Hats Galore!

 So, this Fall and Winter, I stayed pretty busy with making hats. I found a slouch pattern that I am just in love with! You might be able to tell because five out of the six hats I made (two are not pictured), were made with the Holland's Slouch Hat pattern (This is a free pattern download). I was looking for a good slouch pattern and most of the ones that I had stumbled across were too short, and more like a beanie than a slouch.

 This pattern is so easy to work and the finished product is just the right amount of airy and closeness. It doesn't get too hot but it keeps you warm, at the same time. The first two hats, I made for myself. I fell in love with Red Heart's yarn in the Mirage colorway and I've been vieing for a hat in it.

 This hat is one I made for my husband, but it was not made using the Hollland's Slouch Hat pattern. I don't honestly remember if I used a pattern for it. He needed a winter hat, so he ended up with this one.

After seeing my first two hats, one of our good friends, Dustin, asked me if I could make him one. His hats are not pictured here because I wanted to get a picture of him in it but he couldn't sit still. I made one in grey and one in more of an olive green color. They are a little longer than the ones I made for myself.

This last one, I just finished, today. When Dustin went home for Christmas, his mom asked if I could make her one. She really liked his olive hat. This picture looks more grey but it was made using Lion Brand's Heartland yarn in the Joshua Tree colorway. It is a nice blend of olive and dark green.

What is your favorite hat pattern? Let me know in the comments below! I always love hearing from you.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Spoiling Lily

This Fall, we learned that the couple who runs the open mic night on Wednesdays were having a baby. As soon as I found this out, I was ready to make things. It didn't quiet help that I had baby fever and was itching to make things with no one to make things for. It certainly solved my problem. They were having a little girl and she has since been born.

Here are some of the things that I made for Lily (the baby).

 I happened along a design for a Circle Baby Blanket. I just love the swirl! It was a quick work up but I didn't happen to write it down. It came along by accident but I am certainly happy with the results! I wasn't sure what to do for the edging, so I decided to use some really soft, fluffy yarn (Bernat Pipsqueak) for the border in single crochet.

 I also made a hat, though I'm not sure where the pattern for that is. When I find where I got it from, I will update with a link. I know that it is called Granny Beanie. Again, I used the super soft, fluffy baby yarn to border the hat. So cute!

 A pair of baby shoes, in a soft cream. I was going to add lady bug buttons but it didn't quite go with the theme that seemed to be taking place.

 My first attempt at baby clothes! This was a pattern that I found at JoAnn's. One of the free ones that you can take home. It was called "Flutterby Baby Vest". I have tried to find it online for you, but I haven't had any luck. Again, I'm sorry that I cannot provide a link to the pattern. But, your craft stores are wonderful places for free patterns!

And yet another accidental pattern, as well as one that I can't link to nor did I write down. These booties are too stink'n cute! I love the little fur toppers!

When we gave these to the mother, she told me that she was afraid that she wouldn't have anything like this to pass down to her kids. Her grandmother who would make stuff like this had passed away. I felt so blessed to be a blessing to her, her husband and little Lily.

What baby things do you like to make or see made?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Minnie Tp and Another Washcloth

 Way back, in the beginning of May, I had started to design the partner to the Mickey Mouse Toilet Paper cover. My beautiful cousin got married this past Summer and I was told that her bathroom was done with a Mickey Mouse theme. I had a difficult time figuring out the skirt, but after several designs, I settled on a skirt made of Sashay yarn. It was easiest to ruffle.  I finished this design at the end of June, just before their wedding. The pattern is now up for sale at ($1 USD). You can also bundle with the Mickey Mouse TP cover pattern for a discounted price of $1.50 USD!

This Simple Stripes Dishcloth was made in early July for a June Dishcloth CAL. I used Lily's Sugar and Cream yarn and I love it! The pattern is a free crochet download!

What are some projects you are working on?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Washcloth and a Bandana

 This week has been super busy and I feel terrible because I've been trying to make two posts a week. My manager is on vacation this week so I've been getting more hours, which I can't complain. I have had finished projects, but I've just been lazy on posting.

