New Squares

I had promised to make a square for a Heartmade Blessings comfortghan and since the assembler was going for a garden theme, I decided to make a square from a book called 63 Crocheted Cable Stitches. It's called "Bouquet of Flowers". I've made one for that gift afghan I've been talking about. It was all in the one solid color. Since the comfortghan was to be a garden theme, I decided to try playing around with the colors for a little more realism. I started out with a camo background thinking it might have a sun and shadow on grass look, but it didn't. I was almost done, though so decided to finish it. Wow! was it pretty. I did another one to send as the one I promised and used light blue for the background and red for the flowers (I used yellow for the flowers on the camo square) and here's what I got:


I was so tickled at how these squares turned out! I surprise myself that way sometimes. It's always fun when it happens, though.

Three Months

Wow! It's been three months?! I always lose track of time. Well, let me get you up to speed :)


I finally learned how to knit and have started working on following patterns. Here's what I've done so far:

This teddy bear pattern seemed an easy one and it was. I've made another one in a pink/purple variegated yarn, but I don't have a picture of it. I've also made a couple of headbands. I have a pattern for a corset tee that I really want to make for me, but before I tackle that I have a dress to make for my dd's sixth birthday in June. Stitch-wise it's pretty simple, but the shaping and the funky yarn for the skirt are what's going to be the challenge.

I'm still working away on the crocheted cables afghan I started in January. I plan to enter it in the state fair in September. Since it's going to be a gift, any ribbons/awards I get will be included as a tribute to the receiver's influence on my crafty side.

I have all the swatches done for the Crochet Guild of America's Masters in Basic Stitches correspondence course I received in last month. I now have to answer the questions and block all of my swatches. I know I should have blocked them as I finished them, but I've never blocked anything and have put it off. Now I have all 20-odd swatches to do at one time.

A Brand New Shiny New Year

How time flies when you're stressed out. Oops! I meant having fun :)

This year, I decided that I wasn't going to set up a big ole list of projects that I won't even get half done. No. This year I have only 2 afghans that I plan on concentrating on. One is a graph afghan for son #2. I've done graph afghans (Star Wars) for dh, ds #1 and even my brother (even though the only graph part was the logo at the top. So, I asked ds #2 what kind of afghan he wanted, hoping that he wouldn't want a piture of any kind. That was a fruitless hope. Of course he wanted an afghan like Daddy and Bubba. He is big into Kingdom Hearts video games and has an absolute love for the weapons from said game. They're called keyblades and he even got a couple of life-sized ones for Christmas. So that's what he wants on his afghan. So I get to sit down with graph paper and pictures of his favorite keyblades and graph it out and color it in. That part of it I don't really mind all that much. It's the cross stitching that is really tedious. Anyway, he wants not just keyblades. He also wants to have the skull from The Punisher. He agreed on alternating squares of keyblades and that skull. I just happened to think that I'll need to get pictures of the logo for Kingdom Hearts and The Punisher. Panels for top and bottom, you understand.

The other afghan is for a birthday present. I can't say who for, since I think that person occasionally drops by my blog. Anyway, I bought the Leisure Arts leaflet 63 Crochet Cable Stitches. I started it in Red Heart Super Saver Cafe, thinking that would be a great color for said recipient, but although I love, love, love the color, it just doesn't speak that person's name to me. So I am now in search of another color. I'm going to keep working on the brown one while I'm getting the other two ready to go. It will give me something to work on in between keyblades and be a nice change from the other color (whatever that may be).

Dd has already asked me to make her yet another birthday dress. Her birthday is in June so I'll have plenty of time. I'm hoping to get her to pick something besides pink ;) After almost 6 years, I'm about pinked out. I would like to do a nice lavender or maybe a robin's egg blue. I nice shade of green would also be great. Oh, well. I'll just have to wait and see what she picks out.

So, that's my list of projects for this year. It's not very long. I don't have a project for almost every month of the year and I will definitely be able to get it all done. I'm hoping to add knitting this year. I'm learning and I am eager to be almost as proficient at knitting as I am at crocheting.

