Minion Hats for Sale

Hi All,

I have posted my pattern for the minion hats on here for free but, I am also selling the finished product on my Etsy shop!  Stop by if you're interested!

Happy Hooking!

Chicken Corn Chowder

I don't know about the rest of you but, I love being able to put rotisserie chicken in recipes.  They are so easy (and usually cheaper than buying chicken breasts for the recipe).  My grocery store has them normally priced at $7.99, which is high, but, on Friday they have a "chicken special" --YES there is a man that walks around in a chicken costume asking you if you've heard about their chicken special every single Friday.  Instead of them being $7.99 they are $4.99 so, I gave into the man in the chicken costume and purchased a rotisserie chicken.

Now I have the dilemma of what should I do with my chicken.  I come home and debone it almost immediately (I find this is easiest to do while they are still warm).  I was thinking of making a nice chicken enchilada dish but, I was asked for Chicken Corn Chowder instead.  So, here is my recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients:
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1 box low-sodium chicken broth
1 bag frozen corn
1 rotisserie chicken, deboned and shredded
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. In large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Saute the bell pepper, onion, jalapeno, and garlic until tender (about 5 minutes).  In a bowl, whisk the broth and flour until there are no lumps left.  Add the flour mixture to the dutch oven.  Stir until consistent.  Add the chicken and corn to the dutch oven, bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes.
2. In a bowl, melt your cream cheese in the microwave.  Whisk together the milk and melted cream cheese until there are no lumps.  Stir in the cream cheese mixture, bouillon cubes, salt and pepper, and cheddar cheese to the soup.  Reduce heat and let simmer for another 20 minutes. 

I like to serve this with a toasted baguette or a small toasted sandwich.  ENJOY!

Crochet Minion Hats

Hi All,

I am currently working on a pattern for all sizes for those cute little minions from Despicable Me.  Here is a preview of what they are going to look like:

Hope you check back soon!

Crochet Minnie Mouse Hat

Little kids say the darndest things, don't they?  Well, my "niece" is in love with Minnie Mouse.  She will bring the DVD to me and ask, "watch?"  She's the cutest.  Spending a week with her at the beach was an enormous amount of fun. 

Materials:

5.0 mm hook
Loops & Threads Impeccable in black and soft rose

Size:

Fits most 1-3 year olds.  I made this hat for my cousin's 1.5 year old and she loves it!

Abbreviations:

magic ring: here is a tutorial for right handed crocheters

ch: chain

sl st: slip stitch

dc: double crochet
sc: single crochet

Hat:

Note: for all sl st at the end of the rounds, be sure to sl st them with your first dc and NOT your ch 2

using black
Rnd 1: 10 dc in magic ring, sl st in first dc (10 sts)

Rnd 2: ch 2, 2 dc in the same st as you sl st, [2 dc] around, sl st in first dc (20 sts)

Rnd 3: ch 2, 2 dc in the same st as you sl st, dc in next st, [2 dc, dc] around, sl st in first dc (30 sts)

Rnd 4: ch 2, 2 dc in the same st as you sl st, dc in the next 2 sts, [2 dc, dc in next 2 sts] around, sl st in first dc (40 sts)

Rnd 5: ch 2, 2 dc in the same st as you sl st, dc in the next 3 sts, [2 dc, dc in next 3 sts] around, sl st in first dc (50 sts)

Rnd 6: ch 2, 2 dc in the same st as you sl st, dc in the next 4 sts, [2 dc, dc in next 4 sts] around, sl st in first dc (60 sts)

Rnd 7-14: ch 2, dc around, sl st in first dc (60 sts)

CHANGE COLORS... here is a good video tutorial on how to change colors for a round when crocheting

Rnd 15-17: ch 2, dc around, sl st in first dc (60 sts)
Rnd 18: sc around edges with the color of your choice (60 sts)

