Monday, December 27, 2010

Sneak Peek at some new Items

I  have a lot of new items that I am working on ,
Here are a few of them :
First The Posh Pooch Snuggle Up Sweater.







Rosie Modeling the "Snuggle Up Sweater" with matching Hat.
The Hat is the Ripple Bottom beanie...Can be customized to match any sweater.

This sweater has tabs that attach in the back  for easy slip on and off, and is warm like wearing a blanket, yet comfortable enough to play in. It has sleeves and  comfy neck band. The Little flowers are optional. I am working on a Black and Gray variegated one for Maximo.

We also have a some new hats:


A Shrek Inspired Hat


Disney Inspired hats : Mouse and Duck




The "Shrek", "Mouse", "Duck" & "Cow" As Well as the Snuggle Sweater Crochet patterns can now be down loaded from my Ravelry page.


I am also working on these Dog/Cat Hats :

3 Eyed Alien Hat
1 Eyed Monster hat
Viking Hat
Minion Hat
Hello Kitty Hat
Basic Bear Hats
Sponge Bob Style Hat
Grouch Hat
Puppet Hats
Hound hat
Fox Hat
Tiger Hat
Bunnie Hat

So please Keep  looking for All the new Designs to come!
I will also have Crochet patterns for all of the new designs available toward the end of Jan.

Every Hat can also have a Custom Sweater to match. You pick the colors and Hat, and I will make to sweater to match!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Sock Monkey Yarn Dilemma

I Love Sock Monkeys!


And  I Love The Sock Monkey hats everyone is making. All the varieties of colors and styles that look like a sock monkey. I decided to make a Sock monkey Hat for my Posh Pooch Designs for Dogs. I found a really good yarn that is soft and still washable and durable for dogs.  My dilemma is that they no longer make my yarn choice!  it is discontinued!!!!  GGGRRrrrrrrrrr! 

Old yarn

New Yarn










The old yarn was Hobby Lobby's  "I Love This yarn - Tweed".  The new yarn I chose is " Vanna's Choice  -Taupe Mist" made by Lion Brand. Although the new yarn is not as soft as the old yarn, it does have more of the traditional Sock  Monkey look when crocheted up. It is soft, just not as soft as the old yarn. And according to the label is completely machine washable and dryable. There is not as much yarn on a skein as the other, and is a little more expensive. I'll be looking for sales, of course.
Maximo modeling the "old yarn" in a more traditional style Sock Monkey hat.


Rosie Modeling the "New Yarn" in a Sock Monkey Hat with a purple pompom hat. If you would like to purchase one, just hit the link.

What do you think about the new yarn? 



Both hats side by side.
Here is the Sock Monkey Hat crochet Pattern
Crochet Pattern
 For now, unless I find more of the old yarn, all new Sock monkey hats and sweaters will be made from the new yarn.  If you come across some od the "Old yarn" let me know!


All the sock Monkey items we design, make and sell:
Sock Monkey Love:

Friday, December 17, 2010

Beaded Dog Collar #12 of the 12 Collars of Christmas

Beaded Dog Collar - Free Crochet pattern - #12 of the
12 Collars of Christmas
 This is the last of the 12 Collars of Christmas,
 But there is so much more to come!
I love how this Collar turned out.
 I love it so much I am going to make some for me to wear.
It is elegant and fun at the same time.
So many different looks.
Change the yarn color and the bead style 
and you have a whole different look.


Sparkle Beaded Collar Crochet Pattern by Sara Sach
Please add this Crochet Pattern to Your Ravelry Favorites

Skill : Easy

Materials:
Hook - H
Yarn needle
22 silver pony beads

Yarn: Worsted weight (4)Green or Raspberry Sparkle yarn by "I Love This yarn".

Stitches:
Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc)
Half Double crochet ( hdc)
Double crochet ( dc)

Getting Started:
Feed 20 of the 22 silver pony bead on the yarn, slip them forward and ch 33.

The last 2 beads will be used on the ties.

R: 1 - ( push the beads forward, they will not used until R:2)
 1 hdc in the second ch from the hook, 1 hdc in each ch across, ch 1 turn


R: 2 - 1 hdc in the first 6 sts, pull up 1 bead, 1 hdc in the next st, pull up 1 bead,
 1 hdc in the next st, continue this pattern for 18 more sts, making sure to push
the bead to the front of the collar, ( 20 beaded hdcs)
1 hdc in each of the last 6 sts, ch 1 turn.

R: 3 - *1 sc, skip the next st, 2dc, ch1, 2dc in the next st,
skip the next st, repeat from * across, 1 sc in the last st, tie off.

Ties : make 2

Lace one bead on the yarn, push the bead forward, ch 30,
push the bead to the hook and do 1 dc in the end of the ch,
ss back down the ch , tie off leaving about a 8 inch tail to attach to the end of the collar.


I really enjoyed designing and making this these collars.
 I  wanted to try this style of beading and thought a dog  collar would be a great place
 to learn it. It is actually very simple
 and has really cool look to it.
 
Now that 12 weeks of Christmas collars are done...
don't worry I already have a few ideas 
for some more free crochet patterns.
 
Do you have any ideas for crochet patterns or dog related  items you would like a pattern for?

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

"Christmas Peanut Butter bites" Dog Treats


Christmas Peanut Butter Bites
Holiday or Everyday Dookies  for pooches


My dogs love Cookies - I use them to train them to
 model and do other things, too.
  They can  sit, ,stay,  up, roll over, dance in a circle,
 "give me some paw" and several other commands. 
So I am always on the search for dog cookies to buy
 as well as make.

Since it is the Christmas season I decided
 to look for a recipe to make
 them some festive cookies. I am pretty crafty,
 I can crochet anything.
 I am even a pretty good cook, but baking..... 
baking is another story.

My motto is "If it has more then 5 ingredients...
I am not making it".

 Well, this recipe only has 5 ingredients so I am going to try it!

Christmas Peanut Butter Bites

Ingredients


1. 3 cups of all purpose flour

2. 1 and ½ cups of whole wheat flour

3. 1 and ½ teaspoons of molasses


4.  3 tablespoons of peanut butter

5. 3 tablespoons of canola oil

Preparation


1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a bowl mix the all purpose flour and the whole wheat flour
 together and set it on the side. In a separate large bowl stir the molasses,
 peanut butter and oil together. Then add the flours mixture into the molasses
 mixture and mix it until it is smooth.

3. Use your hand to break the dough into small ball size pieces and roll each
one into log shapes around ½ inch in diameter.
 Then cut the longs into 1/8 of inch thick discs.

Or, roll out on a floured surface and cut with cookie cutters.

 Place the discs onto ungreased
 baking sheets and put them in the oven.
Bake them for approximately
30 minutes or until  golden brown.

4. Once done allow them to cool completely before serving.


Maximo and Rosie working for Cookies!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

12 Collars of Christmas # 11 - Snowflakes and Gems!

12 Collars of Christmas , # 11 of the  Free Crochet Patterns for Dog Collars.

Snowflakes and Gems!


As I was designing this collar I wanted something that said "Winter"!

When I think of Winter, I think of snuggling in
 a warm granny square crochet blanket,  
hats with pom poms, snowflakes floating down, 
and snow that glitters like gems.  So I made a tiny, sort of,
  crochet blanket, tied pom poms on, attached snow flakes and gems that glitter all on one collar!!!  

A really "Cool" thing about this pattern, 
is that it is easily made into a headband, as well,
 just be adding some length to it.  
You and your pooch could wear matching bands. 
Wouldn't that be fun? !

I Hope you like it as much as I do!



Snowflakes and Gems Dog Collar Crochet Pattern
 by Sara Sach
Please add this crochet Pattern to Your Ravelry favorites

Skill:Easy

Materials:
Crochet Hooks:H for collar, F for Snowflakes
3 silver gems
I Love This Yarn - White Sparkle
Red Heart Silver crochet Thread


Stitches:
Chain (c)
Picot (pc)
Single Crochet (sc)
Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Collar: use Hook : H
R : 1 - With White Sparkle yarn, ch 33, 1 sc in the second ch from the hook,
1 sc in each ch. ch1, turn

R : 2 - 1 hdc in the first 2 sts, ch2, skip the next 2 sts, *1 hdc in the next 2 sts,
 ch 2, skip the next 2 sts, , repeat from * across row, ch2, turn

R : 3 - Ch 2 ( again) skip first two sts, *1 hdc in the next 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts,
repeat from * across row, ch 2, turn


R : 4 - 2 hdc in the ch 2 space, ch 2, skip 2 sts, repeat across row, ch 2 , turn

R - 5 : 1 sc in each st and ch across row, do not tie off.

Follow this pattern around all four sides of the collar,
 (*sc ch3, skip 2 sts, sc) for an edging.

Ties:
ch 55 and cut yarn, tie a knot in each end and lace through the middle of both ends of the collar.

