I wish I could have shared this post earlier, but I actually created this for my friend who is getting married later this month and I wanted to keep it as a surprise until I gave it to her at her bridal shower. I wanted to create something for her that she could use on her wedding day, but given that the wedding was taking place in the middle of July, it's likely not going to be cold enough that she would need a shawl/wrap/shrug, etc.

She has this beautiful strapless wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline and I doubt that she would want to cover that up. But I figured that she could use something to keep her warm when the night is over and still look beautiful.

When designing this piece, I wanted to make sure that it's simple yet elegant enough for a wedding. I also wanted it to be suitable for the summer if she decides to use it on her special day but versatile enough that she would be able to use down the road if she doesn't get to use it for her wedding. Lots of ideas floating around, you see.

The Midsummer 3-Way Infinity Scarf is a bit longer than what you would normally make for an infinity scarf. A standard infinity scarf is about 60 inches long, but this scarf almost 75 inches long (before you sew the ends together). There's a reason for this as it makes the piece a lot more versatile. Let me show you the ways to wear it:

#1) As a Wrap/Shawl

#2) As an Infinity Scarf (wrapped 2 times)

and #3) As a Cowl (wrapped 3 times)

Seriously though, do you love it? Or do you love it? There really is no other answer. This 3-way infinity is so versatile, and it's likely the easiest pattern I've ever created. A beginner who is just learning how to crochet (and have learned how to do a double crochet) can make this! What are you waiting for? Let's begin!

What You Need/Materials

• 6.0mm crochet hook
• 5.5mm crochet hook (read my notes)
• worsted weight yarn
• satin ribbon
• stitch markers
• yarn needle

Stitches

• ch - chain
• dc - double crochet
• st - stitch

Notes

• Gauge: 14 dc x 9 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4" x 4")
• 188 cm (~74") in length before tying the ends together with a ribbon.
• The finished scarf is about 19cm (7.5") wide. If you want it wider, you will have to do more rows.
• I found that when I was working row 3, my stitches were flaring out a bit, so I decided to use a smaller hook (5.5mm) for the rows that only contain double crochets and no chains (odd rows) and continued using 6.0mm for the others. 
• When working the rows with alternating double crochet and chains, I put my stitch into the chain space.
• Sizing:
• Measure yourself by placing the measuring tape at the tip of the shoulder and wrap it all the way around you like a shawl until it meets back at the same shoulder. The tape should skin the top of your shoulders closely, it almost slips off. This is the widest circumference of your shoulders.
• Multiply this number by 2
• 3.5 sts = 1" 
• Example:
• Shoulders measure 40"
• 40" x 2 = 80" (this is how long your scarf needs to be)
• Foundation chain = 80" x (3.5sts) + 2 sts (for turning) = 282 sts 
• This is all assuming that you are basing it on the same gauge as stated above

Pattern

ch 261
Row 1: dc into the third loop from the hook and in each st across (259 sts)
Row 2: ch 2, turn, dc into the first st, [ch 1, skip 1 st, dc into the next st] x 129 times (259 sts)
Row 3: dc in each st across (259 sts)
Even Rows: Repeat row 2.
Odd Rows: Repeat row 3.

I worked a total of 17 rows, but you can repeat it until you feel that it's wide enough.

Adding the Ribbon Detail

Isn't this the easiest thing you've ever made?

Did you make your own Midsummer 3-Way Infinity Scarf? I'd love to see it! Please share it with me on Instagram and/or use the #onceuponacheerio hashtag.






This is an original pattern written by Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it. 

You may sell products made from this pattern, but please clearly credit the design to me, Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio and provide a link to my blog www.OnceUponaCheerio.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for understanding!

Well, this week marks the last week of my maternity leave. And tomorrow, I go back to work full time. As I type this, I am just thinking about everything that has happened over this last year and a half.


I left work early last year because I was actually put on medical leave prior to my one year of maternity leave (I live in Canada, yo). Not many people know, but I was suffering from peripartum depression. This is when depression happens during pregnancy before the baby is born.

I was just as ill and fatigued as my first pregnancy, but not only that, I had a toddler to take care of at home on my days off. I was getting extremely burnt out. There are some mornings where I am just crawling on the floor having difficulty trying to feed my toddler her lunch. I had anxiety about everything. Going to work, being at home, what I can and cannot eat, what it might taste like coming back up, etc. I was constantly crying and having a hard time dealing with my own emotions. I kept having this impulsive thought about running away to a place where nobody can find me just so I could get away.

Things got a little better after I sought professional help. I remembered that I was in a state of euphoria after my first was born, and I was hoping that it might just happen again. Then it would solve all of this depression problems. I was wrong.

After Mui Mui was born, the postpartum depression hit me even harder. BB was having a hard time dealing with her new sibling. They couldn't even be in the same room together. Mui Mui was often crying (as expected from newborns) but her cries were extremely loud and ear piercing and I can see why BB doesn't like that. I was having difficulty dealing with the whole situation, and again the anxiety took over me.

About 2 months postpartum things were just starting to settle down. BB and Mui Mui can finally be in the same room and we were finally able to have dinner together as a family. Then, we got the news that my mom's cancer had metastasized to her brain. It just felt like, as soon as one part of my life was finally getting better, another problem arises. At this point, my mom had already been living with this cancer for more than 3.5 years. She always managed to pull through somehow and we were just hoping that she would this time around too.

Because her cancer had spread to her brain, she was not allowed to drive anymore. So instead of my mom and my grandma coming to my home to help me with the two kids every morning, I had to bring the kids to them. I was extremely exhausted from hauling two babies back and forth, and taking care and worrying about my mom. But I was determined to do so because I wanted my mom to be able to see her grandchildren as often as she could.

My mom became weaker and sicker during her last months of life. And at the beginning of January, she left us. Never in my entire life would I have imagined planning my mom's funeral during my maternity leave. This has to be as painful as a maternity leave could get.

Tomorrow when I go back to work, I will be starting a new job as an oncology nurse. I actually got the news about the job offer about 12 hours before my mom passed away. I told my mom and she was very happy for me. Some people may think that this is a self-destructive move. And sometimes, I wonder that as well. But I also wondered if this is my calling and that I'm meant to be there for a reason.

I'm actually quite happy and excited to go back to work. There's really only so much baby talk you can do in a day. Some days, I can't wait until Hanson gets back home from work to "rescue me" from the two kids. Living with depression within the last year felt like it stole a lot of my time and moments to enjoy Mui Mui as a newborn and a baby. She started walking at 10 months and things became very busy, very quickly. I can't wait for this maternity leave to be over and start fresh. I am looking forward to this next chapter.

Just as an FYI, this blog may be a bit quiet for the next few weeks as I desperately try to find time to study for an exam that I have to take before September and adjust to my new job.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog by visiting. It means more than you know!

I started Once Upon a Cheerio back in 2016 as an Instagram account. BB had just turned one at the time, and I was looking for a platform to share my crafting hobby with the world.

Unfortunately, I wasn't always consistent with updating, because let's face it, sometimes life gets in the way. I also took some time off Instagram while I was trying to set up this blog. This is a one-person show after all, and I can only dedicate so much time to it given that I now have two little ones at home.

Today, my Instagram account turns two and to celebrate, I decided to share with you a pattern that I have been working on, my Instagram purse! When I started my Instagram account, they were still using the old logo, and to be honest, I still prefer the old logo; it's more nostalgic. You may have seen many other crochet Instagram purse designs out there, and this is just my variation of it.


The final measurements are 8" x 8". I went through three iterations of the purse before I was happy with it. If you are interested, you can read about the design process and some behind-the-scenes of creating a crochet pattern here.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in the colours cream/light brown, brown, and white
• Size H crochet Hook (4.0 mm)
• Tapestry needle
• D-rings (I got mine from Daiso craft section)
• Felt in the colours red, yellow, green, blue, and black
• Glue gun
• Scissors

Abbreviations

• sc - single crochet
• st/sts - stitch/stitches 
• sc inc - single crochet increase, 2 single crochets in the same st
• sl st - slip stitch
• hdc - half double crochet
• hdc inc - half double crochet increase, 2 half double crochets in the same st

