Happy New Year!

The year that was 2011 in projects...here is a sampling of most of the fiber projects I completed:

I am so blessed that my family and friends are happy, healthy, and safe, I wish you the very best for you and yours in 2012.

Greetings!

Whew!

Deep cleansing breathe in, slow exhale out....School is out! Classes resume on January 4th, but I do have to be back in the building on Jan. 3rd. for some "Teacher work". I finished a grand total of 11 socks for co-workers and the boys' teachers. which is your favorite? The boys unanimously agreed that the snowmen ones were theirs.

I also finished this circle scarf for a niece, I used this pattern here and it was done in a day or two. I used this pattern here. Her blog is super cute....take a gander.

Currently on the hooks and needles are some exciting projects. I am working on yet another "Gap-tastic cowl" (Love that pattern!) for the MIL.

 Look this WIP. It's called Button Down Wrap. I am sooo excited to start it. I had a gift card to a local LYS and actually bought yarn instead of just dreaming. Ideally, I'd like to make this to wear for school. When I'm in the middle of a lesson I tend to get really warm, but when the classroom empties out, the chill creeps back in, so I think this will do the trick, Easy on and off. I can just leave it on the back of my desk chair.


Here is the yarn I picked out......yes it looks drap, but lighting in the heartland this morning is poor. Gray and dreary, so everything else looks that way too.

Here is the label. If you ever get to go pet this yarn, DO IT! It's so soft it's a combo of baby alpaca and merino wool. Soft-licious!

Mas y mas proyectos........(more and more projects)

Hi all! Today the heartland is awash in bright sunlight with crisp temperatures! Look at Dusty enjoying the breeze!

I can tell the holidays are creeping up on us because my schedule keeps getting busier and busier and my project list longer and longer. Here are some cute chickens I made to give as gifts and maybe to decorate my tree(or kitchen!) You can find the pattern here.

Here is my Gap-tastic Cowl all finished. I haven't decided if I'm gifting this or keeping it. It's toasty-oasty and oh-soooo comfy.

Finally here are some more of Sucrettes Little Stockings.

 

Have you started your holiday shopping? I finally took the plunge this weekend. I hope the checking account holds out until Tuesday....Payday!

Have a superb Sunday. Take a minute to look outside your window and see what needs to be seen!

Los proyectos......

Surely people who follow my blog regularly know that whenever there is a "blog blackout", meaning I haven't written in awhile, it doesn't mean my hooks and needles have been silent. Here are a few of things I worked on over the long holiday weekend:

I started this "Gap-tastic" cowl. I made one last year, but my college-age dd made off with it.

I finished up this snowflake hat from Drops Design, it is my god-daughter's X-mas present.

These little socks seem to be all the rage in blogland and I can see why. I can whip one up in as little as two hours and it's sooo cute and satisfying. You can find the pattern here: Stop and peruse her blog too, lots of eye candy!

I'm thinking of gifting these to my boys' teachers and other co-workers.

Hot projects!

Here are the latest owlies in the series. I gifted one to my MIL who was very happy with it. There are now 7 in the collection and no signs of stopping. Such  a quick, easy project, that's let's me be really creative. I get to choose colors, eyes, wings etc. etc. etc.

Speaking of "Hot Projects".....here is what popped out of my oven this morning. I'm trying to get a jump start on my Thanksgiving baking and whipped up 2 pumpkin pies.

Deb Y. had a cute idea over at Dly's Hooks and Yarns She gave us a peek at her "spot" where she sits and creates. Well, here's mine......notice the theme......X-mas is coming!

Have a superb Saturday!

Free knitting pattern-Loop-dee-loop cowl

by Caroline Chrisco

Materials:
Size 8 knitting needles
2 skeins (approximately) Vanna White by Lionbrand

Cast on 30(I used the long-tail cast-on)
Row 1-Knit
Row 2-knit until all yarn is gone(leave yourself enough to bind of with and enough to whipstitch the ends of the scarf together.)
Last Row- Let 5 stitches drop off needle
Bind off the next 20 stitches
Drop the last 5 stitches.
Fringe: Gently pull the dropped stitches free all the way down each side of the scarf. Don’t go too fast, you’ll get a knotted mess. Coax them gently free of the bound off stitches.

Finishing: Stitch the narrow ends of the scarf together, to create a large continuous oval. Weave in ends. Wear wrapped as desired.

more owlies.......

I'm an owl loving mama this weekend...

