Strawberry French Toast

 

My daughter loves strawberries, and she loves pink! When I asked her what she wanted for dinner on her birthday, she gave me a blank look. I quickly started thinking about what her favorite foods are. Sausage links popped into my head, then french toast, but how could I make it birthday worthy? Strawberries quickly came to mind next, and this recipe fell into place. It was a big winner with the whole family. I hope it will be a winner with yours as well!

Ingredients for the toast:

• 6 slices of Texas toast
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 c milk
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients for the strawberries:

• Fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Garnish:

• Strawberry cream cheese
• Whipped cream
• Real maple syrup

Directions: In a rectangular casserole dish, add eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine. Soak bread in the mixture until absorbed, about 15 minutes. While the bread is soaking, slice strawberries, add sugar and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Heat a griddle pan over medium heat. Spray the griddle with a non-stick cooking spray. Add prepared bread to the griddle and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Spread a layer of strawberry cream cheese on the toast, garnish with prepared strawberries, whipped cream, and real maple syrup. Enjoy!

© Kaylan Dykema. All rights reserved.

Lace Edging for Dress or Tunic

 

I added a simple lace edging to my daughter's favorite dress that was too short for her. It worked out so well, that I added a lace edging to one of my tunics. I was really pleased with how it turned out too! It was just enough extra length to allow me to feel more comfortable wearing the tunic with leggings. Yay!

Lace edging pattern:

• Measure the length of the garment you want to add lace to, then chain until you have reached about 1-3 inches less than the length of the garment (this will vary depending on the gauge of your crochet -- usually the length of the crochet will increase as you work)
• Row 1 (ws): SC across, turn
• Row 2 (rs): Ch 1, dc across, turn
• Row 3 (ws): Ch 1, dc in next st, *ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; repeat from * across; ch 3, turn
• Row 4 (rs): Star st; draw a lp in 2nd ch from hook, draw lp in next ch, draw lp in next ch-1 sp, draw lp in next dc, yo and draw through all 5 lps on hook, ch 1 for eye of the star; *draw lp in eye of star st, draw lp in last lp on same star st, draw lp in next ch-1 sp, draw lp in next dc, yo and draw through all 5 lps on hook, ch 1; repeat from * across, turn
• Row 5 (ws): Ch 3, dc in eye of 2nd start st; * ch 1, dc in eye of next star st; repeat from * across, turn
• Row 6 (rs): Ch 1, sc across, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing
• With rs facing, line up the first two rows of the lace to the bottom of the garment; pin it in place
• Sew the lace to the garment
• Using the long tail of yarn fastened off on the lace, sew the lace edges together to create a finished edge and weave in ends
• Note: I like to put the sewn edges of lace on the side of the garment so that it isn't noticeable from the front or back

DIY Lace Accent on Toddler Dress

My daughter was given a beautiful cotton dress with lavender flowers all over it. She loves the dress, but the back of the dress is very low and the sleeves kept slipping down. I knitted a simple lace insert and sewed it to the dress. It adds just the right amount of coverage and support to keep the sleeves in place. I hope this inspires you to look at your wardrobe and add some custom knit or crochet lace to make it new and functional! I have a few tunics that could be a little longer, and I might add a lace trim to them. 😉

Simple lace pattern:

- Garter stitch for 5 rows

- Sl 1, *k2tog, yo; repeat from * to end

- Sl 1, *purl; repeat from * to end

- Sl 1, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to end

I repeated this pattern, incorporating a 2 stitch decrease about every other row, until I had the right length.

© Kaylan Dykema  

Lattice Dish Set

By: Kaylan Dykema 

Support me and download a pdf of this pattern.

Finished Measurements

Dish Scrubby: 4.75” x 4.25” 

Dishcloth: 8.5” x 10.25”

Dish Towel: 20.5” x 18.25”

Yarn

Redheart Scrubby (100% Polyester; 78 yards/85g): Almond (1) ball; Mainstays (100% Cotton; 180 Yards/100g): Blue Shell (2) balls. 

Needles

US 8 (5mm) straight needles, or size to obtain gauge 

Notions

Yarn Needle
Crochet Hook 3.5 mm                                                                                                                                          US 8 (5mm) Double Pointed Needles (DPN)

Gauge

16 sts and 22 rows = 4” in St st, blocked

Notes

Seed Stitch Row 1: (K1, P1) to end
Row 2: (P1, K1) to end
Repeat rounds 1-2 for pattern

Garter Stitch Row 1: knit to end
Row 2: knit to end
Repeat rounds 1-2 for pattern

CO: cast on

K: Knit                                                                                                                                                                   Kf&b&f: Knit through front loop, back loop, and front loop again to increase

P: Purl

SC: Single crochet

Sts: Stitches

Pattern instructions follow

Dish Scrubby

Using Redheart Scrubby yarn, CO 18 sts 

Work in Garter Stitch for 4 inches 

Bind off in pattern.

Using Mainstays yarn, CO 18 sts 

Slip 1 st purlwise, *K1, P1, repeat from *

Slip 1 st purlwise, *P1, K1, repeat from *

Continue working in Seed Stitch for 4 inches, slipping the first stitch purl wise 

Bind off in pattern

Assembly: Lay both squares of fabric on top of each other. With crochet hook, sc through both fabrics with cotton yarn. When you reach a corner, 3 sc, then continue in sc through both fabrics. Once you have made it around all four sides, chain 20, slip stitch the chain back onto the base of the chain to the dish scrubby to create a loop. Slip stitch through each chain to add some strength to the loop. 

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block.

Dishcloth

Using Mainstay yarn, CO 45 sts

Rows 1-6: Work in Garter Stitch 

Row 7: K4, *K1, P1, K9, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 8: K5, *P1, K1, P7, K1, P1, K1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9: K4, *[K1, P1] twice, K5, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 10: K4, P1, *[P1, K1] twice, P3, K1, P1, K1, P2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11: K4, *K3, P1, [K1, P1] 3 times, K2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 12: K4, P1, *P3, K1, [P1, K1] twice, P4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 13: K4, *K5, P1, K1, P1, K4; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 14: Repeat row 12

Row 15: Repeat row 11

Row 16: Repeat row 10

Row 17: Repeat row 9

Row 18: Repeat row 8

Rows 19-54, repeat rows 7-18 for Diamond Seed Brocade pattern

Rows 55-60: Work in Garter Stitch

Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends. Block.

Dish Towel

Using Mainstay yarn, CO 81 sts

Rows 1-6: Work in Garter Stitch

Row 7: K4, *K1, P1, K9, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 8: K5, *P1, K1, P7, K1, P1, K1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9: K4, *[K1, P1] twice, K5, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 10: K4, P1, *[P1, K1] twice, P3, K1, P1, K1, P2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11: K4, *K3, P1, [K1, P1] 3 times, K2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 12: K4, P1, *P3, K1, [P1, K1] twice, P4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 13: K4, *K5, P1, K1, P1, K4; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 14: Repeat row 12

Row 15: Repeat row 11

Row 16: Repeat row 10

Row 17: Repeat row 9

Row 18: Repeat row 8

Rows 19-42, repeat rows 7-18 for Diamond Seed Brocade pattern

Row 43: K across

Row 44: K4, P to last 4 sts, K4

Repeat rows 43 and 44 until desired length

When desired length has been reached, work in Garter Stitch for 6 rows

Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends. Block.

© Kaylan Dykema. All rights reserved. For personal and non-commercial use only.

DIY Pot of Gold

 

I made these pots of gold for my children and nieces this St. Patrick's Day. It was really fun, and everyone enjoyed their special gift! Here's what you will need to make yours.

Supplies:

• Apple sauce container
• Black acrylic paint
• Acrylic paint sealer
• Black pipe cleaner
• Chocolate gold coins
• Rainbow pattern -- the one I used is available at: What Mommy Does
• Shamrock -- I crocheted one using a free pattern available at: Golden Lucy Crafts

Directions:

Wash and dry the apple sauce container. Paint the interior, and allow it to dry. Once it has dried, apply two coasts of sealer and dry. Punch two holes in the side of the container. Insert the pipe cleaner into each hole, and twist it to secure. Fill it with chocolate gold coins, a rainbow, and a shamrock! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Dykema Fiber Arts is open!

If you have enjoyed some of the things you have seen on this blog, I am happy to announce that you can now shop at my Etsy store, Dykema Fiber Arts. I hope you will visit my store and enjoy browsing through my current inventory!

Coming soon!

 I am excited to announce that I will be opening an Etsy shop! I plan on selling handmade knits and other handmade crafts. More announcements to come!