I'm putting down my hook

Well I'm putting it down because I'm DONE with my wave afghan project!!!  Finally!  And I decided to post it to the Crochet Crowd on Facebook.  The response has been overwhelming!  I have over a thousand likes, countless comments and shares galore! See my post here.  Join the Crochet Crowd here, it's free, and there is soooo much eye candy and inspiration!!!

So without further ado, here is Leslie's Scrap Afghan!

And now that this is done I have started another project, and this time it's NOT crocheted!  Yeah I know!  Wow, but I needed to give my poor hands a small break.  In a few short months I will be hosting a table at a formal tea at church, and decorating my own table!  So I decided to make some place-mats, I used colors that match my decor at home, so I can use them after the tea.

The blue is leftover from my wedding, and the print I found at Wally World, on clearance!  After you cut a front and  a back for each place-mat you want to make you pin them right sides together

Then set up your sewing machine.  It helps to tape off the measurement so you make sure your seams are the same.

Sew up three sides, and part of the fourth, I left my opening in the middle of a side, it will help camoflauge it in the final steps.  Turn them right sides out.

That is as far as I have gotten on them so far, I still have to press them and do the final stitch, more blog on that later!

Tarry not, for the hook awaits thee.

 Yarn is an addiction for me, it is my happy place, and gives me peace.  Seriously!  Now there are times that I growl in frustration at whatever project I'm working on...but for the most part, crocheting makes me smile.  So when I get the chance to feed my stash I do it with GUSTO!  This past weekend was once such chance.  I am not a fiber artist that can afford the really expensive yarns so when there is a sale, or coupons you can find me taking advantage of that!  I was shopping for an afghan request.  I got to choose the colors.
















The pattern I will be using is a broomstick pattern, so I also got a dowel and had my DH sharpen one end to make it easier to draw up the loops and to crochet them off.

I also got a pom-pom making set because anyone that has ever made poms knows that they can be difficult and tricky.

And I didn't stop there!  There were a few more skeins that called to me.

I love blues

I see a teddy bear...

And I have started one project already!  A hat for me.

The pattern was a bit confusing as the stitches just don't look the same in the pictures compared to what mine looks like

And I have some custom buttons, designed by me, made by my dad! These go on the brim of my hat, well two of them will!

I hope I get this hat done soon, otherwise it will be too warm to wear it!

Scarves for everyone!

Original Scarf

 Since Christmas the weather is not as frightful, snow is gone, but it's till chilly!  And I have a lot of single skeins of "fancy" yarn in my stash.  Since finding the awesome "V" pattern I have created several more scarves!

Super soft periwinkle fuzzy

Green Fuzzy

If you aren't familiar with the "V" stitch it's super simple! Make the foundation chain in multiples of 3+1, DC in the 4th chain, then CH2, and DC in same stitch, skip two CH then *DC (in the 3rd chain), CH2, DC in same stitch*, repeat until last ch, and do a single DC, CH3 and turn. *DC, CH2 DC in the space from the CH2* repeat until end of row, single DC in the DC below.  Repeat until you run out of yarn!  These scarves only took one skein of yarn each.  The Periwinkle and green were a foundation chain of 10, the purple was a foundation of 13.

And I have made great progress with my scrap afghan!

This is a keeper of a pattern, and the black in between each color really sets it off! Once this is done I'll be making some lap blankets in this style!

Hope you are enjoying winter!

Stash busting projects

Last week I received this beautiful skein of yarn from a member of the knit and crochet group at church.  She found it difficult to work with, so she passed it on to me because I practically drooled looking at it.

So I tried to make a scarf, using simple dc in a row, tangle city...so that got unraveled several times before I just frogged it.  And i have been scouring Ravelry for just the right stitch to make this wild yarn into a beautiful scarf!  And I finally found it! (click here for pattern).  It's a simple V stitch and I'm using a N hook.  The pattern calls for 2-3 skeins, so i'm just going to see how far I get using this single skein I have.  I also altered the pattern by starting with a length of 21 foundation chains instead of the 31 the pattern calls for.

