I've spent the last three months knitting Jane hats on repeat, and now that March is almost done I'm proud to share I've reached my goal of knitting 20 of them for charity! These hats will all be boxed up in a few months and sent off to my friend Kathie in Chicago for her annual food pantry hat giveaway. Hooray!

Next month's personal hat challenge will be of a different nature, but I'll be back to knitting hats for Kathie soon I'm sure. Although it may be a month or two before I work up another Jane - after 20 for this project and a few extras given away, I may finally have hit my Jane limit!

three months with Jane

Mar 30, 2012

Oh, how fun! Amy of Blank Pages tagged me to a question and answer post - ten (or eleven!) simple questions to answer and share with you all!

1. What has been your favorite part of blogging? 
I love all the folks I've had the pleasure of meeting! There are so many amazing folks out there on the internet, and by having a blog I've been able to meet tons of them!

2. If you could pick one thing to spend your life savings on, what would it be? 
I'd love to rent out the corner shop down the street from where I get my hair done, and turn it into a coffee shop -slash- yarn shop. Offer up free classes to the community, sell indie yarns from Etsy shops, and grow the charity knitting community in my town.

3. Hot or iced coffee? 
Iced. Always iced.

4. What inspires you the most? 
 I love to check out the hand knits other folks are making. I'm always blown away by the colors they choose and the stitch patterns they use!

5. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? 
Exactly what I have know. Momma to my amazing son, and charity knitter.

6. What would be one thing you would have told yourself when you were younger?
For the love of God, stop spending so much money!

7. What is an obsession of yours? 
Harry Potter.

8. Who should be the next Bachelor? (if your not obsessed like me, what is your nighttime entertainment?) 
I've actually never watched an episode! We watch Big Bang Theory, Parks and Rec, and Bob's Burgers!

9. What is your favorite hobby? (besides blogging of course!) 
Knit, knit, knitting!

10. What is your dream destination of living? 
I'd love to live in Southern California. I could still knit hats all year long, but the weather would be balmy and wonderful!

11. Trade places with any person for a day. Who would it be and why?
Hmmmm.... I'd love to trade places with Amanda Soule for a day, see what life is like on a homestead surrounded by kiddos!

//

What a fun little meme! And while I want to tag everyone I know, I figure the easier way to do it is this: answer the eleven questions above on your blog and then link back here when you're done! We'll have a little impromptu link party!

tagged by Blank Pages!

Mar 29, 2012


Easter's almost here for most of us, but that's still plenty of time to get a few Easter crafts in! These great knitted and crochet projects won't take much time at all, and I'm already plotting to make a few for our home in the next few weeks!


Source: ravelry.com via robyn on Pinterest

These are gorgeous knitted eggs!

Source: ravelry.com via robyn on Pinterest

I LOVE these caps for your eggs!

Source: ravelry.com via robyn on Pinterest

Gorgeous placemats for your Easter table!

Source: ravelry.com via robyn on Pinterest

I have a sister-in-law who loves Peeps far too much. I might have to slip a few of these into her Easter basket!

Source: ravelry.com via robyn on Pinterest

Love these!


Love these chicks in egg shells!

//


Look for more Easter craft ideas (not just knit and crochet) on my Easter Pinterest board!

Knit And Crochet For Easter

Mar 28, 2012

Packed full of gorgeous hand knits, the Love and Knit shop makes me so happy I find myself checking in just to stare at the eye candy.

From hats to scarves and cowls, from mitts to ponchos and vests, Love and Knit features a wide variety of handmade items that are all ready to ship within a few days of your order.

The shop is run by a family of women - mother, daughter and sister all team up to knit, crochet and model the items for sale. These amazing designers truly seem to love their job, and it shows in the work they produce.

Based out of Turkey, these knits use yarns we can't get here in the States, but still focus on family made and excellent quality - all the best parts of handmade items! Head on over to Love and Knit and check out the wide variety of pieces they feature, and be sure to check out their Twitter feed as well!

