Granny Square Cherub Baby Blanket

Granny squares are making a HUGE comeback! With good reason!  They are so much more fun in today's colors.  With spring and summer soon upon us, granny squares are the perfect take-along project.  No heavy blanket on your lap! Great project for car or plane trips!  Find my newest pattern here in my Craftsy Pattern Store or click on my Etsy shop or Ravelry buttons on the right.

Stunning in greys, ecru and yellows!   Perfect for the modern mommy and baby! It measures an easy to manage 36" L x 23" W.   Perfect for the stroller.

Great size and weight very for the chilly air conditioned spots!

Use my single crochet edge or browse through your crochet edging books!

The smaller squares add interest and whimsy.  Unique, one of a kind, shower gift!  You will love the ooooo's and ahhhh's when she opens it!

Great project to use up your stash yarn!  Easily make larger or smaller to fit your needs!

Best,

Sheila

see my latest pins below!

Pom Pom Love

I love pom poms!  Actually, it might be that I love circles.  The soft edge of a circle.  The squishy goodness of a round yarn pom.  The circle of life, ring of fire....you get the idea!  I made this blanket for an up coming baby shower.  As I have been knitting and crocheting for years.....over 30.....I'm expected to give something hand made with love!  I confess, I'm happy to do it!  Above is my latest!

Light grey, worsted weight yarn from Hobby Lobby.  Three skeins of I Love This Yarn in light grey.  The pom pom yarn is from Herrschners called Pom Pom Parade, 2 skeins.  Now, I just went on their site and I did not see it!  Maybe they have discontinued that line, so you might have to do a little searching.

I used this pattern from my Craftsy pattern store.

I love the simple elegance of this stitch.  Looks great on both sides making the blanket reversible.  I also am a big fan of grey for babies.  I know, not your typical color choice, but modern moms love it!  Works great for a boy or a girl.

I included a hefty basket too!  I used this pattern from Crochet in Color and crocheted over the yarn between the poms as I went.  Really easy and no cutting of the yarn until the end.  I still need to line the basket with fabric which will help it stand upright.

I used a G/4.0mm hook for both the blanket and bucket.  On the blanket, the pom pom yarn is slip stitched all the way around and I secured the end with a needle and thread.  I love the finished products and I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week,
Sheila

My latest Pins

Crocodile Stitch Shawl

I have had this pattern, by Bonita Patterns, in my Craftsy library just waiting for me to download. This was the month!  Three skeins of Patons Lace Bonfire completed this 2 row repeat pattern.  I really love the long runs of this particular yarn as it creates a spectacular effect!

You can find the pattern from Bonita Patterns on Ravelry.  You can also find it on Craftsy, here.  

Wonderful 2 row repeat pattern! Not for the newbie, however.  Once you get the hang of it, you can hook along, easily chatting with a fellow hooker, watching Downton Abbey or your fav program/movie!

I would suggesting going on YouTube and watching a video if this is your first attempt at crocodile stitch.  There are many to choose from, but I found this one to be the best.

 
I'm not sure you can complete the fringe on the pattern without another skein, so buy one extra than the pattern suggests.

My daughter snapped this up right away as orange is her favorite color!

See my latest pins below!

Best,

Sheila

Buckets & Baskets

I had mentioned in this post that I had been on a basket craze!  I used some of the lovely yarn I received from the Craftsy Deals Shop.  This is Cascade Yarns Cherub Collection Kaleidoscope DK.

You get an idea of the scale here.  Scraps of fabric line the inside with a simple whip stitch.  The fabric gives them a sturdiness and really helps them to stand upright.

The blue yarn was in this Craftsy Mystery Box.  If you haven't pulled the trigger or are new to them, give it a try.  You won't be sorry.  Gorgeous things in every surprise box.

You can find all the basket patterns, and information on my labels and charms in this post.

This isn't the best photo as dark greys and black are a bit difficult to shoot but it's a beautiful squishy yarn that was a joy to work with.  It's Cascade 128 Superwash.  I'm not sure they carry this dark grey any longer, however, they have a long list of other great colors.

I had some Aneela Hoey Little Apples left over from a blanket I made to line one of the baskets with.  You can't see, but the bottom has a cardboard circle in the bottom to help them all keep their shape.  You can cover them with fabric as well.

Now, what to fill them with!

*Slip a jar candle in one.
*Knitting/crochet notions in another.
*One would be a really cute baby shower gift for the nursery.  Fill it with lotion, washcloths and the like.
*One by the door to hold keys, cel phone and whatnot!
*The grey one could easily hold fruit on the kitchen counter!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Photo Prop

I just have to share a photo a lovely customer sent me today!  She purchased this blanket from my Etsy shop and gave it as a baby shower gift.  It's a photo prop with her monogram on the front!  How cute is THAT?

If you are a knitter or crocheter and give your finished items as a gift, you will understand me when I say that there is nothing better than seeing it in use!  A hat on a noggin, a blanket in a stroller, a shawl around someones shoulders or a scarf around the neck.....it's THE BEST!

You can find the pattern for the blanket here in my shop

Have a great weekend,
Sheila

Golden Harvest Blanket

I love my mechanic! You read it right! My auto mechanic! Women love this guy because he is honest, never doing work that is not necessary. If you have ever been taken to the cleaners by an auto repair, you know what I mean. 

For his upcoming wedding, he and his fiance deserve something special!  Golden Harvest Blanket is perfect for them.  

I used my Grey Gardens pattern (above) for this.  Omitting the feminine picot edge with a simple single crochet edge.  The pattern is great for tv watching, car trips or getting cozy in front of the fire! 

