Stash Bust Update, March 2014, on Safari with Halos of Hope and Stitches South

Posted on March 20, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

I’m always so excited to hear when Halos of Hope has a new collection campaign. Mainly because they are awesome and do awesome work but also because it gives me some direction on what type of hat to make. Sometimes I’ll have a ball of yarn sitting in my basket begging for me to make a hat with it but I’ll have no idea what design or pattern to use. Then, along comes Halos of Hope with a new themed collection and BINGO, the light bulb comes on (and I don’t even need my Thinking Cap!) and I know exactly what to do with that yarn. That is what happened with both some brown yarn and this crazy Pomp-A-Doodle yarn I had purchased.

Halos of Hope’s latest themed collection is ‘On Safari’ for Atlanta area children’s hospitals. Basically, they are requesting any type of themed hat that can be found on safari or at the zoo. They are collecting the hats and plan to distribute them while in town for Stitches South in April. If you remember, last year they went ‘Under the Sea’. So with this in mind, I peered into my yarn bin and that super soft, dark brown yarn I had no idea what to do with yelled out at me-MONKEY! but not just any monkey, ZOMBIE MONKEY!! He’s a cute little guy with mismatched zombie button eyes. I hope he brings a smile to a brave young man (or lady).

The second ball of yarn to call to me was this crazy Pomp-A-Doodle yarn. I thought it would make a pretty good lion. I had to get a little creative with this one. Click on the photo to bring you to the project notes-you won’t believe what pattern I used!

My last hat to share was actually started in …2012… and I finished it up in February during the Winter Olympics (Ravellenic Games on Ravelry). This is another hat where I got creative with the pattern as I used the Candy Corn Stocking Cap for this one. I’m real please with it and it too will be donated to Halos of Hope when they are in town next month. The three hats come in at 9 ounces.

Total hats made in 2014 challenge to date: 6

Total weight of the hats made in the 2014 challenge to date: 1 pound 1.25 ounces

Save with Daylight Savings

Posted on March 9, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Flash Sale on all Crochet by Darleen Hopkins Patterns on Ravelry

Use coupon code “Savings25” for 25% off your entire purchase, today only! March 9, 2014 until midnight Eastern Standard Time. Over 30 patterns on sale!
CLICK: Crochet by Darleen Hopkins on Ravelry

Men in Crocheted Pants

Posted on March 2, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

You know you are a real man when…

I seem to spend as much or maybe even more time looking at crochet online than actually crocheting. It’s a sickness I can’t get control of; I’m hopelessly addicted to all things crochet. Because I spend a lot of time online, I find some unique stuff. We all know the saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. This saying applies to crochet too. There are some who would never touch acrylic yarn, it is lace-weight wool only for them. There are some who would never crochet a silly hat, it’s shawls and baby blankets only for them. And of course, there are those who would never crochet, it’s knit only for them, but that’s another post… Anyway, there are some who would never crochet the man in their life a pair of pants and there are men who would never wear a pair of crocheted pants. But the opposite was true for these fellows-or maybe they made the pants themselves, I don’t know. Either way, congratulations to these men who proudly wear the crocheted pants in their family!

Last, one for the ladies so you don’t feel left out.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/christmas-tree-pillows

2014 Stash Bust Challenge for Hope

Posted on February 15, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Update, February 2014 Stash Bust Challenge

Stash busting for Halos of Hope is in full swing. It’s mid-February and I have two hats to share! I’m so proud of myself for getting this month’s goal done early. I *hope* to complete one or two more this month to catch up for last month.

The first, The Frostberry Hat by Sarah Jane Designs, is a hat I started back in November, but had to put it down for a couple of months while I worked on other projects. I made a couple unintentional adjustments to the pattern. I really shouldn’t crochet while watching TV as I got my row counts off. The hat still looks great even with the adjustments. I love this pattern and plan to make another, as the pattern is written.

The second, The Happy Puppy Hat, was made for a co-worker’s daughter, Sarah, an adorable 2-year old, who is currently going through chemo treatments. The little girl recently received a new puppy so I thought this Happy Puppy hat would put a smile on her little face.

