Flower/Diamond Afghan

A while back Walmart had a bunch of yarn on clearance, including some Caron Simply soft, which is my favorite for making afghans.  It was such a good price I couldnt pass it up.  So I picked up several skiens of of it in Plum Wine.  At the time I had no plans for it, figured I would just keep it on hand for when an opportunity for its use presented itself. 

I find myself frequently getting bored when I am working on projects and keep find the best way for projects to keep my attention is to switch between a few projects at a time.  While working on the previously posted baby girl blanket, I decided to make use of the Caron Simply Soft yarn I picked up at Walmart.  I pulled out "Birthstone Afghans" which I had bought a while back and had yet to make anythign from and settled on the April 'Dimond' pattern.

I really liked the alternation pattering of the flower/diamonds and the checkered look.

The pattern called fror a fringe to be put on the blanket, but after completing the body I couldnt decide if I really wanted to add the fringe.  I asked the hubby and he stated it needed the fringe.  So as much as I HATE doing fringes, I went ahead and added the fringe.  

After all was said and done, I think it turned out quite nicely.  Another satisfying project completed.

Sometime in the up coming week I hope to get this listed for sale on my etsy site.  Hopefully it will find a good home.

Crochet Double Ruffle Baby Girl Blanket

I came across this beautiful baby girl blanket in the book Best of Terry Kimbrough Baby Afghans, which can be bought from Amazon.com.

As beautiful as this blanket was it took a lot more work then I had anticipated.  The body of the blanket was easy enough to make, it consistent of alternating single and double crochet stiches.  The difficult and time consuming part, was the double ruffled edge. 

The first step was the pink ruffle underneath.  This ruffle was made up of single stiches and half double stiches. 

Then came the top white outter ruffle.  This was created using single stiches and chains.  It was a bit tricky as the base stiches of the white ruffle had to be worked around the half double stiches form the pink ruffle.  The center white ruffle was also made up of single stiches and chains.  These were worked around the half double stiches from the pink ruffle as well. 

After completing the white ruffle it was time to add the pink trim in the middle of the two white ruffles.  This was again made using single stiches and chains and also had to be worked around the half double stiches of the pink ruffle.

At this point, the blanket was not quite finished.  I still needed to add the ribbon trim.  Unfortunately, I left the blanket unfinished for while despite having bought the ribbon I needed for the project.  Im not very good about finishing projects.  ;-)

It got to the point where the project needed to be completed in order to make it to its destination in time.  So, I added the ribbon, taking my time with the corner bows.

Finally complete!  Im going to have such a hard time parting with it.  Its so beautiful.  I love it!



Crochet Clover Earrings

Back when I was younger I really got into making friendship bracelets, which resulted in my having a huge box of string.  This box has been handing around for years without being touched.  I finally discovered a project to use the string, as well as those teeny tiny crochet hooks, which I have also never touched. 

This set of clover earrings is my first attempt at crocheting something so small and I think they turned out rather well.  The clover themselves are a little over two inches big and the entire earring from top to bottom measures about three inches.

I hope to start making some other style crochet earrings soon.

This set of clover earrings is available in my etsy store.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77553802/green-crochet-clover-earrings







Crochet Beach Bag

I crocheted this beach bag using Bernet 100% cotton yarnand added wodden beads to the drawstrings.  This bag is large enough to fit everything you could possibly need or want to take with you to the beach.  It easily fits your beach towel, flip flops, a book, sun tan lotion, a snack, sun glass, you name it, it will fit.

Once you've got your bag all loaded up, tie the drawstrings in a nice little bow and you are ready to hang it over your shoulder and off to the beach you go!

The pattern for this bag can be found in

This item is available in my etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77477895/crochet-beach-totebag?ref=v1_other_2

Crochet Laundry Bag

This bag was made from Bernet 100% cotton yarn and accented with pink and purple buttons.  I used this pattern (http://www.coatsandclark.com/NR/rdonlyres/A5426861-C099-4D70-9CEF-3122FE726688/103972/WR1796.pdf) as a base for my design, but tweaked it a bit.  The stretchy design allows for it to be filled with a full load of dirty laundry!  Im pretty excited about this item.  I wish I knew some girls going off to college in the fall, as this would make a great gift!

This item is available for sale in my etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77464438/hand-crocheted-laundry-bagtote?ref=v1_other_2



Mini-Messanger Bag

I finally had time to get some projects completed!  My husband is out of town for the weekend so I have some time on my hands.  I made a trip to both Michael's and JoAnn's today to pick up the needed supplies to finish several projects. 

