Mamas2Hands

Valentines Day is Coming!

February 8, 2013Crochet, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

Luv Bug - M2H Designs — Luv Bug – M2H Designs

February is rocketing along already and Valentines Day is only a week away. So I have released a new version of my Luv Bug pattern that is easier to use on a Tablet Device.

This is a quick little toy to work up as a gift for your Valentine. Depending on the weight of yarn you use it can be barely palm size 2 inches or a snuggly handful of 7 inches. The bugs feet, antenna, and nose are all worked as you crochet the pieces, so there are only 4 main pieces to sew together at the end. Add eyes and a bit of stuffing and you are finished.

I was inspired to make this version by my own experience of reading my patterns on my tablet. In the original version I had laid out the pattern so that it could be printed out as a 2 page booklet. This new format has 4 pages instead of 2. All the diagrams, instructions and photo tutorials are the same.

You can purchase it in my Ravelry Shop by clicking Here.

Fun Wrister Pattern

January 30, 2013February 2, 2013Crochet, Crochet Design1 Comment

I got a nice surprise today. Found out that my Easy Crochet Wristers pattern is available on the Red Heart website.

I wanted to create a super simple design that beginning crocheters could stitch up. If you can make a chain, single crochet and double crochet stitch; you can crochet these wristers up.

They are worked flat, then seamed together to create the opening for your thumb. Give them a try and see what you think.

Little Cables Cap

January 28, 2013Crochet, Crochet Design1 Comment

This fun little cap is my first design in Crochet 1-2-3 the new crochet magazine available by subscription and in Walmart stores.

As I’ve said before, hats are one of my favorite projects to work on for quick gifts. This simple hat is crocheted crown down and uses post stitches to create the 8 little cable ridges that meet up with the ribbed brim. The pattern is available in 4 sizes, so you’ll be sure to find one to fit a child in your circle of gift giving.

There is one error in the pattern. For Sizes 12 months (4 years) only, Round 9 (10): the instructions between the brackets [ ] should only be repeated 4 times, not 8.

Warming up Winter

January 24, 2013January 24, 2013Activism, Crochet, Pattern2 Comments

My favorite things to crochet, back before I became a crazy busy designer, were items for charitable giving. Everything from hats and scarves for the homeless shelter to preemie caps for Save the Children. There were also a few child’s blankets in there for Project Linus.

Recently I learnt about a small organization in Massachusetts that helps get hats, scarves and mittens to various charitable groups in their region and they teach crochet and knitting. They are called “Warmer Winters”, because New England winters can get bitterly cold.

Currently they are a bit low on donations to send out. They especially need Adult sized scarves and hats. They can always use all sizes of mittens (adults, children & babies) as well as Hats and Scarves.

Donated items can be crocheted or knit, just need to be made in easy-care materials. No animal fibers to avoid any allergy issues. If you don’t have time to crochet or knit an item but want to donate yarn for their teaching programs they prefer bulky and worsted weight acrylic yarns.

You can mail donations to:

Warmer Winters

22 Hill Top Drive

Leominster, MA 01453

If you need an Adult hat pattern you can adapt my Little Bitty Noggin Cap pattern. Use worsted weight yarn with an H (5mm) hook and work additional increase rounds until the diameter measures approximately 7″, then work even rounds until the measurement from the crown is 12 inches, work 1 or 2 more inches of alternating hdc post st ribbing and you have a hat that will fit most adult heads. This is my basic “go-to” hat pattern and it makes a nice stretchy hat.

Simple Double Crochet Scarf

This simple scarf uses worsted weight yarn with a size I-9 (5.5mm) hook. My gauge is 3.5 dc sts = 1″ & 2 dc rows = 1.25″. Finished scarf is 8″ wide and can be worked to desired length. The turning chains are left as a decorative edging and not worked into.

Foundation: Start with a chain of 29, sc in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each chain to beginning of chain [28 sc]. If you are comfortable with the foundation single crochet (fsc) make 28 for your starting row instead.

Row 1: Ch 3, turn, work a dc in the first st and each st across [28 dc, 1 ch3].

Row 2 and following rows: Repeat Row 1.

For a 4′ long scarf work 76 rows, for a 5′ long scarf work 95 rows, for a 6′ long scarf work 114 rows. My sample in the photo was 84 dc rows.

Finishing Row: Ch 1, sc in each st across leaving ch-3 un-worked. Fasten off, weave in ends.

If sending items to Warmer Winters isn’t in the budget for you, but you want to help out, look for organizations in your locale that need items. Remember to contact them before sending stuff to see what they are needing and any restrictions.

