Nana's blanket part1

I went to help my grandma move on Feb. 27. I noticed a colorful afghan in the corner. I thought it must be Nana’s, but didn’t say anything since we were busy. A little later, when we, were taking a break, I picked it up and started to inspect it. It is made completely of circles sewn together. There must be over a thousand I thought. When she noticed my interest she let me know that I could take it home.  It was not in the best condition. Strands of yarn were loose; some circles had “exploded” when the center ring broke free. There is no way it will survive the washing machine. I started to pull at the loose yarn. Some circles broke entirely free. This blanket needed restoration. The sentimental value behind it prompted me to fix it. What!?! Am I crazy? I must be, because I had several circles loose before I even left her house. 

It has been a month so far and I am only half finished, but it is very rewarding. I have implemented an assembly line system that is very helpful to keep all the different circles separated.
The first step is to take apart the old afghan. Then I take the ends and weave them in. The next step, logically, would be to sew the circles back together, but with what? The strands were too short to begin with. I decided to add black yarn single crocheted around each circle. I did this to help support the older yarn and give me long strands to work with. I am very happy with the results. Once I get many outlined circles finished, I whip stitch them together. Sounds easy enough!
As far as I can tell, there are around 600 circles. Today, I have 280 sewn together. I consider I am half finished, I need the encouragement. This is the longest project I have ever started. I have to let you know, I enjoy the small quick items I can finish in less than a week. My attention span must be getting bigger, I have only stopped a few times for other WIPs (checkbook cover and cake).  I have no plans on giving up on this blanket. My goal to have it finished before Easter may not be achieved, but I know I can be finished before May.

The fringe from the ends. I am not sure if I want to put them back on?

each circle is made up of 20 dc in a ring.
I would use a magic ring, but you can chain 6 and slip stitch to form a ring.
that's it for each yo-yo!

I am using an H hook to single crochet black yarn around each yo-yo, leaving long tails to sew together later.

a great shot of my "assembly line".
I use the plastic bags from new curtains to keep organized.

the first set of redone circles, I'm really liking it!

getting bigger

2 of the square panels together.
I've been making them 5x7 for easy handling, then sewing them together. So far it has worked for me.

1 panel complete=140 circles

1 panel is the top, the other is the bottom.
You can't see very well in this photo, but there are four crosses made , one in each corner.

the girly beanie*

Any worsted weight yarn in two colors

6.5mm/K hook and 6mm/J hook

Measures 21 ½”, lying flat.     Chain 3 counts as a double crochet. Do not turn your work.

Using the K hook and first color, in a magic ring, ch3, 9dc, slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. Do not turn. (10st)

Row1: dc in joining st, 2dc in each st,  slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (20st)

Row2: dc in joining st, *dc, 2dc ss, repeat around,  slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (30st)

Row3: dc in joining st, *dc 2x, 2dc ss, repeat around,  slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (40st)

Row4: dc in joining st, *dc 3x, 2dc ss, repeat around,  slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (50st)

Row5: dc in joining st, *dc 4x, 2dc ss, repeat around, slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (60st)

Switching to the J hook:

Row6-11: dc in ea dc, slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (60st) Switch colors.

Row12-14: dc in ea dc around,  slst to top of ch3 to join, ch3. (60st) DO NOT ch3 on row 14.

Row15: ch1 and sc ss, *skip 2 dc, 5dc ss, skip 2 dc, sc, repeat around, ending with a slst to first sc. (10 shells)

Row16: ch 3 and 2dc ss (this is 2 dc short for the first shell), *skip 2 dc, sc, skip 2 dc, 5dc ss, skip 2 dc, sc, repeat 8x,  2dc in same stitch as joining (this will make a total of five dc in the first shell), slst to top of ch 3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Use a flower pattern of your choice, or use this same link as I did. I used a G hook for mine. Sew the flower onto the beanie and the button onto the flower.



 You may enjoy my patterns for free, even sell your finished projects, but please DO NOT claim my patterns or photos as your own and DO NOT sell them.

my check's in the mail*

My husband and I, both, ran out of checks recently.  I didn’t notice how many checks I write, until I was without. I thought I would treat my new set of books to a new cozy.  I really needed a holder to keep both the checks and the register together and a cover to protect them from everything else I carry in my bag. I didn’t search for a pattern; the concept appeared to be simple enough.

What I used: Sugar and Cream yarn in 2 colors and an H hook.

MC- master color  AC- accent color

How I did it: starting with a single crochet foundation row of 22sc using MC.

Row1: ch3, dc in ea st.  (22dc)

Row2: using AC; ch1, sc in ss, sc in ea st. (22sc)

Repeat rows 1 and 2, 3 times. Use MC for dc rows, use AC for sc rows.

Rows9-18: ch3, dc in ea st. (22dc)

Rows19-22: using AC; ch1, sc in ss, sc in ea st. (22sc) fasten off and weave in ends.

