Square coaster free pattern

Square coaster
by Donna Howard
(This pattern has not been tested yet.)

Materials: Size 10 thread, size 7 steel hook
For 2 color coaster, work rnd 1 - 3, and rnd 7 in 1st colorl. Rnd 4 - 6 in 2nd color.


Special stitches
Beg cluster: Ch 3, *Wrap thread around, put hook through sp, wrap thread around and draw through sp, wrap around and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * 1x. Wrap around and draw through all loops.

Cluster: *Wrap thread around and put through sp. Wrap thread around and draw through sp. Wrap around and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * 2x. Wrap around and draw through all loops on hook.

Directions
Wrap thread around finger 2x. This is your starting loop.

Rnd 1: Sl st in ring. Ch 4, 23 trc in ring. Join to 3rd ch of beginning ch 4. (24)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp, sc in next 2 st. *(sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around. Join to 1st sc. (8 ch 2 spaces)

Rnd 3: Sl st to ch 2 sp. Beg. cluster. Ch 6. *Cluster in next ch 2 sp, ch 6. Repeat from * around. Join to top of beg. cluster. (8 clusters)

Rnd 4: Sl st in ch 6 sp. Ch 3, dc 8x in same sp. Ch 3 [(cluster, ch 2) 2x, cluster, ch 3] in next ch 6 sp. *9 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3. [(Cluster, ch 2) 2x, cluster, ch 3] in next ch 6 sp. Repeat from * around. Join to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same sp, dc in next 8 dc, dc in ch sp. Ch 4. [(Cluster, ch 4) in sp between clusters] 2x. *Dc in ch sp, dc in next 9 dc, dc in ch sp, ch 4. [(Cluster, ch 4) in sp between clusters] 2x. Repeat from * 2 x. Join in top of 3rd ch of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 6: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next 8 st. Ch 2, sc in ch 4 sp, ch 2. (Cluster, ch 4, cluster, ch 2) in sp between clusters. Sc, ch 2 in next ch 4 sp. *Skip next dc, dc in next 9 st, ch 2, sc in ch 4 sp, ch 2. (Cluster, ch 4, cluster, ch 2) in sp between clusters. Sc, ch 2 in next ch 4 sp. Repeat from * 2 x. Join in 3rd ch of beg ch 3.

Rnd 7: Sc aroundwith 4 sc in each corner sp and 2 sc in each ch 2 sp. Join. Finish off. Weave in all ends.

Celtic Crochet

This is a placemat from the book Celtic Crochet Home Accessories. I got the book from Annie's Attic. It's actually easier than it looks. It uses size 3 crochet cotton. I also made 2 potholders and 4 coasters. But instead of green, yellow, and white they are green, pink, and bridal white (kind of an off-white). I took a picture with the digital camera but it didn't come out very good. So, I put it on the scanner and it comes out really clear, you just can't see the whole thing.

Cro-Tat

I got the book Learn to Cro-Tat the New & Improved Way from Annie's Attic. I made the coaster. It really came out more of a hot pad because it is 8" across. It was a challenge. But, I'll keep practicing this technique so I can make the dragonfly in the book out of thread.

Purple afghan

Oh! I finished the purple afghan for donation, too. I have to mail it this week.

WIP's and PIG's

I made a list of all my WIM's and PIG's.

WIP's:
1. Mint green baby blanket
2. fingerless gloves for Stephen
3. Black & fushia suede purse
4. Thread tea set
5. Pale yellow doily
6. Fun fur Magic Scarf for Sam
7. Yellow & green afghan
8. Yellow booties

I finished the Mint green baby blanket last night.

I finished the yellow booties this morning. (No picture yet.)

Next, I will either work on the fingerless gloves, the black & fushia purse or the magic scarf. I ran out of the yellow yarn for the last square of the yellow & green afghan. I have to get another skein of that at Michael's.

Here are my PIG's.:

1. White baby hat

2. Yellow baby hat

3. Midnight blue afghan

4. Purple Microspun shrug

5. Purple Fun Fur Magic scarf for Vicki

6. Blue Fun Fur Magic Scarf for Katherine

7. Blue Fun Fur Magic Scarf for me

8. Pink & purple 7" squares (this should really go on the WIP list.)

9. More baby hats & booties

10. Blue rose doily

11. Lavender thread placemats

12. Pink hearts doily

13. Burgundy "Garnet Grandeur" doily from Crochet! magazine

I won't even begin to list all the WIM. So many projects, so little time.

