really like how it turned out. I'm not really a fan of baseball myself, but I am sure any Yankees fan would love this blanket! :)

Crochet Cupcake

I crocheted this cute little cupcake for my brother for Christmas. He just happens to be a huge fan of cupcakes. I made it with Caron Simply Soft yarn in blue and purple. It's complete with little yarn scrap sprinkles and a big red cherry on top. He even has a tattoo of a cupcake with these same colors on his hand. :) I just had to add the face to make it even more cute! It took me a while to figure out how to make it, but I love the way it turned out. He loved it too! :)

My Boys

Just had to share this pic of my boys. It's just too cute not to share! They are growing up way too fast! :(

Crochet Granny Square Handbag/Purse - Blog Giveaway #1 Prize

This is the bag I gave away in my recent blog giveaway posted on Facebook. It's made up of solid granny squares. The squares were made using RedHeart brand yarn in the colors Baby Pink and Aran. 

The straps are braided together and sewn to the inside of the bag.

I lined the bag in pretty pink fabric. This was the first time I lined anything. I purchased some fabric squares from the store for this bag because I am not familiar with lining anything, nor am I familiar with how to cut fabric lol. I sewed it all by hand and I was very proud of myself and amazed with how it turned out! :)

I attached a small snap closure on the inside of the bag. The snap was probably the most difficult part for me to do. I originally was going to sew on a button, but decided a snap was a better idea. 

The bag was large enough to fit a bottle of water inside with plenty of room to spare! :)

This bag is to me one of the best things I have ever crocheted. It's definitely in my favorites. I am very proud of myself with this one, and I am definitely going to have to make a few more. If anyone is interested in having me make a similar bag for you, leave a comment on this post, or send me a message. You can also send me an email to CrochetCrazyMama@ymail.com, or contact me on Facebook on the blog page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrochetCrazyMama-Blog/196370060448021.  We can discuss colors, materials, pricing and things like that. :)

Large Crochet Granny Square Scrap Bag

This is a large bag I completed recently made up of several large granny squares. I used up a ton of scrap yarn to make this bag. I decided that I would use it to store materials for projects I am currently working on, or I could even use it to store extra scrap yarn. I single crocheted the squares together to give it a nice textured look on the outside of the bag. This bag is not lined, but I don't really plan on putting anything in it that would fall out through the holes of the granny squares. 

 The squares are pretty large that make up this bag. As you can see in the picture above, each square is larger than my hand.

I single crocheted several rows at the top of the bag give it a nice edging and to make the straps. The tight stitches gave the straps a stronger feel to me. I felt they would be able to support the weight of the bag or any materials in the bag very well. 

The bag has lighter or brighter colors on one side and darker or more neutral colors on the other side. Flip that bag depending on your mood! :) This bag was really fun to make and really takes no time at all. It's another great way to use up scrap yarn, which is awesome to me because I have so much! :)

Crochet Panda

This is a crocheted panda bear that I made for my sister as a Christmas gift. She loves pandas! This took me a while but was really fun to make and well worth it! I designed it as I went along so there isn't really a pattern for this cute little cuddly panda. I know... I know, I have already felt the heat on that, but I don't think it would be too hard to recreate. I made it with Caron Simply Soft yarn. So she is super soft and cuddly. I decided to put her in a little purple dress, which is half part of the pandas body and half separated from the body. The bottom of the dress actually is a separate piece. I even put a matching purple bow on her head. I thought it made her look really cute. Purple is my sisters favorite color! :) I made the head so that it was too large for the body to look similar to the design of Hello Kitty, whom I absolutely adore! :) I was very happy with the outcome and I look forward to designing more little crocheted animals in the future. :)

Crochet Wreath

I know Christmas was almost a month ago now, but I finally have the pictures I took with my sisters camera, because mine disappeared remember :(.  This is a wreath I made for my mother as a Christmas gift. I searched around the internet looking at pictures of other crochet wreaths people had made and came up with the idea for how I would make my own. The first one I made, I had used pipe cleaners to make a round shape to work with, and I crocheted around it adding lots of extra stitches on each row to give it the wavy/ruffle effect that resembled what looks like a wreath. When I had finished it, I realized that it couldn't even hold it's own weight and I couldn't figure out how I would hang it on a wall or door. With the help of my destructive little toddlers it fell apart.