The weight of the two hats came to 6.5 ounces

Total hats made in 2014 challenge to date: 3

Total weight of the hats made in the 2014 challenge to date: 8.25 ounces

Working in the back horizontal bar, crochet

Posted on February 5, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

You want me to put my hook where????

Have you ever had a pattern tell you to hdc-whb or whb-hdc? Huh? Half double crochet worked in the horizontal bar (also called ‘back bar’) is a pretty easy stitch and creates beautiful ribbing. After watching the video, take some time to work a few rows of hdc-whb and you’ll feel like an expert crocheter!

Stash Bust for Hope 2014, January

Posted on February 2, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

January 2014 Stash Busting for Hope Update

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!

Super Stitcher Goals for 2014 and a NEW Stash Busting for Hope Challenge

Posted on January 5, 2014 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014

2013 was a great year for me crochet-wise. I met some of my 2013 goals and completed a 6 pound stash bust challenge. Crochet by Darleen Hopkins on Facebook is establishing a cozy community (come join us!), Pinterest is up and running and even a monthly Newsletter (Feelin’ Loopy) is getting ready for its second issue. So what is there to accomplish in Crochetland for 2014? LOTS!! A few of my top goals or to-do’s for 2014 are listed below. The Super Stitcher in me is determined to complete them all.

1) Complete the Crochet Guild of America’s Master Crochet Program. I’ve signed up and received the materials, now it is time to start stitching.

2) 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! This is ongoing. I started it in 2013 and plan to continue until I can get this huge stash under control!

3) Stash Bust for Hope Challenge 2014. This is my favorite goal. Last year I crocheted 6 pounds of Bernat CottonTots into soft hats for Halos of Hope. In addition to the 32 hats completed in that challenge, I also crocheted many other hats for Halos of Hope that were made from other stash yarns. So this year I challenge myself to crochet 7 POUNDS of my stash yarn into soft hats for Halos of Hope stitching at least 2 hats a month and, like last year, post photos and report on the total stitched yarn weight.

4) Continue to work on left-handed crocheting. Every once in a while I give this a try. I’m not there yet but I’d like to be comfortable enough using my left hand so I may be able to one day teach a lefty.

2013 flew by in what seemed like a nanosecond. The years are going faster and faster and sometimes I feel like my hooks can’t keep up, but I’m going to try. What are your crochet goals for 2014? Be a Super Stitcher too and have fun with whatever you make. Last, enjoy all the new year has to offer.

Darleen

Stash Busting for Hope – Challenge Update and ALMOST DONE!

Posted on December 31, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Stash Busting for Halos of Hope, 2013 Wrap Up

It’s been a year now that I have been working on my 6 pounds of Bernat CottonTots yarn stash-6 pounds!!!! There was so much yarn in the box (a standard paper box) that the lid didn’t close properly. Why I had that much yarn, I have no clue. But I had it and I decided to spend 2013 crocheting it into soft hats for Halos of Hope. Hats were crocheted that looked like frogs, sharks, pigs, owls, bunnies, chicks, baby birds, fish, cats and a cartoon character. I also made hats with hearts, flowers, stripes, swirls and stars. And a few solid hats as well. It’s been both a joy and a challenge to find the right pattern for the yarn on hand. Especially towards the end of the challenge when I had less full skeins and lots of partial and small bits of yarn. Being true to my thrifty self, I have been determined to use every last bit of yarn, even those scraps no bigger than a yard or two.
Over November and December I made 7 hats. I used the last full skein on the Yellow Kitty Hat. The remaining hats were made with partial skeins and the small leftovers.

The Owl Hat is one of my favorites. For the owl features I followed the Owl Bib pattern and for the hat, I followed the Crazy Frog Hat pattern (psssst! That pattern is FREE with every Crochet by Darleen Hopkins pattern purchase.)

The Pink Heart Hat and the Blue/Green/Purple Striped Hat are both based on the Crazy Frog Hat pattern as well. I just changed color as I ran out of yarn. The cute heart is a pattern by Jill Gilbank and you can find it on her website, PlanetJune.

