Fun Little Projects from 2015

I'm still trying to get back to blogging regularly.  I've been dealing with some difficult challenges lately with my ill and aging parents that have caused me to push blogging to the side again but I realize that taking time to create posts and the wonderful interaction I have with those of you who stop by and comment can be very refreshing and help me through these tough times.  So, here goes another post...

Since I didn't blog for  most 2015, I want to try to catch up on some of the things that happened last year.  Here are some more yarny projects I did...

I made some pretty pillowcases for my daughter.  It was a fun project and the total cost of it was less than $5.  I got a pair of king size pillow cases at Ross for about $5.  I simply cut them down to standard size and stitched them up.  I crocheted trim with white crochet thread that I had in my stash.  After crocheting two strips to size, I pinned them into place, and sewed them on with my sewing machine.  I like how they turned.  The project was so fun and rewarding that I've bought more pillow case sets and plan to make more.

I crocheted this cute little owl as part of a gift for my daughter for Easter.  It was a quick project that used bits of cotton yarn leftovers from my stash.  Yay!  I'm always happy to make something from supplies I have.  I've been in a major de-stashing phase this past year and every little bit makes me happy.  I did need to buy buttons for this project though as I didn't have any white ones in the right size.  Amazing since I have a pretty big stash of buttons!  My daughter loved the little owl.

I knitted up a towel using the "Basket Rib Hand Towel" pattern that I found on Ravelry.  I used "Pink Camo" Sugar 'n Cream yarn as my daughter loves pink and camo.  She found a great use for the towel.  She places it under her dish drainer that doesn't have a tray.  It works great!  It catches the water but dries quickly because of all the texture in the towel.  I had originally made one for me to use for drying hand washed dishes.  I used one 95 yard ball of yarn for this one.

I loved how my daughter was using her towel and my dish drainer was so old and not in the best shape.  So, I bought myself a nice one at Ikea that doesn't have a tray and made a towel for mine.  I love it!  I made this one a bit bigger to fit my large dish drainer.  I used almost three full skeins of Hobby Lobby Crafter's Secret Cotton...about 350 yards or so.  I love the colors in this yarn!

The towel must be fun to make because I soon found myself making another one!

Of course, there were a few wash/dish cloths made along the way.  I love making and using these.  And, they're a great excuse to use Sugar 'n Cream in it's many pretty colors!

One of my knit friends loves purple and I have some pretty, light purple, cotton, carpet warp in my stash.  So, I made her a tiny little bunting for her birthday...

 

 And, when she had our stitch group over for a lovely waffle breakfast, I made her a little hostess gift with the same yarn...a lacy candle holder.  I got inspiration on Ravelry and Pinterest, found an empty jar, and crocheted a little cover.  I put a little tea candle inside.

When I posted the light purple candle holder on my Instagram, another friend saw it and fell in love.  So, I made a white one for her for Christmas.  And, yup...more de-stashing!  Yay!  And, I love how it turned out!  She did too.

My camera stopped working well over a year ago and I ended up taking just about all of my pictures this past year with my cell phone.  That's one of the reasons I stopped blogging too.  The quality just isn't that great in comparison and the only way I've found to upload and save and use them is troublesome.  I've been searching through the mess of camera photos, trying to find things I'd like to blog about and catch up on, grouping them, and creating posts.  Luckily and very happily, hubby bought me a new, fancy, dancy camera for my birthday about a week ago.  So, better quality pictures will soon be on the blog.  In the meantime, thanks for putting up with these not-so-clear photos.

Have magnificent Monday everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!  :-D

Finally, A Chart....

I found a little pattern on Ravelry this summer that I fell in love with.  It's called "Half Lotus Bunting".  I found it very challenging to figure out but I worked at it until I did.  I had mentioned in my Ravelry notes that I wanted to chart it for future reference.  Since then, I've gotten quite a few email and Ravelry messages, blog comments, and Instagram requests for the chart.  Seems that others are having trouble with the original pattern as well.

I got another message via Ravelry today and the sender was very frustrated at all of her failed attempts to figure out the pattern and asked when the chart might be available.  That finally got me to stop putting it off.  I grabbed some yarn, a hook, a pad of paper and pens, and my laptop to re-figure, re-write, and chart the pattern.

It was a lot of work!  But, so worth it because I'm thrilled to try to help others make this adorable bunting.  And, I'm sure I'll be happy I took the time to chart and re-write it when I decide to make another one.

I sure hope the designer doesn't mind that I did this.  I love her pattern and so appreciate that she shared it for free on Ravelry.  I just wanted to make it easier to follow and try to help others with it.

Here's a reminder of what this bunting looks like and the ones I've made...

This one is made with crochet thread and I added little tassels.

I love how it turned out.  I think I'll be putting it on one of my little Christmas trees.

This is one I made for my daughter.  It's made with Sugar 'n Cream yarn.

She loves it and so do her roommates.  That makes me so happy!  :-)

I made this one with Sugar 'n Cream and Handicrafter Cotton in Fall colors.

I love how it looks on my mantel!

Here it is....the chart.  It's my very first one.  They're not easy!  So, apologies for how it's a bit "wonky".  I hope it works and helps though.

I also took a photo of each finished row to help it all make sense.