Speaking of proficient crocheting. I almost forgot to mention that I will be trying my hand at the Masters in Basic Stitches correspondence course from Crochet Guild of America . I'll have a year to complete it, so that's another reason I haven't tried to plan a whole load of projects for this year. Wish me luck!!!

Afghan finished!

I have finished my brother's scarfghan, see:

Catching up

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! Well, things have been rather chaotic here for quite a while. There's been colds, a touch of the flu, 2 birthday parties and family stuff between then and now. I haven't even done all that much in the way of crocheting until last month. That was how I really realized that I had too much going on. So, now I'm back at the hook.

I made a baby afghan for my cousin's best friend using the Adoring Hearts pattern from the book, A Crocheter's Garden of Afghans (see my January archives for a picture). Unfortunately, I was unable to find my camera before I had to deliver it. This sweet afghan was made with Bernat Baby Coordinates in Sweet Pink and White. I alternated squares with half of them being pink with white hearts and the other half being white with pink hearts. I finished with a round of white single crochet and the border round of big pink treble crochet shells. I turned out really pretty. I'm sorry I couldn't get a picture. That afghan went over so well, that another aunt (great-aunt, actually) asked me to make her one only in green and white and a little bigger. So that's what I'm working on now. I've got just over half of the squares done. I'm again using the Adoring Hearts pattern and Bernat Baby Coordinates, this time in Iced Mint and White. I'm going to do the same border with one round of white single crochet and the final round of big green treble crochet shells. I have my camera again, and will definitely be getting a picture of this one to post here as soon as I get it done.

My next project will be to finally finish my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan. I finally got the logo graphed out and will be doing a panel at the top and cross-stitching the logo on. I might even add some golden snitch squares along the bottom, but that's going to depend on how long it takes me to get this afghan put together and the logo panel done. After I finish that afghan, I'll be starting on a set of placemats. They'll be done in delta crochet that I learned from an online crochet class at Hass Designs. I'm looking forward to getting started on those. I love working in the round at any time and this is a kind of filet, but it's triangle-shaped instead of squares. I've never been able to get the squares to be squares, they're always rectangles. The triangles I can do :)

I've lined up some projects to complete/do after the holidays. I have some other things I'd like to do, such as learn new techniques, study calligraphy, use up some of my scrap stash. Especially that last one. I've got so much scrap yarn, that I'm running out of room to put it. I'm going to have to get it worked up. Our house is so small, that there's barely enough room for us sometimes as it is. LOL I'll keep you posted (pun intended).

Quiet Time

Things have been quiet on the home front for the last couple of weeks. Not a lot on the hook, although there needs to be. I've been making Angels For Hope angels, in the hopes that I'll be able to rejoin that wonderful organization again before long. I've been doing thread angels. I love the tiny little size :)

Speaking of thread, as y'all know, I took the online Delta crochet class at Hass Designs. I have successfully completed all the lessons with the only exception being the starching. The lavender ornament has been the only thing to get starched yet. I have 3, count 'em 3, doilies in my bag just waiting to be blocked and starched. Anyway, I have discovered that I love thread!!!. I tried my Angel square in size 10 thread and it came out to be about 1 1/2 inches wide. It's so cute!! :) So I think I'm going to go in search of more thread patterns. I'm not real thrilled with filet, but I know if I find one that I just love, I'll do it.

My gift list remains unfinished. Most of it, I haven't even started on. I did get a Harry Potter logo graphed out. I just need to join the scarves and do the logo panel. I am wanting to make some of the Star Jasmine delta crochet doilies as placemats for my aunt. It's the aunt that always made me feel like I could succeed at whatever I wanted and has really inspired me to continue in crochet and also to pass it along to the next generation. That doily pattern calls for size 20 thread, but I only had size 10 and since I don't have it blocked yet, I don't know if it's going to be the right size. If it's still too small, I think I'll probably try one with a size 5 hook and/or maybe a size 5 thread. It'll probably wind up being one of each until I find the size doily I want.

New Pics

I finally got pictures from my digital camera to my computer. First is a picture of the Delta crochet flower ornament from the Delta crochet online class at Hass Design. I'm not sure what lesson it's in, but I actually made a couple of others first. This one is the first one that looks like the chart and hence the only one I've actually blocked. I've also completed the coaster and it also looks cool, but I don't have it blocked yet.




