Behind The Scenes 😎🧶☃️

Hello my lovely friends 💕 How have you been? I hope all is well in your neck of the woods 😊

All is good here…except we’re all getting a bit cabin-feverish. It’s so, so cold 🥶 ☃️

The recent snow brought us some beautiful scenery

But we’re ready for Spring-flowers – so today I turned my ‘ Jim Shore’ pillow over. From ‘Winter’ to ‘ Summer’! I hope Mother Nature will get the hint, and we’ll get at least the average temperatures for this time of year! 🌞🌷🌷

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

I’ve suffered from a touch of ‘bloggers block’ lately 😕 I’m not sure it’s over, but I won’t know until I try. Right? Maybe some pictures with comments to get back into the groove of things? Okay…here we go 😁

While the Laptop got a bit dusty, the crochet hooks were quite busy.

I made another vest

The new cardigan ‘Opposites attract’ 😃

I like the idea of two different-color halves…so there may be quite a few of them in the future 😉

The second one is already in the works…

And I have an idea for a third one…

The sun came around the corner just as I snapped the picture, so it’s hard to tell that the right side is a deep black. I’m not complaining though…just saying she could’ve waited another second 😎

It’s not the best picture, but you get the idea of the colorway 😊

The big fail for last month was this coat…

I loved it while I made it, kinda liked it when I tried it on (it’s heavy!), and started to get an uneasy feeling about it when I put it on the mannequin and started taking pictures 🤦🏻‍♀️

It stayed on the mannequin for a few days…then the decision was made – it has to come apart. And I wasn’t even upset – I guess that’s a sign that it was the right choice! 🙃

Notes to self:

1. Bulky yarn is not the perfect yarn for long coats (it gets reeaally heavy)

2. Do not use the Double-crochet stitch, especially when placed between stitches, when

working with bulky yarn (the stitches pull apart)

3. Don’t weave in ends until you’re 100% sure that the piece is perfect! It’s much, much easier to take something apart when the ends are still dangling

And last but not least…Georgia Mae’s blanket is finished 🥰 Big yawn…I guess it’s quite cozy…

Now it’s back to one of the WIPs 🤩

I hope you have a wonderful week! 💕

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A Creative Weekend

Hello my lovely friends 💕

After the hectic holidays I treated myself to a wonderful creative weekend.

I had a few things to finish…like this Pixie 🧚🏼‍♀️ Scoodie

I had a few rows to crochet on the scarf part, and then I made the PomPoms.
Now, I have to say, even if you’re not a fan of the LionBrand Homespun Yarn, you have to admit that it makes awesome PomPoms 😊

If you wanna love the yarn, but are struggling with it, check out Robin’s post on her blog Imperial Crochet.  She made a beautiful hat/scarf set out of said yarn, and has a few tips on how to work with it.

Next was my Boho Vest (yes, my Christmas Decorations are still up  😁)

Fun fact: Since I splurged on some handspun yarn from the ‘Lake of the Ozarks’ region  (4 skeins to be exact) this vest may very well be now the most expensive piece of clothing in my closet 🙈 Who’d a thunk it?
I really, really like it though – so it was worth it.

Since I started wearing more vests to spruce up some boring sweaters, I decided to make another (more economic 😆 ) one.
If you look closer, the bottom part (the Ozark yarn) is knitted, and the rows are vertical.
I basically knitted 3 panels, and picked up stitches on the longer side.
I actually like to do it this way…no more math to figure out the stitch count. I just knit/crochet up until it’s the right length, or width in that case.
I hope this makes sense!

And that’s exactly what I’m doing for the new one, except I will make the strip long enough for the back and both front panels…no seams to close 😎
This time I’m doing the ‘Basketweave Stitch’ – my first time! And I love it…I can’t believe it took me this long to try it.

Have you done anything in this stitch? If you haven’t and would like to know more, please let me know – I always love to help 😍

And – since I feel my String Painting definitely needs improving, I dabbled a bit in paint.
My hat’s off to the kids that did this in Elementary School! There is – at least for me – a steep learning curve. Like making sure that all the excess paint is stripped off the string, and ‘don’t apply to much pressure’!

If you like to see more…don’t go anywhere 😁 I took a few pictures of the process

Squirt some paint in a glass dish or on a plate, and dip your string in the paint until it’s covered all around. Take of the excess paint (I held up the doubled up string, and with thumb and forefinger of the other hand grabbed it, squeezed, and pulled up)

Lay out the strings

Cover it – I like to cover it with another piece of drawing paper (that way you’ll have two images 😃) and a book. Apply some pressure, gather the strings at the bottom, and voilá

Not bad…but I will keep practicing 😊

Well, that was it for me 🤓 Did you have a wonderful weekend, doing things you love?
I sure hope so!

Until next time 💕

Grannies, But Not Your Granny’s Sweater ~Pattern for the (almost) Teen

Hello my lovely friends 💕

A few days ago I published the pattern for my ‘Grannies, but not your Granny’s’ Sweater.

After hearing from a few wonderful mothers/Grandmas that want to crochet the sweater for their offspring, I went back to the drawing board. I rewrote the pattern for (Child)Size 10/12, because that was the most requested.

The measurement charts for kids clothes vary vastly. I studied a few, and then went with the average measurements for that age. I do hope that they’ll work for all of you.

Shoulder-to-Hem: 22″
Sleeve (Underarm to wrist): 16”
Upper Arm Circumference : 11″
Hips: 30″

For more step-by-step pictures please go to the original pattern. You can find it here.

Happy Crocheting! 😍

Grannies, not your Granny’s Sweater

It’s not quite finished yet, but I’m certain that everything fits together as it should 😊

Pattern Notes:

Fpdc = front-post dc – Yarn over. Insert hook, from front to back between the first and second dc of the previous row, and then from back to front between the second and third dc. Yarn over. Pull around the post of the stitch (3 loops on hook). Finish dc as usual.

Bpdc = back-post dc – Yarn over. Insert hook, from back to front between the first and second dc of previous row, then from front to back between the second and third dc. Yarn over. Pull through around the post of the stitch (3 loops). Finish dc as usual.

You will need:

Worsted and/or medium (4) yarn – appr. 400g/16 oz.

Hook – Size J10/6.00mm

4 buttons

Tapestry needle

Pattern

Front:
Ch 54

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc across ch. Ch3. Turn.

Row 2: Fpdc (see Pattern Notes) around second dc.

Bpdc (see Pattern Notes) around third dc. Alternate stitches to the end of the row.

Ch 3. Turn.

Row 3 & 4: Repeat Row 2 – working the stitches as they appear (work a fpdc around the ‘raised’ stitch,  a bpdc around the ‘shallow’ stitch)

Change color (optional)

Row 5: Dc in every stitch. At the end of the row, ch 4. Turn.

Row 6: *Skip one dc. Dc in top of next stitch. Ch1. Repeat from * . End with dc in last stitch. Ch 3. Turn.

Row 7 and following rows: Repeat Rows 5 & 6 until your piece measures 15″ (changing colors according to your desired pattern).

Fasten off.

Make 4 Granny Squares – 2 rounds/each.
Crochet/sew 2 together. Repeat for the other 2.
Mark the middle of your finished front panel.
Crochet/sew the short side of one strip to the right side of the mark.
Crochet/sew the other strip to the left side.

Top-Side Panel

Attach new yarn to one outside corner of your front panel.
Crochet the panel pattern until you reach the height of the Granny Square.

Repeat on the other side.

Close the seams.

Shoulder:
Make 2 Granny Squares – 2 rounds/each.
Attach your yarn to one corner, ch3, dc 1 in same space, dc in each space across (7dc+ch). Fasten off.
Repeat for the other Square.

Crochet/sew a square to the front panel, lining the added row of dc up with the inside edge of the top-side panel.
Repeat on the other side.

You will have about an inch open on each side.

Sleeves:

Make 12 Granny Squares -2 rounds/each –  for each sleeve.

If you have multicolored squares, play around, and see which pattern is most to your liking.

Granny Square Join:

Make 3 strips with 4 squares/each.
Lay 2 squares on top of each other.
Attach Yarn to one corner. Ch 3.
Work 3dc in the corner of the second square.
Work 3 dc in the 2nd space of the first square. Repeat, going back and forth between the squares.
Work 1 dc in last space.

Attach the middle strip to the Shoulder Granny Square as described above.

Sew the strips together.

Sleeve Cuff:
Attach yarn to one corner of a Granny Square. Sc to the other end. Dc 3. Work the linked double-crochet stitch for 3 rows. Fasten off.

Back:
Ch 54

Work in the same pattern as the front until you reach the full height of the front panel (incl. Granny Squares and side panels) = appr. 22″

Fasten off.

Finishing:

Following this diagram, close the side seams (crochet or sew),  the armhole- & sleeve seams.

Close the sleeve seams using the Granny-Square join stitch described above – dc for the top 2 squares (closest to the neckline), hdc for 1 square, sc for the last square.

Fasten off.

Neckline:
Sc all around the neckline, including in-between the front Granny Squares.

Sew on buttons. Make corresponding chain-loops.

Weave in the ends, and you can present your lovely handiwork to the young lady close to your heart! 😍

I hope you enjoyed this pattern, and have fun crocheting the sweater! 😊

Please let me know how it went 🙂

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m always just a quick message away!

‘Georgia Mae’s Flower Patch’ ~ Crochet Along – Part II

Hello my lovely friends 💕

Did you finish your Carnation Square from Part I of this Crochet Along?

Yes? Great!  😃 Now let’s build on that, and see the ‘Flower Patch’ grow.

Get out your carnation, and yarn, and let’s do the next 5 rounds! Happy Crocheting! 😍

Pattern Notes:

Bobble Stitch: *Yarn over. Insert hook in next stitch/space, pull through and up so the loop is as tall as the previous dc. Repeat twice from *. Yarn over. Pull through all loops at once.

Round 11:
Attach yarn to any corner of your carnation square. Ch2. Yarn over. Pull through and up so the loop is as tall as the chain. Yarn over. Insert hook in same space. Pull through and up. Yarn over. Insert hook in same space. Pull through and up. Yarn over. Pull through all loops at once.
Ch 3. Work one Bobble Stitch in same corner space. Ch 1.
Work one Bobble Stitch/each in every following [Ch1] space and between the Dcs of the previous row.
Work [1 Bobble, ch 3, 1 Bobble] in every corner space.
Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain.

Round 12:
Attach yarn to any corner. Ch2. Dc 1 in same space. Ch3. Dc 2 in same space.
Dc 1 in each space and on top of each Bobble.
Work [dc 2, ch 3, dc 2] in every corner.
Slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain.

Round 13:
Attach yarn to any corner. Ch 1. Sc in same space. Ch 3. Sc 2 in same space.
Sc 1 on top of the next 2 dc. Dc in the space between two bobbles of Row 11.
*Sc 1 on top of the next dc. Dc in the space between two bobbles.
Repeat from * , working [2sc, ch 3, 2sc] in every corner.
Slipstitch in beginning ch1.

Round 14:
Attach yarn to any corner. Ch2. Dc 1 in same space. Ch 3. Dc 2 in same space.
*Skip on sc of previous row. Dc 1 in next stitch. Dc 1 in stitch skipped.
Repeat from *, working [dc 2, ch3, dc 2] in every corner.
Slipstitch to top of beginning ch.

Round 15:
Attach yarn to any corner. Ch 1. Sc 2 in same space.
Sc in every space between dcs in previous row.
Work 3 sc in every corner.
Slipstitch in beginning ch1.

That’s it for Part II. At this point you might wanna consider weaving in your ends.
I know, I know….ugh  😝 But you will thank me later! 😊

I hope you’re enjoying your growing blanket. Part III and IV will bring you more Flower-Squares. 🌺🌸🌼

Until next time 💕

Grannies, Not Your Granny’s, Sweater ~ A Crochet Pattern

Hello my lovely friends 💕

It’s finally here! Sweater Weather! 😍
And isn’t it always nice to add a new one to the closet?!

Today I wanna share this pattern with you, so you can add one, two, three new ones to your wardrobe. 😊

It’s a great stashbuster, or pick your favorite yarn and start crocheting.
As long as it’s worsted and/or medium weight(4) you have everything you need.

It’s a perfect pattern for beginners – all you need to know is chain (ch), single crochet (sc), and double crochet (dc).

So…without further ado I give you the

Grannies, not your Granny’s Sweater

Original design by Tina Patrie

Pattern Notes:

This pattern is for size S/M. You can easily adjust it by adding more chain to your beginning row, and by making the Squares bigger.
I’ll be more than happy to help you with that. Just leave a comment and I’ll get right back to you.

Fpdc = front-post dc – Yarn over. Insert hook, from front to back between the first and second dc of the previous row, and then from back to front between the second and third dc. Yarn over. Pull around the post of the stitch (3 loops on hook). Finish dc as usual.

Bpdc = back-post dc – Yarn over. Insert hook, from back to front between the first and second dc of previous row, then from front to back between the second and third dc. Yarn over. Pull through around the post of the stitch (3 loops). Finish dc as usual.

