Super-Bulky Infinity Scarf in Little Rock Granite

Hey, y'all!

I'm writing in the middle of the night from California, where I'm working this week.  It's been hectic, but I have a few minutes, so I thought I'd share a recent project with you.

And without further ado, I give you the Super-Bulky Infinity Scarf in Little Rock Granite:

This scarf works up quickly using Lion Brand Hometown USA (a super-bulky yarn) and a plastic Q hook.  The tie is made using the same yarn and an aluminum N hook.  Both can be made from the same skein of yarn, so the total $ investment is quite low.

What do you think...do you want to learn how to make one?  I'm thinking of publishing a pattern.  You know, when I have time.  :)


'Til next time,
OCB

Simple Round Coasters

Hey, y'all!

Okay, so I've been looking for multicolor round coasters, and I've hit a dead end.  All of the ones I find are either too spendy or not quite right as far as the colors go.

The solution?  Make my own.

I've had a lot of fun making these little guys in a ton of different colors, and I have ideas for rugs, blankets and other things using them as motifs...stay tuned for more on that.

These were all made using super-bulky yarn (Lion Brand Hometown USA, for the most part) and an aluminum N hook.  I'll be posting a pattern before too long, which I'm really excited about.  There are so many things scribbled on napkins and note pads around here, and I'm starting to take some time to compile them into something that's legible to people who aren't already inside of my head.  ;)


'Til next time,
OCB

Chair Arm Remote Caddy

Hey, y'all!

As part of the redecorating process in our living room, I decided our old over-the-arm remote caddy simply had to be replaced.  I already had the yarn from the Lancaster Quilt throw I made, and I borrowed a striped granny stitch pattern from Bobbi Anderson's Simone Scarf & Blanket pattern in the May/June 2013 issue of Crochet Today! as a basis for this:

I worked the pattern until it was wide enough for my 5 remotes, fastened off and created the five separate pockets by slip stitching through both layers in matching yarn.  It definitely goes much better with the new color scheme than the old blue-and-red one did.


'Til next time,
OCB

Bulky Fiber Necklace: Dark Wash Denim

Hey, y'all!

Here's another color variation on my Bulky Fiber Necklace.  This shade of blue goes fabulously with every pair of jeans in my closet.

I used super-bulky yarn and a plastic Q hook to make this.  Pattern coming soon!


'Til next time,
OCB

E's Sunday Swing Coat

Hey, y'all!

My super-sweet little goddaughter recently turned one, and we had a fabulous time at her birthday party.  I wrestled with myself about what to make her...she has so many toys to play with, and I really wanted to do something special.

Enter the Sunday Swing Coat from the March/April 2013 issue of Crochet Today.  It's a super-cute little number that works up quickly.  I finished the whole thing in two evenings after work.

Here's my version of the coat, worked in Red Heart Fiesta yarn.

I absolutely love Crochet Today.  Out of the three major US crochet periodicals, it is far and away the most relevant to younger crochet artists who like to add a modern twist to their work.  I'd totally recommend it to any of you who are considering a print subscription.

And here's hopin' my sis-in-law sees this post and remembers to take a pic of lovely E wearing her Swing Coat.  With her permission, I'd love to share that with all of you.  ;)


'Til next time,
OCB

Striped Ear Flap Hats

Hey, y'all!

Back to the Christmas presents!  You didn't think I was done, did you???

Pop, Hambone and The Hubbs aren't exactly the wear-a-fuzzy-creature-on-your-head kind of guys, but I wanted to make hats for them just like I did for JAKE.  My solution: make the same basic pattern in a two-tone stripe without all of the extra doodads.

They loved 'em.  I'm super-entertained by the fact that they all made goofy faces and played around with the ear flaps.  The Hubbs was the only one who left 'em down for his picture, and I'm glad someone did...it's nice to have shots of them both ways.  :)

Pop

Hambone

The Hubbs

Each hat has been crocheted by hand using acrylic yarn and an I hook.  These, too, were made using scraps from previous projects, and I'm always excited to use up leftover yarn.

I also made one for The Hubbs' best friend, but - alas - I didn't get a chance to snap a photo of him before he left.  Rest assured, good ol' Uncle D knows how to make goofy faces just like the rest of the boys.


'Til next time,
OCB

Repeat Crafter Me's Owl Ear Flap Hats

Hey, y'all!

