more Teddies

Well, how are you all doing? Did you finish a Teddy Square? I had a head start on you, so don't feel bad that I made so many if you only made one.  One is the goal. I started with the teddy square to give folks time to purchase the book if you want to do that or reserve it at the library.

I need one more green square to complete my baby afghan. Here's what I've done so far.

I also completed all 9 of the pink squares but am still pondering how I want to join them.

I have also been working on a heart square made with the Bullion Block Stitch, but I'm not happy with it. It would be for a more experienced crocheter, too, so I think I might need to choose an "easy" square and a "challenging" square so everyone can participate that wants to. You might read that as if I don't want a challenge, I can do the easy square. LOL

I do not intend to make nine of every square! I have a specific little girl in mind for the pink ghan and that is what started this entire thing!

Hope you all are enjoying this square. Leave comments or e-mail me privately if you like at crochetcabana AT gmail DOT com.

Happy crocheting!

the Teddies

Just wanted to pop in quickly and invite anyone who's made a Teddy square to send me a pic to post. Maybe as time goes, I can figure a way that you can do that automatically, but for now I'll post it for you.

I've got 9 pink squares made and I think three green ones and one yellow. Now to assemble the pink. I saw an assembly method the other day I wanted to use, but for the life of me I can't find it again. It was a baby afghan over at Etsy and it was joined with chains that sort of stood up. Anyway, I'll figure it out, I'm sure or use something else.

Busy TV night so I hope to be crocheting while I watch.

Happy crocheting!

More on the Teddy

I don't know if the teddy really shows up in this picture, but here is one of the pink ones.

I mentioned yesterday putting together a quick reference if you are making multiple Teddy squares.

For my quick reference. I do something like this:

With H hook, ch 41
R1: dc in 4th chain from hk and each ch across. (39 dc)

R2: skip stitch right under your tch, skip next st, dc in next st ,* ch 1, sk 1, dc rep from *across (19 holes) Don't forget to put your last dc in the beg ch from R1

R3: ch 3, 4 holes, 7 dc, 5 holes, 7 dc, 4 holes

I end up with 21 rows with my last one a dc row.

Note that my reference is different from Judith's original pattern. She uses a smaller F hook and baby yarn. She uses ch 4 as her turning chain. I use ch 3. This does include my dc, ch 1. In normal patterns I ch 2 for a dc. Yes, I am an odd duck. :-)

I do my edging around almost the same except I use ch 3 in the corners. I probably should have used ch 5 because I did get some curling, but I was afraid the corner would stick out too much. The curling will flatten out when my squares are joined though.

If there are specifics that I think I will forget, I include those in my quick ref. Like dc in 5th ch. Since I usually go into 4th chain that's a bit I need to remember. The reason you're going into the 5th chain is because it counts as dc, ch 1. I might also note at the top that a hole consists of (dc, ch 1) because in some patterns it is ch 2 but since this is included in R2 I don't need an additional note.

That is what I do, but you don't necessarily have to do that. Once I finished a square, I used that for reference instead of my chart. Then after making a few, I sort of got the feel for it and didn't need to look as often. I'd remember now three rows just alike or whatever it was. Each row starts with a hole.


I haven't added a bow to my squares, but I think it's cute. That probably would work best with the thinner yarn for tying.

I might also mention that if you are changing the yarn used, it will make a big difference in size of your square. If you are donating to a charity, make sure they accept whatever you plan on making.

You can make your teddy squares any color, of course. I think a ghan of many different colors would be pretty. Or you can just make the one square and join it with other types or donate it singly somewhere. Decisions, decisions. heh

That's it for now.

Happy crocheting! (P.S. Note my pretty signature. My daughter created that for me and showed me how to make it automatically show up here. I appreciate her!)

tips on the teddy

Before you all get started, I thought I'd make a few points about the pattern of the Teddy Bear filet square. First, I added a row of double crochet to the top and bottom of the square to give the size I mentioned in the previous post.

Also, you will note that Judith doesn't use the standard dc for double crochet. She uses dbc. It's the same stitch though.

When I worked the pattern, I actually didn't follow the written instructions very much. I clicked on the photo to get the larger version. Then printed it out and used that to work the square. I also made myself a quick reference for each row so I could just jump to it and know how many "holes" and how many dcs were needed.

Hope that helps you all as you work the square. If you have questions or comments, be sure to leave them.

Happy crocheting!

New Beginnings

Crochet Cabana has grown beyond my wildest dreams when I began it in 1997. So many years. I myself sometimes forget what I have on there. Right now, I am looking for a new program to use to design the site as my 2003 Front Page is so outdated that I'm having trouble making changes.

Regardless of what happens with the main site, I hope to always continue to have a web presence and share my love of crochet and whatever small bits of knowledge I can impart, as well as those things I can sell to help with expenses of keeping the site up and supporting my terrible yarn habit.

To that end, I'm beginning this new blog, in association with the web site. The first order of business will be a crochet-a-long. I will be making squares from my various books and I invite you all to join in. Comments/questions are welcome. I considered starting a yahoogroup, but I just don't have the time to do all the work that is involved in an active chat group AND crochet too.

I will put links up to online squares when I choose those. If you decide to join in, you can do as little or as much as you like. Your finished squares can be sent to charity or used for gifts or whatever you want to do with it. It is entirely your choice.

The first pattern I am working on, and which I've already made a number of, is a Teddy Bear filet square I found online. I will be making enough for two small afghans. One in Red Heart Kid pink yarn and the other in pastel colors using the pounder yarns, either Caron or Lion Brand. Maybe both. Heh I have already posted photos of some of the squares at Crafty Corral, but I thought this would be a nice start to a crochet-a-long. My squares made with the Red Heart Kid yarn come out about 11". The ones with the pounder yarn come out about an inch smaller. I use an H hook for both.

I will try to change the square pattern every week.

To give you a heads up - After I finish with the teddy bear squares, the book I will personally be working from is The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet: *All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide to ... Charts, and Photos for 200 Stitch Patterns. This is a gorgeous book. I just love it. I got it originally from my local library, so if you want to start in, you don't have to buy it. Check it out first - and hope nobody else in your town joins us. LOL If you DO want to buy it, please click on the link above as I get a few pennies from sales. If I have to purchase a new web design program, that will be very helpful. :-)

That's all for now.

Happy Crocheting!