Log Cabin Granny Square

Here is a quick tutorial on how I am going about my Log Cabin squares, it is just a variation of a typical granny square (please let me know if you see any mistakes in the directions)…

Update (and update corrected):  post with pics of the finished Gray Area Log Cabin Blanket which shows what I did with the border, for an estimate of the yarn used, go to the Log Cabin Blanket post.

LogCabinGranny1

Start with a sliding ring, and make a 1 round granny square.  To do that, in the sliding ring you ch3 (counts as 1st dc) 2dc in the ring, [ch3, 3dc in the ring]3 times.

LogCabinGranny2

End with a ch3, tighten the loop, slpst into the top of the first ch3.  End off.

Continue reading “Log Cabin Granny Square”

Log Cabin Blanket

I like making blankets in the winter, once they get large enough they help keep you warm while you work on them!  I had been thinking of doing a log cabin motif for quite a while, and I had bought more yarn than I needed for the baby blanket I made for my granddaughter.  Perfect excuse to make a colorful blanket for myself, so what if it doesn’t match my living room, can’t let all that yarn go to waste!

Update:  wanted to note how much yarn.  Had less than one ball of each color. 2 balls of red (just barely over 1 ball) and 4 balls of the gray.

LogCabinCrochet_yarn

I have also been itching to make a blanket with gray, I really like how colors look with gray and I think it makes the colors look more grown up. I also added some cranberry, I really like red!

Here is my log cabin motif…(I forgot to include the darker blue in the yarn picture, at least it is in this one).  I haven’t made a diagram for this one yet.

LogCabinCrochet

I was thinking of doing variations of the log cabin, so it was a bit of a sampler blanket, but I didn’t end up liking the ones I tried.  There wasn’t anything wrong with them, I just felt like it didn’t really add anything, the regular log cabin was good by itself.  They are rather busy, so I think sticking to the one kind of motif is the right choice.

I am liking that they are square, but not square looking with just the stripes of color.  I decided to put a little of the gray in each so it isn’t just in the background.  I like the gray a lot, reminds me of soft, warm sweatshirts.  Warm is something we have a lack of right now (went below zero Fahrenheit last night! brrrrr)

2013 in Pictures

Happy New Year!  A peek at last year while I look forward to what the new year will bring.

Million Dollar Fudge

Another of the things I love to do is cook, so I decided that I would start to share some of my favorite recipes now and then.  This is one I have had for about 30 years and it is a well loved recipe.  I hadn’t made any in years and came across it again when looking through my recipes for Christmas. It makes a lot, but you will be glad it does because it disappears quicker than you would think!

MillionDollarFudge1

Ingredients

12 ounces evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
4 1/2 cups sugar
12 ounces semi sweet chocolate (I used chips)
12 ounces german sweet chocolate
8 ounces marshmallow fluff
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped walnuts or other nuts (optional)

variation: add pistachios and dried cranberries or cherries

Directions

Grease a 13″ x 9″ pan with some softened butter.  Chop up all the chocolate.  In a very large bowl, mix together the chocolates, the marshmallow fluff and the salt.  Set aside.

In a large saucepan bring the evaporated milk, butter and sugar to a boil, stir often while it heats.  Once it reaches a boil, reduce to a simmer and set a timer for 6 minutes.  Stir often as the mixture simmers, rub the sides now and then to mix in any sugar that sticks.  Once the 6 minutes is up, remove from heat and pour over the chocolates and fluff mixture.  Stir and beat with a spoon until it is evenly mixed and smooth.  Fold in the walnuts.

Spread into the prepared pan and cool completely before cutting.

MillionDollarFudge2

Scarves for Gifts

I have been making a few scarfs for gifts too, here another Lotus Flower scarf with Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue.  They work up pretty quickly.

BlueLotusFlowerScarf

You can see the nearly complete circle I tinkered with for the beginning, it worked out pretty well.  I am also making one of these in a medium gray yarn, that has a bit of sparkle to it like the first one.  That one is going to be a gift for myself!

BlueLotusFlowerScarfDetail

I made this spiral fringe scarf for my daughter, but then I heard her say she doesn’t wear scarves!  Oh, so sad, I will have to keep this soft, warm scarf for myself.  It does match a green winter jacket I have!

SpiralFringeCrochetScarf

Wishing all wonderful, merry holidays!

Bright and Delightful Dishcloths

I so love these diamond dishcloths!  I made some up to give as gifts, and thought of this design with bright colored stripes and a different color for the hanging part.  I think I will have to make up some like these for myself too…

DelightfulBrightCrochetDishcloth

So many stripe variations are possible….festive holiday colors could be nice too, but these bright colors are going to be hard to beat for adding cheer!

DelightfulBrightCrochetDishcloth2

Lotus Flower Scarf

Update:  I worked out how to start it with a circular motif for the first one, diagram is below at the end of the post.

As soon as I saw Loops & Threads Impeccable Glitter yarn in Ultra Violet, I knew my daughter would love it and I had to make something for her.  I had to buy it, I tell you, must. buy. yarn.

I had been searching Queen Anne’s Lace patterns, but none of those were quite right.  I wanted it a little bigger.  And then I saw the Lotus Flower Lace scarf at The Crochet Lounge.  Perfect!

Lotus Petal Scarf

Continue reading “Lotus Flower Scarf”

close up of border

Baby Blanket Border and Ta Da!

It’s done!!  I decided to stick with simple for the border on my Hop, Skip and Jump baby blanket.  Rounds of single crochet randomly in the colors of the blanket.  I like how it looks and I like the different texture.

BabyBlanketTaDa

If I had to do it again (or had more time to re-do the border) I would do the border with a size or two larger hook than I used for the body of the blanket.  I didn’t tighten my tension, but the border turned out denser than I would prefer, it would work best if a bit looser.

close up of border

But, I was down to the wire!  Baby shower is tomorrow and I just weaved in my last end this morning!

Eloise Baby Sweater

Nearly finished, just have to get some buttons and sew them on!

EloiseBabySweater

I hope my daughter likes it as much as I do.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry:  Eloise Baby Sweater.

The adjustments I made that are different from the pattern (notes to myself really : )

  • G hook
  • ch 40 to start
  • for the bit of scallop on the bottom, dc in same space as the turning ch3.  Do not dc in the ch3 to avoid increasing.
  • did 8 slpst, 8sc, 8hdc, 11dc for the pleats
  • Pleats in back loop only for the first row, second row through both loops
  • was 16 color pleats (2T size for how many stitches for top part) but since I used a smaller hook/gauge the measurements worked out for 6 months
  • extra row of dc on the top
  • used the sizing guides at Craft Yarn Council to make sure it measured correctly

Hop, Skip and Jump Baby Blanket

My baby blanket has grown, 31 inches square now!  I like how it has turned out.

HopSkipAndJumpBabyBlanket2

I am thinking on the border and can’t decide yet what to do.   I may have to just try a few ideas and see how it looks.  I think I will look at my book of edgings to get ideas!