The Beard Hat

So I saw this pattern for sale... and didn't want to buy it, but thankfully I found the free pattern.  So for all my fellow crocheters, here is the Beard hat pattern. 

Free Beard Crochet Pattern courtsey of Gumbo Soul:

Start by making a beanie. Any beanie. There are PAGES UPON PAGES of FREE crochet and knit patterns for all different sorts of beanies all over the web, so for goodness sake, don't buy those either.

I used a bulky yarn (5,6 on the bulk scale) and a K hook, but I think you could use this same principle to make one with less bulky yarn and a smaller hook, just add/subtract stitches accordingly. My husband is my model in the pic. He has a kind of teen-agery face, but this hat also fits my dad who has a very manly face, so this will fit a teen-adult.

If you want it to be fitted, it helps to have the beanie and the person it is for handy, at least until you figure out your basic sizes, which I haven't done yet, so this won't be an exact pattern, but a good formula to base your own off of.

Stitches:

Chain stitch
DC- double crochet
HDCD- half double crochet decrease
HDC- half double crochet
Slip stich
SC- single crochet

I started by chaining about 25-27 stitches. I put on the beanie, and then chain stitched, stopping every now and then to stretch my piece across my upper lip to where it would connect under the beanie about an inch on either side. For my adult face, this was about 25-27 chain stitches.

DC- back across, one DC in each stitch. Chain 2 and turn.

DC in next Stitch. HDCD across the next two stitches. Repeat across. When you get to the end if you have two stitches and are on HDCD, finish it out. If you only have 1 stitch left and are supposed to DC or HDCD, just finish it with a HDC. Chain 2 and turn.

DC in next stitch. HDCD across next two stitches; repeat across. Chain 1 turn.

SC about 6 stiches across. Again, put your beard up to your or the person's face to determine how far in you want to go. This is where your mouth hole will be, so SC into where you want the hole to begin. Then slip stitch across to the same number of stitches from the end. For example: I did 6 sc, slip stitched until I got to the 6th stitch from the end and then SC the last 6 stitches.

Chain 2 and turn.

DC across the SC stitches (in my case, 6). Now, count the number of slip stitches you made in the previous row. However many there are, chain that same number of stitches and then DC across your last SC (in my case, the last 6 stitches. Now you have a nice hole for your mouth to be in. When you get to the end, do not tie off, but continue stitching around down the side of the beard.

I alternated DC and HDCD down the sides of my beard to take it in a bit. This helps the bead to "cup". When I got to the bottom of my beard, I continued around the bottom with a SC until I got to the other side where I DC and HDCD up the side. This brings you up around to the top of your beard. You can finish of the top by SC across the top that goes across your lip, but I didn't feel the need to, so I just tied off and weaved in the ends. You should have a nice beard now that is sort of cupped where it will hug your face.

Crochet your favorite type of mustache either directly onto the chain stitches across the top of the mouth hole, or crochet it separate and stitch it on using coordinating thread and a yarn needle. Attach your hat to your beanie by stitching or crocheting it to the under side of your beanie, going up about an inch underneath the edge. Alternatively, you could make it removable with buttons if you so choose.

Adjust your number of beginning stitches according to the size you are making and the bulk of your yarn.

The DC across.

Then alternate DC and HDCD across the next two rows.

Then SC into your mouth hole, slip stitch across mouth hole, SC to the end

Then double crochet to mouth hole, chain across the mouth hole, SC to the end.

Then double crochet/half double crochet decrease down the side.

Then SC across the bottom of beard.

Then double crochet/half double crochet decrease up the side

finish off.

add mustache
attach to hat.

Crafty by Default,

Cana

Long time, no post

So, I had disappeared for a while.  I know, surprise, it has been 2 months (as of yesterday).  But no more.  I'll be posting new and unusual crafts, as well as some just plan regular fun crafts as we go along!

Looking forward to the craftiness we will be getting into!

Crafty by default,

Cana

Searching Saturday: Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

So because of all that is going on in my life-- Ingenious Friday and Searching Saturday are combined this week!!!!
What do you do with that old boring mirror?
So this week's Searching Saturday is all about mirrors!
Mirrors use to be only for gazing at your reflections, but now, they can be used for so much more.

• You can try this Mirror wall art.
• Make a Scrollwork Framed Mirror 
• Re-frame an old mirror with something fun, like this Plastic Spoon Framed Mirror
• Try a Mirror Mosaic or a PVC Pipe Mirror
• Try some starburst framed mirrors: 

  Wooden Starburst Framed Mirror

 Cardboard Starburst Framed Mirror

 Old Silverware Starburst Framed Mirror

Happy Searching!

Crafty by Default!

Cana

Cana's Future Craft of the Week: Paper Mache Yarn Bowls

So here is my future craft of the week:  Paper Mache Yarn Bowls.

Combine ½ cup flour and 2 cups cold water in a bowl.

Boil 2 cups of water in a sauce pan and add the flour and cold water mixture.

Bring to a boil again.

