Reader's Projects Wash Cloths!

This weeks reader's projects are all wash and dish clothes! The crafter who made this dishcloth had forgotten all about it, when I asked if I could use the picture she told me I must be mistaken. I had to give her the link to her own picture! This is a gorgeous example of my Deb's Flower Dishcloth pattern. I absolutely love the colors!

A friend of mine made this Deb's V-Stich Granny Dishcloth. Vicki is a fellow charity crafter from the Crafting for a Cause Yahoo group!

The crafter who made this one said this about the Round Baby Washcloth with Picots:

Thank you for contacting me! I just started crocheting, and making wash cloths was a great way to practice new stitches and different techniques. The best part is the immediate gratification of a pretty item, in little time!
My sister-in-law was looking for washcloths for her new baby girl. I looked for interesting patterns and found yours. I’m still learning about gauge and hooks, so the washcloth might be smaller than originally planned, but it’s perfect for a baby’s bottom!

Crazy Couple of Months

Things have been so crazy around here the last two months, my sons' father died in June and I've been running back and forth to St Louis (an hour drive) to help them settle his affairs. They also both lived with him so they had to find other places to live. They're not children even if I still think of them as such. My youngest is still in college though and now I have to help him pay rent and other expenses because his school loans just won't stretch that far. We are moving my older son into his new apartment this weekend so it's almost over.

I've almost got my Sunflower baby blanket done. All I need is to tuck in the ends. Of course with so many color changes that's going to be a chore. I always tell myself I'm going to do it as I make the squares but never do.

I finished some George the Hairy Monster Finger Puppets for another project but now I can't remember where I put them. I'll take some pictures as soon as I find them.

I'm thinking about having another contest but I'm not really sure what to give as a prize. I'll have to check my (sadly neglected) craft room and figure it out. Meanwhile, have you checked my Contest Blog where I list all kinds of craft related contests, you need to check it out! Let me know how you like the new look, I'm thinking of changing this one, too.

Cindy's Sweater's from My Newborn Sweater Set Pattern!

Cindy is a facebook friend of mine who has been using my Newborn Sweater Set pattern to make lots of little baby sweaters for people she knows and charity, this is what she says:

I started crocheting when I was 10 yrs old so I would have been crocheting 40 yrs if I hadn't took a break. I love to crochet and my evenings are spent crocheting.

There are a lot of babies being born all around me so some of the sweaters will go to them and the rest will go to a charity. At this time I don't know what charity but I would like it to be a local charity.

Readers Projects

The featured pattern today is the newborn sweater set again, it's one of my most popular patterns so a lot of people have made them!

"I made it for my daughter, Siobhan, who was born mid-April and wore it plenty of times before outgrowing it…
I, myself, have been knitting/crocheting/sewing since I was about 6… so, 20 years. :P I am a mom of three and live in the Southwest and am studying to be a Middle School teacher… "

"A little about me: I’m Kate, from Alberta, Canada. Been crocheting regularly for about 3 years now and LOVE it! I mostly create things to give away (baby blankets, baby hats, caps for cancer patients, etc.), but I’ve been working on some things for myself lately and have been enjoying that too. I love exercising my creativity! :) This sweater set was actually the first thing I created for the son my family was going to adopt this spring. Unfortunately for our family, the adoption fell through, so this little set will be donated to a charity auction a friend is involved with down in the states to help raise money for a hospital’s neonatal ICU. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your new project! Kate"

Knit a Bear! Mother Bear Project

Here we go for a project for the knitters out there. This charity accepts knit teddy bears and distributes them to children affected by AIDS in emerging nations. It sounds like a wonderful cause , so those of you that (hopefully) can knit a bit better than I can, they provide the pattern all you have to do is kit the bear!

Mother Bear Project

Warming Families

Warming Families is having a hat challenge! The goal is to have between 15,000 & 25,000 hats donated to homeless and needy families across the US. Hats can be anywhere from infants to adult sizes. Can you help? Please take the time to knit or crochet at least one hat. Check out the website to get more information.

They are also in need of more chapter area volunteers, if you have the time and are willing to help read this page.

My Hat Patterns!

Baby Hexie Hats

Kids Bumby Hat

Hillary's Girly Girl Hat

Quickie Chemo Cap can be used for more than chemo

And the hat from my Newborn Sweater Set

I'm working on another one so please check back!

Amy's Newborn Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

My friend Amy needed a newborns cardigan pattern and I had just finished one and told her I'd post the pattern. It started out as the sweater in my Newborn Sweater Set then I added a button band, sleeves and a collar.

I used an H hook and sport weight yarn and get 4 dc = 1 inch.

This sweater is newborn size.

V stitch: dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

Ch 52, you are starting from the neckline

Row 1: dc in forth chain from hook,(Ch 3 counts as 1st stitch here and in every row), dc in next 5 chains, V st in next ch, 9 dc, V st, 14 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 7 dc
Row 2-6: ch 3, dc in each dc and V stitch in each V stitch.
Row 7:(forms the armholes) ch 3 and turn, dc to first V stitch, folding so 1st and 2nd V stitches are together dc in both to join them, dc to next V stitch and join 3rd and 4th V stitch in same manner, dc to end
Rows 8-16: ch 3 and turn, dc in each dc

Button Band:
Row 1: without breaking yarn, ch 1, *going up the front of the sweater, 2 sc into the side of each dc and ch 3. [Do not just go around the dc or ch 3, but put the hook into the stitch]
Turn the work and sc back down the front or if this is the side you want the button holes, sc, sk 1 st and ch 1, 4 sc down front for 3 or 4 button holes and then sc the rest.*
3sc in corner at bottom, sc in each dc across bottom 3sc in corner and repeat from * to *

Sleeves:
Going through both V stitches where the sleeves were joined in the underarm, join yarn, if you don't do this there will be a hole in the underarm
Rd 1: ch 3, dc in each stitch, Check to make sure you have 22 stitches and join
Rd 2-10: ch 3, dc in each dc and join
Rd 11: sc around and end

Collar:
Row 1: At the neckline, join in side of single crochet for button band and ch 3, dc in side of second sc of button band, dc in each stitch of the starting chain across ending with a dc in each sc of button band.
Row 2-3: dc in each dc

Sew on buttons to correspond to the button holes

A Tutorial for my Sunflower Lap-Ghan!

This is so awesome. Mikey made a video tutorial of my free pattern for the Sunflower Lap-Ghan. I really feel honered. You need to check it out if you have any problem understanding written instructions or even if you don't.

A New Scarf for Me, Me, Me!!!!

I bought this yarn last year thinking I would make a scarf for myself. I don't make myself much but I have a friend who has this awesome scarf and I thought I could do something like it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to come out right and put the yarn away. I was thinking about something else the other day when the thought suddenly occured to me that my Homespun Scarf Pattern would be perfect. Of course this isn't Lion Brand Homespun but I already love the way it's turning out. Much better than what I had come up with earlier. I'll show you the scarf as soon as I'm finished!

Reys Of Hope Project

This charity is from "back home" for me. I grew up in South Jersey and I know all the places they're talking about. They need all kinds of new and gently used clothing, baby supplies and toys. They don't say anything about hand crafted items but I really doubt they would turn them down!

Reys of Hope