Crochet Game! Add The Points

Crochet Game! Add The Points

 

I’ve been working on creating more engagement on my social media platforms. One way I have been doing this is to create more content that is fun and entertaining. One such way is to make content into interactive games. Below is one such example.

Play for fun!

Just for fun!

I’m posting here because not everyone is on social media. This is a good way for those who follow our blog to participate in some of the fun, too.  It’s not often we can take a break and play a Crochet Game. 

Share your scores with us in the comments. Enjoy!

❤️

The History of the Crochet Hook

The History of the Crochet Hook

The history of the crochet hook is quite fascinating. Crochet itself is believed to have originated in the early 16th century in Europe. However, the exact origin of the crochet hook is a bit unclear. That makes this art more mysterious because there is also some evidence of crochet possibly having roots in early China or Arabia. So, who were the earliest pioneers of this craft? What tools and techniques were used in those early centuries?

Whoever it was that discovered this popular art form and the tools necessary, we owe a debt of gratitude for providing us that tool for this long-living and sustainable life skill. Let’s dig a bit into some historical trivia surrounding the crochet hook. 

Hooks of all kinds

The first crochet hooks were likely made from simple materials like bone, wood, or even ivory. These early hooks were handmade and varied in size and shape. Over time, as crochet became more popular, hooks started to be produced on a larger scale and with different materials such as metal. We have been searching for vintage crochet hooks or trying to produce some of our own.

Many of our followers have known how Fuad himself creates his own unique hook handles on Wood Be Fancy. He has also dabbled in making his own fully hand carved wood hooks. We have yet to discover any  bone or ivory hooks while antiquing, but one can imagine how rare these must be. 

Visit Fuad’s etsy shop HERE.

Metal hooks and more!

In the 19th century, steel crochet hooks became particularly popular due to their durability. They didn’t break or wear down as easily with use. They were often used for delicate and intricate lacework. The size and shape of the hooks also began to mass produce during this time, making it easier for patterns to be shared and replicated. 

In the modern era, crochet hooks are available in a wide range of materials including plastic, aluminum, and bamboo. They also come in various sizes and designs, catering to different preferences and crochet techniques. Company branding and designs were perfected and the industry has grown significantly. 

Crochet hooks have evolved alongside the art of crochet itself, allowing people to create beautiful and intricate designs with ease. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, having a good crochet hook is essential for bringing your creative ideas to life!

What is your go-to hook? Share with us in the comments!

Happy Hooking!

~Fuad, Shannon, and Nadia

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




Oh My-Planta! Gnats Attacked Our Plants!

Oh My-Planta! Gnats Attacked Our Plants!

We are plant people! We love our plants. Over the years, we have been building our plant family one at a time. Presently, we have between 30-40 plants that we have either bought, inherited, or propagated. Recently, we have discovered our propagated tiny Swiss Cheese Monstera had gnats flying and running around in the soil.

closeup of gnat

macro close-up of gnat taken with my iphone 13 pro max

Our baby Monstera plant

We tried several home remedies such as using hydrogen peroxide mixed with water to water the soil, completely drying out the soil, setting apple cider vinegar and dish soap traps and more; all to rid the soil of these nasty pests to no avail. Soon, we noticed other plants started having issues. It was time to go up a notch in our pest control.

Bring out the heavy-duty pest control.

After several days of researching some of the best ways to rectify this issue, we found that most plant enthusiasts used various sprays or water treatment that did not harm the plants but combatted only the bug issue. We hoped that their tips would help so we went to Amazon and ordered a few things to help tackle our issues.

  1. Sticky gnat traps: These traps are placed into the soil and have a VERY sticky surface to capture the gnats. You can find these HERE.
  2. Neem Oil: Kills eggs, larvae, and adult stages of MANY plant invader insects. You can use it safely on plants and is more organic than some other plant pesticides. Find product HERE.
  3. Bonide Systemic House Plant Insect Control: Granules that can be applied both via watering or sprinkling on your soil to effectively treat your insect issue. Find this product HERE.

We are currently treating our plants with the three above products and have seen some mild results initially. We hope these products work and we look forward to happy and healthy plants for years to come.

Any Advice?

Now that you are learning about our plant issues, tell us what you would do. How would you treat this issue? Do you have any tricks or tips to share with us? Have you dealt with this before? We are always trying to educate ourselves and look forward to your feedback!

Happy Planting!

Shannon and Fuad

We have affiliate links in this post and do receive a small stipend if purchased. #ad

Projects to Crochet In A Hurry

Projects to Crochet In A Hurry

Have you ever found yourself in a jam trying to find a last minute gift for someone and no time to run to several shops for that perfect item? Here is a list it we compiled to help you come up with some fabulous hand-made gift ideas in a hurry! These gifts can be made within a few hours and are guaranteed to be a big hit! Click the image to view the crochet pattern. Check out ALL the fabulous designers who contributed to this blog post! Follow all their social media accounts to support them for free!

Potholders

Check out the pattern for these potholders by clicking the image

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this potholder

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these hot pads

 

Jar Covers

Click the image to check out these Jar Hats!

Click the image to view the crochet pattern and video tutorial for this jar cover

 

Click the image to view the pattern for this jar cozy

Click the image to check out this pattern

 

Washcloths

Click image to view crochet pattern for this washcloth

 

Click the image to check out the pattern to these dishcloths

Click the image to view the pattern to this dishcloth

 

Click the image to see the crochet pattern for this washcloth

 

Scrunchies

Click image to view crochet pattern for this scrunchie

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this scrunchie

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these scrunchies

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these scrunchies

Coasters

Click the image to check out the pattern to these coasters

 

Click image to view crochet pattern to these coasters

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this coaster

Click the image to view the crochet pattern of these coasters

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these coasters

 

Scrubbies

Click the image to see the crochet pattern for this scrubby

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these scrubbies

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this scrubby

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this scrubby

Bookmark

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these bookmarks

Click image to view crochet pattern for this bookmark

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this bookmark

 

Click image to view crochet pattern for this bookmark

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this bookmark

Mug Cozy

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this mug cozy

 

Click image to view the crochet pattern for this mug cozy

Beanie Hat

 

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this hat

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this beanie

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this hat

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this beanie

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this beanie

 

Click image to view crochet pattern for this beanie

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this beanie

 

 

Basket

 

Click image to see the crochet pattern for this basket

Click image to view crochet pattern for this basket

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this basket

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this basket

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this hanging basket

 

Gift/Gas Card Holder

 

Click image to view crochet pattern for this gift card holder

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these gift card holders

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for this gift card holder

Baby Booties

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these booties

 

Click image to view crochet pattern for these booties

 

Click the image to view the crochet pattern for these booties

 

Thank you to the fabulous designers who participated in this round-up of great crochet patterns! Check out their websites and support their social media accounts!

Mandarin Duck Sighting on Milwaukee Lakeshore, WI

Mandarin Duck Sighting on Milwaukee Lakeshore, WI

I was hearing about sightings of a rare Mandarin Duck that was making his appearance on Milwaukee’s lakeshore. Chatter of various sightings were coming from many of my birding and wildlife groups. Could it be true? Soon, photos started to pop up in those same groups and I knew we needed to head down to Milwaukee and see for ourselves.

We took the three hour trip hoping to catch a glimpse and this guy did NOT disappoint! Our son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids joined us. It was an exciting event for all of us. Mainly because many photographers had made numerous attempts to see this little guy, and we lucked out on our first visit! We did make a couple stops along Lake Michigan before spotting him on the South Shore.

When we arrived there were a couple of photographers already camped out but soon after more started showing up. Word travels fast! Here is a short video of this fascinating duck. How did it get here? How did it end up in Wisconsin hanging out with a flock of Mallards? Was it an escapee from a zoo? Was it someones exotic pet that was released into the wild? Or was it a confused migration flight that brought this guy all the way here from the far east of China or Japan? Your guess is as good as mine! I have always loved a good mystery. I am just not sure this is one that we will ever know the answer to how he landed here. Enjoy my video and share your thoughts.

Happy Hooking…and Birding!!

Fuad & Shannon
(and Nadia!)

 

 

 

 

What did I just watch?

What did I just watch?

I just finished watching the Netflix series The Watcher and sat reeling from it. My very first thought was “What did I just watch?!” It was so baffling it made my head spin! I know it was based on a true story, so I spent a half hour just going down the rabbit hole of research into the background of this house at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, US. The curiosity was taunting me to see how much of this was fact versus how much was fiction.



When I need answers!

I am a late night Netflix binger and chronic book reader. I start shows after our foster children are all asleep. It’s my way to wind down and clear my mind. The Watcher wasn’t a show that left my mind clear…AT ALL! It sent me on a crazy chase of information of discovery that even followed me into my dreams. I dreamt of that house all night long. Does this happen to you?

 

I give it 4.5 stars

I heard this show was renewed for another season, and of course, I will be WATCHING…I guess we are all watchers! Haha! This is one series that held my attention to the end. I only wish it answered more questions than it created. I think that is the sign of a great show. It sticks with you long after it is over.

Tell me, what shows are you watching right now? Share with me in the comments here or on social media. I know many of you have shows on in the background to your craft, and I am curious to hear what has caught your attention? Also, share your thoughts on “The Watcher” if you, too, have seen the series. Be sure to warn *spoiler alert* before your comment, if you give details about the show. This will prevent giving away anything to those who haven’t seen it!

Happy Hooking & More! (and happy watching!)

~Shannon

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!!

Asking a Favor!

Asking a Favor!

I wanted to hop on YARNutopia’s channel to ask a big favor! I NEED your help. In order to monetize my Ambient Sounds (second YouTube Channel) I need AT LEAST 4,000 watched hours. So this is where you can help me out. Go to my other channel here: @Fuad Azmat / Ambient Sounds and SUBSCRIBE and click to receive notifications of new video posts. Watch my videos. Do you like to have back ground noise on while you crochet? Do you like to have white noise play to help you sleep? Do you like to relax to the sounds of waves or wind chimes? If so, we got something for you! There’s a little something for everyone! So check us out here: @Fuad Azmat / Ambient Sounds
Thank you for your support and help and we will be back here on YARNutopia with a new crochet video soon! Thanks for watching!!

