Warm and Cozy Set

I was in Walmart a few weeks ago looking for those gloves that work on cell phones. It is super cold right now in Northern Utah and it seems like my phone always rings or I get a text at the coldest moments. I found fun printed fleece gloves for $5 a pair. There were matching boarder hats too for only $5. I bet you can imagine they weren't the thickest, softest set, but cute nonetheless. As I walked the endless miles of walmart, going from the gloves to the milk section, I started thinking how cute the hat would be lining a warm and cozy crocheted boarder hat. Viola! Sets for the girls in my family were born.

Isn't it cute? I just love how it turned out. Yes, there will be two gloves.

Here's what I did:
The hat, like many inexpensive store bought hats, was short and skull cap-ish fitting.








As I crocheted the hat, I kept checking the length to make sure it turned out approximately the same length as the printed one. As long as the bottom edge/earflaps matched up, that would be fine. A little slouch on the crocheted hat wouldn't affect the fit.
I lined up the bottom edge of my hat with the bottom edge of the lining hat to check earflap placement. The first earflap I did a ch 2, then hdc across until it was the same width as the lining hat. Then *ch 2, turn, hdc2tog, hdc across til 2 sts remain, hdc2tog*, repeat til 4 sts remain.

I cut off the top knot thingy and threw it away. Leave the braids. We will do those later.
Once my hat was complete I slipped the lining hat inside my hat. I lined up the bottom edges as best I could and then pinned middle front and back and earflaps together. With matching thread and sewing needle I sewed the two hats together, all along the bottom. Now, as many of you know, sewing and I do not get along (my mother, who owned a fabric store the entire time I was growing up just cringed). If I can sew this then ANYONE can. Seriously.

Now for the braids. The bottom of each braid was sewn straight across. I got my handy dandy seam ripper (scissors would work but be careful to not cut the braids), and undid the stitches. I then unbraided each braid. To bring the two hats together, I wanted to put some matching yarn in them. I cut 9 strands of blue yarn twice the length of the lining hat's braids (for each braid). Pull half of the strands through a stitch just above the top of the braid. Pull through till ends are lined up. Repeat for remaining strands. Divide pieces into 3rds, including fleece. Braid and then tie a piece of matching yarn around the bottom of the braid and tie a knot. Repeat for other side.

For the gloves I made a pair of mitts to slip over. This ties in the blue yarn of the hat, plus adds warmth. I did not sew the mitts to the gloves because they will stay in place and then can be worn separately when it warms up.
My "quick mitts" pattern is free, works up super fast and would be great for this project. The mitt and hat in the photo are new patterns to be released this month (12/13).

There you have it. A warm and cozy set. I hope you will enjoy making these. I noticed out dollar store had cute beanies. This same technique could be used to line regular beanies as well.
Now...onto using the fuzzy socks I found to line some slippers!

Gift Giving

This is such a fun time of year, but a busy one too. From now until Christmas, I will be sharing ideas and suggestions for gift giving, celebrating and making the most out of the holidays. Let's try to enjoy every second. 

One of my favorite things to give is a pair of fingerless mitts. Even the men in my family enjoy them. A few years ago I started making them with a pocket, either on the palm, back of hand or hidden inside. This is perfect for holding a hot hands pack, credit card or anything else small and fairly flat. It takes about an hour to make a pair.

They are also cute worn over a pair of those inexpensive "magic" gloves. You know, those tiny stretchy ones you can even find in dollar stores. Pick up a pair of striped ones to add for an extra warm and cozy gift.

My Quick Mitts pattern is now free to give you a quick and easy gift for the entire family. Includes sizes toddler-adult, plus embellishments and (my favorite) a pocket option to hold a hot hands pack. I wear these all the time when I run and LOVE them. I hope you will enjoy this pattern :)

Free Cookies

It is hard to believe we are approaching our third Christmas in the world of Snappy Tots. Wow, have things grown and changed since the beginning. Who would have guessed a few bird hats would grow into such a fun thing?! There are currently over 265 patterns, we have sent thousands of beanies to brave soldiers (and kids) throughout the world with the "beanies for bravery" project, plus made lifelong friendships....all with YOUR help!

