Friday, November 30, 2012

Bobble Blanket

Sorry, it appears I took most of the month of November off.  I have been busy, and neglected the blog. 
Here is a blanket I finished last spring. If you make one please share.  Thanks!
Ever since I saw this post.  I wanted needed to make a bobble stitch blanket.  She even gives a quick bobble stitch tutorial here

If I would have paid attention to this tutorial the sides of my blanket might have been more even...but I bet you didn't really notice, huh?  :)

I kind of made an educated guess using info. from the Tales From the Cuckoo Land Blog to make this blanket.
The size of mine turned out to be about 65" wide by 70" long
I used Lyon Brand Yarn Pound of Love 2 skeins of bubble gum, 2 skeins of light pink and black...stash. 
Here is the pattern I used: disclaimer....this is my first time trying to explain crocheting. I am still somewhat of a beginner.  Please be nice.  Please note this is how I made this blanket...my bobbles are not even...down one side I have an extra stitch when compared to the other side.  If this bothers you please make adjustments. 
For the bobble stitch I used: (*yo, insert hook in desired st, pull up one loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, repeat from * 4 times (there will be 5 loops on your hook), yo, pull through all 5 loops. sc in next st.

In color A:
Row 1:  168 Foundation Single Crochet's
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across (168 single crochet's)
Row 3:  Ch 1, sc in each st across (168)
Row 4:  Ch 1, *7 sc, bobble stitch in nxt stitch, repeat  from * till end of row (note: at the end of the row I did 8 sc instead of 7 sc and then bobble stitch) (168)
Rows 5-7: Ch 1, sc in each stitch across (168)
Row 8:  Ch 1, 4 sc, bobble stitch in nxt st, *7 sc, bobble stitch in nxt st, repeat from * to end of row (again note: my bobbles are not perfectly off set....two rows of bobbles are closer together. At the end of the row I had 3 sc)
Rows: 9-11 repeat rows 5-7
Row 12:  repeat row 4
Rows 13-15 repeat rows 5-7
Row 16: repeat row 8
I continued this pattern until I had a total of 20 bobble rows.  I finished that section with 3 rows of single crochet
Switch to color C (black-color c) and did 3 sc rows. 
Switch to color B (lt pink-color b) and did 3 rows of sc, then bobble row (continuing pattern above) until I had 16 bobble rows, then finished with 3 sc rows,
Switch to black, did 3 rows of sc,
Switch back to dark pink (color A) start w/ 3 rows of sc...then crochet a total of 12 bobble rows (following pattern above) finish with 3 rows sc
Switch to Black 3 rows sc
Switch to lt pink (color b) 3 rows of sc, then 8 bobble rows (following pattern above), finishing with 3 rows of sc. 
I edged my blanket using the three colors in my blanket.
Let me know your thoughts and if you have any questions

ENJOY!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Hambo Hoedown #90-Toaster

A Toast to TIM! 

Ahhh!  It's one of my FAVORITE times of the week!  Hambo Hoedown!!!! This week we get to toast Tim, the wonderful illustrator of Hambo Stamps.  Every week that I participate in Hambo Hoedown, I look forward to the e-mail with  Hambo Stamps new digital image.  It ALWAYS makes me smile. 

Tim...Happy Birthday!  May you have many more happy birthdays!

This week's challenge is to make a project that shows:
1.  Burned edges OR using the soot technique
OR
2.  Checkerboard OR gingham patterns.

I chose to used burned edges.

Yep, this was a burn the house down kind of fun challenge!   Thank goodness I had the smarts enough to stand by the sink to catch my paper on fire.  The water came in very handy.  :)

This week's fun digital image is "Toaster" by Hambo Stamps. 

Enjoy your week!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Lola Goes Shoppin'

This is such a fun pattern.  Have I mentioned that I really love Izzy & Ivy patterns? also see this post.  :)
I always carried small purses, until I had kids.  Now, even though they are older, I guess I'm still the designated "pack mule."  I find it's faster and easier if I  just cram everything I need, as well as the things they hand me while we're out, if I have a bigger bag.  This one does the job perfectly.
The pattern is Lola Goes Shoppin'. This is a good sized bag.  On my bag, I made the bow a little too big...that was my own doing...not the pattern  instructions.  This was also my first encounter with bias binding. 
There is a great zipper pocket on the back of the bag. 
As usual for an Izzy & Ivy pattern, the instructions were clear and easy to understand.  It also includes full sized paper pattern pieces.  I've grown to dislike tissue patterns.