Thursday, July 28, 2011

More Nana Squares





I spent some time with my scrap yarn bag yesterday and this morning. I managed to whip out another 13 solid squares and 5 multi-colored squares. My total count this far is 78 solids and 15 multi's. The free pattern for these squares can be found here http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/2011/05/nana-square-tutorial.html .

Newest Design (Cluster Pinafore)

I finished up the crochet part of the dress Tuesday night, but sewed the buttons on yesterday. My pattern is all wrote out but I've not been able to post it yet. Bear with me and I'll get it done soon. I think the little dress turned out really cute.

Friendship Anklet

I needed a quick break during my crochet time yesterday, so I whipped myself up a Friendship Anklet (instead of a Friendship Bracelet). If anyone ever wonders about whether or not you will use all those things you learned in Girl Scouts at a later point in life...let me set the record straight...yes you do use some of these skills. This photo is proof of it! :)

Slouchy Hats


Color: Plum Perfect
Yarn: Simply Soft
Slouch Hat (no model available at the time...she'd just done her hair...sigh)

Color: Grey Heather
Yarn: Simply Soft
Model: Small T

Color: Black
Yarn: Simply Soft
Model: Small T (this is the only photo she took of the black one...sorry)

I made these three Slouchy Hats yesterday, my day off from the pool. I decided that I would get in as much crochet time as possible and I made good use of it. I used this pattern http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/cpatt03.htm then changed it up a bit by repeating Row 3 (one extra row of it) and doing 4 rows of SC instead of the three it calls for. It makes a really nice slouchy hat. Small T loves them.

Small T's Day at the Pool

Small T and a group of her friends met up at the pool this past Tuesday. We weren't very busy (not a lot of swimmers) so...they had me take lots of photos. Here are the four of the girls jumping into the deep end. They did lots of actions moves and here's one that I caught on my camera. They like the James Bond moves the best, but I think this photo is hilarious! Small T is 2nd from the right.
Then they practiced some cheerleading stunts and pyramids. The two remaining boys were good sports through it all. Small T is on the left.
Then they played "Human Knot". It's were everyone stands in a circle and reaches out and grabs hands with someone else. Each of your hands will be held with a separate person, by the way. Then you have to undo the knot. It was hilarious! Worse than playing Twister! It took some pretty ingenious moves at times too.
Here's another shot of one of the "Human Knot" games. I think they played it four or five times.
The beginning shot of a "Human Knot" game. Look how close they are to each other. They were pulling each other through holes and in and out of the water (without using their hands...they have to stay clasped to each other at all times). Amazing! Some of them ended up in some weird positions, to say the least. In any event, they kept me busy taking photos of them that day and broke some of the boredom for me.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Past Few Days...


The past few days have been extremely hectic. I swear, I didn't know if I was coming or going at times. However, I managed to make this cute little dress. I used the pattern for the Angel Wings Pinafore (link is posted in a previous blog entry) and tried something different with it. I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn and an I hook. I was experimenting with what the difference in size would be. And how it would look.

Now, this little cutie has been bugging me to death. I've been dreaming about it even. I finally sat down this evening (while the kids were watching Paranormal Activity 2....very scary and creepy...I might add) and finally figured the yoke of this out. Now I'm working on the body of it. I think I've actually got a handle on it now and am working on writing the pattern out as I go. So, I should have a free pattern to post on my blog before too much longer.

Now...let me explain this photo (and the next two as well). Tianna has one of these bracelets and persuaded me to buy one as well. This is the first part of the slogan.

This is the second part of the slogan.

And this is the third part of the slogan. It had you worried for a minute, didn't it? Me too. But it promotes breast cancer awareness. So I'm all for it. Plus, it's purple...my favorite color. So...would you wear one of these bracelets? I hope so.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I'm Pulling My Hair Out!

I am so frustrated! I'm trying to design a baby garment and it's giving me fits! This is what I have done so far. Maybe when I get home from work tonight, I will be clear headed enough to figure this out. If not, I'll have to put it on the back burner for a while and see what happens when I pick it back up again. Ugh!

Angel Wings Pinafore

I've been working on this for the past couple of days. I finally finished it up last night. All I had to do was sew on the buttons. I used this pattern http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/angel-wings-pinafore.html along with Bernat Baby Sport yarn in white. I used an I hook instead of an H.

