30 Minute Comfy Cowl

When I saw this pattern on All Free Crochet, and read the post written about it at Busting Stitches, I felt like I had to take the challenge right then and see how long it took me to crochet this comfy cowl.  I used some ivory handspun wool that my husband had brought back to me on a trip to Oregon.  It is so soft, I knew it would be perfect for this cowl.  I watched a couple of TV shows, and was also doing laundry, and it took about three hours for me.

I love the textured waves in this pattern.  When I finished it, I decided I wanted to stitch the ends together instead of using buttons.  I really like how it looks on me, and like how it doesn't hug my neck.  Warm enough, but not too hot to wear.

Look on my Sharing page to see where I am linking up.

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Monk Strap Baby Loafers

I fell in love with these baby shoes the minute I saw them on Whistle and Ivy.  I wanted to crochet them right away.  I decided to make a pair for my church charity that provides clothes for kids in the area that would not normally receive brand new clothes.  I used yarn from my stash in cream and brown and started with the 0-3 month size.  Once I read the pattern correctly, they worked up fairly quickly.  I think I am going to make a vest and cap to go with them.  I know I will definitely make more in other colors and sizes.

See my Sharing page for information about the sites where I link up and Pin It.

Pink Button Scarf

Earlier this spring I was looking for a neck wrap I liked.   The hi-low temperature in Illinois changes rapidly, so I wanted something light.  I browsed the internet and found this pattern at Fave Crafts. 

The Blue Button Scarf is a scarf that is described as "a spiderweb scarf. You only wear it around your shoulders kind of like a shawl."  I decided to use some yarn I had from my stash, a pink mixed fiber yarn from GALA Yarns that I had purchased at Big Lots. 




Scarf laid out

Scarf as worn

In the description, it says the pattern is easy, but I would not agree.  Although the pattern only uses chains, and single and double crochet, the six-row pattern repeat needs to be carefully followed eleven times.  Having to concentrate this much was difficult for me, and I was only able to work on it for about an hour each time, and could only finish two repeats each time.  Even so, it was well worth the effort.  I think it turned out beautifully.



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Baby Cocoons

I have made three baby cocoons for little ones recently, and now that they have gone to the recipients, I can share the pictures with you.

The first was for a preemie, who was only two pounds at birth, and 14 inches long.  Fortunately for he and the parents, he grew out of it quicker than I was able to get it to him.

The other two were for newborns, and stretched a little more.  I adapted a pattern from Christina's Sunshine Haven.  In the first one, I decided to sew up the top, to make a hood. I only used one strand of yarn, so it is really stretchy.

The other one is made with two strands of yarn.  I took off the top part, the head rest, and made it a little longer.  I also made a matching hat.  This is the one that was my favorite.

I asked the new mom for a picture of the babe in that one.  I hope it fit!

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Gingham Baby Blanket

I have fallen way behind on my Granny-a-Day Challenge.  Back in September, I bought a bag of granny squares already made for $3.  All I had to do was stitch them together.  There was probably more than 200.

I started with the white, light blue and dark blue squares, and based my blanket off a pattern in one of my granny square books.  I finished with a border of dc's in a soft fuzzy blue yarn from my yarn stash.

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FO Friday (night!)

I did manage to finish a sweater vest that I had started crocheting for my husband last winter.  I didn't do anything with it over the summer, because it was so hot.  Since it is cooling down again, and I wanted to finish it in time for him to wear it this year, I have been working on it the last couple of weeks.  I found a pattern for it in an old Workbasket magazine, and used some of my bargain yarn from "Big Lots."  I added the stripe of burgundy in the front, and I like the vertical stripes of front post stitches.  Some of those patterns in that magazine are timeless!

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FO Friday~10/26

Well, it is still Friday where I am, so I guess I will join in to FO Friday.  I have crocheted a Mobius Cowl.  The yarn is some I got at Stitches Midwest.  It is from Blue Heron Yarns, in the colorway called Dawn.  I bought a 400 yard skein of this soft twist wool, and it was enough to do this project.  I was inspired to make a smaller version of  The Crochet Dude's Mobius Cowl in his book of crochet patterns called  "Hug it Out."  I had also bought an autographed copy of this book at Stitches Midwest.  After playing around with the finished project, I found a couple of ways to wear it:

Over the shoulders

Draped cowl

as a scarf

 I also had a picture of it as a hood, but didn't like how it looked, so I didn't post it. ;)

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Finished Object Friday

It has been two weeks since I posted on Friday, and I have both a knitted and a crocheted piece to show you.

The knitted piece is a shawl done in straigth garter stitch, with a two stripes of  stockinette stitch, just because I got bored with all the K rows!  I love the variegated yarn colors of white, navy blue and maroon.  I think it is Red Heart yarn.  I don't know for sure, because I used yarn from a top I had made myself quite a while ago.

Knitted Shawl

The crocheted piece is a seat cover that I made for my office chair at school.  I came back from summer vacation to find that someone (probably a summer worker) had stepped on the seat cushion of my chair and made tiny gauges that grew every time I sat in it.  I decided to make a granny square to cover those marks. It is made of some nylon/wool yarn that should hold up pretty well.

That's it for me this week.  Please see the links on my "Sharing" page to see where I am linking today.
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FO Friday

I realized today that one of the reasons the jean purse I made from my daughter's skirt that I posted about on Monday was so special to me.  It is because when I use it, it makes me nostalgic of when she was so little and sweet.  She is a teenager now, and is still sweet, but differently.  If you have a teen-aged girl, you will know what I  mean.

She has been packing up a lot of clothes that she no longer likes or has become too small for, after puposefully losing weight, and she handed me a poncho that I crocheted for her several years ago.

She made a comment about knowing that she wouldn't wear it anymore, but knowing that I might feel a little bad if she got rid of it. That is an example of how sweet she can be, and because she said it, I could let the poncho go.  I may even use the yarn for something else someone will enjoy as much as we did this item.

In fact, I did make a poncho for a newborn this week..."and the circle goes round and round..."





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Finished Objects

Preemie Sleeper and Hat

There were several things I finished this week. I crocheted charity outfit for a preemie and some jewelry for myself.  The All In One was from an archive of patterns from TLC for Angels.  It is tied in the back, and has a long opening so it is easy to put on and remove.   The hat is from SLK Designs, without the cuff, because I ran out of yarn!

I made some earrings with beads and thread.  The pink set was from Cynthia's Cynfully Spiffy Stuff  and the rest were all my own design.  Since I learned some things from Cynthia's pattern, I redid the other three pairs.

The last necklace/earring set is from a combination of mine and another's designs.  After I made the necklace from a design at Pammie's Place, I decided to crochet a pair of earrings of a similar design.  They are both made from trellis ribbon yarn.

Playtime Overalls

Yes, they are finished!  As you can see, I ran out of the variegated yarn, so I put my spin on the pattern with the white bib, red straps and blue buttons.  All in all, a success.

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Finished Objects Friday

                                                                          

I finished both projects yesterday early this morning.  There was no rush, but since I was almost done, I decided to finish them.  The gloves are ones that I made for my sister, and the shawl is for charity.  I am glad it was cooler yesterday, otherwise I would not have finished the shawl.

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Finished Afghan

I was very surprised how fast this worked up. I really like the color combinations, and hope the receiver will appreciate the work I did. It will go to my church's charity for our local hospitals.
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Apache Tears Shawl TA DAAH!

I am thinking I want to keep this, but it is another prayer shawl for charity.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  I was kind of surprised how well the color combination turned out, too, especially with the pink/rose ombre. I am pretty sure I will be making this pattern again.

To see more finished objects, go to Natural Suburbia and Tami's Amis.

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Scrap Yarn Dog Blanket

When I saw a video tutorial yesterday for a Lazy Wave Crochet Afghan from The Crochet Crowd. I decided to use scrap yarn and make a blankie for our dog, Pippi.  I used variegated scraps and some matching scraps to create the piece, following Michael's pattern.  It's not perfect, but I don't think Pippi will complain. ;0p  Besides, it is reusable, washable, and nicer than the old newspapers she used to put in her crate when we had to leave the house. ;)

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.

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