Crocheted Dishcloth

I haven't crocheted in quite a while.

But, my dishcloths were looking pretty worn out

so I thought it time to make a few more.

 Crocheted dishcloths are my favorite to use.

They scrub the counters clean

and are very absorbent.

Besides that, they are cute  :)

 I like to use

100% cotton yarn

Today's cloth was made 

with variegated blues and white

 Sugar n' Cream by Lily

Right now we are under an Excessive Heat Warning here in Arizona

with temperatures already reaching 111 degrees.

*and it's only the first of June!

Good time to hibernate indoors,

lay low

put on a few good movies 

and crochet.

 It's actually been quite relaxing.

Pattern: Little Starbursts Dishcloth

by Sarah C. of Blooming Patterns

who offers a free tutorial

HERE

 I didn't realize this until I finished the dishcloth,

but even though I was using a variegated yarn,

a secondary pattern of an "X" appeared.

Kind of weird!

2013 Was A Very Good (Quilty) Year

 Can it be that we are now at the end of 2013?

Where has the year gone?

One of the nice things about keeping a blog is that

it makes it easy to go back and review what was accomplished.

I always start my end of the year search 

anticipating there won't be much to show.

And then when I begin going through posts month by month

I realize maybe I finished a few more quilts than I originally thought.

There are always twists and turns in life and

2013 was no exception.

This is my 301st Post out of 365 days for the year :)

When I started 2013, I set a goal to 

Finish UP 

quilts that had not been quilted.

You know those stacks that wait patiently in the back of a closet?

As with all good intentions,

I started off with gusto

Star Crazy

The top was completed in early 2011

*I even led an on-line group

and I just needed to meet the right person 

to have it quilted.

 My next quilt to take to Pat was

Rabbits Prefer Chocolate

which was started several years ago

The blocks were completed but the top still

needed a little assembling.

 In March my friend Lori Holt (Bee In My Bonnet)

wrote and asked me

 if I would make a pillow with 

her new Half Hexie Ruler

that had just been launched into the market.

Of course I said "Yes!"

I love everything Lori makes

and I really enjoyed playing with her rulers.

 In April I completed a 

T-Shirt Quilt

as a gift for family members

using Crooked Nickel's

easy to do

fusible technique and

Memories To A T pattern.

 May brought a very fun completion

after sewing blocks for months

following Lori Holt's (Bee In My Bonnet) on-line tutorials.

Row Along Quilt

will always have such fond memories.

Another goal I had for 2013 was only sew from my stash

and I'm proud to say this entire quilt was made from scraps.

Lori even gave us a design to make the 

cutest label!

 We were very fortunate to be with Lori during those months

because her ideas became the book

Quilty Fun

this last year!

Yay Lori!

Cross Terrain

pattern by Freshly Pieced

was made out of my red and white scraps.

                                              Then my life began to change :)

The book store I worked for 

announced they were
Closing

and 

I began to wonder what I should do next?

Pat had recently purchased 

Triangles On A Roll

and I had the opportunity to become 

Sales Manager
I began to spend hours and hours 

playing with 

all the various papers

 I also started creating my own patterns

(something I had never done before)

and a new pattern company

Cactus Needle Quilts

was launched in July

 What a wonderful 

whirlwind 

it's been since then.

I have learned a lot!

6 new patterns

came out on the market

starting with 

Christmas Pyramids

Gina is made with

the basic Half Square Triangles

 The Eyes Have It

uses Quarter Square Triangles

 Hourglass Squared

also uses Quarter Square Triangles

*even the border is made with QST's

 Baby Waves 

is made from Half Square Triangles

that are simply cut in half.

So easy to do!

 I liked it so much,

I made one in blue.

 And my favorite quilt that I made in 2013

Indian Blanket

I made

Mod Geo Cruiser

as a pattern tester for 

Kelli Fannin (Seriously I Think It Needs Stitches)

Love that it matches my new aqua Cruiser bike!

 I've also been busy writing 

Tutorials

Scrappy Chevrons

With only a little spare time

I managed to crochet to a finish in 

the last few moments of December

Moss Stitch Afghan

was a gift for my daughter and her husband.

Oh yes, and there were the monthly
Bees Knees blocks
made and sent out to various members of our group.
I learn a lot from these wonderful ladies.

