Knit or Go Home

Christmas was a busy time for my poor wrists - I just love to make gifts for people instead of buying them, so I was mighty busy. My biggest undertaking was certainly the blanket for my mom. I had wanted to make her one for a long time and decided Christmas was the right time. I used one of those simple quick-knit afghan pattern books from Michaels, and was very happy with the results. It was made on size 13 circular needles, using 2 strands of the new Simply Soft Heathers in Deep Plum.

The color doesn’t show very accurately in the photo, but it is a beautiful deep purple color. Below is a close up of the detail. It was a total hit. (= Blankets are a lot of work, but surely worth the effort.

The perfect frame finally materialized, and so did the perfect recipient. Remaining one of my favorite crochet ideas, the giant wall doiley is finally framed, and on the wall at my grandma’s - the perfect Christmas present. I’m very happy with it - and it looks much better than when covered with pushpins, as pictured in the earlier post. I’m not generally one to repeat a pattern, but this is just too fun to remain a one-time creation!

So along with crochet ornaments, crochet bookmarks were my presents this season. It was stimulated by my rekindled interest in the Ken Follett novel, “The Pillars of the Earth.” I read it years ago, and felt it was time for a revisit, given that he just wrote a sequel. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. It chronicles the building of a cathedral in 12th century England. Little romance, little violence, lots of architecture. The sequel is equally good as well. But be prepared for a bit of time commitment - both books are on the larger side, hence the need for good bookmarks! I made 2 different types, and here they are:

This version was a complicated pattern, and I didn’t end up following it exacty, but it was a good starting point. If you follow the pattern, I didn’t do the final round, as I felt it was already large enough. I made mine with size 3 crochet thread and a tiny little hook.

Pattern from: Crochet Pattern Central

And the second, and more beloved version, is the “crochet book thong,” as the creator calls it. Made with size 3 crochet thread, a large bead, and three smaller beads, these make quick, elegant gifts.

Pattern from: Crochet Book Thong

Make one up and pick up that great book - the perfect combination!

So this post is a month too late - whoops. But this past Christmas these were my go-to presents - crochet ornaments! I looked all over the web and could only find knitting patterns for ornaments. I love to knit, but when looking for something quick, crochet is the way to go for me. Instead I improvised and made up my own pattern, and have it to share with you.

I used 1-1/2 inch styrofoam balls, covering them with a crochet ball of sorts. The ball is made with Sassy Stripes (a sock-weight yarn) and sparkly Size 3 crochet thread. The crochet piece is made almost to completion, then the ball inserted, and the rest of the piece crocheted closed around the ball. Attach a loop at the end, and hang it up. Simple! Below is the pattern, my first real one. Enjoy! And please contact with any corrections, but I hope the pattern makes sense.

Crochet Ornament Pattern

It was time for an adventure in thread crochet. Other than a simple bookmark, I’d never experimented with the tiny-scale thread crochet, until I saw this doily pattern. It uses size 3 crochet thread instead of the smaller size 10, and a slightly larger hook. Made in black, and in this larger scale, this is far from the doilies of our grandparents. (= I haven’t found the right frame or canvas yet, but this is going to make a great wall hanging. Try it out - and just know that you can block it in the end to even out the tension. This photo shows that process: pin the finished work to a surface (an old cork board in my case) in the shape that you desire, then spray with a water and allow to dry. When the work is removed it will retain the shape you pin it in. This makes your tension inaccuracies much less noticeable.

Pattern from: Crochet Today June/July

I love Halloween - I’m not even sure why, but I just love it! Something about getting to be whatever you want, planning the outfit, the people to dress up with, and how to celebrate it right - especially when you get to celebrate it for multiple nights, multiple parties. Good times, especially with brightly-colored wigs. So to honor the occasion, some crochet Halloween items.

A crochet pumpkin - I love the twisty stem the most. This project is so simple - try it today! Sorry this isn’t the greatest picture.

