Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post, but I've been busy with Christmas crochet projects and baby afghans. I decided not to make the 26 wreath ornaments due to time constraints. I did make the icicles, 2 wreath ornaments, 2 star ornaments, 8 snowman ornaments, a stuffed cat, and a baby bootie ornaments.

The Nine Patch Country Girl baby afghan is almost finished. A good thing, too, because little Stacy Jean arrived on December 21. I only have 5 more squares to make. I'm hoping to have the afghan done before the new year arrives.

January will be devoted to deciding on what I'm making everyone for Christmas 2012 and dividing the projects between the months of February-November, making a square a day for my brother-in-law's afghan, and 3 baby afghans: French Country (the baby is a girl, but the mom likes the colors so I'm not changing them.), The Pigeon (colors inspired by the Pigeon books by Mo Willems), and a Dr. Who Scarf inspired afghan for a girl (Orchid, Cornmeal, Light Raspberry, Light Grey, Cafe, Buff, and Frosty Green.)

Until next time, happy crocheting!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

I officially finished the Zoe's Flower Garden Baby afghan last night. It's getting mailed out tomorrow. I finished it at my sister's house while watching some great Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel, A Princess for Christmas and An Old-Fashioned Christmas.

The Nine Patch Country Girl baby afghan is on hiatus until I get a few Christmas gifts made. It actually looks manageable for the time I have left.

~26 wreath ornaments
~2 star ornaments
~2 icicle ornaments
~5 snowman ornaments
~1 baby bootie ornament
~1 stuffed cat
~1 cow ornament


I also have some snowman ornaments to finish for a friend. And another friend just moved into her first home so I'm planning some star coasters and dishcloths.

I found out my friend H is having a girl. They haven't decided on a nursery theme or color scheme yet. They are both science fiction fans who like the old school television shows like DR. Who. Here's my great idea: to make her a baby afghan inspired by Dr. Who's scarf. The purple will make up half of the squares thus making it sufficiently girlie. I'll know more in a few months.

Time for a break...

Right before Thanksgiving, I finished all the squares for Zoe's Flower Garden baby afghan. I packed the finished squares and the yarn for the rest of the squares for the Nine Patch Country Girl baby afghan to come home with me over the holiday. I might have made three squares the 5 days I was home.

The end of November was 2 days ago. If you remember, my grand plan was to have both afghans completed by the end of November. I've had a very busy week at the library, so the afghans aren't anywhere near finished.

My new plan is to get Zoe's Flower Garden baby afghan finished and in the mail by Friday, December 9. The Nine Patch Country Girl baby afghan will be put on hold until I make a few small Christmas gifts.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

The end is in sight...

I have 16 days to finish 2 baby afghans. Can I do it? I think I can. My plan of attack is to make the squares for both, run all the ends in, and finally sew them together. I'm about 80% done with the squares for Zoe's Flower Garden. I have 16 made for the Nine Patch Country Girl (that's because the two afghans share a color, Aran).

After I get these 2 done, I'll be working on Christmas gifts until Christmas. I'm not making that much this year. My brother-in-law is getting an IOU for his afghan. Hoping to plan better next year. Divide and conquer and all that.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Bookworms and Squares

I took a break from the granny squares as planned this past weekend and made 27 bookworms to give my co-workers for Halloween. I ran out of the Boo yarn and had to make about half with Red Heart Super Saver's Pumpkin. All my co-workers were happy to get them. I plan to make bookworms for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, I'm thinking I might make wreath ornaments.

I'm working on the Cornmeal squares for the Zoe's Flower Garden afghan. My goal is to have it and the Nine Patch Country Girl done before the end of the month so I can concentrate on Christmas gifts.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Happy Halloween!

I'm contemplating a slight break from squares this weekend to make Halloween colored bookworms for my co-workers. Since I work at four libraries, that's about 30 bookworms. The yarn I'm using is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn in the color Boo. I might also go ahead and make some for Thanksgiving, too. I think Red Heart Super Saver's Cherrycola would be good.

