Mushroom Beret Hat Pattern

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First thing’s first:
Happy New Year!

One of the last things I did in 2021 was make and design this Mushroom Beret. This is definitely in my top three designs of 2021. I made this hat using two colors of yarn and fairly simple stitches.

I’ve had the idea to make a Mushroom Beret for a while, but was only able to focus on this project recently. This beret’s design was inspired by amanita muscaria, or the fly agaric mushroom. One of the things that was super important to me was the look of the “gills” on the bottom of the hat. I managed to achieve what I was looking for in just a few days, and then patterned it and have uploaded it to Ravelry!

As always, thank you for reading, and be sure to share your projects when you’re done!

Solstand Shawl

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salstand shawl front

I picked up some Lion Brand Mandala yarn and immediately knew I wanted to make a shawl with it. The question was: which shawl? I searched for a while, but was unable to find any pattern that fit my specific vision, so I decided to design and make my own.

solstand shawl first draft pattern and shawl

Over the course of about ten days, I turned my 2 skeins of Lion Brand Mandala in Spirit into a shawl and wrote up a pattern for it! This shawl pattern requires knowledge of basic stitches, as well as front post and back post stitches. The shawl uses about 1000-1200 yards of DK yarn and a size 5 mm (H) crochet hook Instructions for bobble and puff stitches are included. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to purchase the pattern!

dog on solstand shawl
Jupiter would prefer if I didn’t put my crochet on his ottoman

For the most part I was super happy with the yarn I used. It didn’t become ‘fuzzy’ even after ripping out and crocheting repeatedly, and the colors were beautiful. Each skein had 1 complete repeat of the colors so they were easy to cut apart and match up when changing over.

color change solstand shawl

My only complaint is that inside the second skein, there was a tiny knot tying two completely different shades of blue together. I’m used to yarn having a small knot in it, but I am not pleased with the color change. I ended up cutting it apart and was able to match up the colors, but it’s not ideal.

solstand shawl back open

However, I’d still recommend using Lion Brand Mandala for this shawl. It has good drape and stitch definition. I also think that the length of each color in two skeins creates a very nice gradient.

solstand shawl back wrapped

Click here to purchase this pattern in UK and US terms for $4.99
Use code ‘autumn’ to get 20% off your total pattern purchase in my ravelry store from now until Halloween 2019!
Be sure to upload a picture to Ravelry and link it to the pattern! I love seeing everyone’s creations!

Scrappy Stripes Sweater

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I’ve completed yet another pattern! This time I used a bunch of my leftover yarn bits and bobs to create a rainbow sweaters I have dubbed the Scrappy Stripes Sweater! This pattern is available as a free downloadable pdf on Ravelry.

Evelyn is sitting down wearing a rainbow crochet sweater

The sweater body is worked from the bottom up, while the sleeves are worked from the top down. Each colored stripe only uses about 80 yards of each scrap, and about 440 yards of a base color, in my case I used cream. This brings the total amount of yarn to about 1720 yards.

If you’ve got sharp eyes, you might notice some yarns that I have used in previous projects! The sweater is primarily made from aran weight yarn, but there are a couple dk and worsted bits snuck in there, with careful consideration as to how that would affect the gauge.

The sweater is made from dc and sc, the cuffs using the back loop only to create texture and stretch, while the sleeves use dc2tog for shape. The stripes keep their clean look using the standing crochet stitch. If you’re unfamiliar with what that is, I’d recommend checking out this tutorial on Moogly.

Scrappy Stripes Sweater Side

Although the weather is a bit warm for this scrappy sweater, I still want to wear it all the time! It was fun to use up the ends of yarn and think about other projects I had made using it.

The pattern is available for free download here. I listed all the yarns I can remember here, but I can’t guarantee the one you’re eyeing is listed. Remember to let me know if you make something using this pattern! You can link it to the project page on Ravelry, or tag me on social media.

Tanabota Top

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Evelyn wearing the Tanabota Top, a loose crochet striped top. The top has an open weave and is in blues and teals.

I’ve just released a new pattern for sale on Ravelry! The Tanabota Top comes in sizes XS-XXL, fitting a bust range of 32-49 inches. It uses a size L/8mm crochet hook and worsted weight yarn. It’s the perfect top for summer – it’s sleeveless with an open, light stitch pattern. The patterns is also fairly easy to make, using only half double crochet, chain stitch, and slip stitch.

Tanabota Top Back

The yarn I used is Caron Cotton Cake in Hydrangea. It’s an easy to work with yarn with good stitch definition. However, the 530 yard ball I used had eight knots tying ends together in it. I’ve never come across a yarn with so many knots in it, but the colors are so pretty I didn’t mind too much.

