"WHO YOU GONNA CALL?"

 

One more cell phone wristlet.  Case made with Tahki Cotton Classic, size G hook with a chain of 15.  Flowers crocheted from Patons Grace.  As previously posted, pattern is from Misty Makes and is available as a free download via Ravelry.  This time I put a lining in it.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube! 

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Just completed another cell phone wristlet, by request, this time in blue, my favorite blue.  I used Tahki Cotton Classic and a size G hook.  Once again, this pattern is by Misty Makes and is available as a free download via Ravelry.  You can make it up super quick (at least if you're not stripping wallpaper, removing a cabinet and painting all at the same time), and you can easily adjust it to fit any cell phone by adding stitches to your beginning chain, just make sure you do it in multiples of two.  I had the dimensional daisy in my box of ready-to-go flowers.  It was crocheted with a sparkly white crochet thread and I stuffed the yellow center to make it really stand out.  I simply used six strands of DMC embroidery floss to make the leaves.  The free leaf pattern is from nexttonicx.  I am going to have to look for the daisy pattern and write about how that was made in a separate post.  Now I am on to a third wristlet, pink.  The girls really like these.  I am happy to oblige.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!

YOU CAN CALL ME BETSY

I crocheted this really big Betsy Ross style flag.  I started on June 1st and made my deadline July 1st.  I finished right on time.  It measures 80" from left to right and 44" from top to bottom.  It is made up entirely of double crochet, Red Heart Super Saver and an H hook.  The free pattern for the stars came from Moogly Blog.  The most difficult part of the entire project was getting the stars sewn in place.  I used a large plate as my circle template.  I wouldn't be surprised if Betsy used a plate to make her circle too.  I am going to hang it outside.  Happy 4th of July to you all.  Hope you have a blast! :)

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!

CARDIGAN "PETALES" ADULT

 

In yesterday's post, I wrote about Frannie promoting from 8th grade.  It was a special occasion which required a pretty dress.  Rules were for no spaghetti straps, strapless or backless dresses, and no prom gowns or bridesmaid dress attire.  Basically, keep your shoulders covered and don't dress inappropriately, after all, this was a serious ceremony and not a fashion show.  We found a nice dress, although shoulders would be visible, but not too much.  Frannie asked me to make something pretty to put those shoulders at bay.

I made this cardigan one other time (posted about here) and we thought it would be just the right thing, this time in sparkly pink (difficult color for me to photograph, but it did match the flowers in the dress just right).  I used Vanna's Glamour Yarn in Deep Magenta and the pattern Cardigan "Pétales" by Marjoline Petit.  It is available as a free Ravelry download in both French and English.  I used a simple, vintage rhinestone button as a closure.  It goes without saying that it looked very pretty on Frannie - and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother.  :)

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!

E.T. PHONE HOME

Frannie was recently promoted from eighth grade - that means she is officially a high school student!  She did so well this past year that we felt a nice gift was in order.  I crocheted her a wristlet to carry it around in.  It goes without saying that everything is pink. Frannie's is made with Lily Sugar 'n Cream, Strawberry Ombre.  One skein is more than enough.  You can make one too.  The pattern by Misty Makes is available as a free download via Ravelry or and you can find the link on my Pinterest board (right side bar) filed under "Cozies".  The flower was my idea. ;)

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!

CROCHET PILLOW & DUMPSTER DIVING

Just finished this pillow.  It's been staring me in the face every day.  All that was left to do was to stitch down the yellow flower and two leaves.  That's it!  Today was the day!  It's a simple single crochet stitch, round and round, done in spiral fashion.  A back, front and crocheted together with a shell border.  I didn't even have a round pillow form, but I did have a square one.  So I tucked in the corners and stitched them down.  It worked perfectly.  The pillow is crocheted from Lily's Sugar 'n Cream, variegated, Aloe Vera.  It is one of those cotton yarns that has an odor, smell, scent - I don't like that.  I don't go into a store and say, "let me smell your yarn".  Do people do that?  So why the need for scent?  But I liked the color, and that was that.  It reminds me of summer, cottage living.

As for the dumpster diving, it wasn't actually a dive, more of a reach my arm in and pull out that sweet, vintage, pale pink chenille full-sized bedspread.  I don't know how old it is, but probably a good 50-60 years.  When Aunt Grace's house was being emptied last summer, her two sons thought it was garbage and threw it in the dumpster.  I saw it peeking out later that evening and went over to give it a good look.  Well, there were only a couple of small stains on it.  I snatched that thing lickety split and made a b-line up my sidewalk.  It was going home for a nice, warm bubble bath.  After coming out of the dryer, all soft and snuggly, the stains had magically disappeared!  I felt a little guilty about swiping it and made a confession.  They told me that if I found anything else I wanted to help myself.  I might have found a few more things.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!

