Crocheted Wrap Vest

Deciding to take a break from making things for others, I crocheted myself something.  I made a crocheted wrap vest inspired by the one Trudi made at Maude and Me.

Using some yarn from a poncho I had made previously, that I no longer wanted, I made up the pattern as I went.  Unfortunately, the yarn is no longer available, and I don't remember exactly what kind it was, except that it was a Red Heart yarn.  It is crocheted in one long rectangle, and when I noticed that I wanted it about the length of my arm, from shoulder to wrist, I made it that length, and about double that width.

I used a single crochet ribbing on the front panels and I half-double crocheted across the back.  The armholes are thirty stitches long, starting in the eleventh stitch from the top, and using a K hook. I am going to experiment a little with how I will place the vintage style pin.  I could make the collar a little longer or  pin it without.  I really like how it turned out.

If you make one, I would love to see it.

Proclamation of the Angels

Proclamation by the Angels

5-4 B.C.

Near Bethlehem

Luke

Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 May we all know and adore Him!

I would like to share with all my blog friends a video of my husband and son singing "Mary Did You Know?" at our Christmas Eve service.  You can see it here .

The Pineapple Angel and The Snowman

I just cant get enough of these ornaments.  I keep finding crochet patterns for ornaments squirreled away from previous years, and I used two of them today.  I also added some of the crocheted ornaments to our Christmas tree.

The first ornament was a pattern found on  the JPF Crochet Club site, and was at one time a featured (free) pattern.  It is called "Pineapple Guardian Angel" and is made with thread and a steel hook.

The other ornament I made was a snowman ornament.  It was originally designed as a candy cane holder ornament, but I thought it was so cute it didn't need it.  It was designed by Carol Alexander, the editor of Crochet! magazine.

I have three days until Christmas.  Maybe I will make some more!

Work in Progress (WIP) Wednesday

Last time I had posted this baby blanket, I only had three squares, and now there are thirty.  I think I am doing pretty good, especially since I have not worked on it since the weekend, and I am also doing a couple more projects that I have posted about previously.  I now have two weeks off for winter break, so I hope to get a couple things done during this time.

If you want to see some more great posts with WIP's visit  Tami's Amis.

Granny Square Ornaments

I made some more ornaments from the book of granny squares.  They are great as gifts, don't take much time, and very inexpensive (read cheap)!

Snowflake

Small Snowflake



Ring of Holly Berries



Starfire

Granny Wreath with Berries



Christmas Tree



WIP Wednesday

I just started a modified Gingham Baby blanket.  I am using blue, green, and yellow Redheart yarn.  The pattern is from the same book where I got the patterns for the Christmas ornaments I just posted.  The colors were supposed to be light blue, medium blue and white, but I wanted to use what I had on hand.  I'm kinda excited to see how this will turn out.

To see other crochet works-in-progress, go to Tami's Amis or Ambassador Crochet.

Christmas Ornaments

My children sing in a local youth choir, and they had their final performance of this year on Sunday.  I wanted to make the director and her assistant something special, and they both know I crochet.  So, I made them each an ornament, with a Size 7 steel hook and bedspread weight cotton, using patterns I found in a book of granny square patterns, probably from the seventies.  Of course, Christmas ornaments are timeless.  I believe they are magical, in the precious creations of a hook and thread.

You can see more Magical Mondays here . I am also posting here in Creative Everyday, and on Gingerbread Girl.

FO Friday

It is Finished Objects Friday (FO Friday)  over at Tami's Ami's and I have two today.

The first is an original design of a necklace.  I liked the colors of the yarns and wooden beads, but it took me three tries to get the design I was really satisfied with.

The second is my slippers for my granddaughter.  She is 11, and really likes frilly things.  Hope she likes these.  If not, either part is easily removable.

WIP Wednesday

I am still working on a knitted baby blanket and a prayer shawl that I have posted about previously.  I had a little left over Raspberry yarn to make my granddaughter a pair of slippers.  I just have to decide if I am going to add the flower trim on the top (above the toes), and put a trim around the top edges with some fun fur I have.

Finished Raspberry Wrap with Slit

I just finished this tonight.  I had to redo it at least three times, mostly because I didn't have enough yarn in the right colors.  I was counting the rows I had done, and said to myself aloud "...six times fourteen is eighty-four, plus sixty-six..." and my son said  "You mean you have to do math to crochet?...I know a lot of people that won't crochet, then." :)

Go over to Gingerbread Girl's Tuesday Tallies  to see some other crochet projects.

Raspberry Wrap with Slit

This is one of the projects I am working on.  I originally did it in one color, Red Heart's Raspberry, and ran out of that yarn.  I could only find the Red Heart Light Raspberry at our local yarn stores, so I frogged the pattern and decided to make the pattern in wide stripes.  I like that the section with the slits is still all one  color.  Our cat, Oreo, likes it, too.



Sign Language

Two AEDM friends, Kristin Dudish and Paula from Created 2B Creative, inspired my art this weekend, and since my camera is working again, I can post my creation today.

Kristin drew a sketch of a hand showing the sign for "I love you."  It showed the hand from the angle of the person that would see it.  And then Paula showed an piece of art she drew that I thought of as a visual illusion piece.  I was of the back of the hand.  So, I combined the two ideas, and this is the result.

I want to thank them both for their inspiration.  Have you been inspired by other's art?

Newborn Bonnet

I had a small ball of Baby Clouds in Rainbow Print left over from a blanket I made awhile ago.  I crocheted a small hood with a cute little tassel on top, making up the pattern as I went along.  It will keep a little one warm this winter.

Linked to :  Magical Monday Blog Hop

Shell Bracelet

Inspired by some lovely pieces of jewelry by African women in the H.O.W.? project, I made a bracelet of shells  that I crocheted together.  The shells were in a collection of wooden beads and shells I got a few years ago, and have the tops of them removed to expose the swirling interior.  The bracelet is comfortable on my wrist, and is wide enough to slip over my hand.

Bulletin Board Idea

I  found directions for drawing a pilgrim ship at Activity Village.  It is for kids, but being minimally skilled as an artist, I thought I would try.  It came out a lot better than I expected.

Then I went to Piknik, and added the text and rounded edges.  I think it would look great for a bulletin board in my speech therapy room.

Sunset Progression

Linked to Magical Monday Blog Hop

Pippi's Coat

Okay, I  just couldn't help making the dog coat/sweater again.  I had just enough left-over yarn from another project to crochet this one.  Still not sure whether Pippi likes it or not, but she calmed down after a little cuddling.  At least she didn't rip it off like I heard a friends's dog did.

WIP Wednesday

I am working on a prayer shawl called "Elegant Shawl" using Lion Brand's Homespun, in the color marked as Fiesta .

I also got a couple more rows done on my knitted baby blanket.  It is a good thing that is not going to someone in particular, since the knitting is slow going for me.

Dog Sweater

Reading that Shih Tsus were not bred as outside dogs, and may need a sweater when walking, I decided to crochet a sweater for Pipsqueak.

I thought she looked adorable, but the kids were saying I was silly for putting clothes on a dog.  She seemed nervous when I had it on her, too.

Maybe we will leave it on the toy dog that my daughter had, before we got Pippi.  At least there won't be any complaints.   :)

Ambiguous Autumn

Green to red, then yellow, pink and brown.

Heat to cool, then warm to cold.

Tank tops to sweatshirts to warm winter coats.

Autumn brings changes for my mind and body

To which I must adjust.

Painted Tree

I am experimenting with the Paint program that is a part of the Windows Photo Gallery.  I worked with this tree last year, but I am learning about colors and shading as I go.  I feel like this is intuitive painting, instead of a realistic scene, and I am having fun with it.

Beaded Earrings

These earrings were inspired by a pair of earrings I kept seeing in an ad on Facebook.  They look nothing like the earrings there, which were red and looked like lucite or plastic, but the shape is the same.  The easiest part was stringing the beads.  It took me several hours to figure out how to create the pattern, but once I got it looking like I wanted, the second one went really fast.

Country Home Crochet Shawl

My prayer shawl is complete.  I really like how the colors combined  together.  Part of the prayer I say when I begin to crochet is "May this shawl bring joy to the wearer, and peace to the crafter," and I know that every time I pick up my hook and yarn I am pleased with my progress.

The Beginning of Recovery

Recovery is a place I have visited before.
But this time,  the hospital was my first stop.
In the Mental Health Unit on the second floor,
Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee.
No cell phone, no pop, no clothes with cords.
Keeping me and the other patients safe.
Jumping right into group therapy,
I talked (and cried) a lot.
I thought the faster I participated,
The faster I could get back to work.
My neurologist, on consult, told me
To stop shooting up Rebif
As the known side effects
Of suicide ideation
May have contributed to my dis-ease.
Wanting clarification of my brain's status,
Dr. S ordered an MRI of the brain.
I announced  as I was wheeled out the door,
"I'm going to get my head examined!"
It was decided I should have images of
Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar spine as well,
And after an hour, I was halfway done.
I would complete the testing the next day.
I swallowed the increased dose of my antidepressant
Before 10:00 when we were sent to our rooms.
I would have read my book until I fell asleep,
But my roommate wanted to fall asleep earlier.
Day one done.
Light's out.

Pipsqueak

Hopping in the leaves

Now I'm free from my leash!

Roar!

WIP Wednesday

I am making another Prayer Shawl.  This is from a Red Heart pattern called "Country Home Crochet Throw."  I don't know if it shows in the picture, but so far there are three complete strips, in brown, tan and rustic print, and  a raspberry, cream and cherry chip print colors.  There will be seven strips total, since it will be a shawl and not a complete throw.  It actually works up pretty fast, except when I have to "frog" it because I decide on a different color combination!

My other project is a simple garter stitch blanket with self-striping yarn.  It is a good project to work on since I haven't knitted for quite a while.  The knitting is coming along nicely, and I am especially proud of using circular needles.  The more practice I have,  the easier it becomes.

Art Every Day Month

My Front Yard

The Great Pumpkin on Halloween Night

Indian Summer 2011

My Crocheted Chain Scarf

I always thought my favorite color was pink, but looking through my yarn stash, I have a LOT of blue, green and variegated blue/green odds and ends.  I love the skinny scarf I posted about here, and decided to crochet a thicker version.  I have 17 strands of various shades of green and blue from my stash, about nine feet long, tied together with an overhand knot about every eight inches.  I love it!