A ‘Horsey’ Family December 16, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Crafts, Crochet, DIY Projects.add a comment
I’ve had a request for another DIY project! Laura asked if I would post about how to make these little crocheted ponies so here it is!
I was originally hoping to make a whole bunch of these crochet horse ‘families’ for the Pecan Festival, but I was unable to reach the number I needed – maybe next year :) The photo is of a mare, a foal, and an unfinished stallion. The first set of instructions are for the mare, which was the pattern I originally started out with, and then adapted it for the stallion and the foal.
For this project (mare) you will need:
Size G crochet hook
Yarn needle or size E crochet hook
About an ounce of yarn, any color (I use acrylic, but only because it’s cheaper. You can use cotton instead, which would actually probably be better)
Scrap yarn for main and tail, any color
Stuffing
Instructions:
Chain 26 –
Round 1: 1 dc in 4th chain form hook (last chain-3 stands as first dc). 3 dc in each of next 3 ch. 1 dc in each of next 19 ch. Working along opposite side of begining ch 26, work 1 dc in back loop of same ch as last dc made. 1 dc in each of next 18 ch. 3 dc in each of next 3 ch. 1 dc in each of next 2 ch. Slip stitch in 26th ch of beg ch 26 to join = 60 dc.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 1 singlecrochet in same st as joining. 1 sc in next dc. 2 sc in each of next 3 dc. 2 dc in each of next 6 dc. 1 dc in each of next 38 dc. 2 dc in each of next 6 dc. 2 sc in each of next 3 dc. 1 sc in each of next 2 dc. Sl st in first sc to join = 8 sc, 62 dc, 8 sc.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as joining. 1 sc in next dc. 2 sc in each of next 3 dc. 2 dc in each of next 6 dc. 1 dc in each of next 38 dc. 2 dc in each of next 6 dc. 2 sc in each of next 3 dc. 1 sc in each of next 2 dc. Sl st in first sc to join = 8 sc, 62 dc, 8 sc.
Row 4: NECK CLOSING – Fold piece and lay flat, lining up sts from front and back. Ch 1, sl st in first and last sc of last RND at the same time. 1 sl st in each of next several pairs of sc from front and back at the same time, ending at base of horse’s neck.
BACK END
Ch 19 –
Round 1: 1 dc in 4th ch from hk. 1 dc in each of next 15 ch. Working along opposite side of beginning ch 19, work 1 dc in back lp of same ch as last dc made. 1 dc in back lp of each of next 16 ch. Sl st in 19th ch of beg ch 19 to join = 34 dc.
Rnds 2 & 3: Ch 3 (serves as first dc). 1 dc in each of next 33 dc. Sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join = 34 dc.
Rnd 4 : LEG CLOSING & TUMMY – Fold piece and lay flat lining up sts from front and back. Ch 1, 1 sl st in first and last dc made in last rnd at the same time. 1 sl st in each of next 8 pairs of dc from front and back at the same time (leg closed). Working in only one st at a time, sl st in next dc. Ch 3 (first dc). 1 dc in each dc around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join (tummy started) = 16 dc.
Rnds 5 & 6:
(to be finished later – sorry about the interuption!)
A Little Red Pepper December 5, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Photography.1 comment so far
Each year that we put out a garden, we always try to set out a few bell-pepper plants. We use alot of bell-peppers in cooking, and just for a snack sometimes, and it provides such a rewarding feeling to know that the peppers we are eating were grown in our own garden!
Several times we’ve gotten a few red ones among the green, but I don’t think we’ve ever gotten one as pretty as this one. It was so perfectly shaped and evenly colored, I had to take a picture :) ! This picture doesn’t do it justice, but I think it gives a pretty good idea.
Cuddly Green Dishcloth November 21, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Crafts, Crochet, DIY Projects, Knitting.add a comment
Ok, this is another DIY project, and a very easy one too, if you know the basics of knitting and crocheting. I love this dishcloth! It is so soft and…well…cuddly! :D I used cotton yarn though, and that’s what makes it so soft. Acrylic just doesn’t cut it when you’re wanting a gentle feel. If you try any of the DIY projects, please leave a comment letting me know how it went and any improvements that could be made in my instructions.
For this project you will need:
Size 9 knitting needles
Size G crochet hook
Yarn needle or E crochet hook
Row counter (optional)
Right at 2 oz. of cotton yarn, any color
Instructions:
Cast on 35 stiches.
Rows 1 – 3: Knit across.
Rows 4 – 6: Purl across.
Repeat rows 1 – 6 seven times.
Finish off knit-wise. Weave in yarn tails with yarn needle or small (E) crochet hook.
Square should measure approximately 7 3/4″ x 8 1/2″.
Using a size G crochet hook – start on left side of square, crochet 33 single-crochets evenly-spaced along left side, with 33rd in corner.
Do another sc in corner. Turn, working now along bottom edge of knitted square.
Sc in corner (total of three sc in corner), then work 33 single crochets – spaced evenly – along bottom, with 33rd sc in corner.
Do another sc in corner. Turn, working now along right side of square.
Sc in corner (total of three sc in corner), then work 33 single croctets – spaced evenly – along right side, with 33rd sc in corner.
Do another sc in corner. Chain 4.
*Double crochet, chain one* , 17 times across (evenly spaced) with last *dc, ch 1* in corner.
Two *double crochets, chain 1* in first single-crochet. Turn.
Skip next sc, *dc, ch 1* in next sc – across, evenly spaced (15 *dc, ch1*).
