Starfish Coasters

The original pattern for the starfish applique can be found at Yarnington.

One down, three more to go before I have a set!

This is how to make a starfish coaster:

Body:

Chain two

5 sc in farthest chain from hook

Inc all the way around (10)

1 sc, then inc. repeat around (15)

2sc, inc. repeat around (20)

3sc, inc. repeat around (25)

4sc, inc. repeat around (30)

Arms: Slip stitch, ch 14. Sc in 3^rd chain from hook. Skip one and hdc. Skip one and dc. Skip one and htc(htc is like a tc, just pull the yarn through the first three loops only, then pull through the remaining two loops). Skip one and tc. Now this next one is new, it’s a half quadrupal crochet. It’s the same idea as the half triple crochet, but you wrap the yarn 3 times around the hook before you loop into the second chain from the hook. Pull the yarn through the first stitch, then the next three, and then the next three. Then quadrupal crochet into the next chain without skipping. You should have reached the end of the chain. Now count 5 stitches from the main round and insert your hook. Sc. (repeat 4 more times- 5 arms total)

After the last sc, slip stitch into the last vacant stitch, then finish off. Cut and weave the yarn into the finished starfish.

 

What the finished coaster looks like with a giant cup on top of it.

 

 

Thanks again to the crocheting blogger at Yarnington for the original pattern! I had no clue how to make a starfish of any size until I read that post. :)

Hotel Room Upgrade- Lady MacGyver style

I'm currently staying at the Hampton Inn at the convention center in New Orleans. The hotel is located in the beautiful Warehouse district, and is one of the only ones with a pool in the area. It's a great place to stay at a reasonable price. That being said, there are always some extras that can make my stay feel a little bit...well, classier.

You've got your fancy disposable cutlery(silver), plastic wine glasses, and plastic blue china...

(from Dollar Tree, always a classy choice.)

 

 

 Fancy snacks for the mini-fridge, including Prosciutto, Brie, Fresh baked bread, Wine with a screw off cap, and fresh cherries. I also got popcorn and soda for movie watching in bed. (all purchased at the fancy new Winn Dixie down the road)

 

And something extra for me, a cooling eye mask for relaxing in the room. (also purchased from Dollar Tree.)

 

Stay classy while traveling, y'all!

 

Elmo, A love story

So my kid's bestie is in love with Elmo, almost as much as mine loves Mickey, so I had to make her a buddy for her birthday. It worked out well because I'm so into crocheting right now and since Maggiemakesstuff had a pattern ready for me. Here's the finished guy, and know that he took me like a solid week to complete, but that was with distractions. And I suggest you take my advice and use something to stabilize his mouth, like cardboard (or plastic if you want to be able to wash him). I didn't, and he looks almost like a character from the Simpsons (notice how his upper lip is so flat and pointy looking).

 

Adding the mouth-hole made his face look like a ski mask for a few days!

 

The completed head and body.

 

His nose.

 

I didn't take pictures of his arms and legs as I was making them, but I found it easier to stuff the hands and feet before I crocheted the rest of the leg and arm. It's harder to go back and add stuffing past the long stems once they are complete.

The finished Elmo is perfect cuddle-size for toddlers!

(even if this looks like a crime-scene photo... sorry 'bout that!)

 

 

Check out the directions for Elmo at: http://maggie-makes-stuff.blogspot.com/2008/10/elmo-pattern-yay.html