Homemade Beauty Products

Since we learned all about how horrible fluoride really is (it's the one and only ingredient in rat poison!) my hunny bunny and I have been making our own toothpaste. It's super easy, and we were both impressed by how white it made our teeth. We are have both smoked on and off for 10 years or more, and the following recipe changed my smile from yellowish to white, while removing 90% of the brown nasty stuff between hunny bunny's teeth. It's been a solid 9 months since either of us has brushed with anything else.

If the baking soda makes your mouth feel dry, drink a big glass of water afterwards, or increase the amount of coconut oil used.

Toothpaste
baking soda
hydrogen peroxide
coconut oil - we use the solid form
a few drops of peppermint oil (optional - I leave it out, but some people may prefer the minty taste)

 You can mix all the ingredients together in a food processor if you have one. If you are lazy like me, I keep the baking soda in a glass jar in the bathroom. Dump about a tablespoon in the lid, pour a few drops of peroxide, scoop up some coconut oil on your toothbrush and stir it all together in the lid. Exact amounts aren't so important, just experiment until you find what suits your taste. If you are using this for children who swallow everything, leave out the hydrogen peroxide. Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial so it'll still do the job.

So once your mouth is feeling fresh, now you decide to go chemical free and pamper yourself a little bit with homemade shampoo and sugar scrub. Not only will it save you money, your body won't be absorbing all the icky chemicals from that storebought crap. Think about it. You shower to get clean, get all the dirt and bacteria off yourself, and smell and feel good. Rather than cover your body in chemicals you should be using wholesome ingredients with naturally beneficial properties. Your skin is your largest organ and absorbs what you put on it just the same as if you ate whatever it is. So you don't want to be using poison every day.



Shampoo for Dark Hair
3 ounces liquid castile soap
2 bags black tea
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon olive, sesame, or coconut oil
1 tablespoon rosemary

Boil the water and steep the tea and rosemary in it for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can add the rosemary to a teabell so you don't need to strain it out afterwards. Pour just the liquid into the bottle of your choosing. If you decided on coconut oil you may need to melt it before adding, either way go ahead and dump in the rest of the ingredients and shake well. If you find your hair is 'crunchy' after washing, add more water to the bottle.

My mother used this shampoo and she said it helped cover up her greys and extend how long her dye jobs lasted. Unlike some other homemade shampoos, this recipe will produce suds as you wash. We are all used to our commercial soaps foaming and sudsing, and are conditioned to feel that if it doesn't produce soap bubbles it isn't getting clean. However suds are not an indication of cleaning power. That said, I am calling myself a hypocrite because i like shampoo that lathers, although the lather serves no purpose (it's the castile soap that does it).

Conditioner
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup water

Mix together and shake before using. It's that easy :)

Sugar Scrub
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Stir the brown sugar and cocoa together, then add the olive oil. Mix in the lemon juice which acts as a natural preservative. This gets messy so definitely use it in the vicinity of the bathtub. You can store this for up to a month.

Eggplant - a hat with a pocket

-->
Size
(Child) Adult

(16" to 20") 21" to 24"
(size shown is child, crammed onto an adult head to take a proper photo)

Yarn
1 skein of Knitpicks Essential Kettle Dyed in Eggplant, or 231 yards of fingering weight

Needles
US size 2 dpns
US size 2 circular (optional) 

Gauge
8 stitches/inch
10 rows/inch

Extras
1 button approx. 10mm, depending on your button hole size

-->

Pocket
CO 20 stitches on the 1st dpn.
Knit into the front and back of every stitch, doubling to 40 stitches on the needle.
You will now slip every other stitch onto a separate needle. You want to have 20 stitches on each needle. (1st stitch on needle 1, 2nd stitch on needle 2, 3rd stitch on needle 1, 4th stitch on needle 2, etc.)
Knit the pocket in the round until it is as long as it is wide. Cut the yarn and set the pocket aside.

Pocket Flap
CO 6 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1, knit F&B, BO 2 stitches, knit F&B, knit 1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 1, knit F&B, knit 1, CO 2 stitches,knit 1, knit F&B, knit 1
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit 1, knit F&B, knit to last 3 stitches, knit F&B, knit 1
Row 6: Purl
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until you have 20 stitches on the needle.
Knit for 4 rows and place on hold.

