Office Closet Curtain

The office has moved to the den closet.

More on that later, but for now, the important details:

A curtain along the top shelf hides our books.

The curtain was in need of a little detail.

It looks so plain and drab.

So out comes the crochet hook.

A row of chains in turquoise, then a row of sc in turquoise, as well.

Then a row of shells (*1 sc, sk st, 5 dc in same st then sk st*, repeating from * to * to end) 

in multi-colors leftover from the big Tilda yarn purchase. 

The perfect yarn for this trim!

Pinned in, then hand sewn on.

And there you have it!

No more plain and drab.

I like it.

Even the NVO likes it!

What do you think?

The Twelve Days Before Valentine's Day Teaser

In my strange little mind world,

I think 12 days of "true love gifts" are more appropriate for Valentine's Day.

So I'm gearing up for a

"Twelve Days of Valentines Day Crocheting and Baking Countdown"

And here are a couple of teasers:

Rose-in-the round pattern here.

Mitered dishcloth pattern here although these are doubled up for a potholder/trivet!

The twelve day count down will go something like this:

Saturday, February 1, 2014		Announcing the Twelve Day's of Valentine's Day Posts
Sunday, February 2, 2014		12 Days Before Valentine's Day
Monday, February 3, 2014		11 Days Before Valentine's Day and *CANDO page update
Tuesday, February 4, 2014		10 Days Before Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 5, 2014		9 Days Before Valentine's Day
Thursday, February 6, 2014		8 Days Before Valentine's Day
Friday, February 7, 2014		7 Days Before Valentine's Day
Saturday, February 8, 2014		6 Days Before Valentine's Day
Sunday, February 9, 2014		5 Days Before Valentine's Day
Monday, February 10, 2014		4 Days Before Valentine's Day and *CANDO page update
Tuesday, February 11, 2014		3 Days Before Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 12, 2014		2 Days Before Valentine's Day
Thursday, February 13, 2014		1 Day Before Valentine's Day
Friday, February 14, 2014		On Valentine's Day

There will be a CANDO post this Monday, 1/27/14 then after that, the two next
*CANDO Monday progress reports will be updated on the CANDO 2014 page vs a post,

 so keep on keeping on!

Blocking Flowers

Poinsettia's that is:

Putting away the last of Christmas, 

I thought it might be a good idea to block these for a few reasons:

1) so they are all ready for next year,

2) to see how they look blocked,

3) see if these would make good ornaments for the tree.

This is what I did:

Pulled out the handy-dandy blocking board I made for 

crocheted snowflake blocking from this post.

 Then gathered up the remaining supplies: pins, starch and bowl.

 Soaked flowers in starch and and wrung out.

 Placed on board with pins.

Let them dry...and that's it:

AFTER and BEFORE

BEFORE:

(I like these too, but not for ornaments.)

AFTER:

Very easy and what a difference!

Poinsettia in-the-round pattern can be found here.

Here they are enjoying the sunshine. :)

We have sunshine today and it may be a good day for a long walk!

Have a sunny day!

Rose Heart Pillow Pattern

Joy of joys!

 I have finally finished the rose heart pillow pattern:

(Goodness! It's been a year in the making!)

It is listed in my Etsy shop:

Click here for the pattern without the instruction for the Granny Rose Square in the middle as many of you have those patterns already (Yay! and thank you!). :-)

And here for the pattern that includes the 3 steps for the Granny Rose Square.

Oh I imagine so many fun color options for this.

 Make this fun heart pillow for a loved one or for yourself.

 The 13 page pattern/tutorial is bursting full of step-by-step photos and diagrams.

 It also includes video links for extra hints and assistance. 

You can use any granny square for the middle of this pillow, 

or you can use the rose granny square as shown. 

Step 2, 3 and 4 of the granny rose can be purchased separately or together 

with the heart pillow pattern under "Crocheted Rose Heart Pillow Pattern (with Granny Rose)". 

In the event that you already have the granny rose square pattern

 or would like to use a granny square of your own,

 the pattern is under "Crocheted Rose Heart Pillow Pattern (without Granny Rose)".

The pattern is easy to follow and even includes diagrams like this:

Put a smile on a loved one's face with this happy pillow that you can customize

 to their style or your style by changing the colors or the size.

Have Happy Day!

I Heart You!

Mitered Dishcloth - Kitchen Upgrade II

More dishcloths for the kitchen drawer:

These three include a picot edge and a rose on the white one.

Pattern for mitered dishcloth can be purchased here.

Pattern for picot edge is included in the pattern that be can be purchased here.

Pattern for the rose can be purchased here.

The nice thing about the all white one is that it can be bleached.

Bleach does not work so well with the colors.

I made nine, so that...

I have six in the drawer and one at the sink for seven days of the week...

then the remaining two can be a gift or back-up:

Have a spiffy day!

Mitered Dishcloth - Kitchen Upgrade I

My favorite kitchen dishcloths were in need of a promotion to the cleaning closet.

That fact created the need for new dishcloths:

These only took a few Downton Abby episodes to complete!

The pattern is here and works up really fast.

This is what the dishcloth and towel drawer looked like before:

And here's the after:

Three of these skeins: 

yielded a total of nine dishcloths.

Here are the nine:

More on the three in the front with the fancy picot edge in a future post.

Aren't these:

perfect for the cleaning cabinet now?

Still in good shape...just a little faded.

Here are the six color combos:

This pattern can be purchased in my Etsy shop here.

These instructions for the mitered dishcloths are easy to follow. 

They are complete with a lot of step-by-step photos. 

Once you make a few for yourself you will likely find your friends and family requesting them.

The really great thing about using these as a dishcloth is that, after use, you can just rinse and wring them thoroughly and hang them from a hook by the sink or the faucet with that convenient handle. This drying technique keeps them smelling fresh and resisting germs.

These dishcloths have been a real hit among those that have received them as gifts, especially with the added thoughtfulness of coordinating the colors with the recipients kitchen.

I love these in all their germ-resistant glory!

And here they are photographed all around the kitchen to show off their coordinating fashion:

With the coordinating appliances from this post.

With the coordinating knick-knacks.

With the coordinating rag rug with link to pattern on this post.

With the coordinating "brød"

pillow from this post.

With the coordinating polka dotted kitchen sofa pillow.

A special thank you, to the dishcloths, 

for modeling for the numerous photos on this post. :-)