Pretty Pretty Cindy

I have an Etsy store - Pretty Pretty Cindy.  I love to make things for babies.  I make burp cloths and washcloths sets, bib sets, blankets, nursing pillows, Amish puzzleballs and Jingle Tag Balls.  I think handmade items are the best gifts for a baby.  Instead of telling you more about what I sell, I'll just show you:

There is much more to see in the Etsy store!  Check it out!

So, this is Pretty Pretty Cindy.  Pretty things for little people.

cindy

It's Just Another New Year's Eve ...

... and my husband is playing Barry Manilow on piano.  That seems to be one of our New Year's Eve traditions.

Many New Year's Eve traditions revolve around food.  We don't really do it every year, but in my family that means black-eyed peas.  In another tradition we developed with some old friends, it also means Scotch Eggs (Heart Attacks) in the morning.

This year I'm looking forward to being home together.  Someone has been in Rome in the last 2 years.  We won't have a big party, just the four of us eating junk food and watching a little television, maybe a movie.  At midnight it will be silly hats and noise makers.  It's not much, but it's what we do.

It's also time to make resolutions.  At my age I've seen too many resolutions come and go, mostly resolving to being healthier, exercising more and losing weight.  Yeah, sure, those apply again this year so I'll give them a cursory nod. 

This year I resolve to make time for the things I love to do.  Mostly that means sewing and crafting for my Etsy store.  With my busy schedule, I have to made the effort to doing in small doses.  Crochet is good for that and I can break up sewing projects into small tasks (cutting fabric, sewing a couple of things at a time or stuffing a nursing pillow).  I also want to be a little more consistent blogging now that I have a dedicated Surface Pro that I don't have to share with anyone else. [big smile on my face right now.]

Let's see what 2017 brings.  Happy New Year!

cindy

My Favorite Yarn

I love Bernat Baby Blanket yarn.  It is my favorite yarn - thick and soft like chenille.  I've made lots of baby blankets that I've given away or sold in my Etsy store.  (I have a few available right now ;)  It comes in lots of variegated colors for babies, and best of all, it now comes in grown up colors!  I could go on writing about it, but it's so much easier to show some of things I've made with this yarn:

I can't get enough of this yarn!

Cindy

Hey, My Etsy Store Is Back!

It's Spring (almost Summer) so that means my creativity came back.  I've also been very inspired by my friend's new baby, Mary Alice (heck, all things baby).  What's a girl to do? Make baby stuff to sell!

Pretty Pretty Cindy has some new stuff and I'm really excited.  I've been working on some really beautiful and functional burp cloths, gorgeous blankets and there's more to come.  I'm having such a good time, but now I need some CUSTOMERS!  Here's some of the new items you'll find right now at Pretty Pretty Cindy:

Here's some of those famous burp cloths (click on the picture or title for the Etsy listing):

Girl Pastel Daisy Block Crochet Afghan

Baby Boy Blue Elephant Afghan:

Reversible Girl Flannel Rag Quilt:

There are more blankets and a few bibs too!  If you, or someone you know is having a baby, the things in my store make perfect gifts!  Soft, cuddly and pretty - that's the goal with every item.

I can't wait to make more stuff, so keep watching at Pretty Pretty Cindy

cindy

Fuzzy Pink Stashbuster Blanket!

I was clearing out some yarn and made this.  I really like it.  It makes me happy when I look at it.

It was so easy to make.  Just gather up a bunch of leftover yarn in similar colors.  I used regular worsted weight, bulky novelty yarn, fun fur yarn and bouncle yarn.  I combined them three strands at a time and just used single crochet.

Whenever I was tired of a particular yarn, I cut it and tied on a new one.  I didn't always wait until the end of the row and I didn't change out each of the three strands at the same time.  That kept the pattern fun and random.  The hardest part was the most basic problem of making an afghan - counting, counting, counting.  There were several times when I had to rip out rows of stitches because I miscounted and saw that telltale wavy side - yuck.

The specifics on this - chain 61 and 60 stitches per row.  It's 33" x 45" - kind of the size of a lap blanket.  This was really freeform, so I didn't make it to a certain size specification.  I'm going to be raffling this blanket as part of a raffle basket to benefit Pueri Cantores St. Bernard of Clairvaux youth choirs later this fall and I'll let everyone know when that is happening just in case you want to buy a raffle ticket.  Maybe it will be part of a "girly-girl" basket.

cindy

Delicate Pastel Shells Afghan

I've been working on clearing all the baby yarn I was given and having a lot of fun with it.  I'm pretty proud of this one.  It's really delicate and soft.