Row 1

Row 2

Row 3

Row 4

Row 5

Row 6

Row 7

The re-write/revision may not be exactly as the designer designed it but it's the best I could figure.  If anyone has any questions or notices anything that needs to be fixed or changed, please let me know.  Here's the re-write...

Chain 9

1.       7 tc in 5^th chain from hook, sl st in beginning chain – 9 tc posts

2.      Ch 3, turn, dc between first two stitches in previous row, *2 dc between each post of first row (repeat from * across), end row with 2 dc in last space – 8 pairs of 2 dc

3.       Ch 3, turn, dc in first dc and between next two stitches, *ch 4, skip 2 dc, sc in next space between stitches (repeat from * across), ch 4, dc in space between last two dc pair, dc in next to last dc and dc in third chain – 6 chain loops

4.       Ch 1, turn, sc in first dc, sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in first chain loop, *ch 5, sc in next chain loop (repeat from *across), sc in each of the last two dc and third chain (3 dc) – 5 chain loops

5.       Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, *ch 5, sc in next chain loop (repeat from * across), ch 5, sc in last four sc – 6 chain loops

6.      Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc and in each of next 3 sc, 3 sc in first chain loop, ch 6, *sc in next chain loop, ch 6 (repeat from * across), 3 sc in last loop, sc in each of last 4 sc – 5 chain loops

7.       Ch 1, sc in each of next 7 sc, *7 dc in next chain loop, dc in next sc (*2 times), 3 dc in third loop/center loop, ch 4, sc in fourth ch from hook, 3 dc in same/center loop, *dc in next sc, 7 dc in next chain loop (*2 times), sc in last 7 sc

8.       Ch 1 (for corner) and finish with single crochet stitches spaced evenly across the top.

9.      Give your bunting panels a nice finishing touch by gently stretching each one into shape and blocking with a steam iron.

10.   Connect panels together by making a chain (the length is up to you); single crochet across the top of first panel; chain (your choice of how many) between panels; continue for desired number of panels; end with another chain.  If you use thicker yarn (i.e. worsted), it looks great to turn and single crochet in the second chain from the hook and all the way back across the bunting.  It makes the string a little thicker.        Enjoy!  

Here's another photo of the chart with the key to the symbols...

The chart and re-write/revision can also be found on my Ravelry project page.

FO Friday - Itty Bitty Bunting

I've been so busy that I've had a hard time finding time to blog.

But, I've just got to take a few minutes for my Friday FO post.  Here it is...

I finished another Half Lotus Bunting but this one is itty bitty.  I made it with crochet thread from my stash and a 1.65mm hook.  I expected the panels to turn out smaller than this but they're still a lot smaller than the ones I made with Sugar 'n Cream yarn.  I thought it would look really cute with tassels on the ends.  I love how they turned out!  They're the tiniest tassels I've ever made.  So cute!

I haven't found the perfect place to hang it yet.  So, I hung it on one of my old ladders for a picture.

I think it might look really cute on a Christmas tree.

Whew!  I made it with getting another FO done for this Friday.  Yay!

And, I did a little de-stashing too.

FO Friday - Autumn Crochet Bunting

I'm so in love with the Half Lotus Bunting pattern that I found on Ravelry!  I've made three of them so far.  I posted one of them last week that I'd made for my daughter.  When I was making panels for that one, I was also making panels for an Autumn colored bunting.  I waited to post it because I thought it might look cute with crocheted acorns hanging from the ends of the strings.  I tried making some but they just don't look good with this thick yarn.  That's ok.  I love my Fall bunting anyway.  Here it is on my family room fireplace mantel...

I love it!

It's not Autumn yet but Fall is my favorite season.

So, why not enjoy it a little early and a little longer?!  : )

This project accomplished a little de-stashing.

But, have to admit that I bought a few colors for a better Fall look.  ;-) 

FO Friday - Crochet Bunting

Whew!  I made it!  I got another project done just in time for FO Friday!

Here it is...a sweet, crochet bunting...

I made it for my daughter to decorate the bathroom or bedroom of her condo.

The leftover bits of yarn and stash yarn I had worked perfectly.

Look how great it matches her shower curtain...

I love the shape and design of the panels.  They're so cute!  

The "Half Lotus Bunting" pattern is free on Ravelry.  I found the pattern directions challenging but finally got it worked out.  I took notes on my Ravelry project page as I worked it out so I'd have an easier time with the next ones.    Now, the bunting panels are easy and quick.

I noticed that other people have had some trouble figuring out the pattern too.  I'd like to try to make a chart to post in my notes.  I find them so much clearer and easier to understand.  I'm sure I'll find it helpful with future buntings that I make and maybe others will find it helpful too. 

 I used a size "H" crochet hook to make mine.

For the chain, I started with 80 stitches, single crocheted each panel on, made three chain stitches between each panel, made 82 more chain stitches, turned (making sure I would be stitching across the top and back), made a single crochet in the third chain from the hook and all the way across.  I fastened off the end, tied a knot with the beginning and ending yarn and used a yarn needle to hide the ends.  To finish it off, I laid it on the ironing board, adjusted the panels and steamed them (from the back).  They lay and hang much nicer after that.

This project is so cute and fun!  In fact, I have another bunting made in Autumn colors.  But, I'm thinking about adding some cute embellishments to it.  So, I'll be posting it later.

Yay!  More de-stashing and another FO!  And, how great to find a use for leftover bits!