Tag: crochet blanket

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New Baby Blankets

I must start a new crochet afghan. I finished the last one a week ago and also some new baby blankets. I haven’t crocheted much since. Secretly, I am exhausted. Getting well and healing is hard work. I had my first physical therapy appointment today. Wow, I am tired. I will admit that I have lost some inches while on the crutches. I noticed this when I cinched up my belt yesterday. Crutches are just a whole body workout for the arms, upper body and abs. Not to mention, standing on one foot while doing everything that requires standing. So, over the last three months I have lost about two inches overall but, I am tired, deeply tired. I hope the tired phase passes quickly and that I never find the inches I have lost. While I am resting,  I need to start another crochet blanket. If I had my choice I would go buy some more yarn in addition to the large order I just had delivered via the USPS. It is a chunkier yarn somewhere between the Stylecraft I have been using and the Lion brand chunky of the boot cuffs. The pattern is cool and I am excited to get it kicked into high gear. I started it about four months ago, trying out a new pattern and it has this wonderful visual texture of skinny and thick stripes.

We will see how I feel later today about shopping and buying new yarn. Here is a look at what I have finished this past week.

New Baby blankets, granny square blankets, ChocolateDogStudio.com

It is gorgeous and I love the textures in it. I am really tempted to make more just like it in nice wonderful solid colors. I also stitched up some baby blankets.

New Baby blankets, granny square blankets, ChocolateDogStudio.com

 

This one has a nice lacy border that I was trying out.

New Baby blankets, granny square blankets, ChocolateDogStudio.com

 

I love the colors in this baby afghan. It is just so bright and joyous!

Here is the last one. A pretty blanket for a baby girl.

New Baby blankets, granny square blankets, ChocolateDogStudio.com

Well, I shall go off and think about which blanket pattern I want to try! I hope I get it settled pretty soon.

Talk to you later,

Karen

p.s. I’m sorry I wasn’t blogging more last week. The shenanigans in Washington D.C. had me really angry. So, while I blogged a lot to burn off some steam, I decided not to post any of it. The rest of the blogosphere was really doing a great job talking about it on their own without my 2 cents.

 

 

 

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Previews for the Week!

 

These have been sitting around waiting for the dressmakers dummy and the opportunity to take the photos.

talk to you later,

Karen

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Ripple Crochet Blanket Pattern

Hi all,

I finally released a new pattern out into the world. Rather, it is an old pattern that is simply written down for you. It is for sale in my Etsy shop. www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com

Here  are the photos of the crochet blankets you can make with this pattern.

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It is a great pattern that teaches you how to make your own blanket. You can take this pattern and make it any size you would like.  Use up your leftover scrap yarns and  have a beautiful blanket at the end of your project.

Here is a direct link to Etsy and Craftsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/163532020/crochet-ripple-blanket-pattern

http://www.craftsy.com/user/340454/pattern-store

The price is the same at either shop!

See you later,

I must run as I feel that I am really late today!

Karen

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The Rainbow Blanket

Here it is, The Rainbow Crochet blanket!At the beginning… Not far from the beginning…. 2013-08-31 10.01.32   In the middle…. 2013-09-01 15.49.22   I apologize for this photo. I took it with my phone and it just isn’t very good. Here it is in all it’s glory. IMG_2690   IMG_2695 IMG_2696 IMG_2692and now a whole blanket shot! IMG_2721   These whole blanket shots are always a bit tricky. It is a wonderful arrangement of beautiful colors. All in all it took me a week to crochet it, and that is a record for me. I don’t think I could do it again. It kept me busy while I was laid up recovering from surgery. It is now available in my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/162914101/blanket-hand-crochet-blanket-afghan. If  you want to make your own Rainbow blanket you can also purchase the pattern here on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/168162461/blanket-hand-crochet-blanket-pattern or Here on craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/home-decor/rainbow-granny-stripe-blanket/70263

talk to you later,

Karen

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Why Be Afraid?

