November snuck up on me again!

I guess I should be glad that doesn't read Dec. I'll be getting into making holiday stockings and gift card holders soon. Maybe this will be the year I actually get that bazar table and sell off all the completed projects I have stashed around. We shall see. If I don't get back Happy Holidays!

Crochet hook caddy

I've seen a lot of similar items online lately. I believe the first was on Moogly's blog. It was a bit large for what I needed though. I have a plastic zipper case with slots for my hooks and still they all manage to end up under my pc monitor in a pile.

 

 The center is a paper toilet paper roll with the top edge covered in a piece of blue material. The crochet it made from top to bottom and decreased with the change in colors. The light blue at the top doesn't extend all the way to the bottom to conserve bulk from being wrapped. The light blue was 19 rows to cover the roll with the last row being worked in the back stitch only. After adding the other colors the light blue is sewn snuggly around the roll, and the rest wrapped. And the end sewn in place.

 

Using H hook, ch 13, sc in scond ch from hook and across, 12 st. 18 rows of sc . 19th row of sc worked in back loops only. 2 rows of dec on top end, at end of row ch5, sc in second sc from hook, next 4 ch and row of sc. 2 more rows of dec on top end. (material should now extend to bottom of paper roll. 16 rows. 3 rows dec on top end. 16 rows, 2 rows of dec on top end. 15 rows.

 

The bottom is a magic circle with 8 sc in the loop and increase rounds. 4 rounds total and then sewn through all ends of wrap to attach bottom. Several stitches are sewn through the paper roll as well.

 

I considered making 2 circles for the bottom with a washer or something heavy between but then decided to just through pennies into the tube. It actually didn't need anything to weight it down though. With my pens in the center and hooks along the sides its just tall enough to remain nicely balanced.

Crochet Winter Slippers

It's getting to be that time of year again. My pc is next to a lovely bay window, which is great in spring and autumn. Not so great in winter, even after the window is sealed it gets freakin cold. So I pull out my shawl and lapghan and where are my slippers?  Every year my slippers go off to that mystical place of single socks, lonely keys, and flashlights that can only be accessed when your not looking for any of the actual items there. Slippers are a popular crochet item, but not all patterns are created with extended wear in mind. Yarn fibers reeeelaaax. And so those cute high top moccasins with the peek a boo toe become a floppy pile of string that falls off your foot. Most of my past creations have become un-wearable before my toes thaw. Even with revamping and elastic some models just couldn't be saved. So over experimentation I've discovered certain things that will extend the wear of high traffic slippers. Now don't get me wrong all those cute granny slippers have their place. Possibly by the door when you get new carpet or a gift for Aunt Do who keeps them under the bed for midnight emergencies. Perhaps you should understand that I'm one of those people who when isn't at work, or on an errand I'm barefoot. Why not just wear socks you say? Then I'd have to wash them. A pair of socks for everyday lounging doing... not much. And then amazingly even after years of buying the exact same pack of identical white tube socks so they will all match I end up with 12 obviously different socks and not one pair. I think the washer is cursed. The best creation so far was the most simple easiest pattern ever. I can not locate the web page from 2 years ago. But a woman was making simple slippers for a shelter she supported with crochet items. The pattern was a crochet rectangle folded long sides together. One short end was sewn together, the heel. The opposite top long side was sewn 2/3 closed. The open short end was gathered and pulled tightly closed to form the toe. Tada done. BTW these were worked with worsted weight yarn 2 strands together. I made the center of my rectangle, the sole, 3 strands together. No cuff but when paired with the leg warmers I'd made they were perfect. Extensive use just made them look better actually, just be sure to not make them too long. The more snug the longer they will wear. So now I know I want a slipper with: a separate multi strand sole, a dense/short stitch, snug fit, slouchy leg warmer'ish cuff. The pattern I used for the base of the slipper I found on Ravelry but is from Bernat's free pattern pages, Slipper Boots. I looked at a lot of patterns before deciding this was the one. They look like rain boots to me. But the good news is it worked really well. I used 2 strands of worsted weight instead of chunky yarn and went up a size to the large. My foot is 10in long and these fit well, which means snuggly but with wiggle room.