Evening out the Lines

I'm working on evening out my tan lines so I won't look like a dork in my bridesmaid dress in September. So far, it's not working out too well. On the left side of the photo, I'm a bit pink. And I'm actually peeling in the pink area. I use loads of sun screen each day, so I can't understand how this happened. In fact, I was appalled at this photo as it shows some red bumps on my face. I'm hoping that I'm not getting sun poisoning like so many in my family do. They get these horrible red bumps when they are out in the sun.

Excessive Heat Warnings

We've been under excessive heat warning for the past two weeks. Yesterday, at the pool, Big C was so hot that he wet his beach towel down and placed it over his head and shoulders to try and keep cool. It's tough being a life guard (and a manager...that's me) in this heat. We've been 103 to 105, actual temperature, every day that I've worked this week.

Congratulations!

Sassy passed her swimming test! Now she can go in the deep end of the pool anytime she wants and she can go off the diving board! Here she is, in the middle, celebrating with a complimentary popsicle.

Welcome to Baby E!

Baby E arrived yesterday at 6:14 pm. Woo Hoo! I don't have a photo to share at this time, but hope to get one soon. She weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. and is 19 inches long.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Size Comparison of the Little White Dress


Debra asked me to show her the difference between the two little white dresses I made. The free pattern can be found here. http://sarahsweethearts.blogspot.com/2011/04/little-white-dress.html . The one on the left is made using an I hook and the one on the right is made using a J hook. Placed side by side, the one on the right looks bigger. However, when you place them one on top of each other, as seen in the bottom photo, there is no difference in size. Hmmm.... makes you wonder, doesn't it? I must have crocheted the one with the J hook tighter. I'll never know at this point. I'll have to try it again soon though and see what happens.

Sherbet Lapghan Finished


All the squares are joined. The edging is complete. The Sherbet Lapghan is finished! :)

Sherbet Lapghan

A few weeks ago, I made up 12 squares using the "sherbet" colors of light green, pale yellow, and light coral. The squares have been sitting beside my desk all this time waiting to be joined together. Since I want to start a few other projects now, I am making myself complete my "outstanding" projects. Last night, I started joining the sherbet colored squares together. This is what I had accomplished by the time I went to bed. These squares were called the squares for Lapghan #2 or Throw #2 in previous posts. All squares are basic granny squares and are made using Red Heart worsted weight yarn and a J hook.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Baby E's Layette

I am finished with all the goodies for Baby E. I have made her the Dottie Angel Baby Blanket, the Azalea Dress, the Sweater Coat, the Best Ever Baby Booties and the Baby Mittens. Everything is made with Bernat Baby Sport yarn in Light Lilac and White. I hadn't sewn the buttons on the dress, but when I finished up the sweater tonight, I made myself sit down and sew the buttons on both items so I could package them up. Baby E is officially due on August 5th, so I'm ready for her to arrive now.

Sweater Coat

I finished up my final piece for Baby E. It's a Sweater Coat. Here's the link to the pattern http://bellabambinaknits.blogspot.com/2010/01/sweater-coat.html . I used Bernat Baby Sport in Light Lilac and an I hook.

Baby Mittens

I finally have a whole day off (sort of) and what did I do today...not much. I'm fighting a sick headache. I'm sure it's from being out in the extreme heat each and every day for 8 hours. But, I did manage to get in a little bit of crocheting. I made these cute little Baby Mittens http://bellabambinaknits.blogspot.com/search/label/mittens using Bernat Baby Sport yarn in Light Lilac. These will go in the package for Baby E when she makes her arrival.

The Gift of Yarn

My sister, Lea, stopped by a garage sale the day before we went down to visit her. She found a huge bag of yarn for a couple of dollars and snapped it up. Just for little old me! I finally figured out where the bag went to (after we got back home) and got to peek inside. This is only part of what was in the bag. There's several skeins of homespun along with enough other yarn to make many lovely items. I didn't take a photo of the rest of the yarn in the bag since it was a lot of small skeins of tapestry wool. I'm not sure what I'll use those for, but you never know. Thanks a bunch Sis!

