June – Square Twelve
This square makes me think of the ’90s blue and white country cottage style with things like goose canisters and dishes.
It’s a simple daisy with the basic granny square following. I’ll put the pattern for this out on Ravelry and it will be free for one week! Use the following code to redeem for the free pattern through Tuesday August 12, 2014. FREEDAISYGRANNY
After that the pattern will be $1.50 here:
Filed under For Sale On Ravelry, The Granny Square Project
This is the finished piece I posted about in progress awhile back in Pretty Lace. It’s a very simple lace motif, added to a hair comb with some Swarovski Elements for embellishment. I wore this for the Bridal Show that my Sister over at Vintage Wedding Gems did recently.
There are so many things that can be done to customize this. I can use reclaimed, vintage thread from old doilies, bedspreads or table cloths. I can also make it in new thread in dozens of different colors. It can be added to a clip or button loops instead of a comb. And embellishments are only limited by your imagination!
Filed under Crochet Gems
June – Square Eleven
I really like this square. It turned out very pretty. The 3-d effect is accomplished by working behind every other petal on the flower, and then picking the tip of the flower back up after a few rows to anchor it. I got the pattern for this square here.
If you look at the pictures on Ravelry, you can see how much you can change the look of this pattern by changing not only the colors, but the progression of color changes and even what rows you change the colors on.
I did not follow the pattern’s instruction on when to change colors and I really like how it came out. Also, the pattern is for nine-inch and twelve-inch squares. It provides additional rows for the twelve-inch. Since I only needed seven inches I used a smaller hook. I completed the rounds for a nine-inch square and still needed a little more width. I did not really like what the pattern called for so I just completed two more rounds of half-double crochets.
That reminds me of another note on this square. After the flower is completed, rounds are stitched in half-double crochets. Hdcs are not my favorite stitch. The rhythm of making the stitch just doesn’t flow quite as well as a double-crochet for me. That being said, I really like the look of the hdc rows instead of double-crochets.
Filed under The Granny Square Project
After yesterday’s post, Intimidated I was going through my yarn to find colors for the June and July squares I have planned for the Granny Square Project. I really have got to get caught up on that. (Now that it’s almost August.)
As I was searching through skeins I found one of many unfinished projects in my stash. This Ripple Baby Afghan was one of my early favorites when I first started crocheting as I have mentioned in a previous post; and it gave me a great idea. I can use this pattern for my first parasol! (With thread instead of yarn of course.)
This is an eight-pointed ripple afghan and I think would be perfect to use as a very simple first attempt. I can add a slight modification with rows of open stitches (dc, chain 2, skip 2 sts, dc) in place of the white rows shown here to open the pattern up and highlight the ripple effect.
Once I get this one done, I think I’ll have more confidence to try something like this beauty.
But first I have got to get caught up on The Granny Square Project! Once I finish the total of 4 squares for June and July I will start right up on this lovely. I really hope it works as I’m expecting it to. Very excited!
Filed under Crochet Gems, Wedding
There aren’t very many things that intimidate me in crochet, but two of them seem to go together.
I want to crochet a lace parasol. That in and of itself doesn’t intimidate me. I think what makes me shy away is the time. You see, what does intimidate me is crochet instructions that come in the form of a diagram rather than written instructions. 
I have never attempted to make anything from a diagram before. I know a lot of people can only crochet from a diagram, and not from written instructions. I am not one of them. This just looks very scary to me. I feel like I would get lost so quickly here.
And for some reason most of the patterns I’ve been able to find for crocheted parasols come in the form of diagrams. Of course. As I understand it, a written pattern for an eight sided doily can be used for a parasol, but there is also some modification that will likely have to be done, including continuing after the doily pattern has finished to fill the whole umbrella frame. This leaves some designing work to be done. And I’m not really afraid of that so much as I previously mentioned, as the time. I’m concerned that I’ll have a hard time making sure I have enough (or not too many) stitches so that they parasol will open and be sufficiently stretched out to be flat but not too loose or too tight because you have to increase with each round as the diameter gets bigger. This could require a lot of frogging and reworking, taking up precious time.
I’ll figure something out and get one made eventually.
Filed under Crochet Gems, Wedding
May – Square Ten
Here is another great square using the yarn I mentioned previously from my Grandmother’s stash. It was a bit difficult to work with. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s a wool blend, or due to it’s age, but I often had a hard time catching the yarn with my hook.
I found the neat pattern for this stand-out star here. The effect is created with Front Post Double Crochet stitches. I modified the edging a little to stay within my 7 inches. My star doesn’t stand out quite as well and I think that is also due to the yarn I used and it’s weight and age.
Filed under The Granny Square Project
I made this awhile back and just haven’t gotten around to getting it listed to sell on Etsy until now.
This beautiful Newborn Cocoon and Beanie is great for those newborn photo shoots! It is made from a luxuriously soft bamboo yarn. I just love working with this stuff but it is super expensive.
Only one available! Buy it here!
Filed under Baby, For Sale on Etsy
Just a quick post here. Here is the latest piece I’m working on. It’s a bit of pretty lace. I didn’t design this one, just using the pattern. It’s not washed or blocked yet, let alone even finished but it should come out very pretty.
I’m also working on a modification to the crocheted tape I posted. It’s soaking in starch right now, so hopefully in a day or two I should have a neat surprise.
Filed under Crochet Gems
It’s not very often that I make something for myself. But I took a break over the last couple of days and did just that. I saw a pin on Pinterest for a pattern in a UK crochet magazine that was an idea I could really use. 
I like to use cotton rounds to clean my face with astringent.
Even at 35 (Oops. There it is.) it’s still the only way I feel like I’ve gotten the dirt and oil off my skin. I fell in love with cotton rounds instead of cotton balls when I found them. But I’m constantly buying new and throwing them away. These rounds are also made of cotton, but are reusable. I tried them out already and they work great. The pin I saw on these looked like it was just one round but that seemed too small to me, so I did a second round of single crochet. But after using them I think the single round (I did treble crochets) would work fine.
1.5 – 2 inches wide
Round 1: In a magic ring, ch 3, treble crochet 19, join with sl st in beg ch 3. Tighten the magic ring until the center hole is about the size of a pencil.
Optional Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st and in each around, join with sl st in first sc. Finish off.
Chain 35, sl st in 5th ch from hook and in each across to beg chain, 9 sc in beg ch. Finish off.
Weave all yarn ends. Wash prior to use according to yarn label. Thread the rounds onto the rope and hang near your bathroom sink.
Filed under Patterns
It’s not often that I get a crocheted gift from someone else. But my friend Kay from church brought me these two lovely pot holders yesterday. This is absolutely perfect because I had just been thinking I needed to make myself a pot holder to keep at work for when I microwave my lunch and carry it back to my desk (which is more often than not.) So now I don’t have to, and I’ll think of her every time I warm up a lunch at work. Plus, I have two so if one gets soiled I can take it home to wash and still have another to use. And have I ever mentioned how much I love variegated yarn? Finally, it doesn’t hurt that all colors bluish-green (teal, turquoise etc) are my favorite!
Filed under Gifts
Stitched In Love Crocheting 