Pearls and Lace

Another pattern I found in my Heirloom Afghans book.  Everyone seems to love this pattern, I'm making my third one, and I have a few other people who want one too!  The difficulty level is intermediate, I think because it takes so long to string the pearls, but other than that, it's pretty easy.  This pattern utilizes V stitches, Double V stitches, and Single Bead Crochet stitches, all very simple. 


Necessary materials: 7 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in BUFF
                                    492 Pearls

I think this pattern alone made the price of the book worth it!  Try it, you'll love it! 
xo-nic

Momo

This is Momotaro (or Momo for short).  Sometimes when I'm in a creative mood, I'll sit down and make things without noticing what I'm doing.  Momo is one of those things.  xoNICxo

Blue Ice Snowflakes Afghan

Alright, I'm still catching up trying to post patterns I've finished recently, so here's one I finished this summer.  I used this pattern from the book "Heirloom Afghans" and as far as I can tell, the pattern isn't online.  I bought this book at JoAnns and it's pretty great (except a few patterns that make you cringe and go "Oh no" you know the sort... the afghans your Aunt Maude had in her house...  The ones that smelled of prunes and aspercreme).  This particular pattern is called "Blue Ice" by Judy Teague Treece, although in the book it's brown and blue, I made Mum's out of:

Lion Brand Wool-Ease - #301White Multi (Lovely white with aurora borealis-like strand running through)
Red Heart Super Saver - #0376 Burgundy
                                       #0389 Hunter Green

It's a perfect Christmas afghan, very warm and super easy! 

xo -nic

Semper Fi Cpl Blanket

My Marine brother loves blankets.  Always has.  When I asked him if he'd like an afghan he was excited, so I had to find a pattern that didn't look all lacy and feminine.  A few things to consider when making a blanket for a Marine:

1. They don't do girly
2. Holes within the pattern just means they can get fingers and toes caught, eventually they'll get annoyed and destroy the blanket
3. You MUST reinforce it to make it as strong as possible
4. It won't get washed often

Now, here in this picture, it looks like it's circus colors.  But he picked out Marine Corps colors (and when it's in natural light (i.e. not camera flash) it's much more masculine than it looks here.  I didn't have an actual pattern, I think the closest pattern you'll find is Lion Brand's Applegarth Afghan. 

I ended up using Lion Brand's Wool Ease yarn, 6 skeins of Ranch Red and Gold and 7 skeins of Navy (one extra skein was for the border).  The blocks were made up of Half Double Crochet and the border was 3 rows of Double Crochet. 

Here it is, the Semper Fi Corporal Blanket.  He calls it his motivated blanket, and no, he doesn't let anyone else use it.

xonicxo

Hate It. WINTUK Yarn

Caron International Yarns may have some great products, but this isn't one of them.  They boast that Wintuk has been used for decades; it's washable and dryable also touted as "premium yarn at a value price". 

That's right.  Caron International has the audacity to call this wretched evil step sister of barbed wire "yarn".  It is without a doubt the most heinous material I've ever used for any crochet project and since I unwittingly bought this 'yarn' to make a blanket for a friend…  It was quickly given up.  Sure it may seem okay on the outside but as soon as you try working with it, you’ll regret it.  Some words I’d use to describe this monstrosity of a product: rough, scratchy and unworkable. 

Not to worry though, if you’ve bought it, and are now panicking… I’ve thought of some alternative uses for your Wintuk.

1. Police Line.  I’ll bet that it you strung this stuff up at a crime scene, no one would cross it, in fact if people see how awful it is, they’ll probably avoid even coming near.

2. Lasso.  Cowboys rejoice!  You can now rope your steer in 11 crazy colors like “Holiday Green” and “Soft Lilac”.

3. Rock Climbers, you can now coordinate harness, shoes, carabiner, chalk bag and rope.  Just replace your current ropes with Wintuk yarn and you’re set! 

***Of course these are all jokes, I don’t actually recommend you climb or try to catch cattle with this yarn, it’s just not safe for anything.  Take my advice, if you want to enjoy crocheting, don’t buy this stuff.***

xo
nic

Sunflower Lapghan

The third afghan I made was a variation on Deb's Crafts pattern "Sunflower Lapghan".  I changed Molly's afghan up a bit, using [pretty much] only her favorite colors.  


Red Heart Super Saver:
Pale Yellow
Gold
Brown


Instead of adding in green leaves, I made the sunflower and the rest of the square is pale yellow, I finished the blanket with a simple gold cluster stitch going around the entire blanket.  I think it was a very simple and cute pattern!

Sunflower Lapghan


xo -nic

Michi's Afghan

This is probably one of the most gorgeous patterns I've seen, I made it for my uncle, I think he'll love it.  (The pattern was made to look like hundreds and hundres of fans stacked on each other)

I made it in Caron's Simply Soft (Black), it's incredibly striking.  Definitely works up beautifully, I used 6 skeins, you could do more if you wanted it bigger.  So it'll be on its way to New Jersey in a few days.

Michi's Afghan

xoNICxo

Gretna Gauntlets

Okay, okay...  It sounds scary, but they work up pretty.  I for one am a huge fan of fingerless gloves, you can wear them and still crochet with out affecting dexterity! (Sounds like a sales pitch doesn't it?)  The pattern is originally for wristbands, but you can just make them longer, sew the two outsides together and turn them into gloves.  Since I have T-Rex arms, I decided to make them only 6 inches long, but I imagine they'd look very pretty even longer. 

It's an easy pattern and only took me about 45 minutes to make.  (Side note, I think these would turn out gorgeous with a dainty, lightweight yarn)  Here's the link!

Gretna Gauntlets

xo. nic

Chocolate Covered Cherries Pattern: Love it!

Lion Brand's free pattern: Chocolate-Covered Cherries

We've done several variations of this pattern with different types of yarn and it always turns out great.  It's one of the easiest patterns out there and it works up in no time!  The picture included here is Nic's first afghan ever, made with Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Baby Pink and Black.

Geaux Saints!!!!
Black and Gold SuperSaver

Click on this link below to find the pattern for yourself!

Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Meet the "Crochet It" Administrators

Nic - Short attention span, holds her hook and yarn wrong, but has crocheted on and off since 1st grade.  For the first time in her life, she's branching out and working on more than just scarves of varying lengths and widths.

Jodi - began crocheting as her New Year's resolution out of her devotion to the amazing crocheting women in her mother's family. Her Granna would be so pleased.

Lorraine - Doilies, doilies, doilies.  Crochet thread and tiny little hooks, work so intricate it strikes fear into the hearts of many.

Carla - Her first project was a beautiful pattern she designed herself, she's been going strong ever since.  Carla's amazingly creative and is constantly testing her abilities, we're still waiting for her to crochet full on buildings.  It'll happen, just wait.

Maria - Our newest crochet addict, Maria is currently mastering chaining, singles and doubles...  She's undertaking her first afghan, get ready world!

Margie - Placid and determined, Margie is willing to undertake totally different types of patterns at any time.  One week it's a baby afghan, the next it's dishcloths, she's got years of experience.

Lynette - She's our comic relief, Lynette has been crocheting for years and years.  She work with virtually any yarn or pattern, and her fist-full collection of crochet hooks is a sight to behold. If she can't do it, it's not possible for anyone.

Brenda - Our Fearless Leader, Brenda's been crocheting for decades, a master of reading/writing patterns and figuring things out merely by looking at them.