Spring has sprung !!

Recently, in one of my awesome swap group we were assigned an Easter basket swap.  Come to find out my partner is an older woman and I do believe that the basic Easter Bunny basket will not work. On that note, I have been scouring the internet for basic flower apliques and have found nothing that I like .  I have come up with these two cute basic flowers. The first flower is a rounded flower with two leaves. The second flower is a slightly larger pointed flower with three leaves. The flowers and the leaves are both worked separately and later sewn together. The items you will need for this project are:

Cotton yarn in yellow, blue and white. You can also use any worsted weight yarn.
G hook
Needle for sewing
**picot: ch2, slip stitch in first ch. **

Small flower

Using yellow Ch2
R1: 5 sc in first ch. Join in first sc. Fasten off weave ends. (5sc)
R2: Using blue, join with slip stitch at any sc, * ch1, hdc,DC,hdc,ch1, slip stitch in same sc, slip stitch in next sc*, repeat around in each sc. Join in joining ch. Fasten off leaving long tail for weaving.

Small leaves

Using green ch2
R1: 4sc in first ch, join in first sc.
R2: *ch5, slip stitch in first ch, sc in next, 2dc in next, hdc in next, sc in next, slip stitch in next, repeat * to* in each sc around. Join in join ch. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Large flower

Using yellow, repeat R1 of small flower
R2: *ch1, hdc,DC, picot,DC,hdc,ch1,slip stitch in same sc, slip stitch to next sc*. Repeat from * to * in each sc around. Join in joining ch. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Large leaves

Using green ch2, 5sc in first ch from hook, join in first sc.
R2: *ch7, slip stitch in first ch from hook, sc in next, hdc in next, 2 DC in next, hdc in next , sc in next, slip stitch in next 2 sc* repeat twice more for a total of 3 leaves. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Place flower directly on top of center of leaves and using tail from flower sew onto leaves. Using tail from leaves sew flower onto anything you'd like!

I hope you enjoy these patterns and share your projects on my Facebook page Mama Bee's Crafty Things and visit my Ravelry shop for more of my patterns.
***As always PLEASE DO NOT sell my patterns. You MAY sell items made from these patterns but please share a link to my page 💗💗💗

Ready for Fall

Is Fall here yet??? Nope, three more weeks till school starts and I am so ready for summer to be over with. This heat AND humidity is killer on my skin and hair. I find myself longing for the leaves to change colors and that oh so good smell of a fireplace at work. 
On that note, I want to share with you my cute little pumpkin pattern. It is the perfect decor that you can use all throughout the Fall season. I love displaying them on my mantle and I am sure you will too <3

Materials

H hook
Redheart With Love yarn in autumn orange and dark brown
Needle for weaving
Stuffing/fill

With Orange
Ch20
R1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each across,ch2,turn. (18)

*From here on out work each stitch in the top 2 stitches of previous hdc*
R2-22: hdc in same stitch and in each stitch across, ch2, turn.(18)

With WS facing you, slip stitch ends together and finish off leaving extra long tail for weaving. Flip inside out so RS is showing.

Weave tail around bottom edge as if making a drawstring bag and pull tight closing bottom.

With same tail weave top edge but before pulling tight fill with stuffing. Pull tight closing your pumkin. Using your needle sew the top close then push your needle through the middle out the bottom,pull tight and sew close bottom opening. Push your needle through the middle and out the top once more, pull tight ( this shapes your pumpkin) . Finish off/Weave in.

Stem

With drk. Brown

Ch 2
R1: 5sc in 2nd ch from hook (5)
R2: 2sc in eas around (10)
R3: sc in each around using back loops this round only (10)
R4-5: sc around (10)
R6: *sc2tog, sc in next*around (5)
R7: 2sc in each around (10)
R8: *2sc in next,sc in next* around(15)
R9: *2sc in next sc, sc in next 2*around(20)
R10: *sc in next stitch, ch3, sc in same stitch, sc in next 3 sc* around. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing

*as always please feel free to sell finished items but I do ask that you add a link back to this page <3

If you'd like to add a cute leaf to your pumpkin I found this super cute Fall pumkin leaf pattern. I worked it up in less than 5 mins.

