What I Learned at my First Craft Fair

This weekend I did my first, honest-to-goodness craft fair, and I learned a lot! I had a great time, and made some fantastic sales, but I also have a lot to improve.

I was at the Ocean Charter School in Culver City, CA. It was about a half hour drive from our apartment, so my husband and I loaded up our tiny car at 6:15 in the morning, and made it down there. It was such a cute fair! I went to a Waldorf school, so it reminded me of childhood. My crocheted animals went over really well, as did my superhero masks. I realized that having items at different price points really helped.



Things I need to remember for next time (because I would DEFINITELY come back next time):
1. Get a tablecloth or simple sheet for the tables. Don't use my blankets, you can't see them.
2. Bring hangars, for my shawls, and hope there's something to hang them on.
3. Request a corner booth again, because that helped out a million times over.
4. GET MORE BUSINESS CARDS!
5. Try to find more school fairs, since those seem to be better for me than craft fairs.

Overall, I had a great time!

Tomorrow's Winter Faire at Ocean Charter School, and Crochet Lessons

I'm trying to get all of my items ready to go for tomorrow. My husband and I will be getting up super early, and making our way down to Culver City nice and early. I am excited, since a Waldorf Winter Faire is absolutely perfect for me! I have so many great memories of going to the Chicago one every year. I hope to see you all there!

WINTER FAIRE: Saturday December 10th, 10AM-3PM. 12606 Culver Blvd.

Last weekend, I had a lovely time teaching my very first crochet class. Thank you to Meghan, Beth, and Maria (and my poor husband, who I once again dragged with me) for coming out and learning the basics of how to hold a crochet hook, and how to start a chain. I hope to do another lesson some time in early January, and then teaching a regular lesson on weekends. If you are interested in signing up for lessons, please fill out the form to the right of this, with your name and email.

OK, now it's time to get back to furiously crocheting this last shawl. I hope it'll be ready for tomorrow's show!

Winter Faire

I can't wait for this Saturday! I'll be selling my cute items at the Ocean Charter School's Winter Faire. 
For more information, check out their event HERE. I'm a Waldorf graduate, so this will be like a walk down memory lane for me. I always loved the winter faire!

Black Friday sale!!

Use the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2016 at checkout for 25% of everything! Just go to www.etsy.com/shop/TomboyNanny

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day :-)

Election Day!

Not only is it Election Day, but it's also my wedding anniversary. Want to wish me happy anniversary? Do it by voting. It's your civic duty!

After that, use the coupon code IVOTED at my online shops for handmade items, educational games, or crochet patterns.

My Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TomboyNanny
My Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tomboy-nanny





Dragon Scale Gloves Pattern is available now!


Now you can make your own Dragon Scale Gloves! The pattern PDF is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, or Etsy. If you would prefer the finished product, three different versions (with more probably on their way) can be found HERE.

How to do the Crocodile Stitch

If you're a crocheter, I'm sure friends and family members have tagged you in those beautiful fingerless gloves with the crocodile stitch on the hands. Here's how I do the crocodile stitch! Oh, and if you like this, go check out my other crochet patterns HERE

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn (if you're just trying this out for the first time, use some easy and cheap stuff, like Red Heart. It took me a few tries to get this stitch right, and kind of ruined some of my fancier yarn)
Size H hook

Stitches:
Ch: chain
Sl st: slip stitch
Dc: double crochet

1. Ch 30. Sl st into the first ch, so you have a circle and be sure not to twist your chain.
2. Ch 3, dc in the same st with the sl st. Ch 2 and skip the next 2 sts. (2dc, ch 2, skip 2 sts) 9 times. Make a sl st into the first bar (the ch 3 from the beginning of this row). You should now have 10 sets of 2dcs.

3. Ch 3, turn your work to the side. 5dc into the SIDE of the ch 3 of the previous row. 

Ch 1, and turn your work 180 degrees. Make 5dc in the side of the first dc from the previous row. 

Skip the next 2dc section, and crochet 5dc in the side of the next dc, ch 1, 5dc in the second dc of that section. Continue around, until you have 5 crocodile scales. Make a sl st in the bottom dc of the first scale. Ch 2, and make a sl st in the last 2dc section that doesn't have a crocodile scale in it.



