Giving It Away for Free

This week I made the decision to make all of the crochet patterns I have written free.  I have had several for sale, but decided it was time to make them available to anyone who might benefit.  I have been thinking of doing this for a long time.

I put a lot of work into my patterns, some more than others ....  And frankly I didn't sell many.  Maybe 5 a month or so...  I want people to benefit from them.  I learned to crochet mostly from free online resources and I really wanted to contribute to spreading the love and art of crochet.  So the for sale patterns were just sitting there in cyberspace not really benefitting anyone.

Also I started to feel uncomfortable selling the patterns.  Don't get me wrong, they are all my own original patterns, but many of them are based of designs I have seen produced by others.  I mean really, who is the original creator of the crochet newsboy cap?  Can anyone really say?  You can't really own a concept like that.  So, I decided I didn't feel comfortable taking money for something that wasn't completely mine. Some of the patterns are completely original, though.  The Kiss, Kiss Cloche, The Neck Tie & Visor, and a few others.  I really think I was one of the first designers out there to come up with a tie pattern that really looks like a man's tie.  Still, not that many people were benefitting from my all original designs either.

So I have decided to make them all free! If you feel that you benefit from these free patterns and would like to make a small gift to me as a thank you and also support more patterns, you can use this email address - cclpiper@gmail.com - to send me a gift through PayPal.  No Obligation!

To access all my patterns you can find them on both Craftsy & Ravelry

RAVELRY STORE

CRAFTSY STORE

Please keep sharing what you make from these patterns. I love to see your work!!

Baby Breeches ~ Free Pattern

I have seen these cute pants being used as photo props so I thought I'd give it a shot.  They were so easy once I started! This pattern is written for Newborn but I included some general instructions about making it bigger. They are so versatile too! You could use this pattern in lots of ways.  Here are some ideas.

For a daiper cover, stop after the first leg row.  For shorts make the legs 3 or 4 rows, for capris make the legs 5 or 6 rows long.

You could add suspenders, or a front bib and suspenders for overalls.

You could add butt ruffles or sew on butt pockets.

Oh, how about a little old fashioned “trap door” on the butt!

These would be really cute for a girl if you leave off the last three leg rows and add a scalloped edge instead.

You could make bell-bottoms by increaseing in the inner and outer “seam” area of the bottom of the legs. 

I think they would look great worked in linked double crochet! I just found this stitch and I really like the look of it. It also makes a more connected fabric without the gaps you get between stitches in double crochet. 

The choices are endless!  Have fun!!!

Please share what you make from this pattern! Also let me know how the sizing works as I have not tried it on a baby! :)

Download the pattern on Crafsty HERE

Download the pattern on Ravelry HERE

Almost Unschooling

It's been a month since my last post about dropping our curriculum.  It's been a very fun month of exploring new and old ideas about education for me.  I have been reading many blogs, websites and books. Here are a few of the resources I have been devouring
Books -
Christian Unschooling by Teri J Brown
The Joyful Home Schooler by Mary Hood, Ph.D.
Wisdom's Way of Learning 4 Booklet Set by Marilyn Howshall

Websites-
http://www.christianunschooling.com/  and their Facebook Page
http://livingjoyfully.ca/
http://www.archersforthelord.org/ and their Facebook Page

Through all of this I have come to some conclusions.

• I have no desire to reproduce any methods of learning used in schools!  None of these methods are based on active, interest lead learning. I have no interests in text books or teacher directed lessons or projects.  These methods do not produce real learning.  Things forced are never remembered long term.  
• My role as a homeschool mom can be described as mentor, resource manager, and cheer-leader - not as a teacher.  
• The only way to approach this kind of education is through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Without the Lord in the center, this type of education becomes self-centered.
• A relaxed approach to education is the best fit for my daughter's learning style and personality.

I have also learned much about my daughter the last few weeks.  

• Her main ways of learning are through creative pursuits and taking in visual information through books and videos
• Without the stress of forced lessons, we get along MUCH better.  We have had very few disagreements and she had been much more conversational.  
• She is even more creatively bent that I realized! She seems to almost always be creating something - nail art, an outfit, drawing, rearranging her room, etc...  She also spends a lot of time looking at things other people have created on Youtube and Pinterest.  This is one of her major gifting.
• She has a great memory!

La's Original Nail Art

I titled this post Almost Unschooling because there are some aspects of Unschooling I do not agree with.  As I have read, I learned that most Unschoolers do not limit TV & video games.  The rational is that kids will eventually self-regulate these mediums when they are not "forbidden fruit" and that these are actually valuable learning tools.  While I agree with these two points somewhat, I am not willing to let my child binge on TV for 9 months while I wait for her to self-regulate.  I believe that yes, TV & videos games have learning value, but they take up the time that could be spent on active learning that has even more value.  Also, I do not think all TV programs and all video games have equal value.  Secondly, many Unschoolers seem to subscribe to a democratic parenting process where parents do not have authority over their children.  This does not work for my husband or myself.  I do believe in letting children of all ages express their opinions and feelings in a respectful manner. I do believe that their opinions and feelings need to validated. I also believe that parents have the final word on decisions for the family.  A four year old may not be able to reason that he has eaten enough sugar and needs to stop.  That's what his parents are for.  I believe in Authoritative Parenting, not Authoritarian or Permissive.  Clear boundaries, logical and natural consequences, love, affection, and respect.  

There are still a lot of things I am questioning.  Whenever I want to say no to La, I am questioning why I want to say no.  I am saying yes more often and we are having fun.  Every time the word "should" pops into my head with regards to schoolish things I ask myself why I am "shoulding on myself" ;).  Usually it's my years of school programming talking.  I know I will be adding some sort of structure to our educational efforts.  I am just not sure what that will look like yet.  It may just be some guided goal setting ...

