Boise State Blanket

So a very long time ago I decided it would be a great idea to make a Boise State themed afghan for my sister's birthday.  Well unfortunately I got the idea just 2 months before her birthday and with my job I didn't have much time for crochet. So her birthday present became a Christmas present.   Well Christmas eve I was up at 2 in the morning with still a whole row to finish and no border.  So I gave her the pieces and promised to finish it soon...  8 months is soon right?!  It took a long time but I was quite pleased with the end result.   It is just a ton of granny squares pieced together.   This is what it looked like before the border.

 

And after the border. 

 I just kept a simple border of 3 double crochet and one chain stitch to match the pattern of the granny squares.   I'm pleased with the end result and my sister loved it.   She was using it the day I gave it to her! I'm so glad I got it done in time for football season!  It took a long time but was completely worth it!!!  I'm looking to do something similar in the future for my bed.  I'm experimenting with a few fancier versions of the granny square.   We'll see what happens and how long it actually takes me to do it!!!

Two Movie Hat

 This is a hat I found the pattern for online.  I was hanging out with my Mother-in-law watching movies and wanted something to crochet.  We watched two movies(Hello Dolly and the Ghost and Mrs Muir) The hat was done before the second movie was over!  What a great pattern.So easy and your practically crocheting in thin air, no pesky chains to crochet into!

Sizes: A = 3-9 months (B= 1-2 years) (C= 2-3 years) (D= 4-5 years) (E = 6-7
years) (F= 8-10 years) (G= 10 years to adult)
Supplies Needed:
1 skein worsted weight yarn for size A to D
An additional skein of yarn is needed for size E to G.
A crochet Hook size A= 3.5mm, (B= 4.5 mm) (C= 5.5 mm)(D= 6.0 mm)(E=
6.0mm)(F= 6.0 mm)(G= 6.0 mm)
1 yard of clear elastic in 3/8” or ½” wide.
Clover Yarn Tapestry Needle
Key: CH=Chain, SS= Slip Stitch, SC=Single Crochet
Round 1: CH 6. Join with a SS to 1st CH to make a circle.
Round 2: CH 1, wrap yarn from back to front go down in the circle, wrap yarn
around hook & pull through. Wrap yarn around hook and go down in the same
circle & pull through. You will now have 5 stitches on your hook. Wrap yarn
from back to front & pull yarn through all 5 stitches. CH 2. This is a 2 wrap
bobble and will be referred to from now on as a “bobble”. Repeat the bobble
7 more times. You will now have 8 total. Join with a SS to 1st CH on top of 1st
bobble.
Round 3: Insert hook into 1st CH 2 space to left and SS. In same CH 2 space
work 2 bobbles, *move to the next CH 2 space & work 2 bobbles*, repeat
from * to * all of round. You will now have 16 bobbles. Join as in round 2.
Round 4: Move to next CH 2 space to the left and SS in same CH 2
space*work 2 bobbles, in next CH 2 space work 1 bobble*. Repeat between
*to* all around. You will have 24 bobbles, join as in round 3.
**If you are making sizes A through E work Round 5 to Round 14 as follows:
Work 1 bobble in each CH 2 space. Join and begin round in same manor as
before.
Skip to last round all sizes.
** If you are making size F or G follow rounds below:
Round 5: Move to next CH 2 space to the left & SS, * work 1 bobble in the
next 3 CH 2 spaces. In the 4th CH 2 space, work 2 bobbles*. Repeat from *
to * to end of round. You should have 30 bobbles, join as before.
Round 6 to 14: Work 1 bobble in each CH 2 space. Join and begin as in all
other rounds.
Round 15 & 16: Work 1 bobble in each CH 2 space. Join & begin as in all
other rounds.
Last Round All Sizes: Measure circumference of head, then subtract 1.5”.
Cut a length of elastic that measurement. Sew both ends of the elastic
together, creating a circle, with a ½” in overlap. Be very careful not to twist
the elastic. With right side of hat facing you, hold elastic along the bottom
edge of hat. Work a SC in each CH of bottom of hat over the elastic. You
will want the elastic to be encased inside the SC. Join with a SS to 1st CH.
Tie off & weave in the ends.


This is the site I found the pattern on. I didn't have elastic so I just did some single crochet at the bottom skipping a few to make it nice and snug. Also in their pattern they add a silk flower, another item I didn't have on hand.

http://pipersgirls.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/oooops-here-is-the-pattern/

Emilee's Hat

 So this is the first project I undertook when I decided to pick Crochet back up.   I pretty much made the hat pattern up as I went along using tips from The Happy Hooker.   I used mostly double Crochet with a few rows of single crochet at the bottom to make it a snug fit.   I went back and added the flower later after I was a bit more confident in my abilities.  I used the flower pattern from another hat pattern in my Happy Hooker book.  I really liked the way this turned out.  And she looked so cute in it!

The Hooker book, my inspiration

I owe my current fascination with crochet to one book. Stitch n' Bitch, the happy hooker.  I randomly picked the book up one day while waiting on my mother in law to finish looking at beads at JoAnn's.  I must admit it was the title that "hooked" me.   It was whimsical and ironic at the same time and in my mind absolutely perfect.   While flipping through the pages I begin to realize that maybe I could pick up this art I abandoned back in junior high.  Christmas was a few months away so the timing was perfect. Learn a new talent and make homemade present all with one fell swoop.   PERFECTION!  I must admit I was surprised at how natural this talent came to me.   I picked up my hook and away it flew.  I made my niece the most adorable hat and scarf combo(pictures to come) and a scarf for my sister, and one for my mother in law.  I also made three other scarves as experiments. They all turned out fairly well and one of them was in the gift box I sent my cousin this christmas.  My next project?  A granny square blanket.... we'll see how it turns out.   Hopefully I will be able to get pictures up here soon and share any patterns and tips I find helpful.  Now I am going to leave this new blog alone and research hat patterns( after all, who can work on just one project at once?)