More Blankies for Boston

I wanted to share some more Blankies for Boston.  My friend Annie and I each made two blankies, these are our seconds.  She made the striped blanket, I believe it is called "Brain Dead Afghan".  It turned out beautiful.  I would like to give Annie some crochet props!  Her blanket looks perfect.  I tried to get some close ups so you can see the stitches up close.  And I love the weight of it, too!

I opted for another granny square, of course!  

I couldn't stop taking pictures of them.  They were shipped out on Friday, so hopefully they were received today and on their way to one of the bombing victims.

 

I am on to a new project now, which is coming along nicely.  I hope to be back this weekend with some new pictures!

Finally!!!

Happily I share the pictures of my latest blanket.  I have had to keep it top secret until it was given to its new home.  And boy, has that been hard!!!  It's not that I can keep a secret, but I was about to bust to get it to its new home!

Do you like the little bug on it??? 

I really enjoy making granny blankets like this.  I love the join as you go method!  And I like the bands of granny squares sandwiched between rows of granny stitches.  And this time I tried something new.  A final row of solid colored two-rounders border the blanket.  I love them, although there was a lot of ends to weave in, the final effect is so worth it!! 

I also learned a couple things making this blanket, which is always pretty cool.  First lesson learned, Resolve Carpet Cleaner will remove red dye that bleeds onto white!!  Oh, yeah!!  I was freaking!  When I went to block it, the red yarn bled a little.  I wasn't sure what to do, and my husband said try some resolve!!  Thank God it worked!

I also picked up a few tips on the little squares border.  It could be worked a couple of ways.  In strips or attach them as you go.  I attached them as I went around the blanket, which I think I prefer. 

All in all, I am ecstatic with how it turned out, and when I gave it to my girlfriend I believe she was, because she immediately teared up! 

After Christmas I think I am going to make a granny blanket for my bed.  I'm planning it in my head now.  It will definitely have red in it, too!

It just makes me smile!

Finally I got the tree up.  I am keeping it simple this year.  It's pretty.  All vintage!

And I found the tinsel icicles at Target.  Yay.  I had a small box of ornaments that come from Brad's Grandma's house.  You can tell they are old and have been used year after year.  So this year, I decided that's what I wanted to do.  And I love it!

Check it out!  Isn't he cute?  I think it is paper mache or stiffened fabric.  I have a couple more made like this I will share next week.

 And who doesn't remember these!

I have a few more ornaments left over, so I may do something with them if time allows.  I used my old quilt top for the skirt.  One made by my grandmother's aunt, so it is seriously old.  It makes me happy to be able to use it! 

I'm off for now.  Have a busy day ahead and a full week.  Plus, I haven't bought any presents yet!  Oh my!!

Granny Square Blankie

As you can see, I have been a busy girl!!  Here is a good two-week's worth of crocheting some granny love!  It started out a bit like work, but once I got into it I haven't been able to stop.

I had a call from a lady who had seen the blanket I did for Hospice.  So this is a special order.  I told her I would gladly make another, but it would, of course, be a little different.  It is for a little girl and yes, it will have an owlie on it!

Good Lord!  Look at all those ends.  I need to stop and weave some in, but I don't want to interrupt my granny mojo long enough to clean them up.  I am joining my squares as I go, which I really like.  And I am just feeling my way through the design.  There is a little bit left before I complete the band of 5 round grannies, then I am not sure what I will do.  

Other than this, things have been busy here.  Time just gets away from me, especially on the weekends. Before I go, let me share my happy little jack-o-lantern collection with everyone!

Aren't they cute?!!  I put them in my little antique mini cabinet so I could keep them together.  I am especially fond of my "Seagrove" pottery pumpkins.  

It is looking a lot like fall around the house...and I love it.  Right now I am working on some little haunted houses (the idea came from pinterest).  Hopefully I can get them done this week and get pictures posted next week.

For now, I'm off.  Laundry, supper, housework, you name it...and all I want to do is sit and crochet!

D

Granny Square Love!

The granny square blanket I picked up at the thrift store inspired me to do one of my own.  Her she be!!  I used the join as you crochet technique which really sped up the whole process.  Finished it up in about a week's time.

As I was finishing it up I decided it needed tassels on each corner.

I did each corner with a different color tassel.  cute??  I really like the blue and the purple against the black.

Then it hit me....I knew I had to do it...so, the final touch to the blanket....

You got it!  A little owl!!!  Now how fun is that?

I have decided to donate this to our local Hospice.  It is something I have always wanted to do.  My hope is to make about 3 to 4 afghans a year just for donating, and my hope is that although it is just a crocheted blanket, that it will brighten up a room and bring a smile to someone.

How can you not help yourself from smiling at this little guy!!

I think this would also make an adorable little baby blanket.  Maybe that will come true, maybe with little owl squares???  just a thought floating around in the back of my brain.  LOL

I have some good news about those who have sent me emails and comments about this pattern.  I knew it was in one of my crochet books.  Well I found it!!

It is out of this book, Cozy Crochet, by Melissa Leapman.  It is the Lacy Evening Shawl.

I wish I could remember the yarn I used, but it has been so long ago, I can't remember.  I do remember I got it from A.C. Moore, so it wasn't anything pricey.  It is a soft acrylic.  Hopefully I will get to wear it this coming fall, if it should ever get here!

Y'all have a good week!!  Happy Hooking!

Dawn

Crochet, Crochet, Crochet!!!!

As promised, I am posting the sunflower pattern for those of you who would like it.

