🌟 Welcome to My World — Books, Creativity & Becoming Your Best Self
Welcome to the official blog of T1na BA1ley — a vibrant haven for book lovers, creators, and anyone committed to elevating their life one intentional day at a time.
Here, stories come alive. Whether I’m diving into my latest read, hosting a cozy livestream, crafting vocabulary lists that enrich your reading journey, or sharing honest reviews on books and movies, this space is all about discovery and connection.
I’ve posted twice a day and created a new product every single day for the last 5 weeks. People ask me where the discipline comes from.
This design is the answer.I believe that because we are made in the image of a Creator, the act of creating is one of the most sacred things we can do. Whether it’s a digital product, a piece of art, or a new business, we are reflecting that original spark.
I didn't wait for January 1st to start; I started in December because when you view your work as sacred, you don't wait for a 'convenient' time to begin.I chose this clean, bold layout because the message needs to stand front and center. It’s a reminder to myself and now a reminder to you that your output matters. Your ideas are worth the work.Wear it for the days you’re building your dream. Click the link to get yours.
A Quick Branding Note Since T1NABA1LEY uses a "1" in place of the "I," it has a very modern & tech forward feel. This creates a cool contrast with the spiritual message of the design it feels like Ancient Truth meets Modern Creator. Meaning, "the eyes are one. " Quote by T1na Ba1ley
There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a project grow, one stitch at a time. I’ve been spending some quality time outdoors lately, working on this vibrant star shaped crochet piece. It’s finally hitting that "sweet spot" where the pattern is clear and the colors are doing something magical!
The Progress Report
I’ve been sitting out here building this star round by round. It’s finally starting to spread out nice and flat, which is always a relief when you’re working in the round. Look at that color flow from the deep plum in the center to this fiery orange edge.
The Caron Skinny Cakes are doing all the heavy lifting for the palette, making the transition look seamless as the star expands.
🧶 Project Essentials: Materials Checklist
If you're looking to start your own version of this star, here is exactly what I'm using:
The Yarn: Caron Skinny Cakes (Weight: #3 Light/DK). The colorway used here is a high contrast rainbow gradient.
The Hook: A 5.0mm (H-8) ergonomic crochet hook. I highly recommend an ergonomic handle for this project since the rounds get very long as the star grows!
Notions: You’ll want a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and a few stitch markers to keep track of your "Peak" stitches.
📐 The Strategy: Peaks and Valleys
The secret to keeping a crochet star flat and symmetrical is a simple repeating rhythm. Once you "read" your stitches, it’s pure relaxation.
The Peaks (The Points): In the chain space at the tip of every point, work a cluster (usually 2 DC, Ch 2, 2 DC). This creates the sharp point and adds the stitches needed for the star to grow.
The Valleys (The Dips): To keep the shape from becoming a circle, you have to "skip" stitches at the bottom of the valley (usually skipping 2 stitches). This pulls the fabric inward.
The Sides: Simply work one Double Crochet in each stitch between the peaks and valleys.
🎨 Master the Stripes: Working with Self Striping Yarn
Working with "cakes" is a game changer because the yarn handles the color shifts for you. Here are my top tips for this look:
Embrace the Thinning Stripe: As your rounds get larger, the stripes will naturally get thinner. This creates a beautiful "sunburst" effect.
Let the Color Break: Don't worry if a color change happens in the middle of a row! In a geometric star, these "mid row" shifts add a handmade, modern charm.
Center Pull for Success: Decide if you want your "core" color to be the inside or the outside of the cake before you start. I started with the dark plum from the center for a dramatic focal point.
What’s Next?
I’m going to keep going until I run out of this cake or until this star is big enough to be a cozy lapghan!
Are you working on a "round based" project right now? Let me know in the comments what’s on your hook!
Stay Connected! 🧶
If you enjoyed this progress report and want to see more of my crochet journey (or find out where to get my patterns and favorite supplies), check out my Linktree below:
