Socks - NaBloPoMo#12

Well, these might be more like slippers but I'm callin' them socks anyways. So there.

I used Lion Brand wool-ease which worked fine but I think all wool yarn would be warmer. I used LB because I wanted these colors, it was the only yarn I could find that was washable, and the price was right. Ideally I'd like a soft dk weight superwash wool yarn to make these. They are perfect for around the house but I found them not quite warm enough in my sandals outside. Then again maybe it's just too cold for sandals.

In my sandals, don't they look fun and festive.

I started these Friday night after I had to frog back a few rows AGAIN on my current doily. I was so frustrated I started some socks to sooth my tender crochet soul. Get it ? I needed socks for my sole.

You're not laughing?

Okay, maybe you're right, it is a lame pun. So sew sue me.

Tricky sock pose which shows off the heel nicely too

I like how they turned out. I plan on sharing the basic how to pattern on my free pattern blog here. After I get a few peeps to test it for me.

sexy sock pose

Scarves, scarves everywhere

Scarves seem a bit insane with the heatwave sure to hit Kansas as the summer kicks in. I still like scarves because they are so easy to make. I'm having fun designing my own. It's a fun way to try out new stitch patterns and they work up so quickly.

I'm also making head scarves and head band like things too so I can hold my long hair back away from my face. It's giving me chance to try out some patterns and ideas with Lion Brand Microspun Yarn which I ljust love the feel of.

Here's a headband one I made inspired by Bruges Lace I love the look of this lace. I'm not much of a thread crocheter at least not yet. This style might make me a convert. I think it also translates well to yarn. I have a few ideas swirling around for a fun scarf using this method as a starting point. You can get the free pattern here for this headband.



















Here a scarf I made using microspun yarn from the Interweave Crochet - Spring 2006 it's The Pointer Sisters Scarf scroll to the bottom to find it. While you are at it you will find lots cool crochet projects. I want to make the colorful Babette Blanket, the Sea Side Espadrilles sandals for the summer and I also like the lavender shrug and I'm not a shrug person. I want to make the Sea Foam Skirt too but I have to learn how to do hairpin lace first. So much to learn so little time....

























Here's a yellow open net stitch scarf and a granny square like kercheif also made with Microsup Yarn.



A close up of the yellow scarf I also made a kercheif with the yellow but couldn't find it to take a picture. I can tie this scarf around my head to keep my hair out of my face too.



A close up of the kerchief - It's a free pattern from the Craft Yarn Council of America

Flowers! Flowers Everywhere!

Well there are lots of flowers in my house, crocheted flowers that is. I joined the flower frenzy swap on Corchetville then I went looking around for patterns to follow. I was never able to follow the pattern because I kept seeing the possibilites and made them my own. I also looked at granny square motifs because so many of them have a flower like center.

I want to encourage you to make your own flower designs. All you really do is start with a ring of single crochet anwhere from about 12 or more single crochets then make chain loops 6-10 or more chains long. In the chain loops do combinations of sc, hdc, dc, and tr to make a petal. I like adding a picot to the tip of each petal. Have lots of different kinds of yarns on hand to make the flowers interesting and add some texture. I used the following yarns in my flowers: Plymouth Encore, Caron Simply Soft, and a few different fancy yarns by Moda Dea and Bernat which added some pizaz to the flowers.

Because I do have a secret desire to be a star many of my design came out looking like stars which I call Star Flowers. You can get my free flower patterns here.

It's Spring!

More amigurumi! I love spring and flowers. I have been making lots of flowers for a flower swap on Crochetville and was inspired with making flowers and the amigurumi I've been doing. I plan on adding the pattern for these little flower dolls here soon and some of the flower designs I made for the flower swap.

Get the flower doll pattern here

Soft Purple Baby Blanket

Last night I finished a baby blanket I was making for my dd but is now for one of my dh's co-workers who just had a little baby girl. I hope they like it.

Here's a picture of it and a close up of the stitch I used:





I love the softness of Caron Simply Soft yarn and the fun texture such a simple stitch gave the blanket.

I have had some requests for the pattern for this blanket. So, I worked out a written and symbol pattern so you can make the blanket any size you want.

Materials:
H hook (or hook best suited to yarn you are using)
Needle to weave in ends
I used ww Caron Simply Soft but any weight yarn should do. You will likely need to increase or decrease the foundation chain to make a blanket the size you want.

I needed (I think because I did not keep close track) 2-7oz skeins of each color to make my blanket. I made a xtra large baby blanket.

You can make it all one color or more than one color. I changed colors every 8 rows.

stiches used: dc, frdc
changing colors

Foundation Row: chain any odd number

First Row:
dc in the 3rd chain from the hook; dc to the end (should end with and even number of stitches.)

NOTE: this is different than your usual for dc (usually with dc you go in to the 4rth chain from the hook, just pointing this out because it's not an error.) Your turning chain will be ch2 instead of ch3.

Second Row:
Ch2. Turn. *fpdc , dc across* repeat *to* ending with a fpdc around the last stitch.

Repeat the Second Row as many times as necessary so the baby blanket is the lenght you want.

Another note:
I wrote the wrong shorthand or another form of the shorthand
rfdc =fpdc