all right, i admit it

i'm a bad poster.

in fact i forgot about this blog entirely. it's only recently reading craftpassion that i've had a mind to start up again. but would you like to know why i don't post regularly? my canon 50D. yes, that's my excuse. my bad-ass camera.

it would be different if i could just click & upload with no issues, but whenever i take a picture i have to upload, edit and resize it, which on my poor little computer (which only has photoshop cs3 and wheezes every time i open the program) takes forever. so photographing projects has become a bit of a hassle.

here's what i'm working on currently:

1. tams aplenty
   
2. this shawl
3. a rag rug

it's hard to stay focused, since it's summer and i just got a whole gallon of yarn from my mom, and my brain is overrun with ideas. but i'm trying.

and i'm going to TRY to update here regularly. because i want to be a blog people read and get inspiration from.

Simple Tam Pattern

Tams are stylish and preferable for people with locks and without. Tam patterns abound across the internet, and I have tried several of them without getting the results that I want. This is a simple pattern for a pretty tam big enough to hold hair and cover ears. It is NOT a pattern for an enormous tam and a lot of locks (although I will tell you how to increase the size in the pattern, should you want to.) This is my first time writing a pattern, so if something is confusing or just plain wrong for you, please let me know. Thanks!

Tofu Cutie's Basic Tam

Supplies needed:
Worsted, medium or bulky weight yarn
J hook (for worsted or medium) or K hook (for bulky)
Scissors!

Note: This pattern can be worked in a spiral if you prefer, but is written for the last dc in a row to attach to the first with a slip stitch. The first ch-3 always acts as a stitch- so, for example, in the first row, where 12 dc are needed in the first stitch, the first ch-3 acts as a stitch and only 11 more need to be made.

Rows
1. Ch 3. Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc 10 more around for a total of 12 dc. (12)
2. Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (24)
3. Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *Dc in next stitch. 2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (36)
4. Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *Dc in next 2 stitches. 2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (48)
5. Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *Dc in next 3 stitches. 2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (60)
6. Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *Dc in next 3 stitches. 2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (75)

If you need your hat to be very big, you can continue as many rows as you like with this pattern:

Ch 3. Dc in same stitch (2dc). *Dc in next 6 stitches. 2dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around.

Otherwise, continue:
7. Ch 3. *Dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (75)
8. Ch 3. *Dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (75)
9. Ch 3. *Dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (75)
10. Ch 3. *Dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (75)

You can continue this for as long as you like to make the hat long (like a sack.)

11. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Sc dec over next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around. (50)
12. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (50)
13. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (50)
14. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (50)
15. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (50)
16. Ch 2. *Sc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. (50)