Thank You

I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! As I've said before, this is my favorite time of year. For me, as I'm sure many of you, it evokes heart warming memories of family and friends who have touched us through the years, and reminds me of what is good in my life.

You, my friends, are special to me. You give me purpose to do what I love. Crochet! In appreciation for being there for me, I am sharing some special Thanksgiving dessert with you.



Enjoy!!

Carrot Cake

*Pattern has been clarified. If you find any other mistakes, please let me know. :)

Materials: (US) size F hook, worsted weight yarn: less than 1 ounce each of Warm Brown, and Soft White; scrap amounts of Carrot, and (optional)Paddy Green (Red Heart Super Saver was used for example), large handful of fiberfil stuffing, 2 small pieces of cardboard or plastic (I used circles cut from a plastic milk jug), tapestry needle.

NOTE: Entire piece is worked in the round without joining unless otherwise noted.

TOP

With Warm Brown and using adjustable loop

Round 1: 6 sc into loop. (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)

Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sc)

Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times. (30 sc)

Round 6: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts) 6 times. (36 sc)

Round 7: sc in each st around, sl st in next st to join, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

CAKE

With Warm Brown and using adjustable loop

Round 1: 6 sc into loop. (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)

Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sc)

Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times. (30 sc)

Round 6: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts) 6 times. (36 sc)

Round 7: sc in each st around.

Round 8: working in BLO, sc in each st around.

Rounds 9-11: sc in each st around.

Round 12: change to Soft White, sc in each st around.

Rounds 13 and 14: sc in each st around.

Round 15: Change to Warm Brown, sc in each st around.

Rounds 16 - 18: sc in each st around, at end of round 18 sl st in next st to join, fasten off, weave in ends.

ICING

With Soft White and using adjustable loop

Round 1: 6 sc into loop. (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)

Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sc)

Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times. (30 sc)

Round 6: 3 sc in each st around, sl st in next st to join, fasten off, weave in ends.

CARROTS (make 2)

With Carrot and using adjustable loop

Round 1: 8 sc into adjustable loop. (8 sc)

Round 2: sc in each st around.

Round 3: sc in each of next 6 sts, sc2tog. (7 sc)

Round 4: sc in each of next 5 sts, sc2tog. (6 sc)

Round 5: sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog. (5 sc)

Round 6: sc in each of next 3 sts, sc2tog. (4 sc)

Round 7: sc2tog, sc in next st, leave last st unworked, do not join, ch 1 and pull tight, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (2 sc)

ASSEMBLY

1) Optional: For tops of CARROTS, cut two 4 inch pieces of Paddy Green. Fold each piece in half and using a lark's head knot (fringe knot), attach 1 strand to each CARROT. Trim to desired length. Using tip of tapestry needle, split the plies of yarn to fray.

2) Arrange CARROTS as desired on top of ICING and using long tail, sew into place.

3) With Soft White, sew ICING piece to TOP piece between rounds 5 and 6.

4) Using the TOP piece as a template, cut 2 circles from the cardboard (or plastic) to fit just inside the CAKE piece. Place one of the circles in the bottom of the CAKE piece. Stuff with fiberfill. Place other circle on top of fiberfil.

5) Using the long tail left at the end of round 7, sew the outer edge of the TOP piece to the top edge of the CAKE piece.

Enjoy!

DJ Ben Rock Is In Da House!

Anyone with a toddler running around should recognize this bright orange fellow from Nick Jr's Yo Gabba Gabba. Yes, Halloween has been over for 3 weeks, but I still wanted to post a picture of Ben's costume. Well, the hat to be exact.

The hat that came with the DJ Lance Rock costume didn't fit at all, not to mention is was a bit cheesy. So armed with a J Hook, a skein of RHSS in Pumpkin, and a ball of Orange Yarn Bee Haute Fur, I embarked on the mission of creating a proper fitting, and cooler looking, hat. I think I succeeded. :)


Stay tuned for the pattern in an upcoming blog post!

Apple Trivet

Finished size: Approximately 9 x 7 inches

Materials: (US) size G hook, Worsted Weight Cotton: 2 oz main color, scraps of green, and brown. (Example was made using Sugar‘n Cream in Red and Dk Pine, and I Love This Cotton in Brown), tapestry needle

Weave in ends as work progresses.

APPLE (make 2)

ch 6, join with sl st to form loop

Row 1: (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in loop, turn.

