Classic Coverlet

My current crochet project is the Classic Coverlet. This is the second afghan for the order I have. The pattern is free and can be found here http://michaels.lionbrand.com/patterns/90058AD.html . I'm using Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn in white and an I hook. I've only been crocheting on this blanket for about 45 minutes and I've gotten quite a good start on it. It will go much faster than the previous baby afghan.

Ringing in the New Year!

How am I ringing in the new year??? By crocheting of course!!!

Delectable Shell Afghan is Finished!

The Delectable Shell Afghan is finished! Woo Hoo! I must say that I love the edging on this afghan. It's beautiful! I ended up using under 2 skeins of the Bernat Baby Coordinates to make it. Even though I think the yarn is a pain to work with, it sure turns out beautiful! This pattern is free on the lion brand website. Check it out. Or look for my previous post about this afghan, as there's a link listed.

My "Book"

I have a "book" that is basically just a notebook, or in my case, a couple of notebooks. This "book" is where I keep my craft ideas, project notes, patterns that I have come up with, and other things like that. I also keep my Project Lists in here. I've been asked to share some of my book here on my blog. I hope you enjoy the photos. (they may not be that good)

The first photo shows some color combinations that I have wrote down.

The second photo shows a pattern that I wrote.

The third photo shows a list of colors (and people) of the skaterbeanies I made for Christmas gifts this past year.

Delectable Shell Afghan (Baby Blanket)

Here are some photos of the baby blanket that I am currently working on. It's the Delectable Shell Afghan and can be found here http://michaels.lionbrand.com/patterns/90059AD.html . I'm using Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn in white. I'm showing three different views of the blanket so you can see the detail. The blanket is quite pretty and in the bottom photo, I'm on row 53 out of 80.

Blue and White Baby Blanket

Alas! The blue and white baby blanket has been put "on hold" for a bit. I MUST complete two other baby blankets that I have an order for. I will be back soon with a photo of this blanket before you know it. Please bear with me.

My Project List

How many of you out there keep a Project List? A list of projects that you want to make in the future. I keep one, but I only started doing this a few months ago. When I finish something on the list, I mark it off. And if I see something I'd love to make, I add it to the list. Here's what my list looks like:

"Necessary Projects"
baby blanket for Cassie
2 baby blankets for an order I received

"Items from my old list"
more pillows for the house
more tissue box covers for the house
a ripples and shell throw
a loopy flower throw

"Items from my new list"
Scarves for the Special Olympics
Peace sign charity squares
a red and white afghan
a red, black and white afghan
baby clothes
a bouncy ball afghan
a circle in the square, granny square afghan
crocheted pin cushions (starting on next years Christmas gifts)

So....this is my current list that I'm working off of. I've started on the "necessary projects" first, of course. After that, I will work on the scarves for the Special Olympics. I am planning on making two of them. My list is always changing, ever evolving. If at any point, I decide that something just isn't what I want to make anymore, then I remove it from the list. My list helps me stay on track with my goals and it also helps me remember what projects I am wanting to make.

Blue and White Baby Blanket

Welllllll......I must admit that this is a horrible photo!!! *sigh* Oh well. I guess that's life sometimes. Anyway, to the subject at hand, this photo shows the newest project I'm working on. It's a baby blanket. Made out of blue and white Bernat Baby Sport yarn. I should clarify that I'm using a skein of each color, held together, to make the blanket warm and cozy. I have a family member expecting a baby boy soon and I promised to make this as I made her sister one for her baby back in the fall. To be fair, I'm using the same pattern for each blanket. It can be found on the Craft Bits website under 4 1/2 hour charity crochet afghan. Here's the link http://www.craftbits.com/project/charity-pattern-4-1-2-hour-crochet-afghan . This pattern isn't one for a baby blanket, but let me tell you, it looks great when it's finished. And it's the perfect size for the crib too. By the way, I'm using hook size P.

Finished!!!

