Crochet Mustache Applique

       So I have obviously been noticing this mustache craze that everyone is so into. Mustache everything. Well here you go people, a crocheted mustache applique / embellisher that can be sewn, glued, or pinned to anything you like! (I like them on coffee mug cozies.) I got the pattern here, and it's a super simple, fast and easy pattern! I have some mustache appliques available in my Etsy shop, if you'd like to buy some! 

Crochet Textured Coffee Mug Cozy Pattern - Free

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn, preferably something easily washable

Size 5mm crochet hook

Button of your choice

Stitches used:

Ch- chain

SlSt- slip stitch

SC- single crochet

DC- double crochet

Instructions:

Row 1- Ch 4, and SlSt into beginning chain to create a loop. Ch 2, (counts as a DC), and then make 11 DC in the loop, join to the top of the CH 2. (12 DC total)

Row 2- Ch 2, make a DC in same stitch as the CH 2 just made, then make 2 DC in each stitch around, join to top of chain 2.

Row 3- Ch 2, make a DC in the same stitch as the CH 2 just made, then (1 DC in the next chain, 2 DC in the next), repeat the parenthesis all the way around, join.

Row 4- Ch 1, make 1 SC in front loops only in each stitch all the way around, join.

Row 5- Ch 1, (make 1 SC and 1 DC both in the same next stitch, skip next stitch), repeat parenthesis all the way around until 4 or 5 stitches are left unworked. 1 SC in the next stitch. Chain 1, TURN.

Row 6-  Make 1 SC, and 1 DC in the stitch above the DC from the previous row. Repeat all the way around until 1 stitch is left undone. Make 1 SC in that last stitch. Chain 1, TURN.

Repeat row 6 until the mug cozy is the desired height of your cup.

When finished with last row, Chain about 20, and then slip stitch into the beginning stitch of the chain to create a loop.

Chain 1 to close, cut yarn leaving a tail to weave in, and pull tight the excess yarn through the chain 1 just made, then weave in. (That is my process for finishing off ends, however, you may do so however you wish.)

Sew a button to the cozy on the opposite side of the loop for closure.

Enjoy your new cozy daily! Give as gifts for the Holidays! 

Super Simple but Oh So Deliciously Decadent Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes!

      So as it is now officially fall, it is also officially pumpkin flavored everything season, and I for one, am not complaining! I absolutely love the flavor of pumpkin, and would probably honestly eat it year round. I had a pumpkin spiced latte today before my trip to the grocery store, and was thinking about cupcakes, as usual, and decided to try something new. I grabbed a box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix, and a can of Libby's Pumpkin puree. It seemed so easy I wasn't sure how well it would turn out.....Usually things that turn out amazing take more work to make them that way. But not these cupcakes!!! They are very moist, and softer than most cupcakes. Try out this recipe, and take these cupcakes to all of your holiday events! Pretend they are home made ;) 

The Recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting:

~ one box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
~ one can of Libby's Pumpkin puree
~ 3 eggs
~ 1/3 cup vegge oil
~ 1 and 1/3 cup water
~ 1/2 cup brown sugar
~ 1 TSP vanilla
~ cream cheese frosting
~ cinnamon for garnish

All you need to do is pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F, line a cup cake sheet with cup cake liners, (or spray baking spray generously if you don't have any liners).

Then mix the box cake mix together just the way it says on the back of the box, (with the water, eggs, and vegge oil mentioned above.)

Then add one 8oz can of Libby's pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 TSP vanilla. 

Bake them according to the directions for cupcakes on the back of the box. (350 degrees for about 18 minutes)

Let them cool, and then frost them with the cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle cinnamon for some beautiful holiday cheer :)

Delight your friends and family with the decadent moistness and richness of these cupcakes!

Loved making this wool cowl scarf from Studio Tricot's Cedrone yarn.

    I got a hold of some Italian merino wool yarn from Studio Tricot called Cedrone. It's being discontinued from the yarn website that I shop from and I wanted to try it before it was all gone. I am in love with this yarn! I purchased the lavender/mint multicolor colorway, and it has beautiful shades of lavender, mint green, and gray. It was a dream to work with, and super soft and bulky. It is 100% merino wool from Italy. The washing instructions say machine washable but I love this cowl that I made so much that I would recommend not machine washing this item just to prolong the life of it. 3 balls of this yarn made en extra long infinity scarf cowl. It's SO soft and squishy! This one is listed in my shop for sale, and I plan on getting my hands on some more colors of this yarn before it is all gone. (I just may make one for myself as well, I just can't resist this yarn.) 

Check out the listing at my shop : Cozy Wool Cowl Scarf Italian Wool

Coffee Mug Cozy Pattern

     

Crochet Textured Coffee 

Mug Cozy Pattern                           

 Now available in my Etsy Shop is a pattern to make these cute little crochet coffee mug cozies yourself! (If you wish, you may buy one from me already made.) These coffee or tea mug cozies make the perfect gifts, especially during the holidays! 

The pattern is very easy and simple, it takes no time at all, and it's available for only $2.00! If you purchase the pattern, and should you ever need any help with the instructions, I will always be available to message via Etsy Conversations. 

Here is a direct link to the pattern listing ... Crochet Textured Coffee Mug Cozy Pattern. 

ENJOY!

New chain loop cowls!

                                                    




   I am excited to say that I have listed one more chain loop cowl in pink! It is now available in my shop. I plan to make one in many different colors as soon as I make another yarn order. Look for chocolate brown, and smoke stack gray available by the end of the weekend, and many more exciting colors to come after that! Any requests? Contact me at my Etsy Shop. 

How to make a chain loop cowl!

    





















   So I've been seeing these chain cowls around the internet, their so great, and so versatile! You can wear them as an extra warm and soft necklace, or a long scarf, or you can double them up around your neck and wear them as a soft, cozy cowl. Well I decided to make my own little version of them for my Etsy shop. But I thought I'd also share how I like to make mine with you crafty folks out there who will take the time to make your own. If you're feeling lazy you can buy one from me, or contact me for a custom one at my Etsy Shop. They make perfect gifts! 

Materials: 

~ Bulky yarn, I used Loops and Threads Cozy Wool, you can buy it at Michael's craft store. Or Lion Brand's Wool Ease Thick and Quick is another great option. Any bulky yarn will do. One skein is sufficient.

~ A size 9, or 10 mm crochet hook.

Pattern:

This cowl is comprised of about 10-12 chains, and then they are bundled together and wrapped tightly. I like to make the chains vary slightly in length so it will cascade down. But you can always use your own imagination!

Make a chain that is about 126 chains long, and join the two ends so that the chain is not twisted. Then chain one, and cut your yarn with a tail a few inches long. After cutting the yarn, pull the loop through so that it is tight in a knot. Then tie both ends together in a double knot, and snip the excess yarn off. 

Repeat this same procedure 10-12 times making each two strands one chain longer. 

Example:
strands 1&2 = 126 chains
strands 3&4 = 127 chains
strands 5&6 = 128 chains
strands 7&8 = 129 chains
strands 9&10 = 130 chains
strands 11&12 = 131 chains

Then bundle all the strands together, and with some extra yarn, wrap it around and around all the knots tightly until they are all hidden, and it looks uniform. Note: (you will need quite a long strand of yarn for the wrapping.) Then tuck the tails from the yarn wrapping in either side very tightly. Try to get them in the middle of the bundle so they will not work their way out.

Enjoy your new cowl scarf! Make them in many colors, and make them for friends!!! 

Scarf In Progress

     I'm currently crocheting a scarf that I'm falling in love with! I'm using Berroco Vintage yarn that I got from Jimmy Beans Wool. I'm using the colorway called "petals" and it's the most gorgeous lavender color that I've ever seen! I plan on listing this scarf in my shop when I'm finished with it. I've always wanted to learn how to crochet cables, but have always been intimidated by them. This is my first cabled project, and it turns out they're easy when you have a well written pattern! I'd like to give some kudos to the designer of the pattern that I'm using. It's the "rocky mountain" scarf in the set of 4 patterns. Lisa has created some amazing cabled scarf patterns. The pattern I purchased is a set, and comes with 4 different cabled scarf patterns, called Mountain Range Scarves from her Etsy shop called Crochet Garden. She has many more patterns available, including a similar one that also has 4 cabled scarf patterns in it, called Canyon River Scarves. Anyways, I just wanted to mention her wonderful patterns, and I will be listing this scarf in my Etsy shop as soon as it is finished! If you're interested in making some yourself, I recommend buying the pattern, it's worth the buy, especially for four different patterns in one purchase. I will be uploading pictures of my scarf progress very soon!!!

I'm back!

      So I have been having trouble finding the time to do things these days, this semester of online college classes has started back up, along with a 10 month old at home, housework and cooking, plus creating new items for my Etsy shop. However, I feel determined to make time for this blog, (completely figuring out the best ways to make and manage a blog), and acquiring fans and readers. So if you read any of my posts, or visit my blog, help me out with some comments, suggestions, anything at all. Have a great day! 

Crochet coffee cup cozy sleeves

I am now IN LOVE with making crocheted coffee cozy cup sleeves. They are great for frequent coffee drinkers, and eco friendly because of all the paper sleeves you are no longer using and throwing away. I used 100% cotton yarn. I really like to use the multicolored yarn for these. They are super fast and easy to make. All I did was chain however many you would need to fit around your cup, then join to make a circle. I wanted it to be textured and not boring and flat looking so I made it ribbed by crocheting fpdc (front post double crochet), and bpdc (back post double crochet.) So make your chain, and join to make a circle. Then double crochet in each stitch around, and join. Then chain 3, and alternate doing fpdc, and bpdc in every other stitch all the way around, joining at the end of each row. Keep going until it's your desired size!!! Sorry that I don't write how to do little things like this in normal pattern format, but you should get the idea by what I said at least. These are pretty simple for anyone with basic crochet skills. I suppose one day when I ever post about something that is harder to make, then I will write the pattern out correctly. I would love some comments or pictures on your own coffee sleeves! 

Baby Washcloths

     I am recently very interested in making baby washcloths to sell in sets. So I got some cotton yarn, and started crocheting, and I love them! I can't wait to make tons of sets in different colors to list for sale. They will make amazing baby shower gifts. I do need to make some for my own daughter to use them, and machine wash them and such to see how well they hold up to wear. I used "I love this cotton" yarn from Hobby Lobby, it's more soft when worked up than I had expected. I would love any comments, or pictures of your own washcloths, or dishcloths! I did list one set for sale online, and it's really very cute.

                                 

                                                                          

                                                                                      

Barefoot baby sandals (crochet)

This new trend of barefoot baby summer time sandals is really starting to catch on with me. I have crocheted, and sold a few pair, and hope to sell a bunch more throughout the summer. They're super cute, and everyone seems to be loving them. All you do is chain about 7 or 8, depending on the size you want to make, and slip stitch together to make a circle. Then double crochet 3 times into the circle, and turn. Then continue making rows until it is the size you want it to be, adding a stitch each row so that it makes a triangle. Then you can either chain enough to make a tie, and then join yarn on the other side to make another tie, OR just chain 12-15 and join to make a loop to go around the baby's ankle. I prefer to make a slip on loop, I feel that they stay on better this way. We all know that babies will pull at the strings and untie them if there are strings to be pulled. Then just add a flower, a heart, butterfly, or some bows. Anything to doll them up. These are a few pair that I have made.

                                   

Well this is my first post, and my first time blogging, so excuse me while I get the hang of this. I suppose my first post will be to tell you about myself. My name is Ashley, I am 21 years of age. I am engaged to a wonderful man who is also my best friend. We have a 6 month old beautiful baby girl named Abigail May, who is very sweet, tender hearted, and fun. I am starting online college classes this fall to become a high school English teacher. I hope to eventually work my way up to becoming a professor someday. I love to read, cook, and especially crochet. I value life and people very much. I have the utmost compassion for all, and make it a personal goal to do no wrong to anyone. I am deep rooted in the south, being raised in Texas, about an hour from Houston my entire life. I love all things country, and outdoors. I love to get muddy, ride fourwheelers, camp, hunt, and fish. I also love being girly at times and dressing up for a fancy night out. I'm always called versatile. That's about all I have to say at this time about myself. I hope my blog will become successful, thank you for reading!