Crochet Rainbow Cake Pattern

I thought I would finish birthday month with a fun crochet pattern and give everyone a piece of cake! The idea to make this crochet rainbow came from the beautiful rainbow cakes I've spotted on Pinterest. Instead of baking six layers of cake, I decided to make a much healthier version with yarn!  

Dimensions:

4.5 in (11.5 cm) tall, 3.5 in (9 cm) wide (Note: With the yarn and materials I used, these are the dimensions. If you use a different hook, yarn, or tension, the size may be different. Adjust accordingly.)

Materials:

Yarn: Vanna's Choice 100% Acrylic

          Colors: Scarlet, Rust, Mustard, Kelly Green, Aqua, Eggplant, and White 

Crochet Hook: US H8/5.00 mm

Polyfill pellets

Fiberfill stuffing

Top/Bottom Triangle (Make 2)

Chain 13.

Row 1: Starting in the second ch from the hook, sc in each chain across

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 1 sc decrease, 8 sc across, 1 sc decrease

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 10 sc

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 1 sc decrease, 6 sc across, 1 sc decrease

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 8 sc

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, 1 sc decrease, 4 sc across, 1 sc decrease

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, 6 sc

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, 1 sc decrease, 2 sc across, 1 sc decrease

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, 4 sc

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, 1 sc decrease, 1 sc decrease

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc

Row 12: Ch 1. turn. 1 sc decrease

Bind off

Rainbow Cake (Make 2)

Chain 14 with the Eggplant yarn

Row 1: Starting in the second ch from the hook, double crochet in each chain across = 13 dc

Color change to white. (See the step-by-step photo below to see how to change colors while also tucking the extra yarns away. This video explains this process perfectly! You will need to do this between each row.)

Row 2: (White) Ch 1, sc across

Row 3: (Aqua) Ch 2, double crochet across

Row 4: (White) Ch 1, sc across

Row 5: (Kelly Green) Ch 2, dc across

Row 6: (White) Ch 1, sc across

Row 7: (Mustard) Ch 2, dc across

Row 8: (White) Ch 1, sc across

Row 9: (Rust) Ch 2, dc across

Row 10: (White) Ch 1, sc across

Row 11: (Scarlet) Ch 2, dc across

Bind off

Back Icing (Make 1)

Chain 14 with the White yarn

Row 1: Starting in the second ch, dc across (13 dc)

Rows 2-8: Ch 2, turn, dc across

Bind off

Sew the cake pieces to each side of the back icing piece. Sew on the bottom triangle attaching it to the bottom of the rainbow cake sides and the back icing side. Sew in any loose ends. 

Put a layer of pollyfill pellets on the bottom to weight the cake down. Next, add in the fiberfill stuffing. Attach the top triangle and sew in the loose ends. ENJOY!!

*This pattern was created by me. Please do not sell any reproductions of this pattern or the pattern itself. It's just not very nice! :-) Thanks!*

The Blush List - Ready for Fall

I'm done with the 100 degree heat in Texas...DONE. I just can't take it anymore. Every time I step inside my closet I do one of those shudder-sobs as I stare fondly at my favorite cardigans. I will get to wear them soon enough...but until then, here are a few pretty things feeding my need for fall! 

Knitting // I am obsessed with this braided headband. 

Crochet // I love the delicate work of Susanna Bauer.

Etsy // "Oh So Dear" plate by The Story Book Rabbit

Style // Charlotte Olympia Kitty embroidered velvet flats.

Art // "Still Life with Live Flowers" print by The Black Apple - (Thanks Gee for tweeting about this beauty!) 

Food // Banana Nut Monkey Bread via Food Coma


Come back tomorrow for a colorful and fun crochet pattern! I'm really excited about it!! :-)

Happy Weekend!

This was such a long week. I guess that happens when you get back into a normal schedule, right?

I'm already feeling the pressure of this semester and doing my best to keep it together.

I don't have any big plans for the weekend...I'll just be knit-knit-knitting away. I have so much to do before the weather turns cold and the Jingle Bash in November!

Even with this flurry of stress buzzing around in my head, I'm working on new tutorials for the blog and psyching myself up for a few more Blogging for Confidence posts. (Like...how about I take myself out on a date??)

Here's hoping for a weekend filled with productivity and a bowl of ice cream or two. ;-)

*If you are near Hurricane Irene's path this weekend, stay safe! 

Here's to a New Semester...

And so it begins...another semester lies ahead of me. I'm sure it will be filled with a lot of unknown and a lot of stress. I have around 20 novels to read over the next few months, in addition to papers to write, and knitting to be done. After my first day of class I decided to treat myself. Why not right? I bought myself some flowers from Whole Foods as a sort of a pre-"pat-on-the-back" for the semester. Also, I discovered that Whole Foods is either incredibly kind or incredibly evil because they sell individual slices of ice cream cake (individual slices people!). I just couldn't pass up a slice of mint chocolate chip, so I quietly slipped it into my basket. 

