jjcrochet | JJCrochet's Blog

About jjcrochet

Author Archive | jjcrochet

Crochet Hexagon Blanket… In a day?

By jjcrochet on June 8, 2010 in Crochet, Projects

I came across this awesome hexagon design for an afghan. The only problem?

I don’t crochet afghans.

They take too long, give me visions of creap-o acrylic, and I can’t understand why someone would choose a blanket made from yarn over am-in-a-spa? squishy fabric. I don’t even like saying the word. Afff-ghan. af-GHAN. af-a-gan. Ew.

I can’t control my fingers, though, and when they see something they like, they must crochet it.

I’ve modified the pattern a bit so I only do 5 rounds in each hexagon (the pattern calls for 7) because I noticed it was after the 5th round that I would start to get bored. See, I was serious about this whole hating afghans things.

But I’ve been working since around 11am and 5 hours later, here’s my progress. I must say that I’m really enjoying this pattern. In fact, I’ve kinda been addicted to it.

I’ve made it my goal to get it finished by tonight. Ambitious? Maybe, but we’ll see. I have 22 hexagons finished and figure I only have 11 more to go. Average in at 9 minutes/ square, that’ll take me around 2 hours + seaming… might be a late night.

Comments { 2 }

DIY Sew-In Fabric Labels

By jjcrochet on June 7, 2010 in Projects

My goal this summer is to brand my business. Practically, that means a new logo for JJCrochet, blogging, more free crochet patterns, and sew-in fabric labels for my hats. (Ohh, big goals I know). I got a new logo thanks to Sarah McD ill on Etsy’s Alchemy and wanted to put it to use in my quest of creating a cohesive image.

After browsing Etsy, I found it would cost between $.15 and $1.00 PER LABEL to have my design printed. I forgot to mention, but as part of this quest, the goal is to be as frugal as possible. I can’t afford to spend that much on labels, ambitious summer quest or not.

In a search for a cheaper solution, I came across this incredible tutorial by Patchwork Pottery on how to make your own sew-in fabric labels.

All you need to make these fabric sew-in tags are:

1/2 inch cotton twill tape
Computer and Photo Editing Program (to make your label template)
T-shirt transfer paper
Scissors
Iron

I bought the supplies, made the template, printed, cut, ironed, peeled, cut again, and viola – labels! On my first run through, I made 75 labels for under $5. Victory. $.06 per label – Eat that, you fabric label price gougers!

Click here to view the complete tutorial.

Comments { 1 }

The Newest Member of JJCrochet: Nikon L110

By jjcrochet on June 2, 2010 in Uncategorized

Confession: I purchased a Canon SLR EOS Rebel Camera with the intent of getting into photography and taking better pictures of my crochet hats. Fail. The camera was a tad too advanced for me and I always felt weird pulling in out at parties or events because then I was that girl. The girl with the big camera who was trying to be all indie and artsy.

So I sold my Rebel on Craigslist and shopped around for an easier camera. Enter the Nikon Coolpix L110.

Specifications:

Digital, not SLR (so easy to figure out – just point and click)
Small and convenient to tote around
12.1 mega pixels
15x zoom
Great Macro Pics
Decently priced

I was converted.

The camera is perfect for what I need it and I’m already finding it to be a refreshingly simple downgrade from my Canon. Here are some pictures of flowers I took while experimenting with the macro setting… not too shabby for a camera under $250.

Comments { 0 }

Free Pattern Friday – Knitted Hat & Pattern: Tie-Cord Baby Hat

By jjcrochet on May 28, 2010 in Free Pattern Friday, Free Patterns, Knitting, Projects

Free knitting pattern – Newborn Tie-Cord Hat

This knit baby hat was my first venture into the world of DPNs. After watching this Youtube video on how to knit with double pointed needles, I finally mastered the technique. I had heard knitting with DPNs was equivalent to wrestling with an octopus, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. If you’ve never used big-bad (ooooh) DPNs before, try it. I thought having to sew up circular knit projects when I was done was no big deal. Wrong. Knitting in the round on DPNs is so, so, so much better. Try it… you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Free Pattern: Newborn Baby’s Knitted Tie Hat

Size: Newborn. Finished hat measures 12″ in circumference and 5.5″ inches high, not including tie.

