Beehive Stitch Scarf--A Free Pattern!

Here is the pattern for the beehive stitch scarf I wrote about yesterday in this post.

I used bulky weight yarn (I'm sorry, I can't give you specifics because the yarn was a gift from a friend from her stash, and the label had been removed). It's definitely fun if you have a self-striping or multi-colored yarn, because as you crochet a beautiful pattern is revealed!

I used size I (5.5mm) crochet hook.

Stitches used:
Ch = chain
Dc = double crochet
FPdc = front post double crochet

Here is the pattern:

Chain a multiple of 2 plus 1. (I did 21, but you can chain more or less based on how wide you want the scarf to be.)

Row 1: starting in 4th chain from the hook, work 1 dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), skip first st, *1 FPdc in the next dc, 1dc in the next dc, rep from * across, ending one dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 3: ch3, skip first st, *1 FPdc in the next FPdc, 1 dc in the next dc, rep from *, ending with 1 fc in top of turning ch.

Rep row 3 for pattern.

Make the scarf as long as desired. Mine is only about 2 feet 6 inches long.

Sew a large button in the center of the fourth row of the scarf. Your weave should be loose enough to be able to work the button through wherever you want it. Enjoy your scarf!



I adapted this pattern from this book: The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet

A little seal friend for Grace

One of my students, Grace, asked me to make her a panda and a seal (this may or may not have happened last November...ahem). I am just now finishing up her seal, and I have to say, I think it has turned out adorable. When I first started working on it, I was afraid it would turn out looking like an earthworm.

As you can see, it totally doesn't, it has such cute little tail fins! It also helped a lot once I added the nose. It made him seem much cuter and friendlier (if he's a him...he might be a she...I guess that's up to Grace). 

But as you can see, our little seal friend is still blind. I created the eyes below based on the instructions of the designer of the pattern (Valentina Oglezneva, I purchased it here at Ravelry.com), but I really struggled with painting on the yarn. I don't know if I didn't have the right paint or the right paintbrush (the only one I could find was pretty wide, so I was trying to paint all this with the corner of the brush), and it also seemed like the yarn was really fuzzy and made it hard to paint the circles well. You can see the weird fuzzies I'm talking about, right? 

Plus, the eyes seemed REALLY big for our poor little seal's face. So I decided to show them to Grace before I finished sewing them on. She wants button  eyes instead, so back to Hobby Lobby I go! I will post an update when our little seal can see!

A New Venture (and Adventure)

I am starting this blog as the first brave attempt at growing my little baby craft business.

I like to crochet toys (the technique is known as amigurumi) for my family, friends, dance students, acquaintances...anyone who will enjoy them and needs their day to be brightened a little!

Picture from Yarn Yard

My most popular item thus far has been this crochet unicorn from Yarn Yard (the link will take you to the free download page at Ravelry.com). Here is a similar one from Little Yarn Friends. I will post pictures of my creations (in all the different fun colors, and two with wings added also!) soon, but photography is not my strongest skill, so please be patient!

I have also made toys by request: two giraffes, an elephant, a jellyfish, a wolf, a seal, a panda, and currently I am working on an adorable puppy dog (among other things)

And then there are the usual projects in crochet: scarves, dishrags, baby blankets, other various size rectangles...pictures soon to follow!

I need all the advice I can get on crochet, crafting in general, starting a handmade business, and being a successful entrepreneur. I know this blog and the business will start slowly, so for right now I am treating it like an important hobby/semi-part-time job. I am going to start looking into getting the proper business licensing and really growing though, because when I move to Minnesota in May, I want to be able to rely on this as an extra source of income and a way to keep me occupied while I look for another job in my other area of expertise: dance (particularly ballet, modern, and musical theater). AAAHHH! Lots of terrifying (but exciting!) changes are in my future.

Will you come along on this new venture/adventure with me?

Questions: 

1. How did you start your handmade business? Did you let it take off slowly, or did you jump in with both feet? 
2. What has been the biggest thing that has helped your business to grow? A blog, going to craft fairs, setting up an online store? 
3. Are there any resources you would recommend (crochet/craft, business/entrepreneurial, or other)? I have Kari Chapin's books, The Handmade Marketplace (which I read and was extremely helpful) and Growing Your Handmade Business. Any other books, tutorials, blogs, etc. that you found helpful?