My hands have been busy stitching, finishing up the last of my custom orders just a few weeks ago. I am now trying to focus on the gift I had intended to finish by Christmas, (so many custom orders prevented me from working on it much at all) my mother’s specially requested king sized bed spread. It’s a little more than half done at this point, and so beautiful. I wish I could keep it for myself. She also requested pillow shams…we’ll see. There are A LOT of squares still left to be completed…all the same color. I’d like to finish this so I can have complete creative freedom and hopefully get a few new patterns done for this coming fall. When I have a big project like this that I’m trying to complete, I like to listen to audio books along the way. The last couple I listened to were re-visits of a couple of old favorites that I had actually read many years ago, so I purchased them on cds and listened from my mp3 player. I’m presently listening to a book I’ve owned, but haven’t taken the time to read (my text version is 1,138 pages), from a favorite author. Stephen King’s It. Based on the customer reviews, I had to get it and make this my next long listen since it was FINALLY available on audio. The narrator (Steven Weber) is superb! And I’ve heard some truly awful narrators. I’m about half way into the story right now, and I already know it will be a new favorite.

Other than that, I finally finished preparing my flower beds for spring. I widened the front bed and created another on the opposite side using the lasagna method. I also used hypertufa stones to border the beds. Since my Rosemary plant is flourishing, I plan to plant a few more favorite herbs in front along with some perennials. I'm pretty excited about selecting them. I also created a raised bed in the back/side of my house which I intend to use as a salad garden. I'm a little nervous about the "critters" that I may discovery, but I am arming myself with some gardening weapons and working on my courage also. Looking at all my little sprouts inside just aching to get outside in the new bed is helping. I want to see them thrive. We'll see how it goes.

Gardendale Christmas Craft Show

William and I did our first booth together at the Gardendale Christmas Arts Festival this past weekend. We set up on Saturday only and are already talking about ideas for our next event which will be in about 2 weeks.

Emume Bolero

Just finished my second Emume (ee-moo-may) bolero, with one of William's buttons http://www.oruaka.etsy.com/. Emume means Celebration or festivity in Igbo. Still working on the pattern which is still being tested. I really want to keep this one for myself, the pictures don't show the rich color or beautiful drape. I was sad to wind the last of it off the cone. I'm doubtful that I'll find more of it. There's enough to maybe make a nice scarf for myself to remember it by.

Bobble Pillow Duvet

Finally finished this project...the bobble pillow duvet. It took MUCH longer than I had anticipated, I've never worked such a highly textured solid stitch before. It also took a lot more yarn than I thought it would, the bobbles are quite pronounced. It turned out better than I thought it would, thanks to those great buttons I had William to make especially for this project. I don't know if it looks better in the living room or bedroom...it's a great compliment to the wood furniture so I know I'll need at least one or two more. I'm loving having such a great button source in my own home! I love it when William is all excited about a new piece of wood and then shows me a button or jewelry that he's made out of it. He has to keep reminding me that I can't have EVERYTHING. I've been good though...only when the current project needs it, and then it's really whatever I want...which is quite inspiring and now there are many ideas that are actually making it to paper right now, so hopefully more new patterns soon.

On another note...Father's Day is this month. William has been busy making cufflinks in many types of wood, my favorites include Ebony, Bocote, Zebrawood, and Osage Orange. He will be offering free shipping for a limited time in the U.S. & Canada. You can find his shop here: http://www.oruaka.etsy.com/.

Enjoying the day off...it has been a very relaxing one too. Great end to my birthday weekend. William was busy creating today, as was I, and decided to start a small project for myself. Well, this project turned out to take much longer than I had anticipated, but it is looking better than I imagined so I'm pressing on. I'm a little over half done now and can't wait to see the finished product. Here's a little sneak peek.

Oruaka Slouchy Hat and Cowl PATTERN!!!

