Bags...bags...

 Cross-body bag all finished!  I started making this one with just an idea in mind, no pattern.
I started out with the front/back of the bag, then made the sides (4 dc's wide) attaching the metal square-rings for the strap.  I then added a top flap to cover the zippered top (just rows of sc's edged with sc's) and made a lining out of blue minky fabric.  Adding the owl with a few stitches and it's done!  The last Christmas gift made!

Inside the flap, zippered lining

I've been making a lot of zippered makeup bags.  

This Seattle print fabric is one of my favorites!  It showcases highlights of the area so brightly!

 

Bits & Bobs into a girls bag!

Awhile back I found this pattern for a cute hooked Hearts Afghan and pulled out my red yarn, creating one of the squares.  I knew that I didn't want to create a full-sized blanket out of the pattern, so I tucked the square aside until the "right project" popped into my mind.  So yesterday I pulled out all my bits & bobs of yarn colors and tackled that "right project"! 
 I made a fully-lined with a zipper and everything bag for our youngest niece!

 The ubber cuteness almost got to me ;)  

but I love how cheery and bright it turned out!

My Girls Hooked Bag Tutorial O' Sorts:
I took my red heart square, sl st my red yarn into the bottom corner (red puffy heart/right side up!) hook 1 row sc, 4 rows dc, 1 row sc. (This is the base rows of the bottom of the bag).  Next continue on hooking the back of the bag with 30 rows of hdc's.  (When near the end I count to make sure the front and back are even!)

There you have it, a front/base/back of the bag.  

I started this in the evening thus the darker photos, but you can get the idea! 

 

Next I picked out a cornflower blue shade to create the bag strap. 

I created it 4 dc's wide and 24 inches long.

 

Now to attach the strap to the bag.  

I knew that I wanted the bubblegum pink as a trim 

so I used this as my yarn to piece it together.   

SLST into the bottom corner of the base, then sc around

 (4 sc's for the base bottom, adding an extra 2 sc's in each of the corners, and continuing up the side of the bag front.)  

Once you are at the top corner, 

continue with sc's across the top of the bag.

 

Continue down the other side, attaching the strap 

and making sure you don't have the handle twisted!  

I pinned it to the base bottom of the opposite side

 so I knew exactly where it would meet at the top right of the bag.
Keep attaching the handle to the bag with sc's around, 

up the other side of the handle and back of bag.  

SLST to beginning sc. 

 Next I created a zipper placket for the top of the bag.  

SLST your color onto the top corner, sc in same sp.  

Then hdc around in each stitch, with 4 hdc's in each end.  

It ends up looking like a long rectangle box.  

Now do any trims or designs to your bag that you would like.  Doing it now keeps all the ends inside the bag 

and not a hassle later after your lining is inside!  

I took white yarn and created cross-stitch pattern around the heart. 

And a row of slst border around the heart in lavender. I also took a sky blue and trimmed the handle with sc's.

This is what it looks like when finished:

 

Now you have a nice placket to attach your zipper to, 

making it all pretty and hidden! 

 Next take out your lining material.  

I used basic white cotton and a large white zipper.

 Make this as you would any bag or bag lining.  
(There are lots of tutorials out there if you need help! Some day I promise I will get to making a tut on a basic bags!)

 So just remember, you want the inside of this bag lining to be "pretty seams" and the outside is okay showing  seam ends as it will be inside the hooked bag.
 I squared off the bottoms of the lining, and added my label to the inside of the zipper lining.

Next slide your lining inside of the hooked bag and pin in place.  Hand sew it to the top of the blue rows of hdc's all the way around, giving it some extra attention at each end.  Make sure you keep your hdc's below the zipper line so it won't get stuck inside the zipper when using!

 

 Next add on any trims you would like.  

I made a basic flower and added a hooked heart to it's center.

 

 And all done!  I love how cutsie and girly it turned out!

Christmas Snowflakes

The end of Fall here in Seattle has given way 

to many days just like this...

Snowflakes...and more snowflakes...and even more snowflakes!

Earrings, buttons, pins, ornaments, and gift tags!

These make quick & easy gifts, yet they are so cute & unique! 
A love for anyone who loves handmade things.  I love to add a snowflake pin onto my scarf, or to the front of my hat...it adds a bit more of Christmastime to my winter garb!

There are so so so many crochet patterns out there for snowflakes.  I found these on Red Heart yarns   free patterns.  
To create into earrings just add your earring hook onto one of your last rows of points. Or sew on your pin hardware to the back of a snowflake.  I then pin them out and starch them overnight. 

Eye Masks!