Magic scarf, purse, other stuff

I've been so busy I haven't had time to post anything. School started and dancing classes started. We got more registrations for dancing and acrobats than we expected. We got quite a few new students who used to go to other dancing schools but they didn't reopen since the hurricane. I am back to having 3 classes on Monday, 2 classes on Wednesday, and 3 classes on Saturday.
I finished a Magic scarf on the Knifty Knitter. I finished the whole thing then it wouldn't stretch on the end because of the way I did the bind off. So frogged the whole thing and started over. When I was half way through again Jessica noticed a spot where I had messed up so I had to frog again. The third time I was really careful and did the bind off the right way and it came out great. I am now in the middle of my second one. The first one is for Jessica. Her birthday was February 14th. The second one is for Samantha. Her birthday is at the end of the month. Vicki's birthday isn't until November. So I will make one for Katherine before Vicki.

I also made a purse. I got the pattern from the Lion Brand web site. It is made out of suede yarn and fancy fur. It came out so good that Cynthia wants one too. I finished that one and it came out better than the first. I will put a picture up as soon as I get it loaded into the computer. I started on some fingeress gloves for Stephen. I am using dark blue Simply Soft and a pattern from the Crochet-Pattern-a-day calender.

I also got a bag of 6-inch squares from Sandie to make into an afghan for Squares 4 Survivors. I went to her house to get them and we spent all afternoon talking about crochet. Stephen and her son are the same age so he went with me. They're also both homeschooled and they both like computer games.

I'm going to be a grandma

Yes, that's right, I'm going to be a grandma for the first time. Katherine called a couple of nights ago and told me. She hadn't even been to the doctor yet. She had done the at-home-test only an hour before. I've already made a pair of blue booties.

Cradle Purse

I made a little cradle purse. I used white and lavender Simply Soft Worsted Weight. The doll that is in the picture is the boy baby that comes with Barbie.

Doily and coasters

I made the Petite Pineapple Doily in burgundy and gold. Then, I designed some coasters with the same shells and I made a set of four in the same colors. I am going to send them to Katherine when she gives me her new address. I told her I would send her some book thongs so the doily and coasters will be a surprise.

Pineapple Tote bag and afghans

I found a pattern I really like on the Panda Crochet website. http://www.pandacrochet.8m.com/ It is the Panda Pineapple 12-inch square. I used Red Heart Super Saver Spruce and Pale Yellow. Then I didn't know what I should do with them. I wasn't sure if I wanted to make another afghan so I made a tote bag. I crocheted around the squares and made the handle of yellow and green. I lined it with some yellow material I already had. It came out really good. I will use it for books when I go to book club meetings.
I will be needing to make more afghans after all. On Thursday I brought Cynthia a bag of 11 hats, 11 scarves, and 2 afghans. Lawrence went to the 9th ward this morning and gave out a bunch of stuff. Everything in the bag went. Cynthia said one lady started to cry because she was so touched that someone made this by hand for her. Now that I know that it is still needed and appreciated I will make more.

Knifty knitter

I learned how to use the Knifty Knitter today. There was a class at Michael's Craft Store. I made a hat in green and yellow. After I finished the hat I made a green and yellow crocheted scarf.

WIP's:
gold and burgundy pitite pineapple doily
light green and cream thread tea set (pattern from Annie's Attic)
gerbera doily
mint green baby afghan - spiderweb pattern
blue afghan - only have to attach the last 4 squares

Doilies

I just finished 2 pineapple doilies for the crochet-a-long. I did one in white and the other in peach. I am also working on a Spiderweb Baby Afghan in mint green. I made a hat today, too, to match the curly scarf: lavender with the boa trim. I might make another scarf to donate or I might start on the crocheted tea set.

