Crocheted Halloween Decorations

The pattern for these Halloween potholders was in the September/October 2010 issue of Crochet Today!, and I knew I just had to make them! Since my stepson's favorite holiday is Halloween, I thought I could connect with him in the spirit of the season with these. I'm not into the zombies and witches side of it , but I can be ok with pumpkins and black cats. He loves them, and after Halloween he is going to put them with the rest of his "spooky stuff" collection in the basement.



I also had an idea a few weeks ago that crochet would also be a good way to make a spider web. So I looked around and found this pattern at Caron International, and proceeded to make it for my father-in-law (though with black yarn instead of gray).



He also really likes Halloween, and Halloween-related things - so much so that he wanted and got a hearse to drive as his regular car. I only actually made half of the pattern, because it would have been about 4 feet in diameter and he didn't want it that big. Next I'm going to try making it with Silver Metallic size 10 crochet thread and a small hook to make it in miniature to be sort-of closer to the size of a real spider web. I really enjoy finding a pattern for something that I know a friend or family member will really like, and being able to make it for them.

Headbands

A friend of mine who knits sent me a link to a Classic Elite Yarns newsletter that had a pattern to crochet headbands, which sent some wheels turning in my head. All of the store-bought headbands I have are stretched out and don't stay very well, so I thought instead of buying more that I would just make some! That pattern called for DK weight yarn (1 step lighter than worsted weight), but I didn't have any yarns in my stash of that weight and I have a lot of worsted weight yarn from some yard-sales and past projects.

So, I searched the wonderful interwebs and found this pattern for a Grannyesque Headband using worsted weight yarn by Cayenne Boyer (it can also be found on Ravelry here). I made these four, with the colors matching most of my around-home wardrobe. If I get a job substitute teaching or something else, I may get some DK weight yarn to make a few headbands that are fancier and matching my professional dress clothes.

I also thought of the idea of making some more of the Grannyesque Headbands to give to my church to sell at their annual Fall Bazaar, because they are quick and easy to make. How great it is to have yarny friends that pass along patterns and suggestions, and to have the internet to look for patterns and other great ideas!!

My wedding garter

Whenever I've dreamed about my wedding day, I hoped that I would be able to make something for it as a keepsake. Being aware of the old tradition of "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," when I saw the pattern for this garter in Interweave Crochet I thought it was perfect. It was small enough that the time commitment to make it was not too great, and I really enjoyed making it. I was a bit disappointed with it not having more gathers because the instructions weren't very clear about where I should measure on my leg and how many extra rows I would need to make. In all, though, I shall treasure it, and I hope if I have a daughter I can pass it on to her.

Calico Prairie blog giveaway

Today one of the cross-stitch blogs I follow (Jacqueline's Stitching and Musing's) introduced me to another blog called Calico Prairie. I've really enjoyed reading it already, and she is having a giveaway of some really beautiful cross-stitch kits and other goodies. Go check it out and enter (well, maybe not because that will decrease the odds of my winning, ha ha!).

Calico Prairie Winter Giveaway