Butterflies and afghans

ok Just wrote and wrote and wrote, and it got eaten. So after I post this if it show up twice, Imma kill my computer and take up golf. I have not been here but I post on facebook weekly (Look for Free Range Fingers) and have been busy on Pinterest which is kinda odd but fun. While on Pinterest, I found a photo only for an afghan with 3 D Butterflies. I am not going to post the photo here cause that is what ate the last attempt. However it was darling. My friend Jo found a pattern for a 3d Butterfly afghan that did not have any photos so I gave the pattern a whirl. While not identical it is darling also! I am going to include her pattern here. I did one square so far, and mine came out larger then the pattern indicated with a size H hook, but I think as long as you keep the same yarn and hook through the afghan it will be fine. Also the pattern did not call for color changes, and I switched from white to purple vari for two reasons- it enabled me to see what I was doing better, and I thought it would make the butterfly show up. I also thought if you were making squares with all different butterflies it would be more festive.

The pattern was easy to follow- even though the author apologizes in one part. The Butterfly appears to be set on top of the afghan but is actually a part of each square and will not be removable.

Materials Used: Worsted Weight Yarn H hook Gauge isn't reallly important, since you can use any hook/yarn combo, but my finished square measures 5" on a side. Start with the Butterfly: Chain 6. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook & in each additional chain. Ch 3 (counts as first DC in next row & throughout pattern), turn. Row 2: Dc twice in first st. (Ch 3, skip next st, 3 Dc in following st) two times. Dc 3 times in final stitch. Ch 3, turn. Row 3: Dc twice in first st. *Ch 3. In next ch-3 space, work (3dc, ch 3, 3dc). Repeat from * once more. Ch 3, skip next 2 Dc. Dc three times in last Dc. Ch 3, turn. Row 4: Dc 4 times in first st. Sc in next ch-3 space. (Dc 9 times in next ch-3 space. Sc in next ch-3 space) twice. Skip next 2 Dc. Dc 5 times in last DC. Now, this is the part where it's a little confusing, & for that I'm sorry. If anyone has a better way to explain this part, please let me know & I'll update the pattern. Slip stitch in the sides of the rows until you get around to the back of the beginning chain. Slip stitch in the beginning chain til you reach the center (it's obvious when you look at it, trust me). Wrap the yarn tightly four times around the center of the butterfly & cinch it up. This is what gives the butterfly its shape. Slip stitch again after the final wrap (you'll be holding the yarn in your hand just like for any other stitch. Next, you'll form the granny square. Only the first part of it is tricky, after that it's like a normal granny square. Slip stitch around the yarn wrapped around the back part of the butterfly. Chain 2. Slip stitch in the yarn wrap again. Chain two again. Join in the first chain. This will count as your starting ring for the granny square. Round 1: Ch 3. (Counts as DC). DC twice more in first half of starting ring. Ch 3. Dc 3 times in first half of starting ring. Ch 3. Dc 3 times in second half of starting ring. Ch 3. Dc 3 more times in 2nd half of starting ring. Ch 3, join to first DC. Round 2: Sl st in first 2 sts and in first ch-3 space. Chain 3, 2 Dc in ch-3 space. Ch 3, Dc 3 times in same space. Ch 2. *Work corner (3 DC, ch-3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 space. Ch 2. Repeat from * around to beginning. Sl st in first DC. Round 3: Sl st in first 2 sts & in first ch-3 space. Ch 3, 2 Dc, ch 3, 3 dc all in same ch-3 space. Chain 2. *Dc 3 times in next ch 2 space. Ch 2. Work corner in next ch-3 space. Repeat from * around, joining with sl st to first DC. Rounds 4, 5, & 6 are made in the same manner as Round 3. Finish off at the end of round 6, & weave in your ends. I stopped at row 5, was planning that row 6 would be white, and would be part of the joining process for multiple squares- like a Jacob's ladder type stitch. Here is the back- I have not yet woven in the ends. from the back the butterfly is really not visible at all.

