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. :)

How to Do a Slip Stitch

Traditionally this stitch is used for connecting rows or rounds, like on the first corner of a granny square or other types of squares. I have also used the slip stitch (abbreviated sl st) as a decorative stitch that went something like this:
Ch desired length +2
Rnd 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc across, turn
Rnd 2: Sl st across, ch 2, turn
Repeat rnd 1-2 until it reaches desired length

How to Do a Double Crochet

The double crochet uses a new method in crocheting that is yarning over before you insert your hook into the stitch, this may seem very odd if you've only been doing single crochets for a long time. Often times I use this stitch in making scarfs or in blankets such as this granny square afghan or this pumpkin colored blanket. This stitch is very useful and is abbreviated "dc" though in Europe it is abbreviated "tr" for treble crochet, but all my patterns are in US format.

How to Do a Single Crochet

The single crochet is the first stitch I ever learned, besides the chain stitch. It is used in many patterns e.g. my mouse finger puppet pattern has many single crochets which are abbreviated sc.

American Girl Doll Matching Hats

This is probably one of my favorite crochet projects yet. It fits the American Girl doll perfectly and turned out so cute. I made a matching kid sized one too. I designed it myself but unfortunately I didn't write down the pattern before I gave it away.

For the base of the hat I used Lion Brand Homespun yarn and then just worsted weight yarn for the flowers.

Mouse Finger Puppet

Colors: Pink and Blue

Hook size: I/9

Ch 10 join to 1^st ch w/ sl st

Rnd 1

Sc 10, don’t join to 1^st st

Rnd 2-6

Repeat rnd 1

Rnd 7a

(ch 1, sc1) 3 times, ch 6, sl st in 1^st ch of rnd 7a

Rnd 7b

You now have loop that will later be the nose, work around this loop. Sc 24, (sc the next 2 st tog, sc 1) 3 times, sc 18, (sc the next 2 st tog) 3 times, switch to pink, join to 1^st w/ st st, sk 1, dc 2 in next st, sk 1, sl st, tie off

Rnd 7c

Start in the 1^st st left of the nose (looking at the front) sc 8, sl st in the side of the nose, ch 1, turn

Rnd 8-10

Sc 8, sl st in the side of the nose, ch 1 tur

Rnd 11

Sc 8, sc over  the top of the nose, don’t join to the 1^st sc of this rnd

Rnd 12

Sc 12, don’t join to 1^st sc

Rnd 13-14

Repeat rnd 12

Rnd 15

(sc the next 2 st tog) 3 times,

Rnd 16

(sc the next 2 st tog) 3 times, sc the next 3 st tog, sk 1, sl st, tie off

Ear (make 2)

Start with pink,

Row 1

Leave 6in tail at the beg (for sewing)

Ch 3, turn, sk 1, dc 5 in next st, turn

Row 2

Switch to blue, ch 1, sc 2 in ea dc, sl st  in row 1, tie off,

Sew ears on

Add wiggly eyes (I didn't want to risk the glue on eyes coming off and I couldn't find sew-on ones small enough, so I took the glue-on ones and poke a pin through the back to turn them into sew-on ones.)

Weave in tails

It also make a cute "Breath Savers" cover :)