Bow:

ch 19
Row 1: hdc in second ch from hook, hdc across (18 sts)
Row 2-6: ch 1, hdc across (18 sts)
sc around the edges, F/O and weave in the edges

Ears:

Make 4
Rnd 1: 10 hdc in a magic ring, sl st in first hdc (10 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 hdc around, sl st in first hdc (20 asts)
Rnd 3: ch 1, [2 hdc, hdc] around, sl st in first hdc (30 sts)
when you finish the third round on your third ear, continue to round four
Rnd 4: ch 1, sl st together with an ear that is already made for 24 sts (leaving 6 sts) leaving a foot of yarn for attaching to the hat

Assembly:

lay the hat flat, in the seam between the 3rd and 4th rounds, begin stitching the ears you made onto the hat

F/O and weave in ends

tie the pink yarn around the center of the bow piece that was made, wrap it around until it is the desired thickness, weave in the end, and attach to the first round of the hat

F/O and weave in ends

Hope you enjoy this pattern! Happy hooking!

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Here's my little cutie pie!

B-O-O Door Decor

I am constantly looking for ways to decorate my door for the holidays, despite my boyfriends best efforts to keep too many decorations out of our hall closet.  Well, oops, looks like he keeps fighting a losing battle because, I am not giving up on decorations!

I recently came across a post that was selling a "BOO" ornament for my door... I wasn't spending $25 on it so, I decided I'd make one!

Materials:

rafia 

2 wooden 'O' letters

1 wooden 'B' letter

Cost:

I bought all of my materials from AC Moore with a 40% off a single price item and an additional 15% off my entire purchase!  How lucky!

rafia -- I'm not sure how much this would cost to be honest, my mom had some left over from Christmas last year and gave it to me, it's on Amazon for $3.84 a bundle
wooden letters - $3.99 a piece

So, lets do the math of what I spent:
My one 40% off item: $3.99 * (1.0 - 0.4) = $2.39
My total with the 15% discount = ($2.39 + $3.99 + $3.99) * 0.85 = $8.81

So, who doesn't like saving $12? 

Happy Halloween!

Cast Iron Skillet Handle Holder

So, you all know that I enjoy to cook but, I don't think I've mentioned my love for my cast iron skillets.  They are perfect for searing fish and finishing it off in the oven, making a "steak house worthy" steak, blackened chicken (I will post my recipe soon), and so much more.  The only problem with cast iron is how hot the handle gets (and how it smokes sometimes but, that's besides the point).  My hot pads have seen better days, they get washed each time the towels need to be washed.  I tend to get them a little dirty and this is unfortunate when they are in the washer and I want to use cast iron.  Well, I had some 100% cotton yarn left over from making dishcloths last year for Christmas presents.  So, last night, as I'm sitting on my couch with a hot pad on my back I started playing around with a skein of yellow.  Well, The result was a cast iron skillet handle holder (that fits wonderfully).  Here is what you need to do:

Materials:

4.00mm hook

100% cotton yarn (I used Sugar n' Cream in yellow) -- I have also used the Peaches and Creme brand

scissors

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

sc: single crochet

sl st: slip stitch
st: stitch
sts: stitches

Gauge:

5 sc = 1 inch

totals 5 inches in length

Tutorial:

chain 6

single crochet 5 across

insert your hook into the first stitch on the
other side of your foundation chain

single crochet across the back side of the foundation chain

finished product without the reverse single crochet edging

notice the additional real estate that the
reverse single crochet round adds

Directions:

ch 6

Round 1: in second st from hook, sc 5 across, sc 5 across on back side of foundation chain (10 sts) (here is a good video tutorial) 

Round 2: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st (14 sts)

Round 3: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st (18 sts)

Rounds 4-5:  sc around (18 sts)

Round 6: sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts (16 sts) (here is a good video tutorial of sc2tog) 

Rounds 7-20: sc around (16 sts)

Round 21: sl st in next 2 sts, F/O and weave in ends

If you're interested in a more interesting edge, don't weave in the ends, instead, reverse sc around and then F/O and weave in ends.
Note: this will add some more length to the skillet holder.

