Golden October dread tams & slouchy beanie hats

In Germany we call a sunny and warm October the "golden October", similar to an Indian summer here.
This slouch beanie was inspired by all the bright leaves colors soon to fall.

I love to start new projects ... and I dislike finishing them. These tams could have been listed weeks ago, but better late than never:)

I don't get tired of making these patchwork tams, they turn out differently each time and I won't know the overall look until the rim has been finished. Predictable can be boring, and I love surprises.

A different version with a wool blend as 2nd strand.

 

This improvised star tam is a prime example of procrastinating. Finally listed on Etsy.

Extreme bulky yarn, but wonderfully soft and casual. A tam of my "blue hat period".

A crocheter's dream

Someone on my crafting group board posted a link to an ad on Craigslist NH.
Yarn and more yarn...up for grabs $1 a skein.
Pictures like this make my adrenaline rush and I can imagine going through all these totes and picking several hundred dollars worth of wools.
(Some people including my husband may be happy that New Hampshire is not within my reach).
The ad is here (if you happen to be a yarn addict and live in this area)

Here is a free crochet tam pattern of mine

Hi, from time to time I get requests to sell my hat patterns.
I don't write down patterns in a conventional way. I make a quick sketch and note number of rows as a future reference for me, that's it. I am a visually oriented person when it comes to comprehension, I always learned with diagrams.
In the past I wrote down 2 patterns in the conventional way.
If you happen to stumble upon the pattern tutorial that I had posted last year and have questions, please send me an email.
I had an anonymous poster repeatedly ask questions about it, but I can't reply back to you without an email address or other way of contact.
Recently I wrote one pattern down because I had a request for it.
I will share it hear today...maybe it will help you get your own tams started. I have learned a lot online from tutorials and now it's time to give back and contribute.
BUT, I kindly request not to use this pattern to create items to sell online, please feel free to copy it if you sell the tams locally only.
Patterns are great for inspiration. I personally cannot follow someone else's pattern, it never works out right and I collect patterns for the sake of collecting and looking at the beautiful pictures.

Voila:

4 chain stitches, close with a slip stitch.
1. Row:chain 2 (counts as first dc) and crochet 15 dc into the ring (16 dc total), close with slip stitch as throughout the whole pattern.
2:2dc in each dc (total 32)
3. *1 dc in dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat until end
4. *1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat to end
5. *1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 2dc in next dc* repeat to end
6. *1 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 2dc in next dc* repeat to end

I used Vanna's choice acrylic yarn, hook I (9mm), I have enough width for my crown now, you can increase more or less according to your yarn

Now I continue with V-stitches
(4 chain stitches, 1 dc in same space *skip 2dc, 1dc in next dc, 1 chain stitch, 1 dc insame dc, skip 2 dc* repeat to end)
Next row you crochet the *dc-chain-dc* into the space of the chain stitch, if you use a different color, you get the zig-zag-effect.)
I crocheted 6 rows, but you can do more or less. No increase or decrease of stitches.

Next row: SC only and I crocheted 6 SC and then crocheted the next 2 SC together (decrease made). Repeat throughout row.
Next row: I made simple v-stitches: *skip `1 SC, 2 dc in next single crochet, skip next SC* repeat to end
Final rows: single crochet, decrease after 6 SC, I usually make 3 decreasing rows, last row in crab stitch without decreasing.
Can be adjusted to your head circumference, decrease more or less.

I hope this made sense:)
Good luck!

I had a complaint from my back

It had a serious talk with me, about never taking a weekend off, crocheting until 10pm almost every week night, staring at the monitor in an unnatural upward position and...
Fact is I was unable to move properly for 2 days, my neck was stiff, hard knots in my shoulder muscles and pain shooting into my head and arms.
Crocheting may be an otherwise pretty safe work, but when overdone, it's not the best ergonomical activity for the body.
An afternoon in the couch, early stretching out in bed and watching the olympics (for a change) and just staying off the pc did the trick. I am in pretty good shape again.
Listening to your body can keep serious muscle and bone problems away if you give in, at least for a few days. Sales are nice, but sometimes 2 days off are worth more than money can buy.

I had finished this cotton and soy silk tam before my un-voluntary break. Going on my website these days.

Blumenkinder? Thinking about opening a new Etsy shop.

(UPDATE: I got my shop up and running...check it out here)
I registered an account with Etsy called BLUMENKINDER (German for flower children, a friendly expression for 1960s hippies, but you can take it literally as well and it will refer to children and flowers)
I cannot retrieve my pictures of children clothes that I had uploaded to my photobucket account some years back when I was selling under my ID retrochicboutique on Ebay.
Many crochet outfits, hats, bright and cheery.
But I found this little flash intro on my About Me page and copied it to show off some work of the past.
Blumenkinder would have a different concept though, less mainstream, more eco-conscious, pretty Little Hippie Mama designs. Still thinking about it, as another shop will be a lot of additional work, but vintage style crochet girls clothes still intrigue me until this day.