My Supervisors

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013Latest NewsLeave a Comment

2013 has been moving fast. I’m busy with lots of crochet work, but being it is all still in the secret stage I can’t share about it yet.

Instead just a quick post today of my companions while I work.

The big guy on the right is our new addition to our family. His name is Fango. I know, it’s a sort of horrible name…but he came with it and it is the one he knows. He is 6 years old and came to us thru the Rocky Mountain Labrador Rescue.

He had a rather rough time initially. He had major surgery on his leg as well as 2 malignant tumors removed from his side. Fortunately he has recovered well from the surgeries and they are confident that the entire tumors were removed. Almost half his body was shaved and he looked quite a mess when we first saw him.

He started off with a different foster family, then at Thanksgiving he came to stay with us while his foster family was out-of-town. When they got back there were some emergencies with their family, so we volunteered to continue fostering him. By Christmas time we had completely fallen in love with him, and after a family meeting we decided we needed to adopt him.

He is super mellow and a calming influence on our sweet Kenna girl. Loves to go for walks without dragging on the leash, and is very happy to play fetch.

The family has all agreed now that we have reached our dog capacity. So our volunteer efforts with RMLR will involve other contributions than fostering for a time. Just as well, since we might end up with 3 dogs.

The Last Bit of Christmas

January 11, 2013Book Reviews, Celebrating, Crochet1 Comment

Yesterday when I checked my PO Box there was a package notice in it. So after dropping my boys off at school this morning I stopped by the Post Office to collect my package.

I was very excited when I saw it was a box from Amazon.com. I was pretty sure it was my books I had ordered with some of my Christmas money. Unfortunately I had a very busy schedule for the day, so I just now got to open the box.

I’ve been wanting both of these books for a while, especially Edie’s “Connect the Shapes”. Edie’s books are always full of useful tips and new ways of looking at crochet and this book looks to be another winner.

Margaret’s “The Complete Photoguide to Crochet” is a beloved reference in my teaching library and I think that “The Granny Square Book” will be joining it as another great source for myself and my students.

I’m looking forward to many fun hours with both of these books in the coming months. I’ll do a more in-depth review on them once I’ve had a chance to read thru them completely.

Celebrating Warm Hands

January 5, 2013January 5, 2013Celebrating, Crochet, Crochet Design2 Comments

Photo of Front Cover courtesy of Leisure Arts Publishing

I’m so pleased to announce that my first booklet for Leisure Arts, “Texting Mitts”, is available as an Ebook on their website, it will be also available as a print booklet in Jo-Ann stores sometime in February.

Photo of Back Cover courtesy of Leisure Arts Publishing.

My first ever published design was a pair of fingerless mitts for Red Heart Yarn in October of 2009. So it is fitting that my first ever booklet would be fingerless mitts as well. I love making fingerless mitts. They are a wonderful quick project for gift-giving and a useful item to have in your pockets for chilly days.

I had a great time working on this booklet. Kept me very busy throughout May, June and July of 2012, in a frenzy of creativity and crocheting. In fact this effort has inspired me to create more fingerless mitt designs in the future.

The booklet has 8 different designs for fingerless mitts and sells for $9.99, which comes out to about $1.25 a pattern. Patterns range from basic beginner to intermediate skill levels. All the designs are worked in sock/fingering weight yarns for warmth without bulk. Leisure Arts has even included links to helpful videos on their website for help with or review of many of the techniques.

All but 1 of the designs in this booklet are worked from the cuff up, which gives you the option of making the hand/finger area longer if desired. Many of the styles include thumb gussets to give greater coverage for those that live in chillier climates.

One of the wonderful advantages of wearing fingerless mitts is they can actually help you avoid injury to your hands when typing, texting or even crocheting. Keeping your hands warm is a great way to prevent muscle strains from repetitive motion.

Photo courtesy of Leisure Arts Publishing

I love all the designs in the booklet but my 2 favorites are the Small V-stitch Wristers (shown on the front cover) and the Staggered Cross Stitch Mitts. The main reason these are my favorites is because of the lovely stretch that the stitch patterns give to the fabric.

When I’m out and about I prefer my mitts to have a longer palm section that nearly covers my pinkie finger, making it easy to operate the touchscreen on my smart phone, but still keeping my hands warm in our cold weather. I sometimes wear glove liners under my mitts when the temperature really drops.

