Kim's Golden Crochet Ruffle Scarf

My hubby asked me to make a scarf for one of his co-workers.  Here it is:

I really liked how it came out.  I added a fifth row to this scarf just to make it a little wider.  I like how it came out.  I will make this again, but I will make sure that I have enough yarn before I start so I don't have to make a special trip for one skein to finish it.

Supplies:
Pattern: Crochet Ruffle Scarf #70603AD by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Premier Yarn Serenity Chunky Weight (by Deborah Norville) #DN500-03 - Golden
Hook: US K

Foliage Vinny V

I finally got around to making Vinny V.  Here he is:

 

I can see why this is becoming everyone's favorite monster.  I think he is awesome!  He is like a bigger Iris, which will always be one of my favorites.

Supplies:
Pattern: Vinny V by Rebecca Danger from Knit a Monster Nursery
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tonal #25424 - Foliage
Needles: US 5 on 40" Cables

An Amish Kitchen

Book Description: The Amish Kitchen is the Heart of the Home – and the Ideal Setting for Stories of Love and Hope.  Fall in Paradise, Pennsylvania, always brings a brisk change in the weather. This season also ushers in unexpected visitors, new love, and renewed hope for three women.

Fern has a green thumb for growing healing herbs, but longs for love to bloom in her life. Then the next-door neighbor’s oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern’s kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance—until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction.

Nearby, Hannah runs her parents’ bed and breakfast, Paradise Inn—but her life feels nothing like Paradise. She longs for a man of integrity to enter her life, but never expected him to knock on the front door looking for a room. Will she be able trust Stephen with her future once she discovers his mysterious past?

When a storm blows a tree onto Eve’s farmhouse, she has little choice but to temporarily move her family into her parents’ home. Outside of cooking together in the kitchen, Eve and her mother can’t agree on anything. But this may be just the recipe for hope in healing old wounds.

Three Amish stories—each celebrating love, family, and faith—all taking place in a tight-knit community where the kitchen truly is the heart of the home.

Fern’s life is comfortable learning about herbs and treating her neighbors’ ailments with her Grandmother, that is until Abram Fisher comes into her life with a series of medical needs for his younger siblings.

Hannah wishes her mother would allow her to run their Bed and Breakfast without assuming her brother needs to handle every minor mishap or repair. He has his own family and farm. Then a single Amish man looking for a room appears at the door.

Eve’s life is running smoothly until a tree crashes into her kitchen during a winter storm and forces her family with 3 teenage boys to temporarily move back in with her parents. Can three generations live under one roof? Usually it is the Amish way but not for Eve. Or so she thinks.
I liked the “realness” of these stories. It is everyday family happenings.

These were three great stories about faith, friendship, love and family.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  A special thanks to Book Sneeze for allowing me to review this book for them!

Kyla's Flavia the Unicorn

Here is my first Flavia for Kyla for her 9th birthday:

 

Here is her back side so you can see her full mane and tail:

She was a great success!  She was received with open arms and a big hug (by all)!

Supplies:
Pattern: Flavia the Unicorn by Stacey Trock from FreshStitches
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby #138 - Pink Poodle & #157 - Duckie and Vanna's Choice #145 - Eggplant & #100 - White
Hook: US G

Ricky the Kutie Koala

I had a request to make a koala.  So I crcoheted one using the pattern for Ricky from Cuddly Crochet: Adorable Toys, Hats and More by Stacey Trock.  Here he is:

 

For the insides of the ears, I had to learn the loop stitch.  Once I figured it out, it wasn't too bad thanks to some help from Sam at work.  I really like how he came out!

Supplies:
Pattern: Ricky the Kutie Koala by Stacey Trock from Cuddly Crochet: Adorable Toys, Hats and More
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids #149 - Silver Grey, Red Heart Super Saver in White and Black
Hook: US G

Jitterbug Quilting Class - Class #3

This week we are assembling the blocks and making the sashing.

Here is a completed block:

I had some problems assembling my first block during class.  My seams were a little short towards the end of the block.  So before I move onward, I am going to check all my seams on the flying geese and make sure that the geese part is 4" long.  I'd rather take the time before I stitch to fix any mistakes than later on when I have to rip our more stitches.

For the sashing, we need 12 strips from the jelly roll cut into 12-1/2" sections.  Then we added a 2-1/2" square on each end like we did for the flying geese.

Here is a completed strip of sashing:

 

Now I am seeing real progress!  Only one more class until this quilt top is done!

Classified Cupid Swap

Here is a pink dragon that I made for the Classified Cupid Swap with the Fresh Stitches group over on Ravelry that I was participating in:

She was so much fun to make!  I need to make one for myself soon!

