Baby Gladiator Sandals

Boy have I been busy! (Also, my house has been sadly neglected for the past week...) But I had to post these shoes I made for Bekka! I came up with this pattern because I wanted some fun summery shoes for her. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to try to universalize the pattern and sell it. These were made specifically to fit Bekka's feet, so I'll have to figure out what adjustments are needed to get different sizes. If you're dying to have this pattern, just shoot me an email and I'll send you what I've got so far. I think anyone who follows my blog deserves special treatment :)

Dainty Flower Headband

One day, my daughter found a scrap of yarn and kept trying to tie it around her head so she could be "byooful." So I took it and crocheted it into this dainty little headband. It was super simple, and a great way to use up small amounts of leftover colors.

Make a chain that snugly fits around the child's head. I think I did about 45 for my daughter. Slip stitch to form the body of the headband. Chain 4 and slip stitch together to form a small ring. Chain 3 and sc in ring 5 times. Work sc, 2dc, sc, slst in each of the five loops. Slip stitch to first sc and fasten off. Hurray!

Ruffle Purse

MATERIALS
worsted weight yarn, any color
I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook

SPECIAL STITCHES
pair Xdc = pair of crossed dcs [skip 1 stitch, dc in next stitch, then dc in skipped stitch]

Xdcdec = crossed dc decrease [skip 2 stitches, yarn over, insert in next stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through, yarn over and pull through two loops; yarn over, insert in next stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through all three loops. yarn over, insert in first skipped stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through, yarn over and pull through two loops; yarn over and insert in second skipped stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through all three loops]


PURSE
Rnd 1: Ch 28, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 25, 3sc in last ch. Working along bottom of starting chain (do not turn), 1sc in each of next 25, 2sc in last chain, sl st to join. (56sc)

Rnd 2: Ch1, 2sc in same stitch as joining, 1sc in each of next 25, 2sc in each of next 3, 1sc in each of next 25, 2sc in each of next 2, sl st to join. (62sc)

Rnd 3: Ch1, sc in same stitch as joining, 2sc in next stitch, 1sc in each of next 26, [2sc in next, 1sc in next] twice, 2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 26, 2sc in next, 1sc in next, 2sc in next, sl st to join. (68sc)

Rnd 4: Ch1, sc in same stitch as joining, 2sc in next stitch, 1sc in each of next 27, [2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 2] twice, 2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 27, 2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 2, 2sc in next, 1sc in next, sl st to join (76sc)

Rnd 5: Ch1, sc in same stitch as joining, 1sc in next stitch, 2sc in next stitch, 1sc in each of next 28, [2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 3] twice, 2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 28, 2sc in next, 1sc in each of next 3, 2sc in next, 1sc in next, sl st to join. (80)

Rnds 6-10: Ch3 (counts as first dc in Xdc), dc in previous stitch. Work 39 more pairs Xdc. Sl st to top of beginning ch3 to join. (80dc)

Rnd 11: Ch 3 (counts as first dc in Xdc), dc in previous stitch. Work Xdcdec over next 4 stitches, work 18 pairs of Xdc, work Xdcdec over next 4 stitches, work 17 pairs of Xdc. Sl st to top of beginning ch3 to join. (76dc)

Rnds 12-15: Ch3 (counts as first dc in Xdc), dc in previous stitch. Work 37 more pairs Xdc. Sl st to top of beginning ch3 to join. (76dc)

Rnd 16: Ch3 (counts as first dc in Xdc), dc in previous stitch. Work 2 more pairs Xdc, work Xdcdec over next 4 stitches, work 17 pairs of Xdc, work Xdcdec over next 4 stitches, work 14 pairs of Xdc. Sl st to top of beginning ch3 to join. (72dc)

Rnds 17-18: Ch3 (counts as first dc in Xdc), dc in previous stitch. Work 35 more pairs Xdc. Sl st to top of beginning ch3 to join. (72dc)

Row 19: Sl st in each of next 12 stitches. Ch 1, sc in same stitch, 1sc in each of next 33 stitches. (34sc)

Row 20-30: Ch1, turn, 1sc in same stitch and in each stitch across. (34sc)


Row 31: Ch1, turn, beginning with same stitch sc2tog, 1sc in each stitch across to last 2, sc2tog (32sc)

Row 32: Ch1, turn, 1sc in same stitch and in each stitch across (32sc)

Rows 33-34: Repeat rows 31 and 32. (30sc)

Rows 35-37: Ch1, turn, beginning with same stitch sc2tog, 1sc in each stitch across to last 2, sc2tog (28sc, 26sc, 24sc)

Row 38: Ch1, turn, beginning with same stitch sc2tog, sc2tog, 1sc in each stitch across to last 4, sc2tog twice. Fasten off. (20sc)


RUFFLE
Row 1: Attach to side of first sc in Row 19 with sl st. Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in same stitch, 2dc in each stitch (or side of stitch) around flap. (116dc)

Row 2: Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in each stitch across. Fasten off. (116dc)

STRAP
Row 1: Ch 6, 1sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of remaining 4 chains. (5sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 1sc in same stitch and in each of next 4. (5sc)

Repeat Row 2 until strap measures 24 inches. Fasten off. Attach strap to sides of purse next to sc's on either side of Row 19.

FINISHING
I recommend lining this purse if you are going to put any small items in it. I used my KAM pliers to attach plastic snaps. I put the top snap in the center of the flap (near the ruffle), and I put the bottom snap through the lining and yarn where I wanted the flap to attach.

Giraffe!

 I'm participating in the 2012 Handmade Pay it Forward, and decided to make a giraffe for my friend because that is what she chose for her little girl's animal. I didn't find any patterns that I liked, so I made this one up! This is one of my first completely original patterns, and I couldn't be more thrilled with how it turned out. I'm thinking I might try to sell the pattern on Etsy, but if I decide not to, I'll definitely post it here.

 A special thanks goes out to my hubby for letting me know that my original design wasn't giraffe-like enough. Thanks to him, I elongated the neck and added the spots (because apparently my first try looked like a goat). I LOVE how the spots turned out, and I'm so glad Jeffrey convinced me to do them!

Gluten Free Coconut Snickerdoodles

 INGREDIENTS

2 C sweet rice flour
1/2 C cornstarch
1 1/4 t baking powder
1 t salt
3/4 C unsalted butter
1 C granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 T ground cinnamon
1/4 C shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS
1. In small mixing bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and 1 C sugar. Add eggs one at a time; blend thoroughly between each addition. Add vanilla and mix until light and fluffy.
3. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and blend until dough forms. Cover dough and chill for two hours (or over night).
4. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and 1/4 C sugar. Have coconut accessible in another small bowl.
5. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Flatten each ball into a circle that is 3/8" thick. Dip both sides in cinnamon-sugar then place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle a pinch of coconut and another pinch of cinnamon-sugar over the top side of the cookie; pat coconut and cinnamon-sugar down into cookie.
6. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to wire rack to cool.

(This recipe is based off of these Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles, with the changes that I made.)

Crochet Contest!

Hello Friends! I made this adorable sock monkey hat for my nephew's first birthday. I loved it so much, I decided to enter it into a crochet/knitting contest -- and now I need help to win! If you have a Facebook account, please vote for me here. All you have to do is like the picture. You don't have to add an app or like a page. It's quick and easy, and if I win I will get some yarn (great since we're still on a pretty tight student budget) as well as a really nice crochet hook set and a knitting needle set. I want to learn how to knit so badly, but good needle sets can be pretty pricey and I don't know when I'd be able to get one. If I win, I promise I'll post lots more cute projects!