Goodby to this Blog

I have found it much quicker to post my projects on Instagram.  You can see me there at @melissabethgr.  I will leave this blog up, as a reminder to me of all I have done.  All new projects from now on will be posted on Instagram.

WIP Wednesday

This week I am crocheting a little more.  I finished my last radiation treatment today.  My oncologist encouraged me to keep as active as I can, so I consider crocheting a therapy for my cancer.  :-)

I started a new Corner to Corner baby blanket, using more yarn from my stash and a pattern from Ravelry.  I have used Simply Soft yarn in Baby Bright Ombre and Snuggly Wuggly yarn in Soft Lilac so far.  I am almost to the point where I will start decreasing, to make a rectangle.  I ended up buying more yarn today, as I ran out of the Simply Soft yarn.  I hope it will blend in.

My other project, Granny's Favorite prayer shawl, is 2/3 done.  I have crocheted 162 squares into 18 rows of 9 squares each.  I have nine more rows to go.   I like how it looks like several nine-patch quilt blocks.

I finished reading Daughter of Twin Oaks by Lauraine Snelling.  I really enjoyed this book, with it's surprising ending.  I also finished another book on my Nook, The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund. It is set in the 1600's, in England, around the time when the Puritans were being persecution by the Royalists.  At the end of the book, the author says the book is inspired by the story of John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrims Progress, and his second wife, Elizabeth.  I received both books for free from Book Bub and read them on my Nook Color.

I am sharing this post at the links on this page.

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Newborn Diaper Shirt

My crocheting has slowed down quite a bit recently.  I had radiation treatments five days last week, and it really tired me out.  I got something done on the weekend before last, but nothing much since then.  Two more days of radiation on my left arm and leg, and then I will be finished with that part of my cancer treatment.

I made a Newborn Diaper Shirt with the same Snuggly Wuggly Yarn that I used in the hat and sac in my last post.  The pattern was from Bev's Country Cottage.  This shirt will also be for a local charity.

I will be linking this post with the places on this page.

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Baby Clothes and Items

Since I had crocheted a lot of blankets recently, and am still in the middle of the Granny's Favorite blanket, I wanted to do a couple of projects that were fast, and could be done in one day.  I ended up crocheting three sets of baby clothes/items.

The first is a newborn baby outfit called "Little Boy Blue Long Pant Suit." The pattern is from Danette's Angels, a site that offers crochet patterns for use with charity items.  I used a skein of Canan yarn from Big Lots in Navy Blue and a K hook.  I even found some navy buttons in my button tin.  I decided to add a couple of rows to the legs and top of the pants and to the body and arms of the sweater, as this pattern was originally for a preemie baby.  This will be for a local charity.

My next outfit is a preemie kimono and hat.  Since I couldn't find a free pattern for a kimono, I adapted this pattern from Bev's Country Cottage.  The yarn is partly Bernat Baby Coordinates and some non-labled yarn from my stash.  I added several rows to make it longer, and added a tie to the inside, that wraps around the back.  The hat is a pattern from Momma That Makes.  If it does not fit the preemie I made this for, it will go to the NICU where she is, for another preemie.

Finally, I crocheted a preemie Post Stitch

Cuddle Sac and Hat from a pattern on the Preemie Hat Project blog.  I used Snuggly Wuggly baby yarn in Soft Lilac and trimmed the sac and hat with Canan baby yarn in Purple.  This will also go to the preemie baby mentioned earlier.  I am sure it will fit, as it is almost as long as the baby!

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Newborn Baby Booties

When I saw this tutorial on Annasimplecrochet, I knew I would be making them.  After I crocheted one, it looked a little floppy, and didn't hold it's shape.  I also didn't have enough yarn in my stash to make two.  So, I decided to adapt the tutorial to my liking.

This is what I did:  I used one ball of baby yarn from my stash to make the sole.  Using an E hook, I began with 11 chains.  Then, I made an sc in the second chain from the hook and an sc in each stitch across.  For rows 2-18, I made a single crochet in each stitch across.  I finished with a rectangle.

For the sides of the bootie,  I used another color of baby yarn and crocheted an sc in the end of each row of the rectangle, up one long side, two sc in the corner, in each stitch across the short side, two sc in the other corner, and back down the other side in the ends of the rows.  I turned and crocheted a row of sc for rows 2-10.  Then I fastened off, leaving a long tail for sewing.  I overlapped the sides and sewed across the short section where the toes would be.  The booties turned out better for me this way.  They held their shape better.

This is not meant to be a pattern, but a description of how I adapted the tutorial to suit me.  I will try to answer any questions if you try this .

I am linking this post to these parties.



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The Eleanor Shrug

Several months ago, I bought some yarn at Big Lots, a local discount store.  It was labeled "Baby Soft" by Canan, and didn't give a weight.  Recently, I decided I wanted to make something for me, using this purple yarn.  I looked at many patterns, and decided on the Eleanor Shrug that I found on Ravelry.

After I had crocheted about six rows, I realized that the shrug would not be as wide as I wanted it.  I frogged it and added 30 chains, so that it would be from elbow to elbow across the back.  I had determined that the yarn was similar to DK weight, and chose to use an H hook.

It worked up pretty fast.  I made it in about eight days, crocheting six rows each day.  I think it turned out perfectly, and I am really happy with it.

I am linking this post to the places listed on this page.

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Progress on WIPs

I am almost half way through my Granny's Favorite prayer shawl.  I have crocheted 108 granny squares out of around 240.  I like how it is shaping up.  I know I have enough scrap yarn, but hope I have enough of the off-white yarn.

The rectangle for the Eleanor Shrug is almost finished.  After I crochet three more pattern repeats (six rows), I have to sew up the sides and add an edging around the outside.  I am looking forward to wearing it.

The book I am still reading is "Daughter of Twin Oaks."  So far, the daughter, Jesselyn, has dressed up like a boy to get the remaining thoroughbread horses away from their plantation in Kentucky, to keep them from being seized by soldiers in both armies during the Civil War.  The story is mainly about what happens to her and her freed slaves that accompany her on the journey.

I am sharing this post at the links on this page.


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Teenager Chemo Cap

I recently learned about a teenage girl with cancer that lives in the town where I graduated from high school, not far from here.  We have a lot of things in common, and I felt led to crochet a chemo cap for her.  I decided to make this tam in her school colors, using yarn from my stash. I hope she likes it!

Update:  My two teenagers clued me into the fact that this hat design is not popular with kids their age.  They suggested a stocking hat with a pompon.  So I frogged the tam and looked on Google for another design.  Lion Brand had what I needed here. All I needed to do was add the pompon. The new hat is redone and approved by both kids.

I am linking this post to the parties on this page.


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Granny's Favorite Prayer Shawl Progress and a New WIP

Eight rows, 72 squares at this point.  I am glad I didn't commit to crocheting one a day or anything like that. 😃 In the last row, I made two two-colored squares.  I may keep doing that once and a while for variety.

My new project is the Eleanor Shrug, a pattern that I originally saw on Ravelry. I am using some yarn I bought at Big Lots a while ago.  I am making this for myself.

I am linking my post to the places listed on this page.


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Four Finished Projects

I am staying home a lot lately, except for doctor appointments, so I have had more time to finish things.  I guess it also helps that they are smaller projects. ☺

The Star Blanket is the first project completed this week.  I used this pattern from Yarnspirations, but used worsted weight yarn from my stash.  I edged it with one row of white dc, and one row of variegated slip stitch.  I tried to do sc first, but ran out of yarn!

The next project was supposed to be a baby sleeper, but turned into a "fleece" vest.  I was using yarn from my stash again, and didn't know how much there was.  So, I yet again ran out.  It looks warm a cuddly.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I made a Heart 

Valentine Candy Basket.  This is another Yarspirations pattern you can find here.  Instead of the yarn listed, I  used a ribbon yarn from my stash.  I originally made it for us, but my husband suggested that I gift it.  We'll see.

Last night I made this Triple Loop Skinny Scarf. I used a free pattern from Little Monkeys Crochet, that you can find here. Again, using stash yarn, I had to modify the pattern.  I used an L hook, worsted weight yarn for the main rows, and edged it with novelty yarn with single crochet.  I added an antique button from my button jar for the wrap piece.  This is my favorite project of the week, and definitely a keeper.

I am linking this post to the parties on this page.

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WIPW~2/4/15

I have added several rows to the Granny's Favorite prayer shawl. Instead of crocheting two or three squares a day, I have been trying to do a row of nine squares.  So now I have 54 of 243 squares done.  I am liking the pattern more each time I add more squares .  After I had three rows done, I realized it looked like a nine patch quilt.

Having just finished a book about the years following the Civil War, I am now reading a book about a family during the Civil War.  I have recently realized how much I like historical fiction.  Daughter of Twin Oaks  is set in Kentucky, at the beginning of the war, where a teenager is thrust into an adult situation of keeping her family along with the beloved horses together and safe. I have just begun this book, but the vivid characters are already pulling me in.

I am linking this post to the sites on this page.

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Bold Color Bands Prayer Shawl

Kathryn Vercillo has a weekly roundup on her blog, Crochet Concupiscence, showing over 150 crochet inspiration photos from Instagram.  Three weeks ago, I tagged some of my photos with #crochetconcupiscence and #crochetsavedmylife, to be shared at her site.  Not only did I get several of my photos shared, but one photo was picked as the Featured Crochet Photo of the week!  Imagine my surprise and elation.  The photo was of the Bold Color Band prayer shawl.

You can see that roundup here.

The crocheting of the shawl was finished, but I needed to add a fringe.  I do not like adding fringe, and often choose a pattern to crochet based on whether or not it has a fringe.  It took me three weeks, but I finally finished adding the fringe this afternoon.

The shawl was made with several colors from my yarn stash, of different brands.  I used the pattern "Bold Color Bands" by Carole Prior in the Leisure Arts book "Scrap Wraps" that is available here.  I adjusted the pattern by making it only half the length, and using five strands of yarn for each fringe.  It is another shawl for charity.

I am sharing this item on the sites listed on this page.

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WIP Wednesday ~ 1/28/15

Happy Hump Day!  I have an update on one project and the start of another.  I wasn't able crochet or blog for a week or two due to some time spent in the hospital.  I had a partial hip replacement as a complication of my cancer.  I am glad to be back to both and am on the road to recovery.

The first project is the prayer shawl I am crocheting using yarn scraps.  There are 20 of almost 250 squares, so I have a ways to go.  It will be twenty-seven by nine squares when finished.

My second project is a Star Blanket.  It is also made with yarn from my stash, using this pattern from Yarnspirations.  It is another blanket for a church mission project.

I have almost finished "The Measure of Katie Calloway."  It is interesting to read about the people of the lumber camps after the Civil War and how the aftermath continues to effect the people of the time.

I will be sharing these projects on my Sharing page.

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Baby Sweater and Car Seat Blanket

I received a gift card for Michaels from my DH for Christmas, and went to shop there a couple of days after Christmas.  Funny enough, I forgot the gift card!  I fell in love with this book from Leisure Arts, and bought it anyway.

My first project from this book was the Filet Rectangle Blanket.  I crocheted the smaller size, with a G hook and some yarn I got at Big Lots, called "Baby Soft," by Canan. It is a very light blue, although in my pictures, it almost looks gray.   I was a little disappointed by the wonkiness of the middle section, but it will still keep a baby warm. ;)

Then I decided to make a sweater to go with it, and adapted a pattern by Laura Tegg called Chunky Monkey Cardigan.  I modified the pattern to match the filet, and did a reverse crochet edging, like the blanket.

This pair will probably go to a church mission project.

I am linking to the sites on my Sharing Page.

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WIP Wednesday~1/14/15

I started another prayer shawl with all my left over worsted weight yarns.  This is another stash buster that will probably take a while to complete since each square is only 2 1/4".  I am using a pattern for an afghan called "Granny's Favorite" by Judy Bolin, but I am only going to make it 24" x 61" and the main color will be shades of off-white.  It is from a booklet called "Scrap Wraps" published by Leisure Arts. I have five squares finished.

I am reading a lot of books on my Nook.  The one I have recently started is a book called "The Measure of Katie Calloway" by Serena Miller.  It is a Christian Fiction book about a woman working as a cook in a lumber camp in the 1870s.  I got this book free from Book Bub and am really enjoying it so far

I am linking up with the sites on my Sharing Page and at Ginny's.


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Finally Back

I have been away from this blog for over a year.  Life got very busy, and I had to choose between this blog and another one at WordPress.  Obviously, this is the one I had stopped posting on.  I have continued to crochet, but have not posted the pictures and wips on here.  Because of a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and it's complications, along with MS, I have had to quit working and have more time on my hands.  So I am here again.

I crochet many prayer shawls and baby items/children's clothes for mission projects at my local church, and the most recent item is the Zig Zag Filet Car Seat Blanket.  The pattern is from a book published by Leisure Arts.  I made it from some old yarn I had in my stash, Sayelle, in the color Frosted Cherry.

I am linking this post to the places on my Sharing Page.