I've made more than half of the Lavender squares for the Zoe's Flower Garden baby afghan. After I finish those, I'll start on the Cornmeal ones.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

One Down, Four To Go

I finished the Sweet Chocolate afghan yesterday. I'm mailing it out today. I'm running about a week behind my schedule, but that's alright. I'll be starting Zoe's Flower Garden next. After that, I'll do the Nine Patch Country Girl (Country Rose, Aran, Medium Purple, & Orchid). And then, I'm taking a break from baby afghans to make a few things for Christmas.

After Christmas, I'll work on the French Country baby afghan and "The Pigeon" baby afghan. I found out this week that another friend is pregnant. I think she's only about three months along so I have some time to plan that one.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

The Best Laid Plans...

I found out this week that Lilah Marie (the recipient of the Sweet Chocolate afghan) will be arriving next Tuesday. It's Friday and I still have 12 Cafe squares to make. I'll be working on that most the weekend. I'd like to get the afghan mailed out ASAP.

I took a slight break from squares to make a donut for a story time game. I think it turned out rather well.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Donut & Squares

My crocheting plans are taking a little side trip this weekend. Next week I'm hosting the first of four Laura Numeroff Parties at my libraries to celebrate the release of her newest book, If You Give a Dog a Donut. The game I'm planning (Dog, Dog, Where's Your Donut?) needs a prop. I found a free pattern on Lion Brand. I'll post a picture when it's done.

I've made 9 of 27 Cafe squares. My hope is to knock the rest of them out this weekend (after the donut) . I'll then devote next week to running in ends and sewing the squares together. I'm hoping to have the Sweet Chocolate afghan in the mail by next Friday.

We have colors for the commissioned baby afghan. My friend and I decided to go with Lavender, Cornmeal, Frosty Green, and Aran. The Lavender and Cornmeal will form the 5 nine patch blocks that form an X and the Frosty Green and Aran will form the other 4 blocks that form a cross. I think it's going to be lovely. I'm calling this one "Zoe's Flower Garden." (Zoe is what they're naming the baby.)

I still haven't inventories by yarn balls. And I still have a hankering to make bookworms. Maybe after I finish these 5 baby afghans. I can only hope that non one else I know gets pregnant!

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Progress Report

The Perfect Pink squares for the Sweet Chocolate baby afghan are done. I'll be moving on to the Cafe squares today. I predict that the afghan will be done in a week or so. This is great news. The baby (Lilah Marie) will be here in about a month. I'll have the afghan done and mailed before she arrives.

My other pregnant friend didn't find out the sex of her baby. The baby wouldn't cooperate. He or she had his or her legs crossed! The next ultrasound isn't until December and the baby is due January 19. I've asked if she wants any particular color and she said no. I plan to use Red Heart Super Saver's French Country (a rather lovely variegated yarn with blue, yellow, and white in it) and a yellow. I think it will work perfectly for a boy or a girl .

I've decided my yarn inventory isn't complete. I also need to include my balls and scraps. I may get to that this evening. I also haven't worked on my Christmas lists. I need to soon! Christmas is coming whether I'm ready for it or not. I predict the things I'll be making this year will be small like bookworms, dishcloths, coasters, and ornaments. I've been hankering to make some bookworms. Usually I have a stash, but I depleted it long ago.

A friend has commissioned me to make a baby afghan for her friend. I found out last week what the nursery colors are: light purple and light green. I sent my friend a color chart on Monday. I'm waiting to hear back about her final selections. I usually do baby afghans with three different colors, but I also offered her the nine patch block layout which would mean four colors. She suggested a dark purple and I suggested a white or brown. I'll let you know what's decided.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Up to My Eyes In...Squares!

I'm still working away on the baby afghan that was Sherbet Baby. The new color scheme (Pale Plum, Perfect Pink, & Cafe) deserves a new name. Here's what I came up with: Sweet Chocolate. The Pale Plum squares are done. I'm working on the Perfect Pink ones.

In other news, the price of Red Heart Super Saver has dropped at Wal-mart. It was up to $2.58 this summer, but now it's quite reasonable at $2.33. I had to stop myself from buying several skeins. I have enough yarn right now.

A few weeks ago, I took inventory of my yarn. I put my yarn (not including yarn balls) into one of four categories: Full Skeins-Solid Colors, Full Skeins-Variegated, Partial Skeins-Solid Colors, and Partial Skeins-Variegated. I typed the list up this week and I think it's really going to help me use the yarn I have.

