Craft. Crochet. Create.
These darling stash busting totes feature a clever play on words ” ‘stache bustin’ and a hand-drawn mustache made of yarn! This yarn tote is made with high quality thick canvas, so feel free to stuff this bag to the brim with all your crochet and knit essentials. The bag graphic was designed by me, and brought to life by my talented and skilled graphic designer. They are professionally screen-printed at a local shop in Utah.
I struggled a bit with the order of the figures for this Nativity CAL. Of course Jesus is the focal point, the reason for the whole scene to begin with, but His little piece was not new to the set, so I thought it might be a bit anticlimactic to finish with Him. In the end, I went with the Angel for the last piece, the bearer of the Glad Tidings to the world.
Welcome back for the Rustic Nativity CAL! We are moving quickly through the new figures, and today we are making the visitors who are kneeling, a Shepherd and a Wise Man. You should have already make the cloak and bag for the kneeling wise man yesterday as indicate. However, ff you only made one of each yesterday, you can get the patterns here.
Today is day three of the Rustic Nativity CAL and we will be making three figures: 2 standing wise men and 1 standing shepherd. These are fun to make because they have a few extra accessories.
I especially love the cute little shepherd’s crook. You can make one by cutting an approx. 5″ length of wire and bending it with needle-nosed pliers. To prevent scratching the wire, you can wrap the wire in a thin cloth before bending. Make two if you would like each shephard to have a crook (Shepherd #2 is coing up tomorrow).
Today is the last day of our crochet along, its been so fun to see your projects in the group! Today is a different pattern than the others. It’s The Sun and the focal point of the finished blanket so I decided to make it quite a bit larger. It’s the size of four squares (maybe you are wondering how it would all fit together?). You can make it using the techniques and skills you have learned from making the other squares. You are a C2C Master!
Hello! I hope you had a lovely weekend and found some time to work on your squares. I am working on getting all of mine sewn together, and The Boy is so excited to see it put together. He loves the Solar System theme! We are wrapping up with this Solar System CAL this week (already?!) Today’s square is the C2C asteroids, which only leaves one LAST element to the Solar System to complete, the Sun.
Also, if you didn’t see my post, I finished putting together a PDF with all the Solar System patterns and graphs. You can get it on Etsy and Ravelry.
Welcome back to the CAL! I hope you are enjoying learning how to C2C and make these fun graphs. Today is Day Seven of the Solar System C2C Crochet Along, and we are adding a C2C Rocket Ship (two actually) square to our blanket. Isn’t it cute?
Welcome back to the Solar System CAL! Today we are moving on from the planets and making some fun outer space object to add to the blanket. Today we will be making the C2C comet square.
When I was in elementary, we had the opportunity to see a comet passing by. I did a bit of research, but I can’t say for sure which comet it was, as I don’t remember exactly when I saw it. But I can say that I would appreciate seeing a comet more now then I did then. I am looking forward to the Solar Eclipse coming up in a week, are you?
Let’s dive into making the comets. They will be similar to Jupiter, as you will use two bobbins of gray to work around the inside white color. You can carry the color, but I found it looked too messy for my taste, so I decided to do extra bobbins and have a couple more ends to weave in at the end. You need to make THREE comets for the blanket.
(Make three)
G=Gray
H= Heather Gray
W=White
Increasing Rows:
1. 1G
2. 2G
3. 3G
4. 4G
5. 1G, 3H, 1G
6. 1G, 4H, 1G
7. 1G, 1H, 3W, 1H, 1G
8. 1G, 2H, 2W, 2H, 1G
9. 2G, 1H, 3W, 1H, 2G
10. 2G, 2H, 2W, 2H, 2G
11. 3G, 1H, 3W, 1H, 3G
12. 3G, 6H, 3G
13. 4G, 5H, 4G
14. 5G, 4H, 5G
15. 5G, 5H, 5G
16. 6G, 4H, 6G
Decreasing Rows:
17. 6G, 4H, 5G
18. 5G, 4H, 5G
19. 5G, 4H, 4G
20. 4G, 4H, 4G
21. 4G, 3H, 4G
22. 3G, 3H, 4G
23. 4G, 2H, 3G
24. 3G, 2H, 3G
25. 3G, 2H, 2G
26. 2G, 2H, 2G
27. 2G, 2H, 1G
28. 1G, 1H, 2G
29. 1G, 2H
30. 1H, 1G
31. 1G
Finished by working an even row of sc around the edge, working 3 sc in each corner.
