Jacob's Ladder Crochet Pillow

I have completed one of my larger projects.  It is a pillow cover that was crocheted using Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet Thread, a #10 Bedspread weight.  I have used 3 colors: Bridal Blue, Delft Blue and White.  The thread was purchased online at Herrschners.

The pattern was found online too. It is called Round Jacob's Ladder. I altered the pattern by using #10 thread instead of baby yarn.  I also made 2 complete rounds.  What I mean is that when the original pattern is completed you have 10 double crochets between the chains.  My pillow top was not big enough so I started the pattern again where there was 4 double crochet between chains and followed the pattern until once again I had 10 double crochets between chains.  It sound more complicated than it was.

I did this for two round doilies and then laced them together over a round pillow top with 1/4 inch white satin ribbon. Initially I was concerned because it looked like the center was going to cone once the chained loops were drawn up. Once it was washed and dried, however, the center laid nice and flat. There is a nice article about crocheting a flat circle in this blog post on Slugs On The Refridgerator. It was a "happy accident" when the laced chains doubled to fit just where the sides of the pillow are. 

 I was not following directions for color changes, so I decided to use the principles of the Fibonacci principal simplified. what I mean by that is each color was done in either 1, 3, or 5 rows. It is held in design theory that a Fibonacci sequence is thought to be more pleasing.  For those mathematicians and scientists out there, you can find a nice article about Fibonacci Numbers on Wikipedia. Each side of the pillow top is a different sequence of colors so they are not identical. I did start both sides with a white center and used a row of white between each color change.

I really like the pillow and it has found a home on my bed.

Yo-Yo Anyone?

As all crafters know, we must have our supplies.  This includes all the newest tools and toys. If the new toys are relatively inexpensive then they just seem to magically appear in our stash. Once you buy the toy, you have to use it in a project.  However else can you justify the toy?

Clover manufactures several yo yo makers.  You can see their selection here.  While viewing Pinterest, I kept seeing yo yo flowers and I decided I had to do the project.  Here is what I ended up with:

A Few Crochet Hook Holders

Remember the pattern weights? They came in really handy when I was making my Crochet Hook Roll-ups.  I have been wanting to make me one for some time and I realized that they would be the perfect appreciation gift for my friends who support my charity crochet.

It was a lot of fun picking fabric for each person. One of my friends told me that her favorite color was iced orange. I have been trying to make friends with the color orange because I had a color prejudice. I think it stemmed from all of the olive green and burnt orange colors of the 70's. Another friend claims green as her favorite color.  I have always thought green was a nice supportive color for flowers but not as a main color.  I have altered my perceptions of colors and really enjoyed both colors in this project.


Here are some photos:

Closed Orange Crochet Hook Roll-up 

Open Orange Crochet Hook Roll-up

Closed Purple Crochet Hook Roll-up

Open Purple Crochet Hook Roll-up

Closed Pink Crochet Hook Roll-up

Open Pink Crochet Hook Roll-up

Open Green Crochet Hook Roll-up

Closed Green Crochet Hook Roll-up

Open Large Hook Roll-Up

 Large Crochet Hook Roll-up

Steel Hook Roll-up

Steel Hook Rollup

I love this peacock

One of my favorite things to do is to visit a second hand store or thrift store as I like to call them. One weekend I was sorting through a bin and found a dresser scarf that had an embroidered peacock at both ends.  I really liked it and the price was right so I ended up taking it home.

Isn't she pretty?

Peacock Dresser Scarf

There is a matching bird on the opposite end.  I haven't gotten to it, yet, but I keep thinking I need to make two matching handkerchief envelopes.  I will be sure to show you when I get them done.

2012 also saw the completion of Redwork Class

My favorite group at StitchMap offered a Redwork Embroidery class.  I learn so much from this group! Before it was over, I considered it a colorwork class.  The class could also have been titled Beginning Surface Embroidery. I don't want to give away all the details, but I would like to show you a finished drawstring bag.

Colorwork Drawstring Bag

I love how it turned out.  The coordinating fabric really made the embroidery pop.


The bag was created to hold "pattern weights".  These are little pillow like pieces that we made by embroidery simple motifs with the embroidery stitches we were learning.  As soon as the class was finished, I put them to work.  I needed to cut out a pattern 12 times.  I don't know how to estimate how much time the weights saved me - but if I was doing it again, I would most certainly use them.

Another thing I really liked about the class was that it promoted a system for documenting fabric, threads and stitches.  A really useful record of the materials and tools that we as embroiderers use, is a modern equivalent of a traditional sampler.  I know it is a source that I go back to over and over.

The class was a big hit!

So much time . . .

I was disappointed to see just how long it has been since I have updated my blog. Time has not stood still and I have a couple of projects that I would like to share. Let's start with my Magic Needlecase.

Completed Magic Needlecase

Why is it a magical Needlecase?, you ask.

Inside the Magic Needlecase

The felt squares start outside of the ribbon holders.  When you open the case the felt "magically" is pulled under the ribbon.  It was a lot of fun showing the ladies at work how the magic works.

 I used colors a little outside of my normal palette.  The gold was fun and I decorated the outside with yo-yo flowers that were beaded on the outside edge.