The plan for my sister's Christmas afghan has changed again. This year (#5) is for my brother-in-law. I want to do something different. I'm going to border the whole afghan using his favorite color (teal) and then the middle squares will be a nine patch block layout. I was going to use solids and variegated, but have since decided that this is best suited to solids. And it's not going to be done for Christmas because I haven't started it yet!

One of my friends has learned to crochet, but she's having trouble with granny squares. I sent her a care package with written instructions and an example. Talking with her about granny squares reminded me of when I first learned how to make them. One of the cook's at my elementary school tried to show me, but she crocheted so fast that I couldn't learn. Later I found a tutorial (with instructions and pictures) in an old magazine. I've been making granny squares ever since.

I'll be making out two Christmas lists this year: Christmas to Make and Christmas to Buy. I think the to buy list will be longer than the to make list.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

The Best Laid Plans...

Well, the Sherbet Baby afghan was coming right along. I have 22 of 27 Pale Plum squares made. I found a variegated (Red Heart Super Saver Calliope) that I was going to edge the afghan with. I liked it so well I was going to use a half double crochet stitch instead of single crochet. Today, my friend posted pictures of the baby's nursery. The good news: a beautiful nursery. The bad news: the afghan I have planned is going to clash horribly. The nursery is chocolate brown and a dark pink.

After a trip to Wal-mart for more yarn, I've fixed the problem. Instead of Light Coral and honeydew, I'm now using Perfect Pink (a new shade that I really like) and Cafe with the Pale Plum. It will be lighter than the nursery, but I think it will match well. Providence was looking out for me. I chose to make the Pale Plum squares first and I saw the nursery pictures before I started the other colors.

Until next week, happy crocheting!

One Down, Five More to Go!

As you can see from the picture above, the Forest Baby afghan is done. I am pleased with the way it turned out. I've already started working on the next baby afghan on my list. I'm calling it "Sherbet Baby." I'm using Red Heart Super Saver's Honeydew, Light Coral, and Pale Plum. I plan to sew it together in big blocks of color (think a one color nine patch square).

Since my last update, I've found out that one of the two other friends who are pregnant is having a girl. I called to inquire about the nursery. The room's pink and purple and she's ordered a chair with farm animals on it. I decided to use the nine patch layout to give it a country feel. The colors I planned to use are Country Rose, Rose Pink, Medium Purple, and Orchid. I actually couldn't find the Rose Pink and didn't feel like ordering it from off the Internet, so I decided to use Aran with the Country Rose. It will be next after the "Sherbet Baby."

Still waiting for my other friend to find out if she's having a boy or a girl. And another friend has commissioned me to make an afghan for her friend's baby. It's a girl. Just waiting on nursery colors.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Where I've been this summer

No, I didn't run away. I've been quite busy with the Summer Reading Program at my libraries. It all ended this week. In eight weeks, I presented 111 programs and had a total attendance of 1989. I'm ready for a break.

I have been crocheting a little in the past two weeks. I'm working on the squares for the Forest Baby afghan. The baby's already here so I'm hoping to find it in the next couple of weeks.

After that I still have the Sherbet Baby and the Pigeon to complete. Oh, and two more of my friends are having babies. They don't know if the babies are boys or girls yet so I have a reprieve.

Above is a picture of the Summer Baby afghan. I think it turned out nicely.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Of Projects and Puppies

Yes, I know it's been over a month since I updated. The afghan for my sister's friend is done. And so is one of the two purses for her other little girls. Once they're both done, I can deliver the afghan and post a picture of it. I think it turned out nicely.

I've started making a few squares for the next baby afghan--the one I'm calling Forest Baby.

And in the midst of all this, my dog Chester (2 year old Boston Terrier) moved in with me. I'm spending a lot of time walking him, but he's not upsetting my crocheting. He likes to snooze beside me as I work.