Tie off.
Get the other squares here:
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See you soon!
Welcome back to the Solar System CAL, today is Day Five. I hope you are throughly enjoying making this blanket! It’s fun to see it come together, and even more fun to see your projects in the Facebook Group. Today’s pattern is the last of the large planets, and we are finishing with a bang! Today we are making C2C Jupiter, my favorite.
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Welcome to Day Four of the Solar System CAL! (Click here for details about the CAL.) Today is an easy day as we are only doing one square. Today we are making our C2C Saturn! We will be introducing a third color today, however, we won’t be carrying colors just yet, so I am hoping it will help transition you into using more than two colors for your C2C blocks.
Welcome back to the C2C Solar System Blanket CAL ! I hope you had time over the weekend to catch up on Day Two. This week should be a bit less time-instenive than last week, as we are finishing up the planets. Today’s pattern is for the two large planets that don’t have distinctive markings: Uranus and Neptune.
Welcome back friends! Today we are going to dive into making the next pattern in the C2C Solar System CAL, the small planets. Even though Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet, I decided to still include it in the Solar System. You could say this afghan isn’t totally scientifically correct.
Happy Friday my lovely friends!
This was the last week of school here, which doesn’t mean too much for me because my kids aren’t in school yet, but it might mean lots of fun for you! I think back to when I was young. Summer was so care-free, so fun, and so long. Summer still holds lots of nostalgia, and I enjoy it’s visit every year. And even though the weather is warm, you can still wear cute hats.
I was asked to be a part of Cream of the Crop Crochet’s 12 Months of Slouchy Hats, so today I am sharing the Summer Festival Slouchy Hat crochet pattern.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Click here for more info. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!
Good morning everyone!
If you have been following the last few months, you may know I have been smitten with chunky crochet projects, and have made several: this 30-Minute Cowl, this Ric-Rac Scarf and this Granny Stitch Hat are a few of my favorites. I am still loving chunky yarn, but since spring is around the corner, I decided I need to switch my focus to projects that aren’t meant to keep you warm. When I tried out the 100% wool super chunky Tuff Puff yarn by Knit Picks a few weeks ago, I knew it would make a perfect rug. It is so soft and squishy under your feet, and the colors are brilliant and beautiful. This super chunky crochet rug would look so pretty in a bathroom or kitchen, or even in a child’s room.
What you need:
-Super Chunk yarn (Tuff Puff by Knit Picks in Mint, Silver and Conch)
-Size P Hook
This rug uses basic stitches, and because the yarn is so chunky and thick, this rug works up in a snap. Also, the size is easily customizable, and you can make more (or less) rounds to change the size.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Be sure to share your Super Chunky Crochet Rug (and all your other projects!) in the Whistle and Ivy Facebook group. I would love to see your WIPs!
And follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more crochet inspiration.
You might also like these:
Happy crocheting!
Good morning all! I hope you have had a wonderful start to your week. I sat through a great lesson this past weekend, which taught about being positive despite going through difficulties. This is a struggle of mine, and I have been feeling quite down the past few weeks. I have decided to work harder at being positive, and look for all the good in each day. Attitude is an amazing thing! Yesterday was positive, and I hope I can keep smiling through everything that may happen this week. Today I am writing to you comfortably from my office chair. It is extra comfortable because I am sitting on my newly completed Hexie Puff Seat Cushion. Isn’t it darling?!
This project was so fun to make, and the hexagons work up quickly. Once you make 2 or 3 of them, you can have the pattern memorized, making everything even easier and quicker. I was able to watch a few episodes of Downton Abby while making this (why, oh why, do I not have cooks, chauffeurs, and maids? Oh right… It costs lots of money). While I don’t have a huge staff of people doing stuff for me, at least I can sit comfortably while eating or working! Positive thoughts here: cleaning can be a great time to meditate and dream up new projects ;)
Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you don’t miss any crochet projects, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
I would LOVE to see your WIPs! Share your projects in the Whistle and Ivy Facebook Group. I would love to see your version of the Hexie Puff Seat Cushion!
You might like these awesome projects, too!
Happy crocheting,
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hershey Company for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
The Boy turned four this year. He is growing up so quickly, and I hope to instill the same values I was taught as a child. One main value is work. I am trying to have him do more things and have more responsibilities. A few weeks ago I wrote him a chore sheet. He loves being helpful, and the chores have been a wonderful addition to our routine. As the holidays get closer, I wanted to add more and carry on a tradition of service that I grew up with. This simple Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar is the perfect way to keep the spirit of giving and service on our minds and in our home through the month of December, while being able to enjoy the holiday tradition of Hershey’s Kisses chocolates each day.
