Knit-A-Square Donations - Round 2!

Yes, I have more! I was a busy girl! I made these earlier in the year, and I'm just getting around to posting them now!

First is this little granny toque, made with Bernat Super Value from forever ago. It's on Ravelry here. I think it's super cute, but it came out really small, so hopefully they have a little tiny head for it to go on!

And then there's this little sweater. The pattern for it actually comes from KAS, and is one of the few things that've actually finished while knitting! It's on Ravelry here. I have to say, I LOVED making this! It was so nice to actually complete a knitting project, other than dishcloths.

And, yet another little sweater. This one is much bigger. I have it on Ravelry here. I changed the pattern slightly though. You were supposed to have it open, with buttons. I figured a pullover would be best for there, since they probably wouldn't have spare buttons for the orphans. I think it turned out pretty well!

And, one last toque! You can find the Ravelry info here. It's a cute toque, and I can see myself making many more of these with my scrap wool!

My mom has also knitted a bunch of squares that I need to get sent out. I haven't done it yet, because I'm not sure that I'm done making squares and clothes! I'll hopefully get hers out in September sometime. Keep your eyes posted - I'll be showing her squares off too!

Have a great day all!

Knit-A-Square Donations

This winter and spring, I worked on a project for Knit-A-Square. They are a wonderful organization that sews together squares that are knitted or crocheted, and give them to the orphans of South Africa. I made 35 squares total, which will make one blanket for a little one in need.

All of my squares laid out on our spare bed.

Wanna see some individual photos??

And maybe one more of them all??

For me, this was an awesome way to use up some scraps. I had bits and pieces laying around from so many projects - a blanket for one of my best friends, a baby blanket for my niece, one for a friend's baby, and so many other things - even a skein of Bernat Super Value that my mom found in a box when she moved that she bought probably 10 years ago!

I have put this project on Ravelry here if you'd like to take a look. I also made a couple of clothing items, but that's another post!

Enjoy your Saturday all! And check out KAS - it's a great charity!

Projects for Baby Shields

One of my best friends recently had her second child - a baby girl named Kadyn Ann. Of course, I knew I needed to make her a few things! She found out around Christmas that they were having a girl, so I got to work.

Hootie

I made Hootie with this pattern and Red Heart Super Saver in Shocking Pink, Dark Orchid and Turqua. Also, a little bit of Cornmeal and White. It worked up super fast, but I have to say, I didn't enjoy making it. It was the first stuffie I has ever made, and I did not enjoy sewing it together. I hope it doesn't fall apart!

Baby blanket all laid out - it's huge!

And, of course, I had to make a blanket! I had my eye on this blanket pattern for a while, and really wanted to try it out. I made this with Red Heart Super Saver in Dark Orchid and Spring Green. They're definitely not traditional baby blanket colours, but I love it! And I know Mom will too! It worked up much faster than I thought it would. I did a simple single crochet border around it to finish it off.

Showing the pattern better

Headband and diaper cover for photos

And of course, something cute! I'm not very good at making clothes, but I couldn't help but make a diaper cover and headband. I got the pattern for the diaper cover from an Etsy shop called Little Abbee. It was super simple to follow and I would definitely make more! I made the headband using a pattern for the flower (I have made several - you can find the info here) and I made up the pattern for the band - simple single crochet. I googled the sizing because I had no idea how big a baby's head is!

Fortunately, the momma loved the gifts! I am so excited that I felt the love from her for it, you know? Some moms don't take into consideration the hard work and effort it takes to make these things, but she totally did. Now if only I could figure out something to make for her son!!

Granny Square Swap

Hello everyone!

I've decided to try to organize a granny square swap. I love the idea of making a blanket with a bunch of squares from people from all around the world, so I thought I would try it out.

The plan is to get a bunch of lovely ladies together, and swap this square, as pictured above. I made this one yesterday (I haven't blocked it, so it looks wonky) in about an hour. I love it!

