Busy, busy bumble bee

That's me! 

Sorry it has been a few days, my goal was to try to update this blog daily to form this into a habit... whoops. The past few days haven't been very exciting, but I guess there's something I can blog about. I finally upgraded my phone. I was totally over the whole iPhone thing, since mine was acting awfully, slow, poor image quality, short battery life, apps always crashed... I couldn't tolerate it anymore. I took a huge leap and bought an android phone instead. I ended up with the new Samsung Galaxy SIII. It is AWESOME. Everything about it... the screen is so clear it is unbelievable... I can't stop streaming Pandora on it because the sound is that awesome. The camera is amazing, everything loads lightning fast and the battery life is incredible! I am definitely a happy camper.

Also, here's something strange. March is national crochet month right? I taught myself how to knit... go figure. It's still a tad bit messy but I'm getting there. I've been trying to learn for so long. I picked up my needles and some yarn last night and some how, it seemed to have come naturally to me. It is very awkward for me to work with two needles instead of one hook, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. :)

Well, it's gonna be a beautiful day today & I don't have to work tonight. Lucky me! Off to finish some laundry, do some business planning with a friend, and clean a bit. 

Have a fantastic day, readers! 

His name was Blake.

The title of this blog post, honestly has absolutely nothing to do with what I plan to write this morning, it's more of a personal reminder.

Last night I went to AC Moore to pick up some lovely cotton yarn to make a baby blanket. With all intentions on getting a nice bright yellow to make a ducky themed blanket, I failed miserably and ended up with an ombre yarn with different shades of light earthy brown colors. I started working on it immediately, of course, and so far it is working up beautifully. 

There was a lady I encountered at the store though, and I found this to be quite humerus. My age is quite apparent; there is no doubt that I am not any older than 20 years old. There was an older lady shopping in the same isle as I, having the same dilemma. What yarn do I get and what color? She insisted I get an acrylic yarn, when I had my heart set on cotton. She gave me one hundred and three reasons why I shouldn't use cotton for a blanket... all of which didn't make much sense. Anyway, she then asked me if I was following a pattern, I told her no, naturally  because I have quite a few blanket patterns in my head. Beside, I am easily able to come up with my own unique design. She blatantly questioned my skill and then insisted I follow a pattern to 'challenge' myself, that way I have a perfect blanket to gift. 

Maybe it was the way I interpreted it, being self concious or maybe it was just the tone she was talking to me in... but she did make it known that she wasn't pleased with my yarn choices every time I picked up the cotton, LOL. Sorry lady, my blanket, not yours. 

Anyway, I have to head into work soon... I was called in last minute... that's alright though, makes up for the days I was called out last week.

Have a wonderful day, readers. :)

Button Beanies!

Preserve the precious moments with the simplicity of the Bulky Button Beanie- a classic photography prop- treasured memories to last a lifetime.  Crabapple Crochet's Bulky Button Beanie is crocheted with an incredibly soft, bulky acrylic yarn with a big wooden button securely sewn on to the side. Great photography prop and timeless classic for all new moms. 

This adorable hat is available for $18.50 + shipping. To order, please visit my Etsy shop.

Isn't he just adorable? Aw..

Have a splendid Sunday, readers!

Truly unique

Crabapple Crochet's Girly Wig Hat is truly unique with a practical use for everyone of all ages. This hilarious hat makes a great gift to new moms expecting a little girl, or for babies who are being incredibly stubborn when it comes to hair growth... For chemo patients who miss having hair... For pretend, to be your favorite character. 

Great for Halloween, great for Winter, great for Spring and Summer, great for whenever! Impress your family, thrill your friends, make the baby cuter than she already is!

The Girly Wig hat is for sale in my Etsy shop for just $22.00 + shipping. It is crocheted with 100% acrylic yarn, soft, durable and hypoallergenic. 

To order, please follow this link to Etsy: Girly Wig Hat

Enjoy your weekend! 