For flower center  (sc are worked in the back loop to give the flower center ridges)
Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc into 1st ch. Mark start of round with a contrasting thread.
Rounds 2-3: work 2 sc into each st around, move marker
Round 4: 1 sc, 2 sc around, move marker
Round 5: 1 sc around, move marker
Round 6:  1 sc, 2 sc around, move marker
Round 7:  1 sc around, and end round with 1 sl-st into 1st st. of round.
Work flower center twice. Then sandwich the wrong sides of the circles together and crochet together with sc brown.

Petals:  Using a yellow attach yarn to one sc of the flower center,
*(2dc, 2trc, chain 3, sl st in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook, 1tc, 2 dc) all in same stitch, ch 3, sl st into next sc of flower center,  - Petal made!
chain 3 and repeat at *, continue in this matter all the way around flower. After the last petal chain 3 and attach to beginning dc.

Now the fun!  do a chain stitch with a tapestry needle and a bright green at base of petals around flower.  I chose to put a pretty button in the center, but several small buttons would also look great.

With this little sunflower you can do so much, it is great attached to a granny square.  The brown base can be filled with fiberfil to make a great little pincushion!

As you can see above,  I have created a little wall hanging which also includes little birds!

Scotty's Place had the cutest little birdies she had been making which caught my eye; I was able to find the pattern on ravelry, so I got  it. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bird-applique-2.  It's a very nice upload!!!  I did them in black to make the little crows. 

Isn't it cute???!!!!  I promise you, once you make a sunflower, you will have to make another!!  The little birds take all of 10 minutes to work up.

Of course, a beaded tassel is a necessity!!! 

It's been quite a week here.  HOT, for one thing.  Miserably hot.  Work has been busy and a bit on the insane side!  So, once I get home in the evening, I change into some cool and comfy and decompress in the a/c with my yarn at my side!  Friday I did get to the thrift store at lunch and found a couple treasures.

I snagged this granny square blanket for $7!!!!  It is beautifully crocheted, I couldn't walk out of the place without it! 

Phoebe totally approves!  I got it home, stuck it in the washer, and it's already in use!  (It has inspired me to start a granny blanket!!)  Yup, a trip yesterday afternoon to A.C. Moore and the insanity has already begun.  I can't wait to share once I get started!

I got a pretty little scarf crocheted up.  It took all of two evenings.  Isn't it pretty!
I am so ready for Fall!! 

I cannot wait until it is cool enough that I can start wearing this.  I crocheted this shawl years ago in this super dooper soft purple yarn.  I have had some requests for the pattern, but for the life of my I cannot get my fingers on it.  I'll keep looking.  It is in one of my crochet books, so I know it is around this house somewhere.

I cannot wait to wear it!

And the pictures don't lie, It is extremely soft!!!


I have been getting a lot of questions about this blanket from my Happy Hookah Goodness posting.

I do not have the exact colors I used, but I can tell you some of them.  The variegated yarns in these squares is Red Heart's TLC Essentials.  I used three colors: "sedona", "coraline", and "island".  I love the red one, "sedona", and use it in a lot of my crochet.  Fore those wanting to doe something similar to this I can give you my formula.  I kept the center of the large squares the same, blue.  Each square has white, and sedona in it.  If you keep the white and the red in the large squares you can change out the other yarns.  You can see I used some yellows and a pretty mint green.  I hope this helps.   If anyone has a question for me, I am happy to answer, but it would be best to email me at the address on my profile so I will be sure to see it!!

That's about it for now.  Phoebe says to tell everyone to have a great week and stay cool!

A Little Progress

Progress has been slow, but I have made a little headway.  I have started another row of grannies. These are in shades of beige and peach.  The sun is not out today, so I had a little difficulty in getting some decent pictures. 

Look at all that color!!!  My heart goes pitty pat, and I find myself "petting" my work as I go.  LOL!!  Silly, right?  I am sure all those that crochet will know just what I am talking about. 

It is really beginning to take on that "folk arty" look I am so nuts about.  I need to stop and weave in some tails.  Hopefully this week I can at least get around two corners.  That is if life will cooperate!!  We are still really busy getting the condo in order to put on the market.  We're almost there.  It will be nice once that is done and not hanging over our heads.

I am about to begin the last week of my 49th year!  Oh - My - God!!  Someone asked me if I had anything monumental planned for turning 50.  I had to think about that.  I am definitely NOT running a marathon like she did for turning 30, but I do like her way of thinking.  So, I am trying to think of what I really want to do!  I was toying with the idea of designing another rug, maybe entering it into the fair.  Winning a blue ribbon, or any ribbon at that, would be something that would be awesome to commemorate my 50th.

Well, it is getting that time.  Sunday evening, putting things in order for the week.  I hope everyone has a terrific week!

Crazy Insane Granny Square Madness

Well, I started something new.  Needing to get a fix on my granny square addiction I picked up my basket full of embroidery floss and started the insanity.  I think I am going to make a large mat for my dining table. 

And check out the back side!  It's reversible.  Each square is actually two squares sandwiched together by a row of single crochet.  It almost gives it a quilted look.

I love this pattern.  I am doing the circles in reds and building out in rows of different color backgrounds. 

This is my thread stash I am working from.  It looks like a complete mess! 

I also made a cuff for moi!  With beads, too! 

This is the underside of it.  It's just something I was toying with.  It has a groovy lacy look.  I've been wearing the mud out of it ever since I finished it.  LOL!

It's been a week, and seems like the weekend has flown by.  I'm off to crochet some more insanity!