DIY Mini Crocheted Bunting

Can a person ever have too many garlands? Not if they make you happy! And this little spring garland has me smiling (Lord knows I could use some smiles this week).

Here's the pattern so you can crochet some smiles too.

Materials: Fine crochet thread (size 20 or 30) in a variety of colors, and a size 10 crochet hook

Step 1: Crochet 12 mini pennants.

1. Chain 2.
2. 2 single crochet (sc) in first chain. Chain 1, turn.
3. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next stitch. Chain 1, turn.
4. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next two stitches. Chain 1, turn.
5. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next three stitches. Chain 1, turn.
6. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next four stitches. Chain 1, turn.
7. 1 sc in each stitch. Chain 1, turn.
8. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next five stitches. Chain 1, turn.
9. 1 sc in each stitch. Chain 1, turn.
10. 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next six stitches. Chain 1, turn.
11. 1 sc in each stitch. Chain 1 and fasten off.
12. Finish pennant by weaving in the tail at the top of the pennant, and cutting the tail at the bottom close to the point. Dab a little clear nail polish on the tip to prevent unravelling.

Step 2: Chain the pennants together to form garland.

1. Using the thread you've selected for the chain, chain 40.
2. Slip stitch the chain to the top right corner of the first pennant. Chain 7. Slip stitch the chain to the top left corner of the pennant.
3. Chain 40. Repeat Step 2 for each pennant until all pennants are attached to garland. Chain 40. Fasten off.

Hang your garland and be happy!

Some color ideas: Primary colors for a babies room. Team or school colors. Alternating colors on a neutral chain.

Can't you just imagine bunting crocheted from jute? Ooh, I might have to break out a larger crochet hook and get hooking. Maybe after I knit a few rows on my sweater. My neighbor (not the screamer) is taking my kids to a movie this afternoon, and I have a date with my needles, the couch, and Netflix. I'll be starting my weekend early. Enjoy yours!

Crochet Heart Pattern

This pattern works with just about any size thread or yarn and crochet hook, but for the little tiny hearts I love to make, I use a size 50 crochet thread and a US size 10 crochet hook. I also borrowed a pair of magnifying glasses from my mom; my eyes get tired when I make many hearts in a row. I timed myself one day while crocheting in the car (George was driving), and it took me 6 minutes to make one heart. Just FYI.

To begin, chain 2.

3 single crochet (sc) in first chain. Chain 1 and turn.

1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in last stitch. Chain 1 and turn.

*1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in remaining stitches. Chain 1 and turn.*

Repeat pattern from *to* until you have 7 stitches.

Last row: 1 hdc in first stitch. 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc in second stitch. 1 hdc in third stitch. 1 slip stitch in fourth stitch. 1 hdc in fifth stitch. 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc in sixth stitch. 1 hdc in seventh stitch. Chain 1.

Slip stitch six stitches down the side of the heart, chain 1 at the bottom, and slip stitch six stitches up the other side of the heart. Weave in ends.

Now you have a heart.

Not Quite Granny, Not Quite Square

Definitely hexagons. Though I do find it a little bit granny and more than a little square that I chose to spend last Saturday learning how to crochet these little hexagons. I had the whole day to myself - George went fishing and my kids went camping with my parents. I could have done anything I wanted, all day long! Sick with a cold, the only thing I wanted to do was go back to bed. Instead, I popped season one of Sex in the City in the DVD player and sat down with my hook and suitcase of thread and started a new obsession.

It was fun to watch Carrie and friends again, but it was even more fun to see all the hexagons come together. I thought at first that I would just make a small doily of 7 hexagons, but then I started thinking bigger. When Avery came home, she said, "You could make a quilt!"

Perhaps I could make a quilt - and finish it by her 40th birthday. That would make a great gift! I'm thinking a little smaller, but not much. I have a tablecloth in mind. Yes, pretty ambitious. Funny thing is, these hexagons match nothing in my house (except maybe Avery's room). The pattern is much too bright and busy for me, but I am drawn to the loud, random chaos of the hexagons almost as much as I'm repulsed by them.

I've set myself a goal - which is also a limit - of six hexagons per day. I have no idea how long each one takes me. I tried to time myself, but was interrupted, and then thought better of knowing how much time I am spending on this project. That's not the point anyhow. The point is I'm enjoying myself, even if I have become a little obsessed with hexagons.