Free Pattern Friday: Snow Day Edition

What's cozier than a hot cup of coffee or tea on a beautiful snowy day? The fact that your cup of coffee can be cozy too... in it's very own mug cozy! 

I just whipped up this pattern quick by last nights memory so excuse any mistakes. It's incredibly early and I wanted to post before I forgot what I had on my mind. I'll come back through later to fix any mistakes & to add a picture or two. 

For this quick and easy crochet pattern, you'll need a small amount of worsted weight cotton yarn in any color you desire and a 5mm crochet hook. I chose spring colors to brighten up the gloomy winter day, but really, anything works. 

Foundation Row: Chain 10

Rows 1-32 Sc in each st across, chain 1 and turn at the end of each row.

Row 33: Sl st in first 4 sts, chain 10, sl st to join in same st and in next 5 sts, fasten off.

Sew a small button on to the mug cozy, opposite of the button hole. Weave in all ends.

This pattern can easily be modified for smaller or larger cups by increasing or decreasing the amount of rows. 

The snow is supposed to keep coming down until about noon. So far we've got well over the predicted six inches, or at least I think so. It's now March 8th, doesn't that seem a little late for a snow storm? I don't mind, gives me another excuse to sit back and crochet all day. I've got tons of ideas, and better yet, I've finished all my orders! I'll probably sit by the window watching the flakes come down. There's certainly nothing more relaxing than that!

Stay warm, readers!

Faulty patterns drive me nuts...

Especially when it's for something I really want to crochet! I found an adorable stuffed bear pattern on ravelry.com this past week. I've been dying to make a traditional teddy bear for the longest time. While browsing through the search results, I found a pattern for a bear that was very unique. He was made up of two arms and two legs, but his body was just a round misshapen ball. I worked up all four extremities to find that the way the designer says to connect the legs to work up the body doesn't work. I'm thinking that maybe I've read it wrong, but I went back and re-read and unraveled and crocheted again a couple times and my stitch count still isn't right. Oh well. I've got two arms and two legs ready to go, maybe I'll make up my own character using those pieces. 

Anyway, I feel as if I have been slacking on orders, although I've only got one and it's been in the works for the past week. I've been incredibly distracted from my crochet work since I picked up "At First Sight" by Nicholas Sparks last week. I've been on the hunt to find all of his books since I finished that one. So far I've read 'Dear John,' 'The Lucky One,' 'At First Sight,' 'The Notebook,' and now I'm reading 'The Wedding.' All have seemed to amaze me...

Again, I'm distracted! Today I finished one pair of granny square slippers. They are so totally awesome and I cannot get enough of them! A pair is made up of twelve total squares, single crocheted together. It's like wearing an afghan on your feet. So warm... so comfy. Especially on dreary days like today. I hope my aunt likes them! 

I've noticed lately that I've fallen absolutely in love with granny squares. I am dying to make anything and everything with them since I learned how to put together these awesome slippers. 

If you are interested in making your own granny square slippers, this is the pattern I used: http://www.purlbee.com/granny-square-slippers/

Or if you don't know how to crochet, you can place an order for them with me! You can choose up to three colors of your choice. I promise you, you'll never want to take them off your feet, they are that awesome. :) Just send me an e-mail, contact me on Facebook or simply leave a comment on the blog. I'd be more than happy to whip up a pair for you in your favorite colors! 

Well, I'm afraid it's time to start assembling the second pair of slippers... Have a wonderful day! 

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Learn to Crochet: Part One

Learn to Crochet: Part One

Yarn & Hooks

By Christina Bellmay

Choosing the Right Yarn

Getting familiar with yarn is crucial to learning any yarn craft. Many craft stores today carry a wide variety of yarn from acrylic, nylon, cotton, wool and many other natural fibers. You'll touch many different types while walking through the yarn isle in your local craft store. Some may feel smooth, others rough, some bumpy and full of texture while some are soft and fluffy. While choosing the right one may seem intimidating at first, taking the time to learn about it will be greatly beneficial to not only you, but your future crochet projects as well.