The Round Ripple Scrap-ghan is finished!!! Woo Hoo! It measures 60 inches across, point to point. It is made entirely of Red Heart worsted weight yarn from my scrap yarn stash.

Progress on the Round Ripple Scrap-ghan

With it being Christmas, I haven't managed to find a lot of time to work on the scrap-ghan. But, it is growing slowly when you compare it to the previous photo. This is what it currently looks like this evening.

I took a break from crocheting earlier today and read two books that I received as Christmas presents. I'm a voracious reader and I've been on pins and needles for a month waiting to get these books. I bought them myself, wrapped them up, and stuck them under the tree for myself. LOL They were really good books too!!! Part of the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Christmas Morning

This is what Christmas morning in our household looks like? Does this seem familiar?

Snow

Yesterday morning (Friday - Christmas Eve), we woke up to this. Lots and lots of snow falling! Beautiful, isn't it? All of this snow has guaranteed that we had a white Christmas!

Round Ripple Scrap-ghan

Two days ago, on Thursday, I started working on the round ripple scrap-ghan shown in this photo. I've been saving all those extra balls of yarn for the past few months and now I am using them for this scrap-ghan. The pattern for this is a free one on the internet and can be found here http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/roundripple.html .

Doggie Blanket #2

Doggie Blanket #2 is finished. I put them both down on the carpet and let the dogs loose on them to see who chose what color. Apparently, Pepper likes the green and Cocoa likes the red. So I'll be wrapping them up and putting them under the tree later tonight.

For this blanket, I used the chevron doggie blanket pattern listed in a previous post. I also used Red Heart yarn in white, black and maroon. All of it came from my yarn stash of scrap yarn. I used a J hook.

Doggie Blanket #1

Chevron Doggie Blanket #1 is finished! Woo Hoo! I think it turned out pretty well. The photo isn't the best though. I put three rows of sc around the outside of the blanket - white, green and then black.

Chevron Doggie Blankets

First off, this is a horrible photo! Sorry! The photo shows the beginning of the first doggie blanket that I am making. I'm using yarn from my stash in the colors - black, green and white. It's all Red Heart worsted weight. I'm also using a J hook.
Since my dogs are small, I didn't want a huge blanket. So I took the basic concept of the Chevron Blanket and used it to come up with the size I need.
Basically, that means that I started with a ch of 64. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, then sc in the next 4 chs, *3 sc in the next ch, sc in the next 5 chs, sk 2 chs, sc in the next 5 chs, repeat from * across until you get to the last 5 chs, then sc in each of those. ch 1, turn.
Now, I worked in the back loop only for the rest of the doggie blanket.
Then for the next row, sk 1 sc, sc in the next 5 sc, *3 sc in the next sc, sc in the next 5 sc, sk 2 sc, sc in the next 5 sc, repeat from * across to the last 6 sc, then sc in the first 4 sc, sk 1 sc, sc in the last sc, ch 1, turn.
Repeat for pattern.
I'm using three colors, in blocks of 4 rows. I am anticipating that I will need 48 rows. We will see when I get that far. My dogs aren't very big, and I'm not wanting them to be engulfed by the blankets. I will also put a border of some sort arount the edge of the blankets. I'm still unsure as to what I'll do. I'll surprise us all.
The second doggie blanket will be in black, maroon, and white Red Heart yarn. The yarn is also coming from my stash of scrap yarn.
(Note: This is not my original pattern, just my version of the Chevron pattern that I needed to complete my project. If there is someone I should give credit to, then please let me know. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes or violate copyright issues.)

Mystery Project is Finished!

You are seeing the front and back view of the bed pillow that I covered. Cool, huh? I took the two pieces and "sewed" them together around one of my spare bed pillows. What do you think? Can you tell that I love purple? I only wish that the colors of the yarn turned out better in the photos.

Mystery Project - 2nd Piece Finished

The second piece to the mystery project is now finished. I have woven in the end that you see hanging.

Mystery Project - 2nd Piece

I am now making a second piece for the mystery project. It will be idential to the first piece in the number of beginning chs and in the total rows when finished. For this piece, I decided to use a solid color - Amethyst.

