Crocheted Scrap Blanket

Today I want to share the blanket I just made entirely from scraps of yarn that I had.  I don't know about you, but I'm just an average crocheter.  By that I mean that I'm extremely slow and I only make a few projects each year, usually in the winter because I like to have that nice warm yarn in my lap.  Otherwise I just whip up blankets during the year as needed for anyone I know who is having a baby.

Last November I happened to take a look at the shit show of leftover yarn I had stashed behind my easy chair in the front room.   I had dozens and dozens of balls of different colored yarn, in various sizes.  I had anywhere from almost full skeins of yarn, down to small balls the size of a golf ball.  They were stacked up in totes and small bags and they were getting out of control.  One night I had a brainy idea -  I'd take the scraps and use them to make a blanket.

I started by using a "P" size hook and grabbed 3 random colors of yarn.  I chained 120 stitches and then just started single crocheting row after row.  Any time a strand of yarn ran out, I reached down, grabbed a new color, tied it on, and kept going.  Since all the balls of yarn were different lengths, the yarn colors would run out at different times, so there was always new color combinations going on.  I liked that because I get bored easily so I was always excited to add in a new color.

I just kept crocheting row after row until it got almost as long as I wanted, and then I began to crochet around the entire blanket until I had added a few rows all the way around.

I liked the contrast of the lines running around the outside of the blanket...

So there it is - the perfect yarn busting project.  I did a couple of rows almost every night while watching TV, so this took me about 8 weeks to finish.  See, I told you I was slow!  This blanket will probably get taken down to the lake house and put at the end of one of the beds.   And believe it or not, I still have a few more balls of left over yarn.  Looks like another project for next year maybe.

Linking up with....
DIY Sunday's Feb 7, 2015
Simple Saturday's Feb. 7
Thoughts from Home # 45
Catch as Catch Can 199
Craft Frenzy Friday # 77

Party in Your PJ's # 41

Vintage Inspiration Party # 175

Chevron Infinity Scarf

Astri over at Apple Blossom Dreams is total inspiration when it comes to crochet.  She makes the most fabulous things, with the prettiest color combinations ever.  I am always in awe of her talent.

One of the things I like best about her blog is that she takes the time to post great pictures and tutorials, especially for those of us who are crochet challenged.  Like me! 

In December Astri shared a tutorial for a chevron infinity scarf that I fell in love with.  I had never even tried a ripple pattern, but her photos were so clear and her tutorial was so well written that I was inspired to give it a try.

I crochet very slowly and it took me almost a month, but here it is....

 

If you'd like the link to her tutorial, here it is.

 

 

Thank you Astri for all your help and encouragement.  Go check out her blog and be inspired!



Crocheted Owl

I wanted to show you the cute little crocheted owl I made for Chablis.  I wish I could share the pattern with you but the woman who had it on her blog has shut it down and now I can't access it.  I couldn't even tell you how I made it if I tried.

I'm sitting and watching the opening ceremonies for The Olympics.  Are you?

Crocheted Washcloths

Have you ever used a crocheted washcloth in the kitchen?  I'll admit I never have.  But my mom recently made me one and I love it!  I am amazed at how nicely it cleans all the pots and dishes and it easily wipes down the countertops.

It's almost too pretty to use, don't you think?

Thanks mom.  You may need to make me a few more of these.....  hint....hint.....

Shhhhh Petey is Taking a Nap

The other day my dachshund did this......

Those are my crochet bags hanging there. Both have yarn in them.  Petey climbed into the larger one and fell asleep.  How cute is that??

My Year of Crochet

Last March I decided that I wanted to teach myself how to crochet.  You can go back and take a look at my initial post about learning here.

Since then, I've been attempting to read patterns and I've made quite a few items for myself or as gifts to others.  Here's a sample of what I've done so far....

Baby beanie....

Hat and cowl set for a friends daughter....

Hat for my nephew....

 Hat for another friend's daughter.......

Toddler beanie.....It's a Christmas present... Shhhhhhh....

Brainwaves beanie for Tony.....  He loves this one!

Poncho and matching hat for me.....

Matching hat and cowl for a good friend.....

Another beanie for Tony....

Cat hat for a friends son who has cancer.....  He told me he will keep it forever.  How cute was that??

Pillow for my chair....

Beanie for Chablis.  I love the sparkly yarn....

Baby blanket.....

Stuffed dragon for the little boy next door....

Leg warmers for Chablis.....

My crochet bag for when we go out of town.....

Definitely one of my favorite things to make is the cowl.  I got the pattern from Aesthetic Nest, which is a blog I follow.  You can see her free pattern here.

