granny blanket : weeks 2 & 3

WEEK TWO || Crown Jewels

by Melinda Miller

This block was a bit of a challenge, but definitely worth it.  I love the dimension of the popcorn stitches and the frame of double treble clusters.  It took me a couple of tries to get the popcorn rounds to come out to the correct stitch number.  Then I realized I was doing the popcorns wrong and had an extra stitch on many of them.  Make sure you yarn over and draw through both the loop and chain on the hook, then go right into yarning over the hook to make the dc's in the next stitch.  On round 8 (the  dtr frame round), follow Melinda's directions carefully.  It took a bit of careful reading, but once I could follow the flow of the pattern, it went quickly and the results are beautiful.

WEEK 3 || Creeping Trebles

by Amelia Beebe

 This was a nice easy block with a fun stitch used to create texture on the surface of the square.  

 For those of you that are hooking along with us, the pattern for this week's square is Flower Burst by Chris Simon.

2015 year long crochet project

I'm so excited to share my 2015 crochet project with you!

Last year, I began the tradition (can you call it a tradition after just one year?) of having a crochet project that lasts through the year.  It was the Crochet Mood Blanket, and if I'm to be completely honest, it only lasted ½ of the year.  I got bored with it.  The same little square hooked in a different color every stinkin' day.  And when it had lost its "mood meaning" I knew it was time to call it quits.  I have a pretty little throw for the end of our bed, and I'm ok with the fact that it is ½ the size I had intended it to be.

This year, I knew I wanted to do something a little different.  I still wanted to stick with a blanket project, but I needed variety.  And I needed it to be a bit more flexible than being locked into every single solitary day.

This year I will be hooking up a 12 inch square each week for 50 weeks.  The last two weeks of the year will be spent joining and crocheting the border.  I've already favorited and tagged more squares than I'll need on my Ravelry account.  I've even convinced a friend to join me!

WEEK ONE || More V's Please

by Melinda Miller

Yarn: Loops and Threads Impeccable in Arbor Rose, Grass, Aqua, Butterscotch and Silver Grey.

Hook: H 5mm

I'm not completely positive yet how I'll be joining my blocks, but just thinking out loud here, maybe I'll do a final round of single crochet on each and join them in white using the flat zipper join.

 Week 2 is still in the works, but here's a little sneak peek:

Watch this space for progress on my blanket throughout the year.

How about you?  Got any year-long crochet projects in the works for 2015?  Want to join me and crochet a square a week?  I'll be posting links to the square I hook each week, and sharing progress on Instagram with the hashtag #12inchgrannyblanket.  If you crochet, I'd love to have you hook along!

Happy Crocheting in 2015!

crochet : hexie sachet

Happy New Year!  

It has been ages since I have posted on this little blog.

I won't bore you with the details of all that has been going on in my little world (hockey, holidays, returning to teaching full time for the first time in 14 years).  Umm, yeah it's been a bit crazy, and blogging was, sadly, the last thing on my mind.  

But I have soaked up these days of vacation, have welcomed in the new year with all it's possibilities, hopes and dreams, and am ready to sit down this morning to share a little project with you.  

A Crochet Hexie Sachet

I wrote up the pattern to share with you.

 I used a grey tone linen fabric to sew a little hexie pillow and added some dried lavender to the fluff.

I wish the internet had "scratch and sniff" capabilities--it smells heavenly.

Then the motif is hand-stitched to the cushion.

Easy and beautiful!

Lacey Hexagon Motif

Hook size: E

Yarn: DK

Round 1: Ch2, 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook.  Join with sl st and fasten off.

Round 2: Join new color into any sc, ch3, 2dc cluster, ch5, 3dc cluster in each sc around for 6 3dc cluster petals, sl st into top of first ch3 and fasten off.

Round 3: Join new color at top of any cluster, ch3, [2dc, ch2, 2dc in ch5 space; 1dc in top of next cluster] repeat around, ending with sl st in ftop of 1st ch3 and fasten off.

Round 4: Join new color in corner space, ch3, 1dc, ch2, 2dc in same space, 3dc in next ch space.  Work [2dc ch2 2dc] in each corner chain space and 3dc in other spaces around.  Sl st into top of ch3 and fasten off.

Round 5: Join new color in corner space, ch1, sc ch1 sc in same corner, sc in each stitch across and work 1sc ch1 1sc in corner, continue around joining with sl st into first sc and fasten off.

Happy crocheting!

crochet : baby hat & booties

Everything's coming up babies!

At least that's how it feels at work this year.

Is there anything cuter than little baby hats and booties done up in crochet?

I put this little set together for a colleague who just had her first baby girl.

The hat is my own pattern, included at the end of this post.

The booties are an adaptation of this pattern from Croby Patterns.

You can get the pattern for the flower here on Ravelry.

Crochet Baby Hat

Yarn: Lily and Cream 100% cotton yarn in Stormy Skies

Hook: size G, 4.00 mm

Make a magic circle.

round 1: chain 3, 11dc into the ring, join with a slip stitch, pull closed (12)

round 2: ch3, dc in same stitch, 2dc in each stitch around, join with sl st (24)

round 3: ch3, dc in same stitch, *1 dc in next stitch, 2dc in next; repeat from * around, join with sl st (36)

round 4: ch3, dc in same stitch, *1 dc in next 2 stitches, 2dc in next; repeat from * around, join with sl st (48) 

Note: the hat pictured above is intended for a newborn.  At the end of round 4, the diameter of the circle should be between 4 and 4.5".  For a larger hat, continue rounds of dc increases (ie. 1dc in next 3, 2dc in next; 1dc in next 4, 2dc in next; etc...)

rounds 5-7: ch3, dc in next stitch and each stitch around (no increases) (48)

round 8: ch 3, dc in next 2 stitches, *ch1, skip next dc, dc in each of next 3 stitches; repeat from * around, join with sl st (36dc, 12 ch1 spaces)

rounds 9-10: sl st to first ch1 space ch3, 2dc in same space, *ch1, skip next 3 dc, 3dc in next ch1 space; repeat from * around, join with sl st (12 groups of 3dc, 12 ch1 spaces)

round 11-12: ch1, sc in next dc, *2sc in ch1 space, sc in each of the next 3 dc; repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

I have not had a chance to test this pattern yet, so crochet at your own risk!  If you try it out before I do and notice a problem, please post it in the comments below.  Thanks so much!

Happy crocheting!

gratitude journal 2014

It's gratitude journal time!  

The inspiration for this year's gratitude album came from this pin from Kesiart.

She created hers as an Advent calendar (genius!), and the moment I saw it, I knew it would be the perfect format for this year's mini album for our family's Thanksgiving Day gratitudes.

The frame is from IKEA.

I simply cut paper 3 3/8 x 5 and stapled pockets of 3 3/8 x 2.

Then embellish the pockets (I kept mine super simple).  Hole punch and thread onto a binder ring.  Family members will record this year's gratitudes onto coordinating Project Life cards.

I scored a metal tag on clearance at Michaels for like 40 cents!  G is for Gratitude (and Great deals!).

You can see past years' gratitude journals 

HERE