Special Christmas Gift

My uncle - who has always been a healthy and active person - has been struggling with a whole mess of health problems these past several years stemming from an infection he got after a surgery. His lungs have been deteriorating to the point he needed a lung transplant. Thankfully (after months of testing) he was approved and shortly thereafter received a new lung. 

On his 5 month anniversary of receiving the lung, he went on a 5 mile hike! I'm sure it hasn't been easy, but he makes it look that way. He's such a strong person, and I'm so happy he is finally feeling as good as he does.

For Christmas, I wanted to make him a blanket. Since I can't give him a big hug because of COVID-19, I'll let my blanket do the hugging :)

I had lots of blues and greens in my stash, and since he and my aunt are so outdoorsy, I went with those in a random granny square pattern. The colors reminded me of the sea, sky and nature in general. I just kept mixing the colors until I had enough squares (great stash buster too).  I think it came out quite nice.

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. 2021 can't get here fast enough!

This was my chaos. It was controlled chaos, but I'm sure this would make some crazy :) Reusable shopping bags and laundry baskets make great holders while you are working on a project. My current work in progress is a baby blanket with the scraps. Stop back to see how that turns out.

Scrappy Pink Gradient Blanket

I used some leftover skeins of various brands some new, some old, some discontinued to get this gently flowing pink granny afghan. Still working on the border, but thought I would post a couple of inspirational photos to use up yarn bits and never feel you can't mix brands.

I did 4 squares x 6 squares for this baby blanket. Each block with white border is 7"x7".

Happy Monday :)

Pop of Pink Granny Cowl

As I mentioned several months ago (OK, maybe last year) on Instagram, I finally have a granny cowl pattern to share with everyone. I've only worked it through in my head, so the written pattern hasn't been tested, but hopefully it is error-free. If not, please let me know, and I will revise when I can...it has been a busy 2018 already...work, kids, life. 

I hope you enjoy it. I use mine every day in these winter months. After many washes, it has loosened quite a bit, but I like the look and coverage still. The pink one I just finished for my daughter :) She is a skier and it fits snugly over her face from neck to nose.

You can download the pattern here.

Finished size: 18” circumference

(one size fits most)

Materials: (Any worsted weight yarn)

Universal Classic Worsted Yarn

(80% Acrylic, 20% Wool) 3.5 oz

Red Heart with Wool

(80% Acrylic, 20% Wool) 3.5 oz

A - 1 skein pink (light) (Universal)

B - 1 skeins gumball (medium) (RH)

C - 1 skeins pixie (dark) (RH)

D - 1 skein aran or white (Universal)

Crochet Hook - Size I - 9mm

Large Eye Blunt/Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations: 

sl st slip stitch 

ch chain 

sc single crochet 

hdc half double crochet 

dc double crochet 

tr triple crochet 

dtr double triple crochet 

sk skip 

st(s) stitch(es) 

sp(s) space(es) 

beg beginning

Directions: 

Granny square 1 (make 2)

With A, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring. 

Rnd 1: Ch 3 [counts as first dc here and throughout], 2dc into ring, ch 2, (3dc in ring, ch 2) 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Rnd 2: Join B in any corner space. Ch 3, (2dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same ch 2 sp (corner made),  (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch 2 sp; rep 2 more times; join with sl st into top of beg ch 3. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Rnd 3: Join C in any corner space. Ch 3, (2dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same space (corner made), *3dc in next space, (3dc, ch2, 3dc)*. Repeat *to* 2 more times, 3dc, sl st into top of beginning ch 3. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Note: If you are whip stitching add one more round with D. If you are joining-as-you-go, continue on to granny square 2.

Granny square 2 (make 2)

With C, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring. 

Rnd 1: Ch 3 [counts as first dc here and throughout], 2dc into ring, ch 2, (3dc in ring, ch 2) 2 more times; join with sl st in top of beg ch. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Rnd 2: Join B in any corner space. Ch 3, (2dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same ch 2 sp (corner made),  (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch 2 sp; rep 2 more times; join with sl st into top of beg ch 3. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Rnd 3: Join A in any corner space. Ch 3, (2dc, ch 2, 3dc) in same space (corner made), *3dc in next space, (3dc, ch2, 3dc)*. Repeat *to* 2 more times, 3dc, sl st into top of beginning ch 3. Slip across remaining stitches to corner space.

Join-as-you-go

Alternate granny squares 1 and 2 as you use the join-as-yo- go method.

Tip: If you are using the join-as-you-go method, only do a half corner (ch3, 2dc) at the beginning of your last joining square. You will be joining this last square to the first three, but on the opposite side you will be joining it to your first square in the same round.

