March is National Craft Month

So, what are you waiting for?  You have no excuses left - so GET CRAFTING!

Hippie Snake Crochet Scarf

Otter loves scarves, that is certainly no secret.  She also likes "different" animals, which is also no secret.  Let's just say that she's very much her mother's daughter in that respect!

Anyway.  I had some yarn left from a scarf/hat combo Otter gave to a friend for a birthday present and Otter really liked it.  It was sitting in the stash closet, awaiting an opportunity to be crocheted into something.  I found a really cute pattern for a snake scarf, and Otter (because she IS her mother's daughter!) immediately asked for one.  She originally wanted a Diamondback, but then she remembered the Red Heart Brand yarn known as "Bikini" and that's what she decided on.  The original pattern was for a green snake, which was cute, but let's face it - it was also boring!  So, Otter's got a new scarf and she decided that it's blog pattern name should be Hippie Snake.

So, here it is:

It's about 5" wide and 52" long.  It's all single stitch.  The head and tail ends are increase/decrease stitches and the tongue is a chain stitch.  Because every self-respecting snake has a tongue sticking out!

This is a closer picture of the head.  The tail is the same pattern, and I did offer to crochet a "rattle" for the snake but Otter decided against one.

Here's the eyes.  Because this was for Otter, they are what is known as "derpy."  :)  Also, because this is for Otter, there will be purple in there somewhere!  The centers are white.

Crocheted Afghan Progress

It's been a while since I posted an afghan update.  I haven't worked on it too much lately, it's big enough that it's like having a blanket over me and the summer was just too hot to even think about it!  I put about 10 rows on it yesterday.  It's folded in half width-wise.  It's probably about 1/2 way there.  I'll know when it's long enough.

56 rows!  All double stitch.  I'm using Pound size skeins, it's taken nearly a full one of each color so I figure that it will probably take a total of 4 skeins, 2 green and 2 cream.  Which will leave me with two unused skeins of each color, but I've learned:  buy more than I think I'll need because the colors won't be there later on if I run short!  But it's good, soft yarn and I will use it.

I started row # 57, the safety pin is keeping the stitch from unravelling and has orange yarn on the end of it so I can see it easily.  I prefer to stop a project in the process of the next row, it's too easy to get confused and start on the wrong end or on the wrong side.

Now that the weather is finally getting cooler, I'm probably going to be working on this a lot.  I want to get it finished fairly soon, but I don't always have a lot of time during the week so it might be what I do for the next few Saturday afternoons.

Friday October 14 I Love Yarn Day!!!

(Pretend this was actually posted ON Friday. I didn't have enough time before sunset).

Today is a great day, one of my favorites.

It's I LOVE YARN DAY!!

Needless to say, I indulged in the celebration.  But you are probably not surprised, are you?

Zippered Pouch

(Although it doesn't look like it in the picture, it is in fact rectangular.)

Otter made this today.  It's similar to the felt ones she made a couple of years ago, one of which is already on here previously.  I use it to hold some of my crochet hooks.  Otter's not sure what this one will be for, it's a little small for pencils, but she'll find a use for it.

It's about 7" wide.  It's an easy pattern, all it needs is fabric, thread and a zipper.  This one has a 7" zipper.

Crochet Sock Monkey Hat

These look kind of creepy, but Otter likes hers a lot.

This one is Otter's.  The eyes are black buttons.

Froggy, this one is yours!  The eyes are also buttons, but they are black with a white outline.

The hats are easy and a variation of the same pattern I've used for the other caps I've made.  Single Stich, 14 rows.  The ears are crocheted seperately and attached, and so is the mouth.  The original pattern I had called for a black line to be stitched across the mouth, but I didn't like the way it looked.

Also, the original pattern called for a tan yarn, but I liked the grey better.

I still think they look creepy!  I tried crocheting black circles to use for the eyes, but they looked really strange and Otter said that she'd be afraid to wear a hat like that - it might come alive and come after her. :)

September is National Sewing Month

I don't sew very often, I leave that to Froggy and Otter.  But it's a skill that is worth learning.  It's also a lot of fun.  It can be difficult at times, but so can anything else.

September is National Sewing Month, so get busy!