Spotlight On: Love And Knit

Mar 27, 2012



Owen met my dad's dog Alta over the weekend! It was love at first sight for him, but Alta wasn't all that impressed. Don't let the kiss in the first photo fool you - not long after these shots were taken Alta got up, walked away, and never came back.

Next time we see Alta will be in early June, and by then Owen will probably be crawling. Bets are he'll chase after her while she looks for places to hide the entire time!

owen and alta

Mar 26, 2012

A Girl and Her Needle recently shared a GENIUS way to soften up scratchy yarn. In her example she uses Red Heart, but I've got some vintage yarn in my stash that this could work perfectly on! Simply remove the wrapper, loosen the skein, wash in a lingerie bag, and viola!

softening up scratchy yarn

Mar 25, 2012

Happy seven months, my dear boy! 


This month you've all but mastered sitting up! You love to hang out on the floor all day playing with your favorite toys (which of course switch out depending on the day). Once a week or so you'll fling yourself backwards and bump your head, but whenever we put the Boppy behind you, you just pull it towards your face so you can chew on it, and then fling backwards once it's not behind you.


We also started using your stroller without your car seat in it. You look like such a peanut, but love to look out at the world around you. Thanks to some of the nicer weather we've had, we've been able to walk to the park a few times, and earlier in the week we met your friend Jack at the mall and walked around while it rained and rained outside!



You love love love to be outside, and protest wildly when we bring you inside! Sitting in the grass, hanging out in your exer-saucer while we sit on the porch or swinging at grandma Mimi's - you're not picky, just as long as you're outside!


Last weekend you had hives, scaring the crap out of mom and dad. Turns out the meds they had you on for your second ear infection ended up causing you to break out as soon as the infection was gone. the photo above is actually before the worst of the hives showed up.

We ended up in urgent care twice last weekend, once on Thursday night and once on Friday night. After several doses of Motrin, Benadryl and even a few of some steroids the hives worked their way out of your system. You never itched them, but you were certainly tired of them by the end of it all!

//

It's been quite an eventful month with you, little man. You topped off the month by rolling off your changing table.

ROLLING.
OFF.
YOUR.
CHANGING.
TABLE.

You are fine, you were always fine. I freaked out for like an hour. Thankfully you landed on me and not the floor - I was bending over getting jammies out of the bottom drawer of the dresser (which is also your changing table) and you decided that you needed to roll over. Poor timing - suddenly you were on my back and somersaulting towards the floor!

Slow motion style I grabbed onto you and caught you before you hit the floor. You cried out in surprise but that was it - I freaked out repeatedly for at least an hour, which you laughed at.

{Yes, I strap you down now}

Before I know it you'll be crawling - you already reach for everything out of arm's way and get it most of the time, so it won't be long before you decide you need to be more mobile than rolling allows for. Until then I'm enjoying sitting on the floor with you, playing with blocks and rings, and dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba!

seven months with Owen

Mar 23, 2012


It's been such a pleasure working with Jeremy of I Heart Travel! After virtually meeting back in January, we agreed that a partnership was in order! Through his travels, Jeremy aims to live life to the fullest and contribute to the world "that has given me so much." Here, here! I may not travel very often, but I do love to knit, and so a fun little partnership was born.

Above you see Jeremy and his daughter modeling their very own Travel Hats - I wrote the pattern and knit them up just for them! More Travel Hats will be available in the shop in just a few short weeks, and in the meantime you can purchase the pattern and knit your very own!

But that's not all - thanks to a relationship Jeremy has with Ninos Del Lago, $3 from every pattern purchase and $5 from every hat purchase will be sent off to Guatemala to help transform the lives of some amazing kids! I shared the Travel Hat pattern earlier this morning, so if you want to knit one for yourself or someone you love, grab a copy and get knitting while doing some good! And if you're not a knitter but want a Travel Hat of your own, I'll be listing them both in wool blends and acrylic (washer/dryer safe!) versions as soon as I can get them off the needles!

