Finished for Friday - Earflap Hat / Peruvian Hat

I really wanted a hat with earflaps that looked cute but without a pom pom on top. After searching for crochet patterns, I just couldn't find what I wanted. I finally found this pattern and was thrilled! It was exactly what I wanted. 

Ron Weasley Animal Crackers Hat

But when I followed the Ron Weasley Animal Crackers Hat pattern, I made the hat too big and it did not turn out well. Not well at all. It's not the pattern, it's me.

So I went to my old faithful - my very own original Husband Hat Pattern. 

I used a bulky weight wool blend and an H hook.

I added a different color a couple times for a couple rows to mix it up a bit. Then I added the earflaps and from the first pattern I tried (see above). 

And this is what I ended up with...

I kinda like it. I call it my Wife Hat

And, I made a scarf to go with it.

I used this simple pattern and added a few rows of the lighter color so it matches the Wife Hat. 

Have you finished anything this week? 

If so, play along at Lit and Laundry's site.

Finished for Friday - Toy Closets

I wanted to spruce up the kids' toy area. We keep their toys behind closed doors - Motor Mouth's closet. Each kiddo had a wooden stand for their toy bins. However, wood does not do well when your 3 yr old stands on it! It was time to come up with something new.

The bins were in perfect condition so I didn't want to throw them away. I searched the Internet and then, one day, while walking through Staples, I got inspiration: a wire stand like the black ones Motor Mouth has for all his stuff.

I couldn't find black stands in the shorter height, so I went with the stainless steel.

What do you think?

Now, head on over to the home of Finished For Friday at Lit and Laundry's site.

Finished for Friday - Pond Friends

Finally, something I can post on

Finished for Friday!!!

Pond Friends Stacking Toy

Frog pole, Dragon Fly, Lady Bug, Bumble Bee, Blue Base

I crocheted this for one of my friends who has a new baby. Not sure which friend yet. I have to choose from 10 people who are about to pop out a kiddo.

I thought I could just bang it out because it is simple. It really took a long time to make. J likes it a lot. I don't think he wants me to give it away...

Pattern is Lion Brand Vanna's Choice

Baby Pond Friends Stacking Toy

Pattern Number: 90075AD

Now, please head on over to the home of

Lit and Laundry to see what fabulous thing she

Finished for Friday!

Finished For Friday - Scarfing 'em out!

I received e-mails weekly from Lion Brand, a yarn company, that have some crochet patterns. Most of the patterns are over my head. One day, a few weeks ago, I spied this scarf pattern my aunt is modeling.

I liked it so much, I made another.

This time, I used the correct needle size.

I think I actually like the larger needle results.

What do you think?

Finished for Friday is a weekly event on my dear bloggy friend's site over at LitandLaundry. Please be sure to check out her amazing cornocopia this week.

Finished for Friday - And It Ain't Over!

Once again, I finished...Almost finished my week.

Saturday

Roundtrip drive to Michigan

Sunday

Host an Open House at work

Thursday - And this is the meat:

- Agenda for PTO meeting

- Document design/prep for leadership summit (30+)

- Host Leadership Summit

- Document prep for women's meeting (100 ladies)

- Run sound & take photos for women's meeting

Friday

Host full-day open house with tours

And to round it out....

Saturday

Roundtrip drive to St Louis

- Alone with 2 kids!

Finished for Friday - Finally!!

I have been looking at Lit and Laundry for months and watching her Finished for Friday accomplishments. Each week, I felt like a bit of a failure. Lit gets so much done in a week!!! I'm quite proud of her (and her amazing kids). Finally, this Friday, something I have FINISHED!!

Patricia Cornwell is my favorite living author. But this was a THICK book!! 512 pages. I borrowed it from the library for 3 weeks. 3 times. I took the book everywhere with me. I would read a page every chance I got. Still, I took 5 extra days past the final due date to finish it. 9 weeks, 5 1/2 days. Finished.

I finished reading Scarpetta in the morning. By that night, I had started - and finished reading Candyland by Candi Spelling. I had read both of Tori Spelling's books and watched the last 3 seasons of her show. It was only fair to read Candi's book. I'm glad I did. Candi Spelling is a remarkable woman with far more substance than her name implies.

And no, I did not get ANYTHING else done that day.
2 books, though!!
I feel like the 'old' me - before kids.

Now, if you finished something this week, please head on over to give some Linky Love to my bloggy friend, Lit and Laundry. She's a pretty remarkable woman herself.

Finished for Friday - I Did It. Sort Of.

What did I Finish for Friday?

I finished Thursday. That's what. 

I had 4 hours of sleep. 