This dish/washcloth was part of last weeks Mystery Crochet-A-Long (MCAL) and I didn't post it last week because it wasn't revealed until Friday and I didn't want to ruin the reveal. I really like it though. It is a FREE pattern to download and is called the Snapdragon Dishcloth by Willow Yarns Design Team. I think that it would make a beautiful afghan made of these squares but I do really love it. The camera doesn't really do the color justice. It is sort of a darker teal, it looks more green in the picture than it is.

Since I have finished the Wrapped in Love blanket (coupon code ILY4EVER, good through June 1, 2016) I have been searching for new projects that aren't blankets. I still have to work on my blanket for this year's Afghan Swap but I'm taking a small break on that one. I found a little pattern, and I apologize for not being able to link it to you, it is not available for download, for a pup's bandana I absolutely love this pattern and I wish I could share it with you. It was an older free pattern from a craft store and I'm not sure which one. There is a button to secure the bandana and the spaces around the collar make it adjustable. Sasha loved her bandana so much that she wouldn't let me take it off of her, all day. In this picture she was a little more interested in the squirrels than looking at the camera but I think it is a good shot. I will probably be making more of these bandanas for her, in the future.

That is all of the projects that I have finished, right now. 

What have you been working on?

Let me know in the comments below. Also, check out my other posts! I always enjoy hearing from you.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Washcloths!

Hey, there! I hope that you are having a wonderful week. Now that I finished the "Wrapped in Love" blanket, I have been trying to find projects to do. I joined this group on Ravelry that hosts a KAL (Knit-a-long) and CAL (Crochet-a-long) washcloth every week, throughout the year. So far I have three cloths finished. One is a work in progress and I'm going to show you two of them today.

I am only showing you the first two because this week is a Mystery CAL, which means that we get the pattern in portions and it is revealed at the end. The reveal is tomorrow, so I don't want to spoil the surprise. It is really a beautiful cloth though. I will probably make more.

 This first cloth was actually taken from an afghan square. It is a free pattern to download, so you should check it out! I never thought to use afghan squares as cloths but now that the idea has been pressed in my brain, I will be making more in the future.

This second cloth is also a free pattern and is a corner to corner cloth. I love it because I had just finished the corner to corner blanket before this was posted.

Now, one of the very first things I realized is that there are 52 weeks in a year. I'm a little behind this year so I won't have so many cloths from this group but I love these cloths and will be making at least one a week. That being said, I had no idea what I would do with 52 cloths.

As it turns out, my Sister-by-law is going to be getting her own place within the year. She will be turning 18 and I'm not sure what things the company she is going through will provide for her. She has made such great progress in keeping herself together and we are both so proud of her. So, we are starting to get things around for her place because she doesn't have much of her own, right now. I thought that these cloths would be a great idea! Who doesn't love handmade washcloths? I just hope she uses them. I have had a couple people say that the cloths were too beautiful to use and so they sit on a shelf. In my personal oppinion, it isn't a dish/wash cloth unless you use it as one. But, to each their own.

Beyond the washcloths, I'm a little bit lost on what to make for her. I do plan on making her a throw/afghan but that's going to take some time. We are looking for sales on house things too but I want her to have more than just cloths that are homemade. 

What are some of your ideas? Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts. I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

What two Needles Can Do

I realized, today, that I had not caught anyone up on anything craft wise. I apologize for that. Last week was pretty busy. We had store inventory that lasted until 2am and I hadn't caught up on sleep because some puppy wants out at 7a.m. on the dot, every day. Although I still feel sleep deprived I have had a day of rest so I feel much better.

I worked on a knitted sampler scarf and finished it April 11th:

 You can't really see the designs that well, in the picture.I think it may be the color of yarn I used. There were six "blocks" on the scarf. The ends were more plain. The middle squares were a heart, paw print, music note and (my favorite) a snowflake. I really liked this pattern (free download), because it was written for fourth graders which really dumbed down some of the things that confused me. I do wish that she had explained a little bit more on how to fasten off but it wasn't anything that a bit of Youtube or a friend couldn't help with. The scarf is a little short, like I said it was designed for fourth graders so it was probably meant for their size. I have been thinking of making more (for the practice) and donating the lot to some of the elementary schools around here for kids who forget their scarf or don't have one. Recess is no fun when it is too cold.