I love all the spa and bath gift sets that come out at Christmas time...
but if you are like me, some of them just do not have "just enough" in them for a great gift.
I like to add a few little things to mine to give them a little extra handmade touch.
Sometimes a few scrubby hooked washcloths or bathmitts, or a pair of hooked slippers.
This year I decided to use some of my hooked bits of Irish Crochet and create some eye masks.
Easier to make than I first thought too!
Awhile back I made some superhero eye masks and I kept thinking to use the same method and create some spa-style masks for the ladies in my life.  Finally I did!
I love how they turned out!  And mmm...I filled them with lavender grown, harvested, and dried by myself!  A full circle gift :)

Eye masks are really simple! (There are a ton of tut's out there for those who need photos to follow-along or a more in-depth tut!) I do have some red silk and black hooked lace that I'll be creating next so I'll be sure to do photos for some help!

Here is what I did:
Draw your template on a piece of paper or cardboard.  Cut out your front/back and batting pieces from it.  I take my batting then and sew around the 3 sides, leaving one open to insert the lavender, then sew up the forth side.  On the front piece of fabric, I pinned my hooked lace and then basted it on, making sure that the front side of the fabric was facing upwards. Next I cut a piece of fabric for my elastic "sleeve", making sure it was long enough for a head-size, and basted it to the front piece on each side.  Next I laid the back piece on top of the front piece, right sides together, pin it and sew around the sides and bottom while being careful for the elastic inside. Leave the top open about 4 inches for turning.  Turn it right side out, press the back (being careful with the lace), push the corners out, and then slide the batting inside.  Sew up the top opening and done!  Easy and yet a beautiful gift! 

Girls Vests!

 

I love love love Cascade Yarns Pima Cotton, 

it is so unbelievably soft and yet light-weight.
I received this pretty soft lavendar yarn for my birthday and 

knew that I wanted to create something for our 3 nieces with it.  

I had recently finished the Hooded Weekend Sweatshirt and thought about using that basic netting pattern for vests.  

I have to say, that they turned out so cute! 

Details:

I followed the pattern creating the front and back, not finishing off but continuing into connecting the side I was on. SC into one side, SC into the other until I was up to the armpit area. Next I went around the armhole with sc, ch1, sc, ch3. Then the 6sc's in each ch3 space. I finished off there and reattached at the next side, using the same method. Then onto the neck and bottom row. Adding in a button and button loop on one vest, a pretty basic flower and pearl button on the other.

Our youngest niece wanted an owl on hers, so I used an owl button and on the other I did a basic flower with a pearl button.

One more niece...so back to the yarn I go! 

This one I created using Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Quatro Wool in aqua.   I added a row of sc trim at the edge of the sleeves in Deborah Norville's Serentity Garden Yarn in hydrengea. 

I love this pattern!

I found this pattern on Craftsy and knew that I had to give it a try! 

I am SOOO happy that I did!

Not only is it easy peasy, but I found myself moving on to create my own little finishes to them...no hood just a collar, and vests! Very versatile and fun to play with. Basically the netting pattern, so a great project for the evening "unwind/relax" time. 

 Back of sweater

 I added a row of sc trim at the edge of the sleeves in Deborah Norville's Serentity Garden Yarn (in Hydrangea) to add a little pop of color.

Shawl Pattern transformed into a Lap Blanket

I started with this group of yarn thinking I would be happy creating it into a small blanket out of squares. A step up from the granny squares, yet it still just didn't do it. So when looking thru the Autumn issue of Crochet! Magazine I knew I loved the motif pattern for the Fall Garden Shawl. So instead I made it into a lap blanket!

I took the pattern (on page 55 of the issue) for the Fall Garden Shawl and made it into this lap blanket.  I used Deborah Norville's Premier sock yarn in 2 shades (violas was one!) and mixed in a few motifs done up with a pink wool blend that I had tucked away.  It made the violet purples seem to pop so much more!

The pattern has you hook/join the motifs together as you go, working in rows of 5, 6, etc up until the last row of 11 motifs.  
To make mine into a lap blanket I took the motifs and joined just as instructed, yet created a blanket of 9 motifs x 11 motifs. 
Once it was all together, I finished it off with a simple edging of sc's around. (I did 7 sc's in each 5ch sp.) 

2 UFO's Tackled makes for an AWESOME Tuesday!

Today I actually tackled not one UFO...

but TWO! 

Extreme excitement here, as they are also to be Christmas gifts! 

(Fellow crafters will understand the excitement about finishing UFO's!)

