It’s Shark Week-Crochet a Shark and Help Halos of Hope

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Crochet a Shark Hat and help Halos of Hope ship some hats.

100_6058From the Halos of Hope Facebook page:

It’s SHARK WEEK! Halos is offering our [Halos of Hope] signature knit or crochet shark hat pattern at a 40% discount. Halos has worked with shark enthusiasts over the past two years and raised over $10,000 to benefit the charity.

Your pattern donation sends another 19 hats to centers in need!

Visit our [Halos of Hope] Ravelry pattern store and enter SHARKWEEK for your discount.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/halos-of-hope-tm-crocheted-shark-hat

100_5913I have made a number of these hats.  I alter the pattern slightly for my preference and yarn on hand.  You can see my notes here.  But, if you make a hat as written, it’s great a lot of fun.  Hurry, Shark Week only lasts….a week!  PS, you gotta use the coupon code to get the discount: SHARKWEEK
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Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry, Crochet by Darleen Hopkins

Stash Bust Challenge Update: Aug. 2013

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WHOooo’s Stash Busting?

P1020887 (750x543)I fell a little behind in my stash busting for June and July.  Although I made a lot of  hats for Halos of Hope, I didn’t use the Bernat CottonTots in my Stash Bust Challenge.  I plan to make up for it this month.  I have a current design I’m working on and a magazine deadline (yeah!) to meet, but I hope to squeeze in a couple more hats this month.  I did spend this weekend working on two cuties.  The design is from Sarah Zimmerman and you can get the pattern here: Crochet Owl Hat.  I made some modifications to the hat design to make it work with my smaller scrap pieces (you can see my notes here).  Overall, I’m real pleased.  It’s a fun, quick hat to make.  Together, they weigh in at 4 1/2 ounces.

Total Stash Bust Yarn Used to Date: Just over 3 pounds!  Officially 1/2 way done!

Total Stash Bust Hats Made to Date: 15

1 Fish, 2 Fish, Sweet Fish, Scary Fish

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Introducing the Black Piranha Monster Fish Hat Pattern!

Aww, what a cutie!

Aww, what a cutie!

They are cute, in a creepy kinda way.  You gotta love the piranha.

My latest pattern, the Black Piranha Monster Fish Hat is available in three sizes.  Each size has instructions to make with or without earflaps, you choose.

Small: fits approximate 19”-20½” head circumference (3 years-6 years)
Medium: fits approximate 20½”-22” head circumference (5 years-teen/adult)
Large: fits approximate 22½”-24” head circumference (Large adult)

COUPON! for a limited time, from now until July 31, 2013 midnight EST, you can get the sweet fish for free when you buy the scary fish!  On Ravelry only, use coupon code 1FISH2FISH and get the Kissy! Kissy! Fish Face Hat Pattern for free when you buy the Black Piranha Monster Fish Hat Pattern.

Mid-year Resolutions Check In

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Resolutions Check-In

We are officially over 1/2 way done with 2013, yikes!  I thought I’d better check in on my 2013 Crochet Resolutions and see how I’m holding up to them.

1. Work from yarn stash and only purchase yarn when absolutely necessary for a specific project; don’t buy yarn just because it’s on sale!  I already started this with my Stash Bust 2013 Challenge.

I’ve pretty much stuck to this one.  I recently grabbed up some clearance yarn-one of my favorites-but then found the willpower to “just say no” and gave them back to the cashier at check out.  I’ve bought some yarn, but only for specific patterns and have returned yarn that was purchased for a project and then not needed.

2. Complete the Crochet Guild of America’s Master Crochet Program.

Not there yet. I’m looking to sign up in August.

3. Complete at least 2 hats per month for Halos of Hope.

Yup, I’ve done that and more most months.

4. Self publish at least 8 new patterns.

On track for this.  So far, in 2013, I’ve self-published:

Actually, that’s 8!  Wow, I didn’t realize I did so many the first 6 months of the year-I’ve been busy!  And I re-released Mr. Springy, The Robot Hat too!

5. Learn to crochet with my left hand.  I’ve been “in training” for this by learning to use the mouse with my left hand.

Still in training…

6. Complete that scrap felted throw rug I’ve been wanting to make for a couple of years now!!!

Haven’t started this either.

10 days – 17 states – 4,272 miles – 21,384 stitches

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ROAD TRIP!

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Before Road Trip

My family and I recently went on a road trip.  We drove from north Georgia to Yellowstone National Park with a number of stops along the way there and the way back.  It was a great trip and we saw some amazing sights and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Some of the sights we saw were

After Road Trip

After Road Trip

  • St. Louis Arch
  • A jackalope (I love them!)
  • Badlands National Park
  • The straightest road ever created running from South Dakota to North Dakota
  • Pump jacks pumping oil in North Dakota
  • Windmills as far as the eye could see in Minnesota
  • The gorgeous Black Hills of South Dakota
  • Mt. Rushmore
  • Crazy Horse Memorial and the annual June Night Blast
  • The Rocky Mountains
  • Buffalo
  • Old Faithful (erupted on time!)
  • Mud pools and geysers and hot springs
  • Buffalo
  • A grizzly bear
  • Devil’s Tower
  • A prairie dog town
  • A hail storm like none I’ve ever experienced before
  • A missile silo
  • Buffalo
  • Breathtaking Grand Teton National park
  • An end-to-end rainbow
  • Buffalo
  • Chicago rush hour-ugh.
  • The Big Sky of Montana
  • Bear Tooth Pass from Montana to Wyoming-amazing drive
  • Snow skiers and sleders and snow gliders in June

My husband planned the entire trip and drove all 4,000 miles.  We had a number of detours as he is an avid geocacher and has a goal of finding a geocache in all 50 states (I’m really looking forward to Alaska and Hawaii!).  I sat back, enjoyed the ride (except for the hail storm and Chicago’s traffic), crocheted and read.  I had plans of getting more crocheting done but the sites were too amazing to pass up.

Hike in Custer State Park, South Dakota

Hike in Custer State Park, South Dakota

If you are lucky enough to live in the Black Hills of South Dakota or in Wyoming with a view of the Rockies, you may find me as your neighbor in a few years.

It was a beautiful adventure and I hope to visit again.

Coupon-Independence Day

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StarFlowerHat-001 (750x750)Celebrate Independence Day with a Patriotic Star Hat!

Great Slouchy Style hat comes in three different sizes to fit most 3 years old to adult (head circumference 19″ to 23 1/2).

Coupon code valid July 4, 2013 to July 6, 2013 Eastern Standard Time and valid on Ravelry only.

Use this link: Stars and Flowers Slouch Hat and insert the coupon code at check out.

Coupon Code: IndependenceDay

Thank you!  Have a safe and fun day!!!

Darleen

Starting Crochet-Working in the Back Bump, video how-to

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Working in the Back Bump of your Starting Chain

I’m a fan of working in the back bump of a starting chain.  It creates a finished edge on the starting chain which matches the top edge of the row.  It looks nicer and I think creates a more flexible starting chain with fewer gaps.

As always, the easiest way to learn something is to have someone show you-thank you internet for giving us this ability!  (In addition to being a crochet addict, I’m a bit of a geek, if you haven’t already figured that out…)  So I have spent my day off today (yeah! a day off) trying to figure out how to film a video and upload to my website.  Hopefully, this will work and I’ll be able to show you this awesome method.

Here it goes!

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry, Crochet by Darleen Hopkins

Celebrate my birthday with me!

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You’re HOW OLD??

100_6868I’m starting to get to the point where, although I’m happy to have birthdays (better than the alternative) I’m kinda not liking getting older.   I’ll be 44 in 10 days and I know, that isn’t old.  But it seems like yesterday I was in my early 20’s going to college and seems like just last week I was in pigtails and climbing trees.  It’s all relative, I know, but it’s still odd having sore knees and seeing the grey hairs and not-so-fine wrinkles popping up.  So, to help me celebrate, I’m offering 44% OFF of any pattern purchases greater than $16. (I’ll be 44 on the 16th of May) Valid on Crochet by Darleen Hopkins purchases at Raverly.com only. Use coupon code BirthdayBash2013 to receive the discount. Valid now until midnight May 16, 2013 EST.  You can also access the patterns via my new Patterns page.  Please check it out and let me know what you think (there’s are really cool new Contact form on my About/Contact page).

