Surprise Baby Blanket

Back over the summer I had somehow gotten a hankering to knit cables.  And knit cables I did.  In fact, I was so into knitting cables that I decided to knit a whole cabled afghan.  The color palette was dusty rose, creme, port wine, and rich chocolate.  It would be a sensation!

Well, as those who know me would figure, I got bored part way through and moved on to a different knitting project.  But, what was I to do with all of those blissful Cashmerino cabled afghan squares (they don't call her Debbie Bliss for nothing)?  Well, the ones I had knitted up just happened to be the pink and creme squares.  So, I decided to stitch together what I had and donate it as a lap blanket to Warm Up America, a really wonderful charity that gives knitted items to those in need.

So, there I was at work on Thanksgiving week with absolutely nothing to do (or at least that was the excuse I used to tell myself it was okay to knit at work) and I decided to use this time to put those beautiful, soft little Debbie Bliss squares together.  Whilst in the middle of this project, a very pregnant young lady named Breck came in to the school to take a test before she goes out on "maternity leave" - if there is such a thing when you are in high school.  I asked Breck, "Are you having a girl or a boy?"  "Girl," she answered.  "Well, do I have something for you then!" I said with a look of glee.  "I'm knitting a pink baby blanket right now...like literally right now as we speak <insert image of me holding up a dusty rose baby blanket>.  I was going to give it to Warm Up America, but I'd like to give it to you instead," I said.  And with that, Breck's face lit up and it was a done deal.  So, knowing that she was due on Monday and it was...gasp, Wednesday...I hurried up and finished the darned thing.  Normally, I would have blocked it and lined it up all perfectly, but there was no time for that!  So, my friends, here is a picture of my imperfectly wonderful little Cashmerino Aran blanket that was made unbeknownst to me for Breck:

And the best news, is that Miss Breck asked me if I would teach her to knit!

Something Pretty - Crocheted Granny Square

This granny square really is something pretty!  It looks like a chrysanthemum in spring.  This pattern is attributed to Mille of the Mille Makes blog.

Something Pretty 

Materials

Worsted Weight Yarn

Crochet Hook Size G, H, or I

Pattern Stitches:

1. one flower petal: 5 dc, take hook off loop, put hook (from front to back) through 3rd chain (the last ch of space before the 5 dc) and the ”loose loop”, yo, pull through both loops on hook.

2. the first dc on row is made by chain 3

Pattern:

Begin with color of flower. Chain 4, make circle with one slip stitch.

1st round:

chain one, 7 sc in circle. end round with slip st in chain.

2nd round:

make 1 flower petal in each sc with chain 3 between each one, end round with slip st in 3rd chain at beginning of round = 8 petals

3rd round:

sl st into the first chain 3. make 2 flower petals in each chain 3, and chain 3 between each flower petal = 16 petals in round. end round with slip st in 3rd chain at beginning of round.

change to background colour

4th round:

sl st into the first chain 3. *3 dc in the first 3 chain 3’s, (3 treble crochet, chain 2, 3 treble crochet) in the next chain 3. repeat from * 3 more times. end round with slip st in 3rd chain at beginning of round.

Joining:

I crochet the squares together with slip stitch. Lay out two rows of squares, begin with the first two, make a loop on hook, put hook from front to back through back part of dc on last row, first on one, then the corresponding one on the other, yarn over and pull through three loops on hook. Continue like this, when you reach the end of the first side of these two squares just go on and start with two new ones all across the length/width of your blanket/pillow, like so:

What do you mean there is only one needle? Or, as others call it, learning to crochet.

I recently started teaching at a new school and was delighted to learn that a few of the other staff are crafty too.  In fact, I was invited to join the Craft Club!  Craft Club is a group of students who knit hats and afghan squares on the Knifty Knitter circle looms and donate their creations to charity.  I just put together a whole box of what was knitted last winter and got it off to the Lancaster Community Shelter last week.  Seeing as how I was asked to help out with the club, I figured that this long-time knitter should take the plunge and learn how to crochet.  That way I can help students with a variety of yarn art orientations.  My thought was that I should start with something simple and not aim too high.  So, I got online and began researching granny squares.  Well, as I imagined, there are some truly hideous granny squares out there.  Looking upon them brought up memories of scratchy, Red Heart, musty-smelling, acrylic blankets from the thrift store and also old people.  I do like old people, but not the scratchy, gross, granny square blankets of my past.  And as I began my search, images of truly horrific granny square abominations did come up.

I mean really.  People, you've just gone too far when you make ugly granny square shorts!  But, luckily, along the way, I did find some truly gorgeous ones too (thank goodness!).

So, here is a picture of my first granny square:  

I think it really did turn out quite lovely.  And crocheting turned out to be fun and quick too!  I think I feel another afghan coming on...

Irish Ivy Rose - Crocheted Granny Square

Every time I go online and see pictures of granny squares, they are usually...well...hideous.  But, then I saw this pattern and my heart began to sing.  Gorgeous, I tell you!