I have been journalling what we have been doing every week.  Below is this week's summary.  I write it up in narrative form and then on the right I put the school subjects that go along with each paragraph.  I need to do an evaluation at the end of the school year, so I am doing this to help in that.  This week I found it harder to think in school subjects.  In real-life learning, the lines between school subjects gets blurry very fast!  All subjects in life are so inter-connected it is hard to separate them.  Take archery for example.  I put Physical Education for archery but it is also Science, Math, Social Development Opportunity, Survival Skills and History.  

As you can see there is so much learning happening all the time! This is just a sampling of what we did. There was more. When you think about, I am only guessing at what she actually has learned.  I know what she knows from conversation, but I am not in her head.  I truly believe you can never know exactly what your kids are learning, because you are not them.  

I have a lot more to learn and sort out, but I am truly enjoying this journey!

If It's Broke, Fix it!

photo credit

I knew it wasn't working.  The resistance and tears I got from my daughter told me so.  At first I blamed it on her attitude.  After all, we had never used any kind of curriculum before.  Sure we had used some textbooks, but we used them in a very loose manner. We would read from them when we felt like like. Do the assignments if they seemed interesting.  But last spring when I began thinking about this school year I became worried about "gaps" in her skills and knowledge so, I started searching for a curriculum.

Why did I worry? Looking back I think it was just my daughter's age. We were heading into 6th grade age. Although we have never paid much attention to grade levels.  I was thinking; she needs to learn to write, work on spelling, do more math ... High School years will be here before you know it!

One word describes my motivation - FEAR.  Fear of the "gaps", fear of not having skills needed for college, fear of the judgement of others. Let me just say, this is a bad motivation for anything!!

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

2 Timothy 1:17

So I found a curriculum I really loved, and still do in concept.  It is based in literature, and the lessons are short and gentle. I really fits my teaching style. Just enough structure, I thought.  We started out OK with it, even liking many parts.  I did a lot of tweaking to it!  But we lost our joy.  School work became something to get over with so we could do what we really wanted to do.  The structure of the lessons became too repetitious.  Some children will love this aspect!  We found it got boring.  It became a struggle.  So we stopped. Abruptly. Now what?

Well, I'm working on defining our plan. I've gone back and reread some books on Leadership Education and Relaxed Homeschooling. Some books about Unschooling too. I had to ask myself, what is the one reason we are doing this? I know homeschoolers have many reasons for choosing this path, but we all have one that is the most important! So I came to our main reason.

To raise my child in a manner which allows her to discover her God given purpose in life and allows her the freedom to pursue that purpose. 

That's it, and it's big! 

How do you accomplish this?  Well, first she needs time to discover herself ... her interests, talents and passions.  These are the areas God has gifted her in. Then she needs time to pursue these. Finally, she needs exposure to lots of different experiences.  How can you know what you are talented or interested in if you have never experienced it?

So we have come to a place of no lessons, no requirements, passion pursuing education.  But still I fear.  Will she ever learn Algebra?  Does she even need it? Can she learn it when it comes up in her pursuit of daily life? if it doesn't come up in "real-life" then why does she need to learn it?  These are the questions I am asking.  I don't have the answers right now. 

The one thing I do know is to not make a decision out of fear. To trust that the Holy Spirit will lead us in these decisions.  Right now I am not sure what our homeschooling will look like next year, but I know it won't look like school! 

Chunky Ribbed Earwarmer ~ Free Pattern

Hello loyal fans!!

Here is the free Chunky Ribbed Earwarmer Pattern as promised!  This is NOT a beginner pattern. You should be familiar with working in front post, back post ribbing.  Have fun & as always I'd love to see pic's of your creations.

Download the pattern on Ravelry HERE

Download the pattern on Craftsy HERE

Half Hat Earwarmer ~ Free Pattern

My Mom needed some earwarmers for her morning walks so what's a dutiful daughter to do? Whip out some stash yarn and make her one! You can download this free pattern for this earwarmer on Ravelry HERE or Craftsy HERE. Enjoy!!

Grain-Free Brownie Pancakes

I have been reading some articles about going grain-free.  I haven't jumped on this band wagon, but what I have read has inspired my to cut back the grains I am eating, especially wheat.
(If you want to learn more about these ideas I recommend this Blog & this Article.)

I have been cooking regular food with grain alternative ingredients.  Here is a pancake I came up with that is super yummy & does taste like a brownie!  It's good for you too.

This is more of method rather than a recipe.

In one bowl combine 3/4 of a scoop of whey protein powder,  1/2 tsp. baking powder, 2 tbs. coconut flour, 1 tb. unsweeted baking cocoa powder, 1-3 tsp. of sweetener. (I use Truvia because it is all natural) 

In another bowl beat one egg with 2tbs. milk (I use almond or coconut milk), dash of vanilla and a tsp. of oil (I use coconut oil - melted)

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients (as my mama always told me to do).  Add more milk as necessary to get a pancake batter consistency.  Then cook on a griddle or frying pan like your usual pancakes.  They are great alone, or with some berries. I just heat up some frozen berries in the microwave as shown below.


 YUM!! Lots of fiber, protein & healthy fats!  I know they are pretty good because my daughter
asks for them and she never asks for any of my "healthy food"!

This version is made without the cocoa powder and 3 tbs. of coconut flour.  It's more like a plain pancake.

Give it a try and let me know how they turn out!