 I was very excited to find the pattern for the Bohemian Stevie Nick's Vest (from www.theedgeof17.com) that I found  while looking thru www.ravelry.com
The pattern starts off centered around the back, working in armholes and then the edging.  The pattern seems to be a write-up of the older pattern that I found at the very bottom of the pattern.  For those of you like me that just like a chart to follow, not each row written out, then skip to the bottom!

                                                                      Front


I knew that the Deborah Norville's Serentity Garden Yarn (in Hydrangea) would be perfect with my tucked away Paton's Silk Bamboo (in coal).  The Hyndrangea blend is amaing! AMAZING! The perfect blend of my favorite colors! I had to order this yarn, as I can never find it in any local stores!
 

                                                 Back

I didn't like how it focused so much on the center motif circle that the pattern originates from, so I decided to add two belt loops and a basic sash tie belt. 

                                     Detail of the edging

I decided early on that it was just going to be wayyy too long.  It definitely is for taller people! 

So I skipped a few rows, adding hdc's instead of dc's etc.  The edging I even cut short.  I will definitely be playing around with this pattern again, lots of ways to change it up!

 UFO Take Two

Awhile ago I came across this blanket done in cheery colors, making rows of pretty hearts across the blanket.  So when I was going thru my yarn basket at the time, I picked out the soft baby pink & cream wool.  I wasn't sure if I liked how it was turning out, the thick wool and only two-tones just wasn't "doing it" with using that pattern.  So I tucked it away...until today!

Yay! 

I do have to say that I'm happy that I just tucked it away 

and that I didn't tear it back and start over with something else!

Baby Blanket Finished!

I started this baby blanket in bamboo crochet thread using size 7 hook quite awhile ago.

It was tiny stitches and definitely took me many evenings hooking to finish it!

So I feel very happy that this project is finished, and turned out so beautiful!

 

 What pattern did I use?

For most of the blankets that I create, I use basic stitch patterns that can be found on www.mypicot.com

or in one of my favorite crochet books.  

This stitch pattern for the baby blanket was found in this book, one of my favorites!  

 

It's called 'Fan Lattice' located on page 101

*Changes I made. Instead of the tr stitches, I did a dc. It fit better with the thinner bamboo thread.

 For the edging I just did a basic sc row around, weaving in the loose ends.

 

Hooked Bodice Top

 I love how so many summer tops are having hooked pieces to them!
So when I stumbled upon a Japanese crochet pattern for this hooked bodice top with a fabric skirt attached, I knew that I had to make it!

 It starts very easy, you create the squares that form the ring around the mid-riff area, attaching each one to each other as you go.

I used size 10 crochet thread in off white/ecru and a size B hook.  This was hard for me, as I typically use a size 6 or 7 hook with the crochet thread.  The pattern called for a size B to create the right gauge, so I kept with that for this first attempt.  Perhaps now that I finished one, I will try one using the smaller hook and adjust the pattern to fit the smaller pieces. 

 Next you add a row of mesh to the top of the ring formed by the attached squares.
From here you continue upwards to create the top of the bodice.

Ending with basic dc straps and a sc edging.
The bottom is a basic mesh row, then dc rows, with an added basic edging.
Topped off with a crochet tie/bow and some hidden snaps.

 

 I attached a skirt of pink rosebud print and here it is!

I love how it turned out!

 

Now to send it off to our oldest niece and *fingers crossed* it fits her and that she likes it! 

Another patchwork skirt!

Another patchwork skirt done!  

Our niece Allie went thru my fabric drawers last month 

and after "ohhhhing and ahhhhing" on several fabrics, 

she informed me that she wanted a "twirlly one with owls...

and birds...and girls...and...and...and...and".  

I think that I covered all the "ands" and then some!

 

These are so much fun to make and a great way to use up the 

bits & pieces held onto for something special! 

I love adding all the little trinkets that I've held on to also...

the special buttons, the hooked flowers & trims that I have made,

and the patches that I made out of favorite fabrics.  

Super easy to do.  Measure the waist and cut your fabric like you would for any draw-string waist band skirt.  There are SO many youtube videos to help you thru this if you haven't made them before and need some help to follow along.  I just make 2 buttonholes on my machine for the drawstring waistband (cutting a piece of elastic 1/3 the dimension of the waist measurement and sewing on two ties to the ends, weaving out the buttonholes).

Each row after the 'base waistband row' I add a bit more material and gather...before you know it, you are done! 

I started making this summer tote out of my little bits & bobs of crochet thread. Hooking it until I have the perfect size to toss in a book, sunscreen, bottled drink...and head to the beach! 

Summer starts tomorrow...so I better get hooking!