Channel Link: https://youtube.com/@fuadazmatambientsounds

View our Etsy Shop to get your fabulous crochet hooks here: http://tidd.ly/77c3804d

 

 

 

Happy Halloween 2022 from YARNutopia!

Happy Halloween 2022 from YARNutopia!

Our Annual Halloween Costume Reveal is here! This year, we have decided on some friendly monster costumes.

Nas loves his one-eyed green monster with horns! He was running around trying to catch pretend monsters and pretend he was one too! He’s such a little goofball!

Nasir’s costume consists of the crocheted green slip-on with a face. I paired that with the green leggings and turtleneck that I bought on Amazon. I used Lion Brand Yarn to create this ensemble.

Nate pulls off the big blue monster very well! For his costume, I created the fuzzy hat with horns. I purchased the furry costume from Amazon and voila it was the perfect match!

For my costume I just made a monster amigurumi doll and wore a pink and purple outfit to tie it all together.

In recent years, it has been difficult to find the time to make elaborate plans for costumes and not be able to get them done. I’ve scaled down quite a bit, but still like to make sure that I’ve included crochet in each costume. I hope you enjoy our monster costumes and keep coming back each year to see more!

If you’d like the crochet pattern for Nasir’s Monster Costume, you can find the written instructions here.

If you’d like the Hat Pattern that Nate is wearing, you can find the written instructions here.

If you’d like to make the little monster plushie I am holding in the photos, you can find the full written pattern here.

 

 

 

Our Introduction!

Our Introduction!

Hello YARNutopians,

Since everyone here knows Nadia so well, and is familiar with her and her craft, Fuad and I wanted to introduce ourselves to this audience. We hope to get to know you more, as well as opening our home and hearts to you, as we take some new direction with YARNutopia.

We are Nadia’s parents, Fuad and Shannon. We are the behind-the-scenes operation team of YARNutopia. As we prepare to take this platform to new places, we thought it would be a great time to share more about ourselves beyond what has popped up from time to time.

Getting To Know Us

Fuad and I have been married for 35 years. We have three wonderful adult children; two of whom are married.  We have three grandchildren. We are also foster parents to three teen girls. Fuad and I have been licensed foster parents for just over two years and are trained in Level 4 Trauma-Informed Foster Care.

Outside of family, we love to explore nature, travel across the globe, and even find adventure right in our own back yard. We live in a rural community in North Central Wisconsin and love this area tremendously. It is full of an abundance of nature and wildlife; much of which we hope to explore more with you here.

Our hobbies include photography, videography, woodworking (visit our Etsy shop HERE), jewelry making, cooking, baking, home projects, DIY, decorating, and so much more! We ARE BUSY and hope to show some of these activities to you. In our spare time, Fuad loves to tinker on cars, film and photograph wildlife(you can find our other YouTube channel HERE), and I love to read and write – when life quiets down enough to pull out a good book. Be on the lookout for some book reviews as well! When I read a fantastic novel, I want to tell the world!

Not so long ago, I used to work in leasing and together we ran a portrait studio, Image By Fuad. Now we are busy with home and family, as well as running our small businesses. We also stay VERY active as a treatment foster home to teens. We have a lot of experiences to bring to the table. We are so glad you are along for the ride!

So join us as we begin this new adventure here on YARNutopia. Keep coming back each week to see what we have going on in our world and we guarantee that you will love what we have in store!

Happy Hooking & More,
~Shannon & Fuad

Taking A New Direction

Taking A New Direction

Hello Yarnutopians!

It has been no surprise that Nadia has had her hands full with Nasir and motherhood. She is extremely busy and has scaled back considerably on her crochet. She is still busy creating and sharing her work, just not at the level you have grown accustomed to. Understandably so. Nasir keeps her on her toes!!

We have a fantastic audience of creative individuals that check in daily to see what is new in our neck-of-the-woods. For that reason, our family has decided to take YARNutopia in a new direction. Crochet has, and always will be, the foundation for this platform. Nadia will continue to create and share her creations as often as time allows. Fuad will continue to film some of those creations as well. We know you have grown to love this combination of easy-to-follow patterns and clear, precise videos that allow the viewer to see everything in detail. That will still remain. However, we hope to grow this platform in new directions. It is for that reason, we have decided to add a few more elements to our website for you to enjoy.

What to expect

Many of you know Fuad as our cameraman. You have seen him on camera from time to time. He is also busy behind-the-scenes with us doing much more than working the camera. We hope to use YARNutopia to share some of those interests and make this more of a family/lifestyle blog. As Nadia’s parents, you may not see us as often in front of the camera but we stay quite busy in other contributing ways to this platform. We enjoy much more creative outlets in our spare time and together with Nadia, we want to share some of those with you. Things such as cooking, woodworking, DIY projects, and so much more. We will be changing our name to YARNutopia & More to encompass all that we hope to share with you!

We look forward to you staying around to see some of the new changes, as well as enjoying Nadia’s newest patterns. Keep those crochet hooks handy! You will need those! Her hands may be full but she still keeps them busy with crochet projects every day! We just plan to add some fun family and lifestyle blogs alongside her crochet projects! Don’t go anywhere, because there’s a lot of exciting content about to come your way. Stay Tuned!!

Happy Hooking & More!

Fuad, Shannon, & Nadia

 

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!!

Life is Changing

Life is Changing

It’s been quite a while since I have last written an update both regarding my health and also Nasir’s diagnosis of autism. As far as my health goes, I feel I’m in the best place I have been in years. I have occasional setbacks, but over-all I have been feeling very good. I’ve been following up with doctors, continuing my biologic medication, and trying to practice a healthier lifestyle. I have been going to the fitness center several days a week. The gym is two-fold. One, for my physical and mental health, and secondly for Nasir. He is socializing with his peers more and more, and the gym’s childcare services provide an opportunity for him to do just that.

Where we started

Since I last blogged about this, we were in the middle of a whirlwind of overwhelming hits coming at us from every direction. Nas wasn’t meeting his appropriate age mile markers. I was battling my own health issues with my Crohn’s disease and mental health, the most difficult being post-partum depression and anxiety. You can read more here.

Soon after the doctors told us Nasir was on the Autism Spectrum, we were thrust into a new normal of therapies of all kinds. Speech, behavioral, occupational, and more. Nasir was nearly two years old and other than making some babble sounds, he didn’t say actual words, mimic our sounds, answer or respond to his name, he wouldn’t make eye contact often, he played independently from other children (other kids didn’t interest him much), he obsessively watched or paid attention to only certain things like specific TV shows that he watched over and over. We would discount or rationalize them, or chalk it up to other things – “maybe it’s his hearing” or “he was born a little early, he’s just a little delayed.”

What came next

Getting the diagnosis of ASD was bittersweet for our family. It’s one of the most overwhelming things to process, but we also have a solid reason for the why’s we were experiencing. We could finally move forward with all the wonderful resources our community has to offer.

Where we are now

Nasir is in therapy nearly every day. He is now talking non-stop. He has lots to talk about and share. He has big opinions and now that he has discovered his voice, he is eager to discover new words, things and experiences. He loves adventure, to play, and to build. He swims and loves the park. He has friends and learns a lot from parallel play. He recently started dancing and his love of music has always been strong. Magna-tiles have opened up his imagination, and he is a master at building castles. He sings, counts, says the alphabet, and identifies so many objects we see throughout the day. He loves his family. Mama and Daddy are his favorite people followed by his grandparents, all his aunties, uncles, cousins and his amazing therapists. He loves reading books, and presently, The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is his favorite TV show. (We shout “OH TOODLES” a dozen times a day!)

We have come SO FAR in a just under a year. The therapies have provided Nate and I small windows in our day to have a break. Despite Nasir’s achievements, he is still demonstrating behavior that do not allow us many moments for breaks. He’s still a wild toddler, of course, but he also never sits still, his attention span is very short. We are having less meltdowns, but they still occur daily. My entire life is devoted to this sweet boy and facing all the challenges that come our way.

Moving ahead

When I do get a chance, I’m trying to get back into my crochet. I feel that spark coming back. I feel several sparks returning. I’m beginning to feel more like myself. Therapy has helped – my own therapy. It’s been life-changing. Little by little, I have been able to piece myself back together. I’m stronger than I have been in a long time. I can do hard things, and I’m doing them every day. If Nas is doing hard things, then I need to continue to set an example and do the same. We continue to take baby steps toward doing more crochet projects and hopefully soon, things will be back into full-swing.

I am currently working on one crochet project per month, and I have a goal of doing 3 to 4 projects per month like I used to do. At the time of creating this blog post, I am anticipating planning out our Halloween costumes for the family this year. You know we have to go all out like every year! Can’t wait to share what we have up our sleeve in 2022!

 

Here are some fun pictures we took this summer!

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween 2021

Happy Halloween 2021

Our Annual Halloween Costume Reveal is here! Nate is a Rainbow to my Pot of Gold and Nas is our lucky leprechaun!

We had a heck of a time trying to decide on a costume that could be worn by our trio. It was such a challenge to find something that didn’t require a huge commitment and large amount of hours. Lately, our days are spent with Nasir doing occupational therapy and speech therapies for his autism.

This change has left me with only pockets of time in a day to work, so it has been quite challenging to pull this years costume together.

We managed this crazy ensemble. Not as thrilling as years past, but still fun and colorful like our family. AND we managed to get Nas to sit still and give us a couple smiles. He melts my heart. He is our true gold.

I hope you enjoy our trio and until next year…Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in making the hats Nate and I are wearing, you can find the crochet pattern and video tutorial here.

