Crochet cowl scarf

Hi ya! Enjoying the winter Olympics? We are practically glued to our computer. We don't have cable or satellite for our TV so we are viewing the live online streaming Canadian coverage thanks to CTV. So lets just say not much is happening in the crafting and art department this week, but I still managed to create this cowl scarf that I've had in my head for a long time while watching the Olympics.

Sorry for the dark photos, been having bad luck with natural lighting and it's not easy taking photos with two kids running around playing with your tri-pod and trying to see if they can get into the shot too. My pre-cropped photos always consist of blurry little hands and chubby faces. Isn't it funny how when you want to take pictures of them they always runaway? Crazy kids!

Red

Happy Chinese New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!
and also Happy Valentine's day as well.

Been taking a little break from the internet and blogging to finish some sewing jobs. Now to enjoy this wonderful family day long weekend with friends and family outdoors in the wonderful sun and snow and indoors watching some olympics. Go Canada Go!

Divalicious

Yesterday was my eco-craft sessions at Diva Day at Thrive! Naturally where I taught wonderful ladies how to turn old, used t-shirt into Nuno-Zori (Japanese cloth sandals).

T-shirts all cut up into strips.

Weaving the strips of t-shirts.

Braiding the straps

I had such a great time getting to know all the ladies and was so excited to see them be able to make something to take home. If you are interested in making yourself a pair there's a great tutorial here.

Hope

You too can help.

go here, and here

Fuzzy browny goodness crochet earflap hat pattern

Finally got around to making this earflap hat pattern. "Yeeesh, Long enough!", I know, I know. It my first ever crochet pattern written down instead of it being in my head some place. Writing a pattern is easier said then done. Even though this is a very simple pattern, I still had doubts on whether it had the right number of rounds, double crochets, etc, etc. So here it is and please let me know if there are errors or if it's difficult to understand.

Materials
1 Red Heart Light & Lofty, Brown Stripe, Color: 9991. Light and Lofty yarn gives it that fuzzy look, but any other super bulky weight 6 yarn should still work.

10.00mm (US 15) crochet hook

Finish size
6-12 months (16"-19" head circumference)

Pattern
Hat
Rnd 1: ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook, join beginning sc with a sl st.

Rnd 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each sc, join with sl st. (12 dc)

Rnd 3: ch 2, * 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (18 dc)

Rnd 4: ch 2, *1 dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (24 dc)

Rnd 5: ch 2, *1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (30 dc)

Rnds 6-8: ch 2, 1 dc in each dc around, join with sl st. (30 dc)

Earflaps
Row 1: ch 2, 1 dc in next 6 dc (6 dc), turn,

Row 2: ch 2, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog. (3 dc), finish off

Skip 10 dc and rejoin yarn to work on second earflap.

Finishing
Sc around the edge and finish off.

Perfect as is or you can add yarn braid and tassels to bottom of earflap. Go here for a tassel tutorial at Serendipity Crochet.

Hat shown here on my boys is without braid and tassels and made a size bigger for toddlers.

Enjoy!!

Say click, take a pic

I was at my parent's place in Edmonton this weekend and found this wonderful thing hidden in one of the drawers of an old office desk in their basement. It belonged to my grandfather, 爺爺(ye ye). My dad brought it over from Hong Kong when we immigrated to Canada back in 1981. And it's just been hanging around the basement collecting dust until now.

It's a Voigtlander Vito CLR. It's says on it that it's made in West Germany and I believe around 1960. Vintage camera experts out there, please correct me on that.

I am wondering if this camera still works and quite anxious to get some film and test it out. Do they even develop film anymore at the local grocery and drug stores?

Merry xmas present for me

Those that know me well knows that I'm a huge fan of Project Runway (7th season premieres tomorrow! Yay!!) Designing, creating, sewing, cattiness, what's not to love? I make Darcy watch it with me, he likes it too and don't tell him I told you that, and every time I watch it I would say "oh I wish I had one of those dress forms so I can learn how to drape garments like those designers." So for Christmas this year he got me one and it came in the mail yesterday.

Yippee!