Materials

US size 8 (5.0mm) double pointed needles
~75 yards worsted weight yarn
Darning Needle

Pattern

CO 45

Knit in Stockinette Stitch (K every round) until hat measures 4″ from bottom.

Begin to decrease.

Round 1: (K3, K2tog) around

Round 2: (K2, K2tog) around

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2, decreasing until only 4 sts remain.

Continue to K4 sts to form an i-chord that measures 6-7″.

Bind off.

Use Darning Needle to Sew in Ends.

Loosely knot i-chord at top of hat.

Laugh at all your other friends who knit this on straight needles and have to sew up the seam.

Comments { 3 }

Roy's Knitted Baby Sweater

By jjcrochet on May 27, 2010 in Knitting, Projects

I’d had my eye on this free knitting pattern on Ravelry: Baby Sophisticate for a while. I’ve never really had an excuse to make it, though. I’m a single 21-year old that has zero use for a knitted baby sweater.

Enter my good friend who’s pregnant with her second kid. (Suz, I’m sorry if you’re reading this, just act surprised when I give this to you the next time I see you.) On Monday, I learned she was having a boy and cast on for this knitted baby sweater Monday night. Finished it by Tuesday. Can’t stop looking at it. For more project details and where you can get this free knitting pattern for this baby sweater, check out my finished project page on Ravelry.

Only downside: My friend isn’t due ’til October so it’s another 5 months until we can try it on her little tyke.

Comments { 0 }

Berroco Free Crochet Hat Pattern

By jjcrochet on March 10, 2010 in Uncategorized

As winter winds calm down, it’s the perfect time to wear those chic yet fashionable crochet berets. You know, the slouchy crochet hats that are perfect to pair with those floral skirts and a light jacket. A free crochet hat pattern I’ve been eyeing is Berroco’s Phannie. Simple, textured, and a perfect transition into these warmer days.

Comments { 0 }

Quite Possibly the Best/ Worst Thing I've Crocheted

By jjcrochet on February 2, 2010 in Projects

I love to crochet so when I became the 2009 – 2010 Sweetheart of the awesome brothers of Omicron X i (aka the Okies), I thought of a way to combine my love of the Okies with my love of crocheting. I mean, Fraternities and crocheting, what could be a more natural pair?

The result of my brainstorming: A men’s crocheted sweater with the fraternity’s Greek letters, OE, worked into the design.

I didn’t take pictures of the sweater before I gave it to the boys, but here is one fine-looking Okie modeling the Okie sweater at the annual OE Christmas party.

This sweater is quite possibly, just maybe, the best and simultaneously the worst crocheted item I’ve ever made. I look at the sweater and can’t help but laugh (as did the majority of my girl friends when I showed them), but when I gave it to the Okies, they loved it and that’s what really matters in the end. At least that’s what I tell myself so I don’t retire my hooks for good.

Pattern: Men’s crochet sweater pattern from Debbie Stoller’s The Happy Hooker + chart of Crocheted Greek Letters

Yarn: 10 skeins of Vanna’s Choice in Red, 1 skein of White

Hook Size: J crochet hook

Comments { 0 }

Knotty Knitters

By jjcrochet on January 15, 2010 in Knitting

Today was the first Thursday I’ve been able to go to my weekly knitting group in over 3 months and it made me realize how much I’ve missed them. It’s one thing to crochet by yourself, but to be surrounded by people you can “talk yarn with” is another. Our small group, the Knotty Knitters, meet at the local library from 6-8pm on Thursdays evening to knit, crochet, and share stories about life.

I’m the youngest member of the Knotty Knitters (by about 40 years), yet I absolutely love the time I spend with my fellow needlecrafters. These women are so thoughtful and genuine – not to mention knowledgeable about all things knitting – that spending 2 hours with them is not nearly enough time. I wish I was home more so that I could go more often, but alas, college calls.

