Chunky Textured Hat Pattern Now Live!

Check it out in these places for $1.99:
Etsy
Ravelry
Craftsy

Taking Awesome Pictures With Your Christmas Tree

I found an image on pinterest that was just GORGEOUS. Lights glowing from the Christmas tree creating a silhouette of the children. You can go here to see the original blog posting. However, I will share my pictures with you.

For these pictures, I had my ISO at 3200, my aperture completely open, and my shutter speed at 1/30. All of the lights were off except for the holiday lights and it was 11 pm, so it was completely dark.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! :)

7 Days Til Christmas...

And your Christmas present from me is a free pattern! :)

Who wants some fingerless gloves???

Here are some pictures from testers of this pattern:

Tested by Ruth Baldwin

Tested by Ruth Baldwin

Tested by Ruth Baldwin

Tested by Kelly DeBie

Tested by Jill Laz

Tested by Jill Laz

Tested by Sarah Marostica

Tested by Sarah Marostica

Tested by Angi Sowl

Shell Stitch Fingerless Gloves

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies: 

I-5.5 mm crochet hook

Worsted weight yarn

Abbreviations:

CH-Chain

Sc- Single Crochet

HDC- Half Double Crochet

DC- Double Crochet

St- Stitch

Notes:

-Beginning Shell Stitch- Ch 3, DC 2 in same st

-Shell stitch- *DC 3 in same stitch, skip 2 stitches*; repeat

-Gauge is not important as long as the finished product fits your hand

Ch 24. Join to beginning chain.

Round 1: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 hdc)

Rounds 2 & 3: Repeat round 1. (24 hdc)

Round 4: Beginning shell st in first st, skip 2 sts. Shell st around until there are only 2 sts left. Join to beginning ch 3. (8 shells)

Round 5: Ch 1. Hdc in same st in each st around. Join. (24 hdc)

Round 6: Ch 1. Sc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 hdc)

Round 8: Beginning shell st in first st, skip 2 sts. Shell st around until there are only 2 sts left. Join to beginning ch 3. (8 shells)

Round 9: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 hdc)

Round 10: Ch 1. Sc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 sc)

Round 11: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (24 hdc)

Round 12: Beginning shell st in first st, skip 2 sts. Shell st around until there are 8 sts left and join (ending 2 shells before row ends). This will be the thumb hole. (6 shells)

Round 13: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (18 hdc)

Round 14: Ch 1. Sc in same st and in each st around. Join. (18 sc)

Round 15: Ch 1. Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join. (18 hdc). Fasten off and weave in ends.

This pattern was written by me (Brittany Snook) and is my property. I ask that you do not share or sell as your own whether this is a free or paid pattern, but refer someone to my blog or ravelry/craftsy store. This pattern is registered with myfreecopyright.com. You may sell, share, and use the finished product however you like, because it is your creation and something you can be proud of! If you would like to share pictures of your finished product, I would LOVE to see them. Feel free to post them to my facebook page (www.facebook.com/ajbcrochet) or email them to me. Any pictures or questions about this pattern should be sent to ajbcrochet@yahoo.com.


You can download the PDF of this pattern here. :)

Free Pattern! Angel Mini Tree Topper!

To go along with our advent project, yesterday I started working on an angel to top Aiden's mini tree. I didn't see a pattern I liked that opened up on the bottom to allow you to slide it atop the tree. So instead, I worked it up as I went along and it is now free for you to enjoy yourself! :)

If you would much rather have this for an ornament for your large tree, you could always just slip stitch to the top, chain 12 stitches, and join for a loop to hang on a branch.

Angel Mini Tree Topper

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn in white, yellow, grey, and any skin colored yarn

I-9 hook (5.5 mm)

Yarn needle

Notes:

-Can be made larger or smaller by substituting yarn and hook

-If written with the number AFTER the stitch (HDC 8), it means to work one of that stitch in the next designated amount of stitches. If written with the number BEFORE the stitch (2HDC), it means to work the designated amount of stitches in the next stitch ONLY (2 HDC are together in one stitch).

Abbreviations:

HDC: half double crochet

SC: single crochet

CH: chain

DC: double crochet

ST(S): stitch(es)

Body/Dress:

Round 1: With white, HDC 8 in magic circle. Join to beginning HDC and tighten circle. (8 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1. *HDC 3, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (10 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1. *HDC 4, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (12 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 1. *HDC 5, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (14 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 1. *HDC 6, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (16 sts)

Rnd 6: Ch 1. *HDC 7, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (18 sts)

Rnd 7: Ch 1. *HDC 8, 2 HDC in next st* Repeat from * to * once. Join to beginning HDC. (20 sts)

Head:

Round 1: With flesh color, 6 SC in magic circle. Join to beginning SC and tighten circle. (6 sts)

Round 2: CH 1. 2 SC in each st around. Join to beginning SC. Fasten off, leaving tail. (12 sts)

Sew onto top of dress.

Halo:

With yellow or gold, CH 6 and join to beginning CH. Fasten off, leaving tail. Sew atop head.

Wings (Make 2):

With grey or silver, CH 6, leaving a tail to sew onto the body.

Row 1: SC in 2^nd CH from hook and in each ST across. (5 sts)

Row 2: CH 1. 2 SC in 1^st st, SC in next 3 sts, 2 SC in last st. (7 sts)

Row 3: CH 1. HDC and DC in 1^st st. DC and HDC in 2^nd st. SC in next st. HDC, DC, DC, HDC all in the next st. SC in next st. HDC and DC in next st. DC and HDC in last st. Fasten off. (14 sts)

Sew onto sides of body.