 I used 1 skein of Bernat Baby Coordinates in each color: white (Color A), pink (Color B) and mint green (Color C).  I used a size G hook and the pattern was a Catherine Wheel.  I'm pretty pleased with this one.  If you like this one, you can buy the finished product or an electronic version of this pattern in my Etsy store.  

Stash Buster Challenge - Thick & Cuddly Baby Blanket

In April I joined the Stash Buster Challenge to get rid of a stash of baby yarn I have.  

If you read Straddling the Gap you also know I absolutely love Bernat Baby Blanket yarn.  Evidently others do too, because it has been popular in my Etsy store.  A little while back I started using a new pattern with my favorite yarn.  I'm not sure what to call the pattern, but it does make a thicker (and thus more cuddly) weave, so I'm going with the name "Thick and Cuddly Baby Blanket."  (Note - if you have a stash that includes the old version of Bernat Baby Blanket yarn - it won't be very thick or feel like chenille - you need the newer version that does.)

It's one of the easiest stitches to do.  I used a size N hook, but depending on how tight you want to make the weave, you can use as small as a K.  I used 1 1/2 skeins of 10.5 ounce size.  (Yes, this is a pig on yarn, so plan accordingly).  To make a blanket about 33" inches square, you start off with chain 53.  (It's 2 + 1 regardless of the size you want.)  Row 1:  Make a double crochet in the third hook from the last chain and double crochet all the way across.  Chain two.  Row 2:  Make a single crochet on the second chain from the hook.  Yo and run the hook behind the post immediately below, yo where your hook comes out on the left side of the post and pull back up.

You will now have three chains on the hook - just like a regular double crochet.  Yo and pull through two chains and then yo again to pull through the remaining two chains.  Then continue in that pattern - single crochet and double crochet behind the post below.  It will look something like this (this picture shows the stitch a bit sideways):

Continue across Row 2.  You should end with a single crochet.  Chain 3.

Row 3 is another row of double crochet.  Chain 2.  Continue with Rows 2 and 3 until you get the desired length.  Make sure you keep those special posts lined up with the ones below.  That's probably the hardest part, but generally this is a very easy blanket to make.  The look of this is great because one side has these ridged posts and the other has almost a basket weave look.

If you want to do a single crochet border, that's great, or any other border you would like.  I wouldn't get too fancy because this is very thick yarn and by this point you've probably used more yarn that you would like.  However, you will love the results - a thick and very soft blanket.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

cindy

Bernat Baby Yarn

I've been doing a lot of crocheting lately and making a lot of baby blankets.  They are selling pretty well in my Etsy store, Pretty Pretty Cindy, and it doesn't hurt that I need so many baby gifts.  The best part of is I get to use my favorite yarn, Bernat Baby Blanket.  If you crochet or knit and haven't seen this yarn, you are really missing something.

This yarn is thick and the absolute softest yarn ever.  It feels like chenille and babies love it.  I had one customer whose baby liked it so much, she ordered a second one for day care.  It's a joy to work with.

I like the color of this blanket - it's called Pitter Patter.  It's a very popular color and sells well.  I haven't used the pink/orange color yet, but it's my favorite.  It's called Peachy.  There are also solid colors that are great compliments to the multi-color.  My most recent blanket was for a boy:

Isn't that cute?  As you can tell, I'm pretty proud of this work.  I'm definitely going to keep using Bernat Baby Yarn.  Watch for more coming soon.

cindy

Crochet Stash Buster Challenge

In addition to my crazy fabric stash, I have a healthy stash of yarn for crochet projects.  Like the fabric, I keep telling myself that I won't buy any more yarn until what I have gets used up.  Funny thing, I swear that yarn keeps multiplying because I keep seeing more bags from JoAnn and Michaels.

I recently found Linda's Crafty Corner and she (and many of her readers) are participating in a Stash Buster Challenge 2013.  The idea is pretty simple - sign up with her and commit to working through your stash during the year.  There are a lot of people already participating, and I am late to the game, as it started in January.  You start with a picture of the part of the stash you want to use.  You take a picture of that portion of your stash and work on getting rid of it (through projects, not Goodwill :).  After you complete a project, you link back up with her and she will feature it on her blog.

If you are interested in playing along, click on the picture below.  It will also appear in my sidebar during 2013 if you want to keep visiting.  As a bonus, Linda will follow your blog and put your blog button on her sidebar.

To get started, here is the stash I want to use.  As you can see, it's basically baby yarns in pastel colors.  I only put a sample of the yarns on the table to photograph; I have more skeins of each of these yarns.  I'm not exactly sure what I will be making, but it obviously will be for babies.  I hope to get my projects  into my Etsy store, Pretty Pretty Cindy.

