Mario Blanket

Two-hundred-and-fifty-two squares later, I finally finished Jason's Mario blanket.  Er... I guess technically I finished it a few weeks ago, (I gave it to him for his birthday).  Let me tell you something... it will be a LONG time before I undertake a blanket project again.  My hands were cramping so badly, it took me FAR too long to finished the last six squares. 

Total Color Count:
109 White Squares
54 Brown Squares
45 Red Squares
42 Peach (or Tan) Squares
2 Yellow Squares

Rough Pattern:
14 W
4 W, 5 R, 5 W
3 W, 9 R, 2 W
3 W, 3 B, 2 P, 1 B, 1 T, 4 W
2 W, 1 B, 1 P, 1 B, 3 P, 1 B, 3 P, 2 W
2 W, 1 B, 1 P, 2 B, 3 P, 1 B, 3 P, 1 W
2 W, 2 B, 4 P, 4 B, 2 W
4 W, 7 P, 3 W
3 W, 2 B, 1 R, 3 B, 5 W
2 W, 3 B, 1 R, 2 B, 1 R, 3 B, 2 W
1 W, 4 B, 4 R, 4 B, 1 W
1 W, 2 P, 1 B, 1 R, 1 Y, 2 R, 1 Y, 1 R, 1 B, 2 P, 1 W
1 W, 3 P, 6 R, 3 P, 1 W
1 W, 2 P, 8 R, 2 P, 1 W
3 W, 3 R, 2 W, 3 R, 3 W
2 W, 3 B, 4 W, 3 B, 2 W
1 W, 4 B, 4 W, 4 B, 1 W
14 W

When I was finished putting the rows together, I went around the edge and Single Crocheted a red trim (you just can't see it in this picture).


And, on a little side note, it took one of my dogs, (Logan) all of .... thirteen days to CHEW HOLES in this blanket... yep .. I have to face the music and remake some of the squares, but I'm silently... procrastinating.  I really don't want to have to fix it.  It took too long.  It only took 2 weeks, but since I was on a time crunch I was a crocheting FIEND for that two week period.

Mo' Projects, Mo' Money

There is one thing that I've realized after discovering all of these amazing projects that I want to accomplish ... the more I want to do, the more money I have to spend.  That makes me sad.  I've found TONS... literally... TONS of things that I want to do, everything from DIY (Do-it-yourself) Windex and Carpet Powder and Febreeze ... oh jeez.  I feel like I can build up sort of a ... stash of the usual stuff that I'd need .. but to buy all of these things at once, (like what I want to do because I'm so daggone impatient..) I'd be spending way too much money.  I spent like ... an hour at the local Michael's just wandering and daydreaming about all of the different things I wanted to buy so I can finally scratch my creative itch.  I suppose I could do the sensible thing and buy a few things at a time .. but who has the patience to do something like that??  I made a list.  Because that's what I do.. I'm a compulsive list-maker.  Even though I don't think I'll have the lists with me when I'm out shopping, I can look at it often (which I do) and try to remember some of the things I need so I can do these projects.  This list... is ... long, needless to say.  I think my friends and I need to get together and have a craft party.  Everybody bring one or two things on the list.  Then, we can all do a little bit of everything and that way we can make what we want and not have to worry about spending an arm and a leg in the process.  I think that's a hell of an idea... Now I just need to find about ... 15 friends so I can get everything on my list. 

Pinterest is going to do me in.  I swear, if my fiance doesn't leave me for some other reason, he'll leave me because I spend almost every waking moment of free time I have just browsing Pinterest.  He'll glance over at me after I snort at some ridiculous picture or he'll shoot me an annoyed look when I interrupt his football game so I can tell him about the latest project I have in mind for our future house or for our future little ones.  I only have a limited amount of brain space to store these projects, so thanks be to Pinterest so I can store them on my To Do board.  If any of you don't actually have a Pinterest account, I strongly encourage it.  Especially if you're a thrifty & crafty person. 

My coworkers and I pretty much talk about Pinterest all day long.  I even talked to my boss about it to see if his wife would like it.  It's like ... I'm endorsing a drug.  You literally become hooked and you can't shake it.  I wouldn't go as far as to say I get the shakes or throw up if I go too long without a hit, but I find my mind wandering while I'm holding onto a psychotic dog, trying to imagine what's the newest thing posted on Pinterest.  Oy vey. 

My poor Kindle has been neglected also.  I finally picked it back to up today since I've made my Pinterest account.  I couldn't make it a page of reading without mentioning something to Liz about what I saw on Pinterest or her showing me a pin on her phone. 

