Crocheted Colorado Stripe Afghan

In an earlier post (Breakfast Scarf) I wrote about my mentor. About a year ago she contacted me via Facebook asking where her crocheted gift was. I assume she was joking, and possibly inebriated. I thought, I may as well make her something, after all she did have a significant impact on my life. I asked her what she wanted and she. She did not know, but suggested something with her mother in mind. Her mother had recently passed away unexpectedly. I enquired further if there was a place or color that reminded her of her mother. She told me Colorado and Yellow, and then she had to run.

I began working on a blanket. Actually I began looking for something to work on I googled "crochet" and "Colorado" and eventually came across a pattern for a Colorado Stripe afghan. It was from a book called The Great Afghan Book. I ordered the book, and began to follow the pattern once it arrived.

The book was one that my grandmother had referenced in her notebook. The first pattern I ever followed was from this book. I was glad to buy it, and am sure that I will end up using several of the patterns.

I worked on the blanket sporadically, and eventually set it aside as other projects grabbed my fancy. Finally in that in between period where my fancy lay dormant and I had nothing else to work on I remembered- I need to finish that blanket some day! And so I set to work, and when I finally tied off and wove in the last strand I thought briefly of keeping this for myself, but instead took a picture, shared it and tagged my mentor, "It's yours if you want it"

Now, I just have to make sure I mail it before another year goes by!

Follow the simple pattern below to make your own!

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Crocheted Colorado Stripes

Worsted Weight Yarn (any two colors)

Size I hook

Make this as large or small as you like, I used about 6 skeins for this particular blanket.

With color A – ch 194 loosely. Work in pattern stitch as follows.

Row 1 (foundation row): Sc in 2^nd ch from hook *ch 3, sk 3 chs, sc in next ch, rep from * across

Row 2 (patt row): Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, *ch 3, scin next sc, rep from * across

Rows 3-5: Rep row 2, 3 times. At end of Row 5 change to color B in last sc.

Rep Row 2 in the following 12-row sequence

2 Rows B

1 Row A

1 Row B

1 Row A

2 Rows B

5 Rows A

Rep 12-row color sequence until you are satisfied that the blanket is big enough! Weave in the ends and border as desired. I sc crocheted around once and finished with a scalloped edge (*ch 1, sk1, 4dc in next ch, sk 1, sl st in next st, repeat from * around. Tie off and Weave in ends.)



Grandma's notebook project 8: Lily Sugar 'n Cream String Bag

At the top of this pattern in my grandmother's notebook she writes that this bag was made for me.  Once I got over the guilt of not recalling the bag she must have made for me, I got to work making one myself.  This is definitely a pattern I can get behind.  As soon as I finished one bag I started another.  The second bag was made from recycled grocery bags.  As I have been collecting grocery bags to make plarn this is an ideal pattern.  Ultimately even though I did not remember the bag the Grandma made this pattern certainly was , as she wrote, for me.

If you would like to make this bag for yourself you can find the pattern here.

Grandma's notebook project 5: Vanna White Baby Blanket

As long as I can remember my grandmother has watched Wheel of Fortune.  It has been a constant in our lives, much to the chagrin of my father.  I suppose we should count ourselves lucky that she is not a devotee of the Lawrence Welk Show, although it has been known to find its way onto her television, which is much more of a horror to my father!
I'm not sure what the appeal is, not that there is anything wrong with it.  I do know that she is quite fond of Vanna White.  I know this because she calls her Vanna; her autobiography, Vanna Speaks is on her bookshelf, and yes, she has read it; and one of the crochet books Grandma has given to me from her collection is Vanna's Favorite Crochet Gifts. So it was no surprise to find a Vanna White pattern in Grandma's notebook. This pattern was so easy to follow, and the end product was just beautiful.  I have to say, I'm a pretty big fan of Vanna, too!

Luna the Cat inspects the finished blanket

If you would like to make this blanket you can download a PDF of the pattern here.

Like this blanket, but don't want to make it yourself? Buy it at my Etsy site.

Filet crochet

I have gotten some mileage out of that small collection of crochet magazines from the estate sale.  A Halloween edition of one of these magazines had a pattern for an owl doily. After completing the owl filet crochet pattern I posted the image on Facebook to share my accomplishment with friends and family.  After seeing it a co-worker commissioned a squirrel.  I created my own pattern for the squirrel using graph paper.  I was pleased with the outcome, and even better- she was pleased, too. In fact she was so pleased that she commissioned a squirrel baby costume for her daughter's 1st birthday.

 If you are interested in creating this piece yourself I have included the pattern below. If you prefer, you could find  this piece on sale at my Etsy site

 

 

 

Kitty Rug

During the summer I had the opportunity to accompany a friend to an estate sale.  She sells vintage items through her shop Wise Apple Vintage on Etsy.  This particular estate sale yielded a plethora of crochet magazines, hooks, and some holiday yarn.  The magazines, most of which were printed in the 1990's were filled with delightful patterns that could keep me busy for ages.  One of these patterns was especially welcome, as I had inherited rug yarn and I had no idea what to do with it.
Behold the Kitty Rug, it brings me much joy. 

P.S. It's Kitty approved!

Victorian Ring Purse

My grandmother gave me a few of her small crochet magazines (two from the early Nineties and one from the Fifties).  In one of the magazines (one from the nineties) there was a pattern for a Victorian ring purse.  My mother, who was delivering the magazines reported that Grandma had one, which was white.  This fact was reiterated in the magazine as my grandmother had written "I had a white one".  So inspite of my limited pattern following abilities I set about to make a white Victorian finger purse for my grandmother.