Ornament fun #4 - Poinsettia Tawashi

This tawashi is definitely ornament-worthy!

This crochet chart can be downloaded free from Amuuse (Hanamaka).  On the Amuuse page, click on the pink button that shows "レシピ" to download it. I used Lily Sugar and Cream yarn and a H hook for this project.

I must say this can be challenging to crochet unless you read Japanese language even with the 4 charts, but it's so worth trying, don't you agree? :)

Ornament fun #3 - Peppermint Christmas Ornaments

Festive red and green!!! ❤️

This pattern is free to download on Ravelry!  So easy and fun, I think I must make more than just 2! :D

Ornament fun #2 - Plum Pudding Ornament

Christmas pudding...   YEAH ❤️

This is a free pattern on Yarnspirations.  I used Lily Sugar & Cream yarn - worsted weight cotton  and hooks are E and G.   I so love this ornament! ❤️

Ornament fun #1 - Celtic Knot Heart Ornaments

I had lots of fun crocheting tree ornaments this year!  I just wanted something unique and ones that our tree was missing.  This is the first one - more to follow! :)

The second one definitely came out looking better than the first. :D
You can get this free pattern when you sign up for the newsletter at Celtic Knot Crochet.

"Vintage Granny Square Christmas Tree"

I just love vintage crochet patterns.  When I saw this photo tutorial on Ravelry, I just had to make one for myself.

Pattern: "Vintage Granny Square Christmas Tree"

See others' on Ravelry

Actually, you can use any simple crocheted squares that are worked from the center in rounds. - Mine has ch-1 between double crochet clusters instead of traditional ch-2.
My biggest square has 9 rounds in total, and the smallest one has 6 rounds.
I made up the trunk.  After squares were joined, I slip stitched all around the tree so that the joined squares were "one piece" and they wouldn't flop around.

You are free to add any decorations!  I made hearts that are two layers sewn together just because I wanted them puffy. :)

Now this tree is on our living room wall, and making it feel like Christmas. :)  I don't handle the pressure of Thanksgiving cooking well so I can't wait for next month to come. ;p

Crocheted Pumpkins

The fall is here, and I see pumpkins everywhere! I crocheted my pumpkins back in 2006. :)

 
My original post is here.  Unforutnately, this pattern is no longer available, but I found another cute on on PlanetJune. :)

Rudolf

Rudolf sits by my elf girl now. :)))

"Rudolf"

*Free Pattern* by Christel Krukkert

Visit my Ravelry page on this project

For Hind Legs, after I switch to brown yarn, I did sctog in every 2nd and 3rd sts to change the total number of stitches to 6 for skinnier legs and shorten them with less rows. - I did the same on Front Legs.

I spent 3 days to "get" the part on this pattern for antlers, but it could be just me. XD  I wasn't going to give up though since they were my most favorite parts of this design!  The antlers are tubular for sturdiness and are crocheted more or less in free-form crochet style.  If you are making this Rudolf and get lost at Antlers, my advice is to strictly follow the pattern without questioning and not to assume how they are done.  In this way, you will achieve the handsome 3 pointer. :)

How would everyone like a give-away??  Stay tuned! ;)

Red, Green, White...

Just recently, I went to Michaels for the first time in quite some time.  I was waiting in a line to pay for a few things I picked, and I looked around... then I caught this warm aura (yeah... XD) that was coming from something colorful.  As I made sure that Hubby and my son would stay where we were in the line, I left them and walked up to it.  Then, there it was..... the cutest softie I've every seen!!!  I grabbed one of the red, green, and white skeins of yarn shelved right beneath the cutie and dashed back to where my boys were in the line.

I believed some white and red acrylic yarn were in my stash. - Oh how wrong I was!!  I did NOT have any white yarn (Doesn't everyone have one??)!  So... I headed back to the store at 9am next morning (I'm usually nowhere that early!) when they just opened to buy a skein of the required white yarn and some black beads.

Lookie what I made :)))

"Christmas in July Crochet Elf"

Free pattern by Michaels

**Please visit my Ravelry page (registration required. It's free!) 
to find my corrections for this pattern.

I LOVE this! It sure tickles the inner child of this 42-year-old woman. :)  Oh, how so pretty her long red hair is! :D - I had never crocheted a doll with hair.  Also, I used my old Clover Pom Pom maker set I inherited from my beautiful grandmother over 20 years ago when she passed. - Grandma Kiku I miss you so much!

