Small Afghan

I originally thought that I'd piece this one together in stripes- with a row of the dark green, a row of the seafoam, and a row of white (repeating), but ultimately decided to go with a diagonal after doing a little math and discovering that with just a couple extra squares, I could make the blanket just a little bit bigger, a little more proportional, that it could work out to be 7x8 instead of 6x9. And since at that point I didn't have enough dark or seafoam greens to make more rows, or widen the rows I had- I went for it.

Baby Hats, Baby Blanket

Silverware Roll

A friend recently asked that I make a silverware roll for them- apparently they could only find them commercially to hold about 5 pieces of silver, and they wanted one that would hold more, for work purposes. When I said that they looked easy enough, he asked for 2, and for them to hold 10 pieces of silver.

So I created a pattern and made one- only to figure out at the last minute that I hadn't allowed enough fabric in my pattern to create a flap to fold over the tops of the silver. And naturally, I had already cut the fabric for the second one, with the faulty pattern, and sewed the pieces together, and ironed it, and everything except create the slots. AUGH! Good thing I had a LOT of this fabric sitting around the apartment. I updated the pattern, and cut again, determined not to make the same mistake.

The second time around, my pattern worked out perfectly. So about a week later, I went ahead and cut the second one, and put it all together. Had a moment where I thought my 50-year-old iron had finally crapped out, but I just turned the plug around in the outlet and that seemed to work (yikes! I'm going to need to get a new iron someday!).

I finished the second roll, only to realize that it only had slots for 9 pieces of silver, and then remember that I had actually added an inch on to the pattern the first time around, but without marking it on the paper or adding paper to the pattern. Why do I do these things? However, I've decided- oh well. So he gets one with 9, and one with 10. Both still more than 5. There's nothing wrong with the pattern, technically, all the important aspects to make it usable are there- the ribbons, the flap, the silver dividers, the other flap- it just holds one less piece than 10.

Most silverware rolls made commercially are just serged around the edges, but I don't have a serger. To make this work out for me, I cut two pieces of fabric, sewed them together, then turned it right-side out and ironed to make the edges crisp. I topstitched around the edges to keep my ironing job in place through washing and use, since a lot of the fabric in the top flap isn't attached to each other any other way. Slot seams were sewn through all thickness, after the fabric was folded up. They are visible from the outside when rolled up, but I used a navy thread that matches the fabric (and they are visible from the outside on the ones that can be bought commercially, so I don't feel so bad about that).

Scrap Squares

A small child's blanket, made from squares of yarn that I had a little bit left over, but not enough to make a large section with that color. Made primarily with pinks and whites, and a couple other colors that I wanted to get rid of from the piles, and to break up some of the monotony from just pink and white. Another for Project Linus, unless otherwise asked for!

Brown Square Afghan

Another granny-square afghan- this one in brown and variegated gold/peach/brown. I had two skeins of the Lion Brand multicolor yarn, and most of a big 1-lb. skein of brown (there was a project a while back that created some leftovers when I needed just a little bit more). I put them next to each other and it looked nice, so I commenced making as many squares as I could- and oddly, was able to make the exact same number out of both yarns (though, 32 total doesn't divide as nicely as 30, the final blanket is 6 squares by 5 squares). I stitched them together with a gold yarn that my grandma had given me a little of, since there wasn't enough brown left, and then edged the whole thing with the multicolor yarn, since there was enough for that.

Count it as another one for Project Linus!

Quilt, In Blue- Complete

This blanket was made entirely from scraps of fabric I had lying around, all with some hint of blue, whether it was a primary color or part of an image, or just a tone in the plaid. For the back, I used a navy blue flannel sheet that I picked up at a thrift store- keeps the backing pretty simple and very cheap.

To create the top part, I first cut a right triangle out of bristol board (leftover from art school), and cut out nearly 400 triangles- which were then pieced together into squares (being careful to keep right sides up, and not putting together two triangles of the same fabric). Squares were then sewed into strips, again keeping same fabrics from abutting each other. Strips were then sewn into the large rectangle that became the top.

