Doughnut Pin Cushion... Yummy, but sharp

When I first saw this pattern I thought it was simply a play food doughnut which the author had used beads as sprinkles. I thought that in itself was pretty cool. Obviously, I did not read the title very well. After realizing that it was a pin cushion, I just had to make one... and I hardly ever sew.

What a brilliant idea. Here is where you can find the pattern http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32761.

My Homemade Yarn

Okay, I know you're wondering..."What in the world is that?"... And "What does that have to do with crocheting or yarn?" Okay maybe you already know, but about a couple of years ago that is what I would have wondered.

 "That" is my handy, dandy, home made version of a drop spindle.  To see what a drop spindle is and what it does should be clear after watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXTWgMeMgI After I watched this I couldn't wait to start spinning my own yarn, and even though drop spindles are relatively cheep I was able to make my own without having to wait for a package in the mail.

This is the results of my first attempt at using the drop spindle. I started with wool roving I found on ebay. :)  For the most part its pretty even except at the very beginning. I am now knitting it into a little hand bag.

Crochet Slipper Socks

These are one of my favorite pairs of around the house socks. They are great to wear over another pair of socks or just by themselves. Unfortunately, as with many pairs of crochet socks I cannot wear them with my shoes on.

The pattern for them is quite simple and doesn't require the knowledge of very many stitches. These socks were actually one of the very early patterns I tried. For they longest time I was only doing single crochets and chain stitches. In case you are wondering what the pattern is    http://www.crochetandknitting.com/socks.htm. I would also like to make it clear that this is not my own pattern, and I am quite grateful to the author.

Crochet Converse Baby Shoes

   I just absolutely love this pattern, it is very simple and the only stitches you need to know are ch, sc, sl st, hdc and dc. Tutorials for these stitches except the sl st and hdc can be found here.

    Unfortunately, I found the pattern on Ravelry and can't find it elsewhere, so anyone who would like it would have to become a member of Ravelry if they aren't already.

    If you would like the pattern here is the link http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-baby-converse.

   I would totally recommend this pattern to a advanced beginner (one who has done several patterns). The directions were given with many photographic references so as long as you know the stitches you should have no problem.

Cozy Cozy Wrist Warmers

What keeps your hands warm, allows your fingers to be free, and you can crochet?

Wrist Warmers! They're cozy and give the flexibility that regular bulky gloves wouldn't. What's really cool though is that you can crochet them! Whoo! Yeah!...Big surprise...Okay you probably already knew that and so did I, but what I didn't know was that they were so easy! I made these cozy fingerless gloves eons before I had blog so it took me awhile to find the pattern so, finally here it is: http://homespunjenn.blogspot.com/2006/01/happy-new-year.html

Oh! I forgot to mention you can make them for every occasion! I love to use mine when I'm studying on a cold winter day and want to be able to feel the pages on my finger tips! :)

Almost Waffle Afghan

This is my almost waffle afghan... Why do I call it that?...Well it was originally planned to have the texture of a waffle, unfortunately I screwed up the pattern which was translated to me verbally. By the time I got started I somehow managed to flip the order of two stitches.

This is what the pattern was supposed to be:
Ch a number divisible by 4, and then ch 2
Row 1
Dc 1 in each st
Row 2
Dc 2, *(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, dc 2, repeat form* til the end of the row.
Row 3
(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, *dc 2, (Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, Repeat from * til the end of the row.
Row 4-How ever many rows you want
Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternating between the two until project reaches desired length

This is the pattern I did:
Ch a number divisible by 4, and then ch 2
Row 1
Dc 1 in each st
Row 2
Dc 2, *(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, dc 2, repeat form* til the end of the row.
Row 3-How ever many rows you want
Repeat row 2 until project reaches desired length

This afghan didn't turn out the way it was supposed to but it does look pretty if you ask me. I especially like the ruffle edge and the unusual texture.

More Crocheted Fleece Baby Blankets

This blanket has a simple dc edge but as you may notice, there's crocheting down the middle.
Unfortunately when I purchased this fleece the piece wasn't wide enough for a baby blanket. So when I went to cut the holes I decided to cut the long piece in half and put holes in all sides of both pieces.  I placed the wrong sides together, sc in the piece closest to me (piece a), instead of putting a ch between each sc I sc in the piece farthest from me (piece b). I sc in the next space on piece (a) and then sc in the next space on piece (b) all the way down the seam. Once I reached the end of the seam I did the basic base stitch (see Fleece Baby Blankets) and the dc all the way around as normal.

