Umbrella Block, Prairie Points and… Still Crocheting

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This week I made quilt blocks. Never tried before blocks. Called the Umbrella Block. So cute. Made them for my quilt group’s Block Lotto. However many blocks you make, that’s how many chances you get to win the pot.

I made six but the first one I made ended up being a tad off the true-up measurement so I am keeping it. These are the ones I sent off (minus the bottom right one) to the quilt block coordinator. I have my fingers and toes crossed that they will come back to me along with any others submitted.

The “flawed” one is up top in the first photo. I have an idea what I will make with it. Something Springy. And I may make up a few more. It really is a cute block and easy to make. Did you see my Prairie Point up in the right top corner of the block? My first. So easy. Just need a fabric square and an iron. 😀

The best part in making this block… except for the white fabric, it was all scraps.

Debra, do you see the fabric scraps you sent me? Yep, used several in both the purple ones and the green ones. Thanks for sending them!!

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What else have I been working on, you ask?

More crocheted hexagons. Using my pattern I posted several days ago, I made this smaller version in purple and apple green. Purple on the top and green on the bottom. Five granny rounds instead of six.

And have a 3rd one almost finished. This is the last of the green wool yarn and since I bought it about three years ago, no way will I be able to match up the dye lot. So… that does it for this project.

I already picked out the yarn for my next crocheted project.

Going to make a handbag and felt it. Delicious looking!! I can already see it. And I have the purse handle picked out, too. Ready to go.

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Remember the red sunbonnet potholder I showed you? Well it is finished and already mailed off to my buyer.

I am thinking it should have arrived by now. Hope she likes it. I am going to make more in a dark peach color. Michaels had some really pretty cotton yarn on sale last week. I got 8 skeins. (Like I needed more yarn!!)

Well, that does it for me. Another crafty week gone by. And March has gone by. Can you believe it!! March will be gone in one more day and I only just got started. I hope this year slows down a bit. Or I will never get even half way through my To-Make List.

How about you?

Are you on track to accomplish the stuff on your To-Do/To-Make list?

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Linking up to:

http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2012/04/wednesdays-wowzers-14.html

http://conniekresin.blogspot.com/p/linky-party-tuesdays.html

http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/2012/04/02/manic-monday-linky-party-31/

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/03/finish-it-up-friday-week-21.html

http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/03/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-feed-sack.html

Pattern To My Hexagon Crocheted Hot Pad Is Finished

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To everyone who posted a comment or e-mailed me inquiring… my hexagon hot pad pattern is hot off the press.

I finally just dropped everything and did it!! Feels great to have it off my back and off my To-Do List.

Sorry it took so long. I couldn’t find my instructions for the ones I made a couple years ago. So I had to start from scratch.

This rust one I made Friday.

And I made the purple one yesterday totally from my pattern. Testing it out. Making sure it all made sense. And it did!!

You can find it here.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96058755/pattern-hexie-granny-crocheted-hot-pad

Sunbonnet Potholder Is Almost Finished. Assembly Today.

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WooHoo!! Almost finished.

The shell edging has been stitched to both sides. 13 shells per side.

The flowers, leaves and hanging tab are done and ready to attach.

Now it comes down to how many flowers. Which colors? And where to place?

Waiting to hear from my buyer. Will post a finished photo once I am done.

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Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat12.htm

Got My Crochet Groove Back!!

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Yay!! For one panicky moment, I thought I had forgotten how to crochet. So glad it all came back. Sunbonnets are made and stitched together.

I made this leaf which I am going to use for the hatband. Now I have to make the flowers.

I have missed crocheting. A lot!! So I spent about 30 minutes yesterday looking at photos of crochet stuff I have saved on my hard drive. These are the ones I wish I could reach out and touch.

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Granny Square Handbag

Stunning… takes my breath away.

http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2012/02/designer-crochet-dolce-gabbana/

And another handbag. This one felted. Wow!! I love this one too.

Don’t have the link to it, unfortunately. 😦

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Crochet Shawls

Lucy, over at Attic24, made this shawl. Gorgeous. I WANT ONE!! (Crystal at Beadhappilyeverafter was making one. Wonder if she finished hers.)

