Basket Weave Pattern Crochet Baby Afghan

Before I knew how to sew,
I spent most of my crafty energies crocheting,
and often I had orders from family to crochet baby blankets.

This is one of the patterns I liked to turn to,
granted, this pattern will use more yarn than a blanket of the same size in a different pattern,
but you can't beat the dense, thick, lush feel of this blanket.

 I don't have this pattern written down row for row,
but it is a repeating pattern so it is really easy to figure out.

Worked in one piece,
the squares are created by working front post double crochet (FpDc) 
and back post double crochet (BpDc).
A post stitch is done by crocheting around the post
(with the post either in front or in back of your hook)
instead of working in the top stitches as you normally would.

Here is a great video that explains this technique.

So all you are doing is a double crochet (dc) either in front or in back of the post.

This pattern is:
10 squares across x 12 squares high,
each square is 15 dc across, and 10dc rows high.

So essentially, just dc in the front and back of the posts to create the look of squares,
and once your squares are 12 rows high,
you change your order of front and back posting to change the pattern.

Once you start working this pattern you won't need directions or row by row run through!
Buuuuttt, just to help you along, here is a rough pattern.

~~~~~~~~

 Basket Weave Baby Afghan Pattern (rough) 

Hook: H

Yarn: any type, I use soft, baby yarn

1.5 lbs of yarn (4 normal 8 oz skeins, you may not use all 4)

1 skein for trim, in contrasting, complimentary color (optional)   

  Starting chain 153 (10 squares across x 15 dc in each square + 3ch for beginning dc).

Row 1: Dc across, ch3, turn
Row 2: (It doesn't matter if you start with the FpDc or the BpDc one this first row- just pick one)
*FpDc in next 15 dc, BpDc in next 15dc* repeat to end of row. Ch3, turn

(I suggest keeping a row marker at the beginning  row of each square,
this makes it easier to know when to switch.)

Row 3: *BpDc in first 15 st (should be on top of BpDc from previous row), FpDc in next 15 st (also should be on top of FpDc from previous row)* repeat to end of row. Ch 3, turn

*When you turn the work your pattern is flipping, you are not actually
alternating rows, though it looks like it on paper.

Repeat rows 2-3 until your square is 12 rows high.
Now change so you are back posting on top of the front post row of 15dc, and front posting on the back post 15dc row. This creates the changing of the squares.
Mark the beginning of this row, the change in the pattern for your next square.

Repeat like rows 2-3 to complete your next row of squares.
Continue working in this manner.
You will see the pattern clearly, and you will know when to change!
End off.


Edging
The edging is a half double crochet (hdc) shell and post pattern

Start in corner along the smaller, top edge of blanket.

ch2 (counts as hdc) and 1 hdc in corner, *ch 1, skip two st, 2 hdc in space between dc,*
repeat until you reach the other corner.

In corner, 2hdc, ch1, 2hdc, ch 1, hdc around each dc stitch down the side- do not chain in between.

When you reach the bottom corner, do as other corner (2hdc, ch1, 2hdc)
 return to ch 1, sk two, 2 hdc along the bottom edge.

Do next corner same as last, repeat 1 hdc around each dc up the next side

When you reach the corner you started in,

do 2 hdc, ch1 then connect to top stitch of starting ch 2.

Finish off, weave in ends securely.



 

This is an indulgent pattern...because the way the stitches are worked, your rows aren't quite as tall, thus your yarn doesn't go quite as far as other patterns might, but I absolutely love the outcome! 

It is so beautiful both in texture, weight and appearance.

How about you,
do you sacrifice practicality for the sake of appearance and overall outcome
in your crafting projects?

Do these 'cooking without measuring' type of crochet directions make sense,
or are you a strict row by row type of crocheter?

DIY White Chocolate Butterfly Pattern

So remember me telling you in my Cake Mania post
how I decided not to itemize everything I made?
Weeelllll....I just couldn't help doing a special post on these white chocolate butterflies!Sorry if you are getting tired of seeing them.