Here's the skinny, in case you want to make some too:

I followed this tutorial at Attic 24 for making the hexagons. The tutorial isn't written like a pattern, so I suggest reading through the tutorial and writing it down in pattern form. After the first few hexagons, you won't need a pattern at all.

Moonstitches has a great tutorial for linking the hexagons.

This pincushion fueled my passion to crochet hexagons. Too bad I started thinking about a tablecloth, because the pincushion would be much faster to make.

So far I've made 19 hexagons, which all together make a very large hexagon. Choosing the colors has become a little more difficult, as I don't want to repeat any color combinations just yet. We might have to hit a few thrift stores today to find more thread.

If I disappear from here for a few more days, you'll know where to find me. I'm the crazy lady sitting cross legged on the family room floor, happily hooking.

Winter Berries, A Tutorial

Well, it took me a month, but I finally got around to making another "Winter Berries" crochet covered stone and documenting the process to share with you.



Supplies



a smooth round rock
white, brown and red or burgundy fine gauge crochet thread
small gauge crochet hook (I used size 8 for this rock)
tapestry needle and scissors

Step 1



Using white crochet thread, make a chain and join to form circle with a slip stitch. The circle should fit inside your rock. I worked with multiples of 6 for this project, so my circle was a chain of 60.



Round 1: Chain 2, dc (double crochet) in next five chains, chain 1. *dc in next six chains, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.



Round 2: dc in next four stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, chain 1. *skip one stitch, dc in next five stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip one stitch and slip stitch to the first dc. Chain 2.

After two rows, I started decreasing to accommodate the curve of the rock. If your rock is larger, you can increase another round.

Round 3: dc in next 5 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 6 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip two stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 4: dc in next 4 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 5 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Place the cover around the rock, skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.



You will now be crocheting around the rock, decreasing each row to fit the rock. Crocheting directly onto the rock will take some practice; watch your tension to make sure your stitches are not too tight, but not too loose either. Sorry if this is vague, but it will make sense as you work each round.

Round 5: dc in next 3 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 4 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 6: dc in next 2 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 3 stitches; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 7: dc in next stitch. *skip next stitch, dc in next 2 stitches; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 1 stitch and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 8: *skip 1 stitch, dc in next stitch; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 1 stitch and slip stitch to first dc. Fasten off and weave in tail.



Step 2

Using brown crochet thread, decide where you want your branch to begin and slip stitch to the edge of the white cover. Make a chain long enough to reach the other side of the rock, slip stitch to anchor "branch", taking care that the chain is long enough that it doesn't pull the two sides together, but not too loose either.

Anchor the branch with one more slip stitch just above the first slip stitch, then single crochet (sc) to the middle of the branch.



To "branch off" original branch, make a chain long enough to fasten to the edge of the rock cover, anchor with a slip stitch. Anchor again with a slip stitch just above the first slip stitch, and single crochet back to the middle of the branch.

Single crochet along original branch to the beginning of the original chain. Slip stitch to cover and fasten off. Weave in tails.



Step 3

Using red or burgundy crochet thread, you are now ready to make the "berries". I made five.



Chain 2, work 6 sc in the second chain from hook. Slip stitch to first sc.

2 sc in each stitch, slip stitch to first sc. Fasten off and cut thread, leaving a 3-4 inch tail.



Arrange the berries on the rock where you would like them. Using the tails of each berry and a crochet hook or tapestry needle, fasten the berries to the branch or the edge of the cover, and to another berry. Each berry will be fastened in 4 or 5 places, depending on location. Fasten off tails on the backside of the berries and weave in ends.



If anyone makes a rock cover using this tutorial, feel free to leave feedback. I always get so nervous writing up instructions and I want to make sure this tutorial is a) correct and b) user friendly. I'd love to see your creation too. If you're so inclined, upload a photo to the Covered Stones pool on Flickr.

As if this post isn't long enough, here's a picture of snow covered winter berries in our backyard.



We get snow once or twice a year, and each time I am overwhelmed by the beauty of our home and neighborhood under a cloak of white snowflakes. Snow is truly transforming. More snow pictures on Flickr.

