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

Square 77… What the… ??????

Uh, oh!! Looks like my Project 101 just became Project 100.

With no instructions on WHERE inside this puzzle to go, this is what I ended up with for Square 77. And I followed the pattern to the letter!!

I can clearly see the design developing. Half the stitches are where they are supposed to be. Just don’t see how to fix the bottom half.

There is a middle circle in there somewhere. Just have to find it. Back to the drawing board. Rip it!!

51 Crochet Squares Completed

These latest crochet squares are some of the ones I passed over 6 months ago as being too tough. Long Double Crochet. Puff stitches. Double Triple Crochet.

Well, I can now do them without looking at the book. My learning curve just inched up a bit.

And I have reached a milestone. 51 squares done!! (50 to go)

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Square 54

• turquoise & aqua
• measures 7 1/2″
• hook G

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Square 59

• dusty rose & wine
• measures 6″
• hook G
• cluster stitches
• added extra row of single crochet around edges

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Square 63

• dusty rose & wine
• measures 5 1/2″
• hook G
• added 2 extra single crochet rows around edges

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Square 67 – Trees and Bells

• pink, white & forest green
• measures 8″
• hook G
• cluster stitch and double triple crochet

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Square 71

• dusty rose & wine
• measures 4 1/4″
• hook G
• Rounds 3 & 4: replaced trc’s with dc’s.

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Square 72

• pink, white & forest green
• measures 7 1/4″
• hook G
• long double crochet stitch

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Square 82

• cream, navy & dusty blue
• measures 7 1/4″
• hook G
• large puff stitch, cluster stitch

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Square 88

• aqua, mustard & white
• measures 4 1/4″
• hook G
• puff stitch
• added extra row of single crochet around edges

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Squares are being made from patterns in the book, 101 Crochet Squares by Jean Leinhauser.

Yarn used for the above squares:

• Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice
• Loops & Threads, Impeccable (aqua)
• Patons wool (turquoise)
• Caron (forest green)

Trumpet, Butterfly and the Perfect Square

3 more crochet squares finished from the book, 101 Crochet Squares by Jean Leinhauser.

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Square 5 – Trumpet

I have to confess. I didn’t even know what a trumpet was. Until making this square. It is supposed to stick up high, I guess, but I like it better pushed down.

Didn’t care much for how the flower petals were made though. Looked a mess as I was making it. Kept getting confused into which stitch to stick the hook.

And of course, I made changes. I added an extra round of double crochet stitches to the square. The flower takes up a lot of the square space so I wanted it bigger. It looks so much better.

Also added a “center” to the trumpet. Was too plain. I love this square!! I will probably use pattern to make more squares but not the flower or trumpet.

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Square 6 – Butterfly

How cute is this!!

Another square that I like.

The only change I made was to the butterfly. I added a finishing row of single crochet stitches along the top. The butterfly is kind of huge. If I make it again, I’ll use a smaller hook size.

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Square 9 – My Favorite

So far, this square is now my New Favorite. It is petite, easy to make even with all the color changes. I LOVE IT!! And will definitely make something from it. With G hook, it makes up as 4″.

Project 101: Picking Up Where I Left Off

Can you believe it’s been 6 months? Time flies when having fun.

OK, time to get back to working on this project. Called Project 101 since there are 101 crochet squares in my book. The name of the book is 101 Crochet Squares by Jean Leinhauser.

Here’s Square 1. A giant pansy in the center of the square.

I didn’t think I would like the pansy. It looked odd. But I just wanted to get a square done and crossed off my list. I love it!! It came out so pretty.

Of course, I did a bit of changing. Altered the pattern. The center (gold color) was so deep you couldn’t see it. So I made a separate circle of single crochet, sewed it on top and added a picot stitch around it. I used light blue yarn for the flower, trimmed in navy. The square is white, trimmed in navy. Square measures 8 3/4″ by 8 3/4″.

Yarn used:

• White-Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice, acrylic
• Light blue-Red Heart, acrylic
• Navy-Red Heart, acrylic
• Mustard-Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice, acrylic

Hook H

Now I have to decide which square to make next.

