An actual update...I'm really going to try to do this more often, but we'll see how that goes. The festival that I was preparing for was okay...it rained ALL DAY with the exception of a few hours. I was miserable, jeans soaked and the booths all seems to be right on top of a river of water. Although I did sell enough to make my booth rental fees back, so it wasn't a complete waste, and I handed out a lot of cards. I ended up throwing my tent away after the event, I will NEVER deal with another one of those "put the poles together" types again!

Anyway...I've been crocheting like mad lately. Sales are starting to pick up a little on Etsy as the cooler weather approaches. Last Saturday it rained all day, so I sat out on the deck, listening to an audiobook (Twilight) and working on my latest project, the Ejitu Slouchy Cape Shrug. This design is inspired by the Dinky Cape created by Keep and Share (SHOP: www.keepandshare.etsy.com). This was a knit pattern, so I created a crochet version and still working on the pattern which is about 97% done now, just having trouble with the PDF conversion, something weird is going on with my diagrams.

The day before

The festival is tomorrow, I've got to go and get checked in either tonight or tomorrow. I did a mock booth setup in the garage, it was so nice to see everything put together. I've been working on this for months!

One Month Countdown Begins

There is a good reason why I haven't updated this blog in a while. I've been crocheting like mad! And preparing for my first booth at a local festival. It's on september the 5th, so I've got about a month left. There are still so many things that I need to do to get ready, including finalizing most of the displays. There are so many ideas going around in my head, I'll be glad when everything is done already. The photo is of my scrapbooking desk covered in items I plan to sell. I don't think I've ever done so much crocheting during the summer months, and there is still so much crocheting I want to get done.

Orlando Vacation

Wanted to share a few pics from our Orlando vacation. It was a pleasant road trip, there and back. We ended up staying 3 nights, but had only planned on staying 2. SeaWorld was great! And so was the Ripley's Odditorium.

Easy Slouchy Hat Crochet Pattern (revised)

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO GET ANY PATTERN FROM MY SHOP FREE!
LEVEL: Beginner

MATERIALS: One Skein I Love This Yarn! or any worsted weight yarn

Size J hook

STITCH NOTE:

DECREASE: Yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull up loop in next stitch, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through all remaining loops.


Ch 3 and sl st in first stitch to form a ring

Round 1: Ch 3 (turning chain counts as first dc here & throughout), dc in center of ring 11 times (12 total). Join with sl stitch in turning chain.

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same stitch (increase made), 2 dc in each stitch around ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 3: Ch 3, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next stitch*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in next stitch, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 5: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 3 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 6: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 3 stitch, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 4 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 5 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 8: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 5 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 6 stitch*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Rounds 9-10: Ch 3, 1 dc in each stitch around (WORK EVEN).

Round 11: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 5 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 6 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 12: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 5 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 13: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 3 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 4 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 14: Ch 3, *1 dc in next 7 stitches, dc decrease (see above) in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 6 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain. (REMEMBER: The ch 3 will count as your first dc, you will alternate decreasing after 7 and then after 6 stitches on this round).

Round 15-19: Ch 2 (counts as first sc), sc in each stitch across. End row by joining with slip stitch in turning chain.


Fasten off.

MODIFICATIONS:
• You can make this hat “slouchier" by increasing the number of rows you work even.

• To make smaller (child) size, work up to row 6 (or 7), then work even 2 rounds. Then work rows 12 (or 13).

This pattern brought to you courtesy of Knots and Loops and Oruaka.

Copyright © 2008 Donna Rutledge-Okoro, all rights reserved. No pattern or other material may be reproduced or distributed – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying and posting to websites – without written permission from Donna Rutledge-Okoro. Pattern is for personal use only, you may, however, sell finished items made from this pattern, but please reference the source in your online listings.

Another slouchy hat

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO GET ANY PATTERN IN MY SHOP FOR FREE!
Just wanted to do a different style of the slouch hats that I'm seeing all over t.v. right now. This one is closer to a slouch beanie than a beret.

Amarachi Scarf

This is my latest scarf design. Amarachi is Igbo for "God's grace". I'm having fun making these up in different yarns right now. The Stitch pattern is so pretty and it drapes so nicely when you use a lightweight yarn. And super long, as opposed to the scarflettes and cowls I have been making. Definitely more traditional. Hoping these will do good at the fairs this fall.