Irish Ivy Rose

Materials List

Worsted weight yarn

Crochet hook size G

Gauge: Rounds 1-2 = 2 1/2"

Finished size: 6"

Note:  

1. Each Bullion St. should be 1" long. 

2. This pattern is recommended for skill level intermediate.

Pattern Stitches:

Bullion Stitch (Bullion St.):

Yo 15 times LOOSELY, EVENLY, insert hook into next st, yo, draw up a loop, even with the 15 loops, yo, draw through all 17 loops, (wiggling the hook and rolling the yarn back and forth) - Bullion made.

Bullion Stitch giving you fits?  Try this link Bullion Stitch Article

dc cluster (dc cl):

holding last loop on hook for each dc, work 3 dc, yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook

trc cluster (trc cl):

holding last loop on hook for each trc, work 3 trc, yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook

2DC Cluster (2DC CL): 

(holding back last loop of dc, dc in the st formed by the front loop of dc last worked & parallel loop to the left of it) twice, yo, draw through all 3 loops.

Pattern

With color A ch 4 with G hook. Join with sl st. 

Round 1:  Ch 1, 7 sc in ring.  Join with sl st in first sc.

Round 2: Ch 3 , work 1 bullion st, ch 1 to close. 1 bullion st, ch 1 in same sc. Work one bullion, ch 1, one bullion, ch1 in each sc around, making last two bullion stitches in same sp as ch 3. Join with slip stitch to ch 1 at top of first bullion st. 16 bullion sts. FO Color A

Round 3: Join Color B in any ch 1 space between bullions. Ch 7, work beginning 2dc cl by working dc in 5th ch from hook, twice, holding last loop on hook for each dc, yo, draw through all 3 st. *( skip two bullion sts, dc in next space between two bullion sts. ch 4, 2dc cl)*.  Work around from * to *. 8 2dc cl's.

Round 4:  Ch 6. skip first 2dc cl, in next dc work ivy leaf (dc cl, ch 4, trc cl, ch 4, dc cl, ch 4) , *dc in next dc, ch 4, ivy leaf *.  Repeat from * to * around.   Join with sl st in 2nd stitch of ch 6.  FO Color B

Round 5: Join Color C w/ sc in ch 4 sp to left of any ivy leaf, 3 more sc in sp, 4 sc in next 2 ch 4 loops, ch 2 for corner, *4 sc in each of next 4 ch sps, ch 2*.  Repeat from *to* around.  Join w/ sl st in first sc

Round 6: Ch 2, dc in each sc around, working 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corner ch 2 sp.  Join with sl st.  FO color C

Round 7: With Color B sc in each dc and working 3 sc in each corner ch 2 sp.  FO Color C

Fisherman's Ring - Crocheted Granny Square

Hello, readers!  I found this gorgeous crocheted granny square pattern out and about on the internet.  Imagine a whole blanket made up of this pattern in various fisherman's shades like ecru and light taupey browns.  It would be stunning!

Fisherman's Ring 

Materials List

Worsted weight yarn
Crochet hook size G

Gauge: Rounds 1-2 = 2 1/2"

Finished size: 6"

Ch 5; join with a sl st to form ring

Round 1: Ch 3 to count as the first dc; work 15 more dc in the ring; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (16 dc)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining, ch 5, sk 2 dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc in the 2nd skipped dc, *ch 5, sk next unworked dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc (behind cable) in the last skipped dc* Repeat from * to * 5 times; ch 5, sc (in front of the first cable) in the first skipped dc of the round, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 cables)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining; (ch 5, skip the next 5 sc in cable, sc in the next sc at the base of the next cable) around; ch 5, join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 ch 5 spaces)

Round 4: Sl st into the first ch 5 sp, ch 3 to count as the first dc, work 4 more dc in the same ch 5 sp; (5 dc in the next ch 5 sp) around; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (40 dc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining, ch 5, sk 2 dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc in the 2nd skipped dc, *ch 5, sk next unworked dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc (behind cable) in the last skipped dc* Repeat from * to * 17 times; ch 5, sc (in front of the first cable) in the first skipped dc of the round, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, join with a sl st to the first sc. (20 cables)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining; (ch 5, skip the next 5 sc in cable, sc in the next sc at the base of the next cable) 19 times; ch 2, join with a dc to the first sc. (20 ch 5 spaces)

Round 7: Ch 4 to count as the first trc, work 3 more trc in the same sp (around the post of the last dc in round 6), *3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, (3 sc in the next ch 5 sp) 2 times, 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, 7 trc in the next ch 5 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 times; 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, (3 sc in the next ch 5 sp) 2 times, 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, 3 trc in the first ch 5 sp; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 4. (76 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in the same st as joining, (sc in each of the next 18 sts, 3 sc in the next trc) 3 times, sc in each of the next 18 sts, sc in the samr st as the first sc; join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.