Happy Hooking!

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Newborn/3M Crochet Football Cocoon

There's a new virus going around... Babies, babies, babies... HOW EXCITING! It seems like everyone of my friends are either getting engaged or getting pregnant.  Well, lucky me! I found out that my college roommate is expecting! Her husband is a Green Bay Packer so, of course, I need to make something football themed.

Since I started crocheting, I have been wanting to make a cocoon for a newborn and I came across this pattern on Etsy.  Too bad it is for knitting or I would buy it... done deal! Right? Too bad I crochet... But, luckily enough, the posting tells me that the yarn used is super bulky, and I've made hats before...

I can come up with a pattern that replicates this posting?  Well, I gave it a shot.  Here is what I've come up with!

Materials:

6.50 mm hook
2 skeins Bernat Softee Chunky yarn in dark taupe

1 skein (I didn't use all of it) Bernat Softee Chunky yarn in white

Gauge:

9 sc = 3 inches

Size:

Hat

14 inches in circumference 

6 inches from top of hat to bottom (crown to bottom of ear)

Cocoon

21 inches in circumference
18 inches long (unrolled) - 17-17.5 inches rolled

Directions:

Hat

using dark taupe (brown) yarn

Round 1: in magic ring, sc 7, sl st in first sc (7 sts)
Round 2: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, 2 sc around, sl st in first sc (14 sts)
Round 3: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next st, [2 sc, sc] around, sl st in first sc (21 sts)
Round 4: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 2 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 2 sts] around, sl st in first sc (28 sts)
Round 5: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 3 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 3 sts] around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)
Round 6-7: ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)
Round 8: ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, (changing yarn to white) sl st in first sc (35 sts)
Round 9: (using white yarn) ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)
Round 10: ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)

Round 11: ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, (changing yarn to dark taupe) sl st in first sc (35 sts)

Round 12-14: (using dark taupe) ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)
F/O and weave in ends

Cocoon
using the dark taupe (brown)
Round 1: in magic ring, sc 7, sl st in first sc (7 sts)
Round 2: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, 2 sc around, sl st in first sc (14 sts)
Round 3: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next st, [2 sc, sc] around, sl st in first sc (21 sts)
Round 4: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 2 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 2 sts] around, sl st in first sc (28 sts)
Round 5: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 3 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 3 sts] around, sl st in first sc (35 sts)
Round 6: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 4 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 4 sts] around, sl st in first sc (42 sts)
Round 7: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 5 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 5 sts] around, sl st in first sc (49 sts)
Round 8: ch 1, 2 sc in same st as you sl st, sc in next 6 sts, [2 sc, sc in next 6 sts] around, (changing yarn to white) sl st in first sc (56 sts)
Round 9: (using white) ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (56 sts)

Round 10: ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, (changing yarn to dark taupe) sl st in first sc (56 sts)

Round 11-49 (or 50, depends on how long your cocoon is): (using dark taupe) ch 1, sc in same st as you sl st, sc around, sl st in first sc (56 sts)

F/O and weave in ends

Laces
using the white
surface stitch (here is a great tutorial on how to surface stitch)

Main Lace:
I started surface stitching 8 rounds from the white stripe and I surface stitched 21 times, turned and went down the other side of the row
To connect the surface stitches, I took a 5.00 mm hook and pulled the white yarn (making a zigzag pattern) back and forth between the two rows of surface stitches using the inside of each surface stitch
I inserted my hook and pulled the yarn over the stitch and out from underneath

Small Laces:
I did the same concept as the main lace but I spaced them by leaving 2 sts on each end and 4 sts in between each small lace.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment!

Happy Hooking!

