Temperature Afghan Update

Hi Everyone,

Well the saying goes, "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry...",  and that is how it is with the temperature afghan.  I was doing well, and was about to catch up with this week, when my BFF told me how she had done the math and her afghan would be 17 feet long! HELL'S BELLS, RADAR!

I had to stop, measure what I had and math.  I hate to math, incidentally, so I didn't like doing it. What did I come up with?

22 feet.

If I kept with the current plan, my afghan would have been 22 feet long, and a bit more, before the border was added.  I had to come up with a plan B....22 feet was like 3 times my bed size!

The progress I had made before the decision to scrap

So, Plan B.  I decided to make 7-round granny squares.  Each round will be the high temp of the day, 7 days a week - 7 rounds.  That will give me 52 squares. Since 52 is really hard to make into a rectangle, I decided to add 4 accent squares, one for each corner of the afghan, which will mean I can do 8 rows of 7 squares.

Artist's rendition of the proposed Plan B

I upped my hook size to a J (6 mm) and began the crocheting.  Each square is 8 inches by 8 inches.  By my estimation, the afghan with border, should JUST cover my California King bed come next January.  Time will tell!

The great thing about this was that doing a square with a whole weeks worth of temperatures took about the same time I was doing EVERY DAY for 1 Row!  so this idea is also saving me time and space.

To keep track of the weeks, I simply looped masking tape through the hole in the round 7 and labeled the week number

So I wanted to show you what the first 3 weeks of the year, according to our insane weather here in Northern Virginia has been....

Week 1 - warm moves to colder

Week 2 -  colder moved to warm. Yellow meant high 60's and 70's!

Week 3 - pretty greens

I'm a big fan of week 3, because it just happened to be so symmetrical!

So that's all for me currently.  I'd love to hear how everyone else is doing on your projects  Leave a comment or link to a picture?

Curious about the Temperature Afghan and what it's about?  You can visit THIS POST and join in on the fun, if you like!

Happy Weaving,

~Moxie

Granny Stripe Tote - My First Published Pattern!

Well this is exciting!

A few weeks ago, around Thanksgiving, I started to go to bingo with a co-worker.  I needed a bag for my daubers and do-dads that I take with me to Bingo, and I couldn't' find a bag in my collection that held what I wanted.

So I wrote a pattern!

A word of advice - when you are writing a pattern, test it in something smoother than jute twine!

Here is the bag:

Nice, right?  You'd like to make one I bet!

Here's the Pattern:

Granny Stripe Tote - Small

Pattern by Moxie Fireheart  © 2016

Dimension:
Tote: 8″ (W) x  6.5″ (H)  x 4″ (D) (exclude handles)
Handle: approx. 18″, 1 pair

Material & Tool:
1. Jute twine (2-ply), 127 yards

2. Cotton yarn (medium weight, 4ply), approximately 10 yards
3. Crochet hook, I / 5.5mm
4. Tapestry needle
5. Safety pins

Abbreviations: (in USA terms)
sl knot = slip knot
st = stitch
slst = slip stitch
ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet
fo = fasten off
Rnd = round

blo = back loop only

CROCHET PATTERN

Base (work on right side only)
Base chain – sl knot, ch 16.
Rnd 1 – ch 1, 2sc on next st, sc each ch on next 14 sts, 3sc on next ch (the first ch of the base chain). Turn sideways and continue along other side of the base chain, sc each ch on next 15 sts, slst to the ch st at the beginning round. [34 sts]

Rnd 2 – ch 1, *sc on next st, 2sc on next st, sc each on next 14 sts, 2sc on next st, repeat * 2 times, slst to the ch st at the beginning round. [38 sts]

Rnd 3 – ch1, *sc on next st, 2sc each on next 2 sts, sc each on next 14 sts, 2sc each on next 2 sts, repeat * 2 times, slst to the ch st at the beginning round. [46 sts]

Rnd 4 – ch1, *sc on next st, 2sc each on next 2 sts, sc each on next 18 sts, 2sc each on next 2 sts, repeat * 2 times, slst to the ch st at the beginning round. [54 sts]

Rnd 5 & Rnd 6 – ch1, sc each on next54 sts, slst to the ch st at the beginning round. [54 sts]

Body

Rnd 1 - ch1, sc on each sc, blo. slst to the ch st at the beginning round.

Rnd 2 - ch1 , sc each on each sc, slst to the ch st at the beginning round.

Rnd 3 - ch2, hdc each on each sc, slst to the top ch st at the beginning round.

Rnd 4 - ch3, dc each on each hdc, slst to the top ch st at the beginning round.

Rnd 5 - repeat round 2

Rnd 6 - ch3, 2 dc in same stitch, *skip next 2sc, 3dc in next sc. repeat from * around. Skip last 2sc, slst to 3rd ch at beginning of round.

Rnd 7 - ch3, 2 dc in space between last two skipped dc's.  *3dc in space between 3dc clusters. Repeat from * .  Slst to 3rd ch at beginning of round.  Change to cotton yarn.

Rnds 8 & 9 - repeat row 7, change back to  twine

Rnd 10 - repeat row 7,  Change to cotton yarn.

Rnd 11& 12 - repeat row 7, change back to  twine

Rnd 13 - repeat row 7

Rnd 14 - ch1 , sc each on each dc, slst to the ch st at the beginning round.

Rnd 15 -  repeat row 14. Finish off, weave in end.

Handles (make 2)

Rnd 1. in cotton yarn, ch 5.  sc in each ch across. ch1, turn [4 sts]

Rnd 2. sc across, ch1, turn.

Rnd 3. repeat round 2 until handle is approximately 17 in. in length. change to twine.

Rnd 4. as evenly as possible, sc around perimeter of cotton yearn.  2 sc in each corner.  Finish off, weave in ends.

Assembly

Using twine, attach handle on each wide side of bag, using whip stitch.  handle should leave approx 3" gap in middle of area. weave in ends.

HERE is the pattern in PDF for those of you who would like it.  I will be posting to Ravelry, Pinterest, and Facebook as well.  I hope you will share with everyone!

And if you happen to make the bag, please let me know how it turned out, send me a pic or comment on Facebook or here or even Ravelry once I get it uploaded!

So I got a set of 12 daubbers from my husband for Yule, and needed a bigger bag.  I love my granny stripe bag, but it is just too small now to fit the like, 20 daubers I have!!  I thought about making the pattern bigger, and I may some day, but I wanted to do something else...so I began searching.

After a day or so, I found a pattern that I liked, and decided to alter the color's based on on what I saw examples on Ravelry and pinterest.

This is the pattern....and this is how it turned out for me:

Cool, huh? I'm pretty psyched!

In a few days I'll show you week 1 of the Temperature Afghan I posted about last week!

Happy Weaving!

~Moxie

Finished Projects 2014-2016

I thought I'd show you all some of the things I finished since my last 2014 post.  I'm going to work hard on making more posts and stuff, so please, feel free to ask for patterns if you see something you like and want to give it a go!  I lvoe to share the great things I have found over the years.

Please keep in mind, this is only some of the items I've made. I couldn't find all the pictures, but I'd say easily there are 10 more things!

  

  
 
 

  

 

 

 

  

I also do commission work for the cost of yarn, pattern price if applicable, plus labor.  If you are interested, please let me know in the comments with a good email address and I will contact you!

Happy Weaving!

~Moxie

2017 Temperature Afghan/Blanket

Well, time certainly flies doesn't it?!?!

I've been working, and crocheting...everyone knows I've been crocheting....  So many things:  Shark Hats, baby blankets, baby hats, country stars for the holidays. I did a mermaid blanket for a friend, a throw for my living room, and other little projects here and there. I even wrote a pattern for a small handbag that I will put on here sometime soon!

But now I am ready for 2017!  Yes, with only a few days left of 2016, it's time to figure out my projects for the coming year. I have a few in mind for presents and next Yuletide, of course, but I decided this was the year I was going to do the Temperature Blanket/Afghan This project is going to take me, quite literally, a whole year, but at the end of it?  I'll have an awesome afghan for my bed.

I'm going to be using this pattern: Crochet Granny Stripe Afghan Rewrite

And I'm going to be using this chart to start for chains, courtesy of The Crochet Crowd.

Only thing? Since the pattern calls for a multiple of three, I'll be adding that to the initial chains from the Crochet Crowd chart. I want this to work out right, so I will have to alter.  I mean who doesn't do that once in a while?

But that's not why you are here.  You are here because you want to see the color palette!

Background story: My BFF - Vicki and I went to Michaels, AC Moore and Wal-Mart to put together the perfect palettes for ourselves.  I wanted rich colors, but not too bright because I want my husband to not complain about being blinded by our new bed blanket.  Also, I'm just not a super bright colors person.  This is MY color scheme, and I'm super happy about it:

You can download the PDF document HERE for easier use!

