Get Hooked ~ Crochet by Erin

I have started the Boston Bruins Blanket. I love making granny squares and putting them together. That's why I loved making the Mario Blanket so much.  But this blanket is a bit different. there are 4 sizes of squares. 3, 6, 9 and 12 rounds.  That is a bit big for me, so I am doing 2,4,6,and 8 round squares. And I recently found a pattern for a solid granny square. I am not sure which square I like more. I don't want to make a bunch of squares in one style and end up not liking it and having to make them over again. This week I ask for your help! should I make the traditional granny square or the solid? let the square count down begin! Yellow 2 rnd sq- ___of 38 made 4 rnd sq- ___of 1 made 6 rnd sq- ___of 8 made 8 rnd sq- ___of 14 made Black 2 rnd sq- ___of 14 made 4 rnd sq- ___of  5 made 6 rnd sq- ___of  12 made 8rnd sq not needed

Week 27. holy heck! I wish I had 27 weeks of progress pictures but the Mario Blanket and orders took up most of my time.  These hats are part of the 52 Hat Challenge on Ravelry and A year of Projects. Since I have more time now I can get back to my list(s). I have many more hats on my list to make for my etsy shop. It needs more hats. Hats are the most popular item in my shop so that is all I make. everything else just sits there.  Along with adding more hats I am redesigning a few of the hats I already sell. Mainly the Anna and Elsa hats, Police Box, and Giraffe hats. I will be adding other animals, sets ( hat and booties combo for babies) , plain ol hats and all hats will be available in all sizes . I recently made the Lego hat available in all sizes and it is growing in popularity in my shop.  I have more ideas but I will save that for another blog.  for an updated list of my YOP projects , check out my  previous post  .

What a long 6 months. I am so glad this blanket is done. And so is my fiance. I gave it to him on Christmas. He thought I wouldn't finish it on time . But I did! :) here are a few pictures of its journey.

I'm baaaaaack! I have alot of catching up to do! I took some time off of my Yop list to do some Halloween Hat making. Busy Busy! Now back to my list.. oh how I've missed you... Christmas is just around the corner so I HAVE to finish my fiance's present!!!!! I was able to get a few more rows of squares done.... one more to go.. all blue.  Then back to sewing! whooo.   This blanket is coming together nicely. I can still remember making the first few squares...   I was also able to get to the Breast Cancer Awareness bag. Cross this off my list of purchased pattern finished! :)

3 months and nothing is finished.. :(  but the Sugar Skull garland is almost finished!  I started on the skull cap. You can see 2 skulls but I think I am a stitch off because the second skull looks a bit off center, so I will probably start over. Also to be able to make my  Totoro pillow  I have to learn how to Tunisian crochet . So last week I bought a long hook and I tried it out last night.. I have to say, its quite fun! :) 

We are almost at the 3 month mark. I have purchased so many patterns over the past year . about 60. too many good deals from my favorite designers. So I really need to do something with them.. I have two I need to finish but most patterns I have to start .. here is my list for the first batch. Scarecrow basket Frankie's Bride Skull cap Football lovey Olaf hat Breast Cancer Awareness bag - add handle TMNT hat - add eyes most are a Snappy Tots pattern . I am glad I was able to contribute to her daughters wedding..lol As you can see there are no Mario Blanket updates.... I am taking a break from that. I don't want to hate it before its done. Plus I need to buy more blue yarn. I think 1 skein will be enough. This is my project for the week. I'm into skulls this year.. not sure why. These Sugar Skulls will be a garland hopefully this week. 

I love knitters. Did anyone else see the Claire Outlander Cowl on Ravelry's home pages last week?  I am loving that show ( and my fiance is into it too). Claire's cowl on the show is beautiful and I wanted to make one from the first time I saw it. But I don't know how to knit and I don't think it would look the same if I loom knitted it. After seeing Polly foo foo's pattern ( and realizing I have the needles the pattern calls for ) I believe I can do it. I just have to learn how to knit :) Now on to stuff I did this past week. I didn't post my blog to the group last week because I didn't finish anything , but I did set a few goals. Sew 8 rows of the Mario Blanket together....... I love sitting outside-ish. The weather is so nice I can sit out on the screened in porch and sew this blanket. lots and lots of sewing. Above is just 7 rows. I got annoyed with it .., lots and lots of sewing.  Make the Chair Socks... Here is one chair sock.. ...