Monday and Tuesday


I've been making more Nana Squares.

In addition to Grandma, I've also got another visitor...Ty. He's one of my many nephews. He was teasing me. He's all wrapped up in my fuzzy bathrobe.

Another set of Nana Squares.

And one more set of Nana Squares. The current total of Nana Squares is:
65 Solid and 10 Two-Color squares.
They are adding up quickly.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Nana Squares


Last night, I sat down (and stayed up late) making some more Nana Squares out of my scrap yarn. I've made a bunch more today, but I haven't taken a photo of them yet. The pattern for these can be found on The Royal Sisters blog.

Crocheting with my mom


I spent some time last night crocheting with my mom. She's here visiting and recuperating from a recent knee surgery. She knows how to crochet, but she only knows the very basics. She's been wanting to learn how to make a granny square, so I printed out this pattern http://debscrafts55.blogspot.com/2007/12/never-ending-blanket-square.html and proceeded to show her how to make the square. Since it's a continuous square, she won't have to keep changing things up. She can just keep on going, row after row.

Yesterday...


I finally finished up the baby jacket. I used this pattern (Sweater with Ruffled Bottom) http://bellabambinaknits.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweater-with-ruffled-bottom.html but changed up the ruffled bottom and put a scalloped edging instead. I used Red Heart yarn and an I hook. The color is light blue.

Now, I was thinking that I had enough yarn to finish up a cute little hat to go with the sweater. But no....it never turns out that way does it? I ran out with the rest of this row and then the scalloped edging to go. I used this pattern http://crochetingcrab.blogspot.com/2009/08/sweet-and-simple-newborn-hat.html . The yarn was the same Red Heart with an I hook.

Wow!


I sure am getting tanned!
(I'm going to have to work on the tan lines around my eyes though.)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Yarn Therapy

I was in bad need of some yarn therapy today. So...when I stopped at Wal-Mart, I went straight to the craft section to check out the goodies. I was surprised to see that they are carrying Red Heart Pound of Love. I made sure to buy a skein of it. Then I bought 6 skeins of Simply Soft in the colors: black, autumn red, blue mint, plum perfect, ocean and grey heather. Now, I need to find the time to make something with them. :)

R.I.P Cocoa and Pepper


It's been a few days now since my beloved fur babies passed away. It's been a hard time for the family. We miss them terribly. I don't think we'll ever be able to have anymore pets as the hurt is so horrible when they aren't with us anymore. I can only hope that they are having a good time in doggie heaven together. God Bless them both!

Sweater With Ruffled Bottom

I started this little sweater yesterday. I'm making it with Red Heart worsted weight yarn and an I hook. I am wanting it to be a more "winter weight" type of sweater. The pattern can be found here https://docs.google.com/View?id=dp8xs77_11rk9573rk .

Nana Squares

I've only had the time to do some quick and easy crochet projects, so I did a few more Nana Squares. There are 3 black and 3 gray. If you remember correctly, I've been using up my bits and pieces of yarn by making these squares. You can find the pattern on the Royal Sisters blog.

Quick Easy Winter Beanies


My yarn supply has dwindled down to almost nothing. And I still needed to crochet. So...I've been using up what yarn I do have by making some Quick Easy Winter Beanies. You can find the pattern here http://daperfectmix.blogspot.com/2010/08/quick-easy-winter-beanies.html .

It's Amazing!

I couldn't believe my luck! Last Friday, on our way south for the Float Trip, we had to stop at Wal-Mart for a few last minute items. I walked by this display and couldn't believe my luck. There they were....books 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this series! I had bought books 1 - 6 last summer and then couldn't find the rest of them. But here they were, one year later. Woo Hoo! And then today, on our way home from a day of visiting and shopping, I stopped at a different Wal-Mart to pick up dinner (broasted chicken) and found books 12 and 13. Wow! The stars must be in my favor! LOL I'm so lucky though. I had consigned myself to not being able to find these books and low and behold...there they were.

Float Trip


Me and Small T.

Miss J and Small T in the canoe. Big Daddy to the right.

"The Wills" and Big C.

Miss M (Medium J's girlfriend)

Big Daddy and Medium J.
Float Trip down the Niangua River on July 9th.
Just a small photo pictorial.