The Slouchy Beanie not just for a Bad Hair Day

Most people when they think of hats it is not necessarily for style... but rather to cover up a bad hair day or to keep warm on a rainy or cold day; but occasionally there comes along a hat that is an absolute must have style accessory and I believe the slouchy beanie is just that hat!

I love slouchy beanies because whether you have short hair, long hair or something in between, whether you are a boy, girl, a man or a woman, whether you consider your style chic, hipster, nerdy, cool, or something uniquely your own the slouchy beanie can fit right in.

You will see them on the runways, your favorite celebrities, and even in my little shop. I offer two styles of slouchy beanies the basic slouchy beanie which is my most popular item as well as the "bottoms up" slouchy beanie which is made from the bottom up hence the name. Both are available in over 16 colors with the basic beanie being available in sizes from toddler to adult the "bottoms up" sized for teens/adults.

Bottoms Up Beanie



Basic Slouchy Beanie

 

So if you have been looking for the perfect slouch beanie... don't get it twisted and try out one of my beanies it will be your go to accessory even on your best hair day! :)

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My Favorite Yarn - Caron Simply Soft

The number one question I get asked is what is my favorite yarn or what yarn do I suggest using. I have three yarns that I use most often for my crochet business Don't Get it Twisted Crochet, but I must say that I am a yarnalcholic... so I am pretty much in love with any hand spun hand dyed yarn and have a pretty large stash of this very said yarn and if I had to say what is my absolute favorite it would be all the yarn in that stash.

However if we are talking about what is my go to, never fails, I can pretty much make anything I want to from it yarn it would definitely be Caron's Simply Soft. I did a yarn review on this yarn a few months ago which you can check out below pretty much sums up all the reasons I love it.

Caron's Simply Soft is a 100% acrylic yarn, worsted weight or (4) weight yarn. Last time I checked it came in 36 colors but I believe they have added more since then. It is easy care machine wash and dry you can pretty much find it at any of the large craft stores in the US, Michaels, Joann's, AC Moore and Wal-Mart. I have also ordered it online off of Amazon. My only con about this yarn is that it tends to split a little more often than I like but all the over things I love about it overshadow this one little thing.

So what is your favorite yarn to use? Do you use Caron Simply Soft how do you feel about it?

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So a couple of months ago I talked about crochet "Patience" crocheting my first doll. I didn't know then exactly where the journey was going to take me all I knew then is that I was in LOVE! It amazes me the things that can happen when you put yarn and hook in hand.

Since "Patience" I researched and experimented with several different doll making techniques from head down, to body up, to adding hair first to adding hair later, I have also tried different yarn types from using my go to yarn Caron Simply Soft as well as Red Heart Super Saver and Sugar and Cream Cotton. I have found that I prefer making the head separate and then crocheting the body from the legs up and I prefer a cotton yarn over acrylic as it seems to give the doll a more sturdy body, and I absolutely love dressing them up; the moment I put on her tutu, or dress, or skirt it is like immediately the doll comes to life with her own little personality and I am immediately in love.

Something else that happened that I didn't even expect is all the love for the "brown dolls" when I crocheted "Patience" I decided to make her with brown yarn simply because I wanted a doll who looked like me; it did even occur to me that so many other women would want the same that in 2014 there would be a gap in the market for dolls of color. After doing a little searching on Google I realized that I had my crochet blinders on... I am a true believer that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and COLOR; but as an African American woman it is important that our little girls know and see the beauty in every shade of brown. With that being said I am super proud to introduce an extension of Don't Get it Twisted Crochet ~ My Pretty Brown Doll handmade crocheted brown dolls!

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I Went To London To Buy Yarn....

I went to London... I brought Yarn.... I came home. #thatisall

Well not really all but that pretty much sums up my trip. :)



In front of I Knit London (thank God for Google Maps I almost didn't find this place).





I was not able to get as much yarn as I wanted as the conversion from Pounds to Dollars is almost doubled. But I was able to get my hands on some hand spun hand dyed lace weight silk yarn. It will be my very first time working with a lace weight yarn but the folks in the shop were very convincing that I could crochet a beautiful shawl.... now the hunt is on for a pattern. I also purchased some mercerized cotton not pictured; I got it mainly to compare to the mercerized cotton here in the states. I will let you know how it works up in another post as well as what I decided to do with the beauty below.

This yarn colorway was dyed just for the "I Knit London" yarn shop.

 

It was much colder than I expected and raining... but I did try to make the best of my impromptu trip across the pond... and me and the bestie did hit up all the tourist spots while there.

Just a little collage of the trip.

There are quite a few updates for Don't Get it Twisted Crochet so stay tuned!



