The Velorum Scarf - Free Crochet Pattern

This scarf was 100% inspired by my recent scarf swap partner whose Ravelry ID contains the word astronomy and her color choices were cosmic! I looked to the night sky for a name representing the V-stitch used in this super easy scarf pattern! There was only on name I had ever heard of: Velorum. If you are geeky like me, then you'll recognize the name from Star Wars:

I call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Velorum.

Aside from that, Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela.

FO Friday: Assembling the Minions

My younger son turned 4 last week and started preschool this past Monday. He demanded that I make him a Minion backpack for preschool. I was hesitant and we talked him into buying a camouflage dinosaur backpack instead. I kind-of felt bad for not making him the backpack, so I made him a Minion hat.

While I was working on it, he kept asking if it was his Minion backpack. And, I kept reminding him about his really cool dinosaur backpack. He wouldn't relent. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving to work when an idea came to me on how I could make the backpack.

So, I took about 5 minutes and drew out a couple of sketches:

Warning: How to React to Pattern Thieves

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion. My opinion may change from day to day, so this may be updated as I think of other things that should be mentioned and I welcome discussion on this topic. However, I do request that comments not be made in regards to laws/legal as I am avoiding that topic altogether. Also, please do not comment on this post with specific examples.

This post requires no introduction. If you have been in the Fiber Arts world for any amount of time, I bet you can quickly think of a pattern theft...whether it was a pattern-sharing ring or someone creating a free design for a paid pattern. Theft is theft. My personality type (INFJ) is known as the protector. I have solid moral values that I cling to and I have a strong desire for justice. This righteous anger, as it was once referred to, is a good thing, but needs to be guarded carefully.

Expanding My Skillset in the Next 12 Months - 4KCBWDAY7

Day Seven (Sunday April 28th): Looking ForwardOne year from now, when the 5th Knitting & Crochet Blog Week rolls around, where do you hope your crafting will have taken you to? What new skills, projects and experiences do you hope you might have conquered or tried?

Turn Drawings Into Plushies!

I sat down with my kids last week and I finally got a few good drawings from them! I plan on designing my first original amigurumi based on my kid's drawings thanks to the Design Your Own Monster class on Craftsy. I think this is going to be loads of fun! I get bored completing the same pattern over and over...sometimes just making a second one is unbearable. This has the potential of becoming a new path of crochet for me that I am super excited about!

This is my oldest with his drawing of Mr. Moon

This is the drawing I got from my youngest.

My younger son is only three. I started him out with a teardrop shape. He drew 3 black dots for eyes. I drew the circle around the eyes. Then, he added that stack of yellow stuff on top. Then, he added a smile and mustache (the mustache is that green line going across the middle). And, he drew the three legs. I thought the picture was finished, but then he needed just a little blue, so now we have some wacky hair action! This will be so much fun to turn into yarn art!

I couldn't let my kids have all the fun though. I came up with my own drawing for a dude who is so happy that his smile is bigger than his head.

My Drawing of Happy, Smiley Dude

Other Crochet Plans

I want to master the loop stitch this year! It makes an appearance in a few FreshStitches patterns: Sherwin the Alpaca and Murray the Squirrel. She also has a microbe and macrobe that use loop stitch. My plan is to complete Sherwin the Alpaca. He's so cute and comes from the Crocheted Softies book.

Expanding My Knitting Skills

In the next 12 months (hopefully before Christmas), I plan to make my first pair of socks using DPNs. The struggle here is that I have a fear of pairs. Something happens with my gauge between completing one and moving on to a second one. The second one never comes out the same. I really need to conquer that fear of pairs!

After knitting my first pair of socks, I want to attempt knitting two-at-a-time. If I get super daring, I may just do this from the get-go to solve that fear of pairs problem. They should come out identical if I make both socks at the same time, right?

I want to complete my first Enterlac project this year, too. I have completed the first section like 5 times and frog it every time. I really hope to conquer that one quickly because enterlac creates such a beautiful fabric.

Pattern Designing Plans

I want to design 4 new items this year. I want them to be things that do not already exist and I want to have a lot of fun with it. I already have a few ideas lined up, but haven't started working on them yet. I might venture out into finally selling some of them instead of giving away everything for free. I promise that my paid patterns will offer much more than the free ones I post here. 

2013 Goals

Goal 1: Crochet more for Charity

Sometimes art is most beautifully shared through the unselfish act of giving to someone in need. I will crochet more for Charity. I created Charitable Crochet on Pinterest and hope that some of my great online friends will help me find more organizations and opportunities to pursue this goal in 2013. If you know of charities looking for donated crochet items, please leave a comment on this post and I'll add it to the board.

Goal 2: Rest Once a Week

Running a business can prove quite demanding when you work a full-time job. Add two kids and a husband who is a full-time pastor and you have my life. Crocheting used to be my method of relaxation. Then, it morphed into a business that has been going full-steam ahead since October, 2011. 

I need rest and it will only happen if I make it happen. This practice has been very beneficial to me and to my family since the new year began. Serving my family will always come first. I will communicate this up-front to customers and give an "anticipated" time period for the item requested. I will make sure I give myself more time than needed to complete the project, so that I don't feel rushed to meet a deadline. I crochet to relax. It will not become a stressor this year. :)

Goal 3: Always Create a Ravelry Project Page

And ALWAYS (always, always, always) take photos of items before they leave my house. Working rest into my calendar was not a priority last year, so I always felt rushed to meet deadlines and let too many amazing things go without photographing them. I always asked for pictures, but rarely received them. :(

This year, I will load all of my projects on Ravelry and I will take pictures. And, I will make it a point to share pictures on my blog and Facebook page more often.

Goal 4: Design More

I know that for a goal to be attainable and good, that it must be measurable. I would like to design one pattern per month. However, I do not want to pressure myself. Therefore, my goal is to create 6 new designs this year. Anything beyond 6 patterns this year means that I am stress-free and loving what I do.  Most of the designs I make this year will be free. 

I have an idea for a line of patterns that would be available for purchase. No one is making/selling that idea right now. I'm ecstatic that the idea for the product line came to me not long after starting Niccupp Crochet and there is still no one making/selling it. If I can hunker down and set to work on that sometime, that would be awesome. :)

So, these are my goals for this year. I don't have anything over-the-top exciting in my goals. This is my year of rest and enjoying what I do. 

Pattern Design Plea for Advice

I woke up one Saturday morning inspired with my first original idea for a pattern design. I was so happy! It wasn't just one design, it was a line of designs for the same concept used in several ways. I did a Google image search that morning and found a cute little owl that is my go to picture as I work on my project. All this time, maintaining my excitement and convinced I had finally found something new.

This design is completely different from anything out there. Some of the designs would even compliment other existing designs...sorry, I can't give too much info.

So, I wanted to do my due diligence and make sure no one was already selling the idea. I found one shop (yes, only one) on Etsy that is already making and selling the completed item. And, they have one of the complimentary design ides, too.

I am a little crushed, but not defeated. I feel like my design and the technique is so much different from the existing shop that I can make it without it causing an issue. However, since they are the only ones who have also been struck with this genius idea, I feel like maybe I should talk to them before I release patterns for something that they alone have the market share right now. Any suggestions? What do you think?

I woke up at 4am distraught over this. I am taking May off from accepting orders with the intent of making a prototype of the first pattern and getting it to a mom of a little one who could test it's daily use for me. The inspiration continues and more ideas come frequently for various designs I could release.