Christmas Projects Done!

Here are the Christmas projects I rushed to finish. First is snowman ornaments for my brother and his girlfriend and my friend V. Next is Ms. F's annual snowman (See the pattern here). Third is hippo ornaments for my sister and her husband and my cousin and his wife. Many thanks to KristieMN for her pattern. I only used the head for the ornaments. Next is a Bella hat for my cousin. Thanks go to April Draven for working out the pattern. I edged it with single crochet instead of slip stitches. Also, it turned out a bit pointy on top. Could have been the yarn or the hook. Might try another one in the future. Last is the cat for my cousin.

Now that Christmas is over, I don't quite know what to do with myself. :)

My Blue Tree

17 Days Until Christmas...

That's right. There are only 17 days until Christmas. Am I done with all my gifts? Of course not. I have put quite a dent in my list. A lot of the items just need finishing (i.e., ends ran in). I'm not in the mood for that at the moment, so I'm just carrying on. My out-of-state friends will be waiting for their gifts. Sadly, I've had to relegate them to the bottom of the heap. Family comes first. I'm working on a cat for my cousin and fingerless gloves for my grandma. I've finished making dishcloths at work. I'm now working on a project that's wholly unrelated to Christmas--squares for a baby afghan. Granny squares are simple, uncomplicated crochet. I guess that's why they appeal at this point. I'm trying to reduce the stress in my life. Hence, the granny squares. Over the weekend, I finished my tree skirt and angel. Hope to have the tree up on Thursday. I'll be posting pictures.

Teddy Bear Magnets

UFOs (Tree Ornaments)

Abby's 1st Christmas Stocking

The Blue Afghan

Mom's Annual Chicken

Bridget's Christmas Workshop

My living room has turned into a Christmas Workshop. I have yarn in various colors scattered here and there along with patterns. Finished (or almost) projects clutter the couch. It's a lovely holiday mess. I've made quite a few stocking ornaments over the past week or so. They just need their ends ran in and crocheted together. I'm also working on some other ornaments that I can't mention here as the intended recipients are online. Nevertheless, I'm using someone's stuffed animal pattern and only making the head for the ornament. All will be revealed after Christmas.

At work, I continue to make dishcloths. I almost have 3 done. I have started a tree skirt. The pattern is from Crafting Traditions magazine. I'm using Red Heart's Country Blue, Windsor Blue, White, Royal, and Soft Navy. I'll then use the Country Blue to make an angel tree topper.

For my Thanksgiving story time next week, I'm making turkey butt magnets. Thanks to Catherine Lindsay for the use of her pattern. They just need the ends ran in and feet to be finished.

Christmas is Coming!

Well folks, I finally finished the blue afghan on October 30. Christmas projects are well under way. I've finished Mom's annual chicken. She picked the yarn this year and it was a pain to work with--Red Heart Fiesta. The shiny strand kept getting caught on my hook.

I'm making stocking ornaments in favorite colors for various cousins. They're always fun and simple to make (variation of a granny square). Some younger girl cousins are also getting gingerbread house ornaments (original pattern, have also been called birdhouses and cupcakes) and wreaths (a not so original, original pattern--really it's just a circle).

At work during lunch and my breaks, I'm working on cotton dishcloths for some ladies in the family. I have an aunt and a grandma who won't use anything else to wash their dishes. Luckily, I stocked up on cotton yarn when I still lived near a JoAnn's. Boy, did they have great sales.

I've finished my niece's first Christmas stocking. It turned out beautifully. The yarn worked up nicely. I used Hobby Lobby's I love this Yarn in Springtime Ombre.

For story time, I've designed some teddy bear magnets. They look very gummy bear like. The kids seemed to enjoy them.

I'm not sure if I'll have time to make ornaments for my blue themed tree. I was planning on making snowmen, snowflakes, and icicles. In the after Christmas sales, I purchased blue lights, clear bead garland, and blue ribbon. I may just use that this year. I may have time to make a tree skirt in shades of blue and an angel to top the tree. We'll see.

Pictures of all these projects will follow at some point. My home internet is kaput at the moment.

Green Afghan Done!