Three *dc, ch1* in corner. Turn.
Skip next sc, *dc, ch 1* in next sc – across, evenly spaced (17 *dc, ch 1*).
Three *dc, ch 1* in corner. Turn.
Skip next sc, *dc, ch 1* in next sc – across, evenly spaced (16 *dc, ch 1*).
Two *dc, ch 1* in corner. Join last *ch 1* to top of chain-3 with slip stitch. Turn.
Chain 2, Single crochet in *ch 1 * space – around.
When you get around, join last stitch to begining with a slip stitch. Finish off, weave in tail with yarn needle or small crochet hook.
Beading Bluems November 13, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Beading, Crafts.add a comment
(yes, I know, I spelt it wrong ;) )
Just a simple bead necklace I made using one of my cousin’s as a pattern. I love the blue and white together.
The pale blue symbolized Heaven, the home of our Lord. The flowers are us, His children, to whom He has given each a specific talent and job in this world, and we are to “bloom where He plants us”. The darker blue signifies our relationship to Him, and blue also stands for loyalty. The white centers in the flowers are for purity, and how we should always keep the centers of our lives (our heart and spirit) pure and holy before Him.
Dutch Doll baby quilt November 7, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Crafts, Quilting.add a comment
(Picture coming soon)
This is the first and (so far) only quilt I have made. My homeschool group did these as a home-ec project. I think mine was the smallest – I just did a baby quilt and the others were doing either single or full-size ones! I’m glad for my first one that it was as small as it was! I’m afraid if it had been any bigger, I would almost have been too overwhelmed to finish it!
Except for the white background squares, I used all left-over scraps my mom had from other sewing projects. I even used batting scraps and whip-stitched them together to go in the inside. I was quite pleased with how it ended up turning out, seeing as how I’ve had no real quilting experience. Any seasoned quilter could examine it and tell it was a beginner job, but I’m satisfied with it as a ‘first’.
I hope to donate it to a charity ( if my mom doesn’t claim it for herself first ;) ) .
Oh, the Country! October 31, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Photography.add a comment
I took this picture on New Year’s Day of this year. The weather was beautiful! Crisp and clear, not too cold, just enough to make your blood run good and ‘tingle’ a little in your veins. We had to be out in it, and went for a walk through the fields around our place. I took lots of pictures, but this one seemed to capture the feel of the whole day better maybe than any of the others.
Patchwork Pillow October 23, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Crafts, DIY Projects, Sewing.add a comment
This was a fun project. I’ve always liked the country feel of denim, and one day I was in ‘creating mode’ and decided to whip something up out of a bunch of scraps I’d collected. This was really quick and easy. I cut the small squares for the front out of scraps of new cloth, and out of the good sections of an old denim skirt. For the back, I used the section of the skirt that had a patch pocket! I thought the effect turned out pretty cute.
For this project you will need:
A sewing machine (unless of course you wish to sew by hand, in which case you will need a needle and a lot of patience instead >smileyface<)
A spool and bobbin of thread of appropriate color
Sewing shears or scissors
Denim scraps
Patch pocket (if you don’t have a pocket already, you can easily make a simple one by cutting a square (size of your choice – my pocket was 5 3/8 inches x 5 5/8 inches, not including flap) and hemming the edges.)
Fiberfill
Instructions:
Cut 9 dark denim, and 14 light denim 2 inch x 2 inch squares for front of pillow, and one 10 in. x 10 in. square for back. Sew front squares together, using 1/4 in. seam allowance, and being careful to get the dark squares in the right spots to accomplish the design.
Center pocket on back square and sew along sides and bottom, 1/4 in. from edge of pocket.
If you have a Serger, I recommend serging the outside edges of the front and back squares, before sewing them together. Otherwise it would probably be a good idea to zigzag your edges to prevent ravelling on the inside.
Place front and back panels right sides together. Sew together sides and top (1/4 in. seam allowance) leaving bottom open. Turn inside out and stuff with fiberfill. Then I hand-stitch the bottom closed, simply because I feel like I have more control than when I use a sewing machine, and I can get the edges to look uniform all the way around, without a seam on the outside. But if you don’t mind the outside seam, do it on the sewing machine.
Have fun!
Do It Yourself Projects October 23, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in DIY Projects.add a comment
I want to try something new, and see how it goes. Every now and then, I will start posting a DIY project, using something I have made as the example. However, one must have at least basic skills in the crafting area the project deals with (sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc.) .
The post above this one will be my first try at this.
Rain is Beautiful October 10, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Beading, Crafts, Crochet.add a comment
I crocheted the medalions for these earings out of some left-over thread my cousin was throwing away after a project. If you’ve read my previous posts, you have found that I delight in making something new out of something discarded. When I first began trying to use up the thread, I’d hoped it would be enough for a small doily, but there was not near enough even for that. So I just made two – very small, and just alike – not knowing what I would do with them. I finally got the idea for earings, and this is what I came up with. The day I took this picture was over-cast and looked like a rain would start to fall any minute. The colors in these earings seemed almost to match. I have always loved the rain, and I thought it was a beautiful day.
Date explanation October 10, 2009
Posted by shdwgrl in Misc.add a comment
Just a bit of explanation: several of the previous posts have two dates, one that I typed in, and one that’s automatically posted. When I first posted the entries, I did them in a kind of different way, so I had to go back and redo them. The date I typed at the beginning of those posts is the date the entry was first written; the automatically-posted date is the date I redid them. Hope all that makes sense!
Working With Our Hands 