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The La Maille Hat is a matching accessory to the La Maille (the ladder) sweater! Both items have a distressed look to them created by a combination of stitches and chain spaces. The La Maille Hat now comes in three sizes: toddler, child, and adult!

I used Knit Picks Brava Sport for this project. I love the definition it gives to the stitches and it’s very nice to work with!

You can purchase the ad-free pdf pattern HERE.

Materials

• 140-176 yards sport (#2) weight yarn
• H (5.0mm) crochet hook
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Tapestry needle

Difficulty

• Intermediate

Gauge

• 15 herr-dc x 11 rows = 4”

Sizing

• Toddler – 18-19” head circumference
• Child- 19-20”
• Adult 21-22”

Pattern Notes

Starting chain does not count as first st unless stated otherwise within the pattern.

Hat size will be slightly smaller than head circumference, but the hat is very stretchy and should be fitted around the head.

Pattern is worked from the bottom up.

Pattern is worked in toddler size with child and adult sizes in parentheses. Final stitch count for all sizes will be in parentheses at the end of each round.

Stitches Needed & Abbreviations

fsc- chainless foundation single crochet

ch(s)- chain(s)

st(s)- stitch(es)

sc- single crochet

blo- back loop only

herr-dc- herringbone double crochet

herr-dc2tog- herringbone double crochet 2 together

Stitch Dictionary

herr-dc- yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch and one loop, yarn over, pull through one loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.

herr-dc2tog- yarn over, insert hook into st, yarn over, pull through st and 1st loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into next st, yarn over, pull through st and 1st loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.

Hat

Round 1: FSC 68 (72, 78), join to 1^st st. (68, 72, 78 sts)

Rounds 2-3: Ch 1, 1 sc in blo of each st around, join to 1^st st. (68, 72, 78 sts)

Round 4: Ch 2, 1 herr-dc in 1^st 16 (18, 18), ch 6, skip 6 sts, 1 herr-dc in next 24 (24, 30) sts, ch 6, skip 6 sts, 1 herr-dc in last (16, 18, 18) sts, join to 1^st st. (56, 60, 66 sts)

Repeat round 4 until entire hat measures 8” (8.5”, 9”) long.

Round 5: Ch 2, 1 herr-dc in 1^st 16 (18, 18) sts, 3 herr-dc around ch-6 space, 1 herr-dc in next 24 (24, 30) sts, 3 herr-dc around ch-6 space, 1 herr-dc in last 16 (16, 18) sts, join to 1^st st. (62, 66, 72 sts)

Round 6 (Toddler and Child): Ch 2, 1 herr-dc2tog, 1 herr-dc in next 58 (62) sts, 1 herr-dc2tog, join to 1^st st. (60, 64)

Round 6 (Adult): Ch 2, 1 herr-dc in each st around, join to 1^st st. (72)

Round 7: Ch 2, 1 herr-dc in 1^st 2 sts, herr-dc2tog, *1 herr-dc in 1^st 2 sts, herr-dc2tog*, repeat from * around, join to 1^st st. (45, 48, 54)

Round 8: Ch 2, 1 herr-dc in 1^st st, herr-dc2tog, *1 herr-dc in 1^st st, herr-dc2tog*, repeat from * around, join to 1^st st. (30, 32, 36)

Round 9: Ch 2, *herr-dc2tog*, repeat from * around, join to 1^st st. (15, 16, 18)

Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing top closed.

Using tapestry needle, weave the long tail in and out of the open stitches at the top of hat and pull tight. Weave in all ends.

 

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Don’t you wish you had the money to buy all the yarn?! I know I do! Since I  started crocheting I am always looking for sales and budget friendly yarns because spending a lot on yarn is not always an option.  I’ve fallen in love with quite a few yarns that are pretty budget friendly but still great quality! Today, I want to share with you my five favorite budget friendly yarns!