Owlies

I have floundered around the last couple of months in my crocheting life. I've hooked a project or two but nothing has really grabbed me. I went in search of inspiration....I went perusing blogs and came across this one...Fiddlesticks. I found these darling little owls here and here on it. Just like her interest was piqued so was mine. Now I am hooked.....literally! Here are my first two and there's a third on my hook as you read, with ideas for more to come!

I leave you a picture of my breakfast this morning. I retrieved the last bag a summer blueberries from the freezer. So warm and satisfying.....I use this recipe here and it hits the spot every time!

Have a superb Saturday!

Knitting away......

My blog is titled "The Kansas Hooker" because when I started it years ago, I had fallen madly in love with crocheting, but I came to fiber first, through knitting. About 2 weeks ago, when I was petting yarn in Michael's, I came across this Vanna yarn by Lionbrand:

It just begged to be knitted instead of crocheted for some reason, so I dug out my trusty size 8 bamboo sticks and jumped right in. I had a pattern in mind, but it just felt good to be knitting again. No counting, no turning. Just back and forth, back and forth. I don't even have to  look at the work. My fingers found their places again and click, click, click. I was back in the zone.


Here is the project, I'm calling it the Loop-dee-loo cowl. I am loving the fit and drape of this one, as well as the snugginess factor. It is sooo cozy! I can't wait to put it on with my winter coat.

Loop-de-loo Cowl

by Caroline Chrisco

Free pattern to come soon!

Halloween!

Candy Corn Potholder

This is a quick, satisfying project that I always fall back on during this time of the year. I pass out to family and friends alike! You can find it here.

Candy Corn potholder

My youngest son picked out a new decoration for the house this Halloween. Spiders. in general are not my favorite creatures, but I too, couldn't resist this super-sized creepy crawly when he saw it at Target!

A Better Harry Potter scarf

My DS wanted to be Harry Potter for Halloween this year (being the true fiber fellow, that I am thought at once: WooHoo, I get to crochet the scarf!), so I set about immediately scouring the web for all the current free Harry Potter scarf patterns. I tried a few out and tested them with various yarns and crochet hook sizes, but it just wasn’t grabbing me. I mean, I really want to love this project, because it’s the first time ever, my son actually wants something crocheted for him. So without further ado, I present my version of the Harry Potter Gryffindor First year scarf.

A Better Harry Potter Scarf

My version by Caroline Chrisco

1 skein of RHSS Burgundy
1 skein of RHSS Gold

Size H hook

Row 1-With burgundy, chain 22, half-double crochet in second chain from hook, then hdc in each chain(21hdc)turn, ch.1

Row 2- Hdc in each hdc across(21hdc)

Row 3-22 Repeat row 2

*At the end of row 22, do not complete your final hdc on that row, do your first YO and draw up a loop, YO again; draw up this loop, now with 3 loops on your hook, drop the burgundy(cut, leaving about a 6 inch tail for weaving in later.) and draw up the gold yarn through all three loops. Turn, ch.1.(Now tie the burgundy and gold loose ends together, weave in later.) This is how I make the color switch and it looks seamless:

Row 1-Continue using the gold and follow the same established pattern, (21hdc) turn, ch.1 for 22 rows.

I then switched back to burgundy and then back to gold. I did 5 repeats of burgundy(started and ended with burgundy and 4 repeats of gold.)

Finishing:

 Fringe: Using only burgundy, I cut 8, 16 inch lengths and attached them on both ends for the fringe. I like my imperfect perfect of way of deciding where to place the fringe. I find the middle of the scarfs edge and place one there. Next I place one each on the outer edges. Then I divide the section between the outer and the middle fringe in half, and place one there, ditto for the other outer edge. I keep dividing the spaces in half and place fringe until I can no longer squeeze any more in place. Repeat for the other end of the scarf. (Note: I use an overhand knot method of attaching the fringe to a scarf, you may want to use a slightly larger crochet to draw the fringe through.)

 Weaving in ends: Just note about weaving in ends, I know I mentioned the tying of knots as you switched colors. Since this was to be scarf, that may see a lot of action during various Halloween parades, Trunk or Treating, and Trick or Treating, I believe you should tie the ends together so you get a secure scarf, but if you can secure them buying crocheting them in nice and tight, do what makes you most comfortable.

My notes: This of course, is just my opinion and my version of what makes better HP scarf. The main reason why I think it is, is because, the HDC gives the scarf a thicker, richer feel and I only chain one at the turn of every row, which I think makes for neater edges. It's tricky to always find that last stitch before the turn, but I think the precise, squared edges speak for themselves.

Good luck!



Currently on my hooks......

Hello blogland and I hope you are having a super Saturday. Mine is starting out slow and I'm happy to see it stays that way. We go, go, go all week with school, teaching, piano lessons, homework, cooking, laundry, and dinners, its soooo nice not to have a schedule today. Am I right?