Mystery Project - First Piece Finished

The first piece of the mystery project is finished. In total, there are 28 rows of dc.

More Progress

Here is a photo of the most recent progress on the mystery project. You can barely see the bottom rows of dark purple, but it's there. I would have more done, but my computer guy was here to set up the laptops, put in the new wireless router, and get all three laptops up and running on the router. We have problems with this when we try to do it ourselves. I also made dinner (BLT's) and finished up the laundry. It was a busy couple of hours.
Does anyone have any ideas on what this project might be yet? I'll give you a hint....it's not an afghan.

Progress on the Mystery Project

Oh What A Beginning It Was!!! *sigh* I had to rip it out and rip it out and rip it out. Four times! But I finally figured it out!
I needed my project to be 25 inches wide. I finally succeeded in getting it that way. I chained 88 and then double crocheted in the 3rd chain from the hook, then all the way across to the end of the row. Then I chained 2, turned, and double crocheted all the way back. This will be repeated for the entire length of the project.
This photo shows my progress as of 5 pm tonight.

Mystery Project - Yarn

I love purple! So I decided to use Amethyst, Lavender and White yarn for this project. The Amethyst is actually dark purple, but for some reason is showing up more blue in my photos. Anyway, I'm using Red Heart yarn (from my stash) and a J hook.

Mystery Project

I am going to be working on a "Mystery Project". I will feed you bits and pieces along the way and will post a few photos too.

Afghan/Blanket/Throw Is Finished!

I have finished the afghan/blanket that I was making. I ran out of yellow yarn, so it ended up being a throw instead of an afghan. (I was going to do a fifth vertical row but ended up with four.) I used this pattern/idea for it. http://dottieangel.blogspot.com/2010/06/ordinarily-extraordinary-blanket-how-to.html I was new to her way of crocheting the blanket together, but I have become an instant fan. I worked on this blanket a total of four days (varying hours each day). It was very quick to crochet and very easy to put together. I would have no problems using this pattern to make another blanket in the future. I used yarn from my yarn stash and a J hook. Since I used yarn I already had left over from other projects, this ended up costing me $0 to make. Those are the best kind of projects, in my opinion. I should also add that this afghan/blanket/throw will be added to our collection here at home. I did not make it with anyone in mind, so it's not a gift. I think I've succeeded in adding a bit of color to our home with it. What do you think?

I've Been Thinking...

And that's not always a good sign! LOL Actually, I ran across my craft notebook. It's a notebook where I write down any ideas for future projects, patterns that are floating around in my head, things like that. I've decided that it was time to bring it back out into the sunlight and see if I have any inspiring thoughts to write down in it over the winter. So, if you don't have a craft notebook, maybe you should think about keeping one too. You might be surprised what ends up in it!

Trying Out A New Pattern

I decided to try out a new crochet pattern. Well, it's new to me, at least. It can be found here http://dottieangel.blogspot.com/2010/06/ordinarily-extraordinary-blanket-how-to.html . I have never crocheted an afghan in vertical rows, so it was time I tried it. I was hoping that the "joining as you worked" would be easy, and it is. The finished product is fabulous! I am making my blanket/afghan using yarn from my stash. It's all Red Heart yarn in the colors Pumpkin, Cherry Red, Blue, Bright Yellow and Black with multi-colored flecks. I am using a J hook. The photo shows my progress so far. I started this yesterday in between all the activities and errands. When I picked it up this afternoon, I hadn't even finished the first black square. Now I'm on the second row. Woo Hoo!

Granny's Tissue Box Cover

I found a free pattern for a square tissue box cover at this blog http://danitanti.multiply.com/, called Danitanis Site. There is a free pdf listed that you will see as you scroll down the page. I had intended to make it in white, medium purple and dark purple, but I was having trouble getting it to fit the box right, so I ended up doing it in medium purple. My photo does not do it justice. It's quite pretty. I used Red Heart yarn and a G hook. This is going to end up being a gift for a good friend of mine.

