Gettin My Hook On!

I have always thought a picture is worth a thousand words...so I'll show you what I've been up to this week.  I have been hooking owls.  The idea came to me driving home from work one evening.  The rest is history.  This is little guy is what a week's worth of crocheting and working out ideas have resulted in.  And I think I am most pleased with the results.

This was the first one I worked up.  Cute, I know, but I thought he could be cuter.

All very cute.  I like the little short one.  But, still...not quite there.

 Then this little guy, made from some chunky yarn in my scrap basket.

Getting there.  But not quite happy with his little horns. 

Getting there...I added a little yellow in the eyes and made his horns a little more pointy.  LOL!

Definitely getting there.  I really liked this chunky yarn, too.

Awww...now that's it...some wings!  OK...my work here is done!  I will be bringing a pattern soon.  But right now I am trying to crank as many of these guys out for a craft sale coming in November. 

Everyone have a great week and keep those creative juices flowing!

Scrap Happy Progress

Progress on my Scrap Happy is coming right a long.  Maybe a bit slower than normal, but that's okay.  I am also working on a shawl.  Two projects at one time!  It's a bit out of my norm, but I needed something smaller I could carry with me to knit night.

Look at those ziggy zags!  That's what makes this so much fun to work on, just watching how the different colors come together.  It occurred to me, you could make these into squares and stitch them together.  I may have to experiment a bit with that.  It would be great for using up those tiny bits of yarn!

How do you like my hook bag?  A girl at work had one of those thirty-one bags party.  I ordered this little bag, and instead of having my initials put on it, I had "hooks" on it.  It is perfect to carrying around my crochet hooks!

Let me share some vintage with y'all.  This is a piece of crochet done by my Great Grandmother.  I am certain it is in a hand dyed wool.  I am not sure what stitch, this is, it looks like a type of shell stich.  I am sure I could figure it out or find it somewhere.  I think I am going to add this to my ravelry page, I wonder what she would think of that?!!

This is her.  She was born in 1888 and died in 1962 a few days before I was born.  It gives me such a heart warming feeling to just be able to have these pieces of her crochet. 

Here is the doily she made to go with it.  And yes, that is her iron!  I have more of her items in my possession.  Does this not give you just a glimpse into what her life was like?  It does me. 

Unbelievably, these are in pretty good condition.  There is a little hole in the doily, and the dresser scarf is a bit faded.  I was thinking about doing this same set for myself.  How neat would that be!

Here is another picture of her.  She was tiny!!  I'll stop here.  I could post all day about family history, and share pictures if time would let me! 

Jacob's Stripe-ity Scrap-ity All Finished!

I finished up Jacob's blanket last night.  I think he'll like the bright bold colors.  Can you believe I used all leftovers from my stash!

How do you like the border?  I used a denim color blue and added some color to the very edge, followed by a final row of backwards crochet, which gives it a rope-like edging. 

Here is an up close view.

I definitely plan on doing another one of these blankets.  It's fun mindless crocheting and gives quick satisfaction.  Jacob wanted his blanket in bright colors...so this should make him happy!  I think when I do another one of these I will go towards the earth tones with some black and whites mixed in.

Phoebe gives it her stamp of approval!  Oh, for those wanting the pattern, you can find it here.

Progress is coming along on my zig zag afghan and pictures are soon on the way with my progress!  In the meantime I wish everyone a great productive week!!!

Scrappy and Happy!

I am so addicted it's not even funny!  I started this blanket for my nephew.  He likes bright colors.  I found this pattern on ravelry and had to jump right in!  It's called "Ribbon Afghan" and you can find the pattern here. 

This is the perfect project for using up those leftovers, which I have gobs of!! 

So...while working on this, I was surfing around ravelry and came across another pattern that is also perfect for scrap yarn.  I immediately loved it, so much that I had to go ahead and give it a shot for myself. 

OMG!  I cannot decide which I like better.  The neat thing about this is you can use those little tiny scraps of yarn!  You can find the pattern here.  It is so much fun to work on. 

See what I mean?  It's a draw isn't it?!

I'm off to sit back and crochet my afternoon away!  Tooodles!

Hootie Tutorial

 Hootie Owl

Size F Crochet Hook
Scraps of worsted weight acrylic yarn
Giggly Eyes


increase = 2sc in the sc of the previous row
decrease = insert hook in the sc of previous row and pull up loop, insert hook into next sc of previous row and pull up loop, pull up loop through two loops on hook. 

Body (make two)

chain 6

Row 1:  sc 5, ch1, turn

Row 2: Increase, sc in next 3 sc, Increase, ch1 and turn


Row 3: Increase, sc in next 5 sc, Increase, ch 1 and turn

Row 4 - 7:  sc in each sc, ch 1 and turn

Row 8:  Decrease, sc in next 5 sc, decrease, ch 1 and turn

Row 9:  Decrease, sc in next 3 sc, decrease, ch 1 and turn

Row 10:  sc in each 5 sc, tie off and 

Sandwiching the two bodies together, sc the two together 

Wings

On one side of the body at about the fifth row from the top, insert hook and pull of loop in a contrasting color of yarn.  Ch 1, 4 sc in next 4, ch 1 and turn.

5 sc in each sc of previous row, tie off and weave in the ends.

Repeat this on the other side of owls body.


Beak

Locate placement for beak (about midway between top of wings).  Make a loop on the hook, wrap loop over hook and insert hook into post of sc on the owl body and pull up a loop, pull up a loop and pull through first two loops on hook.  Insert hook into post of next sc post on body and pull up loop, wrap loop around hook and pull up through two loops on hook, pull up loop through remaining loops on hook.  Tie off and secure it to the owls body by weaving in the ends.

Feet

Locate placement for feet.  Insert hook and pull up a loop, chain 3.  Slip stitch in second chain from hook, sc into place where the first loop was pulled up.  Chain 2, slip stitch in second chain from hook, sc into same stitch of previous single crochet.  Chain 2, slip stitch in second chain from hook, sc into same stitch of previous single crochet.  Tie off.  Weave in ends.

Repeat this on the other side for the second foot.

Finishing Touches!

Cut three lengths of yarn in your wing color and make a little tie on tassel at each side of head.  Attach giggly eyes....and your done!!!

Get creative and have fun!!!

Tah - Dah!! Crochet Log Cabin Blanket!

Well...here it is, in all her glory!  And I have to say, I am so pleased with it that I can't stand it!  The blanket turned out to be pretty darn close with the image I had in my head.  

Would I do another one?  You bet I would!  I would like to do one with diagonal stripes.  But I do love the diamonds! 

Most people are unaware of the history behind the log cabin quilt.  Each square block is a piece of history in itself. The block is a representation of an early log cabin home that was being built on the wide expanses of the prairie.  The story behind the log cabin quilt history block is as follows: 

The center block is usually red or yellow, this represents the fire in the hearth.

 

The light strips of cloth found on one side of the square represent the sun shining on the eastern side of the log cabin.

 

Likewise the dark strips indicate the shady side of the log cabin.

I loved this the moment I read it!!  

I did the border with one single row of red in half double crochet, followed by five rows in dark green.  The brown edging is done in a reverse single crochet which gives it that braided edging look.  

Even Phoebe has given her seal of approval!