Easy Ripple Afghan

I'm a little more than half way in a race to finish this afghan for Collin before the hot weather sets in. As I made an afghan for Abigail, and hats, not only for myself, but for many others, Collin quietly sat and watched, waiting his turn. He chose the colors and the pattern, and beams every time I sit to work on it. Let's just say I've had quite a few extra kisses lately, and I don't mind a bit.

You can find the pattern here.

Do you like my hat?

No more ripping out, for I've mastered the pattern at long last!

And just for fun, can you name the book from the title?

Cotton Yarn in Camel

It's delicious enough to serve on a plate!

Photo Challenge: Learning

Because we are a homeschooling family, learning never stops. It happens at the dining room table, in the kitchen, at a desk, in the car, and in the yard. I love that!

This week I'm learning patience. The above picture is a hat that I've been trying to crochet all week. I've ripped it out no less than 15 times. Sometimes, the ripping out comes just as I get to the last three rows.

Each night after supper, my husband reads to us from God's word. We all learn something.

What are you learning?

Join us at Rebecca's House for more Foto Friday pictures.

A Case of Her Own

Can you imagine having to run to your neighbor's house to borrow a pot every time you wanted to cook soup? Me, either. That's why I made Abigail her own crochet hook case. It's so much more fun to work on projects when you have your own tools! She's been diligently picking up her hook and yarn lately, and I thought that deserved a little reward.

I went to my fabric stash and found the perfect candy-inspired fabric in colors that shout, "Abigail!"

And once it was all stitched up, I proceeded to fill it with goodies.

Two Purposes

I'm busy making this blanket for Abigail to keep her warm on these cold nights. Sometimes working on a project serves two purposes, and if one of them is to keep myself warm then I'm all for progress. That's not too selfish, is it?

Finishing What I Start

I'm trying hard these days to complete my many ufo's. 

I finished this afghan last Friday evening, and it's already a favorite around here. I especially love the lacy edge paired with the granny square.  

Crochet Wrap

I started and finished this crochet shawl this week. It's lightweight, and feminine despite the charcoal color.

Since September, our friend Amy K has been joining us once a week. Autumn taught her how to knit, and then crochet. She proved to be a quick learner, and is turning out projects left and right.

I'm enjoying spending long afternoons with these two young women; one already married, and one soon to be.

Ruffle Edge Crochet Wrap

shell = (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) all in same space

shell over shell = shell in chain 3 space of shell below

Begin: Chain 10; join with a slip stitch in first chain to form a ring

Row 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, (ch 3, 3 dc in ring) 3 times; turn

Row 2: Chain 5, (shell in next ch 3 space, ch 3) 3 times, dc in top of ch 3; turn.

Row 3: Chain 5, dc in first space, (ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 space) twice, ch 3, shell over shell, (ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 space) twice, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) all in last space; turn.

Row 4: ch 5, dc in first space, ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch 3 space, ch 3; repeat from * to center shell; shell over shell, ** ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 space; repeat from ** to last space; ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) all in last space; turn.

Rows 5-26: Repeat row 4

Ruffle-Row 1: *ch 5, sc in next space, ch 5 , skip next dc, sc in next dc; repeat from * to last stitch, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of chain 5; turn.

Row 2: Ch 4, (dc, ch 1) 9 times all in first ch 5 space; * (dc, ch 1) 10 times all in next ch 5 space; repeat from * across omitting last ch 1 in last space; turn. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

This pattern is easily adaptable to fit a child or a larger woman, just make less or more rows before beginning the ruffle.

I used an H/8- 5.00 MM crochet hook, and three skeins of Caron Simply Soft yarn to complete this project.

Lace Ruana

Lace what?

Ruana.

It's a poncho-like wrap that's open in the front, and can be worn many different ways.





You can wear the front open, or belt it.





You can throw one or both sides over your shoulder(s). It an be easily secured with a brooch, if desired.





They're quick to throw on , and easy to take off.

And this particular one is on its way to Verne's grandma. I hope she enjoys it.

Five hours...

of watching this:

Which I loved, by the way! (Thank you for the birthday gift, Sherri! The girls and I finally got to have our girls' night in!)

and keeping my hands busy, equals this:



It's one large granny square. So far it measures 22 inches square.
ETA: The granny WILL turn into an afghan!

Adapting the Pattern

Looking for a gift for the crochet/knitting enthusiast? Try my Crochet Hook Case. It goes together in a long afternoon or evening.

I adapted this one to fit long knitting needles and standard crochet hooks. Don't be afraid to lengthen the body of the case to accommodate your needs.



My adaptations were as follows:

Instead of cutting the fabric for the main body 20 x 34, I cut it 20 x 42. The fusible fleece for the main body was then cut to 20 x 20.



The large pocket fabric was cut to 20 x 30 instead of 16 x 20. The fusible fleece for that pocket is cut to 15 x 20.


The only other adaptation that I made to this case was to close it with three buttons rather than two.

When I started putting this one together I thought it was going to look dull with the plain blue and brown fabrics, but a few adorable buttons and some satin ribbon dressed it up nicely!
Have fun!

Blue Stripes

As I walked through the yarn aisle I spotted these skeins for $1.50 on clearance. I snatched up seven, knowing that I had some ivory left from the baby blanket that I recently completed. I've got a good start already, though I don't yet know whom the recipient will be. This one is twin size.