The 2 strands together was just a tiny bit shy of gauge. The top of the foot, below, was worked single strand. Which is why I went up a size. you could maybe go up a hook size. But I wanted a tight stitch and it will relax, so even if it is a bit snug after the breaking in period it should be fine. You could also continue using 2 strands which would tighten the stitch and be warmer and hold the shape longer.

The sole and upper are assembled as in the pattern. I had tried the join stitch from the bottom but it left a "not well sewn" look to the top. I could have whip stitched it together but decided the join actually made a nice color break. That's where I completely deviated from the pattern. You could had any 'cuff' or edging you like. I choose 2 rows of dc alternating front and back post. If you were going to use elastic I'd recommend doing so here, perhaps starting the dark green with a sc over the elastic.

I followed the post stitches with dc's in the back loop only. It just added a small ridge to end the cuff. The next row I increased the dc's every 8th stitch or so, to give it a little bagginess. Oh I also used the next size up crochet hook for everything after the posts. A couple more rows of dc, however many your comfortable with as this is the attached leg warmer it can be just over the ankle or up the calf. Though you made need more elastic or a tie for the top if its too tall on the leg. The final two rows are again alternated front and back post stitches. With that last row every 4th front post was done around 2 posts, to give it gather. I fully expected mine to slouch but I didn't want the top to be hanging open.

I really like these. So much so I'm considering making a few pairs as holiday gifts.

Crochet Minion Container

Based on the Crochet Minion Pencil Case on the Petals to Picots blog. The same blog I found the owl apple cover on. The author is a truly inventive designer. The pattern calls for the inside paper roll from paper towels. Not having one at the moments and not going to be the one to unwind the roll to steal the cardboard, I nosed around for something to use in place of. Pringles or Lays Staxs don't last long in our house. There is usually an empty 'can' laying around somewhere waiting for recycling. The Lay's can is plastic. Better then paper for my rough and tumble boys! After a little experimenting my little minion would be proud to take this minion to school with his colored pencils and assorted boy junk inside. Adjusted pattern notes below pictures

 I used a hot glue gun to secure the top edge of the body and the top to the plastic lid

 For future models I would include a bit of looped ribbon, glued between the lid and crochet cap as a pull tab to easily open the can top. It isn't required but I think it will save wear n tear on the edging of the lip and body.

 Red dots are single drops of glue to hold eye and arms in place. The eye is sewed onto the body with the black ends from the eye center over the black line on the body.

Minion Potato Chip Can Cover (Lays)

1 empty Lays plastic can

G hook

Worsted weight yarn - Yellow, Blue, Black, White, Grey

Needle and scissors

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

* use slip stitch to join each round

　

Black

1. Magic Ring, ch 1, 6 sc, join (6 st)

2. - 6. increase in sets of 6 each round

2. *2sc in 1st st*, repeat around, join (12)

3. *2 sc in 1st st, 1sc in next st*, repeat around, join (18)

4. *2 sc in 1st st, 1sc in next 2 st*, repeat around, join (24) - and so on

5. (30), 6. (36), switch to blue in sl st

Blue

7. Sc around

8.- 9. Decrease round, *sc in next 4 st, dec2tog* repeat, join (30)

*sc in next 3 st, dec2tog* repeat, join (24)

*You should be crocheting with previous work on the can. Past this point it will be increasingly difficult to slide the already crochet tube on*

** when decreasing insert hook under the front loop of the stitch only. It creates a more even look.**

10. - 18. sc around, join (24)

19. sc in next 2 st, switch to yellow (carry blue behind or on top of stitches) sc in next 8 st, blue sc in next 4 st, yellow sc in next 8 st, blue sc in next 2 st, join

20. - 22. repeat row 19 3x in the same color pattern 2b-8y-4b-8y-2b, join (24)

23. reverse the pattern for this row, 2y-8b-4y-8b-2y, join (24)

Cont. in Yellow

24. - 32. sc in each st around, join, switch to black (24)

Black

33. - 34. sc in each st around, join, switch back to yellow (24)

Yellow

35. - 42. sc in each st around, join (24)

43. Increase row, *2sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 st*, repeat around, join (30)

44. sc in next 3 st, ch 18, sc in last 3 st, join (6st and 27 ch)

45. sc in each st and ch around, join (30)

46. sc in each st around, join (30)

47. - 50. Decrease rows, *sc in next 3 st, dec2tog* repeat around, join (24)

*sc in next 2 st, dec2tog* repeat around, join (18)

*sc in next 1 st, dec2tog* repeat around, join (12)

*dec2tog* repeat around, join (6)

Leaving tail fasten off. Thread tail though last 6 st and pull closed. Hide end.