Rows23-25: using the backside of the beginning chain; attach AC and ch3, dc in ea st across. (22dc)

Rows26-29: MC; ch1, sc in ss, sc in ea st. (22sc) fasten off and weave in ends.

Fold the ends of your work toward the center on the third row of dcs from the ends. Sew each side together to form the pockets. On the crease or fold of one side you can attach a chain of your desired length for a loop. This will go around a button on the opposite side.

 You may enjoy my patterns for free, even sell your finished projects, but please DO NOT claim my patterns or photos as your own and DO NOT sell them.

as i promised

As I promised, I made another hanging kitchen towel. This is my favorite so far. Please remember, I am self-taught. I can see some improvements already, but I like to write the pattern as I did it in the pictures. I am sure I will crochet several more towels in the future and be able to update a revised pattern. For now, I think this will get you through. Have fun choosing your favorite colors, or choose one out of the ordinary. If you have any questions, just ask me here or on FB in the Stitchery.

Rippled granny kitchen towel

Any completed 7-petal flower motif

5mm/ H hook and cotton yarn

my needle on the left side is only for a
clearer view of the 2 loops to use

Granny stitch heptagon motif

Attach yarn with a slip stitch to the backside of the flower in between the petals. Chain 4 and slst in between next two petals, *ch 3 and slst in between next two petals, repeat around, slst to first chain. (7 ch3 spaces)

Row1: ch1, (slst, ch3, 2dc) all in first ch space, *ch3, 3dc in next ch sp, repeat around, slst to join to top of ch3. Ch1, turn.

Row2: (slst, ch6, 3dc) all in first ch sp, ch1, *(3dc, ch3, 3dc) in next ch sp, ch1, repeat 5x. 2dc in first ch sp, slst to third ch. Ch1, turn.

Row3: (slst, ch6, 3dc) all in first ch sp, ch1, 3dc in next ch sp, ch1, *(3dc, ch3, 3dc) in next ch sp, ch1, 3dc in next ch sp, ch1 repeat 4x. 3dc in first ch sp, slst to third ch. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Towel top: attach yarn to right side.

Row1, slst to attach yarn, ch1, sc2tog, sc 3x, sc2tog, sc 4x, 5sc ss, sc 4x, sc2tog, sc 3x, sc2tog, sc. Ch4, turn.

Row2: skip a stitch, treble, ch1, sk 2st, tr, ch1, sk 2st, dc, ch1, sk 3st, sc, ch1, sk 3st, dc, ch1, sk 2st, tr, ch1, sk 2st, tr. Fasten off and switch colors.

Row3: For this row ONLY, do not use the loops, use the ch1 spaces from previous row. Ch4, dc,  ch1, dc, ch1, sc, ch1, sc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc2tog, ch1, dc. Ch1, turn.

Row4: *sc2tog, sc, repeat across. Ch3, turn.

Row5: *dc2tog, dc, repeat across. Ch3, turn.

Row6: dc2tog, dc 2x. Ch4, turn.

Rows7-11: tr in ea st. Ch4, turn. (on row 11 end with ch1, turn)

Row12: sc in ea st. Fasten off and weave in ends. The button hole is already made between the 2 middle trebles. Sew a button on the front of the towel.

Towel bottom: attach yarn to right side.

Row1: slst to attach yarn, ch1, sc 11x, 5sc ss, sc 3x, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 3x, 5sc ss, sc 3x, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 4x. Ch3, turn.

Row2: dc2tog, dc 8x, (dc, ch1, dc)ss, dc 6x, (dc, ch1, dc)ss, dc 8x, dc2tog, sk 1st, dc in last. Fasten off and change color.

Row3: ch3, dc2tog, dc 9x, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch1 sp, dc 6x, dc3tog, dc 6x, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch sp, dc 8x, dc2tog, dc. Ch3, turn.

Row4: dc2tog, dc 8x, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch sp, dc 6x, dc3tog, dc 6x, (dc, ch1,dc) in ch sp, dc 8x, dc2tog, sk 1st, dc in last. Ch3, turn.

Row5: repeat row 4, omitting last dc.

Row6: dc2tog, dc 7x, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch sp, dc 6x, dc3tog, dc6x, (dc, ch1, dc) in ch sp, dc 7x, dc2tog, dc. Ch3, turn.

Rows7-12: repeat row 6.

Row13: repeat row 6 again in trim color. After last dc, do not fasten off. Ch3, sc up the side of the towel, around strap, and back down the other side of the towel, slst to top of ch3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Some photos of how I switch colors in the last two loops.

I drop the strand of yarn that I have been using before I yo and pull through the last two loops on my hook. I pick up a new strand of a different color yarn. 

Here, I have yo'd and pulled through the last 2 loops with the new strand. You will want to continue as normal for at least 3 to 5 stitches before you snug the ends.

 You may enjoy my patterns for free, even sell your finished projects, but please DO NOT claim my patterns or photos as your own and DO NOT sell them.