My cousin has asked me to repair a baby afghan she found in her grandmother's house. The blocks are hexagons (I think) and the centers are coming undone. So are some of the seams. From the look and feel of the yarn, I'd say the afghan was originally made in the 1970s. After I've finished the repairs, I've recommended that she have it dry cleaned and used a sweater shaver on it. I'll post a picture of the afghan before and after my repairs.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

"Cowboy Baby"

I made this one for Marsha and her new little baby boy J.T. to match his nursery. I liked working with these colors (Windsor Blue, Warm Brown, & Burgundy). It's a nice change from pastels.

Crocheting Away...Baby Afghans

I can't believe more than a month has passed since I posted last. I've been keeping very busy with baby afghans.

I'm almost done with the Cowboy Baby one (Warm Brown, Windsor Blue, & Burgundy). I'll deliver it this weekend.

The afghan I'm calling Summer Baby (Buff, Marrakesh, & Melonberry) is ready to be sewed together. I'm almost done with one of the two purses I'm making for the new baby's big sisters.

The Pigeon Afghan (Seagrass, Warm Brown, Cornmeal, & Spa Blue) for my friend Liz only lacks twenty or so squares before it will be ready to get sewed together.

The Forest Baby afghan (Coffee, Warm Brown, Tea Leaf, Buff, & Frosty Green) is planned. The Coffee yarn will make a border and I'll alternate the other colors in the middle.

Sherbet Baby is for a friend who just found out she's having a little girl. I want to totally surprise her so I'm not asking about the nursery. I'm just going to make my dream colors baby afghan: Light Coral, Honeydew, and whatever light purple Wal-mart has (Orchid or Pale Plum).

I'll be posting pictures as soon as the afghans are finished. Until next time, happy crocheting!

The End of NCM 2011

Well, National Craft Month 2011 wasn't very spectacular in terms of my celebration. I hurriedly made 2 afghans for my sister to give as shower gifts. And then I worked on squares for another afghan. I’m about squared out. But I have several more baby afghans to get finished. Spring is here and Easter isn't far behind. I plan to make some bookworms for the holiday--I always do. I may crochet some rabbits for rabbit story time at the end of April. Until next time, happy crocheting!

Up to my ears...

...not in crochet, but in summer reading plans. I'm still a little crocheted out from the rush job on those two baby afghans. I'm slowly making the squares for another baby afghan. I haven't celebrated National Craft Month as lavishly as I normally do, but this is the first time I've had a full-time job at the same time.



Hope everyone is enjoying the crafty month. Until next time, happy crocheting!

Cat Fridgie: An Orginal Pattern

This pattern grew out of my frustration with finding an easy cat fridgie pattern. The ones I found all had a million pieces. So I made one of my own. The ears are attached to the head. The tail is attached to the body.

The above picture is of the colorful and whimsical cat fridgies I made for Dr. Seuss story time.

Bridget's Cat Fridgie Pattern
Disclaimer: 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: worsted weight yarn, size H crochet hook, yarn needle, magnets, puff paint, wiggle eyes, hot glue gun

Body
Round 1: Ch 4 (ch 3 does NOT count as 1st dc). 12 dc in the 4th ch from hk. Join with a sl st to the 1st dc made (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each dc around. Join with a sl st to the 1st hdc made (24 hdc) Do Not finish off.

Tail
Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and the others. Join with a sl st to next hdc on body. (6 sc) Finish off.

Head
Round 1: Ch 4 (ch 3 does NOT count as 1st dc). 12 dc in the 4th ch from hk. Joing with a sl st to the 1st dc made (12 dc). Do Not Finish off.

Ears
Ch1 in same dc as joining sl st. (sc, hdc, sc) in same st. sl st in next 2 dc. (sl st, ch 1, sc, hdc, sc) in next dc. Sl st in next dc. Finish off.

Finishing:
Run in ends with yarn needle. Sew Head to body. Attach wiggle eyes and magnets with hot glue gun. Use puff paint to make nose and whiskers. You could also use a small pompom for the nose.

Happy National Craft Month!

Hello, folks! It's March and that means one thing for us crafty people...it's National Craft Month. This year, I don't have an official celebration planned. I'm up to my eyeballs in baby afghans. The two for my sister need to be done by 12 noon this Saturday. The good news is that one is already halfway together and I only have one more skein of yarn to work up. They're turning out very pretty. The colors my sister chose are very springy (Light Raspberry, Orchid, Cornmeal, Aruba Sea).