But, I can say one thing has not been neglected since my newly discovered habit... my blog has gotten so much love (well, I don't know if I'd call it love.. but maybe.. attention.  People come to find crochet patterns.  I doubt they read much, and certainly none of them comment, but I'm happy that it's at least getting some recognition.  I know I'm anonymous and I'm assuming that nobody really reads much past the patterns, but I certainly do feel ... tickled that I'm getting hits on my blog.  It also helps that I posted patterns on Ravelry.com also.  That most definitely helps.  If you are ever looking for me on Ravelry, I'm under Polka Dot and also my Pinterest board are www.pinterest.com/polkadot87

Come at me, bro!

Horizontal Stripe Scarf

Even though this picture is kind of garbage, you get the idea.

Materials:
Crochet hook size 5.5mm
Two colors of yarn (I used red caron brand and black Red Heart Super Saver)

Pattern:
With color A, chain 26.
Single crochet (SC) in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain two, turn.
Double crochet (DC) is the third stitch from the hook and in each stitch across. Chain one, turn.
Keep alternating between the two stitches for however big you want the block to be.  I did three of each, making sure I ended on a DC row so I could always start the next color with a SC.
When you get to however thick you want it, attach color B to the chain and proceed with the SC in the pattern.  Make however many blocks you need for the length you need.  When finished, fasten off and then go through and burn the edges of the yarn throughout the scarf.

Voila!

Vertical Striped Scarf

Materials:
Size 5.5 hook.
Yarn needle
Two colors of any kind of yarn (I used red Caron brand & black I Love This Yarn)

Pattern:
Chain however many you want to make it as long as you want.  I didn't keep track, I just started and kept going until it was as long as I wanted.  Chain one more then, turn.
Single crochet (SC) in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain one, turn. x3
Switch to second color.  SC in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across.  Chain one, turn. x2
Switch back to first color.  SC in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across.  Chain one, turn.
Switch to second color.  SC in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across.  Chain one, turn. x2
Switch back to first color.  SC in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across, chain one, turn. x2
Last row: single crochet one in every stitch, tie off. 

Sunglasses Case Pattern

Materials:
Crochet hook size 3.75mm
Scrap yarn
Button

Pattern:
Chain 16.
Row 1: Single crochet (SC) in the second chain from the hook & in each chain across. (15 total).
On the other side of the chain, SC in each stitch across. (15 total).  Slip stitch to join.
Chain 2.  SC in each stitch around. (30 total) x3
Then, just SC in each stitch around for as long as you need it to be for your sunglasses.  For one exactly like mine, use color A for 13 additional rounds.  Then, switch to color B for 5 rounds.  Switch back to color A for 10 more rounds.  Then, SC in opposite direction for 18 stitches.  Chain 1, turn.  Do this for 6 more rows.  On the 7th row, SC 8, chain 2, skip 2 stitches, then SC the remainder.  This will be your button hole.
Attach a pretty button at the correlating spot on the case.

Voila!

If you have any questions or are confused about something, leave a comment and I'll try to figure it out for ya! 

Pinterest

So, I've recently made a Pintrest account ... and lo and behold I've like ... tripled the number of views of the blog in the twelves hours I've had the account, so I'd figure I'd go ahead and post links to the patterns.

It'll take me awhile to track down all of the patterns, I'll just keep updating this blog post until I've got them all listed.

Paw Print Stocking

Holly Stocking

Mom's White Lacey Scarf

Dinosaur Hat

Giraffe

If you're in a hurry and you really want one I haven't posted yet, comment or something and let me know, and I'll hurry it up for ya.

Also, keep checking back! I'm constantly finding and making new creations! I don't always use a pattern or if I do use a pattern, I don't always stick to it 100%.  Let me know if there are any suggestions!

My Thoughts Frolic Together in a Field of Ideas in My Brain on Their Own Accord & Have No Regard For What They Put Me Through On A Daily Basis

When I'm alone with my thoughts for too long, they tend to spiral out of control.  I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are similar to me, but sometimes, I even scare myself.  I'll be sitting at work and just snort or giggle at some random thought, and I'll catch Kay giving me a look like she's curious, but she doesn't know if she's that curious.  Most of the time, I try to trace the crazy line of thinking backwards so I can share, but then it usually loses its... luster... and isn't as funny anymore.  I guess I've kind of illustrated my weird way of thinking in this blog, because sometimes I'll go off on a tangent and digress, but, at least when it's on paper, it's not as random and piece-meal as my brain usually makes it.