I've finally finished the green afghan. I hope to have the blue afghan completed by the end of the week. Then, I can start work on my Christmas projects. I'm cutting it a little close this year. Normally, I would be 3/4's of the way done by now. Sadly, I don't even have a 1/4 of my list completed yet. Luckily, the things I'm making this year are relatively small.

In other news, I've made a squirrel magnet and monster magnets as props for my story times. They are off my own invention and turned out rather well. Though, the squirrel could be a little smaller.

Squares and More Squares

I have finally finished the squares for the green afghan. Now they need ends run in. Then I'll sew them together and edge the afghan. In the meantime, I'll start the squares for the blue afghan.

I am eager to finish these afghans so I can work on my Christmas projects. The holiday draws nearer and nearer with each passing day.

Elephant Story Time Props

Meet Elmer and Esmarelda, my elephant finger puppets! Thanks to SAG55 for the puppet pattern. The dress and sweater are my original design. The peanut (used for a game) is also my original pattern.

Projects--Christmas and Other

Wow! October 1st--where has the time gone? I finally finished my sister's afghan. 160 squares all sewn together and edged. Haven't taken a picture yet. Used Red Heart's Painted Desert, Magenta, and Windsor Blue.

I'm now hard at work on squares for afghans for a co-worker's granddaughter. She wants them solid colored so I'm using Red Heart's Spring Green for one and Delft Blue for the other.

In other crocheting news, I plan to design a squirrel fridgie. I found a pattern online, but didn't like how it worked up.

I've recently discovered Hobby Lobby's brand of yarn--"I love this yarn." It's a bit more expensive than Red Heart, but it has a softer texture and some really nice colors. I can't wait till there's a sale and I can stock up. I bought yarn to make a scarf for my cousin yesterday. Today, I'm get yarn for my niece's first Christmas stocking.

Afghan: Done!

Well, I've finally finished my sister's Christmas afghan. It was a long journey with that thing. I'm s glad it's done. Luckily, she hasn't picked the colors for 2010 yet. Now I'm working on squares for an afghan for a co-workers granddaughter. This is a paying gig.

I'm also still working on the elephant finger puppets and the peanut. They have to be done by Monday.

My next Christmas project will be my mom's annual chicken. This will be the 7th year I've made her one. She bought the yarn for this one. It's Red Heart Fiesta Black. She thinks it looks like a Dominecker (Dominique) chicken.

My next story time theme is squirrels. I'll be making some squirrel fridgies to go along with the rhymes I've found. I'm using Cylinda Matthews' pattern.

Chicken Props Done!

Here are pictures of the props I made for my chicken story time. I used Irene Duquette's Cool Chicken pattern, Yvonne Boucher's Rooster pattern in her Farmyard Finger Puppets' series, and an egg using a pattern from Crafting Traditions magazine. I made a couple of changes to Yvonne's pattern: I didn't join the rounds. Instead, I used a stitch marker. I crocheted the comb directly to the puppet's head as opposed to sewing on a separate piece.

Christmas Interrupted

Christmas projects (including the never-ending afghan) have been put on hold while I make props for my upcoming story times.

On September 8 & 9, I'm reading about chickens. So I'm making chicken finger puppets using Yvonne Boucher's Rooster pattern in her Farmyard Finger Puppets' series, a stuffed chicken using Irene Duquette's Cool Chicken pattern, and an egg using a pattern from Crafting Traditions magazine. I'm making the finger puppets look as realistic as possible. I'm making a white one, a yellow one, a red one, a brown one, and a speckled gray one (representative of Dominique chickens).

On September 22 & 23, I'm reading about elephants. I'm making boy and girl elephant finger puppets. I'm using SAG55's pattern that is no longer available on the current web. I retrieved it using Internet Archive. These puppets are going to be whimsical. Slightly larger than the normal finger puppet and made with light blue yarn. I plan to make a tutu for the girl and a bow tie for the boy.

I'll post pictures as soon as I've finished these projects.

The Neverending Afghan

As you know, I'm trying to finish my sister's Christmas afghan before starting on other holiday projects. The afghan is almost done. I have most of the rows sewed together. I knew I had to make seven Magenta squares to finish the last two rows. So I made those and commenced sewing those rows together. To my surprise, when I came to the last row, I discovered that I was short two Windsor Blue squares. Alas, this afghan is never-ending!

