Flower Tote Bag

Have made all the squares for the tote bag, Crocheting them together was fairly easy and quick. I actually had the bag all together in two days.
Would have been sooner but I have to work so could only work on it when I was watching TV in the evening.

The pattern is kind of tricky when placing of the squares, looks like a heart on one side. So you have 8 on one side and on the other side you only have 5.
On the side that has five you only crochet four flower squares with one granny square in the middle. The three granny squares that are on the other side (which is two on the side and one on the bottom), these three granny squares wrap around to the other side. They are crocheted to the flower squares.

Instead of crocheting my squares like the pattern, I crocheted them together. So my trim on my bag is a little different. I just did a slip stitch on the front of the bag. Which doesn't look that bad and was really easy to add.

Then for the button, use size F crochet hook. chain 2, 6 single crochet in second chain from hook don't join, mark first stitch. Then you just do 2 single crochet around should have should have 12 stitches. then single crochet in each stitch. Skip first stitch, single crochet in next stitch keep doing this around to end. You have a button!!! How easy love it.

The handles you can make as long as you want I chained 85 and then did a single crochet on the handle.

I'm pleased with the way it has turned out. I m also surprised as to how strong it feels. There is a plus also if it gets dirty throw in the washer and let it air dry.

A New Project

I have started something new for me. I usually make afghans,hats,scarfs,dog sweaters. Was talking to my sister the other day and she asked me if I could make a tote. Told her I have never done that before so she gave me the website for the pattern, looks really easy. In the mean time I found a tote pattern in one of my crochet mags that I get through the mail. Soooo I thought I would make the one I found in Mays 2011 Crochet! magazine Dress It Up -- Flower Tote Bag Design by Nancy Brown. I'm using cotton yarn for this tote. The granny squares are easy but I'm really confused about the joining round you don't fasten off the flower sq. you are suppose join the squares together by crocheting them. So I decided to just join them together like I do all my other squares. I will have to read the instructions and practice on some extra yarn that I have. This will give me a good excuse to make another one :)

Rain Rain Go Away

Oh when is the rain going to quit! I want to go out and play in the dirt! I can't wait to go out and work in the flower beds. I have spring flowers popping up all over. Two weeks ago it was 60 out and I did work some outside. We have to redo some of the flower beds. Had some construction done outside this winter and alot of the flower beds were covered in piles of dirt so will have to move the dirt around. We also want to put some new landscape logs down and finish the front flower bed with a border also. I think working outside in the beds is one of my favorite things beside crocheting. The biggest problem is trying to make the big dogs understand they can't walk in the flower beds. They see me go in them so they follow right along! Guess they will have to stay inside when I'm out working this spring.

New Sweater fo Rupert!!!!

Well Ruperts sweater is finished. And as I said before he wouldnt be happy when I put it on him!!!! HA! Actually I have to just put some velcro or snaps on it. I just tied the opening. He looks so cute! Now he is just standing here whinning I think he wants it off.