Sock Monkey Hats

Right behind all things owl, sock monkey hats are my most requested.  Who doesn't love a sock monkey?  One thing I love about these hats is that it doesn't matter how big (or small) they are or what colors you use, they're always easily recognizable and sure to elicit a smile!

Hooded Beauty

Am I the only one who has always loved capes and hoods?  Ever since I was a little girl I've always secretly (or maybe no so secretly) dreamed of wearing a beautiful hooded cape that tied at the throat.  While these aren't capes, I still love the drama--and warmth--of a crochet hood!  

Whether it's a pullover hood with cute little ears, 

a cowl style with lots of volume around the neck

or a tied version with pretty scalloped shells around the bottom.

Even baby dolls can get it on the action!

Is it feasible to add a cape to the bottom, or am I just dreaming?

Perfecting the Perfect Slouchy Hat

A while back I proclaimed that I made myself the perfect slouchy hat.  I still stand by that =) but I made some tweaks that, in my opinion, make it even more...perfect!  I kept the same basic shape but used an open stitch (dc + ch 1 in the place of one dc).  I first tried a super slouchy version using Bernat Softee Chunky yarn.

I've used a soft, thick yarn for a warmer winter hat

but I think my favorite version is made with Caron Simply Soft and a K hook.  

It's very soft and lightweight, a great addition to any wardrobe.

Newborn photo props

I have a friend from high school who is a very talented photographer.  She has a studio in Colorado Springs and takes beautiful portraits.  (Seriously, check out her website and, if you're in the area, book her services immediately!)  Recently she contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in making a photo prop for her newborn shoots.  Yes!  I've been wanting to do this very thing but didn't really need the finished product so it was at the bottom of my queue.  As requested, I made her a colorful crown.  

While I made it sized to fit the average newborn's head circumference, I also used sock yarn to give it a bit more stretch.  If I can figure out where I sat my little notepad (I really need a better system!), I'll publish the pattern.

Because I had leftover yarn and an idea burning in my brain, I made her a cocoon too!  Without a newborn at my disposal I used a 15" doll.  Again, with the sock yarn, it can streeeeetch!  It changed some of the stitch counts and doubled up on my yarn but, for the most part, this is the pattern I used if you'd like to try to duplicate it.  

I'm really looking forward to one day seeing an item I crafted in a beautiful photograph by M Photography!

The Owls Have It

By far my most requested design is the owl earflap.   I've made them for babies up to adults, with heavy yarn, glittered yarn and everything in between, with open eyes and sleepy eyes . . . and my pattern is still evolving!

At this point I decided I hated the stupid tab ear things that were from the first pattern I tried before making my own.  And I started adding a contrasting trim.

And I like the eyes closer together.

Then I started doing a little widow's peak at the bottom.

I like the peak, but think it looks better if it starts in the bottom row and not in the trim.

But my favorite so far is made with the shell-stitch to resemble feathers!

The Perfect Slouchy Hat

I finally finished a hat for myself!

I love everything about this hat!  It is purple, cozy, soft and covers up bad hair days without making me look like I'm bald!

I have a feeling I'm going to be making a lot more of these slouchy hats!  I'm already wishing I had one in grey.  Ooh, and maybe chocolate brown... 

Shell-stitch cloche (style) hats

I love cloche hats!  That flapper style gets me every time!  I think every girl in my life needs one!  A traditional cloche comes in a bit before flaring out at the bottom.  These hats are more of a cloche-style hat since my girls requested some (in the blue and grey) but didn't want the longer flared bottoms.

I think the shell stitch really enhances this very feminine style.

I especially like adding an eyelet row, crocheted ribbon and flower embellishment.

Perhaps the only thing that can make it better is having one to match your favorite friend!

with matching American Girl doll-sized hat

Business Fair

A few weeks ago our preacher's wife, who is an ob-gyn, mentioned to me that her practice was having a launch party to introduce their new name.  They planned on having local businesses come, like a business fair, and she was sweet enough to include me!  She thought it would be a great opportunity for me to show off my hats and make some contacts.  And I would be sharing a space with two ladies from church who do craft fairs regularly so I'd have two great resources for my prep as well as two awesome people to hang out with the day of!  Why not?

my set-up.  professional?  maybe messy is more accurate...

Of course, as is my style, I made things overly complicated for myself.  I worried needlessly about getting a federal EIN, whether I needed to apply to collect sales tax (nope) and fretted that I wouldn't have enough product done to make it worth while.  I ordered business cards and made a slideshow of past work to be running on my mac at the table.  I even got a card reader that hooks up to my iphone so I could take credit card payments! And I crocheted.  Morning, noon and night I crocheted.  Whenever I had a spare moment, I was covered in yarn.  I didn't sleep much, carried projects with me every where and my husband began to complain that I wasn't doing anything else.   But, like I said, I wanted this opportunity to be worth my time!  By the day of the launch party, I had 17 hats ready to go!

toddler bucket hat-SOLD

4 + bomber hat

baby chunky beanie with brim

toddler beanie with brim

4+ beanie with brim and bird embellishment

4+ beanie with bird embellishment

newborn shell stitch earflap--SOLD

toddler shell stitch beanie-SOLD

baby owl earflap-SOLD

4 + owl earflap-SOLD

toddler two-toned earflap

baby puppy earflap

toddler puppy earflap--SOLD

baby bear eaflap

baby bunny earflap

baby chunky beanie

baby chunky beanie

Was it "worth it" in the end?  Depends on your definition, I suppose.  I only sold 3 hats.  (Interested in one of those still available?  Shoot me an email!) But I covered all of my yarn costs so I wasn't out anything.  And getting that many hats ready gave me the chance to try out a lot of different styles, patterns and embellishments that I might not have been able to try otherwise.  All in all it was a great learning experience and I'm really glad I did it!