Hats On People // Jeremy Hearts Travel (and his hat!)

Mar 21, 2012


I've fallen madly in love with the Etsy shop Urban Revival! Based out of British Columbia, Urban Revival is owned by Kim, who is an amazing knitter and gorgeous mama!

Her hats are the perfect amount of slouch, and come in some of the best and brightest colors! I'm in love with the Jenna Hat (pictured above), but would not turn down the Apricot Super Slouch or the Big Is Better In Blue hat either!

And yes, I know I knit hats. But there is something about wearing someone else's handmade creations that I love, and these hats might just find their way into my collection soon!

Head on over to Urban Revival and give Kim some love - her shop is new and I want her to keep on knitting away for years to come!

Spotlight On: Urban Revival

Mar 20, 2012


pattern: Pasha, by Jane Richmond  
yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice solids in turquoise (worsted weight acrylic, I used about 110 yards)  
needles: sizes US 8 / 5.0 mm, and US 10 / 6.0 mm

I've known Amy for over a decade now. We met when I moved to Omaha and she only had two beautiful daughters. We re-connected about a year ago now, and I've had so much fun rekindling our friendship! Amy blogs at New Nostalgia, one of the blogs I can't help but swing by several times a day (even though she updates only once usually!) - the honesty in her sharing her cancer journey, the beauty in her love for her husband and the openness she has about how she manages her home and family are inspirational to me.

Back before most of us were blogging and Amy and I still lived in the same town I marveled at how she seemed so calm and composed with two tiny little girls at home, a full schedule and an open home and heart. Now I'm so grateful she shares her secrets with the world! I asked Amy if she'd be part of my Hats On People project and she jumped at the chance! She picked out a lacy crochet hat originally that didn't turn out as planned, so we agreed that Pasha by Jane Richmond would fit the bill once it was tweaked for a slightly thicker yarn.

Pasha is a super feminine and flowy pattern when knit with DK weight yarn (what the pattern calls for) but I just love how it slouches up with worsted weight yarn. The hat retains all of its feminine style while looking a bit funkier and more urban. I have big plans to knit this hat up in a few more bright spring colors and list it in the shop in the next few weeks - I'll let you know if I get it done!

Hats On People // Amy Bowman

Mar 19, 2012



pattern: Pasha, by Jane Richmond
yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice solids in turquoise (worsted weight acrylic, I used about 110 yards)
needles: sizes US 8 / 5.0 mm, and US 10 / 6.0 mm

I've known Amy for over a decade now. We met when I moved to Omaha and she only had two beautiful daughters. We re-connected about a year ago now, and I've had so much fun rekindling our friendship!

Amy blogs at New Nostalgia, one of the blogs I can't help but swing by several times a day (even though she updates only once usually!) - the honesty in her sharing her cancer journey, the beauty in her love for her husband and the openness she has about how she manages her home and family are inspirational to me. Back before most of us were blogging and Amy and I still lived in the same town I marveled at how she seemed so calm and composed with two tiny little girls at home, a full schedule and an open home and heart. Now I'm so grateful she shares her secrets with the world!

I asked Amy if she'd be part of my Hats On People project and she jumped at the chance! She picked out a lacy crochet hat originally that didn't turn out as planned, so we agreed that Pasha by Jane Richmond would fit the bill once it was tweaked for a slightly thicker yarn.

Pasha is a super feminine and flowy pattern when knit with DK weight yarn (what the pattern calls for) but I just love how it slouches up with worsted weight yarn. The hat retains all of its feminine style while looking a bit funkier and more urban.

I have big plans to knit this hat up in a few more bright spring colors and list it in the shop in the next few weeks - I'll let you know if I get it done!


//

I'm making 10,000 hats for 10,000 people. This is hat 033.

Hats On People // Amy Bowman


This hat pattern has been named by Courtney of Be More With Less, in honor of the amazing organization Invisible Children! Every day in Uganda, children are kidnapped and forced to fight as soldiers in a war they do not believe in. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were/are abducted as children.

