My Crocheting Project

All these projects were done with yarn that I had left over from other projects that I have made in the past.


This is a afghan I made to go with my son's Lightning McQueen bedroom theme.
It is made up of granny squares and stitched together with corresponding colors  except for the border and number outline which was done in black.

This afghan - also made up of granny squares - simulates a flower pattern and is stitched together with a corresponding color. The outer edge has several rows of single crochet and then a row of shell stitch.

 

This afghan is done with the color-dipped afghan pattern shown below.  

I altered this original to accept only the two colors that matched the decor of my sons room.
I used bright blue for the base color and only changed to a variegated color for the dip rows.  When it was as big as I wanted it I single crocheted around the edge twice with the variegated.

My Crocheting Project

This is what I refer to as my LIFE bedspread.

During the winter months I love to make afghans for my family.  When I complete the afghan I always seem to have left over yarn. I hate to throw anything out - So I throw all the yarn scraps into a large plastic quilt bag.  Well as you can guess the bag got to full.  I decided I better use it first instead of buying any more.
This is how I used it ...
I had to untangle most of it - went through it and rolled each color into a ball.
Organizing them by size (not color)as I went along.
I then measured my Queen bed  - making sure it would touch the floor on both sides.
I crocheted a chain that was the same as my measurement and single crocheted back and forth - starting a new ball of yarn as I ran out - until I had the desired length (foot-board to headboard with extra to cover the pillows).  I then started on the part that went from the foot-board to the floor. Counted how many stitches I had and divided it by 4 (example: 100st /4 = 25) I then started single crocheting on just the center section (example: single crochet on 26th st through 75th st turn) and continued back and forth until it was touching the floor.  Then I stitched up the side seams.
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

 

My Sewing Project

 My New Purse

Front view.
Front has four pockets each with hook and loop tape closures.
Each pocket is a different size. Top left pocket is for things like lipstick or other small items I use all the time, top right pocket is for my card clutch, bottom left is for my coin pouch, and bottom right is for my checkbook.

Back view.
Back has one large pocket for receipts or other important papers or documents. It has a zipper closure so nothing could possibly fall out.





Also on the back is a ring. This ring is to clip my keys, phone case, and a pen to.  It is more convenient (than digging) and you can retrieve them quicker.

Inside view.
There is still plenty of room for all the extras that we moms end up with in our purses but all the important things are in a easy to find place so no more digging for hours. This also has a zipper closure.

Inside back. (left to right)
Left pocket is for band-aids - I find my kids are constantly in need of a band-aid even if it isn't very minor. Center pocket is divided for pens/pencils and even a marker will fit. Right pocket is for my calculator which I find I use a lot when grocery shopping.

Inside front.
On the left is a large pocket that holds my appointment book. On the top right is a pocket for my mini address book, mini notebook, and a pad of sticky notes(never know when you will need to leave someone a note). The last pocket on the bottom right is for my pocket tools (Gerber knife) which I have used to open toy purchases because the kids can never wait till we get home.


I dumped out my current purse the other day looking for something. I got really frustrated and vowed I wasn't putting a single thing back in until I created a purse that was organized.  So I got started.  Found some leftover upholstery fabric a friend had given me. I know I have no patterns so didn't even look.  I took and traced everything that was in my purse on plain paper. Making my own personal template (if you can call them that).   I did a lot of thinking  and then just started cutting and sewing.  I had just enough upholstery fabric to make the outside of the purse and found a softer material for all the inside pockets. Also had to make the handles with scraps - had two thin strips of upholstery fabric left so I use the softer fabric as the underside of the handles. Added the zippers and hook and loop tape and that finished my new purse.  Now no more frustrated digging.

My Sewing Project

For the first time in years, I had the opportunity to get back into my sewing room.  I decided to create something to hang my daughters school socks/underwear in.  I have lots of scrap fabrics in my sewing inventory. Choosing all the different gingham fabrics, I started.  Found two large pieces of heavy white fabric(32"x54") . Folded them in half the long way(16"x54").  Sewed a 1/4"seam on the long side. Set these two pieces aside and started on the pockets. Cut strips out of the gingham(13"x24"). 24 strips is what I figured I needed, but had to improvise when I ran out of big enough pieces. Folded each strip long ways(6 1/2"x24") and ironed. I then divided each strip into thirds and ironed - this would give me my pinning lines.  Placing the first strip onto my heavy white fabric, making sure the folded side was up, and it was 2" from the top.  I folded 1/2"on both sides behind the white fabric and pinned it. Then I pinned the stripes along the two ironed pining lines I created earlier. I then pinned each side of each pocket area so that each laid flat. I then sewed 1/2" seam through all layers at the bottom of the strip. I continued placing subsequent strips and pining and sewing - overlapping each new layer by 2".  When all strips are pinned and sewn along the bottom edge of the first white panel set it aside. With the second white panel do the same thing until you have two identical one sided panels. Sew down the two center lines and the outer edges of each panel securing all the pockets. Place the bottom edges right sides together and pin.  Sew together with a 1/4" seam,  then turn wrong sides together and pin the outer edges of both panels together and the two center seams together and resew all four seams - making sure you don't sew into the 2" top.  When all parts were sewn I used the remaining 2" at the top to attach flaps(with velcro) that would hold a hanger, making it so the hanger can be removed for washing.