Puffed Baby Blanket & Pattern

Well, well, look who’s finally decided to show up. 🙂 I’ve been incognito for some time now and lots has happened since my last post.. most of it unpleasant so I won’t get into it (save you all some tears). Along with life changing events, I did do a bit of crafty stuff as well… A baby blanket for friends. It’s their very first baby and it’s going to be a girl! Super exciting news. Here’s it is..

 

The pic isn’t so great (what’s new, right?) but the grey and pink is oh so sweet!

And here’s the pattern for anyone who’s interested.

Hook: H/8 – 5.00 MM

Yarn: I Love This Yarn

Yarn Colors:

Grey = Color#/Name# 201-Greybeard

Pink= Color#/Name# 100 pink
Body of the Blanket
Row 1- Ch 129, plus 2 sc, turn; working in both loops, in fifth ch from hook *(sc, 2 dc) into next sc, skip 2, (sc, 2 dc) into next sc. Repeat from * until three stitches are remaining. Skip two stitches, sc in last stitch. Turn.
Row 2- Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc from here and on out), dc in second sc from hook, dc into next sc and into all sc until you reach the end. Turn.
Row 3- ch 2, in fifth sc from hook *(sc, 2 dc) into next sc, skip 2, (sc, 2 dc) into next sc. Repeat from * until three stitches are remaining. Skip two sc, sc in last loop. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 forty-seven times.
fasten off.

Border
Fasten on with new color at left-hand side of top of blanket. Sc in both loops around entire blanket with foundation stitch of 4 ch, plus 4.
Row 1- 1 sc into second ch from hook, 1 sc into each ch to end, turn.
Row 2- ch 1, 1 sc into first sc and into each sc to end, turn.
Row 3- ch 1, 1 sc into first sc, skip next sc, 5 dc into next sc, *skip next sc, 5 dc into next sc, skip next sc, 1 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end.
fasten off.

Flowers (Make 4)

With original color ch 2. Sc in 2nd chain from hook 12 times. Fasten off.

With second color fasten on. * Sc in first ch, 5 dc in next st, 1 sc. * repeat until five petals are are made. (for the one slightly bigger flower I squeezed in 6 petals).
Fasten off.
With matching tread sew flowers to blanket.

Happy Halloween!

There’s nothing like waiting until the last minute to get your buttocks in gear, right? Goose has known that she wanted to be Pebbles since Nov. 1st of last year (no, I’m not kidding) and I finally sat down with Mrs. Singer yesterday to get the job done. I believe I have lost my creative mojo. Not only did I attempt to buy this outfit at the store, which they did not have, but I put off making it as long as possible. Not a good sign. All in all though, it came together and she will not only wear it tonight, but has worn it to school today.

I used no pattern… just a pair of PJs as my guide, cutting about 1/4 inch away from the seams. And I made it of fleece so that there was no hemming that needed to be done. The bone in her hair is made of 2 sheets of felt stuffed with batting. It was freestyle at it’s best… the sides are not even equal. Thankfully she didn’t notice. 🙂 And the leg warmers (if you want to call them that) are long and straight and offer no form what-so-ever – just a straight seam up the back.

I’d say the whole thing took me about 3 hours to throw together.. with much of that time spent hand sewing the black fleece triangle-like pieces to the shirt.

A Halloween masterpiece! Can’t wait until tomorrow when
Goose informs me on what she wants to be next Halloween. 🙂 I think I still have a few year’s left to enjoy before she gives up trick-or-treating.. She asked me a few weeks ago if there was a age law that would cut her off. Totally cracks me up. She’s a candy hog.

Hope you all enjoy this evenings fun!

 

Quick note: Goose won 4th in the entire 5th grade with this costume. He-he… tickles me to death!

Knot Tote

I finally made myself a new purse. I found the pattern/tutorial thru Pinterest (imagine that). I’m especially fond of all the little knots in this pattern… two in the center and two on the straps. Also, I like the size of it. It’s big enough that I can throw a book in if I need it, but not so big that I have to dig for ages to find what I’m looking for – always a plus. I just hate it when my cell rings..and rings..and rings while I’m furiously rummaging thru all the junk…only to find the silly thing in my craft bag. So typical.