I decided I would try again. This time I went to the craft store and purchased a wooden ring used for cross stitching. I figured the wooden ring would be able to hold the weight of the yarn much better than the flexible bendy pipe cleaners. So I recreated the same design I used on the first one and it came out great! I added  a ribbon tie to the back, some little crochet flowers with leaves, and a little crochet butterfly to decorate it to my moms tastes. The little roses and leaves on this wreath are made with a new pattern of mine. I will probably be sharing that with you in the free patterns section of this blog. They are simple and cute and work up really fast. My mother really likes it and has it hanging on her front door now. :) 

The Winner of CrochetCrazy Mama's Blog Giveaway #1 is....

Facebook-Crochet Blog Giveaway #1

If you haven't already heard about it yet, I have posted my very first giveaway on Facebook. In order to take part in this giveaway, you have to have an account with Facebook. Then you will have to go to my blog page, which you can find here:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrochetCrazyMama-Blog/196370060448021. Once you get there and you "like" the page, look for the post about the giveaway and read about the rules and what you will have a chance to win. Good luck! :)

I got it!!! :D

I picked up my new camera from my mothers over the weekend!! Yay!! Thanks mom!! Time to start making some updates around here!! :D

The case of the missing camera...

Hey again! If you follow me on Facebook you probably already know that I have been missing my camera since right before Christmas, and if you don't follow me on Facebook, what are you waiting for? Just kidding lol, but you should seriously go check it out and don't forget to hit the like button when you are there. It's a cool way to stay up to date in between blog posts. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrochetCrazyMama-Blog/196370060448021

Anyway, so my camera is no where to be found. I brought it with me when we went up to my mothers house the weekend before Christmas. We celebrated early because she wasn't going to be able to make it to our place or us to hers on Christmas Day. I took a few photos of my boys opening the gifts she got them, and then the camera went into my coat pocket. I know it's not the best place for it, but I wasn't carrying a purse so my pocket was the next best thing. When it was time to leave I remember that I felt my pocket as I was walking out the door to assure myself that I still had it with me.

A few days later I wanted to take a picture of something and it was gone! I searched everywhere I thought it could be and a few places that I knew there was no way it could be. I told my mom it was missing and she searched her place with no luck. I even searched the car to make sure it didn't just fall out of my coat pocket in there. Christmas morning came and the camera was still no where to be found and I was upset. It's a good thing that my sister stayed with us the night before and brought her camera along. I wouldn't have been able to get any shots of my boys faces when they opened all of their gifts if she had not brought hers.

It's been a couple of weeks now and I swear that I have checked every inch of my house and car and have come to the conclusion that it is not here. The only other place we had gone before the day I realized it was missing, was to my in-laws house, and that was the day after we went to my moms. We even called and asked them to search around to see if it was there. It wasn't. So now I have to just accept that any family photos I had on the camera are now gone.. and hope that they aren't in the hands of some stranger. (Although I doubt very highly that it was stolen.)

Until last night, I had decided I was just going to have to purchase a new camera. I have been planning on buying a new video camera soon, so why not get a new camera too? I do need both of them. Well, last night my mother called me to let me know she had found a camera online that she thought I would like, and said that she was buying it for me to replace the one I had lost. As she explained the features of the camera and listed all of it's accessories I just got happier and happier. I guess I don't have to buy a new one after all. I thanked her of course, and now I am just waiting until it's delivered. I can't wait! I will update everyone when I get it and then I will have a lot of catching up to do here on the blog. I have so much to show you! :)