DaySpring Sale - This Weekend

As a DaySpring affiliate, I have the priviledge to let you in on DaySpring sales before they are officially announced. There are many good things happening  this weekend! Great sales and great discounts.

1. Everlasting Light - Star Cluster Necklace - $50.00 -- Currently at $25 on sale at 50% off today until supplies last.  (Just got word they are getting really low on these. Get yours right away!)
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Everlasting Light - Layered Shimmer Necklace

2. Everlasting Light - Stacked Ring Set - $36.00 -- Currently at $15 on sale at 50% off today until supplies last.
from: DaySpring Cards Inc 

Everlasting Light - Stacked Ring Set

Also, there is a 40% off coupon code available to use through Monday, Nov. 16 (2015). 
Code: 40DAYS

This sale includes the Nativity Hurricanes, the God's Heart for You Necklace (one of our most popular), and even the Ann Voskamp Greatest Gift Sculpted Ornaments!!! For more products, check here. 


Enjoy!

Fabi 

Crochet Books Wish List

I've been browsing crochet books to check out at the library with the intention of getting acquainted with the material to decide whether is one I want to add to my library. I mainly looked for books that would help me create more interesting designs for pillow covers, blankets, afghans, and accessories like hats. Everyone loves a crochet hat, right?

Some of these titles have been recommended through other fellow bloggers and others I've discovered through IG. There are so many more titles available, however, the following 8 have really stuck with me. Hope you find something useful.

Let me know in the comments what crochet books you like so I can look them up too.

(This post contains affiliate links.)

1. 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match

2. Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs: 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and other unexpected shapes

3.  The Granny Square Book: Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Crocheting Square by Square

4.  The Big Book of Granny Squares: 365 Crochet Motifs

5. Mollie Makes Crochet: 20+ Cute Projects for the Home Plus Handy Tips and Tricks

6. Granny Squares: 20 Crochet Projects With a Vintage Vibe

7.  Cold Weather Crochet: 21 Cozy Garments, Accessories, and Afghans to Keep You Warm 

                                                              

8. Crochet Boutique: 30 Simple, Stylish Hats, Bags & Accessories

                                                               

Happy Crocheting!

~ Fabi

Crochet Stars for Ornaments in Two Rounds

Christmas is around the corner, ho ho ho! I am just too excited for all the pretty decorations, all the red, all the cheer, the joy, the christmas tree, the lights, and the music. And holiday baking! can't forget that! Last year I made Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (free pattern), this year I'm focusing on stars. We want to remember that the Wise Men followed a star that led them to Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12).

To make the stars from the picture you'll need:

Cotton Yarn such as Lion Brand Yarn 831-106 Kitchen Cotton Yarn, Blueberry

Size G hook - I use Clover 1045/G Purple Amour Crochet Hook, Size G, 4.0mm

Ribbon of your choice to tie and hang 

Needle to weave the ends such as Susan Bates Needles Bent Tip Steel #13 & #16 

The beauty of this pattern is that it only takes two rounds to complete the star.  

Begin with with a magic ring and tighten it after completing the first round. 

The pattern uses the following stitches:

P.A. = Punto Alto  = Double Crochet

P. Deslizado = Slipt Stitch

P.A.D = Punto Alto Doble = Triple Double Crochet

The excitement has been so much this year that I started making these stars for the Christmas tree back in September.  I have made several of them and I have to thank Ahuyama Crochet for the free pattern. It's in Spanish, but it's very easy to follow. Follow the information above to make the stars. 

Experiment with a larger hook to make bigger stars for a banner. 

What kind of ornaments are you crocheting? Let me know in the comments! 

Happy Crocheting!

~ Fabi

Crochet Multiples

Many times while browsing for a crochet stitch or pattern, you will notice it tells you to chain a multiple of X number. You will need the correct multiple to avoid having to frog your work (learn more Crochet Slang) because of chaining too few or too many.

A 'multiple' is the number you get as a result (or your answer) when dividing by a given number.


In other words, a 'multiple' is a number you get after the ‘ = ’ sign in the table of multiplication.


The good news is that crochet patterns are very specific. It will clearly say what multiple is needed in order to complete the stitch for the pattern.

Let's say, I want to make a really wide blanket where the instructions tell me to chain a multiple of 12. Then I would either think of what are the multiples of 12 or look up the handy table below and pick depending on the length of the chain desired.

12 x 1 =  12

12 x 2 =  24

12 x 3 =  36

12 x 4 =  48

12 x 5 =  60

12 x 6 = 72

12 x 7 =  84

12 x 8 =  96

12 x 9 =  108

12 x 10 = 120

12 x 11 = 132

12 x 12 = 144

Let’s say, I need a chain that will be long enough for a blanket and it needs to be a multiple of 12. I might pick 108. Okay, so 108 is a multiple of 12, like the directions of the pattern told me. I will chain 108.

