A new project for the New Year

(I missed by own blog-aversary. On January 1, 2007 I started my blog and posted my very first project. It's hard to believe that in just one year, I taught myself how to knit and how to sew. Wonder what 2008 has in store for me?)

One thing that I've always wanted to do was make an afghan. My Mom has made baby afghans for her friends grandchildren, baby size afghans for both my girls, and when her and my Dad were first married (and had no $$$) she made afghans to give to both of her sisters for Christmas one year. I've had this book Afghans by the Pound for quite sometime now with (very) good intentions of making an afghan from it. I kept putting it off for one reason or another thinking that it was to big of a project for me. My Mom and I went shopping at JoAnn's last Friday and she purchased yarn to make the (very beautiful) Ocean Waves Throw and I guess that's what kicked this project in gear.

I'm making both of my girls an afghan and if it takes me all year or a month, I will be very happy that I decided to tackle this project. K.'s afghan is the Striped Shells pattern from Afghans by the Pound and being that I've always wanted to make an afghan of granny squares I figured I would make L.'s afghan using the basic granny square pattern from Crochet Today!. Also, I'm working (or trying to) on both afghans at the same time so hopefully I will get them done around the same time. That way it doesn't end up that one girl gets hers and the other has to wait for months or a year to get hers.

A second helping please!

I made two more crocheted pouches this evening. The crocheted part was actually completed a while ago for these two, they have just been sitting there in my yarn basket waiting to be completed. I stitched in the lining and stitched on the buttons for these today.

The yarn for the one I'm calling "Fall Time" because it reminds me of all the beautiful colors of Fall here in Ohio, is yarn that I had dyed using Kool-Aid a while ago. Then the lining was a remnant I found at Walmart (goodness, who knows how long ago).

Then the next one I completed this evening I used some hemp yarn and some fabric that came from my Mom's fabric stash. Button was from who knows where. I think it came from a Ebay "lot" purchase that I got a while ago.

I think I got all the crafting I could get in in one day. I'm exhausted and am ready for bed now.

Crochet Pouch

Today I was working on some crochet while L. colored and played with her puzzles. I made this little red pouch and was going to put different lining in until I remembered that I had a cute little ladybug button that Sabrina gave me and adorable little ladybug fabric to match.

The adorable little ladybug button close up

And then a little shot of the lining which I hand stitched in with red embroidery floss.

Simple Crocheted Flower

As I said before, I've been fumbling around with my yarn lately and came up with this adorable little flower. It would look super cute in a little girls hair or whatever you'd like to use it as. It's really easy.

*~Note:~*

Please feel free to use this pattern for embellishments for items that you sell. Or make a ton of them and sell them. I just ask that if you would like to use my photo on your website that you please be kind enough to ask permission to use my photo and also, please link back to this pattern as a "Thank You!". Thanks!

*~Materials~*
Any small amount of yarn and hook to accomodate yarn.
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Ch5, sl st to first ch, ch2

Round 1: 9 dc into the ring, sl st to the ch2
Round 2: Ch1, *sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc, in same stitch, sl st to next stitch* repeat from * to * around 4 more times. sl st to last stitch, BO and weave in ends.

THAT'S IT! It really easy and really simple and just so cute. If you have any questions about this or need help, you can either email me multicrafty(at)gmail(dot)com or visit CrochetPatternCentral for crochet help.

Knit and crochet

I've been picking up my knitting and crochet again and it feels good too. The nice thing though now is that when I drop a stitch I don't freak out anymore. (I could not for the life of me save a dropped stitch.) I've been toying around and just kinda playing with my yarn and came up with a couple of creations.

The first one is my crocheted flowers, that I just LOVE and are available in my shop. I've made quite a few of these and just need to add the "finishing touches" to them.

I decided to make it a lapel pin just because I thought it would look pretty that way. Besides, what else are you suppose to do with a crocheted flower other than wear it. The red yarn is 100% wool yarn and is really soft. Then just added a little yellow button for a punch of color (like the red wasn't already punching you).

And when I'm not crocheting, I'm knitting. I'm not really a "wallet" type of person. I mean, sure I haaave a wallet, but it's a store bought wallet that has no meaning other than "hey, I need a place to store my stuff". So I was playing around with my knitting, ok, I take that back, I was cleaning out my knitting basket because L. dropped one of her toys in there and came across this abandoned piece of knitting that was just screaming "HEY! Remember me, we had good times didn't we, let's do it again shall we!". So I just sat there (after the babes went to bed) and just came up with this little creation. I actually really like it and it works out just perfect for me. I'm hoping to make a few more (if I can remember the pattern) and put these up in my shop.

