Kelly's Baby Blanket

I finished another baby blanket for my dear friend who is having her first baby this spring. For this blanket I purchased a yarn I had never used before.  It was 3 balls (120yards) Bernat Pipsqueak: Funny Bunny Print which is a bulky, fuzzy polyester yarn that can be a bit difficult to work with.  Kelly is decorating the baby's nursery in an ocean theme so I thought this yarn would go well with the room.  When I started working with the yarn I wasn't sure if I would have the patience to complete an entire blanket with the yarn.

Here I'm about 1/2 ball of yarn in (~10 rows).

Although, I ended up finding a great rhythm.  Since it was a bit difficult to see where the next stitch was, I was able to feel the next stitch and yarn through without any issues.  This was a great project since I ended up being able to do the blanket without really looking while I crocheted.  I simply felt the stitches and it worked out well.  I love the way the blanket turned out.  It is super fuzzy; perfect for a new baby.  I did a simple double crochet using my 5.50MM hook and chained 108 stitches.  The blanket looks great and I could not be happier with how it turned out.   My only complaint is that the yarn had a few breaks in it that had been tied within the ball.

Pay It Forward 2011... failure??

So I finished my second homemade gift but have yet to give it.  I crochet a scarf for my friend Melissa.  It turned out great and I made it nice and long.  Using a 9mm hook, I wanted to get it done quickly so I chained  20 and did a simple double crochet and added 2 rows of 3cr shell stitches to make it a bit feminine.

I made homemade gnocchi for my Christmas gathering and one of the people on my list was present so I am taking that as another one down!  so 3/5 so far... but its 2012 already!  I will make my last 2 this month and be sure to get them out asap; better late than never!

Pay It Forward 2011

Earlier this year in January my cousin had posted a pay it forward post stating that I would make the first 5 people who comment on my post something homemade sometime in  2011.  Of course I procrastinated until the very last moment.  I now am scrambling to make something for the 5 people on my list.  I have my cousin, one of my bff's, my Dad's fiance, Aaron's friend (and mine) from work and an old friend on the list.  So far I made a scarf for Aaron's friend Mike... since he lives about an hour away and Aaron will see him Friday, I completed his first (even though we saw him last weekend... I hadn't even started yet!).  I call it the Sanderson Scarf!  :)

 Using a 9mm hook, I used a simple double crochet pattern.  I stitched 20 across and keep track of the rows, but I went until it hung across Aaron's neck and the ends were past his bellybutton.  I added some detail by skipping some stitches.








I have a few ideas for the others on the list; they are all women so they tend to be a bit easier to make for.  I may do a few different things and make some baskets but I have not decided yet.  I wish I had started earlier so I didn't have to rush so much, but it wouldn't be Christmas without a mad dash to get... in this case MAKE... last minute gifts!

Finished!

My most recent blanket has been completed and turned out pretty nice.  The stitch was clean and simple and I was able to complete the blanket in less than a month.

Stitch I used for the blanket from The Complete Photo Guide To Crochet.

The blanket was for my brother in laws soon to be first born!  The baby shower was this past weekend and I was able to give the blanket along with the rest of the gift!

I also threw together a toque (hat) last night for Megan.  The toque was done is rows, not rounds with double crochet in pink and double crochet-cross stitch for the 2 rows of beige.  I used a 6mm hook but would use a smaller one next time to have a tighter crochet for colder weather, with the 6mm hook this hat will be a tad too drafty for those frigid cold days.  Also, Megan was in bed when I decided to make the toque and I guessed at the size of her head... turns out I was a size off and the toque is a bit big.  I think it is super cute though and love the way it turned out.  The yarn is Bernat Handicrafter and is 100% cotton, ultrasoft.  I may give the toque to my niece or keep it for when Megan next year... I have yet to decide.

Lots going on over here!

So many things to talk about lately.  I have started (unraveled and restarted) a new blanket for my brother-in-law's baby on the way.

I am doing a simple double linked stitch and adding the 2 stripes.  I was so excited to have found a nice chocolate brown yarn that I grabbed the 5 balls that were left on the shelf and never even bothered to check the dye lot number!  Turns out 3 balls are from 1 dye lot and 2 are from another.  They are a shade different and so I had to rethink the pattern.  With 3 balls of brown I figured I should add some stripes since the Mommy to be said she really liked the last blanket I made which was stripes.  I believe it was a blessing in disguise since I think they will like this blanket much more than the solid brown with a green trim, this pattern is far more FUN!  The other 2 brown yarn balls will make a warm snugglee hat for myself or one of the kids!   

I am looking for some good recipes for my homemade soap.  I have found a nice resource webpage (http://www.millersoap.com/) and  as well as a Canadian supply store that will ship called Canwax.