Just a disclaimer, this list is my own personal favorites. These yarns are not necessarily the absolute cheapest or most yardage for the money.  I made this list based on yarn quality and durability, price, and how easy it is to get.

Hobby Lobby-  I Love This Yarn- #4 worsted weight yarn $4.99/355 yards

Some might not agree with me on this one, especially since the price recently went from $3.99 to $4.99, but for me, this yarn is worth the price! It is extremely soft, sturdy, and a dream to work with! I love to use this yarn for blankets, hats, scarves, and even garments. It’s just one of those yarns that you want to feel on your skin. This yarn comes in tons of amazing colorways, including Stonewashed, Metallic, and Gradient colors, just to name a few! There are so many options with this yarn, which is why it made my list!

If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby you can purchase it in store, but even if you do not, you can order it online at the Hobby Lobby Website.

Loops & Threads- Charisma- #5 bulky weight yarn $4.49/109 yards

This is another one that may not seem like the most budget-friendly yarn, but I added this one because it goes on sale pretty often at Michael’s. I’m not sure that I’ve ever paid full price for a skein of Charisma. It went on sale last year around the holidays for $1.99/skein! And even it it is not on sale, with Michael’s coupons you can usually get some sort of discount on it.

I really enjoy Charisma yarn. It’s another really soft yarn and is what I believe to be a true #5 bulky weight yarn. It’s just slightly thicker than your thick worsted weight yarns. This yarn is great for scarves, hats, and other accessories. I’ve even designed a sweater with this yarn! The Raleigh Tunic is made with Charisma in the gorgeous Red colorway.

You can purchase Charisma yarn at any Michael’s stores or at their website.

Lion Brand Pound of Love – #4 worsted weight yarn- $9.99-$11.69/1,020 yards

This one gets added to the list because it’s a great yarn to have when you need a lot of the same yarn. I love to get these for baby blankets. Usually only one skein is needed to complete a full blanket. This yarn is also one that you can get on sale pretty often. If it’s not on sale, you can use a coupon at Michael’s or Joann’s to get a discount on it.

This yarn is a nice soft, light worsted yarn. It’s not as thick as I Love This Yarn or Red Heart Soft, but I would still consider it a worsted. I’m about to start a design with one of these huge skeins so be on the lookout for it!

You can purchase this on the Lion Brand website or in store at Michal’s, Joann’s, and I believe Walmart. This may even be available at other stores I don’t know about!

Red Heart Soft- #4 worsted weight yarn- $5.39/256 yards

One of my favorite yarns is Red Heart Soft! It’s just that- Soft! And it has a gorgeous shine to it that makes it amazing for hats and scarves and just about anything you can think of! It is a true worsted weight yarn. I’ve made my Celtic Weave Mini Slouch, as well as the Kellie Cowl with this yarn. It’s so fun to use! It has quite a few color options also, including variegated colorways. There is also a bulky version of this yarn called Soft Essentials!

This is another yarn that you can find in a number of stores, and usually on sale pretty frequently.  I’ve seen it 2 for $5 at Michael’s a number of times this year. Plus, as always, you can usually find a coupon to use on at least one skein.  You can find this yarn in store at places like Michael’s or Walmart, or purchase it directly from the Red Heart website.

Knit Picks Brava – #2 sport weight $2.49/273 yards OR #4 worsted weight $2.49/218 yards

Knit Picks Brava yarn is hands down my favorite budget- friendly yarn. You could probably argue that it’s my favorite yarn overall. I use this yarn for so many designs and crochet projects! The price is really affordable, it’s durable, and it’s soft. I absolutely love using Knit Picks Brava for garments. It’s lightweight enough to not be too warm so I can use it for both summer and winter garments.

The only downside to this yarn, if you can even call it that, is that you can only purchase it on the Knit Picks website. I don’t mind purchasing yarn online, but I know a lot of people like to be able to get it in stores. But since the price is so good, you could get just one or two skeins to try out and spend less than $10 for it all. To me personally, this yarn is well worth the wait to have it shipped.

