FO: Finally!

This afghan is finally done and I am so glad! Yellow is not my favorite color and I just wanted to get rid of this last "Pound of Love" yellow I bought when I worked on a baby afghan for a friend. The stitch is a very simple HDC (two HDC in one loop, skip one loop, repeat) using a G hook. It was made for Project Linus and you can see the PL label already sewn on.

The edging is a faux Reverse SC using an H hook. Instructions for this were sent to the Crochet Partners discussion group by Jean Leinhauser. Very easy and very fun! You get to twirl your hook around in a circle just like a baton! I choose white for the edging because the afghan was SO yellow!

FO: Project Linus Projects

Just a few of the projects completed for Project Linus -- 3 afghans, several hats, and a scarf/hat combo. All helped use up some of my stash yarn. Still have quite a bit of stash left over but will keep working it down! I'll be glad when the baby yarn is gone. I made a blanket for a friend who had a baby and I must have been afraid of running out because there sure seems to be a lot of it left over!

These afghans also gave me the chance to try using some Fray Check liquid to keep the ends from coming out. Seems to work all right but it also seems to leave some hard scratchy spots. Will have to try to use less.

FO: Hat & Scarf

This week we took a quick trip to Baltimore and this hat and scarf are the result of a few hours work. The yarn is Red Heart TLC Amore in color Plum (#3534); the hook is size G. It is a beautiful yarn to work with -- nice and soft. Both hat and scarf are all HDC (half-double crochet) and it was very fast. No pattern for the scarf -- just crocheted until it was long enough and put the slit in just at the right spot.

I had 2-6 oz. skeins on hand "just to try" some time and this was the time. I love working with the yarn though it is a little expensive. Maybe when it goes on sale AND I have a coupon!

FO: New Totebag

Finally, a new post. I wanted to wait until I had something finished so here it is. Patti Jo Kemp from the Crochet Partners list had a totebag that I loved. She sent me the pattern (which she improvised from) and that was my guideline, too.

This was so easy to do (single crochet all the way for me) and came out really well. The yarn is Red Heart "Warm Brown" #0336 and Red Heart "Painted Desert" #E300. The hook was size G. I reinforced the bottom with some plastic canvas and the handles with some leather shoestrings.

FO: Caron Jewel Box Drawstring Bag

This is the first purse/bag I have ever crocheted and it came out extremely well! My husband was even impressed and played with the pulls a couple times. An old CD will fit perfectly in the bottom to give it support.

This pattern came from the Caron yarn site and can be found in the free pattern area. Two changes were made to the pattern once I got started: 1. I added another round to the bottom and 2. the top row was done in half-double crochet just for a change. The pattern was very easy to follow and I finished it in about 4-5 hours over 2 days.

Rather than using the thread suggested at the Caron site, I used 2 threads of Lion Brand 'Pound of Love' white #100 from my stash and my favorite red Boye J hook (6.00mm). After weaving in the loose threads on the pulls, it will be ready to use! Now, which CD should go in the bottom... software? music? computer game?

FO: Favorite Yarn & Afghan

The best way to begin this blog on crochet is to show my favorite afghan made from my favorite yarn. The yarn is Red Heart "Fiesta Jewel" (#0399) and the afghan is very simple design of single crochet. Because of the length of the individual colors in the varigated yarn, each stitch used up one color making the resulting pattern very interesting. The picture doesn't show the green colors very well. The edge is finished with a picot stitch which is just enough.

Made several years ago, the afghan is warm and comforting and it goes around my knees whenever I sit on the couch. There is enough in my stash of Fiesta Jewel for a sweater and I am still looking for the best pattern for my favorite yarn.