~ hat for Erica ~

I finished up the hat I made for Erica last night.  I had crocheted one with the Bernat Softee chunky, but it came out like a bowl - real stiff and sturdy.  My Vince joked that he could wear it when he rides his motorcycle.  I took that apart and started over with Lion Brand Homespun (I used about 3 oz.) - the color is 'montana sky', and it came out very nice and soft.  I hope she likes it.

The pattern I used is from here:

http://crochetingthedayaway.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-hat-is-really-easy-i-am-happy-to.html

and the flower pattern is from here:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/05/embellish-it-senior-challenge.html

~ Two on Tuesday ~

Two things that make me smile:

Tex and Ladybug

Sometimes I sing to them. 

Ladybug's song is sang to the tune of 'Lollipop':

Ladybug, Ladybug oh Lady Ladybug - Ladybug!

Tex's song is sang to the tune of 'La Cucaracha':

La Texamundo, La Texamundo - da da da da da da da

La Texamundo, La Texamundo
da da da da da da da! 

 

 

Yeah, I know it's not too creative - but they seem to like it. 

 



 They look so excited, don't they?   :)

~ hot or cold drink cozy ~

After I posted yesterday about my crocheting slowing down considerably, I decided to peruse Pinterest to get some inspiration.  I came away with an idea for a drink cozy.  Yeah, I know - there's 50 million of them out there, but I needed something fairly simple to crochet to get my creative juices flowing again.

Here it is flat out:

And here it is on a coffee cup:

And here's the pattern:

Materials:
- approximately 1 oz. worsted weight cotton (I used Peaches & Creme)
- I hook
- one elastic hair band
- one 1 1/4" button
- small amount sz. 10 thread

Size:  2 3/4" x 8 1/4" (not including hair band)

Note:  I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.

Directions:
Row 1:  Join cotton with a sc around the hair band, sc around the hair band 4 more times.  Ch 1, turn.  (5 sc)

Row 2:  2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc.  Ch 1, turn.  (7 sc)

Row 3:  2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 5 sc,  2 sc in last sc.  Turn.  (9 sc)

Row 4:  (sc, dc) in 1st sc.  *skip next sc, (sc, dc) in next sc.  Repeat from * across.  Turn.

Rows 5 - 29:  Skip 1st dc, (sc, dc) in next sc.  *skip next dc, (sc, dc) in next sc.  Repeat from * across.  Turn.  At end of Row 29, end off.

Weave in all ends.

Sew on button with sz. 10 thread.

***Debi Y's pattern***

When you're finished using your drink cozy - roll it up and put it in your purse.

~ baby blankie 7c - Candy drops ~

~ Candy drops ~

I finally finished this little blankie last night.  I don't know what's been going on lately, but my crocheting has slowed down considerably.  That's really strange for me, but I'm sure it'll pick back up again soon.

This blankie is crocheted with discontinued Red Heart Sparkling and Red Heart Jeweltones yarns.  Both yarns are 4-ply worsted weight acrylics with sparklies.  I used a 'J' hook and it measures 27" x 32".

The little motifs are just 3 rounds of dc:

~~The ch 2's do not count as a st.~~

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 12 dc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with a sl st to 1st dc. (12 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around. Join as before. (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in 1st dc, dc in next dc. *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join as before. End off.

For the joining border, I used white and the flat braid method. The link to that is here:

http://knitting-crochet.wonderhowto.com/how-to/join-granny-squares-with-crochet-flat-brain-joining-233233/

You'll have to watch all 4 videos.

The 1st sc rnd will be an increase rnd with 2 sc in 1st dc, sc in the next 2 dc, 2 sc in the next dc - and so on.  Then you will follow with the connecting chain method.  The circles are connected by 4 loops on each side.

For the little fill-in squares:  I used white and they are the beginning of a granny square, then a round of sc with the corners being (sc, ch 1, sc to the blanket, ch 1, sc) as I go.

It's a very simple pattern that looks very cute when it's done.  :)

   

~ Two on Tuesday ~

Two things that make me smile - baby edition:

* standing in line at the store and the baby in front of me starts playing peek-a-boo.  She's sitting in the front of the cart and leans to one side peeking around her Mom - she then leans to the other side of her Mom and peeks again.  She did that a few times before something else caught her attention.  So adorable. 

*  baby stuff - my sister hosted a baby shower for my niece Berlin on Sunday and everything brought out of a gift bag was just so stinkin' cute.  I think my favorite was the teeny, tiny little socks - I swear they were only about 1 1/2" long.
 

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Roller skating babies:




Smart babies:




I hope this post put a smile on your face.  :)

~ stuff ~

~~ yes or no? ~~

 

 

http://www.fruitcats.com/Jo%27s/sleeves.htm

 

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I found another 'new to me' blog to explore via 'Did You Make That?'  It's pretty nice.  :)

 

http://lazydaisyjones.blogspot.com/

 

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I crocheted that hat for Erica that I showed you a few days ago.  I used Bernat Softee Chunky with an 'L' hook and I don't like it.  I believe that because I crochet so tight, it came out really stiff.  I'm going to take it apart and use the yarn to crochet a basket.  As for Erica's hat - I bought a skein of Lion Brand Homespun from AC Moore yesterday that I will use for that.  I will be using the same pattern:

 

http://crochetingthedayaway.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-hat-is-really-easy-i-am-happy-to.html

 

and I want to be clear when I say that it's not the pattern that I don't like - it's because I crocheted the yarn too tight.  The pattern is just right - very easy to read and crochet.  :)  

 

~ Two on Tuesday ~

Two things that make me smile - blog edition:

 

* comments and emails from my bloggy friends - they always brighten my day

 

* bloggy friends who have crocheted one of my patterns and then posted about it

(thanks to Linda, Glor, Bev, Beansie, Christy, Elaine B. and Katia)

If I've missed anyone, please leave me a comment with a link to the post.

 

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New (to me) blogs to explore:

 

* http://smalltowndreamz.blogspot.com/

 

*  http://frommyheartoflove.blogspot.com/

 

*  http://hollywood-cerise.blogspot.be/

 

~ a few things ~

A new board is up for 'Did you make that?' - hop on over an add your link.  Remember - you can add any type of craft that you have created. 

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Cynthia and Carol of 'TwoLuLa' are hosting a 'Baby Love' link party on their blog.  If you have a favorite baby project, please visit their blog and share your creation in their collection.  
 
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My daughter Erica pinned this crocheted hat and wants me to make her one.  I bought the yarn at Michaels yesterday, so I'll probably start it tonight.  Here's the link to the hat:

 http://crochetingthedayaway.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-hat-is-really-easy-i-am-happy-to.html

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I've been slowly working on a new baby blankie.  I'm crocheting it with Red Heart Jeweltones and Red Heart Sparkling yarns (both are discontinued yarns that I've been buying on Ebay for the last few years) and it will be like this one - only smaller:

 

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Erica is passing along a bunk bed to me for the boys to use when they spend the night.  It will be going in my craft room and in order for that to happen, I am going to have to do a major clean out of my crafty stuff.  I'm definitely not looking forward to that.  It'll be good though - the boys won't have to sleep on the floor any more.

Well, I guess that's it for now.  Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy your day.  :) 

~ a little monkey for my little monkey ~

I crocheted this little monkey for my little monkey James.  Actually, James is not really all that little - he's only about a foot and a half shorter than me.  He's only 6 years old though, so he's still my 'little' monkey. 

I found the pattern for this 'little bigfoot monkey' on the blog 'Amigurumi To Go!'.  She has lots of other ami patterns there you can browse thru and they're all very cute.  

Have a great day everyone.  :)  

~ the simplest Halloween bunting ever ~

This little Halloween decoration was the simplest, easiest and quickest to make. 

Just crochet basic shapes: circles for a bat, a pumpkin, and a ghost - a square for Frankenstein - and a triangle for a witch.

 Glue on colored wiggley eyes (which can be bought at Michaels) and pieces of a chenille stem for the mouths.

Now hang it on the wall and scare the bejeesus out of everyone.

Naw - just kidding - it's too cute to scare anyone.  :)   

~ thrift store finds ~

I went to the thrift store yesterday and really lucked out.  The ripple baby blanket looks brand new, never used.  It measures 31" x 51" - and can you believe I only paid $5.90 for it?  Such a good deal.  I also bought the thread table runner for $1.90 - I put that in my dining room, but I'm thinking of tea dyeing it because the white is just a little too bright.  The balloon cotton fabric measures 1 yd. and I also paid $1.90 for that - and lastly, 3yds. of a baby cotton flannel for only $2.90.

 

Needless to say, I walked out of that store feeling very happy.  :) 

~ Two on Tuesday ~

Two things that make me smile:

*  getting a sneak peak at my great-nephew who will be here soon.  Just look at that handsome little face.   (isn't technology amazing?)   :)

* watching an old episode of 'Simon and Simon' and catching a glimpse of a granny blanket.  I like that it's actually being used and not just laying on the back of a couch. 

~ an old pattern ~

 

 

Here's an old pattern of mine that was published back in the '90's.  It's so simple to crochet and I thought it was a cute thing to make.

 

The button eyes were glued on and then sewed, but if you prefer you could crochet little circles to sew on. 

 

Here's the link to the pattern:

 

http://www.freepatterns.com/detail.html?code=FC00449&cat_id=321

 

Have a great day everyone.  :)