If you are interested in making the scarf Nate is wearing, you can find the crochet pattern and video tutorial here.

Time to Change Direction

Time to Change Direction

Very often, I’ll make a list or itinerary of what projects I want to work on or which ones pique my interest. I have no idea how many works in progress I have going on because sometimes the inspiration is so strong to work on something and then a few days later…meh…and there it sits. Yet, there is always something that gets my creative energy charged, and that, my YARNutopians, is the key to picking my next project.

What’s on my hook today?

I started off with the best intentions to work on a few summer projects and started them in hopes to film before the snow flies. Well, all the best intentions are just that, intentions. I have them started, they are not going anywhere, I will finish them, SOMEDAY. Just not today. Instead, my direction has changed because of the most exciting news that a close friend had a baby! So, I guess in the world of crochet, we go with the creative flow. Because I went from hooking up a swimsuit cover-up to a baby blanket all in the matter of minutes! Talk about a 180!

Babies and Blankets, oh my!

This particular blanket is using a new design which is so fun to make! I am using Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch in the color Frost to begin this fabulous piece. Look at that texture and softness!

 

There is just something so alluring about this minty color in a baby layette! I can’t wait to see the impact this is going to make when I am done!

What about you?

What inspires you? Is it personal wants or needs? Is it something you are creating to gift to someone? Is it based on when the inspiration hits, or is it the news of someone having a baby, getting married, a holiday or some event that gets your hook moving???

Share your inspiration here!

 

 

Thank You

Thank You

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read my latest blog post regarding my absence from YARNutopia lately and the next chapter we are heading into with our son Nasir. I have been overwhelmed with so many emotions from the outpouring of love and supportive kind words you left on my posts, in my messages, and the texts I received all day.

There is no way for me to individually reply to all of you, but just know I read every word and took it all to heart. I appreciate all the openness you shared from your personal experiences with friends, family members, or even first-hand experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am currently educating myself on all the different types of therapies and discussing with the specialists what they advise in helping Nasir progress. We hope to see some changes in the first month of this new therapy. We are extremely hopeful.

Reading all the comments and messages that flooded in gave me so much encouragement and hope for my little guy. I know he will accomplish great things in his life, and luckily, we can be his advocates for his success.

In the meantime, please continue to support YARNutopia by sharing my patterns, watching my videos on YouTube, visiting my blog, and purchasing the Wood Be Fancy Crochet Hooks. That helps tremendously during this transition!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all,

Nadia

 

Where’s Nadia?

Where’s Nadia?

Lately, I have been receiving quite a few inquiries asking for new crochet video tutorials. So many of you have been kind and thoughtful to reach out to ask if everything is ok simply because I haven’t posted videos or new content for a while. A lot has been happening and many of the recent events have made it difficult to find time to post or film.

We are halfway through a rough year.

Covid quarantine had already hindered my video production because it was difficult to film, travel, get together with my parents to help with my posts. During this time, Nate and I noticed Nas was not meeting his baby/toddler milestones. We chalked it up to being so isolated from other kids and lack of activities because who has any data about raising babies during a pandemic? Naturally, we didn’t want to think there was anything amiss, but over time we noticed Nasir was falling further and further behind on meeting these markers. He wasn’t responding to his name when called, he was transfixed on specific shows, his attention span was non-existent, he had no fear of danger, he wouldn’t parallel play, didn’t listen, didn’t make eye contact, began hitting aggressively because he was unable to communicate only a few words, he had very little verbal skills and much of what he gained would be lost after one or two days. Yet, here he is so silly, adventurous, funny, smart and just being our cute little Nasir in so many other remarkable ways, we didn’t know if these things we were observing were ok or should we be concerned? He is our first child, so we had no way to fully know.

One or two of these things would be no cause for alarm, but we started adding up more and more then questioning more and more until we couldn’t deny the fact that we might be dealing with something more than just the lack of socialization because of the stay at home order.

Tests, Tests, and more Tests

We took Nas to doctor after doctor, therapist after therapist and to make a long story short, the doctors and specialists have told us he is on the Autism Spectrum. In some of his abilities, he is excelling and is testing in a much higher percentile. In other ways, he is testing quite low. He is struggling with language the most which he is currently testing at an 8-9 month level. He is almost 26 months old at the time I’m posting this. Nate and I felt heartbroken at first, but not for long. We put ourselves into 5th gear and did all the things within our power to make things easier for Nas.

 

Our lives are turned upside down

We have speech therapy and occupational therapy in home (Finally! It was virtual for the first few months because of Covid) The therapists we have in-home were instrumental in pointing us in the right direction to get Nasir the help and support he needs. We were recently approved for even more early intervention programs which we have learned are extraordinary in what they are able to do to help Nas. We are hopeful and optimistic. Although we have to wait a short bit to enroll him for those programs, there is a beginning in sight!

Oh my heart…

Nasir is our whole world. His struggles and his energy have kept our hands and hearts full. There has been little to no time to do more than take care of him, keep up with his never-ending energy, and get him the best resources we can to help him navigate this challenging path. Our entire life has been devoted to his care and to the success he can achieve by this early intervention. I know that this is a process and I have to trust the process, but I am not going to lie, I have cried a million tears, I have filled out thousands of pages of paperwork, I have made a hundred phone calls and some days it still doesn’t feel like enough. I have some serious mom guilt. I can’t even describe it. We are tired, worn out, frustrated at times, hard on ourselves, you name it, we have felt it. I don’t leave the house for days because it’s just too much. We go to my parents’ house for a break from time to time because they are such a big help for us when we are exhausted.

This has tested us as parents, it has tested us as a husband and wife. But at the end of the day, we have this incredibly sweet boy who needs us SO much. Our hearts explode with the love and need to keep him safe and happy and do whatever we can to get him to reach all of his potential. One day, we are hopeful that we may hear him say Mama and Dada..

One day at a time

I haven’t forgotten about my YARNutopian family. Quite the contrary – in fact, I actually feel so anxious to get back to my crochet, but I simply have to sacrifice something in order to manage life right now. I am still working, but very minimally. I still check in every day and post older links to some fun patterns I’ve shared in the past. I have great expectations in the mornings, but by mid-day I am wiped out by the challenges we have in our home at the moment. This is hard.

I am currently working on a new crochet project. It’s going at a snail’s pace, but it is going. I am trying to navigate this new chapter of our lives while giving myself some grace to be ok with the status quo. When the time comes, Nasir will have some one-on-one time with specialists who will provide what he needs to help him talk and reach his goals, then I will have a few hours each day of respite to get back to crochet. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience, support, and understanding as we keep moving forward. Please continue to watch my videos, visit my blog, and support my pages. I promise, I will be back.

With love and hugs,
Nadia

 

Free Pattern Round-Up: Father’s Day Crochet Projects

Free Pattern Round-Up: Father’s Day Crochet Projects

With Father’s Day right around the corner, here a a few great projects to show that special person in your life how much they mean to you! There are many who fill the role of “dad” and these crochet gifts will mean so much to them. Homemade gifts made with love are truly cherished.

This collection of free patterns cover a variety of items with varying skill levels. Pick yours today and get started now!

Check out patterns from many great designers!

 

Dad’s Soap on a Rope

Designed by Through the Loop Yarn Craft

Earl Grey Cup Cozy

By Rich Textures Crochet

 

Viking Gnome Towel Topper

By Nana’s Crafty Home

 

 

 

 

Crochet Scarf for Men

By Golden Lucy Crafts

 

Simple Crochet Treat Basket

By Jen Hayes Creations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da Boss Hat

By ACCROchet
This is a Paid Pattern, but totally worth it!! I love it!

 

 

DC Dice Bag and Tray

By Green Fox Farms Designs

 

I Heart Dad Can Cozy

By Jo to the World

 

 

Remote Holder

By Jo to the World

 

Geometric Arrow Coasters

By YARNutopia

 

Blaze Orange Woodsman Hat

By YARNutopia

 

Adult Men’s Chunky Slippers

By YARNutopia

 

The Uptown Blanket Scarf

By YARNutopia

 

Sharp Dressed Man Vest

By YARNutopia

Valentine’s Day Crochet Patterns

Valentine’s Day Crochet Patterns

Here is a gallery of Valentine’s Day related crochet patterns that are FREE for you to try out!! They are simple, quick projects that you can make for your Valentine this year!

 

Don’t have a Valentine to give anything to? No problem! Make these for yourself!!!

 

Click on the image or the title of the project to take you to its FREE crochet pattern and follow along!

Which one’s your favorite?!?

 

String of Hearts Cup Cozy by YARNutopia

Tunisian Heart Free Crochet Pattern by With Alex

 

Anatomical Heart by YARNutopia

C2C Valentine’s Washcloth – Free Crochet Pattern by EyeLoveKnots

Amigurumi Love Heart Crochet Pattern by Heart Hook Home

Alpine Stitch Mittens by YARNutopia

 

 

 

Velvetine’s Head Wrap – Free Crochet Pattern by Through the Loop Yarn Craft

 

Gnome Amigurumi by YARNutopia

 

Love Is Love Shawl, Free Beginner Crochet Pattern by No Hooks Given

 

 

 

Love Bunny Amigurumi by YARNutopia

 

Sweetheart Bobble Bag (Free Pattern) by Sweet Bee Crochet

 

Heart Bookmark by YARNutopia

You’ll be in my Heart Coasters by L’amas de laine

 

 

 

 

Key to My Heart Crochet Applique by Golden Lucy Crafts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a Heart Flip Flops by YARNutopia

Heart and Sole Slippers by Myhobbyiscrochet

 

Hearts Aflutter Scarf Free Crochet Pattern by Nana’s Crafty Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crochet a Romantic Hedgehog Amigurumi ~ Cutest Valentine’s Gift by RaffamusaDesigns

 

 

Crochet Heart Pillow by Jen Hayes Creations

 

 

 

“Two Hearts that beat as One” C2C Square – Free Crochet Pattern + Graph (Wedding Blanket CAL!) + Video Tutorial by Myhobbyiscrochet

Happy Halloween 2020

Happy Halloween 2020

We had such a fantastic Halloween, and I wanted to share all of our costume pieces in one blog post.  Below you will see each piece that I crocheted and links to their crochet patterns. Simply click the image or the title of each pattern to go to its pattern.

