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

An Afghan of My Very Own

So, if you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I have been working on some squares lately.  Well, they are all done, all put together, all the ends sewn in, a border crocheted around, and I not am the proud owner of my very own afghan!

The blanket measures 66"x83" and looks fabulous on my full sized bed...if I do say so myself.

I am so ecstatic about the way this afghan turned out.  It is made with 30 squares, and no two squares are the same.

The morning after the first night I was able to sleep with it, I was so happy when I woke up and saw what was on my bed.  I had kinda forgotten that I had a brand new snazzy blanket to cuddle with.

I think Jixer was pretty happy about it too!

This project did not start out to be a project to make myself a blanket, but a few squares in, I knew that I wanted this blanket all to myself...well, I will share with Jixer, but that is it!

This is when I fell in love, and I knew that I was going to be keeping this blanket all for myself.

I fell in love with this blanket even more once I started crocheting squares with multiple colors.

This is my favorite square of the blanket.

The square I am talking about, the one that I fell in love with, and the one that makes me so happy, is the In Treble Afghan Square by Julie Yeager.  Julie, I don't know who you are, but I know that I love you!  I rarely buy a pattern (this is my 4th ever pattern purchase in the 12 years that I have crocheted), but I really wanted this pattern, and it is only $1.99.  It is so worth every penny!

I followed the pattern to a tee, except I left off the last round of hdc.  For each of my squares, I used the same color yarn for the first row of hdc, and used Red Heart Super Saver in Aran. I also used this same yarn to join the squares with the flat braid join, as well as for the scalloped border.

This was a stash busting project for me, so the squares are a mixture of Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart with Love, Red Heart Soft, Loops and Threads Impeccable, Craft Smart, and  Vanna's Choice.

Here is the progression of my blanket in photos...

The first square

The only variegated square in the blanket

First photo after I decided to add a row of hdc of Aran.

They are starting to pile up!

I never realized how pretty this color was until I crocheted it with the In Treble pattern.

Jixer is always around to help!  We were trying to figure out the layout of the squares.

All the squares are done and just waiting to be joined.

All joined and waiting for a border.

This afghan is by far my favorite that I have ever crocheted.  I hope you all have some exciting projects going on.  Remember, that I take custom orders at all times for crochet items.

Have a splendiferous day everyone!

Best Wishes,

Alison

Easy Puffy Headband

Hello All!

I hope your week is starting out well. I wanted to share with you a pattern for a cute headband made with the puff stitch. This headband works up so quickly and is perfect to bring some sparkle to a gloomy day.

You will need:

5.0mm crochet hook

Appoximately 2 ounces of worsted weight yarn

scissors

large needle

Abbreviations:

ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

hdc = half double crochet

PS = Puff Stitch

*If you need to learn how to do the puff stitch, please look at my free pattern for Puffing Warm Fingerless Gloves**

Pattern:

ch 60

slip stitch into first chain to form ring

Row 1: ch1, 1hdc in first ch and in each ch around, sl st into first hdc (60 hdc)

Row 2: ch 2, PS in first hdc, ch 1, skip next hdc, *PS in next hdc, ch 1, skip next hdc** repeat from *to** around, sl st into first PS (30 PS and 30 ch 1 spaces)

Row 3-6: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 2, PS in same ch 1 space, ch 1, *PS in next ch 1 sp, ch 1** repeat around from *to** sl st into first PS (30 PS and 30 ch 1 spaces)

Row 7: ch 1, 1hdc in same space, *1hdc in ch 1 space, 1 hdc in PS** repeat around from *to** sl st into first hdc (60 hdc)

Fasten off and weave in ends

This headband can be worn as is now, or you can snazzy it up with a flower!

I added a golden flower to this teal headband. 

This headband will be part of a giveaway on my ChirpinBirdie Facebook page.

The giveaway will begin on Wednesday, January 30th 2013.

**Feel free to use this pattern for person use, and to sell.  All I ask is that you give me credit for the pattern by citing this ChripinBirdie blog.**

~Best Wishes~

Puffing Warm Fingerless Glove Pattern

Happy Friday!!

I hope this week has treated you well.  It has been pretty good for me!  Jixer and I celebrated our first year together, Christopher moved to San Francisco to start his new job as a software engineer at Charles Schwab (Jixer and I will be moving up there towards the end of February!), and I also had lots of family time this week!

Anyways, I am excited to bring you another free crochet pattern today!  It is for a pair of fingerless gloves, and I am in love with them.  They are so warm, and look really cute.

You will need:

4.5mm crochet hook

worsted weight yarn (I am guessing about 2-3 ounces)

scissors

large needle

Abbreviations:

sl st = slip stitch

ch = chain

sp = space

yo = yarn over

hdc = half double crochet

PS = puff stitch

How to do the puff stitch:

Insert hook into space indicated, yo and pull yarn up 1/2"

yo, insert hook into same space, yo, pull up yarn 1/2"

yo, insert hook into same space, yo, pull up yarn 1/2"

yo and pull yarn through all 6 loops on hook

Pattern:

ch 24

sl st into first ch to form ring

Row 1: ch 1, 1 hdc in first ch and in each ch across (24 hdc)

Row 2: ch 1, 1 hdc in first hdc, *ch 1, skip next hdc, 1 hdc in next hdc** repeat around from *to**, sl st into first hdc (12 hdc and 12 ch 1 spaces)

Row 3: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 2, *PS in ch 1 space, ch 1** repeat around from *to**, sl st into first PS (12 Ps and 12 ch 1 spaces)

Row 4: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 1, *1 hdc in ch 1 sp, ch 1** repeat around from *to**, sl st into first hdc (12 hdc and 12 ch 1 spaces)

Rows 5-9: repeat rows 3 and 4

Row 10:sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 1, *1 hdc in ch 1 sp, ch 1** repeat from *to** once, in next chain 1 sp (hdc, ch 1, hdc), ch 1, *1 hdc in next ch 1 space, ch 1** repeat from *to** 8 times, 1 hdc in space between last PS and ch 2 (do not ch 1 after this hdc), sl st into first hdc (13 hdc and 13 ch 1 spaces)

Row 11: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 2, *PS in ch 1 space, ch 1** repeat around from *to**, sl st into first PS (13 PS and 13 ch 1 spaces)

Row 12: ch 1, 1 hdc in space between ch 2 and 1st PS, ch 1, *1hdc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1** repeat from *to** around, sl st into first hdc (13 hdc and 13 chain 1 spaces)

Row 13: repeat row 11, BUT do not crochet 13th PS, after 12th PS, ch 2 and sl st into first PS --this creates the hole for the thumb-- (12 PS, 11 ch 1 spaces, and 1 ch2 space)

Row 14: repeat row 12, with the 12th and 13th hdc being worked into ch 2 space created by the thumb hole

Row 15-18: repeat rows 11 and 12

Row 19: ch 1, 1 hdc in first hdc, *1hdc in ch 1 sp, 1 hdc in next hdc** repeat from *to** around, sl st into first hdc (26 hdc)

Here is a photo of where the hdc between the PS should be worked

The great thing about this pattern is that you don't need to make any adjustments to make them fit the right or left hand.  Just make two identical gloves and they will fit either hand!

Here is what your Puffing Warm Fingerless Gloves can look like if you do all of the 'hdc-ch1' rows in a different color.  I am in love with these!

I really hope that you all enjoy this pattern!  

Please, feel free to use it for personal uses, and sell the items made using this pattern.  All I ask is that you give me credit for the pattern when selling or if somebody asks you for the pattern.

~Best Wishes~

Alison