At home I wear my lacy fingerless mitts in the house, especially on winter evenings. Living on a mountain it gets very cold, but I’m cozy under an afghan with my hands in my mitts and my fingers free to crochet, knit, read a book or give kitty and doggie scritches as needed.

Another Year Ends

December 31, 2012Celebrating, Latest News2 Comments

Wow! I think I say this every year, but this one sure went by quickly. Just a few more minutes until it is 2013. 2013 will be a special year for me as I will be celebrating my 50th birthday.

2012 was really full. I made a bit of progress with my various resolutions, but kept getting side-tracked with other things.

What I did do with my 2012:

Went to my first TNNA show in January. It was the Winter show in Phoenix. I attended as an employee for a vendor friend and to assess if I wanted to join TNNA.

I decided to join and was accepted to TNNA in October.

I spent a good part of the first 3 months of 2012 pulling together sponsors and support materials for the 2012 CGOA Design Competition. This was my first year as one of the co-Chairs of this committee.

It also kept me really hopping at the New Hampshire Chain Link show (Knit and Crochet Show) at the end of June. Lots of set-up and moving the winning entries to various showings during the course of the conference.

An unexpected project I was working on in 2012 was a booklet for Leisure Arts that will be coming out the beginning of 2013. That kept me very busy during May, June and July.

I had 15 designs published during 2012, only 4 were self-published. So I’ll be revisiting that goal in 2013.

I also created 15 additional designs that are scheduled for publication in 2013, not counting the 10 designs for my Leisure Arts booklet. I’ll let you know here in my blog as each design comes out.

Happy New Year dear Readers.

Always say “I love you”

December 17, 2012August 8, 2021In Memory2 Comments

The tragic news of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings last Friday has had the same effect on me as the events of 9-11. It has been a brutal reminder that you never know when the last time you will speak with someone will be.

My heart broke when I heard of the deaths of the young children and teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, it made me realize how devastated I would be to lose my children. Especially when they are so young.

There are mornings when getting the kids ready for school is a challenge in ultimate time management. Where I am rushing and hollering at them to get their shoes and coats on. Or for whatever reason it is a morning that they don’t want to listen to me about anything and are existing only in that special world and time-sense that young children occupy.

So I have resolved that I will always tell my children that I love them before seeing them off to school everyday and tucking them into bed every night.

And I will be working very hard to be patient with them when it is a morning that they aren’t listening well. In the long run, being late to school isn’t as important as my children being secure that their mom loves them.

Hanging on by a Thread

December 16, 2012December 16, 2012Creativity, Crochet, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

Funny thing about being a crochet designer, sometimes you find yourself being asked to design in a medium that you haven’t work with in ages.

Such is the case with me and thread work.

Long long ago when I was a shiny new penny, back when mammoths still roamed the world (so think my boys), I dabbled with thread crochet. My maternal grandmother had an antique store full of gorgeous vintage thread crochet and other wonders. I could kick myself for not paying closer attention then.

Photo courtesy of Annie's — Photo courtesy of Annie’s

Recently I have been designing in thread quite a bit. I just finished 3 designs for Coats and Clark that are scheduled to be unveiled later in 2013. My most recent published thread design was “Maurine’s Angel” in the Crochet World December 2012 issue.

Earlier this fall my “Day of the Dead” earrings were published on the Red Heart website. Thread is great for making jewelry because of the small-scale of the stitches, and tighter stitch work possible especially with cotton thread.

Size #10 cotton thread is offered in a number of beautiful colors, so really lends itself to fun projects. Like my crocheted cover for my tape measure.

I love using both size #10 and #3 thread in my art pieces. Adding crochet to my mixed media pieces allows for interesting dimension and texture that I enjoy.

Like all the detailed leaves, flowers and butterflies on my bird house last spring.

My favorite projects to make in thread are Snowflakes for decorating my Christmas tree, or sending as gifts with Christmas cards. I have family and friends all over, so it’s nice to be able to send a pretty crocheted gift that will travel flat. I offered a pattern for the little snowflake on the right last December here on my blog.

5 Snowflakes - Universal Yarn — 5 Snowflakes – Universal Yarn

I even designed a set of 5 snowflakes in Nazli Gelin thread for Universal Yarns. You can purchase the pattern leaflet for these snowflakes on the Universal Yarns website. One thing I love about this pattern leaflet is that there is both text and stitch diagrams for the instructions.

If you haven’t crocheted with thread for a long time, or ever, one thing to keep in mind is that it is a bit different that working with most larger yarns. The 100% cotton threads have no “give” to them at all, so remember to rest your hands often. Who knows you might find yourself becoming a “threadie” before long.