Crocheted Bracelets and Bookmarks

Well as you can tell by our lack of posts we have been much  too busy being crafty to actually post about our craftiness....at least that is the story we are sticking with....

Over the last couple of weeks I have been busy crocheting (shocking, right?!). However, most of it has been things that I have already blogged about. However, I do have a few new things in the works. On my last post I talked about purchasing crochet thread. I used it to make granny square bracelets. Since I have this new thread I figured I should figure out what else I can make from it. I have kinda been on a bracelet kick lately after my first successful attempt so I thought I would look for another pattern. I remembered seeing this pattern for a scarf  and thought I would try doing something similar with my crochet thread for bracelets.

It takes me about an hour to finish one, but I think they turn out even cuter than my granny square bracelets. I have also made several into bookmarks as well by making a smaller eyelet and attaching a ribbon to the end. I found the thread for sale pretty cheap at Walmart, so I look forward to trying out new colors as well.

 

I think I am really adapting to this smaller hook and thread. Can't wait to find other patterns to try! 

Granny Squares, Not Just for Granny’s Anymore…

Since Teresa posted the link to the Craftgawker sight I have been busy browsing and finding crafts I would like to try. I saw this one and thought it looked like something I could do. However, the link didn’t have any instructions attached. It is pretty much just granny squares stitched together to form a bracelet using crochet thread. 

Once I found out it required crochet thread and a really small hook I began to doubt my abilities. I tend to avoid working with tiny hooks and thin yarn…it usually does not end well. However, I gathered my courage and decided to give it a try. I figure that eventually I will be unable to do crafts like this because I will have bad eye sight and arthritis, so I better do it while I am still young!

So I went to Joann’s and bought the size 10 crochet thread and the size 8 (1.8mm) hook. I think that might have been the first time I spent less than $5 in that store. I was very proud. Now I had the supplies, but I had to figure out how to make a granny square. Odd as it may seem with all my crocheting I have never actually made a granny square. I think I have avoided it because to me if I wanted to take the time to actually attach multiple blocks together to form something I would just stick to quilting. Also, it is a pretty horrible name for a crochet pattern…Why would I want to make a granny square when clearly that is something old people make. I on the other hand am too young and cool for that.

However, I decided to ignore my fears and prejudices and give the pattern a chance since I liked the end result pictures I had seen. So I googled ‘granny square’ for a basic pattern and I proceeded to make my first granny square. After the first block I found the process was going pretty well. I was happy to find that the thin thread and the small hook weren’t as bad as I feared they might be! 

So I created four more blocks and then started slip stitching them together. Once I had them all together I went around the bracelet once with a single crochet for the border. I started in the middle of one of the ends so that once I got back around I could chain 8 and then slip stitch it back into the border to form a button holder. I raided my small button stash to find an appropriate button and I sewed it to the middle of the other end.

   

Ta Da! I successfully created a stylish bracelet! I made my first one near the end of last week and have already made several more! I am getting used to the crochet thread and have even made a few ornaments, which turned out pretty good too. I’m very excited for the possibilities this opens up and I can’t wait to see what else I can find to make! I’ll be sure and keep you posted on my future creations. Until then, happy crafting!

Crochet Baby Blankets

It seems to be a reoccurring pattern that I post on crocheted crafts, but honestly I do other crafts too! It just happens that my main focus tends to be crocheting. I enjoy this craft because generally it is easy to transport the project if needed, and I can do it while I am watching TV or hanging out with a group of people talking.

One of the crochet projects that I can most often be found working on is baby blankets. I like doing these because it is fast, easy, and cute! Plus at this stage in my life it seems like I always know someone who is pregnant. This way I always have a gift on hand. :) Also our church donates to The Caring Pregnancy Center every year, so I generally am able to offload my blankets there as well.

My favorite baby blanket pattern is the shell stitch. I like this stitch because it make the blanket look fancier even though it isn't any harder to create. My hook of choice is a "J" --this is my standard size, although lately with other projects I have branched out a little more.

I often do this pattern all in one color, but the picture also shows how different yarn can be added in to create patterns. The 2nd color is simply added in once you reach the end of a row. The shell stitch is created by chaining a multiple of 5 (I generally go with 105 stitches, but it is your choice). Then:

Row 1: double crochet 4x in the 4th chain from the hook. Skip two chains, single crochet. Skip two chains then double crochet 5x in the same stitch. Continue this til you get to the end of the row. End with 3 double crochets instead of 5.
Row 2: Chain 1, double crochet 5x in the single crochet spot from the 1st row. Single crochet at the top of the shell stitch created in row 1. Continue to the end of the row
Row 3: Chain 3,  double crochet 2x in 1st stitch. Single crochet at the top of the shell stitch created in row 2. Double crochet 5x in the single crochet spot from the 2nd row. Continue to the end of the row
Row 4-completion: Alternate rows 3 and 4 until you reach the blanket size you desire.
Border: Work border yarn the same way as previous rows. When you reach the end of the row turn blanket and stitch on sides; continuing the shell pattern.
Finish off.

Crocheted Prayer Shawls

For my birthday this year my mother-in-law gave me this book on crocheting prayer shawls. I found this pattern inside and adapted it so that it worked for me. I had issues understanding what exactly the pattern in the book was asking me to do, but the finished product looks the same to me! It is a simple "block" stitch. Crocheting 3 double-crochets and then a single crochet followed by 3 more double crochets. By offsetting the stitches it creates this block pattern. :) I bought yarn at Joann's and ended up having enough to make two prayer shawls. I made one with the border pattern in the book and then just made the second one with tassels instead.

Here is the one directly from the book. I plan on giving this one to Reuben's Grandma for her 90th birthday in September.

A close up on the bottom border section:



I liked the pattern so I made a second one. This one doesn't have the extra border portion.




I liked this pattern so much that I will likely be making more of these in the future. They went by really fast and look impressive once finished.

Crocheted Baby Booties

I have been interested in crocheting socks for a little while now and have been looking online for a pattern that would match my skill level. I thought that baby socks would be good way to start out so I can get used to the pattern and see if I am able to make them. I found a good pattern here that ended up working really well for me. Since I discovered this patter at the end of July I have become obsessed with it! I have found them to be not only easy to make, but also a great activity to take with me while traveling since it doesn't require carrying a lot of yarn. The picture shown below is using an actual sock yarn, but I have also used the same pattern with some of my leftover thinner yarn stash. I attempted to use a slightly thicker yarn, but that increased the size of the sock too much to actually fit a baby. I used a size F crochet hook, which is slightly smaller than the pattern calls for. The site I got the pattern for also has adult socks that I have yet to try. A bigger sock is more intimidating to me. However, it is something that I want to master. :) If I get around to making it work I will be sure and post about it!