Now keep in mind, this is for Virginia weather.  If your weather is different, feel free to adjust or change it.  That's the great thing about temperature blankets, there are so many different yarns out there, you can do anything you want!  Have at it and feel free to share! I'll be putting this on Pinterest and linking on Facebook.  Please share and feel free to comment, etc.

Happy Weaving!

~Moxie

Been a busy little worker bee!

And I'm sure you all thought I'd just fallen off the planet....not so!

One of the things I love to do is troll Pinterest for ideas.  In-between my crocheting and the other things I do in a day.  This last bit of time I haven't been posting, I worked on 3 things:

First...the bunny!

My husband's cousin loves it, and I can't wait to ship it off to her with the other things I've made her...I'm posting it now, because she's seen it and this won't ruin the surprise :)

Next...Craft Exchange Items!

First up is a travel mug cozy, and a standard mug cozy.  I had fun making these and they took nearly no time.  my favorite part was making the stars and hearts for the sides...one of my craft exchange friends will get these!

And now..these lovely things.....

I love the red ones.  The silver ones I felt were too plain so I added the beading.  I think they came out really nice, don't you?  Each pair will go to a lucky craft exchanger!

I'm working on a couple more things...namingly afghans for the daughters and for our bedroom.  We may be moving in the next 60 days, however, so not sure how much more will get done before then!

Oh and the cute heart "necklaces" for my youngest to give out this Friday for Valentine's Day! I'll make sure to post those really soon once they are done!

Thursday I am going to sit with a friend who's husband is having surgery.  I'll be there all day, so that's ample time to work on at least one of the afghans and probably make more granny squares for another, though I am tempted to work on the third afghan, since I noticed my youngest's quilt is starting to give out after about 4 years...

Well that's about it for me.  Like I said I've been busy, busy, busy! I won't even get into everything else besides crocheting I've been up to.  I actually have had to say no to a couple things for the sake of staying sane!

As always, if you want patterns, please let me know and I will post them in my next entry.  The bunny is a paid pattern, but I am happy to link to it for you to purchase!

Happy Weaving!

~Moxie

Another Finished Piece!

I know...I know...it's been like, forever...OK maybe a week or so...but still...yeah I HAVE been busy...working on the baby blanket that is NOW FINISHED!!

*the crowd cheers*

I bet you want to see it, right?

*more cheering and "yes, yes!" heard from all sides*

OK, here we go!

 

TA-DA!! Me, personally? I think it's one of my best works so far.  I love the colors. I love the waves, even though I don't think the original pattern intended it, the way I made it, that's how it came out.  and I LOVE it!

I showed my cousin the outcome and she was so happy with it.  I am so glad!  I can't wait to put her box together.  Only one more thing, and it will take a few days, and is a surprise.  So I won't post pictures until I know she's gotten the package once I send it out.

OTHER NEWS:

FGG - For the past 2 years, in the Spring, I have attended a Pagan festival here in Northern Virginia.  It's called Fertile Ground Gathering, and it's a fantastic experience.  I have been staff since I started attending, and will be again this year, my third year.  Not only will I be working in the Children's Tent, but this year, I am taking another bold step:  teaching crochet.  Well, I'm going to try.  I am in the middle of writing up a proposal to teach a "weaving with intent" class.  I hope it is accepted and I can do it, because it would be great to share my skill and love of this craft with others who want to learn!  Keep your fingers crossed!

Craft Exchange -  Some Facebook friends and I are doing a craft exchange.  I've been trying to figure out what projects to do for those I am sending things to, and I think I know what to make.  Obviously it will be crocheted, but there are so many possibilities out there!  Thank the Gods for Pinterest!  It's been a good inspiration for me! :)

That's it for now, I think.  Battling a cold and this Polar Vortex that has cancelled school all this week so far.  Crocheting and the internet are keeping me sane, along with lots of tea!

I'll post again soon.

Happy Weaving!

~Moxie

 P.S.  If you are interested in the pattern for the baby blanket, I got it HERE but I would like to add that I used  a size I (5.5 mm) hook to achieve the gauge of the squares called for in the pattern.  I'm not sure where they came up with G (4 mm) for that, but no way was a G ever going to make that unless extra rows were added...anyway, pattern linked if you want to give it a go!  ~M

Neat Graphic

Something I found on Facebook...I thought it was a kinda cool little teaser graphic...