I finished my hair stuff crochet basket. I would share the pattern but I kind of just made it up as I went, lol.
Crochet
This Week’s Progress
Lots of projects started recently, so, how about an update?
I started to read a Quilting for Dummies book and decided to try a simple traditional quilt block since all of my quilt tops have been basic variations of the jelly roll quilt.
This is my first attempt at a Double Nine Patch quilt block. I know the materials don’t match a traditional color set up, this was just practice. I might quilt this by itself and use it as a table mat on my night stand or something.
This will eventually be a blanket for Mini’s bed. He chose the verigated yarn. The pattern will be 8 rows verigated, 8 gray, 8 verigated, 8 aqua, 8 verigated, 8 light gray, 8 verigated, 8 light blue.
And my final project this week….
This is my first basket style crochet project. When it is finished I will be using it to hold my hair accessories. Hopefully the finished product matches what I am trying to do, lol.
Temperature Blanket
This is the idea picture for the temperature blanket. I am going to tweak the colors and temperature ranges a bit to fit the climate in my area, though. I will probably use this post to keep updates going on the blanket. I like the idea of doing it with the shells so it is not as boring, plus, at least to me, shells are a bit easier to work than just straight stitches.
A variation I saw also adds an additional row on days something important happens. One example I saw, a woman started one on the day her grand daughter was born, starting with a pink row to symbolize the birth, then adding an additional row on milestone days, such as first word, first tooth, first holiday, etc. She gave it to her daughter on her grand daughter’s first birthday to commemorate the child’s first year. I think adding that is a great variation to this blanket. I am not sure if I will be adding a special occasion row or not, but we will see.
So, the temperature ranges I will be using are:
Under 39 degrees F will be white
40-49 degrees F will be red
50-59 Degrees F will be black
60-69 degrees F will be purple
70-79 degrees F will be blue
80-89 degrees F will be orange
90-99 degrees F will be green
Over 100 degrees F will be yellow.
I will be starting this today once we hit our high for the day. I challenge everyone to make one of these. I can’t wait to see how they all look at the end of the year!
Projects to Start The New Year
Some of the projects I am working on as this new year begins.
For Christmas I got some fat quarter packs from my Mother for quilting as well as a new rotary cutting tool and mat, so, one of the first projects I have for the new year is a quilted scarf using those quarters. I am not exactly sure what pattern I will be using, but I want to do something different, so probably something with triangles.
I am also working on a purple and white square afghan done in rounds. This is a project I started a while ago and put down. I don’t even remember what stitch I was using. It looks like a half-double-crochet so that is what I am going with, using a 5mm hook.
Another idea I saw that I think will be really cook is one I challenged my mom and one of her best friends to do along with me. It is a temperature blanket where you do a row a day with the color based on the high temperature that day. I need to figure out the colors I want to use and the temperature ranges for each color.
I also have a circle afghan I am working on in shades of purple, including a verigated pallet. This one will probably be the one I do not work on to much.
I am also working on a My Little Pony; Friendship Is Magic themed quilt. This one will be a jellyroll style quilt. I need to cut the strips for the jellyroll this week. I have 3 fat quarters of MLP material and a few fat quarters to represent each of the main ponies. I am not sure how big this quilt will be, it just all depends on how large the material I have will allow me to make it. Since all three people in my family enjoy MLP, I might actually use the material to make a few tablet pouches and computer pouches for everyone instead of a blanket.
What is everyone else working on as the new year begins?
2015 Crafting Projects
A new year is drawing closer and I have started figuring out what my goals will be craft-wise.
First will be a crochet afghan for my dear friend A’s son for his Bar Mitzvah. I am searching for the perfect pattern and yarn for it.
I also would like to begin one for Mini for his birthday in October. Those are my two big crochet projects for this year.
Small projects include building up a stash of scarves, hot pads, coasters, and other small items to give as gifts as needed during the year.
Other projects I have planned include a queen size quilt. I found a quilt-as-you-go double wedding ring tutorial that I am going to use, I just need to find the right curve template online and the fabric I want to use. That’s my big personal project.
Of course, I will be making different jelly roll tops to build up a stash of those as well for gifts during the year.
As far as small quilting projects go I want to build up a stash of hot pads, pot holders, coasters, throw pillow tops, and holiday decoration tops.
It’s going to be a busy year craft wise. But a fun year none the less!
More Christmas Crafts!!
This is the scarf I made for Mini’s home room teacher. It’s a 1 skein, 90 minute scarf using an 8mm (L11) hook and loose tension so the scarf feels very comfy just folding it.
This is the afghan I am making for Cowboy’s parents. I am not sure how big it will end up being but it is getting there. I’m going to cut down the pattern, so 2 maroon 1 white for a few rounds, then maybe do 2 rounds of 1 round of each color to end it. All I know is I want to end it with white.