Here is our little Bee Family Photo!

 

 

 

For my Bee Hive costume, I made one large spiral using Lion Brand Basic Stitch yarn.
I do not have a crochet pattern for this, however, at the very bottom of this blog post, I will share a mini “recipe” of how I created this beehive.

 

I added mini Felt Bees that I purchased on Amazon. You can get them here.

 

 

 

For Nate’s costume, I purchased a Bee Keeper Outfit on Amazon. You can find it here.

I also used some Tulle from the fabric shop and added it to the Honey Bee Sunhat that I made for his costume. I added the same Felt Bees to his hat with floral wire.

 

 

On Nasir’s Costume, I share all the components of his costume in this blog post here. I made the wings out of Nylons and coat hangers. I have a FREE crochet pattern and video tutorial for his whole outfit. It’s called the Baby Bee Costume and you can find it here.

 

 

This Baby Bee was *SO* done after our photo shoot!

Thank you for another fabulous year of costumes!

Happy Halloween!!

 

 

 

Below you will find information about the Large Bee Hive costume that I am wearing:

 

For the body and hat:
Work in continuous rounds
Ch 35
HDC in 1st Ch to form a ring, and in the next 23 chs, SC in last 11 chs.
Then I just HDC’d in each HDC st and SC’d in each SC st until it formed a spiral. I stuffed this tube as I went.

I did the same exact thing for my hat. I made 4 spirals for the body and 3 spirals for the hat.
I sewed the beginning and end of the tube and sewed it together in the shape of a beehive.

For the straps, I just did a row of 50 double crochet stitches to make a basic strap and sewed it in on the inside of the bee hive.

I hope this gives you a good idea of how I made the bee hive. If you are interested in making it and have questions, feel free to email me (nadia@yarnutopia.com) and I can help you as best as I can!!

Enjoy!

An Open Letter to the Yarn Community

An Open Letter to the Yarn Community

Dear Creators,

As a BIPOC creator and maker, it is a powerful time in history to watch as so many companies and corporations take a stand in support of Black lives and stand against racial injustice. That is how it should be. I stand on my platforms to support Black Lives and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) creators because they have long been overlooked. There is SO much talent in this community and BIPOC need more recognition and elevation. Our world is full of color and diversity. More companies have to stand for their diverse audience and understand their needs. Not turn a blind eye. Makers of color deserve recognition. Many of the fiber companies have taken a stand. Yet, some have not.

Many of you know that I was a Joy Creator for Red Heart Yarns which was bought out by Yarnspirations/Spinrite. I continued to use and promote their product in nearly all my video tutorials and projects. I stood behind their product. I was not a paid spokesperson nor was I paid money for my videos. I was given yarn support and like all makers, we do generate a small stipend from using affiliate links that generate a sale from time to time. I was always transparent about that. It is one way we can provide free patterns while still generating a small avenue of income to bring you our patterns.

In the face of recent events, the company I had been representing as a stitch ambassador and Joy Creator has not made a public statement nor taken a stance in support of the Black Lives Matter movement or to denounce the killings of black men and women. There has been no statement against racial injustice that we all witness all too often. There has not been a show of support for the community of makers of color in this industry. With that weighing heavily on my mind and my heart, I reached out in a private email and asked them to remove me from their platform and asked them to stop using my likeness on their website.

I decided it was time to move on to a company I felt better represented people of color and community as a whole. I sent Yarnspirations an email with a knot in my gut and a prayer in my heart. I waited. I did not receive a reply. I kept waiting, refreshing my inbox, checking over and over. Nearly a week had passed when none of my requests were acknowledged nor was there anyone from the company who reached out to me at any time to say anything encouraging – not even a one liner. Their silence spoke volumes. It was apparent to me that my voice was not worthy of a reply.

I decided to raise my voice then, in a more public fashion today. It was only in that route did a round-about apology come forth, yet no stand has been taken publicly on any forum. After taking things to the next level in a series of group emails and on a private blogger group did I receive this apology.

It should not be the job of the BIPOC community or BIPOC ambassadors/makers to handhold companies and tell them how to represent their community of color/diversity OR to tell the company to take a stand. The company should already know that the time has come to stand up to racial injustice and discrimination and speak for their customers and creators of color. We need to be seen. People of color have done enough for them by working for free. The company should have been doing this work LONG before now. They should have come with a BOLD and POWERFUL statement in the beginning that made everyone, ESPECIALLY Black makers and creators and creators of color feel elevated and supported.

We should not have to plea with anyone to make a stand. A statement for BIPOC creators and customers should have been the FIRST step of action and then further action could be taken going forward. That is Anti-Racism in action. A company that stands with their creative artists of color and with the nation to say their community of BIPOC matter. That would have gone so far in quelling the fears and anxieties that many of us feel. Those of us that are here as representatives of color, NEED to HEAR that companies like Yarnspirations/Spinrite stand with Black lives and other people of color as a community.

I have decided to use my voice on my platform because, like me, it is compiled of a large percentage of people of color across the entire globe. Many use their product. I used Red Heart Yarns/Yarnspirations products. I shout it out on every video tutorial on every crochet project. Yet they stay silent on my behalf and on behalf of millions of voices. That is unacceptable. The fact that there was no reply and my request for communication about this matter was ignored in my personal email was an eye-opening revelation.

My blog and YouTube channel reach over 150 countries and my nearly half-million followers on all platforms make up only 18% of my actual viewers.  I use it to speak my truth as a creator of color, as a woman, and as a PROUD young mother of a child of color – and if that truth and Yarnspirations’ stand do not align, then it is imperative for me to move on and to let others know my intentions and why. This wasn’t a hard decision, just painful to recognize that this company has taken a no stand approach and continues to take no stand other than an obscure Equal Opportunity statement.

Silence is complicit and silence is ALWAYS the voice of the oppressor. ALWAYS.

I am moving on and divorcing myself from this company that has not seen the importance of lending their voice to Black lives or makers of color, nor the enormity of what that could mean financially from me or others, walking away. If a company wants to be anti-racist then TRULY be anti-racist.  There is no tiptoeing around and waiting for the “right time.” The time was long before today.

~Nadia

 

Quick follow-up edit:

I hear and see ALL the comments on this post. Don’t worry, I AM listening. For those of you trying to call me out or say this is political-understand this – this is about human rights and human rights are NOT political. Let’s get that straight. Or those who are asking now that I posted this where am I? I am right here. Same place I am everyday – working to bring you more of this craft because that is what I do and love and I am also taking care of Nasir. Just because I am not commenting back to every comment, that doesn’t mean I have gone into hiding. This is my platform, and I do have the right to stand where I stand just as every person on this feed has the right to say and feel the way they do. I have no objections to any of that. This is about being heard in a place that has not lent more voices to this important racial matter and over the injustices that continue to be ignored or passified in this industry.

It seems like some are ok with this being ignored, that it will be swept under the rug and forgotten and everything will go back to being “comfortable” again. Do you know who stands behind the camera in every video tutorial I post? It’s my dad. Even if you don’t know him or see his face on here or he is not as vocal on this platform, he is still a HUGE part of YARNutopia. He is a HUGE part of ME! I stand for Black makers and makers of color in this industry, and I stand for my father and many people who are unseen but still have a voice that is not being heard-Don’t you get it?? My dad always says to me, “Anything worth fighting for is not going to be comfortable or easy, Nadia.” This, right here, is not comfortable, but it is NECESSARY! It is only when we feel uncomfortable that big changes can come and my hope and prayer is that change truly does come. He also tells me that sometimes you have to lose to win. Not win in monetary ways or in fame, but win in a way that you can sleep at night and wake up the next day and look at yourself in the mirror. For anyone who truly knows me, knows where I stand when it comes to racial injustice and how I feel about the Black Lives Matter movement. They know this was the right thing for ME to do. You don’t have to agree and despite all the negative things some may say, I do respect and see everyone’s comments and I am not afraid or hiding from any of it nor does it change the way I feel. Thank you.

Macro Image Game

Macro Image Game

Each month, I host a crochet related event in my group YARNutopia World. Over this past weekend, I hosted The Good Intentions Event where everyone virtually attended to use a special yarn they have kept for that “someday” project.

We have a great time connecting during these events. I always do a live lunchtime discussion and Q&A as well as stay online most of the weekend to interact and enjoy the event with a myriad of activities.

For this weekend’s game, I created a gallery of macro photos of items that are related to crochet. Below you can find the photos that I posted. Try guessing these yourself. Answer key is posted at the bottom if you get stumped.

Be sure to attend our events in the future and you, too, can enjoy some crochet camaraderie with everyone who attends!

 

 

Answer Key:

 

 

Click the image below to shop at WOOD BE FANCY!!

Compare & Contrast: Red Heart Yarns Sweet Home vs. Bernat Blanket Yarn

Compare & Contrast: Red Heart Yarns Sweet Home vs. Bernat Blanket Yarn

As I sit through these weeks of Safer At Home, I decided to sort through some of the yarn I have in my stash. I came across several types of yarn with similar qualities and decided to do a contrast and comparison blog. Below are my observations between Red Heart Yarns Sweet Home and Bernat Blanket Yarn. Please refer to the photos for visual observations throughout.