You will need:

Worsted and/or medium (4) yarn – appr. 700g/25 oz.

Hook – Size J10/6.00mm

4 buttons

Tapestry needle

Pattern

Front:
Ch 70.

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc across ch. Ch3. Turn.

Row 2: Fpdc (see Pattern Notes) in second dc.

Bpdc (see Pattern Notes) in third dc. Alternate stitches to the end of the row.

Ch 3. Turn.

Row 3 & 4: Repeat Row 2 – working the stitches as they appear (work a fpdc around the ‘raised’ stitch,  a bpdc around the ‘shallow’ stitch)

Change color (optional)

Row 5: Dc in every stitch. At the end of the row, ch 4. Turn.

Row 6: *Skip one stitch. Dc in next stitch. Ch1. Repeat from * . End with dc in last stitch. Ch 3. Turn.

Row 7 and following rows: Repeat Rows 5 & 6 until your piece measures 22″ (changing colors according to your desired pattern).

Fasten off.

Make 4 Granny Squares – 3 rounds/each.
Crochet/sew 2 together. Repeat for the other 2.
Mark the middle of your finished front panel.
Crochet/sew the short side of one strip to the right side of the mark.
Crochet/sew the other strip to the left side.

Top-Side Panel

Attach new yarn to one outside corner of your front panel.
Crochet the panel pattern until you reach the height of the Granny Square.
Repeat on the other side.
Close the seams.

Shoulder:

Make 2 Granny Squares – 3 rounds/each.
Attach your yarn to one corner, ch3, dc 1 in same space, dc in each space across (10dc + ch). Fasten off.
Repeat for the other Square.
Crochet/sew a square to the front panel, lining the row of 11 dc up with the inside edge of the top-side panel.
Repeat on the other side.

You will have about an inch open on each side.

Sleeves:

Make 12 Granny Squares for each sleeve.
If you have multicolored squares, play around, and see which pattern is most to your liking.

Granny Square Join:

Make 3 strips with 4 squares/each.
Lay 2 squares on top of each other.
Attach Yarn to one corner. Ch 3.
Work 3dc in the corner of the second square.
Work 3 dc in the 2nd space of the first square. Repeat, going back and forth between the squares.
Work 1 dc in last space.

Attach the middle strip to the Shoulder Granny Square as described above.

Sew the strips together.

Sleeve Cuff:

Attach yarn to one corner of a Granny Square. Sc to the other end. Dc 3. Work the Linked dc stitch stitch for 3 rows. Fasten off.

Back:
Ch 70.
Work in the same pattern as the front until you reach the full height of the front panel (incl. Granny Squares and side panels) = appr. 29 1/4″
Fasten off.

Finishing:
Following this diagram, check your assembled sweater. Close the side seams (crochet or sew),  the armhole- & sleeve seams.

Check carefully…’cause this happened here! 🤣 True story!

Close the side seams (crochet or sew),  the armhole- & sleeve seams.

Close the sleeve seams using the Granny-Square join stitch described above – dc for the top 2 squares (closest to the neckline), hdc for 1 square, sc for the last square.
Fasten off.

Neckline:
Sc all around the neckline, including in-between the front Granny Squares.

Sew on buttons. Make corresponding chain-loops.

And there it is…your new sweater

I’m working on a second one – it’s not finished, but I wanna show you how it looks in a more subdued colorway 😁

If you have any questions regarding this pattern, please don’t hesitate to ask! I will help in any way I can.

Will you be adding this sweater to your closet? Please let me know in the comments!

I wish you a glorious Fall Season! 😃🍁💕

Playing With Yarn & Colors ~ A Freeform Collage

Hello my lovely friends 💕

Are you enjoying the brilliant colors Mother Nature uses to paint the trees around us this time of year?

Every morning, while walking the dogs, I see more and more patches of reds and yellows pop up 😍

And some wonderful people have been sharing their Fall pictures on Facebook

Glorious…isn’t it?! I wanna jump right in! Don’t you? 😁

Seeing all these photos sparked an idea = Freeform Collage!

I’ve been trying my hand at Freeform Crochet Scrumbles, and am loving it!

So I got all my Fall-Color yarn out and went to town…no plan, just a picture in my mind.

Luckily I had the perfect yarn in my stash. 😃

Like this one here – Fall colors in a skein…

And this beautiful handspun wool

And of course many more, but these two really stand out. 🙂

And inch by inch it grew

Glorious Autumn – A Freeform Collage

It’s so much fun to play with the colors and different stitches.

