Khal & Daenerys Crocheted Dolls by Deadcraft.com

I’ve been a Game of Thrones fan for several years now…more a fan of the books than the TV show but I’ve enjoyed seeing the story come to life. Found these wonderfully detailed crocheted dolls of Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen from Deadcraft.com (available for sale, too!). Simply amazing. She’s also designed dolls for Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Jamie Lannister, Cersei Lannister, the Hound, and my fav character Arya Stark.

Personally I find that I crochet more often than I knit, but I suspect that’s primarily because knitting hurts my wrists more than crochet does. I have so many in-progress projects in both media so I’m pleased to see that I’m not the only one who loves both crafts!

In honor of all my fellow crocheters out there, I found these great crochet designs over at Zazzle.

hooked on crochet by cfkaatje

i crochet by cfkaatje

life’s a stitch by cfkaatje

Ninja With Crochet Hook Shirt by NightOwlsMenagerie

rather bee crocheting by cfkaatje

Crocheting Queen T-shirts and Gifts. by leigh10970

Hooded Baby Blanket

Modeling the Blanket

I finally finished the hooded baby blanket I was crocheting for my youngest nephew (who is now over six months old). The project was not difficult; in fact, it worked up quite quickly. I was simply distracted by other craft projects (and life, of course).

I followed the pattern included on the Pound o’ Love yarn sleeve (if you are interested, the pattern is also available on the Lion brand yarn site but you have to be a member to view it–it’s free to join). The yarn is a worsted weight 100% acrylic that is machine washable and stays soft. I chose the soft pastel green color.

The puffy pattern stitch was not difficult to learn and the end result was soft and squishy with an interesting texture. The blanket portion worked up quickly and I was able to keep it square by regularly folding it diagonally and counting the stitches every 10 rows or so. I ran into some trouble with the attached hood and had to adjust the pattern a bit to make everything fit and keep the blanket square.

The best news is that mama and baby loved the final result and the blanket is perfect to keep in the car for quick covering. The blanket is still a bit too large but it will certainly last him through the winter.

Crochet Heart-Shaped Doily

A lovely heart-shaped doily in honor of St. Valentine’s Day.

My mother crocheted this doily for me several years ago. I can’t remember now if she used a pattern or made it up as she went along (she liked to do that).

The interior is a series of single crochet, double crochet, and chain stitch. The border is a ripple effect made with double and triple crochet stitches. She used 100% cotton crochet thread in white and red.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Mom's Crochet Snowflakes

In the months before my mom passed away last winter, she felt well enough to take up her tiny crochet hooks and create quite a few little projects.

Mom crocheted hundreds of snowflakes over the years and gave most of them away to family and friends. These 2 are now part of my collection.

The  snowflakes were crocheted with 100% cotton crochet thread. I still need to stiffen them to turn them into ornaments. I don’t have much experience with the process so it will be a bit of an adventure, I think.

Crocheted Baby Hat with Butterfly

This small blue and white baby hat is crocheted with extra soft terrycloth yarn and features a fold-up brim. The little butterfly accent is crocheted with #10 thread. Very sweet!

Changing Pad

This cute changing pad was a gift for a friend’s new baby. The basic construction is an extra-soft hand towel backed with colorful cotton fabric. Mom sewed in some pockets for the little necessities (and included some samples!). It all wraps up into a tidy bundle with a white ribbon. The changing pad easily slips into a backpack or diaper bag and can be washed.

Jewel-toned Crochet Afghan

This crochet afghan in beautiful blue and purple jewel tones was a gift for a friend last Christmas.

I thought the yarn I selected (Lion Brand Homespun…so soft and lovely) was too busy for a complicated pattern so I chose a simple block stitch pattern. I eyeballed the width and made the length a bit longer than a standard afghan as my friend is quite tall.

The result is a wonderfully cozy and warm afghan my friend just loves!

Kokeshi Doll Amigurumi (Crochet)

I crocheted this Kokeshi Doll amigurumi for my niece from a pattern created by Michelle McLaughlin (available for free at her site Suncatcher Eyes).

The pattern calls for mostly single and half-double crochet stitches. In my case, the embroidery is simple straight stitches.

I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for the body, face and hair and standard embroidery floss for the embroidered accents. This was one of my first crocheted amigurumi and it was a quick project that looks quite cute!

Here’s a definition of Kokeshi dolls from Wikipedia:
“Kokeshi (???, kokeshi^?), are Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.”