Will hook...

Hehehe

Picture credit to http://www.obeycrochet.com

Prayer Shawl Ministry Afghans

Two weeks ago when I went to church, we decided to go to the my husband's old church since his retired pastor was coming back to do the sermon.  While there I noticed a large rack of quality afghans at the entry way, as well as a handful more near the pulpit. 

This greeted me as I entered the church.

I opened my church bulletin and saw that they had a 'Prayer Shawl Ministry' going on.  It mentioned that 'as each shawl is being made, the person will be praying for the recipient.' I thought this was a nice idea and perhaps one day I can make one of these.  However, upon further reading this bulletin I saw that these could be made for any reason (medical, death, celebration of engagement, birth of a baby, divorce, illness, jail, loneliness, celebrate a friend).  So perhaps we're all making these prayer shawls already.  Because with each project I create I'm thinking about the person I'm making it for... I just need to add a prayer in there too :)

Baby Bobble Afghan

For my birthday this year, my mother-in-law got me a huge bag full of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn.  I received the basic colors - pink, yellow, blue and green.  Since there again appears to be a boom in people who are pregnant near me, I decided I would make a pink and yellow and then a blue and green afghan. So I went to my local library to pick out some new crochet books since I wanted a new pattern.  For my pink and yellow afghan I wanted to use the Baby Bobbles pattern from Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet.  For me this pattern was perfect, because it had the bobbles that I love to make while adding a new spin on the overall appearance of the afghan.

I liked the little bobbles and small v-stiches it created in the different color for yarn each row.

As you can probably tell from my previous posts, I usually aim to not change yarn.  It's one of my least favorite things to do.  The afghan is done and then I need to spend hours sewing in the ends... yuck!  So when I saw that this pattern changed yarn at the end of each row, but had a fringe for them all instead of being sewn in, I thought I'd give this pattern a try.

It took awhile to cut all the fringe,but it was definitely easier than weaving in each end!

This pattern came out to be 40"x50" with the fringe, so it will allow the baby I give it to, to grow into it through its toddler years.  I also loved this pattern because it was a relatively quick pattern that was easy to follow.  One row of bobbles and single crochets, then next row just double crochet and then repeat till you reach your desired size.

Final result, ready to gift!

I have a good chunk of pink and yellow yarn left that I hope to make an Owl hat with it.  The pattern seems relatively easy, but I first need to finish my green and blue afghan that I just started.  So hopefully I'll be able to post about that one soon and then get started on the hat!

HDH gets a visit from the East!

Last night was our monthly HDH meeting.  We had the distinct pleasure of welcoming two new members to join us. It was exciting because they were from out of town and of the male persuasion!   After our potato dinner and bangers in the mouth, we sat down, turned on “The Devil Wears Prada” and got to work.  I had the pleasure of teaching Herman how to crochet, while Hazel taught Ken the stitches.  We both taught them the double crochet and it seemed as though we made some good progress.  After we explained the differences of knitting and crocheting as well as the difference between needles and hooks, the guys seemed to really enjoy their experience.  

I mean look at Ken, he seems excited!

Look at Herman showing off his stitches to Ken!

Herman seemed to really take an interest in the basics of crocheting, asking questions that we didn’t even know the answers too.  I feel it made Ethel, Hazel and I want to learn more about our favorite hobby and perhaps even blog about this more!  He now has earned the bragging rights to explain which end one should properly pull yarn from on a skein. (Writing this I now realize that I failed to explain what a skein is to Herman, not sure if Hazel told that to Ken…whoops!)

Ken started with a rather fuzzy and plush yarn and realized that this might not be the best yarn to use for a beginner project, so he checked out my surplus bin and picked a different yarn to restart his project.  He then couldn’t stop talking about how yarns differ from one skein to the next.  Anyhow, they both genuinely seemed interested in their projects and wanted to learn more!

After asking more about their needles and then having us explain to them for the fifth time that Hookers use HOOKS and not needles, Herman and Ken felt a little stupid once they realized their mistakes.

We've all been there. (Must click on photo to enlarge their amazing faces!)

Overall, we all had a great time catching up and crocheting.  We even got to watch some Arrested Development!  Stay tuned for more blogs to come this month!  It seems HDH took a little bit of a summer vacation from blogging, but now your inboxes will explode… I hope!

We all really got into our projects by the end of the night.

Happy Labor Day!

How are you spending you're Labor Day?  Im taking advantage of they day off by getting some crocheting done!

What in Yarnation - Toilet Decor

So I had the pleasure of going out to lunch with a fellow HDHer today, who reminded me that today is the last day of August and hence the last day to blog for it.  Unfortunately I had to finish my work day and then immediately get in my car and drive 3 hours away.  Currently half way through this drive, I again realize I have limited hours left to get this done.  So this is one of those moments where I'm thankful to have a smart phone. I've been taking crochet photos with it for quite some time now, and luckily have an awesome gem that I MUST share with the people of the internet... Another What In Yarnation blog, but this time about their most intimate of spaces, the bathroom. While visiting my dear friend in MN, I was again was able to stop at What in Yarnation, only at their new location. It was even more amazing than last time. Again they offered an abundance of crocheted and knitted projects all over the place. However my favorite craft of theirs that was on display was the one on their toilet. I was in awe of their craftsmanship of this purple decor with a beautiful white border (pictured), that i just needed to share this with the world. If you visit this place be sure to check it out. It was another great visit, complete with long walks to a bridge, sand volleyball and only two of the four out-of-towners getting poison ivy.  Crochet your bathrooms up with some amazing toilet decor, HDHers

Gift from Grandma

I'm writing this blog a little overdue (ok like 8 months overdue) but I'm still writing because it is something close to my heart.

One of my inspirations for starting to crochet has been my Nana.  For years and years I have memories of visiting my Nana and watching her crochet the same afghan pattern.  She always made it in a creme color solid, no stripes.  She left a 2" fringe on each row cutting off the yarn at each end.  It was this solid pattern that worked into the row below to make a raised diamond pattern when the afghan is finished.

I loved watching Nana work on the afghans, her fingers moved so fast it was like the yarn knew exactly where to go.  She had made so many of these, she didn't use a pattern, and often didn't seem to pay attention to what she was doing.  She had been taught the pattern years ago from her husbands, sisters, cousin in law... or something like that. Over the years it seemed like she had made one for almost everyone she knew.  This ones going to my sisters niece out east, that one went to my sister in California, the next ones going to my friend down the roads daughter.

I had asked her several times if she would teach me how to make one but she had this way of changing the subject before giving me an answer, I guess not this year.  A few years back my sister was given one for her birthday. I was so envious, for years I admired this afghan and now she got one.

Well finally my time came. The Christmas of 2011 was Hazel's year for the afghan.  The family was un-wrapping gifts at Nana's as is the tradition.  I opened up a gift bag, pulled away the tissue and saw the cream colored yarn, the diamond pattern and knew that was it!  Thanks Nana, maybe one day I can learn to make the same afghan.