Cabbage Patch Stroller Blanket

Hello again!

I lost my crochet mojo around the time Nevada shut down its casinos. The casinos might have reopened last month, but unlike the gambling industry I wasn't able to just switch back to crafting mode. It's finally, finally, returning to me. 

I was sorting through a couple bins of yarn and found a bunch of Mary Maxim Starlette worsted weight acrylic. 

Probably 8 or 9 years old.

The colorway is called Light Willow, it's a light green and for the life of my I cannot remember what I planned to make when I bought it. (For that matter, I can't remember when I bought it.)

But I definitely had an idea of what to make: a stroller blanket.

Okay, yes, my kids are older now. Grant is about to start kindergarten! He also has a collection of stroller blankets that he drags around like Linus. They go everywhere - including the car - and because they get dragged around everywhere, they need to get washed frequently. So I'd like to have a spare on hand. 

Also, I'm of the opinion that there's no such thing as too many blankets, whatever the size. 

Really, this is just what's in my living room.

So, off to my stitch dictionaries, and I found the Cabbage Patch stitch pattern. Light green color, cabbage is green, Grant likes cabbage (for real - I'm not sure how I lucked out with him, although his older brother is pickier than I ever was), gee, what should I call this blanket?

This texture is dense, yet pleasant.

Anyway, here's the pattern! And here is where you can link a project on Ravelry. (I hope you will, I love seeing what people make.)

Cabbage Patch Stroller Blanket

by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 22" wide x 25" tall (56cm x 63cm)

Skills needed: chain, double crochet

Materials:

Yarn: Mary Maxim Starlette (3.5oz/100g, 180yds/175m, 100% acrylic), 3 balls or 540yds worsted weight yarn

Tools: H/5.0mm hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 20 dc in 4"/100cm (gauge is not critical to this project)

Notes: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Abbreviations:

Ch - chain

Ch sp - chain space

Dc- double crochet

St - stitch

Pattern:

Ch 107

Row 1: 4 dc in 5th ch from hook, *skip next 3 ch, 4 dc in next ch, repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip 1 ch, dc in last ch. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout pattern), *skip next 3 sts, dc in next st, working behind dc just made, dc in first skipped st, repeat from * to end, dc in top of turning ch. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, 4 dc in each ch sp across, dc in top of turning ch. Turn.

Repeat rows 2-3, 20 more times (or until you run out of yarn). 

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Enjoy! 

Purple Mountains Stroller Blanket

Another stroller blanket, this one using Premier Yarns Sweet Rolls - you've surely seen these, along with Caron Cakes, at the big box craft stores and on Ravelry. Acrylic yarn (easy care! Perfect for blankets that get exposed to all manner of spills and dirt!) that comes with long sections of color, making for easy stripes.

I initially made this blanket just to keep Grant warm in the stroller while we walked his big brother to school. (Yes, it does get cold here in the winter. Well, cold enough to need sweaters and jackets.) When given a choice (because I do have a plethora of stroller/baby blankets), this is usually his first pick to take with us.

Purple Mountains Stroller Blanket
by Katherine Larson

Finished Size: 28" wide x 24.5" tall (71cm x 62cm)
Skills needed: foundation double crochet, chain, single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch

Yarn: Premier Yarns Sweet Rolls (5oz/140g, 245yds/224m, 100% acrylic) 2 skeins or 550 yds worsted weight yarn
*note: the sample for this project used all but two yards of the original two skeins. Check your gauge, or have an extra skein on hand.
Tools: I/5.5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 13 dc x 5.3 rows = 4"/10cm

Pattern notes: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.
Turning chain does not count as first stitch.

Abbreviations:
Fdc - Foundation Double Crochet
Ch - chain
Ch-sp - chain space
Sk - skip
Sc - single crochet
Dc - double crochet

Pattern:
Row 1 (RS): Fdc 97

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st, * ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in next st, repeat from * to end.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn. 3 dc in first st, sk ch-sp, sc in next st, * sk ch-sp, 5 dc in next st, sk ch-sp, sc in next st, repeat from * to last dc, sk last ch-sp, 3 dc in last st.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st, * ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, repeat from * to end.

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Dc in first st, * 2 dc in ch-sp, dc in next st, repeat from * to end.

Repeat rows 2-5, 13 more times, for a total of 53 rows.

Border: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st to last st, 3 sc in last st, working down side of blanket, work 2 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each sc to bottom of blanket, working across bottom of foundation row, 3 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st of foundation row, 3 sc in last st of foundation row, working up opposite side of blanket, work 2 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each sc to top of blanket, join with sl st to beginning sc. 

Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

Green Thumb Stroller Blanket

It's been a while.

I made this baby blanket almost two years ago, but never wrote the pattern out. Well, ok, I wrote the pattern out, but never shared it. It's a stroller blanket, which means it is smaller than a typical lapghan or baby blanket. But it's the perfect size to keep a toddler snug in a stroller or car seat.

This one is crocheted in acrylic, which means it is so easy to clean - you can throw it in the washer & dryer!

Like all the patterns on my blog, this is free, and written only. Feel free to do whatever you like with what you make from this pattern - use it, gift it, sell it, frog it, trash it (although I hope you don't do that last one). 