Truly WEARABLE Art in Crochet -- AnnieBriggs, a personal favorite

AnnieBriggs
has been in the crochet clothing & accessories business for quite a while, but it has not been until recently that I stumbled upon her creations listed on Etsy.
When I spotted one of her jackets in her forum avatar I instantly clicked on the image of a, what I would call a Bohemian inspired crochet jacket, beautifully handmade in cotton crochet and accentuated with fabric ties. Besides jackets she also creates skirts, tunics, tops and hats and smaller accessories, mainly for women, but also some girl clothing.
Most appealing to me is that her sweaters are extremely wearable and versatile. I could imagine myself wearing them with jeans, casual skirts or any elegant attire (what I usually don't wear, but it all seems possible). Some high-end designers incorporate crochet into their lines, but at times I doubt the functionality of see-through dresses or tops unless you are super-skinny or 18 and coverage is no subject. AnnieBriggs' crochet on the other hand looks functional and runway-worthy.
When I conversed shortly with Annie she revealed that she may soon persue a different career outside of the craft world. And close her crafting business. If you like her crochet fashion you should act quickly and visit her website and Etsy shop. If I didn't have a huge sum of money invested in all my inventory (yarn) and if I couldn't crochet, I would order the jacket above. Most definitely! (But, since I have all my yarns and call myself professional crocheter, I guess I will just have to make a BoHo jacket for myself soon.) Hope it will turn out at least half as pretty as Annie's.

Crochet & Knit Artist MyLittleCityGirl -- Sharing some awesomeness

I don't have any news, Sid had surgery and we just hang out at home.
A great chance to share knitters/crocheters who I have been admiring for years.
I don't consider them competition, but inspiration and role models who have proven that crochet & knit can actually be sold online for big $$$.
Since I used to crochet a lot of girls garments during the past few years, I have come across this exceptional seller:
MyLittleCityGirl
is one of these ultra-talented people. Her designs are unique, funky and just beautiful. The quality impeccable. I have watched her auctions over the years on Ebay. I believe she gave crochet and knit a completely new definition of wearable art.
I will make a mini series about outstanding fiber artists over the next few days. Check back for more.

And the beat goes on...

This Sunny & Cher song was in my head when I rushed back from the accountant appointment, taxes are done . A milestone every time in March, to move on with life and just go back to the routine. I love my routine.
This warm brown and dark red tam is a hat design I have done very often over the years, and yet, it's still fun to crochet.
Available on my website Purple Sage Designz

Spring is on my mind! What is better to express my longings for a nice warm breeze then with a lavender doily cotton tam?
Available on Purple Sage Designz

Color...I am crocheting "out of the box" these days. I love unusual color combinations and a bit of boldness.
Rust and dark citrine tam...available at my Etsy shop

I still love the Irie color combo and have made this Jamaica inspired tam.
You can read more about it in my Etsy shop

A Mix of Winter and Spring

Ponca City, OK

25°F
Cloudy
Wind: N at 12 mph
Humidity: 80%

Today

Ice on roads and walk ways should be forbidden at the end of February:)
As an accessory and clothes maker I have been thinking spring ever since Christmas was over, ha!
Far away from reality. More out of lack for any better ideas I was working on some warmer scrap hats and listed them on Etsy and my website.
A good move after all. Some have already sold.
So, should I wish for spring or hope that winter will make us freeze a little bit longer? The first choice would be so good for my sun-seeking warmth-loving personality, the latter beneficial for my business. How should a hat crocheter decide?

Tam for starter dreads or short hair

Variety is key. I made a smaller tam design to accommodate those buyers who have just started out growing dreads or who don't have a lot of hair to tuck into their hat. This hat style will be ideal to offer in custom colors.
(Design of the day Feb 2008, something new and fresh every single February day).
BTW, we have 75F today, gorgeous day outside. I ran across town, got a hair cut, bought alpaca wool and snacks.
Tomorrow the forecast has announced snow, so, I better enjoyed it while I can:)

Every day is different

I am pretty much stuck at home today, without 4-W-D. Yesterday I had set my mind on spring crafts and was going to retire my thick yarns until next fall, but life in general and the weather are just so unpredictable. I sold about 6 hats within a few short hours.

I started a shopping bag made with recycled grocery plastic bag and it really was a struggle first since it's a completely new medium to crochet with. It doesn't have any give like yarn and I have set the half-finished bag to the side for now and I am back to make new hats.
As always, I use my own patterns and construction methods since I have crocheted for so many years, but I got inspiration and ideas on how to prepare the plastic yarn at Needlepointers.com

It's getting cold outside

and it's time to list the warm chunky wool blend tams. This walnut brown unisex dread-lock beanie tam is available at Purple Sage Designz
We stocked up on rock salt today because ice, snow and sleet have been announced in our weather forecast. After last year's unusual cold and severe winter I had hoped it would be easy this year...o well.
On a lighter note, I found a few pine cones from our own pine tree in the front yard and decorated my Christmas candle basket. So pretty and natural, I just don't like store bought decorations anymore. Pictures will come soon.