First let me break down the specifics between the two fibers

Sweet Home

Maker: Red Heart Yarns

  • Content: 100% polyester
  • Ball size: 297 g/10.5 oz, 177 meters/193 yards
  • Care: Machine wash and dry
  • Gauge: 6 – Super Bulky

Retail Price: $10.99USD

Chenile style yarn

Color used in this blog: Dark Denim

Get the yarn here: https://amzn.to/2YhlDBN

 

 

 

Blanket Yarn

Maker: Bernat

  • Economical big ball size
  • Content: 100% polyester
  • Ball Size: 300g / 10.5 oz, 201 meters / 220 yards
  • Care: Machine wash and dry
  • Gauge: 6 Super Bulky
  • Knitting Gauge: 8 sts and 13 rows with a 8 mm (U.S. 11) knitting needle
  • Crochet Gauge: 7 sc and 8 rows with a 8 mm (U.S. L/11) crochet hook
  • Recommended for: Knit and crochet home decor projects

Retail price: $10.99USD

This super cozy, super bulky chenille-style yarn is available in a range of stylish shades to compliment your home decor.

Color used in this blog: Frosted Blue

Get this yarn here: https://bit.ly/2KLV0gs

As you can see in these details, the two are identical in content, similar in ball size, same care instruction, and price. Not much to break down since these particulars are so alike.

I decided to work up an identical short granny square pattern with each and compare and contrast working with each of these skeins.

I started with Sweet Home. It seems a tad lighter and more flimsy in my opinion. It makes a slightly smaller square using the same hook and pattern. There is more flow and movement in the Sweet Home because of that light and flimsy feel.

The density of Bernat Blanket Yarn seems thicker than the Sweet Home yarn and therefore this gives this fiber a somewhat firmer feel. There is less movement in the piece because of the density and firmness.

After washing:

After washing, there was no shrinking in either of the yarns and both kept their shape. The yarn is extremely soft before washing, but after washing, I personally feel like they are fluffier and softer than before! The Bernat Blanket Yarn has become more flexible and free-flowing losing some of the firmness evident pre-wash.  It’s like snuggling a light cloud. I can’t think of better words than soft, light, and fluffy.

 

Last thoughts:

While comparing these two fibers, I consistently felt they rival one another quite closely. The main difference was felt in the work up of these two fibers with Sweet Home more free-flow whereas the Bernat has more firmness. However, upon washing the consistency is nearly identical in both. I feel these two could work together and be very compatible with no blatant difference. One of the best discoveries of finding two compatible fibers is that it increases your color choices and options when creating with either of these skeins.

While working with these, I discovered a love for both and look forward to integrating them into a project in the near future. There is so much to love about a fiber that feels like these two do!

 

The crochet hook I used was a 12mm and I found it on Amazon here.

 

 

 

 

Scary and Uncertain Times

Scary and Uncertain Times

Like most of America, and the world, I am staying home as ordered by our state officials. It is such an unusual and unprecedented time and everyday things are changing. Our situation is so fluid meaning what we hear on the news in the morning, can completely change by the evening.  I don’t know about many of you, but this unsettled world has me feeling so anxious and nervous. It also puts me on high alert because, as a person with a severely compromised immune system and a long history of health issues including asthma, I am fearful of everything I am learning about this illness.

Presently, I take immuno-suppressant medications that keeps my chronic disease under control, but severely taxes my system leaving me little to fight off infection or illness. I fall into that segment of society who are at high-risk of danger if I come into contact with anything going around.

Plans Change

I have not left my house for over 3 weeks. I don’t know if you recall through my recent posts and videos, but Nate and I had a trip to Colorado planned for our second anniversary and Nate’s golden birthday. (He turned 30 on March 30th) We were going in early March to Denver. Everything was booked, ski-hill passes were purchased, airfare and lodging reserved and paid for, sightseeing plans and a special anniversary/dinner was in the works. Nasir was going to Grammy and Grampy’s house for the week. We were so excited.

As more and more news broke out, it became apparent that we would have to cancel our vacation. I called my doctors and they advised me NOT to travel. They had insisted that in my condition and with little to no immune system to fight, going into an airport or on a plane was too dangerous at this time. Was I sad and disheartened to cancel all our plans? Absolutely. However, I trust my doctor, and if my doctor issues a grave warning like she did, there is no way I would go against her recommendations. I have been through too much in my life not to heed her warnings.

Everything Is Canceled

So, we, like many of you, decided to retract and cancel all our plans and reservations and stay home. Glued to the TV and internet we watched everything unfold in real-time. Rapidly changing, constantly fluid and more frightening by the moment, we stayed in and were gripped by what was happening in the world and right here at home. I needed to walk away from the screens and try to salvage what I could of our “vacation” by re-inventing a plan to enjoy our anniversary and Nate’s birthday. And we did. We kept Nasir home and the three of us did a “stay-cation” in our living room.  We binged Netflix shows, took a few countryside drives, walked a trail or two in isolated places, we cooked a nice dinner on our two celebrations and WE STAYED INDOORS. My extent of “leaving the house” is going into my backyard.

Our Options

Nate is fortunate to have several weeks of vacation and PTO (Paid time off) that he is using up from his “essential” job. He works in a plant that has numerous employees, and from all indications, we felt that his going to work at this time was not wise because of community spread and he was able to use up his vacation to stay home so far. On the advice of my doctors, they suggest he take time off and stay home indefinitely, as to not bring anything home with him that puts me or Nas at risk.

It has been extremely stressful to work through the decisions of him returning to work versus staying home if he is able. Like many people, this serious crisis is forcing our hand to make hard choices to protect our family and none of the choices are easy. He stays home, we cut off our main income for the indefinite future. If he goes to work, then he risks exposure and bringing “it” home in a household that deals with an individual with little to no immune system to fight off any of this. I can’t tell you how scared or anxious I have been!!! I know I am not alone in saying this. ALL of us are scared.

We will find a way

As we navigate through the uncertainties and worries of this ever changing situation and confide in our doctors and families, we have been able to come up with Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. Each one comes with its own set of concerns and heartaches. Do we take no pay? Can we survive on just my income? (I have exhausted myself looking into options –FFCRA-the Families First Act or Paycheck Protection-none of which apply to us) Do we send Nate to work? Should Nas and I stay with my parents and be apart from Nate for an indefinite duration?

We, are faced with life-altering decisions while we press ahead into the unknown. At least we have what we need. At least we can manage through each plan despite the difficulties of each choice. At least we have support. I remind myself all the time of the blessings I have before me and focus upon those. Many are not so fortunate, and it hits me over and over to imagine the unimaginable. We will work this out. No matter what sacrifice we make, it is small in comparison to so many others. No matter what, we all have had to work through so many rough spots of this situation and it’s not easy.

Moving forward

As we move forward, sometimes slowly, sometimes at a mad pace, the least I can do to keep myself occupied is what I do best. Crochet. So for the next weeks, months, whatever it takes, I will continue to bring you what I can of my craft. I will show up. Every day. I will bring some new projects, new patterns, light, laughter and a distraction from the craziness that is swirling around us. So, join me as we keep moving forward. Bring your hooks and your yarn, and for a few minutes a day try to focus on other things that distract us from our worries, and relax with our craft. Because in a time when so much is out of control, one thing we can be in control of us the choice to take a few moments to do something we love.

“It is how we embrace the uncertainties in our lives that leads to the great transformation of our souls.”

When we reach the end of this, and we will, I hope we can all move forward with more love, patience, and understanding of one another. The lessons we learn will be immense.

I hope you all stay healthy…

~Nadia

P.S. A huge thank you goes out to everyone in the world who are on the front lines of this insanity. ALL the helpers. ALL the essential workers. ALL the people who risk their lives so we can be home. Our gratitude knows no limit. And for the families this may reach, I hope and pray that all of you are well and safe. I am sending every bit of goodness your way.

I don’t know who needs to hear this as I hope no one is breaking these rules, but if you are one who was told to stay home, please do. Follow the guidelines of what has been mandated so that those who are unable to be home with their families can stay as safe as possible during this time.

Sending you lots of love.

Share with us how you are getting through this difficult time.

 

 

My Punny Valentine – Happy Valentine’s Day!

My Punny Valentine – Happy Valentine’s Day!

The tradition continues with my annual Punny Valentine’s. Each year, I create these silly sentiments using crochet and puns. I try to be as creative and amusing as possible. I do, however, have to match a pun to something I can create using my crochet magic. It is NOT easy, let me tell you, this blog showcases my collection from 2020. You can check out my 2018 Punny Valentine’s Here! See my 2017’s Punny Valentine’s here and my 2016’s Punny Valentine’s here! Do you have a fun pun to share? Let me know in the comments section. Share a possible pun that might show up in my 2021 Punny Valentine Series! ~Nadia

Below is a list of some Punny Valentine’s. Click on the title link above their photo or click on each photo to be taken to its video tutorial and written pattern! Enjoy!! ♥

Two Stitch Grande Scarf

 

 

 

Alpine Stitch Mittens

 

 

Sweetheart Baby Hat

 

 

Cow Amigurumi

 

 

Have a Heart Flip Flops

 

Alien Puppet

 

 

Sloth Lovey

My Happy Place

My Happy Place

I think we can all agree that crochet itself is our happy place. Whether we are crocheting in our favorite chair, in bed, in the car or with a friend, the act of creating something beautiful from a ball of fiber is a joy. We are all united in this love, or we would not be on the pursuit of the next new project to get on our hooks. That is why I love to keep creating new things to share!

Started from the bottom, now we here

Not only is crochet my passion, but it is also my career. Each day, I get up to design, share, create, and express myself through my craft. One of my favorite places in my home is my own personal happy place. I know that I have shared in a previous blog some photos of the transformation of my craft room.

This was a photo the previous owner sent us of the room before we moved in. *YIKES!*

When Nate and I purchased this house, there was a room with a wood structure of floor to ceiling drawers. We initially thought to remove the structure and use this room as a bedroom, but the more we thought of it, the more it seemed like a waste yet, the entire thing was too obtuse and awkward to do much with. So my mom suggested that we remove the drawers and make each cubicle a shelf for storing yarn and in the middle make a studio so I can film tutorials.

Breathing new life: from old to new

 

As soon as that vision started to formulate the room came to life and over time I have added more to make it “my space.” I love to come in here to craft and create, to film and complete my patterns so that I may share them with you. I even come in here to just escape for a few minutes between the hectic moments of being a working wife and mama.

A room with purpose

This space has come a long way and still has a LONG way to go, but it is a space that makes ME feel good. It allows me to feel like I can come in here and create.

 

 

I put on some music, it is cozy, and I am surrounded by something I love: YARN!! Even Nasir loves to be in here with me, and my kitties think it’s their playground. For me, this room represents a part of me that feeds my purpose and keeps me, quite literally, from unraveling.

 

Share with me about your happy place! Is it a room or a favorite spot in your home?  Is it with a friend that you can sit and craft with? Creating a space and time to do what you love is essential to keeping a good balance between our worries & stresses and all the things we love.

 

 

I hope all of you enjoy a few moments each day ‘In your happy place.’

~Nadia

 

12 Days of Christmas 2019

12 Days of Christmas 2019

Here are all the 12 Days of Christmas projects compiled in a one stop blog post! You can click the image or the link above it to view the video tutorial and written pattern for each project. Enjoy and happy holidays!! ~Nadia

  1. Lace Shell Bookmark

 

2. C2C Holiday Hot Pad

3. Winding Ribbon Tree Ornament

4. Beanie with Bling

5. Rustic Holiday Decoration

6. Argyle Cup Cozy

7. Rustic Wall Hanging

8. Candy Curl Swirl Ornament

9. Holiday Centerpiece

10. Buffalo Plaid Coasters

11. Bow & Bauble Door Hanging

12. Simple Stocking Hat

12 Days of Christmas: Holiday Centerpiece

12 Days of Christmas: Holiday Centerpiece

On the 9th day of Christmas, we bring the perfect crochet project that takes only MINUTES to make, but it packs a dramatic decorative punch! Add some holiday cheer to any centerpiece by adding these Curly-Q Spokes in any color! I demonstrate this simple step by step process and take a few simple items to make this cheerful display. Let’s get started!

 

 

I gathered my supplies. I purchased everything from JoAnn’s Craft stores but you can find these items at any craft store or Walmart.

Red Heart Yarns Super Saver in any colors

A glass Bowl Vase

Mini Ornament Bobbles

Pipe Cleaners

Scissors

Size H-5.00mm Crochet Hook

Decorative pieces from the wreath section at the craft store

 

For the curly crochet spokes, I took my crochet hook and yarn

With the yarn, I chained 2, and then put 5 SC in the 2nd ch from hook. I continued to work in continuous rounds putting one SC in each st around until the piece was long enough to fit the pipe cleaner inside of it.

 

Once I got to the top, I fastened off. Then I curled the top half of the pipe cleaner that I just crocheted around to make it twisted.

 

I put the ornaments inside of the fishbowl vase, then I added the decorative pieces and the curly pieces I crocheted. Voila! It’s a beautiful centerpiece!!

St. Jude’s & Dollar General Holiday Decorating Challenge Collab

St. Jude’s & Dollar General Holiday Decorating Challenge Collab

I was approached by St. Jude’s Hospital, and was invited to participate in a collab with The Dollar General for a Holiday Decorating Challenge. I was thrilled to be involved in such a unique activity that benefits such a great cause!

Giving Back this Holiday

As many of you know, St. Jude’s Hospital is forefront in treating childhood cancer, and you can help by heading to a Dollar General store this season and support the Thanks and Giving Campaign each time you shop and make a donation at the checkout! Below, you will see the challenge that was presented and find out how we met this task! It was a lot of creative fun!

The challenge we were given: Create a holiday table-scape, entry way, mantle, or DIY holiday craft on a $25.00(usd) budget and all purchases must be made at a Dollar General store.

 

BRING. IT. ON!

I love a test like this, and I love doing home décor DIY on a shoestring! So, this invitation was met with a lot of excitement to see what we could come up with.

Let’s get it started

I solicited the help of my mom to create some fantastic ideas that anyone can make for their home this holiday. We put together two different ensembles. One table centerpiece and one buffet tabletop arrangement. I share with you a few photos of the supplies and steps taken to assemble these decorations. I spent around $20.00 on each arrangement using the same items in each – plus or minus a piece or two that I purchased and added to embellish each specific arrangement.

This shows the versatility of my purchases that you are able to use them in years to come. By adding a few different details, you can create a completely new look!! My only other additions were things I found in nature such as sticks, branches, or greenery from our pine tree and no additional cost was added by these additions. I also used four small votive glasses to hold the mini candles in that I already had in my own cupboard.

Our first holiday-scape: A table centerpiece

Let’s see how this all came together! First the photos below were a series of my purchases. There are several Dollar General Stores near where my parents live in Rural Wisconsin. I also have one Dollar General Store near me. We collaborated purchases from three different Dollar General Stores. Most of the stores have identical inventory, but we did find a few fun new inventory in each as well. So, if you have more than one Dollar General near you, check them all out for variety, and don’t forget to donate to St. Jude’s Hospital at each checkout. Here are the supplies purchased and worked with to make our decorations:

When I made my purchases, I did so with a variety of possibilities in mind. However, after my arrangements were created, some of my purchases were NOT used and I did NOT include these in my final budget.

Once I had all my items purchased, I began to put pieces together to build a nice table-scape. I started with creating some height for my piece, by taking my purchased poster board and made tall cones. I used gold spray paint to prime the trees and some green tissue paper to create some texture. These original conical trees I kept green for my first centerpiece.

 

I created height and length to my table using the cone trees and sticks as well as adding some flameless candlelight to create some warm ambiance. This beautiful arrangement really brings a holiday tabletop to life! It is so inviting!

 

 

 

Here is the breakdown on cost for this table centerpiece:

The cone shaped trees:
$1.50 for poster board
$3.00 for metallic paint
$1.00 for tissue paper
$1.00 for star ornaments

Centerpiece props included
$2.00 two sets of 2 tealights @ $1 each
$2.00 two candle rings @ $1 each
$1.00 modgepodge for paper mache
$3.00 green/white garland
$5.00 faerie lights
$1.00 pine cones

Things I had already:
Sticks
Clear votive cups (4)

Total: $20.50

Our Second Arrangement: A holiday tabletop-scape

I used my homemade “trees” and I later used my gold spray paint to cover the green tissue paper and to add more metallic gold to my second arrangement. I added some jewel embellishments to turn my green trees into beautiful jeweled gold trees. I was so happy with this result. In this second arrangement we cut some pine boughs from our outdoor pine tree and built the arrangement with this beautiful greenery that cost us nothing!

 

I also took an old empty salsa jar to make a vase! Way to re-purpose! I also added some red elastic string to add some shiny detail. I again used my spray paint to paint a fun branch I used to bring a focal point to my arrangement. I love how this turned out!

Below you can view the finished ensemble

 

Here is the price breakdown on arrangement #2:

The tablescape on the buffet:
$1.50 Poster board for cones
$3.00 Metallic Gold Paint
$1.00 Star Ornaments
$1.00 Tissue Paper to create texture
$2.00 Pearl details for tree @ $1 per pack
$2.00 Crystal Jewel details for tree @ $1 per pack

$1.00 for elastic red string – I used one spool
$5.00 one strand of faerie lights
$2.00 two sets of two tealights for $1.00 each
$3.00 box of red ornaments
$1.00 box of pinecones

Things I had to build arrangement
Pine branches for greenery
Sticks – spray painted gold
votive cups (4)

Total: $22.50

As you can see demonstrated by the above, you can create a lovely holiday decoration on a budget and make a striking statement without a major investment. There was even room in our budget for more if I wanted to expand or add any additional items to embellish these beautiful decorations.

I want to thank St. Jude’s hospital and Dollar General for the opportunity to be included in this activity. I had so much fun participating and doing this for such a good cause. This holiday please support important causes. Give back and give thanks at this time of the year and always.

12 Days of Christmas: Rustic Wall Hanging – Photo & Written Tutorial

12 Days of Christmas: Rustic Wall Hanging – Photo & Written Tutorial

Our 7th day of Christmas brings more holiday decor! This rustic wall hanging has elements of crochet and craft mixed with elements of the outdoors. Follow through my step by step instructions and make your own wall hanging today.

 

The Materials I used are as follows:

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Gold and Green

Chic Sheep Yarn (Red Heart) in Linen

3 Pinecones (from outside)

A Large Stick from outside

Cinnamon Sticks

Scissors

Size H-5.00mm Crochet Hook

 

Step 1: I tied yarn to the stick on each end to make it be able to hang on a hook

Step 2: I crocheted the stars and tree (See pattern below)

Step 3: I used the Linen yarn and tied the pinecones, cinnamon sticks, stars and tree to the wall hanging using the Linen colored yarn.

It was so easy! I finished in an hour!!

 

Patterns:

Star:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 10 dc in 3rd Ch from hook, sl st to first st. (10)

Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc each st around, sl st to first st. (20)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, *hdc in next st, [2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc] in next st, hdc in next st, sl st in next st*, repeat from * around, end with Sl st in last st. Sl st to first st to close round. Fasten off, Weave in ends. (5 points made)

 

Tree:

I followed along to this pattern by Carol from Pure Sugar blog. She designed the Country Christmas Crochet Garland and I used the motif for the tree design in the center.

 

When I put everything together, this is how it looks! It’s so lovely on my wall!