We would each make 12 squares, starting in August with your first square. I think we should all use the same materials to make it, so that it's easier to sew together. I used Red Heart Super Saver and a 5.50mm hook. It works out to a 10 inch square. You could use a similar yarn to Red Heart Super Saver, as long as it's a #4. Then, at the first of each month for the next 11 months, I will introduce you to a swap-sister, and you will arrange to swap a square, and something else small, handmade or purchased. The last swap I was in had you send info from your home town so that you could share your part of the world with your swap sister.

How does that sound?

The thing I love about this square is how versatile it is. You can do it any colour combination you want, and with it being 10 inches, 12 squares will make a decent sized lapghan.

I would love it if you want to join! Please send me an email at lbkcreations@hotmail.com. If you have any more questions about the swap, please let me know! I think it'll be great!

iPad Case

Isn't it so cute? I just need to add buttons. I wanted something to hold my iPad so that it doesn't get scratched up in my truck on vacation. It worked up in a couple of hours, and was so simple.

I used Red Heart Super Saver in Medium Purple and Aruba Sea. You can find the pattern here.

I have so many other projects to show you! Hopefully I'll get the chance to do so in the coming weeks. I've been a busy girl!

Have a great day everyone!

WIPs

I'm up at 5:30 on my day off, and all that I want to do is crochet! But, I have so much to do, I feel like I need to blog! Last night, on the Crochet Crowd Group, someone asked the question "how many projects do you have on the go?" Here's my answer:

1. Multi-Colour Dream Blankie - this is a scrap buster using only Red Heart Soft Touch. It's made up of 3 round closed grannies, and I figure that I need about 420 of them to make it work. I think I have about 100 now.
2. John's Vancouver Canucks Blanket - something my hubby requested. It will be a graphghan when I'm done, but I'm avoiding working on it right now. I think I need to try something smaller as a graph before I start something huge.
3. Baby Granny Scrap-ghan - this is another scrap buster using Bernat Baby Coordinates. I bought and used most of the yarn years ago, and now it's time to get the scraps used up. I plan on donating this one to charity.
4. Diagonal Box Stitch Baby Blanket - this is yet another scrap buster using Loops & Threads yarn. I bought it a couple of years ago, and just haven't used it. I love the yarn though! It's like butter!
5. Nubby Granny Square Throw - yes, you bet, another scrap buster made using Bernat Soft Boucle. I actually think the original wool came from my mom from an old project and I'm just using it up!
6. Mod Placemats - made using some very discounted Bernat Handicrafter Cotton. I have one done, and I hope I can get the other finished without having to buy more yarn.
7. Honeydew Flowers - making some flowers to make into pins. I had some extra Bernat Baby Cakes from a dress I made for my niece but too little to do anything with, so flowers it is! I think I have one or two left to make, and then sewing in all of the ends.
8. Sashay Scarf - this is the second Sashay scarf that I've made, and honestly, I can't stand this yarn. It drives me crazy! I need to finish it so that it's over and done with!
9. Chemo Caps - I think this one is going to be a scrap buster that I leave open. I have one almost done, but I think they're a great scrap buster, and something great to donate!
10. Sucrette's Granny Poncho CAL - I'm making this one for my mom, and I have plans for making one from my M-I-L. I want to get this one finished but it's large and warm and I don't need any more warmth! It's so hot!
11. Simple Stripes Baby Boy Blanket - another scrap buster. I'm not sure that I am 100% in love with the pattern I chose, so I might end up frogging it and starting it again. Same Red Heart Super Saver yarn, just maybe a bit different. I'm out of wool for this one, so I have to wait until I get through more of my stash to buy more.
12. Gentle Waves Blankie - another scrap buster using Red Heart Super Saver and one of several wave/ripple blankets that I have on the go. Love them! Also out of wool for this one.
13. Pastel Granny Square Purse - I just have to put this one together and crochet the handles. So little left to do, I just haven't gotten around to it yet!
14. Bonbon Ripple - my second ripple using Red Hear Super Saver Scraps. Ran out of wool, so I'm waiting to finish.
15. Momma & Poppa's Blanket - another diagonal box stitch blanket, and I just keep hoping that I have enough wool to finish it off because it's a discontinued yarn!
16. "I'm a Big Boy" Blanket - the first two squares are done using Bernat Baby Jacquards and waiting for more projects to be done before I can buy more.
17. RHSS Strip Scrap-Ghan - my only scrap-ghan! Love it! I'm going to make it big enough for a beach blanket, not that I go to the beach very much! Three strips done, many more to go!
18. Pyjama Party Gingham Baby Blanket - I found inspiration from another lovely lady, and I have a few done, but I got bored so I put it aside! Eventually...
19. Hexagons Gone Wild Blanket - I started this, but I actually have no idea where it is...Hopefully I find it!
20. Rectangles Blanket - this one is using scrap baby wool, but I'm not totally satisfied with it. I think I'm going to frog it and do I basic granny like #3 except working in the back loops only for a little bit of a change.