Inspiration - Imitation - Innovation

I've noticed a pattern in my crafting and making over the past few months. I find inspiration (usually from all the wonderful blogs out there), I attempt to imitate the idea, then I branch off from the original idea and create something new or different from the original inspiration. I've been mulling over the process this week, looking for evidence to support my inspiration-imitation-innovation theory, and I discovered that this process occurs over and over again. And it's not just me.

This morning I was working in Aidan's kindergarten class. Today was the 100th day of school - a pretty big deal for kindergartners. The children had to finish the following statements:

I Could Eat 100...

I Could Hold 100...

I Could Run 100...

But I definitely wouldn't want 100...

The teacher shared how she would finish each statement, and for the last statement she answered "brussel sprouts". Another child in the class shouted out, "green beans!"

Well guess what? Many of the children, inspired by their teacher and classmate, responded that they definitely wouldn't want 100 green beans or brussel sprouts.

We so often imitate those that inspire us. If I take a good look at the way I dress, how I decorate, the books I read, the things I make, how I parent, even the way I speak, I can trace many of these things back to a source of inspiration - a person I admire, an article I read, a picture I saw in a magazine, a movie I watched. Blogs and Flickr friends provide even more inspiration.

What I love most though is when inspiration and imitation lead to innovation. Coming up with a different approach, a new (to me) idea, an original twist, a compilation of ideas resulting in something completely different. This is the creative process I love so much.

It's not news that I am deeply inspired by Margie of Resurrection Fern. Over the weekend, I found some motif patterns in an old crochet book and made a few covered stones similar to the stones she makes. Good old fashioned imitation.





Avery and her friend, inspired by the covered stones, came up with their own versions.



Now that's innovation.

Inspiration - Imitation - Innovation. Now that I understand the process, I see it everywhere.

If you've followed my rambling this far, I have a surprise for you. A little giveaway.



These two imitation stones need new homes. Leave a comment and I'll draw two names Monday, February 2nd (can you believe it's nearly February?). If you're inclined, share a personal experience of inspiration-imitation-innovation. If not, finish this statement: I definitely wouldn't want 100 ... I'm sure Aidan will get a kick out of your answers (and for the record, he answered brussel sprouts).

Blue Bird, Blue Bird and a New Word

A few months back I noticed a lack of music and movement in Aidan's kindergarten class. It seems they are now making up for lost time with three days of square dancing each week. I sneaked in the multi-purpose room one day last week to see forty kindergartners (from two classes) dancing in large circles to the sweetest song.

Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Oh Johnny I am tired.

Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Oh Johnny I am tired.

I don't really understand the point of the lyrics, but I can't stop singing the song. Especially the tired part, though I usually exchange the name Johnny for one of the kids' names.

The song and dance inspired me to make a little crocheted birdie using this pattern, with just a few tweaks.




After making this little sweetie, I searched for more crocheted animal patterns and discovered a new word: amigurumi, "the Japanese art of crocheting small animals or toys". Squidoo has a great page with tons of links to free patterns.

Aidan would love me to make these:



I'm wondering if I could tempt him to trade in ten miscellaneous toys from his room for one Star Wars doll at a time. Hmmmm. Be prepared to see more amigurumi around here.

Edited: Finally tracked down the Star Wars Hero patterns for anyone interested. Check out Geek Central Station for more, including Lord of the Rings amigurumi.

It's Barack Obama Day!

At least that's what we are calling it around here. Quite amazing to watch the inauguration live this morning (thank you Facebook and CNN.com!). Avery did not like the poem read by Elizabeth Alexander because it didn't rhyme. I'm not the biggest fan of poetry myself, but I was moved by the rich imagery of ordinary people and plan to listen to the poem again. I also plan on watching The Daily Show tonight - you know it will be a good one.

Also appearing tonight - The Obama Show at the Eyebuzz Fine Art Gallery in Tarrytown, New York. Guess who's going to be there?

My President Obama finger puppet! I'm very excited that he's traveled so far. Thank you Tara and Tim for making room for my little creation.

Now back to our regular programming.

Winter Berries

We went for a walk in the snow
and found a cluster of berries
on a bare branch.

(and if you're tired of rocks, i promise this will be the last one i share this week.)

California Dreamin'

A piece of driftwood from the coast of California
dreamin' about the tree it used to be
on its way to a friend
who dreams of returning to the coast of California
and walking along the beach
searching for a piece of driftwood.

