The New Grandma's Knickknacks Hex Motif Pattern!

I have been working hard at getting some samples made of my new Grandma's Knickknacks Hex Motif so that I could share it with you here at Laurel's Place...I just love how it looks all joined together!  And so...here it is...

Isn't it cute?

For this sample I used a 5.0(H) hook and Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in Yellow, Limelight, Tropical Pink, Mango and Turquoise.  

Won't this make a beautiful baby blanket?

I used the join as you go technique to crochet these hexes together. I joined in the corners and in the 2 spaces on the sides.  In this version it is quite easy to tell where to join.

I also made an option for a 5th round that gives the motif more of a honeycomb look when joined: 

In this sample I used a 5.0(H) hook and Vanna's Choice solids yarn in Aqua, Eggplant, Fern, Raspberry, Mustard, Kelly Green and Magenta.

I think this will be a gorgeous blanket in these rich jewel tones!

I also used the join as you go method for this sample, joining at the corners and in the middle stitch of each side.  

Here is a decorative pillow I made with the optional 5th round joined by whip stitching through the inside loops using a yarn needle:

I made this pillow in the colors of my Ravelry "Block a Month Crochet Along" blanket project. They are Vanna's Choice solids "Taupe" and "Pink Rose" and Loops and Threads Impeccable solids "Fern", "Aran" and "Rouge". Here I used a 4.0(G) hook and the finished pillow measures 14x16 inches.

and now....

Grandma's Knickknacks Hex Motif Pattern

This motif made with worsted weight yarn and a 5.0mm (H) hook will measure approximately 3 1/2 inches and with the optional round 5 will measure approximately 4 1/2 inches.

Pattern is in US crochet terms

Special Stitches:
dc3tog:  Yarn over, insert hook into space and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook, (yarn over, insert hook into same space and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops) two times, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook.)

If you need help getting started with the first 3 rounds, check out my Grandma's Knickknacks Blanket Tutorial.

Start with a magic ring

Round 1 - Ch3 plus 11 dc in ring, sl st to join, fasten off. (12 sts)

Round 2 - With a new color sc in space between any two dc of round 1, ch1, *sc in next sp, ch1. Continue from *around and join with a sl st to first sc, fasten off. (12 sc, 12 ch-1 spaces)

Round 3 - With a new color make dc3tog in any ch-1 space of round 2, ch2, *dc3tog in next sp, ch2. Continue from *around and join in top of first dc3tog. Fasten off. (12 dc3tog clusters and 12 ch2 spaces)

Round 4 - With a new color (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in any ch-2 space of round 3 (corner made), 3dc in next ch-2 space, *(2dc, ch1,2dc) in next space, 3dc in next sp. Continue from *around and join in first dc. Fasten off.  (42 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)

Optional Round 5 - With a new color (hdc,ch1, hdc) in any ch-1 corner sp (corner made), hdc in next 7 sts, *(hdc, ch1, hdc) in next ch-1 corner sp, hdc in next 7 sts. Continue from *around and join in first hdc.  Fasten off.  (54hdc, 6 ch-1 sps)

That's it!  Pretty simple I think.  If you find I have made any silly mistakes please let me know so I can get it corrected.  Thank you for checking out my new pattern and happy hooking my friends!

2015 Ornament Project

The crochet ornament project is growing!

 Here are four more ornament designs I have stitched up.

First some Snowflake cookies By Twinkie Chan.  If you haven't seen Twinkie's food patterns they are defiantly worth checking out at her Pintrest page here.  Her patterns are so cute and clever.

For the cookie part, I used Loops and Threads in Heather.  For the blue icing I used Loops and Threads in Clear Blue and for the white icing on top I used Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in White.

I used a J hook on the cookie part, H hook on the blue icing part, and G hook on the white. When starting the white frosting, I started with ch4. I found that the ch8 called for in the pattern makes way too big a hole. Also, I crocheted a little loosely on the first cookie part.

The finished cookie measures approximately 4 1/2 inches not including the hanger.

Next some bright and colorful butterflies.  

The pattern by Chantal Clay can be found here.

 These butterflies measure approximately 4 inches by 3 inches.  

They work up so fast and easy!  I used various scraps and stash in worsted weight yarn.

Today I finished these sweet gingerbread hearts.

I used Loops and Threads in Soft Taupe for the gingerbread, Loops and Threads in Aran for the cross stitch and edging and Vanna's Choice solids in Scarlet for the red hots.

 

 They measure approximately 4in x 5in. not including the hanger.

This pattern by Drops Design can be found here.

Last but not least, some brightly colored Pinwheel Candies.

For these I used various scraps and stash of worsted weight yarn. 

They measure approximately 4x2 inches not including the hanger. 

This pattern by Lion Brands can be found here.

I have now made a total of 32 ornaments this year.  Not bad since it is only mid February, but I hope to have a whole lot more made up by December!

LOL does NOT Mean Lots of Love!

Recently my son related a story to me of a woman who's uncle passed away.  She posted on her facebook page the tragic news by writing "Dear Uncle ______ has passed away LOL."  When her teenage children saw the post, they said, "Mom LOL means 'Lots of Laughs!!!'"  The mortified woman said "Oh my gosh, I thought LOL meant 'Lots of Love'!  She promptly corrected the post!

Ha...I can so relate to this story.  When I first began texting almost a decade ago, I thought LOL meant "Lots of Love" too!  By the time my kids informed me that it meant "Lots of Laughs"... no telling how may times I had used it inappropriately....LOL

Being that it is Valentines, I wanted to share with you this pretty little heart pillow I crocheted...

I made it for my Aunt who is battling breast cancer.  She has been through much chemo and radiation and just recently found out that she developed heart disease as a side affect of the chemo.  

I wanted to make her something a little cheerful. 

This little pillow is easily a one or two day project.  The pattern comes from the book 100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet by Leonie Morgan which has loads of cute and colorful granny squares to crochet.

The back I made in single crochet stripes and I used a simple single crochet to sew the front and back together .  The pillow measures 12 inches.  The yarn is Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn Solids"

"For god so LOVED the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." --John 3:16

Happy Valentines Day Friends!  Have a LOVEly Day!!!

February 2015 Bamcal Blocks

 As soon as the February 2015 BAMCAL blocks were announced I went to work.  This project has been so fun for me as I love working on these different squares...it never gets boring...no repetition here!  Above is the February Main Square.  It's called Happy Hearts.  It was a little challenging attaching those little hearts but I love how it turned out!  And what a pretty little project for the month of "Love".

Below is the February "Filler" Square.  It's called Fall Blossom.  The center flower in this pattern is gorgeous...

...it's so pretty the way it stands up.

Below are the little 6 inch squares for February called Corner Cluster.  They were fun and simple to make.

Last month, I reworked the January Squares using a 4.0 (G) hook instead of the 5.5 (I) hook that I used on the first blocks.  I thought I might prefer a tighter fabric with smaller holes.  As it turned out, I do like the smaller hook size so I will be completing all my squares in a 10 inch size and 5 inch for the little ones using the G hook.  There was nothing at all wrong with the first ones I made at 12 inches with the larger hook...just a personal preference.  Most people in the CAL do make 12 inch squares. 

Here is how it is all shaping up...

I've also just finished a 22 inch block called Sophie's Garden by Dedri Uys of "Look At What I Made" It's a free pattern and so enjoyable to make!

I used a 4.0(G) hook and the finished block is just a little over 22 inches finished.

I really enjoyed making this block.  Some of the stitches are a little challenging but the excellent  photo tutorial guides you every step of the way.