I would love to see the pumpkins you work up using my pattern! Please visit my facebook page Mama Bee's Crafty Things .
Also if you love crochet and free patterns please join us over at The Crochet Menagerie <3 Till next time, ENJOY! xoxo

Little Sunshine Skirt

My little sunshine skirt popped in my head while making the mermaid tail last week  :-).
This is a cute little skirt that is super fast to work and easily made to any size.

Materials
Worsted weight yarn ( i used redheart in pale yellow and white)
H hook

Waistband

Ch6 sc across
R1-43: Working in back loops only ch1, turn, sc across. (add or subtract rows to adjust waist. This should fit a 6 month old)

Slip stitch ends together, ch1 and sc around,join
R1-4:ch1, sc,dc in same as join, *(sc,dc) in next stitch, skip next*around
R5: ch1 sc,dc in same stitch as join skip next stitch, *sc,dc in next, skip next* 4 more times, sc,dc in next 3 stitches, skip next, *sc,dc in next, skip next* 10 times, sc,dc in next 3 stitches, skip next, *sc,dc next, skip next*to join.join
R6: ch1, sc,dc in same stitch, skip next, *sc,dc in same stitch, skip next* around to join. Join
R7:ch1, sc,dc in same stitch, skip next, *sc,dc in next st, skip next*5 more times, sc,dc in next 3 stitches, skip next stitch ,*sc, dc in next, skip next* 10 times, sc,dc in next, skip next, across to join, join.
R8-9: ch1, sc,dc in same as join, skip next, *sc,dc in next,skip next*around, join.

R10: ch1, sc,dc in same as join, skip next stitch, *sc,dc in next,skip next* 7 more times, sc,dc in next 3, skip next, *sc,dc in next, skip next* 12 times, sc,dc in next, skip next in next 3 stitches,* sc,dc in next, skip next* to join. Join

R11-15: ch1, sc,dc in same chain as join, skip next stitch, *sc, dc in nextstitch, skip next* around to join, join.
Switch to white
R16: ch 2, 3 dc in same stitch as join, skip next stitch, slip stitch in next, skip next , *4 dc in next, skip next, slip st next, skip next* around, finish off and weave ends.

To adjust this skirt to any size just increase the length of the waistband and increase on the "sides" as I did in rows 5 and 7 and length.
And there you have it, my little sunshine skirt!
I just love how it came out and think it would look great in different colors and appliques.
As always please visit my facebook page Mama Bee's Crafty Things and post pics of your results <3. Or join us over at The Crochet Menagerie group on facebook. Till next time, Enjoy!

Pretty in the bloom hat

A few years ago a customer asked me to make a pretty hat for her daughter. I ended up designing my "In the bloom" hat. It quickly became a great seller in my shop and I'm sure it will in yours too!

Materials

Worsted weight yarn ( I used pink for the hat and white for the flower)
H hook
Yarn Needle

Hat
Ch 3
R1: 10 dc in 2nd ch from hook join in top of ch 3.
R2: ch2,  2 dc in each around, join in top of ch2
R3: ch2, dc in same dc as join, *dc in next, 2dc in next* around, join in top of ch2
R4: ch2, dc in same dc as join, *dc in next2 dc, 2dc in next*around, join in top of ch2
R5: ch2, dc in same dc as join, *dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next*around, join in top of ch2
R6-11 ch2, dc in each around, join in top of chain 2
R12: sc in each around, join
R13: ch2, (hdc,dc,dc,hdc) in same sc as join, skip next stitch, *hdc,dc,dc,hdc in next,skip next st, hdc,dc,dc,hdc in next, skip next st* around, join , fasten off and weave ends.

Flower
Starting with the color of the hat

Ch2
10sc in 2nd ch from hook, join

R1:* ch3,skip next stitch,slip stitch in next* 5x,join in top of first sc

R2: slip stitch into first ch3 space, *ch 1, sc,hdc,dc,dc,hdc,sc, slip stitch into next ch3 space,ch1, sc,hdc,dc,dc,hdc,sc* repeat around, join

R3: Working around the posts of the petals, ch4 sc around next post, *ch4 , sc around next post* around fasten off.

Join white at any ch4 , ch1 , sc, hdc,dc,tr,tr,dc,hdc,sc, slip stitch to next ch4* around. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing onto your hat.

And there it is, my In the Bloom hat. Please feel free to use in your shop as long as you mention the pattern is by Maw Beez <3

Here is a picture that a wonderful pattern tester made. And one that I made for myself <3. Stop by my facebook page Mama Bee's Crafty Things and post your hats  :-)  Till next time !

Puppies, kittens and mushrooms, oh my!

Back in 2011 when I decided to take my love for crochet a step further and open a "shop", I went searching for a unique pattern to be able to say,
BAM! Here's my work! 
I ended up stumbling the CUTEST puppy pattern EVER. Seriously when this pup debut at my shop orders were pouring in like crazy. And you can see why!

By Hook, By Hand ( www.byhookbyhand.blogspot.com ) is THE most awesomest craft page I have every found. Not only does it have the greatest crochet pdf patterns for free, she also offers amazing tutorials on everything from cloth dolls to how to make a doll house out of cardboard. Believe me when I say you will be lost for days on her site. Here is a side view of the Spaniel pup.

Isn't it so cute. There's so many things I want to make from the site but decided on the woodland scene.
I didnt have fun fur so I decided to make my own meadow and will share the pattern with you all.
Materials
Worsted yarn in green
G hook
Stitches used
Sc=single crochet
Sc2tog= single crochet 2 stitches together
Loop stitch ( click for tutorial)
Ch 30 sc in 2nd ch from hook and across
R1: ch1,turn ,  sc in next stitch,* loop stitch in next, sc in next* repeat across
R2-3 : ch1, turn, sc across
R4: ch1, turn, sc in first stitch, loop st in next 4 stitches, sc across to last 5 stitches, loop st in next 4 stitches, sc in last
R5-12: ch1, turn, sc across
R13: ch1, turn, sc across to last 5 stitches, loop stitch in 4 stitches, sc in last
R15: ch1,turn,  sc across
R16: ch1, turn, sc across to last 4 sc, loop st in next 3 stitches, sc in last stitch.
R17: ch1, turn, sc across
R18: ch1, turn, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 stitches, sc2tog
R19: ch1, turn, sc2tog, sc across to       last 2 stitches, sc2tog
R20: ch1,turn, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 stitches, sc2tog , join in last stitch, ch1 and sc all around, fasten off and weave in all ends

And theres my meadow!
I had lots of fun making the miniature mushrooms. And I think the fungus on the log and tree stump complete the whole scene.
I'd love to see your results and hear what you chose to make from By Hook By Hand. Please send to mawbeez@gmail.com. And last but not least is a Siamese kitten I made from her Kittens for Adoption set. Isn't it adorable! Stop by my facebook page Mama Bee's Crafty Things and share your work. Till next time!!!

Extra Extra Messenger!!

This is a pattern for a super cool,durable messenger bag. A client asked me to make her a bag to carry her childrens toys when they go to Grandmas. I came up with this. I like this bag alot because nothing slips through and its big enough to actually use in your daily routine. I hope y'all enjoy it!




Materials
2 skeins of Red heart with Love yarn in any color
J hook
Stitches used
Ch= chain
hdc= half double crochet
Dc=double crochet
Using J hook and working with two skins
Ch 100
Hdc in 3rd chain from hook , hdc across
Row 1-25 ch 3( counts as first hdc)
turn, hdc across
At end of row 25 do not fasten off.
 
Right now you should have a big rectangle shape. Lay with wrong side facing up.  Count back 60 spaces and  join with slip stitch, slip stitch down the side fastening off at end. Do the same for the opposite side.
If you'd like to make your bag with a little bit of texture; hdc in only the top 2 loops of each hdc. It will leave a nice ridge throughout every row giving your bag a slightly different look.
Strap
Working with two strands
Ch 90
Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and across, ch3 turn
Row 2: hdc across, ch 3, turn
Row 3: hdc across, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing
Now you can decorate your bag with any applique. I used a flower pattern from Tangled Happy. I am currently making one in red with a monkey applique for a friend who had twin boys.
The first picture is of my gray messenger bag for my customer. She really loved it! The hdc is tight enough so that nothing falls out or slips through. And by using two strands the bag is durable enough to last a long time.

When I decided I wanted to share this pattern I asked a couple nice gals to test my pattern for me.The second picture is by Terri over at Cozy Baby Crochet.

Awesome right!!?!! I love the embroidery work she used to decorate the cover. This shows how you can really make this bag your own. Feel free to comment if you have any questions. I would love to see your results. Please email mawbeez@gmail.com or visit my page Mama Bee's Crafty Things on facebook Till next time <3