Itsy Bitsy Spiderweb Baby Blanket

Itsy Bitsy Spiderweb 

From Leisure Arts "Our Best Baby Afghans" (in filing cabinet)

Finished Size: ~34" x 46'

Materials:

- sport weight yarn ~13oz 1255 yards

- hook, size H

Gauge: 16dc and 10 rows = 4"

Ch137 loosely.

Row 1 Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across 135 sts.

Row 2 (Right side) Ch3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), turn ; dc in next 2 dc, * ch1, skip next dc, dc in next 15 dc* to last 4 dc, ch1, skip next dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Note Loop a short piece of yarn around any stitch to mark last row as right side.

Row 3,14,25,36,47,58,69,80,91,102 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next dc, (ch1, skip next dc, dc in next dc) 7 times, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 4,15,26,37,48,59,70,81,92,103 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next dc, (dc in next ch-1 sp and in next dc) 7 times, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 5,16,27,38,49,60,71,82,93,104 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next 15 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc

in last 3 dc.

Row 6,17,28,39,50,61,72,83,94,105 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next 3 dc, ch3, (skip next dc, tr in next dc) 4 times, ch3, skip next dc, dc in next 3 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 7,18,29,40,51,62,73,84,95,106 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next 3 dc, ch3, sc in next 4 tr, ch3, dc in next 3 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Rows 8-10,19-21,30-32,41-43,52-54,63-65,74-76,85-87,96-98,107-109 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1. *dc in next 3 dc, ch3, sc in next 4 sc ch3, dc in next 3 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 11,22,33,44,55,66,77,88,99,110 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, * dc in next 3 dc, ch1, (tr in next sc, ch1) 4 times, dc in next 3 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 12,23,34,45,56,67,78,89,100,111 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc. ch1. * dc in next 3 dc and in next ch-1 sp, (dc in next tr and ch-1 sp) 4 times, dc in next 3 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc in last 3 dc.

Row 13,24,35,46,57,68,79,90,101,112 Ch3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, ch1, *dc in next 15 dc, ch1* across to last 3 dc, dc

in last 3 dc.

Rows 14-114 Repeat Rows 3-13, 9 times; then repeat Rows 3 and 4 once more.

Row 115 Ch3, turn; dc in next dc and in each dc and ch-1 sp across, do not finish off.

EDGING

Rnd l Ch1, turn; work 136 sc evenly spaced across; working in end of rows, 3 sc in first row, work 173 sc evenly spaced across to last row, 3 sc in last row working in free loops of beginning ch (Fig, 23b, page 125), work 136 sc, evenly spaced across working in end of rows, 3 sc in first row, work 173 sc evenly spaced across to last row, 3 sc in last row join with slip st to first sc 630 sc.

Rnd 2 Ch1, *sc in next sc, ch4, sc in third ch

from hook, ch2, skip next 2 sc*around; join with slip st to first sc, finish off.

Seven Layer Salad

make on a 9x13
Lettuce
Corn
Black beans or chickpeas
Carrots
Celery
Green onions
Dressing
Shredded cheese
Bacon
Hard boiled eggs

Dressing
2c Mayo
1/2 c sour cream
Steak seasoning
Balsamic vinegar

Cornrowing

When we went to the Bahamas the girls had their hair braided.  So I tried braiding their hair last night and here's the result of my practice.  The braiding went a lot better this time since I wasn't trying to French braid their hair and I was trying to cornrow it.  I only put in three braids hurt each girls head. I think turned out pretty good.

Here is Caley. 

And here is Kaylin.

The things I need to do differently is figure out how to put the beads on differently and maybe put more beads on than just one bead per braid. 

Messenger Bag Tutorial

I found this great tutorial for a messenger bag at http://www.alidamakes.com/2010/09/messenger-bag-tutorial.html  I would like to copy the information here for fear that when I get around to trying to make this that I won't find the instructions again :(

When and if I make this I will update the instructions/pics, but full credit should go to Alida Makes  I found link on Frugal by Choice, Cheap by Necessity blog on her Homemade Mondays

The below is copied from Alida Makes blog.

Here is what you will need for this project:

-One piece of outer fabric and one piece of lining fabric 42'' by 16'' (this will be the body of the bag)

-Outer fabric 41'' by 8'' (this will be the strap)***Since everyone is different shapes and sizes please take a tape measure and double check the length here. Make sure you add a half inch to your desired length for a seam allowance.****

Outer fabric 11'' by 7'' (this will be the front pocket)

Outer fabric OR lining fabric 21'' by 11'' (this will be the inner pocket. I used outer fabric for this tutorial so it would be easy to see, but either is fine.)

-JEANS NEEDLE! This is a must.

