ppsssttt...Guess What?!

So I've been keeping a HUGE secret from everyone for quite awhile; unless you're personal fb friends with me, then you already know my news by now ;-)

So we're happy to announce that:

My husband came up with the idea of lining our boots up - after all, we live in Texas. So I had to make some baby cowboy/cowgirl neutral boots :-)

Thank you everyone for all your well wishes; we truly appreciate it! 

But some of you may be thinking - what is a Rainbow baby?  Well, a rainbow baby is a healthy, breathing, crying baby a couple has after going through loosing a child.

I don't believe I ever shared our losses with my fans - so here it goes; fair warning now: you May Need Tissues!  We were expecting our 2nd daughter to be due on 12-12-12 ~ How awesome is that due date, huh?!  Unfortunately, our little angel only made it to around 33 weeks of gestation, and I delivered Keira Reese on Oct 30, 2012. After waiting a grueling 19 weeks for the autopsy report, because she was a "special case," it proved my suspicions correct, and that she passed from fetal hypoxia. Which means that she didn't have enough oxygen in her placenta, and she suffocated to death. I know how terrible that is to read, but please know that my family and I are at peace with her passing. Looking back at my situation, and all the signs that were never taken as seriously as they should have been, I know I have a good case of malpractice against the hospital; now whether or not I decide to take that hospital to court is a whole other story, for a different place and time. I find it comforting that I was lucky enough to hold an angel while here on Earth ~ not too many people are able to say that ;-)

Then about a year later, after battling PTSD and finally feeling like myself again, I came out of my crochet hiatus and started designing again. Once I was back in my happy place, I told my hubby that I was ready to start trying again. He wasn't ready yet. But 2 months later he decided he was ready too :-)  Oddly enough, after only 2 months of trying, but not really, we beat my PCOS (infertility) odds and found out we were pregnant :-)  Of coarse we called all of our immediate family to spread the news! One of whom was my late father, who at the time was slowly declining from stage 4 Glioblastoma (a brain tumor). That was the last phone call my father was ever on - hearing that we were pregnant, after loosing our 2nd daughter. Sadly, 3 days after finding out we were pregnant, I started to miscarry at 5 weeks. Still on the tail end of my miscarriage, I drove across country (over 2,000 miles from Central Texas to Massachusetts- during a terrible Nor'easter I may add) to say my final goodbyes to my 52 year old father. I never had the heart to tell my father that I lost the baby after talking to him; but I'm pretty sure he knows now, and is watching over our 4th baby very closely for us.

So unlike most people, I have gone through a lot of tragedies in my life at a young age, more than I'm sure you'd even be interested in reading. That saying that, "what doesn't kill ya, makes ya stronger," is true for sure!  I know that my life experiences have shaped me into the woman that I am today, but I'm certainly looking forward to my rainbow!

Everybody wants happiness,

 no one wants pain; 

but you can't have a rainbow,

 without a little rain. 

My beautiful daughter is talking to her sibling to come soon :-)

New Pattern Giveaway!

I'm releasing a new blanket, and thought my follow hookers would LOVE a chance at winning a free copy of the pattern before it's released!  So I will gift 3 lucky winners a free copy of my new Wild Fan Blanket to their Ravelry username :-)

Need a last minute baby shower gift? Or want to whip out a few Christmas presents over the weekend? Then this is the Perfect blanket for you!  This is an Advanced Beginner pattern, and works up super quick! The pattern is sized for a finished blanket approx. 24" x 34", but I include the beginning chain multiple if you'd like to make the blanket larger ;-)

For this pattern you'll need:

• Size K (6.50 mm) crochet hook, or hook size to obtain gauge
• Approx. 3.5 oz of WWY of color A
• Approx 3.5 oz of WWY of color B
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Want to leave me a comment, but don't have a G+, LiveJournal, WordPress, AIM, or OpenID account(s)?? Then just click on the Name/URL or Anonymous options in the dropdown under the comment box ;-)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

• Debbie McLeod
• Tonya White
• Kimberly Ingold

I have emailed the winners to the email address they provided to Rafflecopter, so please keep a lookout for an email from looping.with.love@gmail.com :-)  If you don't receive an email from me, then please email me your Ravelry username so I can gift you your free copy of the pattern Wild Fan Blanket.

