This week I want to start work on some Special Olympics scarves. It just seems like last week that the official colors were announced for the 2012 games. My 2011 is flying by. It is hard to believe it is so close to Christmas! Good thing I am getting in the mood to crochet. Although this year I plan to do as I did last year and crochet only a few items. My grandmother would crochet Christmas gifts all year long. I just cannot do that. It is so hard to me to repeat a pattern much less three or four times, and I get lost in the details when trying to decide what to crochet somebody. First I start off with a hat and then decide to add a scarf, mittens, etc. Then I get overwhelmed by it all and drop the project all together – hence why I’m keeping it simple. To make sure I keep it simple, I wait until mid-October to make gifts.

But now I’m ready to yarn shop and start a few cold weather projects. I’ve got to find my fingerless gloves to keep my fingers warm. This morning I was crocheting on the ride to work when my fingers got cold. There is a chance of frost tomorrow morning – so the cold weather is definitely here. Right now I welcome it but I’m sure that will change – probably after Christmas. It seem after the holidays there’s just no point for the cold weather. Crocheting for the holidays will be past, and it will be way too early to think about next Christmas.

I should just enjoy the cooler temps and the good crocheting time I will have over the next few months.

I used a plain plastic headband and single crocheted around it to make a base. I’m not sure how many stitches I did. My goal was to cover the top of the headband. I then created the crowns with a single crochet in one stitch, followed by a half-double, then a double, then a treble. After the treble, I chained two and did a treble in the same stitch. Then I did a double in the next, followed by a half-double in the next stitch, followed by a single. I might have use a slip stitch next.

When working on it, I hadn’t planned on writing up a pattern but might do so. I think this would be a cute party favor especially since Rae has now expressed interest in having her own princess party. If I use it for her party then I need a prince crown since Rae has a lot of boy cousins.

We only have two students – one loves yellow and one loves pink. The yellow one is made from cotton yarn and the other is acrylic. The acrylic one turned out a lot better. It will stand up better, so any news one I make I will stick with acrylic yarn.

Hopefully I will have the pattern written up within a week.

It will be on its way later today. Not sure how many scarves my state has received but hope they reach their goal.

I hope to finish two by the deadline for our state’s games. One scarf I’m doing is stripes. Each strip is one row wider than the previous. It was my husband’s idea for a scarf he wants me to make him. So I’m trying it out on this scarf to make sure it looks OK. So far it looks really good. I have hope it will turn out well and I can send it.

At least this year I’m not burned out on crochet. I just tried to do too much in a small amount of time. This year I had smaller goals but about the same time to accomplish them. In January, I really need to plan for next Christmas. My grandmother used to do this with her crochet. She would plan what she wanted to give and then work on it throughout the year. It would definitely give a fall-back project when I complete something and still want to crochet. I can just pick up a Christmas gift.

So next year maybe I will be more on top of my crocheting. It just takes some planning – which is not my strong suit but something I want to work on.

It takes a small amount of yarn. I used a size 3 mm hook and started with a magic loop. I then chain 2 and six single crochet into second chain from hook. Next I did a round of two single crochets into each single crochet for a total of 12 single crochets. Then I did a few rounds of even crochet until the holder measured the size of the chapstick. I slip stitched into the next two single crochets. To make the loop for the keychain holder, I chained three and then slip stitched into the next two single crochets.

I plan to make at least four of these – possibly more. I finished one last night, so I’m hoping to get more done this week. It will be nice to have something finished for Christmas finally.

This was the first time I had made a hat from side-to-side. It was so easy to get the size you needed. No frogging! I love it. I will be making more very soon.

I’ve been crocheting more cowboy hats. This one is in hot pink and is just adorable. I changed the edging from the Stitch and Bitch pattern since I found the stitch it used to be very hard. It took way too long for me to go around the hat.

Think I will take a break from hats. I have been working on a few different ones all summer. I do plan to make some hats for Christmas, so I can’t take too long of a break.

Here is the pattern for the crochet drink cozy. Use cotton yarn and a size 4 crochet hook. Gauge isn’t important since you will be making it to fit your cup.

Being Chain 2
Six single crochet into 2nd chain from hook
Next row, 2 single crochet into each single crochet(12)
2 single crochet, then 1 single crochet around (18)
2 single crochet, then single crochet into next two SC, repeat for round(24)
2 single crochet, then single crochet into next three SC, repeat for round(30)
Check your circle. If it is big as the base of the cup, then stop adding increases. In fact, if the circle is a little smaller than the bottom, don’t add any more increases.

Start doing even single crochet rows with no increases if your circle is large enough. If not continue the pattern until it’s large enough – ie next round would be 2 SC then single crochet into next four and repeat for round.

Make four single crochet rounds

Change colors if desired and do 3 even rounds of SC
Change colors if desired and do 2 rounds of SC
Change colors if desired and do 2 rounds of SC

You can continue in the round if you want a taller cozy.