This summer, BB started daycare. We are very fortunate to get a spot at this daycare because we had deferred three times before finally deciding that it was time for BB to start.
In fact, getting a spot at any daycare in Vancouver is difficult nowadays, not to mention expensive. People have to pretty much register their child as soon as they find out that they are pregnant because the waitlists are over a year long.
I might have mentioned this before, but I was reluctant about starting BB in daycare for a long time. I wanted to wait until BB was able to communicate verbally, but it turned out that she had a speech delay.
Then, I became even more afraid of her starting daycare. I feared that she wouldn't be able to tell anyone if she got hurt or perhaps even neglected because she doesn't talk.
However, holding her back from daycare was possibly doing more harm than good because she wouldn't be able to get socialized with other kids, which is likely what she needs to learn how to talk about.
We visited the daycare before accepting the spot and communicated all of our concerns. The teachers were very understanding.
As a matter of fact, I saw BB make an immediate connection with one of the teachers as she grabbed her by the hand and went brought her to the kitchen gesturing to the Cheerios -- making herself at home.
I completed BB's gradual entry to daycare and got to know the teachers pretty well. Their patience is amazing.
I understand firsthand how frustrating it can be when I don't know what BB wants and she is unable to tell me. I appreciate all the hard work and effort the teachers put in to get to know BB and learn her quirks.
Since this is BB's first year in daycare, it's my first time giving teachers gifts. I decided to put my crocheting skills to use and made these Heart Coffee Cup Cozies designed by One Dog Woof.
I'll be honest. I had a hard time getting started with these coffee cozies. I had to frog it so many times before I got it right and it's all "user error".
First, the pattern asked to start with a row of foundation single crochets. I didn't know how to do foundation single crochets, so I decided to start with a row of chains and then single crochet in every chain stitch.
I thought it was the same thing. Let me tell you now, although it works, it doesn't quite look the same.
In the photo below, one is done with a foundation chain and then a row of single crochets (left). The other one is done with foundation single crochet stitches (right).
The differences are very subtle in the photo below, but you can also feel the difference when you hold it in your hands.
Then I was doing front post half double crochets all wrong. The coffee cozy ended up being much taller than it should be. The heart pixel graph was off, and you can see the grey is also coming through some of the pink stitches.
Because of all my mistakes, I end up wasting so much time frogging it and starting over. To save you some time and avoid the same errors I made, I thought I'd take the opportunity to show you how to do a proper front post half double crochet (fphdc):
How to Front Post Half Double Crochet (fphdc)
If you happen to do your front post half double crochets incorrectly, you will end up with stitches that look like the following:
I love how I learn something new with every crochet project no matter how simple the project is. The cozies end up looking great. I even made some extras to give away as stocking stuffers.
To make your own heart coffee cozies, visit One Dog Woof (here).
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