Crocheted Scallop Border on Lollipop Oddball Blanket

The Lollipop Oddball Blanket is now complete and on its way back to the person who will deliver it to some lucky little baby in a Connecticut hospital.

After knitting the loose basketweave section in red, I crocheted a pretty scallop in yellow to finish it off. Here it is...


The is the exact same scallop pattern I used on the Tutti Frutti Oddball Blanket back in January, except that I worked a slip stitch between each 5 dc scallop instead of a single crochet. I also only worked 2 rounds of single crochet around the blanket before working the scallop border instead of 3. I find that the worsted weight blankets only require 2 rounds before the decorative border because the yarn is so much bigger than the sport weight used in the preemie blankets.


These bright colors will provide good visual stimulation for some new little baby, along with all the love and warmth that was knit and crocheted into this Lollipop blanket.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Picot Border on Tiny Dancer Oddball Baby Blanket

Who doesn't love a quick project every now and then to provide that much needed sense of accomplishment? That's one of the reasons I love working on the oddball baby blankets. A package comes in the mail, I pick out yarn that I think will go well with the project, I knit a few inches of the pattern of my choice, I crochet a pretty border also of my choosing, and I mail it back. No long term commitments, no huge financial or time investment. The perfect fast finish! Of course the real satisfaction comes when we read on the knittinghelp.com charity forum that the blankets have been delivered and appreciated.

Here's the latest one I worked on, and my second finished project for September...


It's called Tiny Dancer, and is made with sweet colors and dainty patterns.


It really is quite tiny too, since it is for a premature baby, only about 21 x 22 inches including the border. It has been worked with sport weight yarns in colors or variegated of each knitter's choosing.


After I knitted the last section in a pretty pink using the farrow rib stitch, I worked 6 rows of garter stitch before binding off. Then using a soft yellow and this method for crocheting around a knitted piece, I worked 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a substantial base for the decorative border. The pattern I chose for the border is just a little picot every 3 stitches, and it is very easy to do.

Crocheted Picot Border

* sl st in each of next 3 st, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st *

Repeat from * to * around. When you reach the beginning again, end with a sl st. Cut yarn, draw tail through loop and pull tight. Weave in ends.

If you are interested in working on an oddball baby blanket, just go to the Knittinghelp.com Charity forum and pick the thread that matches your location. Join in the conversation and let them know that you are interested in working on a blanket. They'll be glad to have you! Make sure you tell them that Mary Grace sent you!

Happy Stitching!

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Babette Crocheted Blanket - Finally Finished!

Babette is finally complete! Elizabeth missed her goal by 3 days, but she worked on it faithfully until it was finished. Take a look at this wonderful accomplishment...


The sun came out just as the last stitch was being worked...


...and here it is...the final stitch of a very ambitious crochet project!


The border starts with the two rounds of red in double crochet, then light green, gold, two rounds of navy, a yellow, an orange, then the final round in teal single crochet to finish it off. No wonder it took so long!


But doesn't it look great? It was so big and heavy that Elizabeth needed her little sister Gracie to help hold it on the railing.


What a fabulous combination of colors!


And great perseverance too! Elizabeth is already looking forward to using this blanket at football games this fall. It's big enough to wrap herself up in it from head to toe and all the way around!

Happy Stitching!

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Granny Square Stash Buster Project

Here's a quick peek at how I'm using up leftover yarn from recent projects...


Do you recognize these colors? They are from the afghan I made for my son's bed which I showed HERE. I will also be adding squares made from leftovers from Elizabeth's Babette which is just about finished!

Now I'm off to the doctor to see what's wrong with my knee...such fun!

Happy Stitching!

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Babette Crocheted Blanket - Update #4

Crocheting a large blanket from beginning to end between the last day of high school and the first day of college is a pretty lofty goal for a young lady. But if you've read my previous posts on this adventure, you know that is just what my daughter set out to do this summer.

Her first day of classes will be next Wednesday, September 2. Would you like to see how far she's come towards reaching her goal?


