Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Coconut Rollout Cookie Recipe! So Good!

So, I recently decided to experiment with making a coconut rollout cookie. A friend of mine made an order of two dozen cookies for a luau themed wedding shower. I wanted to try something much more than just a hawaiian decorated cookie, so I did this. The basic recipe is Haniela's basic sugar cookie recipe with my tweaks for a yummy coconut cookie! They rolled out so nicely and were very tasty! Here is the recipe:

Coconut Rollout Cookie Recipe:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
2 sticks (1cup) butter, unsalted, softened to room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut emulsion or coconut extract
3/4 cup to 1 cup of sweetened (or unsweetened) shredded coconut, shredded finer in a food processor or blender.
  • Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl cream together room temperature butter and sugar, about 5 minutes, scrape the bowl as needed. Beat until light and fluffy.
  • Gradually add flavorings and egg and beat just until well mixed.
  • Now gradually in 3 additions add flour. Lower the speed of your mixer to low. Scrape the bowl well after the last addition and beat just until flour is combined.
  • Set your mixer to Stir or lowest setting and add in shredded coconut, just until well incorporated.
  • Scrape the cookie dough and use your hands or spatula to make sure everything is well incorporated.
  • Wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or minimum 4 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 375F.
  • Roll out cookies as usual, and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. I roll them to just over 1/4" thick.
  • Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill the cut outs in the fridge for about 15 minutes, or in the freezer 8 minutes.
  • Bake for 9 minutes, turn the sheet once half way through the baking. If the shapes are small, keep an eye on them as you may want to take them out after 7-8 minutes of baking.
  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, transfer to cooling rack.
  • Store in the airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze undecorated cookies between pieces of wax paper in a large freeze safe container, for up to 2 months.
  • Decorate cookies as desired.

That's it! Enjoy! I used a coconut almond royal icing for decorating, but just vanilla flavored icing would be great, too!

Here is a pic of the trial cookies I made just to try the recipe out, they are cut out with DaisoJapan cookie cutters that came with little pieces to make impressions. So cute!



Tuesday, April 5, 2016

MLP Crochet Hat Pattern & Tutorial!

Hi, everyone! Wow, it's been a while...at least here on my blog it has. You know I post regularly on YouTube! Here is the pattern for the My Little Pony hats that I made a video tutorial on. The basic hat pattern, horn, and ears were adapted from repeatcrafterme.com. She is amazing, and you should go and check her out. I usually make my base hat with a different pattern starting with 10 hdc as opposed to 11 hdc as she does. That pattern I originally found on allicrafts.blogspot.com. Anyway, I edited and adapted repeatcrafterme's pattern, added the eyes and mane I came up with. There were some typos in the original hat pattern...I hope the instructions are clear after my edits, if not leave me a question here or on my YouTube! Enjoy!

Video Tutorials:

Part 1

Part 2


Written Pattern:

Materials:
– Worsted weight yarn in a variety of colors to match the
Pony you’re going for!
– Size H Crochet Hook
– Tapestry needle
– Poly-fil for horn
– Stitch marker (if needed)

Abbreviations:
Ch = Chain
SC = Single Crochet
DC = Double Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
SC decrease = Single Crochet Decrease

Note: ch1 or ch 2 at beginning of rounds does not count as first sc or dc.

Basic Hat Pattern:
Use the colors you would like to achieve pony/unicorn you’re after.

Size: 0-3 Months
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5-10: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (44 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 3-6 Months
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6-11: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (48 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 6-9 Months
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 1 (52 DC)
Round 7-12: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 9-12 Months (Should fit up to about 16 months)
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8-13: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (56 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Toddler/Preschooler
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC) 
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9-14: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (60 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Child 
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC) 
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9: 2 DC in first, DC in next 14, join, chain 2 (64 DC)
Round 10-15: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (64 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Teen/Adult 
Magic ring, ch 2, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC) 
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9: 2 DC in first, DC in next 14, join, chain 2 (64 DC)
Round 10: 2 DC in first, DC in next 15, join, chain 2 (68 DC)
Round 11-16: DC in each around, join, chain 1 (68 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Earflaps:

Earflaps for 0-3 months – Preschooler
Earflap 1: 
SC in next 10, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (8 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across (4 SC)
Row 8: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends.

Earflap 2: Fold cap in half, leaving more stitches near front of cap, mark where you should begin the second earflap to line up with opposite flap.
Add in yarn, chain 1, SC in next 10, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (8 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across (4 SC)
Row 8: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

Earflaps for Child – Adult
Earflap 1: 
SC in next 12, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (10 SC), chain 1, turn
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC), chain 1, turn
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC), chain 1, turn
Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC across (4 SC), chain 1, turn
Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

Earflap 2:
Fold cap in half, leaving more stitches near front of cap, mark where you should begin the second earflap to line up with opposite flap.
Add in yarn. Chain 1, SC in next 12, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (10 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC across (4 SC)
Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends 

All caps:
With accent color attach yarn and SC around the entire bottom edge of the hat (including earflaps). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Cut three long strands each of three colors (or any combination of colors to have 9 long strands of yarn), use crochet hook from inside earflap out to pull yarn halfway through last loop of the earflaps (you now have 18 strands). Knot and separate colors however you like, I like to keep the colors together, but you can mix them up. Braid and knot the yarn again at the end of your braid. Trim ends of braided tails so yarn is even. Do this for both earflaps.

Unicorn Horn:
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 4 SC inside ring, do not join, continue to SC in rounds. Use a stitch marker if needed.
Round 2: SC in each stitch around (4 SC)
Round 3: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next, repeat around (6 SC)
Round 4: SC in each stitch around (6 SC)
Round 5: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 2, repeat around (8 SC)
Round 6: SC in each stitch around (8 SC)
Round 7: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 3, repeat around (10 SC)
Round 8: SC in each stitch around (10 SC)
Round 9: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 4, repeat around (12 SC)
Round 10: SC in each stitch around (12 SC)
Round 11: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 5, repeat around (14 SC)
Round 12: SC in each stitch around (14 SC)
Fasten off leaving long tail to sew onto hat. Stuff with poly-fil and with your tapestry needle, sew horn onto hat just in front of your first round. 

Unicorn Ears (Make 2):
Chain 5, SC in 2nd chain from hook and in remaining chains, ch 1, turn (4 SC)
Row 2: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next two, 2 SC in last stitch, ch 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 3-5: SC in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 6: SC Decrease, SC in next two, SC decrease, ch 1, turn
Row 7: SC in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (4 SC)
Row 8: Make 2 SC decreases, continue to SC around entire ear. Join to the second SC (this will cause the ear to cup). Fasten off leaving long tail to sew onto hat. Sew onto hat about one row away from the horn.
Unicorn Mane:
For curls, plan out the colors and lengths you would like to use. I did chains of 20 for front of mane, and chains of 30 for the backside of the mane. After your chain is ready, add in 2 dc into third chain from hook. Then 3 dc into each chain along the beginning chain. Finish off, leaving a tail for weaving. Attach curls near the top of the hat, I knotted them on paying attention to color placement.

Slanted Eyes:
Note: foundation chains do count as first stitch, the eyes do have specific direction.

Round 1: With black yarn, magic circle, ch 2 into circle, then 11 hdc (will look like 12 stitches). Attach to top of ch 2 to join, pull tight. Fasten off.
Row 2: Using preferred eye color, join in to top of previous ch 2, chain 2, 2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next, four times. You will not finish the round, it will create a fan shape. (will look like 13 stitches) Fasten off.
Row 3: Join white yarn in to top of previous ch 2, turn. 2 hdc into next stitch, 1 hdc in next. Repeat three times more. (will have 13 stitches) Now continue pattern in dc, ending with having 7 dc total. (20 stitches total now). Ch 2, turn.
Row 4: dc in dc stitches, and hdc in hdc stitches across. Fasten off.
Finishing: use black yarn, add it in to edge of white yarn of previous row (hold like a watermelon slice), ch 2, then evenly hdc across flat side. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing onto hat.

Opposite eye:
Repeat first two rounds/rows. When you get to third row, do the instructions backward. Begin with the ch 2, turn, do 7 dc in 2 then 1 pattern. Then proceed in hdc in same pattern ending with 13 hdc. Ch 2, turn. Row 4 will begin with 1 hdc stitch in hdc’s and 1 dc in each dc. Fasten off. Continue with black yarn in the same manner as previous eye.

Sew eyes on. Add lashes and accents on eyes as desired.


All done!!! If you use this pattern to sell your creations, that's great! Please give credit back here, and to repeatcrafterme, as opposed to taking the pattern as your own. Thank you!