Crochet "Frozen" Inspired Baby Sven Reindeer Hat

This is my crochet interpretation of "Baby Sven", the adorable and silly reindeer, inspired by Disney's hit movie, "Frozen".  I originally made this little cutie in newborn size but have since made it in toddler to child sizes.  I've also added a fleck of white to his eye for a little "something" extra.

All of Baby Sven's features are crocheted separately and appliqued onto the hat; his mouth, nose and ears include embroidery for a little extra detail; and I use double layers of yarn for his antlers, so they stand upright best as possible.

Here is a closeup of his facial features.  Just look at that sweet face!

Below on the left is the image I referenced when creating the Baby Sven crochet design.  I think it's the cutest picture I've seen of him so far.  To the right is a Disney version of his character, which is not quite as color-detailed as the other--but still very adorable, though!

I am very excited to share this crochet design with you because believe it or not, little Sven took a lot of work to assemble and quite a bit of research to attain just the right coloring and facial expression. But he was soooo worth it!

Wouldn't you agree that Sven and Olaf make an adorable pair?  I have fulfilled many Halloween and Christmas orders for this particular twosome.  

If you would like me to make a Baby Sven hat for your little one, please just click on one of the images above for the Etsy listing.  Please also feel free to visit my Etsy shop and browse around.

Thanks for visiting & reading my blog!

Crochet "Frozen" Inspired Olaf Hat

"Hi, I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"

This Olaf hat, inspired by the hit Disney movie, "Frozen" has been my favorite "Frozen" character hat to make so far.  I mean... Look at those eyes!  Don't they make you want to just hug him... or I guess part of him... okay, just his head if we're being literal here...

 

I crocheted lovable, warmhearted Olaf using baby-soft white yarn, orange yarn and cotton stuffing for his carrot nose, grey yarn to shape his mouth and eyes and black yarn to add his eyebrows and twig hair. All of Olaf's features are crocheted separately and appliqued onto the hat.  I also use very stiff yarn for his "stick hair" to ensure it stands upright.  This version was crocheted for a toddler girl, so that's why the scalloped border was added along the bottom of the hat.  For a more masculine version, I would crochet a straight edge.

Another cute version of him is with ear flaps and under-chin ties.  I've also made him with ear flaps and braids or with a side-buttoned chin strap.

Please feel free to click on any of Olaf's photos above for the link to his listing, or visit my Etsy shop for other ideas.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Crochet "Frozen" Inspired Anna Cap

This hat was inspired by Anna's snow cap in Disney's hit movie, "Frozen".  It was so much fun to recreate in crochet.  Of course there were a few design flaws that I worked through in the beginning, which resulted in one failed prototype, but I'm absolutely in love with the end product.  And so is my little princess!

The colors of this cap are based on the snowy movie scenes with Anna's nearly-magenta and dark purple trimmed cap and cape.

However, in performing my initial design research, I had not been thorough enough.  It wasn't until I posted a work-in-progress photo on Facebook that a friend pointed out a discrepancy in the colors.  At first, I was confused.  I thought maybe the colors simply hadn't photographed brightly enough in my photos because in-person, it looked so purple.  But then after consulting Mr. Google and oodles of other movie scene pictures, I realized the problem.  In the brighter scenes with Olaf, the magenta / bright violet of Anna's cap and cape was really evident.  Silly me for not noticing this before!

So back to the craft store I went, smartphone in hand with the exact photos to compare with the different shades of yarn...  Here's the prototype on my beautiful hat model.  She says she likes it anyway, so it wasn't a complete waste of time after all.  ;)

I took my daughter to the craft store with me this time.  Surely she, the "Frozen" fanatic, would spot the exact shades of purple with her keen eye for color in the "candy store" of the yarn aisles.  We were so excited when we finally spotted "the ones".  Only a true crafter or artist knows the pure elation of finding just the right color/texture/size element to make your project really come to life. Mentally, I was fist pumping into the air with crochet hook in hand.

Late last night (and I mean late--2 a.m.), the Anna-inspired cap was finished!  My hands just couldn't stop until it was done.

I crocheted the cap using super soft bright violet yarn and trimmed it with a sparkling plum yarn. There is a soft, fluffy lining along the top front.  Attached to the bottom are the braids, which are a combination of two shades of reddish-brown yarn to create a highlighted look, as well as Anna's signature white steak on her right side.

  

  

This hat is the second most popular of the "Frozen" themed hats I've created.  The Olaf-inspired hat is #1 so far.  

