E-Reader Case Crochet Pattern

As my last post said, I love to read. Love it. Always have, most likely always will. I am not, however, one of those book purists who are anti-technology. I love to read; I do not love holding open a book. I feel like I'm breaking the book every time it gets the crease in the binding. Sometimes I like to read on my back, and then I have to hold the book with both hands. Physical books are exhausting, guys. And they take up space. I mean, more power to you if you want a million of them lying around. I get the appeal. However, we have enough of a problem with clutter in our house that the only books I want laying around are kids books. I fully accept the joys of the e-reader.

This is not a post reviewing a specific e-reader, although I've used both Nook and Kindle. This really is a crochet pattern post. But there are so many people vehemently opposed to e-readers out there that I feel like I have to justify my position. I also count it a success any time I get someone to invest in an e-reader. Because that's what they are, people: an investment. If you read a lot, they're so worth it.

Anyway. Justification over. Consider an e-reader.

When I first got my Kindle, I got a nice hard case that it snaps into and has a magnetic on/off feature. It was pretty awesome until after six months the edge of the flap that connects the front to the back started to break. Now the flap won't stay connected, and it doesn't do the magic on/off thing when I open and shut it. I tried buying a new one, but it had a problem where it would turn the screen off when the flap was flipped to the back. So, I'd be reading, and my screen would shut off. Super awesome. Yeah. Apparently (I learned from reading more reviews after I had the problem with the new case), this is a huge problem with this kind of case. So I did what I should have done in the first place: I made my own case.

And it's pretty.

I love the yellow. It's so bright and cheerful, and it is stands out visually. This was pretty important to me because Kindles/e-readers are usually dark grey or black. And I have a grey couch and a grey bedspread, and they disappear into there quite easily. And I'm not a super graceful person, and I don't always see things and said things sometimes break. I did not want to break my Kindle. I had already broken my Nook. Another story for another day. Anywho. This case does not blend into my dark furnishings. Or anything. It stands out. Very stylishly.

Kindle Case Crochet Pattern

I Hook
Normal acrylic yarn (I used my beloved I Love This Yarn! Go figure.)

1. Ch 21. Sc in second ch from hook and across. In last ch, make 3 sc, then continue around the back of the ch. When you get all the way back around, put 2 sc in last st, and connect to first sc. 
2. Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Now you'll start working in the round. Sc into the first sc.
3. Mark the sc you just made with your handy dandy stitch marker, or bobby pin, or whatever it is you use. Continue sc-ing around for 5 rounds. Once again, don't connect.
4. Ch 1. [Sk one sc. 2 dc in next.] Repeat around. Once you reach the end, connect to the first dc with a sl st. 
5. Ch 1. Sc once. Put your st marker in that sc. Now sc around in rounds again for 3 rounds.
6. Repeat 4.
7. Repeat 5.
8. Repeat 4.
9. Repeat 5.
10. Repeat 4.
11. Repeat 5.
12. Repeat 4.
13. Ch 1. Sc once. St mark that last sc. Sc around for 5 rounds. Connect to the first sc with a sl st. Weave in your ends, and you are done. Bask in the sense of accomplishment you feel in making such a useful and pretty object.

Note: This can easily be changed to work for any size e-reader or tablet. All you need to do is change the number of chains you start with.

Kindle Unlimited Review

Note: I have received no compensation for writing this review. I just think it's a product worthy of review.
...Another note: The pattern for the crocheted case that you can kind of see underneath is coming soon. :)

I love reading. I have a slight obsession. As in, I read way more than I probably should. Surprisingly, however, I didn't jump at Kindle Unlimited when it first came out. I really only got it when there was a Cyber Monday deal last year to get a discounted Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Unlimited for six months. Now that I've had it for eight months (because of the month-long trial and continued subscription), I feel like I can write a review.

Guys, I love it. For $10 a month, you can read up to ten books at a time, and there are lots of options. Not anything really big, but enough to sate my addiction. I'm always surprised by how many books are available.

Because I personally know an author listed on Kindle Unlimited, I can tell you that authors do get paid when their books are read, but only if the reader finishes at least 10% of the book. So, I try to finish at least that much when I read, but I don't always since some books just aren't good.

There are plenty of highly rated books on the list, and plenty that aren't. I feel like there really is something for everyone, except the people who only want to read health cookbooks. There aren't a ton of good options for those people.

