My Equilizer Baby Blankie

The story starts with my 27th birthday.  No further back than that.  I had a work friend that introduced me to his girlfriend. We hung out a bunch. Then she was in my wedding and I was in hers then she got pregnant.  In about a 6 year span.    

At my 27th birthday the work friend, not the girlfriend, wore a shirt that was an equalizer that actually worked.  I had a rave themed party complete with black lights, a DJ and me in yarn falls and a tutu.  It. Was. A. Total. Blast.

As not "normals"  I had to come up with something great for their offspring.  This came to me.  

It is traditional grannies, 9 high and 7 wide.  4.5 inches each. Right at crib size.  Sc-ed together.  I used With Love by Red Heart and a G hook.  I'd say it took about 12 to 15 hours.  I washed it before packing, and its a good thing I did because a few middles came unraveled.  So I sewed em back up and reinforced all of the middles.  Meaning, I sewed in a length of yarn in the centers.  Just around the center 2 or 3 times.  It will make it much stronger.  The washing made the blanket VERY soft.  

As for the cat.  I saw him in a book at Joann's and I just couldn't pass him up.  He's a traditional Japanese cat named Amineko.  

All ready to go to his new home.  

I LOVE making things for kids.  I feel like it's the best reason, to create something soft for someone you love.  This child is the child of two people that I love and respect like, if not more than some, family.  <3

A Little Dress and Some George Jones

My gramma died almost 7 years ago.  She taught me to crochet and embroider.  She was the matriarch and the queen crafter of the family.

I have very recently acquired some of her hooks.  She's got every kind I've ever seen and some bamboo and white plastic ones (which I've never seen in the store).  She never had much so I feel like these are just random hooks she picked up here and there with a random skein to play around.

I came across this little dress.  I generally dress my daughter like a little tomboy.  She loves the outside so I just don't see a reason to put a dress on her that will inhibit her movements.  But this dress is so cute, and warm.  It's also a vintage pattern, which I love.  It felt like to right thing to use the green I hook.  That I remember learning on when I was in elementary school.  

The pattern itself is a little intimidating,  but it was easier to follow than I thought it would be.  Lots of dc.

Here is is on Ravelry.  ----  http://www.ravelry.com/projects/GraceFaithHope/angel-wings-pinafore

 I used my gramma's I hook and 4 ply yarn to size up from the 0-3 months to my smallish 14 month old (she wears 12-18 month shirts and 9-12 month pants).  I should also say, I figured it would be too short since the pattern is for a 0-3 mo.  So I made it 21 rows, the pattern calls for 18, but it was too long.  I pulled out to 18 and it comes just above her knee.  Shes 29 inches tall.  

I listened to George Jones and crocheted faster than I ever have, I think.  I took about 2.5 hours.

The yarn is "Seafoam" by Red Heart Soft.  Its a really nice green/blue/gray and reminded me of the kid's eyes.

For My Baldy

Just something cute  :)

Statement Necklace OR My First Pattern Hack

I found this pattern.  Then I decided it worked but could be better.  I wont link it just because I don't want to say that this particular pattern is bad.  Its just not exactly what I was looking for.

So, I wanted to make it what I was looking for.  

I'm not a big fan of math.  So when I realized that I was about to embark on the most math intensive project of my life I was a little hesitant.  

The problem is that you don't know if it works or not until you are done.  Until the last stitch.  It took me about 4 hour to break it down.

I realized that the pattern is 4.  There needs to be a multiple of 5 double crochet.  To get a multiple of 4 loops.  But there is a turning chain so that makes one less chain than there will be double crochet.  BUT to make the side symmetrical you have to put 3 double crochet (or two loops) in the same stitch.  Then you have to have three rows of dc on the bottom layer, 2 in the middle and one on the top.  

Yeah.

So this is basically my pattern...

Bottom Layer
1 - ch 20
2-4 - ch2, dc into 2nd ch from hook and dc across (21)
5 - ch5, dc in same st as the ch *ch3, dc in next* rep 19 times.  Ch3 and dc into the same stitch to create 21st loop in the same stitch as the 20th looop. (do not use turning chain)
6  - ch3, *tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, (Into first loop) ch3, sk loop, sc into the next loop, ch3* Repeat * to * until the last loop.  tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, ch3 (into the last loop) sl and tie off

Middle layer

1 - ch 16
2-3 - ch2, dc into 2nd ch from hook and dc across (17)
4 - ch5, dc in same st as the ch *ch3, dc in next* rep 19 times.  Ch3 and dc into the same stitch to create 21st loop in the same stitch as the 20th looop. (do not use turning chain)
5  - ch3, *tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, (Into first loop) ch3, sk loop, sc into the next loop, ch3* Repeat * to * until the last loop.  tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, ch3 (into the last loop) sl and tie off


Top layer
1 - ch 12
2-3 - ch2, dc into 2nd ch from hook and dc across (13)
4 - ch5, dc in same st as the ch *ch3, dc in next* rep 19 times.  Ch3 and dc into the same stitch to create 21st loop in the same stitch as the 20th looop. (do not use turning chain)
5  - ch3, *tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, (Into first loop) ch3, sk loop, sc into the next loop, ch3* Repeat * to * until the last loop.  tr,ch,tr,tr,tr,ch,tr, ch3 (into the last loop) sl and tie off

Then I added the chain.  Use the left most and right most chain stitch the attach the chain.   

WHEW. 

Do you like it?  :)

Lil Necklace

I'm been working on larger projects.  Large animals, afghan and some more gifts.  I'm waiting on some yarn to get here in the mail and needed something small to do tonight.

Pinterest delivered again.  

Here is the tutorial.  It is in UK stitch names. It took me about 30 minutes to complete.

Note:  You have to sign up for the site and "buy" the download for free.  The rest of the site looks interesting so I didn't mind giving up my email address.

I also took the photo and edited in Lightroom.  (best program evar!)

This is my favorite thing to do.  Make some thing then make it look cool.  :)  I added the B&W and color version simply because I couldn't decide which I liked better.

Hope you like!

Also, if you are interested... my photography site.... tmpd.me.