I came home and put on one of my *new* records on my *new* record player (another birthday gift). (Side Note : This past weekend I had my first Half Price Books record shopping experience. I was browsing around, picked up a few $3 records, maybe a couple $5 records, and then all of the sudden I was holding $60 worth of records. Oh my. It's addicting isn't it?) Nat King Cole is just so dreamy. I sat down looked at my pretty flowers, listened to Nat sing "When I Fall in Love" and started knitting. It was nice to truly appreciate some free time. As the semester continues, I need to remember to do that more often instead of worrying about what I have to do next. 

Plus, if mint chocolate chip ice cream cake is involved, what could I possibly worry about?

Here's to another semester....let's do this. :-)

Granny Square Cowl

Were you wondering what ever happened to those pretty granny squares I was working on? Well here it is, the newest accessory in my shop, a granny square cowl.

I really love this cowl and the way it fits around my neck. It has the perfect amount of "swoop" (is that the right term?) in the front, but is still snug and warm. I'm working on new color combinations, so be on the look out!

You can find this cowl in my Etsy shop.

The Blush List - Bits of Blue

I guess the blue in my hair has gone to my head. This week I've been drooling over these bold and blue beauties. Enjoy!

Knitting // Sky scarf via Katonah Yarn on Flickr

Crochet // Blue Velvet via by_dawnNN on Flickr

Etsy// Detachable Silk Shirt Collar - "Wheat" by Norwegian Wood

Style // ASOS Dress with Scallop Detail 

Art // Illustrations by Carine Brancowitz


Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream from Claire Thomas on Vimeo.

Food // Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream via The Kitchy Kitchen


Classes start up again tomorrow morning...wish me luck! Have a lovely Sunday everyone.



*Don't forget! There are still a few weeks to enter my birthday giveaway! Check it out!

*Also...I've been nominated for Dallas's Best Blogger! I would love it if you stopped by and voted for my blog. Anyone can vote and you can vote once a day, every day, until Sep. 9. Thank you! :-)

"Red" Velvet Donuts...

They're definitely donuts...just not so red. 

This morning I took out my donut pan so I could finally try this deliciously tempting red velvet donut recipe. I followed the recipe exactly, but for some reason, the donuts didn't turn red from the food coloring. Oh well..they were still fun to make! More fun than making cupcakes, I think.

The batter was really thick and I had to use a pastry bag to put it in the pan. I thought the red might suddenly appear after baking...*wishful thinking*.

Mmm! Yummy vanilla glaze.

I don't know why, but I enjoy baking even more on Saturday mornings. It's nice to be able to slow down, take my time, and sample my mistakes. ;-)

Weekend Plans 8/19 - 8/21

I had a wonderful birthday on Wednesday! It was filled with lots of relaxing, lemon birthday cake and my first martini! (It was *SO* good!) 

Here's what I have going on this weekend:

1. Bake some red velvet donuts in my new donut pan! Yum!

2. Read the new September issue of Vogue. Read. Flip. Repeat. 

3. Finish reading One Day. I am in love with this book! I need to finish soon so I can go see the movie!

4. Wear my *new* Warby Parker glasses as much as possible! They came yesterday and I am in love! Thanks for all of the helping me decide on which pair to choose.

5. Take lots of pictures with my new Fisheye 2. I'm taking it with me tonight when I get dinner with my friends. I can't wait to show you the film.

6. Organize my tools, yarn, and inventory. It needs to happen.

7. Read my new Audrey Hepburn book, "So Audrey, 59 Ways to Put a Little Audrey Hepburn in Your Step", and try to learn a few things...haha.  

I love my new glasses!

"A trusted hairstylist is worth their weight in gold". So true. ;-)

Classes start back up again on Monday, so I am going to do my best to thoroughly enjoy my time off. 

What do you have planned for the weekend? Hopefully something fun and relaxing! 

Crochet Hot Chocolate

I can't believe Christmas and the holiday season is only a few months a way. I actually try not to think about it because it makes me break out in a cold sweat...there is so much to do!

Here is the latest crochet creation for the Etsy shop, a cup of hot chocolate! The little pouch on the front serves as a gift card holder and is the perfect partner for any coffee shop, bookstore, or shopping gift card. However, you can request for one without the pouch if you like.

I was listening to Christmas music last night ("Baby It's Cold Outside") so watch out everyone...before you know it I'll be putting up the Christmas tree! ;-)

The Blush List - Birthday Party Edition

It's never too late for a blush list! Take a peek at my finds for a perfectly colorful and kooky birthday. (Only two days until mine! I can't wait!) ;-)

Knitting // Knit your own balloons with this pdf pattern.

Crochet // I love this crochet bunting tutorial from Carina's Craftblog. 

Etsy // A perfect gift for goody bags - The Instant Comfort Pocket Box

Style // Now this is my kind of party hat. Or is it party hats? (Photography by Jody Rogac)

Art // Stella and I have something in common. (Print by Little Doodles)

Food // Since I am turning 21, I guess I can partake in the occasional Peach Mojito...recipe courtesy of Food Coma.


How was everyone's weekend? Mine was very exciting filled with blue dye, an amazing interview on Sunshine and Carousels (Wow! Thanks so much Erin!), and some really REALLY big news! On Friday I found out that I will be a seller at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash in November! I can't believe it!

I hope everyone has a great start to the week! :-)