I know it seems like a daunting task, but once I spent about an hour messing with this stitch, it became super easy. If you have any problems, I'd recommend checking out this lovely lady's blog: http://yarn-muse.blogspot.com/2011/01/crocodile-stitch.html. That's how I learned the stitch.

Dragon Skin Gloves

I've seen a ton of posts about those fingerless gloves with the "crocodile stitch" on them - the stitches that look like pointy scales. They're all gorgeous, but I prefer the crocodile stitches on the wrist, instead of the hand. I feel like they might get in the way of my fingers. Anyway, here's a few takes on my Dragon Skin Gloves.
Rainbow Dragon Gloves
Gray and Silver Dragon Gloves

Football Amigurumi

I'm in a fantasy football league with my husband and his cousins. I actually won last year! The previous winner mailed me our trophy (it was a ceramic pig, for some reason), but he didn't pack it well, and it pretty much shattered in a million pieces. Of course my first thought was to make my own trophy! We all live in different parts of the country (California, Arizona, Indiana and New York), so having to send the trophy in the mail is something that will almost definitely happen. My plan is to make an amigurumi Lombardi Trophy, and here is the football for the top. It's a nice size, that can be fun to toss around the house.

If you like this pattern, check out my other ones! You can find them here: http://tomboynanny.blogspot.com/p/crochet-patterns.html
Materials needed:
Size G crochet hook (4.0 mm)
Worsted weight yarn in brown and white (I used Red Heart Super Saver in Coffee and White)
Tapestry needle
Stitch marker
Scissors
Fiberfill stuffing

Notes:
Gauge isn't important. This is made in continuous rounds, so do not join or flip your work.


Stitches used:
Magic Ring
Single crochet (sc)
Increase (2sc)
Invisible decrease (invdec)

Instructions:
1. Make a Magic Ring with 6 sc stitches
2. 2sc around  (12)
3. (2sc, sc 3x) 3x (15)
4. (2sc, sc 4x) 3x (18)
5. (2sc, sc 2x) 6x (24)
6. (2sc, sc 7x) 3x (27)
7. (2sc, sc 8x) 3x (30)
8. (2sc, sc 4x) 6x (36)
9. (2sc, sc 11x) 3x (39)
10. (2sc, sc 12x) 3x (42)
11. (2sc, sc 13x) 3x (45)
12. Sc around (45)
Change to white
13. - 14. Sc around (45)
Change to brown
15. - 26. Sc around (45)
Change to white
26. - 27. Sc around (45)
Change to brown. Take about 2 feet of white yarn, and sew in the stitches. Start with a long one going the length of the ball, and then a few over that. Begin stuffing the football with fiberfill, and continue doing so as you go.
28. Sc around (45)
29. (Invdec, sc 13x) 3x (42)
30. (Invdec, sc 12x) 3x (39)
31. (Invdec, sc 11x) 3x  (36)
32. (Invdec, sc 4x) 3x (30)
33. (Invdec, sc 8x) 3x (27)
34. (Invdec, sc 7x) 3x (24)
35. (Invdec, sc 2x) 6x (18)
36. (Invdec, sc 4x) 3x (15)
37. (Invdec, sc 3x) 3x (12)
38. Invdec around (6)
Fasten off tightly, and weave the end in.

Like this? Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and all the usual spots. Just click on "Contact" tab at the top of this page.





Solar System Slipper Socks!

On those chilly nights and early mornings, having warm, cozy slipper socks is a necessity. After a ton of planning, I finally figured out how to make fun, nerdy ones! I'm hoping they're the kind of slipper socks Neil DeGrasse Tyson would want to wear.

So here they are, Solar System Slipper Socks! Everyone loves intergalactic footwear :-) And yes, they stay up on their own.

The finished product is for sale on Etsy HERE.
If you'd  like to make them yourself, very easy to follow instructions can be found on Etsy HERE or on Ravelry HERE and on Craftsy HERE



LABOR DAY SALE!


I'm having a massive sale in my Etsy shop. Just put the coupon code in at checkout, and you will save 25% off EVERYTHING. Finished project, crochet patterns, educational games, all of it! Just click the giant yellow link below:

Rainbow Star Blanket

Well, it took me a long time, but I finally finished this awesome star blanket! It was inspired by the tissue paper 8-pointed-stars I made in Waldorf school ages ago. I'm very proud of my newest creation, and now you can buy it, or make it yourself!
Once a Waldorfian, always a Waldorfian :-)
If you would like to purchase this finished item, it is available on Etsy HERE.
Buy the pattern:
Etsy HERE,
Ravelry HERE.
Craftsy HERE
What's great about this, is it's surprisingly simple to make, and I've written very detailed instructions, so if you're a beginner this might be a great project for you!