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Cheeseburger Pie

Have you ever had one of those times where you have an extra pound of ground beef and don't know what to do with it?  You are trying to stay away from bread but are craving a cheeseburger?  I know that I have and for those types of occasions my mother would make us cheeseburger pie!  It is so easy to make, you could probably do it with your eyes closed (I don't recommend it though).  Here's how it goes:

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

1/2 cup Bisquick

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Spray a 9 inch pie plate with non stick spray.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large skillet, saute ground beef, onion, salt, and pepper until the beef is cooked through.  Drain the excess fat.  Spread into the pie plate.
3. In a small bowl, mix whisk the egg and milk together, slowly add the Bisquick so there are no clumps.  Pour mixture over the ground beef.
4. Top with the cheddar cheese.
5. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

My mom used to add slices of tomato on the top but, I don't care for tomatoes.  I enjoy this with a fried egg on top.  ENJOY!

Tex Mex Casserole

Hey everyone!  It's been a while since my last post (sorry for that).  I have signed up for an online class that seems to take up all of my free time.  I have spared a few moments for you to share a new recipe that I have found.  I know that I have said it before and I will say it again, I am obsessed with pinterest.  And recently I have become obsessed with making my New Years resolution a reality (I am training for a 5k) and have lost a few pounds.  I am tracking EVERYTHING that I put into my body using the "MyFitnessPal" app.  So, of course I am interested in healthier recipes (I grew up making things like Paula Deen, with unhealthy ingredients).

I found a recipe for a Tex Mex Casserole from Skinny Mom (which is a great site if you all are interested in these types of things).  I actually changed her recipe a little to suit my needs.  Here it is:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (uncooked) whole wheat penne pasta, cooked

1 can (10.5 oz) Campbell's Healthy Request Tomato soup

1/2 cup water

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 medium yellow onion, diced

1 tsp minced garlic

1 can (10.5 oz) Campbell's Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese soup

1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes (don't be afraid to buy the mild if you don't like hot things)

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chilies

1 1/2 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15 oz) sweet corn, drained

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix the tomato soup with the water until it is an even consistency.  Add the cooked penne to the soup.
3. In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey, onion, and garlic until the turkey is cooked through.  Add the cheddar cheese soup, Rotel tomatoes, green chilies, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir on low heat until the ingredients mix easily together. 
4. In a small bowl, mix the black beans and corn.  
5. Spray non-stick spray on a 9x13 glass pan.  Pour the tomato soup and penne mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Top with the ground turkey mixture. (I sprinkled extra chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper in between the layers). Add the black beans and corn mixture to the top.  You can add reduced fat cheddar cheese to the top, if you like.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through.

ENJOY!

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

Do you ever crave food?  In particular Chipotle or Qdoba?  I know that my boyfriend and I do.  Our grocery store has a special on rotisserie chickens every Friday, 2 for $10!  So, I usually buy them.  This time we were looking at having chicken wraps so, I came up with a "southwest" themed wrap. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp dried cilantro
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 10 whole wheat tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. In large bowl, mix cooked rice with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, garlic salt, onion powder, cilantro, cayenne pepper, and oregano.  Add drained black beans, chicken, red bell pepper, and green onion.
2. To assemble: line the tortilla with a small amount of cheese, place a dollop of Greek yogurt in the center, add 2 large spoon-fulls of the chicken/bean/rice mixture on top of the Greek yogurt.  Fold in two ends and roll. TIP: put a small amount of cheese in the overlapping tortilla to seal it shut.
3. Heat a griddle over medium heat.  Spray with non-stick spray.  Place the wraps, with the seam side down, on the warm griddle.  Cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until the wraps have a light toasted look.
4. Enjoy with salsa, more Greek Yogurt, or hot sauce. 

Enjoy!

Hooded Infinity Scarf

My boyfriend's mother (who I made the Eagles Head Warmer for) cannot wear things tight on her head. She was asking me if I could make her a hat that would be comfortable for her. I had found a hat/scarf combo a while ago that I thought would look great. Lucky me, she loved the pictures of it.

