Completed Projects!!

I don't know what got into me this summer but I really dove into a lot of projects. First off I had been eye balling a lot of crochet bag patterns ever since I picked my hook and yarn back up 6 years ago. When I was able to actually work up a crochet bag that allowed me access to so many other hookers to ask questions along the way, I definitely jumped at the opportunity. After completing my first crochet bag, my daughter asked me to do one up for her plus I just wanted to do a smaller version as well.

My daughter loved the oceanspray blue color I used in my bag but wanted a gray color as her main color. So I used Stone and Oceanspray as her colors. I did the shell stitching in alternate colors to give a striping effect. I also did the base with some striping as well. I couldn't believe my luck when I found a chevron print in the exact matching blue! I added some silver buttons to each of the flower centers. To add a little extra color I used a very colorful button as the closure button. I added a strip of fabric to the strap to keep it from stretching and also did a border of crab stitch to give it a cord like look around the strap. My daughter loves it and has unpacked her batman bag that she used everyday and is now using this one. I don't know how long that will last because how can you give up Batman!!

I decided to try just using 4 flower squares on this one. It worked up so quickly because I didn't make a separate base but instead whip stitched the bottom together. So it is more like a messenger bag. I also decided to make two straps. I embellished the top with a stripe of white single crochet and added a cute butterfly button.

While waiting on fabric order and the nerve to finally sew in the liners for the bags, I decided to work up a quick Fall Cowl. I used the All Grown Up Cowl pattern by Tamara Kelly. I had the recommended yarn on hand since it was the same as I used on the Wildflower Shoulder Bag. I just made my colors more Fall. I loved how it turned out and it is large enough to also pull down over my shoulders as a shoulder wrap.

I then decided I needed a nice wrap for this Fall as well and set out working up a triangle shawl. The pattern was a solid color but I wanted some pops of color so I improvised and added a few rows here and there of different colors. I also doubled the size so it would be a nice warm and cozy wrap. For the border I decided on a cute picot edge that I found by Attic 24 on her Granny Stripe Blanket. A very simple stitch but adds just enough to the edge to make it not so boring! I think my colors are more reflective of Winter!

I used Lion Brand Heartland yarn in Glacier Bay and Olympic as well as Red Heart Soft in Heather Gray. I still have some of this yarn in each color left and might make a slouchy beanie to go with it. Believe it or not this was a really quick project. It is such a non-thinking pattern that you can actually watch TV and crochet at the same time! My daughter is eyeing it for herself and I might get to use it maybe one time once the cooler air arrives! It is a pretty easy project that I might have to work one up in more fall colors. I do love some burnt orange and yellow!!

I can say that I did experiment with some new crochet stitches on these projects. Learning how to crochet a base on a bag was great. I also learned a couple of new stitches while working on the cowl. I learned the half double crochet foundation stitch. This stitch has become such a great one to have. I now use it to begin almost all of the my projects that call for a chain and foundation stitch. I also learned the shallow post stitch. This stitch really gives a cool stitch line effect to your work. I then learned the picot stitch. I do love learning new techniques that boost the average to just a little more!

I became reacquainted with my sewing machine as well. I have to tell ya that bad boy had been put away for so long that I had to look up a tutorial on how to thread it!! Then I had to look up a tutorial on how to reset my tension. Let's put it this way my google search on my touchpad is filled with Brother XL-2600i tutorials!! But I figured it out and am so glad I took the extra time and steps to add liners to all of my bags. I even added a liner to my bag. I need to add fabric to my strap as well and plan on doing that this week.

That gorgeous ball of yarn is for a new CAL I have signed up for. More about that in a later post!!

It is September and the leaves on the mountains are starting to change. Enjoy your week and check back later this week for an update on my Linen Stitch Afghan!!

Crochet Pillows!!!

Hello everyone and a Happy Friday!!

I have been crocheting away on a few pillows! It's so nice to do quick fun projects that really do add something nice to my home. I try to be that whimsical art loving and making person, but my practicality personality always perseveres. So I made some really cute pillows these past couple of weeks. If you remember, I posted a WIP on making a Diagonal Pillow here. Well I made a couple and love how they turned out. I found the pattern on Red Heart's website under their free patterns. It is by Kathy Wigington called simply "Diagonal Pillow".