Mickie's Christmas Stocking

My husband casually reminded me the other day that our oldest son's girlfriend does not have a Christmas stocking like the rest of the people in our household. Thank God he thought of this before it was too late to make one! She told me that her favorite colors are blue and hot pink, so that's what her stocking colors are. I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn, a K hook, and the following free pattern http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com/free-crochet-Christmas-patterns.html .

Pepper Loves.....

My Yarn. He is sleeping with his head buried among the skeins. What a cutie!

Cardigan for a 6 month old baby

I also made my 6 month old great nephew, Muffin Man, a cardigan for the cold weather. I couldn't find a pattern just for this size, so armed with his measurements and a tape measure, along with this free pattern, https://docs.google.com/View?id=dp8xs77_7dmn4r7hb , I started making a few alterations until I got it to be the right size. I'm hoping it will fit as it may be just a little bit too big. I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn and a G hook.

Baby Skater Beanies

I made my great-nephew, Muffin Man, two skater beanies. I used the usual free pattern http://chiescrochetandknitting.blogspot.com/2005/11/very-simple-skateboarder-beanie.html but since he's only 6 months old, I stopped at row 11 when increasing and then went straight to row 18. His mom measured his head for me and it is around 17 inches in circumference, so this may be a bit big. I measured it as I went, but you never know how things will turn out sometime. I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn and a G hook.

Next Crochet Project

My next project is a cap and sweater set for my great nephew. I'm working on the cap now. He's 6 months old, and his head measures 17 inches around, so I'm using this pattern http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com/free-crochet-Christmas-patterns.html and altering it as I go. I just stopped at Round 11 and went directly to Round 18. It's not exactly 17 inches, but I think it's going to work out fine. I'm using Caron's Simply Soft yarn and an I hook.
As for the sweater, I'm going to work up my own pattern for it. She's getting me the measurements that I need, and I'll go from there. I hope it will turn out ok. I've not been able to find a free pattern for a 6 to 9 month old sweater.

Head Huggers Cap

My husband asked me to make him a cap for Christmas. He picked out the yarn ... Vanna's Choice, color Denim Mist. He also picked out the pattern. It was a free leaflet that I picked up in a store sometime. The hat turned out really well, and I let him try it on to see if it fits. It does. But he still can't have it until Christmas. LOL

Another Christmas Stocking

My youngest sister requested another Christmas stocking. This time, in yellow and white. I used Red Heart yarn and a K hook. The pattern is a free one and can be found here http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com/free-crochet-Christmas-patterns.html .

Afghan #3 ( Christmas Project)

Afghan #3, a Christmas gift, is finally finished. It's for one of my nephews. He requested the colors....orange and green. It's done using Red Heart yarn and a P hook. I used a free pattern for this, and altered it a bit in size. If you look in a previous post, you will find the link to the pattern.

Our Christmas Tree

We looked at the Christmas tree for three days before we were finally able to get it decorated. It's quite a change to see the before and after photos. Normally, we would use a totally different style of decoration, but my daughter wanted to do a classier tree this year. (She's 13, so imagine that!) Anyway, the finished product is just lovely! It's done in silver and blue.

I'm Hungry, Mom!

Do your dogs tell you when they are hungry? One of mine does. Here he is....paws on my leg, wagging his tail. Then he sits down by the dog food box and stares at it until I get the hint. LOL Who says he can't speak our language!!!

No Bake Cookies (No Peanut Butter Version)

My daughter begged me to let her make these cookies for two days. We were exceptionally busy or I wouldn't have made her wait to do it, but she was able to get them done the evening after Thanksgiving. We make the "without peanut butter" version due to a peanut food allergy in the household. We've made these for many years now, and sometimes they turn out well, and sometimes they don't. If you don't boil the mixture long enough, they won't set up right. But who cares....you can always eat them with a spoon if necessary. LOL In any event, she did a good job.