Crochet Blocks Ribbon Pattern

This ribbon pattern is so easy to make, it just uses chains and single crochets to create nice neat rows of diagonally set blocks. I used the ribbons to make bracelets by stitching snaps on the ends.

American terminology
ch=chain
sc= single crochet

Worst weighted yarn version:
You will need:

• worsted weight yarn
• size G (4.25mm) hook
• yarn needle
• scissors

Chain 5

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch (4 sc)
Row 2: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 3: Repeat row 2
Row 4: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 3 (first block made)

Row 5: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, sc in next 2 stitches (4 sc)

Row 6: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 7: Repeat row 2
Row 8: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 3 (block made)

Repeat rows 5-8 for as long as you want the strip to be, on the last block, skip the ending chain 3, and break off yarn to weave in ends.

Size 10 thread version:
You will need:

• Size 10 thread
• Size 5 steel hook (1.7mm)
• Chenille or ribbon needle to weave in ends
• scissors

Chain 7

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch (6 sc)
Row 2: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 3-5: Repeat row 2
Row 6: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 4 (first block made)


Row 7: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, sc in next 3 stitches (6 sc)

Row 8: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 9-11: Repeat row 2
Row 12: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 4 (block made)

Repeat rows 7-12 for as long as you want the strip to be, on the last block, skip the ending chain 4 and break off thread to weave in ends.

To make bracelets-
you will also need sewing thread, hand sewing needle and sew on snaps.
Make strips long enough to wrap around you wrist and overlap one block. For the worsted weight, that wound up being 8 blocks, for the thread it was 10 blocks.
Stitch the snaps on each end of the bracelet, with one side of the snap in the middle of one block on one end, then flip the ribbon over and sew the other side of the snap in the middle of the block on the other end.

You could stitch the edges together offset by 2 and 3 respectively to make a bangle but the blocks will stretch more that way. Snaps seemed a good option for keeping the shaping without having to reblock every time I wore the bracelet!

For the worsted weight, I used a stash yarn in cotton. For the thread version, I used Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton in Aspen. I love how the colorway created pretty striping on the finished project.

April Birthstone and Flower Mandala

Happy Birthday to everyone born in April! I'm sorry this is so late.

April's birth month flower is the Daisy! Specifically the common lawn or field daisy which generally have 34 petals which is a Fibonacci number. Daisies are one of the flowers that really follow Fibonacci sequences, up here it's mostly Shasta daisies which have 21 petals. 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34...

Paired with this common flower is one of the most coveted gemstones. April's birthstone is diamond. If it seems boring to just leave the stones white, remember that white light has all the colors in it, and diamonds refract that light reflecting off the surfaces.

The Birthstone and Flower series of Mandalas

Click the images for larger versions to color.

Small JPG version:

Large transparent PNG version:

Tissue Paper Decorated Vase Project

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of iBulb for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love lilies. So many of them are very fragrant, they come in so many colors and they are just elegant. My husband buys them for me frequently just "because" and the scent in our room is like an "I love you". Part of why I like them so well is they last. When you buy 2 or 3 stems, each stem will usually have 1 big showy blossom in bloom and several buds. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, as long as you keep the water fresh, those buds bloom as well. 

Lilies can be found at grocery stores, garden centers, and of course flower shops. One of our local grocery stores has a fantastic selection, so if I want them just for color, that's where I go. As you can see in the photo above, it's break up here, everything is grey and brown. The color reminds me spring is coming.

This project is very easy, and an easy to customize way to give lilies to a loved one. All the supplies can be found at a grocery store with a floral department except the Mod Podge, but you probably have that already! 

You will need:

• glass vase with smooth sides- nothing with fancy cuts or pressed texture
• vinegar or rubbing alcohol
• tissue paper shapes- these can be cut out with scissors or die cut. I used a leaf die
• foam brush
• Mod Podge - I used the Sparkle because it's one of my favorites. 
• lilies for after you finish the vase!

First you need to clean and degrease the vase. The one I chose is a small bud vase, you can see it in scale with the squeeze bottle of Mod Podge. Degrease the outside using vinegar or rubbing alcohol and wipe off well. Pick it up carefully from an area you won't be putting Mod Podge on so you don't accidentally seal in finger prints!

Apply the Mod Podge to the ouside of the vase using the foam brush and only work in small sections, applying the tissue paper carefully. Tissue paper comes in a couple of kinds, if you use a type with color bleed, the color bleed will tint the Mod Podge, which is also an interesting look. Layering 2 colors of the tissue paper, a darker color will show through a lighter color for a neat effect. Continue adding tissue paper elements, either somewhat randomly or in a pattern. Cover each tissue paper shape with Mod Podge. It helps to work very gently or pounce the foam brush over delicate areas like the leaf stems in my example so you don't tear the paper. I got a couple small wrinkles, but I like the effect! 

Let the ModPodge cure. 

If you're happy with how it turned out, you can add water carefully to the inside of the vase after it's cured and cut down the stems of your lilies to create your arrangement. If you want to start all over, you can peel up the Mod Podge and tissue paper shapes because the glass is so smooth and cut new shapes and start all over.

This is a great project for kids too. Think of it as possible present for grandparents who will treasure the vase for years. 

Book Review- The Ultimate Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook

Note from me- I know that generally my reviews are cookbooks or craft books. Sometimes though there are other reviews for series that I really love or that my family really enjoys. This is one of those.

I planned to do this review a month ago. The problem is that's a Worst-Case Scenario book. It's a nice, big thick one, full of lots of things from other volumes in the series, all arranged by setting. My whole family loves this series, especially my daughter and my husband. So for the last month I've been stealing it back from them, reading a few pages, then having to find it again to steal it back from whichever one of them took it. That's what you face with one of these.

I'm okay with that. It's not only a guide to situations you might find yourself in and situations that you are very unlikely to ever be in, it's also a conversation starter. The publishers talk to people who are experts in various fields on all sorts of unlikely topics and likely ones to get the best advice they can for any given dangerous situation they can imagine.

From the very helpful-
how to survive an earthquake
how to put out a grease fire
how to save your date, dog or self from choking

To the unlikely-
How to escape a swarm of pigeons
How to jump out of a train
How to survive a zombie attack

and even some historical Worst Case Scenarios like
How to survive being thrown to lions

Small tips for an easier life such as a list of ingredient substitutions for cooking, and how to find inner peace are also included.

There are also regional suggestions. Someone in Florida might not need to know how to get someone's tongue off a frozen pole or how to hopefully avoid a bear attack, but they are more likely to need to know how to survive a flash flood than I am.

Some of the tips and suggestions are more adult in nature. My daughter is 17 and tends to skip that sort of thing anyway, but you'll find tips on surviving a scandal if you're a politician and other adult situations in this book which make it better suited for more mature readers.

This books is a lot of fun, with a mix of helpful tips and ideas and things that will just amuse you greatly. The sections separated by setting and type of issue. There is a good table of contents to find what you are looking for, and the sheer scope of this is too much to cover in a few hundred words. It's a great gift, a good coffee table book and a good source for conversational material.
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A couple of years ago I posted a tutorial for a handsewn Alice band headband. Notice in the photo, my daughter is reading a previous book in this series! It's an ongoing love for her.

Published by Chronicle Books- Like Chronicle Books on FB!

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review, I received no other compensation, and my review is my honest opinion of the book. You can read more about my review policy here.