If you couldn't tell, it was a bit of a hand-made Christmas around here...just the way I like it!  One of my favorite gifts to give was this set of owl ear flap hats, which went to JAKE - my sis-in-law and her brood.

I found the pattern through Repeat Crafter Me, another blog I've recently discovered and come to love.

Each hat is hand-crocheted using acrylic yarn and an I hook.  All components are made from yarn, so there's nothing to it if you've got scraps in your stash like I do.

I'm looking forward to doctoring up this process to make different animals in the future.


'Til next time,
OCB

Bulky Fiber Necklace: Moss

Hey, y'all!

Here's something I didn't make as a Christmas gift, just to give you a change of pace.  One of my gifts is in the photos, though...how do you like my new model?

This necklace has been crocheted by hand using a P hook and super-bulky acrylic yarn.  It's available in a wide variety of colors, and it makes a perfect accessory for those chilly months when the HVAC systems in our homes and offices can't quite keep up with our needs.

One of the next things on my list is to update my Etsy shop, which has been empty for the last few months.  If you're interested in one of these necklaces, feel free to contact me directly for pricing and options.


'Til next time,
OCB

Crochet Wine Cork Evergreen Trees

Hey, y'all!

We're all about finding different uses for things around here.  All kinds of things, really...but this time it's about the wine corks.

They're pretty and rustic, and - though I don't care for wine myself - I know a lot of folks who go through these things on a pretty consistent basis.

I've been trying for a while to figure out what the heck I can possibly incorporate them into with my crochet, and I think I finally found it: miniature evergreen trees!

The little guys measure about 3" tall, and the bigger ones are approximately 5" tall, give or take.  All have been constructed using acrylic yarn, wine corks and tacky glue.

The super-cool part?  I can use old yarn scraps that are too big to throw away but too small to start a full-sized project.  It all comes full-circle, I guess, with this desire to minimize waste.  :)


'Til next time,
OCB

Corny the Unicorn Amigurumi Plush

Hey, y'all!

(Jello - you might not want to look at this with K-Bear around...don't want to spoil the surprise! )

If you're not already aware of The Hubbs' comic strip, you've apparently been living under a rock or you've bumped your head.  It seems like Sam the Dragon is all I talk about these days.

We have a 4-year-old niece who is absolutely in love with the characters from Sam the Dragon.  For her birthday this year, I made her a stuffed Sam.  For Christmas, she'll be getting Sam's bestest bud, Corny the Unicorn.

If you're not already familiar with the boys, here's a photo from a recent camping trip of theirs:

And here's the stuffed Corny that I've made especially for our little buddy, K.

 

I'm absurdly happy with how this little guy turned out.  When I made Sam for K's birthday in August, I wasn't entirely happy with the head and eyes...but it looks like I've corrected that issue with the Corny prototype.  I think I'll be making at least a couple sets of these guys in the near future.

For those who may be interested, I used Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn, embroidery floss for the nose and mouth, safety eyes and polyester fiber filling.  All of the stitching was done by hand using an aluminum G hook.  Corny measures just over a foot tall including his horn, and the widest part of his tummy is a little less than four inches across.

Here's hopin' all of your holiday crafting projects are going smoothly...only thirteen more days until Christmas!


'Til next time,
OCB

Bobbles and Cables Bag

Hey, y'all!

Holy poop on toast...Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  I can't believe how the time is flying.

Now, I'm assuming you are familiar with my purse obsession, especially given that about 1/2 of what I've posted on here is purses.  What you may not know is that I love big bags in funky colors.  Oranges, turquoises, hot pinks...for me, no color is taboo when it comes to purses.

Browsing through the local shops earlier this fall, I fell in love with quite a few mustard-colored leather bags.  You know, the ones that feel like butter and cost as much as a car?  Yeah.  Those.

Since I can't exactly justify spending a mortgage payment or two on a bag, I thought I'd raid the ol' stash and buy some new handles.

 

This project also helped me to begin the process of overcoming my fear of sewing.  I've never lined my bags in the past, but I think that's going to change...and soon...based on how well this one turned out.

Whaddaya think?  I may be in love.

Yarn: Caron no-dye-lot one-pound skeins in off-white and mustard yellow (100% acrylic)
Hook: Aluminum M
Handles: Nylon with braided detail from Jo-Ann
Lining: Modified standard pillowcase.  Oh, yes.  I did.
Total Project Cost (if I bought everything full-price and new): about $25-30 plus time



'Til next time,
OCB

Color Block Sweater

Ok, y'all.  This thing has been a work in progress for I-can't-tell-you-how-long.  One night last week, I decided to let it graduate to the next step: a finished project.