Instagram Giveaway!!

That's right, I'm doing a giveaway!

Would you like one of my patterns, or perhaps one of my educational games? Then follow me on Instagram @tomboynanny, and follow the instructions on THIS POST.
You could win this pattern, or a discount on the finished product!

Or one of these patterns or finished toys!
I'm also giving away coupons for my cute items on Etsy!

Dinosaur Graphghan

My newest crochet pattern is now up on Ravelry, Craftsy, and Etsy!

I don't know why I've been on such a dinosaur kick lately (I guess because dinosaurs are AWESOME!) but here's a cute little toddler blanket, with all of the favorite ancient creatures.

The finished project can also be found on Etsy.
The instructions are pretty simple, and a great blanket to start with if you're new to graphghans.
Find it on Etsy HERE
Find it on Ravelry HERE
Find it on Craftsy HERE
Find the finished project on Etsy HERE

Dinosaur Blanket is Finished!


That's right, my first dinosaur blanket is up for sale! You can get it on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/454955416/dinosaur-blanket-toddler-blanket-dino

I will be writing this pattern up, too. Keep an eye out for it!

Children's Mannequin Head

I love making items for the child I nanny. But he isn't my child, and I respect my bosses' desire for not having their son's face plastered everywhere on social media. So things like hats and crowns are tough to photograph. So how do I solve this problem? I created my own head!
My superhero mask pattern can be found here. Or you can buy the finished product here.
That's right, a crocheted my own mannequin head! I also wrote up the pattern, and now it is available on CraftsyRavelry and Etsy. This head fits for most projects made for toddlers, kids, and teens.

Enjoy!



How To Make a Graphghan!


Before starting your blanket, you might need to go to your local yarn or hobby store. You can also buy the majority of these items pretty easily online. If this is your first time making a graphghan, I recommend buying your supplies in person, so you can touch the yarn. Plus, if you have questions, the staff can help.

YARN:
Remember to match your dye lot numbers! Colors can vary slightly with each dye lot, and you don’t want your background color to vary slightly. I created my blanket with Red Heart brand yarn, which doesn’t use dye lots, which means I didn’t have to match any numbers. Just check the label, and if it says “No Dye Lot” you have one less thing to worry about. If you are making your graphghan in the same colors, here is my list (they are all Red Heart Super Saver brand):
Light Blue – 3 skeins                                                    
Bright White – 2 skeins
Black
Cherry Red
Pretty ‘n’ Pink
Turqua
Royal
Bright Yellow
Dark Orchid
Spring Green
Hunter Green
Pumpkin
Gray Heather
Charcoal

OTHER CROCHET BASICS:
Size H 5.0mm hook – I recommend spending the extra money and getting one with an ergonomic handle. Your hand and wrist will thank you later.
Tapestry needle – Again, I recommend spending a bit more and getting a metal needle instead of the plastic ones. I used to use plastic, but when I broke my third one, I realized a strong metal one is actually more cost-effective.
Scissors – Nothing special, just a pair that can cut through yarn.
Stitch markers – These are optional, but they can be a lifesaver if you need to stop mid-project. You don’t want your hard work unraveling!
Hair clips – Just basic hair clips. They help your balls of yarn turning into a hot mess of tangled colors. These are also optional, but if you have a few lying around your home, they can be very helpful.

PREPPING YOUR YARN:
Now that you’ve brought all of your new yarn and accessories home, you need to ball your yarn. I recommend making a ball around the size of a baseball. You should get 3 or 4 balls of yarn out of each skein. Use a hair clip to fasten the end of the yarn to the ball.

