Archives for October 2012

Pumpkin Seed Recipe and Pumpkin Jar Cozy

pumpkin seeds recipeFun Pumpkin Seed Recipe and Crochet Pattern for a Decorative Jar

Just in time for fall and Thanksgiving, make a decorative cozy for a jar filled with the spicy goodness of this Cajun Pumpkin Seed Recipe! Grab some seeds and your crochet hook because we’re getting crafty!

Let’s start with the recipe. Pumpkin seeds are known to have great health benefits (good source of zinc). Spicy foods are too (Cayenne Pepper is great as an anti-inflammatory and digestive aid). This is not necessarily a low fat food, but a tasty one for sure.

Let’s get the recipe in the oven so we can crochet while it’s cookin’.

CAJUN PUMPKIN SEED RECIPE

Ingredients:

  • 1      cup pumpkin seeds (medium size pumpkin)
  • 1      Tablespoon butter (melted)
  • 2      dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼     teaspoon salt
  • ¼     teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼     teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8  teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8  teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8  teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8  teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
  • pinch red pepper flakes

 Directions:
In melted butter, add Worcestershire sauce. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients. Pour the dry ingredients into butter mixture and stir until blended. Add pumpkin seeds and stir until evenly coated. Pour seeds onto baking sheet making them as flat as possible.Scoop pumpkin seeds from pumpkin. (An ice cream scoop works great for this). Rinse pumpkins seeds and pat dry with paper towel. Spread on a baking sheet to finish drying while mixing the other ingredients.

cajun seeds

Bake at 300° for 45 to 60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely. Sprinkle with salt. Fill jar or mug.

You will need two cups of seeds (approximately two medium to large size pumpkins) to fill a pint size canning jar. Do not overcrowd the baking pan. For best results, make two pans of seeds when you double this recipe.

Now the Pumpkin Seed Recipe is Done – Let’s Make a Cozy!

cozy and lidThis festive jar cozy is great for decorating your home or office for the season. And it makes for a fun container when serving snacks (like the above pumpkin seeds recipe…just sayin’) at Thanksgiving. If you’re short on time, fill a pint sized jar with candy corn and jazz it up with this fun and quick jar cozy.

This project is a great stash buster, but we’ve used Vanna’s Choice. We love that it’s strong, durable and soft…not to mention that this line has got just the right colors for fall and Thanksgiving! In the picture, we’ve used three different shades of green…and they all look great!

Supplies:

  • 1 pint size canning jar with lid
  • Vanna’s Choice Yarn: Medium Worsted Weight (4)
  • TERRACOTTA – remnant
  • Green of your choice: FERN, OLIVE, or KELLY GREEN – remnant
  • Crochet Hook: J

LID COVER INSTRUCTIONS

Green

Hook: J

Ch 5, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Working around the ring not in the stitches, 6 sc. (6)

Rnd 2-3: Sc around. (6)

Rnd 4: *2 sc, sc inc* twice. (8)

Rnd 5: Sc around. (8)

Rnd 6: *3 sc, sc inc* twice. (10)

Rnd 7: *4 sc, sc inc* twice. (12)

Row 8: Ch 16, 2 sc in second ch from hook, 2 sc in each ch stitch. (30)

Sl st into the next st on Rnd 7. Finish off, weave in end.

Attach Orange to the same st as the sl st.

Rnd 9: *2 sc, inc* four times. (16)

Rnd 10: Lift up the Vine and connect the Rnd underneath. *Fphdc, 2 sc, sc inc* around. (20)

Rnd 11: *Fphdc, 3 sc, sc inc* around. (24)

Rnd 12: *Fphdc, 4 sc, sc inc* around. (28)

Rnd 13: *Fphdc, 5 sc, sc inc* around. (32)

Rnd 14: Work in back loops only. *Fphdc, 7 sc* around. (32)

Rnd 15-16: Work in both loops. *Fphdc, 7 sc* around. (32)

Sl st in next st. Finish off, weave in end.

JAR COZY INSTRUCTIONS

Orange

Hook: J

Ch 32, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1: Sc around. (32)

Rnd 2-9: *Fphdc, 7 sc* around. (32)

Sl st into the next st. Finish off, weave in end.

More Cozies in Store

coffee cup cozy patterns ebookLove this pumpkin cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store in our Crochet Cup Cozy eBook. We’ve created an entire collection with 28 designs one ebook.

Looking for the cup and mug version? They’re in the ebook.

Each design in the ebook has instructions to fit Mugs, Cups and Mason Jars. Every design has a delicious recipe or fun craft.

All 3 pumpkins pictured at the beginning of this post are in this ebook! AND the ebook includes 4 new designs – Dracula, Vampire, Mummy and Blue Jeans.

Available in the StoreRead more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Three Pocket Organizers Crochet Pattern

Three Pocket Organizers – Function Meets Form

pocket organizers

These three pocket organizers are perfect for Winter, Christmas…or any time of year! Crochet your own storage caddy to store hats, mittens and more. These are specifically designed to fit on a hanger or hang from a hook. Make one for everyone in your family and personalize it with their names, like we did! Then everyone can find their winter accessories!

And just in time for Christmas, we’ve created a Santa version that can be hung for the holidays in place of the art you have hanging all year long. To top it off, we’ve created a little card keeper that can hang on a door knob. It’s simple and cute and will hold all the holiday cards you receive this year.

Three Pocket Organizers – The Details

side view of pocket organizersThere are three pocket organizers to crochet in this set. Pattern includes the snowflake design, Santa design and door hanging card keeper. Pattern includes written directions, photos, checkboxes to mark your progress, materials list, and more.

Skill Level: Easy

They measure 14” wide by 30 1/2” tall. Crochet pockets on just one side or both!

Snowflakes can be used as appliqués to sew to the pocket organizer or to make ornaments. Instructions are included for stiffening snowflakes as ornaments.

Three Pocket Organizers – Available in the Store

The Pocket Organizer Set is available in the store. Purchase today and download right away.

Pocket Organizer Set on Etsy.

You’ll love how organized your winter things can be!

Available in the Store

Knitted Dishcloth Patterns

Knitted Dishcloth Patterns

Surprise! We are happy to share some knitted dishcloth patterns with you. I know, a departure from our usual offerings. These are simple projects that are perfect for the beginner knitter….like us! This is the first knitting project we’ve put together for this blog!

Free Knit Dishies

The back story: When my teenage neighbors taught me (Dana) to knit, the first project they showed me was Grandmother’s Favorite dishcloth. Later, after getting the hang of how to knit and purl, I wanted to spruce up the dishcloths a bit. So, I sought out other patterns and even charted my own (the smiley face is my own creation)! So, here you go.

Knitted Dishcloth Patterns –Details About The Dishies

The knitted dishcloth patterns are free and come with three designs. Along with written directions, there are charts are for the dishcloths with patterns in their centers.

Skill Level: Easy

Materials: Cotton Yarn

Here’s what’s included:

simple knit dishie1. Simple Knit Dishie

Perfect for the beginner. Pick up a beautiful variegated yarn and work up this simple knit dishie. It is knit on the diagonal using an increase and decrease and knit stitch.

A special thanks to my sister-in-law for sharing this with us. Thanks, Mary!

Measures 7 ½” square

 

2. Heart in Grandmother’s Favorite Knit Dishie

heart dishieShare the love with a purled heart in Grandmother’s favorite dishie. People are impressed with this extra little touch. It takes a little extra time, but it’s chalk full of love and it shows.

The yarn over border also looks stunning when paired with the purled heart.

It looks best in solid yarns. It is knit on the diagonal using increase, decrease, knit and purl.

Measures 7” square

 

3. Smile on Grandmother’s Favorite Knit Dishie

smile dishieSpread cheer one dishie at a time with a fun twist on Grandmother’s Favorite. Kids will find dish duty more fun with this friendly dishie. Wait…so will adults!

It looks best in solid colored yarns. It is knit on the diagonal using increase, decrease, knit and purl.

Measures 7” square

Knitted Dishcloth Patterns – FREE Patterns

All three knitted dishcloth patterns are available in the store and on the Free Knitting Patterns page.

FREE Patterns

Feel free to print and share the patterns with friends and family.

Making these as gifts? Consider what color scheme your recipients would like. What color is their kitchen, for example. Or consider their personality. Would they prefer a white dishcloth so they can bleach it?

These fun and practical dishies will look beautiful and clean up nicely in any kitchen.

Crochet Star Trek Badge Cozy

Crochet Star Trek Badge – A Coffee Cup Cozy

Star Trek Cozy Removed

Love Star Trek? Love Coffee? This Star Trek Badge was made for a coffee cup cozy! (Or use the communicator badge as an appliqué on other projects.)

If you aren’t a Trekkie but are making a coffee cup cozy for one…please note that color matters! Here’s a quick guide to color selection (for the main cozy portion):

Yellow = Command (like Captain Kirk)

Blue = Science and Medical (like Spock and Dr. McCoy)

Red = Engineering and Security (like Scotty or crew members who die)

Crochet Star Trek Badge – The Pattern

The Star Trek Badge has a very distinctive shape. It changed slightly over the years…but always had the three pointed ends. This pattern uses the basic shape that was introduced in the original season.

This fits to-go cups, cans, bottles and pint size canning jars.

The PDF pattern has written directions, photos, gauge info, materials list, checkboxes to mark your progress and more.

Skill Level: Easy

Stitches Include: Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet

Techniques Include: Crochet in rows and rounds, decrease

This is a great gift idea.

It’s a fabulous Stash buster.

More Cozies in Store

coffee cup cozy patterns ebookLove this Star Trek cozy? There are more seasonal, holiday and just for fun cozies in the store in our Crochet Cup Cozy eBook. We’ve created an entire collection with 28 designs one ebook.

Each design in the ebook has instructions to fit Mugs, Cups and Mason Jars. Every design has a delicious recipe or fun craft.

The ebook includes 4 new designs – Dracula, Vampire, Mummy and Blue Jeans.

Available in the StoreRead more about the set:

Blog: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Store: Coffee Cup Cozy Collection

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns – Something for Everyone & Every Season

We decided to make a crochet cup cozy or two. But once we got started, we couldn’t stop! As you can see, we made animals, holidays and seasons, not to mention wild, crazy and elegant. There’s literally something here for everyone and something for most every season!

Cup Cozies

28 crochet cup cozy patterns with recipe or craft included!

Every design we came up has modifications to fit cups, mugs and mason jars….cause you never know when you want the design for tappered cups or mugs with handles.

As we were creating our designs we thought it would be fun to create cute gifts in mason jars. So, every other week for one year, we created a mason jar cozy gift. We’ve consolidated all the cozies, included all three sizes (mugs, cups and jars), added the gift idea (recipe or craft) and created an 80+ page ebook!

Includes 3 NEW patterns, too! We have a vampire, dracula and blue jeans cozy not seen in the Mason Jar Series.

The ebook is now available in the store:

Available in the Store

Skill Level: Easy (with a few intermediate stitches)

Vanna’s Choice yarn – worsted weight (4) – was used for our cup cozies. We love the color options in this line. Most cozies were made using a H or J crochet hook, but we used hooks as small as a C and as large as L.

animalsCrochet Cup Cozy Patterns – Animals

When you make one animal crochet cup cozy…more are sure to follow. That was true for us, anyway. These are fun for Easter, Bosses Day, Summer, Thinking of You and Just Because

Here are the designs and their recipe or craft:

  • OWL – Soap Dispenser
  • BUNNY – Robin Eggs Candy
  • DOG – Puppy Chow
  • BEAR – Chocolate Covered Graham
  • LADY BUG – Greek Salad Dressing

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns – Holidays

holiday-coziesSome holidays are super fun to crochet into a cozy. We’ll be decorating for several special occasions with these cozies. These are fun for traditional holidays like Christmas, Halloween, Birthday, 4th of July, Memorial Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving.

Here are the designs and their recipe or craft:

  • HEARTS – Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
  • LEPRECHAUN – Sweet / Sour Grapes
  • AMERICAN FLAG – Apple Pie
  • CUPCAKE – Turtle Cake
  • PUMPKIN – Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
  • MUMMY – Mummy Pretzel
  • SANTA – Peppermint Bark
  • TUXEDO – Chocolate Covered Almonds

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns –Seasons & More Holidays

cup coziesIt’s fun to get into the spirit of the seasons, even sports seasons. With these cozies we’re celebrating Spring, Mother’s Day, Earth Day, Football (Baseball and Basketball) Season, I {heart} Yarn Day, Administrative Professionals Day, Chinese New Year and more!

Here are the designs and their recipe or craft:

  • DAISY – Planter
  • BASKETBALL –Caramel Corn
  • FOOTBALL – Party Mix
  • PLUM BLOSSOM – Fortune Cookie
  • FLOWER – Bath Salts
  • HEART – Yarn Ball Bowl
  • CAUSE RIBBON – Potato Soup

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns – Wacky and Crazy

facesWe had so much fun creating cozies that we couldn’t resist making some quirky designs as well. Some of these designs are season and just for fun like Halloween, Talk Like a Pirate Day, Father’s Day, Casual Friday’s and Just Because.

Here are the designs and their recipe or craft:

  • SMILE – Sugar Cookies
  • MUSTACHE – Beef Rub
  • JEANS / PANTS – Smores
  • PIRATE – Strawberry Lemonade
  • VAMPIRE – Red Velvet Truffle
  • DRACULA – Goulish Popcorn

Crochet Cup Cozy Patterns –Available in the Store

This crochet cup cozy ebook is now available in the store. All the patterns mentioned above are included plus Fall Leaf (dirt and worms) and Radioactive (spiced tea) cozies not pictured! What a screaming deal!

The mason jar versions of these patterns are highlight free on this blog in our Mason Jar Series (except Dracula, Vampire, Mummy and blue jeans which are only available in the ebook). You can get your copy of the ebook in the store.

Available in the Store

Ebook includes 28 Designs.

  • includes Cup cozy directions
  • includes Mug cozy directions
  • includes Mason Jar cozy directions
  • includes a delicious recipe or fun craft for each design
  • 3 New designs not seen in Mason Jar Series – Dracula, Vampire and blue jeans
  • 80+ pages in ebook with step-by-step instructions

Crochet Monkey Baby Blanket and Toy Set

Crochet Monkey Baby Blanket and Toy Set

Welcome new baby with this fun crochet monkey baby blanket and toy set. This pattern comes with the baby blanket, security blanket and three crochet block designs.

Lil Monkey blocks, security blanket and baby blanket

Perfect for newborns and little tykes, these three Lil Monkey accessories will get lots of use for years to come. Mix and match the colors to coordinate with baby’s nursery.

Crochet Monkey Baby Blanket and Toy Set – The Pattern

The crochet monkey set comes with three accessories: baby blanket, security blanket and toy blocks.

Skill Level: Easy

Baby with all Lil Monkey Set1. CROCHET MONKEY BABY BLANKET

Perfect for baby to sleep on or to be wrapped in to keep warm.

This simple blanket is crocheted in Rows with a simple single crochet ch-1 pattern. It’s dressed up with a crochet monkey face in one corner and mini hands in another.

Measures: 37” x 29”

2. CROCHET MONKEY SECURITY BLANKET

Perfect for giving sweet little kisses to baby. And great as a security blanket for when the little tyke gets a bit older. This Lil Monkey can be carried by the arm, head or blanket. The satin edge makes it fun to rub between baby’s fingers. It’s the perfect bedtime buddy!

The stitch on the security blanket matches the larger baby blanket. The head and arms are crocheted in the round.

Measures: 9” x 9” when open

Baby with Lil Monkey Set

3. CROCHET MONKEY TOY BLOCKS

Babies will love batting these around. And as they get older, they will love stacking them up and knocking them down.

Mix and match the panels to make a wide variety of blocks. Included are stripes, solids, numbers, letters and a crochet monkey face and tail.

Measures: 4” x 4” x 4”

Security Blanket

Crochet Monkey Baby Blanket and Toy Set – Available in the Store

All three of these crochet monkey accessories are available in the Lil Monkey Accessories Set in the store.

Lil Monkey Accessories Set pattern on Etsy.

This set is great for making gifts for baby showers. Make one or all three, the new mom is going to love them all.

This set includes: baby blanket, security blank and toy blocks.

Available in the Store

More Monkey Stuff in Store

baby monkey hat setWant more monkey stuff? Theses blankets and blocks have a matching hat set!

This hat set includes preemie and newborn size hats and diaper cover. It also has newborn booties and mitts.

Learn more about the Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set.

Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set pattern on Etsy.

Not enough? There are is more monkey stuff in the store!

Published in Love of Crochet

Love of Crochet 16 Oct 2012We’ve been published. This is our first publication and we are thrilled.

Check out the two patterns we have in the Fall issue of “Love of Crochet“. This issue has lots of fun stuff including holiday decor, winter accessories, kitchen goodies and more.

“Love of Crochet” is available at your local craft store like Hobby Lobby or Joann. It’s also available online at “Love of Crochet.”

Monkey See Monkey Do

Photo courtesy of Love of Crochet

It’s winter. Dress up baby in this adorable monkey set. It includes monkey hat, mittens and booties.

This makes a delightful photo prop in addition to being a cute winter outfit.

This little monkey outfit is gender neutral and is great for new baby boys and girls. Make in browns like we did or crochet in cute baby colors.

We created this outfit for the newest member of our family. His nursery is decorated in a jungle theme. He’s an adorable little monkey!

UPDATE: This is now available on our website! See Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set in the shop.

Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set pattern on Etsy.

Perfect Purse

Perfect Purse

Photo courtesy of Love of Crochet

What makes this little purse perfect? Is it the petite size? Is it the cute button closure? Or is it the adorable stitching?  We think it’s perfect for all of these little details and more.

The small size is large enough to stow your phone, ID and lipstick! And it makes an awesome stash buster!

We’ve crocheted this in lots of color combinations. We recommend you use yarn with a bit of sheen and colors with lots of contrast.

This little purse can be easily converted into the perfect hiking buddy! Instructions are included to add a belt loop and chapstick cozy!

Mini Purse with Flower Button pattern on Etsy.

We hope you enjoy these fun patterns as much as we did. Pick up your copy of Love of Crochet this holiday season.

Football Ornament Featured

Our FREE D Fence Football Christmas Ornament was featured on Mel’s Daisy Patch. Gee, thanks Mel!

  d fence football ornament

American Football Season is here…let’s get ready to rumble with the D Fence Ornament and other fun stuff Mel found! Football Whoopie Pie anyone?!

Head over to our Free crochet patterns page (or visit our shop) to download the Free D Fence pattern.