Finger Knits, Scarves and Blankets Too!

    Fun new Summer projects here. But first, a little bit of business.
        Bring The Needle Down has a Facebook page now! My Mother suggested this expansion, can't believe I had not thought of it before! So you can find me at this link:
https://m.facebook.com/bringtheneedledown?ref=bookmarks
   Hopefully we can get more people visiting the blog, maybe it will inspire them to make things too! If you have any currant projects that you would like to show me, please post your photos in the comment box, via Blogger or Facebook. Thank you so much!
     Here are two Project Linus blankets that I made, using the Lion Brand "Jonah's Baby Throw" Pattern, which is the standard pattern I use for my baby blankets. The first blue one was made entirely from Lion Brand Pound Of Love yarn. 32x32. Pound Of Love is great.
    The second one was made from Lion Brand and Caron yarns. You can see the Caron brand in the center, in mint. I really like this yarn because it has a really nice shine to it. When I put it on a border, it reminds me of those blanket edges from "The Brady Bunch". Not crochet though. Fabric. If you look in one of the upperhand corners, you will see a tiny hat! I whipped that up at my Aunt and Uncle's house!
    Project Linus is such an amazing organization to be part of. You get to help so many kids, with love in every stitch!
   The black infinity scarf I am holding is for my Grandma. I hope to get it to her by the end of August. You can find the pattern right here:
  http://www.mooglyblog.com/artfully-simple-infinity-scarf/
   Last but not least, a finger knitted necklace! My Mom taught me finger knitting when I was younger, but I sort of gave it up- after all, what on Earth does one do with those long chains? However, the other day, I found this video on YouTube! Really quick and easy. To give it a little spice, I learned how to make a large rose (see video) and I stitched that on there too. Sorry if this photo is a little blurry, my sister and I were in a bit of a hurry!  
   What's next? I have a scarf in the works, a blanket, and hopefully some superhero capes for my cousin's dogs. What is next for you?
 

Days Of Blankets And Roses (Hats Too)

New projects from the last few weeks!! These were a lot of fun to make, I assure you that.
  Number one. This is a slouchy beanie, very popular hat these days, and I am crazy about making them. This is my second one. This one is very special, I made it for a nurse I know at the doctors office! I took a photo of it before I went to the doctors! It was made with Red Heart Perfect Pink yarn. I got the pattern from this website, it is a really fun pattern to try out! http://www.jennlikesyarn.com/blog/2012/03/free-crochet-pattern-really-easy On top of that, you will be in style, darlings.
   Photo the second. Tiny crochet rose hair clips! Also made these on my nurse appreciation spree, making them for all of the ladies at the office! They looked mighty fine, some pinned them on their shirts, some in their hair! I got the initial rose pattern from a YouTube video by Yolanda Soto Lopez. The video is here if you want to learn how to Do this, you can knock one out in fifteen minutes.
   Third photo is the back of the flower. We have a Bobby pin, woven into the back loops. The pins were my mother's idea. I was going to sew the pin on, but there was no way a sewing needle was going to fit in the clasp of that pin, no adequate sewing to be done in such a tight space! The Bobby pin will hold...keep the faith!
  Last, another Project Linus blanket! Of course using my favorite Lion Brand pattern. Lion Brand, Woolco and Sayelle yarn used here. 32x32. I only had problems near the end, was experiencing arm pain. I was emptying a kiddie pool with a pot and somehow hurt my arms and back. Just pain, no doctors or hospital needed! But thanks to that stupid pot, it has been slow going, as far as blanket making is concerned. But I was not going to let it stop me! Babies need blankets, darn it, I'm gonna deliver. Finished the blanket this morning. Ready for the next meeting, the week after next!
  What's on your project agenda? Let me know!

Blankets and Hats!

