Infinity Scarf

               My Aunt is probably one of my most favorite people. She is my big sister, best friend and a great mom to me. She is and has always been there with me, through my angsty middle school years, broken hearts and finding and falling for my best friend, she was one of the Maids of Honor at my wedding, and shes my roommate every time my husband is gone for the weekend. I just wish she was just a little girlier so I could make her pretty things for Christmas. Oh well no body's perfect.

Pattern: 
              I used Loops and Threads Charisma in red and a size H hook.
Chain 21 turn and make 2 sc in the second loop from the hook. Sc in the next 8 loops, skip 2, sc 8 more times, sc 2 in the last loop. chain 1 turn.

             And there its that simple, 2 in one, 8, skip 2, 8, 2 in one, chain one turn. When you get to the end sew them together to make the infinity part of the infinity scarf.
             I found that it makes a wonderful scarf, nice and simple yet still has a subtle pattern with the chevrons. All in all a great, quick, "I'm running out of time before Christmas" gift.

Skinny scarf

                Guys are the hardest to shop for and it even harder to make things for them. Its just not fair, but I guess crochet is just too pretty to be considered manly. I showed you the hats I made for my brothers here, but here is another gift I made for a male member of my family for Christmas. My very tall cousin. 

                 Rich is way on the tall side so I wanted to make something skinny and very long to try and match his frame, I used Lion brand yarns Wool-ease thick & Quick stripes and a size I hook. Chained 13 inserted in the 3rd loop from the hook and half doubled my way till I was out of 2 balls of yarn. Trust me when I say its long here is me being anaconda'ed by it 

 

Told you so. 

          Anyway it was really quick and really easy and I hope he will like it as will and manley scarf wearers you might make this for :) 

Back and better the ever

               I'm sorry about the long break, I just got the internet turned on in the new place and things are back in motion. Ive got some new things finished that I cant wait to show yall. Including infinity scarves and a couple of scarves that worked up with the leftover yarn. I also will be working on some new things once I finish the two I've got going now. Give me a day or two to get everything photographed and typed up, until then I must bid you farewell.

Yay me!

                 Hurrah for me! I had a very productive night so much so I finished my second hat, yay for me! Plus I only had to undo the first three rows (bad count) and the last row I did twice (tension issue) but it went so much faster than the first one. I'm so happy with the hats, the embellishments didn't work out as well as I wished but I'm not undoing them now.

                 This is the pattern I used basically, I used a G,H,and I sized hook going from biggest to smallest. I on the crown, H on the body, and G on the last 2-3 rows. I didn't do the 2nd color or the pattern for it, after it was long enough I did a row of single crochet to get a good tension. I'm really happy with the hat. I wrote USN and USMC for my brothers and used some yarn and a needle to cover the inside so it wouldn't be scratchy. I feel like the cord I used made the letters look a little strange but oh well, c'est la vie.

This one is for my Big Bro who is in the Navy.

I made the same hat in scarlet with USMC on it for my Lil Bro in the Marines.

1 down

                    It so should not have taken me this long to finish that hat, I swear I had to undo and re do that thing 7-9 times. First it was too loose and looked like a girls hat, I undid it and tried again, still to loose, ok undo and try with a smaller hook, not good enough fine whatever, try again with doubling up the yarn, so the crown is fine but the body not so much, well at least that's progress, undo to where the body starts and redo with a smaller hook, GREAT but its not holding on well (my brothers are very active, I want it to be able to stay on their heads well) so undo the last couple of rows and do them with an even smaller hook, eh its a little long undo 3 rows redo 2 of them (with that smaller hook) and put a row of single crochet. That is where I called it quits and said that it looks just fine and tied it off. I here-by refuse to undo a single stitch on this hat, it had its time to be revised, that time has passed. Now I just have to weave in all the stray ends and a little embellishment and make one for the Lil bro. (sigh) Oh did I mention I have to do this by Sunday, and tomorrow corporate is coming down to work (such fun), and I'm packing for a move this weekend, and I'm helping my Mama K bake a wedding cake and a grooms cake for a wedding this Saturday (which is also the day of my old NJROTC unit is holding a drill meet that I'm supposed to help out with) joy.

Lego Scarf

         This one was really fun to make, I saw a picture of this on Pinterest but I never found a pattern so I made one up. Its really easy all you need to know how to do is a single crochet, double crochet and how to change colors. I made this for my sis-in-law for Christmas, its a great gift for boys and girls alike (really anyone who had a childhood full of legos would like it) I used Red Heart super saver yarn because its what I had (sadly I still have a lot, maybe I shall make another one or two) this is a very versatile pattern.

PATTERN

         Special stitches:

Bubble stitch - 5 double crochet together (5dctog)  yarn over (yo) insert your hook into the stitch, yo and  pull that through 2 loops on your hook, leave the rest on there don't complete that dc, yo again and put your hook into the same stitch as before, yo and pull through the first 2 loops, continue until you have made 5 dc like this (6 loops on the hook) yo and pull through all the loops left on the hook, and you have made a bubble crochet.

