Crochet a Cotton Beret

 Hi there,

This is one of my favorite projects I have made and am wanting to share it with you.  It is such a light weight beret and easy to wear.  This has part 1 and part 2!

The instructions and the video are below, so you can follow along, The intro has some bloopers for fun,  just click on the link
Hope you have fun!

I used the Red Heart Crochet Thread size 3 and  3.5mm hook.  The thread size 3 is the important part.
Part 1

Part 2

Cotton Beret

Sc = single crochet,  Dc = double crochet,  Sp = space,  Tr = treble,  St = stitch, 

Ch = chain,  * * = work all in between the stars,  Tog = together,  yo – yarn over, rep = repeat, ss = slip stitch

Dc Cluster =  yo, hook into st, pull up a loop, yo and draw hook through 2 loops on hook (2 loops left on hook), yo hook into st required to go into, pull up a loop, yo and draw hook through 2 loops on hook, do this to all 5dc, after the 5^th dc yo and pull yarn thru all 6 stitches at once (except beg 5dc cluster which is 5 st)

2Tr cluster = yo twice, hook into st required, pull up a loop, yo, and draw hook thru 2 st, yo and thru 2 st, do this process into the next required st and then yo and pull through all 3 loops at end

I used the Red Heart Crochet Thread size 3 and  3.5mm hook.  The thread size 3 is the important part not the make.

1.     Ch3, ss in 1^st ch to form a ring

2.    Ch5 (which stands as 1dc, ch2), *1dc in the ring, 2ch* rep in the stars till you have 8dc, end with the 2ch and ss in the 3^rd ch of beginning ch5

3.    Ss into 1^st 2ch sp, Ch 7 (which stands for 1dc, ch4) *1dc, ch4 in next sp* rep till end (8dc) ending with ch4

4.    Ss in the 3^rd ch, ss in the 1^st ch4 sp, ch3 sc in the same ch sp, ch3 sc in the dc,* ch3 sc in next ch sp, 3ch sc in the dc*, rep to end finishing with ss in the 1^st ch sp (so including that 1^st ch sp you should have 17 ch3 spaces)
( when you make the sc into the last ch sp, make another ch3 and a sc into the "dc" below, and then make another ch3 and ss into the 1st ch sp) THIS IS THE ENDING SUMMARIZED

5.    Ch3 (1^st dc) 3dc in same ch sp, *4dc in each ch sp* (17x4 = 68dc)rep to end, ss into 3^rd ch of 1^st ch of the ch 3

6.    Ch3 (standing for 1^st dc) 1 dc in each of the next 3dc, ch1, *1dc in each of  the next 4dc ch1* repeat to end ending with ch1 and ss in the 3rd  ch of the ch3

7.    3ch (1^st dc) 1dc in next dc, 2dc in the next 1dc, 1dc in next dc (=5dc in the 4dc,  you increased) ch2, *5dc in the 4dc ch2*rep to end, ending with ch2 and ss in the 3^rd ch

8.    Ch3, 1 dc in each of the next 4dc, ch2, *1dc in each of the next 5dc, ch2* rep to end ending with ch2, ss in 3^rd ch

9.    Ch3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, ch3, *1dc in each of the next 5dc, ch3* rep to end ending with ch3 and ss into the 3^rd ch

10.                       Ch3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, ch4, *1dc in each of the next 5dc, ch4* rep to end ss in 3^rd ch

11.                       Ch3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, 5ch, * 1dc in each of the        next 5d, ch5* rep to end ending with ss in 3^rd ch

12.  Rows 12 thru 18 do the same as row 11 (this forms the   fullness of your beret, so you can do more or less if you like)

 19.   Ch 3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, *ch1 3sc in the 5ch sp, ch1, 1dc in each of the next 5dc* rep to end ending with ch1, 3sc ch1, ss in 3^rd ch

20.  ch3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, 1ch 1sc in each of the next 3sc, ch1, *1dc in each of the next 5dc, ch1, 1sc in each of the next 3sc, ch1* to end ending with ch1 1sc in next 3sc, ch1, ss in 3^rd ch