Here are some new projects to write about! First, we have a blanket that I made using a label pattern from "Lion Brand", called Jonah's Baby Throw. I used this pattern on Wyatt's blanket, I really enjoy using a new technique on my blanket. They call this an endless granny square. The blanket is for "Project Linus".
   I used a few types of yarn for this. "Lion Brand", "Red Heart" and "Caron". I think they blend very well together. Behind that blanket on the bed, is the blanket Aunt Lois made for me. She makes the greatest stuff.
  The second item is a hat for Wyatt. Project Linus also makes baby hats. I figured that hospitals are cold and he could use a hat! Even though there are a million hats in the state that he lives in, I wanted to give him one that was made special for him, with all the love and prayers sewed into it.
  I found the pattern on the internet and will post the pattern here, credit where credit is due. I only modified it just a little. I must have been doing the brim wrong, was looking very girly! Won't have any girly hats for Wyatt, so I took it off and continued in pattern.
  This hat incorporated a new stitch for me, the back post double crochet (Bpdc) which was a little hard to learn, but possible, makes a nice textured look to it. The hat was made with "Caron" yarn.
And by the way, Wyatt has been home for a few days!! Yes!
http://www.mooglyblog.com/sweet-striped-crochet-hat/ What projects are you working on?
 

Project Updates

  Alright, I'm back. I'd love to write every day, but I want it to be interesting! For some reason, some days don't contain anything interesting to write about!
   Hope you guys enjoyed Memorial Day and took the time to remember some of the wonderful men and women we have lost fighting for our country. But then, you shouldn't just be thinking about them on Memorial Day! They do so, so, so, so, much to keep our country safe, a thing for which I am grateful!
   One of my upcoming projects is to make hats for veterans. I wanted to do something to help, my Cousin Joe said this would be a good place to start. I am waiting for my pattern to come in a book at the library. It is the only knitted hat pattern I can pull off, I have not graduated from straight needles yet!
   As of right now, I am at my desk, I have a pair of circular needles in front of me (in the caddy between masking tape and Project Linus labels) and thinking: "To circular or not to circular? That is the question!" I guess I am nervous about joining and the whole twisted stitches thing. But, one of these days!
   I am still working away at another blanket for Project Linus. I sent Wyatt his blanket, he loves it a lot! So happy to be able to help out and make him smile, and he has such a cutie pie smile too. He's in his second round of chemotherapy since Friday. Our family had a lot of fun going out and picking out fun things for his care package! My Mom has great ideas.
   We are going to see him in July. Can't wait! Looks like I should start marking the calender soon.
   What kind of projects are on your hooks or needles or anything else? Let me know, comment below!

TEAM WYATT PROJECTS/AUNT DEB GOES PURPLE!

 

      Here are the projects I promised you! The first one is a turquoise blanket with a soft green trim. This is for Wyatt. I used a "Lion Brand" pattern for this. I ventured outside my blanket comfort zone with this, it was a lot of work, but I am so proud of it!! 

     The second one is a quilt. I did not make this, a Project Linus lady did! It has tractors on it! This will also go out to Wyatt, two blankets to keep the little warrior nice and toasty in the chilly hospital.

   I laid out some projects on my bedroom floor for my sister to photograph. These are projects old and new, knit and crochet. A ridge rib scarf, four crochet boxes, a knitted headband and a measuring spoon book Mark. I found the pattern at this blog!http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/2009/02/pattern-for-good-measure.html

    This is a photo of me modeling the headband. My eyes look quite puffy, I've been putting in many late nights to get things done! All of the floor projects are going to the benefit yard sale. 100% of the proceeds will go to Wyatt!

     Next, we have my Aunt Deb (Wyatt's Grandma) going purple with the Purple Eyeshadow Challenge! Go Team Wyatt!

More Project Linus Bizz!!!