(Take for example, the above paragraph ... I took a sentence and ran with it with no censor and I'll bet I've lost my audience already... heck, I would've given up myself a long time ago if it were possible.)

But anyways, I'll focus this blog into something a little bit more ... worthwhile. 

I've taken pictures of the four scarves I made for my family and friends. 

This was Holly's scarf:

Papa Hunt's scarf:



(Are we noticing a pattern form?)

Mom's scarf:

And Suzy's scarf:

I'm proud of them :) Again, if anybody wants a pattern, just let me know and I'll be glad to relay it to ya!

I'm not sure what else I've got for this blog ... no other crocheted items .. I've slacked a little since I was under a time crunch before Christmas.  One of my Christmas presents was an Amazon gift card, so I've been able to go and buy the rest of the books in some of the series I read, so I've kinda been catching back up on those... of course I have to re-read the first book before I can read the rest of them, so it'll take me a bit longer.  Amazon won that battle...

My fiancee saw a present that Kay made her boyfriend (a Tetris blanket made out of 160 crocheted Granny squares) and so he's been hounding me to make him a blanket... but I have no idea what I'll make.  Kay said I should maybe make a Yankees one .. so I've kind of toyed with that idea.  I'm sure I can find a pattern, but I might try to make one from my own brain .. but that doesn't always work out ... But I did get a gift card to a craft store, so I've been fighting the urge to run into the store and jump into the yarn aisle and frolic and drool and touch all of the yarn and actually be able to afford to buy some!  Usually, Kay or I make up some excuse (usually a pretty weak one) to go and we both make a beeline for the yarn and just spend time touching and oohing and aahing saying stuff like, "Ooh, I love this yarn!" and "Ooh, feel this one!"  We'd spend hours if we could...

One day, she and I were in the yarn aisle talking about colors and whatnot when these two little old ladies came in and were doing the same exact thing ... she looked up at me and whispered, "That's us..." and we cracked up and she ran away and left me standing there trying not to be too conspicuous.  We weren't laughing at them, we were laughing at the fact that they were literally an older version of us .. standing there debating with each other on how many skeins of yarn they should buy and what color.. which was EXACTLY what she and I had been doing for like twenty minutes.

My wedding looms closer.. so that's always a project I'm involved in.  I've always wanted to be married in October, so after I became engaged, I was able to look up the football schedule for my college football team so I can plan my wedding for the bye weekend which usually falls in October.  I set it for 10/20/12.  Well, today, I just received word that they CHANGED the schedule for next year and the bye weekend is actually the weekend before.  How dare they!! So, I looked it up myself, and alas, they did.  But, the game for that weekend is an away game, so I don't think I'll have to change the date.  It wouldn't be such a big deal if I hadn't already scheduled the church & the reception location.  I would be absolutely heartbroken if half of my family didn't show up for my wedding (or left early) because of that game.  I've been reassured that they wouldn't do that to me, but I know them very well.. and they are die hard fans and so am I... but I was promised they'd be there and wouldn't flake out on me.  You'd think that me being their only sister/daughter would be enough.. but no... we live in the South, where football reigns over all.

I believe most of the major details have been planned already .. church is booked, reception location is handled, dress and veil are bought, bridesmaids dresses and shoes have been picked, cake has been ordered... I need to get a couple of items for myself, shoes, corset, jewelry, the doohickey I wear on my thigh... can't remember the name at the moment.  We need to find a photographer and I believe that may be all.  We have to get catering and alcohol from the reception site, so I guess I need to finalize the menu, but it's not like I have to decide on a caterer.  I need to pick out flowers and see how I want to decorate ... I know I want low wide-mouth glass bowls with blue rocks and water and floating water lilies for the center pieces of each of the tables.  I'm going to have my hair side swept and with a big white lily tucked above my hair.  I think it'll be really pretty.  I'm trying to be money-wise, so I'm not planning anything SUPER elaborate.  My fiancee and I are booking our cruise for our honeymoon at the beginning of the year with our tax return money.  Ooh, and we need to find a house to rent for his relatives to stay in while they come down since they are from the North.  I do believe that's it.. I hope I'm not forgetting anything. 

I may have had a slight..mini...breakdown a little bit ago because of all of the pressure coming onto me from all different sides regarding the wedding.  I realized I was trying to make everybody else happy and I wasn't focusing on myself.  I mean ... this is MY wedding... It'll be my day to shine .. so I feel like I need to focus a bit more on my happiness.  Well, it's late and I can hear my bed calling my name... so I'll bid you all a good night!