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/japanese-flower-scarf-ta-dah.html

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=17586

I do believe this version is what got the crochet hooks a-hookin’. I like the more colorful versions best.

I like the flowers in this one too. (no link)

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Crochet Pincushion

I am totally smitten by this little pincushion. Saw it on Crystal’s blog.

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=12352

Here it is on Etsy. Going to make one. I guess it will be OK. Doubt anyone can stake claim to the basic Granny Square as their own creation.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88650749/gift-set-linen-pincushion-and-needle

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Crochet Pillow

I love this ripple stitch pillow. A few years ago, I bought several crochet books on the ripple stitch. All different kinds. I would love to make this one day.

I think I first saw this on Lucy’s site. Let me go check.

Yep… 3 years ago. Time sure does fly.

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/04/ripplesome-ripples-cushy-cushions.html

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Crochet Clock

Can’t remember where I saw this. Isn’t it just adorable? Would brighten up any room. Anyone know what crochet stitch this is? I have some old clocks I got dirt cheap at the thrift store. I could do this.

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Crochet Hexagon Afghan

Isn’t this pretty? So colorful. I would make it larger, wider. And not cut off the bottom hexies. I would let the full hexie extend and go with the odd shape. Or use white yarn where the half hexies are cut off.

No link. I just save photos of stuff I like.

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And last….

Crochet Tissue Box Covers

OK, OK, don’t laugh. But I love these. With tissue boxes now gone all super ultra high fashion, no one probably puts them in covers any longer. But I still do. I may have the links to these stored in my Bookmarks. Let me see if I can find them.

Found one.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grannys-tissue-box-cover

Thanks for coming along with me on my Crochet Eye Candy tour. What fun!!

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Dear Crochet,

Now I remember why I loved you so much.

Sincerely,

Donna Wanna Crochet 😀

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Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat12.htm

“So…. You Are Crocheting NOW?”

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This is going to be an interesting month!!

It started off with me getting a bead order. Then I got a crochet order. Then a macrame order.

I think you get the picture with me wishing for an extra pair of hands and trying to switch crafts by the hour. And poor hubby. He is having the hardest time pretending to be interested in what happens in my craft room.

He said yesterday, “So… you are crocheting NOW?” I don’t know if that was a question or what it was. Probably just an observation comment. Well, that is good, isn’t it? That he notices when I switch up crafts.

The beading order was a bit challenging. Sit a spell, try one idea, then another, keep going until you have something pleasing to the eye. The macrame order will be super easy once I get started. The cord is cut and hanging patiently from a hook. I think I can tie knots blindfolded.

But what about the crochet order, you ask?

One word. Awful!! It’s been about 18 months since I crocheted anything.

I didn’t even remember how to make a SLIP KNOT. Now that is bad, bad, bad!! My mind drew a blank. I had to dig out my crochet pattern books and then went off in search of a You Tube video. Something like Crochet For Dummies. 😀 Something geared to the spanking brand new crocheter. After several false starts and four hours later, this is what I managed. Thank goodness yarn is easy to rip out.

Now… if I could just stay awake long enough to finish this. 😀

It is going to be a sunbonnet potholder. Need to make two exactly like this and stitch them together.

Like this one.

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Do you fall asleep when you crochet?

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Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat12.htm

Crochet Beanies and Necklaces: A Week’s Worth

This is what I have been working on for about a week. I meant to post a couple pictures a few days ago but just kept on making stuff.

And I learned two new stitches. Herringbone Half Double Crochet and Crossover.

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Beanies/Caps/Hats with coordinated necklaces.

Made this cute little purse. This is the Herringbone HDC stitch.

Used cotton yarn for everything. Sugar n Cream and Lion Brand.

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Patterns used:

• Flowers, Crochet Bouquet by Suzann Thompson. Page 33, Simple 5  and Page 98, Six-Petal Traditional Rose.
• Yellow hat, 100 Hats by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss. No. 75 on page 143.
• Yellow purse, a mistake turned good. No pattern.
• Other caps, used various stitches to create.

Felting A Purse: The Process

After reading through my books on how to felt in a washing machine, I decided to just do it. I tell ya, I had lots of pause moments. Lots of what if’s.