2013 Was a Very Good Quilty Year:)

And I'm excited to see what 2014 will bring!

Moss Stitch Crocheted Afghan Finish

Last May I started crocheting

an Afghan using an easy to do 

Moss Stitch

and wrote about it 

HERE

Today I went into my dashboard to check on how many view

that post has received so far

and was shocked to see over

3,700 hits!

W.O.W!

I guess crocheting attracts more of an audience than I ever imagined.

This Moss Stitch Afghan was so easy to make!

 I worked on it a little bit here and there

and now have a finish.

I really am a beginning crocheter.  The only skill required was a chain stitch and single crochet.

Very relaxing and required very little thought.

 Using bits of leftover balls of yarn

I alternated each row with a different color

which gave the Afghan a scrappy look.

 Finished size:

58" X 61"

Just the right size to fold over the top of a couch.

 The bright happy colors make me smile :)

This will be a comfy throw

to snuggle under during the cold winter months.

 A Christmas present for a family member.

If you would like a tutorial on how to 

crochet the Moss Stitch

I included a You Tube Video

by Lisa of All Free Crochet

on my previous May 1st post

HERE

If you have any other questions,

please feel free to e-mail me

at 

nedras@mstar.net

Crocheted Kaleidoscope Throw

 Do I have time to start a new crochet project right now?

No, I do not.

I still have a lot of work to do 

on my current Moss Stitch Afghan

But, that didn't stop me from

purchasing this wonderful pattern

KALEIDOSCOPE THROW

By Cecile Balladino

of Eclectic Gypsieland

 Ravelry

makes it so easy to download Cecile's pattern

in PDF form

HERE

 It looks easy enough to figure out 

for a beginner like me.

I am such a crochet wannabe.

I love to take a crochet project along with me when I travel.

A lot of trips coming up in the next few months,

and I have a feeling this project is going to be

my new companion :)

Moss Stitch Crocheted Afghan

 We arrived back home yesterday

from our quick trip to Utah.

Beautiful tributes were offered to our dear Uncle,

and we were able to visit

with many family members

that we haven't seen in years.

In our grief, we also feel

the joy of connection with family

 that often accompanies a funeral.

 Mr. Cactus and I decided to make the long drive from our home in Arizona

to Northern Utah

in order to make a stop off 

in Southern Utah.

We checked on our home in St. George

and enjoyed an overnight stay with family.

In just a few short days 

we put in a lot of miles.

I knew I needed something to keep my hands busy

during the long drive

so I grabbed a stack of left over yarn

before we headed out the door.

 Working the 

Moss Stitch

I started crocheting an 

easy to do afghan.

 I've always loved scrap quilts,

and I'm pleased with how this

afghan is turning out 

using a wide variety of colors

of leftover yarn.

 I'm at a beginner level in crochet,

and the Moss Stitch is an easy one to do.

The only skill required is a 

chain stitch and single crochet.

 I alternated colors with each row.

There are a lot of tails still to be woven in :)

 Using a 5.5 crochet hook,

I chained 250 for the base,

which makes the width about 61 inches.

I'm not sure what the length will end up.

It may be determined by how 

much yarn I have left!

*I'll keep you posted.

There are a lot of  easy to follow

 You-tube tutorials

 that teach the

Moss Stitch

(also known as the Seed Stitch or Granite Stitch)

Lisa from All Free Crochet helped get me started:

Crocheted Granny Square Pincushion

 One of my favorite parts

of this season

is viewing the

heartwarming acts of kindness

randomly being expressed

here and there.

Sometimes it's the small,

simple things

that come at

just the right moment,

when needed most

that bring comfort and joy.

Many thanks

to Trish Poolson (Notes of Sincerity)

who sent me this

darling handmade

Crocheted Granny Square Pincushion

 Just because.

Just because I am a fellow

Bees Knees member.

(lucky me)

How did Trish know I have

been admiring these pincusions

from afar

as I follow her blog?

 In secret I am a crocheter-wanna-be,

and wish I could sit next to Trish

who lives 1,300 miles away in Mississippi

and watch and learn how she

makes such perfect

stitches.

This darling pincushion is double sided,

and is filled with an inner muslin bag

stuffed with

walnut shells.

I

LOVE

it.

Thank you again Trish

for brightening my day.

I will think of you

fondly

everytime

I see

my pincushion :)