Crochet since the move

Since my move to west Tennessee, I haven't had much time for my favorite hobby. In between starting a new job and organizing the cottage, I haven't had time to spare for my various projects.

However, Christmas is looming. It's only 4 months away!!! Where did the time go? I'm working on finishing up my sister's Christmas afghan. Once that's finished, I plan to tackle my Christmas list from the top down. That means Mom's annual chicken is the first project I'll work on.

I also have the yarn to make a baby afghan for a friend. She's not expecting yet, but she knows it will be a girl, so I invested in Red Heart's Lavender, Light Raspberry, and Soft White. It should be beautiful.

Afghan for Sarah's Baby

I'm an Aunt!

Abigail Grace "Abby" was born Monday, August 3 at 8:35 PM. She weighed 7 lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long. She has dark curly hair. I think she looks more like her mom than her dad right now.

Here's the afghan I made for Abby.

End of Slump--In Sight!!!

I've spent the past few days finishing up the baby afghan I started before I moved home. Said afghan is now complete. I just need to take a picture and get it to its new owner.

After I finished the baby afghan, I was eager to work on something else. Now I'm sewing away on the squares for my sister's afghan. I should have it completely finished in a week or so.

I'm glad my summer slump is ending. Christmas is coming and I have presents to make.

Summer Projects Part 3

Here's a picture of the wedge of cheese I made. I'll use it as my prop to play the game "Mousie, mousie, where's the cheese?" The pattern is my own. It's really simple, just 2 triangles with sides.


I'm still working on the baby afghan. It's more than halfway sewn together. I am also still planning to finish up my sister's Christmas afghan.

Summer Projects Part 2

Here are pictures of the mouse finger puppets I made for a story time using Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Take a Mouse to School. I used Sag55's pattern. Sadly, the website hosting her patterns has been shut down.

Summer Projects

No, I haven't died. I'm going through my normal summer crochet slump. I have been working on a few things. Here are pictures of the cupcake I made (with Hannah's pattern) for my cousin's 4th birthday.

Crocheting Since the Move

Well, I've moved home. Since the move, I've done quite a bit of crocheting. I finished all the squares for the baby boy afghan. It has a recipient now. My friend Sarah is having a little boy. I'm currently sewing all the squares together. Yesterday I made a hat and booties for my new niece (due July 28). The baby shower is on Saturday. I've also started a scarf using Lionbrand Homespun yarn leftover from my aunt’s afghan.

Serious Crochet Slump

Since graduation, I've not been crocheting much. I think it's the fact that my life is so unsettled at the moment. I've got my master's but no job yet. I'm moving home at the end of the week. I'll be volunteering at my local public library then. Maybe once I have some structure in my life, I'll feel like crocheting again.

I did make a crocheted cupcake for my four-year-old cousin's birthday. I used Hannah's pattern. Since Katie was having a Cinderella party, I made the icing blue (Red Heart's Spa Blue). I also started a poncho for the same cousin using a Lionbrand pattern, but quickly lost interest.

Again, more structure will hopefully mean more interest in crochet. Until then, I'm in crochet limbo.

Spring Slump

There's not much going on in my life crochet wise. After the push to complete grad school, I find myself bored with my usual hobbies. That doesn't mean I'm not crocheting. I am--mostly squares with the multi I found when I sorted out my yarn. I've un-tacked my Christmas to do list from the bulletin board and look at it occasionally. The problem with it is that I've made those things before. I guess I want to do something new. But I juts don't know what new is. I'm also still looking for new patterns. I'm hoping to find a project that will capture my attention. Soon!

Yarn Musing

Sometime last month, I rescued a 3 drawer cart from the dumpster. It's been setting around. I didn't have a use in mind when I rescued it. I just couldn't let it be thrown away. Today, I thought wouldn't it be nice to put my yarn in there so I could see it? Well, that's exactly what I proceeded to do. I went through my 4 plastic totes of yarn and moved the Red Heart still in skeins and my cotton yarn to the cart.

What did I discover while sorting through my multitudes of yarn? A plethora of blue and a yellow, green, and white variegated that will be great for a baby afghan. The rug yarn (softer than you'd assume) that I plan on making scarves out of. Also several bags of small balls of yarn. Haven't found a use for them yet. Last year, they came in handy when I was making hats and scarves for the snowmen ornaments.