Then I decided to do some stash busting and worked up a Ripple Pillow. I had attempted the ripple afghan stitch before but could not remember the exact sequence. So I found a great video tutorial by The Crochet Crowd. I inserted the video below for anyone who is interested in making an afghan or pillow.

 I had seen a really cute ripple blanket and cushion by Lucy at Attic 24 and wanted to do something similar. I wanted some pops of color but also liked the idea of white as the main color. So I made it with alternating stripes of white and a different color until I reached the length of my pillow. The video tutorial instructed to make sections of fourteen stitches until you had reached your idea width. So that is what I did. I liked the idea of my stripes going vertical instead of horizontal. (okay I didn't feel like making long stripes and opted for the shorter way) The shorter way did pay off with my stash busting because I had just enough of one color to do two rows...whew it was a nail biter!!!

I think they all turned out really cute and provided the splash of color I was looking for. Making the smaller projects using new stitch patterns is helping me learn more and have something quick and cute to showcase.

Caron Simply Soft Diagonal Pillow - WIP Wednesday

I have the pillow fever once again!! I am in the process of hooking up a diagonal shell stitch pillow out of Caron Simply Soft yarn. I had some off white and bone/beige skeins of Caron Simply Soft on hand. I am using the Red Heart free pattern "Diagonal Pillow" by Kathy Wigington. It is a fairly easy pattern once you figure out the first three rows. The second row was so very confusing when I first read it. I almost decided against this pattern, but then googled for a video tutorial on how to stitch the diagonal shell stitch. I was so lucky to find a YouTube video by jifrpreston called simply "Diagonal Shell Tutorial". It is a very good video. My pillow will be slightly larger than the Red Heart pattern because of using the different type of yarn. So mine will be 16" x 16".

It is turning out very nice and I am looking forward to completing it today!! Take a moment and check out other WIPs over at Tami's blog!!

Dancing in Daisies Blanket Completed!!!

Finally after close to a year I have completed my Dancing in Daisies Blanket! I had ran out of the honey and medium blue yarn and re-ordered back in December. The box of yarn had been sitting on top of my cabinet along with the blanket when I finally pulled them down last week. I was amazed to see that I only needed to work up 21 more squares and join them to the rest of the blanket. So I went to work and it is now complete, border and all!!

The completed afghan/blanket measures 76 inches by 44 inches. It is so soft and plush from using the Red Heart Soft yarn. I love the look of the flat braid join, but I don't think I will be using this joining method very often. It wasn't a difficult joining method once you got the first 4 squares completed. I just didn't like when the four squares are joined a slight "hole" effect is caused. I had to go back and stitch close some of these joining areas. I just felt that when you are snuggling under the blanket the holes could be snagged and then made larger through years of use. For the border, I decided to do a roll of half double crochet in the honey all around the blanket and a scallop edge using the medium blue. I am so very satisfied with the end result.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!! I am linking up with Tami's Amis' blog for more wonderful FO Fridays!

WIP Wednesday - Jar Cosies, Flower Collage, & Scarf

Happy Wednesday!! I have a few WIPs on my plate. I am still working on the African Flower Afghan and Dancing in Daisies Blanket. I have decided to go with the light blue and brown Red Heart Soft yarn for the color scheme on the Dancing in Daisies Blanket. I tried a couple of other colors, but they just didn't pan out.

I was able to complete another jar cosie.

I still have two more jars to crochet cosies for. I am loving these quick crafty jar cosies. I am thinking of adding an applique to one of the jars. Maybe a flower or heart.

I have also steadily been working on the Flower Collage. I have added a couple more flowers and still working on some leaf ideas.

Placing the flowers on poster board to get an idea of placement and if I need anymore flowers.

Pretty red flower pattern with buttons. Croco Flower pattern by Bonita Patterns called for 7 petals but I like it with just 6 petals. I did make some sand colored ones with the 7 petals and they look nice.

I found this really pretty scarf pattern on Ravelry. It is called the Sweet Eleanor Scarf and designed by Quince Tart. It isn't a difficult pattern to follow, but (yeah a but) I think I messed up on it somewhere. So I will be frogging and retrying. I have a road trip scheduled at the end of the week and it will be my car ride project.

Take a moment and hop over to Tami's Amis blog to check out other Wednesday WIPs. Have a great week!!