Thank you to Everyone that participated in my giveaway!  

Because of the great turnout for this pattern release, I decided to have the pattern discounted this week!

Use coupon code: NEWBLANKET at checkout on Ravelry for a discounted price!

I'd LOVE to see your Wild Fan Blanket; so make sure to upload your finished project to Ravelry - then I can add your photos to the pattern listing :-)  Can't wait to see everyone's blankets!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Begins!

Things have been crazy here since school was let out for the summer last week!  My daughter graduated Kindergarten - I can't believe how quick she's growing up!  Anywho....I've had quite a few things "in the works" since my last post.  I played around with clay a bit. My daughter wanted me to make a present for her teacher, so I decided to cover pens and make a few different designs. I think I'm ready to tackle clay covered crochet hook handles now ;-)  Not too bad for my first time making canes, and creating millefori pens!

The bottom 2 went to my daughter's teacher, and my daughter already called dibs on the purple and silver leopard. But my favorite is the 3rd one down from the top. I think I may convert it from a pen into a clay handle for one of my smaller hooks ;-)

I've touched on amigurumi before - and as most of you know, I'm no ami master by any means, BUT I got a special request.  That request was a pair known as: The Joker and Harley Quinn.  After searching pattern libraries, and not finding what I thought was a good fit for their design, I decided to design my own.  At the time I may have bit off more than I could chew - but now I have not 1, but 2 original ami designs :-)  A sneak peak of the dolls right after their faces were painted on. Yes, I hand painted the faces on with fabric paint directly onto the yarn.

Pattern for BOTH of these dolls will be going out to testers soon :-)

Snappy Tots Giveaway!

Have y'all noticed the Amazing 2 week Extravaganza that Heidi from Snappy Tots has been running?? If you haven't, then you need to go check out her AMAZING Giveaway jammed backed with Incredible vendors!! I was lucky enough to be apart of her awesomeness as well ;-)  So make sure you go get your entries in ~ cause who doesn't like Free Stuff!?!  Oh, by the way: I'm giving away 1 pattern from my Ravelry shop shop to 3 winners :-)

Head on over to Snappy Tots' Happy Birthday Celebration Giveaway now!  Giveaway ends this Saturday, and winners will be announced to vendors on Monday :-)

Patriotic Wavy Wrap

Just in time for this Memorial Day weekend, a NEW pattern!  What could make it any better you ask? Well, I decided to Giveaway 3 FREE copies to fellow hookers ;-)

One of my testers happened to be weaving in some loose ends at the bus stop before sending her son off to school that day. After he Begged her to wear the headband, she decided there was only one solution: make it a Ninja headband! BRILLIANT! Right?  Since I haven't been blessed with a little boy -yet, this Never even crossed my mind!  Just the Wavy Headband can be something that appeals to boys as well as girls. Who would have thought?  I sure am lucky to have some AMAZING testers who think outside the box, and truly are a Great asset to helping me create some fantastic patterns! So this headpiece can be worn by either males or females by just changing where the band goes. A male can use it like a ninja, and wrap it around their head and across their forehead. While a girl can wear it like a traditional tie headband behind their hairline.

Besides thinking "out of the box," my testers take some AMAZING photos! Isn't this little cutie just adorable?!  A BIG THANKS to Donna from Articles of a Domestic Goddess for some Great photos!

Added bonus: this pattern includes 2 headband patterns, as well as 2 star appliques, and a loop flower pattern. This pattern is a 5 for 1 deal, with the possibility to create 18 different headbands due to color variations and choice in style of headband!

This pattern is Full of photo tutorials and a link to how to do a seamless join. With 10 photo tutorials throughout the pattern, it has a total of 33 photos that guide you and showcase each item.

