A Lovely Little Afghan

 As I browsed through my inbox today, I came across this sweet little blanket in a crochet newletter. I thought for a simple, traditional blanket, it is rather cute. But what caught my attention was the fact that she, just as many of us, hates joining a multitude of lonely sqaures together at the end of every project that seems to be getting close to completion. (Ha!)  Having worked this similar method before, I thought to myself-"Now why didn't I think of that!" She "joins" the squares together, making each square as she goes, using an interlocking method. The result is a blanket with separately defined colors and blocks, without all the fuss and hassle of having to work them together using traditional "granny square" joining!

PS- Don't you just LOVE the doilies?!

Click here to view how she makes this little blanket and joins her squares together as she goes.

Choir Special at our Church's recent annual prophesy conderence

Click here to view

Music Special

Well, this week kicks off our Church's 13th Annual New England Bible Prophesy Conference, which is broadcasted live via internet through Steve Brown Ministries. My friend (on the right playing recorder-playing first solo part) and I (on the left playing flute-2nd solo part) had the privilege of playing for the evening offertory Sunday night. Someone was kind enough to record a small portion of it and send it to me.

Well, here it is-the project I had been working on last time I posted.

A simple baby sweater with a playful touch.

Modeled by a little cutie.

I knew this color would look smashing next to the baby blues on this little guy!

Click here to view this listing for sale on my Etsy

Since I've made this, I have made a few other baby sweaters, and have designed a few more little girl hats, as well as a lacey head covering out of natural tan and brown flecked yarn. Very pretty, but needs more alterations. I have more pictures to follow-hopefully.
Here's to hoping I get a new camera soon so I can start posting new pictures and posting new sale items on my Etsy quicker than I have been lately. I guess as they say-all in good time.
Off to another day of busyness. That's all for now!

How Much Ease Should You Should Put in Your Knitted or Crocheted Garment?

With all sweater patterns, the amount of "ease" or looseness is a personal preference. Negative ease is a measurement smaller than your body measurement to create a tight fitting garment. Positive ease is a measurement larger than your body for a looser fit. The best way to decide on any size is to measure a sweater that you own (whose fit you like) and check the pattern schematic or measurements to choose a size you like.

Here's a general fit guideline:

Very close = 0 ease

Close Fit = chest + 1 - 2 inches ease

Standard Fit = chest + 2 - 4 inches ease

Lose Fit = chest + 4 - 6 inches ease

Oversized = chest + 6 inches and up

Compliments of Lion Brand's Website

WHAT COLORS ARE HOT FOR THE COOL WEATHER? (click here to view the full fashion report)

 

Just a little something I'd like to try sometime

Another super Sunday in the house of the Lord today! Choir practice, Sunday School, Morning service, choir special, I sang a solo today, a little grocery shopping, came home and made pizza, napped for an hour and a half (slept all of 3 1/2 hours last night), made it to choir practice 1/2 hour late, practiced for an hour in choir, sang soprano in choir today (a great accomplishment for alto is to sing soprano and hit an "F"-I was so happy I actually hit the note), played my flute in the service, listened to a great message from a visiting missionary, practiced a duet with a woman after church, and came home and crocheted as my husband goofed around with my youngest acting all crazy and silly. The house is quiet now, and this is when I tend to let the hours slip by-a quiet home, when you have five kids, is a bit of heaven. But, I need to get in and sleep sometime tonight-I ache all over from lack of sleep and going non stop today (well, almost), but my newest crochet project is calling to me still-I havent spent much time with it today.
It certainly has been a long long while since I've posted anything, however! Life has been busy. Church, home, my kids, husband, and daily life has taken over much of my time, as well as catching up on some crocheting orders and gifts I had to finish, as well as posting many new projects on my Etsy.
  I checked my blog for the first time in what seems forever, and found this beautiful, creative pillow someone had posted. If you click on the link at the top of this post, it will lead you to it). Another creative crochet I'd like to try out sometime in coordinating colors for my room, (I've been wanting to make a pillow or two to sit on my bed, but I fail to be inspired by what I see for ideas for such, and I am not spending any extra brain power in the thoughts of such a thing, as I have so many other things I need to be thinking on instead) so i thought I would share it here, so I will always know where it is, if the day ever arises that I decide to make something for myself.
  Another busy day tomorrow. Getting my hair done-YAY! and I  have a flute lesson to give, as well as a busy day of shopping and cleaning and schooling my daughter a bit. Mondays are usually my "day of rest", as Sundays are no day of rest to me, being as active as I am in church, but a few changes had to be made for my day tomorrow. Oh well. Perhaps Tuesday I can "rest" a bit.
  Well, Im off to sleepy land soon, but first, I need to go work a bit more on a 12 month old size sweater before retiring for the night.
  Good night you all. Pleasant dreams.

Spring time coasters

Here's a lovely little coaster pattern I found as I searched a crocheting website looking at different projects. Aren't they just sweet? So simple, yet cheery.  I can't wait till I have a few minutes to sit and make a few to sell at a new consignment shop around the corner from me.

Free Pattern Maker

I have been searching periodically for quite some time where I could take a picture and have it changed into a cross stitch pattern, and I finally found it!

However, my purpose is not to create a cross stitch with it, but rather a crocheted afghan using single crochet and changing colors throughout it. I have made a smaller scale item transferring a picture onto graph paper myself, but an entire afghan with  a picture was way out of my league!

So I searched, and prayed, and hoped, and searched, and prayed some more.  I knew what I was looking for was out there, yet couldn't find it.

Well, I was looking again on the internet last night, and boom! There is was!  (Kinda makes me wonder why I never could find anything before, but alas! I found it! And its even FREE! 

The sunset is a picture I am planning on making sometime, but I first need to get a picture and get started on the project  of my original intent-my beautiful church.

This is the only possible workable picture I had, so I tried it,  but sad to say, it will not work. There is not enough contrast between the steeple and the sky, and there are too many shadows along the front and sides. The pattern this picture created did not appear that it would work too well, so I need to keep trying others.

I had taken a few pictures of the church at dusk a while back. I need to find them, download them, and give them a try.  It was taken pretty much strait on, the stark white steeple contrasted nicely against the darkened twilight sky, and all the lights were on inside and outside the church, accenting nicely the architecture of the church. I don't think there are quite so many variations and shades in the colors as well, so I'm thinking the overall colors in the pattern would be more simpler, without all the shading, giving the afghans overall appearance a more commanding presence, with less eye movement going on for the viewer. Normally I like to create items with the latter in mind, but I don't wish to do so with this one. I just want to picture to "POP" of the afghan,  and make a commanding first impression.  Since I am purposing to make it as a gift to the church, I am hoping it will be displayed in its front foyer as a wall hanging out of honor for the church and all those who have served there, but we shall see.


***When using the website, be sure to remember to save the list of all the colors for the pattern BEFORE you click the link to download the pattern-YOU DO NOT GET AN ITEMIZED LIST OF NAMES OF THE RECOMMENDED COLORS AND THE CORRELATED NUMBERS ONCE YOU DO SO!  

ONCE YOU DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN, YOU ONLY GET THE NUMBERS TO THOSE RECOMMENDED COLORS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE SYMBOLS ON THE PATTERN.

And so begins another chapter in my life of crocheting.

HERE'S TO A HAPPY DAY EVERYONE!!

Morning Glory Doily

Here is a lovely doily/motif pattern I found on Ravelry.  When I attempted to copy the pattern for myself, I could not, so I am posting the link here to share with you, as well as for my enjoyment when I get around to making a few of these.

  Enjoy!