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 .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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