Ear Warmers and Headbands

 These simple sc strips make warm, easy to decorate ear warmers or headbands. The easiest are 12 to 14 sc wide, however long you need to fit comfortably around your head. When it's the proper length, join the 2 ends with slip stitches. I crocheted a rose and leaf on this one.

 The first row of the flower is made by sc, ch 3 a few times for the petals. then a row of sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc in each loop. 

 Close up of the back.

I like my holly leaves and "berries". My daughter says it's too "busy".  The leaf pattern is from a Christmas doily and the berries are buttons.

 When I finished the leaves, I left a long enough length for sewing. and the buttons are sewed on with crochet thread.

 I used the local high school's colors for the stripes. 4 rows in each stripe. Of course, you can use any colors you like and make the stripes any width you desire.

 Then I tried making a narrower part to go behind, at the back of the neck. I started with 12 sc, decreased one sc at each end twice, worked 12 rows on 8 sc, increased one sc at each end twice. Then worked even on the 12 sc until it was the proper length. Joined the ends. Then I worked a row of sc along both sides. I'm pointing at the joining row.

 Same pattern in a fun yarn. Since I didn't put on the edging rows, I started with 14 sc. I didn't wear this one, so the joining row is still obvious.

The color combinations are limited only by your imagination.

3D Blocking

 It makes me sad to find doilies at Goodwill for 25 or 50 cents. I know someone spent HOURS making the item and someone else didn't appreciate her efforts.

 This doily needs a different blocking technique to be shown at its best.

 First layer stretched in a circle.

 Second layer of points held up and out.

 All around.

 Plenty of space in the middle for a vase.

You could also use small wads of waxed paper to hold the spaces open.

I preferred the toothpicks for this pointed doily.
My grandma sometimes used sugar water as a stiffener. It didn't last well in a humid summer and attracted ants. I like my spray starch. White craft glue is even better for projects which need to be stiffer.

Blocking

 Patterns often end with, "Finish off, work in ends. Block." This is how I block doilies. I start with these Styrofoam sheets. They're about 2 inches thick.

I push toothpicks into the long side and push the Styrofoam together to make an area bigger than the doily will be.

A layer of wax paper so the doily won't stick. Toothpicks to hold the doily in place while it dries. When I was in high school, we went to the state fair. One year, while in the handcrafts display, I saw an embroidery piece with a dirt smear on it. On the judges' sheet was written, "Not judged because of dirt." That made quite an impression on me, so I always wash my finished projects. I start my washing machine and put the soap in. Then I wash the doily in the soapy water and rinse it thoroughly in the water still flowing in. (Then I load the washer to use the warm soapy water on dirty clothes.) Gently squeeze the water out. Don't wring or twist the doily. Now it's ready to be shaped or blocked.

Spread the doily in the middle of the Styrofoam. Put a toothpick in the middle to hold it in place and to measure from.

Working out from the middle, pick a point in the pattern to fasten. Measure that the toothpicks are the same distance from each other and from the middle.

 Pick another pattern point. Fasten around and measure again to be sure they're even.

 Move out again, fasten and measure.

 This doily has 360 little loops around the outside. I had to move the toothpicks from earlier places to have enough. This is why I'm so careful to measure. Unevenness is much easier to fix farther in, where there are fewer toothpicks.

Close up of final round of toothpicks.

I use spray starch. Heavy strength. Spray on lots. It will take 4 days or so for it to totally dry. I have to make one more for a scheduled wedding. Then I have to make 6 more for 3 nephews, 2 nieces, and a daughter. Plus more baby blankets! I'll be busy!

An Easy (?) Baby Blanket

I called it easy because it only uses chain and single crochet stitches. It still takes quite some time to make. Chain 2. Work 12 sc in second chain stitch from hook. Put a piece of contrasting color yarn here to mark the end/beginning of the rounds, because we're not going to join and turn.

 Work 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, * work 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next two stitches, work from * around.
In each following round, work 3 sc in the corner stitches and 1 sc in all the side stitches. The corner increases will give you 2 more stitches on each side each round.

 After a few rounds, the increases will be easier to see.

The corner stitch becomes easy to find.

 I only made the square to be coaster size. A baby blanket would have to be much bigger. Or you could make stripes by changing colors this way. Slip stitch in corner stitch and finish off.

 Attach border (or stripe) color with a sc crochet.

 Notice how the loose end is worked in as I crochet.

 After several stitches, the loose ends are firmly covered.

Other side, still covered.

 For the border, work 1 round in pattern with contrasting color. For a stripe, work as many rounds as you like for your desired width. It's your own original, unique creation.

 For the border, in the corner stitch, work sc, chain 5, sc.

 Chain 3, skip next sc, work sc in next stitch.

 Repeat ch 3, sk 1 sc, sc in next sc across to corner. Work sc, ch 5, sc in corner stitch.

 Repeat around, join with slip stitch in first sc.

 Slip stitch in next 2 chain stitches.

 Sc in corner loop.

 Ch 5, sc in same loop.

 Ch 3, sc in next loop across.

 Repeat around. The ch 5 increases in the corners are needed so your work will lay flat.

 Now, here is another way to join these rounds. Ch 1.

 Work a half double crochet in first sc.

 1 hdc = 2 ch. So I have made the equivalent of 3 ch stitches and kept my yarn at the top of the loop.

Ch 1.

 Sc in same loop.

 Ch 3, sc in corner loop.

 Ch 5, sc in same loop.

 This is beginning sc.

Repeat border round, joining in whichever method you prefer. Method 1 will keep the beginning sc in the corner loop. Method 2 will move the beginning sc back one loop each round. Make the border as wide or as narrow as you like. When you have made enough rounds, finish off and work in loose ends. You have a warm blanket for that special baby!