Soap Making - Date Night Fun

Chris and I normally do something low-key for our date nights.

Tonight, we made soap!

We didn't go all-out and make the kind with lye that has to cure for weeks, though... we used melt and pour shea butter and glycerin based soap. It's a little easier on the beginner, to say the least!

Remember those soap cozies?

That little ball is all of the yarn I had left. I ended up making 9 of them. 

So, the shea butter melt and pour stuff comes in a big block. We cut it up into cubes and then melted it in the microwave.

Then we added the scent and the dye.

We poured it into the molds...

then waited a while...

and popped them out!

They're a pretty good fit for the soap cozies!

I wrapped them in saran wrap since I figured it would be a less messy way to package them...

Ta-da!!

I saved a soap cozy and a bar for us to use. This type of soap making was no-hassle and lots of fun! Chris mixed a lot of the colors, and he did a really good job. He didn't mind my cheesy date night idea. What a guy. :)

Soap Scrubbies

I'm slowly building up my crocheting skills. I know all of the stitches; now I just need to practice and get comfortable with them.

I found a wonderfully simple and cute pattern on Ravelry for soap coats.

If you are a beginning crocheter or you have been away from it for a long time like me, I highly recommend this pattern for practice.

I used my Knit Picks Dishie yarn. I just love this yarn, and it is perfect for these soap coat scrubby holder things.

I have already made 6 of these, and I think I have about 1/3 of the skein left. 

Between these and the mug cozies, I will be ready for Christmas! Wouldn't one of these with some hand-made soap be a really cute little giftie? 

I wonder if I can rope Chris into learning how to make soap with me... 

Free Knitting Pattern - Textured Baby Beanie

Inspired by one of the patches in a blanket from the 60 Quick Baby Knits book, here is my finalized Textured Baby Beanie Pattern:


Textured Baby Beanie 

Suggested Yarn: Cuddles by Crystal Palace Yarn
This micro-fiber yarn is too soft to put down!

Update: A regular worsted weight yarn will work well, too, and might actually be a better choice since the Cuddles is slightly bulky. I am just addicted to the softness of the yarn! 

Using size 8 or 9 straights, CO 66 using long-tail CO.

Knit in K1P1 ribbing for ~1 inch.

Textured Ribbing:

Row 1: Knit all
Row 2:  K2, (P1, K3) to end of row
Row 3: Knit all
Row 4: P1, (K3, P1) to last stitch, K1.

Repeat textured pattern until work measures about 4-5 inches.

Decrease:
Row 1: (K2, K2 tog) to last 2, K2.
Row 2:  K1, (P1, K3) repeat to last stitch, P1.
Row 3: (K1, K2 tog) to last 2, K2.
Row 4: (K2, P1) to last stitch, K1.

Row 5: K2 tog to end of row.

Row 6: K2 tog to last stitch, K1.

Thread yarn through remaining stitches and seam the hat using the invisible mattress stitch. 

Add a pom-pom to give the beanie another touch of cuteness.

**This beanie pattern has not yet been test knit by anyone other than myself. Please try it and let me know if and where you encounter any problems.