Crochet Scarf

I decided to tackle a project that is a challenge on my patience:  a crochet scarf.  I am finding that blankets are also...it is something about the redundancy of the stitches that kind of work my nerves.  I love a quick work up.  Then it's on to the next project.  Well the summer rose Caron Rhapsody yarn was screaming for some attention so I bought three skeins of it and set to make (and complete) a full sized scarf.  It's taller than my seven year old and he's at least four feet.  I didn't run out of yarn but it tangled so I ran out of patience detangling the last skein before I made it the full three skeins.  I really love this scarf.  The pattern?  I was messing around and accidentally came about this ~ shaped stitching.  I will provide it as a pattern after I finish writing it down, probably on my artfire.  It took me the better part of three days to make this. Another foot or so wouldn't hurt but the store is out of summer rose.  There was plenty of pine green which will be the yarn for my next venture. 
UPDATE:
I have listed the pattern to my artfire! 

In October I will be teaching crochet classes at my local AC Moore.  The person that normally does it has been sick for awhile and apparently there is a strong request for crochet instructors.  I'll give it a go :-).  I taught my son and stepdaughter how to crochet.  They went from "This is too hard" to "Look at what I made" in no time.  Shouldn't be difficult to teach adults...should it?  I am working on projects for the beginners and intermediates.  I sent over my supply list.  In other news...somehow, some way I forgot the State Fair deadline.  Heck, I even forgot the extended deadline.  Well I guess I'll be posting that beautiful cowl cape in my artfire in the near future :-).

Labor Day Projects, Crochet Bunnies, Flowers, Hair Pins and Cuffs

One of my little one's had a birthday this weekend...she turned six!  Time goes by faster than you think...I still remember her as a laughing baby kicking her feet and propelling herself across the kitchen in her car seat lol.  She used to suck on her two middle fingers.  Too funny!  Anywho she has grown into a beautiful little girl who loves to laugh and who loves bunnies!  Now I had come across a free pattern for Love Bunnies not too long ago and I knew this would be perfect.  True to form I naturally could not stick to a pattern.  I don't think it is possible for me to do so.

This is my rendition of the Love Bunny.  The ears and body are bigger and I used a larger hook to make it pretty solid.  For lack of pellets or beans I filled a stocking with rice to stuff the bottom.  A nice solid, squishy feel.  I didn't put on a face...children have great imaginations.  She loved it!  I didn't finish them until Monday night.  On her birthday I got her what she had wanted, a Ni hao Kailan doll.  Ironically enough when she got a hold of this bunny she pretty much abandoned Kailan lol.  She plays with them both now.  The bunny is the baby!

I also worked on some crochet flower hair pins.  I am contemplating putting them for sale in my artfire.  I made them in a bunch of colors in different sizes.  I love how they came out and they would look lovely in anyone's hair.  I placed claw clips in the back anchored with jewelry glue and felt.  This is a lot cleaner and doesn't disturb the stitching.

I also worked on some arm bands/cuffs.  I rather like them and so do the kids.  I am working on helping them improve their crochet skills so they could make their own to sell if they like.  They like the idea of being little entrepreneurs (so do I!).  I've been very busy over the weekend and Labor Day.  We had a blast on Sunday for my six year old's birthday.  We went to the flea market, the park, and to Frankie's Fun Park.  We ended the day shopping for her cake and toy.  My feet were killing me lol.  My husband had been playing football with the older ones...the little ones could run forever it seems.  A good day.  THe girls below (birthday girl is in yellow).

Projects over the past week...

I haven't been doing too much in the past week.  We were supposed to set up on Saturday and Sunday at a venue but it had quite different items than I had to sell at a much lower price point so I chose against it.  We did find some really cool items though.  My kids got a really cool vintage Scooby Doo metal lunch box (with wheels that really move) for just $3.  We got a Connect Four Game (love that game) for a quarter and Scrabble for $1.  I found some really cool vintage books (they were .15 in their prime), 3 for $2...still a steal.  One was from 1957!  I got a few more vintage books and dictionaries and one of my favorite things that day: a vintage illuminated globe ($2).  It still worked too!  I will post pictures of these cool items at a later time (I'm charging the phone and the camera batteries presently).  Scooby Doo gets more play than anything though lol.

Anywho I did some crocheting in the past week.  First up is this crochet cotton handbag.  It took me a total of two and a half paprika and one camel colored Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. It took the better part of two days to complete but I was happy with it.  I will probably use cotton yarn for my totes in the future.  It doesn't stretch too much and seems to be very sturdy.  Once I get some better pictures of it (my little photographer tried lol) I will probably post to my artfire. 



I found this beautiful grey acrylic yarn by Impeccable (found at Michael's on sale).  I made a slouch visor hat.  I am using the remaining yarn to knit (yes knit!) a crochet hook holder.  It's just going to be a circular pouch with a button to seal it...a knit/crochet/sewing hybrid.  I'm making it up as I go along.  I will post this on my artfire very soon!  What else did I find on sale?  At AC Moore, I got the last skein of Patons Classic Merino Wool.  It was disappointing I couldn't find more but hey I'll take what I can get at a great price.  I got some TLC Essentials (never tried it before) in a dark plum.  I discovered this yarn called Caron Rhapsody at my local Dollar Tree.  Never seen it before and the other yarns I've seen by Caron are wonderful.  I haven't used it yet and don't know what to make of it.  You don't get a whole lot just 2 ounces.  It is 80% acrylic and 20% polyester.  I never used any yarn made with polyester before.  I'll see what I can do with it in awhile.  If any of my readers out there happen to be in the vicinity of a Dollar Tree it's worth checking out.  It is very similar to Caron Simply Soft with a nice shimmer.