Creativity Blog Hop

Happy Monday, All!

I have been asked to take part in a creativity blog hop by Danielle from By DD Hines.  This is my first blog hop participation, and it is so much fun!

I am mainly going to focus on my creativity process.  For me it is less of a process, and more of chaos.  New ideas seem to always hit me very late at night, and when my to-do list is crazy long!

I find inspiration in everything. 

 I see something that I like, and my first thought is "Can I crochet that?".

Recently, I have learned to knit, sew, and cross stitch as well.  Which means my mind is constantly racing with ideas.  

My thought process:

Which projects can I combine sewing and crochet/knit?

This crochet hook book is just the first project I did combining sewing and crochet!

What song lyrics do I want to cross stitch first? 

This is my first cross stitch project for a saying - it has not been revealed yet what it will say.

That is my little secret for now!

What are my responsibilities tomorrow? Because that tells me how much sleep I need to get tonight.

Similarly, how much coffee will I be able to drink tomorrow?

Whose birthday is coming up?  What can I make them?

My friends and family only receive handmade gifts these days.  Those are the best kind of gifts, right?!?

Have I heard anything about a new cancer patient that I can contact directly and make them a custom beanie?

I am working on another crochet softie gift for a friend of friend whose cancer came back.  I already sent her a Boston Red Sox beanie, and she loves it!  I can't share photos of the new gift yet though, so you'll have to check back later!

It seems that my to-do list is always growing, and never shrinks.  I mark one thing off, and three more ideas are added. 

What I'm working on now:

Currently I have multiple headbands, beanies, brooches, and hair clips that I need to get done.  I also have a queen size crochet blanket, a full size graph blanket, a throw blanket, and a cushion cover that are at the top of my to-do list.

This is the queen-size blanket that I am currently working on.  I've been working on it for months; between getting distracted, and running out of yarn multiple times - it has take three times the amount of yarn that I thought it would.

I started this random granny stripe throw last week, and it should be finished by the end of this week.

I also have a shawl pattern that is currently out being tested, and I am polishing the wording before I get it published.

This shawl pattern should be released within the next two weeks.

Last night as I finished this scarf, I got the idea for two different scarves that I need to test out.

Hopefully, at least one of my ideas for a new scarf will come out the way I am picturing it in my head!

My biggest piece of advice for anyone that crochets or knits:

Use patterns as guidelines.  Make changes to suit what you want!  That is the best part about handmade, you can customize to fit your likes.

For example, I never use magic circles to start out projects - I only use the ch2 method.

I also never use double crochet for beanies.  I prefer the look of using hdc.  So even if there is patter I really like that uses dc, I am changing it.  These are just small basic changes, but the changes you can make are endless!  

You are spending the time to make the item anyways, so you might as well make it your own!

Brynlee's Baby Blanket

Hello everyone!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you have seen a few black and white photos on my feed in the past couple weeks. If you don't follow me on Instagram - well shame on you! - you should click here and start following the fun!  

It is finally time to reveal the colors of the baby blanket that I had to post in black and white!  

FYI - I had to post in B&W because I didn't want to ruin the surprise for the mommy-to-be, but I will be at the baby shower when this post is scheduled to go live.  So, no more worrying about ruining the surprise.

I thought about so many different patterns to crochet for this baby blanket.

I was set on the colors I wanted to use - Brynlee's nursery is peacock theme, so this was my way of going with that, without being to matchy-matchy.

The good old granny square seemed to be the perfect fit to show off how fun these colors are.

A simple scalloped edge seemed to be the perfect edging for this project.

I am so in love with this blanket!

I think my dear friend, Holly, will enjoy wrapping up little Brynlee with this granny square blanket.

Thank you all for coming by to check out this baby blanket!  

Enjoy your day!

Favorite Projects

Hello Everyone!

I know that it is Wednesday, and that I have not posted about my Crochet Mood Blanket in a very long time.  But, I am still not posting about it today....booooo!  I am a couple weeks behind, unfortunately.

I am here to tell you about another project that is FINALLY FINISHED!!!!

I started this blanket at the end of May 2013, and worked on it for a few weeks - until the weather turned scorching hot, and it was too much to sit under an afghan.

 

So, I put it to the side and started crocheting smaller projects.

  I then took it back out at the end of September, and finished the crocheting part.  