I just had to put this picture first because it is so colorful! Elizabeth worked out the 22 different colors on this blanket so that no color was touching itself from block to block. And the first round of the border will be a color that is not used in the outside row of any border block! Whew, too much to think about!


So here is Elizabeth's Babette with all the blocks crocheted and sewn together, just waiting for the multi-color border she is planning for it. At this point it measures 57 x 62 inches - big and cozy!

I do believe she will reach her goal and I think that is quite an accomplishment!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet Jacob's Ladder - Video Tutorial

There are so many wonderful sources for creative inspiration around these days, whether it be magazines, shops, what the person in front of you in the grocery store check-out line is wearing, websites, the paper band on a skein of yarn, you name it! I love poking through KnittingHelp.com to see what other people are doing, or what people are having trouble doing. Just recently, someone was having a problem with a crocheted afghan pattern, so I offered to help.

Here's what I came up with...


Oh no, it's not an afghan!


But I suppose if you are a very long, skinny snake, it could be an afghan!


Nope, I'd have to say, it's definitely not an afghan.


But don't you just love the colors?

I took a look at the link to the afghan pattern that was provided and discovered that it is the pattern called Jacob's Ladder. You can click HERE for the full pattern.

For the small sample I was going to use to make the following video, I decided to just whip up a little section of the pattern with only one ladder in it. I liked working on it so much that I dug up more leftover yarn and kept on crocheting! When I was finished, I had a fabulous and colorful scarf that should be very warm and cozy, not to mention quite eye-catching! It's approximately 6 1/2 by 80 inches and machine wash and dry.

OK, back to business! This pattern could be done using one color of yarn throughout or multiple colors. It lends itself nicely to the using up of scrap yarn - a real stash-buster! It would be nice in yarn weights from baby all the way up to chunky, using the appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn chosen. Of course the beginning chain length would need to be adjusted depending on the size yarn used and the desired finished size.

The Jacob's Ladder pattern is a very simple combination of double crochet and chain stitch, with an easy single crochet edge at the end. Once the pattern is established in the base row of the piece, it is the type of project that you really don't have to give much thought to as you are working on it. If you are using up leftover yarn, you could just crochet until one color runs out and then add in the next color. This project was a nice break for me in between working on the knitted lace shawl that requires total concentration and no interruptions!

Here is a not-so-little video on how to work the Jacob's Ladder crochet pattern. I guess I was feeling a bit loquacious when I made it!

In the video, I use safety pins at the end as the pattern recommends to keep the ladder from unraveling. In hindsight, however, I would recommend using locking stitch markers such as those you can see on the knitted lace shawl post, or just a scrap of yarn tied in a bow at the top of each ladder. Safety pins can get caught in your yarn and can sometimes be hard to remove as you are crocheting along.




I hope you find this video helpful!

Happy Stitching!

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Label Complete on Sweet Liberty Crocheted Afghan

The label for Sweet Liberty, the crocheted afghan which will be a raffle prize at an upcoming memorial golf tournament, is finally complete and attached. I will be delivering it to the family tonight, a full 11 days ahead of schedule!


Here it is from the front...


...and here it is from the back, where you can see the label on the lower right hand corner.


To make the label, I used a piece of unbleached muslin and an extra fine point permanent marker. I printed out the words I wanted in a format and font that would be easy to trace, then I traced them onto the muslin, leaving enough fabric around the edges to turn them under for a finished edge. I pressed the muslin to set the ink, pressing the folded edges at the same time. Using off-white quilting thread, I stitched the label onto the afghan using the herringbone stitch.

The lucky person who wins this afghan will now always remember the reason it was crocheted and the sacrifice this family made.

Happy Stitching!

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Sweet Liberty Needs a Label - HELP!

Those of you who are regular readers here at Hooked On Needles know about the Sweet Liberty Crocheted Afghan that I recently finished and that will be donated to an upcoming fund raising event. Quite a few of you are veteran crocheters and knitters, and some of you newbies are moving along so quickly that you will very soon be considered old hands at these as well.

