I cannot believe it has been 10 years since I started this blog, but today is my 10 year blog anniversary. That first post 10 years ago was pretty much just a "Hi, I'm starting a blog" post, and it was a few weeks before I actually shared a project that I made, but I'm still counting it as day one.
A lot has changed in the past 10 years. Probably the biggest change for me personally is that the name 5 Little Monsters came from the fact that I had 5 little kids at the time, and now 10 years later I have 6 kids and none of them are all that little anymore, in fact my baby who wasn't even born at the time is 7, the same age my oldest was in that first post.
I think the biggest change business-wise is that I never actually planned on turning the blog itself into a business, I actually planned on setting up an Etsy shop and selling items that I made and the blog was just going to be a way to drive traffic there. Before I even got as far as starting the Etsy shop I quickly realized that I really do not enjoy making the same thing over and over and much prefer pattern designing. I don't think I ever could have imagined when starting that little blog that it would turn into a full blown business, bringing in an income to help support my family. I am incredibly grateful to have this little spot on the internet, to be able to do something I love so much, and for all of the support of everyone who visits and uses my patterns.
To acknowledge this 10 year anniversary I thought it would be fun to look back and find the top 10 posts of all time on my blog. As I pulled the numbers there were some that I knew would be in the top, and there were others that kind of surprised me. It was fun to look back at all of the projects I have shared over the past 10 years and take a little walk down memory lane.
Here are the top 10 posts of 10 years of 5 Little Monsters:
1- Bead Stitch Hat
The number one post of the past 10 years didn't surprise me at all, I fully expected it would be either number one or two. My Bead Stitch Hat is both my number one blog post, and my top selling pattern one Etsy and Ravelry. I do love this hat and it has inspired many other hat designs including the String of Beads Hat which uses the same stitches in a slightly different combination, or the Crossed Doubles Hat that uses the same basic design but with different stitches.
2- Nativity
Coming in second is my Nativity pattern. This was another that I was expecting to be in the top two so I was not surprised by this one. This is honestly one of my favorite patterns I have ever created. I put my nativity out every Christmas and I absolutely love it. I have since added an Angel and 3 Wisemen, as well as making a Mini version. Every year I tell myself I am going to add a camel but I haven't done it yet, maybe this will be the year I finally do.
3- Unicorn Hat with Flowers
The number 3 pattern of all time on my blog was the Unicorn Hat with Flowers. My middle daughter used to be obsessed by unicorns so I made a few unicorn projects for her, this being one of them. She actually wore this as part of a halloween costume one year, and then all through the winter. Some of the other unicorn projects I made for her include a Unicorn Purse, and a Unicorn Christmas Ornament.
4- Diagonal Weave Dishcloth
This one kind of surprised me, I absolutely love the texture of these dishcloths that I made as part of a competition I participated in years ago, but I don't know that I thought they would even make the top ten, let alone this high up, so it was kind of fun to see them pop up. This is the first of a few dishcloth/washcloth patterns to make the list. They are such a great way to try out new stitches, and are great for when you want to make a quick project that is also really useful. The texture of these cloths is made using post stitches, other dishcloth patterns that use post stitches include the Off the Rails Dishcloth, and the Alpine Stitch Dishcloth.
5- Sedge Stitch Dishcloth
The second dishcloth on my list is an oldie but a goodie. It was one that I posted only about a year into my blog as part of a favorite dishcloths series that I did. I still love the look of the sedge stitch. I think it makes such a pretty set of dishcloths or washcloths. They have a lot of texture using basic stitches. A couple of my other favorite dishcloth patterns include the Moss Stitch Dishcloth, and the Colorblock Trinity Stitch Dishcloths.
6- Blossom Stitch Washcloth
The last dishcloth/washcloth on the list uses a much more delicate and feminine stitch pattern, a little more open than the other two that made this top ten list. I originally made these washcloths for Mother's Day, which is why I went with a more delicate stitch pattern. The V-Stitch Spa Set and Lemon Peel Washcloth were also made with Mother's Day in mind.
7- Bead Stitch Cowl
I wasn't too surprised to see the Bead Stitch Cowl make the top ten since it is the companion piece to my number one pattern the Bead Stitch Hat. It uses the same combination of stitches worked in the round as the hat, but in a cowl. I have made a few cowls or scarves to match some of my hat patterns including the Criss Cross Cowl, and my most recent hat and cowl combination that includes the Trinity Stripe Cowl.
8- Surprise Eggs
These little crocheted surprise eggs were originally made as part of a stocking stuffer series, but they are great for Easter baskets too, or anytime. The little animals fit inside the little eggs that close with a button and were inspired by all of the little blind bag toys that my kids liked getting. They are quick to make and great for using up scraps of yarn thanks to their small size. The stocking stuffer series also included a little set of Farm Animal Finger Puppets, and the Surprise Eggs were popular enough that I later made a second set with 3 more animals- More Surprise Eggs.
9- Bead Stitch Video
Coming in at number 9 is the only post on this list that is not an actual project, instead it is a how-to video. This video shows how to make the Bead Stitch, which is used in the Bead Stitch Hat and Cowl, numbers 1 and 7 on this list, as well as several other patterns on my blog. I haven't made as many videos as I would like because recording myself is really intimidating, but sometimes it is so much easier to show how to do something instead of writing it out so it is something I would like to do more of. In addition to the Bead Stitch Video I do have another showing how to do the Half Double Crochet in the Third Loop, the other stitch used in these patterns, as well as a Bead Stitch Hat Video Tutorial.
10- Cotton Face Scrubbies
The last project on the list is a simple one, also part of the stocking stuffer series. These Face Scrubbies are quick and easy to make. I remember when I published this pattern I was a little worried it was too small and simple, but it surprised me with how well it did, obviously well enough to make the top ten of all time on my blog. Looking back through the stocking stuffer series with this and the surprise eggs both making the stop ten makes me want to do a series like that again. I may have to bring that back this year. In addition to this set of cotton face scrubbies I also have the Ring Around Scrubbies and the Raised Ridges Scrubbies.
I had a lot of fun looking through old projects. Honestly life has been a little crazy lately and that combined with some backend computer issues have put me in a bit of a creative funk. I have not been posting as much as I would like and looking back at all of the things I have made over the past 10 years has really inspired me to get back on track and reminded me how much I love creating, not to mention given me ideas for some new projects. I have lots of ideas and goals for my blog moving forward and I can't wait to share them with you.
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