Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Sudsy Buddy Soap Saver Pattern



Hello friend!

Well. I tried Wordpress and it proved to be too daunting for me to be consistent. So, I am back home on Blogger. It does feel like home. You didn't miss anything blogged...I posted here if I posted there just in case. But, life happened! I will catch you up next post with pictures.

But, now that things are mellow...back to the hook! Today, I am posting a video. It's down below if you want to skip ahead to it.

I take you step-by-step through my super easy, incredibly fast, beginner pattern for a soap saver pattern. I call them “Sudsy Buddy”! I know. My puns are a little painful for some. But, I mean well. This pattern is fast, easy and takes hardly any yarn. Literally, I can get two of these and two small matching cloths out of one ball of Sugar and Cream cotton. Yes, cotton! Fabulous for summertime when you do not want to be under a bunch of acrylic crocheted fabric.

Soap savers are a classic for gifting or keeping for yourself! If you want to be prepared for that surprise gifter that shows up out of nowhere with a gift in hand, just pop a bar of pleasant-smelling soap into a soap saver and tuck it into a dollar store coffee mug. Keep that with a blank gift card in your car during the holiday season. Just in case.

I make these in bulk this time of year. (It's August...I'm in Texas).

Pleeeease, leave a comment and let me know how this pattern/tute turns out for you. And use @melodycrochet and/or #sudsybuddysoapsaver so that I can see what you make from the pattern!! As always, I truly hope that I can help inspire you. If you have a friend that wants to learn to crochet...send them to this pattern.

Materials


1 Ball of worsted weight/size 4 yarn cotton yarn. (1 ball of Lily Sugar and Cream, Peaches and Cream or any
other “dishcloth cotton”. It will only take about 50 yards so this is a great scrap project.) 




Sudsy Buddy (Soap Saver)

By MelodyCrochet copywritten 2019 - Enjoy! (and by enjoy I mean share on social media
and tag me because I love to see what you guys make!!)

It’s too hot to be underneath anything other than cotton here in Texas! So join me in preparation
of the end of the year holiday hustle. These make great hostess gifts, last-minute gifts, coworker
gifts...keep one in the car during the holiday season. You just never know when a gift-giving
opportunity is going to pop out of the bushes at you mid-December. So awkward to be
empty-handed. Check out the video for presentation ideas!


Finished Size:  2 ½ inches wide by 4 ½ inches tall (6 x 11 cm)

Stitch Legend
Ch - Chain
SS- Slip Stitch
SC - Single Crochet
DC - Double Crochet
FO - Fasten Off
YO - Yarn Over

Video!





Pattern

Chain 11                    
1) SC in the 2nd Ch from your hook and in the next 8 stitches. In the last stitch of the
row sc 3 times, turn work to continue down the other side of the chain.  Sc in the next
8 stitches. Sc 2 times in the same stitch as the first SC of the row. SS into the first SC
of the row and CH 1 (22)
2) Sc around, SS into the first SC of the row and CH 1  (22) 
3) Repeat Row 2 (22) 
4) Sc around, SS into the first SC of the row and CH 2  (22)
5) Skip one stitch, SC in the next stitch. Ch 1, skip a stitch, SC across.  The last SC will
be in the same stitch as your C1 at the beginning of the row. (11 SC + 11 Ch Spaces )

No SS, ch1 until row 16!

6-15)  Ch1, SC into the next Ch Space. Repeat across. (11 SC + 11 Ch Spaces )

At the end of row 15 SS into the top of the first SC of the row, CH 1
16) SC into the same stitch that you just SS into. SC into the next CH space. SC into
each SC and CH space across. SS into the first SC of the row, Ch 1 (22)
17) SC into each stitch across. SS into the first SC of the row, CH 1. (22)
18) SC into the next 5 stitches, SC+Ch3+SC into the 6th stitch (or wherever your front
center stitch is) SC into the next 10 stitches, SS into the next stitch (the back center
stitch), chain 30, SS into the same stitch, SC into the last 5 stitches. SS into the first SC
of the row, CH 1
19) SC into the first 5 stitches of the row, SC 3 times into the CH space, SC into the
next 10 stitches, skip the slip stitches, and SC into the last 5 stitches of the row. SS
into the first SC of the row. FO. 

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Little Garden Hat

I got the idea for this little garden hat this afternoon and got right to work. I am so pleased with how it turned out.



I used a K hook. The hat is child/toddler sized. 20" wide and 7.5" deep.

The base of the hat is a simple HDC beanie crocheted out of Lily Sugar 'N Cream Cotton Yarn. I increased to 54 directly (9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54) and continued with 54 stitches down to row 15. I then switched to the green yarn. I totally winged the edging. The majority of the stitches are SC. My best attempt at describing the stems would be that I inserted the hook one or two rows below, yo, pull back thru and contined the sc in the next stitch. It was very simple, but awkward to describe. After that I continued with another row of 54 SC. Then fastened off.

I sewed on assorted buttons to look like flowers on the stems.


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Toddler Cotton Beanie


I crocheted this flower cap out of cotton yarn for the summer. I love the bright colors! It is created to fit a little girl that is 1-2 years old. Without the flower this makes a really nice beanie for a baby boy. 

J Hook and Lily Sugar 'N Cream Yarn
17" Around and 7" deep

Hat:
Row 1: 8 HDC in a magic Circle (8)
Row 2: 2HDC in each stitch around (16)
Row 3: HDC around, increasing in Every other stitch (24)
Row 4: HDC Around, increasing in every 3rd stitch (32)
Row 5: HDC Around, increasing in every 4th stithc(40)
Row 6: HDC around, increasing in every 5th stitch (48)
Row 7-14: HDC around (48), fasten off
Change color, attach near where you just fastened off. chain 1, REVERSE SC around(48), slip stitch and fasten off.

For the flowers I use a magic circle and work allllll of the flower petals into the magic circle and then cinch it closed. 

Large back flower, use K Hook
In magic circle, *ch 2, dc, tc, dc, c3, ss into the magic circle* repeat * to * 4 times to form 5 petals. ch 1, cinch magic circle tight (it won't close and that is ok...the gap will be covered up and actually makes the sewing a bit easier), fasten off. 

Smaller flower, use J Hook and repeat the instructions for the large flower. 

Center of the flower, in magic circle, HDC 8 times, cinch closed tightly. Fasten off, leave a long tail and use that to sew the flower on to the hat with a yarn needle.



Thursday, June 7, 2012

Sun Hat

I am making a pattern from CAPs Crochet and Crafts to make myself a bucket hat for the summer. I am going to make it in royal blue Impeccable yarn by Loops and Threads. I really like Impeccable yarn...it is comparable to Vanna yarn but denser. Vanna is great for knitters, I hear. But, my knots tend to smoosh a bit when I use it. I still do sometimes if I fall in love with a color. Vanna has a really pretty pink.

Back to my sun hat! It took about two hours of frequently interrupted crochet time. The shells were very easy, but I opted to only do three rows. That made plenty of brim for me.





CAPs also had a great hat sizing tip. I rarely bring the math into my sizing. I tend to make a rectangle swatch, measure it and plan the number of stitches from that. But, I like her method too...

"Hat Sizing Tip: Measure around head just above eyebrows (keeping tape level) and divide that measurement by 3.1416. The result is the width your crown circle needs to be before continuing to Rnd 9. Example, head measures 22” around; 22 ÷ 3.1416 = 7.0028; Crown circle needs to be 7”. "


Thanks Cathy! It doesn't look like she has blogged for a bit, but I am adding her to my bloglovin' just in case. She created some really cute and functional patterns.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Beach Snacks - Caramel Apple Empanandas

A post on Kandeeland that featured her yummy Rice Krispy treat got me thinking about how it relates to my topic of the week. Preparing for this summers "Beach Day Tuesdays". I have a few standby snacks that I buy and prepare for beach day.

My beach bag is not complete with raisins, apple juice boxes, baggies of almonds, bananas, nut butter sandwiches and the basics...but we do have one item that is unique unto me. Apple caramel empanades.

