FREE PATTERN: Bunny Ears Ring

A little something to wear on Easter!

Crocheted in a straight line then tied to prop up the ears, this is not only customizable for most finger sizes, but it can also be used as a decorative napkin ring or around the silverware on your holiday table! 

Materials:                                                                                                                                            

F Hook

Scrap Yarns, photo was made with Premiere Cotton Yarns found at Michael’s

Notes:                                                                                                                                                 

Worked in a single line then tied together, the shape of the ears is made at each end of the chain, then slip stitched around the entire perimeter to add support to the ears and keep them from being too floppy.

Pattern:                                                                                                                                    

Chain 50 – this can be modified to fit all sizes of fingers; the remaining pattern should remain the same.

Sc into second chain from hook. In the next 9 stitches: 2 hdc, 2 dc, tc, 2dc, hdc, sc.

Sc into the next 30 stitches then in the next 10 stitches: sc, hdc, 2dc, tc, 2dc, 2hdc, sc.

Ch 1, sl st in each stitch all the way around and back again.

Sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends.

When finished tie around finger, I used a simple knot and played with the ears until I was happy with them. If they are not long enough for pleasing ears or are too floppy, the beginning chain should be modified.

*** The PDF for this pattern is available in my Ravelry Store for $1.00 USD. ***

Happy Easter! 

The Big Return!!!

Greetings and salutations everyone!

Well, over the last 6 months A LOT has changed, not all a grand experience, but here I am. :)

In January I was unceremoniously fired from my job of 13 years. It was a complete fiasco, really. It was a hostile work environment (20/20 hindsight, right?) and I was trying to improve the situation at the time; unknown to me I was a walking target. The only redeeming incident to the whole situation - other than those who screwed me, will get their karma - is that the department I managed went into a downward spiral and within 6 weeks of my termination, was sold to another company. Sketchy, no?

After spending the next month mentally struggling with the stigma of being fired after 13 years, trying to deal with unemployment benefits & all the b.s. that comes with it, I was struggling. Since deciding that I was an awesome manager & gave all I had to that company and my employees, that company didn't deserve me. My family deserves me. So, my new job: Stay-at-home Mommy!

A stay-at-home mommy to a 16-year old son, 10 year old daughter, and an 8 year old son. No diapers for me. No formula or baby food. I tried that about 16 years ago, wasn't for me. Now? Holy crap, people! I have no idea what I'm doing! LOL! I've come up to handling mornings about 95%, I mean that I've really done something wrong if my kids can't figure out school mornings by now. Then trying to plan suppers and grocery lists? Amazing Adam & I are pretty spectacular pulling this together, but it isn't always as easy as it seems from the outside.

I do love staying at home though. :) Due to my anxiety & panic, it is relatively quite easy to stay home. I do miss my car - still up on blocks since September, but getting better. So, not only do I get to avoid the public but I have hours to binge watch Netflix and crochet!

That being said, I have promised patterns in the past, but I'm going to deliver, especially on paid patterns, since we now need help to pay our bills! :)

COMING SOON:
Cowls inspired by Elsa & Anna from Frozen ($)
A plus-size shawl inspired by the Seattle Seahawks ($)
A plus-size rainbow & cloud scarf ($)
A plus-size scarf of flowers (free, $1 PDF optional)
Easter ring with bunny ears (free, $1 PDF optional)

Please keep checking back as these free patterns will be posted, with an optional PDF available for $1 via Ravelry or Craftsy. I will also announce the release of the paid patterns here as well as my Facebok Page.

Thank you all for not giving up on me! Here's to a better future and buying my patterns, right? :)

Angela

QUICKIE: I'm Still Here!!!

My goodness, where has the time gone? I cannot BELIEVE all the views this little blog has received over the last few months!

Welcome to all my new visitors, take a look around and post some comments, I'd love to hear from all of you!

I'm still here and still hooking. I have published a new hat pattern recently, the Puff Stitch Slouchy Hat, now available on Ravelry & Craftsy. I've finished a few blankets as well. I unfortunately lost my cro-jo this summer during a bout of depression (during the summer, crazy, right?). Getting much better now that it's cooler & sweater weather is back!