GRAPHGHAN STITCHES:
A graphghan blanket is essentially a series of squares, created diagonally. If you have never made a graphghan, make a few squares, just to practice. Your work will look like a triangle, while you are increasing rows.
1.      Chain 5 stitches
2.      Starting in the 3rd chain, double crochet in each of the 3 chains. This is your first square!
3.      *If you need a new color, change here* Chain 5 stitches
4.      Starting in the 3rd chain, double crochet in each of the 3 chains.
5.      Turn your work, *if you need a new color, change here* and make a slip stitch into the top right corner of your first square.
6.      Chain 2 stitches
7.      Make 3 double crochets into the chain in your first square. Your second row is done!
Continue repeating steps 3-7, and continue making your triangle grow. Each row will have one more square than the previous.
When it is time to start decreasing, make a slip stitch into your previous row. Now continue making your graph following these instructions.
1.      Turn your work. Make 2 slip stitches into the side of your previous square
2.      *If you need a new color, change here* Chain 2 stitches
3.      Make 3 double crochets into the previous row’s square
4.      Continue making squares the same way as before. When you get to the end of the row, make a slip stitch into the previous row.
When it’s time to change colors, leave a long end. You want 4 or 5 inches, so weaving in the ends later will be easier. Also, if you want your blanket to look nice on both sides, don’t carry your yarn over unless it can hide easily. Yes, this means you’ll have a lot of ends to weave in, but your work will look so much better.
To weave your ends in, thread an end into your tapestry needle. Now weave the end into the same color, through at least 3 stitches (I like to do 4 or 5). Then weave it back through the same stitches, but skip the very first one. Finally, weave it back through a third time, skipping the very first stitch. This will stop your yarn from unraveling or fraying. I have put my blankets through a washing machine, and the ends do not come out!

Now you are ready to begin your graphghan!

Movie Night Outside Blanket!

My husband and I have become outdoor movie professionals.  In LA, there are many places that show films outside where you can bring a picnic and relax under the stars. If you're ever at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to see a Hitchcock film, I'm probably there.  Come say hi!

Anyway, here's a few photos of my finished blanket:

It is 60x80 squares, so it's the perfect size for a one person picnic.  There is just enough room for you to sit on and have room for your picnic. I like to have one for each person at the picnic, and then lay them out next to each other.  Since I use acrylic yarn (mainly Red Heart), after being on the dirty ground, I just pop it into the washing machine and as long as your ends are weaved in, it shouldn't come apart.






I recommend downloading my graph below, and printing it.  I've also written out the instructions, with only 20 rows in each section, so you don't get overwhelmed.




Save and download this. You might want to print it.




List of Materials:
Size H crochet hook
Jumbo skein of black yarn
Jumbo skein of bright white yarn
TWO jumbo skeins of gray heather yarn
Regular skein of the color of your choice
Regular skein of the color of your choice
Tapestry needle
Scissors

The two colors you can pick for yourself, but I used Gold and Royal Blue.


Now, without further ado, here is the instructions!

PART 1: Rows 1-20
PART 2: Rows 21-40
PART 3: Rows 41-60
PART 4: Rows 61-80
PART 5: Rows 81-100
PART 6: Rows 101-120
PART 7: Rows 121-139

It's as easy as that!  Don't forget to check out my can cozies, they match the blanket!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 7

Happy 4th of July!  I started this on the first day of summer, and finished it up late last night.  To be honest, the family I nanny for has been out of town so I finished a lot quicker than usual.

This is it!  The last piece of the puzzle!  Once you're done, you should have a nice little blanket, that should be perfect for one person at an outdoor movie night.  Usually my husband and I take two blankets, and that's big enough for us to spread out, have our snacks and drinks, and relax before a movie.

You know the colors by now :-)

121. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 2g, 1w, 2b
122. 2b, 1w, 1g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
123. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 3w, 2b
124. 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
125. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 1w, 2b
126. 5b, 4w, 5b
127. 4b, 5w, 4b
128. 3b, 6w, 3b
129. 3b, 6w, 2b
130. 2b, 5w, 3b
131. 3b, 4w, 2b
132. 2b, 3w, 3b
133. 3b, 2w, 2b
134. 2b, 1w, 3b
135. 5b
136. 4b
137. 3b
138. 2b
139. 1b

Ta daaa!  You're done, congrats! If you'd like to put a little border on your work, you can definitely do that.  Most times I don't, since it's just for outdoor use.

It's an old fashioned film strip!


Oh, and keep an eye on my blog.  I'm planning some fun dino-related items!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 6

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to finish this blanket.  In LA, they're showing the original Muppet Movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and I'd love to have this ready for that night.  I'm sure a group of us will be going, and I'd love to show off my creation.

We're almost done! It's the home stretch!