Afghan

I just finished an afghan to donate. The 6 inch squares are from "101 Crochet Squares" by Jean Leinhauser; published by American School of Needlework. I used a G hook for those. The plain squares are just granny squares. I used an H hook for those. Start with 4 chains. 2 chains at the corners and 1 chain in between the sets of double stitches on the sides. Keep going until you have 6 or 12 inches. I joined four 6-inch squares to make 12-inch squares. Then I joined the 12-inch squares with the lattice desing like on the Crochet Dude's Monet afghan.

Curly scarf

My first curly scarf. Also my first time using Bernat Boa. It's really long but it was easy to make. I used a K hook, Red Heart Lavender worsted weight, and Bernat Boa Toucan. I did 135 chain stitches with the lavender and starting in the 4th chain from the hook I did 2 triple-crochets in each stitch. Then, I did 4 chain stitches and did 2 triple-crochets in the top of each triple all the way back. Switch to the Boa and to a double-crochet in each stitch. It took one and a half balls of the boa, but I got it half price at Michael's.

Merry Christmas

I took pictures of Vicki, Sam, and Jessica wearing their ponchos. I think they really liked them.

Yesterday I brought Cynthia a whole bag of stuff. I think I had 11 hats, 11 scarves, 1 pair of mittens, 1 pair of gloves, and one afghan. She told me to keep on making them because their are still plenty of people who need warm things. So I already made another scarf, 2 hats, and some squares for an afghan.

Mittens

I finished 10 scarves and 10 hats so I wanted to try to make some mittens. I had I pattern for some but it was with sport yarn. I went to Gary's and found a book for hats, mittens, and scarves with worsted weight yarn. I made a pair last night. They came out really cute but now I need someone with little hands to try them on. So after I finished the mittens I started working on the ripple afghan again. I think I am real close to finishing it. I might be able to finish it today.

Scarves for Katrina victims

Lastweek Cynthia and Kim announced they were collecting blankets and warm clothes for some Katrina victims who were still living in tents by the Spillway. I have an unfinished afghan that I am going to donate after it is finished but I knew I couldn't finish it in a day or two. So night before last I was thinking and I figured if I can't finish the afghan I can make scarves and hats. It doesn't take long for each one and I have a bunch of yarn. I not only have my own stash of yarn but I still have all of that bulky yarn from Laurie's mom. So I started making them and now I am up to 6 scarves and 5 hats. I am working on the 7th scarf. I called Cynthia yesterday evening and she said the people by the spillway are taken care of but there are more people in need of warm things so I will keep making them. Here are some pictures of the first ones I made. The picture of the hats isn't too clear.

Stephen's scarf

I made a white, black, and gray scarf for Stephen. I got the pattern out of the same book that I used for the other 2 scarves. The book is "Ruthie's Easy Crocheted Scarves" and the pattern I used is "Slits, Slits, Slits Two." It has 8 slits where you can tuck one end of the scarf in. You can see in the picture. Isn't that a good looking boy!!

I also made a poncho for me. I used some sparkly sport yarn that I already had so it didn't cost me anything.

I still had some of the yarn left over after making the poncho so I made a scarf. After all, I won't be wearing the poncho and scarf at the same time. I still have more of the same yarn. Probably enough for 2 more scarves.

The Time Machine

I had my reading group for teens yesterday. We discussed "The Time Machine" by H.G.Wells. It was a good discussion. I think everyone enjoyed the book. The next book we picked is "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. We had to talk Jonathon into reading it. At first he said he wouldn't read it. We told him that it is not a "girl" book. It is not just a children's book. And part of being in a reading group is reading books that normally wouldn't read. Sometimes after you read a book you decide that you didn't really like it and that's all right. Reading different things broadens your mind and exposes you to different things outside of your "norm." Anyway I think he will like the book once he gets started on it.

Scarves

Walmart finally reopened after Hurricane Katrina over 3 months ago. So of course I had to go buy some yarn. I also got a scarf book called Ruthie's Easy Crocheted Scarves. It is put out by Leisure Arts. I made 2 of the scarves already. The first one I made is called Lace and Spirals. I used burgundy worsted weight yarn then I made a hat to match it. I used the same v-stitches and bobbles on the hat. I made some gloves out of sport yarn that is really close to the same color.

The second scarf I made is called Purple Passion in the book but I made it in blue. It used worsted weight and sport yarn. Both K and L hooks are used to make the stitches real loose. It has beads on the ends.