Eye

Black

1. Magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, 6 slst in each sc around., join (6) fasten off leaving tail to attach to body.

White

2. Working in back loops under slst join white with sc, scin same st, 2sc in each st around, join (12)

3. Increase row. *2 sc in 1st st, sc in next st* repeat around, join switch to gray. (18)

Gray

4. sc in each st around, join (18)

5. sl st over each st around, join (18) and fasten off. Hide tail

Use Black tail to fasten eye to black line on body. Hot glue was used to secure 4 spots around eye.

Arms

Join yellow in center of yellow side stitches, ch 27 slst around same st on opposite side, sc back along ch (25 as I skipped 1st and last) slst in first ch, fasten off. Hide end

Using Black sew center of hands to front layering long stitches over front.

Finishing: I used got glue to set edges of top and lid in place, 4 spots ot secure eye, and 2 spots on each arm.
         

from the summer - Crochet Bun Covers

Wow I can't believe I forgot to post these. They all went into use I guess. Despite a search for the original inspiration site I am unable to locate it. I was sure I bookmarked it. While surfing I saw a page with a Mom relaying the woes of keeping her daughters hair up and out of the way during ballet class. Commercial products were too large for her delicate hair. So she made her own crochet bun cover. It was pretty simple and she based the design off a doily pattern she had. I made a few of my own because I thought this would be a great way to keep my long hair up for the summer. I loved them. My hair is fairly long now and always seems in the way. During the day I gathered my hair in a pony tail and secured it in one of my new covers. After experimenting I twisted my hair and used the bun cover, without a band or clip, and could wear it comfortably even over night and my hair was still secure, not in knots, and I didn't swallow any of it. Yes, it has happened that I've awakened choking on hair in my mouth.  I had made a few flowers during my indecision over a boarder for the Minnie Blanket and used these as tops to some of the bun covers. They are a little cute for me, pink flowers in my hair isn't really my thing but they would be adorable for some little girl and the styles could be almost endless. I wish to eventually get that booth/table somewhere to sell xmas stockings and other bits n bobs these would be great for that. Fast and easy to make but useful and cute.

You could sc the last row around a hair elastic, although you'd have to secure the bun first I'd think. I used a crochet chain but you could use ribbon, cord or a shoelace whatever works! Search 'crochet bun cover' there are a bunch of patterns out there now. But remember you can use almost any doily pattern or an crochet item such as a flower, leaf or spider for the top/center piece. I'm seeing a crochet spider over a web as a bun cover for Halloween. :)

Crochet cell phone covers

I have a cheap cell phone to use for emergencies. I'm not stressing over its condition but it does have a fairly decent size screen and nothing to protect it should I toss it into my purse. So I first made a sleeve of green and purple. If you notice from the picture the bottom is tighter then the top. It looks nice and works to hold the cell phone in place. And was completely unplanned and a result of using two different weight yarns. I call it my joker sleeve.  As with the apple cover I wondered just how much protecting a granny square was for my phone. Sure it wouldn't scratch but my purse is a mine field in itself. Hence the orange yarn came out and the bit or orange fabric I had was used. Along with a WOW timecard, think plastic like a gift card but larger, I cut the timecard down to provide further protection to the screen. The plastic pieces were sewn between the fabric and crochet to make my snappy new case. I would have made the flap a tiny bit longer if I had a do-over. I added a brown crochet button and sha-zam!

