Oh, Hello There!

Hmm... I think I mentioned that I would be back in, what was it, April?

Oops. Sorry about that. Really. I work as a substitute teacher both in town and in the next town over, so I can get a little sidetracked and busy. Okay, a lot sidetracked and busy.

I don't have any pattern round-ups for you, but I do have a few photos of what I've been working on. Sadly, it's only been one project (not counting the order I'm still working on), but I can say that I've made my first "real" clothing item.

This is the Amelia Toddler Sundress. It was meant to be a birthday gift for one of my nieces (I have two little  bitty ones now), but I foolishly made a mistake when reading the pattern and had to restart the entire skirt the night before the party. So, I've decided that it'll be a Christmas gift instead, which is fine because that gives me time to finish it properly (and go buy more yarn that I ran out of, of course).

Here is a couple of Work In Progress photos. I'm actually nearly done with it now. It's super cute and I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and make one up for my other darlin' niece for Christmas as well. I'm super proud of this!

Isn't this just the cutest thing? I love it already. I can't wait to make another in a different set of colors. (This is currently being worked up in Peaches and Creme's Happy Go Lucky.) Takes up a fair amount of cotton yarn, but it's well worth it.

I'm on the fence about taking orders for Christmas at this point. I've got a commission to finish and my own gifts to work on (they're a little more complicated this year).

However, regular commissions are still open. I'm more than happy to make something without a tight deadline (like Christmas), so feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to order something.

No promises as to when I'll post again, but I do hope to post again when I'm finished with this dress and maybe even add a sneak peak of what I'm giving away for Christmas gifts to all the women in my family this year. (So maybe next month?) Going to aim for a Halloween/Fall themed pattern round up as well, seeing as it is that time of year.

Until next time, my dears! :D

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

So, I've been utterly swamped this year, since it's my first year with a job. My advent calendar fell short of what I wanted it to be this year. It is currently day 13 of my calendar and I haven't even posted for days 11 or 12.

Due to this unplanned/poorly planned scheduling issue/not being prepared enough - I'm stopping the calendar. I'll find something for days 11 & 12 - to round it out, but I will not be continuing it further this year.

I did not plan correctly, didn't get information out soon enough, didn't work hard enough to get all 25 days filled. I will constantly be days behind schedule and I can't deal with the stress of "OH crap, I didn't get one for 'Day x' finished, let me panic and stay up all night trying to make something". I will have to do better for next year, starting now, otherwise this may be the last time I do this.

I will still post anything I have made this holiday season, however none will be assigned specific "days". This will hopefully allow me to make up for unfinished gifts and do about two weeks of work in the span of one.

I sincerely apologize and hope that you can understand. I will do better next year, if I decide to repeat this. Thank you for reading and your time.

COMMISSIONS:
These will reopen mid-January, if you are interested. Send me an email or drop a comment down below.

(bonus points to anyone who knows where the title came from)

On the Sixth Day of Christmas

And today is Day 6! Half way through the first 12 Days of Christmas!

One of these days I'll jump into a craft fair of some kind and sell lots of stuff! But until then, I'll just make random things and either save them or wear them myself. I've already lost one beanie I've made to my darlin' husband who just took it and began wearing it. Totally doesn't match is uniform (as a cop), but he doesn't care. He may be mad at me when I steal it back and stick some holly on it.

Holiday cheer guaranteed!

This set, however, I got to keep for myself. Hadn't really planned on keeping it for myself, but it got super cold one evening and I had to go feed and water our dogs, and I needed something to at least keep my hands warm. So, I pulled out this magical little set and went about my merry business.

The hat is the usual "Hat Hugger" pattern (can be found on the page "Free Patterns") that I go to on a regular basis. I just did a couple of front post stitches and dc on the front to give it a different type of brim. It's a lovely hat, and that little bit of texture makes the whole thing.

The wristers are a new pattern that I found looking for something easy and simple. They can be found on Ravelry (for free!) and they're called Simple Wrist Warmers. They really are simple. Silly simple. They work great with any of the foundation chains too, so you don't have to do that silly chain.

For the hands that they're on currently, I had to google hand templates for a while and found one I liked. I then printed them out (after a few hours of trying to get them just right on Word) on cardstock so they're a little more durable. I do have to remember to print out a right and a left next time (or maybe just two lefts) since I made two rights this time. Oops.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

Day 5! Moving right along! (Explanation for why this is late will follow down below)

So, I've been struggling with this beanie for a year, a YEAR. I wanted to make it for a friend last year, but I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. This year, however, a fellow crocheter on Facebook posted her troubles with this particular pattern in a group we're in. I figured I'd try and help her out, since I was stuck too. So we began to work "together" on it (separately, but sharing notes and issues via Messenger on FB).

