French Press Cozy

I was looking all over for a french press cozy, and couldn't find one that would work. So I decided to figure one out on my own.

Here is the pattern, hope you enjoy it!

French Press Crochet Cozy
I Hook
100% Cotton Sugar and Cream
2 buttons
sewing needle
DMC floss

Measure your Presses length and width around. Mine measured 4 inches high, and 12 1/2 width around. I ended up doing 13 inches around, but if I make it again I will do 13 1/2 to have more than enough room for the buttons.

Chain enough ch stitches till you get to your height measurements.
Row 1: Turn and single crochet in second chain from hook, and in each ch across. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, HDC in first SC, and in each SC across. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, DC in first HDC, and in each HDC across.

Repeat Rows 1, 2 & 3 in this sequence until your piece measures to the width you would like, Ending with the ROW 3 DC. Ending with a DC row will make it so you don't need to make button holes.

 Finish off and weave in the ends.

Measure your piece around your press, and make a note as to where you would like to place your buttons.
Sew on 2 buttons, one on the top, and one on the bottom with DMC floss. I used smaller buttons so that they fit nicely into the DC holes.

Let me know how your press cozy turns out, I know that mine will come in very handy, and the cotton that I used matches my kitchen! :)

Current Crochet Projects?

So, what is everyone working on right now?
I don't know what it is about this time of year but I come to a complete block as to what project I want to complete next! I just re organized my yarn, It's now in 3 18 gallon totes, and 2 wicker laundry baskets in the closet! Besides the bags that I have with yarn in them for projects I really want to do! So, now's the time to start on burning through that stash right? Well, I'm at a stand still as to where to start. I thought about taking a book and making every pattern in it, blogging about my progress and the projects I complete. I also thought about joining a crochet a long on ravelry. And, my Mom is going to love this one.... I even considered trying to learn to knit again!
SO, I would LOVE to hear from all of you as to what you are working on right now, or how you get through the artistic blocks and winter blues!

Winter 2010, my total crochet meltdown!

Have you ever had a total crochet meltdown? I have so many projects I want to do, and can't seem to pick one to work on.

This winter has been so depressing. We live in the northwest, a stones throw away from Canada. We are use to tons of snow and a winter wonderland. Instead it's been raining, and raining, and raining. Could the lack of snow be the reason for my non commitment to a project?

Lately all I want to do is cook gluten free goodies, and eat them ALL! I'm never going to be able to fit into that crochet shell that I made myself this fall, sigh....

I have also been playing with paper again, and my new cricket that was given to me by my wonderful husband, for my 38th birthday in December. I've been making all sorts of different things that I will be showing you soon, but the yarn has really been calling my name.

I have a pattern idea for Alice Cullen wrist warmers, maybe that is what my first project should be? As most of you know, I do not get along with knitting needles, just like crochet hooks and my Mother do not get along. So I saw a knitting loom Alice Cullen wrist warmer pattern by Vickie Howell and thought, maybe I might get along with a knitting loom, seems easy enough. Well $5.35 cents later, and a lot of frustration, it was chucked across the room, making the bird fly off of his cage, which the cats utterly loved, it was a knitting loom, yarn, feathers and fur frenzy! So much for getting along with a knitting loom!

So until tomorrow, hopefully the start of a new day will help me to decided what to do about this whole, rainy, depressing, crochet, predicament.

New paper treats in my etsy shop, a bit of vintage for valenties day.

I had quite a big of fun making vintage valentines today for etsy. I even listened to 40's music on sirius to get me in the mood, which actually really helped!
It's nice to be working with paper again, but I am also working with yarn, and have one new hat pattern to put up for free in the coming days, my son called it the elmer fudd hat, so keep a look out for it this weekend.
I am also developing a long wrist warmer pattern that will hopefully look like the knitted version that Alice Cullen wears in New Moon. I'm really excited about this one, and can't wait to get it done.
In the mean time check out what new paper treats I have in my etsy shop Cozi at home designs.
Please let me know what you think, I love to hear from you on my new projects!

Crochet Hat Patterns Sold Here!

I have been getting requests to buy my patterns, so besides having them up on etsy and ravelry, I just put my hat patterns on here with a paypal pay button! I will be adding my fingerless gloves and choker pattern sometime today.

I am also almost done with a new hat pattern! It's a combination of a newsboy cap with earflaps! I made some for family this Christmas, and they were a big hit! So come back to check it out.

TAKING IDEAS.....

What do you want to see patterns for? I have some ideas, but would like to get ideas from all of you. Please e-mail me or post comments, I'm excited to hear what you all have to say!

New Years Changes.

Instead of resolutions, which I always seem not to accomplish. I decided to make CHANGES to my life for 2010.
I read this article on a blog recently "Zen Habits". You can find it in my favorite blogs bar on the right side of this page.
So here ya go, I am personally going to follow this myself so that the changes I make will be permanent.

6 Changes

Choose 6 habits for 2010. I'll help you form them.
Read more. Free ebook soon. Also read: The Power of Less.