 

 

 

12 Days of Christmas: Rustic Holiday Decoration – Step by Step Photo Tutorial

12 Days of Christmas: Rustic Holiday Decoration – Step by Step Photo Tutorial

If anyone is looking for a rustic holiday decoration, I have just the thing for you! I did these easy jute covered balloon balls and they turned out so awesome. Below you can see my step by step process from start to finish. This idea has me thinking in all kinds of creative directions using string art to decorate for the holidays. I may have to make more! In the meantime check out my picture tutorial and follow along today.

 

First I gathered all the supplies I needed. (See photo above)
Water Balloons, Scissors, Paint brush, Mod Podge, and Jute.
I also used rubber gloves and a tupperware container that are not pictured.

 

I blew up the balloons to be mini balls, and then I added the Mod Podge to the tupperware container.

 

I proceeded to dunk the jute into the mod podge and then wrap it around the balloon using my rubber gloves for protection.

 

 

I wrapped about 20 times.

 

 

Then I used the paint brush to reinforce the mod podge to the jute.

 

I let it dry for 24 hours.

 

 

Once it was all dry, I popped the balloon and removed it from the middle of the ball.

 

 

 

The jute stayed in place!! Woohoo!! I then used a tweezer to get any extra mod podge out of the gaps and make the ball look cleaner.

 

 

 

I added an ornament hook to the ball and hung it on my tree!

 

 

God Blesses The Broken Road

God Blesses The Broken Road

In observance of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week (December 1-7), I wanted to share a little bit about my story to help anyone who is unsure how devastating these diseases can be, and to help everyone learn more so they might better understand their impact on a person who lives with this every. single. day.

I have had more than a dozen major surgeries and thousands of medical procedures that require me to be biopsied, explored, cut, stitched, stapled, and pieced back together. This disease has affected every part of my body. I have spent years of my life hospitalized trying to fight this disease. I have lost my large intestine, parts of my small intestine, my rectum, my anus, and a few other parts of my anatomy, forcing me to live with a permanent ileostomy. What is an ostomy you might ask? An ostomy is when part of the intestine is pulled through the abdomen wall allowing waste to empy into an ostomy appliance or bag on the outside of the body.

Although my ostomy saved my life, it also destroyed parts of my self esteem, it caused an enormous amount of anxiety, and oftentimes, depression. As much as I’d rather focus on the positives, one bad day, week, or month can pull you right back into the abyss of some pretty heavy feelings. Thankfully, there are now more good days than bad and without my ostomy, I would not be here as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a niece, a cousin, an auntie, a crochet teacher, a friend and an advocate.

I remember the days when I wanted to just give up. When I sobbed and hurt; when I begged for Allah to have mercy on me and let me just find relief. I remember the days after surgery when I had to relearn to sit-up, to walk, go to the bathroom in a new way, to take care of all my wounds, to treat all the infections, to fight my way through sepsis, infusions, experimental treatments, failed medications, hearing the good news and the bad, the numerous doctors and labs, the constant feelings of being scared, the bag leaks and the humiliation of being covered in poop in
a public place, and ALL. THAT. PAIN.

 

This disease has not been kind to me, nor has it been kind to the 5 million people around the world who suffer every day from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Every year, I pray and fight and campaign and rally for a cure. Each year passes and although it feels closer, it still feels so far away.

This illness is just part of my story. Even if it has dominated my life for more than ten years, it isn’t all of it. There is so much more to my life than this miserable sickness, and thankfully I am still here to live the best parts of my story.

 

 

Every step this crooked, crazy journey has taken me on, landed me right where I am today. I would have never had the opportunity to know this kind of joy or feel this kind of love, if this disease had defeated me.

There are millions of people at the mercy of these illnesses. Although my fight continues, I consider myself lucky. Many are not as lucky as me. I am lucky not because of the treacherous medical path this has taken me on, but lucky because it has brought me here.

Please take a moment to share my story. To spread the word about these life altering diseases. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are debilitating to many who live with these diseases. This deserves more than a week of awareness. We deserve to find a permanent cure. Please help us find one. I have so much to live for. I want to always be here to watch this little boy grow..

~Nadia

 

 

Hard Work and Baby Giggles

Hard Work and Baby Giggles

I woke up this morning to so many wonderful birthday messages! After I posted a video of Nasir and his sweet baby giggles yesterday on Facebook, I I received so much love and so many wishes!

I decided to share the videos here in my blog for everyone to enjoy. Thank you all so much for your heartfelt messages of love and sweet wishes for a happy birthday. It really meant a lot to me and each one was so well received. Even more, thank you for the sweetness you share with me about Nasir, about your own babies, and about your encouragement to me as a new mom. You have no idea how much it all means to me. I hold each comment and good wish close to my heart.


Whether we were playing or changing his stinky diaper, he was just full of smiles and laughter!


The pattern for the Happy Hues Sampler Baby Blanket is here.

 

You can find the pattern to the Easy Loom Knit Rattle Ball by GoodKnitKisses Here.

Hard at Work

I worked most of the day on some new projects! Here is a quick sneak peak of a new pattern on my hook! I will be releasing this early next week!

After we spent the day filming some new tutorials, we headed out for some birthday treats.

All day my sweet boy was giggling and being so silly!! He was such a good boy even long after his bedtime! But at the end of the day, he was ready for bed in his big boy crib. (We just transitioned from the bassinet)’

 

Thank you again for making my birthday so special!!

~Nadia

Crochet Baby Toys Round-Up

Crochet Baby Toys Round-Up

Oooh I’m all about the baby toys right now and that has brought me to compiling a round-up blog for some of my favorite patterns!! You are guaranteed to find something in this blog post that will brighten up any nursery, please any mama or mama-to-be, be perfect for gift giving, and bring so much joy to the little ones they are made for! Let’s check out all the toys!

In this collection, you will find fabulous teether toys, loveys, and different amigurumi toys that can be turned into rattles as well! Some of these are just too cute for words!

Click on the links or on the photos to go to the pattern for each toy! Enjoy!

Rainbow Baby Bunny Lovie Crochet Pattern by Posh Pooch Designs

 

Spike the T-Rex Dinosaur Amigurumi by YARNutopia

 

 

Sleeping Kitty Lovey by Underground Crafter

 

Star Ring Rattle Teething Toy by YARNutopia

 

Bubbles and Goldfish Teether Crochet Pattern by One Dog Woof

 

Hedgehog Taggie Baby Toy Crochet Pattern by One Dog Woof

 

Crochet Fox Rattle by Crochet 365 Knit Too

 

Crochet Hippo Rattle by Crochet 365 Knit Too

 

Crochet Cow Rattle by Crochet 365 Knit Too

 

Soft and Stackable Bricks – Free Crochet Pattern by Nicki’s Homemade Crafts

 

C2C Boxy Bunny Amigurumi – Free Crochet Pattern by Loopingly Made

 

Crochet Lovey Blanket – A Bunny to Love by Crochet 365 Knit Too

 

Mini Square Bunny Lovey by YARNutopia

 

Velvet Bunny Lovey by Crochet for You

 

Crochet Heart Teddy Amigurumi by Loopingly Made

 

Crochet Unicorn Lovey by Meladora’s Creations

 

Caterpillar Lovey by YARNutopia

 

Butterfly Lovey by YARNutopia

 

 

Beautiful Ducklings by Blackstone Designs

 

Happy Hubert the Hippo Pillow by YARNutopia

 

 

Frederick the Misfit Monster Toy by YARNutopia

 

 

Let’s Play A Game!

Let’s Play A Game!

Below is a fun checklist of things found in a yarn bag! We carry our lives around in our totes and this game gives points for all the things we can find in there! Take a moment to go through your bags and tally your points for this activity. What is the craziest thing you have in your bag today?? How many points did you get??

Here’s My Score: 148 Points!

This activity was prompted because I was cleaning up my bag and found some packets of hot sauce and a diaper in my yarn tote! LOL I realized that I can’t be the only one who has this problem. I remembered playing a “What’s In Your Bag?” game at a bridal shower some time ago, and decided to make a game out of this to share with all of you!

Share your score in the comments!

Why Nasir Came Early

Why Nasir Came Early

It has been 4 weeks since Nasir was born. He came into this world a true miracle and is perfect in every way. I am overjoyed that he is here, happy, healthy and growing like crazy. His due date was June 30th and throughout my high-risk pregnancy, it was understood that with so many health issues, surgeries, and not having a rectum or anus, the probability for me to deliver him in a traditional birth was going to be out of the question. I was told by not one, two, or three doctors but EVERY doctor on the team, that it would be the safest for me to have him via c-section and to do it a week before his due date. Although this didn’t coincide with my idea of the “ideal birth plan,” I ONLY cared about having a safe and healthy delivery for me and safe birth for him. It doesn’t matter how our babies enter the world, it only  matters that they arrive safely in our arms!

 

High Risk Pregnancy

Throughout my pregnancy, many of you are aware that I had numerous issues not only with my Crohn’s disease but also that I had to cease all my medications that keep my disease in remission. I also had severe Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, I had problems with tearing my adhesions and scar tissue from previous abdominal surgeries, I have a Septate Uterus, I had terrible sciatica, I had anemia, I lacked the nutritional support for myself and Nas because I don’t have my large intestine or parts of my small intestine, and I had a herniated ostomy that prolapsed. Because my anatomy isn’t like most, my intestine pooled to one side of my body and my baby was restricting the digestive flow. I also had the general issues of constant heartburn and swelling like a lot of moms-to-be deal with. I tried to be grateful, thankful, happy, joyful, and appreciative for this miracle; and I was. However, I won’t sugar-coat it, I was freaking miserable in my body. I hurt every single day and probably complained to Nate or my mom incessantly EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. all while keeping a smile on my face and forging ahead because I kept telling myself that if this is the sacrifice I have to make to have him here, then I can do this! It was only temporary. My “this too shall pass” mantra was on repeat every moment of every day. I was miserable. But, just to be clear, I would do it ALL over in a heartbeat for this outcome. Nasir is magical…

 

Things weren’t going well

Over a month before I was to deliver, I was rushed by ambulance from the hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin up to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota because I had a severe infection and could not keep anything in. I needed IV support and to be monitored because they thought our baby would make an appearance MUCH earlier than we thought. I was so scared. I was alone in the ambulance with the lights and sirens going as we rushed down the highway. I knew Nate was somewhere in a car behind me, my mom also, but being alone and not knowing what would happen was terrifying.

