Easy Crocheted Baby Booties

(Scroll down for pattern)
So, I have been having fun crocheting these baby booties lately.  I was using this Red Heart pattern.  But, I didn't like how big the toes were.

The original pattern.

On the rows that make the toes, the pattern has half double crochet stitches along the side, then double crochet on the round part.  I thought it might look better if I just used the half double crochet stitch along the whole row.

The revised pattern

I know it's hard to see the difference, but the revised booties are more fitted.  I also extended the top part 2 rows, because I think that's cuter.

Here is the revised pattern;

hdc2tog = Yarn over, insert hook into st and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over, insert hook into next st and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.

Ch 9.

Round 1: Work 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in next 5 ch, 6 dc in last ch, turn to work along opposite side of beginning ch, dc in next 5 ch, 3 dc in last ch, slip st in top
of beginning ch to join. - 22 sts

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st as slip st, 2 hdc in each of next 2 dc, hdc in next 5 dc, 2 hdc in each of next 6 dc, hdc in next 5 dc, 2 hdc in each of next 3 dc, slip st in top of
beginning ch to join. - 34 sts

Round 3: Ch 2, hdc through back loop in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 34 sts

Crocheting in the back loop

Round 4: Ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts, [hdc2tog] 8 times, hdc in next 9 sts, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 26 sts

Round 5: Ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts, [hdc2tog] 4 times, hdc in next 9 sts, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 22 sts

Round 6: Ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts, [hdc2tog] 2 times, hdc in next 9 sts, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Round 7: Ch 2, dc in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Round 8: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Round 10: Ch 2, dc in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Round 11: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, slip st to top of beginning ch to join. - 20 sts

Fasten off.

Thanks for stopping by,

Crystal

This post is linked up to;  Monday of Many Blessings Link Up   Happy and Blessed Home   
Frugal Momma's Friday Linkup  Sunday Showcase Linkup   Something to Talk About

Happy Sunday

Greetings!

I just wanted to provide a link to my daughter, Rebekah's blog on this Sunday evening.  She has some very encouraging posts and especially her latest one.

Enjoy!

Rebekah's Blog - Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Winter Projects

I love the slow part of winter. No gardens to be weeded, no summer activities we like to cram in while the weather is nice.  Just the right time to do extra projects.

I have been working on a few. Maybe too many at one time, but here are some that I have completed (or mostly completed).

I just have a couple more stitches and a little back stitching left to do on this cross-stitch.

I taught myself some new crochet stitches to whip up these baby booties.  Once you get the hang of it, they only take about 45 minutes to finish.  You can find the pattern here.

In the summer I delay some projects for winter. Like Salsa and Jalapeno Peach Jelly.  I freeze whole tomatoes and freezer bags of pre-measured diced zucchini for salsa.  I actually made a batch just before Christmas.

And I froze all the peach peels and some pits from when I canned 25 lbs of peaches.   So I boiled them up to make juice, which I explained in this post.  I made 18 1/2 pints of Jalapeno Peach Jelly. This time I added some vinegar to it for a little tang.

I will sell most of these at Farmers' Markets this year, but my kids love it so I will keep a few jars for them.

Thanks for stopping by,

Crystal

This post is linked up to:  Home To 4 Kiddos  Talk of The Town  DIY Sunday Showcase  Vintage Charm  Craft Frenzy Friday  Monday of Every Blessings Link Up

The Only Way to Cook Spaghetti Squash

I have to admit, I don't particularly enjoy spaghetti squash. It's always so mushy and watery.  The only way I would eat it was with my recipe for Spaghetti Squash Alfredo. 

But, as I was looking on Pinterest the other day, I found a different way to cook it.  Rather than cooking it whole or cut in half, cut it in circles and roast it.

I drizzled a little olive oil on the pan. Put the circles down, then flipped them over so they had oil on both sides. Then roasted them for 25 mins at 400 degrees. Not only do they cook up faster, it turns out totally dry and really like spaghetti.

Now I'm actually happy I still have 7 squash left from last year's garden. I think I'll use them up fairly quickly and I will have to add spaghetti squash back to my garden plans for this year.

Thanks for stopping by,

Crystal

A Happy Birthday

Well, today I celebrated yet another birthday.  It's funny how they come around so often (or so it seems!).

I woke up to the boys scurrying around, hanging balloons to decorate and the presents they bought me all ready.

Jacob said he just had to draw him and me on one of the balloons. He is so sweet.

Rebekah was so helpful all day. She even made me a breakfast wrap and it was so good! She also made me a Turtle Cheesecake and it was completely Trim Healthy Mama approved. It was covered in pecans, chocolate and caramel sauce. YUM! You can find the recipe here.  It turned out so good. I find I don't like many desserts on THM, but usually a cheesecake is good.

I am so blessed by my family and friends. Thank you God for them all.

Thanks for stopping by,
Crystal

Thriftiness - Canned Almonds

I don't know about where you all live, but around here almonds are mucho dinero.  I think it's around $18/kg at Costco.

When these almonds in the shell came on sale for $0.99/lb at Christmas I couldn't pass it up.

I bought 11 lbs of almonds and 2 lbs of hazelnuts.  I had the idea that I would oven can them after I shelled them.   It took me over a week to shell them all and because it took so long, we nibbled on them quite a bit.

I calculated the cost on the shelled nuts and found them to cost $5.50/kg.  That's 1/3 the cost of Costco.

Then I oven canned them in pints using the oven canning I posted in this post.  It is a method of canning dry items in jars and they are supposed to stay fresh for years.

I have already been snacking on a jar and they are SO good.  They are very crisp and tasty.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crystal


This post is linked up to:  Home To 4 Kiddos

Twine Heart With Flowers

This is one of my latest craft projects.

My inspiration came from these wire hearts I bought off Ebay years ago.  I couldn't think of many things to make with them, they just sat there, bugging me, until now.  With Valentines coming up, I thought it would be a good time to think of something to make.

I started the twine at the top, in the middle with contact cement glue.  I also made a loop there before I started wrapping the twine around the heart.  I glued it in some places as I wrapped,  Once it was completely wrapped, I made the flowers from lace.

To make the flowers, I just glued the lace while kind of making folds until it was a circle.  Once that part was done, I glued a button in the middle.  I didn't like the way the flower looked like just flat with a button. So I put glue around the bottom edge of  the button and pulled the lace up and held it there, like in the picture above. That just gave some dimension to the flower. Then I glued the flowers on and it's done!

Thanks for stopping by!

Crystal

....the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7b

This post is linked up to;  The Everyday Home    Happy and Blessed Home  Sadie Seasongoods  Pink Saturday  Vintage Charm