Updates on Life and Blankets

In the last couple of years, I have really let this blog stagnate. Uhhhh. And it's not because nothing is going on, crochet-wise, but more like because so much is going on. Busy doesn't even seem to cover it, but that is what I have been. Busy with my family, busy with work, busy with projects, busy with ideas. Just, busy. And in the back of my mind, this blog silently nags at me...

I have come to a place where my crochet focus is changing. This has been simmering for awhile, in my head at least, if nowhere else. I am starting to see the fruits of this change start to take shape, and nothing is more exciting than that.

Stay tuned for some exciting new things that are percolating on the horizon. :)

In the meantime, I will share an update on my latest crochet projects. Last November, my second great-niece was born so of course, I had to make two blankets for her (just like I did for her sister)!

(Be Unique Chevron Blanket by Mamachee)

(Happy Throw by Mamachee)

I also made a Happy Throw for my sister's boss who gave birth to a baby girl last year. This is such a great pattern and has become a go-to blanket design for me.

I also finished a huge blanket for my husband. He served in the US Navy, so I used gray, white, and blue in a nautical-inspired pattern. 

I have three other blankets in various stages of completion. I'm trying to finish at least one before I start anything new, but...well, that might not happen. :)

These are just the big projects. As usual, I have also been working on plenty of smaller projects too. And in case you think I just have an encyclopedic memory, I don't (ha!). I use Ravelry to keep track of my bigger projects. This really comes in handy when I have put a project down for awhile, and when I pick it up again, I can't recall which hook I was using!

Hats! And Finally a Reason to Wear Them

Down here in South Texas, it rarely gets cold enough to really wear sweaters, coats, and other winter gear. However, that changed last Friday when we experienced a freeze with precipitation. That's right -- we got ice! Which means, of course, no school for the boys and the city pretty much shut down. Brrr.

When I did venture out, I wore one of the hats that I made for myself this winter. Usually I don't wear hats because it's a committment of sorts -- my naturally-curly hair does not recover well from being squished under a hat. But this year, I said to myself, 'Self, sometimes a cute hat is worth squished curls.'

(Heartbeat Skully by Gleeful Things)

I found some cute hat patterns from some of my favorite designers. (Luckily, my no-new-yarn resolution does not apply to patterns. After all, how will I ever get through the stash of yarn I have without new patterns for inspiration!)

(Johnny Slouch by Sincerely Pam)

Both of the patterns I used above are available on Ravelry. 

Speaking of hats, another favorite designer Crystalized Designs has updated her Ethan beanie and is having a giveaway of the pattern to celebrate! It's such a cute beanie! I really love that it is so boyish!

Check out her blog post and enter to win! Good luck!