The only thing I wish were different in this purse is the length of the straps. They’re too short to hang it on my shoulder and too long to carry as a clutch. I could probably adjust them; all I would really need to do is sew a little length into extra straps and then tie a couple more knots… but, I don’t really wanna. I’ll just drag it around with me for awhile as is; while I sift through all the DIYs on pinterest in hopes of finding my next purse. Making a new one is alway more fun than fixing what you’ve already done.

Pattern: Me Sew Crazy

Fabric: Hancock Fabrics Top Drawer

Polka Dot or Bulls-eye Sweater

So, my planning paid off and Goose’s Polka Dot, or as I call it Bulls-eye, sweater is finally complete.

Actually, it’s been complete for a while… I’m having a hard time keeping up-to-date with this blog. I used to be johnny-on- the-spot.. now, I’m not as interested. I think Pinterest is the problem.

Anyway, I went with crochet rather than knitting, and I left off the sleeves. It was super easy to make. First, I made a simple circle using this pattern.

I used an H hook and changed my yarn color whenever I felt it needed it.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
ea = each
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch

To Begin: Chain 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in first sc, to join.
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in ea sc around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: ch 1, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: ch 1, (sc in ea of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (24 sc)

Additional Rnds: For each new round, add 1 extra sc stitch to the number of sc stitches between increases (an increase is done by making 2 sc in one stitch). For example, round 5 would have 3 sc between increases then round 6 would have 4 sc between increases and so on.

When finished, end off. Weave in ends.

Throughout this process I held my work up to Goose’s back and measured my progress. Once I thought it was ready for the arm holes I marked the openings with small scraps of yarn.. like this…making sure they are even in number of stitches.. I had 14 on each side.

Then, I began my next round of stitches at the point that will fall just under the arm. Continue with that pattern. When you get to your next marker (just under the other arm) make a chain stitch of 14 (or the number equal to your arm holes), then go back to sc and finish with the pattern until you feel your sweater is the right size (I finished my last 2 rows with fringe yarn).  Add a tie to the front and you’re done.

Hello Fall

The only positive thing about colder weather?

Soup!

 

Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden knock off)

1 lb ground Italian Sausage
1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 large white onion
4 Tbs bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced russet potatoes
1/4 of a bunch of kale – chopped

Saute sausage and red peppers in large pot. Drain, refrigerate.

In same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic over low-med heat until onions are soft.

Add chicken bouillon and water and heat until boil.

Add diced potatoes and cook until soft – approx. 30 mins.

Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated.

Stir in sausage and kale, let all heat through (approx. 15 minutes) and serve.

Puff-Sleeved Cardigan

I’m ecstatic to finally have this sweater done! (It’s taken me 3 weeks just to sew the buttons on.) I bought the book, The Crochet Closet (Leisure Arts #4800) by Lisa Gentry, about a year ago. (The last I checked it was on sale for only $13.63 – awesome deal!!)

I’ve admired the sweater on the cover for so long. My first two attempts were a bust, at no fault of the pattern. I have issues… Meaning: I’m much too lazy to count.

Anyway, In my first attempt I was 3/4 of the way finished with the body of the sweater when I noticed this…

What in the world! So, I pulled it all out and started again.

In my second attempt I was completely finished with the body of the sweater when I noticed this…

What in the world! So, I pulled it all out and started again.

The third and final time I smartened up and counted – most of the time. You know, old dog..new tricks. 🙂 Did I mention I hate to count?

I’m happy with the finished garment. I think it’s really cute and will look nice with a long sleeve T underneath, a pair of faded jeans, and some flats. Perfect for Fall.

It’s a very simple pattern.. consisting of only single and double crochet stitches. Very doable for those with a few crochet projects under their belt – especially if you don’t mind counting. 🙂

Book: The Crochet Closet (Leisure Arts #4800) by Lisa Gentry
Pattern: Puff-Sleeved Cardigan
Yarn: Canon – Simply Soft – Sage 4 balls

Note to self – if you make this sweater again go with one size smaller. Also, pattern uses every inch of the yarn required.

Working With Spandex

So, you know I have an obsession with spandex and little girl leotards. They are by far my favorite thing to make – quick and easy. You also know that I’ve had my fair share of struggles when making them; tension being my biggest enemy.