I think it's turning out nicely!  And this is the perfect stitch for this type of yarn!

And an update on the wave afghan, it is coming along nicely, and should be completed in a month or so!

Yes a month, especially if I keep getting distracted with other small side projects...

Not while I'm counting!!!

Moments are defined by how we react to them.  I am learning to react differently.  Yes my dogs wake me up at what seems to be an ungodly time, but I get to see the sunrise, and if I get the chance, I get to snuggle and take a nap with them later.  Yes, the afghan pattern I'm trying to learn and memorize got interrupted, but I had a great conversation, and maybe I had to tear most of it out after finishing three rows (it's a big afghan) but I can tighten my initial stitches and it will look better.  Not to mention I drug out all of my random skeins and balls because I'm finally starting the Scrumptious Scraps Afghan (click here for pattern).

The foundation chain and first row is where I had my initial problems.  And if we are all being honest, who doesn't?!?  The single most frustrating thing about making afghans, is the foundation chain and first row.  It is a test of mental strength, and reason we drink wine (or other beverage) while crocheting.  For those reading that have never made an afghan, try it, you will understand.

I am so glad I ended up with a ton of random skeins, this pattern/style of stitches is turning out to be one of my favorite, even more so than the ripple!  I have a lot of plans for this stitch! And I know where to get more so I can create lap blankets and who knows what else!

The possibilities are endless!

Eat, Crochet, Love

There is nothing more satisfying than making something for someone else.  Fall and Winter are the perfect times of the year to start large projects, or to finish large projects. Again today here in Missouri the temperatures have dropped below freezing, making this another perfect day to snuggle down on the couch with a good movie, a crochet hook and a bag of yarn.  As if a crocheter needs an excuse to work on a project!

So I have finally had the time to complete this beautiful purple afghan for a very special girl, and I cannot wait to give it to her!  I made it big enough for her to enjoy for years to come.  And I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it for her!

That's evil!

Happy Hooker checking in!  I have been busy, trying to pack to sell our house...doing blanket and afghan projects, recovering from an emergency surgery, and starting on new projects!

I created a ripple blanket for my niece, seemed only fair because I had started one for her sissy, who's due in September/October.  She doesn't like it at all...lol.


And of course I started a new minion, and posting said minion on Facebook was a great idea, as I have sold him, and have an order for another regular minion.

I have also been asked to create an Evil Minion from Despicable Me 2.  So I am using the standard minion pattern to create a new pattern for the evil minion.

I am using Red Heart Dark Orchid yarn for the body

And Lion Brand Homespun in Grape for the hair.

I am planning on using black yarn to create the buttons instead of purchasing buttons, but we'll see, I may change my mind.

Update on projects past

Well it's been a busy week.  I started on the new project as posted yesterday.  It has taken off, and it crocheting up nicely!

I am down to only two rows of the Do it your way Afghan to connect then I can start connecting the rows

I can't wait to get this afghan done, I'm definately going to finish this one before starting on the ripple afghan I have planned for my living room.  For today I'm going to take a small break and go have fun with my mom.  I may do some more tonight when I get home!

My CADD strikes again!

© Lion Brand Yarn

I am a day or so away from completing my second Ami-gurumi project (post on first Ami-gurumi to follow soon), and here I am starting a baby afghan for my new niece, she is due in October.  I chose what I thought was a simple baby ripple pattern.  (click here, or on the picture)



It really is simple, and once you get the pattern down it goes quickly.  The part that I found to be super hard is the foundation row...after you make the ump-teen chains...I also used a different yarn that what is called for in the pattern.  I used Baby Bee Little Britches, in the colorway Charming.  I highly recommend using a site like Ravelry to "stash" your yarn collection, and to keep record of the projects you want to do, and the projects you have in progress.  Great for any yarn project!

