Saturday, November 29, 2014

Officially Christmas Season

Now that it's officially Christmas season, it's time to kick off the holiday season with a showcase of some of my latest creations! These are made from a pattern found here: http://www.maggiescrochet.com/pages/mini-christmas-stockings-free-crochet-pattern

Here are some photos! Feel free to pin, share, and make some of your own!



Thursday, November 6, 2014

Scarf Donation

Today I dropped off 11 scarves for the Handmade Especially for You charity! I have had a lot of these scarves sitting in the garage all summer because I missed the last drop off and they have spaced the deliveries to once a quarter instead of once a month. I was excited to find out I turned them in just in time for a delivery! Yay!
So thank you for your donations, I am still working hard to get these scarves out to those women in need. I hope you, too, are doing some kind of charity effort!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Blog Facelift

I hope you all enjoy the blog's facelift! I'll be rearranging a few more things, making everything accessible, streamlined, and clean. Enjoy!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Donations Update

I have had so many people donate to help support my scarf making efforts for the Handmade Especially for you organization it makes me so happy!

To keep up with the demand, and simplify the process a bit for me, I have uploaded the pdf file to Etsy, so now when you make a donation you get the PDF file INSTANTLY! Isn't that AWESOME!

Because of the fees associated with selling on Etsy, I have had to up the price for the PDF document, but rest assured that EVERY SINGLE PENNY of profit I receive from that listing goes to make comfort scarves. The listing is available for $1.99.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/192946934/living-the-craft-life-all-patterns-pdf

Keep on crocheting!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

**New** Pattern Tutorials

I have decided that in order to help support my family (rather than just my charity efforts), I will be producing a series of step-by-step photo tutorials for some of my more popular patterns. These patterns contain high resolution images and tips throughout the pattern to help you complete the project, available to you for a small fee, $1.99

Yes, I know. A fee. I have decided to keep all of my blog patterns for free. If you thoroughly enjoyed the availability of my awesome patterns, please consider purchasing the pattern tutorial as a token of appreciation.

If you genuinely need assistance completing one of my patterns, see if it has a photo tutorial available for you to purchase.

They are available for purchase at my etsy shop (LivingTheCraftLife.etsy.com) or through my etsy-mini located in the side bar

Thank you for your continued support. I continue to make comfort scarves and donate them to our local shelters here. That work will not cease.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Chevron Arrow Skinny Scarf - Free Pattern

Isn't chevron so HOT right now?! So is the miniature version of chevron... the Arrow! I know there are many patterns for chevron scarves, but I was disappointed that so many of them were entirely single crochet. I also had a hard time finding one with sharp peak like mountains (versus small hills!). I put together this pattern so you can make chevron or arrow scarves FAST!







Materials:

Size K crochet hook
Soft yarn (medium weight)
Sewing needle

Gauge:
Not essential, but approximately 4"x60"

Special Stitches:
Dc2tog: (Double Crochet 2 together)- yarn over, insert hook into first chain, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook into second chain, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook, at this point you should have 2 partial double crochet stitches completed, and you should have 3 loops on your hook), draw yarn through all 3 loops on hook.
Dc3tog: (Double Crochet 3 together)- yarn over, insert hook into first chain, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook into second chain, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook into third chain, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook (at this point you should have 3 partial double crochet stitches completed, and you should have 4 loops on your hook), draw yarn through all 4 loops on hook.

Notes:

Scarf is worked in rows. The turning chain counts as the first double crochet, therefore you do not work the in the very first stitch of each row. That first stitch counts as the space the turning chain is worked in.

You may attach new colors at the beginning of any row, and each chevron block can be as big as you desire. In the samples I photographed I did 3 rows for each color block. The first row is a beginning row that starts the chevron pattern, and after that you can do either the solid chevron or light chevron row patterns for the remainder of the scarf.

Pattern:
Ch 16
Row 1: dc2tog in 3rd and 4th ch from hk, 1 dc in next 4 ch, 5 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next 4 ch, dc3tog in last 3 ch, turn.
Row 2(solid chevron): ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc2tog in next two stitches, 1 dc in next 4 ch, 5 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next 4 ch, dc3tog in last 3 ch, turn.
Repeat row 2 to make solid pattern scarf. Alternate colors as desired. Finish off when you have reached your desired length and weave in ends.

Light chevron row pattern:  ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc2tog in next two stitches, sk 1, ch 1, 1 dc in next st, sk 1, ch 1, 1 dc in next st, ch 1, (dc, ch1, dc) in next ch, ch 1, 1 dc in next, sk 1, ch 1, dc in next, sk 1, ch 1, dc3tog in last 3 ch, turn.




Thursday, May 1, 2014

April Scarf Donation

I dropped off 4 scarves earlier this week to our area's collection center. I completely forgot to take a photo, because I was running other errands in the area and decided last minute to make the drop off. OH well! I hope you can forgive me!

Keep on crocheting!!!

Friday, April 25, 2014

First garden harvest!

So, we made our first salad made from ONLY lettuces from our garden. It's so beautiful!



I also pulled up some beets that were ready. LOVE!!

The progress on my tomato plants. Looking forward to some pineapple tomatoes!!!

Friday, April 18, 2014

April Feature: Easter Garland

Okay, so I think garlands are super cute and a really simple decoration that can go anywhere! Here is a round up of some of my favorite Easter garlands across the internet!


Easter Spring flowers
http://sarahndipities.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-tuesday-free-crocheted-flower.html

Easter Eggs
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2014/03/27/crochet-easter-egg-garland/

 
Easter Bunny
https://www.etsy.com/listing/124959544/easter-bunny-garland-crochet-bunny

This one didn't have a free pattern, so I found one you can use to make a similar garland: http://weaverbirdie.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/cute-bunny-applique.html


Easter Peeps


This one ALSO didn't have a free pattern, so I found one you can use to make a similar garland:
Or one from my blog
 
 
ENJOY!


Monday, March 31, 2014

10 ways to decorate (hide) a tree stump in your yard

I was doing yard work and I was trying to think of some ways to avoid getting rid of a certain tree stump in our front yard. Tree stumps are one of the harder features to remove from a yard. They take a lot of money and effort to remove completely. So I have decided for this month's feature to collect 10 different ideas for how to decorate (or hide) a tree stump. Enjoy!


1. Use the stump as a planter

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Gardens/You-Can-Teach-An-Old-Stump-A-New-Trick/detail.esi?oid=523282

http://thegardeningcook.com/creative-gardening-ideas/

2. Grow climbing plants up the stump to hide it
 

3. Carve a decorative centerpiece

http://thegallopinggardener.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/official-start-of-spring-today.html

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2012/03/05/stump-sculptures-12-amazing-altered-tree-trunks/2/

4. Carve it into a CHAIR

5. Turn it into a fairy garden



6. Use it as a base for a bird bath

 


7. Or as a base for any décor (Video)
http://www.howcast.com/videos/316222-How-to-Disguise-a-Tree-Stump-as-a-Lawn-Ornament

8. Chess/ Checkers, anyone?


9. Modern Tree Stump Table


10. Hide it with a raised bed (See tutorial for before and after photos)