Exciting News and a Sneak Preview!!

I am just beside myself with excitement. I've been sitting on pins and needles for several months now wanting desperately to spill the beans. It was very hard, but I was a good girl and kept quiet. And now the time is here, I can finally say it out loud...

I'm going to be Published!!

Yes, published! My first professional pattern in a real honest to goodness, buy it at your local news-stand, popular crochet magazine. The October 2011 issue of Crochet World magazine to be exact.

Here's the sneak preview on Ravelry of what you will see in the magazine:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/crochet-world-magazine-october-2011/patterns

I can't believe my afghan was chosen for the front cover! It truly is an honor!

Orange Blossom

Finished Size: 6 or 12 inches

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn: approximately 2 ounces in each color A, and color B; US size "H" hook; tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

12 inch example (shown above): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Aruba Sea for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in Real Teal for color B.

6 inch example (shown below): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Real Teal for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in White for color B. (*See note below for instructions for 6 inch square.)


With color A ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook to form loop

Round 1: ch 3, 15 dc in loop, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (16 dc)

Round 2: Working in BLO: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (32 dc)

Round 3: Working in BLO: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) around, sl st in top of next beg ch 3 to join, fasten off. (48 dc,)

Round 4: Working in unworked FLO from Rounds 2 and 3: join color A with sc in first st of rnd 2, ch 2, sc in 3rd st of rnd 3, ch 2, (skip next st on rnd 2, sc in next st, ch 2, skip next 3 sts of rnd 3, sc in next st, ch 2) around, join with sl st in beg sc. (8 "petals")

Round 5: Join color B with sl st in top of beg ch on round 3, ch 3, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (40 dc, 12 sc)

Round 6: ch 3, dc in each of next 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each st across to next ch sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each rem st across, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (76 dc)

Round 7: Join color A with sl st in any ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp, (3 sc in next ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp) 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg sc, fasten off.

Round 8: Join color B with sl st in center st of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, dc in each st across to center st of next corner, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each st across to center st of next corner] 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.

Rounds 9 - 12: Repeat rounds 7 and 8 twice more. Weave in all ends.

*NOTE: For 6 inch square work as follows:

Rounds 1 - 5: Work same as rounds 1-5 of 12 inch square, fasten off at end of round 5.

Round 6: Work same as round 7 of 12 inch square. Weave in all ends.

Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2011 All rights reserved

Back to main Charity 'Ghan CAL page

Sailing Along

Finished Size: 6 or 12 inches

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn: approximately 2 ounces in each color A, and color B; US size "H" hook; tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

12 inch example (shown above): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Aruba Sea for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in Real Teal for color B.

6 inch example (shown below): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Real Teal for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in White for color B. (*See note below for instructions for 6 inch square.)


With color A ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook to form loop

Round 1: ch 3, 15 dc in loop, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (16 dc)

Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (32 dc)

Round 3: Working in BLO: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) around, sl st in top of next beg ch 3 to join, fasten off. (48 dc,)

Round 4: Working in unworked FLO from Round 3 join color A with sl st in first st, (ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, skip next st on rnd 3, sl st in next st) around, join with sl st in beg sl st. (16 "waves")

Round 5: Join color B with sl st in top of beg ch on round 3, ch 3, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (40 dc, 12 sc)

Round 6: ch 3, dc in each of next 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each st across to next ch sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each rem st across, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (76 dc)

Round 7: Join color A with sl st in any ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp, (3 sc in next ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp) 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg sc, fasten off.

Round 8: Join color B with sl st in center st of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, dc in each st across to center st of next corner, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each st across to center st of next corner] 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.

Rounds 9 - 12: Repeat rounds 7 and 8 twice more. Weave in all ends.

*NOTE: For 6 inch square work as follows:

Rounds 1 - 5: Work same as rounds 1-5 of 12 inch square, fasten off at end of round 5.

Round 6: Work same as round 7 of 12 inch square. Weave in all ends.


Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2011 All rights reserved

Back to main Charity 'Ghan CAL page

S P R I N G

Our first real sign of Spring showed up in the front yard several days ago. In amongst the rose bushes and uncollected leaves from last fall is one single lonely, but gorgeous, tulip. This is our first spring here so we are left wondering why only one. Did the previous owner see fit to plant just one bulb, or is this the lone survivor of all those harsh winters? Either way it is good to have concrete proof that spring is finally here!

Below is a flowering tree from the back yard. I'm not sure what kind it is. Cherry maybe? Another pretty surprise for spring.

And this one, a bush that accents the corner of the front porch, I have not a clue what it might be. I don't think I've ever seen one like it before. Very unique indeed.

And now for some crochet:
I can't show you anything I'm working on at the moment. It's all very Top Secret and Hush Hush, so I thought I'd show you the Flower Fairy and Mushroom that Cyndi surprised me with before Easter. I just love them. :)

Corn Flower

Finished Size: 6 or 12 inches

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn: approximately 2 ounces in each color A, and color B; US size "H" hook; tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

12 inch example (shown above): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Cornmeal for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in Gold for color B.

6 inch example (shown below): Pattern was worked using Red Heart Super Saver in Gold for color A, and Red Heart Super Saver in White for color B. (*See note below for instructions for 6 inch square.)


With color A ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook to form loop

Round 1: ch 3, 15 dc in loop, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (16 dc)

Round 2: Working in BLO: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3. (32 dc)

Round 3: Working in BLO: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) around, sl st in top of next beg ch 3 to join, fasten off. (48 dc)

Round 4: Working in unworked FLO on Round 1 join color B with sl st in first st, (ch 2, sl st in next st) around, join with sl st in beg sl st. (16 ch-2 sps)

Round 5: Working in unworked FLO on Round 2 join color B with sl st in first st, (ch 2, sl st in next st) around, join with sl st in beg sl st. (32 ch-2 sps)

Round 6: Join color B with sl st in top of beg ch on round 3, ch 3, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (40 dc, 12 sc)

Round 7: ch 3, dc in each of next 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each st across to next ch sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in each rem st across, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off. (76 dc)

Round 8: Join color A with sl st in any ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp, (3 sc in next ch sp, sc in each st across to next ch 2 sp) 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg sc, fasten off.

Round 9: Join color B with sl st in center st of any corner, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, dc in each st across to center st of next corner, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in each st across to center st of next corner] 3 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fasten off.

Rounds 10 - 13: Repeat rounds 8 and 9 twice more. Weave in all ends.

*NOTE: For 6 inch square work as follows:

Rounds 1 - 6: Work same as rounds 1-6 of 12 inch square, fasten off at end of round 6.

Round 7: Work same as round 8 of 12 inch square. Weave in all ends.

Pattern designed and written by April Moreland
© 2011 All rights reserved

Back to main Charity 'Ghan CAL page