If you are interested in ordering this hat for your little princess, please feel free to visit my Etsy shop or click on any of the photos, which link directly to the listing.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Crochet "Lalaloopsy" Inspired Hat

This hat, inspired by the "Lalaloopsy" show's, Blossom Flowerpot character, was originally made for my daughter.  Blossom is her favorite Loopsy Land character.

This is one of the first hats I made her that received the most compliments.  Actually, it was the first hat that made me think I might actually have a chance at starting my own crochet business.

As in the show, Blossom has button eyes with embroidered eye lashes; appliqued flowers in her ringlet pigtails; appliqued rosy cheeks and an embroidered mouth. All the appliques are crocheted separately and added onto the hat.

As there are so many Lalaloopsy characters, I am willing to design a different Lalaloopsy hat inspired by another of your favorite characters.  All I ask is a small designing fee for this service.

Available in baby, toddler and child sizes at my Etsy shop.

Crochet "Lightning McQueen" Inspired Hat

This hat was inspired by the Disney "Cars" movie character,"Lightning McQueen."  I made the original version as a Christmas gift for my then three-year-old son, and he LOVED it.  He was a huge "Cars" fan at the time and still is... only now "Thomas the Train" has proven to be a close contender. Kids and their phases!

This hat requires a great deal of applique piecework and embroidery. McQueen's eyes are appliqued in the front with the "Rusteez" logo embroidered below. Lightning bolts are appliqued on each side with McQueen's race car number, 95, appliqued atop them. Then on the top of the hat, McQueen's race car number is appliqued. Also on the top of the ear flaps are appliqued race car wheels with red centers just like at the end of the original "Cars" movie.

This hat rendition of McQueen would please the biggest of little fans.  If you would like one made for your own fanatic, please feel free to visit my Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crochet "Despicable Me & D' Me 2"Minion Inspired Hats

My kids love the "Despicable Me" movies, so when I made them these minion hats, they were over the moon!

    

These hats are made to order in yellow or purple using soft acrylic yarn. The goggle eyes are crocheted separately and appliqued onto the hat; the mouth is embroidered; and the hair is added as the finishing touch. I am willing to design different minion styles per your preference, since there were so many variations of these cute guys in the movies. :)

These Minion hats will be undoubtedly adorable on your own little crazy minion(s)! :)

Available in baby, toddler and child sizes at my Etsy shop.

Crochet "Frozen" Inspired Elsa Coronation Day Hat

This is one of the most complicated hats I've crocheted so far.  This is my own design, is very detailed and labor-intensive yet so worthwhile.  As for the color, I chose off-white yarn because it's the only color I felt most closely matched Elsa's platinum blonde.

I created the hat by crocheting a beanie cap as a base and then crocheted the textural elements atop the "blank slate" beanie.  The hat actually has two layers now because of this, so that makes it not only texturally interesting but extra warm as well.  Then I carefully crafted the best resemblance of Elsa's side twist and bun that I could do using yarn.  Both the twist and bun are secured in place on the hat. 

The crown was crocheted using this FREE pattern.  For anyone who wishes to use this pattern in the future, there were a few problems with the way the pattern was written, but I figured it out.  

The first crown didn't turn out so well.  Because I didn't have gold (and I mean sparkling gold) yarn, I had the bright idea to use the same yarn as the hat and then paint it with gold fabric paint.  After 24 hours of waiting for the paint to dry and crossing my fingers that it would work, it ended up in the trash.  So off to the craft store I went in search of a different color/material...

(The original crown... Ick!)

The yarn I used for the second and final attempt was a pewter-blue color with multicolored sparkling threads throughout (Caron Simply Soft Party in Silver Sparkle).  I sewed a blue gem into the center loop of the crown and two shiny snowflake buttons on the bottom and then attached to the hat.

Visible in the below photo is the 1/2-inch brim along the bottom of the hat.  This helps secure the hat to the head and keep any hair tucked underneath if using for costume purposes. The brim can be worn exposed over the ears or tucked under per your preference.

I am so excited that the design of Elsa's coronation hair inspired hat is DONE! Yes, the crown isn't gold as in the movie, but it does fit Elsa's blue color scheme in other scenes.  I did a lot of market research and found many commercial suppliers promoting their own silver & blue products, so it seemed the most logical.  

My little princess loves the hat.  Even though she knows it's for someone else, she's tried playing dress-up with it a few times.  She has already requested her own for Halloween.  I take that as a good sign. 