Someone always brought a bag of Holiday Hershey’s Chocolates to our family Christmas get together, so I always look forward to seeing them on the shelves (Hershey’s Kisses Truffles and Candy Cane are my favorite Holiday flavors). It seemed fitting to pair Hershey’s Kisses chocolates with our new service advent tradition.
Because of his age, we have to keep everything rather simple. I sat down with him and we discussed ways we can show kindness and do service to those around us. I encourage you to do the same! He had some sweet ideas that I never considered, ideas that he was excited about doing, which makes this projects extra meaningful. Since we are doing one per day, we have a list of 25 acts of kindness and service.
1. Pick up Sis’s toys
2. Color Cards to take to the nursing home
3. Send Grandma a letter
4. Leave an encouraging note in a library book
5. Anonymously leave a treat on a neighbor’s doorstep
6. Help set the table
7. Draw pictures and mail them to family
8. Feed the birds
9. Bring a treat and card for teacher
10. Bring in a neighbor’s garbage
11. Make donations to homeless shelter
12. Leave treat for mail carrier
13. Rake leaves for a neighbor
14. Hand out candy canes at the hospital
15. Take food to the food bank
16. Pick up trash at park
17.Visit a lonely neighbor
18. Write kind note for Sis
19. Take a meal to someone in need
20. Donate baby items to NICU
21. Take cooking items an towels to Women’s Crisis Center
22.Cheer someone up who is sad
23. Take an angel from the local tree
24. Help clean our church
25. Help keep Sis happy when Mom needs to do something quickly
The Hershey’s Kisses worked better than I could have hoped. They hang from the tree so perfectly, and the pretty colored foil wrappers look so pretty.
Twenty-five Kisses are hung on the tree, and under each kiss is a number for the countdown. When my second child is old enough to participate, I will make a list and a set of Hershey’s kisses for her as well, so she can each enjoy the delicious sweetness of Hershey’s and doing good for others.
I have included a printable with 25 numbers and 25 tags for writing your acts of kindness. You can assign one to each day, or keep them in a jar and pull one out randomly. Click here to download the printable. 
To assemble this simple advent calendar, cut out the numbers and tags on the printable. Next, turn your Hershey’s kisses into ornaments for the tree by cutting 25 pieces of twine and tying them into knots.
Next, glue the twine to the back of each Kiss with a dab of hot glue. Finish them with another dab of hot glue on the bottom to attach the numbers.
After you create your own list, write each item on the tags and place them in a jar. I liked the idea of pulling one out randomly each day.
Not only will he enjoy counting down the days to Christmas (Hershey’s Kisses chocolates!), but I hope he will find joy in joining together as a family and serving others each year, which is truly where great happiness comes from.
What are your Holiday traditions?
For even more ways to use Hershey’s Kisses be sure to visit The Hershey Company online.
Enjoy your Hershey’s chocolate, I know I will.
This post contains affiliate links. For more info click here.
Good morning! Today I am excited to bring you a giveaway and a stellar gift list for all the knitters and crochetings in your life (OR a nice, neat gift list to give to your loved-ones!).
Since I literally buy our entire Christmas on Amazon each year, it seemed super-fitting to give you a gift card and a bunch of ideas on how to use it.
Not shopping for crochet stuff? We’ve got you covered, these fab bloggers have compiled lists for you as well!
Unique Gift Ideas for Kids from Cutesy Crafts
Great Gifts for Dad from unOriginal Mom
Gift Ideas for the Crafter on your List! from Tori Grant Designs
10 of the Best Gift Ideas for a Seamstress from A Vision to Remember
15 Great Gifts for Travelers from Play. Party. Pin.
Gifts for the Beginning Sewist from Hey, Let’s Make Stuff
Best Gifts for the Serious Crafter from illistyle
Gift Guide for Crafters from Little Red Window
Gift Guide for PreTeen Boys from Keeping it Simple
So here is my list: (Don’t forget to scroll down for your chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card)
Check to see if your crocheter prefers tapered or inline.
