Confession - I adore super hero stuff.
Actually it’s even bigger than that. I’m a sucker for anything good vs evil.
When I was a kid my mum got me hooked on science fiction and fantasy novels and I always loved the stories about the everyday hero and their group of friends finding the super hero inside themselves and saving the day.
Fast forward to my years teaching and you’ll find me reminding teenagers learning about persuasive writing to “use their powers for good” and to remember that “everyone has a super power of their own”.
This is pretty much my motto in life - use my powers for good.
And I truly believe that we all have the capacity to bring about change in our lives, the lives of the people around us and ultimately in our world. Even if it’s just with a smile to brighten someone’s day.
Which brings me to today’s topic: Using our Maker Powers for Good.
I have been crocheting for about 4 years now and designing for about two, but I have been making things my whole life. I love expressing myself and the way I see the world through art. I love colour and texture. I love to make people smile and feel loved. I love to help people find and express what is true to them. And I love to make a difference in our world.
Recently I have started to realise just how powerful this making thing is.
Honestly just think about all the amazing things we do when we make something.
It’s more than just a ‘thing’ we have created.
It can be (and this list is just the tip of the iceberg):
- something that keeps someone warm when it’s cold. A hat, jumper, blanket, clothes, socks, shoes, shelter…
- the thing that keeps you calm when life is crazy, that keeps the anxious little voice at bay and keeps us going through life’s ups and downs.
- something that makes someone feel good by making them smile, feel cosy, connected and valued, that makes them feel loved and special.
- something useful that you can use everyday or on special occasions, something that can make your life easier or maybe even just a little bit prettier!
- something we can donate to help others like hats for newborns or people going through chemotherapy, scarves, mats, clothes or blankets for the homeless, or more specialised items like knitted knockers.
- something that can help our planet. Something more sustainable, reusable or that lasts longer. Something that can replace single use items and reduce our waste.
And it’s this last one that’s really been on my mind lately.
My brother’s partner is a huge advocate for getting rid of single use items like food containers, cups, chopsticks/cutlery, etc. When it came to making her something for Christmas I wanted to make something that was both fun and useful. So I designed a cute mini market bag to use for fresh produce with a star in the centre because I think anyone who uses reusable bags deserves to be reminded that they are a star.
Then my son started school and I was faced with need to pack his lunch and the idea of all that plastic waste was kind of horrifying (not to mention expensive) so I did some research and then opted for a sandwich box and I’m going to make some reusable waxed food wraps for his fruit and other treats.
At this point I realised that I had been making or buying things from other makers to reduce my waste for a while. Things like face scrubbies and wash cloths to remove my makeup and gently exfoliate, tote bags and market bags for… well everything, awesome travel coffee cups and water bottles, reusable cleaning cloths, soaps savers and all sorts of things from old jars. We even built ourselves a bar from old pallets and my partner’s desk chair from an old leather car seat!
We’d been using our skills to make something reusable or make something new from something old. Something that benefitted not just us but our world.
And this is exactly what I’m talking about with using our Maker Powers for good.
We can do so much good for ourselves, others and our planet with our amazing skills!
We can do more than just make something with our hands - we have the power to change the world one stitch, nail or brush stroke at a time.
So how can you use your Maker Powers for good?
How about starting with something reusable to make your day or someone else’s day a little bit sweeter.
Sound good? Well scroll down for the free Cupcake Face Scrubby Crochet pattern.
Cupcake Face Scrubby
This little cupcake is quick to whip up and is a super cute way to break the habit of using disposable face wipes. It has a textured scrubby cupcake case to help gently exfoliate and it’s topped with soft squishy frosting to gently clean your skin.
Materials
Yarn: Worsted weight soft cotton (or other face washer appropriate yarn) in 2 colours, approx. 25m (27 yards) total, 12.5m (13.6 yards) of each colour.I used Scheepjes Cahlista, 100% cotton, in Tropic & Light Coral and Cyan & Sweet Mandarin.
You can use a different weight yarn with an appropriate hook but the finished size will vary.
Hook: 4mm (G) & 4.5mm (7)
Notions: yarn needle, scissors
Finished Size: Approx. 10cm (4in) wide and 11.5cm (4 1/2in) tall.
Gauge: I used a slightly smaller hook than recommended on the label so the stitches won’t stretch out too far when wet. The yarn label recommends 4.5 - 5mm and I used a 4 & 4.5mm.
Notes: American English crochet terms used throughout. Crocheted in rows.
Abbreviations
fhdc: foundation half double crochet *see useful tutorials below
ch: chain stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
puff st: puff stitch made of hdc2tog in same st *see special stitches below
puff st2tog: 2 puff st worked together over 2 sts *see special stitches below
3rd loop: the loop below the top 2 loops, for this pattern it’s on the side facing you after turning your work. *see useful tutorials below and photo for Row 2 below
Useful tutorials
fhdc: try this helpful photo & video tutorial from Moogly blog
3rd loop: and this one too, also from Moogly blog
Special Stitches
Puff Stitch: a puff st is a puffy stitch made by working partial half double crochets into the same st and then closing them all together.
For this pattern we are making little puff sts with only 2 hdc.
Puff st
Yo, insert hook into st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (3 loops on hook),
yo, insert hook into same st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (5 loops on hook),
yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook.
Standing puff st
For a standing puff st you start with a slip knot on your hook and then complete the puff st as above. You may need to use your finger to hold the first yo and slip knot in place so it doesn’t twist undone. *see photo for Row 11 below
Puff st2tog
This is 2 puff sts worked together over 2 sts. *see photos for Row 12 below
Yo, insert hook into st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (3 loops on hook),
yo, insert hook into same st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (5 loops on hook),
Yo, insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (7 loops on hook),
yo, insert hook into same st, yo and pull up a loop to hdc height (9 loops on hook),
yo and pull through all 9 loops on hook.
Cupcake Case Pattern
Row 1: With 4.5mm (7) hook. 10 fhdc (initial ch 2 does not count as st) (or ch 12 and hdc in the 3rd ch from hook and each ch across). (10 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as st) and turn, hdc in the 3rd loop in each st across. (10 hdc)
Rows 3 - 7: Repeat Row 2. (10 hdc each row)
Row 8: Ch 1 (does not count as st) and turn, sc in 3rd loop in each st across. (10 sc)
Row 9: Ch 17 for hanging loop.
Row 10: With 4mm (G) hook.Turn work to crochet down the side of the cupcake case. Sc in side of last sc of Row 8, 13 more sc evenly along side of cupcake case. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, and weave in ends. (14 sc)
* Tip: when weaving in your end use the long tail to close the holes that appeared when you sc along the side.
Cupcake Frosting Pattern
Row 11: With 4.5mm (7) hook. Join yarn with a standing puff st in the first sc from Row 10 along the edge of the cupcake case, puff st in each st across. (14 puff st)
Row 12: *Tip: the puff sts in Rows 12 - 15 are made in the space between the puff sts of the row below. Ch 1 and pull up loop to height of a hdc and turn, Puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces, puff st in the next 9 spaces, puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces. (2 puff st2tog, 9 puff st)
Row 13: Ch 1 and pull up loop to height of a hdc and turn, Puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces, puff st in the next 6 spaces, puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces. (2 puff st2tog, 6 puff st)
Row 14: Ch 1 and pull up loop to height of a hdc and turn, Puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces, puff st in the next 3 spaces, puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces. (2 puff st2tog, 3 puff st)
Row 15: Ch 1 and pull up loop to height of a hdc and turn, Puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces, puff st2tog over the next 2 spaces, ch 1 to close final puff st, Cut yarn and weave in ends. (2 puff st2tog)
Optional Sprinkles
With a contrasting colour and yarn needle sew little sprinkles wherever you like. I used my yarn doubled to make the sprinkles stand out against the puff stitches.
Cut about a metre of yarn and thread on to needle. Pull yarn through until the 2 lengths are even and tie a knot in the ends.
Secure the yarn in one of the sc under the first row of puff stitches by threading through a stitch and then between the 2 strands of yarn on your needle. Pull tight and hide the knot in a puff stitch.
Start stitching back and forth until you achieved the look you desire. Keep your stitches small and even and go back and forth from front to back to retain the reversible nature of this item.
Tie another knot to hold the end securely and then hide it in another puff stitch. Weave end through a few stitches and cut off the rest.
So do you feel like a super hero now?
I don’t know about you but I feel like a cupcake! And I feel pretty super!
I feel inspired by all the amazing things we are capable of as humans and all the wonderful things we can create as makers.
Shine your light into the world - the world needs you - and we can all make a difference everyday by using our Maker Powers for Good!
I’d love to hear about how you use your maker powers for good below.