The next project that I have been working on is kind of sleeping right now. It is the Fireside Wristlets, also a free download. I like how they are turning out. I only have the one done, and the second is slowly coming together. I take it to work, so I can knit on my lunch. For some reason, the red is really difficult to knit with. It was the last color so maybe I got used to knitting and was knitting tighter? I don't know.

I'm still having troubles with knitting on circular needles. I don't know what is up with that and if I can't figure it out, I will be posting with pictures so you can see and maybe tell me what I'm doing wrong or give me any advice. I have tried watching youtube videos for this. My problem seems to be in getting the dern stitches to slide from the cord to the needle. Maybe my cord is too long?

What projects are working on? Have you tried anything new, lately?
Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts! I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Wedding Blanket- Finished!

Hey, there! I am so excited because I have been working on a blanket for someone who is getting married this year and I finally finished it. Seriously, I wove in the last end maybe fifteen minutes ago! I bought this pattern back in September,for $5. Nancy Liggins (I am in no way affiliated with her or her patterns) has many designs in her Ravelry shop and I have seen some of her blankets published on Mary Maxim. She is going places and isn't hard to see why. Her patterns are easy to follow. They are mostly charts, but she provides the number of stitches needed between the clusters.  I'm glad that I chose this pattern because I was really struggling with clusters/bobbles/popcorn stitches and after a couple months of doing them, I can do them quickly and without hurting my wrist!

I am wanting some of her other patterns but I'm also trying to focus more on some of my other unfinished projects (stuffed dino, playbook, three blankets and probably more to come) as well as my own pattern writing.

Speaking of pattern writing, I did write a Free pattern for a Holey-Moley Washcloth. That you could check out.

Feel free to leave comments, I do enjoy hearing from you. What projects have you recently finsished? Which ones are you working on?

Also, check out my other posts!

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

So...About those Elves...

I am so sorry that it has been a while since I last wrote. Things have gotten super busy the last couple weeks and our internet keeps cutting in and out, since the internet we shared with a neighbor was shut off. So, there will be a couple new posts.

I feel like I didn't acomplish much in the way of Christmas stuff but here is what I have:

Blankets:  1/2 are finished
Hats: 2/5 are finished
Earwarmers: 0/4 are finished
Shawls: 2/3 are finished
Scarves: 5/5 are finished (YAY!)
Potholders: 1/6 are finished
Washcloths: 0/6 are fnished

 

Here is the blanket that I finished. The lighting isn't that great, it has been super cloudy around here. The color is a frost green/light sage. I do love the pattern though. It was a quick work up, once I sat down and did it. I used a pattern from Crochet World Magazine April 2015 Issue

 

This is the other shawl that I finished. It is a dark purple, cascading shells pattern. I really like this one too. I was able to sit and visit with people and not have to worry about losing count or reading a pattern. 

 The last scarf I needed to make! I restarted this one I don't know how many times. I tried to come up with something new, but felt rushed so I tore it out. Then I was going to do the Turtle Shuffle but I couldn't decide how I wanted to stripe it. So, I went with this basic, double crochet striped scarf. I'm not sure if I'm going to add tassels on it or not. I'm not sure the recipient is a fan of tassels

.

Finaly, a pot holder that I finished yesterday. It is supposed to be a diamond overlay but my diamonds look weird. I'm not exactly sure what went wrong but I still like it. Again, the lighting does not do the color justice. This one is a Frost Green color. I got this pattern from Crochet World Magazine August 2010 Issue.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Smitten by Mittens!

 

It has been a while since I have talked about Raynaud's Syndrome. Honestly, the warmer months don't bother me much, which could go without much explanation. If you are not sure what Raynaud's is, it is a circulatory disorder that is not life-threatening, in mos cases. When people who do not have Raynauds get cold, their veins dilate to allow more blood to flow to their extrimities (your hands, feet...etc). This helps keep your entire body warm. When people who have Raynauds get cold, their veins constrict which allows less blood to flow through the body causing the extremities to feel pain that I can only associate with frostbite.  