If you try this I want to see your finished project! What colors are you going to use? and again, thank you JO for this pattern! I will update a bit more frequently next time (I hope) and add some other new tricks I have to pass on :)

Busy free Range Fingers!

I have been VERY bad about keeping up with this blog. However two things happened that reminded me of my promise to not give up- I started using Pinterest, and I wanted to add some of my own ideas to my boards. Pinterest will not allow a link to facebook pages. I have been pretty good about posting there!
And I have made some awesome new stuff with grocery bag yarn. I am working on two PDF files I will sell as a set- one is how to make the bags into yarn, and one is how to make the yarn into one of these: it is a crochet hook carrier. But you could also use it for drawing pencils, knitting needles or paintbrushes! I took a Pringles can, crocheted the cover- added a top with a handle and a tab to keep it on when walking and voila! no more lost scissors, hooks or needles!
I am now finding out that Pringles makes several other sized containers that would be fun to create with as well.
Then Eilish got an iPad for the holidays and she got a cover but it does not have handles. She wanted handles. So I made this: it is just large enough for the iPad and has handles for a grab and go kind of thing! The color was chosen by Eilish but any scrap yarn and bags would work- another great reason to keep your yarn scraps! Now- what to start next ^_^

new price list

Click to enlarge.

I just felt that I needed a new updated list.
How often do you update your prices?

Owl Eyed!

I had a skein of Vanna's Choice "glimmer" in brown that I had sort of bought by accident, and decided it would make an awesome owl beanie. The hat is a basic beanie with a shell edge- to look like feathers. I made rounds that have a crocodile stitch to put around the eyes to look like the feathers around the owl's eyes, and added ears, and a beak. I am very pleased with the Owl, and I have never seen one like it! The goldish color of the eyes is Bernat "mosaic" Medusa variegated yarn. I can't wait to send this owl off to a home ^__^

This is the handbag made from recycled grocery bags, and acrylic yarn. I used only yarn on the strap because while sturdy, I felt the bags were a bit rough to be against the skin and the strap will come in contact with skin, depending on how much you put in the bag it could become uncomfortable. The bag was a rectangle with one rounded end, and I started the other end with ONLY recycled bags, for a flap that folds over, sewn down as reinforcement- while a pretty bag, and a great statement, being recycled from old bags, it is also meant to be a functional purse. I decided to sell these for $50 each. The material is not the issue- it is a self designed item, and each one is one-of-a-kind without a doubt! I am really proud of how this came out, and I will start a new one when I get my hat orders caught up. Just so you know for those who are curious, my next hats will be a black hat with a skull, an owl hat, and a Chewbacca hat.... I have also just finished some lovely hats made with Lion Brand Tweed Stripes yarn with appliques.

Star Wars Fan Art

The Princess Leia hat was hard- it looked easy enough, a brown beanie with buns. But I redid the buns over and over to get them the right shape, size and consistency so they didn't flop or show stuffing through the brown yarn. the trick with the buns that makes the hat comfy is that I sewed the buns separately as long strips of crochet, then rolled them into tubes, then coiled them and sewed them into buns, and then made a circle for the back to cover the stitches and stabilize the coils. Each one of these has been so fun to design! I started with Yoda hats like the one above- then made Leia and R2D2. i am thinking about a Chewie now, need to look at some more photos and think about it a while! These have been commissions, I would not have thought of the Star Wars Theme on my own but they have been great fun- i will say those buns were a huge challenge to figure out!

Recycled Crochet

Had an idea to add yarn to my recycled crochet, to change up the colors, and make it more interesting for myself. So far I like the result very much! I am making a handbag with a pattern I am developing as I go along- it will be a medium sized purse with a flap at the top and over the shoulder strap. I will be looking for a good sized, funky recycled button for the front so if you have any ideas on that let me know! Another way to use leftover yarn! I think I might have to write a book with all the ways I have found to use up leftover yarn.... hmmmmm... What do you think about that?