Crochet Squares 23 & 24

Monday, June 1

Finished these a week ago but just getting them posted. Squares 23 and 24. That makes 20 total squares finished. Still a ways to go but am feeling confident that I will make it to 100 or 101 IF I finish the Bear Square. Eventually.

No problems with the directions for either. I like them and will probably make them again. It is getting harder and harder trying to decide which ones not to make into something. So far, there’s only a couple on the Do Not Make Again list.

Square 23
This one has the special Cluster Stitch in the center and also in the corners.

I didn’t take many photos. Each round was basically the same, just getting bigger. Here’s the finished square.

And Square 24. Tiny, quick to make. No special stitches. This one I will definitely make more of and make into something.

It’s been several days since I made any new squares. Maybe will do one or two today. Got squares on the brain. 😀

Yarn used:
Square 23-Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton in Cornflower Blue.
Square 24-Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton in Cornflower Blue & Cream.

Measurements:
Square 23-6″
Square 24-4″

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Don’t forget to check out my Tracker and see how I am tracking those squares done and the ones left to do.

https://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/project-101/

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.

Square 70 (4th of July)

Thursday, May 28

This square shouts the 4th of July or any occasion requiring R/W/B. I like it and will probably make more. I am thinking a purse would be cute lined with red, white and blue material.

It starts off looking like a wheel from a covered wagon.

Not too many color changes for this square.

And done!! No special stitches. Just the usual.

After making this, I found the “true” blue color usually used with red and white. From Lion Brand. If I make more squares, I’ll use their navy yarn instead of Sugar ‘n Cream’s navy.

Yarn used:
Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton in Red, Soft Ecru and Bright Navy.

Measures 6 1/2″

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.

Square 26

Thursday, May 28

Looking at this square, you would probably think all went well, since it looks OK. Nothing could be further from the truth. THIS square gave me fits!!

I couldn’t figure out how to match up my stitching with the pattern instructions. I know there was a mistake somewhere (on my part or on the instructions part, not sure). I am still a newbie crocheter so it took awhile to figure out where I went wrong and how to correct it. Ripped the offending row out and started over.

Here’s where I got stumped, in case you make this square. You start off with 24 single crochets (in blue) and instructions next say to make a cluster (in white) in the next SC, 12 times. Hey!! That leaves 12 SC, right!! RIP IT. Started over, proceeded with “skip a SC” to complete this row. Somehow, still ended up with no where to put the last cluster. I jammed it in anyway. If you look close, you will see my jammin’.

No photos to show you for the next yellow round. No problems with it.

And here I am, headed to the finish.

I like the pattern and the colors. I used the same colors as the book. I may even make more squares and make up something.

Yarn used:
Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton in Soft Ecru, Hot Blue and Sunshine (yellow).

Measures 5 1/2″.

Special stitch used: Cluster

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.

Square 99 (Bear Face)

Wednesday, May 27

A bear face square?? Cute but…

This will probably be the only square in my 101 Crochet Squares book that I won’t complete. Not that I don’t like it. I LOVE IT!! But unless I make about 49 more, what will I do with it.

So… here’s my solution. Make the bear faces and put them on other things. Like this little girl’s purse I created just to put this on.

I have 2 more faces started. They all need eyes and a mouth.

I have lots of ideas for these bears. Attach a strand of “something” and make into a necklace. Dangle from a key chain. Put on the front of a hat. Add a bunch together to make a garland. Would look cute hanging on the wall in a child’s room.

Yarn used:
Lion Brand 100% cotton in Espresso (dark brown) & Cloves (medium brown).

Measurements:
Bear, 3 1/4″ not including the ears
Purse, 6″ by 6 1/2″
Strap, 29″ (ch 101 to start)

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.

Square 11

Wednesday, May 27

I like the outcome of this square. Square 11. Even with all the color changes. Pattern instructions were easy to follow.

I did have one problem though. Trying to get the center on all sides to line up with the other double crochets. They tended to dip. I think an extra chain stitch here would have helped. Or maybe a triple crochet. IF I make another one like this, I will make my own changes. But doubt I will, since it did take a bit longer to make than some of the others.

Yarn used:
Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton in Rose Pink and Sage Green.
Lion Brand 100% cotton in Espresso (brown) & Natural.

Measures 6″.

Special stitches used: Cluster stitch

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.