Throw rug and granny square pillow (crochet)

Good evening!! I am back from a somewhat-partial break after the holidays.  Here we are over 2 weeks into the new year already, so I figured I better make myself present! :)

 How did everyone's holiday go?  I am back into the full swing of things around here and currently working on a nifty blanket which I hope to share soon.  For now, though, I can start sharing things that were made as Christmas gifts that I couldn't share before in case anyone peeked here and saw! :D


This awesome rug started off as 16 (yes SIXTEEN!!) skeins of yarn in very, very random colors.  If you look closely you can see there are 2 different striping patterns...one with 8 colors and the other also with 8 colors.  Individually the yarns were actually rather ugly and none of them matched or coordinated.  But when you put them all together, they turned into this fabulous thing and were a great way to use up a lot of out-dated yarns! (I inherited a bunch from my grandmother and this throw rug thus became a sentimental gift for my mom!)  P.S. I used a "Q" hook and just did an oval, working extra stitches (all in SC) where needed to round out the ends and such, but there are plenty of patterns and books available, too, if you wanted to use them.

 Next up is one of my newest favorite things to work on (granny squares!).  This was also a gift for my mom, although this time I picked the colors on purpose to match ;)  No pattern was used, just bought a 14x14" pillow form (around $6 at Walmart) and started working a basic granny square (I believe with an "H" hook) until it measured big enough to fit across one side of the pillow.  Then I made an identical second one, held the two together and worked a SC border through both thicknesses on 3 sides (working in extra stitches around the corner to keep it flat and nice), stuffed the pillow into it, and finished up the 4th/final side.  Weaved in ends and voila!  :D 

Up close view of granny square pillow :)








Alrighty, I've got to get more photos downloaded to share for next time, but I hope everyone is having a wonderful start off to the new year!! :)

"Chinese Acrobat" hat (crochet)

This crocheted hat is called a "Chinese Acrobat" hat in one of Leisure Art's latest pattern books all about hats called 'Heady Affairs'.  There are 7 hat patterns altogether and they all seem to be on the above-beginner level side.  Several of them feature cable patterns or other complex designs rather than just your plain ol' beanie cap.  

It took me a couple of days to complete this one and it was made for someone specific for Christmas.. so hopefully he doesn't see this any time soon! haha :D  

I do recommend the book if you want some different styles of crocheted hats and are ready to take the next step up from beginner patterns. :)


On a separate note, I will be adding several jar necklaces with mico-mini polymer clay gnomes, candies and snowmen to my Etsy shop this afternoon.  If you are on the hunt for holiday gifts, head on over and check it out!  www.maebellecreations.etsy.com

Moleskine Booklet and Cover pattern (crochet)

Hello! I decided to try a smaller covered booklet and had some extra Moleskines laying around begging to not be naked anymore, so here is the first one I made. The size of the booklet is 5 1/2"x 3 1/2" so any book of the same size will work for this pattern, provided it is not very thick (as these aren't).


The inside flap done in a different yarn....as you can see, it isn't very much bigger than the pen.

The pattern!! Please let me know if there are any problems with it, though I tried to to make sure it is correct and I wrote it as I was making it, there is always room for human error. And as always, feel free to make as many as you want, but don't sell my pattern or pass it off as your own... I'd love credit as I always credit others. :) :)


5 1/2"x 3 1/2" Moleskine Booklet Cover

you will need: 2 colors of 100% cotton yarn (I am using Sugar & Cream brand)
F crochet hook and a tapestry needle
a 5 1/2x 3 1/2" moleskine book

with yarn A ch 26. sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (25)
R01-09: sc in each st across. ch 1, turn. (25) change to yarn B
R10: working in BLO sc in each st across. ch 1, turn (25)
R11-25: sc in each st across. ch 1, turn (25)
R26: working in BLO sc in each st across. ch 1, turn (25)
R27: working in FLO sc in each st across. ch 1, turn (25)
R28-41: sc in each st across. ch 1, turn. (25) change back to yarn A.
R42: working in BLO sc in each st across. ch 1, turn (25)
R43-49: sc in each st. across. ch 1, turn (25)
R50: sc in each st across. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Place Moleskine booklet at the center and sew flaps at top and bottom with whichever yarn you wish to use. Then weave in any loose ends. (Make sure that the center of the book has rows 26 and 27 snuggly wrapping around it with the extra unused loops sticking out away from the book).

For straps to tie booklet shut, chain 40 and tie off. (Make 2). Attach to anywhere on booklet you'd like to wrap and tie from. Hide loose ends. (On mine, I tied to the edge/side where the book opens from...see pics).


And that's it! Fairly straight forward and simple enough for a beginner to learn on and try. :) You could get fancy and use a button closure or put flower motifs on it if you'd like... I kept this one simple mainly because the book is so small already, I wanted to keep it not-too-flashy and just pick yarn colors I like. :) Have fun making yours!

Otter Pop Holder and pattern (crochet)

Last summer I made a bunch of these out of craft felt for dirt cheap and they lasted all through summer and are finally starting to look rather sad. So I decided to crochet some up this time. Here is the pattern for anyone else who'd like to make some, too!

Otter Pop Holders

F hook* 100% cotton yarn (I used one main color and one color for putting together) *tapestry needle

(make 2)
chain 16. sc into 2nd ch from hook and across (15)
R1-5: sc across, ch 1, turn (15)
R6: sc across. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Using the 2nd yarn color, hold two rectangles together and beginning at one corner, sc through both pieces all around 3 of the edges (leaving one short side open for holding the otter pop). When you are at the corners, put 2 sc into the same stitch to help round the corner and keep work flat. Fasten off and weave in ends.


Very, very basic and easy...perfect for beginner crocheters to try out something other than a potholder! And it's quick and uses next-to-no yarn at all. :) Make them up in all sorts of colors to match your frozen treats! :)