And yes, that's it! 20 projects on the go! I want to try to finish what I can so that I can start even more! I think 20 projects on the go is enough! I'm pretty sure that I can finish #6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15. That's 7 that I can finish, and then start more! Never-ending!

Ok, time to get something done around the house. I have a mountain of laundry, picking up and general cleaning to do. And I have to make a potato salad for a bbq tonight! Busy morning!

Friday AM Post

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I do have some projects that I can share, but I want to take the time to blog about it properly.

I haven't been blogging much, but I have been crafting. Here's what I'm currently working on:

Right now, I'm working on scrap-busting, and this is one of the projects on the go. I'm using up old scraps of Bernat Baby Coordinates. I love the look of this yearn, but it drives me nuts to crochet with. I keep getting the silver threads caught up and it just ends up being messy. Oh well. I'll keep stitching on! I'm going to donate this one to charity - I've had many suggestions from The Crochet Crowd group of places to send it.

Also, my birthday was on the 9th, and my hubby has fed my crafting obsession with this great gift:

A sewing machine! I can't wait until my office can be set up (that's my mom's gift to me) and I can start working on the sewing machine! I bought a couple of simple baby quilt kits, and I have a couple of purse kits to work with, so I should be able to get a few things made.

I love crocheting, but I feel like it's time to spread my wings a bit. I can knit, and I really want to try knitting some socks. And, now I can sew! I am really hoping that it will help my tendonitis!

Anyways, I should get going. Time to get ready for work. I work an hour later on Thursdays and Fridays now, so I'm going to try to post each week. Fingers crossed that I keep it up - I want to keep the creative juices flowing, and blogging is a huge part of that!

Have a great day everyone!!

2012 Flower Swap

This year, I participated in a Flower Swap with The Flower Bed blog. It is a wonderful blog, full of inspiration from all around the world. Jewel organized a flower swap this year, as a way for us to share our wonderful projects with others. My swap sister is a lady from Australia, and I hope she likes the package that I have sent to her from way up north in BC!

Appliques that can be used on anything

African Flowers. I so didn't want to give these up!

A dozen mini-flowers

A small project bag

The whole package!

I really did enjoy participating in this swap. It has given me a chance to get to know someone new from across the world! I finally got an email from my swap sister letting me know that she has received her goodies. It took almost 2 months to get from Canada to Australia, but I am so happy to know that she has received it and that she is enjoying what I had sent to her.

Paying It Forward

Yet another thing to give me a reason to craft - as if I needed one! I saw this post at Compositions of Wool's blog, and knew I had to participate, and luckily enough, I get to be one of her three! I've copied this from her:

If you’re interested in participating here’s the info:

I will send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this post. The gift will be handmade by me. It will be sent sometime in the next 365 days. A year seems like a long time, but that’s what makes it a surprise gift. We all love getting surprises in the mail, right?

1. In your comment, tell me your favorite color or colors.
2. To sign up and receive a gift, you must play along, too. Pay it Forward on your blog, by promising to make a surprise for the first three people who comment on your blog post.
3. You must have a blog.
4. After commenting here, you must re-post this or something similar to your blog in 48 hours. If not, I choose the next person who comments.

Please leave me a way to get in touch with you - an email, Facebook, or Ravelry ID. Something. I will send to anywhere, so don't hesitate to join in!

Hello Again!