Row 2: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, 6 dc in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 3: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 dc, 2 dc in each of next 6 sts, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 4: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 11 sts, (sc, ch 1) in next st, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 5: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 10 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 6: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 9 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 7: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 8 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 8: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 7 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 9: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 6 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 10: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 5 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 11: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same , ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 4 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 12: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same ch sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 3 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 13: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in each of next 2 ch-2 sps, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 14: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same ch sp, ch 1, skip next 3 sts, (sc, ch 2) in next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 1) in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, turn.

Row 15: sl st in each of next 2 sts, sl st into next ch-1 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, dc in next ch-2 sp, (3 dc, sl st in ch 1 sp of beg shell to join bottom, 3 dc) in next ch-1 sp, fasten off.

LEAVES (make 2)

ch 9

Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 5 ch, (hdc, ch 1, sl st) in next ch, (working along opposite side of starting ch (ch 1, hdc) in first ch, dc in each of next 5 ch, hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch, fasten off.

STEM (hanging loop)

ch 8, join with sl st to form loop

Round 1: 12 sc in loop, fasten off.


ASSEMBLY

1. Using red yarn and holding the 2 apple pieces wrong sides together, sew around the outer edge to join.

2. Arrange leaves on front of trivet as desired (see photo for example) and sew into place one at a time using green yarn.

3. Sew stem/hanging loop into place at top of trivet (see photo for example) using red or brown yarn.

Ribbed Washcloth

Finished size: 7" Square

Materials:
(US) size 7 needles, 2 ounces Worsted Weight Cotton in desired color (Example was made using I Love This Cotton in the Carousel colorway)

Cast on 35.

Row 1: k3, (p1, k3) across. (35 sts)
Row 2: k1, (p1, k3) across to last 2 sts, p1, k1.
Rows 3 - 35: rep rows 1 and 2 ending with a row 1 rep.
Row 36: Bind off in pattern as established in row 2.

Finish off. Weave in ends. Block to 7" square.



Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2010 All rights reserved

Share A Square

During my cyber travels this morning I came across the Share A Square blog. I had heard the name before but didn't know exactly what it was. After reading through the FAQs page this is definitely something I want to help out with. Like many of you I have a jam packed schedule through the holidays, but once my Christmas crocheting & sewing is completed I will be jumping on this project. I just thought I'd share the site with you here in hopes that you'll join me in helping this project meet its goal.

Sweet & Simple Charity Scarf

MATERIALS: (US) size J hook, 1 skein Worsted Weight yarn (I Love This Yarn in the Sweet Mocha Multi colorway was used for example), tapestry needle

NOTE: BLO = back loop only

Ch 20

Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (18 dc)

Row 2: ch 3, working in BLO dc in next st and in each st across, turn.

Repeat row 2 (ending on an even row) until scarf is desired length or until skein is used up.  (I usually get somewhere around 80 rows)

Finish off. Weave in ends. Add fringe if desired.

Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2010 All rights reserved

Odiferous Fiber

I've been seeing a lot of questions pop up on blogs and in groups around the net pertaining to foreign odors in yarn. Whether it's the result of a smoker, the family pet(s), or just plain funkitude (did I just invent a word?) it's something that needs to be dealt with.

First of all, consider the source of the smell. If it comes from smoke, or some other "additive," you are going to want to wash the yarn to remove any remaining residue. Of course you can just wash the yarn and be done with it all in one fell swoop, but it's probably easier to wash a finished item than it is a skein of yarn (plus a finished item will dry WAY faster than a skein of yarn!) Just food for thought.

Secondly, keep in mind that I am in no way an authority on the subject. I just thought I'd gather a few suggestions that I, and others, have found successful for removing those offensive smells.

> Erika over at Crochet by Day used some Febreeze and good ole fashioned sunshine to wipe out her "Yarn Funk".

> This idea is from me but inspired by Cyndi. Of course people have been using baking soda for years in the fridge for keeping odors at bay. Cyndi started sprinkling it on the carpet to avoid the unwanted odors that owning a dog can bring. She also uses it to remove foul odors from anything plastic. So I had the idea to place one of the fridge packs in with a box of offensive yarn. Leave it in the closed box overnight, or a couple of days for stronger smells, and you will have odor free yarn.

> And here is a discussion over on the 'ville regarding washing a whole skein yarn. It seems wrapping it up in a knee high stocking and letting it run through the machine is a go!

That's what I have for now. What have you used to remove unwanted odor from your yarn?