I've Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

A little bit of sunshine on its way to a friend who lives in the land of gray.



M is for made, my favorite past tense verb.
M is for Margie, who inspired me to crochet around rocks.
M is for mad, which my husband thinks I might be for crocheting rock covers.
M is for more to come on this new medium.

How To Crochet A Leaf With Wire

Materials needed: fine gauge wire (22-24 gauge) and a large metal crochet hook



The following leaf is made from 22 gauge copper wire, purchased from a hardware store, and a 3.75 mm crochet hook (US F5). The pattern is worked up one side of chain and down the other side of the chain.

Step 1



Chain 8.

Step 2



Beginning in second chain from hook, single crochet three stitches.
Double crochet three stitches.
Single crochet one stitch.
Chain one.

Step 3



Working down the opposite side of the chain, single crochet one stitch.
Double crochet three stitches.
Single crochet three stitches.
Slip stitch to last chain at top of leaf.
Cut wire leaving a three to four inch tail.

Step 4



Weave tail down the middle of the leaf. If desired, twist the two tails of wire together to create stem

The wire frame of the leaf is malleable, so the leaf can be shaped using the tip of the crochet hook.

That's it! There are so many wonderful options for this leaf. You can crochet it with silver wire or any colored wire. Consider stringing seed beads onto the wire before you crochet and intersperse the beads among the leaf as you crochet. Explore options for wire, such as electrical or telephone wire. I once crocheted leaves from wire salvaged from an old window screen.

If necessity is the mother of invention, than desire is the mother of creation. The idea to crochet metal leaves came to me while shopping at J Jill about four years ago. I saw the most beautiful pin with fine verdi gris metal leaves and flowers made from ribbon edged with beads. The pin was $60, so I came home and made my own version for under $5.



These pins make wonderful presents. I sent this particular pin to Erin last year for a Valentine's Day swap. (One of these days I'll have to show you what I made with the gift she sent me.)

Feel free to email me with any questions you have about the leaves. Working with wire is a unique experience and a little bit of a workout for the hands - it will take some getting used to, but I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Monday Afternoons

Starting when I was in the second grade, I had a standing date every Monday afternoon. My mom would pick up a car full of my girlfriends and take us over to her friend Kim's house. Kim taught my friends and I how to knit and crochet, for the bargain price of $2.00 per girl, per lesson.

Although Kim lived in a 70's era ranch home with her young family, her living room was reminiscent of a Victorian parlor. We all sat around an ornate wooden coffee table, on a mauve damask sofa or in a powder blue chair, and Kim taught us the art of looping yarn around needles.

We began with crochet, making potholders in each new stitch we learned. Eventually we graduated to an actual project and learned to read patterns.



One of my first projects was this little stuffed lamb. Amazingly, I found this same pattern at a thrift store a few months back. Perhaps another stuffed lamb is in our future.

After we mastered crocheting, or at least grew tired of it, we moved on to knitting. I made several sweaters, including this one for my Cabbage Patch doll.



I just love those little bunny buttons.

Thanks to Kim for the lessons, and thanks to my mom who drove me over to Kim's, paid for my lessons, bought me yarn and needles and helped me work on my projects at home, my Monday afternoons haven't changed much in 25 years.



Rather than a junior Stitch-n-Bitch in a mock Victorian parlor, I now knit quietly by myself, standing at my dining room table, putting down my work every so many stitches to tie a water balloon for my son, or answer phone calls from my daughter's friends. Of course another distinct difference is that I now have to pay for my own yarn and needles - it's a shame Addi Turbos are so much more enjoyable to work with and sooo much more expensive than the good old Susan Bate's needles I grew up with. But oh the peace of mind I derive from knitting and crocheting, and the joy of finishing a project is priceless. And all this, thanks to the women in my life who saw fit to pass on an ancient craft to a new generation.

Operation Completion

While discussing possible journal topics with Avery last Friday, I asked her, "If you could do anything this weekend, what would it be?" Her answer: snowboarding. OK, fall just barely arrived, and already we are expecting snow. She settled for shopping for snowboarding clothes, and while she was out shopping with dad, I got to thinking, If I could do anything this weekend, what would it be?