Both the Blue/Brown Swirl Hat and the Pastel Stripes were patterns I was just playing around with, possible prototypes for future Crochet by Darleen Hopkins patterns!

The last, the adorable striped hat with the huge flower, is an adaptation of the Daisy Hat pattern by Akua Lezli Hope. I had to adapt it a little for the heavier weight yarn. I love how it came out and I’m excited to one day make the hat as the pattern is written and in a lighter weight yarn.

Shortly after starting the draft of this post, I found out about Halos of Hope’s-Stripe It Up January. I guess I had a Stripe It Up December. Stripes are a great way to use leftover yarn.
In just 3 easy steps you can use up those last little bits of yarn and make a hat that costs nothing.
1. Group scraps that go well together.
2. Follow a hat pattern you like.
3. Change color when you run out of yarn. It is that easy!

Got Scraps? Join Halos of Hope this January and Stripe It Up! See Hat Guidelines for more information.

The Final Stash Bust Countdown

November and December’s 7 hats weigh in at 1 pound 1 1/2 ounces.

Total hats made in the 2013 Stash Bust Challenge: 32!

Total weight of the 32 hats made: 5 pounds 15 1/2 ounces!

I am JUST UNDER 6 pounds! I don’t have enough yarn left for any more hats but I do have some ideas for what is left. So, I’ll have one last post in this challenge! Please check back. : )

Sock Monkeys Beware!

Posted on December 18, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

RUN, Run for your LIFE!

They are cute, cuddly and bring a warm and cozy feeling of nostalgia-the sock monkey. I love sock monkeys. And they are everywhere-even slippers and pjs. Popular sites like Etsy are covered with adorable sock monkey items. But what happens when a cute and cuddly sock monkey encounters a zombie? Well, I suppose this happens:

Why a Zombie Sock Monkey hat? Why NOT! Maybe I read one too many Stephen King novels as a young teen or perhaps I got too much enjoyment out of Halloween dress up while growing up. But what I do know is everyone needs a Zombie Sock Monkey Hat and because every zombie needs fresh meat, the pattern also comes with instructions to make a sweet, cute and cuddly sock monkey (BRAAAAIIINNSS!!!!)

The Zombie Sock Monkey / When Sock Monkeys Attack crochet hat pattern is available as an instant download on Ravelry for $4.50 (and ETSY too!) The pattern includes two sizes to fit heads with a circumference of 19″ to 22.5″ (average child/tween and teen/adult) Instructions include how to make the hat with or without earflaps. Also included are instructions on how to make the cute, adorable and cuddly sock monkey hat.

Ravelry is free to join but you don’t have to join to purchase the pattern. BONUS! Every pattern purchased at Crochet by Darleen Hopkins on Ravelry comes with a free copy of the Crazy Frog Hat, how cool is that? (Frog Brains, Yummy!)

It’s HERE! Ravelry’s Indie Designer Gift-A-Long!

Posted on October 31, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

It’s HERE! Ravelry’s Indie Designer Gift-A-Long!

What is a Gift-A-Long?

It’s a chance to save some $$ on your favorite gift patterns, participate in knit/crochet-a-longs, share photos of your finished projects, see what others are making, win prizes and HAVE FUN! In other words, it’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear!

From November 1st through November 15th any pattern listed in the “List of Participating Patterns” thread is 25% off when you use the code “giftalong”. (Ravelry only)

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, please join a relevant KAL/CAL. (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes (check out the Prizes thread for details) but you gotta post to win!

Almost 175 independent designers from Ravelry have banded together to offer their best gift patterns at a discount of 25% off (you gotta use the coupon code “giftalong” to get the discount) from now through Nov. 15, GMT. In addition, designers will be monitoring the various KAL/CAL to see if there are any questions. And there will be prizes, lot’s of prizes-almost 300 hundred-with lots of chances to win. KAL/CALs will run until December 31st, plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting.

Save 25% on the following Crochet by Darleen Hopkins patterns. Remember, you have use the coupon code “giftalong” to get the 25% off. I can’t wait to see all your finished items!