The grand kids asked for crocheted hats with a pom pom for Christmas. I will be the first to admit that I am not very good at making pom poms. I remember I tried making some many years ago and failed miserably. But the girls wanted them so I thought I’d better try my hand at pom pom making again.
I did not have a store-brought pom pom maker so I used this on-line tutorial to make my pom poms. I looked at several different tutorials and found this one very useful with many step-by-step photos.
Here are my two crocheted hats complete with a homemade pom pom.
I used my ribbed hat pattern and just adjusted down the stitches to work even to get the correct sizes for the girls. As for the pom pom, after having an issue with the first one where the tying yarn broke, I finally got it fixed. My pom poms required lots of trimming and shaping but in the end, I think they turned out looking pretty good. I hope the hats fit nicely and the girls enjoy their hats for Christmas.
Here is my version of the Bloomin’ Bag pattern from Cathy Phillips. The free pattern link is available on Ravelry where you can download a PDF of the crochet pattern.
My tote bag was crocheted using Red Heart with Love Metallic yarn in fuchsia. I used about 410 yards of yarn for my bag.
I changed up the pattern just a bit to make it taller by crocheting one additional set of repeats of the main bag body. I then crocheted different handles using the same method I do for my recycled tote bags.
For my Bloomin’ Bag handles, I started in 7 inches from sides, chained 36 for handles, leaving 22 stitches unworked, then sc in each stitch until other side. Repeat for other side’s handle to match first side.
Row 2 – Sc in each stitch and work 38 sc around handle chain, repeat for other side.
Row 3-5 – Sc in each sts around.
Finished size of my Bloomin’ Bag with measurements taken flat are:
20” wide by 13” tall with 11” handles.
Overall a very good pattern and I love the look of the stitch design. Next I want to crochet this pattern using recycled plastic bags.
I just finished up this round ripple blanket for a local Veterans Outreach Program. I thought it would be timely to post about it in honor of Veterans Day. This 12-point round ripple is mostly crocheted with some scrap yarns and a few skeins of vintage yarn.
I just love crocheting round ripples as you just can’t go wrong with color combinations. It seems that no matter what mash-up I do with yarns, it always comes out looking good. The local Veterans facility gave me many of the skeins used in this project. And while I tried to keep colors coordinated, it all worked out nicely. This round ripple pattern is from Aggie May of Crochetville. If you have problems finding the pattern, just send me an email and I will help you out. Finished size of my round ripple is 47 inches wide which should make a nice throw or wheelchair lapghan.
So in honor of Veterans Day 2019, thank you Veterans, active military and those who gave all. We are forever in your debt for keeping our country safe and free.
Well Halloween is over and now the Christmas holiday season begins. I know many will argue that we haven’t even had Thanksgiving yet, but it’s time to get started on those handmade Christmas gifts. So with that in mind, here are some Christmas crocheted towel toppers to inspire you.
I got this cute snowman holiday towel last year at an after Christmas sale. Using my double layered towel topper technique, I crocheted through both layers of the towel folded in half. No sewing or cutting needed and added a red jingle bell for a closure. Here is a closeup of the topper.
Next is a dollar store bar towel which I crocheted the topper using the same pointed handle towel topper pattern. Because of the odd shape of this towel, I folded the towel in half with the fold-line along the left edge. I then crocheted through both layers along the top edge to add the towel topper.
Just to give you more ideas, here are a few more Christmas towel topper photos.
Sharing my crocheted cropped pink cardi project that was just given to my granddaughter as a birthday gift. The Bebop Cardi pattern is free at the Lion Brand Yarn site. It is a cute cardi and one that I had my eye on for my granddaughter.
Because it was a gift, I wasn’t able be to do a size fit as I crocheted the project. I crocheted the medium size that is designed for 9-10 year olds. I used a J (6 mm) crochet hook with Very Pink Red Heart Soft yarn. I had 2 skeins of the yarn and used about 1.5 skeins to complete my version of the cropped cardi.
I did make a few modifications to the original pattern. As most people have shared about this pattern, as written, it is pretty short in length. I crocheted to row 8 for my medium sized vest as I wanted a longer length. At 8 rows it is 6.5 inches long.
Here are several Dollar Store bar towels that I have added towel toppers to. I love the thick and absorbent towels but they are a odd width to do a normal double-layer crocheted towel topper. I tried this first one where I didn’t fold over the towel and just crocheted the towel topper along the top edge. It makes for a longer kitchen towel and not sure if I like it or not. This towel topper was crocheted using the waffle towel topper pattern.
Next I folded the towel in half lengthwise. I then added a crocheted towel topper through both layers with the fold on the left hand side. This created a nice thick double layered towel but again I’m not sure about the foldline being on the side.
Here is a closeup of the crocheted towel topper which was created using the pointed handle towel topper pattern.
So what do you think about these Dollar Store bar towel projects? I’d love to hear people’s thoughts and
This post is a follow-up to my plarn crocheted basket project. This basket was crocheted using recycled plastic bags cut into 1 inch wide plarn. You can read all the recycled basket making details here.
Once the basket was completed, I needed to fill it with some kitchen gift items for a charity fundraiser. I crocheted a kitchen towel topper, star dishcloth and added a package of fall napkins along with a set of wooden spoons.
The towel topper was crocheted using the pointed handle towel topper pattern. The brown towel is a Dollar Store towel that is folded in half with the towel topper crocheted along the top folded edge through both layers.
My free star dishcloth pattern is found
Here is a basket that was crocheted using plastic bag yarn for the project material. I used the Lily original basket pattern done in cotton for this recycled bag project. I chained 28 with plarn (plastic bag yarn) to start the smaller basket version of this pattern using a K (6.5) crochet hook.
Following the general pattern design, I crocheted each side to about 6 inches wide before working the fold line on each side by working in the back loops only (BLO). For the base, I chained 19 with the plastic bag yarn and worked even on 18 stitches for 17 rows. My base piece was just a bit wider than the sides but this worked out just right for placing the base inside the basket. With wrong sides together, I then crocheted single crochet stitch from the outside through both thicknesses evenly along the sides aligning the corners together to secure the base to the basket.
Here is a photo of the bottom of my crocheted basket.
Once done, I folded over the top of the basket about 2 inches. This recycled craft project used about
I am busy crocheting more mini Christmas stockings for Warmth for Warriors. We have an unofficial goal for 2019 of 4,000 stockings. We just received an update from Warmth for Warriors headquarters that they have received 2,653 stockings so far this year.
Here is a new twist on the cuffed mini Christmas stocking pattern but with stripes. Here is the version with just 2 stripes on the upper leg portion. For this option, crochet 2 full rows after the chain 12 for upper leg with the main color, then carry yarn and crochet 2 rows twice in the stripe color for a total of 10 rows. The top left stocking, does not have 2 full rows after the chain 12 and that is why it doesn’t look like the others.
For the 2-stripe option, I think the stocking looks better without adding the final trim row as written in the original pattern. Just fold over the cuff and add the hanging loop. Of course, you can always crochet whatever style and trim you’d like.
Next shown top left is a same cuffed stocking pattern but where you change yarn colors every 2 rows. Again just carry the yarn inside the stocking that you are not using. This makes for less knots or ends to weave under.
Last on the top right is a patriotic red, white, and blue stocking. Crochet this stocking all in red until the last 6 rows of the upper leg portion. Then add white yarn for 3 rows and end with 3 rows of blue for a cute little 6 inch patriotic Christmas stocking.
Please help us make our goal of 4,000 mini Christmas stockings for the troops this year. The deadline for shipping stockings is November 1 so headquarters has enough time to stuff the stockings with little goodies for shipment to the troops for Christmas. If you need any more information concerning the stocking drive,
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