Angry Birds for Jeremy

I was surfing around on Ravelry and ran into a pattern to crochet the pig from the Angry Birds game. Jeremy has been playing Angry Birds (all 3 versions) this summer on Vince's phone, and I put the original on his computer in his room. He also saw stuffed animals of them in some stores and wanted them, so I knew he would love it if I made them for him. This way it would be fairly inexpensive, plus knowing that they would be small and light enough to be able to allow him to throw them in the house.

Further digging on Ravelry revealed the red bird, so I got to work on the pig and then the red bird. I wanted to get at least those two done to give him together as a surprise, and then I'll add as I have time.

Sure enough, he loves them!!

Vince had the idea to suggest to Jeremy to use the paper towel and toilet paper rolls we've been saving for crafts to make the structures like the pigs are in or on in the game. Then it'll be almost just like the computer game, except now he's being active and creative all at the same time, too. He's having a ball!

I also found a pattern for the black bird, and I'm hoping to either find patterns or figure out myself for the yellow bird, the white bird, and the blue bird. I'll be making more pigs, too - a bigger pig, a King pig, a helmet pig, and probably more of the first pig. I don't think I can manage the monkeys in Angry Birds Rio, though, lol.

I love being able to use a talent God has given me to make something for someone I love. It is like double joy because of the enjoyment I get out of crocheting something in the first place, and then getting to see Jeremy have so much fun with what I made. I've got a Rat Fink Pillow Pet in mind for his birthday already!

Carman Men Winter Hats for Christmas

It started off that I wanted to make a hat and scarf for Jeremy, and I had a pattern in mind to make Vince a hat sometime, so I decided to make hats for all the guys in the house. I actually managed to finish them all by our Christmas (we had it a few days early on Jeremy's birthday), except I had to take out Chuck's and redo it because it was a little too big. Jeremy's hat I had to redo probably 4 times to get it small enough (which I had to guess at and, thankfully, correctly). All of the patterns actually came from Interweave Crochet, but different magazine issues, except for the scarf. So, without further ado here they are:


Jeremy's Scarf and Hat that matches his winter coat. Sort-of a winter camo look. The scarf actually has a thermal fabric look to it with some front & back post double crochets - I got it's pattern from Lion Brand.









I intended Vince's to match with his coat as well - he has both this blue coat and a dressier brown coat.









And here is my father-in-law, Chuck, in his - I had a little bit of the black/gray Lion Brand Homespun, and since his favorite color is black (go figure!) I had the idea to stripe it with regular Red Heart black yarn (which I did 2 strands together to make it heavier).

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.

Current crochet projects

Though it may not seem like it sometimes, I do manage to finish craft projects occasionally. This one started off as a gift for my sister out of the blue yarn I had leftover from a hat I made last year, having found the pattern in the free section at Lion Brand. I had to get more yarn to finish it, and when found this Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds I wound up deciding to give her the other hat and keep this one for me! The other one was too tight on my head anyway, and the two times I wore it I got a headache. I was hoping for more of a scarf than this with what was left of the skein, but it does wrap around my neck and I just need a shawl pin to keep it together.

The truth, though, is that I work on too many projects at once, and yet I see so many beautiful patterns in Interweave Crochet, Crochet! Magazine, and on Ravelry and various blogs and websites that I would like to make! In addition to the hat, I have been working on the Wedding Frame for Mindy, I made another Stocking Ornament for Vince's mom for Christmas, and I'm really enjoying making my first crocheted sock (see below). I am taking a quick diversion to make another pair of Hand-Mitts for myself so that my hands don't get so cold when I cross-stitch here in the winter. Actually, very soon I need to start making my garter (a pattern from the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet) so that it is done in time for the wedding. Whew, I told you I have too many projects, but I love making every one of them!

Pink Afghan for my sister

As far as I can remember, this is the very first afghan I made after learning how to crochet. I made it for my sister, and I'm happy to know that she uses it to this day. Recently I took it for a week to tuck back in and fray-check some yarn ends, but it has done rather well I'd say for being around 20 years old and not just sitting in a closet. I wish I could find the original pattern, but I haven't a clue even what to look for (magazine, book, pamphlet, etc.) or where. I also don't remember if these are the original colors the pattern called for, or if we picked them out considering our room growing up was pink and we share it as a favorite color.

Wedding Frame

I haven't worked on my Mary Wigham SAL much because I've been working on a super-secret high priority project - a wedding frame for my co-worker who is getting married today. Since I'm not done with it yet, which I'm famous for not getting things done on time, I'm printing out pictures of the progress to put in the card.

So, I'll now be posting progress of this project, along with work on Mary when I get to it. The frame is based on a listed idea in Needleprint's Rebecca Blake Sampler pattern pamphlet. I put in the top part of "Bridegroom's Heart Motif" that Needleprint has a free download chart for, exchanging the letters in the chart for the initials of this happy couple. Here's an up-close pick of that top motif:


What will be interesting is how to wrap it to make the frame when I'm done with the stitching, because I haven't a clue how to do that yet, lol. I'm loving these Quaker samplers, though, because they are much more relaxing than changing floss color all the time.

Mary Wigham SAL

I'm so very excited to be participating in my first-ever SAL (Stitch-A-Long) making this beautiful sampler. It was made by a girl named Mary Wigham back in 1790, while she was a student at the Ackworth School - a Quaker boarding school founded in 1779.

Needleprint has worked together with the school to chart the sampler and offer it as free downloads in sections for this SAL, asking only for donations to further Ackworth School's efforts in conservation of this and many other samplers. Go to this post at Needleprint if you'd like to know more about the decision to release the chart this way. If you are at all interested, I encourage you to check it out and join us.

