I LIke Thursday # 130 ~ 1st Flower of Spring 2022

The first crocus in our yard announcing spring for 2022

The first flower of spring is always much anticipated in The Scrapatch.

I watch for it for weeks, as soon as the ground begins to thaw.

It has kept me waiting this year.

Earlier this week we awoke to find snow again dusting our yard.

Spring has been creeping very slowly to our corner of the world.

I know the first flower of spring is there under the snow.

It gives me hope.

The morning after the snow there were the buds ready to bloom.

But the temperature was in the single digits

 and it was too cold for them to open in the pale sunlight.

Crocus only open to the warmth of the sun and they close up at night. 

Today is a gray day so the buds are half open.

I rejoice in the flowers of spring no matter what the day will bring.

Since it is Thursday, I am sharing with my friends at

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

who will know what I mean. 

Happy Thursday! 

Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 13

Welcome to Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 13

 This week I have some sewing to show you.

I did start my 

Moda Blockheads 4 Quilt Along.

I made the 9" finished block Here 

and had so much fun playing with my machine and fabrics again 

that I decided to make a small block, too. 

The small block measures 4 and 1/2 inches square. 

I haver not decided on a layout yet as there are several ones to choose from,

but I am I thinking that I may choose this 

Surrounded Square Garden Setting by Robin Pickens

which would need 20 of the small blocks.

All the settings and block links may be found here in the: 

Moda Block Heads 4 Archive

This week's block may be found in the link below:

Blockheads 4 ~ Block 2

I am looking forward to sewing this block.

What are you stitching and sewing this week?

Please share! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Squares Sampler Afghan ~ Bobble Lines Setting Strip

 

My third setting strip for my 

 Squares Sampler Crochet Afghan is done.

I like the way the bobble lines connect the colors of the blocks on either side. 

This stitch is adapted from this free pattern:

Colorful Bobble Lines Baby Blanket @ Daisy Farm Crafts

The how to video for this stitch may be found here:

Crochet Bobble Lines Video Tutorial @ Daisy Farm Crafts

The background stitch in gray is a Herringbone Half Double Crochet (HHDC) stitch,

alternated with lines of single crochet and 5 double crochet popcorn bobbles.

The dark gray does not stand out all that well, but I wanted to use all four colors of my yarn in some of these setting strips.

I also sewed today.

I am happy that I am finding time to work on my finishing my squares afghan 

and paly with my fabric, too. 

We have had a return to winter weather here this week and woke up to snow on the ground yesterday. 

Today the wind chill brought temperatures down to the single digits.  Brrr! 

Looking forward to spring weather. 

I hope you have had a happy day of stitching and sewing.

Moda Blockheads ~ Block 1

My first block for Moda Blockheads 4 is done! 

Today was the first time since crochet took over my crafting life that I uncovered my sewing machine and sewed. It felt good to be back in my happy quilty place. My sewing machine was happy and humming along. 

This free block pattern may be found here:

 Moda Block Heads 4 ~ Week 1

Here is the link for the .pdf for this block: 

Square Wheel ~ Block 1 ~ PDF 

These are the fabrics that I have pulled from my stash for this project. 

To help decide where I wanted to place my colors and fabrics 

for these blocks, I like to see all the 

Moda Blockheads Block 1 ~ Cover Studies @ Robin Pickens Blog

In the end, I followed my own muse. 

I also followed my own method and used my corner trimmer to cut off the extra triangles before I sewed.

I am happy with how this block has worked up.

The second block will be up on Wednesday.

To see all the beautiful blocks go to the 

Moda Blockheads Facebook Group

Are you sewing along with Moda Blockheads 4 

or saving the patterns 

or just enjoying the blocks ?

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Sampler Setting Strips Progress

Setting Strip Progress for my 

 Squares Sampler Crochet Afghan

 As my layout has five rows and I am thinking one setting strip per row,

I will need five setting strips.

I am halfway there at 2 and 1/2 strips. 

My third setting strip is based on this fun baby blanket crochet pattern:

Colorful Bobble Lines Baby Blanket @ Daisy Farm Crafts

The how to video for this stitch may be found here:

Crochet Bobble Lines Video Tutorial @ Daisy Farm Crafts

The background stitch in gray is a Herringbone Half Double Crochet (HHDC) stitch,

alternated with lines of single crochet and 5 double crochet popcorn bobbles.

This is another fun texture to add to my sampler afghan. 

Linking up tonight with 

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

I hope you have had a happy weekend of slow stitching! 

