A Personalized Crochet Baby Book Keepsake

It has been my goal this Christmas to make something for each grandchild and great-grandchild.   That's what grannies do, right? 

Well, this little crochet baby book is the last item to be completed.  Whew!  This one was a challenge for me, not because of the difficulty of the stitch or assembly, but because of all the different colors and multiple strands of yarn that had to be managed while crocheting the pictures into the pages.

I've seen some some very elaborate graphgans on Pinterest, and I marvel at the patience of these yarn artists.  Oh my goodness!  How do they do that!?  If you haven't looked at some of these, you should go to Pinterest (as soon as you finish reading my blog) and search 'graphgans'.  You will be amazed!

Not only that, many of those patterns are free.  And in addition to that....there are websites that will help you create your own patterns!

So, if you have the time and patience to do it, you can create some awesome keepsakes for those special people in your life.

But I digress.  Here is my feeble attempt at this crochet art form, which I hope to improve in as I do more of it.

Bentley is our 10th. grandchild, and such a cutie!

What a wonderful gift of love he is to us!

We are so blessed with children,  grandchildren, and 

great-grandchildren!

It's a happy riot in our little house when

    they all come home, but what a 

        wonderful time!!!

   I hope your holidays will be filled with as much love, fun and laughter as ours will be!  It truly is all about relationships!

Blessings!

Reny

                                                                                      

     

Whimsy Christmas Tree finished!

I am delighted with my Christmas tree this year!  Well, I always love my tree, but this year is special.  I decided several months ago to have a tree covered with whimisical crochet ornaments.  And in addition to that, I will be giving these ornaments away to friends and family that grace our home with a visit during the holiday season.

With that in mind, I set myself to  surf Pinterest and other websites about crochet amigurumi in search of patterns and ideas that I thought would delight my grand-children and great-grandchildren.

Almost every ornament on this tree is featured on a blog post complete with links to patterns or have the patterns themselves included if the pattern was one of my own designs.  Most of the patterns from other designers were free, but I also have no problem paying for a pattern if it looks like a good one.

I may still add a few more ornaments if some great ideas present themselves, but for the most part I think I'm finished with this project.  

I would still like to make a nativity set or two if I have the time.   The pattern for that can be found elsewhere on my blog if you would like to make one yourself.

Below are the links to most of the ornaments I have made for this tree.  

Sleeping Apple Worm

Little White Swan

Spencer the Christmas Spider

Roll-up Armadillo

Mini Big Head Doll

Cute Little Monsters

Airplane

Silly Posable Snake

Little DooDah Dolls

Lovely Little Llamas

Mini Llama Pattern

Mini Manatee

Monster Keyrings

Crochet Fish

Quirky Puppy

Oliver the Octopus

I hope your holiday projects are going well and that you  have time to reflect on the real reason for the season.

Blessings!

Reny

Christmas Santa Boot Crochet Ornament, Gift, Favors

     Christmas is almost here and if you are like me you are always looking for that  handmade little gift that says, 'You are special'.  This little boot ornament was designed with my newest grandchild in mind to help commemorate his first Christmas and to serve as an alternative to the traditional Christmas stocking.  To fill it I'll probably try to find a few helpful little trinkets for his parents as he is only 3 months old and candy is off the table right now. 

This would make a great teacher gift filled with teacher related items or some nice chocolates.   Or use it as a Christmas party favor filled with neat treats or gift cards.

     But I love the size of this little boot.  Approximately 4 inches tall, it makes a perfect addition to the tree as well.  

So here is the pattern.  Enjoy!

Crochet Christmas Santa Boot Ornament

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn  (Black, Red, White and a bit of gold)  I used Red Heart With Love Metallic for                                                                                                                          the red and white.

G hook 4.0 mm

Yarn needle

Plastic canvas  (to reinforce the sole of the boot.)

Boot sole:  (with black)

1.  Chain 11.  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 chains.  3 sc in last chain.  Turn work and work on opposite side.  Sc 9,  Place stitch marker to keep track of rounds.  

2.  3 sc in first st.  Sc in 9 sc,  2 sc in each of next 3 st., sc in next 9 sc.

3.  2 sc in each of next 3 sts.,   sc in 9,   *2 sc in next st,  1 sc in next*  X's 3,  sc in next 9 sts.

4.  *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next*  X's 3.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Boot: (with red)

1. Attach red yarn at center back of sole and sc in each stitch around in back loops only for this round only.  Place stitch marker at beginning of this round.

2.  Sc in each stitch, both loops.

3-5.  Sc in each st.

6. Sc in 15,  decrease X'x 5,  sc in remaining stitches.

7.  Sc in 12, dec X's 4,  sc in remaining stitches.

8.  Sc in 12, dec X's 3,  sc in remaining stitches

Cut an oval of plastic canvas the size of the sole and place it inside the boot at this time.

9-18.  Sc in each stitch.  Fasten off red after round 18 and attach white.

19.  Sc in each stitch.

20. Chain 3.  Make a puff stitch in the same space at the chain 3.  *Skip 1 stitch, make a puff stitch*  repeat to end of round.  Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.  Weave in ends.

If you are unfamiliar with how to do a puff stitch, this  short tutorial will tell you how to do it.

To finish the sole of the boot,  attach black to the center back of the sole in the open front loops of the 4th round of the sole.  Holding the boot upright, slip stitch in each exposed front loop, join to first st. and fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Belt:  With black yarn

1.  Chain 3, sc in 2nd chain from hook and next chain.  Chain 1 and turn

2.  Make 2 sc, ch 1 and turn.

Continue until belt is long enough to go around boot.  Leave a length of yarn to stitch belt together.

Belt Buckle:

Chain 12.  Stitch the chain on to the center of belt in a square shape.  

Attach the belt to the boot.

Make an optional hanger if you desire by chaining and making a loop to attach to the top back of the boot.

Congratulations!  Your Santa boot is finished.  Enjoy!