Choosing acrylic yarn to start is an excellent choice. Acrylic yarn is inexpensive, hypoallergenic, machine washable and great for learning the basic crochet stitches. Next, it is important to decide what weight of yarn your pattern calls for. Most beginners find it easier to work with worsted weight yarn since it is not too thin nor too thick. You will find the yarn weight on the label wrapped around the skein. Worsted weight can be identified as “Medium,” “Worsted,” or as a category “4” yarn.

Source: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com

Yarn like Red Heart Super Saver is a great starting point to learn to crochet. Being very inexpensive, there is about 364 yards per skein and there is a huge variety of colors to choose from. This yarn in particular is great to use not only for it's price, but because there isn't a dye lot. With most yarn, it is a good idea to purchase the amount of yarn you are going to need for the finished product in full with matching dye lots. By matching the dye lot, you are ensuring that the color will be exactly the same. Red Heart Super Saver gives you the quality and durability you need to memorize the basic stitches you will use every day that you crochet without having to worry about a dye lot.

While navy blue may be your favorite color, it may be more wise to choose a lighter color. Crocheting with a lighter color, especially in the beginning stages, will make it much easier to see your stitches in any lighting. Darker colors tend to make the definition of the stitch harder to see, which may make it difficult to be able to see if you are making your stitches right while learning. Once you get the feel for crochet, try working with different colors, light and dark.

There are many brands of acrylic yarn that are great for beginners. Here is some that I recommend for a beginner with a lower budget:

• Red Heart Super Saver
• Lion Brand Vanna's Choice
• Caron One Pound
• Bernat Super Value
• Red Heart With Love
• Caron Simply Soft

Don't let this tiny list stop you from exploring many wonderful acrylic yarns. Go to your local craft shop and explore the yarn isle. There's plenty to choose from!

Choosing the Right Hook

Purchasing the right crochet hook might sound like another lengthy process, but thankfully, it's not! For beginners learning their first few crochet stitches, look on the yarn label to determine what size hook you should be using. We've decided on worsted weight yarn, which usually calls for a 5.5mm crochet hook. You can find this information right on the label, usually next to or near the yarn weight section. Once you've determined the right size hook for your project, it's time to decide what kind of hook you want.

Hooks can be made of virtually anything, the most popular being plastic, aluminum and wood. Plastic is most always the least inexpensive, aluminum as well, but a little higher priced. I have personally found aluminum to be the best choice for myself because I feel like plastic can sometimes be flimsy. It all depends on personal preference and how much money you want to dedicate to your new craft.

Crochet hooks can be purchased individually for a few dollars or in sets, which tend to cost a bit more, some with cases, some without. Check your local craft store, and be sure to look in their weekly ad. Many of the chain stores have awesome coupons every week!

Source: www.coatsandclark.com

Slouchy Bow Beanie, Cat Collars & More

This isn't my first blog I've written for my business.
However, this is the first blog I feel as if I could update frequently.
Here's to starting over...

Let me start this update by introducing some patterns to you by Crabapple Crochet. I've only written a couple, all being unique and very cute finished products! This Slouchy Bow Beanie is my most recent pattern, as it was inspired by a customer! This customer in particular was looking for a slouchy, over-sized beanie, nothing too extravagant, but unique like herself. Unable to find a pattern already written similar to what she was describing, I decided to come up with my own original idea... & a pattern was born! 

The pattern for the Slouchy Bow Beanie is for sale in both my Etsy and Ravelry store for only $3.60. It requires about 1 1/2 skeins of Loops and Threads Charisma (or similar) in any color you desire (my customer chose charcoal), and a 6mm crochet hook. The beanie works up wonderfully and took me less than 2 hours to make. Best of all, I give full permission to sell what you make! Just please be understanding, keep the pattern to yourself and direct your friends to my shop to purchase their own copy. 