Happy Crocheting!

Calculating yardage used, it’s easier than you think!

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Math is your friend!I love math.  It was always one of my favorite subjects in school.  I find comfort in numbers-nerdy, I know.  Maybe that is why I love crochet designing.  I thrive on finding the proper stitch repeats to manipulate yarn into creating the vision I have in my head.  Many are afraid of math, don’t be.  Math CAN be your friend.  For example, if you need to calculate the yardage used in a project.  Maybe you are testing a pattern for someone and they want the actual yardage you use, or maybe you have some yarn, not a full skein, and want to know if it’s enough to make that special hat pattern.  Maybe you are math geek like me and are just curious.  Whatever your reason for calculating your yardage, you can do it and it’s easy.

Supplies needed-

  • yarn
  • the yarn label (this is key)
  • kitchen scale (digital is best and one that measures in grams is even better)

1.    Determine how many yards per ounce (or grams).

Yarn labels state yardage and ounces/grams. Say your skein has 3.5 ounces and 220 yards.  Divide total yardage/by total ounces.  In this example, that works out to approximately 63 yards/ounce. (220/3.5=62.857).

2.   Determine how much yardage you used.

You need to weigh your yarn BEFORE you start your project (if you aren’t using new skeins) then weigh your yarn AFTER you finish. Subtract ending weight from starting weight to determine weight of yarn used.  Then multiply by amount of yards per ounce as determined from the label in the first step.  In the above example, if you used 1.5 ounces of yarn then yardage would be 1.5 X 63 = 94.5 yards.   That’s it!

There are 28 grams per ounce so if you measure in grams, you will have a much more accurate calculation.  I have a digital kitchen scale.  I believe I bought at Wal-Mart for about $20.  I know some people use the scales at local post offices.  Just remember to always save the yarn labels of partial skeins.  That way, you can calculate how much yardage you have on hand.  If a pattern states estimated yardage needed to complete the project, you’ll know right away if you have enough or not.

Have fun!

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry, Crochet by Darleen Hopkins

Got Drool?

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Got Drool?

I’d like to introduce a few of my latest designs….Drool Bibs!

Penguin Drool Spit Bib

Penguin Drool Spit Bib

Polar Bear Drool Spit Bib

Polar Bear Drool Spit Bib

Hippo Drool Spit Bib

Hippo Drool Spit Bib

Lion Drool Spit Bib

Lion Drool Spit Bib

Baby Bear Drool Spit Bib

Baby Bear Drool Spit Bib

Bunny Rabbit Drool Spit Bib

Bunny Rabbit Drool Spit Bib

My oldest was a drooler-big time.  He was an adorable, chubby, happy baby that soaked everything!  I wish I knew how to crochet back then (I learned when he was about 5) because I spent a small fortune purchasing cute drool bibs to soak it all up and keep him dry.

Babies like him are what inspired me to design these adorable drool bibs.  Make them in cotton or cotton blend yarn for maximum absorbency.  I made mine in Knit Picks Comfy Worsted-what a great yarn!  These bibs work up quick and are sure to be a hit at any baby shower.

Each bib pattern set comes with 2 patterns.  So far I have made 3 sets; Forest Friends-Adorable Bunny and Sweet Baby Bear, Safari Friends-Happy Hippo and Loveable Lion and just released, Polar Friends-Preppy Penguin and Charming Polar Bear.  Be on the lookout for more.  I’m addicted to designing them and have plans for many, many more Friends!

Patterns are available on Etsy, Craftsy and Ravelry for $3.50/ SET (2 patterns per set)  Don’t forget, all Crochet by Darleen Hopkins purchases on Ravelry are Buy 2, Get 1 Free!  No coupon needed!