I have sorely missed updating my blog with the current little whatnots that I always seem to have on my hooks. You know me, unless there are 2-3 projects going my crochet ADD needs are just not being met so with further ado, here are some of my current WIPs and FOs:

I showed you the makings of one of these lil guys a few weeks back and here one is. I've currently made three and a pig, but they've all been snatched out of my grasp before I could even get a pic.

I am working on these two scarves. The first is a Harry Potter scarf for my middle DS. Halloween is fast approaching and he decided on HP. He will be really cute and I'm glad I finally get to crochet a costume part. The second is from a free pattern I picked up at Michael's a few weeks back. It's a really mindless pattern but look at how cute the stitch close-up is. Looks like I'm really doing something fancy, doesn't it. I am using the Michael brand yarn too...Impeccable from Loops and Threads.

Enjoy this beautiful Autumn day, your family, and your friends........

Caroline

The winner is........

Hi everyone! So sorry I didn't post on Wednesday. My mom went back into the hospital for a brief stay, but is now back home. Yay! I think, we're really on our way to recovery right now.

And the winner is......

Knittingdancer....Congratulations!

Please email me with your mailing info!

P.S. Blogger is acting up again and I'm having trouble leaving comments on your blogs this week, don't worry, I'm still reading just can't say so!

Edited on Mon. 10/17.11:  knittingdancer received her package today!!! Yay!

A new design......Santa ornament/package topper

Santa Ornament

Original pattern by Caroline Chrisco

Materials:G hook
Small amount of red yarn
Polyester stuffing
Small amount of pink and white felt
Needle
White & pink & black embroidery thread

Work in continuous spiral, do not join rounds

Magic circle and sc 4 into center.
Rd. 1 sc in each stitch around
Rd. 2 2 sc in each sc around(8sc)
Rd. 3 sc in each stitch around (8sc)
Rd. 4 sc in next stich, 2sc in following stitch; repeat around (12sc)
Rd. 5 sc in each stitch around(12sc)
Rd 6 sc in each of next 2 stitches then 2sc in following stitch; repeat around (16sc)
Rd. 7 sc in each stitch around (16sc)
Rd. 8 sc in each of next 3 stitches, then 2sc in following stitch(20sc)
Rd. 9 sc in each stitch around(20sc)
Rd. 10 sc in each of next 4 stitches then 2sc in following stitch(24sc)
Rd. 11-16 in each stitch around
Arms(make 2):
Using white
Magic circle and 6 single crochet into loop.
Rd. 1-Switch to red and single crochet in each stitch around(6sc)
Rds-2-5 sc in each stitch around(6sc)
Fasten off.



Work on face:
Using the pattern I provide for you at the bottom of the page. Trace the face onto the pink felt and cut out. Repeat with the beard pattern except use white felt. Attach face onto beard; sew entire beard/face onto ornament. Using black embroidery floss, create eyes, using the French knot stitch. (Working from wrong side, draw needle and thread up through desired location on face. Wrap thread around needle twice and insert the needle back through almost the same exact spot. Keep tension on the thread in front and back of fabric as you pull through. Fasten off. Repeat for second eye.)

Pom-pom: Attach pom-pom of your choosing to top of ornament. I have made my own and used store-bought as well.

Hanging loop: Chain 24 (or desired length of chain) Fasten off. Sew both ends into top of ornament, right behind pom-pom, that way the ornament will always face forward.

An Etsy treasury with a little uglee twist!

'Ugly is Beautiful' by MoonBeansGifts

These items are so ugly, they're kind of appealing!

Ornament Angler Fis... digitsdesigns $40.00	Bright Pink Fleece ... Maddiessockmin... $18.50	a WEEk oF mOnSTeRs ... art4barewalls $50.00	ClaM named Beckham ... buttuglee $89.00
Veri Uglee CarolineChrisc... $12.00	Papier mache witch ... Jevgeniamasks $43.00	Cute Pencil Topper uglyclothes $10.00	ACEO waiting for a ... mariannat $4.00
Keychain Ugly Bunny... RenataGatica $12.00	Bambaks, books love... Bambaks $4.00	Halloween Prim Grun... MysticHillsNga... $55.00	Vintage Kelly Green... judemallorymar... $35.00
ON SALE Zombie Devi... PsAndQs $100.00	Cute Monster JERRY ... PinkSprinklesP... $21.00	Halloween Bat with ... ItCameWithTheF... $10.00	Finger Puppet Plush... Wingsical $3.75

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.