22. Measuring Tape
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Use the widget below, or click the link if you are on mobile.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Growing up, we had an awesome Christmas tradition of caroling. I hope many of you do this as well, because it created such fun memories for me as a child. Oftentimes we would get together as youth in our church. However, every single Christmas Eve, we would invite a couple families to accompany us to a few homes in our neighborhood. We chose older couples or singles who we thought would love a visit with friends and some Christmas cheer. I live in Utah, so our winters are COLD. Drinking hot chocolate after singing in the brisk night air was a perfect way to end the night out. As delicious as hot chocolate is, this Hot Chocolate Pudding Pie almost tops it. It captures the spirit of the season, warming up with a hot mug in your hands, with the togetherness of delicious dessert. If you are a hot chocolate lover, you are going to love this pie.
This Hot Chocolate Pudding is made with International Delight Hot Chocolate, so it tastes like hot chocolate and the marshmallow whipped cream on top seals the deal. SO good. I couldn’t help but throw a handful of mini marshmallows one top. It tastes divine!
This holiday recipe is not difficult to make, but it does take some time because the pudding needs to cool in order to set. Bear that in mind when making this fantastic pie, but I assure you, it’s worth the wait. The trick to super smooth and creamy pudding is dissolving the cornstarch in liquid in a small bowl before adding it. This eliminates the need to strain it, and it turns out smooth and delicious every time.
[yumprint-recipe id=’17’]
I hope hot chocolate is part of your holiday tradition this year, but I especially hope you try this Hot Chocolate Pudding Pie!
Be sure to visit International Delight for more ideas and recipes for their Hot Chocolate and Nog.
Cheers,
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Hello all!
If you had a chance to finish all your stockings, then you are ready to make the board to hang them on. I have seen some really great ideas in the Facebook Group of how to hang the stockings, but if you are interested in how I hung mine, I wanted to show you.
What you need:
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. The opinions and text are all mine.
Pie.
Growing up, Thanksgiving was all about the pie. There was turkey, of course, and stuffing. There was cranberry sauce made from frozen berries and sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows.
But I was there for the pie.
We always went to my grandma’s house in the tip-top of Utah. Her cooking was unsurpassable. She could make anything with her stained and well-loved cookbook propped up on an antique cutting board. Her hands were busy kneading dough or stirring something delicious-smelling in a pot. Her kitchen was my favorite place to be, watching and helping her prepare treats and meals. Thanksgiving was especially meaningful in her home, surrounding by family and the smells of all the special dishes. She had a large set of adorable mini pie tins, which I loved. She would “take orders”, and each child was treated with his/her very own pie. Pie and Thanksgiving are synonymous to me.
So when November rolls around, I start dreaming about delicious pies. Unfortunately, I do not have my grandma’s culinary talents, but these delicious Triple Berry Crescent® Turnovers are easy to throw together and are sure to please everyone at your Thanksgiving celebration. The flavors of the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries go together so amazingly, I don’t think I can eat a pie without all three again.
Start with a pack of Pillsbury® Crescent® rolls (I picked mine up at Walmart, in the refrigerated area by the butter).
Since they aren’t quite the shape we need, reshape them with your fingers on a piece of parchment paper. It needs to a symmetrical triangle.
You can cut slits in the dough on the right or left for a prettier look, but it’s not necessary. Cut it before you fill it.
Next, put a heaping amount of filling on one side. As long as you keep it about 1/4 from the edge, you should be able to close it without a problem.
Pull the opposite side over, and pinch the edges closed. Mine is not super pretty, but I tell you, it will taste amazing.
Bake for 15 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove and let them cool for a few minutes before drizzling.
You should definitely buy a couple packs of Crescent® Rolls, because these babies DO NOT last long. Having the dough ready-made make these a fun and simple dessert, something even I can manage.
[yumprint-recipe id=’16’]I may not ever be a culinary master like my grandma, but these Triple Berry Crescent® Turnovers kinda make me feel like one. I will be making a pumpkin pie this year with burnt edges (happens every year), but these little turnovers will help me remember the adorable little pies from my childhood, and will hopefully bring pie and Thanksgiving together for a magical memory for my kids.
What’s traditions are on your Thanksgiving menu?
This post contains affiliate links, click here for more info.
Lately I have been dreaming of cozy things. I sleep with an electric blanket every night, an item I have only had for a couple of years, but I wonder how I survived without it. I am not one of those people fanning their faces with a paper in a meeting, I am the one grabbing my sweater and wrapping it tightly around myself. If I try to crochet with chilly hands, my work suffers, and it gets frustrating pretty quick. These pretty and dainty bow crochet arm warmers are such a lovely way to keep the warmth in, but still enable me to use my fingers.
