Category: Crochet

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Chronic Crafting

April and I went to a “Handmade Boutique” this last week and saw—and worse–couldn’t resist so many things.  There was jewelry, clothing, art work, handbags, doll houses, stationery, baby toys–even homemade jam. Admittedly, April came out with more than I did, but she’ll have to confess her own sins…if you get my drift.

Here are a couple of my “indiscretions.”

The first thing that caught my eye was this stained glass bird. You can’t see it here but his tail is pink. I’m a sucker for lavender and pink. I hung him in my bedroom window and he simply sparkles up the whole room.

Then there were these “Babushka” magnets. They reminded me of my far away boy–so they came home with me too.

We even went a little nuts and bought one of those ridiculous cupcakes that seem to be all the rage these days. Somebody ate it before we could get a picture. Sheesh.

Ok, ok–it was pretty dang good.

For me, the best part about going to these things is that for a long time after, I can’t seem to stop…you know…making stuff. There’s just something very empowering about being surrounded by incredibly crafty souls.

The inspiration rubs off and makes me excited to try things like this “Flapper Hat” for Lily.  It feels so good to have my hands busy no matter what else is going on–I end up with projects in every room, and one in the car so that no time is wasted.

The more I make the more I can’t wait to make. It never ends!

Must. Find. More. Crochet. Thread. Now.

Chronic:  “Something that  has been going on for a long time. It may never get better. It is something you will have to live with.”

heh, heh, heh…

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March Sunflower

Some of my kids think that if I start posting silly things like potholders on my blogsite–it will peg me as an old chick…like maybe a grama-type…and maybe that’s not perceived as very cool these days.

Welllll…I think there are plenty of good reasons to do it anyway.

First, unless you like steaming your fingers off, we all use potholders–right?

Second, if you know how to crochet*, you know potholders are really easy to make–for yourself or for a gift. And they might as well be cute—right?

Third—and my own personal favorite reason…are you ready?  At my last birthday–the cake said, “50” so you can decide for yourself how “old” that makes me. And thanks to my cute daughters–I AM A GRAMA-TYPE! So, now and then, I suppose it’s ok if I act like one. heh, heh, heh.

That said, I will add this timely disclaimer: While I am all in favor of the monthly themed hotpad on my blog–I utterly refuse to post anything made with an old plastic doll head and a Clorox bottle. It creeps me out—always has.

I will never be that old.

March Sunflower Potholder

 

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Mary Jane Skimmers

I found the most adorable pattern the other day–for a style of “Mary Jane” booties, called “Skimmers.” As with any small pattern you have to be really careful to follow the directions exactly but look how cute they turn out!

These are for baby Keni, but I’m starting a pink pair for Lily tomorrow. They are just too fun not to make a million of them.

If you are interested, you can find the pattern at Sylver Designs on Ravelry.

Tell my what you think…

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All at the same time…

It’s funny, isn’t it, how no matter how many projects and things get finished–there is always something else to work on. In fact, earlier today I figured that I had 4 different crochet projects in the works–each with their own deadline.

But in doing the real count, it turns out to actually be 7.

Baby Keni’s shawl—in progress

There is one white blessing shawl for my nephew, a pink shawl for baby Keni, three different greenWinkle bags, a Lily sweater and a hoodie for another nephew– all at varying stages of progress. Of course they are each in a different tote bag–with the yarn, the hook, the pattern, the scissors–everything needed to complete it.

Beckham’s Lamb– just finished

Maybe this would drive some people nuts–having so much going on–all at the same time. But it works for me, because I can just grab a bag on my way out the door and POOF! I’m ready to work whenever I find myself just…waiting.

Which moms do a lot.

Nephew Caelin’s Blessing Shawl– in progress

Now, I did try once–long ago, to force myself to stick with one thing until it was finished–before I would let myself move on. But the problem with that was–I could never work on whatever it was in front of whoever it was for. So I’d end up sitting around doing nothing.

Kiss of death to a twitchy chick like me.

Lily’s Lamb– finished

I remember the words to the Primary song, “I have two little hands folded snuggly and tight…” But it must not have sunk in because these hands don’t like to fold snuggly and tight.

I’d go nuts.

So this way works better for me.

By having a bunch of stuff ready to work on, I can grab just the right project no matter where I’m going or who I’ll be with.

This way, it helps to keep all the birthday secrets—secret…

…and my weird twitchy hands from…

you know…

…twitching.

And that’s a good thing.

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Crocheted Snowflake Hotpad

Last year, I started a project of making a potholder each month for my daughters. Perhaps potholders aren’t all fashionable and stylish, but since you need to have them, I tried to use patterns that were at least pretty. This is the one for January called Winter Snowflakes. It went together very quickly and was essentially two big “granny squares” sewed together. I did line the inside with several thicknesses of cotton terry cloth for insulation purposes, just to be safe.

Snowflake Hotpad

Materials:
G Hook
Color A – White
Color B – Fiesta Navy

Instructions:

With color A, ch 6; join to form a ring.

Rnd 1(right side): Ch 3 (counts as a dc on this and following rnds), 15 dc in ring; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 – 16 dc.

Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as a dc and a ch-2 sp), dc in same ch; sk next dc; *in next dc work (dc, ch 2, dc); sk next dc; rep from * 6 times more; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 – 8 ch- sps.

Rnd 3: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, in same sp work (dc, ch 3, 2 dc); in rem ch-2 sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 – 8 ch-3 sps.

Rnd 4: Sl st in next dc and in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc); in each rem ch-3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.

Rnd 5: Sl st in next 2 dc and in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, in same sp work(3 dc, ch 2, 4 dc); in each rem ch-3 sp work (4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc); join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 – 8 ch-2 sps. Finish off Color A.

Rnd 6: Join Color B in any ch-2 sp; ch 3, in same sp, work (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) – beginning corner made; working in sps between dc, dc in next 5 sps, hdc in next sp, sc in next sp, sl st in next ch-2 sp; sc in next sp, hdc in next sp, dc in next 5 sps; * in next ch-2 sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) – 2nd corner made; dc in next 5 sps, hdc in next sp, sc in next sp, sl st in next ch-2 sp; sc in next sp, hdc in next sp, dc in next 5 sps; repeat from * twice more for 3rd and 4th corners; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.

Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in next dc, in next corner ch-3 sp work corner; * dc in next 6 dc, sc in next 7 sts, dc in next 6 dc, in next corner ch-3 sp work corner; rep from * twice more; dc in next 6 dc, sc in next 7 sts, dc in next 4 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Now make a second one.

Outside border: I then placed them, wrong sides together, and single crocheted through both thicknesses with blue, sc along edge and doing 3 sc in each corner and adding a ch 10 loop in one corner in between the 2nd and 3rd sc of that corner.