One thing I love is that there are TONS of cute, full color children's books. They don't really work on normal Kindles, but they do on any tablet or computer through the app. Heck, I used the Kindle app on my phone, and we have hours of amusement from that. The only problem is, once again, the ten book limit. You have to kind of cycle through the books you've already...what word am I looking for? Rented? That's essentially what it is, but they don't call it that.

There's one other cool feature that Kindle Unlimited supposedly has, and that's that some books also have an audio version. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get this to work with my phone. My Kindle is new and doesn't have the option for sound, and it doesn't appear to work with the app on my tablet, either. I think it's probably a problem with the app rather than Kindle Unlimited, but I'm kind of disappointed that I couldn't get it to work. It would be nice to listen to a book while I work out.

Final verdict. I highly recommend Kindle Unlimited for those who love reading. For the price of about two ebooks, you can read unlimited (hehe) number of books. Are all of them great? No, but there really is a great variety. Are you going to be able to read the hottest new releases? Not most of them. But still. I think it's a great value. I'll be keeping my subscription. :)

Welcome, Summer!

It's May, but it's rainy and cold where I live. I think I was meant to live in Oregon or Washington, though, because I LOVE rainy days. I think they're beautiful. I'm not one of those that finds them depressing. I could sit on my porch watching the rain for hours.

BUT, not everywhere gets to enjoy the lovely rain, and someone asked that I make a summer sign. This is what I came up with. :)

This one actually has a transparent background.

Anyone interested in different colors? I can change them up and post some others. :)

Grateful Turtle

After I did the octopus, I knew that I wanted to do another cute little animal "card," and I tried a penguin. Which was a complete mess. I need to hone my penguin. After that failure, I decided on a turtle.

I feel like it's both different and similar to the octopus. It's not so cartoon-y, but the speech balloons kind of tie them together. Your thoughts?

I don't mind if you use this for yourself or for non-commerical use, but please don't sell it or claim it as your own. Thanks!

Friendly Octopus Card

Lately, I've been really interested in learning to do hand lettering. I have decent handwriting overall, and I thought it'd be fun to improve on it. I've been looking into it and playing around with lettering. There are so many cute ideas out there! Search for hand lettering on Pinterest sometime, and you will be awarded with hundreds of tutorials and ideas.

I was trying to do something fun and interesting with different lettering, but there wasn't really anything creative about what I was doing - I was kind of just copying what I had seen elsewhere. But then I decided to try doing a cute birthday card. Yeah, didn't work out. My balloons were turning out really funky for some reason. They looked like octopus heads. Then, LIGHTBULB. My Friendly Octopus card was born. I drew it by hand and then cleaned it up and colored it in GIMP (a free Photoshop-like program). I think it turned out pretty cute. :)

This was the first one I colored. After I finished it, I realized that it kind of looks like an octopus that washed up on the sand. Not a super happy sight...but hey. At least the colors are cute, right?

I like this one. It has fun, complementary colors.

I had to do one super bright color, right?

Here's the plain, white one if you didn't like my colors. Make it how you like it. :)

I don't mind if you use this for yourself or for non-commerical use, but please don't sell it or claim it as your own. Thanks!

Crochet Oven Mitt

When I go to Hobby Lobby, I like to check the clearance yarn. I often get really good deals on my beloved I Love This Yarn! brand this way. Without fail, the one kind of yarn I always find in the clearance section for really cheap is the funky, ruffle-y yarn. I, for some reason, threw away the wrapper, and I can't remember what brand it was, so...sorry. The closest I can find is the sashay yarn by Red Heart, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't Red Heart. Here is a picture, though.

Does it look familiar? ANYWAY. Long story short I've never really found a use for this yarn. Then, I thought, "Hey, this yarn - when not pulled apart - is kind of like bulky yarn. I bet I could use it in bulky yarn projects." So I bought it. And had zero inspiration of something to make with bulky yarn. Until I realized that my oven mitts are starting to die. Like, holes right by the thumb, where hot stuff touches all the time. Great place for a hole, I know. Now, I've tried making hot pads with normal cotton yarn, and it is just not thick enough to protect your hands. You have to double it up (a pattern for this is coming soon). I wanted to try bulky yarn, but it's fairly expensive compared to normal yarn. SO, I decided to use my funky yarn. Whoo.

It took two skeins of the stuff, but my hand is fully protected in this giant oven mitt. Really. It's big. It fits my husband's hands, and they are GIANT.

This is made with plain ole double crochets, but, because the yarn is so thick, it looks like I did something special to it. 

Crochet Oven Mitt Pattern:

Yarn: the weird yarn I described earlier or (I imagine) normal bulky or super bulky yarn.