Squares Sampler Afghan ~ Setting Strip # 2 Done!

 My second setting strip for my 

 Squares Sampler Crochet Afghan

is done. 

This  is where I found this free pattern:

Candy Dots Baby Blanket Crochet Stitch @ Daisy Farm Crafts

The video tutorial for this stitch may be found here:

Candy Dots Stitch Video Tutorial @ Daisy Farm Crafts

This is variation of their Wide Half Double Crochet (WHDC) Cluster

with a Puff Stitch making the candy dots,

This photo shows how this stitch looks the same on the front and back sides of the blanket. 

I really like the texture of this stitch pattern.

I am thinking to make one setting strip per row of my squares sampler afghan.

I hope you are having a happy weekend. 

Crochet Progress ~ Sampler Setting Strip One

 

Here is my first setting strip for my

 Squares Sampler Crochet Afghan

I made this strip following these free pattern instructions: 

Modern Dash Crochet Baby Blanket @ Daisy Farm Crafts

This stitch pattern is what they call a

Wide Half Double Crochet (WHDC) Cluster.

It is not a pattern stitch I recall ever seeing or hooking before

but I really like the soft thick texture and the fact it is double sided.

Here is a close up of the stitch details in my gray and pink yarn.

The written instructions are in the link above and there is also good video tutorial to make this stitch:

Modern Dash Stitch Video Tutorial @ Daisy Farm Crafts

I used the swatch width to make my setting strip 

and made my length the same as my large sampler square blocks. 

I have found another nice pattern based on this WHDC cluster in the  

Baby Crochet Blanket Patterns @ Daisy Farm Crafts

and am working on my next setting strip. 

I love the patterns on this site.

May you have a happy weekend of sewing, stitching, crocheting

or whatever is your happy place. 

I Like Thursday # 129 ~ Evening Time

 Welcome to I Like Thursday!

To my readers and friends @

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color

I hope you have had a lovely day.

Mine has been mixed. 

 It has been rainy and cold and spring has gone back into hiding. 

My internet was down all day despite my best efforts to fix.

Mr Scrapatch came home and finally got it up and running again. 

I am happy my computer is computing again.

In truth, my week has been mixed. 

My little Maestro, who was enjoying my green quilts just last week

 had to go to the vet again on Monday.  

After a shot of antibiotic, she is feeling much more like her perky self again.

I am happy my kitty is feeling better.

I have been playing with the fabrics again.

I found some more pink and gray prints for my planned ...

Moda Blockheads 4 Quilt Along

The first block is up ... 

 Moda Block Heads 4 ~ Week 1

Here is the link for the .pdf for this block: 

Square Wheel ~ Block 1 ~ PDF 

I have been making progress everyday on my 

Squares Sampler Crochet Afghan

Here are my four classic Granny Squares. 

I am working on the setting for my twenty sampler blocks.

More photos soon. 

I had plans to share a recipe this week, but I am getting sleepy 

and my kitty is looking at me to come and snuggle with her.

Goodnight, My Thursday Friends.  Sweet Dreams!

Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 12 ~ Granny Square Crochet

 

Welcome to Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 12

Nutmeg and I have been crocheting classic Granny Squares today. 

It is a great way to use up small balls of yarn.

For a good video tutorial on how to make these, click below

How To Crochet a Granny Square by Lori Holt

There are three videos in this series, 

also showing how to use her blocking board 

and how to make this pincushion. 

Lori Holt makes picture perfect granny squares! 

I taught myself to make these many years ago and have found what works for me.

In these photos I am using worsted weight yarn and my 5.5mm hook. 

I start my granny squares with a combination chain and magic loop:

More Photos Here

Then I work my rounds in the same 3 double crochet, chain two clusters. 

I like to I slip my two ends into the corners of my rounds. 

When I add the new color for the next round 

I choose the corner before my last ending one.

I like to pull up both strands in my chain one.

I pull up the single loop from my ball of yarn for the second chain.

I think this makes a starting chain that looks more like a real double crochet

in my corner clusters.

When I crochet into the next corner,  the ends of my previous round 

are well secured under the corner clusters. 

One my last round I slip knot the ends in the corner and weave them in. 

Since I want 5 inch blocks, I only made four rounds on these granny squares. 

Like in quilting, I do what works for me in my happy place, but I love seeing how others make their blocks. 

Do you have your own crochet methods to share?

I love to learn new things. 

What are you sewing or stitching this week?

Please show us your work! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter