Pretty Spring Crochet Hat Pattern...in Russian - yeah - Let ME try that

I am an avid crochet person. I love it. I am self taught and I do it because it helps out my brain remember things(Read more about that HERE & HERE). I am so honored when someone comes to me and asks me to create something for them.

Just recently a dear lady of my church found out she is fighting stage 4 cancer and her daughter approached me via my facebook to make her Mom a few of these hats(only two pictured below). They are beautiful spring hats and crochet. I can do that. I'm very honored to make them.

 Sweet aren't they? Even greater is the pattern is free...so off I go to the site: HERE . It is in Russian. I don't speak Russian. DRAT! So have Goggle Translate it...yeah...that really didn't help much. But praise the Lord...the original designer used a bunch of photos to show each step to her creations. I did my calculations to make the hat bigger for an adult and began the hat adventure.

So my first attempt was a flop. It didn't cone to make a hat. It looked like a saucer. I totally frogged it. But I really want to encourage my friend in the battle she is fighting so I decided I'd try again. I found this English version at Trifles and Treasures that encouraged me more. And it was more of a blessing that it was again a free pattern. But as I got going with it...it didn't look the way I wanted. So, what do you do when you can't find a crochet pattern you like?  Yep, you write/make up your own.

Here is what I have so far. A few more rows on the brim and then I will start making some flowers to add to it. Should I write down my version of this beautiful spring time hat? Would you try to make it too?

♥Kelly

Penny's Pumpkin Hat free crochet hat pattern

Did you know I crochet?

Spring '14 - showing off my new Gipson Wand's crochet hook

I LOVE my handmade, indie, wooden crochet hook made here locally in Kansas. I do not get to crochet as much as I'd like but I did write a hat pattern once: Penny's Pumpkin hat.

It is a free pattern in PDF file form in my Craftsy.com pattern shop: Kiser Krafts! I would love for you to download it and give the pattern a try! If you make one, feel free to share a photo of on any of my social medias!

 Happy Crocheting!

♥Kelly

A Gift that will last...

Today, I am going to be a touch mushy and real. I want to share about a gift I was given by my late Grandmama, one that is very dear to my heart.

She is the reason I know how to create, anything. She taught my Mom and my Mom taught me. But I was always heading to her "feet" to learn more. She was a sassy women who didn't put up with much guff. I miss her dearly. Before her death, among the days of me sitting at her feet learning sewing or joining her for afternoon coffee, she handed me a bin of "baby" supplies. I remember excepting the bin thinking, "What am I suppose to do with this?" I didn't speak that thought but a genuine "Thank you." She smiled and patted my hand, "I'm done making babies, it's your turn." Little did I know the treasure she handed me at the time. 

Shortly after her death, I dug into that bin, knowing the "baby" making was now my responsibility. In that bin she had all of her paper patterns for all of her doll creations. Grandmama was a very talented seamstress. She sewed slip covers for furniture, clothing, fashion re-makes, curtains, quilts, and every kind of doll you could imagine. From big and long to itty bitty. Her talents were limitless. And she supported her eight children by staying home and sewing.

The pattern above is her main doll pattern. The pieces are hand drawn and labeled in her own script. People do not know how to write anymore. Look at how beautiful the cursive writing is. Priceless. I, now, have the privilege to work with this pattern. I was not taught her doll making secrets, drat. She could have given me a few pointers at least. (hahaha ☺) But I am going to put forth my best effort to learn doll making. And do what I can to create lovable "babies".

Here is the second one I made from her pattern. I changed the way the doll was put together to make the pattern "my own". I can't cannot copy my Grandmama, I am not her, but I can continue to make the dolls she so loved to create.

This pattern was among the patterns and wasn't even cut out. But I cut it out and decided that this pattern would become one of my main dolls I hope to create.

Above is my second attempt, and I am very pleased with how she turned out. Little Miss is so excited for me to make one of her own. Which I will be doing. This pattern was enjoyable to make, I will be making more of this style. ☺

I miss Grandmama every day. But in that 'gift', within that bin, contains the connection I never realized I would need. I pull out the pattern lay it on fabric to pin and cut out pieces and I feel her beside me. I sit at my sewing machine to sew the 'baby' together to feel her watching over my shoulder. In today's world, we are so busy that we can miss out on the greatest gifts. They may be small or large. My greatest gift is the love of sewing that was instilled in me by my Mom and Grandmama and hand-drawn pattern pieces. What is your greatest gift that you have been given? Leave me a comment! I'd love to know! ☺

♥Kelly

p.s. The new Kiser Krafts Doll line will be added to kiserkrafts.storenvy.com soon! 

Try it Thursday: a hat and a scarf

Hi! Today I want to share not a DIY but a few other blogs ideas that I really want to try myself. If you try them please share a photo and give credit to it's original source.


I love this swirl child's hat by My hobby is crochet. It is a beautiful hat and I think in pinks would be darling!

She has it as a free pattern but please make sure to give credit to it's original source if you make it.

And I love this pattern by Moogly. It is a lacy chevron scarf that is elegant and breezy.

It is a beautiful and easy to follow free pattern. And please remember, if you do make it to credit it's original source.

So give a new pattern a try. Happy Thursday!!

♥Kelly

Try it Thursday

Oh what is in a tote?? Totes are practical for so many things. Lu & Ed is my tote inspiration! The Monster Totes are completely EPIC! (If you need something for trick or treating, you need one of her totes!) So, I decided to make my own reversible tote to carry my craft supplies. And here is how I did it. 

Supplies:

·         Half yard of two different fabrics – may need less (I rather over estimate then under)

·         Sewing machine

·         Coordinating thread

·         Iron

·         Ruler and/or rectangle template ( I used part of a cereal box)

First you are going to cut out your rectangles. You need four total. I have two of my solid and two of my print. You also need to cut out four strips for your handles, again, two from each fabric. My handles are 3inches wide and 22inches long. Now the cool part of this tote is it is customizable to your likes. If you like longer handles add a few inches to the handle and if you prefer a larger tote adjust your rectangle. It is completely up to you! 

You are going to sew three sides of your rectangle on both your solid and print. Make sure you place them ‘right sides together’. Which means – print against print. Making sure to leave a small opening for turning later. Iron all seams flat. 

    

Then you pair up your stripes for the handles. Again right sides, together sew a long tube, leaving an end open for turning. Once turned and ironed flat, sew the open end closed. And sew ¼ seam around the all four edges to keep it strong and flat. 

  

Lay your handles on one of your sewn rectangles wear you want them and pin them. Remember, right sides together. The photo show my print side up because I matched my solid to my solid for ‘right sides together’.

Now you put the rectangle with the pinned handles inside the other rectangle and pin the upper edges. Pinning the handles between the two different fabrics.  Make sure to pin you side seams together so the sew flat and pin all the way around the top to keep your edges level. Sew around the top edge. 

 

Remember, I told you to leave a small opening for turning – now is the time to use that opening.

Pull your tote through the small opening you left in one of your rectangles. And iron the tote flat.

  

To help stablize your tote and handle do a ¼ stitch around the top edge. And sew closed your small opening from your turning. Iron the tote one final time and there you have it! Your very own Reversible Tote you made yourself!

     

And there you have it!! I do hope you enjoy making your own tote!! If you do, please, send me a picture at kiserkrafts@yahoo.com!! I'd love to see them!!

~Kelly~