Then embarked on this yesterday

This is what I printed out and carried

Ever have a day like this?

THURSDAY

8:15  Leave house

8:30 Client B Errand 1

8:55 Drop J @ Work

9:00  Client B Errand 2

9:30 Drop kids at Play Date

10:00 Client B Meeting

12:30 Pick kids up from Play Date

12:45 McDonald’s Drive Thru

1:00 Pearl Vision to try on glasses

(bring in kids Leapster 2)

2:30 Mini Me Dance

(change both kids in bathroom)

3:00 Motor Mouth Baseball

3:30 Mini Me Pick Up

3:45 Dominick’s to pick up Dinner for Kids

4:30 Motor Mouth Pick Up

5:00 Church - Drop kids off so A can babysit

(bring books for A to read to kids)

5:30 Pearl Vision for Optometrist app't

6:45 Church - Pick up kids from A

7:00 Small Group

(bring DVD & Leapster 2 for kids)

9:45 Meet J to take us home

(J go back to work with car)

11:00 Client A Work

How did I do??

Had to add - get gas to the list

My GPS died. Had to call the Play Date for directions

Stopped for Red Bull before client meeting

After Client meeting, ran client errand 3

Motor Mouth peed his pants. I had spare shorts.

Took Mini Me to J's office so he could see her in dance outfit

Spent too long there. Got stuck in major traffic.

Missed dance. Went to b-ball

B-ball was cancelled. No one told me.

We all got home at 10:45 pm

No work on Client A

Please check out my Finished for Friday hero, 

Lit and Laundry to see what some 

amazing bloggers accomplished this week.

Finished for Friday - Elephant

 

Finally!!

Mini Me requested a crochet elephant from me way back in December!! She has patiently waited while 4 cousins got amigurumi animals. She has patiently waited while her brother got his requested rocket and her friend had a cat made. Mini Me waited patiently while her uncle and her father got a hat!! 

Getting an elephant pattern was harder than I thought. I searched and searched and searched. Finally, I found a pattern I liked. Then I found out it was a knit pattern. I need crochet. I tried to do the stitch conversions, but they didn't work out for me. I'm new at this, remember. 

So, I made it without a pattern. All on my own. Made it up as I went along. No pattern.

Good things come to those who wait!!

I added the ears I had forgotten!!

And shortened the trunk

Please head over to Lit and Laundry,

home of Finished for Friday

for some incredible ideas.

Finished for Friday - Husband Hat

I did it!! 

I finished a hat for my husband in time for a big snow 

fall scheduled to arrive this weekend!

After making a hat for his brother, J asked me to make one for him. We went to JoAnn's together and J picked out the yarn. It was fun to share JoAnn's with him. We've been to Hobby Lobby and Michael's together, but this was a first.

I had some problems getting started, so MAM helped me out again, last Friday, when we met up at a cafe for some fun time together. Have I told you how much I really like MAM? I made this hat a little different from the last one, as I added 2 rows of double crochet stitches at the end, instead of higher up on the hat.

J said he liked it. 

But he wasn't willing to model shirtless again...

Be sure to head on over to Lit and Laundry, 

the Home of Finished for Friday

Now, for the pattern.

HUSBAND HAT CROCHET PATTERN

Pattern Rows 1-10 adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Easy Stripes Hat #70731AD, minus color mixing.

Note: I tend to crochet tightly so if you have problems, it could be that you are not crocheting tightly enough.

Hook Size: H

Yarn: Lion Brand - Bulky in Charcoal

HAT


With A, ch 4, join with sl st in beg ch to form a ring. 


R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch. 


R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch, 12 sc. 


R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 18 sc.  


R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 24 sc. 


R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 30 sc. 


R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 36 sc. 


R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 42 sc. 


R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 48 sc. 


R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 54 sc. 


R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 60 sc.

(Note: Measure the head this is designed for. Increase or stop increasing as necessary to fit your intended adult head. My husband has a big head.)

R11: Ch 1, *sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 66 sc.

R12: Ch 1, *sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 72 sc.

R13: Ch 1, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 78 sc. 

R14-19: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. 


R20-21: Ch 1, Double Crochet in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. Fasten Off. Weave in ends.

Join Ravelry.com, the new yarn community of choice!

 

More details on hats below....

UPDATE:

My husband lost his hat on the train last year so I made him another this year. I actually made six of these hats following this pattern for Christmas 2012. It's a versatile pattern and I mixed it up a bit - did some double crochet, added flowers, etc.

I'm not sure why some people in the comments below had a hard time with the pattern. I'm thinking that perhaps they may be crocheting too loosely - I'm pretty tight when I crochet.