I saw the pattern for this sweater in Crochet Me a couple of years back and instantly fell in love.  Parts of it didn't work for me, so I tweaked and full-out changed quite a few things.  The result is this super-cozy, totally-me color block sweater:

For anyone who is interested, I made it with Caron one-pound skeins of no-dye-lot worsted weight acrylic yarn.  All of the stitching is done with an H hook, and there was a hell of a lot of sewing involved...not my favorite.  When I make my next one, I'll be modifying even further to remove that part as much as possible.

But, I gotta say, I had great timing.  The weather here is transitioning into that perfect sweater temperature, so I can see this baby getting a lot of use over the next few months.


'Til next time,
OCB

Holding Myself Accountable

It's Fall, y'all!  My favorite time of the year. 

Somehow, I just can't seem to find the time to finish this sweater I've been wanting for the last couple of years.  I'm really close...seriously, about half a sleeve to go...but I keep finding other things to do with my time.  Go figure.

This is my way of holding myself accountable, I guess.  The next time you see this baby, I'll be wearin' it.  :)

~OCB

E's Baptism Prayer Shawl

In January of this year, our family was blessed with a new addition.  My beloved sis-in-law gave birth to our second niece, E.

The cherry on the sundae?  She asked The Hubbs and me to be godparents.  Before taking part in her baptism ceremony back in March, I stitched up a special baptism prayer shawl for my sweet little goddaughter.

It's all acrylic yarn, and - of course - I don't remember the dimensions.  What I do remember is that I really enjoyed making it.  I really do love this little girl.

A special thanks to my mother-in-law for taking these beautiful pictures.

I'm just so glad Jello and her family are back in the area now.  It sure is nice to see them more often.  :)

Bulky Fiber Necklace: Teal

I'm a hot-blooded person.  You know, one of those gals you see wearing only a tee shirt in weather that prompts others to don hoodies, hats and gloves?  Don't get me wrong; I love me a good hoodie, but my point is that I don't do well with heavy stuff all up in my grill.  I get hot, I get cranky.  I get cranky, you don't want to deal with me.  Capisce?

With that said, I've come up with a solution for fall and winter accessorizing.  I can't walk around in a full-out scarf all day, but I love the idea of the bright colors and fun drapey quality. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the first in what I'm sure will become a series to include many colors of the Bulky Fiber Necklace:

This necklace has been constructed completely by hand using acrylic yarn.  I can't wait to share the other colors with y'all!

Interested in one of your own?  Let me know...these will be for sale soon.

Short-Sleeved Shruggy Sweater Thing

Mm-hmm.  I'm gettin' all technical on ya with the names, now.  :)

I love cardigans and sweaters of all kinds.  My problem is that I tend to run warm, so here's my solution...at least for the summer months when all I really need is a little something for when the office AC tries to turn me into a girl-sicle.

When I decided what I wanted to do, I visited the ol' Mountain-O-Yarn in the basement and picked out one of my favorite colors of Red Heart Super Saver.  It took about 3 of the 5-oz skeins to complete, and I'm typically a 2X or size 18-20.  In my neck of the woods, that would make the total investment about $9, plus time.
The really cool part?  I already had this yarn from a trade or previous craft store raid, so it was essentially free.  Bonus!

It's really comfy, too.  I think I'm going to end up making another one or two in different colors.

If you want one, you know where to find me.  ;)

Work in Progress: Lacy Checkered Afghan

Hey, y'all!

Long time, no see.  This has been a busy summer at our little yellow house, and I realize I've been neglecting you.  Not to worry...you're not alone.  I just sat down and replied to a couple of emails that were over a month old.

I guess it's time to catch up, eh?

Even though summer isn't always the most comfortable time to crochet, I've completed a few things since I last posted, and I have more in progress.  I'll post the completed projects after they've been given to their new owners - wouldn't want to ruin any surprises! - but in the meantime, here's a sneak-peek at a current work in progress:

These grey and purple motifs are almost 12" square, and I'll be joining 25 of them together to make a checkerboard afghan.  I'm using bulky acrylic yarn that I got through a trade, and I think the combo of the bulky yarn and the lacy motif will make this blankie quite interesting.  I'm about halfway to the finish line on this one...stay tuned for more pics of the completed project!


See you soon,
One Crafty Broad