Pots & Pans Protectors

Some years ago, my husband and kids had bought me a great set of pots and pans. I liked that I could put them in the dishwasher because I literally used most of them at least once a day, cooking for all 5 of us as the kids were growing up. Recently the constant use and abuse that I put those pots and pans through started to show and the Teflon began to peel. As soon as I noticed that, I started researching a new set without Teflon, and I chose some beautiful hammered copper pots and pans.

The insides have a titanium and ceramic non-stick coating that allows you took cook without any oil. They’re “dishwasher safe” but I’m not abusing these beauties like that! They’re sooo easy to wash quickly by hand because nothing sticks to them! I’ve been using them for a few weeks now, and I'm really liking them a lot! 

I want to protect the insides from chipping but have to nest them when they’re in the cupboard, so I kept the cardboard protectors for a while as I decided what kind of protectors I wanted to make. I wanted something pretty and functional--not just the odd-looking pan protectors with flaps you see everywhere. 

So! I made these pretty cotton mandala/doily protectors that I can also use as hot pads.  I'm pretty pleased with how they look and function, and they'll be easy to clean too.

2022 Temperature Blanket Project

Over the past decade or so, I’ve seen the trend of crochet temperature blankets rise and fall. I’ve always thought it was a fun and beautiful idea, but had no interest in making a giant, oddly long blanket with 365 rows of one stitch. And  bright rainbow colors don’t really fit into my home decor. I haven’t made a large afghan since I was in college. There just weren’t any reasons I could find that I would actually want to make a temperature blanket.

Then 2022 began, and I saw more folks than in recent years talking about making temperature blankets in my many online crochet groups. I honestly kind of rolled my eyes and wondered why anyone was still doing that!? 

Then I saw TLYarnCrafts Instagram post about finishing her 2021 blanket and my tune changed immediately! I loved Toni's linen stitch squares and her creative color palette.  She had a free 5-day temperature blanket email course, and I was curious enough to sign up. I actually read the emails each day, and began to ponder doing my own project. 

A few months back, I had come across some pretty tweed yarns at Michaels and picked up a few colors with no project in mind. I've recently made several pairs of mittens with the yarn and really love the cozy look of the tweed. As I pondered diving into a temperature blanket project, I knew tweeds would look nice in our home and I spent several hours searching online for tweed yarns in a  fitting color palette I liked. I wasn't finding an affordable option for me all in one brand of yarn.

So, on Monday, I decided to go looking for tweed yarns in person. I figured I wouldn't be able to find a wide enough range of colors all in one brand, so I made up my mind to go with worsted weight acrylic tweed yarns and hoped to find enough in various brands that could work together.

Since I knew for sure I could find a few colors of worsted weight acrylic tweed yarns at Michaels, I started at Hobby Lobby. I found a few colors (ivory, sweet Dijon, navy, and dark grey) there in enough quantity. 

I went to Michaels next, hoping I could find enough other colors and quantity to complete my palette. I found dark purple, light grey, and a lovely cranberry but was still hoping for a green and maybe a rusty orange. 

I stopped at Joann's and found another neutral--a light tan that is slightly different from the ivory, and also found a nice almost sage-y/olive-y green. That gave me 9 colors and over 1000 yards each in hand and ready to go!

Once I knew for sure I had 9 colors, it still took me some serious deciding and figuring to come up with my color/temperature gauge. I decided to mix the neutrals in with the colors so I wouldn't have entire months/squares of similar colors. This is what I finally came up with: (all in degrees Fahrenheit)

86+ Cranberry

85-75 Silver

74-64 Sweet Dijon 

63-53 Green

52-42 Tan

41-31 Purple

30-20 Dark Grey

19- Navy 

Ivory for square centers, outer rows, and connecting borders  

I was so excited to get started, and it was the last day of January so I could make an entire square right off the bat! I didn't want the squares to be too huge, so I chose a 4.0mm hook and got to work. I finished my January square the night of January 31st, using the high temperature for each day. The next day I stitched in all the ends, and the day after I wet blocked the square. I'm pretty happy with how this first square turned out and cannot wait to continue this project this year!

Granny Square Throw Redo

My grandma made this little granny square lap blanket. 

I'm guessing, based on the condition of the yarn and the colors that it is about my age or even older. 

My mom gave it to me after my grandma passed away, and it was coming apart at the seams.

I was planning to just fix it up and sew in some ends, but there weren't long enough ends to sew in. So I unraveled the white connecting yarn and took all the squares apart. I decided to continue the granny pattern to connect the squares with new tan yarn.  

The yarn has aged a lot and is scratchy and brittle, and Grandma didn't leave long ends for me to stitch things back in carefully. 

So, I was careful with the delicate squares and the finished blanket will need to be just for display only. It won't withstand use and washing at this point. 

But it was neat to work on a project my with my grandma again.  Even though she has been gone several years now, I still think of her almost every time I crochet and am thankful for her teaching me how 35 years ago!

A Timely(?) Virus Shawl

A month or so ago I found this beautiful Lion Brand Ferris Wheel variegated yarn on sale and couldn't pass it up.  

