Thursday, October 26, 2017

Caron Big Cakes Cozy Fall Lapghan



I made a rippled lapghan to keep me warm and cozy on chilly autumn evenings. I love the colors! 
I used two skeins of Caron Big Cakes in Cranberry Crips color.

I'm not very good at choosing color schemes, and I don't like connecting and weaving in the yarn ends, so this yarn was perfect for me. It's 100% acrylic, and my finished afghan is nice and warm.  

Experienced crocheters would probably recognize this ripple pattern crocheted in back loops only for those beautiful textured ridges. 




It's so enjoyable to snuggle up with a book and my lapghan in the evenings after the kids go to bed and enjoy some peace and quiet. 
Simple life's pleasures!




The pattern is available in my Etsy shop. It is an easy one and can be adjusted to any size. It can be made with any yarn an in any color. 

The pattern is available on Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Hello Fall and a New Doily, Free Pattern



Finally, the signs of Fall are showing up around my neighborhood! 

Some of the trees are turning yellow, brown, and red. At night, the temperature drops to 50s, even high 40s, but during the day it's still very warm, even hot.

I took out my fall decorations and was in the mood to make a new doily in a soft cream color. 

It didn't turn out as pretty as I hoped. Not too great of a design for a doily, but I think this design would work nicely for crochet placemats if done with a cotton yarn. I'd have to try that!





Steel hook size 1.25 mm
A small amount of crochet cotton thread size 10, such as Aunt Lydia's

Finished measurements: 11 inches across 

Ch 8, join in ring with sl st.

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 23 dc in ring; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (24 dc)

Round 2: ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1), *dc in next dc, ch 1* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4.

Round 3: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 2 dc in same ch-1 space, ch 2, *skip next ch-1 space, 3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2* around; join.

Round 4: sl st in next dc (this is the middle dc of dc-3 group), ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in same dc, ch 1, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in second (middle) dc of next dc-3 group, ch 1* around; join.

Round 5: sl st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in same ch-2 space , ch 3, sc in next ch-2 space (it’s the ch-space of the next shell), ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space (ch-space of next shell), ch 3, sc in next ch-2 space, ch 3* around; join.
Round 6: sl st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in same ch-space, ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space, ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space (that’s the ch-space of the next shell), ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space, ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 7: sl st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in same ch-space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 sapce (ch-space of next shell), ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in next ch-2 space, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 8: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell as in previous round, ch 2, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 2, shell over next shell as in previous round, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 2, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 2, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 9: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, (dc, ch 1, dc) all in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, (dc, ch 1, dc) all in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 10: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 5, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in ch-1 space (it’s the space between 2 dc), ch 5, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 5, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in ch-1 space, ch 5, shell over shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 11: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 3, shell in next ch-3 (it’s the space between 2 dc), ch 3, dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in 5th ch of next ch-5, ch 3, shell in next ch-3 space, ch 3, dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 12: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in ch-space of next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in ch-space of next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 





Round 13: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell in next ch-2 space (it’s the first ch-space of the double shell), ch 1, shell in next ch-2 space (second ch-space of the same double shell), ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next sell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell in next ch-2 space (it’s the first ch-space of the double shell), ch 1, shell in next ch-2 space (second ch-space of the same double shell), ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 14: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 15: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 16-17: sl st to next ch-2 space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 18: sl st to next ch-2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), ch 2, 3 dc) all in same ch-space, ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, *(3 dc, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, 3 dc) all in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 3* around; join. 

Fasten off. 




Friday, October 6, 2017

Crochet Baby Dresses by Karen


Today I would like to present you a beautiful collection of baby dresses made by Karen Staley. 

Even though they all were made from the same basic pattern, each dress is unique and beautiful in its own way. 


This one is called Sugar Plum! 
I love the yellow and pink striping at the hem line.




This one is Spring Blossom!
Pink and green color combination is so delicate. 




This is Trendy! 
Another great color combo - yellow and grey! 




This one has the cutes name ever - Baby Elephant Walk!
I love the name and the dress! 



This one is called Sweetheart!
Wouldn't it be perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas?
I love the colors and the heart button. 




This one is Beach Baby!
The tiny shells and seahorse beads make such cute accents. 




This is Buttercup! 
It has a fun fur around the collar. 




Cotton Candy also has a bit of fluffy fur. 
So sweet!




This is Party Mint! 
It has fur and also picots at the hem. 




This one is called Red Velvet!
It has bead at the change of color (see a detailed picture below).




I love all of Karen's dresses, but if I had to choose a favorite I would go with the Sweetheart and Beach Baby. 

Which one is your favorite?

A few more pictures with details!







I hope you enjoyed seeing all these gorgeous baby dresses.
They might serve as inspiration! Christmas is not that far away; it's time to start crocheting gifts.

But they are also available for purchase directly from Karen. 




SaveSaveSaveSave