I would also recommend searching for coupons before you shop. Many of the big box stores have weekly coupons for you to use. Also check for sales. Yarn goes on sale in these stores fairly often. Also, if you are purchasing online, be sure to subscribe to the stores via email. You’ll often get notifications of sales and coupons sent right to your email. Some will even be exclusive to subscribers. I hope this information has been helpful to you when you are shopping for yarn. The hobby of crochet doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Although, I make no promises you won’t get addicted to yarn shopping and buy yarn every time you get the chance! 😉  Happy shopping!

Watch my live segment on this topic:

If you have any of your own budget-friendly yarn suggestions or yarn shopping tips please let me know in the comments below! Be sure to subscribe to this blog via email to never miss a new pattern release or blog post. Just scroll to the bottom of this post and enter your email in the designated box. 

 

 

Ashley Leither is a fellow crochet pattern designer who has some of the most amazing and adorable crochet patterns! But there’s more to her brand than just patterns! Introducing the Ashley Leither Designs Crochet Hooks! These crochet hooks are gorgeous, handmade wooden hooks made by Ashley’s husband!

Ashley sent me a handmade crochet hook to try out myself.  I was able to choose between a Boye or Bates crochet hook and I was able to choose the handle I wanted attached to it. I chose the Bolivian Rosewood handle with a Boye hook size H (5.0mm).

Details on the handle from her website– ” This handle is handmade with a Cocobolo. This wood has beautiful dark grain contrasts, creating a very unique look, no two handles are alike.”

 

 

Once I received the handle I was instantly impressed. I think I expected it to be really heavy, but it isn’t. It’s super smooth and long, which I really like because I’m not a fan of short crochet hooks. The actual hook sticks out pretty far from the handle too, which is great. For the longest time I used Hobby Lobby’s Yarnology hooks for that reason. I just like the way my stitches flow on the longer style crochet hooks. So I was very excited to use this handmade hook!

Now, let’s talk about price. The Ashley Leither Designs crochet hooks range in price from $13-$16. I would consider that very affordable for a handmade crochet hook! I’ve seen other handmade hooks for double that price that weren’t as pretty or as easy to use! Honestly though, I would pay even more for Ashley’s crochet hooks because they are that great!

I’ve been using Ashley Leither Designs crochet hooks for over a month now and I’m still very impressed with them. They are very easy to crochet with and still look brand new! And I have done a lot of crocheting in the past month! Overall, I would recommend these crochet hooks to all of my crocheting friends!

Head on over to this very special link to shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AshleyLeitherDesigns?coupon=TWOBROTHERS15

You’ll automatically get 15% off any crochet hooks you add to your cart or you can visit her SITE and use coupon code TWOBROTHERS15 at checkout!  Enjoy!

Subscribe to this blog via email to never miss a sale or new release! Just scroll down to the bottom of this page and insert your email to the form!

Read my other collaborations and product reviews HERE!

 

It is my birthday weekend! I turn 31 on Sunday and I want to celebrate with you by having a birthday BOGO sale! Starting today, all of my single patterns on Ravelry are buy one, get one FREE (of equal or lesser value)! No exclusions and no code is needed. Just add two or more patterns to your cart and the discount will be applied at checkout.

You can add as many patterns to your cart as you like, and for every 2 patterns added, one will be free! How awesome is that?! It’s a great time to stock up on all your favorites in your wish list! To shop, click the link above or click the picture above and it will take you right to my Ravelry Shop!

I wish you all a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Thanks for celebrating with me!

Subscribe via email to make sure you never miss a sale or new pattern release! Blog posts will come right to your email and I promise never to spam you or release any of your information! Scroll all the way to the bottom of this website to sign up! 

When I started the Dude Collection I knew I wanted to include a blanket. The Dude Blanket is simple, durable, and not too frilly,  just like most guys like things. I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn, but any soft worsted weight yarn will be great for this project! This is one of those projects that is mindless and easy to work on when watching TV or chatting with friends. You and the special “dude” in your life will love it!