Check into my Facebook page: G33k Squ33 Crochet for more current updates.

I'm also working on a new cozy pattern, of which I'm hoping to post next week; can't wait for all of you to see it!

That's it for now, hooking like mad! Hope you all have a fun & safe weekend!

NEW PATTERN RELEASE: Nebula Scarf

Simple pattern to showcase the beautiful colors in an amazing yarn!

I have forever loved watching the stars, Amazing Adam and I spent our first weekend together doing just that after the kids were asleep.

Nebulae are amazing cloud-like formations in the heavens, exhibiting all kinds of beautiful colors and shapes. There is the Crab Nebula, Cat's Eye Nebula, Butterfly Nebula, Horse Head Nebula, Pillars of Creation Nebula and I believe there is even a Unicorn Nebula!

The colors of this yarn from Groovy Hues Fibers really inspired this pattern, I really wanted something simple and understated to not detract from the amazing color changes in this yarn. In all honesty, I have NEVER worked with sock yarn before! I was a bit intimidated in the beginning and afraid that all my frogging would render a chunk of the yarn "over worked." I was incredibly pleased when everything ended up amazing in the end. It is exactly what I was hoping for!

I've also fallen in love with nebula jewelry! I was lucky enough to purchase this necklace from Nerdy Little Secrets this last week. I simply cannot wait to wear it with this scarf!

love, Love, LOVE!

Knowing how much I like putting patterns out there, I encourage you to put your own spin on this one. the Star-Heart is completely removable! Instead of being stitched to the scarf, I stitched on a button instead, small enough to slip between the clusters and large enough to not fall out every time I move.

Please head on over to Ravelry to purchase, add to your queue, please remember to add to your favorites! It is also available at Craftsy.

As always, please let me know what you think & don't hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Have a great weekend!

LINKS: Valentine's Day Prep

Nerdist: John Huges' Movies Playlist
I love movies. I love music.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to John Huges's movies either: Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller... etc. These movies weave in and out, all through my childhood and into my young adulthood and I will always LOVE them!

The Nerdist posted this play list today found here on their website.

How did they do?


50 Shades of ... 
I know there is sooo much hype about 50 Shades of Grey releasing this weekend. I for one, will NOT be attending, haven't read the book, don't really want to. I read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy (now to be a quartet) by A.N. Roquelaure, aka Anne Rice way back when and was quite pleased.

The hype around this just makes it seem like 50 Shades is the Twilight Saga version of Sleeping Beauty. Maybe I'm wrong, but yeah, still not interested.

For those of you, like-minded, people out there, I have included a clip of "50 Shades of Buscemi" - staring Steve Buscemi! Enjoy!


Interested in Learning New Stitches?
I can't remember how long ago I discovered the Stitch-a-Day newsletter & website, however I have been signed up and receiving their daily editions for quite some time now.

Every day I receive a newsletter with a description for a new crochet stitch (they also offer knit stitches too for knitters & bi-stituals). They also offer a weekly log which has both knit & crochet stitches that will be featured during the week ahead.

Check it out here!


How to Have People to Kiss your A** on Valentine's Day & They Will Thank you! 
Distractify posted this article about how you can get a chocolate, crystal, or bronze molding of your anus. ... Yeah, I know, I said, "anus."

Can you imagine taking a box of your chocolate anuses to work? Handing them out to people you secretly despise? Watching the look of happiness on their face as they eat it! OMG, I would definitely not keep a straight face during that interaction!

Such a devious act - this should absolutely be on the "to do" list for those of you anti-Valentine's Day people out there!


FREE PATTERNS: Repeat Crafter Me 
I LOVE this lady! She has crock pot recipes, free patterns for craft & crochet. I don't know how she does it, but this lady is totally Amaze-balls! Sarah is a mom of 3 young kidlettes and she still has time to make it all look easy!