 

Crochet Owl Apple Cover

Perhaps I'm confused but what is the purpose of the apple cover? As opposed to a plastic or insulated fabric lunchbox I don't see the granny square as a comparable method of bruise protection. But alas it is cute. Even if the apple cover looks like an apple, redundant camouflage you say. In my surfing I discovered the OWL apple cover. This makes sense to me. If only because my son's school mascot is an owl and I have plenty of white and red, his school colors, so this is a WIP. I'm told I need 3. Three teachers, and if I'm going there I might as well include the school psychologist. She has been a great help to my son as he adjusts to new situations at school. She works at several area school so I'm adjusting hers a little.
The original pattern, Crochet Owl Apple Cover is from the blog Petals to Picots by Kara.

The owl's sit up well without the apple even. I thought about including a stress ball instead but my mother vetoed that ideal. I don't know but I'm guessing 25+ kids for 6 hours a day would cause me to need a stress ball. Oh well. I didn't go for the extra detailing on the wings of these and the button is a crocheted. The only alteration I made was to sew the top of the head together instead of the sc. for no other reason then I wanted to.




My 4th owl was altered to a Raven. The school is very supportive of our home team the Baltimore Ravens. And I've seen this particular staff member decked out in black and purple complete with jersey.

 The alterations include a triangular flap over the head. Instead of finishing off even, one side (12 st) are used to create  a point. The eyes are more oval and are joined to the beak only at the corners. After the white detail stitching is added the pointed end is brought over and attached just above the beak with slight overlap. I didn't stitch the top closed under the flap but you could. And the eyes are only sewn down by the center quarter of the eye. I liked the way the eye and beak looked as they sat a bit apart from the face.
That and it was a whole lot less sewing. The wings were detailed and the white buttons crocheted.
 A little shag, the gathered strings were added to the head and pulled slightly apart to look feathery. I tried loose strings on the ends like the owls but it looked funny. It turned out cute though. Now I'm off to buy stress balls errr I mean delicious apples.

Crochet Pumkin Hat & Booties

 Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. And this orange yarn begged to be made into something. I included this in with the Fireman Outfit I sent my aunt. Hopefully the recipient is due sometime in Oct.

The Elvin Baby Booties I found on a blog by DIYMaven. Minus the bells and with an orange chain threaded through below the cuff and tied in the back for a more secure fit. Who am I kidding one of these will be lost the first time they are worn.


The hat pattern was Baby Pumpkin Crochet Beanie, and seemed to be the simplest of the free hat patterns I found.

Happy Halloween!!

Crochet Fireman Infant Outfit - Photo Prop

Summer just flew by didn't it? I have made a few small things, mostly for personal use but have yet to get them together to take pictures. But I have finished the requested Fireman outfit.

 

 

Modeled by my Cabbage Patch doll, Christopher! (I recently found him in a box while looking for a doll to use for this purpose) The outfit consists of a diaper cover with elongated legs & suspenders. A jacket with 'reflective' stripes on the bottom and arms. Boots with side pull loops and the official fire hat.

The bottoms were made from a pattern titled Little Fire Crochet Soaker and Skirty from the With a Tangled Skein blog. The owner, Amy shares many cute patterns as well as having an Esty shop you can check out. All her extra links are on her blog page.

The black tie cord could be turned to leave the excess 'bow' in the back . The suspenders are attached with crochet buttons on the front and back, so they can be removed or adjusted in front to fit. The suspenders are 2 strips of dc joined at one end with an alternating afghan join that I used increasingly longer stitches to get the Y shape.

The jacket is based of Jonquil Baby Vest on Suzies Stuff blog. I added the color strips  to the body and the arms to give it the 'reflective' look and debated but finally deleted the bottom post stitch which would have matched the bottoms but didn't fit with the look of the jacket. I outlined in black and used one matching crochet button at the top for closure.

 

The boots were difficult because I couldn't find anything that looked like I wanted without being stuffed to retain its shape. Originally I wanted a bulbous toe. There were several pattern pictures I liked but when worked up the toe was pulled flat. So the next best ideal seems the be these Cowboy Boots. There seems to be many free variations of this pattern. This was the one I liked. I didn't include the 'heel' and the is about 5 stitches on each side skipped to make the 'pull up loop'

 

Finally the Hat was a free pattern from Clara Croissant, Child's Fireman Hat on Ravelry. The hat was a bit large for the infant I intended it for so I did adjust the pattern. Unfortunately I did miss count something as I wrote it down. I'll include my version but beware there is a mistake. It comes at the end of a section in the stitch counts (extra lines - as in you run out of stitches to continue. I think it was a copy and paste error) and if I get the chance to go back over it I will edit and correct it. The shield was made with a g hook to make it a bit smaller. The inside of the hat fell over the eyes & face of my 'model' so I lined the hat with a simple lose beanie that can be removed if needed.

