The September Challenge Basket

I recently found The Crochet Crowd on Facebook and have been hooked ever since. I LOVE the inspiration found on both their FB page and their website. I've made a few things since joining the online community and one of them was this basket.  It comes from the Red Heart yarn library HERE as a free pattern. 

I made it because The Crochet Crowd issues a monthly challenge for their followers to create something and Septembers challenge was this pattern and I figured, WHY NOT?!  We were at liberty as to how to decorate it, it didn't have to be an owl to be entered into the challenge. 

Since I had a skein each of Red Heart Super Saver red and white yarn, I decided a holiday themed basket would be just the ticket. 

I embellished it with a Christmas tree and purple ornaments I made using scrap yarn I had laying around. 

I'm most proud of the basket itself because it was a whole new world of crochet stitches for me.  I learned quite a bit in entering this challenge and find that I'm a better crocheter for it.  Now to see if I win the randomly picked prize pack.

Camouflage Wristers

Fun little gift for a special Nephew who is turning 8 pretty soon.  These were made using another improvised pattern that anyone could have come up with.  It's a simple rib where each row is double crocheted in the back loops only.  I spiced it up a bit with finishing cuff on the wrist end and a border on the finger end.  Voila!

Simply Sweet Ruffle Scarf

I made this scarf for my dear friends oldest foster child.  A sweet scarf for a sweet girl.  She turned eight recently and I wanted to make her something special.  I figured with the colder weather approaching a scarf would fit the need and allow me some fun creative license.

As I sat down with the yarn and hook I just went with my heart and began crocheting.  I followed no pattern other than what my fingers wanted to do.

I chained a length I felt would be a perfect fit for the girl in mind then proceeded to work double crochet rows until my heart told me to stop and change it up a bit.  That's when I switched colors and decided the sweet girl needed a simply sweet ruffle. 

Following a ruffle pattern* I'd learned a while back, I completed the scarf and couldn't wait to see the look on the girls face as she unwrapped. As it turned out, it was priceless.  The girl gave me the brightest smile and the biggest hug, which made my day!

*ruffle pattern: (I sc across the length of the scarf when changing the colors of yarn I was using)

• 2dc in each st across, ch2, turn
• (2dc in first st, 1dc in next) repeat pattern across, ch2, turn
• 2dc in first st, 1dc in each of next two st) repeat pattern across bind off, weave in ends.