After Christmas Update

So things are coming together and even though I thought things would be slower of the holidays, time really is speeding up.

I have some picture to share today though.

Here is a snapshot of the loofah that I made for each bridesmaid and two for my mom. The loofah is inside the bag with a small trial sized soap. The pattern is the Cotton Bath Puff Crochet Pattern, and is easy once you get the hang out it. I was able to make this one in two and a half hours while watching television.
Progress: 1 done, 0.85 (or more if I decide to make any more) to go.

If you noticed in the first pic, there is the finished crochet blanket that I have been working on forever. It is what I have been referring to as the Granny Square Afghan. Here are some pictures of it completed.

It still needs to be blocked and a few ends need to be tucked, but it was warm and I am happy how it turned out. Thanks to everyone for the advice along the way. There is not a pattern I followed, but if anyone wants to know the exact directions I could let you know. There are only small changes made and they would not be missed if you made the traditional granny square afghan.

Progress: Almost done, needs blocking and end fixing.

Here is a picture of the Sachet Yellow/White Bag. I have made no more progress on it, but only need to finish the top ruffly part and then make the string for the drawstring.
Progress: About 4/5 complete.

And then here is the scarf I started last time in the deep purple yarn. It is a new knitting stich and so far it has been east and fun to follow.
Progress: About 2/3 complete.

There is still more I did not take pictures of like the fuzzy scarf. I also pulled out the first scarf I ever started and finished it. I learned how to crochet while I crocheted this, so I was tempted to undo it, but stored it away in a closet. I am using it to remind myself of how things look when you first start off and how far you can come if you keep trying, plus its nice and warm. :) I will make sure to take a picture of it for the next round.

Current Time Occupiers Update

Ok... so like all things in life nothing goes as planned. I was able to make 3 of the 4 bath puffs expected and then I lost, yes lost, the last skein needed for the 4th. I am not sure if I am going to go out and re-buy the particular color or if I should make it with another color of yarn that I already have at my house. I know my mom would like one made for her as well. This is also good because there were no pictures taken before they were given away, so now I will be able to do that as well. Status has been updated to 0 made of 2 needed, one for a bridesmaid and one for my mom.

Granny square afghan. Same progress as before since there were other projects with a higher priority or I got sidetracked learning a new stitch. This still needs the last block created (half way through that), the edging on the last square, attaching all the squares together and the border.

Sachet Yellow/White Bag. I am at the exact same progress for this as well. I am thinking of completing it and using it as the bag I provide the bath puff to my mom in. We will see. It is near the end, just a few more rows and then a string to use to weave in and tie it up.

Orange Fuzzy Yarn Scarf. Same as before. I am only 1/3 the way through. I removed this project from the needles to try a new stitch and have set it to the side.

The Zombiebot Crobot. I have found a great set of eyes and one spring to use. I have not made any progress on its body parts, though I do seem to have all the necessary supplies to make it. This might be a holiday gift for my so.

And what I decided to make, for no reason besides to try... a scarf. I am using a knitting stitch from one of my books and I can now knit without having the directions open. I made a mistake twice so far, but it is not noticeable (I asked the so) and I am using a new yarn that we picked up in a deep purple.

Hopefully next time I post, I will have some pictures to share a bunch of projects completed.

Soft Easy Bath Puffs

Cotton Bath Puff Crochet Pattern
Erin Olivia Designs, Lesley Dietschy & HDE Productions

This is my new favorite quick pattern. I admit that at some points there is some maneuvering the yarn around so you can fit all the stitches, but once you get through a couple, you will wind up having too much room left over at the end of each loop. My tip: Always count at each step so you do not go under or over and change the pattern, unless that is your attention. Then, please go right ahead! Counting makes sure you are staying on track so your final result will appear like the pattern writers.

I have planned on making a total of 4 (gifts for my bridemaids). Two are made from Lily Sugar & Cream yarn in each color; Grape and Daisy. They would be perfect gifts for anyone. There are some notes about how they do take longer to dry since they are cotton, but the first one I made was perfect and was so soft. How many times do you do something the first time and it worked as expected?

The pattern calls for 1 ball of the yarn for each bath puff and even using the recommended needle size (H crochet hook) I still had yarn left over. Not enough to make anything, unless it was really small or an embellishment.

Progress: Made 1.5/4, half way through #2. Pics to come when completed.