Or, they may not be measuring the recipient's head as they go along. I measure to make sure it's not too loose. Once it seems like it will fit snugly, I stop increasing and just crochet the rows until i measure to see if it is long enough to cover the ears and hair of the recipient.

It is really important to measure the crown of the head and the length. I've used this same pattern for my kids and three different men. Some hats I make a little longer or bigger or shorter or narrower.

Have fun!

Finished for Friday - Brother-in-Law Hat

My sister-in-law, FaithChick, sent an 'easy' crochet pattern and asked me to make a hat for her husband. Well, I tried. And failed.

I tried again. And again. Finally, I had to get MAM to help me. Turns out, I have been crocheting all wrong!! The amigurumi technique may have messed me up, or in my amateurness, I just missed a few things. At any rate, MAM set me straight. 

Marine Man in his new hat!

I didn't do the original pattern, instead opting for a modified pattern all my own. Crochet is absolutely beautiful when done properly...

And now my husband wants one...

Please head on over to Lit and Laundry, 

home of Finished for Friday. 

It's pretty amazing what she accomplishs in 1 week!

WIDNEY CROCHET HAT PATTERN

Pattern Rows 1-10 adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Easy Stripes 

Hat #70731AD, minus color mixing.

Gauge: 12 sc = 4 in.

HAT
With A, ch 4, join with sl st in beg ch to form a ring.
R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch.
R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch – 12 sc.
R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 18 sc.
R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 24 sc.
R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 30 sc.
R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 36 sc.
R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 42 sc.
R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 48 sc.
R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 54 sc.
R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 60 sc. 

(Note: If your gauge lines up, stay at 60 sc to R14. Otherwise, increase to fit adult head as needed.)
R11: Ch 1, *sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 66 sc. 

R12: Ch 1, *sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 72 sc.

R13: Ch 1, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 78 sc. 

R14: Ch 1, *sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R15-19: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.
R20-21: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R22-27: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R28-29: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R30-31: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.

BORDER
With B, ch 1, sl st in each sc around, sl st in beg ch.
Additional Row: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Finished for Friday - Rocket Ship

Motor Mouth has been asking me to crochet him a rocket ship. I'm a good mommy, so I searched and searched for patterns. Couldn't find one for the life of me! So, with just 2 months of crocheting under my belt, I decided I had the skill and expertise to CREATE a pattern.

It's not Friday, but I wanted to post this today, 

so I could get it on Ravelry.com

Here is the pattern if you are interested

ROCKET AMIGURUMI PATTERN

HOOKS

Body: 4.25 mm

Fins & Tip:  3.75 mm

YARN

Yarn A: Gray, Vanna’s Choice 100% Acrylic 3.5 oz

Yarn B: Black, Vanna’s Choice 100% Acrylic 3.5 oz

I use washable yarn & polyester fiberfill for kids' projects

BODY

With Yarn A, ch 2

Row 1: 6 sc in first ch, 6 sts

Row 2: 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep, 12 sts

Row 3: 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep, 18 sts

Row 4: sc in each st, 18 sts

Row 5: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep, 24 sts 

Row 6-8: sc in each st, 24 sts

Row 9: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep, 30 sts

Row 10: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep, 36 sts

Row 11-12: sc in each st, 36 sts

Row 13: DC* in each st, 36 sts

Row 14-35: sc in st, 36 sts

Row 36: SC2DEC*, sc in next 4 sts; rep, 30 sts

Stuff with polyester fiberfill

Row 37: sc2dec, sc in next 3 sts; rep, 24 sts

Row 38: sc2dec, sc in next 2 sts; rep, 18 sts

Row 39: sc2dec, sc in each st, 12 sts

Sl st and fasten off and work tail into body.

TIP

With Yarn B, ch 10, turn

2 dc in next 6 st

Sl st and fasten off, leaving tail for attaching to body

Use needle to attach to body through hole in top. 

Note: Chain 1-4 should be inside body for support

FINS - Make 3

With Yarn B, ch  3

Row 1: HDC*** in 2nd and 1st ch, ch 1, turn

Row 2: 2 hdc in each; ch 1, turn, 4

Row 3: 2 hdc in each; ch 1, turn, 8

Row 4: 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next; rep, ch 1, turn 12

Row 5: hdc in each, 12

Sl st, fasten off, and sew to body

*  DC - Double crochet

** SC2DEC - Single crochet decrease

*** HDC - Half double crochet

Please be sure to visit Lit and Laundry, 

the home of Finished for Friday, 

to view her fabulous work.