To thank my awesome Snappy Peeps for the continued support, I have decided to start posting more patterns for free. There will be brand new designs, and a few will be from the original line...updated to be even better. Click "subscribe to snappy tots" for email updates!

This freebie is one of my first crochet patterns, but a favorite. I LOVE cookie! It makes a great basic earflap hat pattern too. Hey, you can even use the cookie pattern for play food, a counting toy or applique. 

Have a cookie pattern! for FREE!

If you haven't tried a snappy pattern lately, I hope you will give one a try! Here are some of the changes:
 ~ I realized "heidi-rochet" is a real thing! I go a little out of the box sometimes (definitely not your granny's crochet). More pix and info show just how easy it can be.
~ I LOVE seeing newbies make my things...and a few extra words and pix helped them...plus I started putting lots of variations/pieces in each pattern.

As we have grown, one big change came a little over a year ago (fall, 2012). Up to that point I had a team of 3-5 local ladies testing my patterns. I was working them pretty hard and we were missing things. It was time for a bigger plan. "Snappy Elves", a group of super talented testers, was created. I am the luckiest person ever to have over a dozen awesome people picking my patterns apart and creating some pretty outstanding samples! I now refer to all patterns released over the past year as "generation 2" patterns. Each has more pictures, detail and are pretty close to error proof...plus, they get my crazy need to include tons of variations!
Thanks again for your support. Go grab a cookie.

Earflaps

Over the past two years I have tried a few different ways to write/make ear flaps on hats. I will be going back through patterns and updating to clarify, always working for the best experience for my snappy peeps.
This is my pattern for earflaps:
Earflaps: Fold hat in half. On right side of hat, attach yarn with a sl st to one side.
Start with the appropriate size:
2-5T: Ch 2, hdc 11
Child: Ch 2, hdc 12
Preteen/teen: Ch 2, hdc 13
Teen/adult: Ch 2, hdc 14

After first row of hdc as listed above, follow these instructions for all sizes: Ch 2, turn, *hdc in next st, hdc in each st across until 2sts remain, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn*. Repeat until 2 sts remain. Finish off.

Help Note: By starting each row of earflap in “next” st, it is the same as a decrease. If preferred, start with “hdc2tog” in turning st and next st.

Fold hat in half to find placement for 2nd earflap. It should start exactly across from the first flap. Starting on the RS of the hat, attach yarn and follow directions for earflap.

Attach yarn to center back of hat. Ch 1, sc around bottom edge of hat, working 2sc in each earflap tip, sl st to join. Finish off and weave in ends. Attach braids if desired.

Celebrating Bdays

Birthdays are the best day of the year! Last year, to celebrate snappy friends' big days, I tried setting up a program to automatically send a coupon to people. The response to the program was GINORMOUS and we could never get the autosend to work how we would like so we ended up sending them upon request. We will be doing the same thing this year, but a little differently.

During your birth month, you may request one free pattern of choice (from current patterns).

This is to celebrate Snappy friends so please make sure you like my facebook page.

Only one free birthday pattern, per person, per calendar year.  Please be honest and request only one for yourself...does not include pets, children under 12, etc.

Snappy Tots reserves the right to request proof of birthdate and/ or deny this offer.

Monday...cupcakes

This week, instead of Monday Muffins, I want to share this cute cupcake block pattern I found.
 We have been talking a lot about crocheting squares for a blanket so I have been searching for fun ones. Cupcakes are like muffins crazy cousin, full of life and ready for any party.
Of course I had to keep googling to see what other marvelous things I could find. Here are some free suh-weet creations:

Cutie Patootie Cupcakes

Cupcake Purse
Cupcake Purse with Tutorial
Cupcake Purse with Beads
Striped Cupcake Beanie
Rippled Edge Cupcake Hat

Snappyland winners

A few months ago I started a facebook group called "snappyland" in hopes of creating a place we all could chat, help each other and gain back the atmosphere we all enjoyed on the main snappy page before timeline.
I LOVE it and appreciate all of the wonderful members in the group. Each weekend I will randomly choose a few winners from pix posted that week to receive a free pattern of choice.
This weeks winners are: Kathy Neff Dibble, Donna McGonigal and Jameelah Woodard.
Congratulations! Thanks to everyone for taking time to post pix and share your creations.