Here’s a look at our baby’s nursery!! We’re expecting his arrival in June 2019 and here’s his new room! It’s a work-in-progress, but this is how far we’ve gotten on his “crib” so far!!
Head to the beach with this boho-inspired swimsuit cover-up! Not heading to the beach? Why not wear this Sand-n-Sea Beach Tunic over a tank top with Jean cut-offs or over your favorite sundress! Really you can NOT go wrong with this top! Next time you head to the water, you will want to have this stylish cover-up as part of you beach wardrobe.
The chains and fringe give this fabulous piece a free flowing look that is perfect for the warm summer!!
Also check out my Sassy Summer Bikini!! You can make the entire ensemble – bikini and coverup using Willow Yarns! Now rush over to their website and fill up those online shopping carts with these perfect summer fibers!
My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make this tunic:
**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!
Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!
Designed by Nadia Fuad You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.
NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-Watch the FULL introduction of the video tutorial for frequently asked questions and watch the full video for tips on how to make this smaller or bigger.
-This tunic measures 32 inches wide and 23 inches long. See video tutorial to learn how to make this larger.
Special stitches:
Ch(s): chain(s)
YO: Yarn Over
St(s): Stitch(es)
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
Pattern:
If you have any confusion or difficulty with reading this pattern, please watch the video tutorial to have visual instructions.
Tunic:
Front Panel and Back Panel: (These instructions are for ONE panel, make 2 exactly the same–See video tutorial for visual instructions)
Ch 142 or any multiple of 20 + 2 Row 1: DC in 3rd Ch from hook and next 19 chs, *Ch 20, Sk 20 chs, DC in next 20 chs, repeat from * across ending with DC in last 20 chs, ch 2, turn.
Row 2: DC in first 20 sts, *Ch 20, Sk ch 20 sp, DC in next 20 sts, repeat from * across, ending with DC in last 20 sts, Ch 2, turn.
Rows 3-50: Repeat Row 2 (you can go beyond Row 50 if you want to make yours longer)
Assembly Step:
Make 2 of these panels exactly the same way. Once the front panel and back panel are made, sew the shoulders and up the sides leaving space for arm-holes (see video tutorial for specific instructions on how to sew this closed)
Add fringe to the sides and around the arm holes. Weave in loose ends.
Enjoy!!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia
The yarn provided for this pattern is courtesy of Willow Yarns
Disclaimer: This blog contains sensitive pregnancy photos. I ask everyone to be respectful and any negative comments will be deleted. It took a lot for me to be vulnerable to share these images. With my health history, I wanted to be as transparent and open as possible with this miraculous pregnancy.
Many of you already have been following my journey and know that my health history has been plagued with illness, numerous surgeries, and plenty of setbacks. I had my colon removed in 2008 because my Crohn’s disease was so progressive. Doctors, worried about the dangerous potential of colon cancer and with fast deterioration of my colon, removed it to save my life. That journey was wrought with so many setbacks and ongoing severe illness. Chemotherapy, biologic treatments, thousands of procedures, multiple ostomies, hospitalizations, and repeated surgery had severely impacted the quality of life I was living in my late teens into my 20s. Most of my dreams were put on hold just to survive.
The one dream I held onto and hoped for was to one day be a mother. Doctors could never give a definitive answer as to whether or not pregnancy could even be possible. It was always a “wait and see” possibility. Without my large intestine or parts of my small intestine, even carrying a baby to term was a huge risk. And, it has been. This miraculous pregnancy has been filled with many issues, illness related problems, and so much worry. Yet, this sweet little boy growing inside me is a fighter. Just like me.
That is why, as we came closer to my due date, I dreamed of having pregnancy photos taken to mark this extraordinary time in our lives.
My colo-rectal surgeon told me last week, despite all the complications, try to enjoy this. “Enjoy being pregnant, Nadia.” She said, “Time goes so fast, we forget these moments. Try to remember how exciting it is to feel him moving…” And it is! This is so true! I have to appreciate everything I am going through to bring him here, and I love him so much that I don’t care how much I have to endure. This is temporary and so worth it.
Next week, I stop the last of my medications needed to keep my disease in remission, so our baby has the best chance and can be his strongest at birth. That part is very unsettling because I don’t know what my body will do without those medications. I am hoping that the last dose will sustain me through the final weeks until delivery and beyond. With that in mind, I decided now was the best time to do these photos. While I felt as good as I can expect to feel, I wanted to capture the power of this moment and the profound feelings of this health and pregnancy journey. I channeled my inner “life-giving goddess” for these powerful images!
I want to thank my mom and dad for their help in bringing my vision to life through these photos, and a huge thank you to Nate for being the most amazing husband and best friend on this journey. I couldn’t have done this without him..obviously..haha!!
“Life reveals her beauty one precious miracle at a time.” ~Flavia
Life is busy and there is never enough time in the day for most of us. Between jobs, family, appointments, and obligations, most of us are left with less and less time in a day for enjoyment. Crochet projects get started and set aside forgotten. Oftentimes, we take on a project in hopes to complete it by a specific deadline – a wedding, birthday, or holiday. It is in this time of hustle and bustle, a little time management can go a long way! Let me show you how!
Here are some of my tips to help maximize the time you have and make the day as productive as possible.
Set your goals. Now let’s plan a way to support and reach those goals!