So, yesterday I asked if you are afraid. What I was really asking was  “Am I afraid?” Yes, incredibly, horribly afraid. I am afraid that I write to a black hole, that people will laugh, and the big one that NO ONE will buy any of the blankets I make. Does it really matter if no one buys any of these blankets? Will I stop crocheting them if no one buys them?

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No, I have this compulsion. It makes it easier because I love crocheting them. The activity of creating, the anticipation of the moment when I will be able to sit down and work on them. The choices of the yarns and fibers for the finished product. The moment when they are approaching the finish line. The Ta Da moment when I lay it out in front of one of the few whose opinion I greatly value; my cheerleaders , my family and…. boy, are they biased and I love it! Then I approach you; my internet friends and post it on the blog, facebook, ravelry and then at last on the final judgment stand; the marketplace. I love all the feedback but mostly  I love the feel of the yarn, the colors, how it comes together and winds up being something warm and cozy. I like to think about who will use it and to pray that they have great memories while using the blanket. The prayers woven into each and every blanket are for peace, for love, for the normal allotment of sorrows and joys, for friends to comfort and to celebrate, for brief moments of pain without which we wouldn’t know the mountain tops of joy and achievements. Prayers that the blankets will cover tiny toes and laps for naps and stories, hugs and kisses. There is a whole lot of joy to get out of a simple crochet blanket.

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I was a lot like Linus when I was little and I still feel a little like Linus from Peanuts. I guess I have never grown out of the need for a special blanket! I send my kids off to college or out into the world with one of a kind blankets. Sturdy ones that can handle the dorm washer and dryers, that can take abuse and dish out warmth, comfort and love. One that is a hug from me any time they need it. One that is bright and colorful to bring happiness and a touch of home to the dull dorm rooms.

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So why should I be afraid of continuing to do what I love to do. Fear should have no place in this equation but it does because I am human. I hate being judged and found lacking. I fear because such a great part of my heart ends up being in each and every blanket I make.

Why do I sell the blankets that I make? Well, I have to admit that a family can only use a certain amount of blankets and why should I keep the joy as not everyone can crochet.

What are your reasons for crocheting or knitting? Why do you do what you do for a hobby or is it a business?

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

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Are You Afraid?

I read this article this morning as it scrolled past on my facebook feed. It hit a sore spot with me and I had to write. Anyway here is the article and then the quote that started all this introspection.

http://storylineblog.com/2013/09/11/if-youre-not-scared-youre-not-doing-it-right/

Steven Pressfield sums it up well in his groundbreaking work, The War of Art:

“Self doubt can be an ally. This is because it serves as an indicator of aspiration. It reflects love, love of something we dream of doing, and desire, desire to do it. If you find yourself asking yourself, “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. The Counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”
Are you doing your own thing or copying someone else’s work? Are you wondering if you are following the beat of your own drum or a rehash of yet another whatzit? I do ask myself these questions over and over again as I sew mundane things like cup cozies, baby bibs and crochet blankets.
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What I truly want to do or wish to do is the very thing I am most afraid to do.  I like sewing the baby bibs and cup cozies, but my heart is truly in design work. My heart lies deepest in working with colors, fibers and creating. I struggle to write patterns and do design work simply because the work proceeds from my fingers without much thought. It is relatively unconscious and simply flows through the arm and out of the hook. It is intuitive, and one of a kind. How can you create patterns of one of a kind creations?
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I guess I will need to figure that out in the coming months. After the last three months of recuperation from surgery I am very aware of the limitations of my body. I know that my hands are not capable of crocheting more than 1 custom adult sized blanket a month. Which makes at the very most only 12 blankets a year. How can a business be sustained on 12 blankets a year? That is the question that keeps me awake at night.
Do you have any suggestions or comments?
talk to you later,
Karen
I do have to say that this has nothing to do with 9/11 nor is it in any way to take away from losses  and grief that we as a Nation are feeling today.
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Introducing the Red Granny Square

Here it is… I have given you brief glimpses of the red granny square blanket. I have finally finished it and here it is!