The very cool looking Brainwaves beanie is from Liz over at Playin' Hooky Designs.  I love her patterns because she makes the coolest looking things.  And get this - she gives away the Brainwave Beanie pattern for free!!

I've also made quite a few headbands and I'm working on granny squares for a blanket, as well as just a multi-colored blanket, which is going to take me quite some time to finish.  I know my stuff isn't perfect, but I'm happy with my progress and I like to keep my hands busy, so this has become a nice past time for me.  If you're a crocheter, let me know!

Playing Hooky with the Zac Brown Band

I'm writing this post in support of my hooky friend, Liz over at Playin' Hooky Designs.  Liz crochets some of the coolest stuff and designs things that are beyond my imagination.  Liz has been through a lot this year, as her daughter passed away unexpectedly a few months ago.  Liz has bravely carried on and in addition to taking care of a newborn, she is still hookin' and designing.

The other day she came up with a fun plan to get the Zac Brown Band to wear one of her awesome beany's on stage during a concert.  Anyone out there have any connection to the Zac Brown Band that can help us out?  This would be such a thrill for her and would really help raise her spirits.  Below is a copy of a recent post on her blog.....

Hey there! You probably already know all the things my family has been through this summer. If not you can read my other posts about our baby girl, Bryn. This morning I was having an especially hard time. I miss her smile, her voice, and her sparkle more than I could ever possibly explain. All the emotions were getting very overwhelming and I felt like I was going in slow motion. But then someone on my Facebook page suggested that I send my beanie to the Zac Brown Band. They thought it'd be perfect and that maybe, just maybe he'd wear it on stage! And for some reason thinking about it gave me a purpose and a reason to smile.

So here I am, starting a full on campaign to see if I can get a response from the band. And here's what you can do to get in on it!

For the Tweeters (...Tweeps?... Twits?...): Check out my original Tweet. Reply to me and @ZacBrownBand telling them that you want to see Zac play some hooky!
https://twitter.com/PlayinHookyHats/status/258244224934375424

For the Facebookers: Post on the band's wall OR comment on my post to let them know what you think!
https://www.facebook.com/zacbrownband/posts/360728807348639

To anyone from the band who sees this: Your fans love you and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have even thought about sending a hat. So thanks for being awesome and no matter what happens, I'm now a fan for life!!

To all my fans who join the campaign. Thank you for all of your amazing support. You are one reason that I'm able to smile every day.

So, if anyone can help Liz out, we would sure appreciate it.  Let's make this happen!

Learning to Crochet

I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to learn how to crochet.  I don't know why, it just looked like fun and I am intrigued by granny squares.  I remember my grandma made a granny square blanket for us that we had around the house when I was a kid and I want to make one for myself.  My mom can crochet some beautiful stuff, so I'm hoping her talent didn't fall far from the tree and that I'll be able to do it half as good as she does.

So first I got a book out of the library "Crocheting for Dummies."

It's a pretty good book and I ended up making that my one purchase so far this month.

I spent the entire month of February practicing the basic stitches.  I'd crochet a couple of rows, rip them out, and do them again.  I made a washcloth and a headband, and then started a scarf, but it's looking pretty good, so I decided to just keep repeating the pattern until I have a blanket.  It's going to take awhile to finish, but I figure I'll work on it in between some of the more interesting things I want to make.

I got extremely lucky because Anneliese over at "Aesthetic Nest" decided to start a tutorial program on how to crochet.  Her brilliant idea could not have come at a better time for me.  I learn much easier when I can see something being done, and she is doing a written tutorial and some videos.  Genius!  So easy to follow!  You can see her first lesson here and then follow along if you like.  I highly recommend it.

I had pinned a bunch of cool looking projects onto one of my Pinterest boards and one of them was a cowl.  Coincidentally, it was one that Anneliese had posted on her blog along with the instructions.  Chablis happened to see it on my board and fell in love with it and begged me to make it for her.  Since winter is just about over, I thought I'd better get cracking on it, even tho I felt it was beyond my talents at this point.  It wouldn't hurt to try it right?

We went to the store and Chablis picked out some yarn and I sat down and started crocheting.  I got about half way done and realized that it wouldn't be long enough.  I think I still have to work on my gauge.  I compensated for it by just starting out with a longer chain, and in a few hours I had completed the cowl.  Now, I know there are probably some mistakes, but I think it turned out pretty good.  What do you think?

All I know is that Chablis is happy with it, she wore it to school today and 3 different girls commented on it, so I think I am on my way.  I have to say, it's very addicting and I'm enjoying it very much.

Anneliese, keep going with those tutorials, because they are such a huge help!  In the meantime, I'm on my way to the yarn store again....Tony wants a skully cap.