 I found the hat very floppy around the brim. I intended to use pipe cleaners but mine disappeared so an old thin metal coat hanger was repurposed to shape the brim. The join was covered in white duct tape to prevent anyone from getting poked and a sc was done over the white wire. The wire was partially the reason I added the beanie inside. It was just heavy enough to weight the hat down a bit.

The beanie looks really shallow in this pic. But there is a nice space for a small head. It was whip stitched to the inside rim and the join pulled inside the hat so that it can be removed.

Child's Fireman Hat

 reduced size projected head measurement 15.5

US I hook

Front section

(make 1)

Ch 21, turnRow 1: In 2nd st from hook, sc across, ch 1, turn (20 sc)
Row 2: sc across, ch 1, turn (20 sc)
Row 3: sc across, ch 1, turn (20 sc)
Row 4: sc across, ch 1, turn (20 sc)
Row 5: sc across, ch 1, turn (20 sc)
Row 6: sc2tog, sc across 16 st, sc2tog (18 sc)
Row 7: sc across, ch 1, turn (18 sc)
Row 8: sc2tog, sc across 14 st, sc2 tog (16 sc)
Row 9: sc across, ch 1, turn (16 sc)
Row 10: sc2tog, sc across 12 st, sc2 tog (14 sc)
Row 11: sc across, ch 1, turn (14 sc)
Row 12: sc2tog, sc across 10 st, sc2tog (12 sc)
Row 13: sc across, ch 1, turn (12 sc)
Row 14: sc2tog twice, sc across 2 st, sc2tog twice (8 sc)
Row 15: sc across, ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 16: sc2tog twice, sc across 2 st, sc2tog twice (4 sc)
Row 17: sc across, ch 1, turn (4 sc)
Row 18: sc2tog twice, ch 1, turn (2 sc)
Row 19: sc2tog
Fasten off

 

Back sections

(make 2)

Ch 13, turnRow 1: In 2nd chain from hook, sc across, ch1, turn (12 sc)
Row 2: Sc across, ch1, turn (12 sc)
Row 3: Sc across, ch1, turn (12 sc)
Row 4: Sc across, turn (12 sc)
Row 5: sc2tog, sc across, sc2tog, ch1, turn (10 sc)
Row 6: Sc across, ch1, turn (10 sc)
Row 7: Sc across, turn (10 sc)
Row 8: sc2tog, sc across, sc2tog, ch1, turn (8 sc)
Row 9: sc across, ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 10: sc across, ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 11: sc2tog, sc across, sc2tog, ch1, turn (6 sc)
Row 12: sc across, ch 1, turn (6 sc)
Row 13: sc2tog, sc across, sc2tog, ch1, turn (4 sc)
Row 14: sc across, ch 1, turn (4 sc)
Row 15: sc2tog, sc2tog, turn (2 sc)
Row 16: sc2tog
Fasten off

  

Side sections

(make two)

Ch 13, turnRow 1: In 2nd chain from hook, sc across, ch1, turn (12 sc)
Row 2: Sc across, turn (12 sc)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc across, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 4: sc across, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 5: sc across, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 6: sc across, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 7: sc2tog, sc across, ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 8: sc across, ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 9: sc across, ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 10: sc across, ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 11: sc2tog, sc across, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 12: sc across, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 13: sc across, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 14: sc across, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 15: sc2tog, sc across, ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 16: sc across, ch1, turn (8 sc)
Row 17: sc2tog, sc across, ch 1, turn (7 sc)
Row 18: sc across, ch1, turn (7 sc)
Row 19: sc2tog, sc across (6 sc)
Fasten off
 

Brim

Start at the front edge of the right back section (marked with a star on the diagram).
Row 1: Sl st around lower edge of hat, join
Row 2: Working only in the loops on the outside of the hat,ch1, sc around entire edge of
hat, join.
Row 3: ch 1, hdc around, join
Row 4: ch 2, dc around, joinFurther rows work only along the edge of the two back sections (24 sc), to make an
extended brim at the back of the hatRow 5: ch 1, 3 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr, 2 tr in next st, 3 tr in next st, 2 tr in next st, 6
dc, 2 tr in next st, 3 tr in next st., 2 tr in next st, 2tr, 2dc, 1 hdc, 3 sc, sl st to join,
turn (??38 stitches)
Row 6: 2 sc, 34 hdc, 2 sc, sl st to join

Using F or G hook?
 