After I finally get those two done, I have another baby afghan that needs to get done this month. The baby shower is set for the 27th. Then there's those 2 others I'm working on. And did I mention, 2 more ladies I know are pregnant???

Hoping to make a few bookworms this month. I'd like to send them to friends for the upcoming holidays. And I still haven't started my new tree decorations. I've changed the color scheme a little. Instead of Lavender, Honeydew, & Light Coral, I'm going to use Lavender, Coral, and Tea Leaf.

I plan to post updates every week along with an original pattern or two and maybe some project pictures this month. So stay tuned!

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Where I've Been...

Well, I can't believe a whole month has almost passed since my last update. My apologies. I was sick for three weeks. First, a cold. Then, a sinus infection and finally, bronchitis. Needless to say, I didn't crochet much when I was sick. The only thing I made was 5 cupcake magnets for story time props. I used this pattern. I tweaked the icing part a bit and didn't make the cherry. I'll post a picture soon.

The three baby afghans are still in the works: Pigeon, baby girl flower garden, and baby boy cowboy. The colorful squares for the baby girl afghan (Marrakesh & Melonberry) are done. I've made a half dozen of the Buff squares and find the color just blah. A baby shower has been scheduled for the baby boy afghan (March 27), so I'll be putting all my energy into it and a new commission.

Luckily (or unfortunately), my sister has given me another project. She has to attend a joint baby shower on March 12 (about 3 weeks from now) and wants me to make afghans for them. They're both having girls. Both afghans will have Light Raspberry and Orchid. One will have Aruba Sea and the other will have Cornmeal. They're going to be very bright colorful afghans.

I have quite a few story time props to make in the next few weeks. Teeth, cats, raindrops, frogs, and flowers. My themes are, if you haven't already guessed, teeth, Dr. Seuss, rain, frogs, and flowers. I'm hoping to be more faithful in my updates in the coming weeks. Next Tuesday marks the 1st day of National Craft Month. I don't have anything special planned. This is a good thing as I have 5 (yes, that says five) baby afghans in various states of completion.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Three, Count Them, Three Baby Afghans

That's right! Since I last updated I've added a third baby afghan to my list. It's for a friend from grade school. This is her 3rd little girl. I either wasn't around for the 1st two or wasn't making baby afghans. That being said, I'll also be making the 2 big sisters purses. The colors for this one are Marrakesh, Melonberry, and Buff. I'm using what I have, but I think it will turn out quite nice.

All the squares for the Pigeon afghan are done. I didn't have quite enough Seagrass, so I made do with Spa Blue for 4 squares.

I'll be making some bookworms for Valentine's Day soon. I'm working on the cotton dishcloths at work. So far I've made 4.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Happy Belated New Year!

2011 is well underway and I have not been idle. I was snowed in during the past week and crocheted quite a lot. I've finished my sister's Christmas afghan. Pictures to come. I've also made the pieces for 7 snowman ormanents. I owe a friend 5 as a gift and 2 were ordered.

My plans for crocheting at work (on my lunch hour) include lots of dishcloths. I need 20+ for my 2011 Christmas list. I like to make them when the weather's still cool. The cotton tends to leave a lot of lint on your hands if the temperatures are warmer.

Oh, I also made another sweater for my family's Boston Terrier Chester. The first one was a trial run and didn't turn out so well, if you remember. This one turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. I only need to add the buttons. Weather permitting, I'll get to try it on him this weekend and get some pictures.

I haven't started my new tree decor yet. I've been debating the colors. I still like the coral and lavender, but I think the green (Honeydew) is too light to match the others. I may go with a Sage or Thyme instead.

At home, I'm working on the plans and squares for 2 baby afghans. One will be a Pigeon color scheme (from Mo Willems' picture books). I'm using Seagrass, Cornmeal, & Warm Brown. It's for an either/or baby, as in the parents don't plan on finding out, so it has to work for a boy or a girl. The other afghan has to match a farm/rodeo nursery bedding set. The colors I've picked are Ranch Red, Windsor Blue, and Warm Brown. That's 192 three-round granny squares I'll be making. Whew!

Well, that's all for this update. Until next time, happy crocheting!