This jungle fleece blanket is probably one of my top 3 favorite crochet blankets, along with the next blanket shown here. I think this is a perfect example of how your border can make or break your project and not so much style or stitch, but the choice of yarn. I completely fell in love with this jungle print and put off crocheting the edge because I didn't think I had any yarn that would finish it just right. One day when I was going through my yarn stash (see My "Craft Room" Storage) I found this...

Instantly I thought of my jungle fleece, this will be perfect, this will "make" the blanket, this reminds me of the zebra in the print...I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED!!!!! So I just put a very simple double crochet around the edge after doing the base stitch.

This has the simplest edge you could imagine...okay maybe not, but what's so great about this edging is that you only have to go around once, that's right it's just the base stitch! I just used Red Heart Baby Clouds for this one so it matches my Baby Hat and Booties that I've made. (Note: I've also made a blue version of this)

I especially like the multi-colored borders on this one, which is as follows:
Rnd 1
Using purple, Base Stitch all the way around
Rnd 2
Sc all the way around, sl st in the 1st st
Rnd 3
Using pink, *ch 2, (dc, sc) in the next st, sl st, repeat from * all the way around

I hope this is helpful and that you enjoy them as much as I do. Again I would love to see your creations

Tiny Flowers Great for Paper Crafting

These cute little flowers are just adorable and have so many uses in the crafting world such as: Knitted and crochet projects, paper crafts, scrap booking and much more. Although I cannot take full credit for these flowers I did tweak the little flowers in order to have different sizes. This is where I found the original http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/teeny-tiny-flowers.html

 I found I liked using crochet thread and size 6 or 7 hook. After completing the flower I added another round to make the bigger flowers:
(Ch 2, dc 2 at the top-most st of the petal, hdc in the same st, sl st in between this petal and the next one.) Do this on all 5 petals, finish off and weave in tails.

 The reason I had them packaged is so a friend of mine could take them to a bazaar where she had booth. Unfortunately there wasn't a very big turnout and none of them sold.

Dish Washing Gift Basket with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Dish Scrubbie

This little turtle came from a pattern for a square with a turtle in the middle, I simply used tulle (cut in 2" strips), made 2 shells (the pattern only called for one) and crocheted them together by adding the body. Because this basket was for a bridal shower where the bride and groom both liked turtles (the groom liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the bride liked the zoo kind, to be specific.) I decided to put an orange headband on to turn into Michelangelo. Here's where I found the turtle square: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=113932

 These dish cloths are so simple to knit and require no purling whatsoever. Using No. 8 or 10 Needles,  cast on 3sts,
(K2, yo, K to the end of the row,) for every row until you have 50 st, Note: On the every round you will knit the yarn over as if it was a regular stitch. Once you have 50 sts (K1, K 2st tog, yo, K 2st tog, K to the end of the row.) Until you have only 5 sts left on your needle, For the nest row K1, K 2st tog, K 2st tog, (3sts left), Next row K 2st tog, K 1, (2sts left), Next row K 2st tog, cut working yarn and pull through the last st and tighten to finish off, then simply weave in the tails. Note if you want a loop to hang it by leave one tail extra long and don't weave it in. Then get a crochet hook (size G or H)  pull the tail partly through the corner so you have a loop, put this loop on your hook and ch until you have approx. twice the length of chain as the length of your desired loop, sl st into the corner of your dish cloth, (sc in each ch working in a round, sl st in the corner again) this step is optional for making the loop.

  I figured because of the title of my blog I might as well use Joy dish soap.

 

My "Craft Room" Storage

 This is how I store my fleece for baby blankets, it's already pre-cut and ready to go.

 

I roll them up and put them inside my Ikea Expedit bookshelf so I can see all the different fabrics at once and pull them out with ease.

As you can see I have no shortage of yarn, only storage for it. I have found that most of the time sorting yarn by color rather than by type is more useful.

