African Flower progress

Thirty two flowers and counting. So far I have used 8 colors and will be making 5 flowers per color but I am thinking that I may need 7 (or more) of each color to make the size lapghan that I am looking for.



I am using my stash of Caron Simply Soft ... again no purchases needed. And just look at the results from that which has been sitting around.













Love, love, loving this pattern. I can see that this will be a more then one time use pattern.















I can just imagine being cuddled up in this softness.

Ahhhhh ...

Completed Granny Project

This is one little afghan that you can't lose in a room. It certainly makes its presence known. However, it does speak happy to me and I love happy!

My girlfriend picked out this project. Initially three of us were doing this and we were going to swap squares but there was a marked difference in size so we all did our own.

It was a really neat project and has given me a whole new perspective on the granny square and its variations. I told her that she has to pick out a June project now as she does such a good job in finding fun and satisfying crochet.















AND...no yarn purchases. This was from all yarn lefover from other projects and what I had on hand.

Here's to granny squares in the future!

Cheers and Happiness!

Diamond Duo Scarf

Purple, lavender and off white yarn ...

1. Using Hook Size J and purple yarn chain 11
2. SC in 2nd ch from hook and across, 10 sc, ch1, turn
3. SC in stitch under ch1 and across, 10 sc, ch1, turn
4. Continue for 8 more rows, a total of 10 rows, on last row do not turn but ch 11
5. Repeat rows 2 through 4, until you have 14 "diamonds" made
   Repeat with lavender yarn.
   
   
   Put diamond rows together as shown with off white. When joining the rows together, slip stitch in the back loop of the stitch closest to you and the front loop of the row being joined.
   
   
   Join off white at bottom "point" of first diamond, sc around entire piece with two single crochets at every point, join.
   
   CH2, double crochet in same stitch as joining, DC around with skipping one sc at narrowest part and 2DC at the point, join.
   
   *CH3, skip one dc, sc in next stitch*, continue around, join and finish off.
   
   
   Using up your stash and making many diamond rows would make a lovely blanket or lapghan!

oh well ... another scarf ...

I finished this tonight. It was fun to work up and very easy, now I just have to write out the pattern. I think I would like this made up in a blanket in all kinds of colors ... a great stash buster.

Diamonds in Snow ...

...a crocheted scarf.





Just finished this tonight. I don't think the picture shows it well though. The silver is Patons' Brilliant and has a sparkle to it and the off white is Caron's Simply Soft, so it is very comfortable and, what else ... soft! It is worked in continuous rows around and goes up quickly.



It does curl and so I ironed it with a press cloth and low heat to help it lay out but it still does twist, (much more then what you see here) but I think that adds to it. To keep from twisting, just use one size hook throughout.


This is a great stash buster, using less then a skein of each.

One skein each of Paton's Brilliant and Caron Simply Soft
Hook Sizes F, J, K

Starting with J Hook and Paton's Brilliant

1. ch 11, sc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain across, 10sc ch1, turn



2. sc in same stitch as c1, sc across, 10sc ch1, turn - repeat this for 10 rows - first diamond



3. ch 31, turn, sc in 2nd chain from hook and 9 more, 10 sc, ch1, turn sc in same stitch as ch1, sc across, ch1, turn, repeat this for 10 rows - 2nd diamond



4. repeat row 3 - 3rd diamond



5. ch 114, turn, sc in 2nd chain from hook and 9 more, 10sc, ch1, turn, sc in same stitch as ch1, sc across, ch1, turn ... repeat for 10 rows - 4th diamond



6. Repeat row 3 two more times for 5th and 6th diamonds.



7. Change to F Hook sc around diamonds and in each chain going up one side and then down to where you started with the F Hook, fasten off.



8. With K Hook attach Caron Simply Soft Off White, ch 3, dc in each sc around, sl st to beginning ch 3.




9. 9. Ch3, dc around again, sl st to beginning.



10. 10. Repeat row 9, st st to beginning ch 3 and fasten off. (Three rows of the off white.)

Crocheted Lined Envelope Styled Pouch

Another stash buster is this little envelope styled pouch. And it is oh so easy! Its actually large enough (8 x 10 inches) to hold a book, some crochet hooks, a skein of yarn for a crochet theme although you could use for anything. Remember that I'm stash busting right now so I just grabbed the next yarn in the pack and on hand fabric, but with a very pretty yarn, say a silvery with a satin lining would make a wonderful package to contain a camisole or slip tucked inside! Add emblishments to the outside ... buttons, jewlery, crocheted motifs, or embroidery.

