An Earthtone Blanket-Tah Dah!!

I made this Earthtone Blanket for my daughter and she loves it. Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Mushroom, Oatmeal and White-Multi. I'm not sure how much but it was A LOT!! :)

The stitch is known by several names, Moss Stitch, Woven Stitch, etc. It's a single crochet and chain, then the next row you single crochet in the chain space and chain one. Easy Peasy!!

It's wooly and warm. I love the dense fabric.

More projects coming soon...I'm playing catch-up on my blog.

Happy Crocheting!

Finally Finished Crocheted Rainbow Blanket

I did it! Yay! Yippee!

The Rainbow Blanket I started making for my daughter a couple of years ago! This is just a striped crocheted granny blanket
I actually finished it in 2011 but...I had some ends to work in and I didn't give it to her until this last weekend. It only took me thirty minutes to work in those few ends! Can you believe that? Why didn't I do that years ago? I have several blankets like that. They are so close to being done but they need some ends worked in. I'm such a terrible procrastinator! Maybe this year I can finish all of my blankets! I would feel great if I did that. No more guilt for starting another new blanket.

I used Plymouth yarn and I love it! It's so lightweight and washed up beautifully! She was so happy to finally get it. My grand daughter Emma, just loves it. I think the bright primary colors are perfect for a toddler to learn her colors.

I hope you all are having a great week and Happy Crocheting!!

I am hooking up at the Moogly Link Party!

Crochet Granny Patches Blanket: Added Another Row

It's coming along...

You, dear friends,  are going to get sick of seeing this one. I added another long row and a short row across the bottom, (or top) :) 

I added it because when I would fold it in half, it wasn't on the seam so it would have to be folded in the middle of the square. I don't know about you but that would just drive me crazy! Half the fun of making these blankets/throws/afghans, whatever you want to call them, is because I love folding them. They look so pretty all folded and stacked neatly on a shelf. Of course I love spreading them out on the bed too. I think it is safe to say I just LOVE making blankets!!

All the loose ends you see in this picture are already woven in the back so it is nice and neat for me when I start another row!

Now this is my Triple Thread Baby Blanket. This is so fun to make and the longer it gets the more I love it. I just run out of the Bernat Satin Flamingo so fast. Obviously because it is a worsted weight and the other two threads are sport weight, the yardage is much smaller on the worsted weight and I am using a large hook. so, I have used one and a half Satin skeins and am ready for another and I am still on the first skeins of the Sport weight.

Long story short, I had to stop working on it until I go to Hobby Lobby or order more from Joann's. There goes my stash-busting efforts on this one.

It's coming along...

You, dear friends,  are going to get sick of seeing this one. I added another long row and a short row across the bottom, (or top) :) 

I added it because when I would fold it in half, it wasn't on the seam so it would have to be folded in the middle of the square. I don't know about you but that would just drive me crazy! Half the fun of making these blankets/throws/afghans, whatever you want to call them, is because I love folding them. They look so pretty all folded and stacked neatly on a shelf. Of course I love spreading them out on the bed too. I think it is safe to say I just LOVE making blankets!!

All the loose ends you see in this picture are already woven in the back so it is nice and neat for me when I start another row!

Now this is my Triple Thread Baby Blanket. This is so fun to make and the longer it gets the more I love it. I just run out of the Bernat Satin Flamingo so fast. Obviously because it is a worsted weight and the other two threads are sport weight, the yardage is much smaller on the worsted weight and I am using a large hook. so, I have used one and a half Satin skeins and am ready for another and I am still on the first skeins of the Sport weight.

Long story short, I had to stop working on it until I go to Hobby Lobby or order more from Joann's. There goes my stash-busting efforts on this one.

So that's all for this week. I hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Crocheting!

Finished Afghan: From Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks

Manly-Man Afghan

I finished this afghan in 2011 for my son-in-law. He doesn't use it because I made it out of Red Heart yarn and it isn't soft. I think I'll take it back when I make him another one that is softer. I loved how this came out and it was fun to make!

Granny Update Crochet Blanket

I saw this pattern at RedHeart.com and I just loved it. I didn't zoom in on it but from the picture it reminded me of a African flower motif. I ordered the yarn and printed the pattern.