Purse Body

Using light brown/beige coloured yarn...
Ch 26
Round 1: sc into the second st from the hook, sc in the next 23 sts, 3 sc in the last st, and turn. Now working on the other side of the chain, sc in the next 23 sts, then sc inc in the last st [We are making a very long oval by crocheting around the chain] (52 sts)
Round 2: sc inc, 23 sc, 3 sc inc, 23 sc, 2 sc inc (58 sts)
Round 3: sc, sc inc, 23 sc, [sc, sc inc] x 3 times, 23 sc, [sc, sc inc] x 2 times (64 sts)
Round 4: 2 sc, sc inc, 23 sc, [2 sc, sc inc] x 3 times, 23 sc, 2 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (70 sts)
Round 5: 3 hdc, hdc inc, 23 hdc, [3 hdc, hdc inc] x 3 times, 23 hdc, [2 hdc, hdc inc] x 2 times (76 sts)
Round 6-23: hdc in the third loop in each st around (76 sts)
Change to brown coloured yarn...
Round 24-36: hdc in the third loop in each st around (76 sts)
Round 37: sl st in the third loop in each st around (76 sts)



Fold down the top part (dark brown), creating the top of your Instagram camera.

***UPDATE (06/15/2018): You can get the FREE Instagram Purse crochet pattern here.

Most people don't know how much work is involved in creating a crochet pattern. There's a lot of trial, errors, testing. Basically a lot of frogging, and making the same thing multiple times.

Instagram changed up their logo about two years ago, but their old logo is still very recognizable. Not only that, but many people have been creating various crafts featuring this iconic logo. For example, there are cookies, cakes, felt keychains, cross stitch patterns, wallets, and let's not forget crocheted purses.


I love all the variations of the different types of crocheted Instagram purses out there, but I had something in mind and wanted to create my own pattern. So that's what I did. I actually made two of these crocheted purses about a year ago, but never got around to finishing them because I just wasn't completely happy with them. It wasn't until more recently, I set out to create a newer one that I was more satisfied with.


Examining the different types of stitches that I can use for the purse, I loved the look of the half double crochet in the third loop as it creates a knitted-look to the purse. Not only that, but half double crochets work up much faster than single crochets do so I wouldn't have to do as many rounds.

Then, I debated on whether I wanted to do them in rows, or rounds. Joining each row created this undesirable seam up the side of the purse which I wanted to avoid. However, if made using rounds, the colour change from light brown to dark brown becomes very obvious given how tall half double crochets are. Long story short, I decided to use rounds anyway.

After that, it came to deciding how I wanted the dark brown part of the purse to look. There could be many options, I could create a flap cover or a separate lid, or simply flip the top part inside-out. At first, I created a lid. but the lid didn't always sit straight and there wasn't a good way to secure it. At that point, I grew tired of this project and set it aside for the next year or so. As you can see, I even went as far as to sew lining inside of this one.

More recently, I remembered that my Instagram birthday in June is coming up, and I thought maybe I would give this project another try. So I modified the purse and crocheted a taller portion of the dark brown part and folded it down. I also tried many different stitches to see which one looked best. To my surprise, the reverse side of the HDC in the third loop complemented the look of this purse very well.


I wanted a purse with a flat base and would be able to at least carry my wallet inside. But after I completed the first two purses, I just felt that the base was too small. After putting my wallet inside, my keys and my cell phone create this unwanted bulky look to my otherwise neat structured purse. So then, I set out to make a larger base.


Then, I decided that the lens looked kind of small too. I thought a larger lens would make the purse look cuter, so I went ahead and made a larger lens as well.


So you see, in total, I now have 3 variations of this purse sitting at home. However, I only have one that I am completely satisfied with. Not only that, but think about how many times I had to frog it and start over. Creating a crochet pattern is no easy task. I haven't even gotten to the part where you have to actually write down the pattern.