Well, back to crafting and wrapping!
Today’s projects
Today, I am going to be working on some more Holiday crafting again. Hopefully I can get some actual progress done.
The first project I’m working on today is this:
I have been working on this one for a while. It’s a maroon and off white square afghan done in never-ending rounds. Four rounds of maroon, two rounds of off white.
This is going to be a gift for my in-laws for Christmas. I don’t have a goal size in mind, probably just how large my yarn supply will allow.
I also need to begin to cut and stitch the quilted tree ornaments I am going to put in my Christmas cards this year, plus start a few Jelly Roll quilts. I think I’m making Mini’s Alpha teacher a Christmas lap quilt for Christmas as well.
Also some scarves for other teachers will be worked on and some other odds and ends.
Crafting Project Organization…
So, how do you keep your different crafting projects organized? At any given time, I have about 3 or 4 different projects going, between crochet and needlepoint. I was trying to think of a good way to organize them all so things don’t get lost or, in the case of the crochet, I don’t forget the hook I am using.
About 6 months ago or so I mentioned this to my Mom, thinking she might have an idea, since she always had multiple projects going when I was growing up. Two weeks later, I get a package from Mom. She sent me a bunch of Post-It-Note reusable tote bag things, and a ShopRite reusable shopping bag. I had a few reusable shopping bags in different sizes already. They are perfect for holding everything needed for different projects! Why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Right now, I have the crochet afghan I am making for my bed to match our summer quilt in one of the larger Post-It-Note bags. It is large enough to hold the afghan and 10 different skeins of yarn! Plus, if the hook falls out of the afghan, it does not get lost.
The second Post-It-Note bag has the maroon and off white yarn for another afghan. I am not too sure yet the pattern I am going to use or the hook size, but the yarn is all in one place when I do decide these things.
I am using the ShopRite bag to hold all the stuff for my holiday crocheting I have already started. I am making lots of scarves, some dish cloths and towels, a few bar soap pouches, and some other things. These are all one skein projects that use the same hook.
In some of my smaller pouches are embroidery hoops with the thread and needles needed for them. For these, I have a zippered pencil case that goes from one to the other with a thimble, snippers, small roll of masking tape, and other odds and ends needed for needle point.
All of these bags are awesome! They are a great way to organize projects. Whenever I want to work on one or have an extra spare hour that I can use to craft, I can just grab one of the bags and have everything I need!
Once again, my mom comes to the rescue with project organization! Thank you, Mom!!
Bar soap bath pouch
I was thinking about what to do yesterday for a quick and easy little crochet project and came up with a pouch for bars of soap that also double as a wash cloth.
I used an “L” hook and two colors of yarn, but you can use any hook and any type/color of yarn you have around. This is a good way to use up those little bits of yarn that are not long enough to really do anything else with.
This is my first time writing a pattern of my own, but here goes:
Chain 32
DC in 3rd ch from hook, DC in each st across (30 DC) Ch 2 and turn
DC in every stitch (30 Dc) Change yarn CH 2 and turn
DC in every st (30 DC) ch 2 and turn
2 more rows of 30 DC in second color. Change yarn, ch2 and turn
3 Rows of 30 DC in original color. Do not tie off.
Fold in half so the stripe is vertical and the fold is the bottom short side.
SC the first side seam with 15 SC (put the hook in all four loops of each stitch) (15 seam SC)
Slip Stitch across the bottom
Seam the second long side the same way you did the first, a SC stitch through all stitches along this side (15 SC seam stitches) Finish off and weave in ends. Add a bar of soap and there you go!
I used green for the stripe since this one is for Big J’s bar of Irish Spring. I will make a pink stripe for my bar of body soap in a bit.
I used both yarns to make the seam stitches to add strength. You can also add a round of SC around the top if you like to give it a more finished look.
Enjoy!
Quick and Easy bath mitt and washcloth
I was a little bored the other night and wanted to figure out something to do with all those half skeins of yarn I have left over in my yarn bin from other projects, so I decided to troll the Red Heart patterns online. I found a few that are easy and quick, all of which take under one skein.
After reading through the instructions, I decided to make a few things to donate to the local women’s shelter.
I made a few regular shaped wash clothes and some bath mitts.
After I dropped them off with a friend of mine who works at the shelter, I decided to make myself one. In total, I made a dozen washcloths and 5 mitts for the shelter, and 2 cloths and a mitt for myself.
Here is a pic of the mitt I made for myself. All of the things I made that night took a total of 3 left over skeins (each only about 1/4 of a skein), the mitt is a mix of DC and SC, the cloths are all sc. I will post a pic of the cloths I made for myself in a little bit. Happy hooking! 
Country Yankee 