This week, I don’t exactly have a project. But, what I did have was a brand new crochet book my mom sent me a few months back that I had yet to poke through. I mean, I looked at it when she first gave it to me, but I hadn’t tried anything out of it. The reason? I hate trying to read and understand crochet patterns! I can do it if I really, really want to, but for the most part, I prefer to find a pattern I like and then have someone explain to me how to do it via a YouTube video. I just learn better that way, and I like to be able to see firsthand what I’m supposed to be making than follow along with a pattern and pray it turns out the way it’s supposed to after spending God knows how much time fooling with it.
Anyway, the book Mom sent me was this:
It’s based on a television show that I had no idea existed, and the pattens in the book come directly from a chunk of the episodes. It comes with a 30 minute DVD that I have yet to watch, but I’m going to safely say that it shows bits and pieces from the episodes that are featured in the book. Here’s a small sampling of what is featured in the book, just in case you might want to go and buy your own copy.
Crocheted Sock Pattern
“[This] sock is worked from the toe to ankle. Toe is worked in continuous rounds; do not join or turn at the ends of rounds. The foot is worked in joined rounds without turning. The toe, foot, and ankle are worked in one piece, and an opening is created for the heel. After the rest of the sock is complete, the heel is worked into the opening.”
Spiral Bead Crochet Rope Bracelet
“Your wrist will sparkle plenty with this beaded crochet bracelet. Just string the beads on the yarn and then work in a spiral to create your very own one-of-a-kind masterpiece.”
Crocheted Baby Bibs
This book actually features a whole entire section that is full of baby related patterns from booties to a beautiful baby blanket.
Afghan Square of the Week
“Made from 12 different stitch patterns, this afghan is the perfect project for honing your crochet skills. You can start off easy then progress to the more difficult stitches, all while making yourself a beautiful afghan.”
I’m really liking these last two afghan ideas, and it’s taken everything I’ve got to hold off on buying yarn and making more blankets for my house. I really, really love this Seashore Afghan, and I’m not sure whether it’s the blue and brown combination that I love or simply because it says “Seashore” in the title. I love anything to do with the ocean!
This is actually what I decided to “make” this week. I didn’t make a full scarf due to lack of yarn, but what I did do was attempt the gauge swatch of it. Like I said before, I’m not one for following written patterns, but I though it would be a good learning experience and fun to try something new. I didn’t take pictures of the whole process, but I will share with you the pattern, just in case you’d like to give it a go yourself.
Cable Scarf
Materials List
- 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Economy (100% acrylic, 364yds) any color of your choice. The scarf shown is 406 Medium Thyme.
- Size US I/9 hook or size to obtain gauge
- Gauge = 12 hdc and 10 rows = 4″
Notes
- Always remember to sk the st behind all FPdc and FPtr sts.
Pattern Stitches
- Front Post double crochet (FPdc): Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch; yo and draw up loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice. Sk stitch behind FPdc.
- Front Post treble crochet (FPtc): Yo twice, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st; yo and draw up loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times. Sk stitch behind FPtr.
- If you are like me and need a video demo, use this one right here.
Scarf
Chain 20
Foundation row: Half double crochet in 3rd ch from hook and each chain across- 18 hdc.
Row 1 (wrong side) and all odd rows: Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in each st across.
Row 2 (right side): Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in 1st 2 half double crochet, Front Post double crochet around next half double crochet 2 rows below; half double crochet in next 4 half double crochet, skip 2 half double crochet, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 half double crochet 2 rows below; working in front of previous 2 Front Post triple crochet, Front Post triple crochet around 2 skipped half double crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in next 4 half double crochet; Front Post double crochet around next half double crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in last 2 half double crochets.
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in 1st 2 half double crochet, Front Post double crochet around Front Post double crochet 2 rows below; half double crochet in next 3 half double crochet, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below (slanted Front Post triple crochet), half double crochet in next 2 half double crochet, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below (slanted Front Post triple crochet), half double crochet in next 3 half double crochet; Front Post double crochet around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in last 2 half double crochet.
Row 6: Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in 1st 2 half double crochet, Front Post double crochet around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below; half double crochet in next 2 half double crochet, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in next 4 half double crochet, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in next 2 half double crochet; Front Post double crochet around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in last 2 half double crochet.
Row 8: Repeat row 4 (Thank God, because I’m tired of typin!)
Row 10: Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in 1st 2 half double crochet, Front Post double crochet around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below; half double crochet in next 4 half double crochet, skip 2 Front Post triple crochets 2 rows below, Front Post triple crochet around next 2 Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below; working in front of previous 2 Front Post triple crochet, Front Post triple crochet around 2 skipped Front Post triple crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in next 4 half double crochet; Front Post double around next Front Post double crochet 2 rows below, half double crochet in last 2 half double crochets.
Rows 11-146: Repeat Rows 3-10 17 times.
Row 17: Ch 2, turn, half double crochet in each stitch across. Fasten off.
Finishing: Weave in ends.
After following the gauge swatch twice, just to see if I could do it or not, this is what I came up with:
I’m pretty proud of it, and am pretty impressed how well I followed the pattern. Eventually I’ll make a full scarf, and when I do I’ll be sure to share it with you. Also, if you’re like me and hate reading patterns, I suggest rewriting them like I did above without all the abbreviations in them. It makes the pattern look a lot longer, but the abbreviations always seem to throw me off. Plus, if you take the time to write out the pattern fully before you begin, you’re more likely to have a better understanding of what exactly it is you’re supposed to be doing when you go to being your project. Happy Crocheting!
To make these bird feeders, you will need:
Once your gelatine is dissolved, stir in your birdseed.
Here is where normal people would lay their waxed paper down, set a cookie cutter on top of it, fill the cookie cutter half full with your birdseed gelatine mixture, lay your string down and then continue filling it until its level with the top. I did not have any waxed paper, so I Pam’d a cookie sheet and went on with filling my cutters.
I ended up doubling the recipe, so I had some birdseed left over. Instead of doing more cookie cutters, I wanted to see what would happen if I used a cupcake tin. So I Pam’d that up and filled each spot with seed and a string.
Once you have all of your seed distributed, all you have to do now is let them dry. I let mine sit about an hour before I fooled with them. I very gently pushed on seed ornament until it came free from the cookie cutters, and to get the ones out of the cupcake tins, I took a sharp knife and pried them out.
Here’s one of my cookie cutter feeders! And here are my ornaments from the cupcake tin:
They’re all now hung out in the yard for the birds to enjoy. I’ll definitely have to remember this for winters in Virginia when food becomes scarce for the birds. I’ve also seen another variation on the gelatine/birdseed feeders where someone has taken a bundt pan and created a whole entire wreath to hang in the trees for the birds! Happy Feeding!
I just love it! And ever since he found it, it’s what I tell myself every single workout I want to give up on. I wanted to buy a shirt that said this on it, but the only one I found was a $30 racerback tank. I’m sorry, not paying $30 for a shirt I’m just going to sweat in, at least not right now. So what did I do? I came up with the next best thing.
