Recently Completed Projects Update

I have been a busy bee lately and not all due to the fun times of working on crochet projects.  However, I have finally managed to squeeze out some time to post pictures of the projects that I've completed.

The first two are baby blankets for my sisters-in-law.  Both of them became pregnant around the same time and delivered just a month apart.  So I had to whip something up.

This one is one of my favorites.  My sister-in-law obviously had a girl and she loves dragonflies.  She is such a girly-girl that I thought to spring for the fur trim to make it look that much more special.  I think it turned out great and I actually had a lot of fun working with the fur for the first time.  I might try it again on a scarf or hat next time.

The next is for my other sister-in-law who had her second boy.  She's more simple and classic so I thought this pattern would look great for her with a little bit of shine to make it special.

Now the only problem is trying to find the time and money to mail these off to Australia.  :P

This next blanket is another baby blanket and it's the semi-finished result of my first attempt at the Jacquar practice of inserting color into a pattern. I say semi-finished because the downside of this effect is that you have all these strings in the back.  I weaved the ends in but there's still dragged strings from the work itself.  So I added about a half an inch of sc to the edge of the blanked and I'm going to try to sew some fabric around the border so that the back is covered.  Since the only time I've ever attempted to use a sewing machine was in high school home ec class when I had to make a flour baby out of a t-shirt and a sack of flour then I decided to wait until my mom came to visit next week before attempting to finish this one.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  :)

My last project was actually a commissioned project.  One of my mom friends is about to deliver and she was asking around about whether anyone would be able to make a hat she saw on Etsy but for cheaper.  I told her I could do it and would do it for $5 less than the listing price.  Below is what I came up with.  And the great thing about this is that one of her friends saw it and asked that I make her a girl version with a flower as well.  So I'm currently working on this one and will provide pictures....eventually.  :)

I hope you enjoyed the peek into my life as the crochet guru.  :)

Ruffles, Ruffles, and more Ruffles

I've finally managed to post one of my current projects in the store. It's a ruffled scarf that I just think is so cute. I made a thicker one for myself too. :) And to model these works of art....my little work of art. :)

I actually made two different versions because I was playing around with a few different ideas. I have one that is just the two solid colors and then another that has the two colors and then an edging of the opposite color. I kind of like them both.

I'm thinking of my next one being just one color all together for both sides.

Also, upcoming.....baby hats. I actually came up with my own design that has these hats coming out to look like little tulips or roses. (I know those are probably totally different but I'm not a flower person. :P ) I have some hats with a stem and without. I'm also thinking up some ideas on how to add leaves to it.

Newest Creation

I've finally uploaded my latest creation onto the Etsy site which I'm calling the Rope and Ladder afghan. It's from a pattern that is actually called February for afghan's based off of birthstones. So this should have been made in amethyst but I think that the red looks good as well. Below is what I made off of it.

I'm a little worried about it though because with it being hot red in color when I take the picture it tends to come off really bright. I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't take it with the sunlight on it. Of course it could just be my computer so let me know if it looks too bright for you guys.

Update and Completed Afghans

So the latest update for me is that the numbness in my hands has finally gone away so I'm able to crochet as much as I want to....which is a lot. I've also finally gotten around to taking photos of all my completed blankets.

This is the most recent one I've completed. I'm very proud of it since it's the first time I've tried to make a blanket using two strands of yarn at once. It makes it nice and comfy.

Below is a close up of one of the circles.



The next two blankets are American flags. The only difference is that one has 46 stars and uses the double crochet shell pattern on the stripes. The other has 50 stars and is a straight double crochet across the entire stripe.

My only worry about the 50 star pattern is that you can tell the star field is too big since I had to tweak the original pattern for the 46 star to try to get all 50 in the field. But then I didn't make the stripes big enough. I'm wondering if I should try to sell the 50 for that reason or not.

46 Star...................................................................................50 Star

Christmas Blanket

So I've finally finished another blanket....only five more to finish now. :P It's a Christmas themed blanket made up of 16 squares that have been stitched together. I think it would be considered more of a lapghan since I wasn't able to add in the fifth row of squares since I ran out of one of the yarns.




This is an up-close shot of it.


Now on to finish all the other blankets I have half-done.

Frustrations of the Crochet World

So I am working on my Christmas blanket and am almost done when I realize I'm out of Christmas colored yarn (multi-color, red, green and white). I check my stash to see if I might have missed any additional skeins....which I hadn't. Next stop, my local Jo-ann's store. I stop by there today only to find that they have no more Christmas yarn. I figure, okay, maybe I can just order some online but while I was there I find that they are having a 30% off sale on books. Of course I have to get some. I found one that has a matching blanket for each of the birthstones of the year and one big book Cozy and Comfy Afghans.

I go home after this to check out the online sites only to find that Jo-Ann's doesn't sell the yarn I need online... Ugh!!! My next idea is just to make it one row smaller than what I originally decided. So I start SCing the squares together and notice that it really doesn't look like the picture. Which is when I realize that the squares are to be whip-stitched together rather than SC'ed together.....and I don't have a yarn needle. Double ugh!

Now what am I doing.....going through the two books that I found trying to find the next pattern to make because I have nothing else to work on until my American Flag blanket has been set aside for two weeks and I get a yarn needle for my Christmas blanket.

But the problem I'm having now is that I have so many patterns to choose from and a very limited color pallet available for making it right now without having to stop by the store or the other issue is that I have the colors needed for one blanket but not the right size hook.

Oh, the hard life we crocheter's lead. :)

Possible Project

I was thinking of doing this for my next project while waiting for the American flag one but I'd do it in Christmas colors. I have yarn that is multi-colored with white, red and green. Then figured the three layers could be in that order. Or I could even have white be on the end to border the blanket. Not sure though if I really want to try and do Christmas projects in the middle of June though.

On the other hand, I have enough yarn to start a second American flag blanket while waiting for my first one. (Yes, I packed up on that much red, white, blue and green when my neighbor was getting rid of her mother-in-law's treasure trove of yarn.)