Stitch Marker Pattern and Other Things

Were you impacted by Hurricane Sandy? The Eastern seaboard, especially the New England states, were devastated. Power outages in some of the coldest temperatures we've seen this year. Here in my area we were lucky. We got, depending on your elevation, between 18 and 29 inches of snow in just over two days. And yes, some people were without power and heat, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200,000 homes. That's not nearly what New England saw but it was enough.

My family was extremely blessed during this crisis. We only lost TV, Telephone and Internet for four and a half days. Our power and heat continued to work! I became reacquainted with my DVD collection and since there was no school for those four days my children became reacquainted with one another (no fights! Yay!). 

And that's why there was no post last week. Just in case you're wondering.

On to happier thoughts!

I finished five Christmas presents and thought up several more projects for myself in case we're without TV or Internet again anytime soon. I can do without a phone; I know, I know, not normal . . . so what?

Here are the items I made with links to the patterns where appropriate. Enjoy!

My oldest daughter is dating a guy that has two small children from a previous marriage. And I'm one that believes all small children should get something when they visit during the holidays. This is for his daughter (if you couldn't tell by the pink). After I made the hat it was so painfully plain that I had to do something, so I went to Hobby Lobby and got this adorable little bow. The bow is on a clip making it removable, she can wear it on this hat or whatever she'd like. Personally, I think that bow adds an extra dose of cuteness!

This is a "Grumpy" Bird hat I made for the son of a friend who is apparently on an Angry Bird kick. I followed this pattern from Teresa Richardson's Crochet Geek website. The son of my daughter's boyfriend will get one of these as well.

This is an ornament made from the Crochet Shell Cross pattern, also from the Crochet Geek website. She has a video tutorial on this pattern available here. I got lucky with that shaft of light coming through the mini-blinds when I took this photo.

This ornament is from a book called Big Book of Thread Ornaments to Crochet. My mother got that for me a couple of years ago and I've used two or three patterns from it every year since then. They make great hostess gifts or can be used on the packaging of a gift. This one still needs some embellishment but the hard part is done!

And my final project, a set of stitch markers for my mother. I made these myself, crochet isn't the only craft I do!

Simple project; here are the directions . . .

Materials: (this makes 4 stitch markers)

• 4 lobster claw clasps
• 4 jump rings
• 4 head pins
• 4 larger or focal point beads
• 8 small beads
• round nose pliers
• cutting pliers
• flat nose pliers 

On a head pin, add one small bead, one focal point bead and a second small bead. Bend the head pin and make a loop, attach a jump ring, add the lobster claw. Close the jump ring. Ta-Da! A set of unique stitch markers for the yarn crafter in your life!


Have a wonderful week!

(there are only 46 days until Christmas!)