FO Friday - Lacy Scarf

Hello, It is finally Friday!! This week was a long one. It always is when you are anticipating a three day weekend. I don't have any big plans for Memorial Day. I will probably go on a nice long bike ride and enjoy this nice weather we have been experiencing. Maybe do some single tracks at Round Valley Loop. It is really the only trail area that can handle bikes right now. The trails along Park City's Mid Mountain still have patches of snow and they are way too wet. We try to keep the trails in good condition for hikers and bikers.

Anyways, to my Finished Object for this Friday!! I completed my Lacy Scarf that I began on May 8th. I had completed the crocheting portion by the 10th but had not weaved in all the tails until last night. Yep, it sat on top of my crochet basket for two weeks just sighing at me to complete it. I finally decided I was tired of its poor sighing and weaved in its tails and added some buttons to make it into an infinity scarf.

I decided to make blocks of blue with the brown and blue stripes meeting in the back and front. It could also be worn where the stripes are on the side when you wrap it.

I had to pull out O' Lucy to model the scarf for me. My daughter was in no mood to be my model.

It was my first time using Redheart Soft Yarn. It is a heavier weight and gives the scarf a fuller and softer feel. I will love this scarf this coming winter. That is if I can keep it from my daughter!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Take a moment to check out Tami's Amis blog and the many other creative bloggers with their FOs.

WIP Wednesday - Lacy Scarf

Hello everyone! I cannot believe it is Wednesday already! The weather was just beautiful all week until yesterday. The rain has come in and it is wet and cold. But on the bright side, there are so many pretty daffodils and tulips blooming. It's crazy how one day there is no flowers and then the next so many vibrant colors!

Historic Downtown Park City, Utah....picture courtesy of Historic Park City Utah webpage
I would have taken my own pics but the weather has been so rainy.
You can't help but love the vibrant orange and pinks in those gorgeous tulips!!

This week I have worked on my Simply Soft afghan and now working on the border! Yay!! I cannot wait to share its finish look. Hopefully by Friday it will be complete!

I came across a great sale at Michael's a couple of weeks ago. I picked up a couple skeins of Red Heart Soft yarn. It is a slight bit thicker than my go-to Caron Simply Soft yarn. I of course stuck with my favorite colors, blue and brown.

I have been itching to use it, so I decided to do up my quick go-to scarf pattern. It is a free downloadable pattern on lionbrand.com. If I use one color scheme, it takes maybe two hours to complete. Mainly because I prefer to make extra long scarves to achieve that double wrap look. It's a fairly simple pattern. This time I decided to try alternating colors, which has become pretty time consuming so far. I might play around with the color pattern and see what works for me. It is the Lion Brand Crochet Lacy Scarf pattern. I have made numerous scarves with this pattern. I sometimes make it into an infinity scarf or add decorative buttons. It is such a lovely look once complete. Here is my progress so far with this one:

Thanks for stopping by!! I am hoping to be able to post a completed Simply Soft Afghan on Friday!! I am crossing all fingers and toes to have it completed this week.

Please take a moment and hop over to  Tami's Amis and Other Creations: WIPW and check out other creative creations by fellow bloggers!!

Sunburst Granny Square Afghan

Sunburst Granny Square Block

I had not crocheted in many years when I decided to pick back up the hook and yarn. I came across this gorgeous pattern called Sunburst Granny Square by Priscilla Hewitt. I have always loved the looks of a circle in a square block. I used Caron yarn in Soft Sage and Beige, as well as,  Red Heart in Aspen. This project took a month to complete. I love how it turned out. In joining my squares I used the Invisible Seam joining technique by Leonie Morgan.

I spray blocked each block as I went. The tutorial on crochetme.com by Kim Werker is wonderful. Go and check it out here.

        My process was to:
1. Crochet the center circles in either the Soft Sage or Beige
2. Crochet the puff stitch round in the Aspen
3. Crochet the cluster stitch in either the Soft Sage or Beige......I love how the cluster stitch gives the "Sunburst" effect.
4. The remaining row colors were then crocheted in the alternating yarn color.

My process of figuring out how I will join the blocks and realizing I am short by one block!!

For my first afghan ever by myself, (I used to crochet with my Mom in my teenage years, but she always came up with the pattern and finished the project) I think it turned out so beautiful. I am giving this one to my sister.

Completed view...Sorry for the folded version, but it was too large for me to get a really good picture.