It's Time To Move On! I Hope You'll Hang In There With Me!

Come visit me @ FroggingAlong.com

Soap Saver Pattern and Giveaway Winner Announced.

A few weeks ago I shared a Soap Saver Pattern and an opportunity to win a bar of awesomeness from The Soap Engineers. Congrats to "Barb" your name was selected! I've sent you a message. 
If you missed out, stick around I will be doing another giveaway soon! In the meantime check out the free pattern and check out the cool soaps and scrubs you can get from this brand new company!

Tropical Retreat soap from The Soap Engineers.

They've Gone Mad and Other Crochet Related Tid Bits

Mad Hatter Entry.

Mad Hatter Challenge Top Choices Announced

The Crochet Crowd posted the Top 15 Hats on their blog yesterday. Today they announced an additional 5 for a Hawt Off The Hook Award. You can find all 20 pinned on my Pinterest Board:  Mad Hatter Top 15 Top Hats - Plus 5!

I was super surprised, and excited to learn that my Mad Hatter entry had made the top 15! I had never expected it to gain any significant attention. There were some super amazing hats. You can see all of the entries HERE.

You can just about imagine my surprise when they announced the 5 additional hats today and my mobile hat was announced. I was elated to say the least. And to be categorized with the other four amazing hats was a privilege. The talent level in this competition was mind blowing. I am so glad I took a chance and put myself out there for this one!

There have been several requests for the pattern for the base hat used in the challenge. If you would like to try your hand at creating an Alice in Wonderland Themed hat start with the Red Heart Top Hat Pattern.

In Other News
I'm excited to announce that I will be blogging over at Knot Just Yarn Blog as a Guest Blogger for The Crochet Crowd. They introduced the four new bloggers yesterday that will be contributing to the blog.

New Guest Bloggers For The Crochet Crowd

The Tennessee Stitch - Daniele Dyer (She has already been contributing for about a year)
Untangling The Yarn - Bobbie Asche
Chit & Chat with Anabela - Anna Zetterberg
Hooked on Ewe - Sheri Goad

My first blog as a guest blogger was posted today. Check it out and find out what your crochet personality is.

What Kind of Hooker Are You? Crocheter Personality Comparisons

Casting off until the next time we hook up,

Sheri

The Mad Hatter's Challenge

The Crochet Crowd put out a challenge in January. The challenge was to use the Red Heart Top Hat as your base,  and theme it to Alice in Wonderland. Really, the only guideline was you had to incorporate the original pattern base into your design. Beyond that, the possibilities were endless! Nowhere did it say you had to be able to wear the hat!

You can check out  all of the fantabulous designs in The Mad Hatter Gallery
(Scroll Down for Additional Views of some of the hats!)

"All hats submitted for The Crochet Crowd exhibit will be part of an all new fundraiser, with all proceeds going towards creating Educational Awards for Fashion Design Students in Ontario, Canada. Visit the Crochet Crowd Booth #153 on Saturday, April 26th The bidding is from 9 am - 7 pm Friday and Saturday from 9 am - 2pm... the bidding needs to be all in by 2pm on the Saturday!"

My mind was swirling with ideas I wanted to try. Every time I started a hat I would get side tracked with another idea. The only way to move on was to make them all! Since I knew time wouldn't allow me to do this, I decided to make them all mini and incorporate them into one design. I ended up submitting three hats. Two more basic designs that I ended up duplicating and using in my third entry as well, a mobile!

Hat 1: The Unbirthday Cake Hat

Hat 2: The Mad Hatter

Hat 3: Alice's Dream Mobile

I feel sorry for the judges on this one! There are some super talented crocheters out there with imaginations that took us on an entirely new adventure through wonderland!!

Another View

There are some really fabulous hats out there. So much talent. I have found others who have been sharing another view of their creations. I decided to try and start a collection of them all in one place. For those who are as excited as I am to see the Alice story unfold in the world of crochet!

Jacqueline Holland

Heather Navarro

Misty Samuelson

Melissa Wolcott

April Ramirez

Alison Schieltz 
Close up View on Alison's Tumblr

Krystal Ladwig

Sherry Maye Hat 1

Sherry Maye Hat 2

Summer Stroll Cinch Pouch w/ Removable Shoulder Strap

Cathy, from The Crochet Crowd, challenged us to post a selfie with our current work in progress today. So I obliged. This is the lovely mugshot I posted...I was working on a pouch that I could throw in my crochet bag with my wallet, keys and sunglasses, and use while I'm out walking, site seeing or even shopping. With the addition of a removable shoulder strap, I'm hoping this does the trick!

I received a lot of requests for the pattern...but the project needed to be finished. So, I spent the afternoon finishing up the strap and managed to get the pattern written up tonight. I did rush a bit to get this out there for you guys, so let me know if you get confused or if something doesn't seem right. And please...share pics and/ or post a link if you post it somewhere! I will be linking the pattern to Ravelry so please post your projects there if you are so inclined. I'd love to see what you do with the pattern.

Materials:

4.5 oz Lily Sugar'n Cream Ecru (Any worsted weight cotton will work)
Size I Hook
Tapestry needle
2 buttons - about dime size

Special Stitch: Puff Stitch: yarn over and pull through leaving loops on the hook, repeat four more times. You should have 11 loops on your hook. Yarn over pull through all loops.

Pouch:
8 hdc in a magic ring. Join. Ch 2
Row 1: 2 hdc in each stitch space around
Row 2: 1 hdc in first stitch space, 2 in next. Repeat around. Join. Ch 2.
Row 3: 1 hdc in first 2 stitch spaces, 2 in next. Repeat around. Join. ch 2.
Row 4: 1 hdc in first 3 stitches, 2 in next. Repeat around. Join. ch 2.
Row 5:  hdc around in back loop only. Join, ch 2.
Row 6:  hdc in each stitch space around. Join. Ch 2
Row 7: hdc in first stitch space, puff stitch in next. Repeat around. Join ch 2.
Row 8: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 9: dc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 10: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2.
Row 11: hdc in first stitch space, puff stitch in next. Repeat around. Join ch 2.
Row 12: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 13: dc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 14-15 hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2.
Row 16:  dc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 17: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2.
Row 18: hdc in first stitch space, puff stitch in next. Repeat around. Join ch 2.
Row 19: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 20: dc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2
Row 21: hdc in each stitch space around. Join. ch 2.
Row 22: dc in first stitch space, ch 1, skip one stitch space, repeat around. Join. Ch 3
Row 23: slip stitch into first chain space, ch 3, slip stitch into next chain space. Repeat around. Tie off and weave in ends.

Tie Cord:
Tightly chain a cord long enough to string through the spaces in Row 22, and give a desired amount extra for tying.

Shoulder Strap:
Chain 175
Row 1: sc in the backpost of your chain across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: sc in each stitch across. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 3: dc in first 6 stitches, puff stitch in next. Repeat across 24 times. Dc in the next6 stitches. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 4: sc in each stitch across. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 5: sc in each stitch across. Tie off and weave in ends.

Attach buttons on the back side of the strap. Placement is on the third dc above the first puff stitch on each end.

To attach shoulder strap, fold end of strap over lengthwise and slip through a space in Row 22. About 1/q4 of the way around from where you have your tie. Button it by slipping the button between the 1st and 2nd dc on the end of the strap.

Mini Treat Basket

I worked up this mini basket last night . It was one of those kind of by accident things I ended up falling in love with it!  It's perfect for those little spring treats.  I used Sugar'n Cream Scents Fluer De Lavande.  It didn't even use 1/2 of the 3oz. Skein. I've posted the pattern below. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Mini Treat Basket

Materials:
Any worsted weight cotton  1 skein should do two baskets.
Size I Hook
Tapestry needle

Special Stitch: Puff Stitch: yarn over and pull through, repeat two more times. You should have 7 loops on your hook.  Yarn over pull through all loops.

8 hdc in a magic ring. Join. Ch 2
Row One: 2 hdc in each stitch around
Row Two: 1 hdc in first stitch, 2 in next. Repeat around. Join ch 2.
Row Three: Hdc around in back loop only. Join ch 2.
Row Four:  Hdc in first stitch, puff stitch in next, repeat around. Join ch 2
Row Five: Hdc in each stitch around. Join ch 2.
Row Six: Puff stitch in first stitch, hdc in next. Repeat around. Join ch 2. (Your puff stitches should be staggered with your first row of puff stitches.
Row 7-8: hdc around. Join ch 1.
Row 9: Reverse sc around. Join and tie off.

Weave in ends.

Handle:
Chain 15
 3 DC in first stitch, slip stitch in next. Repeat to the end and do the same down the opposite side of the chain. Tie off and attach to the basket with a tapestry needle.

Soap Saver

Last weekend The Soap Engineers debuted at a Vendor Fair in Virginia. I had the opportunity to test out many of their goodies! My favorite was their Honey Almond, which they sold out of! No surprise. I did get to take several other great things home, including Tropical Retreat. You can be certain I put an order in for the Honey Almond!

The soaps are so heavenly, I didn't want to waste an ounce by leaving them on the bathtub or in a soap dish. I have seen several crocheted soap holders so I decided to whip one up for my new soaps!  They are a bit bulkier than a standard bar of soap so this pattern accommodates the size.

Materials:

2oz  cotton yarn  (Picture used Sugar'n Cream Ecru)

K hook  6.5 mm

Tapestry needle

Ch 12

hdc in second chain from the hook. Repeat across.

Continue on the opposite side of the chain until you reach your first hdc. 

Join and chain 2.

Continue around working hdc into each stitch until you have completed 16 rounds.

Work in the rounds and do not join until the last row.

On the 16th round join and ch 2.

Hdc in the next stitch and chain one. Skip the next stitch. Continue around. Join and tie off. Weave in ends. 

Chain 60 to use as your tie. Weave it in and out of your last row and tie at the ends.

Add your favorite soap and enjoy! Use the drawstring to hang over the shower head when you are finished so the soap and soap saver can dry.

Just For You!

Giveaway...

You could win the Tropical Retreat Soap and Soap Saver pictured above!!

Here's what to do. 

1. Go over to The Soap Engineers Facebook Page  and like their page. 

2. For a second entry go over to The Soap Engineers Etsy Shop and take a look at what they have. 

Comment here and let me know you liked the page and tell me what item on their Etsy page is your favorite. I will give you one entry for each task completed.

I will draw a random winner from the comments on this post on April 14th!