Row 1- Chain 19, chain 1 turn

Row 2,3,4- Single crochet (sc) into each chain, chain 1 turn 

Row 5- *sc in next 3 stitches, 5dctog* repeat from *-* 3 times ( should have 4 bubbles) sc next 3 stitches (your patterns should looks like 3 sc bubble 3 all the way along), chain 1 turn

Row 6,7- sc into each  stitch (19) chain 1 turn

Row 8-  *sc in next 3 stitches, 5dctog* repeat from *-* 3 times, sc next 3 stitches, chain 1 turn 

Row 9,10,11,12-  sc into each stitch (19)  ~Change colors here~ chain 1 turn 

Repeat for every color I used 9 different colors you can use more or less (I happened to have a rainbow of Red Heart super saver yarn that I wanted to use up)

~There are many ways to do change colors, this is just the one I learned and like.~

I hope that you enjoy making this and wearing it, send me pics so I can see your finished projects!

Queen of the undone

                   I do not claim to be a master at most any aspects of crochet, but I am claiming this. I am the Queen of unraveling. Its seems like a project isn't truly done by me unless it has been unraveled at least twice. I can't help myself, as soon as my not completely satisfied I feel the need to utterly undo everything I just managed to do. Of course after the first time as soon as I start to get this feeling I try to ignore it and just keep crocheting but after a while I am so unhappy I get the honor of taking apart my creation once again.
                  I was just thinking to myself that since I am not that slow of a crocheter I couldn't figure out why projects took so long to finish, but since it takes me forever to unravel something things never look done. If I would just work straight to the end of a pattern then I know it would take half the time it normally takes me. Yet even as I complain about this I know I'm not going to be able to change anything. Most of everything that I make are intended to be given away and I abhor the idea that something wouldn't measure up to my standards.
                 Oh well I guess its time for hat attempt #3 now, this time with a smaller hook. (sigh) Make the #4

Basic Baby Blanket

                Ahhhh I do love a job well done (who am I kidding, I love a job done period at this point) It was fun to work on and figure out what would work out best, I didn't want anything that would be to easy for baby to pull at or get caught in their mouth. That is why I used the half double, it works faster than the single crochet but it doesn't make the tall columns that the double or treble crochet makes. I am happy, once the border was put on it spruced up into a very beautiful and usable gift. 

Pattern:

   What you need:

• I used 3 balls of Baby Bees Sweet Delight Prints (gageboys') I held 2 yarns at the same time and crocheted them together as if they were one.
• Border: 1 ball of Caron Simply Soft (Blueberry) (also worked 2 together as 1)
• Size H hook (for both body and border)  

             And this is why I said there isn't much of a pattern, you see I just made as many foundation chains that would make it be a little wider then my lap and then Chained 2, turned, and put a half double crochet in every chain, chain 2 turn and repeat till I ran out of the first 2 balls then I split the 3rd ball in 2 and finished those out as well. 

             For the border I worked a single crochet all the way around (on the sides making sure that you get 2 per row to make sure everything is spaced the way they should be) in the corner space work 2 single crochet in the same space (to turn the corner) then once you're around slip stitch into your first one, than chain 1 then single crochet all the way around once more and slip stitch the row together, chain 3 this time, skip 2 stitches and make a single crochet in the next stitch ( should end up being: stitch space space stitch) *chain 3, skip 2 stitches, single crochet in next space* repeat until you're all the way around, in the corners I Chain 2 skip 1 single crochet in the next space then repeat once so I get around the corner better, slip stitch into your chain and tie off. 

             Weave in all your ends and Ta-Da you're done! What I love the most about things like this is that you can just keep playing around with it until you find something you like. You can make it wider, longer, technicolor, it doesn't matter. It can be done in any stitch with really any yarn, don't want a border (dont make one) want a bigger border (go for it). Have fun and figure out what works best for you, the yarn you're working with, and the craft you are trying to make. Now go to that baby shower (show off a little) and anyone who doesn't know better will be incredibly impressed and those of us who do are: 1 impressed that you FINISHED a beautiful creation (we are jealous) and, 2 admire that something so nice, soft, and practical came from something so simple and easy!

HOORAY!!!!

            Guess what I did! I finished something!
            Thats right me, I finished a project!
            The Lil Sis has a beautiful baby blanket in hand to give to her friend at work. It only took me forever to finally get it to her but hey the bun is still in the oven so it all works out right. Soon I am going to put up a pattern page and I will post the pictures of the blanket as well as the pattern I used (not much of a pattern but hey it worked for my needs).
            Now, if I can only get the rest of my projects done, maybe Christmas will happen on time this year after all (and then again maybe not, this world is full of many pretty things to distract me).

