Little Yellow Ducks Escape During Duck Races

Yesterday was the 8th Annual Rubber Duck Derby during the Healthy Kids Day celebration in Tarrytown, NY. It was the perfect opportunity to release ducks “into the wild” as part of The Little Yellow Duck Project. In my attempt to be inconspicuous, I did not take pictures of the released ducks, but I did look on as several were discovered.

I was able to capture some of the very exciting Rubber Duck Races, in case you’re wondering what a rubber duck race looks like. I know another rubber duck race got major exposure over the past few days. If you get a chance to go to one, I would recommend it. They’re just fun.

Big Ducks at the Rubber Duck Derby

Rubber Duck Race about to begin

Big Ducks Dump the Little Ducks

They’re Off!

They all appear in the distance

Edging closer

They’re going full speed ahead

There’s a clear leader in the race

Masses of Ducks Race By

 

 

 

 

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Menagerie of Ducks About to Hit the Sheep to Shawl Festival

A Lil’ Duck, handsewn duck, 3 Ultra Mini Uglies (pattern coming later this weekend), and a Lil Ugly about to fly away. They’ll all be released at the Sheep to Shawl Festival at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY as soon as they put on their Little Yellow Duck tags. How could they not be released at an event that features sheep shearing, yarn spinning, AND duck herding!

#DuckSelfie

Felt Birds Anyone?

Back in the summer when I was Little Yellow Ducking it up, I branched out and dabbled in some hand-sewn felt ducks. After making my first felt duck from a pattern, I created my own little yellow duck pattern and pumped out a bunch. I loved how they looked. While they took longer than I originally thought they would, they still worked up quickly.

Felt Puffin Ornament

When I was trying to figure out what Christmas presents to make, I was desperately looking for a Canada Goose, as a flock of geese was towards the top of my son’s Christmas list. There’s a gorgeous knit goose I’ve been contemplating for a few years now, and while my knitting has improved a lot the past few months, as usual, I was running low on time, and needed either a crochet or felt pattern. I stumbled upon Downeast Thunder Farm with an amazing 70+ free felt bird ornament patterns. I was in awe of such a vast assortment. I ended up making the Puffin ornament for my mother and the Canada Goose for my son. For the Canada Goose I added a breast piece to make it 3-dimensional and more toy than ornament.

Felt Canada Goose

If you happen to be a bird lover, or know someone who is, you should definitely check out Downeast Thunder Farm. I’m still in awe. I mean they even have the very unusual Burrowing Owl who happens to be the star of the spectacular novel Hoot that my son and I read this summer. Name a bird (try to keep it northeast US), and BAM there it is in felt! Crazy! Downeast Thunder Farm, you totally solved my Christmas present dilemma and provided the patterns that helped me finish up holiday gifting by making presents on Christmas Eve. Thank you!

Crochet Video Tutorial: HDC in BBL

How to make a half double crochet in the back back loop which creates a knit look crochet stitch. This stitch is used in Sugared Ribs and No More Snow!

How to Make a Crochet Video

What seems like a really long time ago I was a jewelry photographer. For some reason until today, none of that experience wanted to apply itself to the part of brain trying to figure out how to record a half decent crochet video.

After recording the SS BLO ribbing video, I knew I had to do better. It was not good. I had been searching online for tips for a while but never found anything. My ribbing video showed me it was much harder than I had ever expected.

I knew I needed a set up so that the camera was facing strait down onto my hands on a tabletop and I needed to watch the video as it was filming. Probably time to go get a tripod, but the thought of going out to buy a tripod during Black Friday weekend was not overly appealing. Plan B. My son has been train obsessed for 6 or so of his 8 years. That has resulted in him owning A LOT of track and several train sets, which happen to include some risers and unusual bridges. This is what I came up with:

Crochet Video Meets Chuggington Bridge

Crochet Video Layout Top View

Crochet Video Layout

While I realize you can see the edge of the bridge in some of the videos, they still came out a ton better than my first one. Maybe one day I’ll finally go out and buy a tripod or software that lets me crop the video so you can’t see the edge, but for now, it’s good enough. Over the next few days I hope to get videos up for most if not all of the special stitches used in the patterns on HookersDontBite.com.

Crochet Video Tutorial: RSC and RHDC

This video shows how to do the special stitches RSC, Raised Single Crochet, and RHDC, Raised Half Double Crochet used in the infinity scarf Sugared Ribs and the hat No More Snow! as well as several other patterns on HookersDontBite.com.

If this video shows it is unavailable in Safety Mode, click the YouTube link at the bottom of the video and it should start to play directly on YouTube. (I don’t think YouTube likes the name of my blog)

Crochet Video Tutorial: FHDC Foundation Half Double Crochet

This crochet video tutorial covers the FHDC, Foundation Half Double Crochet stitch which is used as the foundation row in several patterns on HookersDontBite.com.

If this video shows it is unavailable in Safety Mode, click the YouTube link at the bottom of the video and it should start to play directly on YouTube. (I don’t think YouTube gets the name of my blog)

and the final stitch that connects both ends into a loop:

Crochet Video Tutorial: Crochet Ribbing with Slip Stitch BLO

After getting a few requests for a video on how to do the slip stitch ribbed edging for No More Snow! a hat, I finally made one. It is not the greatest video ever, but I hope it helps clarify how to do the ribbed edge.

Somewhere over the Rainbow Blanket in Action