Though no one I know is expecting a baby boy, I think I'll turn the blue and variegated yarn into 3-round granny squares. It's something to do. I don't have the yarn I need to finish the squares for my sister's afghan and I've lost interest in the squares for my aunt's afghan. The deer stalker hat is coming along, but it's one of those complicated patterns. How I relish the simplicity of granny squares.

Squares and More Squares

Granny squares are such nice things. You can make so many things with them. Afghans, Christmas stockings, tree ornaments, the list goes on. I'm working on squares for my aunt's afghan. It's based around Red Heart Super Saver's Peruvian Print which is the weirdest variegated yarn I've ever worked with. Most variegated yarns have a set pattern--so much of this color, so much of that color, and so on. The squares look fairly identical. Not so with Peruvian Print. Every square looks different. I worked up 3 skeins and don't know if I like it yet.

For Easter, I decided to make some bunnies for my fridge. I made 8 in various colors. When I finished them (wiggle eyes, pompoms for tails, and magnets), I also glued the rest of the eyes on the bookworms.

I've been on a Sherlock Holmes kick lately, so I decided it would be fun to make myself a deer stalker hat a la Sherlock Holmes. I found the pattern on freepatterns.com. I'm using Red Heart Super Saver's Windsor Blue. It doesn't look much like a hat yet, but I just started it.

Scrap Cat & Easter Bookworms

The End of NCM 2009

That's right. Today is the last day of March. National Craft Month has run its course. I'm not sure what I'll work on next. Maybe I'll actually get started on some Christmas projects.

Anyway, here's a picture of the finished baby afghan for my niece. I think it turned out and there's no pink in sight!

Yet Another Update

National Craft Month is almost at an end. I think I've accomplished quite a bit. The baby afghan for my niece is almost done. I just need to finish the edging. I'll post a picture soon. I've made a bevy of bookworms. I've reclaimed yarn and finished some unfinished projects. I have yet to finish the scrap cat or the Halloween stuff. Or glue eyes on bookworms and magnets on butterflies. This morning during my class, I'm back to making squares for my sister's Christmas afghan.

Another NCM Update

I have finished the 81 squares for my niece's baby afghan. The ends are ran in and I am sewing them together as we speak. I am still of the opinion that it will be one of the prettiest baby afghans I've made.

I've decided to just make 10 yellow and 10 orange bookworms. I'm not sure how many people I'll be seeing at Easter, but I can always bring some of the variegated ones, too.

Today, I think I might finish the scrap cat as well as those bothersome Halloween projects. It will be so nice not to have any unfinished projects hanging over me. I also need to get the eyes glued on the bookworms and the magnets on the butterflies. There are several people I can tick off my Christmas list once those butterflies are done.

NCM Update

For the past 2 days, I've been working on granny squares for my new niece's baby afghan. I'm a little broke right now, so I'm using the yarn I have. The colors I chose are Red Heart's Monet, Medium Purple, Medium Thyme, Frosty Green, and Lavender. I don't have a set layout in mind. I see how many squares each color will make, then I work it into the layout.

I haven't abandoned the scrap cat, the bright Easter bookworms, or the squares for my sister's Christmas afghan. They're merely on a back burner.

On Tuesday, during my public libraries class, I ran in the ends on all the butterflies I had laying around. Now they just need pipe cleaner antennas and magnets.

A Niece, Unfinished Projects, Reclaiming Yarn, & Coupons

I'll be an aunt in July. I found out yesterday that the baby is a girl. I thought it would be, but for the sake of my current yarn stash, I wish it were a boy. I have more boy colors than girl colors. I need to start a baby afghan. I'll probably do shades of purple and green. I'm very anti-pink when it comes to babies.

I decided a good use of my time during NCM would be to finish my unfinished projects. I don't have that many, just butterflies and some Halloween stuff.

I have also reclaimed yarn from projects I had never finished or never used. These include 2 scarves I made almost 3 years ago, snowflakes from my purple tree decorations, the garland from the same tree, and numerous granny squares where I overshot my quota for various baby afghans. I now have a whole bag full of yarn to put to better use.