In the warmer months, it doesn't affect me as much. My hands hurt in the frozen section of the store, if I stay there too long or open the doors. Getting ice cream out of the freezer and into a bowl is a painful task (which bites because I do love ice cream). Even holding a cold beverage can bring my hand pain if it isn't wrapped or in an insulated cup.

So, when the Christmas presents are finished I am going to be making some mug cozies, and some wraps for water bottles and what not. 

Now that September has finally come and gone, it is getting colder. From walking home or walking to work, in the morning, there have been a couple of times that I wished I had thought about gloves. I did some reading and it is actually recommended that people who have Raynauds wear mittens because the combined body heat from your fingers being together, rather than separated by gloves, can actually help to keep your hands warmer.  Unfortunately, even though I live in a state that has snow, unless you are a child mittens are difficult to find. Even, right now, gloves are a difficult thing to find.

I have tried my hand at fingerless gloves and so far, it hasn't worked out in my favor. There are a couple of people who are making some fingerless gloves for me and I am excited for them to arrive.I am told that I can wear them to work, which is amazing because it does get cold, sometimes. Yesterday, I decided to try my hand at mittens because I cant find any.

I found this free pattern which I do believe that I am in love with! The mittens were so easy to work up and it was only in two parts: the thumb and the rest of the mitten. I have seen some mitten patterns where the cuff is separate from the main section and I think that is where I get lost with the fingerless gloves that I have tried to make. It took me about a total of 4 hours to make the pair of mittens. Which, I'm sure was mainly due to the fact that I had never made mittens before. Again, they were so easy to make and they are warm, which is of course the best part.

I am so proud of my mittens. I think even more proud than the lady bug blanket that I made a few months back. It was a small project but something that I was never able to do. Also, this is only the second thing that I have made for myself. The first being the Ember Shawl.Woohoo!

What is your favorite mitten pattern? What are you working on?

Feel free to leave comments below and check out my other posts!
Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Corban's Winter Hat (Free Pattern)

 

I must have been hit by the inspiration arrow, lately. Here is another free pattern download!

I don't have a very creative title for this one but the person I designed this for is one crafty dude so his name may be just the ticket, even though most of you do not know him. My brother-in-law wears hats often. For Christmas, I usually make him a couple of winter hats so that he can wear them to school and when one gets dirty, he still has another one. 

Last year I made him a replica of one that he lost in the mall when we were trying to find him a suit for our wedding. He was so distraught over losing the hat and so happy when he received the replica. Corban is very quick to say what is on his mind and often times it is funny and I try not to laugh when I shouldn't. 

This design, I almost did not write out because it is a basic hat pattern with an addition. I don't remember the last time that I looked at a basic winter hat pattern but I've been making winter hats for a couple of years. I know that I misplaced the one I used for my first couple of hats and I just started doing my own thing. It is a basic double stitch hat with a band running across the front and a button.

I decided to add the band because I didn't want it to seem too plain with just the one color of yarn I was using. For this hat, I used Lion Brand's Homespun "Gothic" yarn. It is dark purple with a touch of black. Purple happens to be Corban's favorite color and since he is now entering high school, I decided to make him a hat that is more adult but still had a touch of flavor. I found a few black buttons that didn't have a flower design and chose the one in the picture.

I must say that I am quite proud of this design, no matter how simple.

I hope that you are able to enjoy it as much as I do and as much as Corban will, come Christmas. Now, to make him a "Creeper" hat to go with the scarf that I made him last year.

What do you think of the added flavor to the hat? Does it look like something a teenage boy would wear? 

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

The Turtle Shuffle

I just finished the Turtle Shuffle Scarf design and the scarf itself. The design is a free download from my store in Ravelry and I intend to keep it a free download. I call it the Turtle Shuffle because if you look at the stitches you can kind of see little turtles shuffling along to keep you or your loved one warm in the winter months. The single crochet acts as the head or tail of the turtle and the double crochets act as the shell. I can also see little feet under the shells.

I came up with the name one my walk to work. I remembered, for some strange reason, a movie that my husband and I watched a while back, when we first started dating. I don't remember which movie it was but it had kids and there was this one boy that the others wouldn't let in past the front gate unless he did the "Truffle Shuffle". I feel so bad for the boy.

