Hats Galore - Day 6

Now that I'm back into crocheting, well meaning friends make requests for me to make things. One of these days I'll actually make something for myself. One of these days...Anywho, one of Sam's friends found a picture of a boob hat on the Internet and posted on Facebook that he really wanted one. I decided to try my hand at making one for Sam (I'm not particularly fond of his friend and this was a good way to get his goat as it were) and it turned out cute. I got lazy halfway through and changed my stitch pattern, which made it look a bit strange, but cute none the less. After I finished Sam's hat, his friend just HAD to have one and even begged me to make one. I gave in and thus the "boob hat" was born.

Blanket of Love - Day 3

We found out we were having a baby boy on July 12, 2010. That afternoon, I came home from work and got together the yarn that I had picked out to crochet a blanket for my son. It was beautiful, shades of blues and grey for an accent. I started the blanket that afternoon. A few weeks later I put it down. I was too tired from working and being pregnant to do anything after work but sleep. So there it sat, the one thing I wanted to create for my own child, sitting in a bag next to the couch. It sat and sat and sat. Then one day, as I watched my 10 month old son sleep, it dawned on me that I still hadn't finished his blanket. Over the years I have crocheted a number of gifts for a number of people, but realized that I had nothing in my home that I had created. I felt that at least one of us deserved to have something hand made just for them. So I started crocheting again. I hadn't picked up a crochet needle in over a year. But like riding a bike, it felt natural again.My goal was to have it complete by his first birthday so that I could give it to him. I worked on it after Elliot went to bed, trying my best to make some progress. Unfortunately, I had decided early on to make a rather large blanket, a task I was ready to take on when I had months to complete it. At this point, I was just going to have to crochet like the wind to complete it in time!Well, days before his 1st birthday, I completed the blanket. Sadly, my kid's not really a blanket type of guy just yet. We did use it to wrap him up when he was feeling sick a couple of months ago. There was no better feeling than snuggling with my little guy, with him wrapped in something I made.Since the blanket, I have really jumped back into crocheting. Hopefully it will last this time and hopefully I will make something for me. Until then, at least my son has something that he can look back on that his mommy hand made!

A scarf for Grandma

This past November, I went to visit my grandma after not seeing her in 4 1/2 years. About a year ago I made her a blanket that she keeps on the couch in her den. While I was in town I was a bit bored and wanted to make something new for her. I needed to make something quick and easy that she could actually use. I went through her kitchen drawers and found all of her pot holders, so that was out of the question. I knew that it gets pretty cold in the midwest so I thought that a scarf would be useful. As much as my grandma loved the blanket I made her, she really enjoyed the scarf. There was something about her watching me make it that made it even more meaningful to her. I really like the way the scarf turned out and will have to make one for myself although it doesn't really get too cold in Texas.

Modeling my own creation

Squares and Squares and Squares

I had an idea of making a blanket for our cousin's new baby. My hope was to make a square a night so that it would all be done by the time the baby was born. Unfortunately, the squares took a bit longer than I thought they would. It took me about two months to finish all of the squares. It probably would have been a bit sooner if I didn't have my gallbladder removed the weekend that I wanted to send it to her. That set me back a few weeks. Either way, it's a beautiful finished blanket. Unfortunately, I haven't sent it to her yet and her baby is 4 months old. Maybe that'll be one of my new years resolutions.

Please enjoy the progression of a blanket:

One square

A stack of squares

Beginning to sew the squares together

All together minus the border

Jamaica Mon!

As my previous post noted, I am now being asked to make things for our friends. Some of our old friends in NYC asked for a very wonderful favor. Their son was turning 1 and was to have an island themed party on Halloween. What better for an island theme than a rasta tam. His mom is Jamaican so it was only fitting! I had no pattern and only a picture to go on. This was the first time that I made something completely without an idea of a pattern. However, it turned out fantastic! I think I'll make a few more for adults - they make a great Halloween costume. My darling husband was a wonderful model since he has such a small head! I even included a picture of the birthday boy.

Sam the model
Prior to adding the dreads
Birthday boy

Prayer Shawl

Some months ago I received an e-mail from my best friend requesting a prayer shawl in honor of her brother. The reason for the prayer shawls is as follows:

"Over two thousand rainbow scarves, created lovingly by volunteers, adorned voting members and supporters alike at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly in 2007 demonstrating support for a welcoming church. In August 2009, the ELCA meets for its next assembly. There are several proposals before the Assembly that pertain to the full inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender members and their families in the life of the church. Lutherans Concerned/North America (LC/NA) is supporting proposals addressing these issues, including the Social Statement on Human Sexuality, the rostering of partnered LGBT ministers, and the blessing of same-gender relationships.

These decisions will be met with much soul searching and prayer. To that end, LC/NA would like to provide prayer shawls to be used by participants at the assembly. These shawls will be for use in the chapel area and to remind participants to prayerfully consider every issue. LC/NA is requesting the participation of all RIC congregations to contribute at least one shawl. The shawls will be tagged with the contributing church’s name and story."

We painstakingly picked out a perfect color that would accurately depict Michael. It was a beautiful blue, which was both calming and electric. It felt wonderful to actually create something for a cause, not just for a fun gift.

Michael modeling the shawl
A closeup

Sam Gets an Aminal!

My darling husband is so supportive of my crafting.  He encourages me to make aminals and tries to come up with creative new aminals that I can craft.  Poor guy has seen so many people receive the critters as gifts while always being passed by.  He's threatened to kidnap every critter that was promised to someone else, most often a young child! 

I decided to make a frog prince from a pattern that I recently found through Lion Brand.   As usual, Sam oohed and aahed over the aminal, assuming that it was going to be given to someone else.  You can imagine his surprise when I finished it tonight and gave it to him.  He's looking forward to taking it to work to display to all of his friends and coworkers.

My prince with his frog prince

Next aminal will be a caterpillar.  It was a request from a friend of mine for her daughter's birthday in August.  I'm creating a "trial" caterpillar to see how it looks since I'm actually creating the pattern on my own.  I'll take pictures of the creation and final product (as always) and will post!