With J hook, ch 31, sc in 2nd chain from hook and across (31 stitches), ch 1, turn

SC in each stich across, ch 1 turn ... continue for 58 rows, place a marker at this point, then continue to work even for another 5 more rows.

On next row decrease one sc at the beginning of the row and one at the end of the row, ch 1 turn,

continue with this to last two stitches

Now sc around entire piece.

Cut a piece of fabric for lining a little bit bigger then your flat crocheted envelope, draw a line around the crocheted envelope to mark the lining

Fold the lining using your marked line as a guide and iron down, place on crocheted piece and sew in place.

Fold the bottom to point of marker, with contrasting color single crochet from bottom (going through both now front and back stitches and then around flap and continue down the other side through both front and back sc's. Fasten off. Put a row of single crochets across the inside edge to finsh off, weave in all ends. Fill with your items and you're finished.

On a smaller scale these would make wonderful "place cards". Embroidering a name, lining with fabric to reflect the holiday or occasion, filling with a lottery ticket, candy kisses, mints, and a little ornament or trinket these would look adorable on a doily covered plate.

Loop Motif

Size J Hook

Small amount of yarn

Ch 6, join

1. Ch 3, dc in ring, ch 2, *2dc, 2ch* in ring for 8 ch 2 spaces and 16 dc, join.

2. Ch 8, skip 2dc, sc in next dc, repeat around, join.

3. *Ch 8, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc,* repeat around, ch 8, join.

4. Sl st into loop, ch3, 1dc, 1tr, 2dc in loop, sc in sc, *2dc, 1tr, 2dc in loop, sc in sc, repeataround, st st into lst sc.

5. *Ch 5, sc in tr, ch 5, sc in sc*, repeat around, join in lst sc, fasten off.

Round About Motif

And this is my first motif ... Round About or Little Round About. Make a nice sets of coasters or use to embellish clothing, bags, purses ...

I used a size J hook on these, however, you can use whatever you would like. I also will be trying in thread , I think these would look very pretty as an embellishment to a garment. They take a small amount of yarn - great for stash busting!

Ch 8, join to lst chain.

1. Ch 3, 23 dc in loop, join to top of ch 3; 24 dc.

2. *ch 3, skip 1 stitch, dc in next stitch* around, join in list sc.
3. Slip st into first loop, *ch3, skip 1 st, sc in next st* around, join 1st sc.

(stop here for the little round about)

4. Slip st into loop, ch3, 2 dc in same loop, *sc in sc, ch3, 3dc in loop* around, sc, fasten off.

Crocheted Neck Cozy

This is my first attempt at creating my own pattern and although its quite simple, I am pleased with the results.

I wanted a neck cozy that would stay in place but didn't want to have to deal with buttons or to have to pull over the head, warm but not bulky.

Its wide enough to turn the collared part up for additional warmth and protection.



I hope the instructions are clear as this hasn't been tested. Please let me know if you find a problem with this pattern.













Pattern :

• Hook sizes = J and G

• 3.5 oz worsted weight yarn,a main color and a small amount of contrasting color (if not using a contrasting yarn then 4 oz of the main color).
  
• 1. With J hook chain 25, sc in first chain from hook and across, 24 sc, ch1, turn
• 2. sc in same stitch as ch1, *dc in next stitch, sc in next stitch,* repeat across ending with a dc, ch1, turn.
  
  Repeat row 2 till you have reached 27 inches,
  
• then sc in same stitch as ch1, continue with the dc, sc, repeat for 8 stitches,chain 8, skip 8 stitches, continue dc, sc repeat to end of row (last 8 stitches)ending with dc, ch1, turn
• Repeat row 2 until you have total length of 32 inches.
  
• Finish off main color, attach constrasting yarn, ch1, sc, ch3, skip one stitch and sc in next,*ch3, skip one stitch, sc in next st*, repeat around, slip stitch to beginning sc and fasten off.
  
• Using G Hook, fasten main color to side stitch on opening pass through, ch1, sc, sc around for 26 singles crochets, join with slip stitch and fasten off.

Putting this row of single crochets will keep the opening from strectching out.

This can be made in an evening and is a great stash buster item.