I Changed My Shop's Name!!

Tonight I took the leap and changed the name of my Etsy shop. I was waiting and waiting for the day when Etsy would let us change our shop name, and then when they did I was too chicken to do it! I didn't want to have to change my blog and Flickr accounts or confuse my customers.

But I was always embarassed by my shop name -- it sounded kinda cheesy. When I chose the name I wasn't even sure that I would sell anything on Etsy or what products I would sell. Now that my shop is 100% focused on crochet patterns for toys, I thought it was time to finally do it. Hopefully everyone can still find me :)

Free Crochet Pattern: Lazy Wave Hand Towel

We just finished remodeling our basement and I needed a hand towel for the new bathroom. I looked everywhere but couldn't find one I liked, so I decided to make one myself. But I had no idea what to make or what colors to use. The basement is neutral in different shades of beige, brown and grey. Then it hit me - I would copy the wavy design in the throw pillows on the couch.

It had been a long time since I'd made a chevron or ripple afghan so I needed a refresher course. I found this great 5 part video tutorial that helped me come up with this pattern.

Materials:
- Crochet hook size H - 5mm
- Worsted weight cotton yarn in colors of your choice (I used Loops & Threads Cotton Club yarn from Michaels because that was the only brand that made grey cotton yarn!)



Stitches:
- chain (ch)
- double crochet (dc)
- dc decrease: Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, (there should now be 3 loops on the hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

I didn't write down when I changed colors, I just freehanded it.

With yarn color of your choice
Ch 51
Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, [dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 3 ch, 2dc in next 2 ch, 1 dc in next 3 chs] 3 times, dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 2 ch, 2dc in last ch, ch 3, turn (45).
Row 2: dc in next 3 dc, [dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next 2 dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc] 3 times, dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in last dc, ch 3, turn (45).
Rows 3-41: dc in next 3 dc, [dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next 2 dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc] 3 times, dc decrease, dc decrease, 1 dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in the 3rd ch of the ch 3 you made at the end of the previous row, ch 3, turn (45).
Finish off and weave in ends.

My Favorite Free Crochet Patterns: Chunky Cowl

Do you ever buy yarn not knowing exactly what you are going to make it into? I bought some extra bulky off-white yarn a couple of years ago. I tried making it into a drop stitch scarf, but I'm not much of a knitter and it didn't look right. So I tried to make it into a hat, but again it didn't look right. It had been so long that I lost the wrapper to the yarn and didn't even know what kind of yarn it was or what to do with it.

And then I found this free pattern. It was the perfect use for my yarn! It works up quickly and you only need to know two stitches - two stitches I had never used before so I learned something new in the process :) I've made two so far to give as Christmas presents and I'm working on a third. The third one I'm making using some grey yarn I've had sitting around for a while, but it's not bulky weight so I'm holding two strands of yarn together as I work.

I followed one of the suggestions given in the comments to the pattern. After I made the cowl, I gave it a twist before sewing the ends together. I love it!