It's elating to see my vision for the Elsa hat come to life.  It was also very rewarding to see the look on my daughter's face when she saw it for the first time.  That's validating enough for me!

UPDATE (10/29/2014):  I sold the first hat of this design to a lovely customer whose daughter was dressing as Elsa on Coronation Day.  Her little girl has a short bobbed haircut, so this hat was perfect for her to tuck her hair inside.  Her mama explained that she had looked everywhere online for a hat like this, and mine was the only one she found.  When I created this hat, I had this exact thought in mind.  My hope was that someone would find and appreciate it for its artistic value, and it turns out that someone does.  I am so glad to have designed this hat and that it found its way to a precious little girl to enjoy.  My cup overfloweth.  <3

If you're interested in having this hat made for your child or yourself, just visit my Etsy shop.  I also have available an Elsa Snow Queen hat if this style doesn't suit your preference.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog!

Crochet Little Lamb Baby Layette

This was a made-to-order baby layette set for a little boy.  My mother-in-law requested that I crochet a layette for her late husband's daughter, who was having a baby boy.  She suggested a lamb theme, and this is what I came up with.  I did not use a pattern--only my imagination.

While crocheting this set, I was overcome at times with emotion.  My stepfather-in-law had passed away just a few years prior, and I was sad that he'd never get to meet his new grandson.  Much in the way my father's passing in my early 20s affected me on my wedding day, the births of our children, many holidays and so many other life events; I empathized with his daughter.  He was also a very dear man in our family, who had done so much for us.  He taught us a great deal, he made us laugh and he loved us in his own way.  I was happy to return the favor by crocheting something lovely for his first grandchild.

The afghan & sweater were made using baby fingerling yarn.  Since the baby was due in the Spring, my mother-in-law and I thought a lightweight material would be perfect for warm spring or cool summer days.  The hat was made using super-soft Serenity Baby Yarn and trimmed in the same edging pattern and yarn as the afghan and sweater.  

I am so happy with how the afghan turned out.  It was really a simple stitch pattern, but it added such a nice textural element.  Looking at it makes me want to remake it in blue because to me, it resembles rippling waves.  Hey, maybe I will...  Another in memory of Bill and his harbor-view New London home...

Crochet Rose & Chocolate Baby Layette

This was a made-to-order baby layette for a customer, who wanted to a special gift for her dear friend.  Her friend's nursery colors were chocolate, light pink and rose. My customer simply told me to use my imagination to create something very feminine, as she said she trusted I'd create something beautiful.  Aww...  She got a hug for that.

I had a lot of fun creating the design.  I created my own pattern for the afghan and now only wish I had taken the time to write it down.

For the sweater, booties and bonnet, I referenced a well-loved and utilized pattern from an old, tattered magazine.  I have used that pattern so many times that it was imprinted upon my memory at that point.  I simply applied the same concept to the style of granny squares I had designed.

After the baby shower, my customer said her new mommy friend just adores the set.  As she opened it, it received many compliments.  Also, it matched her nursery perfectly!

Just knowing my work is appreciated makes me so happy.  :)

My Crochet Obsession

My obsession with crochet began at a young age.  As a small child, I would watch in fascination as my mother's and grandmothers' fingers would work magical wonders with a crochet hook and yarn. My grandmother would always keep a box of scrap yarn left over from her afghan projects, which I would gleefully roll into balls and gush over the array of textures and colors.  I think Grandma got as much amusement from watching my excitement as I had being the recipient.  Even now when I roll a ball of yarn, my thoughts turn to Grandma and her gentle way of teaching me the correct way to do it.

I started learning to crochet when I was just eight years old.  My mother and grandmother taught me the basics of how to hold the crochet hook and the yarn, making starting chains, making rows, changing colors, ensuring straight edges on squared projects, etc.  Then I hit the ground running from there.  I perused every crochet pattern I could get my hands on.  Whether it was my mother's and grandmothers' old crochet magazines, free patterns from the craft store yarn aisle or inside yarn skein wrappers...  I studied and studied all the different stitches and ideas.  And might I add that this was in the days of no Internet, when oodles of patterns weren't free for the taking online!

By the age of nine, I was making little button-fastened purses for cousins and friends, Barbie clothing, baby doll clothing, scrunchies and doilies.  For one of my elementary school science fairs, a teacher actually permitted me to exhibit my crochet work and gave me credit.  I remember adults passing by my display very impressed and asking if I'd make them something.

