Criss Cross makes me want to jump

After three (very long) weeks of having these two projects sitting in my basket, waiting on the perfect buttons and a surge of motivation, I have finally finished two pairs of...

Criss Cross Baby Ankle Boots!

These boots are inspired by Mon Petit Violon's Polka Dot Mary Baby Mary Janes, for which the pattern is available in her Etsy shop. Like all of her patterns, I love these high top Mary Janes, and I made a pair last year while on vacation:

However, I wanted to combine the idea of the criss cross in these Mary Janes with an ankle boot. I didn't want it to be too tall, so I made a short ankle and I closed the boot on the bridge of the foot.

I made a pair in grey (with a charcoal button) and a pair in pistachio green (with an amazingly mustardy yellow wooden button!):

My bestest crochet friend M. threw around button ideas with me, and I found these amazing charcoal buttons at her suggestion! Then I looked around in my stash and decided on the mustard yellows for the green pair after holding a button debate session at last night's Madrid Knits! yarn circle.

They are both live on my Etsy shop. The green pair is here and the grey pair is here. I am in love with this design!

I modified the design slightly between each pair, placing the criss cross higher up on the grey pair than on the green pair. I'm still not sure which I like better. What do you think?

Madrid Knits! yarn circle in Madrid

Last week, a member of a Facebook group that I am in asked whether or not there are any knitting or crocheting circles in Madrid. Another member pointed us all towards Madrid Knits!, a yarn circle that meets every week near the Santiago Bernabeu football stadium.

I was so excited about finding a group of yarnies that I wasted no time in packing up my yarn and making my way to the class on Friday evening! I had a great time getting to know all of the men and women of Madrid Knits! and I even finished a bunny crochet hat based on this pattern.

I love this pattern from Sunset Crochet on Etsy!

I still have to sew the ears on the bunny hat from Friday, but here is another one that I made last month:

You can join Madrid Knits! every Friday night (and the first Saturday of each month) if you are in the Madrid area! Here are the details:

Who: Madrid Knits! yarn circle
When: every Friday night from 17:00-21:00
Where: Starbucks, calle Pedro Teixeira, 8 (barrio Tetuán)
How: Just show up, add your name in the notebook and say hello! There are lots of English-speaking members, and it is a great chance to practice your Spanish! (There are also members that speak Dutch and Portuguese!)
Why: You need some motivation to finish that latest project, you want the inside on great yarn shops in Madrid, or you are just looking to meet some guys and gals who share your hobby for yarn crafting!

You can check out a weekly report of Madrid Knits on their blog: Madrid Knits!

Sale!

This week, my Etsy boutique Madrid Metro Mod reached its 30th sale! To celebrate, I am offering a 30% discount on every item in the shop! Now is the perfect time to purchase the hat or baby booties that have caught your eye!

Etsy coupon code: FIRST30SALES
Expires: February 04, 2013

Thank you to everyone who has supported my shop during these first six months! I am more dedicated than ever to bringing you high quality baby items that become family heirlooms for generations!

Hugs and stitches,

Blue, like the moon and Christmas without you

I made three hats this weekend after a great trip to Lanas Sixto (you can read about this yarn shop here) and when I stepped back, I realized that they were all some version of the color blue!

So, even though I had a wonderful weekend and a great trip to Segovia on Monday and am feeling as happy as a circus flea, I suppose that I have to say it... "I'm feeling blue!"

One of my favorite hats is this new double pom newborn beanie, made for a custom order for my Etsy boutique!

You can find the pattern for this double pom beanie on my blog here or on Ravelry here.

I had some leftover yarn, although not enough to make a duplicate hat (which I would have loved!) so I made a striped beanie with a giant pom pom. I love how the colors progress from dark to light!

Finally, I improvised a newborn conductors cap based on an adult pattern that I used to make my very own conductors cap. More on that later, but for now, a little teaser picture!

By the way, this indigo conductors cap is still for sale in my Etsy boutique!

New Christmas Ornament Pattern for Sale!

I am definitely in the Christmas spirit and cannot wait to go home to Virginia in two weeks and celebrate the holidays with my family! It seems to me that Madrid is just bursting with Christmas decorations this year, and I was super inspired to make some cute ornaments! Here they are:

I am in love with this little stocking, wreath and snowflake, and I can't believe how easy they were to make! I finished each one in under 30 minutes!!!

I was sure to write the pattern so that every level of crocheter can enjoy. If you can work in rows, work in the round, and do basic stitches (including front post and back post double crochet, but don't worry - I explain how to do it!), you can make these cute and quick ornaments!

You can purchase this pattern in my Etsy shop here.

You can also purchase this pattern as a Ravelry download! Instant gratification! :)



Happy holidays and happy crocheting, everyone! :)

Small Chunky Crochet Nesting Basket Pattern

Hi guys! As a Christmas gift, I am working on some nesting baskets based on the pattern provided by Liz at Crochet in Color. You can find her awesome patterns for the large and medium basket on her blog here.

I wanted to make a third, smaller basket, to nest inside these two. It turned out so cute, and I hope it helps if you want to make a nesting set! Please post comments if you make this basket, including a photo so we can see your amazing handiwork!

All three baskets in a cute little nest!

Please note that you will still be working with two strands of extra chunky yarn. I used two strands of Katia Alaska and a 7.00mm hook.

The small blue basket measures approximately 6" / 15.5cm in diameter and is about 4" / 11cm deep.

Small Nesting Basket:

R1: Ch 2 and 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to ch 2. (8)

R2: Ch 2. Hdc in same st. 2 hdc in next 7 sts. Join with sl st to ch 2. (16)

R3: Ch 2. Hdc in same st. Hdc in next st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st] around. Join with sl st to ch 2. (24)

R4: Ch 2. Hdc in same st. Hdc in next 2 sts. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts] around. Join with sl st to ch 2. (32)

R5: Ch 2. Hdc in same st. Hdc in next 3 sts. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts] around. Join with sl st to ch 2. (40).

(R6 begins the body of the basket)

R6: Ch 1. Sc around basket working in loop behind the back of the stitch. (Note: This is not working in back loops only, but rather the loop created behind the back loop of the stitch in the previous row. Crocht in Color has a wonderful tutorial on how to do this step here.) Join with sl st to Ch 1. (40)

R7: Ch 2. Hdc in next st and around basket. Join with sl st to Ch 2. (40)

R8: Ch 1. Working in back loops only, sc in same st and around basket. Join with sl st to Ch 1. (40)

R9: Ch 2. Hdc in next st and around basket. Join with sl st to Ch 2. (40)

R10: Ch 1. Sc in same st and around basket. Join with sl st to Ch 1. (40)

R11: Ch 1. Working in back loops only, sc in next st and around basket. Join with sl st to Ch 1. (40)

R12: Ch 2. Hdc in same st and in next 6 sts. Ch 5. Sk next 4 sts. Hdc in next 18 sts. Ch 5. Sk next 4 sts. Hdc in next 7 sts. Join with sl st to Ch 2.

R13: Ch 1. Sc in next 6 sts. Work 6 sc in the handle (the Ch 5 space from previous row) Hdc in next 18 sts. Work 6 sc in the second handle (the Ch 5 space from previous row). Hdc in next 7 sts. Join with sl st to Ch 1.

Note: I added a round of slip stitch to all three nesting baskets because I like the finished look that it gives to the top of the basket. This is optional.

R14: Ch 1. Sl st in next st and around basket. Sl st to Ch 1. Fasten off and weave in ends.

I hope that you enjoy this basket, and I want to send out a huge thank you Liz from Crochet in Color for her inspiration for this pattern!

Hugs and stitches! :)

Madrid Metro Mod's Catalog

I still love Etsy, although I find that clients get frustrated when they can't see my entire inventory in one spot. Maybe I've sold an item and it's difficult to find under "sold items," and then I get an email or a Facebook message saying "Remember that cute hat that you made with the braids? I'd like one of those." Then I get frustrated, because I've made 10 hats with braids, and I'm sure that at least 6 of them were cute!

To help out, and to create a portfolio where all of the items that can be custom ordered are shown, I have created a blog called the "Madrid Metro Mod Catalog." Please check it out here!

Thanks a bunch!

Hugs and stitches,