The angel square picture is one I made for an exchange partner using some scraps I had received from a new member of one of my exchange groups. I didn't have enough yarn of either color to finish the last round, so after doing some math a couple of times, I used both colors. I didn't think I would like it, but when it was done it was great! I love it when I surprise myself :)

I also have completed my first Heartmade Blessings comfortghan. I was thrilled to be able to do it. I just finished getting it washed and all yesterday and it's going in the mail today. The joining and border don't really show up well on the computer, but it has a little metallic gold thread running through it and really looks glitzy in real life.

My next project isn't really crochet, but it's one I've had waiting for a long, long time. I made a sweatshirt jacket for my sister with handprint angels of both the boys for Christmas one year. I only had the two boys and she loved it. Well, I now have a girl to add and the original shirt has seen some fairly frequent use. So, the shirt needs to be replaced and the baby girl added. The original jacket had gotten lost many moons ago and I just found it last night, so as soon as I find the new sweatshirt, I'll be on my way to replacing it. When I get that done, I'll be getting my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan put together. I did find a HP logo that was large enough for me to copy so I'm going to see if I can graph it out and do a logo panel at the top like the Star Wars one I did for DH and DS #1.

Crochet Slump

I've been in a crochet slump. I hate that when it happens :( Anyway, since it was in the 80's Easter, I didn't get the buttons sewn on DD's cape and of course, no pictures yet. I've got an afghan that I thought up for the Herrschners afghan contest, but I only have the first row done. I signed up for the Delta crochet class at HassDesign and even got the first ornament done, but I got it mailed off before I remembered that I didn't get pictures of it either. I have gotten all the scarves done for my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan done, but I have yet to put it together. So as you can see, I've kind of been playing around with little stuff, but not getting more of my bigger stuff done.

I printed out all the lessons from the Delta crochet class yesterday and did another ornament yesterday evening. I did the new one in lavender. I'll be getting pics of it up as soon as I get it blocked. I must say that I like Delta crochet better that filet. Not only did I learn a new technique, I learned to read the symbol chart and since I've never blocked anything a day in my life, I'm learning how to do that too. This has inspired me though to move on to some of my other projects that are waiting for me to get to them. And I found the perfect yarn and perfect pattern for my sister. I'm afraid to share it prematurely since she reads this blog too LOL :)

Secret Sister gift

As part of a secret sister exchange, I received a couple of skeins of Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn. I have recently rediscovered the joy of working with cotton and I made this butterfly washcloth: I also made a butterfly bookmark with some purple thread I received, but I didn't get a picture of it. Yesterday I started on a cape for my daughter to wear with her Spring dress. I'll get pictures of it posted as soon as there's enough of it to post. :)

Sharing Crochet

Hi all! I was just catching up on my blog reading and reading Dee's latest article reminded me of my doctor's appointment yesterday. No, not the appointment itself, what happened in the waiting room. Now, I go to the health dept. so I always take crocheting with me since I never know how long I'll have to wait. Usually I get a "oh, that's pretty" or " what are you making" and that's it. Yesterday I met up with a lady who not only crochets and sat trading techniques with me, but also lives in the same town. Small world, huh :) But the highlight of my day came as I sat waiting at the pharmacy end of the building, again, waiting. A lady sitting behind me stood up and leaned over to watch me make a granny square. She said "do you know how to make those little round ones? Do you start with a piece of cardboard or something?" She of course was talking about a yo-yo. So I set down my square, grabbed the other end of the skein and made a yo-yo. When I handed it to her, she said "Yes, that's what I'm talking about! Can I keep this?" I was hard pressed not to laugh out loud. Of course I told her to keep it. She told me she was going to take it home and make some more. She looked to be about the same age as my mama and she was so tickled with that little ole yo-yo. It's amazing that a little thing like that yo-yo could put that big a smile (and that kind of a smile) on someone's face. She acted like I had just made her day. I know it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day :)

Crochet Olympics Afghan Complete

I had originally thought I won a bronze medal, but when looking back over my crochet journal, I discovered that I had all but the border done on my afghan by the time of closing ceremonies. YEAH!!!!!! I completed the final round of it last night. Here is the completed afghan, the one I am so proud of and my greatest accomplishment to date (due to the fact that I started it and completed it in the time frame I set myself).