She's So Clever

My Autumn, that is.

First she crocheted a posy. She made a beautiful card, and sewed a button to the front.

She then slipped the center of the posy onto the button. A gift and a card all in one!

After I read the card and she showed me that the flower was detachable, I suggested the she place the button on a pin. So, she removed the button from the card, and hot glued it onto a pin.

Finally, she placed the flower back over the button.The really unique thing is that I can change out the color of the posy to match different outfits! Clever, indeed!

Labor of Love

Baby afghan for Lydia draped over the cradle that my dad made for my babies

I went to work with Verne today. We drove 374 miles, and I crocheted from sunrise until we made our way back home again. I finally finished the baby afghan that I started last month. It's 28 inches wide by 36 inches long, and is just adorable. But oh, am I ever glad it's done! I didn't expect it to take as long as it did. Now if I can just decide to save it for the baby shower on November 1, or to give it now, as baby Lydia arrived a week ago today.

Neapolitan or Mint Chocolate Chip?

Inspiration can be found just about anywhere! Autumn and I are busy crocheting baby afghans. Hers is for a soon to be born baby Isaac who happens to have a sage green and brown nursery. Mine is for a soon to be born Lydia. I considered going with purple for her, but the Neapolitan colors were too delicious to turn my back on.

Making a Crochet Hook Case: A Tutorial

I made myself a crochet hook case last month, and my daughter Autumn has become obsessed with it. Finally I asked her, "Would you like for me to make you a case of your own?" Without blinking she nearly shouted, "Yes!" I asked her what she wanted it to look like, and she said, "I want it to be groovy." Okey, dokey then! Off I went to the fabric store, and brought home some groovy fabric. She was thrilled.


And so, to make your very own crochet hook case that will be coveted by people everywhere,
you will need:

♥ Two fabrics: one main fabric, and a complimentary fabric for the pockets
♥ quilt batting or fusible fleece
♥ complimentary ribbon
♥ two buttons

Let's get started!

Cut a rectangle from your main fabric 20 x 34 inches.


Cut a rectangle from your quilt batting or fusible fleece 20 x 32 inches.


If you are using fusible fleece, fuse the fleece to the wrong side of the main fabric according to the manufacturer's directions.



If you are using batting, baste it to the sides of the main fabric. Your batting or fleece should be flush to the one end of the main fabric, and two inches short on the other end.

Cut two rectangles from your complimentary fabric. One rectangle should be 11 x 20 inches. The other should measure 16 x 20 inches.

Cut one piece of quilt batting or fusible fleece 5 1/2 X 20 inches.
Cut a second piece of quilt batting or fusible fleece 8 x 20 inches.


Press the rectangles of complimentary fabrics in half, making one rectangle 8x 20 inches, and one rectangle 5 1/2 x 20 inches.


Open the rectangles, and fuse or baste the lining to one side of the rectangle.


Press the rectangles closed once more.


Place the rectangle of your main fabric, right side up, so that the end with the batting flush to it is facing you. Place the complimentary 8 x 20 inch rectangle on top of it, with the open side towards you, 2 inches from the edge of the main fabric. Pin in place along each side.


Now take the remaining 5 1/2 x 20 inch rectangle of complimentary fabric, placing it on top of the first one, but only 1/4 inch from the edge of the main fabric. This will create two rows of pockets. Pin in place.


Take the whole thing to your machine, and stitch the sides that you have pinned using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Do not stitch along the bottoms of the pockets.


Now you get to decide how big you want to make the sections in your pockets. It's a good idea to vary the sizes to accommodate scissors, a stitch gauge, crochet hooks, or circular knitting needles. Divide the width of your case in thirds, and mark that. From there, you can mark stitching lines to suit your needs. Marking the thirds is imperative, as your entire case folds into thirds.
Stitch along the marked lines, making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of each line.

Press. Fold the entire project nearly in half, right sides to the middle. Remember that you have a two inch section with no batting or fusible fleece? Only fold to the end of the fleece.

Pin the sides, so as to make your project look like a pillowcase. Stitch each side, from the folded end toward the open end, using a 5/8 inch seam allowance. Do not stitch on the fabric with no lining.
Turn your fabric so the right side is out, making sure the corners are nice and square, and not bunched up. Press.


Press the extra fabric without lining so the the bottom edge meets the bottom of the pockets.


Fold it up over the bottom of the pocket to create a nice hem.




Pin and stitch.
In order to make the flap that will fold down to keep all of your tools from falling out lay nicely, you may machine or hand quilt it.
In this case, I machine-quilted flowers to match the fabric.

Do not quilt the pockets!


Fold the flap down, and fold the right side of the case in toward the center. Find and place a pin in the seam that falls there to mark it. Cut two lengths of ribbon, about 18 inches long. Place the ribbons flat on your work surface, and lay the case on top of them in a way that the ribbons are about 1 1/2 inches from the top and bottom of the folded case. Pin the ribbon in place, and stitch from the inside following the lines that are already there.

click to enlarge

This hides the stitches that attach the ribbons.


Fold your case in thirds again, so that the left side of the case is on top. Bring the ribbons up so as to help place the buttons. Hand sew the buttons onto the left flap.

To close your case, simply bring the ribbon around the button, and tie it closed!


You're done! This pattern could easily be adapted to make a longer case for traditional knitting needles. Happy Sewing!