An Apple a Day....

.....keeps the dishes clean. :)

I have been wanting to do this dish scrubbie ever since I first saw it ages ago. You can find the pattern HERE. Mine came out bigger because I used a larger scrubbie and had to make more sc's around the edge. But I actually like the fact that it's a little bigger. This is a great little gift item or even better in your OWN kitchen. A quick project with a practical use. :) Enjoy!

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My First Video!

I finally did it. I figured out how to successfully create a video with my new camcorder AND upload it to YouTube. I did the video mainly for my crochet column on Ravelry, but I was told I should link it here, too...so I did. Its a short tutorial on how to do a single crochet foundation row. I hope you like it...I think it came out fairly well. :)

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Teacher's Friend Pocket Scarf

I got a couple photos from my friend of some holiday projects I completed. These scarves are my own design and were given to a couple ladies on my b/f's side of the family. I had fun making them and I might make myself one....it would come in handy. When I do, I will copy down the pattern and put it on my pattern page.

The first scarf was made from Bernat Worsted....the big skeins. The blue one was made with Simply Soft. I call it the "Teacher's Friend" because I wish I had had one when I was teaching...would have helped at recess time. :)

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We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties.....

This is VERY frustrating. I had a bunch of holiday gifts to show but my camera decided to conk out on me. :( I thought it was the battery but it wasnt...so I spent money on a battery I didnt really need. I gave the camera to a friend who is supposed to look at it but with the holidays, he really hasnt had the time.

I cant really complain....that camera has been working perfectly for 7 years. Nothing lasts forever. If I cant get it fixed, I will have to get a new camera. In the meantime, I havent gone anywhere. I am still here, waiting for Christmas and still crocheting some last minute gifts. I want to wish every one of you who visits my blog (and who celebrates Christmas) a very happy and safe holiday and a very prosperous New Year. I will post again soon!

Love,
Sandy

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Two Little Mittens....

.....but not for kittens. :)

I wanted to make some mittens for Christmas gifts but was having trouble finding a pattern that was more than just a tube with a hole for a thumb. I was very happy to find THIS pattern (scroll down to the last row of pattern links). However, it called for baby yarn and I was not liking the result. So I decided to use a sport (DK) weight yarn and this is how they come out.....


They are a little small for me, but that means they would fit a small woman's hand....I would just have to add a couple rows for the hand and thumb and they would be perfect. I like the pattern because there is a thumb shaping added which makes the thumb more like a thumb instead of just something sticking out the side. Hope that makes sense. :)

They are an easy pattern, but I think they are really nice. Depending on the color, they would work for any gender. Give them a try!

Ok....back to the Christmas gifts.

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A Touch of Antiquity

I was searching for a nice hostess gift I could give this Thanksgiving when I came across the pattern for this bread cloth....I thought it was perfect! I dont work much with thread, mainly because of the hooks (Note to self...need to get thicker handled steel hooks). But this cloth only took me 4 days of off and on work to complete. I love the design. You can find the pattern HERE.

The pattern calls for size 20 thread with a size 9 hook, but I used size 10 thread with a size 7 hook because thats small enough. :) I also used ecru instead of white thread because I like that antique look. This would even make a nice gift for a church to cover the Communion bread plate. If you like filet and you need a little gift, this might fit the bill. I am planning on making another one for a Christmas gift....its already on the hook!

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Going Around Again

I really liked that pinwheel pattern that I made the coaster out of and I wondered if I could use it for something else? I also have a bunch of sock yarn that I didnt necessarily have to make socks with. Put the 2 together and I came up with this beret....

Its easy, although the sc makes it a bit slow when you get nearer the end. I used Serenity Sock Weight with a size "G" hook. I love the way the yarn follows the rhythm of the pattern. The brim I improvised with alternating dc and sc rows, decreasing as I went along. Then I crab stitched around the edge to finish it off. I am going to keep it for a Christmas gift and I already started another beret using Elann Esprit, which is too thick for crocheted socks. And that one I am keeping for myself. :)

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Outside the Box

My latest swap involved a fancy facecloth. You have no idea how many patterns for crocheted facecloths I went through, only to think, "meh".....nothing at all interesting OR fancy. So I got to thinking.....who says you can't use an afghan square for a facecloth? Who, indeed?

So I went on a search through various squares and I found this---->

Its sure fancy. And its not TOO lacy so that it will work well for washing. Actually I had to leave off several rounds because it would have been TOO big and I put a picot edging around it that wasnt in the original pattern. But you can find the pattern for the entire square HERE.

My partner liked her new facecloth......especially the flower in the center, which was the ONLY thing about this square that I wasnt sure about. Glad I was wrong.

So make some fancy facecloths for yourself or for gifts....its that time of year, again. :)

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Baby Snuggly

I just finished making this outfit for my son to give as a gift to friends who had a baby a few weeks back. This is one of the prettiest baby outfits I have ever made. I am huge fan of ShiFio's Patterns.....I have about 5 of them now. They arent hard but they are SO pretty...and they arent expensive, either.....they come as PDF's.

This is a Snuggly....essentially its a wearable blanket. Again, I used Emily as my model. This is a 0-3 mos. size, but it has room for growth. Emily is actually more of a preemie sized doll at 18". I did change one thing in the pattern. You are supposed to sew the bottom closed but I chose to leave it open so the baby could wear it longer....you dont have to gather the bottom. Its a very loose garment on purpose, especially the hood. Its just meant to cover the head so if the baby turns its head, it wont smother. The neck is also made loose. But the garment is a good weight....perfect for its purpose. I used 1 1/2 skeins of pink Patons Beehive Baby Sport yarn, one skein of white and an I hook...it called for a G but I wasnt getting the gauge with that. I did well buying the trims....the lace was on sale for 50 cents a yard....and it took 6 yds. The buttons were 99 cents for 5.... I needed ten. The little roses were also 99 cents a pkg.

If you like making baby clothes, like I do, check out the patterns. I really enjoyed making this, and I will be making more from patterns from the same designer. You can sell the items you make from her patterns, too, which is nice of her.

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Another Swap

I just finished my next swap project....this Pinwheel Coaster. The original pattern is for a basic, single layer piece but I am not really happy unless I take something basic and embellish it. Using size 10 crochet cotton and a size 7 steel hook, I made a sc circle for a back, sandwiched a CD between, sc'd it all together and added a beaded edging. I hope my partner approves. :)

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