I started with my 131 chain stitches

Then had to kick my dog off of my directions

And then spent considerable time growling, grumbling and crying trying to get my 2nd row done, after a while I got the hang of it, and it came out right!!!  No need to undo most of the row to start over, or heaven forbid the entire thing and re-chain to start over! And they say that crochet and knitting is supposed to be calming!  Well it is, once you get past the first row.

The blanket should crochet up quickly after this point...unless I get distracted by another project that is!

A hat...even though it's spring

My crochet afghan sits unfinished...but closer to done.  I have been working on joining the squares

Once the rows are all joined I can join the rows and do an edge all the way around.  

So yes it is taking me a while. Partly because I've been sitting on that bed so I don't disturb my pattern that I have laid out.  And the other part because I have C.A.D.D. (Crochet Attention Deficit Disorder) and want to start and do other projects!!!  :) especially ones that work up faster than the afghan...mercy.

So I have completed a prayer shawl for a friend.  The pattern can be found here.  It took several days, mostly crocheting while watching TV at night.  But here it is!

I can't wait to give it to her.  I'm sure she will be surprised!

I have also decided to go ahead and make a hat.  I know that it's the middle of May, but feels like July already.  But hey, I have the yarn, I have the time, and I have someone to give it to!  Bah ha! 

So here I sit, at the computer so I can see the pattern...saves trees this way.  Although it does confuse my dog a bit.

"Wha'cha doin Mom?"

I worked on the new project till about 230am, and was still not quite done,  it's going to take another few uninterrupted hours of crochet time.

What have I gotten myself into?

As far as first projects go, this one seems never-ending!  Not that I'm complaining per-say.  I finally got a chain laid out so I can see how wide this afghan will be using a row of 10.  It's just wide enough for one person...and I then realized that using 10 across and the 9 high I was originally planning would not be big enough for me.  So after doing some measuring I decided to go 10 wide and 13 high.

I will need 130 squares...

Only 92 more squares to go... It seems like a lot, but it will be worth it in the end when I can have something so colorful and fun that I made!  It's so much fun choosing the color combinations.  I have several multi-colored yarns to choose from, and the traditional plain yarns.  There is one skein of yarn that I will be using on a different project later down the road, but I couldn't help but put some of that beautiful blue into this afghan.


My rat terrier Storm is usually the one that can be found under a blanket with me, my mutt Fergus usually just lays on top.

This afghan is proving to be no different. He is already all over it!  And you can also find him snuggled up right next to me while I crochet up some squares. Which is what I'm going to go back to working on!

Still crocheting along!

I finally had the chance to go to my neighbor's house and see the "room we don't speak of" and get more yarn. Oh goodness!  That is a LOT of yarn!!!!  I'm so jealous of her fabulous selection!  So I brought home several partial skeins and a few full skeins of patterned yarns, or super colorful yarns.  I think I may be set on yarns, at least for a little while!

Today we went to Cabela's, there is an upcoming camping trip, and we need supplies.  So I took the basket of completed squares with me so I could start the binding process I decided to use.  The original pattern calls for whip-stitching the squares together to form a row.  The using the main color do a row of half double crochets between each row with a final border of half double crochets around the entire perimeter.  I however have mastered the double crochet, so that's what I am using.

After doing over 20 squares I decided to change the pattern just a bit, it's all part of making this my own afghan.  Instead of doing a chain 4 and create a circle and DC into the center I found a video on how to make a magic circle.  So now my stitches are even, equal, and you can't really see the opening in the center.  As I am still new to crochet, trying to describe the creation of the magic circle I'm going to post the video, she uses a single crochet but it works to do the chain 3 and 16 2dc for the granny squares.

I am going to attempt to show and explain the one sided border that I am using to attach the squares together.

First, grab a completed square, and tuck the ends of the yarn in weaving it among the completed stitches and snip so the square is "pretty"

Then, in the ch2 space slip the crochet hook in, and grab a loop of the main color.

Bring it through and ch3 to start the border.

Dc12 (includes the ch3) to the end of the square.  Make sure you leave a tail long enough to whip stitch it to the next square.

Below is a chain of squares I started on earlier today.

Have fun creating!