Yesterday, I went to JoAnn's because I had 5 40% off coupons. I got 572 wiggle eyes, 100 sheets of card stock, and 25 pipe cleaners (for the butterflies) all for $9.71. Gotta love those coupons.

I've been working on a scarp cat. I have the 2 sides made. 1 is pinks and maroons. The other is purples and blues. I just need to run the ends in and crochet the sided together. I think I'll leave this cat without eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Haven't decided if I'm keeping the cat or giving it away. It would make a good gift for a little girl on my Christmas list. I was going to make her a puppy, but the cat's already made.

Bookworm Bonaza Update

I have finished my bookworm bonanza (at least the variegated portion). I made 101 bookworms. They are all ready to have their eyes put on. That's 202 wiggle eyes. Whew! I'm still making bookworms (bright yellow and orange) for Easter.

Now for a NCM update: I haven't made any squares in a few days. I need to pick a Christmas project to start. I discussed the options in my previous update. I also have a desire to use up the scraps I have. These are bits of yarn too small to even make a bookworm. I think I'll make a cat (like the one I made for Christmas 2008) out of the scraps. I may have enough yarn to make 2. We'll see.

NCM Update

Yesterday, I made some bookworms and squares. I make the bookworms while I watch movies. I make the squares during my online classes. I only have 4 more skeins of variegated yarn to work through. I've decided not to make bookworms with all my solid colored yarn. I do have a yen to make yellow and orange bookworms. They'll be so nice and bright during this dreary winter weather. I suppose they'll be my Easter bookworms.

I'm still looking at the Christmas 2009 list. I could make a chicken, come hippos, some dishcloths, a cat, a baby bootie ornament, or a puppy. I also have a flutter of butterfly magnets to finish up (run in ends, add pipe cleaners and magnets). I suppose thinking about projects counts for something. There are quite a few gaps in my Christmas list. These people need something made for them. I just don't know what yet. Think, think, think!

Celebrate National Craft Month!

Happy National Craft Month! I don't have any specific plans for this year's celebration. In the past, I've tried new patterns. I'm still making bookworms and squares. I have taken out my Christmas 2009 list. I may make some projects from it this month.

Please join me in the celebration! Do you sew, quilt, knit, tat, cross-stitch, draw, or paint? Put your skills to good use in celebrating National Craft Month.

Bookworm Bonanza

Hi all! I bet you've been wondering what I've been doing for the past few weeks. I'm slowly but surely working myself out of the crochet slump I found myself in after Christmas.

I've discovered plarn (plastic bag yarn) and have started a tote bag of sorts. Plarn is quite difficult to crochet with, but I feel I'm doing my part to be green, recycle etc.

I've been making bookworms for about 10 years now. I found the pattern in the September/October 1998 issue of Crafting Traditions (which is sadly no longer published). Nancy Keating is the pattern designer. I do a few things differently. I use a size F hook instead of size G. I also prefer 7 mm wiggle eyes to 5 mm. I try to keep a stock of bookworms on hand. They make great gifts for holidays and other occasions. I recently noticed, however, that my bookworm stash was pitifully depleted. I am now working my way through my yarn totes, making 6 bookworms out of each variegated yarn I have. Then I'll do the solids.

I still have plans to start the hippo for my friend. I'm also still making squares and sewing them together for my sister's Christmas afghan.

All in all, I think I'm doing a good job of being productive.

Still in a crochet slump...

I'm sad to report that I'm still in a crochet slump. I am, however, looking for new patterns online. These get filed away until I'm ready to work on Christmas stuff.

I'm done making squares for my sister's 2009 afghan for the moment. I've run out of the yarn I need. I've ran in the ends on the squares I've made and have started sewing them together.

I'm making myself a pair of fingerless gloves. The pattern comes from Crochet World Omnibook, Winter 1985 ("Fingerless Glove Covers" by Kathleen M. Banta). I'm using Red Heart's Linen. I thought these would help keep my hands warm while crocheting.

My friend Kara wants me to make her a hippo. That will be my next project. She wants a gray hippo with a purple hat. Very dashing!

I also need to make some stuff for Valentine's Day. Not sure what yet. Perhaps some bookmarks or fridgies.

