New Happenings!

It's been quite a while since I blogged anything on here.  Been pretty busy.

Took up a challenge last January, 2013.  Paying it Forward challenge.  The gist of it was to post the challenge and then whoever commented under your post, you had to do something or send them some little something during the year.  I had seven people comment on mine and stressed about what to make until I visited a friend.  One of her family had made her a beautiful afghan out of leftover yarn and it was very colorful and beautiful.

So,  I thought, I have so much yarn that I will probably never use, so I started making "Scrappy Afghans" for my friends who commented.  They were so well received that everyone in the family wanted one so I wound up making 10 of them.  I feel that I need to make enough for all of Danny's sisters too.  So I will have to make a couple more. 


Here are some of them:

 

 Hopefully, I can start some more projects pretty soon.

Projects for the Festivals

I have been working hard getting some items ready for the Festivals. Also making some gifts for the grands. Here are some items I have been working on. The first pics are of some soap pouches. Just put your favourite soap in the bag and tie. Use the bag as your scrubber. It's made of 100% cotton and will not shrink. It really livens up the skin when used as a scrubbie. Wash in cold water to preserve the color.

Next, some dishclothes, also made from the same kind of thread. You will probably notice, I use a lot of this cotton thread, especially for my products that will be used and washed alot. These washcloths will lose some of their color because of the hot dishwater but they hold up very well and last forever.

I've been making these potholders for a while now. They are the best potholders I have ever used personally. All my customers swear by them. You can pick up a cast iron skillet right out of the oven and not even feel the heat. They are also made from the 100% cotton and are washable in cold water only. Many colors to chose from and if you don't see your color, just let me know and I will try my best to find a color of your choosing and make them for you.

These market totes are the bomb. They are great for the short trips to the market for a few items or for going all day to the flea and farmers markets. You carry them by hand or shoulder and if they get too much, you can carry them like a backpack. The one on the right end is still in process. Just wanted to show it, I think it will be my favourite. I love the colors. They are also made from the 100% cotton thread. It's very strong and lasts forever.

I'm working on some small purses for the grand-daughters and here are two of them and one unfinished one.

Another Rag Rug

Hey everyone!! Just finished another rag rug. This one is supposed to be for Danny but he said, why don't you just sell it at the show. So maybe I will.

A Rug for My Room!!

As some of you know, I have decided to re-do my bedroom. I have already picked out the colors and purchased some of the material for the project. It's been kind of slow getting started but I am trying to keep things going by doing some little things. I had a lot of scrap fabric laying around so I went through it and found about five pieces that I thought would go with the color scheme in my room. I cut the fabric in one inch strips and crocheted a rug for the floor. It turned out pretty good.

Another Purse

I crocheted another purse the other day. This one is like a tote with bamboo handles. The lining is in red. I cross-stitched a red heart on the front.

A Farmer's Market Tote Bag

Below I am including the pattern directions to make this Farmer's Market Tote Bag. The original pattern was given to me by my niece, but didn't suit me very well, so I changed the pattern to suit myself.

Materials: 1 balls 2.5oz, Peaches & Cream 100% yarn. I'm showing two I've made.
One is done in Peaches & Cream Softly Taupe and the other is Peaches & Cream
Limerick Twist.

1 - US size D hook

Gauge: 5 1/2 single crochets = 1 inch

The Bottom:
Chain 6 and slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Round 1: Make 11 single crochets ( sc ) into the ring.
Note: Mark the first stitch on the next round with a removable stitch marker, safety pin or
paper clip.

Round 2: Make 2 sc into each stitch of the round. ( 22 stitches ).
Note: You can now remove the stitch marker because through round 6, the end
of the round is obvious, and after that the end of the round won't matter.

Round 3: *1 sc into next stitch, chain 2, repeat from * to end of round. (22 loops).

Round 4: *Chain 4, 1 sc into 2 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: * chain 6, 1 sc into 4 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: *Chain 8, 1 sc into 6 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.

The Body

* Chain 8, 1 sc into 8 chain loop, repeat from *, spiralling up until bag measures
14 to 16 inches ( depending on your requirements) from the center bottom to the
top edge. (Tug the bag in all directions and lay it flat to measure. I like a slightly
smaller bag because I make my handles longer).

The Handles
Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable stitch marker.
reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the first stitch of the
new round.

Round 1: Continuing in the same 8 chain loop, make 3 sc,.....

...make 7 sc into each 8 chain loop to the end of the round. ( 158 stitches )

Round 2: 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 3: repeat round 1

Round 4: 1 sc in first sc of last round, chain 75, skip 24 stitches, 1 sc into
next stitch....1 sc into next 54 stitches, chain 75, skip 24 stitches, 1 sc to
end of round.

Round 5: 1 sc into next stitch, 75 sc into each chain of 75 chain loop....
....1 sc into each stitch until next handle, 75 sc into each chain of 75 chain
loop, 1 sc into each stitch to end of round.

Round 6: 1 sc into each stitch around...
Round 7: repeat round 6....slst into the first stitch of the round, cut the
yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Weave in the ends and toss your tote into the washer and dryer. The more
you wash it, the softer it gets.

I added extra rows to the top and handle to stabilize them better. Also with
the longer handles, it can be carried over the shoulder and even backpack
style.

New Purses

I have been away from this blog for a good while now but I am starting to crochet more. Here are some purses that I have crocheted lately.