more turtles

One night, a few months ago I was tucking my little girl into bed, and she asked me why I'm always crocheting presents for other people, but never crocheting anything for her. (Now, keep in mind, at the time this girl had in her possession two blankets, three crochet pinafore-style dresses, a pair of slippers, two winter hats, and a few little clothing articles for her stuffed animals all courtesy of the flying fingers of yours truly. However, we can also keep in mind that she is only six, and when you are six, it can be hard to remember things that aren't right in front of you. And, to be fair, it had been a few months since she'd received anything crocheted from me.)

I pointed out that I had actually made her a few items, and asked her why she was so concerned abut it, to which she replied that the things I made for other people were really cool--like that turtle blanket--and the things that I made for her were more normal and not as special.

Since my crocheting is something I do just for fun, and since I waited for a loooooonnnnngggg time to even have a little girl that I could crochet for, we decided that she would design her own blanket, and then I would crochet it up for her.

She got her handy dandy sketch pad out and immediately went to work:



And then, I went to work as well.



She was pretty pleased, and so was I.

Art Deco Baby Blanket - a pattern

Sometimes, you get tired of the standard cute baby blanket, and you want to try to make something a little more out of the norm, something with a bit of color blocking to it. Or, sometimes you are crocheting along, enjoying the new basketweave stitch that you've mastered, and your husband (who should possibly have been born in the mid 1920s based on his love of all things art deco) gives you a few suggestions as to how you might jazz up your work, and so you take his advice.

And sometimes when you do that, you are quite pleased with the result, so you write up the pattern, partially so that you can keep it, and partially so you can share it with the world.

So, here it is: The Art Deco Baby Blanket Collection-a standard pattern (which could be modified fairly easily to make a full size afghan) with instructions for two variations.

Standard Pattern

ART DECO BABY BLANKET
Dimensions: 40" by 45"
Size I hook

18 oz light blue

18 oz dark blue

6 oz light green

Gauge is not important for this project

Multiple of 10 plus 6 plus beg chain 4

With light blue, Chain 130

Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook and in each ch across ch 3, turn
Row 2: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 3: *Fpdc in in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Rows 4 & 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7-10: Repeat rows 2 and 3, two times
Row 11: Repeat row 2 again.
Row 12-46: repeat rows 7-11, seven times, changing to green on last stitch, ch 2, turn.

Row 47: Working in back loops only, hdc across, finish off.
Row 48: Join green in first hdc of previous row. Working in back loops only, dc across, finish off.
Row 49: Join green in first dc of previous row. Working in back loops only, hdc across, finish off.

Row 50: Join dark blue in first hdc of previous row. Ch 3, dc in each hdc across, ch 3, turn.
Row 51: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 52: *Fpdc in in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 53-54: repeat rows 51 and 52
Row 55: repeat row 51
Row 56-59: Repeat rows 51 and 52, two times
Row 60: repeat row 51 again
Row 61-95: repeat rows 56 through 60, seven times, finish off.

BORDER
Rnd 1: With light green, and with right side facing, join in any stitch along the top or bottom of the blanket, ch 2. Hdc around, with 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2
Rnd 2: Working in back loops only, hdc around, working 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2.
Rnd 3: Repeat rnd 2, finish off

Weave in ends.

Variation 1

ART DECO BABY BLANKET-Variation #1
Dimensions: 40" by 45"
Size I hook

18 oz green

18 oz grey

3 oz burgundy (red)

6 oz charcoal

Gauge is not important for this project

Multiple of 10 plus 6 plus beg chain 4

With Green, Chain 130

Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook and in each ch across ch 3, turn
Row 2: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 3: *Fpdc in in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Rows 4 & 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7-10: Repeat rows 2 and 3, two times
Row 11: Repeat row 2 again.
Row 12-16: repeat rows 7-11.
Row 17: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 4 times, change to red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to green, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 18: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to green, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Rows 19-20: repeat rows 17 and 18
Row 21: repeat row 17.
Row 22: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, change to red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to green, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 23: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 4 times, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to green, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 24-25: repeat rows 22 and 23
Row 26: repeat row 22
Row 27-46: repeat rows 17 through 26, two times, change to charcoal on last stitch, ch 2, turn.