Front shield

 Using ?color? yarn, ch 10Row 1: In 2nd st from hook, sc across, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 2: 2 sc in next st, 7 sc, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 3: 2 sc in next st, 9 sc, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (13 sc)
Row 4: 2 sc in next st, 11 sc, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (15 sc)
Row 5 – 10: sc across, ch 1, turn (15 sc)
Row 11: sc2tog, 11 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (13 sc)
Row 12: sc2tog, 9 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 13: sc2tog, 7 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 14: 2 sc in next st, 7 sc, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 15: 2 sc in next st, 9 sc, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (13 sc)
Row 16: 2hdc, 3 sl st, ch 1, 3hdc, 3 sl st, 2 hdc, ch 1, turn (15 st)
Row 17: 2 dc, 3 sl st, ch2, dc, tr, dc, ch 2, 4 sl st, ch 1, 2 hdc, sl st
Fasten off

Using black yarn, sl st around outside of front shield

ADD Numbers to shield

     ** My numbers were smaller versions based on Moogly's Crochet Numbers, scratch that. I had hoped to find out a station # to place on the hat. I ended up using FD, for Fire Dept. Letters also based on patterns from the same person. The Moogly Crochet Alphabet.

Crochet Minnie Mouse Blanket

***Edit: graph link and notes added 3/25/14

Not Dead! Really just worn out I guess. I went a little over board for that last baby shower. Every post in April was given to my cousin for her new lil girl. I did rush to finish the blanket which I then forgot to post. So here it is. Wait! Lets go through the baby shower gift process. First you scan the parents to be registry listings. Doesn't everyone register these days? Most places give you a discount on items you didn't receive and buy yourself so check even if no one says they are registered. Mom and/or Dad's name and a due date are usually all you need. Wal-Mart, BabiesrUs , and Target have great programs. Scan the lists. Even if your not buying there you still get an ideal of what the new mother wants. And hopefully you can pull a theme together. Besides a dreadful amount of pink there was nothing that jumped out until I went to the large purchases. Car seat, stroller, high chair etc.. Usually there is a "scrap" you can save a jpg of to give you colors and a pattern. This is what I had to work with.

It was titled Minnie Mouse but no Disney like pictures of the mouse where apparent. So did the mom to be like the pattern, the purples and dark pinks, or did she pick Minnie. There was one or two bibs with Minnie so I decided to look for Minnie for a center piece in tapestry crochet. but I definitely wanted an interesting boarder incase Minnie wasn't a focal point. My first searches were for coloring book pages, because those are easiest to graph into a design, After looking at a few I realized I hadn't seen any bedding, which is where you usually get the baby theme right away. So Google me up some Minnie Bedding. I found a toddler comforter in nearly the same coloring book design.

 Using Paint Shop pro I edited the pic to something I liked. Cutting off the legs worked because there was less black and I was working with the hope of only buying 2 skeins. The purple wine color and the background of the center piece and the flower squares (an off-white) I decided on. The flowers were drawn in based on the pattern swatch, though after studying an enlarged car seat in the pattern.

I filled in the design to figure out the colors and used different flower granny square patterns to figure out what I wanted around the boarder. The corner pattern ideal was scrapped, as was the ideal for colored rectangular blocks that seemed to boring. The other flower square I really liked and thought I could use scrap yarn to expand the colors and give it a bit more granny feel.

The center piece turned out well. The flash washed out the bow detail a bit. The flowers are a bit lost as well against the off-white, The original is much more forgiving and shows the colors better. I didn't take pictures of the graph. I dl'd a program to make a graph to easily post and print but I had a pc issue and it never got done. The large graph is now missing in action (Hopefully it's put away in my stash box) But as all the detail information was written on the graph I can't even tell you the stitch dimensions. It was approx. 2 ' x 3 1/2' when the center was complete before any border was added. I added a few rounds of color to bring the stitch count up to match what I needed for the flower squares.