Anyways, this cute elf girl is currently sitting on my cup on top of the microwave. :D  This definitely is the girliest corner of my neutral-colored home right now!  I just can't wait until December. XD

I wish I had enough hands to make this doll for all little girls (and boys who want one!) in the world.
Oh and I almost forgot to mention - If you use different colors, you can make a cute non-holiday theme doll. :)

Off to crochet her a friend. :)  She is lonely now...

Ornaments

I've been cooking all day today for tomorrow!
Finally sat down and decided to update you all with my X'mas ornaments. :)
I made all except one ornament (skate) from the leaflet.


Again, the patterns are from Leisure Arts #4241 "Ornaments to Crochet 3 Ways".
The yarn I used was Red Heart Sport, and the main stitch was slip stitch.

The ornaments have been mailed out to my nephew and niece already. :)
They haven't received the package yet so I really should email my sister to tell her not to peek. :D

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!

Another pumpkin and dahlia

Dimensional Pumpkin Potholder is done! :)


I just love this one and my other crocheted pumpkins bring Fall/Halloween into my house. :)

Oh, and my another dahlia has bloomed! :) I just love the flower.



*****
My next ongoing project is a lapghan for my father. He is in a hospital in Japan... He will be ok though. :)
I'm using Caron's Simply Soft Shadows. It's really soft, comfortable to work with, and the colors are nice! I'll post a photo of the lapghan here when it's done!

Have a good weekend! :)

Pumpkins

I've put out some fall/Halloween decorations today, and I just had to make these. :)


I changed # of stitches and rows on Marlo's Puffy Stuffed Pumpkin pattern to make those pumpkins because I used Bernat Softee Chunky which was not worsted weight yarn that the pattern calls for, and also I wanted to make smaller pumpkins. I used sticky-back felt for the face.
My son absolutely loves them, and that makes me so happy! :)
I'm thinking about making Dimensional Pumpkin Potholder next. I always have a crocheted potholder/dishcloth hanging in my kitchen, and seasonal one like this one would be fun, don't you think? :)

Oh, and that just reminded me of something... Did you all know about Lily's Dishcloth Contest?! I love Sugar'n Cream yarn, and I just have to enter this contest. Why don't you join too? :) I think it will be so much fun!

Holiday Projects

Hiya. :D I bet you all were thinking, "Where in the world did Chie go???". LOL
Well, I am through making Christmas gifts, mailed out the ones that had to be mailed, and I only have some wrapping left. (^_^) We put up our Christmas tree, put outside lights and house decorations too.

Here are some of the things I made.

   
The beret pattern is from Coat's & Clark's booklet called "Accessorize!", which I got from my local WM. It has crochet and knitting patterns ONLY for Red Heart's Light & Lofty yarn. I used P hook instead of suggested N hook. It's probably just me, but I can't use this yarn with smaller hooks than P. (^^; The mini scarf is made with repeating HDC row and DC row.

I used Toe-Up Crochet Socks pattern to make the mini stocking ornament. The yarn is Lion Brand's Chenille Think & Quick in Scarlet 113 and white Fun Fur. I'd like to thank wonderful Sharon to make this ornament possible. *bows*

*****

Now it's time for me to plan Christmas meal! It's always a bit frustrating because I am not so familiar with traditional American holiday dishes. You see, sushi or tempura for Christmas is just so... improper (or not?)! LOL This year, I am planning on making lots of sweets, and I am definitely making this, this, and this! Yummy, yummy... (=^_^=) Cara is a talented knitter & crocheter who uses both yarn and thread!

*****

I am very excited about upcoming Crochetville thread crochet CAL(temporary link) which is going to start around Jan. 7th 2005! In fact, I'm too excited I couldn't help but to start making a doily with this pattern from Celt's Vintage Crochet, and it is almost finished. To be honest, I cannot recommend this pattern to beginner crocheters just because there are some errors on the pattern, and the doily on the picture cannot be accomplished just by following the pattern. (-_-;) There is an error on the 1st row so it's confusing at the very beginning. But with some experience of making doilies, the error shouldn't be hard to correct. Celt's Vintage Crochet has tons of BEAUTIFUL thread crochet patterns, and I love it!
Hopefully next time, I will be able to post a picture of my finished doily. (^_-)*