This pattern was written by me (Brittany Snook) and is my property. I ask that you do not share or sell as your own whether this is a free or paid pattern, but refer someone to my blog or ravelry/craftsy store. This pattern is registered with myfreecopyright.com. You may sell, share, and use the finished product however you like, because it is your creation and something you can be proud of! If you would like to share pictures of your finished product, I would LOVE to see them. Feel free to post them to my facebook page (www.facebook.com/ajbcrochet) or email them to me. Any pictures or questions about this pattern should be sent to ajbcrochet@yahoo.com.

If you would like to download the pdf files for this pattern, you can get the fancy font version here and the easy to read version here. I like to make my patterns fun by adding different fonts, but sometimes they can be hard to read, so I provide a version in the default Microsoft Word font. :)

Here is a picture of Aiden's tree with the ornaments for December 1st and 2nd:

And here's some fun pictures just for the heck of it:

Have a wonderful night! I'll see you again tomorrow for more advent fun and to write about The Magic! :)

Do You Believe in Magic?

Wow! It's been a while! Life has been distracting.

Aiden is now seven months old. He's pulling himself up, testing the limits, and has actually stood by himself a few times. He's eating solid foods and oatmeal twice a day. His personality is constantly growing, and is a challenge and a joy. We're starting sign language with him...right now teaching him mommy, daddy, milk, more, and all done. He can clap and wave and high five.

My AJB Crochet business is taking off. I get an average of 3 orders a week and I have a Christmas craft fair coming up in two weeks. I spent most of today making a clutch for a gift and lining it (with my new found sewing machine skills! :) ).

I learned how to make button holes in fabric with my sewing machine. :)

See my FABULOUS labels from LuckyLu Creations.

James and I are doing an advent thing this Christmas. We have a little tree with Aiden's name train placed in front of it to place an ornament made by me on it every day. I made these mittens for yesterday, and tonight I have to make the angel to go on top of the tree. Then on Christmas day, we'll put Aiden's 1st Christmas ornament on the little tree.:)

Now to explain this post's title. I'm reading The Magic from The Secret series with some of my "associates" and thought I would share some of my own gratitude thoughts here.

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself." -Tecumseh

""Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings counting your troubles." -Maltbie D. Babcock

Here are a few of my ten blessings:
-I am truly blessed to have Aiden because he gives me a reason to wake up in the morning.
-I am so happy and grateful for James because he provides for us in both abundance and love.
-I am truly blessed to have found crochet because it allows me stress relief and the ability to take pride in my work.

:)

Benefit Auction

I know it's been far too long since I've updated. I have a bunch of photos waiting to be posted and a draft for those GF chocolate cheesecakes that I promised and hope to post tomorrow.

Right now, on my facebook page, I'm having a benefit auction for my grandpa. He recently had surgery and is receiving no income. There are 9 items up right now that are available to bid on and I will be adding more over the next four weeks. There's also the option of putting in an order for a custom item and having part of your purchase go toward the auction proceeds. Make sure to continue checking it out. All the items are in the Benefit Auction Cycle 1 album.

Here's some of what's included:

I Love Fall...

Okay...I lied. I'm a day behind on posting. But that's because I had SO MANY pictures from this weekend that I spent all day going through them and editing...and then my maid of honor came over to look at wedding magazines with me for like three hours after that. :D

Anyway...I was super bummed on Sunday. It was rainy and overcast all day long, I didn't get very good pictures because there was hardly any natural lighting, and it was only like 50 degrees. EW. Cold and rainy is not the reason why I love fall. 

I love fall because of...
color, pumpkins, carving pumpkins, apple cider, donuts (which I can't have), the smell in the air, Halloween, football games, baking, Thanksgiving, scarves, family get togethers, corn mazes, haunted houses and hayrides, and I'm sure many more that I can't think of right now.

I love the beginning of every season. When it's fresh and new. There are new smells. Everyone thinks I'm crazy when I say, "It smells like Fall". But it's hard not to notice the change in the air. Crisper air. And with all the new smells come the memories. Playing football with the family when we went to Arkansas for Thanksgiving about ten years ago. Carving pumpkins and having cider with James last year after looking at our first apartment. Going on the haunted hayride with friends my freshman year of high school. Homecoming at Olivet College. Hearing Aiden's heart beat for the very first time. I love the changing of seasons. 

Okay...I'll start with my photos of the day.

4.

October 5, 2012

The homecoming game at Maple Valley.

5.

October 6, 2012

My favorite shot of my gluten free chocolate cheesecakes. Right before I put them in the oven. And they are delicious! :)

6.
October 7, 2012
This was at the Country Mill in Charlotte/Potterville. Aiden had lost his shoe, and I thought this was a pretty cute picture. For anyone who doesn't know, this is James.

 I spent like two hours the night before making this hat for our trip to the cider mill. He had pulled too hard on the vine and completely ripped out all the stitches before we left. :/

I took some pictures of him in the hat before we left just in case I didn't get any good ones while we were gone. If you're wondering why the face in the first picture, he was trying to sit up. He does crunches all day long.

He wanted some of my apple cider slushy. He actually stuck his fingers in it at one point while I was holding him. :)

I absolutely love this picture. It looks like a computer background or something. This was the only picture I got that had the fall color that I wanted.

They had these face-in-hole cutouts on the playground.

Aiden got a little pumpkin of his own and got to "carve" it.

Mommy really carved it for him, but he sure enjoyed rubbing his gums on the cold pumpkin pieces. :)

Even though it was nasty the whole time we were at the cider mill, we got home just in time. About a half an hour later, it starting sleeting/hailing.

I think we may make another trip on a weekend where it's not cold and wet. And where I can get some better pictures. We need to get a new pumpkin for James anyway. He got frustrated while carving his face on his because it was breaking into pieces, and threw it halfway out into the yard...