Row 47: Working in back loops only, hdc in each of next 40 dc, change to red, still working in back loops, hdc in each of next 5 dc, change to charcoal, hdc in each dc to end of row, finish off.
Row 48: Join charcoal in first hdc of previous row. Working in back loops only, dc in each of next 40 hdc, change to red, still working in back loops, dc in each of next 5 hdc, dc in each hdc to end of row, finish off.
Row 49: Join charcoal in first dc of previous row. Working in back loops only, hdc in each of next 40 dc, change to red, still working in back loops, hdc in each of next 5 dc, hdc in each dc to end of row, finish off.

Row 50: Join Heather Grey in first hdc of previous row. Ch 3, dc in each of next 40 hdc, change to red, dc in each of next 5 hdc, dc in each hdc to end of row, ch 3, turn.
Row 51: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 4 times, change to red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 52: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 53-54: repeat rows 51 and 52
Row 55: repeat row 51
Row 56: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, change to red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc change to grey fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 57: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc *4 times, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 58-59: repeat rows 56 and 57
Row 60: repeat row 56
Row 61-90: repeat rows 51 through 60, three times
Row 91-95: repeat rows 51 through 55 one more time, finish off.

BORDER
Rnd 1: With charcoal, and with right side facing, join in any stitch along the top or bottom of the blanket, ch 2. Hdc around, with 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2
Rnd 2: Working in back loops only, hdc around, working 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2.
Rnd 3: Repeat rnd 2, finish off

Weave in ends.

Variation 2

ART DECO BABY BLANKET-Variation #2
Dimensions: 40" by 45"
Size I hook

Size I hook

18 oz black

18 oz grey

3 oz blue
1 oz red

6 oz green

Gauge is not important for this project

Multiple of 10 plus 6 plus beg chain 4

With black, Chain 130

Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook and in each ch across ch 3, turn
Row 2: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Row 3: *Fpdc in in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn
Rows 4 & 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7-10: Repeat rows 2 and 3, two times
Row 11: Repeat row 2 again.
Row 12-16: repeat rows 7-11.
Row 17: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to blue, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 18: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to blue, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Rows 19-20: repeat rows 17 and 18
Row 21: repeat row 17.
Row 22: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to blue, fpdc in each of next 5 dc , bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 23: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to blue, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 24-25: repeat rows 22 and 23
Row 26: repeat row 22
Row 27-46: repeat rows 17 through 26, two times, change to green on last stitch, ch 2, turn.

Row 47: Working in back loops only, hdc in each of next 29 dc, change to blue, still working in back loops, hdc in each of next 10 dc, hdc in each dc to end of row, finish off.
Row 48: Join green in first hdc of previous row. Working in back loops only, dc in each of next 29 hdc, change to blue, still working in back loops, dc in each of next 10 hdc, dc in each hdc to end of row, finish off.
Row 49: Join green in first dc of previous row. Working in back loops only, hdc in each of next 29 dc, change to blue, still working in back loops, hdc in each of next 10 dc, hdc in each dc to end of row, finish off.

