My Autobiography ls a Huge Collage

My Autobiography ls a Huge Collage

My homework for a business class I am taking was to make an Oprah style-vision-board. I read The Secret, I’m a believer in most new-age/self-help practices but for some reason I had a really hard time sitting down and doing this before it was assigned to me. I actually made it a New Year’s resolution back in December. So it took me until the end of March to check it off my list. It got done, right?

Now that the varnish has dried I have come to a few conclusions. A. I’m kinda weird and B. Why are there so many naked people on here? It’s full of the art and artists I admire because no matter how busy things get I’m still an artist. There are also reminders of the times I was happiest so in that way I made it an autobiography of my life so far.

Let’s see if this thing works now…

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Thanks!

Free Pattern: Easy Beginner Felted Crocheted Practical Momma Messenger Bag

Free Pattern: Easy Beginner Felted Crocheted Practical Momma Messenger Bag

The finished product!

Before felting it looks huge. It shrinks about 30%, don’t worry.

After searching for months in many stores for a purse I liked I came up with nothing. My requirements for an everyday bag are a long strap I can wear across my body, a pocket for lip gloss and debit card, big enough for a whole bunch of junk, and it has to be under $20. I hate silly frilly designer bags so I rebelled my making my own bag. It took about three days of working on it but it will last a long time so I think the time investment was worthwhile.

I used a sz J crochet hook and about 2.5 skeins of worsted weight Nature Spun by Brown Sheep Co. I used my favorite colors in a random stripe pattern but the pattern is written for a solid color. If you want stripes I’m assuming you know how to change colors. Deal?

Start by Chaining 50+3 for turning chain.

Row 1: Work 50 dc sts across including turning ch.

Row 2-14: Repeat row 1. After completing 14th row ch 75+3 for turning ch.

Row 15: Dc across 75 st + original 50, 125 sts total.

Row 16 and 17: Repeat row 15. This is half the strap of your bag.

Row 18: Ch 3 and dc across next 49 st. Ch 30+3 for turning chain. You are working on the flap of purse now.

Row 19-43: Ch 3 and dc in next 79 sts. 80 sts total.

Row 44: Ch 3 and dc in next 49 sts. Then ch 75+ 3 for turning ch.

Row 45-47: Ch 3. Dc across 75 st + original 50, 125 sts total.

Row 48-60: Ch 3. Dc across next 49 sts, 50 sts total.

Now slip st or sew row 60 to row 1 to form the body of your purse.

Next slip st or sew the bottom of the bag closed. Take time to do this step carefully so your coins don’t fall out the bottom.

After you weave in all the ends throw this in the laundry with some jeans or towels you don’t mind getting fuzzy and wash in hot water with detergent. This step may need to be repeated if there are any holes visible in your bag/if you can still see the individual stitches. Reshape bag and let dry. After I felted mine once the strap was 46″ long. The width was 13″ and the height was 12″.

Optional steps: If you have the time you can add a fabric pocket or line the whole thing in a coordinating fabric. Embroidery looks great on the flap and at this point your imagination can go wild.

Send me photos if you make this!

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To see my other projects check out my Etsy store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shannondzikas?ref=si_shop.

Thanks!

Free Crochet Pattern for Felted Funky Owl Toy

Free Crochet Pattern for Felted Funky Owl Toy

Step 1: the idea.

My sons’ birthday is fast approaching and owls make him happy so I sat down and made him a little owl today. It took about 5 hrs total but wasn’t any harder than making a hat.

I used worsted weight wool and a sz J crochet hook. The colors are up to you but I have used a light brown, a dark brown, turquoise, black, and a tiny bit of yellow. If you doubled the yarn and used a bigger hook you could make this a pillow or a cute novelty purse. My finished owl is about 7.5″ tall.

Start at the base of the owl and work up in one body piece then do the eyes and nose separately then sew them on after felting. The buttons in the eyes are not recommended for small kids obviously.