Finishing: 

Rnd 4 Continue with D (or join if you whip stitched) and ch 2, hdc in same stitch and in every st around. Join with a sl st to top of beg ch. Cut yarn. Repeat this round on the opposite side.

Rnd 5 Join B and ch 2, hdc in same stitch and in every st around. Join with a sl st to top of beg ch. Cut yarn. Repeat this round on the opposite side.

Rnd 6 Join C and ch 2, hdc in same stitch and in every st around. Join with a sl st to top of beg ch. Cut yarn. Repeat this round on the opposite side.

Weave in all ends.

Radiant Roses

On a rainy Sunday, I am finishing a new blanket for a customer. It is one I created a few years ago based on a vintage blanket and my rose pattern here. I will try to get a new post up with the last few rounds I used to make it into a granny square soon.

I used Red Heart's petal pink, pretty in pink, white and glow worm.

I hope it sends some color and sunshine your way. Happy Sunday!

(Un)Perfect pink patchwork

Happy belated Valentine's Day. I sound like a broken record, but I've been busy working on a couple of custom requests. One of which I finished up yesterday...

It's a throw sized afghan. I used Hobby Lobby pink and hot rose as well as Red Heart's perfect pink. Usually, I work each square, lay them all out, and use the join as you go method with a border color, but with this one, I made up and attached each square as I went. It's a bit more difficult, because I like to be able to move things around, but I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I hope my customer is too. I'm in love with random patchwork -- afghans, quilts. I think it's a little like life: it's never perfect, and you make it up as you go along!

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Taking a break

I received another request from a very sweet lady down in Texas named Kelley. She would like a granny square blanket in the colors similar to her daughter's bedding. The fabric line is called "Citrine" and it's by Joel Dewberry. The palate is beautiful. Clean, colorful and modern.

So here's what I came up with:

I think the colors compliment the fabric nicely, and I'm excited to pull it all together.

I'll be taking a short break from the shop and blog to catch up on all these blankets, but I'll post some final photos of everything when I return.

Have a wonderful week and weekend!

Feeling nostalgic

These  past two projects have been so fresh and vibrant, but I'm finding myself in an antique-y mood, so I started working on a new blanket with that in mind. I'm using lots of rose colored yarns, some of the lighter variety and some dark - dusty rose, antique rose, blush, rose, dark rose, etc. I think I will add some roses to it, but this is where I'm at so far...

As I worked up this blanket, I thought about my great Aunt Tillie, whom my daughter and (partially) my shop is named after. She died when she was only a little girl, but I always loved this little pin my mother had with a picture of her on it. Sadly, I believe it's the only photograph we have of her. My mother gave me the pin after my Tillie was born.

23 more to go...

So here's what I came up with for my next blanket. I think it's sweetly similar to the cute little dress. I interviewed a bright green edging, but in the end I think I like the magenta best. Check back for more photos...

Here is a photo of the wrong side:

These photos are for Tiffini:

Finished!

I finished up my custom order today. I really like how the blanket turned out. I probably wouldn't have paired some of the colors together if my customer had not requested it, but I love how they look together. I hope she likes it too...

       

 I'm inspired to look outside of my noggin at tangible color pairings for my next creation. I love Lilly Pulitzer (if only I could afford her), and I found this grouping in an old post over at the french tangerine. It'll be a Pulitzer/tillie tulip mash up...stay tuned...

More photos of the pink, patchwork flower blanket...

I wasn't kidding when I said I was feeling pink - here are a couple more glam shots of how things are coming along. It's more of a patchwork of pink.

How to create a tassel - add fringe

Whenever I need to add a tassel to a crochet project, I always go for the DVDs.

No more measuring or cutting cardboard. Just pull out a DVD (this is my all-time favorite!) and wrap your yarn, however many times you would like your thickness to be, from side to side. Start and end where the DVD opens. This way when you are finished wrapping, there is a perfect little slot for you to insert your scissors and snip.

Fold the strings in half and hold at the halfway point. Insert hook where you would like to add the fringe and pull the strings at the midpoint partially through.

Wrap the bottom of the fringe around the hook and pull through the loop.

Tighten the tassel to secure.

Little Boy Blue - Finished.

This one is going off to my cousin for little Adam, but I'm listing a custom order at my shop as well. I love this yarn. I wish they would add even more colors though.

Free Shipping until Valentine's Day

Head over to my Etsy shop to see more images of my sweet, little, heart hat. Free shipping on this item until Valentine's Day. Send a little love with something handmade.

Purple Palooza 90x100 Flower Afghan - In Progress

Busy at work with my largest custom afghan ever...

I started with a schematic:

Then got to work...

These two squares are the only two completely finished and joined. I have a long way to go!