Afghan 91

Crocheting is kind of my "party trick" (enter meeting or other gathering where I need to keep my hands busy). In this case, it kind of backfired. I chose this afghan pattern while we had company over (I think for my husband's birthday in September 2025, but I'm not totally sure), so I really wasn't paying that much attention. The pattern is labeled as "intermediate" level, but it was really kind of complicated. I ran out of yarn a few times and let the afghan be. But finally, finally, it's done.

I don't think I want to do a pattern like this for a long time, or ever. The point of crocheting for me is to have a soothing activity I can do almost without thinking. This took a lot of thinking and counting and tallying. The texture is cool, but not worth it for me!

Hook: Size I placed into a Boye ergonomic crochet hook handle

Yarn: Red Heart soft navy

Pattern: Hygge chic throw (Yarnspirations)

I chained 141 for 14 shells, and did around 25 rows. (The full blanket size was 128 rows. I cannot imagine doing that many!)

Finished size: 25 x 37 (approximating 30 x 35 stroller size)

Keeping Heads Warm

How it started...

I offered to make some ear warmers for my friend's daughter:

Crochet chained ear warmer (Easy Crochet)

Beginner friendly crochet ear warmer (Oombawka Design Crochet)

Crochet ear warmer (Stitching Together)

And I got a little obsessed with all the free patterns out there.

Puffed crochet headband (Easy Crochet)

Sophora headband (Burgundy and Blush)

Easy textured earwarmer (Simply Hooked by Janet)

How it's going:

I made myself an ear warmer, but it turned out child-sized.

Twisted crochet ear warmer headband (Sarah Maker)

Determined, I tried again.

Crochet twist headband (Easy Crochet)

This one actually fit!

So I made a few more:

Sailor's knot headband (Crafting for Weeks)

Easy summer headband (Crafting for Weeks)

Crochet headband with cross pattern (Joy of Motion Crochet)

Needless to say, I will have no problems keeping my head warm. And you know what? I had fun making these. All these took were a little internet research, scrap yarn, and time. A heart-warming endeavor, if you ask me.

Crocheted Bible "Sweater"

Reading your Bible a lot can lead to wear and tear. For this reason, I have always liked using a Bible cover. My parents gave me a nice cover for my current Bible, but I was curious if I could also crochet one. I searched for a few patterns, and then found one that I altered.

Basically, I crocheted a long rectangle and then slip stitched the corners together to make flaps into which I could tuck the Bible covers. I then slip stitched the edges in between to make it look even.

Not perfect, but it will cover the Bible. I think the color blocking I did makes the cover look like a sweater, hence calling it a Bible "Sweater." I used my size J Boye ergonomic crochet hook again. I followed the book cover pattern at Me 'N My Hook, but since I used a J hook, my gauge was much larger. (This worked to my advantage, since I was covering a fairly large study Bible. I used Red Heart saffron yarn, and some random red yarn my husband had. (He knits with it!) All in all, I think I am satisfied with this project. (If anyone needs a Bible cover, comment below. I can probably perfect this pattern and whip out a few more fairly quickly.

Here's to reading our Bibles more, and if needed, covering them to protect and preserve their contents for future use!

Afghan 70

I am going to affectionately call this the scrunch blanket. No, it wasn't supposed to be this way. It ended up with a scrunch due to a year of off and on work, different tension strengths over the course of that time, and many mistakes. I am not proud of this blanket, but in a way, I also am, because it took a lot of willpower to finish.

I used the wintergreen crochet baby blanket pattern for this one. I am not sure exactly how I was supposed to change colors, but to avoid constantly cutting and tying yarn, I ended up with four strings of yarn off one blanket. These tangled often, leading to much frustration. The pattern had multiple intricacies, like crossed single crochets, single/double crochet pattern, and using only back loops. I forgot some of these intricacies from time to time, which contributed to the scrunch.

I used Mainstays pink and white yarn for this afghan, along with Red Heart pumpkin. The different brands of yarn probably did not help with my gauge, and the scrunch. As usual, I crocheted with my ergonomic J hook.

In summary, finishing this afghan took perseverance. It goes to a special little girl whose parents have long awaited her arrival, not without some sorrow along the way. My struggle grows dim in light of the wonderful gift that she is. For this reason, I am thankful and excited to have completed the blanket when I did, in hopes that it will accentuate the joy of her birth.

Afghan 63

I finished another one. I told you I was working on several. In fact, I don't think I have ever worked on so many blankets at one time. I had at least three going, plus a few side projects. Now that this one is done, I can just work on the one blanket I have left. Hooray!

As for this blanket, it was the ripple baby blanket pattern from Eye Love Knots. I do not usually like to change colors on blankets, but I went for it on this one. I did stick to just two colors, unlike the suggested three colors, however. I also forgot to change colors on the border, so it turned out to just be white. But I completed the border this time, something I rarely do. I am trying to learn to stick with patterns, and recipes....

