Gray and Yellow Baby Blanket

I finished yet another baby blanket this past week!  This one will probably be the last for a little while...simply because I don't know anyone else who is pregnant.

This is the same pattern that I used for this blanket, just different colors.  This particular blanket I crocheted for David's cousin, whose wife is expecting later this month.  They're decorating their nursery in yellow and light gray...hence these colors.

Love how this blanket turned out! 

P.S. In case you're interested, I offer this blanket as a custom order in my Etsy shop!

My Latest Crochet Creation: Another Baby Blanket

Recently, I decided to give this adorable pattern a go.  And this blanket made up beautifully as a gift for one of my long-time friends and his wife.  They're expecting in November!

In fact, this pattern turned out so well that I'm in the processing of making yet another (in different colors) for another lucky couple we know (or one of us may be related to). 

Also, if you like this pattern (or think someone you know might), I've added a custom order listing for this blanket in my Etsy shop!  You can click your way into my shop via the sidebar.

Happy Hump Day!

Craftastic Catch-Up

Today I thought I'd give you guys a quick catch-up on what's been happenin' in my craft room.  I've kinda been on a table runner kick lately.  I whipped this one up to match some pillows (that currently reside on our couch) my mom made me a while back.  These squares are from the same charm pack(s) and it's the same pattern as the one I showed you a few weeks ago (for that post, click here).  This one is not perfect, but I feel like I did a better job in some aspects than the one previously.  I'd like to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough to make this pattern and sell it in my Etsy shop, but I just don't think I'm there yet. (I'm kind of a perfectionist, in case you haven't already gathered that.)

Next up, another table runner pattern I've been experimenting with.  I love how this pattern has a chevron-y feel and how the colors fade from one to another.  Not all of my points match up perfectly, but I'm happy enough with it for myself!

I used a jelly roll for this particular pattern and when I got done, I noticed that I had enough left over to make a second.  My mom loved how it turned out and said she wanted the second one!  I cut and arranged all the pieces and let her make any final adjustments before I began sewing them all together.  I'm a lot happier with how this one turned out.  The points are more even and the colors look fantastic.  Can't wait to give this one to her!

Have you been wondering what I've been crocheting lately?  Well, I found this super cute pattern on Ravelry and decided to give it a go.  I love the bumpy look and it was super easy, just took some time.  I'd have shown you what it looks like on, but it's a tiny bit too small for me...most of the people in my family have big heads, myself included.  I'll be making this one again, though probably with the next size hook up.  Be lookin' for this one and more on my Etsy shop coming this fall!

OK, so I tried a chevron pattern for a white and yellow (gender neutral) baby blanket.  And it was working out beautifully...but, I made the classic mistake that many (especially beginner) crocheters do...I didn't count my stitches for every single stinkin' row.  By the time I was 14 rows in I realized that I had been (accidentally) decreasing every so often.  Somehow, not sure where I messed up.  I was 6 stitches in difference from the bottom row and the last row I had worked.  So, I let the darn thing sit for a while.  I'd put just enough effort into it that I was pretty pissed...at myself for not knowing any better.

So, what does someone like me do to rectify this?  I've started pulling it out and have begun another patterned baby blanket (and adding in pink).  I'll definitely try the chevron again, but I need to step away from it for a while. 

By the way, I love how this pattern is turning out!  You know I'll be posting more pics once it's finished!

Oh yea, and Happy Independence Day Eve!

Crystal's Crafty

 Today I thought I'd give you a little update on all that I'm working on up in the craft room.  Here's a peek at what my table looked like earlier this week.  I spent a lot of time this past weekend cutting fabric into the patterns I wanted to sew in the foreseeable future.  I also decided to start cutting some nine patches out of my scraps, hence the little stack of squares.  If you follow me on Instagram you might recognize the fabric on the top right pile...those two table runners turned out beautifully.

Remember last week when I showed you this pattern?  Well, I sewed all the blocks together...and Molly's not impressed.  At all.  But, it looks pretty good.  These aren't my favorite colors, but they look a lot better in person than they do in the picture.  There's something about this oriental fabric that just doesn't shine through in these pictures.

This quilt top turned out pretty small, but I think it might make a nice table topper or perhaps wall hanging.  We'll see...for now it gets to go in my to-be-quilted pile!

Next up, I decided to try out this pattern, which this style of quilt block is commonly referred to as "log cabin."  I have to say, I love these fabrics and how these blocks are coming together.  I can't wait to see them all together!

Here's just a small peek at my stash of pre-cuts.  I got a lot more the other day, but these beauties will be made into something pretty soon!  And Molly was dyyyyying to lay on them, in case you can't tell.  Naughty girl.

Don't worry, I haven't given up crochet...in fact, I might have went a little overboard the other day.  This top picture is all the clearance yarn I bought...I mean, cheap!  So, it only made sense that I snatch it all up, right?  The second pic is some baby yarn that I intend to experiment with very soon.  Maybe a new style of baby blanket is in store...

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little crafty update...hopefully, I'll have something super exciting to show you again in the near future.  Have a fantastic Friday Eve!

Mother-Daughter Infinity Scarves

Recently, I wanted to make something with two/three yarns included in one type of stitch.  My urge started when I saw this pin on Pinterest.

Source: chucksforchancho.com via Crystal on Pinterest

I had some really cute sock yarn that was pink/purple multi-colored, along with a pretty purple and an off-white.  I decided to make a couple infinity scarves for one of my best friends and her daughter.  They're two peas in a pod and I knew my friend's daughter would greatly appreciate something that was almost exactly like her momma's.

I rather think they turned out well, what do you think?

P.S. I ordered this dress form last week and it came in yesterday.  I absolutely love it and can't wait to picture some of the aprons I'm going to make with it, not to mention more scarves!