There will not be a Year of Projects post this week. I've been busy with hat orders. But I will be back next week. Like I did with a previous post , I want to set a few goals for the up coming week . I have 8 rows of squares of the Mario Blanket made, my goal is to sew all of them together.   MUST finish the chair socks .  use the Walking Dead graph and start the bag. 

I have some sad news. I can not make the wedding dress I planned on making for myself. The free link on ravelry is gone and the mag is out of print :( After spending the whole weekend looking for another dress, I found ( in my favorite on ravelry) this Spider Web Skirt pattern   . Ive loved it for a while now, but I am not a skirt wearing type of gal but my wedding is a special occasion. Josi turned the skirt in to her wedding dress and it looks AMAZING! So I may have found a replacement ( that looks a bit better) . No picture updates for the Mario Blanket this week. I was able to sew 2 more rows of squares and make a few more tan and brown squares. Its the end of summer so more hat orders will be rolling in for Halloween. I am hoping for a repeat of last fall.  Many, many orders. I don't want to sound greedy but I do have a wedding to pay for :)   I made my list a bit longer. Adding more home decor and holiday items.

Another post about the Mario Blanket. I have sewed rows 1 and 2 . I made 8 brown squares and 3 more tan squares, just to see what the blanket will look like this week. and thats about it...lol so sad. I am thinking for next week I will post something else :)  Weekly Mario Blanket Square Count  Red: 35 of 45 done Tan: 20 of 42 done Brown: 8 of 54 done Light blue: 50 of 109 done Yellow: 2 of 2 done.

Last week I set a few goals for myself. I want to get the Mario blanket for my fiance mostly done before the Halloween hat orders come in . My goals for the blanket were 25 blue squares and 20 red squares.  I am proud to say I met my goal :) I plan to sew a few rows together this week . Sounds like fun , doesn't it . No chair socks this week. Oh, has any one seen the Broadway Panel Blanket by Jessica Evans?  Its amazing and there are so many panels to make. I will be making this one for me! in other news: Its time to waken up my New England chapter of Halos of Hope. All hat drive info is on the blog  .   Weekly count Red: 35 of 45 done Tan: 17 of 42 done Brown: 0 of 54 done Light blue: 50 of 109 done Yellow: 2 of 2 done.

Week 5 already? By week 5 I was hoping I'd have something finished. Sadly nothing is finished. I have to get back in my groove after making all those cheer hats. I do have to say that I am proud about something... I cleaned out my ravelry queue of all items I didn't plan on making anytime soon. It went from 5 pages to 3 pages!! :) ::happy dance:: This post I want to set some goals for next week: For the Mario Blanket ( my biggest project) I want to finish 25 more blue squares and 20 red squares. I believe after that I will have to buy more yarn. I want to start and finish the Stripped Chair Socks and start the Hexagon Hot pad . Or vice versa. :)

I am adding the cheer hats to my list :) I have only worked on these and other orders in the past 2 weeks, so I wasn't able to do anything else on my list. I only took a picture of the changes to the hats. My future SIL will probably take pics later today.  For the  Mohawk  I changed the paw. Main reason is I forgot how I did the others..lol  The cheer board didn't like the other headbands so they asked for the style below.  I definitely like the others . HERE is the link to the other hats . I also made this headband but I didn't include it with the hats. I think THIS head band is much better. Hopefully Teresa ( future SIL) sees it on my page and asks me to make more :)  Yay! those are done! Now to finish orders and get back to my Year of Projects official list :) 

No updates this week.. I had to catch up on a few orders and had to make the 10 hats that I mentioned in my last post for my future SIL.  I wish I had more hands :) I am almost done with the hats... I just need to add the eyes, ears, braids,pom poms, ect.