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Crochet Patience

I made a crochet doll. Her name is Patience. I have had several different crochet doll patterns on my never ending "things to crochet list" for quite some time now, but when i saw the doll in issue 10 of "Simply Crochet" crocheting a doll moved to the very top of my to do list. A quick read over the pattern it seemed pretty simple the majority of the pattern was single crochet which is the first stitch most crocheters learn after learning the chain; so making a doll should have been a quick and easy task for me. Six legs, two arms, and two heads half full of hair later we finally have Patience. Never in my crochet life have I had so much trouble with such a basic stitch. Needless to say I made quite a few modifications to the pattern and under close inspection there are quite a few things I need to do better, but I so love her. My favorite part is her hair.
Some deets on Miss Patience:
Pattern: Heavily modified version of doll from issue 10 of Simply Crochet
Yarn: Head and Body Caron Simply Soft color Chocolate
Hair: Loops and Threads Charisma color Black
Clothes: Made by my Aunt Sally
Stuffed with Poly-fil Height: Approximately 14" from top of head to bottom of leg.

I plan to make a few more dolls and try different techniques and dress this lady up in different outfits.

I would love to know what you guys think about Miss Patience... and if any of my fellow hookers have any experience making dolls and any tips you may have.

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Dress Up Your Cup Coffee Cup Cozy

I will be honest I have never really understood the concept of a mug, cup, or bottle cozy. That is not until I crocheted my first one and after doing so I realized that like many things that are hand made it really is an extension of ones personality.

So when one of my Instagram contacts asked if I had any to share I was on the hunt once again for a cute cozy that I thought would fit her personality. I think I hit the jackpot with  the "Bow Tie Mug Hug" from issue 11 of Simply Crochet.

I pretty much followed the pattern for the most part only changing the accent trim from crab stitch to a simple single crochet stitch all the way around and I noticed that I placed my bow a little lower. The pattern worked up quickly and I absolutely love the way it turned out.

Yarn: I used "I Love This Yarn Sport Weight" in Ivory Tweed and Lipstick double stranded for both the cozy and the bow.

Want to dress up your own cup with a cozy of your very own head over to dgitcrochet.com I have a few of these already made up ready to be sent off to a forever home.

 

Also shared on Too Cute Tuesdays

 

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A Hookers Gift List: Top 5 Gifts for Crocheters

It has been way too long since posting to my blog in all honesty I went through a phase of trying to move my blog to its own domain and Word Press and as you can see since I am posting here that did not go well. None the less with the holidays right around the corner I thought no better time to give my blog some new life than with my top 5 gifts for the crochet addict in your life.

Let me just say these are the top 5 gifts on my gift wish list this year listed in my order of preference I am sure the "hooker" in your life would love any gift of this list but have a different preference.

1: Furls Crochet Hand Carved Wooden Crochet Hook - I have been trying to win one of these beautiful hooks all year. They are absolutely gorgeous but more than beauty they constructed in a manner to fit in your hand to provide the maximum hand and wrist relaxation; and every hooker knows that comfort while crocheting is the most important thing. The hook is a little on the pricey side but well worth the investment. If would love to have an entire set of these hooks but if  I had to chose just one I would love a Blackwood in size H (5.00m) which is the size hook I use most often. You can order your custom hook at Furlscrochet.com

2. Beautiful Yarn from Expression Fiber Arts... so what's a hook without yarn and Expression Fiber Arts definitely has you covered in that department. I actually came across while on Facebook. Chandi the lady behind Expression Fiber Arts was promoting her new book and although I have not had a chance to read the book yet I just had to get my hands on some of her delicious fiber. All yarn is hand dyed by Chandi in her home in Alaska right now I am love with the color way DragonFruit and want it in every yarn weight from lace to chunky. You can shop all the lovely yarn at expressionfiberarts.com.

3. Gift cards - I know some people say gift cards are not thoughtful gifts but I promise no hooker is going to turn away a gift card from there favorite craft store or local yarn store. I prefer mine for Michaels as they carry the yarn I use most often :)

4. Denise in Double Q Double Ended Crochet hooks... I feel like I need these to take my hooking skills to the next level. I have done very little Tunisian crochet because I don't have the proper hooks but with this set I will not have that excuse anymore I have seen these sets on Amazon as well as stitchdiva.com.

5. Last but not least I am in love with Earth Wool Fire yarn bowls the only reason this is #5 on my list is because I believe mine would be used more for decoration than as a yarn bowl... but I definitely want one this holiday season. They are based out of Portsmouth England and you can order via their Facebook page here.

So there you have the top five items on my gift wish list this year... and if you are looking for the perfect holiday gift for your non hooking friends then look no further than Don't Get it Twisted Crochet!

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