Monday, 5/31/10 Memorial Day

As Memorial Day was approaching and the 4th of July coming up, I wondered if I could find something to crochet in red, white, and blue. Guess what I found right here on Crochet Soiree—The All American Afghan! I just had to have this pattern. It’s super easy; I just paid for it, and then the pattern was downloadable (is this even a word?).

I really like the look of Americana and am making mine out of Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend, Vanilla, Currant, and Denim. I love this yarn, and for me, my wooden hook worked the best to help the yarn slide through the stitches. The yarn has the softness and the drape of an old well worn t-shirt—the one that you can’t throw away because it’s just too soft and comfortable. (I know you know what I’m talking about.) I love the pattern, and I think it’s because it reminds me of the granny square stitch except it’s in stripes. Then, the star motif is a hexagon, and most of you know how I feel about hexagons. (Remember when I couldn’t stop making the hexagon baby sweater?) So wish me luck, I only have 75 more red and white stripes, 44 hexagons, and 6 half hexagon motifs to go. Ha! Ha!

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day.

5/28/10 Free Pattern Friday: Baby Cardigan and Hat Crochet Pattern

Oh my gosh, look at these really cute baby cardigan and hat crochet patterns that I’ve chosen to be free for a limited time. I had some Patons Grace left in my stash that I’m making mine out of. I know it will make it smaller, but I’ll just have to adjust by using the larger pattern size and a larger hook. The fun thing about making baby things is that you already have them made up ready to pull it out for a baby shower or give as a charity item.

Of course, I had to Tamarafy the hat from this pattern, and I added some chains made from two strands of yarn in each corner of the top of the hat.

The “Baby Cardigan and Hat” patterns are from a book called Crochet Essentials that features Lion Brand Yarn and is published by Leisure Arts. The book has 19 beginner patterns, and I really like the easy factor in all of the designs.

I’m looking forward to trying some of the other patterns in the book.

Be sure to download these patterns now because they will be gone in two weeks!

Wednesday, 5/26/10 May Crochet-A-Long Prize Doily

I chose this doily to crochet as a prize for the May Crochet-A-Long. I love the way the middle looks like a star and the way it spirals out into a pinwheel. I hope the person that wins it loves it as much as I loved making it.

The doily measure 19" in diameter, and this is the second doily made from this giant spool of thread. I can’t wait to see how many more I can get from this same spool of thread.

The May CAL will be ending soon! Be sure and post your Bean Bag Kitties and Berry Cute Coasters in the Challenge Section by May 31 for your chance to be entered in the drawing to win my doily or some other great hand-crocheted prizes.

Monday, 5/24/10 A Gift for Doug’s Babies

As soon as I read the Leisure Arts Boutique Blog and found out that our own Crochet Soiree Website Guru Doug and was expecting twin girls, I was so excited to get started on a little gift for his family. When I found this little ceramic gift bag vase at the thrift store a month or two ago, I didn’t know what I was going to do with it. I knew I wanted to make some washcloths or dishcloths and put them in it, but now it had a purpose. I went to town making the two pairs of booties and decided to make one pair a pale pink and the other pair a little darker pink. I used DMC Senso, and I think they turned out really cute.

Then, I made two baby washcloths out of Patons Grace yarn and used two of the patterns for the Vintage Potholders from my Total Crochet for the Home book. Of course, I only used one thickness and no loops. Then I made a bigger washcloth more open weave out of some nice cotton yarn that I had in my stash from Twist the yarn shop for the new Mama to have for herself. Sorry Doug, I didn’t end making you anything, but there’s always next time. Anyway, I think you will have fun using the washcloths during bath time and watching those little booties kicking on those beautiful little baby girls. Congratulations and Good Luck!

5/21/10 Free Pattern Friday: Bride’s Sachet Hanger Crochet Pattern

Look at this lovely, traditional, Bride Sachet Hanger. I thought it would make an ideal free crochet pattern for this week since wedding season is rapidly approaching, but since I don’t have any weddings to worry about right now…

…here’s the “Tamarafied” version of the Bride’s Sachet Hanger. I probably went a little overboard with the buttons, but they were calling my name just sitting there in that little plastic jewelry bag (another treasure hunt find). Most of the buttons don’t even match each other, but I do love seeing the colors dangling there on the crocheted ruffle. I was so excited about how it turned out that I decided to show my son.

This was the look on his face as he said, “What’s the purpose?” That wasn’t the reaction that I wanted, but what did I expect out of an 18-year-old young man? So when my husband came in the room, I showed him the hanger.

This was his reaction, but he was smart, he didn’t say anything! Ha! Ha! I’m not sure what kind of reaction I wanted from him, but he loves me and knows better than to say anything negative.

Anyway, I decided to take my hanger and a few WIPs down to the yarn shop and hang out with people that “get me”. I showed the hanger to a few people, and I met a few new people and really enjoyed talking with them. One lady named Dorothy and I started visiting about how to crochet with thread. I decided to show her my hanger, and she looked at it and said, “Does it have a purpose?” I looked at her and asked her, “Do you always have to have a purpose when you make something?” “Yes,” she answered. I thought a moment and said, “You know, I’m the same way most of the time. What would you use the hanger for?” She looked at it a few more minutes, and she said, “I think you could hang earrings off of it.” I was so excited about the idea and told her that I had been looking for an earring stand or holder for quite some time and never found just the right thing that wouldn’t take up too much room on my counter of my bathroom.

Now, I don’t even have to clutter up my counter. My earring hanger can just hang anywhere I want it to. I really flip-flopped this pattern around and thanks to Dorothy (my new friend), I have a very unique earring hanger.

Wednesday, 5/19/10 Crocheted Graduation Gifts

I just had to share with you an idea that I had for giving some of Joshua’s friends as graduation gifts. A lot of Joshua’s friends know that I crochet (duh?). Anyway, they see me making things, or I have shown them what I’m making or have made, and one of their favorite things is amigurumi animals.

Amy Gaines’ Cute Little Animals book is a great source for crocheted amigurumi. I made my little animals from some Patons Grace yarn, and they turned out really small, but I love them, and you know cute small is. I decided to give five of his closest friends one each. I thought they looked so pretty here in their colorful bags.

I remember when I graduated from high school, one of my favorite graduation gifts was from one of my mentors. Her name was Mrs. Fawbush, and she helped me with crochet directions on doilies when I first started making them. She gave me a knitted shawl for my graduation gift, and I cherished it. I hope these girls like their little graduation gifts as much I loved mine.

Does anyone else out there make crocheted graduation gifts? If so tell me what you’ve made.

Monday, 5/17/10 Another Day with Jackie

My sister called me on Saturday and said she needed my input on some projects she was working on. Since she had gotten most of her new fabric this week, she wanted me to also see them. This is one of many stacks of fabrics all over her basement—63 prints all together. I ended up helping her with choosing the fabrics for a couple of the quilts she was going to sew up and also helped her iron the fabrics.

I was really looking forward to seeing the faux crochet granny square fabric that Benartex made from my granny square afghan. Now, I need to pull out my Aunt Lydia’s crochet thread to see which ones look the best with the fabrics because, of course, she wants two receiving blankets edged with crochet for the Spring International Quilt Show this month. We had a great day, and I was exhausted when I got home just thinking about all the work that she still has left to do before she leaves.

Tell me about some of the fun things you do on Saturday.