This type of project has been on my "Want To Do" list for quite some time! I saw a great deal on some pool noodles at my local grocery store and already had the yarn I wanted to use. This non-slip Lightsaber Hilt pattern makes for soft play for the Jedis and Siths in your life. My kids loved whacking each other without any tears so I'd say this project was a win!

My son came downstairs in his pirate costume and I was struck with the impulse to make him a pirate beard. Just so you know, it doesn't take anything to push me towards making piratey things. My soul belongs to Pirates of the Caribbean. For this project, I played around with the length, measuring it to his cute face, and then to my own for an adult version. It took me 4 hours to make the crochet base and then attach all the yarn strands to make the hairy beard. When I gave it to my son, he wouldn't take it off or share it with anyone else. Grab your hook and yo-ho! Happy crocheting!

Hair
Cut yarn strands 14"-15" long or any length you'd like. I cut enough strands to border the outer edge of the whole beard, inner edge of the mouth, then across the front loop of rows 3, 5, 6, and 7 for the child version and rows 3, 5, 7, and 8 for the adult version. An estimate of total strands is 100 for child and 140 for adult. To attach the strands: take one strand at a time and fold them in half so that you have a loop. Use your hook to pull the loop through a stitch then pull the tails through this loop. Pull on the tails to tighten them.

Take the strands that will lay over the mouth for the mustache and separate them into two even sections. To make the mustache permanent, grab a couple strands from the beard and bring them into the mustache. Take a new strand of yarn to tie a knot around the mustache sections. Hide the tails in the beard hair. Once all of the strands have been attached, take your scissors to cut and shape the bottom of the beard so the strands lay evenly.

If the weight of the hair drags the mustache down from resting on the upper lip, you can add  a long strand of yarn into the ear loops to be able to tie around the back of the head for some extra tension.

Bluey Season 3 Episode 9: Curry Quest - Chilli teaches Bluey how to crochet
When I watched this with my family, my kids shouted, "Bluey is crocheting like you Momma!" I felt so much joy seeing that and at the end of the episode, after Bandit's long work trip, Bluey is proudly wearing her complete scarf.

I immediately logged it away for a future project for myself. I looked around for the right yarn colors and Bernat Blanket had the closest match I could find. Now I've made the scarf and whipped up a very simple pattern for it. When it came to the stitchwork, I had to think like Chilli Heeler and what would be the easiest to teach my crocheting newbie. Single crochet had to be the way to go and using chunkier, easier-to-see yarn. FYI, I've got more Bluey-inspired projects in the queue and I'm excited for them.

For $2.50 pdf version: BLUE DOG SCARF pattern - it comes with video tutorial links
Or, if you don't want to make one for yourself, I've got you covered: BLUE DOG SCARF

This FLOWER PILLOW pattern was created purely from the imagination of my son who wanted to give a special gift to his school mate. He knew she loved rainbows and flowers so I combined them.

As we've been getting closer to Christmas, my daughter was obsessed with one song and it's been playing on repeat. I found a pattern to make her her own hippopotamus as an early Christmas gift and she hasn't put it down.
Pattern: Lau Loves Crochet