Well, I start making this hooded scarf and the pattern and something just wasn't looking right. When I started the scarf... chaining 130 wasn't quite right and when I finished round 8, it wasn't the correct gauge. So, I continued making more rounds (10 total). Then, when I started making the hood, I stopped after the initial chain 60 (because it was not long enough to go around my head like a hood should). I thought this was weird since both of us are using Red Heart yarn but, ohh well I guess.

This is when I decided... I like how the pattern I found had the custom back loops and front loops so, I am changing the measurements and round counts.

Materials:
Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Aran Flecks (I used one 5 oz skein plus some that I had left over--approx 6 to 7 oz)
Size K crochet hook (6.50mm)
Scissors
Yarn needle

NOTE: the yarn is slightly scratchy, so I softened it.  Directions on softening yarn can be found here.

Gauge:
12 sts = 4 in
Scarf:
Hood: 20 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in

Abbreviations:
ch: chain
sts: stitches
hdc: half double crochet
FL: front loop
BL: back loop
sl st: slip stitch

Scarf:
ch 165, sl st in first st (make sure that your chain is not twisted)
Round 1: ch 2, hdc in the same st as sl st, hdc around (165 sts)
Round 2-12: ch 2, turn, hdc FL in the same st as sl st, hdc BL, [hdc FL, hdc BL] around, sl st in first st (165 sts)
--This is meant to be wrapped around your neck once. If you want a cowl, ch 80 and follow the pattern, ending in 80 sts for each round.

Hood:
ch 76
Row 1: In second ch from hook, [hdc CFL, hdc CBL] around (75 sts)
Row 2-24: ch 2, turn, [hdc FL, hdc BL]
F/O and weave in ends

Fold the hood rectangle in half, whip stitch (or slip stitch) the initial chain together, starting from the end that will be attached to the scarf. (Note: to make the hood lay on your head better, once you get ___ inches up the ) Line up the seam of the hood with the seam of the scarf; whip stitch the hood to the scarf.

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Quick Chicken Pot Pie

I don't know about the rest of you girls out there but, I get cravings and let me tell you, I have to give in occasionally.  So, here I am, making chicken pot pie... NOM

This recipe is really easy to make and delicious.  Surprisingly, it's less than 500 calories per serving too!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 c. butter
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1/3 c. flour
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 3/4 c. reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 16 oz mixed frozen veggies, thawed and drained
• 1/2 rotisserie chicken, shredded and chunked
• 1 can reduced fat crescent rolls
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium saucepan (at least 2 quarts), melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onions, salt, and pepper.  Cook until the onions are tender. 
3. Gradually add the flour, whisking constantly until well blended and the roux is complete.
4. Gradually add the milk and chicken broth.  Stir occasionally until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
5. Add the mixed veggies and chicken to the saucepan.  Remove from heat.
6. Spray a 9x13 glass pan with Pam Olive Oil.  Spread the mixture into the pan and top with the crescent rolls.  
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the crust the is desired golden brown.

ENJOY!

Spinach Mushroom Onion Pasta

Have any of you ever watched Chopped on Food Network?  I tend to watch it when I am bored.  Well, my boyfriend and I are traveling this weekend, and hate wasting food, so we haven't done much grocery shopping the past few days.  Luckily, I have watched chopped enough to find this empty refrigerator a great challenge, not a "take-out" opportunity.

So, I threw together a pasta dish.  The only meat we had available to us was chicken.  We had some mushrooms and onions cut up (that I eat in omelets every morning), of course garlic (I am a firm believer in "everyone should have garlic laying around"), and some spinach from salads left over. Then, to the cabinet... what do I see?  A box of thin spaghetti from while ago.

I usually make my own sauce (growing up in a part-Italian family makes you learn to hate all of the jar sauces at the grocery store).  Well, poop, I don't have any of the ingredients for an Alfredo sauce... well why not just a garlic and olive oil sauce?  Sounds good!

