New crafts.

Here are a couple of new projects I've recently worked on. I started crocheting again since I finally have my own crochet hooks. I've found a blog that has free patterns that I've slowly been trying. This baby blanket (afghan) is a first for me. I originally saw this pattern on SewMamaSew's blog and sent it to my mother. Then a few weeks ago a friend was wanting to learn how to crochet for an animal pattern she purchased, so I decided to go ahead and start on the blanket myself. I didn't use the exact yarn it called for because it would have cost me an arm and a leg and I wasn't willing to spend that quite yet. Our budget just doesn't allow it these days. So I tried to alter the pattern, but it still came out a little smaller. It was supposed to be 40x40, but it ended up being about 27x27. I was way off! I used a 100% cotton, worsted weight yarn, but it wasn't quite thick enough. It will now be a carry around blanket, or whatever the mom decides.

This bag is also a first for me. I found another quilt shop around here and decided to check it out. This material was in the sale bin and I immediately thought of making a bag out of it. I found a tutorial online (of course) and went ahead and sewed it in one night. I didn't have much interfacing for it, but used what I did have, so it doesn't hold it's shape as most bags do. (If you get what I'm saying.) But it's a fun bag for me and it will be great for the summer. The only other thing I forgot to do was put pockets on the inside. I think it was getting late and my mind was spacing out, so that's why it will be a summer bag-throw things in and go! I don't know if you can see in the picture or not, but it has pleating on both sides. Easier than I thought.