The only reason why most of us are able to create something so beautiful on our first try is that there was a crochet designer behind the scenes that put so much work into creating an easy-to-follow pattern. And for that, I thank all crochet designers out there that provide their patterns for free all over the Internet because technically, they don't have to. But because they do, I was able to learn how to crochet and fall in love with this craft 5 years ago. And because I learned and fell in love with crochet, I can now write free patterns on my blog to share with all of you!

The pattern for this Instagram crocheted purse will be released soon, so stay tuned and subscribe to my social media (Instagram, Facebook, The Cheerio Club Email List) for the latest updates.

***UPDATE (06/15/2018): You can get this FREE Instagram Purse crochet pattern here.

I got nominated by the lovely Jasmine from Sweet Softies to do a challenge and come up with 10 things about myself. I mostly treat my blog as a journal for all my craft projects, but I do enjoy sharing about myself from time to time. I'm just always afraid that nobody would be interested in reading it.

Coming up with this list was actually harder than I thought. I was glad that I was able to stop at 10 because I honestly could not think of any more. So... here we go!

1. I work as a Registered Nurse.

Since graduation, I have been working as a pediatric nurse. I love working with kids and for the most part, I don't mind the shift work. However, after having babies, I often feel I am missing out on a lot of family time on the weekends. After my current maternity leave, I will be starting a new job as a chemo/cancer nurse working Mondays to Fridays. I will miss working with the kids, but I am very excited for all the new challenges that come with the new job.

2. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science. 

Yes, I'm a geek. Right out of high school, I went to university to study computer science. I loved computers at the time, but more so as a hobby than as a career. I knew I didn't really want to work in computers by the second year, but didn't know what I wanted to do instead. By the time I figured I wanted to do nursing, I was more than halfway through my program, so my mom convinced me to finish what I've started so I have something to fall back on in case nursing doesn't work out.

3. My mom taught me how to crochet.

Shortly after my mom was diagnosed with cancer in late 2013, I asked her to teach me how to crochet. We both enjoy crafting. It's basically in our blood. This was just another way for us to bond and spend more time with each other. Of all the crafts I've done, crochet stuck with me the longest. I love how calm it makes me feel and most of all, how it reminds me of my mom when I do it. Fun fact: my mom crocheted more than 200 mini baskets as wedding favours for her wedding back in the 1980s.

4. I love my car.

I drive a MINI Cooper S, and I absolutely love my car. I decided to name it "Sheldon" after Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory. I wanted my first car to be a MINI because my mom's first car was also a MINI! It's not easy driving a 2-door car with 2 kids, but as long as Mui Mui can still fit in her infant car seat, then I can still drive both of my kids in my car.

5. I have a tattoo.

When my mom passed away, I found some comfort from many of the Winnie the Pooh quotes. So shortly after her passing, I went through what some people call, "a midlife crisis". I chopped off all my hair and got a tattoo. The symbolism is pretty obvious with this one.

6. I hated being pregnant.

If I could describe my pregnancy with two words, it would be "nausea" and "vomiting". I was extremely sick for both my pregnancies - I couldn't be more miserable. The morning sickness lasted through all 9 months. I didn't get better until after delivering the babies.

7. I used to work at the Apple Store. 

During nursing school, I held a part-time position as a Specialist at the Apple Store selling Apple products. I was already a Mac user at the time, so no need to try to convert me. The people I worked with are some of the most wonderful people I've met. I had the most memorable time working there.

8. I hate dolls.

Ever since I can remember, I hated Barbies and baby dolls. I can't stand the smell of the plastic and they've always creeped me out. I am, however, OK with plush dolls and stuffed animals. Just something about the plastic ones that brings me goosebumps even when I think about it. I'd love to, on the other hand, try my hands at crocheting dolls in the near future!

9. I have a thing for Wolverine. 

But only the Hugh Jackman version, not so much the cartoon version who's dressed in yellow/blue tights. I didn't use to care for any of the Marvel movies. However, Hanson got me hooked pretty quickly. I think Wolverine/Logan's NFG attitude make him particularly charming. So yeah... I added him to my "list" 😉.

10. I like numbers divisible by FIVE.

I hope you had fun reading a little bit more about me. I'd love to get to know more about my readers. So drop me a line and let me know something about YOU!