I know - it's been a long time. I have been crafting away, but I haven't taken any photos! I was planning on doing it this weekend, but I lost my cord that connects my camera to my computer, so I decided not to worry about taking a bunch of pictures yet, and to just work on some projects.

According to Ravelry, I have 22 projects on the go. 6 of them are as far along as I can go without buying more yarn, which means that 16 of them are just in the works...Oye. Yesterday I started on a blanket for a friend's wedding in June, hoping that I would get a bit of it done so that I could at least give them a photo of it with a promise that it would be done soon. Looks like it might not be so bad! I have 2 repeats of the pattern done already, and the pattern only calls for 8. I might do a few more, just because I have the extra yarn (I bought an extra 12 ounce ball thinking that I needed more, but apparently not). We'll see.

I also have some yarn coming in (I know, I wasn't supposed to buy more this year, but I had to!!) for a few more projects. I have a great, funky idea for a baby blanket for one of my best friends who is having a baby girl at the end of June. I have to admit, I am so excited about this one. It's going to be so bright and out there, in regards to a normal baby blanket, but I know that the momma is going to love it!

Since all that I have is my phone camera right now, I'll leave you with a couple of photos that I took - one on Friday, the other yesterday.

Friday Night

Saturday Morning

Yep, that's snow! Thursday night we went to bed, and the deck was free of snow, and the yard, except for a patch along the fence on the left that doesn't get much sunlight. Then we woke up to that. I knew that there was a snowfall warning, but daaaaaamn! That's a lot of snow!

If you didn't already know, I live in northern British Columbia, Canada, and this is pretty typical with us. Most of it has melted by now, but it still sucks. I was planning on starting jogging, but the sidewalks are slick again and I really don't think hurting myself is something I should do.

Anyways, hopefully I will have some project photos to share soon! So many on the go right now, it will be a nice, long post!

BAM CAL - February Square

Here it is! February's square! I actually finished this one before the end of the month (or beginning of the next month like January's square). You can find all of the info here.

I'm really excited to see how all of this turns out! I've never done a CAL before, so I'm excited to see what a blanket with many different squares looks like!

I think I'm going to go through my stash this weekend...Stay tuned for a great stash post soon!

BAM CAL - January Square

Finally! I'm done my January square for the BAM (Block-A-Month) CAL (Crochet-ALong).

16-Circles Square by Beatriz Medina

I'll tell you, this square took a lot out of me. So difficult! I found the pattern very hard to understand, but thankfully, I found a great tutorial here. Without it, I don't know if I could have gotten through it!

You can find all of the info on my Ravelry page. The first square of 12 finished!

Projects Galore

Hello!

It's been a while since I've updated, and I'm sorry for that! I have been busy hooking away, but I haven't taken photos in a while. Not to fear, I should be able to get at it on Saturday. I have a bunch of finished projects, including one for charity, and one for a swap between crafters. I also have some Christmas items that I made right at the beginning of the new year to try to use up some scraps.

I also have some big news on the home front. We have bought a house! No, we still haven't sold the one we left behind in Fort St John, but we were approved to purchase one up here. We are so excited! We're moving in on March 1.

Now, because we're still holding 2 mortgages, we won't have a lot of money lying around to decorate the new house. Enter the crafters! My mom and I are ready to unleash some DIY on the house to make it ours until we can buy the things we need. We could use new couches, but our same ones with covers will do. I won't have a lot of decorations, so we'll have to make them! Should be fun!

Anyways, off to get ready for work. TGIF!

Diamond Baby Blanket

Recently, we welcomed another baby into our family. My brother- and sister-in-law had their second daughter on December 19, and named her Delling Annelle. As a crafter, I always try to give something homemade as gifts, and certainly the best thing to give a new mom is a baby blanket.

I absolutely love how this one turned out. Want to see more photos?

I used almost 3 full balls of each Oceans and Aruba Sea Red Heart Super Saver. You can find the pattern on Red Heart's website for free. It is called "Lazy Daisy Blanket." You are supposed to embroider daisies on it, but while I know how to embroider, I don't think it would work with my colours!

Hope you are having a great start to the year! I'll leave you with one of the few photos that I have of my new niece, Delling.