Kelsie's Infinity Scarf

I thought I'd share my latest completed and gifted crochet project with you guys today. 

I started on this infinity scarf using some super cute multi-color sock yarn and a half-double crochet stitch. 

And I love how it turned out!

The top pic is the lucky recipient and one of my favorite people, Kelsie!

The second pic is the self-portrait I sent her when it was complete (it gives you a slightly better impression of the scarf and what it looks like). 

Another Baby Blanket

I have to admit...if it isn't already obvious...that I love the pattern for this kind of baby blanket.  It's easy peasy and looks fantastic.  So, this is the third blanket I've made with this pattern.  I didn't have anyone in mind for it when I started because I simply bought the yarn for being too cute to pass up.  I mean, who doesn't love how those tiny letter blocks look?  I realize this could be a potential choking hazard at a later date, but for when a baby is just born this would be a great blanket for naps or perhaps a cover during transport. 

So, now the real question is...what do I do with it?  I'm contemplating 1) creating an Etsy listing, 2) waiting for another friend to get knocked up or 3) packing it away for "someday" for myself.  Decisions, decisions...

Laura's Blanket

This past Friday my book club had a mini baby shower for my good friend, Laura.  She's about to pop and looked so cute.  At this shower we all brought her books for her little one to encourage reading at the earliest of ages.  I decided a while back to make another blanket, similar to Lindsay's, and wrap the books up in it as wrapping.  Since Laura and her husband aren't finding out the sex they're decorating in earth tones, including green and yellow.  Therefore, the sweet tri-tonal yarn I used.  I'm very happy with how this blanket turned out and can't wait to make another one soon!

C-squared: a Concert and Some Crochet Projects

I hope everyone has re-acclimated themselves to weekday schedules by now...considering it's after 2pm on Monday.  Why do Mondays always seem to throw a person off kilter?  Regardless...this weekend was super fun.  I took a mini-road trip with my friend, Kelly, to Dallas where we met more friends and attended the P!nk concert.  It was super fun, even if Kelly and I did both have to hightail it back home on Saturday.  Here's a mini photo summary of some super fun times!  By the way, P!nk puts on an awesome show if you're curious...

While I was down there, I delivered a super cute hat to my friend, Denise.  After I made one for Amanda earlier this year (top picture below), Denise requested a "Crystal boggin" and I obliged, thought Denise's was more of a beret-style hat.

The central pic is Denise's hat about halfway through...thought I'd give you a better idea of the colors than the picture to the right of it gives you in the hat's completed form.  Denise was so excited about it that she wore the hat home after the concert.  I love that feeling when I give someone an item and they get so excited because they truly love it.

The left central picture is a cowl/infinity scarf I made for my mom prior to making Denise's hat.  She hasn't gotten it yet, but she's seen it in progress and I have no doubt she'll love it too.

Finally, the bottom central picture is a little bit...OK, a lot of a funny/gag gift.  I'll have to share the full story though...my sister-in-law recently posted a picture of a baby beanie like this on my cousin, Myah's, Facebook page telling Myah that if she were still breastfeeding that she'd totally have one of these.  I commented on the post and told Myah that I could make her one if she was so inclined.  Her response was along the lines of a "heck ya!"  So, I whipped up this hilariously cute little beanie and mailed it.  The pic that she posted on Facebook is the bottom/last picture in the set above. 

So, what crochet project do I have going now?  I started a new baby blanket for my friend, Laura, yesterday afternoon.  She and her husband are staying blissfully ignorant of their baby's sex, so the blanket is a combo of white, yellow and green.  I'll post more pictures when I'm done!  In the meantime, I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Friday Funday-Crochet Edition

Happy Friday everyone!  Rather than have a regularly scheduled Pinterest edition post today, I thought I'd share with you my latest crochet project.  I mean, a ton of Pinterest pins are craft-inspired items and I do believe that crochet falls under that umbrella.

Let me start with saying that I've been making crocheted items for friends and family non-stop, and I've even given away a few of my first experimental projects to people that really wanted something I've made.  There's only one scarf in my closet right now that I've made.  That's it.  So, when I finished Lindsay's baby blanket I decided I was going to make something for me-myself-and-I. 

If you do anything crafty you know that it can become an obsession...and I'm beginning to hoard yarn.  Seriously.  It could be a problem.  A few weeks ago I went to Tuesday Morning and this happened...

Yes, that's nine skeins of three different types of yarn in my basket...just because I thought the colors were pretty.  Hopefully, I won't be needing an intervention soon.  Cross your fingers for that.

In addition to my Hobby Lobby standby, I love buying yarn at Tuesday Morning...because it's like a high-end Big Lots.  You get high quality items for a deeply discounted price.  Each of the yarn skeins I bought were well below 50% of their original retail price.  Score.

Previously, I had purchased some really nice Swiss mohair yarn (from TM) and wanted to make something cute with it.  I'd been browsing Ravelry (like Pinterest for crocheters and knitters) and saw a lot of cute shawls that were being worn and modeled as scarves.  And they were seriously cute.  And I thought, "Hey, I could do that."  So, I found a pattern that required one skein of yarn and went with it.  It took me quite a while because I used a rather small hook size (E), the size the yarn called for...here's how it turned out.

This is a half-double crochet stitch pattern, for those of you fellow crocheters out there.

Molly seriously wants to know what I'm doing and how she can be in on it.

Here's how I intend to wear it, laid out.

I love the dainty scalloped edging.

And I took a quick picture of me wearing it yesterday.  Love it!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!  We'll be continuing to celebrate David's entrance into this world throughout the weekend.  My in-laws will be descending onto our property in a matter of hours, looking forward to a fantastic visit!  See you Monday!