A Cushion and Blanket For My Daughter.. A Work In Progress

The Project

A year ago I started crocheting a cotton blanket out of granny squares for my daughter. It was going to be a huge blanket and would take 200-300 squares to complete. 33 squares in I realised there was no way I was going to get it finished in time for her birthday, so I put it aside to be completed this year.

A few days ago I realised my daughter's birthday was approaching and I hadn't touched the blanket. When I pulled out the completed granny squares I decided I didn't feel like making hundreds more of them and I would work with what I had. I decided I would make a cushion and a blanket.

The Cushion

I joined 9 of the squares together to make the front of the cushion and then made a large granny square for the back of the cushion. I covered the insert with plain purple fabric. I finished the cushion late last night and I love the end result, it's so soft and cuddly and pretty..

Front Of Cushion

Back Of Cushion

The Blanket

After making the cushion I was left with 24 granny squares for the blanket. I debated for quite a while about how to use them and eventually decided to make 3 panels of 8 squares. I'll work around them and then join them, then work around that to complete the blanket.

My biggest issue is running out of colours. I went to buy more thread a few days ago and was unable to get more of the pink and blue. I do have some left, but I am running very low on the pink as I used it when making the hexagonal cushion I made recently.

I stitched together the first panel of 8 last night and began working around it. This is how it looks so far:

Blanket Panel

Blue-eyed Bunny with a Bow Tie

I'd been searching for a bunny pattern to crochet a toy for my nephew for Easter. I was unable find one I liked until I found this pattern from www.allaboutami.com, which was shared on Google+ by Rory Brio of crochetbrio.blogspot.com.

I stuck to the original crochet pattern, though I changed some other details:

- Bunny was crocheted in a pale green thread
- Eyes were crocheted rather than black safety eyes
- Feet were decorated with the same fabric as the ears
- Bunny was given a matching bow tie instead of a carrot.

Most of these changes were due to me working with what I had on hand.

I think he turned out well for a first attempt!


Edit: My nephew took one look at the bunny, realised it wasn't chocolate and tossed it aside!

African Flower Hexagonal Cushion

While browsing through Google images, I saw some beautiful creations made from this hexagonal African Flower design. I tried it out and was surprised at how something so pretty could be so simple to crochet. I decided I would make my niece a cute little cushion for her Birthday. I've just finished this and have already started on my next African Flower creation. I think I may be in love with this design! 

A Necklace To Match The Bracelet

I decided the bracelet I made to test my pattern needed company, so I created this necklace to go with it (sorry, no pattern). I think it's really pretty - but then I try not to make ugly things :) I've decided to give this set to my Mum as part of her Mother's Day present.

Edit: My 22 year old daughter, who rarely likes anything I like, has said she would wear this, so I am giving it to her instead. Will have to think of something else for my Mum!

Crocheted Jewelry Set

A few weeks ago I made a cute crocheted jewelry set of earrings, ring and bracelet (pictured below). Today I was asked for the pattern - slight problem - I'd made it up as I went along and didn't have a pattern, so I decided to write one. Fortunately I remembered exactly how I'd made it, I even tried out the pattern and made another bracelet (pictured above) to be sure I got it right. I've never written out a pattern before, so please be nice to me :) 

I'm Australian, so you may need to work out the conversions for the size of the hooks and thread I am referring to. I used a 1.5mm steel crochet hook and regular cotton crochet thread (I think it might be size 10). I'm fairly sure I'm using US terminology for my stitches. The beads I used are about 5mm round, you may need to use more for the button if using smaller beads. This pattern would be fairly easy to adjust to suit your needs (just +/- the chain stitches), it doesn't use much thread and is quick to make - so if it takes a little trial and error to get right, it shouldn't be too much of a pain!

Flowers: Make 7 of these
Start with a slip knot, then chain(ch) 6 stitches and join the first and last chains with a slip stitch(ss) to make a loop to work around. The petals: * ch 2, 2 double crochets(dc), ch 2, ss. Repeat from * 4 times to complete flower, fasten off. Leave a long enough tail to sew a bead in the middle of flower. On five of them leave an even longer tail to attach them to the ring and bracelet.

Earrings: Attach completed flowers to earring hooks.

Ring: I used 18 ch to make mine, but this would vary depending on the size you want to make.
Start with a slip knot, then ch 18 and join the first and last chains with a ss to make a loop. Work around a row of single crochet(sc) and finish with a ss, fasten off. Stitch completed flower in to place over the join to hide any ugliness.

Bracelet: Thread 8 beads onto yarn, slide them down the yarn then slide them back up again as they are needed. Start with a slip knot, then ch 7 and join the first and last chains with a ss to make a loop for a button hole. *Ch 15, slide a bead up and include it in the next ch, repeat from * twice, ch 15. To form the button: slide 2 beads up and include one in each of the next 2 ch, ss into last ch before the 2 beads. (The next part becomes the 2nd strand of the bracelet) Continue with *13 ch, slide a bead up and include it in the next ch, ch 2, ss into the stitch that holds the bead opposite on the first strand. Repeat from * twice, ch 17, ss into loop to finish, fasten off. Stitch 4 flowers into place in the middle of the spaces.

Finish with the one thing I dislike about crocheting - hiding the tails - I find it best to hide them in the back of the flowers.

The Original Set