Stash Bust Challenge 2014, Update Aug

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Divine Hope

Halos of HopeI took a quick break from designing to work up a hat for Halos of Hope.  I have been eyeing the Divine Hat by Sarah Arnold for some time.  I remember trying it when I was new to crochet and just couldn’t figure it out.  It has been on my to-do list ever since.  The stitch pattern is beautiful and once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t require much concentration.  In other words, it is a “get in the zone” hat.  I had some tweaks to the pattern as it calls for worsted and I choose Caron Spa, a lighter weight yarn.  You can see my notes here.  This is a beautiful pattern and it is free so there are a ton of projects on Ravelry.  I love seeing the variations others have made; extra long slouchy style, stripes with pom-poms, big flowers added, sc edging with buttons, brims and bows are just a few of the adjustments.  There are so many ways you can make this simple and beautiful hat your own.  Give it a try.  If you can’t figure it out right away, bookmark it and come back to it after you have a little more experience.  You will be glad you did.

This hat weighs 2 3/4 ounces.

Total hats made in the 2014 Stash Bust Challenge: 13

Total weight of the hats to date: 2 pounds, 8 1/2 ounces.

Shark Week 2014, Day 7 and a Stash Bust 2014 Update

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Shark Hat Finished!

Shark hat crocheted by Darleen Hopkins https://crochetbydarleenhopkins.com/category/2014-chemo-hat-challenge/His name is Cap’n and he is mighty proud of his multiple stripes.  I’ve had a lot of fun making this hat during shark week.  I’ll have to remember to do this again next year.  But I do have a slight confession.  I only watched one shark show while making him, the one on giant hammerhead sharks.   We recorded a couple on the dvr and will watch them eventually.  It seems like every year the researchers get themselves in more and more dangerous situations in order to get the great whites to breach or catch the elusive Old Hitler (giant hammerhead) on film.  Watching the shark shows gives me the heebiegeebies a little but they are wildly entertaining.  Now back to the hat…

I do love the pattern by Monica Miles but as I’m working with limited yarn and a totally different weight than what the pattern calls for, I have to make a lot of adjustments to the pattern.  You can see a few more details on my project page as well as a couple more pictures.  One day I’ll get the right yarn and make one as the pattern is written.  Cap’n will be donated to Halos of Hope and is another hat completed for my Stash Bust Challenge 2014.  He weighs in at 5 1/2 ounces.

Total hats made in the 2014 Stash Bust Challenge: 12

Total weight of the hats to date: 2 pounds, 5 3/4 ounces.

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

Shark Week 2014, Day 6

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Shark Hat Update, Day 6-Almost Done!

P1040862 (1000x750)Moving right along!  Last night I adjusted the body of the shark by removing about 10 rounds and reworking them.  The hat was a little too loose so I frogged back to the last increase and reworked the rounds without it. I also saved enough yarn to finish the fins.  I wish I had enough to outline the fins in sc but this will have to do.  I had less than 2 feet to spare of each color!  I added the gums and worked in some of the ends.  With a couple more ends to work in, teeth and eyes left, I hope I’m able to finish it tonight.  CHOMP!!

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

 

Shark Week 2014, Day 4 and 5

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Shark Week Hat Update!

P1040860 (1000x676) I made a lot of progress on the hat Wednesday (day 4) as you can see by the photo!  I really like the two colors together.  I was a little concerned about the different yarns as one is worsted/aran and the other is bulky or maybe even chunky weight.  I worked the bright blue, the thinner yarn, in hdc and the aqua, the thicker yarn, in sc and used the same hook for both yarns.  Therefore, the sc stitches are stitched pretty tight.  Last night (day 5), I finished up the body of the hat and started on the fins.  Unfortunately, it looks as if there won’t be enough yarn for all the fins so I will have to frog a couple of rows.  I’ll just make the gums and teeth section larger to make up for any lost length.  There’s nothing wrong with a lot of big shark teeth!

Shark Week 2014, Day 3

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Update on the Shark Hat for Halos of Hope

P1040859 (1000x644)

Last night I realized I wasn’t going to have enough of the bright blue yarn to finish the shark.  I’ve made them before and they usually use more than a full skein.  So a frogged a few rounds and added some aqua stripes.  They are totally random and I add a stripe as I feel it is needed.  I’m happy with the progress so far.  I have a couple free minutes so it is time to squeeze in a round or two.  Check back tomorrow.  : )Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry, Crochet by Darleen Hopkins

Shark Week, 2014 Day 1 and 2

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Crochet a hat for Shark Week!