Now I must ask for some help and advice from you. I would very much like to attach a label to this afghan so that the person who wins it will always remember the reason it was made. I am still brewing ideas for wording in my head, but I am a bit stumped as to how exactly to make the label and attach it to the afghan so that it will look nice and wash well and remain part of the afghan for a good long time.



I have never put a label on a knitted or crocheted piece of any kind, and I am thinking I could just make one much like a label for a quilt and hand sew it on the back in one of the lower corners. But since I have never done it, I am quite hesitant to try it on this afghan, just in case it doesn't work.

So what do you think about labeling a crocheted afghan? Have you ever done it before? If so, how did you do it? How did you attach the label? Did it last a long time, through use and washings and so forth? Any help, advice, pointers or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Stitching!

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Sweet Liberty - Complete! Happy July 4th!

Happy 4th of July to everyone! Sweet Liberty is an ideal that many people and countries have fought and died for, and one which a good number of us take for granted. When someone close to us gives the full measure of sacrifice to support and defend such an ideal, we are reminded at what great cost such a gift comes.

I am well aware that there is nothing I can do to ease the pain of a family who has lost a son. But I hope my contribution to their fund raising efforts for a memorial scholarship fund will, in some small way, help them to realize that their sacrifice and that of their son is indeed appreciated. This country would not be the great nation it is today were it not for families such as theirs, with brave sons and daughters willing to give it all.

So here it is, complete and ready to be delivered and offered as a raffle prize at the August 1st Jonathan Roberge Memorial Golf Tournament...Sweet Liberty Crocheted Afghan...


The sun actually came out today...


...so I just HAD to take advantage of it...


...by hanging Sweet Liberty over the back deck railing for these pictures. Of course, I had to wipe them down first to get all the rain drops off!


Here is a close-up of the reverse single crochet border in navy blue...my all-time favorite afghan edging!


And a close-up of the intersection where 4 blocks come together. I joined the blocks using single crochet in the same manner as I did on this pastel blocks baby blanket. I find it makes a very sturdy seam that looks great on both sides.


I just thought this was a cool shot, so I included it! You just can't beat the red, white and blue color combination for a striking piece of handwork. I am so pleased with how this afghan turned out, and so glad I did not break up the kit a long time ago and use the yarn for something else. I just knew a worthwhile cause would cross my path eventually, and this one is certainly worthwhile.

Happy July 4th once again, and remember to be thankful for the Sweet Liberty we all enjoy.

Happy Stitching!

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Sweet Liberty Crocheted Blocks Complete!

The golf tournament is just over a month away, and I am making great progress towards my goal! Just less than two weeks ago, I showed you a peek at the blocks for the Sweet Liberty Crocheted Afghan which I am making for a raffle to help raise money for the PFC Jonathan Roberge Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Here is another peek at my progress to date...


What you see here are two stacks of crocheted blocks, and in each stack there are 10 blocks! Yes, that's right! I finally finished all the blocks!


I was able to consistently complete at least one block a day, and on some days as many as 2 1/2. Of course it didn't hurt that the past two weeks have been unusually cold and rainy, so we spent lots of time indoors!


I threw this picture in just because I liked it!


This will be the arrangement of the blocks for the afghan. I will connect them to each other using the red yarn and my favorite method, which is single crochet, in a manner similar to strip quilting. HERE is a little tutorial showing that method.

After all the blocks are crocheted together, I will do several rounds of single crochet using the red and blue yarns, and then finish the afghan with a round of reverse single crochet in blue.

These crocheted star blocks have come together much faster than I had ever expected. This could be due to the fact that I found out the golf tournament was being held about 2 months earlier than I had thought! Nothing like working under pressure! But isn't it amazing how productive we can be when something really matters? I think this really matters.

Happy Stitching!

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Babette Update #2

Remember those lazy days of summer between school years?