Crocheted Tri-Bead Baby Socks

These cute little baby socks are very simple to make, so you can make a pair of baby socks for every occasion. They are great for beginners because they use only the simplest stitches, the chain stitch, single crochet and slip stitch.

Note:The actual socks I bought and I only crocheted the beads on.  Also your hook has to be small enough to go through the hole in  your bead. Most of the time the hole inside tri-beads are relatively large. To save on colored beads I use a clear beads in between all the colored beads. I usually use cotton crochet tread but I'm sure you could use sock or sport weight yarn etc.

 Special stitches: Bead Stitch=insert your hook through a bead, yo, pull through bead and loop. I'm going to abbreviate this st as bds
To start unfold the socks, with slip knot on your hook, (insert your hook into the top the sock (make sure you are inserting it into the knitting and you have more than just the elastic band on top of your sock), sc, ch 3, bds, ch 3,) Repeat all the way around the sock, the distance between your stitches is up to you,  most of the time I use 24 beads per sock depending on the size of the sock.

Simple Deep Red Afghan

This is my very first afghan. Although I had finished long ago I just recently added the edge.

 For the edge I used bulky weight yarn even though I used a worsted weight for the afghan.

  

On the edge I used this pattern

Sc 1, (sl st, ch 7, sl st,) in the next stitch

Fleece Baby Blankets with Crocheted Edge

      This is one my favorite crochet projects of 2010, it's quick, easy, inexpensive, versatile, and very rewarding.This is much faster than crocheting an entire afghan. These blankets can be made with only very simple stitches such as: a chain stitch and single crochet, or can be made with more complicated stitches such as: double crochet, half double crochet, triple crochet, ect., all depending on which edge you chose to put on. I have found that I can get 2 blankets out of 24-36in of fleece, you can find this as a remnant at your local Joann's or fabric store. Joann's puts fleece on sale frequently, but regularly it costs about 7.99-13.99per yard. Because many fabric stores have lots of variety it's easy to find cute baby boy or girl fleece. Also you can easily alter you pattern from a straight edge to a scallop to a picot to your heart desire. Though no matter what you do it will look adorable. :)

To start your blanket you need to cut your fleece to size, cut slits. I do my slits about 3/4in away from the edge. The first blanket I did, I used a Crop-o-dile (which is a heavy duty hand punch.) Unfortunately I punched my holes too close together and too close to the edge so when I start to crochet the fabric stretched and tore. I had to start over by cutting off the edge and repunching. This method is tedious and uneven. If however you still want hand punch all the way around your blanket you should punch at least 3/4" away from the edge and punch your holes at least 3/4" apart. So not long after I obtained an "Original Skip-Stitch^® Blade" which can be purchased at http://www.skipstitch.com/products--orders.html. 

Hook G or H
Rnd 1
Insert your hook into a hole (make sure the right side is facing you) (sc 1, ch 1,) in each hole make sure you don't miss any. (Note: the edge of your fleece should fold back so that the bases of your single crochets are a little more 1/4")  On the corners (sc 1, ch 1) 3 times in the corner hole, (you may want to round the corner of the fleece with a pair of scissors.) When you reach your first st, sl st in it.

Rnd 2+
This is totally up to you. :)
The flowered blanket above has a rnd of dcs (with 3 dcs in the corner) and a rnd like this (sk 1, dc 5, sk 1,   sl st 1,)

 

Rnd 2

For this one it's just double crochet (with 3 dcs in the corners) and the sl st in 1st dc

Multiple colors is another fun option 
Rnd 2
Dc all the way around (with 3 dcs in the corners) Sl st in 1st dc
Rnd 3
Switch to red yarn, dc all the way around (with 3 dcs in the corners) Sl st in 1st dc
Rnd 4
(Sc, sl st, ch 5, sl st in the same st) all the way around, sl st in 1st sc

Aren't the little firemen cute. :)

Another option is "Dolly and Me" blankets

Here is the mini scallop for the doll blanket
Rnd 2
Sc all the way around, (sc 3 in the corners) sl st in 1st sc
Rnd 3
[Ch 2, (dc 1, hdc 1) in the next st, sl st] all the way around,

This is the same as the Flower blanket above.

 Have fun creating you own edge designs too! I would love to see them. :)