 

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It is beautiful, warm, cuddly and bright! I love the bright red around each square. I started it wondering if it could possibly be as pretty as the others I have seen on the internet. Yes, yes it can! This afghan is crocheted out of soft acrylic Stylecraft DK yarn. I am not sure how many skeins I used since I started the beginning rings ages ago. It is a bit of a scrap afghan but the colors are beautiful. You can find it in the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/160856722/crochet-blanket-red-granny-square-afghan

Talk to you later,

Karen

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What’s in the future?

Right now I have about five crochet blanket ideas running around in my brain. One is definitely on the hook and progress is being made. One in in the design mode, two are definitely going to be crocheted as I have all the supplies and the shop needs them. I am thinking about several more scarves and tossing color combos around. Some scarves like this…

IMG_2672 I want to make another one similar to this… IMG_2911-001

Some more baby receiving blankets like this..

So all in all I guess I have about eight or more crochet ideas percolating. Then there are a bunch of new baby bib ideas plus some coffee cozy ideas. All with a autumn/winter feel to them. Most of them are for boy babies as I feel like the guys get slighted when it comes to cute boy things.

I would like to make a couple of quilts for the house on the home front. We are redoing a bedroom and it doubles as a guest room. It needs a little spiffing up as it feels dark and outdated. It has some really bad wallpaper that is almost ten years old now. I am also working on some pinterest ideas here and there. So those are also rolling around in my brain. We will see what happens when I actually get up off this couch and start walking! Planning is great but the proof is in the doing. Here are the quilt ideas that I am thinking about. Aren’t these beautiful!

http://pinterest.com/pin/210121138837676517/

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/210121138837661811/

Yes, these are off of Pinterest and if you find the original page please let me know. I searched but didn’t find the page to be able to give credit to the design work. I’m off to eat lunch and do more crocheting. I have been going slow on the crochet this week as the crutches are hard on my hands, on the plus side, my arms and shoulder muscles are getting a great workout off and on all day.

Talk to you later, Karen      

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Granny Square Bulls Eye Blanket!

Finally, It is finished. This blanket has taken me longer than any other. It has been frogged not once but twice. Here you go the ta da photos. It is now listed in my shop and ready to go to a new home. It is 100% wool. You can find it here in the shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/159280644/crochet-afghan-hand-crocheted-blanket

IMG_2572 IMG_2590 IMG_2591-001 IMG_2593-001My wonderful, oldest son took these photos for me as I am still on crutches. He did a great job and I am really thankful that he helped me out!

Thanks, Mark!

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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The “To Do List”

Here is what I have been working on these days.

The red granny square blanket only needs 21 more squares and edging to be completed.  Let’s not forget that I will need to weave in, sew down and clip all these long threads.

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The brown granny square blanket needs  more yarn. I am almost finished with this. I lack about 10-12 more rounds and then edging. I won’t have many yarns to weave in as I carried my yarn from one row to another.

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Boot Cuffs

I have tons of yarn that I bought to crochet these. I have about eight that need to be joined and finish work.

Scarves

I have one dark green scarf that needs to be completed. It is wool and a joy to crochet. We cleaned up prior to the wedding and it was tucked away.

There is also one dark blue cotton yarn scarf that needs to be completed.

I am also wanting to crochet a bunch of granny stripe scarves for the shop. I think they would make great stocking stuffer gifts for my girls, but I think that they are overloaded on yarny things.

Patch blankets

When my kids were in scouts I started making patch blankets. This is a blanket with all of their patches sewn on so they don’t get lost. They would look a bit like this. I also sewed his favorite  t-shirt fronts to our oldest’s blanket. Needless to say, the others now want theirs finished as well.

(You can find this patch blanket here: http://www.streamwood.net/scripts/prodList.asp )

So this is my to do list at present!

What is on your to do list?

Karen