 I wanted to make a shawl out of it, and when I sat down a couple weeks ago to decide what pattern, I chose one I've had in my Ravelry queue for years, waiting for the perfect yarn--The Virus Shawl!  Seriously didn't think anything of the name, except that the pattern grows in little cells like a virus.  Then all this Coronavirus talk started spreading, and I realized how ironic it was that I chose this time to work on this pattern! 

I really liked working it up (super easy), and love how the shawl turned out.  I'm keeping it for myself to wear around the house when I get cold.

{Pattern}

Crocheting while Subbing

I started a Virus Shawl this week and had quite a bit of time to work on it while I was subbing the past couple days.  Sometimes there is a lot for me to do while subbing, and sometimes I have quite a bit of downtime. I've been wanting to make a virus shawl for years and just never have.  It's such an easy pattern and turns out so beautifully.  It's called the virus pattern because it grows and spreads in little cells. I love this yarn (Lion Brand Ferris wheel) that I bought simply because it was on sale.

Makings

It's been a while since I've posted any crochet.  

Here are a few things I've made over the past couple months.

I made these Hello Darling Headbands while working on a custom order for a lady who is growing her hair back after chemo. She needed them smaller than usual. The turquoise was for practice, and the purple/grey one turned out bigger than she needed with the color switching pattern I used.  

The one with cream and greys turned out the right size.

I also made this Celtic Winters Ear Warmer in her custom size.

I made these Stevie Mittens for Sylvia after I made a pair in black for her to give one of her friends as a Christmas gift.  I found these on the floor after I asked Sylvia to try them on for me, so I can only assume she doesn't care to have them.  I will either sell them or wear them myself when my current mittens wear out.  I love the pattern and this soft cream yarn.

I actually finished this early last fall, but never got a good photo of it.  

This is the Tessera Bag by Outstanding Crochet, and it is my favorite item I've ever crocheted. I don't even know how many hours I have in this, and I didn't do that great a job at it, but I really love it.  

I'm using it as my Bible bag.

I made this Coffee Bean stitch slouchy beanie/mittens/infinity scarf set just because I like working with Scarfie yarn.

I saw the designer working up this Spindle Shell Beanie pattern in one of the Facebook crochet groups I'm in, and I was SO excited to make it.  I didn't get chosen to be a tester, but I bought the pattern the day it was released, and made one up quickly.  

This was not the right yarn to use, and it worked up pretty funky looking--and not a good kind of funky, according to my kids. 

I tried a second one in this yarn, and really don't love how the spindles turned out either.  I think this yarn is too soft.  I guess I will have to try a cheaper, rougher yarn. 

I still think it's a cool pattern, and it is fun to work on.

I've been carrying my grey Macie Bag that I made last year, and I get tons of compliments on it.  I decided to make up another in a random bulky yarn I had sitting around.  I think it will be cuter for summer in this color.  It's a fun pattern to do, and I really should make more.

Last week, I had the opportunity to help test a new pattern.  It was for the designer Beechtwine, and it was her first ever pattern.  I really enjoyed the Instagram testers group chat we had going.  All the ladies were sweet and I think we helped get the Oaka Ear Warmer Pattern ready for launch!  I think it's a great pattern--really cute and easy to make too.

One of my favorite crochet designers, A Crocheted Simplicity, released this great pattern for her My Love design for free for it's first day.  The pattern includes a beanie, a slouchy hat, AND a messy bun hat version!  I made both the slouchy and the beanie for Annah, thinking she would choose one...but she wanted both!

Slouchy

Beanie

So, I'm not doing great with keeping up with my Etsy shop or my crochet social media, but I am always making several somethings!

Been on a Celtic weave crochet kick lately...

I love the yearly 7 Days of Scarfie series that Left in Knots does,
and I love working with Lion Brand Scarfie yarn. 

These are quick, easy, comforting patterns for me to work on.

I had an order for a custom made hat last week for a college friend.

 I also think I should re-evaluate Crafted With Care. Even though I would like to put all my time into making crochet things, I don't have the ability to do craft shows and get my things seen in-person by people who may actually buy them because I am teaching music during the times craft fairs take place. I've decided, for now, to just make things I want and post photos of them on my social media. That way, if people see something they like they can order it, but I won't have something sitting around that I won't use.

Everyday Boho Bag

Sylvia asked me to make up some cream colored bohemian style bags for summer, because she thought her friends would like them. Sunday I came across a pattern that the designer (Alex and Co Handmade) was looking to have tested. I volunteered to test it, and think it came out so cute! The original pattern calls for grommets and a chain strap, but I didn't have one on hand and don't like how chain straps cut into my shoulders when I'm wearing that kind of bag. So, I came up with my own crochet strap instead. 

Sylvia's friend Isabella came over for lunch today, and agreed to model the bag for me. So cute!!!

The Everyday Boho Bag

Boot cuffs by hook light

Friday evening, Sylvia had a rehearsal.  I knew I wouldn't be able to get any errands done, so I took some crocheting and stayed in the car while she rehearsed.  I still think it's funny that there are such things as light-up crochet hooks, but it does come in handy sometimes!

I made 3 sets of boot cuffs this weekend.  They are a quick project, and easy and fun to work up!