PIF (crochet style)...

earlier today I read Lazy Daisy Crochet & found out that Melissa is doing something neat - she's playing a pay-it-forward style of game she found via Oodles 4 Noodles (that she found on Create Bella Create) & crocheting surprise gifts for 3 followers. I just did one of these on FB and it was so fun... I enjoy surprising people with little gifts so I am going to play too! Here are the rules if you want to join in:

1.  I will send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this post. The gift will be handmade by me.  It will be sent sometime in the next 365 days. It will be a surprise.  We all love getting surprises in the mail, right?

2. To sign up and receive a gift, you must play along, too. Pay it Forward on your blog, by promising to make a surprise for the first three people who comment on the post. 

3. You must have a blog (that is updated, as I will blog stalk you to find the right gift for you). Include your blog address in your comment. 

4. After commenting here, you must repost this or something similar to your blog in 48 hours.  If not, I will chose the next person who comments…Its that simple!! :)

I am looking forward to playing this fun game with my fellow bloggers and making something special and handmade just for them.  

Oh and please go check out the fun going on at Lazy Daisy Crochet, Create Bella Create and Oodles 4 Noodles!

WIP Wednesday...

a little of what I'm working on:

12" squares - patterns found on Ravelry via YarnCrazy Crochet World - a wonderful library of patterns!

a cute little crochet sweater - Ravelry link to pattern here

another sweater... a sleeve, button & flower left to do here - Ravelry link to pattern here

and, finally, a bath puff, or dishwashing scrubbie - modified version of this pattern... fun!

I am also working on a whole box of goodies for my swap partner for this Ravelry swap, and I am so excited as it's the first big swap I've joined. The box will be mailed out very soon and then I can't wait till she gets it so I can show you what I sent her!!

more squares...

for more swaps... seems I'm loving the squares at the moment!

LA square #67

LA square #60

Jan Eaton square #19 'Lacy Cross'

LA square #20

LA square #60 (again)

Jan Eaton's squre #19 'Lacy Cross' (again)

fo friday...

Some of my finished objects today... lots to post but I've been lazy about my picture taking lately! These are a few squares I've made from my new book, 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton, and from Leisure Arts' 99 Granny Squares to Crochet:

LA square #20

LA square #15

Jan Eaton square #14 'Alhambra'

Jan Eaton square #24 'Alhambra'

There are more, but, as I mentioned, I've been terrible about taking the pictures... I'll try to get the rest up tomorrow!

and the hookin' continues...

a few FO (finished objects) and WIP (works in progress) to show this week, but first...

I entered my first crochet square swap! Debi, from DIy's Hooks & Yarns had a sign up on her blog as I happened to be blog browsing there & I thought I'd give it a try. Here's the beautiful (*green* - how did she know?!!) square she sent, & you can see the square I sent to her here on her blog.

She included an eye pencil as well... such a pretty shade of blue - thank you Debi! I look forward to doing another swap, or, perhaps one of my own... what a great blanket you will have!

on to my stuff...

my giant granny square blanket... not sure how big I'll make it (I'm thinking baby blanket?) - I was inspired by completely copied this lovely colour scheme, and, since I had left over yarn from my square for the swap, it was perfect.

a reusable shopping bag - I found a free pattern (that I cannot for the life of me find to link!) online, and I really like it! This bag worked up very quickly ( 2 hr?!) & we can never seem to have enough bags around with more stores not providing plastic bags (yay!). Plus, won't I look chic at the farmers' market this summer sporting my own crocheted bags??!?!

I pattern tested a shawl for Anastacia (that I will post when she posts the pattern), & that sparked a search for shawl patterns.  I found this pattern on Stitch Nation & I L.O.V.E. it! It is by far the most intricate pattern that I have done thus far... not incredibly complicated, but not one I can just memorize & hook away in front of the TV!  I'm using the suggested yarn in 'mercury', and I love that too... if only our Michaels store had a more complete colour selection of Stitch Nation yarns!

and, finally, a cute little tangerine cowl

a smattering of crochet...

a few of my recent projects:

a cute baby blanket with a ruffly edge

orange 'durango hat' for a friend

infinity scarf with rose detail for my SIL

hooded cowl with a flower and some 'bling' for a friend

another 'durango hat'... for ME this time!

a lovely olive green ruffly scarf

and, finally another 'durango hat' in cream that turned out to be not what the requester wanted so this one is still available!

i haven't dropped off the face of the earth...

I'm just buried in crafty projects & yarn!

I've been busy making cards:

And...

I've been crocheting! I'm addicted... it's literally all I want to do! Dana's (Crafty Minx) Crochet School is so thorough and easy to follow, & it gets you up and hooking quickly! I've made wrist warmers (aka. fingerless gloves), dish cloths, scarves, hats... and my yarn stash is quickly growing! I've warned Shawn that he may come back and have to unearth me from under my piles of wonderfully soft yarns!

baby bunting... I will be making this in adjustable size (and different colours!) and die cutting felt letters like "sweet" and "precious" to use this as a photo prop... I can't wait! I found it here on Amanda's blog!

my first attempt at a cabled scarf... it was remarkably easy and, of course it's in my favourite colour!

dishcloths... I've been making dishcloths and pot holders - the cotton yarn is so inexpensive and one ball makes 2 cloths! If you're getting presents from me this Christmas, you know what you're getting...

I found a super easy pattern for this cute hat and flower... I know a couple of little girls that will be getting hats!

more dishcloths... this time with a matching towel with a hanger so it can hang off of your oven door handle

a burnt orange neck warmer - just have to find the right buttons for this & it's done!

another cute little hat and (gigantic) flower... I <3 Ravelry!

I took my knowledge of cables from making the previous scarf and made one for myself that is slightly skinnier since I have a very short neck...