21.  ch3, 1dc in each of the next 4dc, *ch3, 1sc in each of the next 3sc, 3ch, 1dc in each of next 5dc* rep, ending with ch3, 1sc in each of the next 3sc, ch3, ss in 3^rd ch

22.  ch3, 5 dc cluster, ch4, 1sc in each of next 3sc, ch 4, *5dc cluster, ch4, 1sc in each of the next 3sc, ch4* repeat to end ending with ch4, 1sc in each of the next 3sc, ch4, ss into the top of the 5dc cluster

23.  *ch5, 2Tr cluster in the middle of the 1^st 4ch sp and in the middle of the 2^nd 4ch sp, ch5, sc into top of the 5dc cluster* rep till back at the ch5 made in the beginning and ss into the 3^rd ch

24.  ch3(counts as first dc), 2dc in the 1^st ch sp, *3dc in the next ch sp* rep this all around to end and ss in the 3^rd ch

25.  ch 3, 1dc in the next dc, *The 3dc from previous round is now reduced to 2dc so do 2dc over the next 3dc* all the way around, ss in the 3^rd ch

26.  sc in each dc all the way around

27.  If you want it tighter, ss in each sc all the way around

Let me know if you have any struggles!

Enjoy your day

Gill

Natural Carbonated Soda's part 1

I absolutely love the carbonation in soda's.  I think I have figured out why.  Keep reading and I will let you know my findings!

Okay, so, I have ordered 3 different cultures (no, not people, lol) cultures as in eating and drinking.

I have ordered Kombucha culture, Water Kefir Grains, and Milk Kefir Grains.  What on earth is that, you may ask.

 Well the Kombucha culture is a living organism that you add tea and sugar to and it grows and makes you a delicious drink.  You have to let it sit on your kitchen cabinet for a day or so and it produces all natural probiotics and yeasts that your body needs.  Gives you a healthy flora in your stomach. This is what it looks like. I always tell people you can't say you don't like it until you try it.  This actually gets to have some fizz like  carbonated soda as well.  There are many different recipes you can try out to make different flavors.

So the reason I was saying I love carbonation is that I am probably needing to get my inner flora more balanced. When you take antibiotics, or just eating in our society now a days, you unbalance your flora inside and need the good bacteria and yeasts to balance you.  This is one way that you can do it.  I will post more on the milk kefir and water kefir later on.  The water kefir can be very carbonated when you make the drink and add your syrup and let it sit on the counter for a few days.  It gets really fizzy.  I will continue with this post on another article.  This is part 1 and the others will be part 2 etc.  I also made a sourdough bread starter from scratch and I made mine gluten free.  I haven't tried it in normal flour but will keep you posted. Have you ever heard of a niacin flush, oh my goodness I took niacin (vit b3) and gosh it was quite and experience - motto of that story is I need to start slooooooowww (take less initially) will tell you about that as well!

Well will get back to my blog later this week and keep you updated on my Healthy Home!

CROCHET A SUNFLOWER GRANNY SQUARE

This is a nice variation of the ever so popular granny square.  I love different granny squares as there is so much that you can do with them.  I also love doing them in many different colors to spice things up a bit.  I am a color fan and the more colors the better.  Of course that is me and everyone is so different, which makes the world an interesting place. Anyway the pattern is below and the video link is below as well.  Remember to Have Fun Crocheting!