    Today, I go to the library to meet up with the Project Linus group! I've been working hard. For the last couple of weeks, I have been working hard to make things to bring to the next meeting! I've come up with ten preemie hats and Two fleece blankets.
   The fleece blankets are 12x12, a size for a small still born. One of the ladies cut the fleece and I crocheted around it. After she cut the piece from a large piece of fleece, she used this cutter to make little holes all around the fabric. You put your needle in the hole to do a single crochet. Before finishing the single, you fold down the little bit of fabric under your stitch and then you complete the single crochet. After you single crochet all around, you do a scalloped edge (3 DC in 1 st, sk 1 st, SC in another.) An H or J hook should do it for you. I made one with a scalloped edge and one with a chain loop edge.
    The preemie hats are very, very easy to make, once you have the science of hat making down. It took me forever to figure out increases.  Sure, sometimes I am a few stitches off, but I have til I am 100 to figure this out. I used a variety of colors, I made the pompom with a plastic fork. The one with the ruffles was fun to make, I have never done ruffles!
        If you are fast, you can knock out a hat in one hour, you can do it whilst watching TV, if the movie is not action packed or full of subtitles, that is!! I tried to make a hat and watch "Singin' In The Rain", but I had to put my needle down, I did not want to miss a minute of that tap dancing goodness.
     So, what is on your hooks or knitting needles today? Let me know, down in that comment box!!

New 12x12 Blanket!!

Hello everybody! How was your day? Hope it was not rainy and dreary as it is where I am. Here is a blanket I made a few days ago for Project Linus. It is a blanket for a tiny stillborn. 12x12, 26 rows, 42 stitches per row, blue and gold and a blue chain loop edging. These are quite simple to make. I really enjoy making them. Thanks to my brother for taking the photo! Any projects on your horizon?

Easter Goodness.

   Happy Easter everybody! Hope you had a great Easter, my family and I did. We had some delicious ham that made us forsake hams of the past, some mashed potatoes (of course this was the first time I screwed up the potatoes, go figure.) Bread and carrots! Yum!
   Ok, here are some projects that I just completed for Project Linus. All I have to do now is put everything in a bag and bring it to the next get together! First item of business, the granny square blanket. I don't know how to make granny squares yet. But I can piece them together!! One of the group ladies taught me how. Other ladies in the group made the squares, so it was all assembly on my part. 
   The second one is a 36x36 baby blanket. 67 rows, 115 stitches to a row, with a scalloped border. I used Aran, blue, gold and delft blue Red Heart Yarn and Rainbow classic by Purl Essence. The small blankets are for small still born babies. The first is 12x12, 27 rows, 42 stitches to a row, the colors are delft blue and Aran. Scalloped border. The second has the same measurements. Rainbow classic is the color. This time I decided to mix it up and try something new so I made a chain loop edging in gold. That was a very enjoyable experience and very quick, it only looks complicated!!!
  I might do that more often. I am in the process of making another stillborn blanket with the same measurements in blue and gold. I am trying to use up those color skeins. March was a very productive month. Happy Easter!

Welcome!! Happy Saturday! I love Saturday. I thought I would start this blog with Projects of the past, or things I did earlier this month. I make blankets for Project Linus. For those who don't know, Project Linus is an organization that makes and provides blankets for seriously ill children, children suffering some kind of trauma or with other needs. It is a wonderful organization. My sister and I meet up with the our chapter at a library twice a month. There, every one can join in the conversation, talk about what you are making , drop your blankets off, or even learn a brand new technique!  The ladies are so nice. I have made 11 blankets so far! Not only is it a lot of fun, but it helps children in need, which is very important. I was so happy when o found out that I could use my talents to help others!! That is very important to me. So here is one of the blankets that I have made. It is 36x36, 115 stitches to a row, about 66 rows. The colors are pale yellow and white, Red Heart Yarn. I used a double crochet stitch for the entire blanket and made a white scalloped border. When we are done with our blankets, we sew a Project Linus tag in the corner. The tag features a picture of Linus and his blanket from the "Peanuts" comic strip (which by the way is my all time favorite, something about growing up with Snoopy and looking back on it makes you feel all warm inside. I will never stop loving that!!) This blanket took 2-3 weeks to complete. Now, I would love to see a project that you made!! Feel free to comment. To learn more about Project Linus, feel free to visit this website:  Www.Projectlinus.org and see if there is a chapter near you!