This will be the first time that I am going to stitch on linen - I've only ever used Aida cloth before. The fabric (Wichelt Lambswool Linen) is on order and should be here soon, and I can hardly wait to start. I'm actually intending to stitch it in monochrome - meaning that I will only use one floss color, which I think I've chosen a blue for it. I may vary it a bit by using lighter shades of the same color, but we'll see how it goes and whether I feel like sticking to the monochrome.

I think there will be an "official" blog dedicated to this SAL that I will link to for my updates once I know what it is and I get started stitching. Until then...happy stitching!

Baby Bib and Burp Cloth

This started off by my receiving the 2009 Crochet Pattern-A-Day Calendar from a co-worker for Christmas, and another co-worker whose daughter was expecting saw the pattern for these bibs when glancing through it. I was more than happy to try out the pattern and make them, and since we didn't know the gender of the baby yet I picked out this Lily Sugar 'n Cream variegated yarn that would work for any baby.

I had so much of the cream left over, since it was just the trim, that I then had the idea to make a burp cloth with it. I used the same stitch, half double-crochet, as the bibs and just guessed at the size. I was hoping I'd have enough of the variegated left to trim around the burp cloth, and I had just barely enough. They turned out perfect, if I might say so myself! I really enjoyed making these so much more than previous baby blankets and the bunting because they really didn't take much time at all. The hardest part was attaching the buttons! Speaking of buttons, here's a close up of the ultra-cute Bunny Buttons I found for them:

Blue Winter Hat

I made this blue hat for myself (and I thought it photographed best with my wearing it). It was super easy and quick to make. It has also been nice and warm with this ultra-cold winter this year!

Hand Mitts

The receptionist at work always has a hard time in the winter being warm enough in general, but especially her hands. She's had this pair of gloves that she cut off the fingers, but they've frayed over the years and look terrible. When I saw a pattern in my new 2009 Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar, I knew they'd be perfect for her. Here my mom is serving as my "hand-model", and she likes them so much that now I am making a pair for her.

Speaking of these crochet projects, I recently found this great knit and crochet community website called Ravelry. I signed up and got an invitation to join, and I'm starting to put these projects there. It is really great because it links to various yarn and pattern websites so they can be shared around.

Baby Bunting

This is a baby bunting I made for my co-worker, Mindy, who had a beautiful baby boy the end of April. When I started it, we didn't know the gender of the baby, so I made it with neutral colors. What is good about that is she can use it for any future babies, as well.

I forgot to take a picture myself before I gave it to her, so she took this pic. I'm bummed that I forgot, because I would've taken a close-up of the buttons - they are little bears and just so cute! It would've been cool, though, if she had taken a picture with him in it, too!

I know this - I really need to find patterns for baby stuff that are not so involved. Every time I make something for a baby, they are small, intricate stitches that take FOREVER to make. Or at least longer than I think they should being such an otherwise small item. :-/

Stocking Ornaments

I know it has been ages, but here are the stocking ornaments I've made. The one on the left with red and green stripes I made first two years ago for my friend, Cheryl, and then the variegated one last year for my Secret Santa, Cindy, at work. I used a pattern from Lion Brand Yarn's free patterns, but it was for large stockings with regular worsted weight yarn. I guessed that if I used crochet cotton and a small steel hook it would make it small enough for an ornament, and it worked just beautifully.



This year my Secret Santa was Jane, and I made this one for her. I cross-stitched the tree, which was an idea from my step-mom Viki.



And now, finally, this one I made for my friend Wendy - also this year. Obviously a variation on the last one.

iPod and Cellphone holders

I found the pattern to make these on DMC.com, and they really turned out cute.  I had to adjust some to make them fit properly, plus I figured out how to leave a space at the bottom of the iPod case for the cord to plug into it.  I kinda like having something that no one can just buy in a store - people have asked me where I got them and it is so cool to say, "I made them myself!"

Heart cross-stitch

I made this for my dad and stepmom when they got married, but sadly among those that somehow haven't made it into the frame. The problem is that I discovered from one I had made my mom many years ago that marks from the hoop showed up after awhile. I wanted to figure out how to clean that one and this one before I put this one in a frame. Oxi-clean seems to have worked, but I'm still afraid of putting it in the frame my stepmom got because she has an adhesive backing that if it does show marks down the road I may not be able to fix it.

Cat Home cross-stitch

It has been entirely too long since I've posted something here. I made this cross stitch for myself just because when I saw it in the store I thought it was so cute and so appropriate for my love of cats. It took FOREVER because it is huge - I had to get a 11x15 frame for it. The picture is a little blurry - I'll try to take a better one with my new camera (a Kodak EasyShare Z812!) soon.

Rose, Blue & Cream afghan

I made this one for myself, too, a few years ago and I really love how the blue and the rose colors go together. What was really fun about it is that each square is a different crochet stitch, so I got to learn a whole bunch of different stitches and make something beautiful at the same time.

Lion & Lamb cross-stitch

I made this several years ago for a friend who was adopting a girl from Korea. It took me way too long to get it done, that then when I finished the stitching I felt embarassed that it was way after she got her daughter and so never got around to framing it and actually giving it to her. One of these days I need to just get over my feeling ashamed, and just get it framed and give it to her.

Phil. 3:5 cross-stitch

I made this one for my sister. I enjoyed making the flowers the most, seeing how the different shades come together to make it look like a real flower. I bet God enjoyed making flowers the most, too, with all the variety of hues and colors he used. I believe He also enjoys seeing how gardeners cross-breed to make new colors, seeing what they do with the wisdom and talents that He's given them.