Scrappy Crochet Bear Pattern

Scrappy Crochet Bear

Supplies
Approximately 9 grams of worsted weight scrap yarn
size G/ 4.25 mm crochet hook
notions to make the face
stuffing
yarn needle

Start with the body, since it is the largest piece.
Body
Ch 60 in body color, work flat in sc until the piece measures about 3.5 inches. This will be the face. Switch to the scraps and continue to sc until the total piece measures 9 inches, changing colors and striping as you wish. Finished piece will measure approx. 14" x 9".

Arms
Ch 20 using the same color as the face. Join into a ring with a slip st and work in sc for half an inch. Switch to using scraps, changing colors and striping s you wish, until the arm measures 3 inches. Make 2.
Legs
Ch 25 (at this point, you may be out of face color. I used the same color to start each leg to give the impression of shoes) Join into a ring with a slip st and work in sc for 1 inch. Switch to your scraps, striping as you wish, until the leg measures 4.5 inches.
Ears
Using whatever colors you have left, Ch 2.
Round 1 - 6 dc into 2nd chain from hook. Join with a slip st into 1st dc.
Round 2 - switch colors, 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, {2 dc into next dc} 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc.
Round 3 - switch colors, 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, {2 dc into next dc} 10 times. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finishing and Assembly
For the arms and legs, turn inside out and center the color jogs (think of this as a back seam) Tie off or weave in the ends, press flat and then stitch the end that is the hand or foot closed. Leave the other end open. Lightly stuff the arms and legs.

Add the Face


For the body, find the center of the rectangle and add the face. You can use safety eyes, felt, embroidery floss, whatever you have handy.

Add the Arms


Then fold the edges to the center and mark where the sides are. Lay it out flat again and stitch the arms on (arms should be lightly stuffed).

Add the Legs

Fold right sides together and sew the back seam closed. Center the back seam and then tuck the legs inside the body (legs should already be stuffed), aligning the open edge of the leg with the bottom edge of the body. Pin in place and sew closed.
Turn right side out.

Add Ears and Close
Stuff the body to the desired firmness. Sandwich the first ear between the front and back sides and stitch closed, being careful to pass through all three layers of fabric. Stitch the top middle of the head closed and then add the second ear as the first.

Enjoy your new toy!

Something Pretty

I'm working away at my Loulouthi Tiles quilt. It is the largest thing I have ever made. I'm pretty excited about that. Hopefully it will be pieced by next week. It is a happy way to spend a Friday nap time. Have a great weekend!

At Last - the Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Berroco Weekend in icy blue
Needles: size 8

I have wanted to make this pattern for six years. How insane is that? I actually attempted it once, with some ridiculously awful novelty yarn. It was glittery and ribbony and just really not good. I was a new knitter though. We all go through that phase. Anyway, it was a disaster.

This Clapotis has been a long time coming. I made it for my mom, originally for her birthday, but it ended up being Mother's Day before I finished it up. This pattern is teeedious. There are a million repeats of what is pretty much just stockinette. I had to put it down several times.

But then came the wonderful day it was done. I threw it over my shoulders and suddenly did not want to part with it. It's so perfectly sized and delightfully drape-y. It's like having a warm towel to put around your shoulders after getting out of a cold pool. I want my own. I now understand why people slog though several of these. It might take me another six years to get around to it, but there most likely will be another one of these in my future.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the mothers, grandmothers, and the women hoping to become mothers, have a wonderful day. To all the women in my life who have ever mothered me in some way, thank you! And an even bigger thank you to my own mom, who has always been there for me and who I love dearly!

Letter Discovery Activity

We've had several glorious rainy days. Multiple inches in single hours. Thunder, cloud-to-ground lightening, the works. It makes my little drought shriveled heart happy. But OMG, does it get stir-crazy in here with a toddler.

So we've been painting. To add an element of surprise and education to the mix, I devised this little activity. Super easy, fun, and educational.

The only supplies you need are watercolors, paintbrushes, paper, and a white crayon. Write out the alphabet in white crayon on white paper. I found that it helps to press firmly and go over the lines a couple of times.

Then let the little one paint away! Ben was so excited to watch the letters emerge from the paint. He'd shout them out and dance around. (Dancing with a wet paintbrush is a hazard, fair warning.)
This is also an easy way to observe what your kiddo knows without pressuring them. Just through observation of his unsolicited responses, I could see what he understood and where we might need to spend some time practicing.

Ben was particularity excited to discover "his" letter.

Another great thing about this activity is that you can you it for multiple subjects - we've done numbers, shapes, and his full name.

You can even use it to make nice homemade cards.

What do you do to survive those stir-crazy afternoons?

Modern Triangle Quilt

I'm so happy with how this quilt turned out!

Ben had to demonstrate how to use it. He likes to play on it, but he doesn't want it on his bed.

I pieced the back with scraps so it could be reversible. I used this tutorial for quilting without binding (I find the binding process frustrating) and I'm so happy with the results. I think it adds to the modern look of the quilt. It's quilted all over with more triangles. This is my first time using a walking foot for quilting - definitely a worthy tool to have! I should stop being surprised how good tools make a big difference, but I always am.

Sweet Treat - Homemade Fudgesicles

I seriously ate half of the last one before I remembered I wanted to share the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
4-5 oz if chocolate, chopped or in chip form (I used 2oz of 100% cacao baker's chocolate and 2 oz 63% cacao chocolate chips)
2 tsp of vanilla extract
Popsicle mold

Chop up your chocolate, if you need to, and place in a heat resistant bowl. In a sauce pan, heat cream, cocoa powder and vanilla to a simmer. Once simmering, remove from heat and pour into the bowl of chocolate. Stir until thoroughly combined. An immersion blender would be helpful, but isn't necessary. Carefully pour into molds and chill in the fridge for an hour or so, then move to the freezer. Ready in about three hours, makes 4-6 pops. So good they will not last more than 24 hours, keep them a secret if necessary. They aren't overly sweet, so if you like your pops sweeter, use milk chocolate chips. You're welcome :)