Remove from heat and add 3 tablespoons of sugar.

Let cool. The paste will thicken as it cools.

Wrap saran wrap around a bowl (or you can just use a balloon).  Dip the yarn in the paper mache mixture and then wrap it around the bowl.  Let dry for 24 hours before remove the yarn bowl from the bowl.  

Thanks to Homework's Blog for the great idea!

Crafty by Default!

Cana

Ingenious Friday: Magic Pallet Ride

So this week's Ingenious Friday is all about the Pallet!

So you have this pallet lying around... what are you going to do with it?  Well, then today you are in luck, because I'm going to help you use that old pallet!  **Warning:  While other Ingenious Fridays might be free of influence from other blogs, this one needs the help of other crafters for instructions for those of us who have yet to try these projects!**

So with that pallet, you can

• Use it as a base for a couch/ bed ( Project Nursery or 4D- Will need to translate from Spanish to English for instructions)
• Make a bench (for instructions you can check out Grosgrain Blog, and Apartment Therapy)
• Make a garden out of it (Shaynna Blaze, Crafting Creatures, and Life on the Balcony)
• Make a table -- easiest of them all.  
• Headboard
• Swing seat
• Stage platform for a children's theatre

What will you do with your old wooden pallet?

Crafty by Default!

Cana

Clothing everywhere!

So in my search for new clothes to fit my smaller body (Yay! Having lost 35 lbs in the past 6 months!), I have decided to go back to my sewing machine.  Of course it needs to be fixed, so I'm trying out clothing ideas that I can hand sew or no sew at all!  So this is the first of several clothing projects that are on my list of things to do until I can get the sewing machine fixed.  

This week's clothing was a vest/wrap.  All it requires is stretchy, non-raveling fabric (about a yard/ yard and a half), measuring tape, and scissors.  This is literally the easiest NO SEW project you can do!

• First, always make sure you wash your cloth before using it.  You don't want it to shrink up on you later!
• Then lay out your cloth on a smooth, undisturbed surface (a bit hard if you have cats, but remember YOU are the Cat Pack Leader ;}).
• Measure from the top edge (where your collar will be) six inches.  Then from that point mark six inches down (going towards the middle of the fabric).  Mark the spot and measure a 6-9 inch line (this will be your arm holes.  length is decided by how big your arms are).
• Cut the line for your armhole (make sure to cut even, straight lines).
• Put it on!  Your new Wrap is done!

Thanks to Behind the Seams for this great idea!

Crafty by Default,

Cana

Book Review: The Little Green Dress By Tina Sparkles

Never shop retail again with this chic and sweet collection of DIY patterns from a former host of DIY Network’s Stylelicious, Tina Sparkles. Joining the green movement was never so easy — and cost saving! With Sparkles’ stripped-down approach to patterning and sewing, the delightful dresses, tops, skirts, and pants in this fashion-forward project book will not only raise your eco-IQ, but open your eyes to new methods for sewing garments. Author Tina Sparkles, a talented and imaginative designer, offers up an array of project ideas that are both earth- and user-friendly. Readers can pick and choose the patterns that suit them best, from A-line, tiered, and bubble skirts to “body tube” dresses and “cap-sleeve cutie” blouses. Included are sewing and shopping resources and a fitting guide.

Little Green Dresses: 50 Original Patterns for Repurposed Dresses, Tops, Skirts, and More 

by Tina Sparkles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book shows readers how to re-use/harvest cloth from old clothes, and how to refashion clothes. Chapter 1: Sewing introduction, with the 4 levels of sewing
Chapter 2: Using and Creating Patterns
Chapter 3: Tops (Patterns)
Chapter 4: Skirts (Patterns)
Chapter 5: Dresses (Patterns)
Chapter 6: Bottoms and Rompers (Patterns)

When I read this title, I was like, "Yay! Finally a way to re-use all those clothes that have become too big for me to wear!" Which, this book is good for giving ideas on how to re-use those ex-large clothes that no longer fit, but for me this book was more for a beginner sewer than for someone who is intermediate or advanced. But, it still has it's good points for any sewer to have it in her library.

Good points for this book include that it gives not only the pattern difficulty (Levels 1-4), it also gives the sewing difficulty (Levels 1-4). All patterns are referred back to previous patterns, so it is best to start at the beginning with a Sewing Level 1, Pattern Level 1 and work your way forward instead of skipping around. Everything in this book builds upon itself, which makes it a great beginner sewer book.

Also, Chapter 2 gives wonderful introduction and ideas on how to create, patterns, use tools for creating, measuring for your pattern, copycatting a pattern you like and the basics on using a pattern. And this is great, because we all know that sometimes we experienced sewers need that refresher on how to do something. And if you have never made your own pattern before, this gives you some great pointers.

Personally, I found this book to be targeting the young adults and teenagers. I personally found very few outfits that were appealing to me as an adult.

Highly recommend for the new sewer, the needed refresher on techniques, and for those who want to learn to create their own patterns using recycled/reused fabrics from clothing.



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