So make sure to get your entries in on Rafflecopter for your chance to win a Free copy of this pattern!  I'll be running the giveaway until Sunday afternoon, so you'll have plenty of time to whip up a few of these for your Monday BBQs ;-)  You can earn 3 entries by simply commenting below this post about the pattern!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait to find out if you're a winner of a free copy, then take advantage of my sale code on Ravelry to receive $2 Off! At checkout simply type in: MEMORIALDAYPRIDE. Sale will end at May 27, 2014 at 23:59.

I would Love to see your finished headbands! If you’d be so kind, please add your item to the project section on Ravelry or Craftsy. If you love the pattern as much as I do, then please leave your comment about the pattern. Enjoy!

Gauge

Coming soon: How to read Gauge in a Pattern!

0-6 month Some Bunny Loves Me Beanie

We're finally hopping into Spring, and what better way to start off the season but with a FREE pattern! My gift to you this April is a: 

0-6 month Some Bunny Loves Me Beanie

0-6 month Some Bunny Loves Me Beanie

An Original Bunny Beanie

By: Ashley Bower, owner of

Looping with Love

Copyright © Ashley Bower 2014

All Rights Reserved.

Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction by any means, and imposes fines up to $25,000 for violation.

This pattern is registered and protected by copyright. All material (including all of the written pattern, photographs, and videos) may not be altered, reproduced, shared, and/or published in print or electronic form without consent from the designer;

Ashley Bower, owner of

Looping with Love.

This material is intended for private use only. Permission to sell and photograph your completed items is granted with this pattern.

  

All techniques and finished sizes are listed in US terminology.

Skill Level: Intermediate

                                                                                    

Materials Needed:

Size 6, Super Bulky Yarn: I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Hometown USA

(OR double stranding Worsted Weight Yarn, size 4, will also work)

N (10.00mm) and P (11.5mm) crochet hooks

Scissors

Measuring Tape

Tapestry Needle

Optional: Floral Wire OR Pipe Cleaners (to create bendable ears)

Optional: Contrasting Super Bulky Yarn – size 6 (to create an inner ear, and hide the floral wire)

Abbreviation of Stitches and Special Terms Used:

Ch/Chs: Chain/Chains

Extended Cross-Over Sc: Extended cross-over single crochet: insert your hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up the loop to equal height of the half double crochet just made in the previous stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.

Foundation Dc: Foundation Double Crochet: chain 3, yarn over and insert hook into the 1^st chain made, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through the first loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

Gauge: what your indicated worked stitches should measure. This pattern measures gauge straight across the middle (diameter) closed circle of a Round. Gauge is given after Rounds 1 and 2. Make sure your stitches worked are riding stitches to obtain correct gauge.

HDC: Half Double Crochet

Invisible Join:  is used to fasten off the last round of an item, and make it appear seamless to the naked eye. If you have never used this stitch, then refer to my tutorial video here:  

MC: Magic Circle

Rnd/Rnds: Round/rounds

Slst: Slip Stitch

St/Sts: Stitch/stitches

[ X ] #x = work that stitch or pattern a multiple of what the # states. Each stitch that is separated by a comma will be worked in the next stitch.

( X ) = final stitch count for that round

YO: Yarn Over

Where to Find Looping with Love:

v Email: looping.with.love@gmail.com

v  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Looping-with-Love/166231056772011

v  Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/looping-with-love/patterns

v  Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/user/1851358/pattern-store

v  Blog: http://loopingwithlove.blogspot.com/
v Instagram: http://instagram.com/loopingwithlove
 vTwitter: https://twitter.com/LoopingWithLove
v Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/LoopingWithLove/

0-6 Month Beanie: With P (11.5mm) Hook:

Measures: 15” in circumference, 5” in length

NOTE:  Beginning chain does Not count as a stitch in the stitch count for the beanie.

