Afton's Afghan

This is the Blanket Grandma Turner (Tyson's Grandma) made for Afton when she was born. Since then I have been trying to figure out the patter because it's so amazing!

Yes, it would have been easier to just ask for the pattern but it was fun trying to figure it out on my own.

Well, I finally did it so I thought I would share because it really is one of the neatest patterns I have ever seen. It gives the afghan a 3D look and I love it.

So I kind of came up with a pattern but it was kind of hard to explain so I decided to do a picture tutorial. (also, I always wanted to try a picture tutorial) It's not the best but here it goes.

This is the actual pattern I came up with:

Grandma's 3D Baby Afghan

Hook Size H

Lion Brand Pound of Love: pastel Pink

Row 1: Using this technique of a no chain foundation, 122 dc

Row 2: ch 3, 3 dc in next dc. (ch3, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc) 40 times. DC in last dc

Row 3: ch 3, (working behind the ch 3 of previous round, 3 Bpdc in 1st dc in 3 dc set, ch 3) 40 times. 3 bpdc in 1st dc in last 3 dc set. Dc in last turning ch of previous row.

Repeat row three until desired length

Last row: ch 3, (dc in next 3 dc, dc in ch 3 sp ) repeat to the end of the row. Dc in last turning ch. fasten off and weave in ends.

Photo Tutorial:

Starting on Row 3-

Ch 3. Yarn over,

Going behind the ch 3 of previous row

bpdc in the first dc of next 3 dc set

(Going around the front of the stitch)

(Yarn over, pull through, finish dc)

When making the next bpdc in the set of 3, do it the same way but make sure the second one goes on top of the first one, not beneath it. (which mean you may need to pull down the 1st st in order to get the second one on top of it) So the three stack on top of each other. You'll get a totally different look if you do the dc under the previous one.

Here's what it looks like when you just finish the 3 bpdc

This is what the back side looks like

ch 3 and repeat till the end. Then dc in last st (it's the turning ch 3 from the previous row)

This is what the edging looks like

And here's a few rows done

Wow that was not an awesome attempt to explain that but I hope it helped even a little. I love this blanket and I think I'm gong to make lots. It goes pretty fast too.

Basketweave Earwarmer

This is What I made for Lex for Christmas.

I couldn't find a free pattern so I mad one up and posted it on Ravelry. (I love Ravelry).

Photo Card

Picture Joy Christmas

Click here to browse our Christmas photo card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

The start of Christmas Projects

These are only a couple of projects I've been working on for Christmas gifts. These are the only ones I can post right now (in case the recipient would look on here)

The first one is a bear I made for Bailey for her birthday. She loves dolls and stuffed animals so I thought it would be fun to make up a pattern and I crocheted it out of some yarn I got from Grandma Brown.

It's not fabulous but I think it'll be fun for her.

This is a pattern I found and loved. The only problem is I picked horrible colors. I love the pattern though and it was so easy to make. I'll probably use this pattern again.

Projects in Gabriel's Room

I have been working on some projects for Gabriel's room. Last year for his first birthday, I made him a scrapbook birthday frame. I used the theme from his birthday party and his party invitation to decorate these 12x12 wood frames. I loved it and so I just finished (er, 99.8% finished) his 2nd birthday frame. The Hobby Lobby and the Michaels here don't have the numbers that I used for his last frame :( I don't know where to find one. Keep your eyes out for a wooden 2 for me!

I hung them up on his bedroom wall.

Pat the Bunny 1st birthday.
It's hard to see but I stamped blue polka dots on the peach paper, like the book.

Lightening McQueen 2nd birthday.
I made felt lightning keychains as party favors for the kids. I took off the keyring for this one and attached it.

 Gabriel's room is a space themed room with an outer space bed set, solar system paintings, planetarium nightlight, etc... I found this embroidery pattern online. It was perfect! It was simple to do and very cute. Then I put together a little wall hanging with these fat quarters on clearance at Joann's for 50cents! They are the perfect colors of his room and I thought they worked together great. 

Sorry for the bad lighting! It was bedtime :)

Left column: Moon, Earth, Mars
Middle: comet, star, Saturn
Right: Jupiter, Pluto (with a tear in his eye)

Left column: Mercury, Venus
Middle: Sun
Right: Neptune or Uranus... can't ever remember who is who!

 Then I made this bean bag chair for him. I made a basic bean bag out of durable upholstery fabric, stuffed it will packing peanuts, and then put the cute slipcover over it. His room is a work in progress but I'm really liking the progress :)

Woodland Bloom Quilt

Finally made this quilt out of the Woodland Bloom line of fabric by Lila Tueller:

A shot of the quilting

I absolutely love the pink damask fabric on the border and backing.

Glad it's finally done since I got the fabric before Jocelyn was born and now she's 3. :)

Kids slipcovered chair

Last year, I bought this Pottery Barn Kids rocking chair at a garage sale for $1.  You can see why it was only $1.

I made a slipcover for it, but never got around to putting the skirt on until this morning.  But I am so happy it's finally done.