Summer hookin'

Anyone who knows my mother knows that she has been crocheting for probably as long as she's been alive (well maybe not quite that long but pretty close.) She taught me how to crochet when I was home over winter break, and ever since then I haven't really been able to stop. I'm nowhere near as good as her by any means, but the ability to finally read a pattern helps when it comes to actually making things. I've made simple things to start with, a scarf, headbands, a couple of slouchy hats, easy stuff. So far this summer, I have completed two more complex projects that I will share with you all. Lucky ducks you are!

Here's the first project, I think I started it on a Saturday or Sunday evening and had it finished by the Thursday or Friday of that same week, so not too complex.

The pattern for this scarf can be found at: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/alana-lacy-scarf-free-crochet-pattern/54402?_ct=fhevybu-fqjjuhdbyrhqho-jyjbu&_ctp=54402

It calls for cotton yarn, but you would probably be fine with a finer yarn. You could also make it without the tassels if that's what makes you HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY (had to throw a Duck Dynasty reference in here somewhere)

When making this pattern, I found it helpful to write out the instructions for each row so I could cross them out when I finished them. That helps me, and I think part of that has to do with the fact that I am still a beginner. It's a simple pattern however, because it repeats a lot.

Okay, enough about the scarf. Here's the next project. This one took me probably about a week or so when all was said and done.

The pattern for this hat is available at: http://cre8tioncrochet.com/2013/03/crochet-hipster-hat/

I honestly only picked this pattern because it was called a hipster hat, and I thought it looked sweet. I'm a fan of hats for when I'm having a bad hair, or when I'm just too lazy to straighten my hair. 

This pattern is somewhat difficult if you are not careful. I actually had to rip this out and start again because I got mixed up. It is crucial that you COUNT after you complete every round to make sure that you have the correct number of stitches in each row, otherwise your next rows will not work out. 

I actually printed this pattern out and used scrapbook sleeves and a dry erase marker to cross out the rows I had already completed. It was especially helpful for the decreasing rows. Again, that is just how I like to do it. There is a pattern for a little bow that you could attach to the hat if you desire, but I think I will omit that on this hat.

I've started on a larger crochet project endeavor: the "Mile a Minute" afghan. We'll see how that goes....

So, for all you crochet people out there, happy hooking, and for those who don't crochet, thanks for reading anyway :)