I made my first afghan when I was ten years old.  It was a simple pink and cream granny square pattern.  It's full of mistakes and probably not the prettiest of afghans, but it is still a treasured item.  Although it is now showing signs of wear and looking a bit unsightly with its pilling yarn and seams pulling apart, my daughter has fallen in love.  She sleeps with it every night and often uses it when she's playing "picnic" or dressing up in a superhero cape or pretty princess gown.  The reason she loves it, she says is, "Because Mommy made it when she was little."  Aww...  :)

When I see my little girl's fascination with rolling balls of yarn and her excitement when I make her something new, I notice the same gleam in her eye that I first had.  A little yarn is developing behind those gorgeous blue eyes, if I say so myself!  She loves to unravel yarn for me as I work on projects and ask questions.  At the age of five years old, she's in a sense already learning how to work with yarn.  In fact, just the other night as I was shaking out my cramped fingers, she held out her little hands and told me, "Here, Mommy.  Give it to me.  I want to do it for you."  Such a thoughtful girl...

I was crocheting when crochet wasn't "cool", but now I'm discovering crocheters and knitters everywhere.  How peculiar because I can recall countless times when others made fun of me or called me an "old grandma" for doing it.  Still, my heart leaps a bit when I find a fellow yarn crafter.  My how times have changed... yet again!

For me, crocheting has always been a creative outlet.  Now that I've been doing it for nearly three decades, I can comfortably say I'm a professional.  I am always working on something.  No matter the season of the year, my evenings are usually spent on the couch with hook and yarn in hand.  My husband and I joke that even when sitting still, I'm always busy.

Recently, I've decided to take my crocheting to the next level.  For years, my husband has encouraged me to sell my crocheting; and for years, I've declined for fear of forcing one of my favorite hobbies to feel like "work".  Sure, I have sold made-to-order projects in the past to close friends and co-workers but have never advertised my services to the general public.  That is... until now!  Now I have decided to just give it a chance and see what happens.  I'll never know unless I try!

I now have my own shop on Etsy called Creative Crochet by Becky!  Not only that, but I want to share my creations with the world via this blog!  I am just so excited about creating with crochet.  In the past few years, I've really broken through a crochet development barrier by not only creating my very own designs but beginning to write my own patterns.

On this blog, I'm sharing some of my favorite projects and links to my Etsy listings.  If anyone is interested, feel free to check out my shop and refer it to others.  Also in the event that a project featured on this blog is not listed in my Etsy shop, just send me a note via e-mail.  It's possible that we could work something out!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!  If anything in this recent venture, I hope to make new crafter connections and more friends.  Yarn lovers and crafters unite!

This is me wearing one of my projects, the City Girl Cap (aka Newsboy Hat).  :)

Crochet "Hello Kitty" Inspired Hat and Scarf Set

The Hello Kitty inspired hat is by far my most requested made-to-order item.  In close second is the Hello Kitty inspired scarf to make a complete set.  For the hat, I followed the pattern found here.  

The first set pictured below was made for twin little ladies.  They were so excited when they got their sets that they had to pose for a photo right away.  I just loved when their mama shared their big, broad smiles in their new winter gear.  How rewarding to know they enjoyed them so much!

For the Hello Kitty granny square at the ends of each scarf, I found the idea for the design here. Although there was no pattern available, I was able to improvise and recreate the square.  I like mine better anyway because the face shape is more full and round like the real Hello Kitty face.  Because I didn't want the rough applique stitches showing on the back of each kitty square, I made two for each end (four kitty squares per project).  Then after sewing on the eyes, whiskers and bow/flower, I sandwiched the "wrong" sides together to hide that part.  Doing that really gives the project a finished appearance.

As for the other scarf squares, I made nine 4-inch granny squares in the design of my choice in alternating colors. After sewing them into a long strip, I crocheted a double border around the entire scarf.

For the granny squares in the above scarves, I used the traditional granny square pattern.

 I used the traditional granny square pattern for this as well.

 The scarf above was my prototype, which I made for my daughter.  The pattern of the individual squares on the scarf is of my own design.

Here's a full-sized view of my daughter's scarf.  :)

I made this black Hello Kitty hat for my goddaughter, and she loved it.  

The hat can be made-to-order and purchased separately here.

The FREE "Nuthatch" granny square pattern used for the squares in this scarf can be found here.

The FREE Flower Garden Granny square pattern used above can be found here.