Anyhow, I was going through a list of words because I didn't like the way "Turtle Scarf" sounded and "Turtle Neck" is already taken and I don't know many people who like the suffocating feeling of the constrictive shirts. When this scene popped into my head I laughed and said "Turtle Shuffle". I thought of a few other titles that I can't remember now because this one just seemed to stick.

So, there you have it. A free crochet pattern design and a finished Christmas gift. Now,  I have three scarf gifts finished. I have seven more to go but I think that I'm going to start on some hats. To be honest, I'm getting bored of scarves and I have just as many hats and earwarmers to complete.

I am still working on one of the three shawls. I actually like how it is coming along. I will write a post about it, later.

Both of my blankets are actually on pause for the moment. I thought I had enough yarn for the afghan swap one but I'm about ten rows short of an afghan. So, another trip to the yarn aisle and I should be set on that one, but we shall see if I can get that yarn on Thursday. The other blanket's design is sitting in our friend's vehicle. I accidentally left that and the unfinished swap blanket when we went for a drive to pick up a really cool, antique sewing machine desk...thing.

Feel free to check out some of my other blog posts and leave a comment below. I always enjoy hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

To Make A Hole, You Must Start Digging

After a couple of slight panic attacks over Christmas, which isn't for another couple of months, and writing a list of gifts to make (which can be found in my earlier post, Dear Santa, May I Borrow Some Elves?) I have begun to make somewhat of a dent.

So far I have made 2/10 Scarves. I am in the middle of designing a third.

I used a basic Double Crochet stitch for one scarf:

and I used the "Strawberry Wine Cable Scarf" Pattern for the second:

I also made a couple of colorful headbands with some yarn gifted to me by Nina:

The yarn is 50% Soy Silk and 50% wool. South West Trading Company, Karaoke-299
 I also used the Double Shell Headband Pattern, which is a free pattern, for these two.
I absolutely loved the yarn for this and I'm going to look into getting more yarn. The Soy Silk tones down the wool's scratchiness. Wool doesn't usually make me itch but some wools do seem a little rough. This one is so soft and smooth, I wish you could feel it through the screen!

I am about 40 rows away from being finished with a blanket that I have been working on for a while. My goal is to have that finished by the end of this month. To do that, I want to try to crochet at least 5 rows a day (starting tomorrow because I work all day today). If I kept to this, I should have it finished by the 25th of September. Then I could concentrate on finishing the design for the hubby's blanket and the rest of the smaller projects.

The scarves will only take me a couple hours each, if I use patterns that I already have, and stop designing new ones. The shawls will take a little longer. Which, I started on one shawl and I'm really loving the pattern. I will make a new post about that, since this one is already stuffed with pictures. 

So, right now, I am working on  a new scarf design, a shawl, and a blanket. I want to finish this scarf and another scarf before I switch over to hats. 

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved. 

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

Thank you for the encouraging comments on my last post. I really do appreciate them. I'm not sure why I felt so obsolete but you are absolutely right! Even if she makes gifts and makes more than I can, the gifts that I make for people will always be unique just as the ones my mother makes. I have always felt at ease when I gift things I make because they are unique (and can't be returned). So, thank you for encouraging me when I was in a bit of a funk.

Since the last post, I have been working hard. Yesterday was my first day off in seven days and I worked over 40 hours. Yay! I have been working on some new designs and updating the Country Squares Market Bag.

I love the four square base of the market bag but I'm not happy with how the rest of the bag turned out. It doesn't seem sturdy and even though I wasn't increasing my stitches it seemed as if the sides were expanding. So, although I said the revision would be up this past weekend, it is still a work in progress. I need to figure out the sides of the bag. This pattern will probably end up being seaparate from the Country Squares because I am thinking that only the base will be made with the same pattern. Thankfully, I have my trusty stitch book that my hubby gifted me for my birthday. That should help a bit.

Anyway, here's the base:

Now, I did finally write the pattern for the Strawberry Wine Ear Warmer! This is a free pattern download from Ravelry. The scarf is still being tested but is up for sale. The ear warmer will remain a free pattern.

