Gifts from Auntie B

My nephew is almost 2 1/2 years old and I just gave him his first blanket made by Auntie B. My niece was much older than that when I finally made her a blanket (in all fairness, I didn't know how to crochet or do anything all that crafty when she was born).  I chose some colors that I already had, which was helpful because my yarn stash is finally going down after my surge of buying everything that I liked.  I'm posting this "pattern" of sorts so that beginner crocheters can see how easy it is to do. No pattern is really necessary, but it's nice to have something to follow along with even if it is simple.  Here is what I came up with:

Supplies:

• Size Q 15.75mm Hook
• Two-three skeins each of
• Vanna's Choice Linen
• Vanna's Choice Seaspray Mist
• One skein RedHeart Supersaver Royal Blue
• Garment Label (if you prefer to add one - I just used my sewing machine, but you could hand sew it too)

Pattern:

1. Take one strand of each color yarn (three total) and treat it as if the three together are one strand. Chain the width or length that you prefer. I honestly don't know how many I chained, but the blanket was about 2 1/2 feet wide and 4 feet long.
2. When you reach your desired length, single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain until you reach the end of the row. (It is important that you go to the second chain/stitch on every row so that you maintain the same number of stitches. If you don't, your blanket will end up being uneven instead of straight. I have done this so many times and unraveled so many projects because of it!).
3. Chain one, and turn. Single crochet in the second stitch from the hook and in each stitch until you reach the end of the row.
4. Repeat #3 until the blanket is the desired length.
5. If desired, add a border - I used a single crochet border by using three strands of one color. Please see photos below. I think the border finishes the blanket nicely and it made it a little bit bigger.

While in process

Pre-border

Finished product

With Garment Label

Crocheted By

I went to Jo-Ann Fabric today to pick up some yarn for my next project. I was quite pleased to discover that they got Garment Crochet Labels in! The last time I checked, they only had Garment Knit Labels, which was rather disappointing. So, now as I am making baby blankets for my many pregnant friends, I can attach a little tag that shows I made it! Yipee!

Note to self: check the online sales before going to the store (I could have saved a dollar per skein). Especially in the summer!

Pattern Digging

Ever since I discovered my interest in crochet I have been feverishly digging through patterns. I started with the well known yarn brand companies sites, and then gradually branched out and found some that I have grown to love. At some point I came across a picture of bumble bee table decoration of sorts, but the pattern was missing. If you know me, you know that I had to have the pattern. So I looked again at the notes and discovered that the pattern was featured in a magazine, Decorative Crochet. The only problem was that it was Edition 3, which was printed in 1988! That kind of threw a kink in my hopes to obtain the pattern, but I didn't give up. After searching and searching I finally found a site that sells old magazines and books and lo and behold they had the very magazine and edition that I needed. 

Here it is, straight out of 1988...the year my little sister was born. It just goes to show how timeless the art of crochet and it's patterns can be.

Since this site came through for me, I have compiled my current top five list of websites for crocheters (subject to change of course):

1. Ravelry Whatever you do, join this site. It's essentially a socially networking site for people that crochet and knit. You can store your projects, keep track of your yarn stash and search for patterns.
2. DROPS This site has patterns in English or Norwegian. I've found the patterns to be a little more hip and a little less Grandma's Sweater if you know what I mean.
3. Alli Crafts Alli is a very talented individual and she shares her patterns for free. She has been featured on many sites and I love what she has come up with.
4. Creative Crochet Kristine is also a featured crochet artist on many sites. Like Alli, she has children and has taken her talent to a new level by designing things for her children.
5. Buggs Books & Used Patterns My saving grace! This is where I found my Busy Bee's Pattern from 1988! If you come across a picture that is missing the pattern, try this!

I will keep a running list of great links on my sidebar and I'm sure that I will be posting them as well in the future.

The Spark

It's no wonder I have been "hooked" (pun intended) by crochet, the word itself is apparently French. No, I'm actually not French, well maybe a little, but mostly German...although, I did study French throughout high school and college and have always held a deep love for France, the French language and Paris. Back to the spark...

What truly sparked my interest, beyond my family's history with the craft of crocheting, was the hope to make something for a co-worker. This friend of mine is about to have a baby and I wanted to make something special for her and her new addition. I present to you, project number two:

The pattern came from a pattern book which can be bought at Joann Fabrics. The yarns that I chose were both Lion Brand, one being Pound of Love in Antique White and the other, Vanna's Choice Baby in Sweet Pea. The Pound of Love yarn is a bit thinner, stringier...and just altogether more difficult to work with. The pattern I used called for a G6 (4.00mm) hook, which was fine for the Vanna's Choice. I did however have to increase to an H8 (5.00mm) hook in order to keep the gauge with the Pound of Love.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the way it came out. Of course, there are a few spots that I can see and point out where I made mistakes...but that's just the perfectionist in me.

First Project

My first manageable project was a set of potholders. Nothing special, but it helped me to get a grasp on how I crochet. For starters, I learned how I like to hold the hook. I learned that I make really tight stitches. Luckily, I had a great teacher that told me from the beginning that everyone crochets different. Everyone holds the hook different; everyone has their own unique style...including me.

Passion

My step mother taught me the basics of crocheting about a month and a half ago, and since then, I have spent a majority of my free time and money on projects. You could say, I'm in love. So far, I have completed only two projects, but I'm dreaming rather big and have faith that this site will soon be full of completed projects made by yours truly.