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SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
MATERIALS:

Size J hook

3 - 1” (or larger) buttons
FOR GORGEOUS AND UNIQUE WOODEN TREE BRANCH BUTTONS, VISIT MY HUSBAND'S ETSY SHOP AT http://www.oruaka.etsy.com/)

2 skeins “I Love This Yarn” in Antique Teal or approximately 500 yards any worsted weight yarn.

Tapestry Needle


ORUAKA COWL PATTERN

Foundation Chain 142
Row 1 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each stitch across.

Row 2 Ch 3 and turn, 1 hdc in back loop of next stitch and each stitch across to end of row.

Rows 3-4 Repeat row 2.

Row 5 (buttonhole) Ch 3 and turn, 1 hdc in back loop of next 6 stitches, ch 3 and skip next 3 stitches, 1 hdc in back loop of each stitch across to end of row. (For a larger buttonhole, skip 5 stitches and ch 5)

Row 6 Ch 3 and turn, 1 hdc in back loop of each stitch across (including 1 hdc in each stitch of ch 3 from buttonhole made in previous row).

Rows 7-17 Repeat row 2

Row 18 Repeat row 5

Row 19 Repeat row 6

Rows 20-31 Repeat row 2

Row 32 Repeat row 5

Row 33 Repeat row 6

Row 34-37 Repeat row 2.


ORUAKA SLOUCHY HAT PATTERN

Foundation Chain 52
Row 1 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each stitch across.
Row 2-50 Ch 3 and turn, 1 hdc in back loop of next stitch and each stitch across to end of row.

• Turn garment wrong side facing you and fold.
• Join using a slip stitch through both edges.
• Fasten Off
• Using a tapestry needle, thread a long length of yarn through and tie at the end (as if you will be sewing with two strands).
• At top of hat, weave tapestry needle and yarn through ch 3 rows and pull tight to close.
• Tie off and weave in the ends.

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

Shakara Shrug

This is the latest design, inspired by a knit shrug that I saw. This project only took a few hours to complete and I love the way it turned out. Searched for a crochet version of this shrug and couldn't find anything so I took a break from the giant granny square blanket I'm working on as a Christmas gift (a photo of the blanket...and Baloo below).



On another note...I talked William into opening his own Etsy shop a few weeks ago. It's been about a month now and he's off to a promising start, evan branching off into jewelry and cufflinks now, with more to come. His shop can be found . He is even offering free shipping right now, so check out his shop here.

Antonio's Sacred Hat/Cowl

I had a special request from Antonio who had recently lost one of his favorite hats which was given to him by a friend. Antonio referred to this hat as “The Sacred Hat”. He and his friend searched and could not find a replacement anywhere. Somehow, he stumbled across my Etsy shop and saw my Tugharia drawstring hat/cowl and asked if I could create one similar but to look more like his “Sacred” hat. He had one sole photo of himself wearing the hat which he sent me. I just loved the photo…I could tell how much the he loved the hat and got a good idea of how to make one very similar, so I eagerly took on the challenge and created the Nso (which means “Sacred” in Igbo).

This is Antonio's Sacred Hat/Cowl (above)
The Nso Hat/Cowl is (below)

Tugharia Drawstring Hat/Cowl Combo

A new year...a new design. I'm hoping to keep creating a few more designs this year. More than I did last year. Could a crochet book be in the future? Possibly. That's the ultimate goal with the patterns at this point. I created this to enter it in a crochet contest. I'm realizing more, it's not really about the pattern, it's more about the finished product and how creative you interpretation is on really ANY pattern, it doesn't even have to be your own.

Anyways, back to the Tugharia (Too-har-ee-a) which is Igbo for "Change position". Which is exactly what this garment does. It can be worn as a hat or a cowl...very comfortable and snuggly either way. The stitch pattern creates almost chunky knit quality...like a warm thich sweater. I don't know whether I like it cinched at the top neatly or with a "sack" closure. I'm working on the fingerless gloves to match. Actually, last night I finished a mitten with the convertible thumb so that you can still navigate on your touch screen devices without taking the mitten off. I liked it alright, but I think I like the fingerless gloves better.

Easy Slouchy Hat Crochet Pattern (revised)

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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

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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.