And I know that this is another current project, but there are a few more running around here that I am not bothering to mention or call out. :P Poor WIPs.

Current Time Occupiers

Still working on the granny square afghan referenced in one of the last posts. I am "1 square and its border" away from putting them all together. I had some assistance deciding on the formation of the blanket along with the placement of each square, and hopefully they will participate in the joining of the squares.
Progress: One last square, join together, boarder rows, tucking in ends

I saw a pattern on Annie's Attic a little while back and I set the pattern aside. I have decided to make it in a yellow and white variegated yarn for the bottom half of the sachet and a white for the top portion. The pattern is from Louise Puchaty and is called Floral Bathroom Gift Set. I am only doing the sachet part of the pattern even though it comes with towel trim and trinket bowl patterns as well.
Progress: Row 31/36, make tie, weave in ends

I mentioned some yarn a while back that was given to me. I was unsure what to do with it since it was lash yarn and I have been unlucky, so far, in crochet projects I have tried with that particular yarn. Then it came to me, I decided to knit instead and *does a happy dance* it worked! I was able to make a really soft thin scarf with one of the red/black skeins. That one was given away before I took a picture, so I started a new one with an orange.
Progress: 1/3 way done

I purchased 2 new books recently. One is "Crobots: 20 amigurumi robots to make" by Nelly Pailloux, which is absolutely adorable and something people of all ages adore. I have already been asked to make the totally believable zombie bot and the precious geisha. Who doesn't love cute crochet robots?
Progress: Row: 6/13 for the head on mr. zombie bot, picked out button eyes

The second book is "Knit One Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads" by Judith Durant. I am somewhat new to knitting, but I have beads from past projects and never thought about enhancing my crochet/knitting. There are many projects that I am going to add to my want-to-make list, like the luxurious Crystal Cardigan or the Carpet Coasters which so far seem out of my league. There are many patterns I will try soon though, like the Grape and Berries Pillow. There is a scarf I can use to practice knitting and beading with, as well as making other scarf patterns or blankets, since there is plenty of tips and information you can use to create a unique creation.

When I complete projects and get new pics I will upload them and share. This listing does not include all the hidden time occupiers that I have put out of site and will drag out eventually.

Christina's Flowers

These are images from the flowers I am making for Christina.

(Each color I have made so far. One more pink left and maybe the orchid if needed.)

(Close ups of the purple and pink flowers.)

(My growing rows of flowers.)

(The yarns used so far minus the yellow.)

(The shades of green I have. I was thinking the one on the right?)

(The yellow and I tried to take a pic of the Orchid.)

If you want to see the true color for Orchid... click here.

Flowers for a Friend

So these are some pictures which are of some flowers from a pattern a friend had me test out. She is getting married and was interested in knowing if the flowers would look nice. While I think these flowers are cute.. they did not turn out like the picture.. mainly because there were no directions on where to attach the leaves so I just went with where I thought.. And they should of gone higher so they can be bundled up better. I also used pipe cleaners to stand them up and the end of the pip cleaner is in the center of each flower top. The picture above it during the making process. You can see the leaves.. and I did not just have a solid green and am only testing. :P You can also see the flower petals. The pattern calls for Sugar & Cream yarn by Lily 100% cotton yarn which I was able to use the correct yarn.

The picture below is 2 of the 6 total flowers that are made, though the bouqet only holds 5.. or at least the picture did. So maybe the want you to have one extra to keep to give to someone to brighten their day.

(Below) The final bouquet. I was playing around with different color pipe cleaners so the centers are different. I think I am going to try again and make the leaves higher and use maybe some starch on the petals or wire to keep them where i want them.

Last WIP Update

I know it has been a while, but I have had a few other areas of my life to focus on recently. I have had a few side projects going on in the mean time and would love to share them with you. I have made a total of **19** squares from the blanket in the last post. I am trying to use yarn I already have versus purchase more so I found a few extra shades of colors I can throw in. One of them is featured in this post and is the darker tan/beige color. Before it was just the blue variegated and the light tan and dark blue. I did find 2 more skeins of yarn in the variegated blue so I will be able to either make more squares or use it for the border.


Granny Square Pictures
Crochet Cabana - How to Make a Granny Square (worked in one color)
The Purl Bee - Granny Square (worked in multiple colors)
Wiki-How - How to Crochet a Granny Square (with video)