WIPW: Grannies and Ripples take 2 & Baby Blanket

It was a busy week for me! I didn't get a whole lot of crocheting done, but this is my progress thus far on my three projects.

1. Knitting Baby Blanket to donate.

2. Crochet Baby Blanket to donate.

3. Grannies and Ripples Take 2 Afghan

That's it!! Not much progress at all, but with it being the holiday weekend and all, I didn't have much time to sit and crochet/knit. Maybe i'll whip out some more this week!

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday - Grannies and Ripples take 2 & Baby Blanket

I'm currently working on 3 projects! All of them are afghans/blankets. One is the knitting.... and I swear i've only added on a couple rows since the last time I took a picture, so there's no way i'm taking a picture again any time soon.

The next thing is the Grannies and Ripples take 2 blanket. I'm still not sure about the bold colors, but it's coming along rather nicely!

And just today, I started making another baby blanket for my donation. {Check out more information about donating baby blankets here.}

I know there's not much too it yet, but hopefully it'll look really pretty once it is all done! I hope.

I am linking this bad boy up over at Tami's WIP, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along and The Crochet Way.

A Year Of Scraps!

I have seen this done in a few places recently, and decided i'd give it a try! What will a year of yarn scraps look like, and how much will it weigh?

We start with an empty jar. It actually wasn't that empty when I went to grab it. My dear husband decided it would be funny to drink his water out of it last night for dinner. Silly man. I have foiled your plan and have a new use for this mason jar! It weighs 15.8 ounces. This will come in handy when I weigh it in the future.


I decided to grab the project I am currently working on, and I finally sewed in all of the edges and cut the scraps! Now, my jar looks like this:

With .15 oz of yarn in it! I think this will be a fun little experiment.

In Need Of Baby Blankets!

2 years ago, my daughter was born still. We said hello and goodbye to her the same day.



I went to a routine checkup, to find out that my daughter no longer had a heart beat. I had nothing with me when they walked me over to the hospital, so on every August 19th, I have been donating memory boxes to local hospitals in her name. These boxes are something sweet to help families through a very difficult day.

One thing I make for the boxes are baby blankets. Even though she was born still, we still dressed her and wrapped her in a blanket that someone else made and gave to the hospital. The blanket that I was making her wasn't done yet.

Just last week, I found Mollianna's Mission. Mollianna's mother is local, and I wrote a little bit about how her mission hit me personally on my blog for my daughter.

As well as helping out families who cannot afford a headstone for their child, Mollianna's mother also makes care packages that you can sponsor. These care packages are filled with a ton of stuff! Not only do they include the little bit of comfort that I always included in my boxes, but personal care items as well. As sometimes, like in my case, you walk over to the hospital with nothing. I planned on going back to work after my appointment, not delivering my daughter.

Currently Mollianna's mothers care packages do not include a baby blanket. I've been in contact with her about including a baby blanket. I will be crocheting a bunch and donating them to her cause. The baby blankets I have made in the past are not that big, as they are often used only for newborn sized babies and sometimes even smaller. The square ones that I have made are about 2 foot by 2 foot.

Here is an example of one that I made for my box this past August.

This one below is one that I will be giving to Mollianna's mother as soon as I make a few more.

I am just mentioning this on here, because I am hoping some others may want to help out as well. I will be accepting yarn or blankets that have already been made. They can be gender specific, or gender neutral. They can be fancy, or simple. Any yarn, any color, any size. Crochet or knit! Or even if you can't do either, fleece would be perfect as well. Any other questions or specifics on where to send them... please email me at sblaisure@gmail.com.

I really appreciate all of your help!

But, I want to crochet!

As I was working on my current afghan tonight, someone decided to lay right down on my strand of string!

Look at him! How could I disturb his sweet comfy spot? I guess someone was telling me to stop crocheting and go to bed early tonight. Silly kitty!

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday - Grannies and Ripples take 2

Well, it's ripples and grannies part 2! This time with granny ripples! I'm still not sure about the colors, but I guess we'll see!

I'm also still working on the knitted basket weave baby blanket, that I mentioned the last time I did WIPW. But I haven't made much progress since then, maybe one or two more rows. Not worth the picture taking.

Dinosaur Newborn Baby Prop

Remember that dinosaur newborn baby prop I made?? Well, the baby is finally here and he had his first photo shoot!

Doesn't he look so cute!? This was the first thing I made for someone, that I had no clue on if it would fit or not. I'm so glad it fit nicely and that the shoot went well!

Be sure to check out the pattern if you are interested in making it yourself.

Possible New Project?

I have officially finished all of my little gifts to give to my colleagues! In good time too. I have about 15 work days left until I leave my long term position.

So now, I am thinking about a new project. I have all of the yarn to start a 5 1/2 Hour Afghan, but I just haven't gotten off my butt to start that. However.... over the weekend I got my new hooks, which I LOVE! And when I was at the craft store, I found the cutest verigated yarn. It was in one of those "side" racks and it was only 1.75oz for $1. Horrid price if I was buying a lot of it.... but it was too cute to pass up! Pink, orange, grey and beige! A very cute combination. I didn't know what I'd make out of it, but I picked up one little skein. In the store I tried to match up the colors, but nothing worked. Oh well.

When I got my new hooks, I needed to make something, so I decided on just a granny square. I figured I could make a couple granny squares and maybe start an exchange on here. But after I made 2 squares, I wanted to make something more out of it. The teeny tiny skein only made 2 full squares. I then made 3 other squares with just one round of the verigated, and the rest a beige/tan color.



It then dawned on me that I have 2 skeins of an orange that is similar to the verigated, and one part skein of a pink that is similar. I'm not sure how well it'll go together, but it could be worth a try!

I then got an email, that someone commented on my grannies and ripples afghan post. It got my mind going, and thinking about that afghan and how fun it was to make. So...... what if I did another granny and ripples afghan?

They're very loud colors, but i'm sure as i'm working through it I can figure something out. I just need to go back to the store and pick up some more of those little skeins of the verigated. One little skein made 5 squares, which will be one row of squares. I figure 5 or 6 skeins is all I would need. Then fill the rest with the orange, pink and beige!

Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see how it turns out! Here we go again!

New hooks!

I'm so excited! I just purchased new crochet hooks and I can't wait to get them in the mail! This is the first time in a very long time that I have bought new hooks, and I'm really hoping that they are super comfortable!

I'm also excited because I used ebates.com as my go through website. So I also earned 5% cash back on the new hooks! I always used ebates for my Nook books, and have earned money for those. But for some reason I never thought to check out Joannes! I'm so glad I did. I wonder what else I can buy from there as well. :)

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday

What's the newest thing I am working on right now? My knitting! I'm kind of really enjoying it... although crocheting will still be my #1 BFF. Anyways, I am working on a small little baby blanket to put into a memory box. I donate a memory box to a local hospital in my daughters name every August 19th (Day of Hope). In my memory box, I always include a handmade blanket. Usually it is white, for non-gender specific baby. However, I think this year I want to make at least 2 boxes. One for a boy, and one for a girl. Then if I get around to it, i'll make a white one as well.

I figured I'd put my knitting skills to use and try my hand at a basketweave blanket. It's coming along rather slowly. I've only been able to do one or two rows a night... and there has been no time for crocheting. So I might have to put the knitting down for awhile so I can get back to my gift sets.

Anyways, this is what I have completed so far.

Since I am still borrowing knitting needles, I am working with a circular needle that is kind of too small..... but it works! Hopefully soon I can see some actual progress being made on it. Right now it's so hard to see what it will actually look like, and if i'm doing it correctly.

I am linking this bad boy up over at Tami's WIP, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along and The Crochet Way.

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday

What am I working on this week? Well, i'm so glad you asked! ;) I am working on another gift set! This time it's in blues. However, on the diagonal pot holder I ran out of one of the threads and I just haven't gone to pick up some more yet. I was just at A.C.Moore and they didn't have this color, so i'm thinking I have to make a run to Michaels again to pick it up. It would be nice if all of the stores carried all of the colors.

So while i'm in my "waiting to pick up more" stage... and it's only because I know if I run to the store i'll be picking up WAY more than I really needed. I started the knitted dishcloth that'll go with this pot holder.

And I added more squares to my granny square afghan!

I really cannot wait to get this all completed! I only have a couple more squares that I can add on, so I need to start asking a few more people for some squares. I know a few ladies at work, and there's always my aunt and grandmother too.







I am linking this bad boy up over at Tami's WIP, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along and The Crochet Way.

So, what are you currently working on?

