Ivy Beanie & Pumpkins...

Getting back to my crocheting recently, I came across a couple of projects I'd started a long time ago...  I have no idea when.  The time was right so I set myself down to work on them this past week.

I was really glad to see this Ivy Beanie finished, but it's too small for the average adult, I think. Or maybe I just have a big noggin.  I imagine it would fit a preteen or maybe a small adult:

Then again, it could have been off-size because I made it a little differently than the designer did. The designer's instructions were to make the body of the hat first, then create the ribbing - attaching it as you make it.   But I  love the hats that Whistle & Ivy makes and how she creates the ribbing, then grows the hat from there.  So, I made a ribbing that would accommodate the 60 stitches that began the body and worked the hat up from that starting point.   It's a super easy pattern, though I couldn't make heads or tails of the designer's instructions for finishing off the top.  Fortunately, it's not difficult to cinch in a hat after you've made one or two.  And while I'm not intending to give this hat one, a pom pom would sit atop it very nicely.

I really don't mean to make it sound like I didn't like the pattern. My main reason for writing all I did above is to offer a disclaimer in case someone else makes this and wonders why they ended up with a hat that fit their big head when I didn't.  It could have just been the way I made it.  

All of that said, I love the stitch pattern.  It's very clever, and I think it makes a nice hat.  I'll be looking for a head to fit it soon.  😎

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And then I pulled out a half-finished crocheted pumpkin I think I might have started two years ago and finally whipped that baby together and then promptly started another: 

I plan to make a few before I attach button stems to them all.

There are numerous free patterns online for making crocheted pumpkins, but here are some to get you started:

Similar crochet pattern here, video tutorials here and here.

Different type of crochet pattern here

Things I do differently from the patterns and tutorials above:  1)  I use a size G hook with worsted weight yarn.  If I use smaller yarn, I use a a hook about 2 sizes smaller than what is called for on the yarn label.  2)  I begin with a magic loop, and 3) I keep a marker on my first stitch of each round and simply crochet in a spiral (this eliminates a join line).  Once you make one or two, you'll probably see how you can make these various sizes.  I'll explain that in next Sunday's post where I'll (hopefully) have some different sized finished pumpkins to show you.

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And lastly,  I 've been giving it thought and I've decided to try another month-long 30-Day Minimalism Challenge beginning on October 1st.

If you're curious, here's a video explaining it:

I'm still undecided if I will post daily, but I will plan to take daily pictures for sure.  It was greatly motivating last year when I did this, and part of the motivation was posting a daily progress picture. So we'll see.  It was surprisingly easy for me to successfully complete this challenge last year.  And we've certainly brought stuff into our house this summer that needs a good sorting; whether it's our own old stuff, or our recently acquired old stuff, some things have got to go!

Anyone want to join me?   This doesn't need much planning or forethought.  One will need to have a place to donate or otherwise take decluttered items to, so if your thrift stores are closed, this might not be the time for you, but seriously...  all it takes to begin is the desire.  The motivation will come with the doing.  Or not, possibly.  If motivation doesn't last, there's no harm in having tried.  And there's space in one's home to reclaim for any effort at all.  Let me know in the comment section if you'd like to do this and blog about it. I would love to follow your progress and cheer you on.  👍