This is where you find out how truly boring I am, because my answer was: finish Aidan's socks. Not to brag, but I am extremely good at starting projects; I could start a million a day. What I am not good at is finishing projects; I have a one in a million completion rate. So finishing the socks I started months ago was a truly worthwhile goal (plus it prevented me from starting a new project). I knit through a few episodes of Men in Trees on abc.com (I'm a sucker for shows with obvious metaphors and voice over monologues), knit in between errands (George drove), kitchenered just before reading books at bedtime, and voila.

Did you know handmade socks are extremely slippery on wood floors? Aidan had us in hysterics with his risky business moves Saturday night (that's debris from my floor on his sock, not a hole). In addition to new socks, Aidan has a new skill.


It's official, the boy can ride a bike. "Mom, isn't it fun to watch me ride a two wheeler?" Aidan asked. Yes my son, extremely fun and cool; just a little bit sad, but mostly exciting. Go easy on your mom and don't ride too far too fast.

Although Avery didn't find the perfect snowboarding outfit this weekend, she did find a new hobby. This is what happens when your children read the blogs of crafty women.

Avery spied the rag rug tutorial over on Eren's blog and immediately grabbed her stash and her Ginghers. Yes, she has her own stash thanks to Grandma's leftovers, trips to the thrift store (where we sometimes fight over remnants) and good old rummaging through the trash can when mom purges.

Avery: "I'm making a rug Mom."

Me: "You know you could make a basket."

Avery: "It's a rug Mom."

Me: "You could make a potholder."

It's not that I want to discourage her from making a rug, I just know how much of me is in her and how good she is at starting projects that rarely become finished projects. She doesn't often acquiesce, so I was extremely pleased when I opened up my kitchen drawer and found I had been secretly gifted a new potholder. I love it Avery. Of course, she came home from Grandma's with a huge bag of scraps after dinner Sunday night because she still plans on making a rug. You go, girl.

While I knit, Avery hooked and Aidan slid merrily across the floor, George hijacked my camera and took some blurry photos (though he claims it's me who is blurry, not the photos). This one is for my friend Becca, who claims there are not nearly enough pictures of me on my blog. To be honest, I see too much of me me me and I I I on this here blog; to add a picture of myself would be too much me. Yet here it is, a fuzzy picture for a far away friend. And now I'm off to start another project, or two, actually three, but it may be a while before you see them finished.

Have a Heart

My garden spoke to me this morning. As I was watering the cherry tree, the water pooled in a heart shape. If I had only had my camera! But alas, water and cameras don't mix. (Although, I did just buy Avery a waterproof one-time use camera to congratulate her on taking 3rd place in her first synchronized swim meet!)

Here is a pattern for a crochet heart, which I came up with last winter during a crochet jag, but never bothered to write down. I gave all the women in my husband's family invitations to crochet lessons, and pinned these crochet hearts on the card with a crochet hook, like Cupid's arrow. My sister-in-law recently asked me to make a few hearts for her hand-crafted Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and I decided to write down the pattern so I wouldn't forget (like the way I forgot my PIN yesterday at the grocery store).

Crochet Heart

Using cotton crochet yarn, such as Aunt Lydia's, and the smallest hook you have, chain 2.

Row 1: sc in 2nd stitch from hook, 1ch, turn.

Row 2: sc in first stitch, 2 sc in second stitch, 1ch, turn. (you should now have 3 stitches)

Row3: sc in two stitches, 2 sc in third stitch, 1ch, turn.

Row 4: sc in three stitches, 2 sc in fourth stitch, 1ch, turn.

Row 5: skip first stitch, 3 dc in 2nd stitch, anchor with slip stitch in 3rd stitch, 3 dc in 4th stitch, slip stitch in 5th stitch, cast off leaving a tail to weave in -OR- chain stitch around base of heart for a finished edge.

To make a bigger heart, crochet two more rows after row 4, increasing with two sc in last stitch of each row.

Row 7: skip first two stitches, 5 dc in third stitch, slip stitch in fourth stitch, 5 dc in fifth stitch, slip stitch in 7th (last) stitch. Finish as above.

There are so many possibilities for these hearts. They would look adorable appliqued onto clothes or bags, affixed with a blanket stitch or chain stitch. Sew two together and stuff for a sweet ornament. Sew six in a circle for a flower. Experiment with different yarns, ribbons or even thin gauge wire. Happy hooking!