Florida Blanket

"Is that a blanket in the shape of Florida?"

Good question, but no. Actually I started this blanket in the car when my roommate, her cousin and I drove down to spend a week in Florida with their family.

When I chose the pattern, I wanted something that could be finished quickly so I purchased extra bulky yarn and used my biggest crochet hook. The drawback of all this is that now the blanket is SUPER heavy as far as blankets go. On the bright side, I'm pretty sure that this blanket would keep you warm in the middle of winter, outside, during a blizzard.

The blanket isn't all that wide (oops) but it's enough to cover your lap or wrap over your shoulders. It took about 12 skeins of yarn and at the price I got them; it's my most expensive project to date! That's mostly why it took so long to complete. There were a couple of weeks there where I was out of yarn but couldn't quite budget it in.

I'm very excited about it and already I'm working on another blanket. Hopefully the new one will cost significantly less and be less heavy. It's nice to have options!

A Purse for Your Granny?

I have to be thrifty in the coming weeks because my budget is all out of whack and I have to make a month's pay last just a tad longer. SO instead of running out and buying all new yarn for a new and exciting crochet project I've decided to see what I can do with my stash yarn.

Last year, I'd found a book on Granny Squares at a library book sale. I'd never quite been able to get the hang of Granny Squares before and I'd hoped that the book would help. With my stash yarn, I found instructions for a basic Granny Square and FAIL. I could not get it right. Everything would go smoothly and then suddenly the first round looked like it was missing a double crochet. Finally I gave up and asked Christy to help me try and figure it out. Luckily she's been working on a project with similar rounds and TAADAA my double crochet magically appeared!

Anyway, I couldn't imagine creating a bunch of Granny Squares without a purpose, so I tracked down a pattern I'd found weeks ago. I'm not really a crocheted purse kind of person, so I as going back and forth on whether I really wanted to build one or not. Since I was already building Granny Squares, I decided to go for it.

This piece was fairly easy to create. I had a little trouble figuring out how to assemble it, but after a little bit of thought I was able to pull it together nicely. The strap was of my own design and attached very easily. I used Red Heart Sport weight yarn, but it's fairly floppy. I just might create another one with a stiffer yarn later.

I still have no idea if I'll ever use it... Anyone want a new purse?

First Baby Blanket

I wanted to make a baby blanket because its small size would be easier to carry around while working on it. The problem was that I didn't have a baby to give it to and I wasn't sure what I would do with something that small in size. Then it struck me, I DID have a baby in my family! My cousin Audrey (who I haven't seen since she was physically unable to have a baby) recently gave birth to her son Wyatt. As if it was meant to be, I happened to have two shades of blue stash yarn and immediately went to work.

The first pattern I tried was great. The instructions were easy to follow and it was starting to work up nicely but VERY slowly. Here it is when I started:

It was a single crochet stitch and was taking forever, plus the instructions only wanted me to crochet in the back of the stitch so the blanket was taking on a texture that was less than soft. At the same time I was making similar blanket with different instructions which was faster and much easier. I had to slightly modify the pattern but I think it turned out quite lovely! I can't wait to send it to Audrey!

Baby Blanket 2.0

Sometimes I have trouble making a decision and sticking with it (ahem...more blogs by me here!). So it's no surprise that the baby blanket I started working on for my cousin in early March has been altered ever so slightly.

Baby Blanket 2.0

I started looking for a ripple blanket pattern that used super bulky yarn for a blanket I planned on making for myself. As I started working on it I realized that I could probably use the same pattern with the thinner yarn and it would be faster and easier to work on. I also discovered this new patten makes blanket much softer, which will be even better for my cousin and her new baby!

Like Crocheting with a Bat

On Friday, my friend Christy and I decided to make a run to Joann Fabrics for yarn. I needed more super bulky yarn for a ripple blanket and she needed supplies for a granny square blanket. When she told me she needed super bulky yarn too I was surprised, but still being a beginner I figured why not? But when she told me what size hook she needed I couldn’t believe it.

After a few minutes of hunting, we finally found the size "S" crochet hook the pattern required. To me a size "S" hook is hilariously HUGE but we both agreed that with super bulky yarn and a large hook, her project could be very fast, easy and fun.

We were both so VERY wrong. Today when I asked how her blanket was going she simply said, "Using that hook was like crocheting with a bat." She's now chosen a different project and will be returning the "bat-sized crochet hook" to the store.

Time for a New Blanket

I've decided to almost entirely give up on the Hawaiian Flowers Blanket. Nothing I try seems to work and mostly connecting the flowers ends up looking ugly and makes me angry. Maybe I can used the flowers for something else...

ANYWAY, I've decided to work on a new blanket. I've wanted to work on a baby blanket before tackling a regular-sized blanket but I didn't know what I was going to do with the small one once it was finished. Then it hit me! 

Recently my family received an invitation to a baby shower for a cousin I pretty much NEVER see. It's likely I won't be able to make it to the party, but I was planning on sending her a gift. Since I've given up on the Hawaiian Flowers Blanket I have a ton of extra yarn and luckily for me two of the colors I was using were Pool Blue and Denim Blue; PERFECT for this new blanket since she's having a boy! As Charlie Sheen would say, WINNING!

Here's a picture of my first few rows:

Ripple Baby Blanket

Too hip for Granny Squares?

It's no wonder that when I tell people I'm learning to crochet that almost everyone looks at me funny and asks if I'm old. Everywhere I see new crochet patterns I come across the Granny Square. Sure, it's just a name and it doesn't mean much but it wouldn't help my argument that crochet is for more than just Grandmas if I went around saying, "I'm crocheting Granny Squares!" 

Granny Coaster Facebook Convo.

So I put off making Granny Squares for a little while (my first attempt was a giant fail anyway). Then I got Crocheting for Dummies and I decided that Granny Squares were a very important part of the crochet worlds so I should learn how to make them. Turns out they're just as easy as everyone online says they are and I can't wait to decide on a Granny Square project. 

Mike's Finished Granny Coaster

For practice I worked a small swatch and when I was sure I had it after about 4 rows, I cut it off, weaved in the ends and showed it to a friend. She thought it would make a great coaster, so I gave it to her and she posted the picture on Facebook.

Now I've made two Granny Squares and can't wait to send off the other one to Mike!