pinafores

What's off my hook? These cute little Angel Wing Newborn Pinafores.

The pattern is listed on Ravelry by designer Maxine Gonser. The link there sends you to Bev's Country Cottage where the actual pattern is listed. If you look at some of the projects completed with this pattern on Ravelry, some have made changes. I worked mine just like the pattern.

This is a quick and easy pattern. If you count out the number of stitches or shells listed at the end of each row, you'll be fine.

I used an H hook and Bernat Baby Sport yarn in pink. Here are two more pictures. The first shows the front and the second the back. The pattern calls for button closure which hasn't been done yet. 

The pinafores came out less than a foot from bottom to top of sleeve. If you use a different yarn, you may get a different size. If you want to make it a longer dress, you might like to add more rows.

If it's cold where you are, you might like to put this on the baby over a long sleeve outfit.

Here is an actual baby wearing a peach pinafore I made a few years ago. 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

ponytail bun hat

Just thought I'd pass these links along for those who aren't on my Facebook page. 

The ponytail / bun hats are very popular right now. I ran across this excellent tutorial featuring one method of making this type of hat. It's very simple as well. Check out Donna Wolfe's Naztazia channel. If you prefer having a paper version, she has that also, on her web site (as well as lots of other great stuff).

Vashti has a wonderful tutorial on making the star stitch. She always has lots of great information in her newsletters and I highly recommend you subscribe if you haven't already. 

And yet another good link is for making a blocking station. This would be particularly useful if you block a lot of items. I rarely block but I believe it's a good thing to do. I'm just lazy that way and have no really good place to do blocking. The squares I am making right now could do with a good blocking.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

scarf

Remember all that yarn I bought in preparation for the Osgood, trying to find the right colors? Well, it has to be used for something. :-)  I decided to use the Red Heart Super Saver Beige in a scarf.

The scarf is all double crochet. The chain was 32 for 30 double crochets. I used an I hook for the body and an H hook for the edging, which is single crochet. In the corners I used (sc, hdc, sc). I finished off with the invisible finish off, then sewed in all the dangling tails and called it done.

Finished size is about 9 1/2" wide (wider than most that I make) by 68" long. It could be used as is or double to make a thick but narrower bit around the neck.

That's pretty much all there is to say about this scarf. 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

hearts

I have been working on a small afghan using the nursery hearts pattern by Leisure Arts. It's a very popular pattern and one I've used many times. You can currently purchase it at Leisure Arts web site for $5.99 as a digital download.

I am using Baby Bee Sweet Delights Sugarplum (purple) and BBSD Charming. It's a #3 light weight yarn so I'm using a G hook. I bought two skeins of each color. My thought is to find the green in the variegated and perhaps use that for assembly with a join as you go. However, at this point it's anybody's guess what I'll end up doing. I'm just enjoying the process of making the squares on a leisurely basis.

Here is one square. It's about 7" across and 6 1/2" top to bottom.

Here is what I have done so far laid out on my bed. It may or may not look this way when I'm done. LOL

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Christmas stocking

I was going over some files and ran across my pattern for a Christmas stocking ornament. It's a simple pattern, just a 5 point granny, a pentagon. I'm sure many others have thought of it too. I had it on the web site many years ago. You can still find the pattern at Crochet Cabana, along with more information on how to form the pentagon into a stocking. You can also find other holiday patterns there.

Since we're getting closer to Christmas, I thought I'd share it with you here. They are quick to  make and you could include one with your Christmas gifts if your recipients appreciate handmade items.




Christmas Stocking Ornament
c2009 Sandra Petit, http://www.crochetcabana.com

Materials:  small amount of 4 ply worsted weight yarn in desired color (green, red, Christmas variegated work well), H hook, large eye needle for sewing in ends
If you want a more delicate stocking, you can use thread and a steel hook 

Abbreviations
hk = hook
YO = yarn over
dc = double crochet
ch = chain
rep = repeat
sl st = slip stitch
sp = space
wk = work
ea = each
beg = beginning

shell = 3 dc

Pattern:
ch 6, join with a sl st to form a ring OR use the adjustable ring as your starting point.
Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 3,  * 3dc in ring, ch 3* rep from * 3 times (5 shell groups), join with a sl st to top st of beg ch-3

Round 2: Sl st in ea of next 2 dc, sl st in ch-3 sp, then in same sp wk (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, shell) (first corner),
ch 1, in next ch-3 sp wk (shell, ch 3, shell) (2nd corner), 
ch 1, in next ch-3 sp wk (shell, ch3, shell) (3rd corner), 
ch 1, in next ch-3 sp wk (shell, ch3, shell) (4th corner)
ch 1, in next ch-3 sp wk (shell, ch3, shell) (5th corner)
ch 1, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. 

At this point, you will have 10 shells.
If you want to make a larger stocking with more rounds, remember that you will always put 3 chains between your corner shells, that you will have a chain-1 space separating your corners from each other, and that a shell consists of 3 double crochets. 

Round 3: sl st in ea of next 2 dc, sl st in ch-3 sp, ch3, 2dc, ch3, shell in same sp (1st corner made),
ch 1, shell in ch-1 sp between groups to form side, ch 1, in next corner ch-3 sp work (shell, ch 3, shell), (2nd corner)
ch 1, shell in ch-1 sp between groups to form second side, ch 1, in next corner ch-3 sp work (shell, ch 3, shell), (3rd corner)
ch 1, shell in ch-1 sp between groups to form third side, ch 1, in next corner ch-3 sp work (shell, ch 3, shell), (4th corner)
ch 1, shell in ch-1 sp between groups to form fourth side, ch 1, in next corner ch-3 sp work (shell, ch 3, shell), (5th corner)
ch 1, shell in ch-1 sp between groups to form fifth side, ch 1, join with sl st to top of ch-3.
Finish off.

You can finish your stocking in one of two ways. You can put a border around your entire pentagon and then fold and sew the sides together, leaving the top open and adding a strand for hanging, OR you can fold now and join with a single crochet stitch. I chose the second method. 

With front side facing up, with two corners at the top and three at the bottom, join contrasting yarn on the top right side, east corner.
Work 1 sc in corner ch-3 space and 1 sc in ea st and space across. Do not finish off.
Fold right side of pentagon to the back, leaving the opposite front side facing you, toe pointing east. The white border you just completed should be on top.
 
(You could do a ch-10 here for your hanging loop if you want to.)
 
Using a single crochet, join stitches along left side, putting one sc in ea dc and in ea ch-1 sp, 3 single crochets in the ch-3 corner space (heel of stocking), then continue with one sc in ea dc and in ea ch-1 sp along the bottom, finishing up in the ch-3 at the tippy toe.

Sew ends in and then add a hanging strand if you haven’t already done so. 

Once you've made one, you'll have a very easy time making many more. You can vary it up by using different colors for the main stocking and/or the edging. Gold or silver would make a nice edging.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie