hat patterns

The dollghan is finished. Actually I finished it just a couple of hours after I completed the last post. Even though I'd have probably worked a better color scheme if I'd planned from the first to make a doll afghan rather than a swatch, I think it came out okay. I'm not sure of the yarn but I think it might be Giggles and perhaps Red Heart Soft. They are both shiny yarns and were leftover balls.

As noted yesterday, the pattern is http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/ssba.html . Project Linus is a great charity and this would be a great afghan to make for them.

Also, I finished working up the pattern for the hats. It is available at Crochet Cabana. I put up a temporary picture because someone needed the pattern straight away.

I also ran across this baby hat. I thought the method of covering the ears was creative. I might have to try that.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

gifts for men

Yes, another post! And so quickly too. :-)

I had to come back and give you this link which has other links to great gifts for guys. Mellie over at http://www.mellieblossom.com/ has done a wonderful job of gathering these projects.

I love the book pillow and thought about making one myself. However I found one on Amazon for $20 so by the time I buy materials and take the time to make it, I figured I'd do as well to just buy one. So that is what I did. Now if you go to Amazon, be alerted that the different colors are different prices. The taupe was the cheapest one when I looked. There is also an eggplant (purple) one listed in a different spot. There are also other types at higher prices. I would not spend more than this on one unless I really really really liked it and found it useful. I WILL, however, let the guy in my house use it.

I'd have never thought of this if I hadn't seen it on the blog so thanks to Mellie for that.

In other crochet news, in my Stitches group a member was trying to figure out the stitches in a little afghan her daughter has that is now falling apart. With some searching and querying of my wonderful members at Crochet Cabana, we found what may be a similar pattern. It is a Project Linus pattern called Sideways Shell Baby Afghan by Donna Laing. I've seen it before and have even worked that stitch in other projects many times, but my mind had blanked on it. Thanks to my friend EllenH for reminding me about it. It's similar to the box stitch but not exactly.

I started to work a swatch to see how the pattern worked up and how it looked next to the original blanket. Then I decided why not make it useful? So I decided to make it into a small afghan the little girl can use for her dolls. I'd already started the swatch with a leftover ball so I just continued that with a second ball in white.

The pattern is simple, just (sc, ch 2, 2 dc). It's a multiple of 3. I got sidetracked - that happens so often lately LOL - and I haven't finished it yet, but I am sure it will done soon.

I'm also writing down the patterns for the hats as someone asked. I've been working on that much of today, taking pictures, measuring, counting ...

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving last week. My hubby was sick (and still is) so we stayed at home. Son came over so that was nice and we had leftovers for a few days which was also nice since we couldn't go anywhere. :-)

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

hats and DW scarf

I finally finished sewing in those tails. What a job! But it's done and I'm very pleased with the finished scarf. Again, I haven't measured it but I'm guessing between 18 and 19' without fringe. I don't normally add fringe though I guess I should if I want to be authentic. :-)

Here are a couple pics. See previous post for details on this Season 16-17 scarf. Now I need to make a Season 15 and I will have one from each season. That still won't be ALL the scarves as there is a duplicate that was used sometimes and Romana wore a scarf similar to the Doctor's in one episode.

The pattern is up at the Cabana and at Ravelry and at the Stitches Facebook group. The Cabana page has issues but you should be able to download the patterns okay. If you have a problem holler out to me using the form here.

I also made several hats recently. These are various sizes and colors. I made up the patterns using the basic hat increases. I used fpdc and fphdc on one and cross-stitch on another. Finished a couple with single crochet rounds and one is made long enough to double up. I also used DK weight yarn for some and worsted for some. So the word is variety!

That's about it.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Baby Doctor Who Scarf

The Doctor Who S14 Baby scarf is finished. I was aiming for 48" but it turned out slightly longer at about 52". It is about 3 1/4" wide. The baby is not walking so there is no issue with tripping. :-)

I chained 16 with a G hook. I used leftover Deramores Stylecraft Special DK  from the S16-17 scarf for my yarn colors

BBC - my color
Purple - Stylecraft Special DK Burgundy
Camel -  Stylecraft Special DK Camel
Mustard - Stylecraft Special DK Sunshine
Rust - Stylecraft Special DK Copper
Grey - Stylecraft Special DK Graphite
Greenish Brown - Stylecraft Special DK Khaki
Bronze - Stylecraft Special DK Walnut

I will put the pattern up at Crochet Cabana and probably at Ravelry as well.

Now I need to sew the tails in on the S16-17 as well!

Have you ever found a pattern you liked but it was written using a different terminology than you are used to - in my case a British pattern perhaps? I have a conversion chart at Crochet Cabana but I ran across this video by Mikey at the Crochet Crowd and I liked his presentation and thought I would share it here.

I also ran across this video demonstrating how to make yarn out of paper! Who doesn't have paper? 

I also mustn't forget to mention Red Heart's yearly 12 weeks of Christmas. A new pattern appears each week in both crochet and knit.

Another great idea is shown in this video demonstrating how to make a double crochet as the first stitch of your row without using the chain-3 method. She calls it the chainless starting double crochet.

I have seen this numerous times and have yet to actually wind my yarn this way. I really need to do it. It's a center pull method.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

baby sweater and Who scarves

I know I have been very lax in keeping up with the blog lately. The last project was such a long one that there wasn't much new to report. I've also been occupied with my new grandson and my mom under hospice care.

Here is what I've been up to.

I began a little baby sweater. The pattern is at Bev's Country Cottage.  It is the hexagon sweater. As you can see, it is not finished. I used a G hook and Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value yarn from the UK, shade 0891. It's a sort of deep red, light burgundy perhaps.

The pattern is fairly straightforward. You make 2 hexagons and put them together in an L shape. Then you add the extra bits at the collar and sleeves and the spot for the buttons. I will probably not add buttons. Buttons, babies. I'm overly cautious.

I worked 8 rounds with a G hook which I think would fit a large preemie or small newborn. It fit the grandbaby who is just over 9# and 20.5". He is in newborn clothing, but most of it is still large on him. He'll probably have outgrown the sweater before I finish it. LOL

I also finished the main part of the Season 16-17 Doctor Who scarf. I still have all those tails to sew in. I haven't measured it but the sofa seating area is 6' so I'm guessing between 18' long when stretched out.

For the scarf I used my own pattern based on 5 rows to the inch (using the inches pattern at doctorwhoscarf.com which is for the knitted S 12-14 scarves). I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn (from the UK) and a G hook.

The colors used were:
Purple - Stylecraft Special DK Burgundy
Camel -  Stylecraft Special DK Camel
Mustard - Stylecraft Special DK Sunshine
Rust - Stylecraft Special DK Copper
Grey - Stylecraft Special DK Graphite
Greenish Brown - Stylecraft Special DK Khaki
Bronze - Stylecraft Special DK Walnut

I am fairly pleased with the colors except for the yellow which is really too bright and too orangy but the best available in that yarn I think. The brown (walnut) could have a bit more red to it, but I think it works fine with the other colors.

I chained 36. If making this scarf - just as I have it in the pattern with 8" wide - I would suggest buying 2 skeins of all colors but the sunshine and burgundy. You may not need it all but better safe than sorry.

The scarf has all 88 stripes of color and 1054 rows of single crochet. So if you don't like single crochet this is not the project for you! LOL

Row numbers will vary with hook and yarn but that's how many I did. The breakdown is camel 241, khaki 198, copper 159, graphite 142, walnut 123, sunshine 96, burgundy 95 = 1054

Pattern I used will eventually be available at Ravelry and the web site. I'll post when it's there.

I also began a baby size scarf. I took the full size Season 14 and reduced it proportionately. I chained 16 with a G hook and the DK yarn in colors as above. More on this one as it gets further along.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie