Labor Day Festival

We're having yet another big festival in Leimert Park this weekend, and I am most certainly NOT going to miss it.
I wanted to make more hats, but I had to get through the beginning of the semester first.  So here are two that I've finished this week.

Ocean Blue Tam (color variation #1)

Ocean Blue Tam (color variation #2)

My Fedora Collection

I want to give my readers a heads-up:  If I don't have any new posts, that means I'll be busy with classes.  Though crocheting is a full-time gig for me, school is first on my list of priorities.  But enough of all that...

Here's a collection of crocheted fedoras I came across on my flash drive.  Pardon me if the lighting sucks; my digital camera was full at the time and I had to resort to my Android phone as a makeshift until I could clean out my memory card.



Rustic Autumn

Winter Blue, shown in an O.G. style



Wood Brown

Men's Black Charcoal

 

My Fitted Cap Collection

Lately I've been busy on what I call my "yarn runs," where I just go on Craigslist, to thrift stores, or to Walmart (occasionally) to get yarn for a bargain.  But enough of that...I have some fitted hats to show you.

Rustic Brown & Cream Fitted Hat

Green Tea Frappe Hat - Inspired by Starbucks

  

A Lighter Variation of the Green Tea Frappe Hat

Crochet for the Financially Impaired

Any of you crocheters out there ever wanted to buy some of the finest yarns to have ever been spun, only to realize that you're hurt in the pockets?  Well, read on.

I'm sure you know this scenario:  You go to a craft store or a novelty yarn shop and spot the yarn you've ever so desired.  The yarn is so beautiful, so lustrous.  That is, until you look at the price tag.  The cost is so high that even a skilled pole vault athlete couldn't jump over it.  Trust me folks, I've been in that situation.

Instead of killing your wallet at a big box craft store or a novelty yarn shop, try going to your local thrift store or upcycling place to find some good quality yarn for a few Washingtons ($1 bills if you don't know your presidents).  Or, if you're one of those internet junkies, then go on Craigslist and see if you can find somebody who's destashing.  You may just luck up on that special yarn you've been searching for all this time.

Happy hookin', y'all!

Today's Big Festival

Every day in Leimert Park, we gather together to honor many icons throughout black history.  This weekend we are paying tribute to Marcus Garvey by throwing a parade and festival to celebrate his legacy.
Be that a special event or the weekly African drum circle, I'll be selling my crowns at the park.  For the crafters who are not in the greater Los Angeles area, take a trip down here once in a while.  And I do recommend you visit this park on a Sunday to get a taste of black culture and heritage.
Here's a sample of the hats I'll have on display.

Rustic Autumn Rasta Tam

Brown Military Fitted Hat

Small Mesh Tam (made from leftover yarn used for the fitted hat)

  

Even More New Crowns

Just a few more days until the Marcus Garvey festival and parade...so here are some more tams I plan to sell at the event.

Blue-Toned Mesh Tam

Big Rastafarian Mesh Tam

My Miscellaneous Hat Collection

I figured I'd knock out this post before I headed to the city of Long Beach to meet with a fellow soulful crocheter and a good friend of mine.
Not only do I crochet tams and skullies for sale, but also fitted caps and fedoras.  Go ahead, take a look, and leave a few words.


Rustic Green Fedora (made with rug yarn and hemp cord for edging)

Earth Umber Fitted Hat

Rastafarian Fitted Hat

Land & Ocean Fitted Hat

Some More Crowns

Here are some more tams I whipped up.  Hopefully I can make a lot more for the upcoming Marcus Garvey festival in Leimert Park next weekend, but this is it for now.

Variegated Rastafarian Mesh Tam

The "Goodwill" Tam

My Teaching Gig

A couple of weeks ago, I started teaching a crochet class at my local library.  And I must say, to quote the McDonald's motto, "I'm lovin' it."

Here's something else I want to share about the art of crochet:  If you pick up a hook and some yarn, make sure that whatever you're going to create comes from your spirit.  I see crocheting to be a very soulful and theraputic craft, as you are channeling energy from within to every stitch you work.  So if you're feeling down or if somebody rubbed you the wrong way, just pick up a hook and yarn and let your imagination go wild.

Happy crocheting, y'all!

More New Crowns

A couple of new hats I whipped up since yesterday

Jamaican Flag Tam

Baby Tam, or Large Skully, however you wish to call it

One ABNORMALLY Huge Rastafarian Granny Square Tam

I made this some time last year.  Sadly, I couldn't get any of my customers to take it off my hands.  Oh well, in due time...

Man, this thing is huge...

All New Crowns

If you good folks out there want me to fix you up one of these babies, go ahead and leave a comment and e-mail so we can touch base.  ^_^

Semi-Mesh Skully

Southwestern Scrap Tam

Top: Black & White Double-Strand Tam
Bottom: Blue Double-Strand Tam with Bib

Sunday Ritual

This is what I like to do every Sunday…99.9% of the time.  I like coming to this place.  (See picture below)
For those not familiar with urban Los Angeles, this is the historic Leimert Park.  This place is rich in African and Black American culture and heritage, and it's also my meditation spot. 

Leimert Park on a Sunday Afternoon

From The Archives

Just some hats I made and sold off a while back.  Got these from my dead blogs

Psychedelic Rastafarian Tam

Basketweave Cadet Hat

Mock-Ribbed Military Cadet Hat

Classic Swagger Fedora

Crocheting...The New Crack

I have an addiction…not afraid to admit it.  I am addicted to crocheting.  Every hat I've ever made is like getting a hit.  Only difference is that I'm not a strung-out dope fiend lurking around the block for a fix.
I came to that realization a few months ago after an incident in which I left my hooks and needles at the house.  I was coming from one class at Los Angeles City College and was en route to Trade-Tech by way of the Metro Red and Purple Lines…then I panicked.  I couldn't find my hooks in my huge bag of goodies, and then I went into withdrawal mode.  All that and I was down to the last Washington in my pocket.  So I had a decision…
Crochet hook, or 20oz Sprite?
Y'know somethin', the hell with a Sprite.  I needed a hit.  Took my butt down to the 99-cent store and spent my last buck on a hook so I can crochet some $#!%.  And I got high.  For every stitch I made, I got high.
Fast forward to August 3rd:  Yesterday was a bit more extreme.  I was riding on the Green Line and working on a tam when I looked for my favorite old, beat-up, and worn-out Los Angeles Lakers pouch full of hooks, needles, and scissors.  And I was already in another area code when I noticed.  I was pretty much f@$%ed.  Found myself at the end of the line, in the city of Norwalk, scrambling to find some scissors and smaller hooks to finish the product.  Later on after that little missing hook fiasco did my crochet addiction take me to Long Beach, where I got my next hit by purchasing some yarn at this upcycling store where I normally go.  And again, I got high.  I got high when I started a new hat on the way back to South Central L.A. and came back down after I completed it.
Yes, crocheting is like smoking crack.  The only difference is you don't kill off your brain cells as you're merrily stitching along.  Therefore, it's a good high.

My Birthday Stash

That's a lot of yellow...
Yesterday, August 2nd, was my 29th birthday (Hey, I ain't ashamed to tell people how old I am).  My sweet ol' auntie and one of her pals came by and gave me what was estimated to be a trash bag of yarn. 
Oh how I plan to crochet up some stuff with that stash…  *snickering*

The Scrap Gallery

Sometimes it's good to go scrap diving every blue moon.  That way you can pull some of the best color combinations out of your mounding stash.

Welcome to The Soul Stitchery

Come inside and take a look.

I call this place The Soul Stitchery because I'm not just a craftswoman, but a soulful craftswoman.  I specialize in crocheting whatever I can think of...well, almost whatever.  I'll get into that later.

For now, I use my bedroom as a makeshift studio until I can get myself a loft or a townhouse to work out of.  Currently cleaning up yarn at the moment, as I've been crocheting the hell outta some stuff in a furor.  I'll be showcasing some things sooner than you think.  Until then, grab your favorite drink, put on some music, and chill out.

And shouts out to Miss Angelika at Purple Sage Designz.  You've got some of the most soulful crowns that put me and a few other ladies I know to shame.  ^_^

Peace and Hair Grease, y'all!