Tanabota Tap Close Up of Hem and Side Seam

The Tanabota Top is worked in one piece from front to back with side seams. Here’s a close up of the join between the front and back along the sides, joined with a whipstitch. I was a bit worried with the color changing properties of the yarn that my stitches might look out of place, but it blended in rather well, I think.

Tanabota Top Front

This pattern is currently available on Ravelry for $2.99. If you’re interested in this pattern, please check it out or click here to buy it now! Be sure to share pictures of what you make, I love to see what everyone comes up with!

Harry Potter Curtains

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I’m back in the states which means I can go back to Joann’s! One thing I was particularly excited about getting my hands on was the Harry Potter fabric collection. I gave myself some rules, though. I wasn’t going to let myself get any fabric without having at least a rough idea of what I wanted to make with it.

empty windowThe thing is, I have this tiny window in my room (27.5″ by 18.5″) through which I get a huge amount of light at night. Curtains would definitely improve my sleeping experience, but what fabric to use?

overlocked hp fabric & black cottonOf course! Deathly Hallows fabric! This fabric is metallic and dark, but it is a little thin, so I added a second layer of black cotton. I knew I wanted to have two curtains in the window and just a small amount of gathering around the curtain rod. To get the sizes of the curtains, I took the width of the window (27.5″), divided it by two (13.75″), added two  inches for seam allowance (15.75″), and added four inches for gathering (9.75″). For the other side of the curtain, I simply added two inches to the height for seam allowance (20.5″). I cut two of these from the Harry Potter fabric and two from the black cotton.

hemmed hp fabricI overlocked all four edges of each piece of fabric. However, I only hemmed the sides and bottoms of each piece. After this, I matched up the black side of the curtains to the Harry Potter side, right sides together, and sewed along the top edge.  Flipping this right sides out, I topstitched along the edge of the top of the curtain, then added a row of stitching about an inch and a half below that. This creates a double sided curtain with a channel going between the two pieces of fabric.

hp curtain in windowWhen I went to put up the curtain, I realized the window was a bit odd in that it gets wider as it gets deeper. Luckily this wasn’t a problem because I’d added 4″ of extra fabric to either side for gathering, so it turned out fine. This serves as a warning to anyone else making curtains – be sure to measure the exact spot your curtains will go and don’t assume your window is the same size all the way through!

This curtain definitely did its job. The above picture and the first picture were both taken in daylight with the ceiling light on. I am very pleased with the end result and add a bit of personality to the room!

hp curtains in window with stuff

New Pansy Fabric!

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I’m pleased to announce that I’ve released a new floral fabric on Spoonflower! Pansy Field is also available in a gift wrap and at a smaller scale.

front of pansy field fabric shirtI was inspired to make this fabric when I went to the garden center and saw all the different flowers they had there. The fabric pattern is made using my photos of some of my favorite pansies.

back of pansy field fabric shirtI had the fabric printed onto Sport Lycra in order to make my sister a crop top. I was a little worried about the print appearing faded or washing out, but these pictures were taken after the shirt had already been through the wash. The print is just as bright as when I got it! close up of pansy field fabric shirt

The shirt itself is simply two pieces of fabric zig zagged together at the sides and shoulders. The neck, armhole, and bottom hem are folded over and zig zagged in place.

If anyone ends up using my pansy fabric, please send mp pictures! I’d love to see what you make!

Elastigirl’s Hair and Makeup

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Apologies for this coming out a week later than promised, a few things came up so it took a bit longer than anticipated to edit. I hope this video on how to make Elastigirl’s wig and makeup is helpful!

Wig

Base:

Nyx Mineral Stick Foundation in Fair
Nyx Blotting Powder in Light/Medium
Makeup Obsession Blush in Bloom

Eyes:
Snazaroo in Bright Red
Makeup Obsession Blush in Bloom
Estee Lauder Eye Pencil Duo in Black
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Excess in Black

Link to previous post about the costume

Elastigirl Cosplay

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Elastigirl Ground Pose

I just completed Elastigirl in time for LFCC! I watched the Incredibles 2 and immediately began working on this. This was a super spur of the moment cosplay, so a lot of the material was made from leftover fabrics. The silver was leftovers from Stocking, the belt is from an Amy Pond scrap, and the gloves are from an old pair of leggings. The whole thing was surprisingly easy to make.Elastigirl Face

I made the leotard by looking closely at knit leotards and shirts that fit me and drawing that shape onto the fabric. This fabric is always a bit of a pain to work with because pins make holes in it, but I can get away with putting the pins through the seam allowance so it worked out. The fabric also doesn’t fray, so I left the edges raw around the leg holes and wrists. I made the Elastigirl symbol in GIMP and applied it the same way that I applied the stripes to my 13th Doctor shirt. If you want your own, here’s a link to the one I made.