A IS FOR APRON(s)

 

Yesterday, Frannie was re-organizing her American Girl doll collection wardrobe.  She called me in to show me how well it turned out.  I noticed a stack of aprons.  I had forgotten how many I made.  Pattern for these aprons was Simplicity #2761, which is now out of print but still available here.  I can't decide which is my favorite - maybe the one that matches Frannie's apron (I still have it tucked away).  The very last photo is from a blog post dated September 2008 - almost 7 years ago!  This apron was made from a Daisy Kingdom pattern for Simplicity #7856, also out of print.  It was available as a separate pattern in adult sizes too, of which I have made several (Simplicity #5201).  This particular pattern was great for using up leftover quilt binding.  Reminiscing over it makes me want to make it again.  I think I'll put that on the list.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!  She is up to 600 subscribers!  

BIB-bidi Bobbidi Boo

One of Frannie's teachers has a little girl, about a year old.  Frannie met her on Family Day at school.  Frannie thought she was adorable and asked if I might make a little something for her.  After seeing Thimbleanna's bib post, I have been wanting to make some too.  With a great deal of inspiration from Amy Sinibaldi of nanacompany, this is my interpretation of what a little girl should be wearing while enjoying a summer ice cream cone.  I don't own Amy's book, Sweetly Stitched Handmades, so I had to wing it by drawing out a pattern and putting it together without instruction.  I have had the fabrics for quite some time (you may have seen them here or there on this blog).  The bindings were left over from some previous quilting projects.  I put two layers of fabric together with a layer of cotton batting in between then quilted with a simple 1" grid pattern.  The two bibs have been completely hand-stitched and everything came out of my stash.  The pink cherries fabric is on the reverse of the cupcake print.  The cherries are crocheted with cotton thread.  You can find the cherries pattern here (originally found on Pinterest from nexttonicx).

P.S. - Have a scoop of chocolate for me!

P.P.S. - CuteStuffInside on Instagram.  Yeah!  Still learning the ropes.

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube!  

 

THAT'S NOT FRINGE

Made a traditional granny square poncho for Frannie in all her favorite colors.

(It sure is difficult to photograph these things!)

Pink shell neckline.  Squares joined as I went.  Six colors.  No pattern, just figured out the shape and sizing as I went along.  It looks awfully sweet on her.  Frannie loves a warm and cozy poncho.

Same shell border, different color, all the way around outer edge.

It has been steam blocked, but all those tails need to be woven in.  I think I'll wait until September because Frannie won't be able to wear it for the next four months anyway.  Onto another project or two... or three.  ;)

S.W.A.K.

Don't forget to visit Frannie at CuteKatyDolls on YouTube! 

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL SWEATER

ONE MORE

One more sweater I made for an American Girl doll.  It is light pink with some tiny flowers crocheted with DMC variegated floss (6 strands) and size 4 steel crochet hook.  I tucked this one inside Frannie's Easter Basket.

Here we see Grace Thomas modeling the new sweater.  This is her puppy, BonBon.  She (BonBon) was hiding in Frannie's basket too.

Look how adorable her charm bracelet is.  The American Girl Doll Company (a subsidiary of Mattel) makes the cutest things, and we have never been disappointed in the quality.  No junk here.  This is our own opinion.  I wish they would sponsor us.

S.W.A.K.

CUTEKATYDOLLS on YouTube!

PILE UP

It's very difficult to photograph shawls,  shrugs and ponchos, especially if you don't have a willing model.

South Bay Shawlettes - Free Lion Brand Pattern.  The top one was crocheted with Cascade Cherub Aran.  I made this one for Frannie.

 

Another one for Frannie.  The blue and pink are Cascade Cherub Aran.  The white is Caron Simply Soft.  This one is Frannie's favorite, although I would have bet money that she would have picked the pink one.  She said it is because this one looks "Frozen" inspired.

This is the first South Bay Shawlette I made and it belongs to me, although someone keeps asking me if they can wear it.  I used Red Heart Boutique "Unforgettable".  I get a lot of compliments on this one.  People especially like the colorway and softness of the yarn.  It drapes beautifully.

Up next is your basic granny poncho.  Again, for Frannie.  This has gotten a lot of wear, I think mainly because it is soft and cozy and feels comforting on those chilly days.  This poncho was made with Red Heart "Love" in fuschia.  I don't know exactly how many pom-poms I crocheted around the border, but there are a lot.  I used this pom-pom pattern from Once Upon A Pink Moon.

Last up is a shrug made with Tahki Cotton Classic.  Free pattern on Ravelry, but I did have to modify the size.  I made this specifically because when the weather turns warmer and Frannie starts wearing sundresses to school, spaghetti straps are not allowed to show.  So, the dress has to be covered up over the shoulders.  I thought this would be cuter than your standard t-shirt.

S.W.A.K.

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