In honor of Shark Week, I’ve decided to crochet a shark hat for Halos of Hope. I’ve made a number of these hats before and I have a lot fun giving each shark a different personality.

P1040858 (1000x944)The crochet pattern is available here and the knit version here.  I always make a few adjustment to the pattern as I prefer to work in the round and the crochet pattern is written for rows.  In addition, the pattern is written for bulky yarn and I only have aran available so I’ll add few stitches to adjust for the sizing.

I started the hat on Sunday but was REALLY tired and didn’t get to far.  That is a good thing because I frogged what I did and restarted it last night.  I wanted to make my shark in hdc so I started over.  Now I’m really behind and have a lot of catching up to finish it before the week is over.

Anybody care to join me?

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

Penguin Bib, crochet pattern by Darleen Hopkins

4th of July, Penguins and Crochet

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What do the 4th of July, Penguins and Crochet have in common?

Macaroni Penguins have a beautiful yellow crest that covers the top of their heads.  English explorers named Macaroni Penguins after the fashionable young men of the 18th century called ‘macaronis‘.

Penguin Bib, crochet pattern by Darleen Hopkins

Make me a Macaroni Penguin!

The song, “Yankee Doodle”, which references the macaroni style, was a popular song during the American Revolutionary War.  The American holiday, Independence Day or 4th of July, is a celebration of the United States declaring its independence from Great Britain.  So, what does this have to do with crochet?  Nothing really.  I just thought it was a fun fact and wanted to share.  Anyone want to turn this cutie into a Macaroni Penguin?  I’d love to see it!

“Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.”
– Yankee Doodle

Independence Day is less than a week away.  Have a fun and safe 4th!

 

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

Stash Bust for Hope 2014, January

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January 2014 Stash Busting for Hope Update

https://crochetbydarleenhopkins.com/category/2014-chemo-hat-challenge/ Shells and Trellis hat for Halos of Hope

Wow, only one month in and I’m already falling behind in my goals.  I’ll get there, I PROMISE!  I did manage to get one hat for Halos of Hope completed during January.   If you are on Ravelry, plynn (blog) has started a CAL/KAL forum for Halos of Hope hats.  Since I don’t really knit much, I’m participating in the CAL.  For January she chose the Shells and Trellis hat by Melody Hamor.  It is a really cute hat and easy pattern.  With a few modifications, you can use just about any yarn.  As always, I made a few tweaks.  You can read my notes on my project page.  This pattern has been on my radar and I’m glad to finally have had a reason to make it-thanks Pat!

Stash Bust 2014 hats made to date: 1

Total weight made to date: 1.75 ounces

Want to see more hats made for Halos of Hope?  Check out this Pinterest board!

Fun with Piranha

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P1030461 (1000x667)My family and I spent Black Friday in Chattanooga at the Tennessee Aquarium.  Although it’s a 2 1/2 hour drive to Chattanooga, we have a membership to the aquarium and we’ve been a number of times.  I have a lot of favorites, love the seahorses and the jellyfish tanks, the rays touch tank and the silly penguins, but one of my other favorites are the piranhas.  The aquarium has two piranha tanks and they are great.  The first tank has a cut out where you can crawl under the tank, poke your head up and ‘swim’ with them.  It’s always a big hit with kids. In typical Black Friday fashion, the aquarium was a mad-house.  Even though we were there when the doors opened, the entire facility quickly filled up with lots and lots of little ones excited to see the amazing marine life.  We got lucky and had a couple quick moments to pose with these beautiful animals.

P1030466 (870x1000)The Piranha hat is included in the Indie Giftalong and although the discount period for the GAL is over, the pattern is included in my Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale where all Crochet by Darleen Hopkins patterns on Ravelry are 25% off.  Use coupon code ‘Gobble2013’ but hurry, the sale ends Tuesday 12/3/2013 midnight EST.

Aww, what a cutie!

Aww, what a cutie!

If you make this hat, I would LOVE to see you posing with piranha (in tanks only please!) while wearing it.  You can always post them on my Facebook page or email me at CrochetByDarleenHopkins@gmail.com.  Have fun!

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry