Crafting fun for all

I have not posted for a very long time. Things have been crazy but I still have been crocheting and crafting. I am here to say let's craft together and get active again on this blog.

First up is a simple coaster I did yesterday. I am not a designer or pattern writer but I would like to share my pattern. I hope it makes sense and if you have any questions comment here and I will try to help.

Materials
Peaches and Cream Cotton yarn in Chocolate Milk color
H or 5 mm hook

Rnd 1 in magic circle put 12 dc join witj sst to make circle ch 1
Rnd 2-3  2dc in ea dc around join ch 1
Rnd 4 skip first dc hdc in next hdc then go back and hdc in skipped st.(hdc X st made) continue doing hdc X st  around join and fasten off. weave ends in
size is 5 inches across
I made ours bigger to fit under even our biggest coffee mugs.

I hope you like them and will give them a try.
If you make any send a picture. This is my pattern so please give me credit if you share. Thanks Happy Crafting
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
KEEP ON CRAFTING

Not Enough Time For Crafts and Old Family Recipe

Those who know me know that I love to do crafts and crochet. Lately I haven't had time for either one much. Seems like there is never enough time. Two things I am planning out and working on but not started physically to put together are a travel journal to put pictures and notes about our Journey To See History trips we are taking as well as a family cookbook with pictures of the people that we are using their recipes. I am scanning, where possible, the recipe card with their handwriting and then also typing out the recipe. So each recipe will have a copy of their hand written card, the recipe transcribed and typed out as well as their picture and maybe a little story about the recipe or person to go with it. It is a big undertaking but well worth the time. When it is finished  I will have a little piece of the family that I can give  to my children and grandchildren.

I am trying to write out a couple of crochet patterns also.  A poncho for my granddaughters and a blanket for the boys. I will share the patterns when and if I ever get them down.

Today I thought I would share one of those recipes that our family loved. I only made this when my husband was gone to Korea with the Army because he will not eat refried beans but everyone loved it. In place of the beans I was thinking about substituting with a cup of chili maybe but I don't know will have to try and see if he will eat it then. To make a gluten free version just make sure your taco seasoning, cheese, and refried beans are gluten free. I also, before I put the meat mixture on the chips,  add a little bit of shredded cheese then the meat mixture. Either way it is good.


                                                               Tostado Casserole

Hope you like this recipe.

Until Next Time:

TAKE TIME TO BE CRAFTY

TBT My Chicken Fajita Rice Skillet

Chicken Fajita Rice Skillet

I again found myself in need of a quick and tasty dinner. Looking to see what I had in the pantry and fridge this is what I came up with. It actually was very good and everyone liked it. Was good the next day too for lunch. I find sometimes, actually more times than I want to admit, I find myself doing last minute quick cooking, but this will be one of my go to meals when I find myself in that spot.

Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken strips cubed ( I used fully cooked fajita chicken bought from store)
3 cups white rice
1 pkg frozen rainbow mixed vegetables ( vegetables were corn, peas, green peppers cubed and red peppers cubed)
1 cup Velveeta cheese
1 cup salsa

Directions:
Cube the chicken strips and place in a large skillet. Heat the chicken. Cook rice and vegetables as directions on their package states. While this is going on cube Velveeta cheese and place in microwave safe bowl along with the salsa. Microwave at 20 sec intervals stirring in between till cheese is beginning to melt. When chicken is heated through add the cooked rice and vegetables to the skillet. Stir and add the Velveeta cheese and salsa, you can add more cheese and salsa to your taste we had one in the house that didn't like spicy so we didn't add as much salsa as we might otherwise. Turn to low and simmer for 5 min or till heated through.
Dish up with a side salad and cornbread and you have a good meal. If you use salsa that is gluten free then you have a great gluten free meal also.
This dinner can be made by cooking your own chicken and using fresh vegetables too, but like I said I needed quick tonight. Hope you will give this a try and let me know what you think.

Crochet and Crafting Need More Time Max's Crochet Beanie Pattern

It seems like I don't have enough hours in the day to do all I want to get done. I have lacked in the craft and crocheting time lately. I have requests to fulfill from my Grandkids but right now I have no time it seems or really desire to crochet which is so not like me. I am hoping that tomorrow will be a better day and the migraine will be gone and allergies will settle down and my crocheting mojo will be back. Do you ever feel that way or is it just me? I haven't felt like reading much either so wow I really am off my game. When I do get going again I have been asked by my Grandson to make his little sister a bear afghan like I made him when he was little. He still uses it so I told him I would and he wants it to be pink. So I better get back to it soon so I don't disappoint them.

One of the things I am working on is taking some of my Dad's ties and make memorial bookmarks and bracelets for the family out of them. I am still working on patterns so when I get them done I will share them with you.

As a final thought today I am sharing my pattern for a hat I made this Christmas for my Great Nephew Max. Hope you like it. I am human and not a professional pattern writer so hopefully it is an easy to understand pattern and no mistakes. If you use it please just mention where you got it and send me a picture of the finished item.

Max's Beanie Hat

Red heart With Love Black yarn #4 WW
H or 5.00mm hook

Rnd 1 do a magic circle CH 2( not a st) 12 DC in circle join CH 2

Rnd 2 2 DC in each DC around (24 DC) join ch 2

Rnd 3 dc in first dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, rep from * to end join CH 2 (36 dc)

Rnd 4 dc in first 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, rep from * to end join  CH 2
(48 dc)

Rnd 5 dc in first 3 dc,  *2 dc in next dc, dc in 3 dc, repeat from * to end join CH 2 ( 60 DC)

Rnd 6 DC in ea DC around join ch 2 (60 DC)

Rnd 7 DC in first 6 DC, *fpdc around next 6 dc, DC in next 6 DC, repeat from * around join CH 2 ( 10 DC, 10 fpdc)

Rnd 8-10 DC in first 6 DC, * fpdc around next 6 fpdc, DC in next 6 DC, repeat from * around join CH 2 ( 10 DC, 10 fpdc)

Rnd 11-14 fpdc around first 6 DC, * DC in next 6 fpdc, fpdc around next 6 DC, repeat from * around join

Rnd 15-16 ch 1, sc in back loop of first st, sc in front loop of next stitch continue alternating sc in back loop with front loop around join. After Rnd 16 finish off and weave in ends.

Back up and ready to share

After over two year wait our google fiber is in and we are back on the Internet and not just my phone. I have been busy crocheting and making up some patterns that I hope to share later. I hope to post at least once a week but for now just doing a happy dance that I am on line again.
At Christmas I made hats for the Grand kids and a poncho for my daughter so I kept busy. Now I am working on stuffed animals for the little grand kids and some ponchos and covers for others. I will get back to posting later this week. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Crochet Beanies Free Pattern

Here is a simple beanie that can be done three different ways. The pattern for the beanie is the same for each version. The first version is all one color like in this picture

 

 

 

The pattern for the beanie is the same for each version. The first version is all one color like in this picture

 

 

 

The next version changes to white for the cable rounds 10-12 like in this picture

 

The last version is all one color except for adding the double layer flower like in this picture

 

 

Here is the pattern. I will like always say that I hope there aren't any mistakes but I am human and there could be. This is my pattern please do not sell or use as your own without giving me credit or linking back to my blog.