Bunny Buddy

I have ventured into a new realm of knitting!!!! Well, not too far. Because the body of this Bunny Buddy is practically the same as the knit dish cloth that I make. I did have the help of some you tube videos for this, they're the best way to really learn how to knit! Especially for this visual learner!

The picture is pretty bad, because the flash drowned out some of the color and definition. But it's a cute little bunny buddy!! I got the pattern for it at lion brand. I'm going to post it here as well, because for some reason I cannot view lion brand patterns on my tablet.

I used lion brands Baby's First yarn for this. Which I never realized just how super soft that yarn is!




To make the project, it used just under one whole skein. I did use the rest of the skein to stuff the bunny's head. I figured this was better than the stuff I would have bought at the store, because it's washable. It's just as soft inside, and it uses up the remainder of that yarn that would have just gone to waste!

BLANKET BUDDY
With size 10.5 needles, cast on 1 st.
Rows 1-6 Knit into front and back of first st, knit to end of row – 7 sts at end of row 6.
Rows 7-39 K 3, yo, knit to end of row – 40 sts at end of row 39.
Rows 40-41 Cast on 12 sts for Paws, knit to end of row – 64 sts.
Rows 42-47 Knit.
Rows 48-49 Bind off 12 sts, knit to end of row – 40 sts.
Rows 50-61 K 2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row – 28 sts.


Shape Head
Change to size 8 needles.
Row 62 K2tog across row – 14 sts.
Row 63 Knit into front and back of each st across row – 28 sts.
Row 64 *P 1, sl 1, rep from * across row.
Rep Row 64 until Head measures 3½in [9 cm].


Shape Ears
Row 1 P3tog, return st to left needle, cast on 17 sts, p3tog, p 15 – 16 sts on right needle, 25 sts on left needle.
Row 2 Turn and p 14, p2tog – 40 sts.
Row 3 Turn and p 16.
Row 4 Turn and p 12.
Row 5 Turn and p 14.
Row 6 Turn and p 16, p2tog – 39 sts.
Row 7 Turn and p 18.
Row 8 Turn and p 16, p2tog – 38 sts.
Row 9 Turn and bind off 18 sts, p 1, *sl 1, p 1; rep from * across row – 20 sts.
Turn and rep Rows 1-9 for 2nd Ear. At end of 2nd Ear, 12 sts remain.


FINISHING
Cut a 10in [25.5 cm] length of yarn. With large-eyed blunt needle, thread yarn through every other st on needle, then back through remaining sts. Remove knitting needle and stuff Head. Pull yarn tightly to close top of Head and secure. Following diagram, embroider face using black yarn and straight sts.
Weave in ends. Tie a knot in each Paw.

FOF: Finished Object Friday - Pot Holders and Towel Holder

It's been awhile since I've done a FOF. I have finished a few other things in that time... but here's a set i'm working on!

I have finished the towel holder, diagonal-pot holder and a circular pot holder. I am currently working on a knitted dish cloth to go with it, and should be finished today or tomorrow with it.

I figured the gift sets I need to make up for next week, will consist of these three items, and the dish cloth. I've been going back and forth on what to make, If I should include of coffee mug, coffee sleeve, or anything along those lines. But I really like the simple-ness of this set. This set here completes #3. I need to make 2 more by next month!

These three items i'm not worried about, but it's the knitting. I'm such a slow knitter. Plus I want to start another afghan soon. I'm itching to do that! Ha! Let's hope I get those completed in time!

Granny Squares from Friends

I started this a few months ago with a group of ladies I am with in a support group. We swapped granny squares with each other. Since then I have also grabbed a couple of squares from a lady at work, as well as another crochet blogger.

So far, this is what I have completed.

It's coming along very slowly, and it'll take me a long time to gather squares from other people before the whole blanket is complete. This is going to be an ongoing work in progress :) Probably for a long time! But don't worry, I will not post it every Wednesday, only when I've made some progress on it.

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday

I know! It's been awhile since I have posted. I was very sick a few weeks ago, with part of it still lingering. But I was down and out for about a week, where all I could do was sleep. Since then, I started a new position at work, which has taken up most of my time. I'm going to hopefully get back into the swing of things, so I can whip out some of my hot pads and dish cloths to give away as gifts when I finish this new position in a month or two.

So I'm currently working on a new set of gifts.

This is a double sided pot holder. I am using a pink, green and cream colored thread and it's turning out very pretty! This picture is not doing the color combination justice.