So while I am in bed last night trying to get to sleep, my smart-elic husband sees this last night and asks "Can you make this?"

 

Now don't get me wrong, I know he is a HUGE Mario fan, have seen this a few times, just did not think he would want one. I said "Yes" and went back to trying to sleep. I then hear him say, "Right, but it would probably take a year." OH HO! The gauntlet has been thrown down, he will have this for Valentine's Day.
 
I got up this morning and searched for a pattern I really liked that gave me the block counts.  I found a WONDERFUL one at Wildflower Sunshine.  I know I could of done it myself, but I just have not felt that great the past few days and really want this done in 3 weeks.   For all the directions click here.
 

I am using an I hook (5.5 MM) and doing the typical three row granny square.  Mine are coming out 4 inches square.  That will make my afghan 72" x 56" before sewing together and adding a border. 
 
I have the red blocks already done and in a Ziploc bag, on to the black ones!  I will keep the blog posted on the progress.  Did I mention I have the song stuck in my head?

Valentine's Day is just over a month a way.  So, what better time to start crocheting for the holiday than now?  I wanted something that would work up fast, but be practical to for a gift for family or a friend, maybe a Secret Cupid gift. 

This little heart works up in about 15 minutes and are great as a coaster for a glass on a table you do not want to get water damaged. 

 
I used a skein of Peaches & Creme Solids I made four and still had yarn left, so I think a skein would be able to make at least 6. 


Heart Coaster Pattern
I - 5.50 MM hook
1 skein Peaches and & Crème Cotton Yarn

Ch 4, join with a sl st to first to form a ring.

Row 1:  Ch 3, working in loop, work 2 dc, ch 3, work 3 dc, ch 3, work 3 dc, ch 3, work 3 dc, ch 3, join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Row 2:  Sl st in next 2 sts, sl st in ch 3 sp, ch 3, working in ch 3 sp, work 2 dc, ch 3, work 3 dc, ch 2, working in next ch 3 sp, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, working in next ch 3 sp, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc,nb     join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Row 3:  Sl st in next 2 sts, sl st in ch 2 sp, ch 1, work 10 tr in next ch 2 sp (in between the corners), ch 1, sl st in the next ch 2 sp, ch 1,  work 10 tr in next ch 2 sp (in between the corners), ch 1, sl st in the next ch 2 sp, finish off.

First stitch I learned in 2015 the Quad-Treble

Happy New Year!

 

I hope the new year has been going well for you so far.  Now the million dollar question, what are your New Year's resolutions?  Mine are to keep losing weight (I seriously think this is everyone's) and my other is to try to learn a new crochet stitch or technique at least once a month, then work it into a new pattern. 

I started this with the Quad-Triple stitch.  This is certainly an interesting stitch and I never even knew it had a name.  I think I may have used this stitch years ago in a doily pattern.  Thanks to the Moogly Blog not only did I learn how to make this stitch, but also what it looks like when used to create a braid look.  Interestingly enough the braided look can have several different looks depending on what you do the loops when you braided them.  In the Ups and Downs Crochet Slouchy Beanie available on Moogly Blog it the braid is created by twisting the stitch before you pull the next stitch through the loop.  It gives the braid a tighter look.  I found that if you use a hook, but do not twist the stitch it is a looser look for the braid.  I used my fingers to pull the loops through, pushing the stitch around my finger.  It gives the gap look that you see in the rows of braids.

 

For the Quad-Treble stitch the yarn is looped over 5 times on the hook.  For a video direction please watch SheRu Knitting's video HERE.

 

Here is the new hat with a matching cowl.  I am still trying to think of name for it.  Nothing seems right, so I will probably do what I almost always do and start getting suggestions.

 

What would you name the new set?  Leave a comment and let me know.  Right now the pattern sits in my folder, simply called Untitled Document.  I must admit I am stumped with this one. 

 

~ Chris  1/5/2015