-Two magnetic straps

Chalk

Plastic grid 10''X 2'' (found in the embroidery section of the craft store)

*If you use sturdy home decor fabric for the outer layer you probably won't need batting. But if you are using something more flimsy such as cotton quilting fabric you will want to cut a piece of batting to the same measurements as the body of the bag.*

 Lay the bag body pieces out one on top of the other. Measure 13'' down and 2'' in and cut the pieces out on either side. *If you're using batting repeat this step with the batting.* That will create the FLAP PIECE. Then measure 1.5'' down and 1.5'' in from the top corners of the LINING fabric and mark it. Install the magnetic snaps on both sides there using the package's instructions. (Make sure you only poke through the lining fabric!)

 Fold the bag up like the picture above (you should still have both layers of fabric). Mark where the snaps hit the front of the bag and install the other end of your snaps there on the OUTER fabric.

 Now we're going to sew the pocket on! Take your pocket piece and either A) serge all the way around or B) fold each side down 1/4'' and press and then repeat. Hem the top of the pocket.

Then pin the pocket to the bag 3'' from the top edge as shown below. Top stitch around both sides and the bottom.

 Now take the inner pocket fabric and repeat what you did before, only hem the both short ends. **DISCLAIMER** please forgive the horrible lines on the next picture, I don't have fancy software to draw the straight lines so this was free-hand!

 Put the pocket piece on the lining piece on the bottom part, not the FLAP PIECE. You can center it if you like but you don't have to. I made mine so that one side was higher (and the pocket therefor deeper) than the other. Pin the pocket piece on. Now fold the lining piece so that the bottom of the bag body piece meets the bottom of the flap piece and press. Your crease is your guideline for the image above. Measure one inch to the right of the center and one inch to the left of the center and mark the pocket piece all the way across with your chalk. Then mark where you want to separate your pockets. Sew on the lines you marked like the diagram above. 

WHEW! I hope that wasn't too confusing. Now take your strap piece and fold and press it in half lengthwise. Now open it up and press each side into the middle crease like so:

 Now fold that in half and press:

 Now you should have a long tube. Unfold it quickly and press down each short end 1/4'', then fold it all back together and topstitch all the way around. You now have a strap!

 Now it's time to make a bag sandwich. Put your bag pieces together, right sides facing, and sew all the way around, leaving a 3 inch hole to pull it right side out when you're done. *If you're using batting put the batting on top of the bag sandwich before sewing.* Clip the corners. Then turn the bag body right side out and press

 Now topstitch all the way around. If you used batting stitch it 1/4'' all the way around, if you didn't use batting stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Now fold the bag inside out and stitch up the sides as shown above. Press the seams out.

Fold the corners down and press. Take a ruler and measure 2 inches across the corner and mark that with your chalk. You can do one of two things here. You can either serge across that line or simply sew and leave the corner on, it's up to you. When you're done it should look like this:

Repeat with the other corner. You're almost done! Now sew your strap to the top of the side creases like so:

Make sure you reinforce it with an "X" in the middle. WOO HOO!!! Only one more step!

If you weren't too confused by the inner pocket instructions this next part should work: turn your bag inside out and slide your plastic grid in the pocket at the bottom of your bag.

 And now you just put your stuff in.

 ***I have to give credit to Sew Christine, the technique of sewing the inside pocket is totally hers. Here is her awesome easy Nappy Bag Tutorial.***

Now fold that in half and press:

Quilling Necklace, Possible Birthday Project

Possible project for Girls Birthday

This looks like a great project for the girls' birthday party.

I found this project at www.quillingsuperstore.com    

I figure the girls and I would do all of the quilling shapes in advance so the only thing that the other girls would have to do is place their shapes in the square pendants.  I could show the girls how to quill a few basic shapes (LOOSE COILS [circle, teardrop, eye, leaf, crescent, diamond, triangle, square, closed heart]  SCROLLS [heart, V scroll, C scroll, S scroll] Underline used in above project.  See North American Quilling Guild for reference on official shapes
http://www.naqg.org/accreditation/NAQGshapeChartFinal2010.pdf


Things to find out:

• How long it takes for the Crystal Coat Glaze to set and to finish.
• Economical places to purchase the pendant blanks (size?) and glaze.
• Learn how to tie the slip knots to make the necklaces adjustable.

The Beginning and Purpose

The Beginning and Purpose

Nothing is more frustrating that going back to find a web link to something that you found interesting and to find that link deactivated.

Well I hope to use this blog as way to capture

• things I find interesting and want to try later.
• a way to keep notes on thoughts for future projects
• copy info from web links so that when they are deactivated I still have the information
• show finished projects.