Next, another more recent pattern by Crabapple Crochet: The Dainty Flower Baby Headband! This headband is beautiful and requires only a minimal amount of materials. The pattern calls for a small amount of floss or crochet thread and a 3.25mm crochet hook. They are simple, yet beautiful, and work great  as a photography prop! 

The last pattern I will introduce to you today is the Bow-tie Embellishment or Cat Collar pattern. This pattern originally started off as simply just a cat collar, being inspired by a photo I had seen on the internet of a pretty little kitty. I experimented, crocheting what seemed like thousands of bow-ties for my little feline friends, making sure they had a bow-tie in every color available. 

This pattern includes instructions on how to crochet a bow-tie as well as attaching it to a crocheted collar, with the option of adding on a bell. This pattern, like the others, is very easy to follow and inexpensive! The pattern calls for a small amount of worsted weight yarn (I found they look best in cotton), a small bell (optional) and a 3.75mm crochet hook. Definitely a great pattern for beginners!

Well, it seems as though it's time to roll out of bed. The sky is looking stormy, with the potential threat of a March snow storm... Enjoy your day!

This is my life, this is my story...

Let me introduce myself - my name is Christina Bellmay and I am a yarn enthusiast. Looping and knotting yarn together to make something so beautiful absolutely fascinates me. I learned how to crochet 12 years ago, when I was only 9 years old. It started mostly as a hobby I'd pick up on rainy days, determined to start and finish a project in just under a day. Although that wasn't realistic in my eyes at such a young age, I finally picked up a skein of yarn and a hook 2 1/2 years ago, deciding on a traditional granny square pattern, beginning with white. Over the course of the next five or six days, I had a finished twin size purple and white afghan. My first real crochet project. I was ecstatic to finally have a finished project just before my eyes. 

Over the next few months I found my love for crochet had deepened. Being young, many friends thought it was odd that I would have such an interest, after all, aren't yarn crafts just for old ladies in nursing homes? Absolutely not!

Yarn quickly became an obsession, first, having an overflowing tote bag, then an overflowing laundry basket... to an overflowing cubical shelving unit. I've got yarn in my closet, in the living room, beside me on the bed, even in my car. It might not seem "normal" for a twenty-year-old girl, but I don't care. In my heart, this is my passion, my love... This is what I would love to spend the rest of my life doing. 

I started selling my crochet pieces in September 2011, my first sale being a newborn pumpkin beanie, just in time for Halloween. I expanded my inventory quickly as I learned new patterns and stitches. Baby blankets and sweater sets became a huge hit, and soon enough I found myself drowning in orders. Family and friends came to me before hitting the big stores for baby shower gifts, putting their trust in me. Confidence built quickly, as I decided to finally start a Facebook page and then later, an Etsy shop. 

I had one problem though, I needed a name. I couldn't go on as "Christina's Custom Crochet." It seemed too boring for what I was doing. Yes, it was crochet, and yes, it was custom, and obviously, by me, Christina. It just didn't sound right, though. I needed something with character, with personality, with my heart put into it. 

Then it clicked. Crabapple Crochet.

I would name my new crochet shop after my best friend, Kim, who passed away when we were 15. I would do this for myself, for her, for my family and friends. I would do this to show I would prevail, that I would succeed, and to prove that you really can do anything you set your heart to. I would do this in the name of my best friend. 

Within the last year and a half, I have proven to succeed, I have proven to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. Most of all, I have proven to myself that as long as I put my heart and soul into my work, that I will forever be successful in anything I do, whether it be within my crochet career or life itself. I have vended at numerous craft/vendor fairs in all seasons, some being extremely successful, other's not so much. It's been a huge learning experience and I am proud to say that at 20 years old, I am a business owner with a positive outlook on the life I lead. 

If I can do it, you certainly can too. 

Have a great day, readers. :)