(Just in case: Empanadas are little fried pies)

They are perfect beach and pool food. Make them small, put a stick in them and pop them into a quart sized ziploc and you just grab it on your way to the beach. The pie crust on the outside keeps the sand out, the stick makes them great for dirty hands, and there is something about caramel when you are in the salty air.

Fast and Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas

crust
1 containers of refrigerator biscuits...the plain little ones work best for making little treats.

filling
3 apples peeled and chopped into 1/2" cubes
1 cup of water
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup raisins

frying
sugar for sprinkling
vegetable oil, lard, coconut oil...whatever oil you like to fry with.

Directions

Open the biscuits, and flatten each of them out (I do it on wax paper). Make them a nice 4" circle but the shape does not have to be perfect. The entire feel of this recipe is easy breezy.

Put one cup of water in the microwave in a small bowl and microwave it for 2 minutes. When it comes out put the raisins inside to plump them. You can add more raisins if you like. Depends on how much you like cooked raisins. When they look plump drain them and set them aside.

Bring one cup of water to boil. Add the apples and cinnamon. Boil them until soft and add more water if it starts to dry up. Drain them and set them aside with the raisins.

Bring one cup of water, 2 cups of sugar and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to boil over medium heat until be turns caramel brown. It doesn't take long at all. You can use a candy thermometer and take it to 335 degrees, but I just eyeball it for the right color. When it does reduce heat to low (if you turn off the heat it will harden and be inconvenient to say the least)...add the apples and raisins.

side note: you can get creative here...as long as its not watery you can add virtually ANYTHING. I would love to hear what others have added!).

Start heating up 1" of oil in a frying pan.

Assemble by putting a spoonful of filling in the middle of each biscuit. With my fingers I dampen the edges with water, milk or egg. Whatever I have has always worked well. Fold over and seal. You can make hashmarks with a fork to ensure its sealed.

Toss in the oil and turn when brown. Remove when the second side is brown. Sprinkle with sugar immediately so it sticks. Let cool. Then you can put them in a baggie and refrigerate. I love them cold! They are good warm with ice cream, too.

If you are trying to be healthier...
use a whole wheat biscuit dough.
use only apples and raisins...and perhaps half the sugar.
bake them in the oven at 375 degrees until lightly browned.

But made this way they don't hold up as prettily at the beach...still VERY tasty though. :)





Monday, June 4, 2012

Herb Garden

I have been trying to keep my herbs alive as the weather gets warmer. I think I finally found a part of the yard that most herbs are enjoying. I give them what I consider to be a heavy drowning regularly and each time I wince that I will kill them...but they seem to love it!

 On the left is my basil "bush" it grows all year and is powerful...You can smell basil all around her.
 My lavender...she has sprung back beautifully after all but dying this winter.
My pretty Echinacea is about to bloom. I am so excited!!! To the right of her is my Stevia. It tastes so good if you add a leaf or two to your tea.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Friday Favorites - Summer Excursions

Well...its Friday. I am not sure how this happened. I am really excited about the weekend being just a few hours away. It feels like I lost this week. Just so much "busy work" in ending a semester of homeschooling. Lots of tests, lots of meetings and organizing. As I get my grades together to turn in there is always something that I find we forgot to finish up. Its showing in the kids attitude. Its showing in mine. So, I at this point I just keep taking deep breaths and repeating "Thursday will come and this will all be a memory".

Next Thursday is our final Finals for 9th grade. The first year homeschooling has been amazing.

When you send your kids to school it feels like summer is more work. If your a working mom you have to figure out where your kids will go and how to best use their time so their brands don't turn to spaghetti by fall. If your a stay at home mom you realize just how many times they are going to look to you to avoid the worst POSSIBLE thing happening. Boredom. Fate worse than death to kids.

But, now I home-school and for the first time since the end of my own 11th grade year...summer means VACATION! I am excited! I am planning what I want to do with the boys and where I want to take them and what we should see and how often...and how to save the most money doing it.