Hopefully, I can wear down my entire stash through the year (ha ha, if you believe that).  I do expect to get on to other portions of my stash so I'm not making baby stuff all year long.

cindy

Spring Etsy Finds

Spring is just about here and it's time for more Etsy finds.  Oh, there are so many lovely things to see, but I can only share a few of my favorites.  If you want to find your own favorites, make sure to visit Etsy.  Better yet, go shopping there or buy an Etsy gift certificate to share with a friend.  Click on the picture to go through Pinterest where you can be more detail about the item and a link to it on Etsy.  Here's what I found:

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Just another place on the web where I can't get enough eye candy.  Enjoy.

cindy

Fun Fur Scarf

O.K., this is getting to be the longest "Scarf Week" ever.  Finally, I have another scarf to show you.



This is a fairly easy scarf to make, especially if you already know how to crochet.  I made this with Red Heart Super Saver in gray and Moda Dea Espress (fun fur) in a variegated gray/black/white.  I used a size I hook and about 1 skein of each yarn for this scarf.

In crocheting this scarf, you will use both strands of yarn simultaneously.  It can take a while to work, mostly because the fun fur can be tricky.  But the effect looks very fancy and the level of crochet technique is pretty easy.

This scarf was made in rows of 14 triple crochet.  The initial chain should be 17 loops and after turning, the first triple crochet will be in the third chain.  There is no gauge (my favorite), but you do have to count.  Using both yarns makes it easy to miss stitches.  Make the scarf as long or wide as you want - no right or wrong.

Because this is such an easy scarf to make, here is how to make a triple crochet.  The pictures below show the gray yarn without the fun fur because it's easier to see.




Chain the number of loops you want + 3.

Yarn over twice and insert hook through third chain.






You should now have four loops on the hook.  Yarn over and pull through two loops.  You will now have three loops on the chain.



Yarn over and pull through two loops.  You will now have two loops left on the hook.




Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops.  A triple crochet looks like this:




I've been wearing a scarf like this for over two years and it holds up really well.  You'll get lots of nice comments, especially because it looks so fancy.  You can change the weight of the scarf by using a lighter weight yarn, so the scarf works even in the spring.  Whether you are making one of these scarves for yourself or for someone else, you'll love how these look.

cindy

Scarf Week - Ruffle Scarf

Today we're going to tackle a ruffle scarf.  These are so pretty and very popular right now.  Here's a little known secret - they are soooo easy to make.  You don't have to know much about crochet - it's just chains.  Here's what your finished product will look like (without the strand off the side).

For this scarf I used Red Heart Boutique Sashay in the color Jive.  Red Heart has 22 ombre and multi-color versions of Sashay.  It has a fishnet look.  You can use a crochet hook J through L (your choice). You will find in this tutorial that there are very few rules about using Sashay because it's hard to make a mistake.

To start, you need to spread the yarn (I can't think of another word) out so you can see the netting.  Notice at the bottom there is a tighter weave that looks like a ladder?  That is the bottom and you will NOT crochet through it.  You can also notice that it has some metallic threads in that part.

Next, you can tie a knot in the end to begin.  Get it nice and tight.  Put your hook through a part of the knot and begin chaining.  Use the very top holes along the opposite side of the "ladder" and skip every other hole.  Just chain, and always go from front to back.  It will feel like you are making yarn over (YO) every time.  For purposes of this tutorial I will use the word "chain" instead of YO.

For my scarf I chain 15 loops on the hook, skipping every other hole on the very top.  That should leave you with 15 loops on your hook, like this:

If you have a few more or a few less loops, it's no big deal.  It's actually your preference, but the more loops, the longer/deeper your ruffles will be.  Once you get the 15 loops on the hook, pull the last loop hooked back through the other loops.  This can be tricky with this yarn, so I suggest the "cheating" method.  Instead of trying to pull the loop back through the others, just hold the hook straight and use your fingers to move the other loops over the last loop.  Whatever works for you is fine.

The next part is the only step I think you must do.  After pulling the single loop back through the others, secure it by using the next loop on the yarn and slip stitch it back through the one loop left on your hook.  This will keep your scarf from quickly unraveling if you drop the next loops.

For the next set of loops I like to use the loops that are just under the top loop.  This provides a little more support to the scarf.  When you hook these loops it will look like two strands on the hook.  Do 10 of these and pull the last loop on the hook back through the others.  Finally, repeat the first step - 15 loops using the top loop of the yarn.  So here's where we are so far:

Tie the end
Push your hook through the tied end
Chain 15 of the top loop and pull the last loop back through the others.
Secure with a slip stitch
Chain 10 of the loops just under the top loop of the yarn and pull the last look back through.
Secure with a slip stitch
Chain 15 of the top loop and pull the last loop back through the others.
Secure with a slip stitch.