Green Thumb Stroller Blanket

by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 27" x 22"/68.5cm x 56cm
Skills needed: Chain, double crochet

Yarn: 370yds/338m aran weight yarn (I used Big Twist Yarns Baby Solids (3.5oz/100g, 185yds/169m, 100% acrylic), 2 skeins)
Tools: I/5.5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 3.5 pattern repeats and 7 rows = 4" / 10cm (gauge is not critical for this pattern)

Notes: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Abbreviations:
Ch - Chain
Ch-sp - Chain space
Dc - Double Crochet
Sk - skip

Pattern:

Ch 90
Row 1: Dc in 5th ch from hook, ch 3, dc in same st, *sk 3 ch st, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, repeat from * 20 more times, sk 2 sts, dc in last st, turn. (24 dc and 22 ch-3 spaces)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 4 dc in ch-3 space, *ch 1, 4 dc  in next ch-3 space, repeat from * across, dc in last st, turn. (22 shells)
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), dc in first st, *sk 4 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in ch-1 space, repeat from * across, sk last 4 dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in last st, turn.
Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in ch-2 space, *ch 1, 4 dc in next ch-3 space, repeat from * across, 2 dc in last ch-2 space, dc in last st, turn.
Row 5: Ch 3, sk 2 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in ch-1 space, *sk 4 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in ch-1 space, repeat from * across, sk 2 dc, dc in last st, turn.
Repeat rows 2-5 eight more times, then repeat rows 2-3 once.

Fasten off, weave in ends. 

Quick Kindergarten Handwarmers

So yesterday afternoon, my almost-6-year-old says to me, "Mama, I need mittens."
We live in Las Vegas. "Winter" means temperatures of 45F during the day.

Well, anyway, I can't say "no" when my son asks me for something handmade, so I grabbed some blue yarn (because he asked for blue) and a hook and 40 minutes later I had this pair of mittens done.

Yes, they are fingerless. He wants to wear them on the playground, which means he'll need to grip or grab things. Again, we live in Las Vegas, these are perfect for winter.

They were so simple, I figured I'd share them with you all for free.

Here we go:

Quick Kindergarten Handwarmers
by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 4.5"long x 5.5"circumference (11.5 cm x 14 cm)
Skills needed: chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, working in back loops only/front loops only

Materials:
Yarn: 25-30g of aran weight yarn (I used Big Twist Yarns Premium Solids, in Royal)
Hook: J/6.0mm or size needed to meet gauge
notions: yarn needle

Gauge: 7 sts and 7 rows = 2" / 5cm in sc blo
Notes: Pattern uses US crochet terminology.
Each handwarmer is worked flat, then seamed via slip-stitch.

Abbreviations:
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Sc blo - single crochet in back loop only
Sl st - slip stitch
st - stitch

Pattern (make 2):

Ch 16
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, and each ch st across (15 sc)

Row 2-18: Ch 1, turn. Sc blo in each st across (15 sc)

Row 19: Ch 1, turn. Fold handwarmer so that row 18 and row 1 line up. Working in back loops of row 18 and front loops of row 1, sl st 4; working in back loop only of row 18, sl st 3 (thumbhole made); working back loops of row 18 and front loops of row 1, sl st 8.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed it! If you like, go ahead and make a project page on Ravelry (click here to do so!)

New Year, New Pattern

Yes, we're more than a week into 2018, and yes, this actually did get published last week. So I'm a bit late. But not really, since school here didn't start back up until this Monday, so it hasn't really felt like the new year until this week. And then it rained for two days, which in Las Vegas is a really big deal. The last rainfall we had here was September 13th. That's nearly three months with no rain. 

So it's no wonder I've been dragging a bit with everything else. 

Anyway, my most recent pattern is now live on ILikeCrochet Magazine! 

Here's the web address: https://www.ilikecrochet.com/crochet-bag-patterns/mineral-springs-cosmetic-bag/?mqsc=ILCF18

And the Ravelry database entry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mineral-springs-cosmetic-bag

This handy little pouch uses just under a skein of Cascade Yarns Sunseeker. I wish the yarn photographed better, there's a metallic thread spun into it that gives quite a bit of sparkle. But it's still a nice looking zipper pouch, if I do say so myself!

We are safe.

First, I want to say that we are safe, our friends in town are safe, all of us are out of danger.

I was going to post a regular Weekend Wind-up since I haven't done so in a bit.
Today is not the day for that.

I woke up to half a dozen texts, emails, and facebook messages asking if I was safe. At this point, it was 6 am, I hadn't had any coffee, and I'd gone to bed early on Sunday owing the a headache that just wouldn't quit. So I hadn't seen the news.
After updating my friends on the Facebook safetycheck page, and noting that my local friends were also safe, I started reading the news.
And...I don't have words. I'm just sad.

The only thing I can reliably say at a time like this is, We Love You. All of you, even if we don't know you, even if we haven't met you, we love you.
I'm about to bake up some pumpkin bread and take the boys to church, since it's open for anyone to pray today.

If you live in Las Vegas, there are blood drives today at 6930 W. Charleston, 601 Whitney Ranch, and 901 Rancho Ln.

And if you don't live in Las Vegas...please hold those affected in your thoughts. It's a tiny gesture, but means so much. Love is felt even when we're worlds apart, we feel it even when we don't know who or where it comes from. And it's a comfort.

I've got tears now, which weren't there when I started typing. It's starting to hit full-force, so I'm going to post this up now and update later.

Remember, we love you. All of you.

Fall Into Crochet Sale!!

To celebrate the start of my favorite season, I'm running a sale in my Ravelry store. All patterns are 20% off now through midnight (PDT) on Monday, 25.September.2017. No coupon needed, just add patterns to your cart and check out.
Enjoy!