Often times, it will also say, “chain a multiple of 12 (in this case) + 2.

That means I will chain 108, 2 more chains which will equal a total of 110 chains.

Hope this has been helpful to you. Let me know in the comments if it makes sense. Looking forward to hearing from you!

~ Fabi 




  

                                             

                                                        

Time for Tea

(This post contains affiliate links.) 

Tea time is one of the most relaxing times of the day or night when I get to just sit down with my mug and enjoy some quiet. My mug sets the tone for the kind of tea time I am having, ya know, whether it is for some fun, to relax, or to sit down and pray or have a devotional. My friend, that's the reason I have quite a collection of mugs. Do you collect mugs?

If I can't have tea at home, I make sure to take my tea bag with me in tea bag holder - get the free crochet pattern - so I can share some tea with a friend while out on a play date. Tea is better when shared, right?

I plan on expanding my collection with one of the 39 mugs available through DaySpring that are currently on sale for $5 (today only). I have several people in mind whom I know would like to have a new mug or perhaps you know a teacher or a good friend who could use one of these.

I'm especially fond of these mugs because of the uplifting message printed on each one. I'm going to showcase a few here:

There's a mug for everyone, be sure to get yours today and one to share.

Fabi

Lately in my kitchen - Blueberry Scones

It all started when I was pregnant the fourth time and all I wanted to eat were scones.

An insatiable desire to eat scones.

I was really overdue, so after my last few appointments, I stopped by the local bakery to pick up a scone to sweeten up my day.

Thought it would end once the baby was born.

Yet, even though I had the baby at 41 weeks and 5 days...

...scones were still at the top of my list.


...And still are!



(This post contains affiliate links)

One afternoon while the baby was napping, the older kids and I got in the kitchen and decided to try a blueberry scone recipe by Sally's Baking Addiction.

The list of ingredients is fairly simple, you probably have most things: flour,  frozen butter, cream, sugar,  baking powder, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and blueberries (strawberries, raspberries).



Something interesting about the recipe and other ones I have looked at is that scones only use baking powder, no baking soda.  Why?  Scones are meant to be puffy pastries/cakes. We don't want them to spread, just to puff up.

Her recipe is very thorough, great for a newbie like me.  In making scones we learned how to make homemade buttermilk (milk + cream). We also learned to put the butter in the freezer and then grate it right before adding it in.

Once the batter is ready, give them the desired shape. I like the triangles.  You can put the dough in a pie pan and then cut them out OR you can also use a shaped pan which will work great for scones or even cornbread. I'm considering getting one of these scones pan in the future to save me time.

Scones Pan - affiliate link 

All ready to bake!

Bake them at 400 degrees for about 22 minutes. 

The kitchen smells so good when I bake these yummy, super yummy, scones. You will love them too!

Have you made scones before? What kind? 

Enjoy! 

Currently Crocheting: Shell Stitch Blanket

Hi!

Life is busy. Busy between cooking, cleaning, homeschooling, nursing, and sleeping. The days seem to get shorter and longer, depending on how you look at it. It the midst of it all, I try - yes, try!!!- to crochet as much as time allows. This week, I've gotten to work on a very special project, my Shell Stitch Blanket. It's really straightforward and as long as I keep track of the number of stitches, I'm good.

Let me tell you, I started this blanket maybe 3 months ago? Oh geez. A few years ago I made a large granny square blanket in  under 3 months.  Back then I only had 3 kids, though. Now with one more, I have been working on the same blanket for 3 months, haha.  I've had to take lots of breaks in between until I ran out of yarn. Silly me, I had only bought ONE skein of that yarn. Can you believe that?! *facepalm

Friends, whenever you start a project, do yourself a favor, get at least two skeins of the same yarn. Why? That way you can change projects, you can also adjust the length of the project, and keep the same color dye throughout the project - in case, you know, you decided to adjust the length after all.

Among all the changes, there could also be the possibility the yarn could become discontinued by the manufacture. Originally, it was called Sincerely yarn by Purl Essence.

Yes, that did happen.


Because of it, my blanket almost turned into a cowl, the kind you can drape and was going to be listed on Etsy. It'd be super warm and soft.

Until I received a message from a fellow crocheter, Kim Guzman, who told me "the yarn has been rebranded as Big Twist Yarns".

Happy Day. 

While out of town, I stopped  by the store and picked up TWO skeins right away. One has to learn from their own mistakes, right ? :-)

And this is the progress I have made so far...

Rows of Shells

It's going to be a long blanket. Each shell is made with lots and lots of care using my favorite J hook and Big Twist Yarns in Plum available at Joann's.

I'll share some more progress photos soon.  

What are you working on these days?  What's the longest it has taken you to make a blanket? 

Happy Crocheting, 

Fabi