And the stockings were hung

I made most gifts this year and kept it simple for a change. 

Something I have had as a goal that each year I get closer to.

But they all love gift cards 

so I look for new ways to gift those.

This year I crocheted these little stockings which each hold a gift card.

The littlest granddaughters got toys instead,

but I decided the 2 year old may feel left out.

So tonight I will be making one more for her with an old gift card that she can play with.

Dinner is almost ready for me to finish it up so I must go

 as the rest of the family will be arriving soon.

Let the others pass the potatoes and gravy,

I plan on holding the new baby!

My wish is for peace to all

and Merry Christmas!!!

December's Walker Decoration

This month's decoration was quick and easy to crochet.

Holly leaves and berries.

I have been down with a bad cold this week and do not want to expose mom

 or the other residents so it will be next week before I can take it to her.

She doesn't really remember very often that these decorations

 indicate which of many walkers belong to her,

but the caregivers there can immediately spot which one is hers so it helps them

and of course she likes that I bring her something no one else has.

Afghan for my son

I finished this afghan for my son for Christmas last night.

It was a fast and easy crochet but quite a few ends to weave in.

Another gift finished, so today while the turkey roasted

 I was able to finish a cocoon for the grandbaby that is due in 2 1/2 weeks!

I am doing much better this year than last!  

November Walker Decoration

This month's decoration for mom's walker is of course a turkey!

Such a bright, cute, fast and easy fellow could of course

be worn in the hair with this elastic.

With a pin back attached instead it would make a fun brooch.

Or on a large ring it would be the perfect napkin ring.

It could even be glued to a clothespin and used as a place card.

Yarn Wreath - My Version

People keep showing me pictures from Pintrest of yarn ball wreaths.

They are very cute and very color coordinated.

However, it bothers me that I might need a dab of just that color and regret having it hanging on the wall, unusable.

So I came up with this version.

I happened to use a heart shaped wire base,

which I wrapped with some velcro I had laying around.

(the sticky side)

Then wrapped up leftover scraps of yarn,

which I spent too much time unraveling from tangled piles.

Yep, they just stick to the velcro.

So if I need one I can grab it.

If I want to change out the colors for the seasons

or the decor it is very easy to do so.

I just could not bring myself to wrap around styrofoam balls

as directed in the others I had seen

when I have so much stash and might want to use it again!

Now if I can just find those wire wreath hangers

so I can hang it up!

Halloween top Hat

 It began with a simple orange crocheted top hat.

Next a plain black crocheted band.

Then I added a pair of crocheted flowers with a few beads.

Last came the netting which took me a bit to decide exactly what the hat was calling for.

Yes, I was following a pattern, as I usually do.  

But still each item a person makes,

like paintings,

reflect the maker/artist.

And a lovely model!

October's Walker Decor

I found this pattern online at goodknits.com

Not a very good photo I'm afraid

but a good size and easy to add an elastic hairband for fastening.

Halloween Bat

would also look good in the hair or on a napkin ring.

Fall Leaves for Mom

It still feels like summer here but September always reminds me that fall is just around the corner.  So for this month I chose to crochet a few brightly colored leaves to decorate mom's walker.  I told her my plans and she is looking forward to seeing it.

Walker Decoration

I am still crocheting doilies for my son's wedding in the bits of spare time I find,

But decided to whip up a flower to decorate mom's walker.

I just tied it onto a hair elastic and fastened that around the top bar.

When the residents go to meals it looks like a mini parking lot of walkers and wheel chairs at the ends of the dining room.  Now at least it will be easy to spot mom's!

I hope to change it out each month or at least each holiday.

Gulf Coast Shrug

How could I pass up making a shrug titled "Gulf Coast Shrug" 

living as I do, on the Gulf Coast?

Well of course I couldn't.

And I had some yarn I liked for it though I did not think it would be enough.

I was right.  On both counts.

The good news is I did not like the sleeves 

which meant I had just enough!!!

Yep, meant to be.

I think it goes well with the dress I made 

two years ago.  Wow, I can't believe it has been that long!

This button came from my button jar.  

It is so old I cannot even remember what it came from originally.

But I think it is a great accent.

I just love reusing great buttons!

Styling for Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year I got my mom a couple of outfits.

Then crocheted a pair of matching flowers which went onto bobby pins for her hair.

And lastly crocheted her a shrug as she is always cold.

I got them all wrapped and boxed and ready to mail today but last night got an email from my brother who informs me that in the last three weeks mom has lost a full size!

I am so jealous!

That meant a trip to the mall to exchange the clothes.

Lucky me, I found the same and nearly the same so the things I crocheted still matched!

At least I found out before I mailed them!

And this gave me a chance to take photos that I forgot to take before.

Now to get them boxed up - again.

Dual Duty

I finally got around to photographing these hanger covers.

They are a fairly simple and quick little project and great to keep straps up on the hanger.

I have a few of them hard at work in my closet.

But then one day in the store I saw these nifty metal scarf hangers.

I took a closer look thinking I could really use one or two...

But upon inspection I was disappointed to find rough edges that could easily snag delicate fabric.

Of course I thought I should be able to come up with a better and cheaper version.

And here it is.

Free.

Adjustable.

No snags.

And it can come in any color in your stash.

Unless of course you are willing to spring for a skein of yarn!

Remember May Day?

When I was a little girl,

I remember taking little paper nut cups

and adding a little handle made from paper strips

or ribbon or pipe cleaner

then filling it with fresh violets I picked.

I loved to pick flowers.

It was even better when I had permission and did not get into trouble for it!

The best part though was taking our little baskets of flowers on May 1st;

setting one on a porch,

and ringing the door bell

before running to hide.

Great childhood memories.

Made possible by my mother.

I would love to bring my mother a May basket of violets this year

but living so far apart makes that impossible.

So when I saw this pattern for a crocheted violet nosegay I simply could not resist.

And quickly made one up with a pin back added,

so mom can wear it for May Day.

May day baskets.

Nosegays.

Maybe I am giving away my age here

but they are still great memories.

Butterflies

These little butterflies were so simple to make, though I did adjust one stitch.

I guess I just can't help myself when I see an easier way!

Just little bits of crochet thread is what I used while the pattern used embroidery floss.

I have plenty of that too but the thread was easier to get to and I knew I had this glittery lavender.

It is a perfect match for the pants I just got for mom 

so I will add them to the box that I send for her.

For St. Patrick's Day

Here is a little something I whipped up for St. Patrick's Day this year.

Not sure who the lucky recipient will be yet.

Personally I think a lighter shade of green for the inside would have been nicer but this is what it called for and also what I happened to have in my stash.

I also made a mat for the occasion using the Love and Money Loom.

Shrug for Rodeo

Here is my latest achievement.

This shrug is very simple and easy.

These days they are called shrugs.

We used to call them vests.

It is quick to work up.

It is also very flattering!

My kind of pattern.

The shawl pin is one I made in fine silver.

In honor of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo

which is going on right now.

My only issue was typos on the pattern.

Common but it was a free internet pattern so I am not fussing.

And then I wanted a hair scrunchie to match so whipped this one up.

This is a Bernat worsted weight yarn in Denim.

The only real mistake I made was showing it off to my daughter who loved it.

So I am giving her this one and will run out for more yarn to make another one for myself.

Oh yeah, twist my arm on that!  LOL

Why Block?

Blocking is sometimes a difficult concept to understand with out pictures.

I have posted photos of blocking in the past 

but it was not easy to see why you would need to 'block'.

So here are before and after photos of just a very light blocking.

Under other circumstances I might have gone for a stiffer look

But since this is a hair tie I felt that would not be needed.

It really does make a difference here.

A Plethora of Scarves

I had lots of fun with this quick crochet scarf in a scarf.

By adding an extra row I made this look like a spider pattern.

Since I love Halloween  this one was a particularly great version. 

This scarf was a terrific match to the yarn I used in the flower on this purse.

And I had leftover yarn from the purse itself so a great combination.

This was actually the first one I made.  

If you look closely the scarf has dragonflies on it.

Changing the yarn color makes it so versatile.

This is really addictive.

I wish I could share the pattern source 

however I ran across it online while I was out of town

and had no access to a printer so had to copy it 

by hand and failed to note the source.

Stick Weaving

While I have been waiting for the etimo crochet hook to arrive I pulled out

a kit I bought some time ago for stick weaving.

This is even easier than it looks!  

First time the weaving was uneven as I learned how taut to pull the yarn,

(then went back and read the directions).

Second try was spot on so I got out some fun yarn

 and dug a button out of the button jar and here is the result...

The bracelet idea was from this book by Sherri Haab 

although I already had the stick kit

and of course I modified the pattern somewhat.

Still a fun and fast new hobby!

Try it.  You'll like it.

Cowl

Cowl.

The Forevermore Cowl.

Finished.

At last.

One of those frustrating projects that just should not have been.

Frustrating, that is.

Because once my head was functioning properly

it really went smooth and rather quickly

and was an easy repeat pattern.

If I did not have such a long history with said cowl,

I would be tempted to make another in a finer yarn.

Maybe someday.

But not too soon.

I have already been working on scarves.

One completed,

another begun,

and yarn set out/purchased 

for two more.