Mini-Messanger Bag

This is a joint effort project with my cousin, for my cousin.  The idea came when we were at JoAnn's one day and she was looking into buying a plain jane bag and I asked her what she wanted with one of those.  She said she was looking for something to put her mini laptop in.  I told her I could create a way cuter bag then that.  And so the mini-messanger bag idea was born.  She bought all the supplies and choose the stitch she liked out of one of my many crochet books.  I created the crocheted bag.  She sewed on the applique and created the lining which she sewed in the bag.  All in all I think it turned out quite cute.  I maye have to consider creating some more to be sold in my etsy store. 

I added "D" rings to the body of the bag and clips to the strap, so that the strap can be removed and the "case" can be put inside another bag if desired.  This was done at my cousin's request and I think it works well.

And here is my cousin modeling the final product.



Crochet Elephant

Back when I bought the dragon pattern from 'DeliciousCrochet' on Etsy, I also bought this elephant pattern for my sister.  She grew up collecting elephants and I thought it might be a good project for her.  A few years ago I taught her the basics of crocheting and then, like me, she taught herself how to read and follow patterns.  However, she struggled to put the pieces together to make the final product.  So, she came to me.  With my help and some instruction she was able to creat her first amigurumi. 

His nose turned out longer then it should have.  Lol.

For a first project, I think it turned out pretty good.

Crochet Zebra Afghan

I bought the book "48-Hour Afghans" several months ago and fell in love with this pattern.  I desperately wanted to make it, but I couldnt find the yarn I was looking for, Lion Brand Homespun yarn in Metropolis (a black/white/grey multicolored yarn).  There was a reason I couldnt find, it had been discontinued.  After searching on-line I found a craft store chain in California that still had some skeins in stock.  Needless to say I bought them out :-)  I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for the solid black, white, and grey yarn.  This pattern was simple enough to follow.  It used a single stitch, double stitch, and popcorn stitch.  It turned out fabulous! 

(Ignore the mess, I spent the day glued to the couch in order to finish it)

I made this afghan to giveaway as a Christmas gift this year.  Im pretty sure they are going to love it!  Hopefully between now and then I dont convince myself I should keep it!

Crochet Baby Girl Dress

I've found myself struggling to make items of clothing for myself and though maybe I should start off with something more simple.  So I crocheted a newborn dress to give to a friend of mine when she has her baby girl, which should be any day now.  She was due on this past Tuesday (4/12) and the little one just doesnt want to come out!  She is being served an eviction notice on Thursday (4/21).  I really like the way this turned out!

Its a full length empire waist dress that frills out so nicely.  I can't wait to give it to her!

I got the pattern for this dress out of the book "Oh Baby! Crochet".  I did run into a few problems using the newborn pattern, but with some tweaking I was able to make it work.

Crochet Dragon

Last year I stumbled across a pattern for a crochet dragon on etsy that instantly made me think of my cousin and her love for dragons.  I decided to go ahead and buy it and see if I could make it.  It was my first project that was not a blanket, so I was a little bit worried about whether I could pull it off or not.  I gave it my best shot and have to say I think it turned out pretty well.  There were a few errors and some spots where I didnt quite understand what the directions were saying, so I did the bed I could.  The final project measured about 3 feet or so. 

My cousin loved it, as did many other people who saw it, including a friend of mine.  I ended up making her one as well. 

My friend picked out the color scheme on this one.  I think I prefer the red one.

I purchased the pattern for this dragon from etsy.com seller 'DeliciousCrochet'.

Crocheted Elephant and Giraffe

A while back a friend of mine had a baby shower.  I had planned on making her a baby blanket so I asked her what the color scheme to the nursery was going to be.  I suspect she knew why I was asking.  Because she hinted that there was a giraffe she pattern she had seen on line and wanted.  I laughed at her and told her I would love to make it for her.  Turns out she had a jungle theme going for the nursery, so I decided to make an elephant too.

Over all I think they turned out pretty decent.  I have yarn left over from both so Im considering making another one of each and putting them up on the Etsy store.  But that might have to wait til I finish the current projects...I always seem to have multiple projects going, as I get bored with one and move on to another.

The pattern for the giraffe is a free pattern that can be found at http://www.lionbrand.com/.  The elephant pattern came from the book "Cute Little Animals".  I purchased my copy at Joann's, but its also available on Amazon.