Gift Certificates Now Available

I am now offering gift certificates online for any handcrafted items. I have several dollar amounts listed but I am happy to make a custom certificate as well.

My $35 gift certificate is a great baby gift so the mom-to-be can custom order her very own car seat rag quilt for her new little one.

Be sure to visit my Etsy shop for more details.

Free Shipping Offer

I am offering free U.S. shipping on all fabrics in my Etsy shop through 12/31/09. I can also reserve listings for custom cuts in 1/2 yards, fat quarters, charm packs, and jelly rolls from any available prints.

Etsy Buy Handmade RagamuffinFabrics

Christmas Around the World

My 3rd grader's class is doing a project today, Christmas Around the World. He chose China. Each student had to select a country then bring something in to share that is traditional for that country. In China, children make paper lanterns, rings, and such to hang around their homes. We decided to make paper lanterns using a great pattern we found online. We had to make 25 of them but it was quick using my old rotary blade. The best part is, we had fun making them together and I'm sure the other students will be just as excited.

Baby Car Seat Rag Quilt Light Blue White Gingham

This cute little quilt is perfect for any new little boy on your gift list. Super soft and warm with cotton & flannel.

This unique car seat rag quilt is a design all my own. It features a "hole" for the car seat straps so those little legs can't kick that warm blanket to the ground to get dirty or lost.

Measures approximately 25" x 30"; all 100% cotton and flannel. The back is a mirror image of the front except no fuzzy seams.

Easy maintenance; simply machine wash, tumble dry.

I don't have my car seat available at the moment so please check out my custom listings for examples of how the car seat works. Simply place child in the car seat, the quilt over the child and the straps over the quilt and hooked into the buckle that is place through the "hole".

Custom orders are always welcome.

Baby Car Seat Rag Quilt Ladybugs & Pink Flannel

It's finished and listed for sale. I just love the bright blues, yellows & pinks of the ladybug fabric. The pink is a marbled flannel; soft & warm for your little baby girl.

This unique car seat rag quilt is a design all my own. It features a "hole" for the car seat straps so those little legs can't kick that warm blanket to the ground to get dirty or lost.

Measures approximately 25" x 30"; all 100% cotton and flannel. The back is all pink flannel like used on the front.

Easy maintenance; simply machine wash, tumble dry.

I don't have my car seat available at the moment so please check out my custom listings for examples of how the car seat works. Simply place child in the car seat, the quilt over the child and the straps over the quilt and hooked into the buckle that is place through the "hole".

Custom orders are always welcome.

Moda Bistro Rag Quilt Table Runner Red Black

Measures approximately 16" x 32"

Made with 100% cotton from Moda's Bistro line of fabrics.

The back is the same red swirl as used on the front.

Great table runner for any kitchen table or breakfast bar.

Easy maintenance; simply machine wash & tumble dry.

Custom order always welcome.

Available for sale on Etsy.

Ladybug Car Seat Quilt WIP

 
This afternoon's project is this cute ladybug and pink flannel car seat quilt. If you aren't familiar with my car seat quilts, they have a "hole" for the car seat/stroller straps. It's a great way to keep your little one warm and covered. You know those little legs like to kick around, with this quilt, they won't lose those precious little blankets.

I love to make custom orders for these quilts too. I've made tons of them and every recipient has loved them. I just wish I had thought of this idea when my boys were little! We lost several little blankies over the years.

This particular quilt is cotton ladybug fabric and pink marbled flannel on the front; white flannel for batting; and all pink marbled flannel on the back.

I hope to have completed pics later today or tomorrow.

Jonny's "Gingerbread" House

 
 
 
 
My future little architect (ok maybe not) made his first "gingerbread" house at school on Friday. They used graham crackers over the school milk cartons. Pretty neat idea! The crackers were the perfect size.

I tried to take pics before he started eating it but I see the chimney is already missing. :-)

Christmas Patches

 

Just a quick little pic of Patches this morning sitting on our table. Too bad the fireplace wasn't lit yet. :-) She's just waiting for the tree so she can knock it down every other hour like she did last year. Good thing I know where the water bottle is located. LOL

My Christmas Basket Mantle/Centerpiece

I have been looking for a nice, big Christmas centerpiece for years but just hate the high prices for something I only use a few weeks each year.

This year, I broke down and made my own using an existing basket I had at home and some Christmas items I bought on Black Friday; not much out of pocket expense.

I think it turned out pretty well AND it's reusable; no live foliage.

Christmas Tree Throw - Free Crochet Pattern

Christmas Tree Throw with Simply Soft and Simply Soft Shadows and Simply Soft Heather designed by Margret Willson

I have also included a PDF file on my free patterns page for easy download.

TECHNIQUE USED: Crochet

SKILL: Intermediate

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Throw measures approximately 48"/122cm wide x 60"/cm long

MATERIALS

Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m):

#9702 Off White (A), 12 oz

#9730 Autumn Red (B), 24 oz

#9707 Dark Sage (C), 6 oz

#9703 Bone (D), 6 oz



Caron International's Simply Soft Shadows (100% acrylic; 3 oz/85g, 150 yds/137m):

#0006 Dark Moss (E), 6 oz

#0004 Autumn (F), 18 oz



Caron International's Simply Soft Heather (100% Acrylic; 5 oz/141.8 g, 250 yds/228m):

#9508 Charcoal Heather (G), 5 oz

#9503 Woodland Heather (H), 5 oz

One size US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, or size to obtain gauge

Gold thread (for cross-stitch embellishment, star and edging)

Yarn needle



GAUGE

In textured stitch, using H/8 (5 mm), 15 sts and 13 rows = 4"/10 cm

Gauge is not critical for this project



STITCHES USED

Chain (ch)

Double crochet (dc)

Single crochet (sc)

Slip stitch (slip st)



SPECIAL TERMS

Lsc: Long single crochet—Insert hook in indicated st 2 rows below, yarn over and draw up a loop to height of current row, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. Skip the corresponding st in the current row.

dc2tog: Double crochet 2 together –[Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] twice, yarn over and draw through 3 loops on hook.



PATTERN STITCH

Textured Stitch (multiple of 2 sts + 1)

Row 1 (RS): (Sc, dc) in second ch from hook, skip next ch, *(sc, dc) in next ch, skip next ch; repeat from * to last ch, sc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, *(sc, dc) in next st, skip next st; repeat from * to last st, sc in last st, turn.

Repeat Row 2 for textured stitch pattern.



HELPFUL

Before fastening off appliqué shapes, leave sufficient yarn for sewing appliqué to throw.



TREE BLOCK (make 12)

With A, chain 16.

Work 27 rows in textured stitch pattern.

Fasten off.

Border

With RS facing, join B with slip st in lower corner of block, to work along long edge.

Round 1: Ch 1, *3 sc in corner, work 25 sc evenly along long edge, 3 sc in next corner, work 13 sc evenly across short edge; repeat from * once more; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 2: Slip st in next sc, ch 3, 4 dc in same sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc, [3 dc in next sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc] to next corner sc, *5 dc in next corner sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc, [3 dc in next sc, skip next sc, dc in next sc, skip next sc] to next corner sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 3: Slip st in next dc, ch 3, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next dc, [skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in next dc] to next corner dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, skip next dc, dc in next dc, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next dc, [skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in next dc] to next corner dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Round 5: Slip st in next st, ch 3, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, dc in next st, *5 dc in corner dc, dc in next st, [skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, dc in next st] to next corner dc; repeat from * around, join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Rounds 6 and 7: Ch 1, [sc in each st to corner, 3 sc in corner st] 4 times, sc in each remaining st; join with slip st in first sc—160 sts consisting of 45 sts along each long side, 33 sts along each short side, and 4 corner sts.

Fasten off.


TREE (make 12 – 6 each with C and E)

Chain 4.

Row 1 (RS): 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 3 (increase row): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in first sc (increase made), dc in each sc to last sc, 2 dc in last sc, turn—6 sts.

Rows 4–21: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 nine more times—24 sts.

Row 22: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off.

Using gold thread and yarn needle, work cross-stitch across 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th rows of four of the color C trees.


TRUNK (make 12)

With G, chain 6.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—5 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [Lsc in next sc 2 rows below, sc in next sc] twice, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, Lsc in next sc 2 rows below, sc in last 2 sts, turn.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3. Fasten off.



STAR (make 12)

With one strand each of D and gold thread held together, chain 2.

Round 1: Work 10 sc in second ch from hook; join with slip st in first sc.

Round 2: *3 sc in next sc, skip next sc; repeat from * around—five 3-sc groups.

Round 3: *Slip st in next sc, ch 3, dc2tog, ch 3, slip st in back loop of third ch from hook, ch 3, slip st in same st as last dc worked; repeat from * 4 more times—5 points. Fasten off.



STRIPED BLOCK (make 4)

With E, chain 24.

Work 25 rows in textured stitch pattern in the following color sequence: work 5 rows with E, 5 rows with D, 5 rows with B, 5 rows with G, and 5 rows with H.

Fasten off.

Border

With RS facing, join B with slip st in lower corner of block, to work along long edge.

Round 1: Ch 1, *3 sc in corner, work 33 sc evenly along long edge, 3 sc in next corner, work 23 sc evenly across short edge; repeat from * once more; join with slip st in first sc—124 sts consisting of 35 sts along each long side, 25 sts along each short side, and 4 corner sts. Fasten off.


FINISHING

Using photograph and assembly diagram as a guide to placement, sew trees, stars and trunks to tree blocks.

Assembly

Arrange blocks according to assembly diagram. Join blocks by holding RS together and whip stitching the edges together.

Edging

With RS facing and holding one strand each of gold thread and C together, join yarn with slip st in any corner st.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 4 dc in same st, [dc in each st to next corner st, 5 dc in corner st] 3 times, dc in each remaining st around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—612 sts consisting of 140 sts along each short edge, 164 sts along each long edge, and 4 corner sts. Fasten off.

Join F with slip st in any corner st.

Round 2 (RS): Ch 3, 4 dc in same st, *skip next st, [3 dc in next st, skip next 2 sts] to next corner st, 5 dc in corner st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch, turn.

Round 3 (WS): Slip st in next 2 sts, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same st (corner st), ch 2, [sc in next space between 3-dc groups, ch 2] to corner st, *(sc, ch 3, sc) in corner st, ch 2, [sc in next space between 3-dc groups, ch 2] to next corner st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc, turn.

Round 4 (RS): (Slip st, ch 3, 4 dc) in corner ch-3 space, 3 dc in each ch-2 space to corner, *5 dc in corner ch-3 space, 3 dc in each ch-2 space to next corner ch-3 space; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch.

Rounds 5–16: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 six times.

Fasten off.

Using yarn needle, weave in ends.