Owl Body

With your dark brown color Ch 4 and sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 And do 13 dc stitches in the ring and around your yarn tail. Sl st to connect and you should have a little circle. Pull the yarn tail tight to avoid a hole.

Rnd 2: Ch 3. Make 2dc st in each st around, connect with a sl st to where you started.

Rnd 3: Ch 3. 1dc in first st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) continue in this pattern to starting point and connect with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 3. 1 dc in next stitch (1 dc in next 2 st and 2 dc in the next st) repeat around circle and connect with sl st.

Rnd 5: Ch 3. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st to connect. You should have about 48 stitches now.

Rnd 6: Ch 3. dc in next 17 st. Join light brown and dc next 12 st. Carry dark brown over very loosely and dc in last 18 st. Do not join you will now be working in rows.

Row 7: Ch 3. Turn and dc in next 17 st. Change to light brown, 2dc in next st. 1 dc in each st to last light brown st 2 dc in last light brown st. Change to dark brown and dc in next 18 st.

Row 8-10: Repeat row 7.

Row 11 and 12: Repeat, but decrease instead of increase with dc 2 tog. technique.

Row 13: Ch 3. (Dc in next 4 st then dc 5th and 6th st tog.) Repeat to end.

Round 14: Ch 3. (Dc in next 3 st then dc 4th and 5th st tog.) Repeat to end. Join with sl st to work in rounds again for the head.

Round 15: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 2 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 16: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 3 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 17: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 4 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 18-20: Ch 3. 1 dc in ea. st around. Join with sl st.

Round 21: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 2 st. Decrease every 4th st by dc 2 tog. around and join w sl st. You should have about 40 st total.

Rnd 22: Ch 1. Sc in next 5 st. (Hdc in 7th st. Dc in 8th st. Htc in 9th st. Trc in 10th st. Htc, dc, hdc), sc until the 17th st and repeat pattern. Then sc to end and join with sl st. The bumps are the owls ears and they should be over the 10th and 30th st. Let me know if this is confusing.

Turn inside out and sew or sl st the top of head seam.

Eyes (make 2)

Repeat round one and two of owl body but sc instead of double crochet. Round 3, sc in ea st around with dark brown. Weave in loose ends.

Nose

Ch 6+3 for turning ch. Dc 6 st together. Sew side to form a triangle shape.

Finishing

Put all 4 pieces in a lingerie bag then do your laundry in hot water with detergent. When the buzzer goes off shape all the pieces and assemble. After the eyes and nose are on stuff the owl with poly-fill and then sew the back seam closed.

I can’t wait for my son to unwrap this on his birthday!

Free Pattern for the Badass Corset Laced Easy Crocheted Beanie Hat

Free Pattern for the Badass Corset Laced Easy Crocheted Beanie Hat

Lace up back of beanie through ch 3 loops.

Traditional cloche beanie look in the front.

For this easy one hour hat you just need a worsted or chunky yarn and a sz j crochet hook. About a yard of ribbon or cord is optional. It only uses about half a skein of yarn.

With your main color Ch 5 and sl st to form a ring.

Ch 3 And do 14 dc stitches in the ring and around your yarn tail. Sl st to connect and you should have a little circle. Pull the yarn tail tight to avoid a hole at the top of your hat.

Rnd 2: Ch 3. Make 2dc st in each st around, connect with a sl st to where you started.

Rnd 3: Ch 3. 1dc in first st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) continue in this pattern to starting point and connect with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 3. Dc in each stitch around your circle. Approx 43 st total. If you’re off by a stitch or two don’t worry, keep going. Do not join with a sl st.

Row 5-10: Ch 3. Turn your work to go back and forth now. Dc in each st. across.

Row 11-13: You might want to switch to a contrasting color. Ch 3. Dc in each st across.

Lastly, ch 3 and turn your work to crochet your loops to lace your laces through. (Sc in each dc post, ch 3) repeat around your opening until you get to the opposite side of the hat.

Weave in all of your loose ends.

With a ribbon or yarn etc. lace through your ch 3 loops and your badass beanie is done!

This hat and others are available on Etsy

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