Anyway, on to part 6.  Don't forget, you're decreasing on every row.

101. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 11g, 2y, 1g, 1y, 2g, 3z, 2g, 1w, 2b
102. 2b, 1w, 6g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 10g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
103. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 9g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 6g, 1w, 2b
104. 2b, 1w, 6g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 8g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
105. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 2g, 2y, 5g, 1w, 2b
106. 2b, 1w, 2g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 2g, 1y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
107. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 9g, 1y, 2g, 3y, 1g, 1w, 2b
108. 2b, 1w, 1g, 2y, 2g, 1y, 9g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
109. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 2g, 2y, 1g, 1w, 2b
110. 2b, 1w, 1g, 5y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
111. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 7g, 3y, 2g, 1w, 2b
112. 2b, 1w, 3g, 1y, 7g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
113. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 10g, 1w, 2b
114. 2b, 1w, 9g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
115. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 1w, 2b
116. 2b, 1w, 7g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
117. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 6g, 1w, 2b
118.  2b, 1w, 5g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
119.  3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 4g, 1w, 2b
120. 2b, 1w, 3g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b

Here's my progress pic. How about yours?


Weave in those ends.  You're almost done!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 5

You've made it to part 5, which means it's time to decrease on BOTH sides!  Also, by the end of this you'll be at row 100.  Woo hoo!

Here's the usual stuff:
b = black
w = white
g = gray
y = color of your choice
z = color of your choice

81. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 5g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 2b
82. 2b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 4z, 1g, 1z, 2g, 1y, 2g, 2y, 2g, 1y, 7g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
83. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 1g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 4g, 3z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 2b
84. 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 2g, 3z, 4g, 4y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
85. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 1g, 3y, 5g, 2z, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b
86. 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 5g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
87. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 4y, 6g, 1z, 3g, 4z, 7g, 2w, 5b
88. 4b, 2w, 7g, 5z, 1g, 1z, 8g, 3y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
89. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 8g, 5z, 1g, 1z, 8g, 2w, 3b
90. 2b, 2w, 11g, 4z, 9g, 1y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
91. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 17g, 3z, 12g, 1w, 2b
92. 2b, 1w, 6g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 17g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
93. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 14g, 1y, 2g, 2z, 3g, 3z, 5g, 1w, 2b
94. 2b, 1w, 4g, 2z, 4g, 2z, 2g, 2y, 13g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
95. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 13g, 2y, 2g, 1z, 1g, 1z, 3g, 1z, 4g, 1w, 2b
96. 2b, 1w, 3g, 1z, 3g, 1z, 4g, 2y, 13g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
97. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 13g, 2y, 3g, 1z, 3g, 1z, 3g, 1w, 2b
98. 2b, 1w, 2g, 1z, 3g, 1z, 3g, 2y, 13g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
99. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 13g, 2y, 2g, 2z, 2g, 1z, 2g, 1w, 2b
100. 2b, 1w, 2g, 4z, 3g, 2y, 12g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b

You've made it through 100 rows!  Congrats!

Here's a photo of my progress thus far:

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 4


Now it's time to start decreasing, but only on ODD numbered rows!  Once again, I'd recommend checking out Repeat Crafter Me's video on how to create a C2C graphghan, and be sure to check out how to decrease.  Her video can be found HERE.  Since this will be a rectangle, make sure to only decrease on the odd numbered rows, and keep increasing on the even rows.

Don't forget:
b = black
w = white
g = gray
y = color of your choice (I used gold)
z = color of your choice (I used royal)

61. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 3g, 2z, 12g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
62. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 13g, 2z, 2g, 2y, 2g, 1y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
63. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 4y, 2g, 2y, 2g, 1z, 1g, 3z, 2g, 1z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
64. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 1g, 3z, 4g, 2y, 3g, 3y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
65. 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 13g, 2y, 3g, 1z, 1g, 4z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
66. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 3z, 1g, 1z, 3g, 2y, 1g, 1y, 11g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
67. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 1g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 2g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b
68. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 2g, 4z, 3g, 4y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
69. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 1g, 3y, 1g, 1y, 2g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
70. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 4g, 2z, 2g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
71. 3b, 5w, 4b, 2w, 7g, 4y, 2g, 1y, 3g, 1z, 3g, 1z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
72. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 1g, 1z, 4g, 2y, 2g, 3y, 7g, 2w, 5b, 4w, 3b
73. 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2y, 3g, 1y, 4g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
74. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 3z, 1g, 2z, 2g, 1y, 1g, 4y, 1g, 1y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b
75. 3b, 1w, 3b, 3w, 3b, 2w, 9g, 3y, 1g, 2y, 2g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
76. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 3g, 4y, 1g, 1y, 8g, 2w, 3b, 4w, 5b
77. 4b, 5w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 1g, 3y, 4g, 3z, 1g, 3z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b
78. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 9g, 3z, 1g, 2z, 5g, 2y, 1g, 2y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
79. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 4y, 6g, 1z, 1g, 4z, 1g, 1z, 7g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
80. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 6g, 1y, 1g, 3y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b

