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!

Christmas Project Update

Well, it's 5 days before Christmas and I'm still crocheting.

I am almost finished with a plastic bag holder. I used a pattern from Crochet 'N More (http://www.crochetnmore.com/plasticbagkeeper.htm). I just need to make the ties and run in the ends.

I've finished the hat and scarf for my brother's fiancee. I'll give more details when I post pictures.

I still have several dishcloths to make.

Today I started a dish-washing liquid bottle dress. I'm using James G. Davis' pattern (http://pandacrochet.8m.com/simplyshells.html). It's red and white as my friend's kitchen is done in those colors.

After the holidays, I have several projects to make for friends. More about that later. I also have to make the ornaments for my new tree theme. I've decided on snowmen, snowflakes, and icicles. My tree is 3 feet tall. I estimate I'll need 12 of each. I'll use ribbon (bought in the after-Christmas sales) to make the bow topper and streamers.

I feel so behind. Normally by this time, I've already started on gifts for next year.

The Cat is Done!!!

That's right, the cat is done. I finished her up this morning. I ended up using blue buttons for eyes because blue animal eyes were impossible to find. My friend Laura was adamant that the cat be gray with blue eyes. The only thing left to do is mail her to VA.

The squares for the baby afghan are ready to be sewn together, so it looks like I'm on schedule to have it done by Friday.

I don't have to make the stocking ornaments for my friend. She thought of something else to give as gifts.

I'm going to do a new tree theme next year. My tree is currently purple. I make bells, stocking ornaments, and gingerbread houses for it. I also made the tree skirt. Next year I'm doing snowmen, snowflakes, and icicles. As soon as I get all my Christmas projects completed, I'll start work on that.

Christmas Project Update

Well, Christmas is less than a month away and I still have lots of things to make.

I'm currently working on a baby afghan for my cousin. She's expecting a little girl in February. The afghan is 81 granny squares, 9 x 9 squares. The colors are Red Heart Super Saver's Country Rose, Rose Pink, and Linen. Very country looking. I wanted something colorful. For her first daughter I did a white afghan.

I'm also making a kitten for my friend Laura in VA. I'm using a simple kitten pillow patten (Source: Women's Circle Crochet, Spring 1987, "Sitting Pretty Kitty" by Starlinne Garrett). I'm adding blue animal eyes, embroidering a nose and mouth, and attaching whiskers.

I also need to make dishcloths for several people. I have a simple pattern I devised.

Bridget's Dishcloth
Materials: cotton yarn, size H hook

chain 30
Row 1; hdc in 3rd ch from hook and across, ch 2 & turn (28 sts)
Rows 2-20: hdc in each st across, ch 2 & turn.

My friend Vicky wants me to make stocking ornaments for her housemate and her 12 siblings. I'm using the granny square stocking ornament pattern. I think this pattern has been around forever. I discovered it when I found one on my mom's tree and pulled it apart to get the pattern.

I need to make skinny scarves (They're so in right now!) for several people on my list.

I also need to make a dog a sweater.

So many projects, so little time!