I used cotton yarn, and because I knit really loosely, size 6 needles, which the label on the yarn called for size 7. Added a crocheted border, because I can CO, k, p, inc, ssk, yo, k2tog, and BO, but can't for the life of me k2, BO 4, k2 and then in the next row CO those 4 stitches I BO in the previous row. It comes out all funky with this weird piece of yarn that sticks out like a sore thumb. So I added a nice crocheted border and then chained a few stitches to accomodate for the button. Hey, it doesn't matter what road you travel to get there, just as long as you get there.

One Skein Scarf

from the Stitch n Bitch Happy Hooker book. This is going to be a Christmas present for my SIL.

(sorry for the darkness, I guess that's what I get for using black yarn and taking a pic at night in my poorly lited dining room)


(not that you can tell, but a close up of the stitches and shell pattern)

Yummy Scrummy Scarf ~Free Pattern~

Materials:

Size L (8mm) crochet hook

I used about 1/2 skein of Lion Brand Homespun in Cotton Candy but you can use any bulky weight yarn you'd like.

I got these scarfs done in about an hour each. They work up really fast and are really easy.

~Stitches Used: ch, sc, dc~

Scarf:

Ch 151 ( leave a tail about 7" long)

Row 1: sc in the second ch from the hook and across. (150 sts)

Row 2: ch3, dc in the first sc, ch1, skip next stitch, *dc in the next stitch, ch 1, skip next stitch*. Rep from * to * across.

Row 3: ch1, sc in the second stitch from hook, sc in the "hole" left by the ch1 from the previous row below, sc in remaining stitches across.

Row 4: repeat row 2

Row 5: repeat row 3

Row 6: repeat row 2

Row 7: repeat row 3, fasten off, leaving a tail about 5"-7" long, however long you want your fringe to be)

For Fringe:

Cut 14" lengths of the yarn for fringes (Fringes will be folded to 7". Fold each length in half. Pull folded loop through end of scarf and pull ends through loop for fringe. Attach fringe evenly spaced along each end of scarf.

I made this scarf for my oldest daughter so when she plays out in the snow she can wrap it around her face a couple times to stay extra warm. However, you could also use this pattern and make it for an adult. I am 5' 3" and this scarf comes down to my knees including fringe.

~Disclaimer~

This pattern is mine. I am being nice a giving it to you as a fellow crocheter. You MAY keep it for yourself, pass it to your friends, or throw it in the garbage. You MAY also sell the FO that comes from this pattern at a price set by yourself. You MAYNOT sell this pattern because it's life journey is that it wants to remain free! You MAYNOT copy and post this pattern on ANY message board or whatever. Please be so kind to give a little link back to me at http://multicrafty.blogspot.com/. If you have any questions about this pattern (may explaining capabilities are a little sleepy at this time) you may email me at multicrafty at gmail dot com.

Here is the same pattern as up above but using a Size G crochet hook and Bernat Softee Baby in Pink. The scarf above is for my oldest daughter who will be 7 years old shortly and the scarf below is for my youngest daughter who is only 2. You can't tell from the pics but the scarf below is about 1/3 the size of the scarf above. The perfect size for a toddler.

My fat bottom........er!..........bag!

So I finally finished my Fat Bottom Bag from the SNB The Happy Hooker. After getting over the fear of the lining I FINALLY finished it. Hhhhmmmm........it is what 11:38 p.m. better late than never right. Oh well! At least it's finished. I used a size G crochet hook and Sugar 'n Cream Cotton Yarn in Hot Pink.

The lining (which was the worst part) is actually an old receiving blanket we bought for our youngest daughter that she doesnt use anymore. It has little butterflies, flowers, and bumble bees. I just loved the way the blanket matched the yarn................and FREE FABRIC!!!!!!!!!! so what more could I have asked for.

I wanna do what Mommy does!

My 2 year old decided to get into my crochet stuff the other night. I had to rush and grab my camera because she looked SO cute sitting there twisting her hand trying so hard to make that first stitch. In time Lani...........in time! FYI. She was using a size Q crochet hook and Red Hearts worsted weight yarn in case you wanted the pattern for the tangled mess thats on her lap :-). Oh yes and one more thing........she's a leftie just like her mama!