SUNFLOWER GRANNY SQUARE

Sc = single crochet,  Dc = double crochet,  Sp = space,  Tr = treble,  St = stitch, 

Ch = chain,  * * = work all in between the stars,  Tog = together,  yo – yarn over, ss = slip stitch

Caron Simply Soft: Brown, Yellow, Green and Navy (whichever colors you like)

Hook size 5.5mm H/8

Square size is 4 by 4 in

1.     Ch4, ss into 1^st ch

2.     Ch3, 15dc in the ring, ss into 3^rd ch (of beg ch3) finish off = 16dc (change color)

3.     Join yarn in any dc , Ch4 (counts as dc ch1 for all rounds in beg), dc, ch1 in each of the next 15dc which will give us 16dc, ch1’s (including the ch4 in the beg) finish off and add new color in any ch1 sp

4.     Ch3, 2dc , ch1, 3dc all in the same sp, skip the next ch1 sp and do 3dc in the next ch1 sp, skip next ch1 sp * 3dc, ch1, 3dc in next ch1 sp, skip next ch1 sp, 3dc in next ch1 sp, skip next ch1 sp,* repeat to end, ss to first dc, finish off, change color by joining any corner ch1 sp

5.     Ch3, 2dc,ch1, 3dc in same sp,* 3dc in the next sp, 3dc in the next sp, 3dc ch1 3dc ch1 in next sp* repeat this to end, ss in 3^rd ch of beg ch3, finish off

My Paintings

Well I thought that I would show you some of my art work, just for interest sake.  I enjoy painting very much and never did art at school or anywhere.  I remember my grandmother painting and had no desire to paint until about 8 years ago when I just decided to start painting.  So anyone out there that has a desire to paint, my advice to you is to go and do it.  You might be very surprised at what you can do!

My Indian Lady done in watercolor

My Aussie from South West Africa done in oil

Aussie's daughter from South West Africa done in oil

An Indian done in oil

An old building done in watercolor

An African lady from my birth land South Africa done in watercolor

Some Zebra's done in oil

How to Crochet a Hat in Puff Stitch

Hi there guys, 

I have just uploaded a new video on How to Crochet a Hat in the Puff Stitch.  I really enjoyed crocheting it and hope you have fun trying out the hat as well.  If you have any problems let me know.  The pattern is as follows (p.s. I am learning to write out patterns as it is easy to create something but different writing it out on a piece of paper! lol).  To watch this video just click on the link.

PUFF STITCH HAT

Sc = single crochet,  Dc = double crochet,  Sp = space,  Tr = treble,  
St = stitch, Ch = chain,  * * = work all in between the stars,  Tog = together,  yo = yarn over

Puff Stitch = wrap yarn over hook, insert hook into st, bring up a loop, wrap yarn around hook, insert hook into st, bring up a loop, wrap yarn around hook, insert hook into stitch, bring up a loop,  wrap yarn around hook and pull through all the loops  (x3) all in the same stitch unless shown otherwise.

Caron Simply Soft Party  Hook size 5.5mm

1.     Ch3, ss into 1^st chain to make a ring

2.     12sc into the ring

3.     Ss into 1^st sc,  ch1,  Puff St in same st, 11  more puff stitches in each sc = 12 puff stitches

4.     Ss in the 1^st puff st, ch1, 1 puff st in same place, 2 puff st in the next st, 1 puff st in the next st, 2 puff st in next st and 1 puff in next st, keep doing this till you have 18 puff stitches

5.     Ss in stitch (before the puff), ch1,* 1 puff st in next st, 1 puff st in next st, 2 puff st in next st* do this until you have 24 puff st

6.     Ss in 1^st st, ch1, *3 puff st in the next 3 st,(one in each st) 2 puff st in the next st* till you have 30 puff st

7.     Ss in 1^st ch, ch1 *4puff st in next 4 st (one in each st) 2 puff st in the next st* do this till you have 36 puff st

8.     Ss in 1^st st, ch1 *4 puff st in next 5 st, 2 puff st in the next st* do this till you have 42 puff st

9.     Ss in 1^st st, ch1,  1 puff stitch in each st = 42 puff st

10.      Same as row 9 until you have the length as you want it.

11.        Ch1,  Reverse Sc all the way around, 1sc in each sc, finish row by a ss and bringing yarn through stitch.

12.      Change color and ch1 and then puff stitch in each sc all the way around.

I hope the pattern is easy to follow, and you like the hat!

Gill