Elastigirl Sitting

In the Incredibles 2, Elastigirl wears elbow length gloves and boots that go up to her thighs. I, unfortunately, was unable to find boots or gloves that were that long. I decided to make the gloves and leave the boots for now, the leotard was warm enough already and I wasn’t about to add another layer. The gloves are made from an old pair of leggings that had ripped by tracing around my arm and sewing with a narrow zig-zag stitch. I do not recommend this fabric. They barely have any stretch to them, and because of this, I had to add length to the fingers for my long nails. They’re also very difficult to get on, and the fabric rips very easily. It probably would have been worth buying fabric for these.

Elastigirl Face 2

I recorded a video of how I did my makeup and styled the wig and will have that up next week!

Razor’s Hat from World Enough and Time

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I was recently asked to make Razor’s Hat from the Doctor Who episode World Enough and Time. I wrote up a pattern just in case anyone else was interested in making one for themself!

What you’ll need:

  • US size 6 needles (4.0 mm)
  • Double knit yarn

I used Stylecraft Special DK in Dark Brown Shade 1004

I found that if you want to make your hat distressed in a similar way to the show, it is easier to prevent unraveling if you create the distressing as you go. I’ve included two versions of the hat, one with distressing and one without.

The hat sits very different just from folding the brim!

Unfamiliar terms explained:

DSPU: drop stitch and pull out stitches all the way to the brim, pick up a stitch on your left needle, ready to be worked as the next stitch

CO 112 stitches in the round

With Distressing

Row 1-17: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 18: (K2, P2) 2 times, K2, DSPU, P2, (K2, P2) 25 times [112 st]
Row 19-20: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 21: K112
Row 22-33: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 34: (K2, P2) 17 times, K2, DSPU, P2 (K2, P2) 10 times [112 st]
Row 35-40: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 41: (K2, P2) 16 times, K1, DSPU, K1, P2 (K2, P2) 11 times [112 st]
Row 42-47: K112
Row 48: K71, DSPU, K 41 [112 st]
Row 49-51: K112

Without Distressing

Row 1-20: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 21: K112
Row 22-41: (K2, P2) 28 times
Row 42-51: K112

Both Versions

Row 52-61: P112
Row 62-71: K112
Row 72-81: P112
Row 82-91: K112
Row 92-101: P112
Row 102-111: K112
Row 112-120: P112
Row 121: K2tog [56 st]

After working the last row, pull a piece of yarn through and pull as tight as possible. Weave in your ends and your hat is complete!

Lup from The Adventure Zone

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I recently completed a cosplay of the character Lup from the podcast The Adventure Zone. The Adventure Zone is an adventure comedy D&D podcast hosted by the McElroys. Lup is an accomplished elf wizard and is one of the first inter planar explorers.

Photo taken by Kris

Since The Adventure Zone is solely audial, I based my costume on glowbat’s art of the character. The maroon shirt and ears I bought specifically for this costume, while the earrings and shoes are items I already owned. I didn’t have a sweatshirt that worked for this costume, but I did have a red pullover, so I cut it in half up the front and sewed the pockets closed. The gloves are just plain black gloves with the fingers cut off.

Photo taken by Kris

The wig and shorts were probably the most time intensive part of the wold project. I dip dyed the wig using sharpie ink and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, which I documented here. I made the shorts by cutting a pair of jeans at the knee, painting on the flames, and rolling up the raw edge of the shorts. The paint I used for the flames is a 50/50 mix of acrylic paint (for color) and acrylic fabric medium (to set the paint into the fabric). I actually really like these shorts, and have been wearing them out of cosplay quite a bit!

It was so bright the whole weekend, all the makeup I did didn’t show up an camera! Luckily I took this picture of my makeup inside, where all the freckles show up! Unfortunately, in this image the ears I bought are very obviously a different color than my skin. Whoops!

Lup (Alex Davies), Lup, Barry, Lup (Soph Price), Lup (Me!) – Photo taken by Kris

I wore Lup to London MCM May on both the Friday and Saturday. It was super cool to get to go to meet ups on both days and see everyone’s interpretations of the characters. I’m looking forward to changing pieces of this cosplay and wearing it again to a different convention!

Photo taken by Galactic Chief Photography