Baby fever

 So is it me or has everyone seriously been pregnant this year?

I feel like I have made a ton of blankets since March (thats only 6 months ago).
So for your viewing pleasure, here they are
They are all a little different .. I need variety in my life

It started when one of my really close friends adoption went through
1. Aqua and teal shell pattern

That got me started on the everyone else.. And my creative juices going
Next was a friend having her second boy and me getting a little ambitious,
so ambitious it took me an extra 6 months to finish.
2. Ombré blue apache pattern

Than my sis in law who was having her first child (boy)
3. Forrest green popcorn stitch (on top of that pile)

heres a better picture

a friend in chicago with her first (boy)
4. Raindow yarn V stitch with a twist blanket

Its a funny story because my sis in law, this friend in chicago and I were all at my bro in laws wedding 2 and half years ago and now having all our children in the same year

a good friend having her second, a girl
5. Flowers in the garden
Grey and pink single crochet with crocheted tulips added



a friend having twins (boys), I made two blankets using the same yarn but two different patterns and borders
6. A blue popcorn and green shell

 a friend had a premie baby (girl) she was just able to take home.
7. Purple wave pattern


and one for my baby
8. a color block single crocheted blanket

 

I still have 4 more to make this year and one I can't show you yet since it has not been sent out yet.
What is your go to gift for new babies?

~ Steph ~

Summer Handmade Gift Exchange

So, its been awhile since I entered in a gift exchange and was hoping that would get my creative juices flowing. Well, it did to an extent. It took me the whole month prior to think of something to make for my partner who has a baby on the way and a toddler. 

This is what I came up with.. 

I wanted to make something for everyone and they live in colorado which made the decision a little easier. I know its summer, but winter things can be so cute. 

For little brother.. two little beanies. 

One simple teal and grey and the other is a little bear

For big brother.. an owl beanie

and for mama.. two headbands

This post will link up here:

~ Steph ~

Pouf this: part 2

 So, if you missed it Saturday I posted some inspiration for a crocheted pouf  Here

Well, I promptly got started on my own pouf

I found this pattern on pinterest and tweaked it to my own discretion.

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(I never did the single crochet as mentioned and added more rows than it states)

After 2 hours this is 

I love it.

The same day I went to target and found there interpretation of the pouf for $50

I spent $6.

I had to buy one skein of yarn ($5.99 at walmart), had the poly fil and the other skein of yarn

I used the Lions brand thick wool and a large crochet needle (pictured below).

I suggest a large needle especially when you are closing because you are making some very big stitches at the end. 

So that how I made my own pouf. What do you think?

This post will be linking up this week to some of these sites

Pouf this

I don't know about you, but I see these knitted poufs EVERYWHERE and for quite sometime now. 

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I have been pinning them and really wanting to make one for the same amount of time

They come in many sizes, 

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colors (any really, dependent on space and materials)

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shapes, and 

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can be made with different unconventional materials

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 of course all these are crocheted (because I don't knit) .. I am so inspired I have started my own :)

Have you made one yet? Have you bought one? Do you love it? Where did you get it?

Project Pals: March

So, I have talked about how one of my favorite bloggers Jamie at C.R.A.F.T hosts Project pals every couple months. It is limited to 100 people

Well, this month I was in the lucky 100 

My pal was a girl named Catherine who likes black, pink and gold and loves day of the dead

So, I got to thinking and for some reason I am obsessed with ipad/kindle covers

So that is what I crocheted her a cover for her kindle fire

(sure it is a risk, but I love the way it came out)

I used her favorite colors (black, pink and gold)

Found a skull and flower pattern and went from there.

What do you think? I personally love it.

This post is linking up to these blogs

Not your grandma's crochet

For christmas (yes, I know that was awhile ago) I was in charge of making/buying the girly gifts

which included one of our good friends, Tara.

Who plays derby on my league.

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I found this grid pattern and could not resist. She is on the boneyard bombshells and they have this thing with skulls and it was perfect.

I immediately thought of a bag/tote or something similar would be perfect, so I got working.

On the sides I did a checkerboard pattern, the bottom is double layered

The back I put her derby name. I single crocheted it all together and wah-la! 

What do you think?

This post is linking up here

How to make your own ugly christmas sweater

As you can see here, we hosted our ugly sweater party the saturday before christmas. 

As the tradition of ugly christmas sweaters becomes more popular it is harder to find ugly sweaters at the last minute. So I decided to make my own ugly sweater vest. 

I searched Ravelry for vest patterns. I tried one, but I didn't like it. So I tried this one

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This is what I came up with

I bought the trim on clearance at Michael's, the ornaments and pom poms are from the idea store and the yarn I already had. 

I paired the sweater vest with a goodwill skirt and sunglasses without lenses, a walmart turtleneck and target socks. 

The final product with P.

What do you think? 

I love dressing up.

Yarn Stash

Like most yarn project lovers ( I hope), I had yarn EVERYWHERE.

Most of it was in the trunk in our living room, but it was in my car, in the 3rd bedroom closet, in my bedroom, and in the basement. YES, everywhere. 

I needed a solution

My inspiration from pinterest

I took this bookshelf, emptied it and flipped it on its side

I found these cute storage boxes at walmart 2 for $5.99 (i think)

Went through my stash

the pile of knots (I know its not pretty)

separated  by color

I bought this pain for my scissors and needles from Target for $2.50

The boxes are gray and have a cool white pattern

This basket holds all of my in progress projects

how do you organize your yarn?