In an effort to help fight this atrocity, Invisible Children was formed in 2003 when a group of young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story that changed their lives. After sharing the film they created while in Africa, they created Invisible Children, a non-profit that helps bring peace, education, employment and most importantly HOPE to the people of Uganda.

 

YARN

One skein I Love This Yarn! Solids (100% acrylic; 355 yards / 325 meters per 198 grams)

NEEDLES

One set size US 11 / 8.0 mm DPNs
One size US 11 / 8.0 mm 16” circular needle

NOTIONS

Stitch marker
Darning needle

GAUGE

3 sts x 5 rows = 1” in stockinette

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Small (large) = 15 (17)” un-stretched

DOWNLOAD NOW

Invisible Children Hat

Mar 18, 2012



Back on March 1, I posted a photo of Owen in the shirt his Auntie Sarah made for him, and asked if you all could guess our favorite song. I offered up a free hat for those who could, and two of you guessed right!

We rock out to The Humpty Dance around here!

True Story #1: The first time I knew, knew without a doubt, that I was in love with Zach? We were at Thursday night karaoke, and he was on "stage" rapping The Humpty Dance. My tall, blonde-haired, nerdy boyfriend knew all the words, had people dancing around the bar, and shone like a super star. I remember thinking, "Wow. I just love this man!"

True Story #2: At our wedding, after a few hours of dancing, we had karaoke. And to kick things off right, my new husband sang me The Humpty Dance.

Aw!!!

True Story #3: Right after Zach sang was done, my brother Dan Rick-Rolled our wedding!!!

//

HTR and MelanieJennifer, you two guessed right! E-mail me at rmcdevine@gmail.com to claim your free hats!

My Name Is Humpty, Pronounced With An Umpty - A Few Free Hats!

Mar 15, 2012









Grandma Mimi (who used to run a tremendous at-home day care) has hooks in her deck for baby swings. Always has, and probably always will!The weather here has been so nice she grabbed one of the swings out of her garage and set it up for Owen.

All it took was one push, and he was giggling and screeching as the swing went back and forth! He loved it so much he started to ride it with his arms up in the air like it was a roller coaster!

Dad is figuring out how to hook one up at our house too, so Owen and I can swing our days away this spring and summer. Anything that will get us outside most of the day and keep him happy and entertained for at least 30 minutes is a win in my book!

{I also love how he's rocking his handmade hat in 75 degree weather, and it's inside out AND backwards. Oops!}

favorite things: the swing

Mar 14, 2012

pattern: Jane Hat, from Jane Richmond
yarn: I Love This Yarn! solids from Hobby Lobby (just under 1/2 skein for each of these two hats)
needles: sizes US 8 / 5.0 mm and US 10 / 6.0 mm 16" circulars

//

If you came over today you would see our little man just coming out of the worst few days of an ear infection. His second, in just under a month. Poor little man!

If you came over today you would see piles of laundry waiting to get done! A sick babe means laundry stacks up while we take turns holding him and loving on him. Laundry can wait.

If you came over today I would tell you all about the amazing anniversary date I had with Zach last night! We saw Rock Of Ages - amazing show! I love to go to the theater, but Zach is not as big a fan so we make a yearly date and he enjoys himself to varying degrees. This time? It was a total score!

If you came over today you would see all the amazing work that's been done in our back yard recently! A few old slabs of concrete are now gone, new dirt has been filled in their place, and grass seed has been sprinkled. Our yard is taking shape!

If you came over today you would see the pile of yarn from a hat that's been ripped out TWICE. A simple pattern, and one I've knit before with success, but for some reason I've struggled mightily with it this time around.

If you came over today I'd tell you about the new book I've just started. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is the first book in a Young Adult series about twins Sophie and Josh and their adventures as they try to save the world! I can't wait to get deeper into it!

If you came over today I'm sure I'd hug you and tell you how grateful I am that you're here, sharing this journey with me!

//

I'm making 10,000 hats for 10,000 people. These are hats 031 and 032.

If You Came Over Today ...

Mar 12, 2012





A week ago he couldn't sit up on his own for more than 30 seconds without falling over. This morning he and Poppleton played with blocks for like 20 minutes. Sometimes nicely, sometimes with screeching and meowing.

And when he was done playing, he laid himself down rather than flopping over, and started eating his feet. Ridiculous, how big this little man is getting!

Owen and the Cat

Mar 8, 2012



A few of my hand knits are being featured today over at Saturated Canary! Krista is an amazing artist, and her little family is just gorgeous! She recently procured a few pieces from me (the cowl and hat shown above), and I'm so excited that she's sharing my little blog and shop on her site today!

If you've never visited Krista and her blog Saturated Canary, definitely head over there now - you won't be disappointed!

And if you've come here from Saturated Canary for the first time - welcome! I'm knitting 10,000 hats for 10,000 people in my lifetime, and sharing little bits of my life along the way here at She Makes Hats! Feel free to poke around and check things out ... we love new visitors here!

Love From Saturated Canary!

Mar 7, 2012


On Friday I packed up my purse and a backpack and headed off to the airport for a quickie weekend trip to Chicago.

Alone.

Without my husband. Without Owen.

I was freaking out, to be sure.

My youngest brother, a senior in high school, was performing in one of his last show choir competitions ever, and as I've never seen him perform live, I knew I had to go while I still had the chance. So onto a plane I went.

Eventually. First there were three hours of delays in Omaha thanks to an ice storm in Chicago.

I finally made it to Chicago, where one of my other brothers picked me up. Crashing into bed, I was nervous to not be with my family but super excited for the day ahead of me.


Hugged this doggie, now almost 14 years old, for quite some time before heading out to the all-day show choir festival of awesomeness!

Brad's school (my old high school) hosted the event so his show choir wasn't competing, but I did get to see them perform an exhibition show.



Love that family of mine ... although I was certainly happy to get back home to this little man ...



... who promptly crashed out on me once we got home.

chicago for the weekend

Mar 5, 2012



pattern: Waffles Hat pattern, by Gail Bable
yarn: Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuggly Baby Sport
needles: size US 9 / 5.5 mm 16" circulars

I love to meet new people. Sometimes. I live as an introvert very happily, but when new folks cross my path I try to go out of my way to extrovert it up so I can get to know them, figure out who they are as quickly as possible.

Melanie is a friend of a friend, and she asked for a hat. Hinted that she'd like a hat, really. I asked around, learned she'd want a blue hat, and got busy.

I've made this hat several times before (hee!), and yet this one may just be my favorite. Using yarn from my stash that turned out to be DK weight instead of the slightly thicker worsted, this hat drapes like a dream, slouches perfectly, and still keeps your head toasty warm. The Waffles Hat may just have to be made this way from now on!

//

I'm making 10,000 hats for 10,000 people. This is hat 030.

a friend of a friend

Mar 2, 2012



pattern: Waffles Hat pattern, by Gail Bable
yarn: Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuggly Baby Sport
needles: size US 9 / 5.5 mm 16" circulars

I love to meet new people. Sometimes. I live as an introvert very happily, but when new folks cross my path I try to go out of my way to extrovert it up so I can get to know them, figure out who they are as quickly as possible.

Melanie is a friend of a friend, and she asked for a hat. Hinted that she'd like a hat, really. I asked around, learned she'd want a blue hat, and got busy.

I've made this hat several times before (hee!), and yet this one may just be my favorite. Using yarn from my stash that turned out to be DK weight instead of the slightly thicker worsted, this hat drapes like a dream, slouches perfectly, and still keeps your head toasty warm. The Waffles Hat may just have to be made this way from now on!

//

I'm making 10,000 hats for 10,000 people. This is hat 030.

a friend of a friend


Free hat to anyone who knows what our favorite song is!

All right! Stop whatcha doin'

Mar 1, 2012

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