granny blanket : grandma's heart

Guess what it's doing outside right now?!

It's snowing.  Again.  

It's a snow day. Again.

It feels like this winter is never going to end. Ever.

Each week that goes by on my #12inchgrannyblanket is a reminder that we're one week closer to spring and some warmer weather.

WEEK SEVEN || Grandma's Heart

by Carola Wijma

I first attempted this block when I made my first granny blanket in 2011.  It was a fail as I had no idea how to follow a crochet diagram.  I wanted to give it another try and between the diagram and these written directions by JeLire, this time was a lot easier.  

If you are having a hard time with this one, an alternative pattern is "Center Heart Square" by Ginger Badger.

Happy Valentine's Day!

and 

on my hook : pincushion

A week or two ago, I came across a fun YAL (yarn-a-long) on Instagram.  It's being hosted by the lovely Linda at Wild About Yarn.  The theme is flowers (my favorite thing!) and each month she will share a stash-busting crochet project and the pattern to go with.  Please check it out and join us!

January's project was a gorgeous Crochet Granny Pincushion.  I had never thought to fold a granny like a little envelope to create a pillow--genius!

I love how it turned out.  I did already have a cute pincushion, but can you really have too many pretty pincushions?  

 Wouldn't these be the perfect little gift for your sewing friends.  It came together in an afternoon, and   forced me to pull out the old sewing machine and some fabric (to create the cushion insert).

The February project is already posted if you want to hook along!

granny blanket : patriot's pride

Happy Monday! 

It's time for this week's blanket square, and I'm so happy to be posting this following a Super Bowl 49 win for the Patriots.  While the Pats were battling the Seahawks out in Arizona, I was cozying up in the rocking chair under an electric blanket anticipating another snow storm and snow day for the boys (number 3 in a week), and hooking up this square.

WEEK 6 || Patriot's Pride

by April Moreland

I had to choose this pattern once we found out the Patriots were going to the Super Bowl.  April has a bunch of other 12" granny square patterns on her site, so I'm sure I'll be linking to her again.

crochet : button flowers

The other day a friend tagged me in a Facebook post featuring these gorgeous crochet button flowers:

image credit: Craft and Fun

I was immediately inspired and got out my smallest crochet hook (a US size B), some thread, and the only button I could find that the B hook could fit through.

Using the pictures as a guide, I gave it a go.  (Of course, now as I write this blog post, I find the link to Craft and Fun via Pinterest and there are directions in English at the bottom of the post linked in the caption above).

Insert hook into button hole and pull up a loop, chain 5.  SC into next button hole, ch 5.  Repeat around ending with a single crochet into first button hole, ch5, slst into 1st ch of beginning ch5.  Slst into first ch5 space, ch, sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc.  Continue making petals around in each ch5 space, ending with a slst into.  Fasten off and weave in ends. Join accent color into any stitch and alternate 1sc 2 sc around, working 1sc in between button hole threads.

Optional: photograph your new cute flower and create a springtime scene for it in Studio :) 

what's on your hook? wednesday

We survived the Blizzard of 2015.  No downed trees, no power loss.  Just lots and lots and lots of snow.

We're on Snow Day Number 2.  The boys are loving all the extra screen time, and I'm loving all the crochet and reading time.  Which brings me to this week's

I'm working on a pair of fingerless mitts using some self-striping yarn and a (US) D hook. 

 The pattern is from Red Heart and can be found here.

 What's on your hook this week?