The Story So Far

I’ve begun the joining on my Modern Blanket of Flowers. The pattern called for a slip stitch join so I decided to do that. Boy is that TEDIOUS! If I make another of these (and I might) I’ll join by sewing together like I always do. The slip stitch join is advantageous because of the long strips to join but there’s so much adjusting and placing to do in order to keep the “spokes” aligned that It seems like I need more hands–one to hold the hook, one to tension the yarn, and another one to hold the piece. It’s going to be much smaller than I’d envisioned, but I’m not sure I’d have it in me to add more motifs to make it bigger.

 

The Layout

After laying out my hexagons for the Modern Flower Blanket, I decided that I would like to have an additional row top and bottom. This means I need to make another 12 motifs. That won’t take too long. I’m liking how it’s turning out overall!

 

Hot Pad vs Pot Holder

My mom expressed a desire for some pot holders for her kitchen. I happened to have some suitable cotton on hand to make some. She likes frou frou things so I thought I’d look up some fancy pot holder patterns on Ravelry. This led me to the conclusion that many people don’t know the difference between a hot pad and a pot holder. Either that or they’ve never actually cooked anything.

Clue: if your design has LARGE HOLES IN IT, it will be useless as a pot holder. You might as well grab the dang pan with your bare hand. Though on the bright side, the resulting burn from the holey pot holder will be an interesting pattern…

 

A Bit of Headway

My hand finally quit swelling and hurting so I decided to ease it back to work by working on my mom’s bedspread. I have all of the squares for the center (30 of them) joined. Now I just have to put on the round of smaller squares all around and add a border.

 

Back to the Pink

I got inspired to work on my mom’s bedspread again. She’s decided to move into another apartment downstairs, which I can’t blame her for. Every time you walk into her apartment the first thing you smell is cherry vanilla pipe tobacco which my dad always smoked. I think it will be nice for her to have a totally new space. I thought it would be nice if I finished this off as sort of a housewarming thing. So I’ve joined six strips of 5 blocks each. Now I have to join those strips, add the border of small squares, and then put on a decorative border. Much work, but I think it’ll turn out nice.

 

Another Strip

One more set of pink and white granny squares joined for the bedspread! I have a sense of accomplishment about it all, despite being far from finished!

 

I Finally Get Started

I started joining the pink and white bedspread. One strip down, five more to go. Then the addition of the small squares. Then the border. Ok, it’s a small start but a start nonetheless.

 

Zombie Candy Corn

Today’s Project: Candy Corn
Size: 5 inch
Pattern By: Sahrit Freud-Weinstein
Hook: H
Yarn: Mystery worsted acrylic in yellow, orange, off white, brown.
Pattern from: Ravelry

Notes: This pattern was actually for a candy corn bunting. I’m not a bunting kinda gal, so I made a single candy corn with a loop to hang it up! It’s double sided so it has a lot of potential. In worsted weight it’s very thick. If it were made in cotton it could be a wacky hot pad. Or it could be stuffed like an amigurumi.

 

A Little Teal Box

I made a little gift box with RHSS Teal. I use a “G” hook for these and it really does a number on my hand. I used to use that size hook all the time–maybe that’s why I never entirely embraced crochet before. The combo of using an “H” hook and switching to Bates style made all the difference.

But I digress. I’ve made a few of these little boxes and I like the way they look. It’s basically a hat. I make increases until the base is the size I want. On the next row I SC in BLO to give it a defined edge. For the sides I just freeform–alternating between rounds of SC, DC, or HDC. The lid is just the same, but including one extra round of SC to make it slightly larger than the box.

 

Curtain Tie Back

Today’s Project: Border 23
Size: 2 x 17 inch
Pattern By: Jean Leinhauser
Hook: H
Yarn: Dark teal tweed mystery cotton
Pattern from: Ravelry

Notes: I was pondering the “50 More Crocheted Afghan Borders” book and a conversation about curtains sprang up on the 2013 BAMCAL group. It suddenly clicked in my mind that these edgings would make great curtain tie backs! I chose Border 23. Instead of doing three rows of the lattice part, I just did two rows. Then on the ends I added a couple rows of SC. Then to make the loop, I did SC in three stitches, CH7, SC in the remaining stitches. Then I turned and worked back, doing 7SC around the CH7 loop. I’m kind of pleased with how it turned out. Now I’ll make the second one to match it!