Please watch for updates, and see the lake, sky, and more trees appear 😊💕🍁

Do you think Freeform is for you? You should try it sometime – once in a while it’s good to let the crazy child inside you create 🙃

Have fun! 💕

‘Georgia Mae’s Flower Patch’ ~ Introduction and Part I

Hello my lovely friends 💕

Welcome to ‘Georgia Mae’s Flower Patch’ Crochet Along – named after the wee one, and because flowers and an abundance of colors are the perfect way to say
‘Welcome to the world, Baby Girl’ 💖🌺💖

Meet Georgia Mae 😍

Now let’s get crocheting! 😃

This blanket is worked from the inside out.
It is a great project for the intermediate beginner. I do incorporate a lot of different stitches, but will guide you through every step, and if you have any questions I’m always ready to answer. Don’t be afraid to ask. 😊

Materials
Yarn –  Weight 3 (Light) in various colors
Hook H8/5.00mm

Pattern Notes:
Rd = Round
Ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
sl st = slipstitch
dc tog = double crochet together = Yarn over, insert hook in stitch. Pull through. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over. Insert hook in same stitch. Pull through. Yarn over. Pull through 2 loops. Repeat from * for the number of stitches indicated, and finish by pulling the yarn through all loops at once.

Pattern:
Part I is a beautiful Carnation – Square ~  the flower of the month of January.
For this square you need 3 different colors. A = flower, B + C = Leaves and Frame

Make a magic ring (or ch5 and close to a ring with a sl st)
Round 1
Ch1. Work 10sc into the ring. Sl st to the ch1 at the beginning of round.
Round 2
*Ch2. Sl st in next stitch – back loop only! Repeat from * around.
Sl st to beginning ch2. (10 loops)
Round 3
Sl st to the front loop of 1st sc of Rd 1. Ch2. Hdc 2 in same stitch.
Hdc 3 in every sc (front loop).
Sl st to top of Ch2. (10 [3hdc] groups.
Round 4
*Ch2, sl st in same stitch. Repeat from * all around.
Fasten off.
Round 5
Attach color A to any to any loop of Round II.
Ch3. Dc 2 in same loop. *Dc 1 in next loop. Dc3 in next loop.
Repeat from * (20 dc)
Sl st to top of Ch3.
Round 6
*Ch3. Sl st into next st.
Repeat from * (20 loops)
Fasten off.
Round 7
Attach yarn B to any loop of Round VI.
[Ch3, 2 dc tog Ch1. 3 dc tog. Ch1. 3 dc tog] in same loop. Corner made.
*Ch2. Skip 1 loop. 2 dc in next 2 loops.
Ch2. Skip 1 loop.
[3 dc tog, 3 ch, 3 dc tog, 3 ch, 3 dc tog] in next loop. Repeat from *
Sl st to top of ch3 at beg of round.
Fasten off.

Round 8
Attach color C to a ch2 space (before a corner)
Ch3. Dc 1 in same space.
*Ch2. Dc 3 in next space (between 2 petals)
Ch3. Dc 3 in next space.
Ch2. Dc 2 in next space.
Ch1. Dc in space between 2dc of previous row.
Ch1. Dc 2 in next space.
Repeat from *
Sl st to top of ch3 at beg of round.
Fasten off.

Round 9
Attach color A to any ch2 space before a corner.
Ch2. Hdc 1 in same space.
*Ch2. [Hdc 3, ch3, hdc3] in corner space.
Ch2. Hdc 2 in next space.
Ch2. Hdc 1 in next space.
Ch1. Hdc 1 in next space.
Ch2. Hdc 2 in next space.
Repeat from *
Sl st to top of ch2 at beg of round.
Fasten off.

Curly Qs
Attach color B to any open loop of Round VI.
Ch12. Sc3 in 2nd ch from hook, and each following sc, working down the chain.
Sl st into loop.
Fasten off.
Repeat in all other open loops (8 Curly Qs)

Weave in the ends (Trust me! You do want to do this now   )

From now on I will post a few rows at a time every week.
I do realize you have a life and other WIPS, so we’ll go at a slow, steady pace.

Update: Part II is now ready for you. You can find it here

I hope you decide to crochet-along. Let me know, and show me pictures! Please! 😇 I am looking forward to seeing lots of Carnations!

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m just a quick message away.

Have a lovely weekend! 💕