BB was born with a head full of hair! I don't think I've ever seen so much hair on a newborn before. It was funny because she was born with a little patch of blonde/light brown right on the top of her head. For the longest time, I didn't want to cut her hair because of that. Then as her hair grew, the older hair must have fallen out because the patch of blond/light brown hair was no longer to be seen.

She didn't seem to care for her long hair for the most part. I find her brushing it away from her face all the time. It seemed more like a nuisance to her than anything. It also became somewhat of a hazard when Mui Mui came around because she would pull on BB's hair and make her cry.

Hanson and I have been talking for months about getting BB a haircut. When we ask her whether she would like a haircut, she would often agree and say yes. Then Hanson and I would look at each other wondering whether she actually understood if she understood what a haircut was.


About a month ago, while watching TV, I saw that GlobalBC was doing a hair donation drive for the Canadian Cancer Society and Wigs for Kids. I thought that it would be such a memorable first haircut for BB if she could donate her hair and appear on TV! So I proceeded to email them and luckily got accepted!

When the date crept closer, I started to worry that BB might freak out on live TV when she realizes that she can't reattach her hair after it's been cut. Luckily, she was more cooperative than I thought (with some candy as bribery to sit still).


She was really shy when the cameras came around and they did short interviews with everyone, so they allowed her some privacy. Once the cameras were gone, she warmed up to Sonia Sunger (who is the host of the morning news) and even shared her loveys/security blankets with her. By the way, Sonia Sunger is just as beautiful in person as she is on Camera!


This year, they had 120 participants for the GlobalBC hair donation drive and BB was their youngest participant. Because there were so many people, it's obvious that they couldn't cut and style everyone's hair. Her hair was a bit uneven, so I trimmed it a bit more when we got back home. It's my first time cutting someone's hair (besides shaving the hair off the back of Hanson's neck). I thought I did a pretty good job!



BB looks super cute and when I compliment her on her new look, she would often respond by saying that her hair looks like mine! It's so heartwarming to see how much she loves her new haircut because she thinks she looks like me. 💕


I have made hair donations in the past as well and am so pleased that BB was able to do the same for her first haircut. This whole experience made a very memorable and special first haircut. I hope she will look back one day and feel as proud of herself of this moment as I did!
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A few years ago, I tackled one of my largest projects. I learned how to do the crocodile stitch and then created my very own mermaid blanket from scratch without a pattern. I guess you can say that was my first time designing my own piece!

I love the texture of the crocodile stitch and it worked perfectly well with mermaid tail blankets as it gives it a fish scale look. However, even though I loved this stitch, I could not think what else I could do with it other than mermaid blankets. And because my mermaid blanket was so humongous, I did not think I would ever make another one again.

A few weeks ago, while I was watching Black Swan (starring Natalie Portman) and I had this crazy idea that I wanted to become a ballerina. I love how graceful they move across the stage. I particularly loved the outfits. One thing from the movie that really caught my eye was Natalie Portman's Odette headpiece. I loved the angelic look of the feathers. I thought to myself, "I can make that". And that's when went exploring with the crocodile stitch again.

I present to you, Odette (Swan Lake) Ear Warmers!


I love turning these movie-inspired pieces into everyday wear, just like when I made my Rapunzel Braided Scarf. And now you can also connect with your inner ballerina and wear this throughout winter.

The crocodile stitch can be a little tricky and intimidating at first. Sp please forgive me as the instructions might be a bit wordy because I was trying to be as clear as possible. To help you understand the pattern a bit better, I have included photos as well as a crochet chart of the crocodile stitch after the written instructions.

OK, let's begin!

What You Need / Materials

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• Worsted Weight Yarn in White
• 5.0mm Crochet Hook
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors

Stitches & Abbreviation

• ch - chain
• slst - slip stitch
• dc - double crochet
• v-stitch (v-st) - [dc, ch2, dc] into the same st
• scale-stitch (scale-st) - 5 dc down the first dc post of the v-st made from the previous row, ch 1, 5 dc up the second dc post of the v-st made from the previous row

Pattern

• Part 1

Row 1: Ch 4, dc into the first ch (this is your first v-st) [pic 1]
Row 2: Ch 3, 4 dc into the ring, ch 1, 5 dc into the ring (this is your first scale) [pic 2-4]
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch), turn, dc into the same st as the beginning chain (this is your first v-st), v-st into the center of the scale, v-st in the last st (3 v-sts) [pic 5-7]
Row 4: Ch 3, turn, 4 dc down the first post of the v-st,  ch 1, 5 dc up the second post of the v-st, skip the next v-st, work a scale-st in the next v-st (2 scale-sts) [pic 8-10]
Row 5: Ch 4, turn, dc into the same st, v-st into the center space of the scale, v-st between the two scales (making sure that you catch the yarn that connects the two scales [pic 11]), v-st into the center space of the scale, v-st into the last st (5 v-sts) [pic 11-13]
Row 6: Ch 3, turn, 4 dc down the first post of the v-st, ch 1, 5 dc up the second post of the first v-st, [skip the next v-st, work a scale-st in the next v-st] x 2 (3 scale-sts) [pic 14]
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, slst into the the center space of the scale, ch 3, v-st between the two scales, v-st into the center space of the next scale, v-st between the two scales, dc into the center space of the next scale, leave the rest of the stitches unworked (3 v-sts) [pic 15-17]
Row 8: Turn, scale stitch in the first v-st, skip the next v-st, work a scale-st in the next v-st, slst into the chain space (2 scale-sts) [pic 18]
Row 9-20: Repeat rows 5-8 until you have 10 rows of scales.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.

• Part 2

Row 22: Ch 2, turn, [dc between the two sts] x 4
Row 23-32: repeat Row 22
Row 33: Ch 2, turn, slst to join to first wing, [dc between the two sts of the band, slst to join to first wing] x 4
Fasten off and weave in the ends.

• Part 3

Now you have two beautiful wings joined together, you just need to join the top of the wings to finish it off.

Row 1: Sc join to the back of the first scale (at the v-st) of one of the wings, ch 12-15 (depending on your head size), sc join to the back of the first scale of the second wing [Refer to the last photo below]
Row 2: Slst in all the ch sts and join at the beginning of the ch to the wing.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.






Did you make your own Odette Ear Warmers? 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 blog post 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!

The temperature is dropping and the leaves are falling. It's that time of the year again where we just want to bundle up and stay inside with a cup of hot cocoa. Last year, I shared a post of 12 Weeks of  Christmas Crochet Projects to make in the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas! This year, I thought I'd round up another collection of 12 projects to make for Christmas! Although, keep in mind that some of these projects might take you more than a week to complete.

A year or two ago, I learned how to crochet cables! I love the look of the cables as it adds an extra level of sophistication to a piece. I have yet to design my own cabled project but I love gawking at all the different cabled projects out there on Pinterest. So I thought I might round up a few of my favourites and share them with you today!

1. Cabled Beanie, version 2 by All About Ami

2. Cabled Headband Hat with Big Button by 365 Crochet

I love how stylish this beanie looks! I have actually made one myself in shiny yellow yarn that I had leftover from my Rapunzel-Inspired Braided Scarf. BB has since hi-jacked my beanie, calling it her Rapunzel hat. I have to say, I was very impressed with the construction and how the hat was made. I love how you always get to learn something new from working off other designer's patterns!

4. Cable Wrist Warmers by JR Crochet Designs

5. Women's Cable Ear Warmer by Jenni Designs

6. Catrina Cabled Wrap by Bonnie Bay

7. Braids & Cables Beanie & Cowl Set by MNE Crafts

8. Crochet Heirloom Cabled Sweater by Sewrella

9. Matilda Tote by Megmade with Love

10. Woven Cable Mug Cozy by 1 Dog Woof

11. Farmhouse Pillow by Megmade with Love

If you have a cable crochet pattern that you love, share it with me! In the meantime, don't forget to pin this collection to your Pinterest!

We've been marking BB's heights on the wall for a while now. And since Mui Mui was able to stand on her own, we started marking her heights too. I ordered a growth chart online last year, but then it never arrived. Luckily, I got my money back, but the point was that I still wanted a decent looking growth chart that we can add to our home to keep track of the kids' growth.


I've stumbled upon some gorgeous DIY growth charts on Pinterest and decided to make an attempt at creating one myself. I initially saw these bronze coloured metal numbers from Daiso that I thought I was going to use on my growth chart, but by the time I wanted to buy them, they had sold out. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like a product they even stock anymore because it's been MONTHS and I have yet to see them in stores again.

I crochet a lot of things, I don't know why I didn't think to crochet the numbers! I found these free patterns for crochet numbers from Moogly, and they were the perfect size. The final product turned out so much cuter than I had envisioned!


Last year, 12 days before Christmas I posted a photo on Instagram of the number "12" using crocheted numbers. Yes, I started this project *that* long ago. I just haven't been able to take photos of it until now.

Want to make your own Crocheted Growth Chart? Keep reading!

Materials

• Burlap Table Runner (at least 210 cm or 7 feet in length, mine is 15cm wide)
• Yarn
• 4.0 mm Crochet Hook
• Tapestry Needle
• Wooden Dowels
• Jute String
• Safety Pins
• Washi Tape

1) Crochet Your Numbers

I used worsted weight yarn to crochet the numbers on my growth chart. You can get the pattern for these numbers from the Moogly blog. You will only need the numbers 1 to 6. Unless your family is really tall and you expect your child to grow beyond 7 feet.

2) Iron Your Burlap

My burlap banner did not lie flat and it made the measurements a little off when I hung it on the wall. I'll admit that I didn't clue in to do this step until after I sewed on the numbers. So I'll advise doing this step early on!

3) Mark the Measurements

Use a measuring tape and a permanent marker, mark your measurements in inches along the side of your burlap.

4) Trim, Sew and Saw

6) Numbers

7) Hang Up Your Growth Chart

If your burlap is like mine, it's probably kind of wavy when you hang it up. While the ironing helped a little, it didn't completely solve this problem, making the measurements a bit off. Instead of using a push pin or nailing the of the growth chart to the wall, I used another two hooks to pull down on the wooden dowels so it will stay in place and straighten out the growth chart.

8) Mark your heights

Here comes the fun part! I used some safety pins and washi tape to mark the heights. I'm sure my husband is glad that I'm finally putting my collection of washi tape to good use.


This project should take no more time than an afternoon (as long as your kids are not hanging off you). I hope you will have fun making your own Crocheted Growth Chart! I love that these growth charts are so portable. They would make great presents for baby showers and/or first birthdays. I have one for BB right now but will be making a second one for Mui Mui soon.

They grow up so fast!

Did you make your own Crocheted Growth Chart? I'd love to see it! Please share it with me on Instagram and/or use the #onceuponacheerio hashtag.






This is an original tutorial written by Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio. Please do not claim this tutorial as your own. If you wish to share this tutorial, you may link to this blog post 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 tutorial or distribute it. 

You may sell products made from this tutorial, 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, here we go again! It's the beginning of another school year!

By the way, Aren't these cute?! These crocheted plush pencils were made with Bernat Blanket Yarn using the free pattern designed by Sarah of Repeat Crafter Me! The pencils were quick and easy to work up and they are absolutely adorable!

Apparently, back-to-school teacher gifts are a thing now?! Lucky my kids are only in daycare so I don't have to worry about that yet. I actually gifted the first one I made to my supervisor/charge nurse when she retired last year in September. I joked that with a pencil this big, it won't ever go missing again!

These pencils are so adorable, BB often pretends to draw on the wall with them. And from the looks of it, it seems like Mui Mui has taken a liking to them too! She loves putting it against her cheek because it's so soft. I just realized that I rarely share Mui Mui's photos on the blog, but I promise you that she's real! This photo was from when she was 9 months old (before she knew how to walk). She's 14 months now and she's a wild child! I can't believe now fast time flies. I am exhausted most days trying to keep her from jumping off the couch and breaking her neck.




Instead of stuffing the crocheted pencils with just poly-fil, I decided to use a pool noodle to fill the pencil shaft so that it would keep its shape. This was great because the pool noodle has been sitting in my house for the last year. I thought I was going to use it to make a Christmas wreath, but it never happened. And guess what? The pool noodle was a perfect size!



All you need to do is stuff the pool noodle into the pencil and then cut it at the length you want it. Then to finish it off, you just need a little bit of poly-fil for the sharpened end of the pencil!

I'm going to be working on the crayons next with whatever colour of Bernat Blanket Yarn I can find...

You can find the free pattern for Sarah's crochet plush pencils here on her blog!