At this point it looks like Tuesday will be "beach day" and Thursday will be "field trip day".

Some places Id like to go are my Friday Favorites! I have 12 weeks.

Raging Waters in San Dimas, CA (there are three of them)



Knotts Berry Farm Its close and I always have a coupon available to me. The $70 annual pass is becoming more and more appealing. Its just a great place where we can all enjoy ourselves. Rides, food, things to walk around and see.
File:Knotts Gate.jpg

Universal Studios


Soak City


The San Diego Zoo/Balboa Park  So much to see and do...we make a weekend of it.

The San Diego Fair I have never been to this one! Out of the World...sounds like a fun theme.


The Orange County Fair: I wish I could go see Willy Nelson or Journey. (brace yourself for whining) I literally have NO sitters. Like. No babysitters. Its a bummer but this too shall pass. I have had one datenight in the last year and a half. *sigh* Investing time in our marriage means sending the kids to their room and pretending not to hear them whine while we hold hands on the couch. But really...we're OK with it. We just laugh and tell ourselves to enjoy our kids because we will miss this someday. And we do enjoy the heck out of them. The OC Fair is a blast with the kids. The farm and barn area alone are incredible. The exhibits are always fun. The educational area is educational and interesting for us, too. It is always a great day. I considered shelling out the $35 for month long season "Super Pass" and taking the kids several times. But I will be doing the first day "freebie" and then going back with my husband on "Goodwill donation" night. I love the Goodwill and try to donate to it whenever possible. Five items each gets an adult in on August 1 from 12-4. Here is a list of their other discounts and promos.


The LA County Fair: Aug 31-Sept 30. I go the first day when it is $1 from 10-1. Great stuff for school age kids to do divided by age can be found here. The fair is an amazing place. Deep-Fried everything, rides that come apart and would probably give me nightmares if I knew how little they were maintained, parking lots from hell. But, LOVE them. I never miss a fair. Shopping, people watching, exhibits. Just makes summer feel like summer to me.


The LA County Fair: I like to go twice. The second time is for grown up fun at the Wine and Spirits Marketplace that Ralphs grocery store puts on every year at the fair. Its


The Sawdust Art Festival: June 29-Sept 2 Its in Laguna and looks amazing. We love art. And Laguna is just a laidback, pretty place to be when the sun is going down. Good food, gorgeous beach...sounds like a great day!
homepage-2012


Irvine Park Coupons! They have a zoo, a lake, a museum, a reptile exhibit, horseback riding. Just a Blast!
Irvine Park Railroad Train Irvine Regional Park Orange County

Aquarium of the Pacific: I have amazing memories of this place. It opened when my oldest was about two years old and we didn't live far away. My MOMS Club went there often. Everytime I go there I picture Errol running around so excited to see all of the fish. Then having lunch with friends outside of the aquarium and looking at the boats.


It is going to be a great summer!!!





Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Summer Has Arrived!!!

Ok...not really. But here in Sourthern California summer is in full swing. The boys prefer cool weather, but hubby and I could not be happier to see it warm up. Winter felt like it lasted forever. It was harsh and punishing and felt like it went on forever!

Happy Memorial Day and thank you to everyone that has served our country. You are so appreciated.

Justin actually did not expect to have the day off. Sunday night he found out that he did not have to work the next morning...it was his first Memorial Day off since getting out of the Marines and he was THRILLED! We went out and got a kiddy pool with cup holders, inflated it and loafed in the sun until we were pruned. It was HEAVEN.

I am a lucky girl. So much love. So much fun. Living in such a beautiful place.

For dinner we cooked up some sausage and the biggest zucchini from our garden. Check it out!!


We are very proud! There is something amazing about growing your dinner.

Our Zukes Recipe:

3 cups chopped zucchini in one inch cubes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
4 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (or more to taste if your are like us and love cheese)

Heat the oil in a pan, add the chopped zucchini, salt and pepper...saute for 5-10 minutes until the zucchini softens and begins to brown. Then remove from heat and toss on the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.


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