The Dude Blanket can be made in any color combination you like or make it solid! You can also change the size of the blanket by working in multiples of 2+1.

Grab the ad-free pdf copy HERE.

Materials

• 4,130-4,500 yards worsted weight yarn
• I (5.5mm) crochet hook or hook to obtain gauge
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Tapestry needle

Difficulty

• Easy

Gauge

• 15 sts within the pattern x 11 rows = 4”

Sizing

• 55” x 65”

Pattern Notes

Starting chain does not count as first stitch, unless stated otherwise within the pattern.

Color changes in sample are: 10 rows with first color, 5 rows with second color, 10 rows with third color, 5 rows with second color, and repeat.

Change the size of the blanket by working your starting chain in a multiple of 2+1.

Stitches Needed & Abbreviations

ch(s)- chain(s)

st(s)- stitch(es)

hdc- half double crochet

blo- back loop only

*- repeat from

Pattern

 

Ch 209

Row 1: hdc in 2^nd ch from hook and across. (208)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 1 hdc in blo of first st, 1 hdc in both loops of next st, *1 hdc in blo of next st, 1 hdc in both loops of next st*, repeat from * across. (208)

Rows 3- 180: repeat row 2.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

This pattern is a copyright of Two Brothers Blankets. Please do not copy, share, sell, or alter in any way. You may use the pattern to sell finished items but please link back to this post for pattern credit.

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How do you balance it all?! I feel like this is a question women get asked a lot. We are wives, moms, doers of the laundry. We are also women who want to make a difference, build that business, and create that product. We want to contribute and we want to do what makes us happy. We want it all! But can we have it all? No. At least not all at once.

I’ve been in the crochet pattern designing business for 5 years now. I’ve been married for almost 10 years. I’ve been a mom for 9 years. In those 10 years I have come to the realization that true balance is a myth. It’s not real. It’s not possible. Even before Two Brothers Blankets, when I was a stay-at-home mom, balance didn’t happen. Some days the babies needed more attention from me so the laundry and the dishes and the projects had to wait. Other days, they took 3 hour naps and I was able to accomplish all of the things! But I never once had a day where I was able to get every bit of housekeeping done AND spend hours and hours with the kids.

Now, as a business owner, balance is even more of a myth, and that’s OK! My boys are both in school now so I am able to work more of a full time schedule than I ever have before, but when you run a business online, the “work” never truly ends. I believe that since true balance is not possible, planning, priorities, and flexibility are what make a busy life not only easier, but enjoyable too!

Priorities

When raising a family, and running a business, it’s super important to have priorities set in place right from the beginning. For me, the family comes before all else. My husband and kids come first. When they need me, work has to wait. This includes things like sickness, or special events, but also just when they need me to be present in that moment. My next priority is other relationships. I try to carve out space for friends as much as I can. I give myself one day during the work week and only work half a day. This day is for meeting with my women’s bible study and spending time with friends. Being a business owner who works from home all day long can get quite lonely, so working on those relationships outside of the home is a big priority for me.

Then comes work. My business is like my third baby. I love everything about it. Even the hard stuff or the not so enjoyable stuff. So sometimes I try to give this the priority above the others and that can usually cause issues. Please understand, though, sometimes work will have to come ahead of family or friend time. That’s why balance is not truly possible. Just like when family needs me, sometimes the business needs me to work a few extra hours that day or put in some work on a Saturday. That’s where good planning comes in!

Planning

Without planning our life would be true chaos. My husband and I both run separate businesses, so life can become very hectic, very fast. We plan as much as we possibly can, from school pick-ups to what we are eating for dinner each night. Every Sunday night we sit down and plan out our week on the calendar. We sync our schedules and figure out who is doing what so that we each have optimal time to run our business, without it getting in the way of family time or time for each other.

So for us, I typically take the boys to school and Brian picks them up. This gives Brian more time to work in the morning when it’s cooler (he works outdoors). Brian also usually takes the boys to their extracurricular activities in the evenings, while I’m the one to plan, shop for, and cook our meals each day. On days that he can’t pick them up or has to work late, I fill in. Some days I need to work late so he cooks dinner for us. We work as a team and plan as a team so that there’s usually nothing too unexpected in our day, which makes it feel so much less chaotic.

Outsourcing

As my business and my husband’s business grows, one of my main goals is to be able to have a housekeeper come once a month and clean my house!  I would also love to have a part time nanny by next summer to keep my kids cared for and occupied while I work so they aren’t sitting in front of the TV the whole time I’m working! These are true goals of mine and I have no shame in them! One thing I’m learning as a business owner is that I cannot do it all! So I’m going to stick to what I can do and delegate the rest to others when possible! It’s OK to ask for help! It’s OK to get help! I promise!

Flexibility

Lastly, no matter what life situation you are in, flexibility is a must. No matter how much you plan, sometimes things just don’t go they way you planned them to.  The best thing you can do for your own sanity is learn to roll with the changes when things don’t work out how you planned them.  Also, it really helps to get back to your plan as soon as you can.  It gives you better motivation and a feeling of control when you get back on track as soon as possible.

I hope these tips help you to let go of the idea that your life needs to be perfectly balance to be a good parent, spouse, or person. You can visit my youtube channel to see my Instagram live segment on this very topic. Lastly, let me know in the comments how you keep your life as close to balanced as you can!

 

I have officially started the Fall 2018 collection and the Brimstone Beanie is the first of many fun designs I have planned! The Brimstone Beanie comes with instructions for how to make toddler sizes through adult sizes. This pattern is an easy to follow, bottom-up design that you will never get bored with because the stitch combo changes each round! The Brimstone Beanie crochet pattern is currently on sale for 50% off through Sunday, August 26, 2018! No code is needed. The discount has already been applied. Grab your pattern HERE. 

I used the new Jeans yarn from Lion Brand Yarns to make this hat. One day while walking through the yarn isle of Michael’s this yarn jumped out at me and screamed “HAT!”. I promise that’s exactly how it happened! 😉 Of course I bought it to see what I could come up with. Once I got it home I started playing with it right away! The Brimstone Beanie is what came to be created from this yarn!

I really like the Lion Brand Jeans yarn. So much so that I have plans to design another pattern with it, this time a garment! This yarn is very soft and squishy, which is almost always a great thing for yarn. It is on the light side of worsted weight, so be sure to check your gauge accordingly when using it. It comes with 246 yards a skein so I was able to make 1.5 children’s sized hats with just one skein of it. The colors are amazing and every single one has that cool denim feel to it! I think the colors really are what make this yarn stand out! The stitch definition shows up so nicely in these colors! I plan to grab some more  to make even more Brimstone Beanies!

Overall, I am a fan of the Jeans yarn from Lion Brand Yarns! I will recommend this yarn to anyone!

I am so excited to share with you my favorite coffee mug today! I’ve only had it for about a month, but it has surpassed all of the others and become the favorite! It is from the lovely ladies of 3amgracedesigns! You may know them as crochet pattern designers but they also have gorgeous, sturdy coffee mugs in their shop as well!

If you visit 3amgracedesigns website you will see that designers, Donna and Michaelene, wear many hats! They are both wives and mothers. Donna runs a preschool! Michaelene also works full-time and volunteers often! Then on top of all that they blog, run crochet-a-longs, design, and create!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to try out one of their Crochet/Maker mugs! There are so many amazing sayings on the mugs and it was so hard to choose just one mug! Some of my favorite sayings include “Created to Create”, “Boss girl”, and “Crochet is Cheaper than Therapy”. I finally decided on “Maker Mama” because it suited me perfectly. I take my role as a mama and a maker, both, very seriously.