But, those pesky ends that my past self didn't sew in as she worked, needed to be taken care of.  I put the blanket up in the closet because I have been really busy with custom orders since October - thankfully!  Well, last night I decided to just take it down and get those ends sewn up.

I am so happy that this blanket is finally done!  Not too long after I started crocheting this blanket, Chris said that we had to keep it, because it reminded him of engineering paper.  I don't see the resemblance, but I am happy to have a pretty afghan for the back of the couch now.

It will be so nice for those random, unplanned naps!

I found the pattern for this blanket on Ravelry, and it is called Summer Mist Thorw - designed by Kim Guzman.  

It is a fantastic pattern!  It is fun, fast, and beautiful!

I used Red Heart Super Saver in Charcoal, Lemon, Light Gray, and Soft White - four skeins of each if I remember correctly.  And those twelve skeins produced a blanket that is 75"x78", plenty big enough for random napping.

Of course, Jixer is happy with the new blanket addition too!

Retro Girl Baby Blanket

Hello, and Happy Saturday!

I am just going to write a quick post about the new baby blanket that I just added to my Etsy shop!

This is one of my favorite baby blankets that I have ever done.  I think because it is different - color wise - than anything I have crocheted before.

I used Red Heart yarns for this blanket.  For the 12 squares, I used Red Heart with Love in Berry Red, and the other two colors are all Red Heart Super Saver in Hot Pink and Carrot.

The square pattern is called Tricolor Square, and is block number 35 from the book 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans by Jan Eaton.

For the border, I used Gold from Red Heart Super Saver.  

I found the pattern for the border on Pinterest, and it is available for free - but it is a graph, unless you understand Chinese.

That is all for now!  Follow my blog for more crochet fun!  Also find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Best Wishes,

Alison

Star Trek Blanket

Bonjour!

I am learning French - but that has nothing to do with my post today...

So, I finished my second Star Trek blanket - early last week, but I am slacking on blog updates - and was actually able to take some photos this time!  The first blanket I made, I barely finished before I had to hand it over to the customer that ordered it - as it was a Christmas gift, and she was on her way out of town.  This blanket, was ordered as a Valentines Day gift, and it was delivered, and I got a picture of the happy recipient - it can be found in the 'Customer Photos' album on my ChirpinBirdie Facebook page.

I am pretty happy with the way it turned out, and already have an order for a third Star Trek blanket!

For this blanket, I used all Red Heart Super Saver yarn, and the pattern for the communicators is based on this free Ravelry download!

The background colors I used is Gold, Soft Navy, Teal, and Burgundy.

For the outlining I used Black, and I used Heather Gray for the communicator symbol.

For the plain squares I used Light Gray.

It took one skein of each of the background colors, and the light gray.  A little less than one skein of the heather gray, in the communicator, and almost two skeins of black.

I chose to crochet a simple granny stripe border, using all of the background colors, broken up with the black.

Of course, Jixer made sure I got the blanket done on time!

He is a wonderful supervisor!

He also had to test out the 'cuddle factor' of the blanket, before I shipped it - he approved!

That's it for now!

Don't forget to like my Facebook page, and follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

Best Wishes,

Alison

Puppy Blanket

I have an addiction to crocheting!  My great grandma taught me how to crochet when I was just 14 years old.  I have loved it from the beginning and am just so happy that I had the opportunity to learn from the best.
When I found out that I was getting a puppy, I just HAD to crochet him a blanket because after all you would make a baby blanket for puppy....right?!?!  Well, maybe not, but I am just like that because my animals are my children, and you would make a blanket for your baby right? Yea, that's what I thought!
On January 21, I finally was able to pick up my puppy!  His name is Jixer (after the Suzuki GSX-R sport bike).  He is a dapple, long-haired mini dachshund.
Here is a picture of of him on his puppy blanket

Isn't he just the cutest?!?!

When I emailed the lady that I got Jixer from she loved his blanket so much that she asked if I would make pink blankets for each of her three female dogs.  Of course I said yes!

Here is the first one:

I had made her a scarf to give her when I picked up Jixer, but in all my excitement I completely forgot about and, hence, did not give it to her.  It will be in the package with the first blanket.  I have to say that it is one of my favorite scarves that I have made!  

I just LOVE  the colors!!!!

These are just a few of the projects I have been working on lately.  What have you been working on?

Best Wishes!!!