What if…..

• water isn’t hot enough
• fibers clog up the washing machine
• purse falls apart
• purse shrinks too much
• purse shrinks not enough
• no shrinkage happens AT ALL!!

Well, guess what? I worried for nothing.

The water was REALLY hot. And stayed hot enough for me to run the purse through three washing cycles. I didn’t trust that I would be at the machine right at the moment BEFORE it went into a spin (spinning is a no-no), so I stayed in the laundry room watching it like a hawk.

Instructions said to “look” at purse during the process. So… I stopped the wash cycle several times to look. The first time, I didn’t see any shrinkage at all. 😦 2nd time. A little. 3rd time. Now we were cooking with gas!! Yes!! Finally. The wool fibers were starting to tighten.

I didn’t need to worry at all about fibers clogging up the hose and drain. Since I put the purse in a zippered pillow case.

Here’s the amount of shrinkage. The outline shows the measurements before felting.

Still drying. Stuffed with plastic bags, per the instructions.

I LOVE IT!!!! It can stand up on its own.

If you plan to felt anything in your washing machine, here’s a few things you need to know. Don’t allow the item to go through the spin cycle. Any folds or creases formed will be permanent. Always put the item inside of something to prevent wool fibers from clogging up your washing machine. Put a few other large items in there to assist with the agitation. I put in two pairs of old jeans and a huge dark towel.

Another suggestion: Try it first with an item you won’t be heartbroken if it doesn’t turn out as expected. Not your dream project that you spent months making.

I used Patons Classic Wool that I got at Michaels for half price. Perfect for a 1st felting project.

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Here’s the BEFORE picture. Colors are brown, dark navy-almost black, royal blue, turquoise and beige.

Three Firsts

Nature Shot of a “Red Bird”

I don’t usually take photos of birds. Don’t think I have EVER taken one. But I couldn’t resist seeing as a couple of my friends take beautiful close-ups of animals, birds and flowers.

Hubby called me to come quickly to look out the bathroom window. A pretty Red Bird was staring back at us. He was enjoying the pink blossoms on a tree in our yard. RED stayed put long enough for me to run for my camera.

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Reverse Single Crochet

Learned a new stitch a couple days ago. Reverse Single Crochet (rsc) or crab stitch, as some may call it. I had seen it in patterns before but always skipped right over it for 3 reasons. Didn’t know what it was, didn’t know how to do it and it was always at the end. The last step. Like a border. Figured, what the hay, I was done. But the time had come to just go for it. Learn it. Went to You Tube. Found quite a few on-line demonstrations. Liked this one best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhSbycwfpdo

Here’s what it looks like. Kind of like a rounded spiral. At the top. Finishes it off nicely.

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Felted Purse, The Before Picture

This is how my 1st felted purse looked before the felting process.

You can see the yarn design better in this next picture. I made the purse a bit larger than the pattern called for.

I drew an outline of it so I could easily measure the shrinkage.

Wish me luck. Hope I am pleased with the AFTER picture.

Making Hot Pads To Go With My Chickens

Or they could be table mats, place mats, pot holders, dish cloths…

The chickens can stand alone but I thought they would look nicer sitting on top of something. So, I created these mats. They are double-sided, nice and thick. I played around with the design, had a few flops, but finally got it to match up with the design in my head.

The hot pad is my own design. (Chicken potholder pattern is in Gooseberry Patch, Fun-to-Crochet Gifts book.)

I am calling them Granny Hexie Hot Pads/Table Mats. I used Patons Classic Wool. Ecru and Rich Red.

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Update 2-2-13: Pattern is available for purchase here. Thanks much!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/96058755/pattern-hexie-granny-crocheted-hot-pad

Crochet Hat: Just Finished A Special Order

Have been working on this hat for several days. On and off.

It is a combination of a skull cap and a shell headband from the book 1-2-3 Crochet. Then I put my own special touches to it by adding a contrasting strip above the brim and a coordinated flower.

As you can see, the hat can be worn several ways. And the flower is detachable.

I made this for a friend’s daughter. Hope they both like it!!