Ingredients (none of these have been measured, I went off of taste):

chopped onion
sliced mushroom
chopped spinach
chicken breasts
garlic powder
minced garlic
onion powder
basil
oregano
salt
pepper
cooked pasta
Parmesan cheese (if desired)

Directions:

1. Coat the chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Cover the bottom of a skillet with olive oil, add approx. 1 tbsp minced garlic, place over medium heat.  Cook the chicken breasts until fully cooked. 
3. Remove the chicken from the skillet.  Add about 1 tbsp of minced garlic and cover the bottom with olive oil.  Add as many onions and mushrooms as you want. Allow to cook for 2-4 minutes (so the mushroom and onion are the desired tenderness).  Add as much spinach and pasta as you want.
4. Once the pasta has warmed up and the spinach begins to wilt, remove from heat.  Serve with a piece of chicken and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

I was surprised at how easy and fun this was to challenge myself to make!  

ENJOY!

Crochet Small Basket with Handles

My friend recently moved to the area and of course (if you have read a previous post) I made her a gift basket, literally. I hadn't even considered crocheting a basket so, this has to be fun, right? I didn't even have to go looking for the pattern... I already had the pattern pinned on my pinterest page!  I saw these baskets and fell in love with them.

The basket shown is the smallest size for the pattern I found.  So, the pattern I followed--with modifications, or course-- is the one I found here.

Modifications include:

• Instead of holding 2 skeins of super thick and chunky yarn together, I held 4 strands of worsted weight yarn together.  I ended up using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Aran Flecks.  The pattern took a little less than 2 skeins of yarn.  
• I extended the base of the pattern by one round.  So, after Round 6, I continued to increase so my final stitch count was 56 instead of 48. (Message me if you have a question about this)
• For the handles (Round 14-15 in the pattern):
• Rnd 14: Ch 2, hdc in next 9 sts, ch 12, skip the next 10 sts, hdc in next 18 sts, ch 12, skip the next 10 sts, hdc in the next 9 sts, join with sl st
• Rnd 15: Ch1, sc in the same st and in the next 9 sts, work 15 sc under the ch 12 space (do not work into the stitches, instead when you would go into them, go under them instead), sc in the next 18 sts, work 15 sc under the ch 12 space, sc in the next 9 sts, join with sl st, F/O and weave in ends

This basket makes a great gift.  I might make one for my boyfriend as an Easter basket this year.

ENJOY!

Wrap Around Baby Booties

So, I don't know about everyone else but, I am at the age where my friends are starting to have babies (crazy, I know, but they are mostly older than me).  So, of course, I want to make them something cute to start off their young ones lives.

I have made baby booties in the past so, why not try another pair... right?  During my search, I found these gems... Aren't they absolutely ADORABLE?????

They don't look too hard to make so, I searched in google for "crochet baby wrap around boots pattern" and lucky me, I found this pattern from I'm Topsy Turvy  

I have made three pairs of the booties following the pattern on the blog, two for friends having babies and a work friend ordered a pair from me!  

Then, I had a request from the same work friend.  Her daughter received an American Girl Doll for Christmas this year (so exciting, I had one as young girl) and she was wondering if I could make one to fit the doll.  So nice of her to want to surprise her daughter with something special!