Hat
CO (120) 152 stitches and join in the round. Knit in 2 x 2 rib for (3) 4 inches.
Switch to stockinette and knit for 3 more inches.
Now you will join the pocket. Holding the pocket inside the hat, against the WS, knit 1 stitch from the hat together with one stitch from the pocket.
Continue knitting 1 hat stitch together with 1 pocket stitch until you have joined the front half of the pocket, 20 stitches. Knit to the end of the round.
Knit one row.
Again knit 1 hat stitch together with 1 pocket stitch, joining the remaining 20 pocket stitches.
Knit the rest of the row.
Holding the pocket flap to the RS, join by knitting one stitch from the hat together with one stitch from the flap. Continue knitting until your hat measures (9) 10 inches long.

Finishing
*K6, K2tog* repeat across row.
Knit 1 row.
*K5, K2tog* repeat across row.*K4, K2 tog* repeat across row.
Knit 1 row.
*K3, K2 tog* repeat across row.
Knit 1 row.
*K2, K2 tog* repeat across row.
Knit 1 row.
*K1, K2 tog* repeat across row.
Knit 1 row.
*K2 tog* repeat across row. Repeat this row once more. Cut yarn and weave through remaining stitches twice, pull tight and weave in end.
Sew button in appropriate place.

-->

Rainbow Gloves

-->
Size
One size, fits a palm circumference of 7 inches

Gauge
8 stitches/10 rows per inch

Yarn
 1 skein (215 yards fingering weight) Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Rainbow

Needles
US 2 dpns

Cuff
CO 56 stitches and join in the round.
Rows 1 - 16: Work in K1, P1 rib
Row 17: Increase 1 stitch in pattern at the beginning and end of the row (58 stitches)
Rows 18 - 20: K1, P1 across
Repeat rows 17 - 20 a total of 9 times (74 stitches).
Row 53: Knit to last 9 stitches and place them on hold, along with the first 9. These will be picked up again later for the thumb. You are back to 56 stitches on the needles.

Palm
Row 1 - 12: K1, P1
Row 12: Knit 22 stitches, place next 12 stitches on separate needles for pinky.
-->

Pinky
Row 1: Working only these 12 pinky stitches, increase 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the row (14 stitches). Join in the round.
Row 2 - 22:  K1, P1
Row 23 & 24: K2 together all the way around. Cut yarn and draw through stitches.

Ring Finger
Row 1: Place the 7 stitches on either side of the pinky (14 stitches) on the needles. Pick up and knit two stitches from the bottom of the pinky to close up the gap between fingers while at the same time increasing 1 stitch at the beginning and end of row (18 stitches) and join in the round.
Row 2 - 30: K1, P1
Row 31 & 32:  Knit 2 together around. Cut yarn and draw through stitches twice.

Middle Finger
Row 1: Use the next 7 stitches on either side for the middle finger. Pick up and knit two stitches from the bottom of the ring finger to close up the gap between fingers while at the same time increasing 1 stitch at the beginning and end of row (18 stitches) and join in the round.
Rows 2 - 33: K1, P1
Rows 34 & 35: Knit 2 together around. Cut yarn and draw through stitches twice.

Pointer Finger
Row 1: Using the last 16 stitches, Pick up and knit two stitches from the bottom of the middle finger while at the same time increasing 1 stitch at the beginning and end of row (20 stitches) and join in the round.
Rows 2 - 28: K1, P1
Rows 29 & 30: Knit 2 together around. Cut yarn and draw through stitches twice.

You may need to add more or less length to your fingers depending on what suits you.

Thumb
Place the 18 thumb stitches back on the needles. Pick up 2 stitches to close up the gap between the thumb and pointer finger. Join in the round.
Row 1 - 22: K1, P1
Rows 23 & 24 : K2 together across

-->
Repeat for second glove. Because the gloves are identical on both sides there is no need to reverse shaping.

 

Digby

Size
For 1-2 (3-4) years
21 (23) inch chest
8 (9) inches in length from underarm to hem
7 (8) inches from underarm to sleeve cuff
Gauge
8 stitches/inch
10 rows/inch

Needles
 US size 2 circulars and dpns

Yarn
2 (3) balls Knitpicks Comfy in Whisper (Color A) (fingering weight, 218 yards per skein)
1 (1) ball Knitpicks Stroll fingering weight in Sprinkle Heather (Color B) (you will only use a tiny amount)

Extras
Stitch markers, tapestry needle, row counter

-->
Key
Kfb - knit into the front and back of the first stitch on left hand needle, creating an increase of 1 stitch.
Knitted cast on - with RS facing, knit into the first stitch on left needle. Rather than slipping the new loop off you slide it onto the left needle, creating a new stitch.
C2R - knit the slipped stitch on the left needle, passing in front of the first stitch, then knit the first stitch and slip both off the needle together
C2L - knit into the back of the second stitch on the left needle, passing behind the slipped stitch, then knit into the back of the slipped stitch and slip both off the needle together

Neck
CO 40 (45) stitches in color A. Do not join in round yet. Stitches will be worked flat at first.
Knit 2 stitches, PM A, Knit 7 stitches, PM B, Knit 22 (27)stitches, PM B, Knit 7 stitches, PM A, Knit 2 stitches.
Purl one row.
Row 1: Knit 2 stitches, slip marker A, kfb, Knit to one stitch before marker B, kfb, slip marker, kfb, Knit to one stitch before next marker B, kfb, slip marker, kfb, Knit to within one stitch of marker A, kfb, slip marker, knit remaining stitches.
Row 2: Purl one row.
Repeat these two rows a total of 30 times (2 stitches on each end, 37 for each sleeve, 52 (57) for back)

Row 3: Right side row - CO 50 (55) stitches for the front neckline using a knitted cast on. Knit across these new stitches and 1 stitch before first marker A. Kfb, slip marker A, kfb, knit to within 1 stitch of first marker B, kfb, slip marker, kfb, knit to within one stitch of next B marker, kfb, slip marker, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker A (which now signifies the beginning of round), kfb, slip marker, kfb, knit remaining 1 stitch.
Row 4: Join work in the round and knit one row plain.

Row 5: kfb before and after each marker
Row 6:  knit across
Repeat rows 5 & 6 until you have a total of 61 (71) stitches for each sleeve.

Row 7: Slip marker for beginning of round, kfb, knit across front stitches to one stitch before marker, kfb, slip marker, place sleeve stitches on hold, remove marker, kfb, knit across back stitches to one stitch before marker, kfb, remove marker, place sleeve stitches on hold
Row 8: Knit across
Row 9: Slip round marker, kfb, knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, slip marker, kfb, knit to 1 stitch before end, kfb

Row 10: Knit across

You should now have 80 (100) stitches for the back of the sweater and 82 (102) for the front. Slip one from the front so there are 81 (101) on each side. Work in stockinette 'til body measures 6 (7) inches from underarm.

Row 1: Knit across front 81 (101) stitches, turn work
Row 2: Knit first 5 stitches, purl to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 3: Knit across
Row 4: Knit first 5 stitches, purl to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 5: Knit in color B
Row 6: Knit 6, *K3, P3, K4* to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 7: Switch to Color A, Knit 5, *K4, slip 3 purlwise with yarn at back, K3* to last 6 stitches, knit to end
Row 8: Knit 5, Purl 1, *P3, slip 3 purlwise with yarn in front, P4* to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 9: Knit 5, *K4, slip 3 purlwise with yarn at back, K3* to last 6 stitches, knit to end
Row 10: Knit 5, Purl 1, *P3, slip 3 purlwise with yarn in front, P4* to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 11: Knit 5, *K3, C2R, slip 1 purlwise with yarn at back, C2L, K2* to last 6 stitches, knit to end
Row 12: Knit 5, purl to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 13: Knit across
Row 14: Knit 5, purl to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 15: Knit in color B
Row 16: Knit 5, Purl 1, *P1, K7, P2* to last 5 stitches, knit to end. Change to Color A.
Row 17: Knit 5, *slip 2 purlwise, K7, slip 1 purlwise* to last 6 stitches, slip 1 purlwise, knit to end
Row 18: Knit 5, slip 1 purlwise, *slip 1 purlwise, P7, slip 2 purlwise* to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 19: Knit 5, *slip 2 purlwise, K7, slip 1 purlwise* to last 6 stitches, slip 1 purlwise, knit to end
Row 20: Knit 5, slip 1 purlwise, *slip 1 purlwise, P7, slip 2 purlwise* to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 21: Knit 5, *slip 1 purlwise, C2L, K5, C2R* to last 6 stitches, slip 1 purlwise, knit 5
Row 22: Knit 5, purl to last 5 stitches, knit to end
Row 23: Knit all stitches
Row 24: Knit all stitches
Row 25: Knit all stitches
Row 26: Knit all stitches
Row 27: BO

Repeat rows 1 - 27 for the back of the sweater.

Sleeves
Using dpns, pick up and knit sleeve stitches, picking up 2 extra under the arm to prevent a gap. Place marker for beginning of round. K2tog at the end of every other round twice until back to the original 61 (71) stitches. Work in stockinette 'til sleeves measure 5 (6) inches long. You will now knit the sleeve cuffs flat. Knit to end of round, turn work. Work rows 2 - 14 of pattern, knit 4 rows of garter stitch and BO.

Neckline
Using Color B pick up and knit 50 (55) stitches from front neckline, PM, 22 from left edge, 38 (41) from back of neck, and 22 from right edge. PM for beginning of round.
Row 1: Work in K2 P2 rib while decreasing 1 stitch before and after each marker

Row 2: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purled stitches

Repeat these two rows a total of 3 times and BO in pattern.
Weave in the ends and you're done :)

-->

About my patterns

I want to offer all of the patterns on this blog for free to whomever may want them. Just give credit where credit is due. That means you can knit them up for yourself, knit them and sell the finished product, print them out and distribute them, all for free. You cannot pretend that you wrote them or sell my original patterns. I believe information should be shared with everyone not purchased or hoarded.

 

Emerald Summer

Yarn
 DK weight cotton, 170 yards in color A, 60 yards in color B

Gauge
 22 stitches and 32 rows = 4 in x 4 in

Needles
size 5 circulars
Finished Measurements
chest - 20 inches
hem to underarm - 8 inches


Stitch Key
Cross 2L - Knit into the back of the second stitch on the left needle, then knit into the back of the first stitch on the left needle. Slip both stitches off the needle at the same time.
Cross 2R- Knit into the second stitch on the left needle, then knit the first stitch on the left needle. Slip both stitches off the needle at the same time.

CO 132 stitches in color A. Place marker for beginning of row and join in the round.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Switch to color B and Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Switch to color A and Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Switch to color B and Knit
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Switch to color A and Knit
Row 10: Purl

Row 11: Switch to color B. Knit 66 stitches and place marker. Knit to end of row.

Decrease 1 stitch after each marker every 8 rows 7 times, until 118 stitches on needles. Work one more decrease round (116 stitches).

Switch to color A.
Row 1: Cross 2L across all stitches
Row 2: Cross 2R across all stitches
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once more.

BO 12 stitches, knit 34 stitches plain, BO remaining stitches. You will now work the remaining 34 stitches flat.


Change to color B.
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: Knit 4, purl to last 4 stitches, knit 4
Repeat these 2 rows 11 more times.

Work 4 rows of garter stitch, beginning with a RS knit row. Bind off all stitches except the first and last 4, leaving you with 4 live stitches on each end of the row. These will be the straps. Knit (8 inches) in garter stitch for each strap and BO.
Cross straps and sew to back of top.
Weave in all ends.

Zoe's Slouchy Hat

Fits a baby from 6 - 12 months, with a 17 inch head

Yarn
1 skein Knitpicks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Unicorn

 or 219 yards of fingering  weight

Needles
US size 2 circulars or dpns

CO 92 stitches and join in round.


Work in knit 2, purl 2 rib for 2 inches. Decrease 2 stitches evenly across one row in stockinette.

Work in stockinette for 5 inches.

Decreases :

Row 1: *Knit 7, Knit 2 together.* Repeat from * across the rest of the row. Work one round plain.

Row 3: Knit 6, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.

Row 5: Knit 5, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.



Row 7: Knit 4, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.


Row 9: Knit 3, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.

Row 11: Knit 2, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.


Row 13: Knit 1, K2 tog across row. Work one row plain.


Row 15: Knit 2 tog across row. Cut yarn and weave through remaining stitches twice. Weave in ends.

-->