I have made quite a few of her patterns and they're not only completely adorable but quite easy and effortless to follow.

Please make a point to check out Repeat Crafter Me and all her wonderfulness!


** Have a great Valentine's Day this weekend, remember to have fun, but keep it safe! For Amazing Adam and I it is our first Family Weekend in a long time where he actually has the weekend off! We haven't decided what we'll be doing with the kids, but I'll make sure to post about it later!

Month in Review: January 2015!

Beginning this year, a goal I have set for myself is to of course, blog more! 

In order to do so, I've decided to post interesting links, mostly crochet or geek related, sometimes both. I hope you enjoy! If there is something you’d like to see in the future, please let me know in the comments below.

NEW PATTERN RELEASE!!!                                                                           (New Paid Pattern)  

I released my very first paid pattern just before Super Bowl Sunday this year! Links are posted under the picture below.

Amanda's Super Bowl Scarf

This pattern is available for $3.50 USD on both Ravelry and on Craftsy.

I am super excited about this one! One of my amazing cousins, Amanda, created a leaf pattern inspired by the Seattle Seahawks 2015 uniform… here’s a pic:

Yes, it is a butt, however we're supposed to be looking at the green stripe!

Since Amanda is super sweet, she gave me the graph to create my own pattern from!

I had never tried a pattern with a lot of color changes until I created this one, and you know what? It actually ended up being a lot of fun! It was quite intimidating at first but I've learned a lot from looking around on the interwebs investigating different techniques to improve my work and color changing is something I must have retained!

What I have been working on: (Please forgive the dark pictures, I’m surrounded by inadequate lighting for proper photography in my home)

Cubone                                                                                                                 (paid pattern)            

Pattern Link:    https://www.etsy.com/listing/154708735/cubone-amigurumi-pattern-pokemon-crochet

My eldest son, Riley, is really into Pokemon, so much so that it has infected the rest of my family! I’m up to my ears in what I have deemed “poke-lingo” it sounds so strange when you have NO IDEA what is going on let alone being talked about… and yes, it has taken Amazing Adam too. *le sigh*

Riley usually has his profile pic as one of Cubone; to which I found out has a seriously HORRIBLE back story:

Team Rocket (I remember some of them from the cartoon) killed his mother in front of him when he was just a baby and now in honor of her death or in order to exact revenge or something, he WEARS HER SKULL! What. The. Heck! This is for kids? Really???

Anyway, I had wanted to get Cubone done in time for Christmas, unfortunately I decided to NOT stress myself out this year (last year?) and do what I could, so I spent most of January still working on Secret Squirrel Projects! This was the first one – seems as if I’m always making things for his younger siblings, so I put Riley on the top of the list.

This little critter has so many stinkin' parts! I stuck to the pattern like glue too, I had to seriously! Apparently, I switched the back spikes, but it doesn't seem to matter, he LOVED it! I was a happy mama!

Squirtle!                                                                                                                 (paid pattern)           

Pattern Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/214644384/crochet-pattern-amigurumi-chubby?ref=related-0

Squirtle went to Aurora. After she saw that Riley got Cubone, she started dropping hints – like a typical Scorpio, trying to manipulate my will – that she wanted Pikachu; and like the Capricorn I am, gave her Squirtle!

Only modifications I made to the pattern were using 15 mm buttons instead of 15 mm safety eyes; which I would have had to make a special trip to the other side of town to purchase. Also, instead of 3 pipe cleaners in the tail to help hold the curl, I used 2 folded in half. Not only did it make it easier to crochet the end of the tail, but it made sure that sharp bits were definitely not going to poke out, as well as not ruining a pair of scissors cutting the ends off!

Assistance for selling projects & not underselling yourself!                                       Free Link       

I know a lot of people are always wondering what their craft items are worth if they were to start selling them. Well I found a link to a Craft Calculator – it seems as if it is also available in both the App Store and on Google Play as an app, making it completely convenient to use on your phones and tablets!