After repeating this sequence a couple of times, you can look back at your scarf and see this:

Decision time.  If you don't mind the fullness of the ruffles like this, or want a lighter weight scarf, keep repeating the steps above.  With that method you should be able to make a complete scarf with 1 skein of Sashay.  However, I wanted a heavier, more substantial scarf this time, so I added the following step.   With the single loop on your hook go back about halfway down this line of chains you already did and slip stitch through one of the tighter loops.  In the picture above, it would be about dead center.  There is no specific part of the chain to do this in, so don't worry about finding the right loop.  If you choose this method, it will look like this:

Continue on, repeating all the chains above (and going back to slip stitch if you would like).  When you get to your desired length, cut the yarn and make a knot by pulling the remaining yarn through the last loop in a slip stitch.  Tie another knot, cut off the excess and voila!  You're done!!

Once you get the hang of these, you can whip them out in an hour or two.  Great gifts and accessories for your wardrobe.

Come back next time (which should be tomorrow God and technology willing) and see a totally different kind of scarf made from fabric!  In fact, it's an upcycle project, which is my new favorite method of sewing/crafting for 2013.

cindy

Catherine Wheel Crochet Scarf

Welcome to Scarf Week!  For those of you who regularly read my blog, I tend to write very late in the evening, Mountain Standard Time.  That means that my posts may appear to be every other day.  Don't worry though, there will be at least 5 different scarfs during Scarf Week.  On to our first scarf!

  

A Catherine Wheel stitch is a great crochet stitch which makes a beginner crocheter an intermediate crocheter (which is where I think I'm firmly planted).  It also makes an amazing scarf and pretty much anything else you want to crochet.  I first used this stitch in an afghan with triple crochet stitches.  This scarf uses double crochet stitches which seems to fit the scale of a scarf better.

You can make this scarf as wide and long as you want.  Mine was 10" wide and 45" long.  I used a H size hook, but you can use a smaller hook if you want a scarf with smaller stitches (so the width will be slightly less).  As you can guess, there is no gauge, which is the way I like to do most of my projects.  You can use any kind of yarn; for this scarf I used a worsted weight yarn.  This scarf looks good in a single color, variegated yarn or two colors (see my Catherine Wheel Afghan for the look of two colors).

It's Scarf Week!

Although I love in Arizona, we still think it's cold here (about 44 in the morning), so we still wear scarves. I also grew up in the Midwest, so I know it's actually COLD there.  Whether you need one to keep warm or just like them a fashion statements, scarves are cool.

This week I'm going to show you some ways to make your own scarves. Most will be crochet, but a few will be sewing. And, one will be no-sew, so it doesn't matter what your skill level is.  We all need to stay warm and look good doing it! Here's another idea: even if you are warm, there are folks who live on the street who aren't that warm. Please consider making an extra scarf for them. If you need help finding somewhere to send these, please let me know and I will get you the information.

Get your favorite yarns (including some of the specialty yarns), some fleece and sheer fabric and we'll get going tomorrow.

Ready to warm up?

cindy

The Best of 2012

I'm sitting here on New Year's Eve about to begin the festivities with close friends.  2013 is coming very fast, so I have barely enough time to think back on 2012.  Here's the quick and dirty "best of"

My Craft Room!  In 2012, I went from Dreaming of a Craft Room to Craft Room Musings, DIY Fabric Storage, and ultimately, the Craft Room Reveal.  I love my craft room, even if it is a mess right now.  2013 will bring more sewing and crafting, God and time willing.


Etsy and the creations in it!  Pretty Pretty Cindy opened in 2012, with all of my various creative projects.  I love having a place to share my projects/creations without needing to find a family member or friend to give it to.  One of my favorite items was this Catherine Wheel Afghan.  It will always remind me of Kawaii where it was made.  I made a few rag quilts (I really need to get back to that):  Raggedy Rag Baby Boy Quilt, Chocolate Pistachio Quilt and Pinkie Rag Quilt.  Then there was the dress making frenzy:  the Watermelon Dress, Upcycled Gauze Dress, Upcycled Denim Skirt and Black Slip Dress.

I also started to share my Arizona with you:  javelinas, other Arizona critters, the Arizona Biltmore, Arizona's Centennial, Sedona and roses, clouds, the State Fair and Verde Canyon Railroad.

See you in 2013.

cindy