Other details:

Yarn: Red Heart white and spring green

Hook: Ergonomic J

Finished dimensions: 35 x 43 inches

Afghan 60

It's been awhile since I posted a crochet project, so here's the latest:

(Yes, I missed posting afghan 59. Oh well.)

Some of you followed my Instagram #OneHeartOnePrayer journey earlier this year in which I crocheted and prayed for one person a day during our state's shutdown. I ended that project when our state reopened, but after a rather prompt return to shutdown, I needed a new project. Enter "crochet a row a day" and the birth of this project. It was really a way to use up yarn on hand and restock my baby blanket stash. (I don't crochet like I used to due to time restraints and my focal dystonia.) I followed Bella Coco Crochet's easy and fast free crochet baby blanket pattern. I will say that the pattern was easy. Fast? Maybe not so much. But I got it done. Praise the Lord!

Praying for the babe that this blanket goes home to...

Afghan 56

With God's help, I finished another afghan! This afghan is the one jumbo skein baby blanket from Yarnspirations. I completed the blanket in Red Heart cherry red, and yes, it did take just about one skein of yarn.

This yarn was a lesson in patience and in the tolerance of imperfection, as I could not seem to keep the edges straight. I'll point out that the blanket seems a little warped in this picture, and it is, though the picot stitch edging helped. Overall, I am just glad I finished. My dystonia helps me focus on finishing my afghans, rather than on making them perfect.

As for my dystonia, I notice my hand getting worse. It is harder to type. I find my hand clenching some when I try to do things like chop food in the kitchen. My ring finger and pinkie cross in what the physical therapist called, "scissoring." Whether it's related or not, my right elbow has swollen and started to hurt. I did see the doctor on Veteran's Day, but I declined botox in favor of another EMG nerve test. That is scheduled for a few weeks out.

Will you please pray with me that I will find some answers for this issue? I am thankful that I have a hand and that it kind of works to crochet afghans like this one. Still, I am frustrated, and I'll admit a bit grumpy and mad about the issue. I just want a certain and precise diagnosis so I can either fix the problem or figure out how to deal with it. But maybe that is not my lot. Either way, I have to learn to be content, rest, and trust God about it, and I am struggling to do these things.

Afghan 51

 Here's the latest in the afghan train:

This is Joyce Nordstrom's summer lace afghan in Red Heart's gold yarn. (Yes, I used the same color for afghan 47.) I had some leftover yarn and wanted to use it up.

I don't know if my hand is better or worse after the last botox injection, but I've needed to crochet. Moving my hand helps quiet my mind, and with a new job and the fire and life, my mind's been busy. I actually finished this afghan while listening to a Chasing Joy podcast. It's a new favorite because of its focus on joyfully living your own life.

That's all for now from me, but what about you? Do any readers want to share an activity they do to quiet their mind in times of busyness and stress?

30 Days of Oatmeal: Curried Peanut Butter and Jelly + Afghan 48

I have a confession: I didn't eat peanut butter until age 20. And I only ate it then out of duress. I was missing far too many meals at the college cafeteria and needed a portable meal. Peanut butter sandwiches became my thing.

In this recipe, I incorporated many of my favorite oatmeal techniques: cooking oats with applesauce, mixing spices into peanut butter, and leaving my topping on top, rather than swirling them in.

I'd say this recipe was pretty successful. I liked the earthy spice of the curried peanut butter with the sweet oats and strawberry topping. I used 1 teaspoon of vanilla in my peanut butter mixture, but found it too strong, so I reduced it here.

Ingredients:

1/2 c quick cooking oats
1 c water
1/4 c applesauce
1 T strawberry jam
1 T peanut butter
1/2 t curry powder
1/2 t vanilla

Directions:

1. In a small bowl or cup, mix peanut butter, curry powder, and vanilla until combined. Set aside.
2. Combine oats and water in a small pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low.
3. When oats reach desired consistency, stir in the applesauce. Bring all ingredients to warm.
4. Pour oats into a bowl and top with the curried peanut butter and the strawberry jam.


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And now for a different subject: Crochet. 

I finished this afghan on Thursday. 

It took me about two and a half months to finish, but I'm happy with that time given my last afghan completion time of nine months.

I'm still having trouble with my hand. The injection of botox helped the clenching and the pain, but took away my grip strength. After the injection, I found myself unable to open a door, gas up my car, or even hold a half gallon milk carton. (I found this out when the carton fell from my hand clear to the tile kitchen floor. Thankfully, it didn't burst.) I could hardly braid my hair or grasp anything at all. My pinky stayed permanently extended. The only way to put it down was to force it down with my other hand. Thankfully, through it all, I could crochet (hence the finishing of this blanket).

The botox has started to wear off and I find my grip strength and ability to make a fist returning, but my hand clenching a bit again. I still have trouble typing. I walk and jog with my hand in a fist to keep the hand from flopping. I'm not healed, so I see the doctor again next month.

I don't know if the issue with my hand is really dystonia, or if it is something else. (My hand oddly twitches at times.) For now, though, I count the blessing of another afghan's completion and pray for strength for future days. To God be the glory.