First I had to find out the size of the doll's feet (2-5/8" x 1-3/8") and then I started experimenting with the pattern.  Here is what I went off of:

Materials:

4.00mm crochet hook

Caron Simply Soft yarn in Grey Heather

2 pink buttons

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

sc: single crochet

hdc: half double crochet:

sc2tog: single crochet 2 together

dc2tog: double crochet 2 together

dc3tog: double crochet 3 together

sl st: slip stitch

Directions:

Sole
ch 11
Rnd 1: sc in 2nd ch, sc 3 times, hdc 3 times, hdc 7 times in last ch, (other side of initial chain), hdc 3 times, sc 3 times, sc 4 times in last ch, sl st in first sc (24)
Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in same sc, sc 5 times, hdc, 2hdc 3 times, 3hdc, 2hdc 3 times, hdc, sc 6 times, 2sc 3 times, sl st in first sc (35)

Boot
Rnd 1: ch 1, (working in black loops for the entire round) sc around (35) --if you sc in the same sc at the beginning, your seam will be nicer looking
Rnd 2-3: ch 1, sc around (35) --if you sc in the same sc at the beginning, your seam will be nicer looking
Rnd 4: ch 1, sc in the same sc, sc 7 times, sc2tog, dc2tog, dc, dc3tog, dc, dc2tog, sc2tog, sc around, sl st (29)
Rnd 5: ch 1, sc in the same sc, sc 5 times, sc2tog, dc2tog, dc3tog, dc2tog, sc2tog, sc around, sl st (23)
Rnd 6: ch 1, sc in the same sc, sc 3 times, dc, dc3tog, dc, sc2tog, sc around, sl st (19)
F/O weave in ends.

Boot Cuff
for the right boot, sl st in the 4th st from the seam
for the left boot, sl st in the 8th st from the seam
(there will be 3 sts in the front of the boot--dc, dc3tog, dc)
ch 15
Rnd 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook -first 2 ch counts as first hdc, hdc in next 11 ch, hdc in first sc (the one you sl st in), hdc 16 times (there will be 3 spaces left), skip 3 spaces, sc in last space.

Rnd 2: ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn, hdc in first hdc, hdc around, (when there are 4 sts left) ch 1 skip one hdc, hdc in last 3 sts 

Rnd 3: ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn, hdc in the 3 hdc, hdc in ch1 space, hdc around 

Rnd 4 scallops: turn, 5dc in second dc, [skip 1 hdc, sc in next hdc, skip 1 hdc, 5dc in next hdc], repeat around (10 shells), sc down the side (I do 2 for each row so a total of 6 down the side), continuing around sc across the bottom along the original chain, sl st, F/O and weave in ends

I hope someone else can get use out of this pattern modification for another doll!  Pictures of the doll boots to come! 

ENJOY!

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Etsy Shop

Hey Guys!  I recently made an etsy.com account and plan on selling some things I am making.  It is called Emily's Hook Creations, please take a look!

Crochet Frog Beanie

Hello All!  I started a new project last night for my nephew's 2nd birthday present... a frog beanie!

He loves "ogs" (as he calls them) and dressed up as one for Halloween this past year.  I found the pattern on a blog I follow on blogger.  However, this beanie is only for up to 18-month olds.  Well, no big deal, I can fix this!

Here are my modifications:

• I took the "shaping the beanie" out to 84 stitches (instead of stopping at 78)
• I also did not follow the earflaps, I crochet them a way I came up with when I made when I crochet a Dino-RAWR earflap beanie 
• My braids aren't quite as long as the ones from Janet's blog
• When making the eyes, I crochet through both loops to make the color look more uniform 

ENJOY guys!

Crochet Wine Bottle Cover

One of my best friends moved into the area (YAY) so, of course I am putting together a house warming gift for her.  There are many things that I have seen about what you should give: Bread so you'll never go hungry. Candles so you'll always have light through the darkest times. Honey so you'll always enjoy the sweetness of life. Olive Oil so you will be blessed with health and well-being. Salt so there will always be flavor and spice in your life. Wine so you will always have joy and never go thirsty.

Well instead of following this closely, I have decided to make my own version: Wine so you can have a good time (on girls day when we drink wine and watch movies), a wine bottle cover (so nobody knows we are boozing), a basket (to keep the wine--among other things-- in... duh), a wine bottle opener (well we need to open it don't we), and love (since I am crocheting the wine bottle cover and basket for her).