The mugs that 3amgracedesigns offer are 15oz and both microwave and top shelf dishwasher safe! I absolutely love that because I hate to wash dishes! If something I like can’t go in the dishwasher, I rarely buy it! The mug has held up wonderfully too! I use the mug at least once a week, sometimes more, and it hasn’t peeled or chipped or stained at all!

I am left-handed, so sometimes I run into a mug with the design printed on only one side, and of course it’s the side for those holding it with their right hand. Not mugs from 3amgracedesigns! They print the design on both sides so right and left handed people can see the design as they hold it!  Each mug is made to order and you can even make special requests! The wonderful ladies at 3amgracedesigns also update their inventory often with fresh new designs!

The next mug I plan to get is for my husband. It says “World’s Best Instagram Husband”. He is definitely that! The photos you see on my Instagram grid are usually taken by him so I know that he will love this mug!

I highly recommend the 3amgracedesigns maker mugs if you are a maker, business owner, crocheter, knitter, or all of the above! These mugs also make great gifts for fellow crafty friends or family!

I am so happy to be able to share a coupon code with you, so you can purchase your own maker mug! If you use code ‘TwoBrothers’ at checkout you will get 20% off any mug in the collection! Shop HERE!

The Cecilia Shawl is light and airy and fun! It’s perfect to cover up with on a cool night or even use as a cute triangle scarf! Lion Brand Ombre Life yarn is used in the photos below to make a gorgeous gradient shawl!

The Cecilia Shawl is a beginner level crochet pattern. The repetitive stitch pattern makes it quick and fun to work up! Use sport weight yarn for a wonderful drape, or use DKfor a warmer shawl!

You can purchase the ad free pdf pattern HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials

600 yards sport weight yarn
H hook
Scissors
Measuring tape
Yarn needle to weave in ends

Difficulty
beginner

Gauge
not needed

Sizing

50” across the top or desired width

Pattern Notes

Pattern is worked from the bottom up.
Sport weight yarn is used in the example but any light yarn will
work for this. Sizing and yarn amount may vary.

Stitches Needed &
Abbreviations
ch- chain
dc- double crochet
v-st (dc, ch1, dc)
st- stitch
shell- 5dc in 1 stitch
**- repeat what is in the symbols

Triangle
Ch 5
Row 1: dc in 5th ch from hook (creates v-st) (1 v-st)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in 1st st, 5 dc in ch space, sc in last st. (1 shell, 2 sc)
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, 4 dc in 1st st, skip 2, v-st in 3rd dc of shell, skip 2, 5 dc in last st. (2 shells, 1 v-st)
Row 4: Ch 3, turn, v-st in 3rd dc of shell, 5 dc in next ch-1 space, v-st in 3rd dc of next shell, dc in top of
ch 3. (2 v-st, 1 shell)
Row 5: Ch 4, turn, dc in same st (creates v-st), 5 dc in next ch-1 space, v-st in 3rd dc of next shell, 5 dc in
next ch-1 space, v-st in top of ch 3. (3 v-st, 2 shells)
Row 6: Ch 3, turn, 5 dc in ch-1 space, *v-st in 3rd dc of next shell, 5 dc in next ch-1 space*, repeat across,
dc in top of ch 3. (3 shells, 2 v-st)
Row 7: Ch 3, turn, v-st in 3rd dc of next shell, *5 dc in next ch-1 space, v-st in 3rd dc of next shell*, repeat
across, dc in top of ch 3. (3 v-st, 2 shells)
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, dc in same st (creates v-st), 5 dc in next ch-1 space, *v-st in 3rd dc of next shell, 5 dc in
next ch-1 space*, repeat across, v-st in top of ch 3. (4 v-st, 3 shells)
Repeat rows 6-8, ending with a repeat of row 6, until triangle measure approximately 50” across the top
or until desired length and width.
Optional Trim
Round 1: Evenly sc around the entire triangle working 2 sc in each corner, join to 1st st.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st st, ch 2, sc in same st, *skip 1, sc in next, ch 2, sc in same st*, repeat around, join
to 1st st.
Finish off. Weave in ends.

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