Snake Scarf: Pattern & Pics

Okay folks, here's the pattern for the snake scarf I designed

Anna’s Snake Scarf
Designed by Bridget
You may use this pattern for your own personal use. You may provide a link to this pattern from your website, but not the pattern itself. Feel free to sell what you make from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer.

Materials: 6-7 ounces worsted weight yarn in the color of your choice (I used Red Heart's Banana Berry), small amount red yarn, Size H hook, 2 3/4” buttons in the color of your choice, sewing needle, thread, yarn needle

Gauge: 4 sc = 1 inch
Finished scarf measures 4.5 inches by 64 inches

Pattern: Ch 11
Rows 1-5: sc across (10 sc)
Row 6: inc 1 st in first and last sts (12 sc)
Rows 7-9: sc across (12 sc)
Row 10: rep Row 6 (14 sc)
Rows 11-13: sc across (14 sc)
Row 14: rep Row 6 (16 sc)
Row 15: sc across (16 sc)
Repeat Row 15 until the scarf measures 52 inches.

[Begin Neck and Head]
Row 1: dec first 2 sts and last 2 sts (14 sc)
Row 2: sc across (14sc)
Row 3: Rep Row 1 (12 sc)
Row 4: sc across (12 sc)
Row 5: Rep Row 1 (10 sc)
Row 6: sc across (10 sc)
Row 7: rep Row 1 (8 sc)
Row 8: sc across (8 sc)
Row 9: 2 sc in first and last sts (10 sc)
Row 10: sc across (10 sc)
Row 11: Rep Row 9 (12 sc)
Row 12: sc across (12 sc)
Row 13: Rep Row 9 (14 sc)
Row 14: sc across (14 sc)
Row 15: Rep Row 9 (16 sc)
Rows 16-19: sc across (16 sc)
Row 20: Rep Row 9 (18 sc)
Rows 21-24: sc across (18 sc)
Row 25: Rep Row 1 (16 sc)
Rows 16-29: sc across (16 sc)
Row 30: Rep Row 1 (14 sc)
Row 31: sc across (14 sc)
Row 32: Rep Row 1 (12 sc)
Row 33: sc across (12 sc)
Row 34: Rep Row 1 (10 sc)
Row 35: sc across (10 sc)
Row 36: Rep Row 1 (8 sc)
Row 37: Rep Row 1 (6 sc)
Rows 38-39: sc across (6 sc)
Do not detach yarn. Edge the scarf with sc, join with sl st to first edging st. Detach yarn.

Tongue: Attach red in the third st of Row 39
Row 1: sc in third and fourth sts of Row 39 (2 sc)
Rows 2-4: sc across (2 sc)
Row 5: 3 dc in each st (6 dc)
Detach red yarn.

Run in ends with yarn needle. Sew button eyes to head.

Happy New Year!

Hello fellow crocheters! I know it's been awhile since I posted, but the holidays were crazy. I did manage to get all my gifts done on time. After Christmas, I entered a sort of crochet slump. I've made a few dishcloths, a few squares for my sister's 2009 afghan, and designed a snake scarf for a classmate. Pictures and pattern to follow. She showed me a picture and said "Can you make something like this?" I said "Sure." This is how the snake scarf came into being.

I have a few projects planned for Christmas 2009. My 7-year-old cousin likes cats. So I'm going to make her a cat like I did for Laura in VA. I'm thinking brown with green eyed. I discovered that my cousin's wife likes hippos. I think I'll make her a hippo like I did my sister. For both couples, I'm going to attempt hippo ornaments. I think I've come across a mini hippo pattern that should work well. Anything can be turned into an ornament. All you need is a bit of ribbon. My aunt requested an afghan. I'm going to make her one the same size as my dad's: 8 x 14 squares. The squares measure 5 inches each.

This Christmas was record-breaking in terms of the amount of yarn I received. I normally only get 10 skeins from my mom. But 2 other people got me yarn as well. So I received a total of 21 skeins of Red Heart yarn. I currently have so much yarn that it makes me nervous. I want to do something with it.

My immediate crochet plans are to continue making squares for my sister's afghan until I run out of the yarn I need. At that point, I'll run in ends and start sewing the squares together. Happy Crocheting!