 

Graph found! I used KG-chart pro to graph my final version of Minnie. The file is a .sth file you can dl at my dropbox (I hope that works) There are cross stitch file viewers you can dl free without the whole program.

As stated below the graph does not include hair bow or dress crease details, flower details or eyelashes. It was easier to sew them in. Take care when sewing so both sides match. I also didn't fiddle with the program to see if I could include stitch counts for lines, which I place on all my graphs to keep place. The center panel is 57 x 102 st. With one st extra top and side. Meaning there is 1 st before pattern meets the edge of graph at highest/lowest and widest points. Increase the st by 2(one for each side) or by 2 rows to alter size of center panel. My boarder was done in the round to bring it up to the size needed to support granny flower squares. Inner boarder was 1dc or purple, 1 sc of off white, 1 dc light pink, 1 sc med pink, 1 granny boarder hot pink. Wine granny st round was last. Squares where completed to Off white round and the wine was used to join grannies and center piece as I went. There were 2 granny squares one at approx. 17x17 st and the other 14x17 the corners where the larger and there was 2 small on each side. The Entire Blanket comes out to approx. 113 x 167 stitches give or take for  the dc rounds and corners.

 

 

And somehow I miscounted on the number of stitches for the flower squares so there was a second smaller flower square (2 on each of the 4 sides of center piece). All squares where joined with  a granny style stitch.

So its got plenty of pink and the purples match the sample. The dark joining color is the purple /dark wine color. The flowers on the bottom center turned out very nice and matched the ones on the stroller fabric. The boarder allows a huge selection for matching sheets  It also gives it that family heirloom kind of feel granny blankets seem to have. Due to my indecision on the boarder it is larger then planned. Large enough to cover a twin bed.  So there is plenty to stuff around baby in stroller or actually use as a bedspread from toddler to twin bed. AND the back view is near identical to the front, Go Me! A success. My cousin liked it so all is well.

The bear was in my stash and I included it with the other items I made. There is a baby headband on his head and around each leg and a sweat bib, for the baby not the bear!

I do wonder about something though. I have 2 sons, one 17 and the other 8. I had the joint family baby shower for my first son. Although I didn't register anywhere . Did they do that back then? But I remember opening gifts and carefully making sure cards stayed with presents until a list could be made and everyone not only received a thank you card for the gift but they were added to the list of people announcements were sent to, not all received the babies picture inside. Thing is I've been to a lot of family showers for one occasion or another and it's been a LONG time since I received a thank you card from anyone. I know that now it is more likely a bunch of pictures hit the persons Facebook with a generic 'thank you all'...and then follows baby or wedding  pictures for all to see and comment on. I just.... yeah I'm sorry but I think if I spent the time to look for your registry and buy much less make you a one of a kind item or items just for you and your child. I deserve a note. Just a simple thank you we loved it will do. I'd even take the note as a private message or email, but the world has Progressed to poor manners. So perhaps my next 'gift' will be a large stack of thank you  cards..... I still doubt anyone will get the message.

My next project is a request for a Fireman 'outfit' for a lil boy arriving in Oct. I have yet to find a boot that actually looks like I want after working it up. I will most likely be making my own then. I'm thinking of a diaper cover with suspenders and fire hat and perhaps a lil jacket. It will be my only other project for a bit.

Crochet Baby Leg Warmers and Odds n ends

 Yes I see that the right leg warmers last pink row is somehow smaller the left. Shhhh.
The hat needs more of an edge and a puff for the end. They will also get washed to see if I can get the yarn to soften up some. The white seems a bit scratchy for a baby. They are definitely larger then infant size but if they are used for a couple of pictures instead. Ehhh. They were an experiment in colors so any use it better then sitting in my stash.

 

 

Its a Hat. No really. With multi color pompoms on each corner it will be cute.

 

 

 

Another pixie hat. I really like these colors Like sherbet surprise. I tried to get my son to model. no go...Boy don't wear pompom's!!