We are also slowly trying to eliminate all store bought cleaning and personal products in our home; once we run out of store bought we will be making most things ourselves.  We started with the Laundry soap and are now finding the ingredients to make our own Dishwasher detergent since we have only 2-3 loads worth of the store bought left.  I have yet to decide on whether I want to make deodorant (many use simple rubbing alcohol) instead of buying my regular antiperspirant since it contains aluminum.   Toothpaste, which contains fluoride (many use good old baking soda) is also on the fence.  I have yet to make up my mind as to which is best, homemade or store bought.  I think I will end up using both  homemade and store bought.  Homemade deodorant and toothpaste for regular everyday use.   Store bought toothpaste for use once or twice a week (preventative) and store bought antiperspirant for certain outings and workouts (ex: weddings, volleyball in summertime, etc).

We have also been getting loads of traffic through the house lately.   It has been a bit challenging trying to keep the house in "show ready" condition.  Trying to balance the cleaning, family time and adult time is getting increasingly more difficult.  We are hopeful that the house will sell soon.  The holidays are just around the corner and we would love to be settled into our new home at least before the 12 days of Christmas are upon us.  I am a Christmas fanatic and will not allow moving to interrupt our Christmas celebrations.  We are also trying to see a few other houses.  We still have an offer on the home with 2 acres but want to know our other options just incase there is some issue with home inspection on our current prospective property.

We have also been trying to get out to the chicken coop as often as possible.  We still try to go twice a week.  We brought Owen out there recently and let him collect some eggs.

Owen collecting some farm fresh eggs!

We also have some ideas for improvements and are hoping to get out there and spend some time cleaning and building a new roost.  Aaron wants to build a ladder roost with a poop drawer to aid in cleaning and also is more conducive to the birds hierarchy. We would build the roost and use mesh to keep the birds from getting underneath it, allowing for easy cleaning of the poop drawer.  Since we all plan on keeping the coop running over the winter, the easier the cleaning the better... especially in the dead of winter!

Some other things going on at the coop... the run was extended and there are suppose to be 3 separate areas in which the birds would alternate depending on where we allowed them to go.  They decided they would venture into all the run areas by digging and slipping under the fence.  The birds were not able to get back to the original run and therefore, not able to return to the coop.  Someone propped up the fence to allow them to go from run to run without getting stuck just until there was a solution.

Our birds found a perfect place to dust bathe... together of course!

Under a window below the fence that was suppose to separate 2 run areas.

One of the members came up with a solution and used old wire coat hangers (donated by members) to peg down the fence and so far this has been successful.

Another Baby Blanket Success.

I finally finished my nephews baby blanket.  I started the blanket months before the baby was born and he is almost 3 months now and I juts finished it.  I kept telling myself, as long as it gets done before the winter sets in, I am golden.... which I did!  It turned out very nice.  I chose a wave pattern with 3 alternating colours.  I am very happy with the way it turned out.  I still have loads of yarn left since I bought 3 large balls of yarn, but I think I will save it for yet another blanket or garment in the future.  

Blanket Stitch from: The Complete Photo Guide To Crochet:

Another Nephew on the way = time for another blanket!

I have started a new baby blanket for my soon to arrive nephew Dominique. I chose a Tavern Green, Country Blue and Off white from Bernat Cotton-Ultrasoft (although I have not been albe to find the colours online; I purchased them from Zellers). I think it will turn out beautifully. I am doing a simple wave pattern and so far it is looking great. The pattern had said to carry each colour up the sides but so far I have chosen to drop each colour and stitch the ends in each time there is a colour change. This means lots of stitching but I think it will look better in the end since the blanket will not have edging. I may try stitching them up the sides rather than cut each time. We shall see how that works out. It is a work in pregress and I am learning as I go since I am still just learning the skill.

Baby Blanket for my first Nephew!

I made a blanket for my nephew Dante Matteo.  It took forever to get completed since I have 2 little ones under the age of 3, but I managed to do it. I used 5 balls of cotton totes yarn by Bernat. I chose a light blue colour and just did the blanket with a simple stitch rather than using a pattern. I got the stitch form the book The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet. I really like this book and they have great illustrations for beginners as well as showing both written and symbol instructions.

Blanket Stitch

Chain multiple of 3. (I chained 75 and used a 9mm hook)

Foundation Row:
work 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, *skip next 2 ch [1sc, 2dc] in next ch, rep from * to within last 3 ch, skip next 2 ch, 1sc in last ch, turn

Row 1:
Ch 1 (counts as sc), work 2dc in the first st, *skip 2dc [1sc, 2dc] in the next sc, rep from * to last 3 sts, skip 2dc, 1sc in the top of the turning ch, turn.