Crochet Olympics Progress

As promised, I have taken pictures of the squares I have done so far for my own personal afghan. There are 9 all together so far with only 3 more to go. I'll post the last squares when I get them done. Here we go!

Baby Afghan

Here is the first baby afghan I've ever made for any relatives. This one went to a cousin that I graduated high school with. He and his wife have been trying forever to have a baby and now they have one!! Woohoo!! I was tickled to make this, especially after I heard that they got almost no blankets at the baby shower. Here's the completed ghan:

Here's also close-ups of the squares I used (See the post "The Baby is Coming, The Baby is Coming") once they were put together as well as close-ups of the border that ended with a final round of reverse single crochet:

"Enchanting" exchange square

This was my next item completed in 2006. It's from an afghan called "Enchanting" in a Leisure Arts book called Absolutely Gorgeous Pineapple Afghans by Patricia Kristoffersen. This lovely square was a bit challenging for me and I learned not to try a new pattern after 8 pm :) It turned out so well that I did another one in different colors for my crochet olympics afghan (more details in future posts LOL).

Pictures--FINALLY!!!

I finally got pictures off my digital camera and onto my computer where I could post them for you guys to see :) I'm going to start with the sweater I made for my mama for her birthday. She was very happy to model for me. The pattern came from a subscription set called (I think) Vanna's Crochet Favorites. It's the same as the one I did for my mother-in-love for Christmas year before last.

Squares needed

Do you knit or crochet? Do you have 12-inch squares lying around or maybe you just have an enormous amount of stash that is preventing you from indulging in new purchases. Here's your chance to put that stash to excellent use and squares a new home. I'm talking about HeartMadeBlessings. I've been making squares for this organization for about a year now and we have recently had a huge wave of requests come in. We can use all the help we can get. If you can help out contact someone at the HeartMadeBlessings site and they can get you going in the right direction. Thanks a bunch!!!

Family Stuff

Stevie is set to start back to karate class today. I'm hoping that the extra physical activity will help with his ADD. The medicine seems to be working, but I really don't want to do this for long term. He's also set up to start grief counseling tomorrow. I'm hoping that will help with his attitude, although at the age of 11, I know that incipient puberty has a lot to do with that :) OOh! Speaking of his karate class, I better go make sure he has a clean uniform LOL

Baby's afghan

I finished the baby afghan just in time! It turned out great :) To recap: I made this afghan with Red Heart Baby in white and mint twinkle. I chose the two granny square patterns and did six of each. When I got all of the squares done and ends woven in, I joined them all using the white with a "sc in first square, ch 1, sc in corresponding st in second square, ch 1, sk 1, sc in next st on first square" and the border matches the green squares, except the border is white with green hearts. I have pictures, but my camera has gone AWOL. As soon as I find it, I will have all kinds of pics to share.

Done! and done!

As you all know, I have a month-by-month plan for getting holiday gifts done this year. Most of them are things I wanted to do last year, but I didn't get started anywhere near early enough. So, I am doing them for this year. For January, I wanted to finish my son's Star Wars afghan and make a baby afghan for my cousin who is having her baby today. Not only did I get both things done as planned, I was also able to do a comfortghan for my best friend, a couple of squares and bookmark all for exchanges. I've been considering starting some a couple of other things that have caught my eye over the last couple of weeks, but I have enough on my plate (hook?) right now to keep me busy.

The Baby is Coming, The Baby is Coming!!

Now that I have finally finished the Star Wars afghan, I can move on to the baby afghan for my cousin. The pattern I originally picked out was quite a bit more involved than I anticipated, especially since I'm kind of in a hurry. I need something I can work on in the evenings while watching tv. I decided on a couple of 12-inch squares I found at HeartMadeBlessings , one is called Cable Hearts and the other is called Adoring Hearts. Since I'm making these with baby yarn (White and Mint Twinkle) and a size F Boye hook, the squares actually turned out to be about 8 to 8 1/2 inches. I'm going to make 6 of each square and put them together alternating the squares in a 3x4-square layout. I'll get pictures of it when I get it done and post them here for all you guys to see.