Pattern from: Craftbits.com

And my favorite, the crochet skull. I’ve already made 3, they take almost no time at all. For felting newbies, be sure you use 100% wool yarn (or other animal fiber) of the felting won’t work and you’ll just have a goofy looking skull. Then just toss them in a pillow case in a washer full of jeans, and you’ve got yourself a felted skull the make your Halloween spooooooky. Have fun!

Pattern from: LionBrand.com (you may have to register to view)

As a San Diego resident, things are a bit crazy right now - so many people have evacuated, so many have lost homes, and so many are left to worry.  I’m safe so far where I live, but my heart goes out to those displaced and endangered by these insane fires.  Stay safe.

Updates: www.sdcountyemergency.com

This is a favorite idea of mine - well, not my idea, but favorite idea I’ve seen. It is just so quirky, and I’ve taken the idea and run with it. I already did a knit version and love that one, but I needed a crochet one too of course. Now it adorns my new apartment’s bathroom wall, helping me get to work on time. (= It is made of Sugar ‘n Cream in red, made of bobbles and half-doubles, then black yarn was added around the edges.

The pictures don’t do it justice, but I tried - but take my word, it’s quite cute. My boyfriend is asking for a blue one for his office - I’m just working on a way to make it more masculine.

I used big square buttons mixed with little black ones in place of numbers - just too cute, I can’t stand it!

So my friends and I started meeting once a week - we pick various coffee shops and restaurants, bring our latest knit and crochet projects, and catch up about our weeks. We’ve be doing it for over a month now and I just love it. Who knew 20-somethings could be so crafty! We’ve even become famous at our Starbucks and they give us pastries - yum. We all have our little knit or crochet beverage sleeves (which they teased us about, but I just think they’re jealous) and we just take over for a couple of hours. The catalyst for these meetings was teaching one of my friends to crochet, and teaching her this bag.

It’s called the fat-bottom bag and it is just fantastic. Easy to make, inexpensive, and ultimately stylist. I completed mine and lined it with fabric from my trip to Tanzania, and her’s turned out amazing as well. The handles are easy to find in any craft store, and make this purse a keeper. Try it yourself!

Of course it is from my favorite book, the Happy Hooker. Surprised?

So just a quick post for a quick project: I teach crochet at my local Michael’s Craft Store, and had to do some updated projects to give my demo board a facelift - and what better than to go punk rock with a skull dishcloth - in teal and white, no less. Quick and easy, teaches people how to change colors, and makes any kitchen cooler.

Plus the pattern is from my all-time favorite book, The Happy Hooker. I swear, they should pay me for how much I promote them. (=

It’s pink and tiny and ready to hit the street - if only its wearer could walk…

These baby booties are nothing ordinary - they are designed to look like tiny high-tops and they are oh so cute. The pattern isn’t so easy to understand, but once I figured out how they meant to attach the pieces, these little booties work up quickly. Complete with tiny strewn-about laces, I just love these. And you should know, I’m not the biggest kid or kid thing person, but these are just too good.

Pattern from: Crochet Today (July/August07 issue) - this magazine, by the way, is pretty darn reliable for good patterns - I’m liking it a lot right now.

PS: I swear I still knit, just in a bit of a crochet rut. Plus I feel it is a bit under-represented in the yarn world, so I’m doing my part to give it a boost. (=

So I have to say, I’ve made a lot of the little turtles (and posted one before too), and these are by far my most favorite ever.  It was a bit of a light bulb going off when I came up with the idea.  A friend of mine loved my little turtle and kept asking for his own - I made his, but he’s getting married in a couple of weeks, and I decided his bride-to-be needed one as well.  And what better than to dress them for the occasion - voila!  A cute little couple - they can’t help but make me smile!!!  (=

I made the groom a hat and bowtie from black felt, and the bride has a veil made of sparkly white felt and some white mesh.  Aww. romance!  (=

I sent them in a cute little box through the mail, even though he doesn’t live so far from me because the element of surprise makes them even more exciting.  I got the call that he had received them, and was so excited, they are going to display them at the wedding!  Quite a big display for such a tiny couple.

Pattern for turtles from:  Pattern Central