Thankfully, the doctors were able to hold off delivering Nas and just treat the infection. I was hospitalized for about a week before going home, but we were advised that due to the complicated nature of my pregnancy, I would be on “bed rest” (which couldn’t actually be bed rest because I have a history of forming blood clots), so I took it really easy. The doctors recommended I move to temporary housing in Rochester to be closer to the hospital, and I was there a few days before things began to decline again. Read more about our Temporary Transition here.

 

We couldn’t wait any longer

Although I was advised to hold off on delivering Nasir for as long as possible to give him the best chance for development, the doctors also understood the gravity of my health situation and knew it would be dangerous to wait too long. Not long after my hospitalization, I was still having problems and was not doing well. I woke up on the Wednesday before he was born feeling terrible. My entire body felt like I had one big bruise covering every inch of my skin. EVERYTHING hurt. The slightest touch hurt, and I was swelling up like a balloon. I called, and the doctors said to meet them up at the hospital. My mom took me in because Nate was at work. After a short examination, the doctors suspected that my infection set off a full body flare of my Crohn’s disease. They couldn’t wait any longer. If they didn’t deliver him soon, I might have gone into labor and could have potentially faced a threatening situation where it would be too late to assemble the ENTIRE team of doctors necessary to bring Nasir into this world and keep me safe in the process. Not only was my disease creating a serious health risk, the baby was breech. There was no time left. It would be way too perilous to wait and risk going into labor and a vaginal delivery. Delivery was scheduled immediately for next morning.

I crumbled under the weight of everything and started to cry.

I wanted more time for him to develop. I was scared for him, what if something went wrong, I was worried about the risks, and the surgery and, and, and….and then I took a deep breath.

I called Nate at work.

“You need to come to Rochester right now. They are going to deliver our baby tomorrow morning…”

“Are you serious? Is this for real?”

“Yes, just please come as soon as you can. I need you…”

I don’t know if Nate could even think after that phone call, if he could even concentrate enough to finish his work for the day, or if he was on autopilot all the way up to Rochester. He made it up there by 10 pm that night and we stayed up nearly all night talking. He kept reassuring me the entire time that everything will be OK.

 

An assembly of sixteen

When Nate and I arrived at the hospital the next day, along with my mom, dad, and my brother, I was ushered into a room immediately. I was a bundle of nervous energy but also ready to meet my baby!!

Shortly after arriving, I was given an IV and little by little the entire assembly of doctors and nurses ushered in team by team to see me. All in all there would be 16 medical staff in the room with us to deliver Nasir. HOLY MACARONI!! 16!!! I was only allowed one other person with me, and of course that was Nate. I was then taken into the OR alone while he was told to get garbed up.

 

 

While I was in the OR, it was freezing. More IVs were placed. There were so many lights, so many machines, so many instruments, and so many people. I started to shake uncontrollably.  I was given an epidural and a spinal, but the placement was giving me issues. They kept telling me to sit still. I couldn’t stop shaking. I hugged a pillow tightly to my front while they put the needles in my spine. It took forever. At one point, I felt a severe pain in my hip. They hit a nerve and my leg involuntarily shot out and kicked without me doing it. Yeah, this wasn’t working. They moved it a little higher in my spine and it was better.

 

From there, things moved so fast.

I was put on a table with my arms spread out wide. I had all the IVs in me, they erected a curtain up in front of me. So many people ushered in and out. The anesthesiologists, the surgery team, the OB-GYN team, the colorectal team, the nurses..SO MANY people! That team of 16 was in full action!

I wanted Nate and asked them to check on him. They said he was outside pacing. I wanted him with me, and it wasn’t much longer and he was able to come back into the OR. As soon as he walked in, they started to open me up. The doctors were wonderful about talking me through every step. I had the best cheerleader by my side. Nate was incredible. The anesthesia team was also very supportive and kept encouraging me softly, cheering for me, kept me comfortable, and just made me feel safe. I get choked up just thinking of these moments–moments I wanted to be fully present to remember.

I started to feel a severe pain in my right shoulder and started to get afraid. I told the doctor and they said they had my uterus out. The uterus is connected to the nerves in the shoulder and the pain I was experiencing was called “referred pain.”

 

He’s here!

It was only moments later when we heard our baby’s tiny cries. Nate started sobbing, I started sobbing. They lifted him over the screen so we could see him. My first thought was how tiny he was. They quickly moved him to the warming table so Nate could trim the cord and the team moved fast to get all the baby stats. Within moments, they brought this tiny naked baby to me and laid him on my chest. I could barely see or breathe I was crying so hard. HE WAS BEAUTIFUL. So precious. My miracle.

 

 

 

It took some time for the surgeons to close me up because they had to clear out scar tissue from former surgeries. They excised my old scar from the time I had the wound vac, and cleaned all of that tissue to make my incision a cleaner closure. It took quite a while, but I wasn’t even paying a moment of attention to that. Instead I was counting toes and fingers, memorizing my little boys face, and through my tears and laughter, I was rejoicing in this miracle.

Read more about Nasir’s arrival and see more photos here.

 

We are a family

As I was wheeled into a recovery room, Nate went to tell my family that our baby arrived. We wanted a few minutes alone to relish our first moments as a family of three. We also had an overflow of emotion that was just indescribable and we wanted to bask in the intimacy of sharing these very personal feelings together.

I remember when they lifted our baby over the screen after we heard his cries. I recall looking at him and instantly knowing that his name in my heart would be Nasir, but I didn’t say anything. To be fair, I wanted to hear Nate’s thoughts about his name. As soon as I asked him what our baby’s name should be, he said Nasir! We both felt it. We both knew. His name is Nasir Nathan.

Nasir is a Pakistani/Arabic name that means “Victorious,” and there is no more appropriate name fitting to this little boy than that. After all I have been through, all the health struggles and trials, I look at him and I know it was all for this moment.

This miracle.

This victory.

~Nadia

 

Changing Gauge to Adjust Size

Changing Gauge to Adjust Size

I am often asked if one of my patterns can be resized. I know that it can become frustrating to see a pattern you love and yet, not be able to make it in the size you need. I do try to make most patterns in a variety of sizes to accommodate all, but sometimes, the pattern I design is size specific. I don’t have a variation or the stitch counts to make it in other sizes. Today’s blog is JUST A GUIDELINE to show you how changing your hook size can make a pattern slightly smaller or bigger JUST by changing this one detail.

Experimenting!

I decided to do a quick trial experiment because, not only do I love to crochet, I love to get answers to longstanding questions. The question posed to me quite often is: Can I make this pattern bigger or smaller?

If I don’t have the pattern adapted to various sizes, I have offered the suggestion to try different hook sizes.
Here I give you a better visual on how much changing the hook size does increase or decrease the size of your piece.

In this experiment, I took six different hooks:
1. D-3.25mm crochet hook
2. F-3.75mm crochet hook
3. G-4.25mm crochet hook
4. H-5.00mm crochet hook
5. J-6.00mm crochet hook
6. K-6.50mm crochet hook

I then crocheted THE EXACT SAME granny square using each different hook. (See this pattern here for the granny square pattern)

I used Red Heart With Love yarn in color Jadeite (worsted weight) Size 4 Medium (equal to DK or Aran yarn).

Once I completed each square, I placed all together using a US quarter coin as a point of reference to show proportion.
Each square increased somewhat in size but also, notice the stitching is not as tight as you increase the size.

The difference in size from the first square using a D-3.25mm hook to the last square using the K-6.50mm hook is a difference of 3 inches (~8cm)

Visuals Help!

If you are like me, it is so much easier to have a visual to be able to put into perspective how much change happens just by changing your hook. It helps so much to see it right in front of your eyes rather than trying to picture it in your mind how much difference this will make.

This trick may not work for ALL patterns but for some, this adjustment will be very handy in making something just a bit smaller or larger.

Keep in mind, this doesn’t allow for HUGE variations in size but just enough for some to get the desired result if you want to go a bit up or down on a specific pattern.

Also, remember, the larger you go, the looser and open the stitches will appear.

Share with us your experience if YOU have tried resizing by changing your hook gauge. Let us know how that helped you make a pattern smaller or larger. We’d love to hear from you!

 

Below are photos of each square by itself using the quarter as a point of reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He’s Here: Our Newest YARNutopian

He’s Here: Our Newest YARNutopian

 

We would like to introduce our new baby boy to our YARNutopia community. There are NO words to express how much we are in love with this precious little peanut and how it feels to be first time parents; so instead of doing that at this time, we ask you to please enjoy these exclusive beautiful photos – many of which are being shared here for the very first time.

He arrived a little earlier than expected, and although nothing about his delivery was easy, in the end, holding him in our arms was so worth it! Oh. MY. Gosh. THE LOVE!

Nate and I are overwhelmed with joy and want to share our happiness with our online family community. As soon as I am feeling better, I will write a little more about this entire experience in detail!

So many people tried to tell us how this would feel. NOTHING compares to the real thing. NOTHING!! WE ARE SO IN LOVE WITH HIM!

Name: Nasir Nathan
Born June 13th, 2019 at 12:15pm
Weight: 6 lbs, 12 oz.
Length:  18.9 inches

Things we observed so far: He has his Daddy’s face and wavy dark hair, but he has Mommy’s nose and dimples. He has long fingers like Mommy but Daddy’s toes lol. As we continue to discover one another, we look forward to finding more of these amazing connections. It is the most profound feeling ever to meet this tiny human, see pieces of ourselves in him, and know that we made him!