When I got the yarn I saw that the blue was much brighter than it appeared in the pattern picture.

So I went ahead and made up a motif.

It doesn't look like the pattern at all. I must have made a mistake.

This pattern is an intermediate and I know why. This one little motif took me a couple of hours and the pattern calls for 98 of them! I'm not so sure I like it now. The blue needs to be darker but then I think it might look good in this bright blue. I think the motif is pretty and looks a little like a flower because it is raised on the Hexagon. So, I'm not sure if I will make this or not. I might try making a few more motifs and joining them to see how it looks or I might just make it an African Flower motif and go with that.

Happy Crocheting!

Stash Busting Already!

Luckily I started stash busting last year but didn't get very far so I have a little bit of a jump start. I started making these little granny squares with a "G" hook with the leftover yarn from my Rainbow Ripple.

So I was going to do the join-as-you-go method but I did it backwards, or so I was told, and I didn't like the way the join looked, (see here), because usually when I join granny squares they all have the same color in the last row. It just really bothered me to look at the one color overlapping the other color. 

So, I decided to just go ahead and make the squares between projects and use up the stash. So now I have all these lovely little squares and only a little bit of stash left. Now I have to decide how to join them together since I obviously can't do the as-you-go method. So now I will probably have to buy some yarn for the joining of the squares. This always happens to me when I am trying to use up some stash, I end up buying more yarn to finish something! Ugggh! Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Oh well, buying yarn is one of my favorite past times so not really a problem at all!

So I'm almost finished using up the stash of yarn but...I still have to finish the little granny square blanket or I just moved the yarn from stash to a UFO (unfinished object).  I have enough of those already. 

Any ideas on the color to use for joining them? I guess I could add one more round with a new color and join-as-you-go that way with all the same color. I'm thinking white or black.  What do you think?

Happy Crocheting!

My Crochet Attic Blog is Two Years Old...

Wow! I can't believe I have been blogging here for two years! Where does the time go? So much has happened since I started my blog and I've made so many friends here in blog land along the way.  Another milestone, today I have reached 400 followers! Wow! This calls for a BIG celebration don't you think? I will have to come up with a giveaway. I'm not sure what it will be but I will make sure it is something special for YOU for your loyalty.

Also, I am excited to show you a "nearly" finished project.  I still have to work in the ends and put a border on it but I just love how it has turned out considering I had no plan when I started it way back when and it turned out so totally different from what I was originally thinking it would be. Are you curious yet?

Well, it is something that I have shown here on my blog many times either as a post or as a background image for another project.  Are you ready to see what I've secretly been working on? I've been keeping it a secret because I wasn't sure I like it!:) But now that it is nearly finished I have grown to love it as it has grown into a full size afghan.  This was one of those projects that just came on a whim from yarn in my stash.  I just wasn't sure about the colors...that is until I added the white.  Wow, what a difference a little white can do.  I'm in love with it now.  I can't wait to finish it, hopefully by Friday for a big Tah Dah!!

Okay, here are some sneak peaks...

Remember these? This is how it all started a year ago for the Granny a Day Cal in January 2012...I didn't use the squares that weren't regular grannies...but I liked the moss with it but wasn't sure how to use it with what I already had...

I wasn't sure about the colors but you all encouraged me to continue...

Personally I love the brick and mustard color together but it needed another color...

So I added the moss...and then the white just made it a beautiful color combination...

So I started putting it together and planning the arrangement...

The entire year I worked on it between projects.  It was always handy to work on when I wanted to work on a "no-brainer" project...

And here it is today...

Almost finished and oh so fun.  

The moral of the story... don't give up! You will be surprised when you end up with an original creation that was not planned...it just happened! So I have named it my "Accidental Granny Afghan"

Happy Crocheting

Easy Crochet Afghans-5 Free Patterns for 2013

5 Free Easy Crochet Afghans for 2013!

With the Winter Season going full throttle, now is the time I like to start making an afghan to keep me busy until Spring. All the little projects, hats, scarves, etc. are finished for the Holiday Season and now I like to start a big and colorful project.  One of the best things about an afghan is that they’re typically a larger project, made in several evenings of watching TV and sitting by the fire. It’s a great way to use up some of your stash, or try out a new yarn you received for Christmas. So here we go, 5 new, easy, and FREE crochet afghans to get your hooks warmed up this New Year.

5 Free and Easy Crochet Afghans for 2013

1.  True Blood Water Lily blanket by Sara Muckian

This gorgeous afghan is on Ravelry and looks beautiful in many different colors.  Just about anything you can imagine  Sara made hers with Red Heart Super Saver Solid.  This one is definitely on my list  to make for this year.

 

2.  124-1 Crochet blanket in ”Delight” and ”Fabel”

 by DROPS design

This Afghan has been in my queue for quite a while but I think it is beautiful. With the colors and design it would look so lovely across the foot of my bed or even draped across my couch.  This is a "Granny Square" design like the one above.  Sometimes making squares doesn't seem quite as dauting after work so I just whip up a couple of squares before bed time.I also like this one because it is made with a fingering weight yarn which is so light and elegant to work with. So...here's the stats:

Measurements: approx 95 x 145 cm / 37½” x 57”
Materials: DROPS DELIGHT from Garnstudio
250 g color no 10, olive/rust/plum mix
50 g color no 08, green/beige mix
50 g color no 09, turquoise/purple mix
50 g color no 11, lilac/green mix
And use: DROPS FABEL from Garnstudio
200 g color no 400, black



 

3.  Scrap Ripple Afghan

by Anastacia Zitti

Here is the one we could all make in not time at all.  A ripple to use up all of our stash so we can buy more yarn at all the sales in January! Oh yes, I have a method to my madness. I love this simple easy design and it works up so quick with just about any yarn you have, (just use the same weight and you can mix brands(usually!)

 

4. Wind Chime / Eyelet Strips Afghan

by Lion Brand Yarn

This is such a lovely and unique afghan that making it would be so easy and fun.  Think of all the different color combinations you could use!  This one is made using Vanna's Choice yarn and is something totally different than the ripples and granny stripes we have been seeing for the last few years.

. 


5.  Ribbon Afghan

by Olivia Rainsford

Last but certainly not least...this beautiful Ribbon Afghan pattern. This is a MAJOR Stash-buster.  Simple enough that you can work on it in front of the TV but interesting enough to keep you from being bored. Love it!

 

Okay...this has been fun but now I can't wait to get started on one of these beauties for 2013! OMG...which one to choose?

Have a Happy New Year everyone and as always...

Happy Crocheting!

Pinterest Crochet Inspiration: Afghans/Blankets

Afghans and blankets are my most favorite things to crochet. Probably because that was how I learned to crochet. My first project was a ripple afghan and I loved every minute of it. That was about 25 years ago and I've been going ever since.

 I hope you are inspired by some of these beauties. I tried to include some new stitches that I've never done before to inspire me to try something new and get out of my comfort zone. Have a great week everyone!

Source: karinaandehaak.blogspot.co.uk via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: ravelry.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: ravelry.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: bizzycrochet.blogspot.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: sandra-cherryheart.blogspot.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: copertineaduncinetto.blogspot.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: crochetconcupiscence.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: ravelry.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Happy Crocheting!!

Tuesday's Tallies-Granny Love

Tuesday's Tallies One a Day!

This week I have been working on my Little Giant Granny blanket inspired by Sandra over at Cherry Heart

She made a beautiful Giant Granny Patches blanket that I just love. Only one problem...

Mine doesn't look anything like hers! Yes, I know I have to weave in all those ends and I will before I go on to the next row but...

I am using the join as you go method like Sandra recommended and I think it looks like crap. Her's doesn't look like crap but mine does...For example look at the picture below at the salmon color reddish on the top right hand side...

See how the stitches show up against that pretty aqua color!! Yukky! Maybe I need to use a smaller hook or maybe I am not doing that method correctly but I have to say I'm thinking about Frogging it because it doesn't look like hers. You cannot see the join stitches on Sandra's blanket. So...I'm just going to have to try something different.

I made and joined 30 squares this week, I am putting 15 on each row. I'm not sure if you will see it next week because I just can't bring myself to love it enough to do the work.

Oh well, have a great week everyone!

Happy Crocheting!!