December 15, 2009

The 6 Changes Method

So how does the 6 Changes method work?

It’s simple:

1. Pick 6 habits for 2010.
2. Pick 1 of the 6 habits to start with.
3. Commit as publicly as possible to creating this new habit in 2 months.
4. Break the habit into 8 baby steps, starting with a ridiculously easy step. Example: if you want to floss, the first step is just to get out a piece of floss at the same time each night.
5. Choose a trigger for your habit - something already in your routine that will immediately precede the habit. Examples: eating breakfast, brushing your teeth, showering, waking up, arriving at the office, leaving the office, getting home in the evening.
6. Do the 1st, really easy baby step for one week, right after the trigger. Post your progress publicly. (Read more.)
7. Each week, move on to a slightly harder step. You’ll want to progress faster, but don’t. You’re building a new habit. Repeat this until you’ve done 8 weeks.
8. You now have a new habit! Commit to Habit No. 2 and repeat the process.

I go more into this method in the free ebook - you’ll be able to download it soon.

For more on successful habit change technique, as well as ways to simplify your life and become more effective, check out my book, The Power of Less.

New hat patterns in my etsy shop!

I've been really busy and having fun writing up patterns to sell in my etsy shop. The two newest are the radical helmet hat & the fun like totally bomber hat.
The bomber hat is done in 4 pieces, the main hat, then the ear flaps and front flaps are done in separate and sewed on. You could also use felted sweaters for the flaps, I am planning on doing this in the next week, and will post pictures when I'm done.

If you are interested in purchasing these patterns please go to my ETSY shop, (Click on etsy to go to my shop).

Two new crochet patterns in my etsy shop!

I've been really busy today making up two of my most favorite patterns. I'm just really getting into putting my patterns to paper, and it's not as hard as I always thought it would be! So I wrote up 2 new patterns today, one for a coffee cup cuff (as shown above), and the other for a rockin' ski beanie.
The cuff is very simple to make, and looks so nice with a little bit of a bubble effect to it, along with a little lacy. The button hole is very easy to make, and I had a blast making these and using up all my vintage buttons that I have gotten throughout the years. You can really make them in different themes depending on the colors of yarn and the buttons you use.

A Fast and Easy rockin' ski beanie.

My 14 year old kept asking me to make him a rockin' beanie, so I finally had him show me what it was. Basically the kids are taking old ski hats and not folding up the bottom, which leaves it long on the crown. I decided to make up a beanie pattern, and then make it longer to look like a rockin' hat. My son loves it because it's cool lookin', and keeps his noggin nice and warm under his ski helmet.

If you are interested, both patterns have been put up in my etsy shop, and on ravelry.

Gluten Free Disney Coconut bars & Homemade Cocoa Mix.

I have been wanting to make homemade cocoa mix for awhile, so I made one up from Martha Stewart's website. Not sure if I like it yet, It for sure needs something else, more sugar? not sure.

Anyway, click HERE to get the recipe from Martha's site.



Today was my holiday baking day. I only got through 3/4 of it before I pooped out. Tomorrow will be gluten free cookies day.
I did change one of our favorite recipes to make it gluten free thou.... So here it is.

Disney's Chocolate Coconut Bars
3 c. GF Gingersnap cookie crumbs.
2/3 C. Butter, melted
1/2 C. Sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
4 1/2 C. Sweetened Flaked Coconut
1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. Pecans, chopped
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
Red & Green Jimmies or Sprinkles

Preheat over to 325. Line 13 x 9 pan with foil, enough to overhang sides, coat with pam. Combine crumbs, butter, sugar, & cinnamon. Press onto bottom of pan.

Combine coconut, chips & pecans. spread evenly over crumbs mix, pour milk over coconut mixture, sprinkle with jimmies.

Bake 30 minutes, or until light brown. Cool. Use foil to lift from pan.

The Golden Snitch Ornament

I was searching on Ravelry today for what to do with all this cotton yarn that I have. Until today I have only made different dishcloths with it. This is getting kinda boring.
Behold, I found the perfect little project to work up while watching a harry potter movie today. And what's great is that we have an ornament of Harry catching the golden snitch.
So I got to work making my snitch with some sparkle bernant handicraft for the wings, and yellow peaches and cream for the ball. If you are interested in making one of these very simple ornaments to go http://www.innerchildcrochet.com/patterns/the_golden_snitch.php. While your there, make sure you check out some of her other patterns.

New Pattern... Bomber Hat!

I have been going crazy, trying to make a bomber hat from several different patterns. I finally threw up my hands and wrote my own.
Very simple, and the lining pieces are made separate, and then sewn on using a blanket stitch. I'm thinking about making a full lining to see how it would turn out. For sure not something I really want to do because it will take more than one night, so it doesn't fall under my... "Instant Gratification" terms for crochet projects, but I guess you need to step outside the box every once in awhile.
I have posted this pattern in my Ravelry & Etsy Shops.

Well, now that I spent the day writing a new pattern, tomorrow it's clean the house day, and make Christmas goodies day! I'm already tired just thinking about it!