Don't forget to weave your ends in now.  You'll thank yourself later.

Happy hooking!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 3

And the project continues!  Here's rows 41 through 60.  I like doing these in chunks of 20, so then I'm reminded to weave in my ends as I go.  If not, when the blanket's done, it'll be a hot mess of random pieces of yarn.

Anyway, in this group, you will still be increasing on every row, but this will be the last one.  Here's a little reminder on colors:
b = black
w = white
g = gray
y = color of your choice (mine is gold)
z = color of your choice (mine is royal blue)

41. 2b, 1w, 2g, 2y, 2g, 1y, 7g, 2z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
42. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 1y, 2g, 2y, 2g, 1w, 2b
43. 2b, 1w, 3g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 6g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
44. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 2g, 2z, 6g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 3g, 1w, 2b
45. 2b, 1w, 4g, 1y, 2g, 2y, 5g, 2z, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
46. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 5g, 2y, 2g, 1y, 4g, 1w, 2b
47. 2b, 1w, 5g, 4y, 1g, 3y, 2g, 1z, 3g, 4z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b
48. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 7g, 5z, 1g, 1z, 3g, 3y, 2g, 3y, 6g, 1w, 2b
49. 2b, 1w, 13g, 2y, 2g, 5z, 1g, 1z, 8g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
50. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 3g, 4z, 3g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 9g, 2w, 2b
51. 3b, 2w, 9g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 3g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
52. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 8g, 2z, 3g, 2z, 4g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 8g, 2w, 4b
53. 5b, 2w, 8g, 1y, 3g, 1y, 4g, 2z, 2g, 2z, 9g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
54. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 10g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 5g, 1y, 1g, 3z, 2g, 1z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b
55. 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 4y, 1g, 3y, 2g, 1z, 1g, 3z, 2g, 1z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
56. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 3g, 4y, 1g, 3y, 7g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b
57. 2b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 11g, 1y, 1g, 2y, 2g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 1w 2b, 3w, 3b
58. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 9g, 3z, 2g, 1z, 3g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 9g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 2b
59. 2b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 9g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 6g, 2z, 10g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
60. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 11g, 2z, 6g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 1g, 1y, 8g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b

Weave in those ends!  You'll thank yourself later :-)

Can you tell what it says yet?

Don't forget, use hair clips to keep your yarn balls from rolling away!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 2

I was planning on writing this blog post yesterday, but I watched the last episodes of Orange is the New Black, and.... oh man, I needed time to get over that.

Anyway, here is part 2 of my blanket for outdoor movie nights. I'm only doing 20 rows at a time, so it's easier to follow. This section you will be using the two colors of your choosing, with the black, white and gray.  I'd recommend writing down which color is which.  One will be labeled "Y" and one "Z." In my blanket, I'm using Gold as Y and Royal as Z.

Once again, this section is ALL increasing, so don't worry about decreasing yet. Also, here are the colors I used again:
b = black
w = white
g = gray
y = color of your choosing
z = color of your choosing

21. 2b, 1w, 4g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
22. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 5g, 1w, 2b
23. 2b, 1w, 6g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
24. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1w, 2b
25. 2b, 1w, 8g,  2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
26. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 1w, 2b
27. 2b, 1w, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b
28. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 2g, 1w, 2b
29. 2b, 1w, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
30. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 4g, 1w, 2b
31. 2b, 1w, 3g, 1z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 6w, 3b
32. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 1g, 1z, 1g, 1w, 2b
33. 2b, 1w, 1g, 2z, 1g, 4z, 8g, 2w, 3b, 5w, 4b
34. 5b, 4w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 1z, 1g, 3z, 1g, 2z, 2g, 1w, 2b
35. 2b, 1w, 3g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 1g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
36. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 2g, 4z, 4g, 1w, 2b
37. 2b, 1w, 5g, 3z, 3g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 3w, 3b
38. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 4g, 2z, 6g, 1w, 2b
39. 2b, 1w, 2g, 3y, 2g, 1z, 5g, 2z, 7g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
40. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 7g, 2z, 8g, 4y, 2g, 1w, 2b

Here's my progress so far:
I'm already working on Part 3, so keep an eye out for that!

