Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Window Bag

Woo Hoo!!  The bag I first started working on on our Sequoia trip last year is finally done! 

The pattern was fast and easy and perfect for the many hours drive up and back to Sequoia.  Felting came and went lickety split... but, I got stuck on finding the right material for the blanket stitching that goes around the handles and the windows (those cute circles)! 

Then, I kept hedging on actually sewing in the fabric... this pretty pretty stuff from Superbuzzy that I couldn't bring myself to cut into.

This past week, I was preparing for another bag project and realized this UFO needed to be finished.  About 1/2 an hour later, it was done!  Yay!!!

I have already started and finished another project out of this book that I need to blog about, but here is the info on this one.

Pattern Info:  The Window Bag by Julie Armstrong Holetz in the book Uncommon Crochet
Yarn Info:  Cascade 220 in Irelande, available at The Loopy Ewe

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Mother's Day in the mountains


Crisp clean air and a dusting of snow
A mug of hot chocolate by my side
Crocheting by the fireplace with socked feet tucked under
Children running through the lodge with boundless energy
Husband photographing the beauty of the evening
Mother's Day in the Mountains

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Another free crochet pattern: "Love in 15" baby cap

"Love in 15" baby cap



Designed by: Heather Schott (CelticMommy on Ravelry. Pattern Link)
http://celticmommy.blogspot.com/
Special Thanks to Donnetta Johnson for testing!

Another fun and fast crochet pattern for a preemie or baby cap! I am still working on hats for the non-profit organization Stitches from the Heart and have been trying my hand at different patterns. I hope you like this one! The finish is different for boys and girls hats.

As with my previous patterns, I am offering it here free for personal use only. The pattern can be made for gifts, charities, etc., but not for sold items!

Materials Needed:
  • For a small newborn hat: About 50 yards of two colors of worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 (size I) hook (head circumference about 14.5 inches)
  • For a preemie hat: About 50 yards of two colors of DK weight yarn and a 5.0 (size H) hook (head circumference about 13 inches)
  • Needle to weave in ends
Hats shown in the pattern were made with Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Blossom & Violet (the girl version) and Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Sage and White (the boy version).

Pattern: (Two endings and mods to make larger)
In Primary Color (PC), chain 2
Round 1: In first chain, crochet 12hdc. Join with a ss to top of the chain 2 (makes 12 sts total) to form a ring. TURN.
Round 2: Chain 1. 2hdc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1 (24 sts). TURN
Round 3: Chain 1. *hdc in each hdc for 3 sts, then 2 hdc in next st* Repeat 6 times around. Join with a ss to chain 1. (30 sts) DO NOT TURN
Add Secondary Color (SC) and move PC to back
Round 4: Chain 1. sc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 5: Chain 1. sc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 6: Chain 1. sc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. DO NOT TURN
Move SC to back and use PC
Round 7: Chain 1. hdc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 8: Chain 1. hdc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 9: Chain 1. hdc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1. DO NOT TURN
Move PC to back and use SC
Round 10: Chain 1. sc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 11: Chain 1. sc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 12: Chain 1. sc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. DO NOT TURN
Move SC to back and use PC
Round 13: Chain 1. hdc in each sc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
Round 14: Chain 1. hdc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1. TURN
(Boy Version) Round 15: Chain 1. hdc in each hdc. Join with a ss to chain 1.
(Girl Version) Round 15: Chain 1. *3hdc in hdc, ss in next hdc* Repeat around, joining with a ss to chain 1.
Bind off yarns and weave in ends.

Modification to make a slightly larger hat: Replace HDCs with DCs.
Modification to make 3-6 month hat: In round 3, increase sts to 36 by adding 1hdc in every other hdc all the way around.

That's it!
Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or spot any errors.

If you decide to make "Love in 15", I would appreciate a link back to the pattern either here on the blog or on Ravelry so others can use it as well.

Happy Crocheting!