Not having the responsibility of school is really agreeing with my oldest daughter, Elizabeth. She loves sleeping in a little later, puttering around the house, playing with her little sister and brother, and spending long afternoons and evenings with her crocheting. All this, of course, when she isn't working!

Here's a picture of the progress she has made so far on her Babette...


She is so happy with how it is turning out, and even my husband commented on how much he likes it! I think what is keeping her interested in this project for so long is the frequent color changes, and the variety of block sizes for each section. She also has the incentive of wanting to have this complete before she begins her college career on September 2, so she just keeps plugging away a little bit each day.

Since she purchased the larger skeins of Red Heart yarn for this project, she will have lots leftover and is already planning what she will do with that. I'm guessing another afghan, but I'm not sure if she'll jump right into another Babette right away!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Single Crochet Shells in Tiramisu Baby Blanket

Merry, of crocheted ABC Blanket fame, recently shared with me a pattern she had found for the Tiramisu Baby Blanket because she was having a bit of trouble with keeping the edges straight.

Here is a picture of the sample I crocheted using 3 colors. This shows off the single crochet shells very nicely, and in the video below, it also makes seeing the individual rows much easier.



Hopefully this video will help Merry and others in crocheting this very pretty blanket. See what you think...



I think this stitch would also make a very cozy and colorful scarf, stitched either long ways or across the short way. I can also imagine that this stitch crocheted using bulky weight yarn and a very large hook would work up quickly into a full size afghan.

Either solid or multi-color, the stitch used in the Tiramisu Baby Blanket is easy to do and very versatile. It reminds me a little bit of the Ripple Stitch and the Woven Stitch, both of which I have used for full size afghans, baby blankets, and crocheted scarves.

Happy Stitching!

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Merry's Crocheted ABC Blanket

I've been so blessed to have met such nice people from all parts of this country and around the world since I began publishing Hooked On Needles just over a year ago. Merry, my self-professed Biggest Fan, is one of those people. She's pretty new at crocheting and has made some wonderful things. Her thoughtful questions on patterns and how to do certain stitches on the Knittinghelp.com forum have been the inspiration for a few of my video tutorials. But for the most part, she picks up her yarn and hook and just goes for it. What an inspiration!

Merry just recently sent me a picture of a newly finished project for her granddaughter who will be 4 years old in a few months, and she gave me permission to publish the picture here for you all to see.


Don't you think that is the perfect afghan for a 4 year old? Now she can learn her ABCs in her sleep!

If you would like the pattern for this blanket, you can find it HERE. The puff stitch that is used in this pattern to make the grid lines and the letters is similar to the bobble stitch I used on the Cherry Berry Oddball Blanket, but not exactly the same. I will work up a little sample of the stitch from the ABC pattern and post a video soon so you can see just how it is done.

Nice job, Merry, and thank you so much for allowing me to share this fabulous picture of you and your blanket with my readers!

Happy Stitching!

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Sneak Peek at Sweet Liberty Afghan for PFC Jonathan Roberge Memorial Golf Tournament Raffle

This past January was a sad time for the city of Leominster. For the first time since the Vietnam war, one of our own was killed in action. I knew the family of PFC Jonathan Roberge through my daughter's involvement in the high school band where Jonathan's younger sister plays the trumpet.

Later this summer, a golf tournament along with a raffle will be held to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund and I wanted to do something to help. Golf just isn't my Thing, but I do love to crochet! So I thought the afghan kit which I had been saving in my project closet for just the right occasion would be the perfect item to make and donate to the raffle.


The name of the afghan is Sweet Liberty and it is made up of 20 blocks, 10 with blue stars in the middle just like in the picture, and 10 with red stars in the middle. The yarn is Bernat worsted weight and a real pleasure to work with. After reformatting the pattern so that I could follow it easily, I started working on the blocks. So far I have 6 completed. 4 more blue star blocks and 10 red star blocks, then I will crochet the blocks together and do the red border around the whole thing. Hopefully it will all be finished before tee time on August 1st.

I'll keep you posted!

Happy Stitching!

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