toboggan hat

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As a kid I remember the thrill of riding a toboggan down a snowy, slippery hill. The frigid wind would whip right through me. Oh, the warmth of the hat that was pulled way down over my little head.

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Fun, fun memories of when I was younger. And now with our middle child -- altho, can you call a 14 yr. girl a child?! -- asks for a warm hat, I wonder when she puts this hat on to slide down a snowy hill, will she too will look upon these moments as fun, fun memories?

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So, I run through the crochet patterns that are filed in my head & I immediately picture the Toboggan Hat found here:

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Crochet That Fits -- Mary Jane Hall

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I dig out scraps of yarn from my stash and pull a vibrant blue that matches her winter coat exactly. And she loves this skein of multi-colored cotton yarn I still have and waaaaaay on the bottom of my gray yarns I find this tiny bit of bulky gray & white yarn for the border. The pattern calls for only one color yarn, but she was very specific about wanting stripes.

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So we improvise with multi-weighted/multi-colored yarns.

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Perfect.

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And her smile said it all.
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And when your kid smiles at something you have done -- well that's the making of a very good day.

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crimson & snow

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Crimson & snow. How appropriate.
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The colors of this Bernat Satin yarn that I am using for this crocheted entrelac scarf are called:

Crimson & Snow.

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And looking around outside I see examples of crimson & snow everywhere.
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These entrelac blocks are crocheted with an H hook (and next time I will use a larger hook -- maybe a J or even K so these edges don't curl so fiercely....)
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Now to crochet the rest of these cascading blocks into a wearable scarf and think of some nifty way to finish off the edges. Read ---> no curl!

plaid diamonds

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Plaid diamonds. That's what this reminds me of.
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Only it's really entrelac. And as confusing as the technique appeared at first -- it becomes reeeeeeeeeeally addicting once you get the hang of it.

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Perfect and precise directions are from this book. And the photos that go along with the directions are exceptional to aid those of us --ahem --who are visual learners.

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I had 2 tiny bits of scrap yarn in my stash that I used to see if I could even do this. And now that I am thoroughly smitten with this tunisian-type crocheting, I am going to do more.

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The stitch used is actually a tunisian simple stitch (or afghan stitch as it is called in the book) and after searching a million different places for a tunisian how-to, I found this from CrochetSide to be so, so helpful!

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This is the backside -- and in my very limited grasp of knitting -- it looks so much like...well...it was knitted.

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So now that I am thoroughly charmed by this tunisian-type crocheting, I am going to do more.

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I can see a scarf in a red and white plaid.

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Hmmm. Time to check my stash.....

irish crochet coaster

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Intricate lace not only intrigues me -- it instills in me a passion & desire to recreate it. And irish crochet is one of those delicate, yet gorgeous laces that just leaves me breathless.

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One of my past issues of MAGIC CROCHET (Oct. 2002 -- issue 140) includes a crochet pattern for an irish crochet coaster.

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An added bonus? It is shown in Christmas colors.

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Perfect.

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So using my size 5 crochet hook and crochet thread that I purchased from the thrift store, I made one little irish crochet coaster that seemed so well suited for this one little, vintage Christmas figurine.

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snowy claus & paws

*gasp* Look at what I received from my swap partner, Diana. Snowy snowmen, snowy Claus -- and yes, there are even snowy paws.




These potholders are just soooooo beyond cute! She used Annies Attic Ultimate Book of Potholders.



And also sent this delicious Patons Pure Organic Cotton and a recipe for Christmas Pudding -- yum!

But that's not all! Oh my, she knows me so well -- look at the books she also sent --->Fun to Crochet Gifts & Stocking Feet. I have wanted these in my collection of crochet books!

Such a wonderful swap with such a wonderful crocheter!

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Thank you, Diana!

rings of autumn bracelet

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Rings of autumn. Think of the deep colors that brings to mind.

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Scrounging through my DMC Pearl size 8, I found those shades of autumn. And seeing so many of these crochet bracelets that use just simple plastic rings, I knew this was my next project.

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The DMC pearl thread is so glossy & silky that it adds a rich sheen to the bracelet.

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And what an 'ah-ha' moment for me when I realized that the colors are crocheted only half of the ring and then joined to the next ring before crocheting the next color on.


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And oh! the possibilities when thinking of all of the color combinations for making these simply elegant bracelets that just slip on right over the wrist.

Edit: Directions for this type of bracelet can be found here: craftstylish, & lula louise. I actually took the idea from here but instead of crocheting an actual circle, I used her same idea to crochet around the plastic rings.

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slouchy hat finish

Taking inspiration from CROCHET that FITS & this fashion designer, my daughter's slouchy hat is finished!

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And she loves it -- but more importantly she wears it. In public. With her friends.

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And to a mom who has crocheted it for her -- & secretly holding her breath to see if she would actually wear it -- well, that's honestly what it's all about, isn't it?

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