Don’t worry, ladies – I’ll be back for another round (ha, crochet joke) soon enough.

Comments { 0 }

JJCrochet Photoshoot, Jan 2010

By jjcrochet on January 12, 2010 in Photoshoots

I’m still home on Christmas break from college (PTL for private schools with 4 week Christmas breaks) and have been crocheting and knitting quite a bit. I’ve made way too many knit and crochet hats, but when you have a hat-selling business, I guess that’s a good problem to have. Last week, I convinced my younger sister to model some of my crochet hats and we had so much fun – me playing with my new camera, and her just loving being other the other side of the lens. It was about 15 degrees here in Pennsylvania when we took these shots and I can still hear my little sister complaining about the cold.

While we did take some great pictures of my crocheted and knit hats…

…There were some awkward/ funny/ disturbing pictures that just won’t make the final cut.

She started to get a little crazy towards the end…

Overall, though, I’d say this photoshoot was a success. And if not, at least I have some great pictures to use as blackmail when she gets older.

Comments { 1 }

Free Knit Hat Pattern – Hannah’s Hat: A Classic Essential for Winter

By jjcrochet on January 11, 2010 in Free Patterns, Knitting

I love making this hat because being a crocheter at heart, I have to make instant gratification projects. If it’s not quick, forgetaboutit. This hat knits up in a jiffy, even though I’ve only been knitting for a while. (Granted, not as fast as I can crochet, but you can’t design crochet hats with a stitch pattern like this…)

Pattern is mainly for my own reference so it’s not completely precise, but feel free to enjoy! Just eyeball it and go. Contact me if you have any questions and I’d be more than happy to help!

Hat was named for my roommate in college, Hannah, who is classy and indie and wonderfully beautiful, just like this hat.

Materials

Size 13 (9.0mm) Knitting Needles

1 Skein Lionbrand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (107 yards) or any bulky weight yarn

Pattern

CO 48 stitches

Knit 4×4 rib for 2 1/2 inches (or however long you’d like your band to be).

Next Row: Switch to Mistake Ribbing For Body: *k2, p2* across until 2 stitches remain. P2tog (you need an odd number of stitches for the mistake ribbing).

Continue to work Mistake Ribbing (*k2, p2* across until last stitch, p1) until hat measures 7 inches from cast on edge.

Next Row: Begin to decrease. k 1, *k2tog, p2tog* across. Continue decreasing for 3 Rows until only 7 stitches remain.

Cut yarn and weave yarn through remaining stitches on needle, gathering hat shut.

Sew up side seam of hat and Enjoy!

Knit Hannah’s Hat with others on Ravelry:

If you’re not a fan of straight needles, instructions on how to knit this hat in the round are found below:

Cast on 48, do 4×4 rib as instructed.

Now here is where it gets tricky:

Mark your first stitch with a marker and k2 p2 around. (ending in p2)

Start next row (in the round means next stitch) p1, k2, p2 around till last stitch, and then p1. and then repeat. next row would start with K2.

This is how i wrote it down to help me:

k k p p k k p p

p k k p p k k p

k k p p k k p p

p k k p p k k p

you can see how the K’s and p’s line up, and the other verticals are every other as the should be.

You just need to know when you are going to have 3 purls next to each other, or just 1 purl.

Cast on 48, do 4×4 rib as instructed.

Now here is where it gets tricky:Mark your first stitch with a marker and k2 p2 around. (ending in p2)

Start next row (in the round means next stitch) p1, k2, p2 around till last stitch, and then p1. and then repeat. next row would start with K2.

Continue to work mistake ribbing until hat measure 7 inches from beginning.

Work decreases in hat as written above ^^. (Next Row: Begin to decrease. k 1, *k2tog, p2tog* across. Continue decreasing for 3 Rows until only 7 stitches remain.)

Have fun!

All this knitting mumbo-jumbo got you stumped? Don’t worry – visit JJCrochet’s Etsy Store for hand-made crocheted and knit hats!

Comments { 16 }