 Craft Calculator:                http://www.craftscalculator.com/

Faux Crochet Boots:                                                                                                        Free tutorial  

Not exactly a crochet item, but I LOVE the way these boots turned out! Created by Glamour 4 You, she turned a pair of boots into wearable crochet art, even out in the Washington weather, these would be adorable!

Faux Crochet Boot Tutorial:         http://www.glamour-4-you.com/blog/faux-crochet-outdoor-boots

FREE Dragon Scarf Pattern                                                                                           Free Pattern  

I love dragons, and I've been eye-balling some scarves around there, but this one is not only super cute, but it’s also free! Posted by Six Little Mice, this one is definitely on my To Do List!

Dragon Scarf Pattern:     http://sixlittlemice.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/dragon-scarf-pattern.html

Stitch I’m dying to learn: Crocodile Stitch                                                                   Free Pattern  

Saw this purse posted on Craft Passion and thought it would be a great way to learn how to make the oh-so versatile Crocodile Stitch. I’ve seen those scales on shawls, cowls, booties, slippers, scarves, blankets and so much more! Can’t wait to give this one a shot too!

Crocodile Stitch Drawstring Purse:   http://www.craftpassion.com/2013/08/crochet-drawstring-crocodile-stitch-purse.html/2

A pattern for those you love!                                                                                         Free Patterns  

One of my all-time favorite patterns has got to be the Circle of Love Afghan by Moogly. It’s a free pattern posted on her blog and it is gorgeous! I originally made it in colors she suggested (reminded me of the school colors for Washington State University), then because I did enjoy working the pattern I followed the original with a Seahawks colored afghan:

Circle of Love Afghan:            http://www.mooglyblog.com/circle-love-afghan/

There you go! Links of January is complete! Please let me know what you think. I’d also love to see if you complete any of the projects posted above!

Remember to visit my Facebook page and let me know you came by to visit!

Super Pattern Release!!!

Amanda's Super Bowl Scarf!

Here it is, folks, my Amanda's Super Bowl Scarf is now available on Craftsy & Ravelry!

Please feel free to share the links with your friends and to add it to your list of Faves on Ravelry!

I'd love to hear what you think! Leave me a comment below!

Advanced Notice: New Pattern Release This Week!

I will be posting to Ravelry & Craftsy my first pay-for pattern!!!

Amanda's Super Bowl Scarf!

Thinking of doing a contest for a winner of a copy of this pattern, stay tuned to the G33k Squ33 Crochet's Facebook page for details if it happens!

O.M.G. 9500 PAGE VIEWS!!!

I had to  mention it!

And to thank you all who keep returning to my little blog here. I can't tell you how much I appreciate each and every time you visit!

Now, where are all of you visiting from? Comment below to let me know!

Amazing Seahawks pattern in the works as of tonight, we'll see how fast I can get it typed up... :)

Thank you so much everyone! Have a great day!!!

New Years' Surprise!

Just a quick post to share with everyone that, thanks to all of you, my Supernatural Moonlight Infinity Scarf has been included in the TOP 100 PROJECTS OF 2014 according to FaveCrafts.com!

Here's a pic of their homepage showing my cowl:

See??? Look, right there, it's my project!

I have posted the links to the pattern on, and pinned the post at the top of, my G33k Squ33 Crochet Facebook page. If you do stop by please remember to Like my page and feel free to leave me a message!

Now, I haven't received an award or anything, but it's still unbelievably AMAZING! It honestly wouldn't have been possible without everyone downloading or saving a copy of that pattern, no matter how you found it.

So as my first blog of 2015, I want to say thank you. Thank you to all of you who visit and follow, and have liked my little blog here.

Continuing on this amazing feeling, I've bought myself a separate crochet calendar so not only can I keep track of my projects, plan ahead for holidays, but hopefully I'll be able to schedule pattern writing time and start a weekly? monthly? post of some of my favorite patterns I have squirreled away.

If you have any requests for types of patterns you'd like to see, please leave me a comment below. I always want to hear from you guys!

Thanks for visiting in 2014, don't forget G33k Squ33 in 2015!

Have a great New Year everyone!