So, let the pattern search begin!  The baskets were easy to find (I actually found the pattern a while ago and have been itching to make one of them).  But, I was looking and looking and looking and could not find a free crochet pattern for a wine bottle that I liked so, I decided to make one of my own!

Materials:
worsted weight yarn (medium 4), I used 'Loops & Threads Impeccable' in True Grey
5.0mm(H) crochet hook
stitch markers
white ribbon
scissors

Abbreviations:
magic ring: here is a tutorial for right handed crocheters
sc: single crochet
st: stitch
sts: stitches
sl st: slip stitch
ch: chain
MC: main color
CC: contrasting color

Directions:
Note: this pattern in made in continuous rounds so, use a stitch marker to mark your first stitch (to make my bottom nice and flat, I prefer to sc through both loops in rounds 1-7)

Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in all 6 sts (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st] around (24 sts)
Round 5: [sc in next 3 sts, 2sc in next st] around (30 sts)
Round 6: [sc in next 4 sts, 2sc in next st] around (36 sts)
Round 7: [sc in next 5 sts, 2sc in next st] around (42 sts)
Round 8: sl st in the first st, (in back loops) sc around (ending in the sl st) (43 sts)
Round 9-46 (my wine bottle took about 37 rows to make it to it's lower neck but yours might be different so, yours could vary in length): sc around (42 sts)
Round 47: [sc in next 3 sts, ch 3] around (42 sts)
Round 48-55: sc around 42 sts)
Round 56: sl st around (42 sts)
F/O and weave in ends.

I then decided that I would make a small heart ornament for the ribbon.  I found the pattern relatively easy but, I did modify the pattern--I only completed round 1!  After the slip stitch, I chained 11 and slip stitch into the first chain, F/O and weave in the ends!  Super cute and super easy!


Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  If you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog.

Avocado Chicken Salad

New Years resolutions... We all make them but, the real question is, are we going to keep them? I am determined to keep mine this year! So, diet... Here I come. I would like to lose enough weight to feel comfortable at my college roommates wedding in March... Do we think it will happen? I hope so!

Well, a weakness of mine is the chicken salad in my work's cafe so, I decided to make my own-- mayonnaise free-- version. It turned out better than I thought but, I do love avocado so it wasn't hard to please me.

Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
3 cans (12.5 oz) Swanson canned chunk chicken in water
2 tbsp Frank's Red Hot
2 tsp lime juice
1/2 cup diced celery
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Peel and mash avocados in a large bowl.
2. Drain the cans of chicken and shred them. Add to the mashed avocados and give it a good mix.
3. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix.

I can honestly say... This turned out tastier than I expected. ENJOY!

Avocado Dressing

Hi everyone!  Happy New Year!  I took some time off from the blogging world and spent that time with my loved ones but, it is nice to be back!

So, my boyfriend and I made new year resolutions: eat healthier, lose weight and stay healthy!  This means, yummy, buttery, fattening things are cut out of our diet.  :(

Well, last night we made it our meal.  Taco salad!  Yum!  If you all remember, I posted about homemade taco seasoning a short while ago.  I used it with ground turkey (no more ground beef unless it is a special occasion) and it turned out great!  Along with this I wanted to make a healthier "Mexican" inspired salad dressing.  What goes good on a taco salad?  Well, sour cream and avocado are what come to mind for me...

This was intriguing to me so, I came up with a nice Avocado Dressing for the taco salad.

Avocado Dressing
2 large avocados
1 cup greek yogurt (or sour cream)
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp hot sauce (or more, to taste)
2 tsp salt

Place all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth (it will be a thicker texture, similar to sour cream).

Once finished making the dressing.  Make your salad on your plate:

Romaine lettuce, taco meat, tortilla chips, black beans, salsa, etc.

Place 2 large scoops of the avocado dressing (or however much you want) onto your plate of salad.  Toss, and ENJOY!