            Project to do list:

1. Finish In-laws Cuddly lap throw
2. Make 2 beanies for my brothers
3. Finish all other MN christmas gifts (yay)

Learn new things

                  I love talking to people who have been crocheting longer than I have. They fix things, answer questions and give me new ideas. I went to the ladies bible study at my church last night and sought out Mrs Cheryl, she is an older lady who creates beautiful things through crochet, I went with the intention of learning the easy way to put a border onto the Lil Sis's baby blanket and not only did she show me how but she fixed and tension issue I couldn't work around with my foundation chain in another piece. I've run into the issue before and have tried my best to do the beginning chains as loose as I could but it wasn't working and it was making the who project pull, she told me very matter of fact, "well that's your problem your using the same size hook to do the chain and the rest of the pattern" I did not know that most people use 1 hook size larger for their foundation chain to keep it from pulling, hmm you learn something new everyday. Needless to say I went home and undid everything, now it does look a whole lot better, I cant wait to see how it looks once I've finished!

For all the projects started....

                 Its the curse of most crafters is to have too much imagination. I live on Pinterest and other blogs finding new patterns, ideas and techniques. This also means that I do nothing but start new projects, and manage not to finish any of them. This means that I have at least 3 things going on at the same time even though I know I would be able to complete things more efficiently if I would just work on one thing till the end, but Lord knows my poor little ADHD hands will not cooperate.

                Alas there is no cure for this so I look to put the last touches on the lil sis's baby blanket tonight, as well as work on the early christmas hats for my brothers, a new shawl for my Mama Kendall (that I had no business started yet to be honest but I wouldnt help myself) I am also working on a prayer shawl for a friend of mine who is going through her second miscarriage. I should also mention that I have yet to start all the other gifts for my In-Laws (point for me, I'm 2/3'rds the way through with the cuddly lap throw) Oh well I suppose everything will happen in its own time.

Yarn shopping

                            I love yarn, the look of it yes but also the feel, I tend to drift towards the baby yarn because of how soft it is without it being too big don't get me wrong big is fine I just think that thinner yarn leaves a more polished look to a project. I have a weakness, I went for yarn to make hats for my two brothers as early Christmas presents, they are both in the military and will not be here in December but they The Big is here now till the end of the month and The Little will be here in a week for a 2 week stay, this will be the first time all four of us will be all in one place at the same time in a very long time and I cant wait!

                           So any way I went to the store for some Navy blue and Marine corps red for their hats and came home with two balls of yarn for a hat and scarf set for my cousin, three balls of yarn for a christmas present in the form of a baby blanket to a young family who goes to my church, as well as a big ball of neon green yarn (my moms favorite color) even though I already had something planned for her, I shall just use the yarn I had set aside for her for a different friend. I cant wait to start playing with it all!

                            I did finish the baby blanket I was working on for the Lil Sis I think it turned out well but I feel like I should do something to edge it but I just don't know what, right now its just tooooooooo plain I don't like plain, I like fun, and new so i guess its not really finished at all, oh well I shall have to find something to do.

Revision

                  Today I have managed to go both backwards and forwards. On my Ribbed Baby Blanket I decided that it was taking to long and was coming out uneven, so I had to unravel it, I then put it on my knitting loom, which would have picked up the pace but it was way too loose for what I wanted, so I undid it again. Now it is in a simple double crochet with 2 strands of the yarn at the same time so I could get the right pull to it but get a better thickness I am using Baby Bee sweet delight prints: gageboy's yarn  and a size H/8-5.00mm hook. I a playing around with edging it once I've finished I wanted to put a fringe on it put as this will be for a baby maybe that isn't the best idea. I also plan to embroider the babys name and maybe a small message on there before I give it to the lil sis for delivering, not before of course putting a picture up here.
                In other news, once I finish this and the Lap throw for my In-laws I am going to play with a couple new-to-me techniques on some scarves and a new-to-me concept of hats, I have only worked in the round once and it didn't come that naturally but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, plus as I proved with this blanket I am willing to keep taking it apart until I think its right!

Unending pile of projects

                     Once upon a time (maybe a month or two ago) I dreamed that I would have all of my Christmas gifts for my minnesota family done and out of the way, packed in a nice box for them to keep until Christmas morning. Yeah that turned out to be a fairy-tale. I was to make 3 scarves 3 hats and a blanket, thats all, doesn't seem like much does it? I've make 1 scarf (1 really cool scarf it looks like legos and I will post the pattern) and half of a blanket, I've never even made a hat before so I don't know how well that will turn out. The saddest part is I'm not even working on the blanket right now, instead I'm working on a baby blanket for my lil sis and her friend at work. Oh well maybe I will get them done before New Years.
                      I have managed to complete a hunting scarf for my husband on a knitting loom that looks really nice (and will also end up here) so maybe I'm not quite a lost cause yet.
                     Ive also found how I want to store my yarn as soon as we move into our new appartment. Its really small so I was worried about how everything would hide nicely then I saw this and I loved that now I don't have to hide it at all I can hang it, it might take me a bit to post it on here because we don't even move in for a couple of weeks but as soon as its up I will share it with everyone.


Project to-do list:
1-Finish ridged baby blanket
2-Finish cuddly lap throw
3-Figure out how to crochet a hat