Rnd 1: In MC, ch1 and work 12 hdc. Slst in the 1^st hdc to join. (12 hdc)

Gauge: 2” in diameter

Rnd 2: Ch1 and hdc in the Next st. Working in the st just skipped; insert your hook into the st, YO and pull up the loop to equal height of the hdc just made, YO and pull through both loops on the hook: first extended cross-over sc completed. [Hdc in the next open unused st, then in the st to the right (which already has a hdc in it) work an extended cross-over sc]10x. In the slst from the previous round work a hdc, then in the st to the right (which already has a hdc in it) work an extended cross-over sc. Slst in the 1^st hdc to join. (12 hdc, 12 extended cross-over sc = 24 sts)

Gauge: 4” in diameter

Rnds 3-7: Ch1 and hdc in the Next st. In the st skipped, work an extended cross-over sc. [skip a st, hdc in the next st. In the skipped st, work an extended cross-over sc]11x. Slst in the 1^st hdc to join. (12 hdc, 12 extended cross-over sc = 24sts)

Measure of length from the crown to the brim of the hat: approx. 5” long.

Use an Invisible Join to secure the hat, weave in loose ends.

Ears:

Outer Ear (Make 2): With N hook:

Row 1: Ch3 and work 12 foundation dc. Ch 1 and Turn. (12 foundation dc, 3 chs)

Rnd 1: Working on the Wrong Side of the foundation ch: sc in the first 12 sts, work 2sc in the middle of the beginning ch3 from Row 1 (see photo 1), then rotate your work to continue working on the other side of Row 1 and over the beginning tail (see photo 2): sc in the next 12 sts. Rotate the ear again, and slst twice (see photo 3) into the last foundation dc made in Row 1.  Leave a long tail for sewing, and then work 

an Invisible Join in the Ch1 from the end of Row 1. (26 sc, 2 slsts)

NOTE:  If you would rather have ears that bend and/or are able to stick straight up in the air, then you’ll need a small amount of floral wire or pipe cleaners, and contrasting yarn to create an inner ear to attach to the outer ear, and hide the wire.

Inner Ear (Make 2): With N hook and Contrasting Super Bulky Yarn:

Row 1: Ch 3 and 10 foundation dc. Leave a very long tail 15” or more) for sewing and Fasten Off. Weave in the ch tail. (12 foundation dc, 3 chs)

Take your pipe cleaner or floral wire, and measure it out to 10” long and snip off any extra length. Bend your pipe cleaner or floral wire in half, and place it in the middle of the outer ear (see photo below). Then place the inner ear on top of the pipe cleaner/floral wire. So your stitches won’t show through the backside of the ear, I suggest using a mattress stitch in between the outer ear sts and under both top loops of each st of the inner ear.

Attaching Ear Pieces: The ch 3 will automatically curve, that end should be placed towards the top of the ear, and the last foundation dc should be placed at the base of the ear. The wrong side of the inner ear will be facing the right side of the outer ear, so the wrong side of the outer ear will be towards the back of the hat once attached. To avoid the two pieces from moving from where you positioned them, I suggest using stitch markers (lobster claws, bobby pins, safety pins, etc.) at the top and bottom of where the inner ear is to keep it in place. I also suggest using the mattress stitch when attaching the inner ear to the outer ear, to avoid stitching showing on the backside of the ear. Once the base of the inner ear is just above the outer ear’s top loops on the base, start securing the inner ear to the outer ear by sewing through the outer ear’s stitches, and through the inner ear to avoid stitches being noticeable on the backside of the ear.

Attaching Ears to the Hat:  I suggest attaching the ears to the hat while the hat is on a flat surface, like a table.  Find the side creases, and attach the base of the ear to the top of Rnd 2, and to the bottom of Rnd 3 of the beanie.

Enjoy!

Thank you for viewing this pattern by Ashley Bower, owner of Looping with Love!  You may sell any hats made from this pattern, but you may not sell, share, or distribute any or part of this pattern’s written content and/or photos. 

You Must use your Own photos to advertise and sell your items.

When selling your items online, please give credit for the pattern, and link back to Looping with Love at: www.facebook.com/LoopingWithLove

This pattern has been tested to ensure proper fit and gauge. If you notice any mistakes, or have questions or concerns about the pattern, then please feel free to contact me on Facebook, or email me at looping.with.love@gmail.com. 


Happy Hooking :-)