Shades of brown, cream and white fit in well with their home out in the country.  I always attached my label with a little sterling "made with love" charm.  You can find these cute little charms at Bohemian Findings.  The labels are from Sasha in her shop here.  Don't think you need a shop to add a lovely label or charm to your crafts!

The yarn is a bit "drapey" but it's very soft.  Would be fine for a smaller, baby blanket and not a large piece like this, which is 60" L x 40" W.  Next time I'll use a heavier worsted weight to give it more girth.  

I received some Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee Soft Secret.  It's very similar to Caron Simply Soft.  I love the yummy names....cocoa, cognac, honey and biscuit!  

If you have or buy this pattern, I'm happy to send you the info for this one. Just provide your email address.

Happy hooking,
Sheila
 

A mother bragging!

Our daughter won 1st Place for her headdresses she entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival!

She is a Costume Design major in college and the headdress were part of a play at the school.

 Mirror of the Invisible Mind.

 This one is my fav!

Just had to sneak in a little shameless plug!

Back on Sunday with more bucket baskets!

Best,
Sheila

Owl Bucket

I have been on a bucket craze as of late!  Happily hooking bucket after bucket.  Pulling out my fabric scraps to match up each one.  This looks so much better in person, but you get the idea.  This is a modified version of a couple patterns I have been drooling over.

You all know this beautiful basket from Crochet in Color!  That's where I started.  Great, easy pattern from Liz.  For the Owl Bucket I used some Patons Jiffy I had in my stash in pink and tan.

Then, I spied this owl basket on Ravelry by Briana Olsen.  She has the pattern for sale of $3, a great bargain.

Mine is quite a bit larger than Briana's, and I did line mine with the cutest owl fabric I had in my stash.  You can also see my label tucked in the seam, and if you look really closely, you can see the little sterling silver "made with love" charm I apply to all my knitwear.

If I had to do it over again, I would use white and black for the eyes and make the beak bigger.  I really like it just the same as it looks much better in person.

I'll do a another post later to show you more buckets!  Here's a little sneak peek!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Missoni Inspired Blanket

I've just completed a custom order from a lovely new mommy!  I used my Missoni Inspired pattern, pictured above.  She picked a grey color palette.  When I get farther along, I'll be able to post some decent pictures.

A few details about the pattern:

Crochet this beautiful blanket for the stroller, won't drag or get caught in the wheels! Great for the car seat! Baby stays warm and protected! Your finished blanket measures approx. 26" W x 39" L. Great size for the crib or toddler bed as well!

I would rate this as a beginner crocheter. You can whip this up in a week or so and be ready for a shower or upcoming birth! The chevron pattern is an easy one!

Unique, one of a kind, shower gift! You will love the ooooo's and ahhhh's when she opens it!

Great project to use up your stash yarn! The pattern does not give brand names of yarn, however, it does give color names!

Complete crochet instructions and photos are included.

Pick traditional, primary colors, or, for the more modern mommy, soft creams, chocolates and turquoise! Shades of all the same color would look terrific too! Five or six shades of blue or pink! Shades of grey and yellows are stunning! The sky’s the limit! 

Add tassels, fringe or pom poms to make it extra special!

Have a great week,

Sheila

Amigurumi Garden Pal

This cutie is in the Crochet Today May/June 2009 issue and couldn't be sweeter!  You can find it on the  Crochet Today webite and purchase the back issue.

I do many of these for new mommies in a neutral, no flower or dress. I tie a coordinating ribbon, or in the mom's fav color, around the neck. Often times I just stitch simple "sleepy" eyes instead of the plastic doll eyes and a little belly  button.  Of course, if it is for a little boy, omit the flower "barrette"!  Always a big hit at the baby shower. 

It would be a really cute Easter gift as well.

It is quite a bit larger than the photo shows....about 10" high or so.

The picture above is from the magazine.  You can see it is a good size toy.

Happy hooking,
Sheila

Downton Abbey(ish) Blanket

I am a HUGE fan of Downton Abbey!  The new season begins tonight!  Will Lady Edith finally find someone?  Will wedding bells REALLY ring for Lady Mary and Matthew?  What will become of Mr. Bates?  Who really killed Vera Bates?  If you ask me, I think Anna did?  Will Thomas and O'Brien get their comeuppance? And....all that money!  Will it last?  I can hardly stand it!

I grew up watching PBS as my mother is from Scotland and PBS shows have always been heavy on the British classics.  This was back in the days of 3 tv channels and only one television in the house!  You also had to get up from the chair to change the channel.  Hard to believe today, right?  We didn't even get a color tv until 1975, which might sound like forever ago, but I'm pretty sure we were the only family still watching their 19" Zenith black and white!  Soooooo embarrassing for a house of high schoolers!

Anyway, back to 2013!  This is my ode to Downton Abbey.  This crocheted, reversible baby blanket, is as close to the era as I could find.  I believe it's a bit before the 1920's, as Downton is at the moment.  However, when I spied this fabric, I just had to make a baby blanket for the mommy, who also is a DA follower.   

Wonderful, muted colors of Lady Mary Red, Edith Green With Envy, Matthew Sky Blue, Mrs. Patmore Mustard Yellow and Daisy Pink.

You can find the pattern here.  A very easy, beginner pattern.  No sewing machine required.

So, get out your tv watching knitting or crochet project, and cozy up to watch the season opener tonight!  Shirley Maclaine as Lady Crawley's Mom......perfect casting!

Best,

Sheila