Because I still have some yarn left over from the scarf and ear warmer set, I am going to try my hand at some fingerless gloves. Before I do that, I need to actually, successfully make a pair of fingerless gloves.

If you know any good patterns for crochet fingerless gloves, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
I always love hearing from you and thank you, again, for your encouragement.

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

Country Squares Market Bag

My new job has kept me pretty busy but I did get a second pattern written about a week or so ago! I struggled a little bit with this one but I finally got it to work. This pattern is a free download on Ravelry.com.  It honestly didn't take much time, to make, after all of the sketching and figuring out the stitches was finished. I think that I really like this market bag (and all market bags for that matter).

 I think that I like the market bags so much because there is so much stretch room! Also, we have a farmer's market that is open on Thursdays and Saturdays, just a couple of blocks from our apartment. I can't wait to start putting some fresh veggies and fruits in the bag! Yum!

The bottom of the bag is a Granny Square, though I did the square much different than what I am used to. However, my experience with Granny Squares are over 300 tiny squares to make a motif blanket.

I'm not sure what I want to create next. I think that I'm going to try and figure out how to do a cable stitch and perhaps write a scarf pattern for that. Or, I'm thinking of writing a unique purse pattern for my niece, who is 3 years old. We will see what time brings us. Time and sketches.

What kind of bags do you like to make?

As always, feel free to leave comments below and to check out my other posts!

Please remember, that you are beautiful and well loved.

My First Crochet Design

I have been racking my brain, and playing with my yarn, all week just trying to figure out what to make for my first design. I finally did it! This one was accidental. I was thinking too big for my first design, I think. I am quite the ambitious individual. I was trying to make a market bag because I like that the bottoms can be different designs and I have tried all week to make one using different bottom designs.

I didn't like how this would have turned out for a market bag so instead of frogging (rip it out, think of what a frog sounds like "Rip-it, Rip-it") I decided to stop at the two petal rows and make it into an ornament for our Christmas tree. I already love the pattern (not to toot my own horn) because it is simple and I can see it in any color. It comes to be about a three inch diameter with potential to grow if more rows were added.

This is a free download from my Ravelry store.

I hope to come up with more designs that are, hopefully, better than this one. Also, I'm still designing that market bag! It will be done! I am determined. I figured out the bottom I just need to figure out how to make the sides without it getting too big in diameter.

Have you written a craft pattern? What are some of your methods? What is something that you are working on right now?

Feel free to let me know in the comments below! Also, check out my previous posts!

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

Ember Shawl!

I made a shawl, a couple weeks ago, and I forgot that I didn't put it on here. How silly of me!

This one is made from a  free pattern and I chose to color block it. I love the pattern! It  was easy, I could crochet while watching Netflix or amaze people by looking at them, while they talked, while crocheting. Oh, yeah, it is that kind of pattern! The pattern doesn't call for tassels, in fact it comes with a very nice border of it's own.

Here is a shawl I made using the pattern, following all directions:

 I made the shawl for a family friend whose sister has cancer and is undergoing Chemo-therapy. It is something that she can use during her treatments. This is a close up of the border:

 Now, for the Ember shawl, I left off the border and put in tassels (using one string from every color, about 12 inches to make a 6 inch tassel) in every other space (I forget if it was chain one or two).

Here is my Ember Shawl:

This is the first thing that I have actually made for myself. In the three years that I have been crocheting I have made scarves and hats for everyone else but this one is mine. Sorry, guys, I just love it too much.

I would love to know what you think, in the comments below! I always love hearing from you. Also, if you have a favorite shawl pattern, feel free to post a link!

You are beautiful and well loved.

My first Crochet Along

I would like to think that I am an adventerous lady. I am willing to try almost anything and when it comes to crafts, I'm game.

This past week, I found a group on Ravelry: Make1-designs that is starting to host Crochet Alongs (CALs). What this is (if you don't already know), is a group of people working on the same project at the same time. The pattern is given out in portions. First, the supply list comes out and then the first part of the pattern. Then a week or two later, the second part of the pattern comes out and so on. I joined a Shawl Crochet along and here is what I have so far:

I don't really know what it is going to look like, in the end. But I do love a good mystery. I find that I love the CALs because if I have any questions about the pattern I don't feel shy in asking because if 20 people are where I am, at least one will have the answer. It helps build a sense of community between crocheters and we help each other out.

The picture above is the completed, first part, of the pattern. The second part is supposed to come out today and I am so excited for it! If you haven't already tried a CAL or KAL (Knit  Along), I highly recommend it!

Have you tried something like this before? What did you like most about it? Was there anything you struggled with? Would yo do it again? If you haven't done an -along, yet, is it something that you would like to do?

Feel free to leave comments below, I always love hearing from you!

Remember that you are beautiful  and well loved.

Back in the Groove

Lately, I haven't been feeling like crocheting. I notice that this happens after Christmas is over and I no longer have anyone to create something for. After this past Christmas, I had the baby shower and when that was over, I wanted to crochet but I didn't know what to do. As usual, I spend more time trying to find a pattern that I like and less time to crochet the actual pattern that I found. Now that I am no longer working every day and have some time to crochet in between the applications that I am filling out for a second job, I have created a few things.

I have made a few washcloths:

 The first washcloth I did not use a pattern. When I first started crocheting, I made several washcloths and learned that the square ones are simply count 28-35 chains and use whatever stitch you desire.  Then I found this wonderful,free, pattern for flower washcloths! I wanted to something that wasn't so...bland and this sounded like a great idea. The green one was my first attempt and doesn't really look like a flower to me. I'm not sure what happened but something happened and it looks kinda funky. The purple flower washcloth I liked much better and gave it to my mother-in-law who is using it as a carpet for her china furniture.

To each their own, I suppose.

My second day off, I decided that I was tired of making washcloths and I wanted to try my hand at making bracelets and practicing putting buttons on things. I did not use a pattern for any of the following:

The first bracelet, I chained however many it took to wrap around my wrist 3-4 times. The second, I used a chain and then one row of double crochet. The last one...I am not sure what I did, honestly. But I would love to figure it out again and actually write the pattern because it is my favorite! It looks like the first but it is not just one chain.

Please let me know what you think in the comments below! Have you ever felt the need to make many small projects to get back in the groove of just making things?

Feel free to check out some of my other posts! I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

The Aftermath

Many of you may know, or followed, my journey through making several baby items for a friend's shower. Her baby shower was on Sunday. It was very nice. I had never been to a baby shower before and I wasn't sure what to expect. Her family is so creative and it was cool to see some of the things they came up with. Someone handcrafted a giant ruler so that they can measure Emiline as she grows. Nifty! There were games and the cake was decorated so beautifully. I wish I had brought my camera to take pictures.

The couple was so funny, when they opened the presents. She almost cried wen she saw the ladybug blanket. He was wowed by all of the things that he kept pulling out of the basket. My husband nudged me and gave me that "I told you so" look because I didn't think that we had done enough. I mean, afterall, it was just a blanket, two headbands, two pairs of baby booties, a hat and some other little things. They were ALL little things, except the blanket. The new parents seemed to think that I did more than I should have. I still think I could have done more. But, maybe that is just me.

Now that I'm finished with my Ladybug blanket, I have been on a quest to find something new. Something that I have not made before. My new manager came into work, this past week with a kind of wrap around her shoulders. It wasn't a shawl. I didn't know what it was, but I thought that it was super cool/cute/nifty and decided that I wanted to make it.

I found a pattern. Apparently, it is called a "mobius"? I don't know. I just finished one in a light blue.

Don't mind the random string in the background. I was trying it on to make sure it fit before I cut the yarn. I really like this, whatever the true name for it is. It has several uses and I can use it at work. It keeps your upper arms warm and super cozy! Also:

It can be used as a cowl! Which can keep your neck warm while you wear a sweater to keep your arms warm! I love it!

I found this pattern for free. I did not write it but I do love it! It took me about five-ish hours to make.

Now, I need to find something else to make. I think I spend more time trying to figure out what I want to make than I do actually making it.

If you have any ideas, let me know in the comments below. I am taking a short break from baby things before I start on a baby dress for Emiline.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved!