Why I Crochet

I used to blog all the time, mostly on my family blog, but it was basically a weekly habit for me. Then I got a Facebook account and stopped blogging because Facebook was easier. Well for the last 6 years or so, I have really missed blogging. So I'm going to pick it up again, but with my crochet projects instead of my family.

Crochet has been a passion of mine for about 20 years now. My little sister, Kim, taught me how to crochet when my husband and I were still just newly dating. Christmas was coming and I learned to crochet a grannie square and thought I'd make him an afghan. Well, Kim started the first square, and since I didn't know how she started it, I just kept going in one big square forever. I ended up making a total of 4 GIGANTIC squares (which Kim started each time) and then sewed them together to make a queen sized afghan. I used two stands of yarn for the whole thing, so it was so thick and heavy that it was basically a burden. It's probably the ugliest thing I have ever made, and the sewing sucks, so it always falls apart. But it's been almost 20 years and we still have it because it was the first thing I ever made, and one of the first gifts I ever gave to Scott. He used it on his bed for years despite the fact that it was so heavy that it pulled all other bedding to the floor if it was ever slightly off center, and it was so hot that he'd wake up with a wet shirt from sweating all night. It now sits in a cedar chest, because we can't bring ourselves to get rid of it.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the calm of crocheting. I could listen to music or watch TV for hours while my fingers worked. I found that I didn't always even have to pay attention to what I was doing, and I could still fly through a project. I eventually learned how to start things myself and started trying different stitches and different things other than afghans, like hats, clothes and toys.

After Scott and I were married and started having kids, life got busy and I would often start a project and not finish it. But sometime after our third child was born, we discovered amigurumi and thought it was the coolest thing we'd ever seen. I started making all kinds of fun things, many of which were featured on this blog, long ago, when I still blogged. Amigurumi turned out to be my favorite kind of crocheting. I got pretty good at and made some things that still blow me away. I look at some of the things I made and think, "I can't believe I made that. It's so freaking cool."

Our third child, Ivy was born with a severe heart defect and spent many hours, days, and weeks stuck in hospital beds and doctors offices. Sometimes as a mother watching your child go through something so traumatic, the only way to survive is to find something that takes your mind off of things. Crochet was like a dream come true. I once crocheted an entire Ariel (the Little Mermaid) doll in a hospital waiting room while Ivy had open heart surgery, so I could give it to her when she woke up. The entire room of other people who were waiting for their loved ones to get out of surgery watched as I worked, and a few asked me for a business card (which I didn't have, since I was an amateur). It felt great to make something beautiful for my little girl while she went through something terrible. And she found so much comfort in that doll when she woke up.

Anyway, as years went on and Scott and I eventually had a total of FIVE children, crocheting went up and down in importance, but now that our youngest is six years old and in school full time, I have more time to do things I love and the crocheting has picked back up. Thank goodness, because sometimes I really need it to relieve stress.

I have always been able to design my own projects in my mind and hardly ever use a pattern. When I do create something new, I get asked for the pattern often but never have one, since I just figure it out as I go. After I crocheted the Skull afghan (from this post) this past fall I had so many people ask for the pattern that I decided it was time I learned to write patterns myself. I'm still learning, but I figured I'd take my blog with me on the journey. My hope is that I will learn more as I try to write these patterns, because I know that is the best way to become an expert at something. So if you're reading this, I hope you enjoy my new approach to this blog after a long 6 years away. I hope I can bring something of value to it, and create some fun things along the way.

Skull Squares Afghan

Halloween in my favorite time of the year. It's when the craft bug really takes a big bite of my soul  and I can't wait to create some super fun Halloween stuff for my home. 

This year I tried my hand at crocheting a skull square so I could put together an afghan to show off to my friends. I have received so many compliments on this afghan that I decided to write up the pattern for anyone who is interested in adding this spooky little throw to their Halloween decor. 

What you’ll need:

Hook, size H

Scissors

Large Darning needle

Yarn in 8 spooky colors.*

* For the skulls themselves I used 2 different shades of gray, beige and white. For the square surrounding the skulls I used green, purple, orange, and black. For joining squares and the border I used more black. I think these are all excellent Halloween colors, but you can basically do whatever colors you please. Just be sure to get the same worsted weight so all your squares end up the same size. (Note: For photos and videos I used different colors that are easier to see individual stitches, for ease of learning.)

Skull portion:

Step 1:Ch 12, sl st in beginning  ch to make a loop.

Step 2: Ch another 12, sl st in 12^th ch (end of first loop) to create another loop. This should look like a number 8 (or eyes, as that’s what they will be).

 Step 3: Sc in first 3 ch, 2 sc in 4^th ch, sc in the next 3 ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch, 2 sc in next ch. (15 sc)

Step 4: Repeat step 3 but in second loop.(15 sc)

Step 5: sl st in 5 sts to reach the outer edge of one of the loops, ch 1, turn.

 Step 6: sc (in same st as ch), sc in next 2 sts, ch 4, skip 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn. ( 3 sc, skip 3,ch 4, 3 sc)

Step 7: Sc in first 3 sts, 4 sc in chain space, sc in next 3 sts, (do not ch 1), turn.(10 sc)

 Step 8: skip first st, sl st in next 2 sts, ch 4 (counts as tc), tc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn. 

(skip, 2 sl st, ch 4, 4 tc)

Step 9: sc in each tc. (5 sc)

Step 10: Fasten off. (you should have now formed the skull eyes, nose, and mouth area.)

 Step 11: At top of the eyes, find st in center and count 5 sts to the right and put a sl st in that st.

Step 12: Sc in same st as join, sc in next 9 st, (do not ch 1), turn. (10 sc)

Step 13: Skip 1^st st, sc in next 8 sts, (do not ch 1), turn. (8 sc)

Step 14: Skip 1^st st, sc in next 7 sts, (do not ch 1), turn. (7 sc) 

 Step 15: Skip 1^st st, sc in each sc around entire skull, being as even as possible, to make 48 total sts. *Be sure to put 2 sc in each corner (each cheekbone, and bottom of teeth, 4 corners in all). Sl st in first sc. (48 sc)

Step 16: Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Turning the skull into a square:

Step 1: Join at top of skull in first stitch on right hand side, 2 sc (starting in same st as join) in first 5 sts, hdc in next st, dc, ch 2. (10 sc, hdc, dc, 2ch)

Step 2: dc in same st as previous to make a corner, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 9 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next st, tc in next 4 sts, ch 2. (2 dc, hdc, 9sc, hdc, dc, 4 tc, 2 ch)

Step 3: Tc in same st as previous tc to form corner then dc in same st as well, 2 dc in next 5 sts, dc and tc in next st, ch 2.(tc, 12 dc, tc)

Step 4: Tc in same st as previous to form corner, tc in next 3 st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 9 sts, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 st, ch 2. (4 tc, dc, hdc, 9 sc, hdc, 2 dc, 2 ch)

Step 5: Dc in same st as previous to form final corner, dc in next st, hdc in final st, sl st with original st to join, ch 1, turn. Your skull should now be encased in a square. (2 dc, hdc)

Step 5: Sc in each st remember to add 2 chains at each corner, join at start, fasten off. (65 sc)

Step 6: Weave in ends.

To make an afghan:

Step 1: Repeat all previous steps to create 16 squares of each of the 4 color variations, making 64 squares in total (or more if you prefer a larger afghan).

Step 2: Arrange squares any way you find suitable, or to arrange as I have done, see photo. 

Step 3: It is time to connect squares. I used black yarn for this and the border, but you can use whatever you like. You can join squares using the slip stitch method, or any other method you prefer. But the easiest way that I have found, and that I used for this particular afghan, is do it with single crochet. I no longer remember where I picked up this method, but I definitely use it most often when joining squares. To see how it is done, check out the video below.

Step 4: Once all your squares have been joined to create a lovely afghan, you may want to put on border to create a more finished look. All I did for my border was a single row of double crochet around the entire afghan in black, making sure to chain 2 on corners. Don’t forget to weave in all your ends!  

This afghan really isn’t as difficult as it looks. It didn’t take me much time at all as I would create squares almost absent minded while watching TV or listening to music. Just think, next Halloween you could have an awesome skull afghan to display, that everyone will love. I get many compliments from guests, and even a few requests to buy it from me! I know you will love it just as much as I do. 

Spongebob and Patrick

For Dexter's 6th birthday I made him a mini spongebob toy and a mini patrick to go with it.  I love how these little guys turned out and Dexter was quite excited about the both of them!

Here's good ol' Patrick Star

And the ever lovable (or is it annoying) Spongebob Squarepants

Homer Simpson

My dad recently celebrated his 66th birthday, so for it I made him this Homer Simpson hat....Now I just gotta make a Marge one for my mom!

Panda and Eeyore

My sister Kim contacted me about making her daughter, Rae a couple of hats for her birthday.

There is a panda hat

And an Eeyore hat.  Eeyore was REALLY hard, but turned out great I think!

Bender

Also in January I made this Bender (futurama) hat for Scott's buddy Kris.

The king of the Jungle???

In January the same Etsy Customer that ordered Raccoon man contacted me with a new request.  A lion he had drawn.  Here is how the crochet version turned out...

The red claws equal blood.......yeah, weird.