Here's the rest of the goodies I sent to her:

My cupidee, mattsmom499 (Meegan G.) on Ravelry, has only made things using Red Heart yarn.  So I thought I would give her a treat and give her some Plymouth Encore and Bernat Cotton yarn to play with in her favorite color, pink!  She was so excited to open her box that she said she sqealed!  Mission accomplished! :)

Supplies:
Pattern: Choose Your Own Dragon Adventure by Stacey Trock
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby #138-Pink Poodle and Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid Magenta
Hook: US G

Jitterbug Quilting Class - Class #2

During our second class, we made 48 flying geese.  We took 6 strips from our jelly roll and cut them each into 8 pieces 4-1/2" rectangles.  There will be a little leftover from each strip, save them for the piano key border.  Then using the background fabric, we cut them into 2-1/2" squares, you will need 96.

Here is my stack of completed flying geese:

Then we had to take 6 strips from our jelly rolls, 3 light and 3 dark, and make then into four square patches.  Here they are:

Two more weeks to go.  I can't wait to see the completed quilt top!

Julia's Fairy Bear Quilt

I was asked to make a baby quilt with a teddy bear theme for a co-worker who was having a little girl. 

Here it is:

These embroidery designs are from Bunnycup Designs called Fairy Bears, which is available for free as a retired set.  She wanted it girly colors as long as it was not baby pink.  She loved the quilt!

Creative Grids Multi-size 45° & 90° Triangle Ruler Tutorial

For my Jitterbug quilt class, it was recommended that we buy the Creative Grids Multi-size 45° & 90° Triangle Ruler.  It was either buy that or make half square triangles by cutting 2-7/8" squares.  Yuck!  So I bought it (and I love quilting rulers that make life easier anyways)!

Here is a picture of the ruler:

We have only used the 45 degree triangle side so far.  Here's how you do it:

1.  Cut (2) 2-1/2" strips of fabric the full width and place them on top of each other.

2.  Press them together so they do not move as much while cutting.

3.  Square off the end by lining the top edge with the little white dotted line above 45 and lining the bottom edge with the solid black line reading 2.

4.  Cut first triangle.

Pin together

5.  Flip the ruler and cut next triangle.  Continue until the whole strip is cut.

6.  Chain piece them together sewing along the diagonal cut beginning in the corner where the point is missing.

7.  Press the triangles closed with dark side facing up.

8.  Open each one and press to form the squares.

9.  Cut off dog ears and separate.

10.  Done!!!

Banana Berry Dragon

Here is a dragon that I made for our friend's son's 3rd birthday:

My hubby loved this dragon and insisted that I made one for little Stephen.  Since his birthday is near the end of February, I thought it would make a great present.  My hubby picked out the colors so he was nice and bright.  I love how he looks made with varigated yarn!

Supplies:
Pattern:  Choose Your Own Dragon Adventure by Stacey Trock
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Banana Berry and Bright Yellow
Hook: US G

Jitterbug Quilting Class - Class #1

My neighbor Denise talked me into taking two winter quilting classes with her at Meeting House Fabrics in Wales, MA.  The first class we are taking together meets every Wednesday night from 6 to 8 pm for the month of February 2013.  Here is the quilt pattern we are making:

For this quilt, you need one jelly roll and 3 yards of a neutral color.  Here is my jelly roll:

I am making this one for myself since I have the first quilt I ever made over 10 years ago.  These colors are so me, bright and vibrant.  I purchased some off white marbled fabric to go with it along with some green batik for the binding.

Here is what we finished after the first class:

 

We made 192 half square triangles.  OMG, that was a lot!  But be sure to check out the next post to see how I did it using Creative Grids Multi-size 45° & 90° Triangle Ruler.

Grayish Brown Bobbly Wobbly Bear

Here is a cute bear I made:

 

I really enjoyed making this bear!  I loved how the arms and legs are crocheted into the body of the bear.  It makes for such a secure attachments of the body parts!  I will be making him again soon since my bear is sure to need a friend!

Supplies:
Pattern: Bobbly Wobbly Amigurumi Bear by Cynthia Sickler from Demonstrative Bears
Yarn: Cascade Yarn Cascades 220 - Grayish Brown
Hook: US E

Amigurumi Snowmobile

On Sunday, my hubby went snowmobiling so I had some free time to myself.  So while my embroidery machine was cranking out some fairy bears for a baby quilt that I am making, I was crocheting.  He asked for a snowmobile but I could not find a pattern on Ravelry, so I improvised:

Here is a side view of it:

I think it came out pretty coool considering I was winging it!

Supplies:
Pattern: Hannah the Slug by Stacey Trock
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid & Print #204 - Charcoal Print, Cranberry and Silver Gray, Red Heart Super Saver Black, White and Lemon
Hook: US G

Charlotte the Snow Monster

Here is a monster for my hubby:

He wanted a blue monster like snow.  He is a little smaller than I thought he'd be but he is still cute!

Supplies:
Pattern:  Monster Mobile by Rebecca Danger from Knit a Monster Nursery
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Solids - Navy and Reynolds Signature #059 - Blue
Needles: US 5 on 40" Cables