Row 50: Join Heather Grey in first hdc of previous row. Ch 3, dc in each of next 29 hdc, change to blue, dc in each of next 10 hdc, change back to grey, dc in each hdc to end of row, ch 3, turn.
Row 51: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to blue, fpdc in each of next 5 dc , bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 52: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to blue, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 53-54: repeat rows 51 and 52
Row 55: repeat row 51
Row 56: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to blue, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 57: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to blue, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 58-59: repeat rows 56 and 57
Row 60: repeat row 56
Row 61-70: repeat rows 51 through 60, 
Row 71-75: repeat rows 51 through 56
Row 76: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc; fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to Red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 77: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc; bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to red, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 78-79: repeat rows 76 and 77
Row 80: repeat row 76
Rows 81: *Bpdc in each of next 5 dc, fpdc in each of next 5 dc* 8 times, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc , bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to grey, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 82: *Fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc* 3 times, change to red, fpdc in each of next 5 dc, bpdc in each of next 5 dc, change to black, rep from * to * to end of row, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 83-84 repeat rows 81 and 82
Row 85: repeat row 81

Row 86-95: repeat rows 76 through 85 one time, finish off.

BORDER
Rnd 1: With green, and with right side facing, join in any stitch along the top or bottom of the blanket, ch 2. Hdc around, with 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2
Rnd 2: Working in back loops only, hdc around, working 3 hdc in each corner. Join with sl stitch to top of chain 2.
Rnd 3: Repeat rnd 2, finish off

Weave in ends.

Variation 1

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 2

Variation 2

Standard Pattern

swimming turtles

So, almost a year ago, one of my brothers announced that they were expecting their fourth child. A few months later, they announced that this child would be a boy. A few weeks after that, I went on a pinterest hunt, looking for a crochet baby blanket that would be just the right spot of adorable-ness for this new nephew-to-be. As I was searching along, I found a picture of a darling ripple afghan, worked in shades of blue with just a bit of tan and white, which then had five crochet turtles sewn to the blanket, as if they were headed out to the sea.

Just the right spot of adorableness.  

I went to the site (sewloca.com), where Cristina broke down her process of designing, and then making the afghan. She included a link to a free ripple afghan pattern, and described how she worked the ripples, then added some bobbles in the white to make the "foamy" look. Entranced and encouraged, I decided to try my own luck at making a swimming turtle blanket.








It turned out well. So well in fact, that I decided to make another one, and this time write out the pattern as I went so that I didn't have to rely on other sites for my own future reference. Turtle blanket  #1 was sent to the new babe, and I started work on turtle blanket #2.

I decided to make the foamy part of the sea a little bit thicker, this time around, and I added an extra turtle.


Also, it was winter by the time I finished this one, so the grass background looks much worse for the wear than in the photos of blanket #1.













After I'd finished making the blanket and writing up the pattern, I decided that just for easy reference, I'd post my version of the pattern here. I do sell a few patterns in my etsy shop, but since I got the idea and the building blocks of this blanket entirely from from the goodness of some other people's hearts, it feels right to keep this pattern here, where anyone who wants to access it can do so for free.

So, here it is:

SWIMMING TURTLES PATTERN
(inspired by Cristina at sewloca.com)

Yarn-5 skeins of worsted weight yarn, one in each of the following colors: Dark Blue, Medium Blue, Light Blue, White, and Tan. Also some yarn in differing shades of green, brown, tan, etc, for the turtles. (I used Caron Simply Soft for all aspects of this project)

Crochet Hook-Size G (This is what works for me. You might want to use a size H hook here, I crochet more loosely than just about anyone I know)

Pattern:

BLANKET
Starting with the darkest blue, chain 171 across

R1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, *dc in next 4 st, dec 2 times, dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in each of next 2 st * repeat from * to * across, ending with 2 dc in last st.

Follow this pattern for 16 rows, then switch to medium blue for 16 rows, then to light blue for 16 rows.

Switch to white, follow pattern for 3 rows. On the 4th row, working in back loops only, make a cluster stitch every other stitch or so (this makes the "foam" of your ocean), switch to tan/creme at end of row.

Using tan/creme, working in free loops of the white row, continue the pattern. Once you get to row 2 of the tan, use both loops, and continue until you have made 16 rows. Fasten off.















TURTLES
Make 6 (or five, if you prefer)

SHELL
RND 1: Starting with Green (or whatever color you want the head and legs and tail to be), chain 3(counts as first hdc), then hdc in beg chain, *ch 2, 2 hdc in beg ch* 4 times. Join, switching to brown You should have five ch 2 spaces.

RND 2: in any ch 2 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, *ch 2, 3 dc in next sp*,  four times. Join, fasten off.

Rnd 3: With green, ch 2 in middle st of any 3dc cluster, *sc in next st, sc, dc in stitch below, sc in next ch 2 space, sc in each of next three dc* repeat around row, chain 2

Rnd 4: Working in front loops only, sc around, decreasing every five stitches or so. Finish off.



FRONT LEGS AND HEAD

LEG: Using the picture as a guide, and working in the unused back loops of Rnd 3, sl stitch in the stitch where you want the front right leg to be. Ch 5, then turn and, working in back loops, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in next five stitches. sl stitch to Rnd three, and sc to where you want the head to be.

HEAD: sl st where you want the head to be, then chain 4. Working in back loops of ch, hdc four times in next sc, sc in each of next three ch. sl stitch, and sc to where you want the other leg to be. Repeat process for leg, finish off.

BACK LEGS AND TAIL

LEG:  Using the picture as a guide, and working in the unused back loops of Rnd 3, sl stitch in the stitch where you want the back left leg to be. Ch 4, sc in back loops of sc, sc in unused loops of rnd 3. until you get to where you want the tail. Make tail by sl st, ch 2, sl st in same stitch. Sc in unused loops of Rnd 3 until you get to where you want the other leg to be, repeat process for leg, finish off.

Weave in ends, stitch turtles to blanket.

scrap yarn afghan

After my fun experience with the Basketweave Purse Pattern, I determined that I would have another go at a square from my 30 Best Afghan Squares booklet.

This lap blanket was the result:

heirlooms

Many years ago, I finished a blanket that my grandmother had started before she passed away.

You can read that story here.



Interestingly, a year or two ago (maybe more--the years kind of run together for me now), my mother-in-law gave me half of an afghan that my husband's grandmother had started before she had passed away.

her half

So, eventually, I finished that one too.

my half

After all, why stop at one grandma blanket, when you can have two?

Cloudy Day Ripple Throw

When it comes to crocheting, gloves are great, purses are fun (pics of those coming), but for me, there just really is nothing like working on, and then finishing an afghan.



Introducing the Cloudy Day Ripple Throw, which I crocheted using a free pattern from Red Heart. It now belongs to a dear friend of mine, as she was in need of an afghan to keep up at her new cabin by the lake.

I'm quite pleased with the way it worked up. I'm actually not always all that keen on the look of ripple afghans, but I like how this pattern alternates the shell pattern stripes with the straight double crochet stripes to mix things up a bit.



The blanket worked up quickly, and I enjoyed making it.



In light of all that, I went ahead and listed it as a custom-order option in the etsy shop here.

simple ripple joy

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I worked up two baby blankets for her.  They quickly became favorites, and for a few years, they were the only covers that she would keep on at night.  (So I always made sure that she had really really extra warm pajamas on!)

Well, she's four years old now, which means that the blankets are four years old as well, and let me tell you, they look it.  Four years of lots of kid love can be hard on a blanket, no question.  So, a little after Christmas, as we were in Michael's, taking advantage of a killer yarn sale, I asked her if she would like to pick out some yarn for a new blanket.  Of course she was thrilled.  A few pink and rainbow skeins later, and we were on our way.

I asked her what pattern she'd like, and (unsurprisingly) she chose the same ripple-stitch pattern that I had made for her cousin last year.



To be honest, ripple-stitch isn't my favorite afghan aesthetically.  (Don't tell my kid, okay?).  They are easy easy to do though, and work up quickly, and that's what she wanted.  So, I was happy to comply.



Isn't it a treat when you can make a loved one so happy by something that you make with your hands?  I love being a crocheter.