Aren’t they so pretty!? The bow is my favorite, so feminine and sweet. And I do love how they are fitted around the wrist. As much as I love my Vintage Inspired Arm Warmers, I like these because they are more fitted.
And I am totally in love with Knit Picks new Mighty Stitch Yarn, a soft acrylic/wool blend. It so soft and so silky to work with, I need to get more colors! I used Oyster and Conch for these arm warmers.
What you need:
Click over to Pink When to get the pattern for these Dainty Bow Crochet Arm Warmers.
These pretty things would make great gifts, and we all know it’s a landslide from Halloween to Christmas (yikes!). They work up relatively quickly, as well. So make someone you love a pair, and make a pair for yourself.
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These are also pretty and cozy:
Happy crocheting!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chobani for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
When The Boy was a baby, I had a terrible experience feeding him solids. First, I made all his food. Although making baby food is not difficult, it did prove to be time-consuming for me. Second, we lived in a small apartment, which weirdly had carpet in the dining area, and not much space in the tiny, cramped kitchen. Oftentimes, I was feeding him over the carpet. He had a lovely habit of flinging his arms wildly and unexpectedly, sending the bright orange or green purees all over the carpet. No only was it a big mess, it was wasting all my time-precious baby food. It was a frustrating experience and a tad soul-crushing (on top of my other postpartum issues).
I vowed things would be different with Sis. No purees. I read about a feeding method called “baby-led weaning.” I knew it was for me. There are no purees, instead you go straight from milk to finger foods. Baby makes the rules so she is more apt to try new food. A total win-win.
Except it wasn’t. I found out she was underweight due to my low milk supply and needed supplementation. After a disappointing appointment with her pediatrician, I decided to supplement with formula and introduce solids earlier than I had planned. I was waiting because weirdly, Sis did not put things in her mouth. She was 7 months old, so it was incredibly strange. She would turn things over in her hands, but had zero interest in mouthing anything. I piled her tray with delicious and colorful snacks, and she held them in her hands, observing but never eating.
So purees were my only option.
Purees, oh how I loath thee.
Fortunately, this time was different. Pouches. Pouches have literally saved my sanity. She almost drinks them, so feeding time is quick and painless and there is little to no wasted baby food. Plus it’s (almost) mess-free.
When I saw these Chobani Tot pouches, I knew immediately they would work for us. The pouches are perfect because they have a small opening, allowing enough room for Sis to suck and swallow, without causing a huge mess (This makes it mess-free for The Boy, as well). I love that they have 25% less sugar than other kids’ yogurt and two times the protein. The fact that the Chobani Tot’s has fruits and veggies in the yogurt seals the deal for me. I don’t try to hide or sneak veggies in my kids’ diet, I want them to eat them and love them, but getting in extra veggies is always something I am willing to do!
And because they are Chobani, you know there is nothing artificial in these pouches. Even though I don’t have kids in school yet, I think these would be a perfect in a lunch box.
So, for now, my sanity remains intact. Whether that remains, well, it’s too early to tell. At least I am not screaming into a pillow over spilled milk purees.
Be sure to click here to get Chobani Kids Savings and other goodies.
And tell me, am I the only one who hates baby purees?
Happy Friday everyone!
Today I am excited to reveal a fun project that a few bloggers and I have been working on.
One of my favorite things about the holidays (I know, it’s too early to talk about the holidays!), is the charity and service. Growing up, we always tried to do a service project each season. Sometimes we would doorbell-ditch a bag of toys and gifts for a family in need, other times we would choose a family to do “12 days of Christmas”, leaving a gift or treat for 12 nights in a row. Every single year on Christmas Eve, we invited several families to join us caroling, where we visited families and older singles in our neighborhood. Service brings happiness! Especially if you are going through a tough time yourself.
In this spirit of giving and charity, we are joining together for a Crochet Mitten Drive CAL! 15 designer, including myself, will be working together to bring you 15 free and unique mitten patterns. We are hoping that each participant will take our patterns and make mittens to donate to a local charity.
Please join us! The patterns will be released each week on Friday, so please join our Facebook Community for notifications of each free pattern. I will also be sharing the new patterns on my Facebook page each week, so follow me to see them.
“The best place to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” –Ghandi
I know this is true! Service brings more happiness than all the gifts, gadgets or toys in the world (and wonderful memories for your family!).
Can’t wait to meet you in the group!
Happy crocheting,
