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Drawstring Backpack
Love, love, love this!! The bag was super easy, the cord…not so much. I couldn’t seem to follow the directions and make it work so I sought out an alternative that I found here:
Both were way easy to follow and came together very quickly. I was making this for myself but my supervisor at work loved it so much when I showed it to her that I will be gifting it to her and making myself another one in different colors.
I’m really happy with how this turned out. 
New Work Bag
I carry a ridiculously large amount of items to work with me on a daily basis. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, supplements, and all the other little things I need to get me through the day. These things will not fit in the cute small purse that I choose to carry so I have taken to using two bags during the work week. Because I am prone to neck/shoulder ailments both these bags have to be cross body bags.
I bought a really cheap one on Amazon last year and it was about ready to give up the ghost. Lots of tiny tears in the fabric. I was pretty sure any day it was just going to split down the middle and out would pour all my stuff on to the concrete.
This pattern was in my library in Ravelry and has been for awhile. I made a version of it for my mom a while back but I wasn’t satisfied with it at all. The yarn I used was too thick and the stitches never quite added up right.
It was time to try it again.
The yarn I used this time around was Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. It was in my yarn stash, I had bought it years ago because I thought the color was pretty but never really had a use for it.
The reason the border/strap on this is black is because after the two skeins of the pink I used, I discovered that I ran out. In an attempt to add another skein to my amazon prime order I found that the color had been discontinued!!
Well, I wasn’t about to frog the whole project that close to finishing so I decided just to use some leftover black cotton yarn I had. I figured it was just for my personal use and I didn’t really care what other people thought of it.
Turns out, I really like the way the contrast of the pink and black look. I am very pleased with how this turned out and get many compliments on it.
The pattern for this project can be found here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80803AD.html
Chunky Bow Scarf
My friend Koly put a picture of this scarf on my facebook wall and requested it for her birthday. After a quick ravelry search I found the pattern and put it in my queue. I ordered the yarn on amazon and started it, thinking it would be my pack up project to do when I was bored of whatever else I was doing. Her birthday isn’t until April so I was just going to do a row here and there, but it worked up so fast and easy I was done before I knew it!
I’ve yet to block the bow, but it stays pretty well on it’s own, I may just leave it.
I also added a few more rows to the scarf part because I wanted it to be a bit longer.
Super Easy Lap Blanket
This is the first time I ever winged a project without following a pattern. It was based off of a crochet tutorial that I just adapted and continued and it turned into this really cute lap blanket.
My former bestie was moving and I wanted to give her a going away present. I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out.
Her pug, Shadow has apparently stolen it, no now I will be making more for her other two pugs. 
Materials:
3 Skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids (I used the color BLOSSOM)
1 size P (15 mm) crochet hook
Instructions:
Chain 60 ( this is the amount that I used but you can chain more if you want a wider blanket)
Row 1: 1 SC and 1 DC in the 2nd chain from the hook. Skip 1 Chain. *Complete [1 SC + 1 DC] in the following chain. Then skip 1. Repeat from * until the end of the row
Rows 2-60 or more: Chain 1 & Turn. Complete [1 SC + 1 DC] into the 2nd stitch from the hook. Skip the next stitch and * complete [1 SC + 1 DC] in the following stitch. Then, skip 1. Repeat from * until you reach the end of the row (feel free to add more rows if you want it longer, I just kept adding until I ran out of yarn on the third skein)
Finishing: At the end of your last row fasten off . Weave in all loose ends.
That’s it! Easy right?
Oma Slippers
I made a LOT of these. Several pairs for myself and I gave them out as Christmas presents to my besties a couple years ago and everyone loved them. It’s been a while since I made them but I don’t remember them being that difficult and once I had one pair done it was just a matter of memory.
If memory serves correct, this pattern was free when I made them. Still worth the money if you ask me since they are comfy cozy and keep your tootsies nice and toasty all winter long. Plus, the pattern is cheaper than a pair of slippers that you would buy at the store and you can make as many as you like!
The pattern can be found here, but it is a paid pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/62872279/crochet-slipper-pattern-oma-house?ref=shop_home_active_1
Green Bay Ear Flap Hat
I originally started this hat a year ago for a Christmas present for my husband. I was so grateful to be done with the hat portion that I never got around to putting the tassels on it. The more I put it off, the more daunting of a task it seemed to be. The husband eventually started wearing it without and so I put it out of my mind. I also took a break from all things crafty.
When the internet went down at my house last week right before the five day weekend I decided to pick up my yarn and needles again and give myself something to do. As I started a basic double crochet throw blanket just to keep me busy(couldn’t look up any patterns on the net) I remembered how much I loved it and a fire was re-ignited. When my husband saw all the yarn out again he requested I finish the hat.
Once the net was up I looked up the pattern and in less than ten minutes it was done.
Now that I’ve dusted off the needles, and this website I am on a roll. I am already working on Christmas presents for next year!!!
The pattern can be found here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/team-cheers-earflap
Slouch Beanie
I made this for my mom and since she never wears it I really wish I had kept it because it is just gorgeous. She can’t figure out how to make it slouch and if it doesn’t slouch, it’s really just a huge hat. 
I also wish I had made note of the yarn I used because it was just yummy but since it was a couple years ago I have no idea anymore. Anyhoo, the pattern can be found here: http://csqdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/12/unisex-slouch-hat-pattern.html#.VKBbuv-oAOB
Fingerless Gloves
These were requested by a dear friend of mine and while I thought they would prove difficult, once I got the hang of them, they just sort of fell together.
I am planning on making these again, however I will use a much softer yarn this time as these were kind of scratchy. The only yarn I had on hand at the time was super saver red heart and it was a little thick for these.
The pattern can be found at Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/challenge-mitts
Water Bottle Holder
This is my newest creation. It was super easy and I think it turned out way cute. It’s made to fit a 16.9 oz bottle of water but with a little tweaking you can do a bigger one no problem.
I walk on my lunch breaks at work but I hate to put on a hydration belt if I’m going under two miles. Well, with summer here, not hydrating is not an option so I found the pattern for this on Ravelry and decided this was my perfect solution! Can’t wait to try it out tomorrow at work!
Pattern can be found here : http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/over-the-shoulder-water-bottle-holder
2/23/20 ETA: I used this thing a LOT for my walks at work and it held up remarkably well. I still have it and it is still usable though I don’t do nearly the walking I used to.
Mesh Scarf
Yet another project for a castmate of the last play I was in. I haven’t given it to her yet because I haven’t seen her since the play wrapped but I will probably drop by rehearsals of her new play this week and drop it off to her.
Very easy to make once I got the pattern down and it actually took shape pretty quickly because of all in between spaces.
The pattern can be found here: http://lilibethsgarden.wordpress.com/free-patterns/crocheted-mesh-scarf/