I hung in there though and finally mastered it. Or it gave into me, I guess I should say. I used my stretch stitches, but I didn’t change any tension settings on my machine.. just left them on the default settings. The only thing I changed was to clean my machine, and now the tension looks great. (There must have been globs of tiny bits of tread hung in the bobbin case – I’m not the greatest at remembering to clean out that junk). Easy enough.

My next obstacle was the tightness of the elastic around the neck.

First let me explain how I sew the leg elastic. It’s easy to measure the proper length of your elastic there.. just wrap it around the leg, pull it to the proper tightness, mark it, cut it, sew the ends together and pin it evenly around the leg opening. (Remember, you work on the right side of your fabric and then flip it under and sew again.. this makes it easy to work with the spandex and still hides the elastic). As you’re sewing, work from pin to pin..pulling the elastic to equal the length of the material in each area. When you’re finished the elastic will pull snug and the spandex will be evenly distributed around the leg.

But the neck area isn’t so easy (at least for me). I’d measure, sew, and the neckline just kinda hung there a little too loose – not so much that it caused a problem.. it just didn’t look exactly right. See?

It bothered me – big time, so I worked on it. The solution was easy enough. With this last leo I chose not to pre-measure. I left the elastic un-cut, I didn’t even pin it to the fabric. I simply guided it along the edge and pulled it a bit while sewing it to the spandex. Don’t pull too much though or you’ll get bunching.. just a little more than taut and that will do nicely. Fabric tight..

Neckline solved.

My next adventure with spandex will be to make and use spandex binding around the neck and sleeves. Should be fun. I’ll let ya know. 😉

Planning My Next Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Okay, so I found a free pattern for this adorable Polkadot sweater by Berroco and immediately wanted to make it for Goose. It’s a little more her style than mine.. you know, cool – not embarrassing.. So I thought I might stand a chance at getting her okay. And sure enough, she liked it!! I’m excited!

But first, I must finish my current project. Another sweater. It’s embarrassing – not cool. This one is for me. 🙂

It’s been a few months in the works, very slow works, but hopefully I’ll have it finished soon. Trust me when I say, I’m tired of looking at the color sage (I’ll explain later).

Also, I’ll have to study the Polkadot pattern and up it to a size 10. Currently it goes to a size 8. It’s also a knit pattern. I prefer crochet.. so I might change that too. We’ll see.

It’s gonna be cute though!!! I can’t wait!

It’s Nothing..but Sanity

This little scarf saved me from a breakdown.

Do you ever feel crazy from lack of crafting time?

As I said in my last post, School is back in full swing. Life is moving faster.. Homework, Gymnastics three nights a week (don’t get home until 8pm – Lord help me), and I’m trying to jump on the treadmill the other four nights.

Have I talked about my treadmill here? I’m running.. or trying to anyway. It doesn’t always work out the way I want it to.. I’m not fast and I don’t go far, but I’m attempting it. Cross your fingers.

Anyway, because of ‘stuff’ I’m not crafting much. And honestly I was missing it so much that I grabbed the only thing I could think of that was doable – start to finish – in one sitting.

Big yarn + big needles = small scarf

100 degree weather or not.. this scarf was a have-to!

Do you get like that? You must finish a project.. it doesn’t really matter what it is.. just something, or you feel like you might lose your mind?

Well, that’s where I was..

So, a new scarf was made.. no matter that it won’t be worn for months.

Small price to pay for sanity.

5th Grade Bookbag

The bag is done, thank goodness.

I’m not as crazy about this one as the others I’ve made..

2nd grade

4th grade

The construction is equally as good, but the fabrics aren’t bold enough for my liking. Goose on the other hand thinks the fabrics are awesome. I held my tongue at the fabric store, being that this is HER bag and not mine, and let her mix and match any way she choose. None are from the same collection – a move I’m not near strong enough to make.

I suppose she’s better at it than I am because the ladies working there all oohed and aahed over her choices and gave Goose high praises for her matching abilities. (They said nothing about the awesome fabric I chose for a future skirt. 🙂 )

If you get a chance, remember my baby tomorrow morning. It’s her first day at a new school.. going from around 200 kids in her grade to over 1000. It’s a bit intimidating.

The 2 print fabrics from this yr’s bag
Rock-N-Roses #6222 by Beverlyann Stillwell
In the Beginning Happy Heynen Painted Dots by Jennifer Heynen