Prioritize your day/week/month: When we begin a project, most of us have more than just the project deadline ahead of us. Know what time frame you are working with and determine the other activities you need to juggle simultaneously with these projects. Getting a planner is a great way to keep yourself organized. Several apps can be useful or I use a planner like this one here.One glance at the week ahead can give me an idea of how I can plan out my projects around other things I am juggling in life. Work and work related activities, appointments, family activities, and plans with friends-it is all right there in my planner!
Another great tip is to invest in a white board! I have one and write my daily “to do list.” My white board is near my office where I spend most of my time. I see it nearly all day long. When I get busy, it is hard to remember everything I have to do, so seeing it RIGHT in front of me every time I walk past is a great way to keep me on task! Once I complete a task, I erase it. I LOVE seeing those “to-dos” disappear every day!
Always plan ahead: Know what is necessary to reach these goals and be sure to have your project supplies available. How many times have you started a project and then ran out of supplies and needed something and now you have to stop working or put your project off until you have what you need. Plan it out, write a list, and shop for supplies, double check.
Get rid of things that distract you. Are you drawn in by social media and realize that you just spent 45 minutes with time sunk on Facebook or Instagram? Ummm me neither haha! But for those that get distracted by social media, television, or even the birds on the feeders outside the window, remove those distractions NOW! I am NOT saying permanently, NO-keep your bird feeders filled with birds!! I am saying this; Set a timer for 20 minutes or an hour (or the allotted time you’re planning on working on your project) now, put your phone in the other room, shut off TV if it is a distraction, close the curtains-do what you need to do in order to have that one hour free and clear to work. Sometimes, I only have time to set my timer for 20 minutes and push myself just to concentrate for that 20 minutes, shut my mind off to everything else and get to work! I try to capitalize on those timed sessions! Remember to have your supplies all available before getting started.
Sometimes you have to just say NO. We all want to be the kind of person that can do it all. However, sometimes that is not possible, and there comes a time that to be the most productive in our own lives we have to say NO to things. Not everything, just the things that bog our schedules down to the point where there is no time for enjoyment. It’s ok-give yourself permission to say NO and tell yourself it is ok!
Last on our list is TAKE CARE OF YOU!! No matter how much you want to finish a project, no project is worth going bonkers stressing over it! There might not be enough time in a day. It is ok! Look at your week and plan it out in days-Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday projects, or maybe just weekend projects. Whatever you have time for, don’t put extra pressure on yourself that you HAVE to get it done NOW even on a deadline. Pace yourself, plan ahead, and give yourself permission to relax. I promise, with some effective time management, you can accomplish your goals!
Now that you have some great tips, you will have much more time to do what you love!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia
I tried a new project that is simple enough for the beginner and fun for the seasoned crocheter! The Star Ring Rattle is perfect for any baby nursery, gift, or layette!
My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make this project:
**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!
Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!
Designed by Nadia Fuad You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.
NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-Watch the FULL introduction of the video tutorial for frequently asked questions and watch the full video for tips on how to make this smaller or bigger.
Special stitches:
Ch(s): chain(s)
YO: Yarn Over
St(s): Stitch(es)
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
SC2TOG: Single Crochet Decrease
SC3TOG: Single Crochet 3 Stitches Together
Pattern:
If you have any confusion or difficulty with reading this pattern, please watch the video tutorial to have visual instructions.
Star: (MAKE 2)
Ch 2 (or start with magic ring) Rnd 1: 9 SC in 2nd Ch from hook, Sl st to first SC, Ch 1, TURN.
Rnd 2: 2 SC in each st around, sl st to first SC, Ch 1, TURN. (18 sts)
Rnd 3: [2 SC in next st, SC in next st] 9 times, sl st to first SC, Ch 1, TURN. (27)
Rnd 4: [2 SC in next st, SC in next 2 sts] 9 times, sl st to first SC, Ch 1, TURN. (36)
Rnd 5: [2 SC in next st, SC in next 3 sts] 9 times, sl st to first SC, Ch 1, TURN. (45)
Now you will be making the points of the star, you will be working in rows. (See video tutorial for visual instructions)
Row 1: SC in 9 sts, leave the rest unworked, ch 1, turn. (9)
Row 2: SC in each of the 9 sts across, ch 1, turn. (9)
Row 3: SC2TOG, SC in next 5 sts, SC2TOG, ch 1, turn. (7)
Row 4: SC in each of the 7 sts across, ch 1, turn. (7)
Row 5: SC2TOG, SC in next 3 sts, SC2TOG, ch 1, turn. (5)
Row 6: SC in each of the 5 sts across, ch 1, turn. (5)
Row 7: SC2TOG, SC in next st, SC2TOG, ch 1, turn. (3)
Row 8: SC in each of the 3 sts across, ch 1, turn. (3)
Row 9: SC3TOG, ch 1. DO NOT TURN
Continue to Sl st down the side of the point back to Round 5 of the circle
Repeat Rows 1-9 of the point starting in the very next st.
Repeat this until you have all 5 points made.
On the first star, fasten off.
on the second star, DO NOT fasten off
Assembly step:
SC around both stars attaching them together (See video tutorial for visual instructions).
Before Fully closing the star, be sure to add stuffing and the rattle inside.
Strap:
With another color, Start with long tail before you make your slip knot to start this section.
Ch 6 Row 1: SC in 2nd Ch from hook and across, ch 1, turn. (5)
Rows 2-20: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn. (5)
When you finish row 20, Fasten off with long tail for sewing.
Assembly:
Wrap the strap around the teething ring and sew it together
Sew the other side of the strap to the star. Weave in all ends.
Enjoy!!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia
The yarn provided for this pattern is courtesy of Red Heart Yarns