Pom poms : Wrap one strand of each yarn around your three middle fingers 25-30 times, lace another piece of matching yarn through the hole and tie very tightly, attach to end of tie with another very tight knot. make one for the other end also.


Snowflake Applique: Use hook : F
R : 1- Ch 3, 6 sc in the second ch from the hook, join, ch 1

R : 2 - sc, ch 1, in each st around, join, ch 1

R : 3 - ( sc, picot, sc) in each 1 ch "space", join, leave a 8 inch tail of thread to sew snowflake on to collar.

Gems: use fabric glue or Hot glue to fasten one gem to the center of each snowflake.


Please Remember this collar is for decorative purposes only,
do not attach your leash or lead to it, it is not strong enough, even on the itty bitty dogs.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas Photo Shoot -- Didn't go so good!

Maximo and Rosie's Christmas
Photo Shoot Didn't go so Well! 
I decided to only put the dogs in Christmas Bandannas and Hats.
 No fancy dresses or sweaters, I was thinking simple this year. 
Each Christmas bandanna has a jingle bell on the end, 
Which I love, but I forgot they didn't. 

Rosie is actually afraid 
of the sound of the jingle bell, which made it worse because, 
when she's afraid, she shakes.  I mean , she IS a Chihuahua.  
So when she shakes the bell jingles more!!!!   LOL

Then the battery in the Camera died
 and I ran in the other room to get the other battery .  
When I got back the little red bird I put on the top
 of the little Christmas tree was missing. 
I looked all over but could not find it. Oh well, 
The top of the tree won't be in the picture anyway. 
Then I return to taking pics 
and see where the red bird went.

Okay I thought, That is cute ,
 then Rosie lets out a little yelp!

The Tree must have touched her? 
She is sometimes scared of new situations and things.
 I knew she would be a little scared of the tree,
 so I had it sitting were she could smell it
 and get used to it, but I guess it didn't work.


Rosie and Maximo and me, were all ready
 for the Christmas Photo Shoot to be over.
But I hadn't gotten a good shot Yet!


Neither Dog was wanting to pose anymore....
Not even for a cookie!


Finally we got a pretty good picture...


Monday, December 6, 2010

12 Collars of Christmas #10 " Black & Silver"

12 Collars of Christmas  #10  " Black and Silver"
By Sara Sach of Posh Pooch Designs

This is the perfect collar for a New Years Eve party 
or New Years Day get together.  
Your dog can wear it alone or paired with a sweater they already have to dress it up, and for added warmth. 


It is very easy to make and looks really festive and elegant. And because you just slip it on over their head, it is easy to put  on and easy to take off.



See The Video on my Youtube Channel 
at This LINK

Funfur Dog Collar Crochet Pattern by Sara Sach
Please add this Crochet Pattern to Your Ravelry Favorites

Skill: Easy

Materials :
Crochet Hook - H/5.00
Yarn- Worsted Weight/ med (4)I Love This yarn- Black Sparkle
           Any eyelash yarn, I used Yarn Bee - Silver Eyelash
Tape Measure
Yarn Neeedle

Stitches:
Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (slst)

Notes:
Ch1 at ends of rows does not count as a stitch.
4 sc = 1 inch, 4 rows = 1 inch

Pattern:
R: 1 - Med(4) Ch6
hdc in 2nd ch from the hook, and in each chain, ch1 turn (5 hdc)

R: 2 - 1 hdc in each hdcc, ch 1 turn. (5hdc)

R: 3 -  R: 36  - Repeat R: 3 for a 9 Dog Collar
R: 3 -  R: 78 Repeat R: 3 For 18 inch Headband

Use your measurements to ad or subtract rows.

Tie off, do not cut yarn,

Put the two ends together and sc down the side to sew them shut.
Tie off weave in your ends.

Furfur Trim:
With the Silver Eyelash trim, join to the top edge of the band,
*slst, ch1 in the end of each row around, join to 1st slst*,,
do not cut yarn, ch 4, join to the bottom edge,
 Repeat from * to *, join and tie off.

Weave in your ends.


These were made with Christmas Colors.
Two other collars made from this pattern,
 Red and Green Sparkle yarns and white eyelash trim.



The hat is made from the Basic Dog Beanie pattern, 
then adding a row of sc around the brim of the hat,  
as well as making a pom pom for
 the top from the Silver eyelash yarn.

Silly Maximo!

Please remember this collar is a decorative collar,
 do not attach your leash or lead to it.

Have fun with this easy pattern!