Movie Night Outside Blanket Part 1

Happy first day of summer!  Here in LA, it definitely feels like summer. It was over 80 degrees by 7AM!

Anyway, I'm working on another movie night blanket.  I have found that C2C graphghans (corner-to-corner crocheted blanket that can look like a graph) are perfect for our outdoor movie nights.  If you've never made one, Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me has a great video on how to start and do color changes right HERE. The only thing I do slightly different is I use a chain 5 instead of a chain 6, and a chain 2 instead of a chain 3. It makes the squares a bit closer together, but either way works perfectly fine. The ones I like to make are 80 by 60 squares, which makes a tiny blanket that's perfect for one person to sit on with a few drinks and snacks.

This one will have a bit of a film theme, which will be great for those of you who love watching movies outside.

The colors I used are all Red Heart Super Saver. Ideally, get the JUMBO rolls, and I'd say start with one apiece. Ball up your yarn in multiple tiny balls.
b = black
w = white
g = gray heather
There are two other colors, which I recommend you just picking your two favorite colors. In my blanket, You won't need them until Part 2, but if you're running to the yarn store, you might as well pick up a skein of each. I'm using these:
y = gold
z = royal

I'll be writing this out in 7 parts, each one with 20 rows. For this group it is ALL increasing, so don't worry about figuring out how to decrease yet. So here it is!

1. 1b
2. 2b
3. 3b
4. 4b
5. 5b
6. 3b, 1w, 2b
7. 2b, 2w, 3b
8. 3b, 3w, 2b
9. 2b, 4w, 3b
10. 3b, 5w, 2b
11. 2b, 6w, 3b
12. 3b, 6w, 3b
13. 4b, 5w, 4b
14. 5b, 4w, 5b
15. 2b, 1w, 3b, 3w, 2b, 1w, 3b
16. 3b, 2w, 2b, 2w, 3b, 2w, 2b
17. 2b, 3w, 3b, 1w, 2b, 2w, 2b
18. 3b, 4w, 5b, 2w, 1g, 1w, 2b
19. 2b, 1w, 2g, 2w, 4b, 5w, 3b
20. 3b, 6w, 3b, 2w, 3g, 1w, 2b

Here's a few photos of my blanket after finishing Part 1.  Also, I don't remember where I saw this, but someone put up photos their yarn balls with hair clips holding the yarn down.  When I was done crocheting for the day, this helped keep things organized.  It was seriously amazing!




Sight Word Games

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TomboyNanny?ref=l2-shopheader-name&section_id=19157398
Sight Word Games!


Teaching your child "sight words" - or simple words that are used the most often - is usually one of the first steps to teaching your child how to read.  The problem: it's not a lot of fun.

Now I've created four really fun games that will help your child learn these words, and they even work well with bigger words.  It's a digital download, so as soon as you purchase it you can print it up.  All you need is a pair of scissors.



Playing games like "Bring Home the Word Bacon" and "Syllable War" will help your child find reading fun.

Just go to the Tomboy Nanny Etsy Shop to purchase!

Movie Night Accessories

One of my favorite things about summer is outdoor movies.  My husband and I have become professionals, we've gone to so many.  Our favorites are Hitchcock films, but comedies are always fun, too.  It's even fun for kids, too! Well, as long as the movie is appropriate.

Most of the outdoor movie nights allow alcohol, and we've learned from experience that cans are preferable to bottles.  You want something lightweight, and easy to clean up. The only problem is bugs smell the sugar in your drink, and might try to sneak into it.  So I created film-themed can covers!  I can make them in pretty much any color, and they're made to look like a filmstrip.  One really great thing is if you go with a group, you can get one color for each person, so you don't forget which drink is which.  Order more than one for a discount.

Click here to get your own drink covers, in almost any color imaginable!