 

Crochet beanies

Crafter Secret A grape fit 4ply worsted weight yarn
Red Heart White 4 ply worsted weight yarn
I hook for hat
D hook white flower
E hook purple flower

RND 1 Magic circle  10hdc in circle Slip st into beginning hdc (10hdc)
Rnd 2 ch2 (counts as first hdc now and through out) hdc in same space, 2 hdc in ea hdc around (20m
hdc) sl st in top of chain 2
Rnd 3 ch 2,* 2 Hdc next hdc, hdc in next hdc*, repeat around from * sl st in top of ch 2 ( 30 hdc)
Rnd 4 ch2, hdc next hdc, *2 hdc next hdc, hdc in next 2 hdc rep from * around (40hdc) sl st top ch2
Rnd 5 ch2, hdc next 2 hdc,* 2 hdc next hdc, hdc next 3 hdc rep from * around sl st top ch2 (50 hdc)
Rnd 6 ch2, hdc next 3 hdc, * 2 hdc next hdc, hdc in next 4 hdc, rep from * sl st top ch2, (60 hdc)
Rnd 7 ch2 hdc next 4 hdc, *2 hdc next hdc, hdc next 5 hdc repeat from * around sl st top ch2 (70 hdc)
Rnd 8-9  ch2, hdc in each hdc around, sl st top ch 2
Rnd 10 ch3 (first dc), DC next st, *skip 2 sts, DC next 2 sts, DC in first DC skipped, DC 2nd DC skipped ( Cable made), DC next 2 dc,* rep from *-* around sl st top choice 3
Rnd 11- 12 repeat rnd 10
Rnd 13-16
Ch2, hdc around

Flower white
With D hook make magic circle and do 6 SC in circle. Sl st to first sc. *
Ch4 (first tc) 3 more tc and sl st in same st. Sl st in next sc,* rep frim *-* around. Sl st to first choice of first ch4

Purple flower same as white but use E hook. 2nd round trc in each trc, hdc in each SC around

Sew white to center of purple flower and sew to side of hat.

As always let me know if you make this hat and share pictures.

Until next time Keep on Crafting and Crocheting!

What I have Crocheted Plus A Baby Bib Pattern

I have not been doing very much crocheying lately but at Christmas 2014 I made some hats here they are:

Police Box from Snappy Tots Ravelry Store

Star Wars Beanie pattern from Jen Spears on ravelry.com

My grand kids loved them. Then I made 3 hats for a Christmas basket

I also made coffee cozies for the Kids and used a download pattern for the cups template at frogging along.com/2014/11/12/super-simple-cup-cozy-and-template

In Feb our granddaughter was born and I made her this hat and blanket my patterns. Will share the patterns later.

Last I made a baby set for a friends baby boy whose daddy likes the Green Lantern

I used  the pattern from WWW.whistleandivy.com for the baby boat booties with some change. I used World's Best Diaper Cover pattern from Boomer Beanies on ravelry.com

The bib is my own pattern and I am adding this pattern here.

As always there maybe mistakes but I try not to have too many. This is my pattern feel free to make but do not claim as your pattern. If you make this send me a picture.

Simple Square Baby Bib Crochet Pattern

E hook

Crochet 100% Cotton (I used Peaches & Cream Forest Green)

A yarn needle

Directions:

Row 1 With E hook CH 20. HDC in 2nd CH from hook and ea CH across CH 1 turn (18 HDC)

Row 2-17 HDC in ea HDC across CH 1 turn (18 HDC)

Side Neck 1

Row 18 HDC in next 4 HDC leave rest unworked CH 1 turn

Row 19-25 HDC in ea HDC across. At end of row 25 fasten off 

Side Neck 2

Attach yarn with SL st on opposite side of neck 1 in 4th HDC from end of row and repeat just like Neck Side 1

Border and Ties

Attach yarn with SL st on neck in between the two sides. CH 1 sc in each stitch across to neck side. Sc up side and when you get to top on in side towards neck do one sc in corner then CH 30 sc in first CH from hook and all other chs. Back to neck side sc 2 more in corner then sc around to the inside of neck side 2 and repeat tie like you did for first side. Finish sc down side and SL st into first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

This bib can be made in any color and add your own decoration on it or leave it plain. Make several to give as gifts.

Will be posting my hat patterns next.

UNTIL NEXT TIME KEEP ON CRAFTING!