Hook: 10 mm hook. I think this is a "P" hook, but the writing has rubbed off, so I'm not 100% sure.

For this pattern, when I say "inc," it means "increase" - which means 2 dc in that st. When I say "7dc," or something like that, I mean to dc in the next 7 sts. Don't make 7dc in one st. 

You're going to start with a magic circle, which is a fun challenge with the big yarn. If you're not comfortable with those, just chain three and make the eight double crochets into the first chain (the other two chains will NOT count as a dc). If you are, great. 8 dc in the magic circle. Join.

Ch 2. 2 dc in each st around. Join.

Ch 2. [Inc, 7dc] twice. Join.

Ch 2. Dc around. Join.

{Ch 2. [Inc, 8dc] around. Join} do this twice, and then fasten off.

Join 2nd color 3 sts before where you fastened off. Ch 2. 3dc. Ch 8. Sk 1 st (this includes the knot where you fastened off). This will create the thumb hole. Dc the rest of the way around. Join.

Ch 2. Dc around, including 1 in each of the 8 chs.

Ch 2. 5dc. Dc2tog. 10dc. Dc2tog. 6dc. Join.

Ch 2. 4dc. Dc2tog. 10dc. Dc2tog. 5dc. Join.

Ch 2. 4dc. Dc2tog. 4dc. Dc2tog. 3dc. Dc2tog. 2dc. Dc2tog. Join.

Ch 2. Dc around. Join. Fasten off.

Join into the open thumb hole you created earlier. Sc around. Make four rounds of sc before you start sc2tog-ing until the thumb hole is pretty much closed. You can either sew it closed, or just kind of sl st it closed. Just go with what you feel. And then fasten off and weave in your ends.

What do you think of the pattern?

Hexagon Baby Blanket

So, my cousin is having a baby soon, and her shower is on Saturday. I decided to make her a blanket, and since I love hexagon "squares," that was what I used to make her blanket. 

She's having a boy, so I decided on some pretty bold colors. Although, I think they would really work for girls, too. But baby girls generally get boring pale colors, a tradition I intend to break if I ever have a girl.

I used Red Heart Love yarn...because I was at Walmart when I bought the yarn, and I liked the colors and the yarn was passably soft. Having worked with it now, I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I reminds me of the texture of the Lion Heart Vanna's Choice yarn. Good not great. It's just not as soft as my beloved I Love This Yarn. Another note: I used three skeins, and they combined to barely make one baby-size blanket. And it's a newborn size blanket. Keep that in mind if you decide to use their yarn.

Hexagon Baby Blanket

Yarn: Acrylic
Hook: J

If you've ever made a granny square anything, this is very similar. You'll make a bunch of hexagons, and you'll combine them together in whatever pattern you want. You will be using a cluster stitch a LOT. And here it is:

Cl: Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, draw through a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, draw through another loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, draw through a loop, yarn over, pull through all loops.

If that seems like a lot of yarning over, it is. But it works up quickly.

Hexagon pattern:
Ch. 4. Join to 1st ch with a slst to form a ring. Ch. 2. [Cl, ch. 2] 6 times in ring. Connect to first cl with a sl st.

Ch 2. *[Cl. ch 2. Cl.] Ch 1.* around. Connect to first cl with a sl st.

Ch 2. *[Cl. ch 2. Cl.] in the same st. Ch 1. Cl. Ch 1. Cl. Ch 1.* around. Connect to first cl with a sl st. Fasten off.

Join the second color in any corner. Ch 2. *[3dc, ch 1, 3dc in the corner]. 3dc in each ch1sp.* around. Fasten off.

Make as many hexagons as you need to make the size you want. To join your hexagons together, I like this method. But I ended up doing my own version of this method because I couldn't remember how to properly do it. My way definitely creates an edge along the join, whereas the other method makes the project lay flat. I've used the other method before on the one other blanket I've made, and I prefer it. But here's how I did this one, just in case you're interested:

Hold two hexagons together. Join the yarn in the corner of both pieces (You will be making all the sts in both pieces unless otherwise noted). Ch 1. Sc in the same corner as join. Ch 2. Sc in the space between the corner and the first group of 3dcs. Ch 2. Sc in the next sp. Do this until you reach the corner. Sc in the corner, then take ch 1. Take the next hexagon piece you will be adding, and sc the two pieces you want to join. Continue the pattern, using a ch 1 and a sc to join in new pieces at the corners.

Does that need more clarification, or does it make sense? Please, please, please let me know if that description is fuzzy at all or if you have any concerns/questions. Thanks!