And that's not where the troubles stopped. After I had completed the hat, I realized it would fit my niece better than my friend. Well, that wasn't in the plans. Okay, we'll try again. Tore it out, and discovered (thanks to my new buddy) that if you work the hat in one hook, and then go UP a hook size for the owls, it works out a whole heck of a lot better. I would probably even recommend going up a hook size than require for the hat and go up a hook size from that for the owls, but then again, I crochet a little tight.

This pattern may have kicked my butt for a while, but I can say that I am happy with it and I now know how to work cables into my work. It was harder than I thought, but that's how you learn. I would be willing to make this again and again.

The pattern is called It's a HOOT! and can be found on Ravelry. I actually purchased my copy from her website, but Ravelry is always a good place to buy and get patterns. They'll automatically store your receipt so you don't have to worry about losing it. And you'll get to download any paid pattern you bought over and over if your computer crashes or something. I use Dropbox to save all my stuff, so I'll never lose it.

This is late because I was working all day Friday and got home and just could not find this photo. I had one, but GOD BLESS was it horrible. Didn't show the color well at all. I will try to keep up with this the rest of the Advent Season, but I do have to work and get stuff made. You can help me out GREATLY by dropping by my Facebook page and

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

Day 4 of the Advent Season

Today is about Angels and dishcloths. Even better - Angel Dishcloths in time for Christmas! This is a super cute pattern, and (depending on the yarn and hook you select) they come out in different sizes!

The big one by itself is made with Peaches and Creme's "Yuletide" and a size "K" (6.5mm) hook. It actually turned out rather nice. I really like it, maybe more than the other two.
The smallest one (hard to tell, I know) is the one in the large photo, bottom left is made with Red Heart's Mistletoe and a size "H" (5.00mm) hook. The one on the bottom right is the same yarn, though with the "K" hook - and it's no where near the size of the one in cotton.
The two smaller ones will probably be wall decorations, but I can actually use the largest one as a potholder or a dishcloth. Either way, it's really pretty. I love it!

The pattern can be found on Ravelry - Christmas Angel Dishcloth. And it's a free pattern! I'll be sure to update it and put it on the Free Pattern page, so y'all can find it all year long. And, of course, you don't have to make this only at Christmas time. These in a solid would be good all year long.

On the Third Day of Christmas

Advent Day 3

Today I am featuring a very special friend of mine. I met Nicole at Magic Sky Ranch in Colorado a few summers back and I have to say what a wonderful person she is. She's been dabbling in various things for a while, but I have to say her photography is simply amazing! I mean, look at all those happy, smiling faces! Can't you tell that she's just awesome at her job?

Aren't these amazing?

She photographs families, lots of cute kids, and does weddings! She's from Los Lunas, NM, but will travel a bit (check out her website to learn more). Even if you don't live in NM, you should totally give her page some lovin'.

Look at the little baby!

You can find her on Facebook via Nicole Bradshaw Photography or on her very own website - www.nicolebradshawphotography.com. Tell her Dakota sent you!

I'm Horrible - So Have Some Updates

I haven't posted in so long, I know. I've been up and down and working (Substitute Teacher in San Angelo Independent District, so that's several schools that I can go and sub at. It's fantastic!) and a bit sick. Oh, and my husband has a job now (starts on the Oct. 20), so life will be a little more crazy in the coming weeks (or month).

If you'd like to check out some patterns, I'm doing a whole months worth of round-ups and free pattern offers on my Facebook Page: Kota's Crochet Creations. I've got several round-ups and a few free pattern offers (though they have most likely expired by now).

I have gotten my PayPal account up and working, or at least I think I do, so I can now accept payment through PayPal. Huzzah!

I am working on my Advent Calendar for this year. I've gotten a handful of things done, though I am in dire need of things to make for it. Oops... Kinda slacking on it. So much for trying to get a head start on it. Got my first Christmas order of the year, so that's great. Speaking of...

I am taking orders up until Thanksgiving of this year. Sooner if I feel like I'm overwhelmed and may not finish all of them in time.

I'll post a photo of what I've done this month in a few days, just to prove that I'm still crocheting, though I'm terrible at posting. Thank you all who have stuck with me and even glanced at my blog. I'm trying hard to keep up with it and my new crazy life. I'll try and post at least once a week, on Saturdays, if nothing else. I greatly appreciate everyone who has stayed with me and will continue to do so!

Keep Hookin' y'all!

A little donation button for me, if you feel like it. To all who do, thank you very much. I greatly appreciate it.