Well I organized my yarn yesterday and found I have way to much scrap yarn again so I started another one of Dot's scrap blankets. As I said before this is a really easy pattern that turns out beautiful. I always think of stained glass since each row is outlined by black.

I also started a yo-yo scrap blanket for the scraps that are to small to make one row on the Dot's scrap blanket. I am going to cheat a little on the pattern by doing 2 rows of double crochet so the yo-yo are a little bit bigger, and hopefully it will take fewer to make the blanket. I hate to think about a the ends at I will have to weave in. I hate weaving in ends, usually have a big pile of stuff that is made except for they need ends weaved in. Oh well I am going to give this blanket a good try. I already have about 50 little yo-yo's made. I plan on making a ton of the little yo-yo's first then weave in ends, wash (in case any of the yarn is wool, that way I find out really quick which one where wool) then join. I will be happy if I can get this blanket done in a year. Dot's blanket will only take a week or so depending on how much time I have to work on it. Plus I keep making yo-yo as I go.

Dot's Scrap blanket:
http://patternsbydot.blogspot.com/2006/01/scrumptious-scraps-afghan.html
Yo-yo Scrap blanket:
http://members.aol.com/lffunt/scrapyo.html

Bumble bee hats

I made these little Bumble Bee hats using Bev's Hats Hats Hats pattern. I made the little antennae for the hat by chaining 18, then sl stitch in each of the 18 stitches then chaining 18 again and sl stitch in those stitches. For a more girly look the one I made a ruffled edge. I think they turned out pretty cute.

Here are two preemie blankets I made with some leftover Softee yarn. I used the baby bubbles pattern. The blankets turned out sooo soft and fluffy.

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/patterns/bubbles_baby_blanket.php

Weekend Progress

I finished my scrap yarn blanket and the basketweave blanket this last weekend. I can't wait to make another one of each!!!

Here are two of the blankets I made for Parkland this month. I started the purple and white stripes blanket months ago and just now finished it. It is made with a Bernat boucle yarn. I have now found out how much I hate boucle yarn after making this blanket. I will never buy it again. It catches on the needles all the time. It takes forever to make something with this yarn.

Basketweave Blanket

Here is the basketweave blanket that I started. It is knit on the bias. It is a clever pattern, I already have ideas on doing other patterns in a similar way.

Here is the link to the pattern:

http://www.lightfocus.com/knitting/Basketweave-Blanket-Pattern.shtml

Latest Progress On Scrap Blanket

I only have a few more rows to do and my scrap blanket will be done. I think it is turning out very nice. It is very colorful. I can't wait to start another one!!!

Bootie Blitz

Here are the booties I made this weekend part of my weekend blitz for the Knitting for Children. I plan on sending these to Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

Slippers

I made these slippers last week. I got the idea from one of Bev's patterns:

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/slippers1.html

I made a few changes to the pattern to make these. I used two stands of worsted weight yarn, and used a size K hook. I chained any where from 23 to 28 stitches depending on if I wanted a women's size or a man's size. Then I hdc in the third chain from the hook. Then on the second row I worked in the back of the loops only. It makes the nice ribbing to the slipper. I think it makes it warmer using the two stands and the hdc stitch. Plus the ribbing helps the slipper to fit better. So I crocheted 13 to 15 rows then folded the square in half and crocheted the two ends together about half way up the slippers. This make the top of the slipper. I left about 11 stitches unbound for the foot opening. Then I stitched the back of the slipper together. Then stitched single crochet around the foot opening then did two rows of hdc. Sew the toe together and you have you self a very quick, warm slipper. It sounds harder than it is. Very quick and easy. Basically you make a square, I have also seen patterns similar to this for knit patterns. I have made these for Parkland Hospital.

Cat Bed

Here is the cat bed I made in action. I took a box that water bottles came in and used some velvet like yarn, that I found at the dollar store, to make a cover for the box. My cat just loves to lay in it and look out the window.

Scrap Blanket

I just started this blanket two nights ago but I am already addicted it is fun to pick out the different colors. It a pattern by Dot :

http://patternsbydot.blogspot.com/2006/01/scrumptious-scraps-afghan.html

It doesn't use as much yarn as I thought it would. I think I have more than enough scrap yarn to make several of them. I am keeping the ends as fringe so I don't have to weave in ends. I hate weaving in tons of ends. Some of the colors look a little dark in the picture but it looks really great in real life. I love the look of the black outline, reminds me of stained glass or something.

Sweater Done!!!!!!!!

Here is my finished sweater from Michelle's Pattern. The buttons look really dark in the picture but there not. I will be using this pattern again. Thanks Michelle!!!!

Neck Gator #2

Here is my second neck gator that I made. This one is longer to go over the nose and mouth. It can be folded down as seen on the 'modeled' picture or it can be sloughed down. This one turned out a little loose but I still thinks it works well.

Here is the pattern for longer neck gator:

I used Bernat Super Value Yarn and Size 6 circular needle(I knit loosely so adjust as needed)

Cast on 77 stitches pm and join - this is worked in round so no seaming!!

Row 1 *k2 p2 k1 p2 repeat from * to end of row

Repeat row 1 till the gator measures 8 inches

Bind off in rib pattern.

Mine turned out to be 15 inches across unstretched. If you want the gator longer or shorter go for it!!

Feel free to try different rib patterns, I wanted something a little different and also the pattern is reversible.

Also you can use any yarn just adjust the cast on stitches. For the above rib pattern just use multiples of 7.

Neck Warmer

I made my first neck gator/neck warmer. It is also my first cabled thing I have ever made. I came up with my own pattern. I wanted to try doing cables but was afraid to make something really big with cables. So I came up with this neck warmer. I didn't have a model so I used my cat!!

Here is the pattern for the Cabled Neck Gator:

I used Bernat Super Value Yarn and size 6 circular needle ( I knit loosely so adjust if needed)

Cast on 84 stitches pm and join - this is knitted in the round, no seaming!!!

Row 1-6 *k2, p2 repeat from* to end of row

Row 7 *k6, p2, k2, p2, repeat from* to end of row

Row 8 (cable row) *slip the first three stitches purlwise on to cable needle flip cable needle to the front of work, knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle, p2 ,k2 ,p2 repeat from* to end of row.
Row 9-11 *k6, p2, k2, p2 repeat from* to end of row

Repeat rows 8-11 2 more times

Repeat row 8

Repeat rows 1-6

Bind off in rib pattern.

My gator turned out to measure 17 inches unstretched wide and 4 1/2 inches long. If you wanted the gator longer just repeat the cable pattern rows 8-11. Also if you needed to adjust the width, cast on by multiples of 12. Feel free to use different yarns. The same pattern idea would work for other cable pattern. This is just a basic pattern have fun with it and try other things!!

Here is a picture of my own design for a slipper. I wanted to make a one piece crochet slippers that was a little more fitted for the foot with very little seaming. There is only one seam the back and that one I crochet together so it is like no seaming. I had the idea to make this for a while to see if it would work and last night I tried it. I have size 8 1/2 feet and it fits me great with room to spare. I now thought about modifying the pattern to make baby booties. I might change a few things about the pattern but I thought it turned out pretty good for the first try!!