amazing wavy wrap

I've been loving all things fluffy and cozy lately so when I saw this yarn I had to buy it.  It truly is amazing!  Don't you think?

I'm loving variegated yarn right now and found a stitch pattern in a book I got from the library that I thought would have been perfect for a wrap I've been wanting to make.  I think I was right! I used a size N hook so it would have a lacy effect.  I love the result with the big flower brooch.  I think for the brooch I'd like to add a sparkly beaded button to the center.  You know, give it some bling for the holiday's.

I love it so much that I want to make more in other colors, variegated and solid.  Maybe this could be an item for my etsy shop when I finally get over the giant New York state business hurdle.

fluffy fall wrap

I was inspired to create this wrap by some woven versions I saw at a local craft show.  I found a picture of the stitch pattern I liked somewhere on the Internet and tried to figure it out on my own.  Given the type of yarn I used the pattern gets a bit lost but I still like it.

I think I'll try another in a different yarn, something where the stitch will stand out better.

crochet bangle

Nearly every time I leave the house I put on some piece of jewelry.  Now that I have a six month old who loves to grab everything I have to be very careful.  I can live without wearing a necklace and dangling earrings for a little while but I feel naked without the bracelet.  I made one of these so I could still wear something without fear of it grinding into her back when I hold her like some of my favorite cuffs would.  I also just like the look.

I found the yarn at the nearest Joann's (I can't exactly call it my local craft store since there is nothing here).  It's a cotton hemp yarn I found in the clearance section and I loved the color. 

ruffles - crochet edging

I'm crazy about two things lately, ruffles and crochet.  I've been practicing some edging techniques and came up with this ruffled one on my own.  It's super easy and relatively quick.

Supplies:

Plain Dish Towel

1 Ball Size 10 Mercerized Cotton Thread

Size 8 Crochet Hook 
Yarn Needle

Download the pattern here if you like.  Please give me some input since this is my first try at writing a pattern.

burlap projects - part I

Happy Saturday! We are patiently awaiting the arrival of our little one that is due any day now.  Soon, hopefully, I'll be busy learning how to be a good mommy, changing diapers and most importantly holding and loving our new baby.  With that I felt I should share with you one of the projects I recently completed.

Now that our living room is nearing completion it's time for some window treatments.  I whipped up these burlap curtains using a $10.00 roll of burlap from the hardware store.  They needed a good wash and air out but the smell has gone away now.  I still want to do some valances for the windows and for the office nook but I'll get there.

These were super simple to make, just panels with a rod pocket.  I didn't even bother with a hem because I wanted a worn look.  Of course I used crochet flowers to tie them in the center because I have sort of an addiction to crochet flowers.  I'll eventually have them in some form in every room.  The flowers are actually pinned to the curtain in the center with a loop of yarn wrapped around the flower and the curtain.

I have some other burlap projects in mind since I only used a portion of the roll but I'll get to them later, I hope. 

flower cushions and baby blankets

I have to apologize for being absent lately.  We are in the middle of renovations in two rooms so that has kept us pretty busy.

I finally finished my flower cushion so I thought I should share it with you.  I'm so happy with how it turned out that I think I might make a smaller version for the baby's room.

I also finished a little baby blanket for one of the many arrivals due this spring.  Again, I'll most likely make another for the baby's room with a little bit of yellow added.

I have lots of projects to work on for the new living room and 'parlor' so stay tuned for progress.  I hope to be painting walls next week so hopefully it won't be long before you see some of the other projects like making my couch look pretty with some thrift store fabric, some more pillows, closet home office organization and whatever else I think the rooms need.

almost finished projects

I had hoped to share with you a few completed projects.  Well, one is complete anyway.  The others aren't too far off.

I made a version of this for myself last year (minus the flower) and had planned to make one for my niece.  Well, I started it, got a few rounds in and then forgot about it.  Now I think a soft yellow hat just doesn't fit her personality so I finished it smaller than originally planned for the new arrival.  All that's left now is to weave in the ends and attach the flower.  Hopefully there are no surprises ahead.

I started this scarf on vacation and finished it all except for attaching the buttons so that was an easy one to cross off the list.  It really didn't take very long to crochet considering it's nothing more than a few rows of double crochet. 

My most recent project made it to the top of the list after finding this pattern on Ravelry.  I couldn't decide if I wanted the whole front in petals or just the center so I did both.  Clearly I'm not quite finished, all those ends to weave in, but hopefully soon I can show you the finished product.  Now to decide, do I make it reversible or do I stitch up two simple backs and have two pretty cushions?

crochet pillow & love bug

Well, I'm finally starting to cross some of those projects off my list.  For  years now I've been thinking that my house needs pillows, lots and lots of pillows, so here's one for the nursery (I promise I'll get to the rest of the house someday).



I have to admit that I'm sort of a wimp when it comes to crochet, I always stick with the easy patterns.  One day I'll have to take the next step but until then I'll just wing it like I did with this pillow.  I'm a big fan of rows and alternating them with the back loop only.  This one is just that in a half double crochet.  What can I say, I like simple.  All along I thought I would do a shell stitch around the edge but when it came time to do it I wimped out.  The answer?  The picot stitch in, surprise, aqua.  Nice and simple.  Of course now I'll say that the shell stitch would have been too heavy but maybe that's just me making excuses. 

I also couldn't resist trying this little bug in that same aqua color.  This is the first little creature I've tried and I think I might be addicted.  I attached it to a simple little "blankie" of cotton and flannel but I think I'd like to add a little crochet trim to it (perhaps more picot stitch) but at the moment I'm not sure how.  I'll have to do a little research on how to add crochet to fabric like this.  So for now I guess it's on to the next project, which one will it be?