Barbie in a Beautiful Beaded Dress

Barbie never looked lovelier than she does in this One-Of-A-Kind beaded Gibson-Girl dress of red and white with multi-colored beads.

Her sweet little hat has satin roses and leaves, red ribbons and black and white feathers and pretty beads.  Her tiny shoes are white ankle-high boots.  Her dress has a detachable color in white with multi-colored beads, a red ribbon around her waist and a white satin rose on her waist-band.

Barbie is ready to stroll down the avenue looking bright as spring.  She is for sale at my Etsy store.

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

Steam-punk Barbie

The term "Steam-punk" or "Gaslight Romance" is a sub-genre of science fiction that features steam as the main source of power, particularly in a post-apocalyptic setting where steam power regains prominence. Steam power can be found in stories by H.G. Wells and Jules Verne but, contemporary story, frequently feature Steam-powered lighter-than-air ships and analog computers.  Steam-punk can also refer to a clothing style inspired by the sub-genre that possess elements of post-apocalyptic films of the mid-20th centry, Victorian-age styles, Art Nouveau design.  The result is a pseudo-Victorian style.

Barbie is not exempt from Steam-Punk styles.

I am working on a design for Barbie that is strictly one-of-a-kind.  Upon completion, I will create patterns to sell.  This is the design thus far:

Note the Top Hat, which is a steam-punk classic, the bustier, lace gloves and stockings, and contemporary boots.
This is a detail of the Hat:

A glimpse of the stockings and boots:
A closer look at her skirt:

The costume is not completed because there are many details yet to be added, plus an exquisite coat.  Keep watching for more SteamPunk Barbie.

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

FREE Dishcloth Pattern

I found this pattern and fell in love with it!  

Finished Size:   12” square

Materials Used: Hobby Lobby “I Love This Yarn!”

• 3 oz. – #4 worsted weight yarn
• Size “J” crochet hook

ch37,

Row 1: slip stitch in 3rd ch from hook, *hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 2:  ch2, skip 1st stitch, slip stitch in next st, * hdc in next st, slip st in next st, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 3 – 42: Repeat Row 2 until project is square.

BORDER  

Round 1:  ch1, 3sc in corner stitch, sc in each stitch across top, 3sc in corner stitch, sc evenly down side, 3sc in corner stitch, sc in each stitch across bottom, 3sc in corner stitch, sc evenly up side, slip stitch to 1st sc, turn. 

Round 2:  ch1, sc in each sc around with 3sc in corner stitch, turn.

Round 3:  Repeat Round 2.

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Block to 12” square.

(originally posted HERE)

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

Some Things Take a Little Longer

It is obvious to anyone who glances casually at this blog that I love to crochet.  I crochet a lot.  My motto could be:

A day without crochet is a day that I spent in bed in a coma

I talk about crochet to people who don't really care, wear items I have crocheted, show off crocheted doll clothes, crochet curtains, rugs, dishcloths, face scrubbies that all get used on a daily basis.

Every time a non-crocheter looks at something I have done, they ask me, "How long does it take you to crochet something?"

Depends.  Really.

If I am making a sweater of something around 8 million stitches or an afghan of about 47 trillion stitches, the time can vary.  So many factors are involved.

• How motivated am I to complete that particular project?  
• How many projects do I have going on at the same time?
• What is the weight of the yarn?
• Is there a deadline?

For example, I am currently working on an area rug using 3 strands of yarn at a time and a hook that is about the size of a shepherd's crook.  That project will take about two weeks of casual crocheting.  I had to order a larger crochet hook, so I can't even finish the project until the new hook arrives.  No hurry.

A Barbie dress that is created from tiny granny squares will take me forever to complete simply because I hate granny squares.  Couple that with the fact that I am crocheting with thread.  Tiny cob-web size strands of thread and an itty-bitty hook that is barely visible to the naked eye.  These things are bound to slow down the process

Both projects have about the same number of stitches involved.  The Barbie dress will take longer because I continually procrastinate instead of working on the thing.  Other projects get in the way.

My mom asked me to crochet a lap robe for her and I found a pattern that I actually liked.  this was before I realized how much I despise granny squares.  So, her lap robe remains forever unfinished... or at least unfinished for now.  When I showed her the project under construction, she didn't act too enthusiastic about it, anyway.

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

Busy Hook

I have been busy finishing projects started a while back, but never finished because newer ideas replaced the old ones.  You know how that is.  The latest crochet pattern invariably catches my eye and I am off an running in a different direction.

This is my granny square afghan

Granny Square Afghan

This afghan was made with Lily Sugar n Cream 100% cotton yarn.  I love the vibrant colors of this afghan, but it took this project to convince me that I complete dislike constructing anything with granny squares.

This is project #2... a winter scarf

This is a heavy-guaranteed to keep you warm winter scarf crocheted with Red Heart Super Soft(c) yarn in Really Red.



Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

Sign up for Stuff

If you take a look on the right side of this page, you will see a Gadget that reads, "Sign Up for Cool Stuff."   That is exactly what I would like for you to do. Sign up to receive a periodic newsletter, free patterns, ebooks and other cool fun and free stuff.  It's simple:  Just fill in your email address and your first name.  I don't need anything else.

Please take a moment and sign up for some FUN!










Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

Nice Hat

My daughter-in-law likes to tell a story that involves one of her friends who got very aggravated with another driver over some infraction, real or imagined.  The two met at the next red traffic light and the other driver flung out some unkind words to my daughter-in-law's friend.  Expecting the friend to respond in kind, my daughter-in-law was surprised when her friend yelled out of the window to the other driver, "NICE HAT!"

Perhaps everyone could take a lesson from that event and yell, "NICE HAT!" to the next person who aggravates us.

The purpose of that story is to show off a cutsey crochet creation that I have titled, "Nice Hat."

I crocheted the Nice Hat right before the snow storm and was very happy to wear it to work today.  It doesn't keep my ears warm, though.

I used a pattern found in the December 2013 issue of Crochet World magazine on page 50.  I used Paton's Canadiana Yarn in Medium Gray Mix for the hat and Black for the band.  The beads are 6 x 9mm pony beads in clear translucent sparkle.  I had to increase the hook size to a "J" because the "F" hook made a hat only a child could wear.

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business

New Year, New Post

It has been a crazy few months with moving into my new home and trying to get it set up properly.  Then, there was my yearly let's-see-if-I-can-totally-avoid-the holidays mind set and a 3 week long visit from my parents.

Realization set in that I have neglected my blog for quite some time.  I have neglected my online business.  I have neglected my Avon Business.  

The New Year is here and I have set a few goals for myself.

So, here is my 2014 Checklist:

1. Make items to sell on Etsy and/or ebay
2. Solidify the Steampunk Barbie ideas
3. Update biz plan
4. Market, Market, Market the ideas
5. Complete Website www.chesapeakecrochet.com

Karen Pope is Madam Crocheterie, the Hooker By Night.  She CROCHETS in her spare moments, makes time for CROCHET,  and sells her creations on Etsy.  Follow her on Twitter, and Facebook.  Find her on Google+
She writes about CROCHET and creating a CROCHET Business