I'm just a little excited about how they turned out!



You guys,
I want you to make these!
Believe me, these aren't hard, they look more intimidating than they really are.
You don't have to be an artist,
and when you are done they will look so impressive and you'll feel like a rock star!

I'm not even kidding.
I totally and unashamedly flashed these in the face of everyone who came into the kitchen,
like a cat with its dead mouse...only people didn't run away and scream.

The original link, with good instructional pictures can be found here.
 But let me brake it down for you:

WHAT YOU NEED:
White almond bark or chocolate
ziplock bag
parchment paper
glass measuring cup with pouring spout
scissors

What To Do

1. Trace your butterfly onto the back of a piece of parchment paper.
Fold the paper in half, creasing the butterfly right up the middle- this will help create the folded wing effect.
{At the bottom of this post, I have included some butterfly designs that I used for tracing.}

2. Melt your chocolate in the microwave, then pour it into your ziplock bag.
It is important that you let the chocolate cool so it doesn't come gushing out and make a runny design.
{Read this post about working with melted chocolate.}

3. Making sure your traced design is on the back of the parchment paper, snip a small corner section of your chocolate filled ziplock bag and begin tracing out your butterfly design.
Following the lines you traced, hold your piping end just above the parchment paper and let the chocolate
gently 'fall', rather than resting the tip directly on the paper.
It works better if you do the outline first, then do the lines and details inside the wing.

4. Once finished, place the butterfly between the open pages of a large book and cool in the fridge.

 

All that is left is to wait...then carefully slide your butterfly off the parchment paper,
put it on your cake, and dazzle your guests!
 

 Here are some butterfly designs to print out and trace.
I used the first two pictures for my designs, and both looked great!

Above picture courtesy of We Lived Happily Ever After, from the original chocolate butterfly post.

 

The above design would be great for beginners who are daunted by the detail in the other two designs.
The way you would work this butterfly is to trace around the entire outline, 
then fill everything else in with chocolate, leaving the holes in the wings blank. 
Results would be a more solid looking butterfly, not quite as delicate and breakable as the other two.

I hope this helps and inspires some of y'all!
Go forth, and let your creativity take flight!

And the Winner Is...

Sorry this announcement is so late in coming!

Time flies when you are having fun, and the last two days were pretty busy,

mostly spent away from the house and computer. 

So, without further ado, it is time to announce the winner of 

my Vintage Pattern Give Away!

The winner,

chosen by random drawing,

is....

 Delvalina!

Congratulations!

I'll be contacting you soon to get your mailing address so I can

get this package on its way!

Giveaway Reminder

" The essence of creativity is essentially risk, 

believing enough to leap into the yet unseen.

The theological term for this is faith. "

~ Ann Voskamp ~

There is still time to enter your name

for my Vintage Pattern Giveaway!

Visit this post to read more and find out how!

The winner will be announced tomorrow,

though probably pretty late because I'll be spending the day

out and about with my dear, sweet friend Atlanta here in Tennessee!

If I don't get time to put up the results tomorrow, I'll get it up on Sunday.

Have a blessed weekend all!

Bloggiversary and Giveaway! {CLOSED}

Guess what?

Today marks the Two Year Anniversary of this little blog!

I started this blog at about 1a.m. on the morning of March 8, in 2012!

Back then, this blog was a place to share my thoughts and lighthearted little ramblings,

but, since refocusing and taking blogging seriously last spring,

it has really transformed from it's humble beginnings!

 So really, I only feel as if I have been blogging for one year, not two. 

As a way of saying thank you

for being such a wonderful community of blogging friends,

I am having a giveaway!

Honestly,

this anniversary kind of snuck on me,

so I wish I had more to offer you,

but I think someone out there might be excited to receive

some Vintage sewing patterns!

Giveaway!

As you can see,

two are Simplicity dress patterns from the 60's

and the third is a Vogue pant and top pattern dated 1975.

Sizes:

Both dresses start at bust size 31 and up to 38 inches.

The other pattern starts at bust 31-40 for the top,

and the pants are 33-42 in the hips.

These of course are used patterns,

and I haven't checked to see if all the pieces are there,

but I know they come with the original instruction guides!

To Enter:

*Leave a comment below. 

I love to getting to know my readers, so let's do this, 

tell me where you are writing from...state/country!

*You must be a follower of this blog.

In the comments, also let me know how you are following,

via Blogger, Bloglovin', or e-mail. 

I will leave this giveaway open for 1 week,

with the winner to be drawn at random and announced next Saturday!

Thank you for reading Gladness of Heart

and for all of your wonderful support and much appreciated comments!

God bless and good luck!

Refashion Runway Season Two: Week 3, Peplum

Out of the entire gauntlet of Refashion Runway challenges,

when I saw 'Peplum' was on the list, I knew exactly what I wanted to make!

It was with that clear vision that I selected this huge, coral blazer!
 

 

Help, I'm drowning in coral!

 

Funny story.

As the Goodwill clerk was ringing up and folding this coral creature,

he gave me this look and said, "Now ma'am, do you see this tag...?

Just leave this on, and if anything doesn't fit, you can bring it back."

 

Obviously he was concerned.

I just smiled and thanked him for the advice...little did he know

that I had most specifically selected the biggest blazer I could find.

 

So first things first...

 

 

 ...I cut off that 'tag'!

There is no going back now.

 

 

Before proceeding, I feel I had better warn you this is a very long post!

This project was pretty detail intensive...I took lots of pictures.

 

 

To get started, I set to work removing the pockets.

 

 

 

These were sewn in to the side seam and the bottom hem,

so it took a little extra work and left the side seam open.
 

  

Then I ripped out the football jersey-worthy shoulder pads,

and removed the sleeves.

 

 

 

 

Taking some measurements,

I marked where I wanted the bottom of my blazer to end and the peplum to begin,

factoring in a seam allowance.

 

 

 

 

*Snip, snip*

I had great plans for that precious bottom piece, so I laid it aside for later.

 

 

 

 

Focusing on the upper part of the blazer,

I trimmed the armholes/shoulders down so they would fit better.

 

 

Next, I spent hours meticulously measuring, tracing patterns,
pinning and repining in order to create a thin, curving pin tuck,
running from the shoulder all the way down to the waist.

 

 

 

 

I did this on both sides of the front and back of the jacket.

 

 

 

 

 Next, I fitted the blazer by taking in the sides.

 

 

  

 

 I made a few more fitting changes later on, but this is basically what it looked like.

Now I needed to create a button hole.

 

 

 

In the past, I hand stitched or fudged my way through making the button hole,

this time I actually used the button hole foot!

 

 

 

 

It took a few test runs, but in the end I think I got it figured out.

 

 

 

 

Moving onto the sleeves, I knew I wanted my jacket to have puffed sleeves.

 

 

 

 

So before taking them in, I sewed a gathering stitch across the top of the shoulder portion.

 

 

 

 

With that done, I proceeded to take in the sleeves and cut off the excess.

 

 

 

 

Once finished, I attached them to the jacket.
 

 



 

After doing some research,

I was able to use this tutorial and chart for drafting a circular pattern for my peplum.

 

 I altered the pattern by creating a graduating slant so the peplum was longer in the back,
 as well as enlarging the radius of the arch so I had excess ruffles with which to create pleats.

 

 

The original peplum pattern calls for one arch cut on the fold for a seamless back ruffle,
and two more arches for the two front ruffles.

 

I wanted to be certain I liked the peplum before cutting into my precious remnant pieces,

so I cut out some experimental pieces from an ugly fabric first.

 

 

 

I didn't like what I saw.

Once I had all the ruffles pinned onto my blazer, I felt like a fat ballerina! 

 

 

 

 

After some experimenting, I altered and drafted a different pattern for the two front panels.

 

  

Armed with my two tried-and-true self drafted pattern pieces, I was ready to proceed.

 

Returning to the bottom half I had cut off earlier,

I unpicked the invisible hem and ironed it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you see now why I chose this huge blazer?

Look at all the fabric I have to work with!

 

 

 

 

I proceeded to lay out my pattern pieces and cut the peplum sections.

 

 

 

 

The back arch was laid out on the fold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Next came the two front pieces.

 

 

 

 

 All cut out!

 

 

 

Pin them all together...
 

...and sew.



 

 

Then I pulled out another previously unused wonder...the hemming foot!

This created a tiny, folded hem at the bottom and sides of my peplum.

This fabric was fray-crazy, so for extra measure, I did fold it over again and sew it down.

 



 

There remained one last thing before attaching the peplum to the blazer.

For some extra pop and detail, I sewed rows of varying width at the bottom of the hem
in rust metallic and burgundy thread.
 

 

 

 

To keep my edges and rows clean, I did not back stitch at the end.

Instead, I caught the loop and pulled the top thread through to the back, then tied several knots.
 

 

 

 

 

 

See?

Much cleaner finish.

 

 

 

 

 

Now the peplum and blazer were ready to be united.

 

 

 

 

   After attaching the peplum, I was left with an ugly, exposed seam.

Doing some more research, I discovered a technique called Hong Kong binding.

Wow, talk about a lot of work!

There had to be an easier way.

Using Hong Kong binding as a spring board, I came up with an easier method.

I have no idea what it is called, but I'm sure it must be an actual process,

so if you know, please let me know!

 

 

 Using bias tape, I pinned the right side of the bias tape

to the wrong/back side of one of my seam edges.

 

 

 

  

I pinned the bias tape the entire length of the seam,

then sewed it down.

 

 

 

 

After that was done, I flipped the bias tape over the seam and ironed it flat.

The stitching I had just sewn is covered under the fold.

 

 

 

 

With the bias tape folded over, I pinned it to the other seam edge and sewed that down.

This last stitch line was visible on top of the bias tape, but I didn't see any way around that.

 

Iron again, and voila!

A much neater, completely concealed seam!

 

Almost done, I promise.

 

For the final finishing touches,

I repeated the same metallic and burgundy thread pattern on the cuffs of the sleeves.

 

 

 

 

For my first line, I measured in 2 inches from the cuff and marked it all around.

 

I decided to unstitch the seam of the sleeve so it would lay flat while sewing,

this made it much easier to sew in straight rows.

It was simple to stitch it up again when I was finished.

 

 

 

Stitching all done,

I added a button as well!

 



 

Buttons were also added to the points of the lapel for a rounded, finished look.

Finally!!

It was done!

 

 

 

Lovely lines!

I love how this blazer turned out!

 

And there is the pleated peplum back!

 

 

See how it angles and slants downward?!

 

 

 Here is a close up of the thread detailing on the hem...

  

 

...and the cuffs, along with the added buttons. 

 

Here, you can clearly see the pin-tuck lines running from shoulder to back.

My dad calls them 'angel wings'!

 

 

Didn't those puffed sleeves turn out adorable?

And the front pin-tucks add so much!

 

Once again, my brother is obsessed with lens flairs...and he wanted

to play up the fashion model vibe I was channeling...hey, the peplum brings it out of me!
 

 

This blazer was such a beautiful challenge and gave the opportunity to try lots of new techniques!

 I am so pleased with how it turned out!

To date, I think this is possibly my most intense refashion!

As you can see, I'm happy.

Very happy!

 

Now head on over to The Renegade Seamstress

and cast your vote for what floats your boat (sorry).

And if you happen to like the coral you see while floating about (sorry again),

well, that would be grand!