Once the top piece was created, I sandwiched the batting between the flannel sheet and the top, and attached them all together with baby blue yarn ties. I basted the edges and snipped the excess fabric, then used quilt binding to hold it all together. I think my quilt binding skills still leave something to be desired- I'll have to read up on that some more before my next quilt, so that I know better how to keep it from twisting a little as I sew it on.

Quilt In Progress, Post 2

Triangles have been formed into squares, squares have been strung together in strips. This is the correct width (across the couch), but it's only about 6 long now- it will be 15.

Yellow Blankie

I had a pretty large amount of this yellow color, and I couldn't mix it with anything else (100% worsted wool- they don't make it like that anymore), so I decided to use it all and make a smaller blankie. At first I overestimated how much I had, and started working on a super-wide blankie with the basketweave pattern, but ultimately decided to go with something that would allow me more control over the final shape. For the first time, I tried making hexagons instead of squares- mostly successful, I think, except that they definitely curl more than squares; it's a lot harder to get the hexagons to lay flat.

This blankie is a little more than a yard by a yard. If anyone specifically wants this one, I'd greatly appreciate it- if I can give it to someone, I can give them the directions to line dry it (donating requires me to wash and dry it, and for it to be able to be washed and dried, and I'm nervous about just how much this is going to shrink). Please let me know!

Official Blanketeer!

Today I took the first big bag of blankies off the Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, for donation to Project Linus. Fabric and yarn leaves the house, and for good use! Now children spending time in the hospital will be given the blankets that I made, for cuddles and security. This bag includes a couple basketweave baby blankets, a couple granny square blankets, one small quilt, others.

I celebrated my first donation by taking myself out for Caribbean American Bakery. Mmmmm blankies and veggy patties....

Quilt In Progress, Post 1

Approximately 390 to 400 triangles cut, to be sewn into squares, and then put together to make the rectangular quilt top. All in shades of blue, or with shades of blue, to hold the final pattern together.

BREAKING NEWS

My old sewing machine, a Singer 6212, died yesterday. Her motor was shot. RIP, beautiful sewing machine that I got when I was 17.

Today I purchased a new (to me) machine. Montgomery Ward, UHT J1943. Monty's probably about the same age as the Singer, but he actually works.

Now I just have to get used to a totally different machine- side loading bobbins, thread that loads internally, new presser feet, new "buttonholer" foot, new bobbins (though the shop said they would exchange my old ones for me, even after I told Emmanuel I had about 15...).

I'd like to say "this will be easy! a breeze!", but the fact is that I was pretty attached to my old Singer, we'd spent a lot of time together, been at home in several different apartments, and worked on a lot of projects. Frankly, I'm still attached to her. It'll be hard to get used to a whole new machine with a whole new feel.

5 Hats

Five more little hats, waiting to be washed and sent off.

Baby Hats, cont.

Sent a bag full of baby hats off to the UIC Medical Center the other day, felt good, got yarn out of my home, and will feel good for the little babies and their parents. Fun for me, too!

More Babyhats, More Squares

Still working on babyhats- I'm not just limiting myself to the babyweight yarns though, now. I'm using babyhats as a means to finish off little scraps of yarn that I'm probably not going to use elsewhere, and to finish them off quickly! I suppose I could make another scrap square blanket, but that ends up taking a long time, between producing scraps and then piecing them together. 2012! Year of Less Things! Goal is to get the yarn out of my home.

Also to that end, I had most of a skein of a teal-green yarn, which I didn't foresee myself being able to buy more of (I don't know where it came from, and it didn't have a label, so who knows how old it is/what brand it is/where it came from). I made as many squares as that skein would let me, then used a heavier yarn that I had sitting around to edge it.

As before, all goes to charity unless otherwise claimed. The pink hat (center) has been claimed.

Baby hats and more Basketweave

I've been making a bunch of little baby hats recently- they're easy, and use up the last ends of some of my lighter weight yarn. And they're cute! All they are is a quick tube, then cinched and tied together on one end, and turned right side out.

I also made another baby blanket using the basketweave pattern, this one is about 20" square, and I used more of the same color for a smaller border than on the lavender one- I like how this one turned out a lot better.

As with most projects these days, these will all go to charity unless someone lays claim.

The Basketweave

A while ago, I was browsing a craft book's* crochet section, and came across the instructions for the basketweave crochet pattern. It looked pretty neat, and the pattern seemed relatively easy, so I gave it a shot. I had to teach myself how to do front post and back post double crochet stitches (fpdc, bpdc), but I already understood the double crochet, so it wasn't so hard. You just get the project started with a row of regular doubles, then alternate fpdc and bpdc stitches in groups of threes.

Ultimately, I learned that fpdc and bpdc stitches use up a lot more yarn than your average single or double, and the cloth ends up being pretty thick. That piece sat in the project bucket, unfinished for a good year or two, through a couple moves, until I finally ripped it all out and made something else with the yarn.

Eventually I decided to resurrect the basketweave stitch in an attempt to get rid of some relatively fine stranded baby yarn that was sitting around; some yarn that I'd had an idea for at one point, and then just got frustrated with working with because I was so used to thicker yarn. At this point I'm working on a second baby blankie with this yarn (this time in green, which I have more of), and I've gotten used to the weight of the baby yarn- though it helps that this stitch pattern ends up being pretty thick.

I used a white yarn that I had for the trim, and kind of wish I hadn't. I had a limited amount of the lavender (and wasn't going to buy any more), so I had an awkwardly proportioned and small rectangle when finished- and I wanted to gain some size, and even out the rectangle. But, the white is thicker than the lavender, so it stretched the edges out, which is especially apparent at the corners.

*I highly recommend the Reader's Digest "Complete Guide to Needlework"- so much information! Good instructional illustrations! Decent photos of how the patterns should look! Some project ideas are a little dated, as is the entire macrame section, but overall, a good, comprehensive chunk of instructions.

Quick Quilt

Just a quick quilt, made entirely out of fabrics that I had laying around- more goes out the door! Each block is 10"x7.5", and then they're all stitched together, 5x5, for a lap-sized quilt. I used an old scratchy fleece blanket for the batting in the center, so it should be very warm. There is a little bit of bunching of the batting in the center, but it's not too bad, and to be honest- I'm just not willing to take the whole thing apart to fix it. The batting is held in place by top stitching across each row, about .25" inch off from the seam.

All in all, a pretty easy pattern, I finished this off in about a day, from cutting to final topstitching. I used some lavender fabric with little roses on it for the back- I had a substantial amount of it, since at one time I thought I might make a dress with it (and then it sat for 2 or 3 years...).

Once again, goes to charity unless someone wants to claim it for themselves.

Another Afghan

Just another afghan, made (almost) entirely out of yarn I had sitting around. A long time ago, when I was learning the 'basketweave' crochet pattern, I thought I would make an afghan using it. The basketweave uses a lot more yarn than regular crocheting, and it ended up being way too thick, and with not enough yarn (yarn was given to me, so these colors/dyelots were in limited supply), so I quit halfway through, and let it sink to the bottom of one of my project buckets.

I was recently digging through my buckets, found these yarns, and decided to rip out the whole half-finished afghan, and start fresh, this time with squares. It was a MUCH more efficient use of the yarn that I had, and this time I was able to finish the project. I had to buy an extra skein of the ecru color; I managed to find a similar weight and color, but other than that it's all yarn I had around- more is leaving the house!

On a related note: this afghan goes to charity (Project Linus) unless someone wants it.

PS: The basketweave was recently resurrected, but this time with a lighter baby-weight yarn- much more pleasant result.

Net Bag

Found a pattern for a net-style bag in a crochet book that I bought at the craft store.. and I just wanted to know if I could do it! It looked neat, and I remembered having some net bags when I was a kid, two, that we used at the library to carry our books, so there was some reminiscing attached to the pattern as well.

I bought some purple cotton yarn, because it would provide a solid line, with less stretch to it (unlike poufy acrylic boucle-style yarns), as I assumed the bag would get a fair amount of stretch simply from the way it was made. The last thing I wanted was a bag that was a reasonable size when you first looked at it, but stretched down to your knees as soon as you put it on.

The pattern ended up being pretty easy! I had to adjust it a little bit, since the pattern in the book was developed for a thinner yarn, but ultimately it was just 9 half-double crochet stitches on either end, and then alternating 3 double crochets with 4 slip stitches between, working the doubles onto the previous row's slip stitches... it was pretty easy, once I got the rhythm down!

To finish it, I just sewed up the side, and then continued building half-double crochet stitches along one of the anchored ends to make the strap. When I stitched up the other side, I did the same thing, and built that strap. Then all there was to do was tie the straps into loops, and stitch in any/all loose ends!

This bag needs a home.

Baby Blanket

A coworker of mine's wife is having a baby! Babies are great! At the time that I started working on this blanket, he said they were going to be surprised as to the gender of the baby- so I chose a yarn that was mostly yellow with some rose and blue accents, and a border of yellow. Later he told me that it will definitely be a boy, but too late to change yarns!

Either way, it's dreamy soft, though I used an "adult" yarn for the main part of the blanket, and a "baby" yarn for the border. I also alternated the type of crochet for each row- intermixing single and double crochets. By the time I had used up both skeins of the main yarn, it was still and awkward rectangle, too wide, not enough rows. I made up for this with the border- there are four rows on the long sides, and only two on the short ones (all single crochet for the border).

I don't really have a baby of my own to model this one, but my kitty is the closest thing I have... so I baited her with a couple treats into being my model. (:

"Yarn Blanket"

I've been working on this afghan for a long time. I think I started buying the yarn last fall... and just worked on it between projects or TV time through to about a week ago. It took a long time to finish, but it also spent a fair amount of time sitting in the project bucket while something else took center stage (for example, I made another granny square afghan for my sister for Christmas, and another for another friend at the same time, both of which remain unchronicled in blog form, and likely never will be).

The yarn is brown (bought in the big pound skeins, I needed a lot!), with reddish accent stripes. Stripes are uniform size, but the distance between them is however I was feeling that day. Also, this afghan is enormous. More than long enough to cover all of my boyfriend, who is roughly 6' tall (I didn't ask for specs, but he's taller than me).

This afghan needs a home. I already have enough blankets, and don't need another- if you or someone you know would like it, let me know! If you know a good charity in the Chicagoland area that would take it, let me know!

And then 11 months happened...

Maybe you've forgotten I have a blog. I mostly did too. I'd make projects and think, "oh I should post this to the blog..." < /thoughtprocess >. It didn't ever happen. And then to have to follow up the desk project! That thing took so long. That thing is what my computer is sitting on as I type this post up.

Regardless, blog is back, here is a blanket. I've been crocheting for years, and I'm a wicked packrat, who will not throw away scraps! Neither will my mom- there are bits of the yarn from my older brother's baby blanket in there. And bits from baby blankets made for coworkers, and bits from afghans I made for friends & family, bits of yarn from small skeins that were given to me solo, and bits from skeins I bought for small projects that never left the yarn bucket. So it's a scrap-square-afghan, and it now resides in the apartment of my friend and neighbor, as pictured. (:

Used white to border each square, to hold the design together. May or may not be visible in the picture, but I did end up using a number of different whites. Used a cream color to single crochet around the edge and keep the edges from being too delicate.