For the Home

Gingerbread Cookies

Dear Sis,

Today William and I made Gingerbread. We turned some of them into tree ornaments:)

Gingerbread
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Ingredients
  1. 3 c unbleached flour
  2. 3/4 c dark brown sugar
  3. 1 T ground cinnamon
  4. 1 T ground ginger
  5. 3/4 t baking soda
  6. 1/2 t ground cloves
  7. 1/2 t salt
  8. 12 T unsalted butter, sliced and soft
  9. 3/4 c backstop molasses
  10. 2 T milk
Instructions
  1. Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and stir until well combined.
  2. Add butter slices and mix until it is cut into dry mixture.
  3. Gradually beat in molasses and milk. Wrap dough in plastic and chill.
  4. Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
  5. Roll dough to about 1/4 inch, dusting with a flour/powdered sugar mixture, as needed. Cut out and place on lined sheets and bake 8-9 minutes. Cool cookies a few minutes on sheets before removing to wire racks to complete cooling.
Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

New Autumn Wreath

Dear Sis,

William and I made a new Autumn wreath. I made the last one just a week or so before William was born. I stayed on the door almost a whole year, because new mom’s are too busy to think about what is hanging on the front door:) 

I wanted to break from fall tradition and made a wreath without any leaves! William couldn’t get enough of the seeds and I found flowers that matched them perfectly.

I hope you Autumn is falling into place!

Love,

b

From Drab to Fab

Dear Sis,

The home we rented in Texas had one bath. Our new home has 2.5. It is great to have a second shower and three toilets! …but I really only had decor for one bath, which I put in our master bath since it matched best in that space. 

Over the past six months I’ve slowly been decorating the second upstairs bath. Decorative towels was the last thing I needed! I found some perfect lace at Hobby Lobby the other day. William and I worked started the project together. He helped with the first towel, but lost interest, so I finished the other two after he went to bed for the night.

The finished set!

Since you are also a novice lace maker, I thought you’d enjoy a close up. It is a simple and fairly traditional Torchon lace pattern, though it is machine made.

Funny how such seemingly small details can make such a big difference!

Now I can move on to the next thing on my ever growing sewing list:)

Love,

b

William’s Big Boy Room

Dear Sis,

Over the last month or so, we have been transitioning William to his own room. Josh took the bottom of the bunk bed apart so William could have the top bunk at floor level. The rail makes it a great toddler bed… and what’s more… William thinks it is great!

Now that William is spending more time in his room, I wanted to add some toy/book storage. We found a used shelf using Facebook Marketplace. We added some cube storage bins and book ends.

With the hight of the bunk bed gone, we had a lot of open wall space that looked, well, empty. So William and I got to work fixing that. We painted letters Friday and hung them this morning. William is very proud of his new space!!!

 

Getting Big is Fun!

Love,

b

Best Hot Pads Ever

Dear Sis,

Josh and I are using the plastic folding table you gave us as a dining table, so I have to used hot pads all the time to protect it from our hot entrees.  When I designed these as a crochet bonus project, when I was teaching, I never imagined how useful they would be.  When these wear out, I’ll have to make new ones!

Hot Pad Trio

Granny Square Hot Pad Trio

Size: 8” x 8” (US G)

Materials

Approx. 1 oz (4 Medium) Medium Worsted Weight Cotton; Color A (Brown)

Approx. 1 oz (4 Medium) Medium Worsted Weight Cotton; Color B (Burgundy)

Approx. 1 oz (4 Medium) Medium Worsted Weight Cotton; Color C (Green)

Approx. 1 oz (4 Medium) Medium Worsted Weight Cotton; Color D (Denim Blue)

Tools

Crochet Hooks (US G)

Snips (Blunt Tip No. 5)

Large Square Hot Pad

Patterns Notes Round 1 – 6

  1. First Cluster = Ch 3, dc 2
  2. All other Clusters = Dc 3
  3. Corner = Cluster, ch 1, Cluster
  4. Join = sl st in third ch st of First Cluster

With Color B, ch 5, join with sl st in first ch st.

Round 1: Form First Cluster, ch 1.  [Cluster, ch 1.]  Repeat step in brackets 2 more times.  Join.  (1 Side = 1 Cluster)

Round 2: With Color A, form First Cluster.  [Form Corner in next ch 1 of Round 1]  Repeat step in brackets 2 more times.  Form Cluster in ch of Round 1 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, Corner)

Round 3: With Color C, form First Cluster.  [Form Cluster between Corners of Round 2.  Form Corner in ch of next Corner Cluster of Round 2.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form Cluster between Corners in Round 2.  Form Cluster in ch of Round 2 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, Cluster, Corner)

Round 4: With Color A, form First Cluster.  [Form 2 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 3.  Form Corner in ch of next Corner of Round 3.] Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form 2 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 3.  From Cluster in ch of Round 3 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 2 Clusters, Corner)

Round 5: With Color B, form First Cluster.  [Form 3 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 4.  Form Corner in ch of next Corner of Round 4.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form 3 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 4.  From Cluster in ch of Round 4 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 3 Clusters, Corner)

Round 6: With Color D, form First Cluster.  [Form 4 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 5.  Form Corner in ch of next Corner of Round 5.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form 4 separate Clusters between Corners of Round 5.  From Cluster in ch of Round 5 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 4 Clusters, Corner)

Pattern Note Round 7 – 10

  1. Corner = sc, ch 1, sc
  2. Join = sl st in initial ch 1

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 17 dc of Round 6.  [Form Corner.  Sc in next 18 dc of Round 6.] Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  From Corner.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 18 dc, Corner)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 19 dc of Round 7.  [Form Corner.  Sc in next 20 dc of Round 7.] Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form Corner.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 20 dc, Corner)

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in next 21 dc of Round 8.  [Form Corner.  Sc in next 22 dc of Round 8.] Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc, ch 15, sc.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 22 dc, Corner)

Round 10: With Color A, ch 1, sc in next 23 dc of Round 9.  [Form Corner.  Sc in next 24 dc of Round 9.] Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc, sc 15 in each ch of Round 9, sc.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, 24 dc, Corner)

Neaten Finished Pot Holder by weaving in and trimming tails as needed.

Large Flower Hot Pad

With Color A, ch 6, join with sl st in first ch st.

Round 1: Ch 3, dc 15, join with sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3.  (16 dc)

Pattern Notes Round 2

  1. First Cluster = Ch 3, dc, ch 1
  2. All other Clusters = dc without final YO and pull through; leaving 2 loops on hook. Dc removing 3 loops, instead of 2, on final pull through.  Ch 1.

Round 2: Form First Cluster in 3rd ch st of initial ch 3 of Round 1.  Cluster in each dc of Round 1.  Join with sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3.  (16 Clusters)

Pattern Notes Round 3

  1. First Cluster = Ch 3, dc 2, ch 1
  2. All other Clusters = Dc 3, ch

Round 3: From First Cluster in next ch of Round 2.  Cluster in each ch of ch of Round 2.  Join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3.  (16 Clusters)

Round 4: *[Ch 3, sc in next ch of Round 3] Repeat step in brackets 3 more times.  Ch 7, sc in same ch of Round 3.* Repeat steps between ** 3 more times. Join with sl st in first ch st.  (1 Side = 7-ch loop, 4 – 3-ch loops, 7-ch loop)

Round 5: With Color D, ch 1, [sc in first 3-ch loop of side of Round 4.  Dc 4 in second 3-ch loop of side of Round 4, ch 1, dc 4 in third 3-ch loop of side of Round 4, sc in fourth 3-ch loop of side of Round 4. Form corner by dc 6, ch 2, dc 6 all in next 7-ch loop of Round 4.]  Repeat steps in brackets 3 more times.  Join with sl st in initial sc.

Round 6: With Color C, ch 6, sc in next ch of Round 5, ch 3, dc in next sc of Round 5, ch 5.  [Sc, ch 3, sc all in corner ch 2 of Round 5.  Ch 5, dc in sc of next sc of Round 5.  Ch 3, sc in next ch of Round 5.  Ch 3, dc in next sc of Round 5.  Ch 5.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc, ch 3, sc all in corner ch 2 of Round 5.  Ch 5, join with sl st in third ch of initial ch 6.

Round 7: Ch 3. [Dc 4 in next 3 ch of Round 6.] Repeat 1 more time.  Dc 5 in 5 ch of Round 6.  *Dc 3, ch 2, dc 3 all in corner ch 3 of Round 6.  Dc 5 in 5 ch of Round 6.  [Dc 4 in next 3 ch of Round 6.] Repeat 1 more time.  Dc 5 in 5 ch of Round 6.* Repeat steps between ** 2 more times.  Dc 3, ch 15, dc 3 all in corner ch 3 of Round 6.  Dc 4 in 5 ch of Round 6, join with sl st in 3rd ch of initial.

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 16 dc of Round 7.  [Sc, ch 2, sc all in corner ch 3 of Round 7.  Sc in next 24 dc of Round 7.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc in 15 ch sts of Round 7.  Sc in next 7 dc of Round 7.  Sc in 3rd ch of initial 3 ch of Round 7.  Join with a sl st in initial sc.

Neaten Finished Pot Holder by weaving in and trimming tails as needed.

Small Squares Hot Pad

Mini Square A (Make 2)

Round 1, Color A

Round 2, Color D

Mini Square B (Make 2)

Round 1, Color D

Round 2, Color B

Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch st.

Round 1: Form First Cluster, ch 1.  [Cluster, ch 1.]  Repeat step in brackets 2 more times.  Join.  (1 Side = 1 Cluster)

Round 2: Form First Cluster.  [Form Corner in next ch 1 of Round 1]  Repeat step in brackets 2 more times.  Form Cluster in ch of Round 1 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, Corner)

Round 3: In color C, form First Cluster.  [Form Cluster between Corners of Round 2.  Form Corner in ch of next Corner Cluster of Round 2.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Form Cluster between Corners in Round 2.  Form Cluster in ch of Round 2 which contains First Cluster.  Join.  (1 Side = Corner, Cluster, Corner)

Round 4: In color A, ch 1, sc in next 8 dc of Round 3.  [Sc, ch 2, sc all in next corner ch of Round 3.  Sc in next 9 dc of Round 3.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc, ch 2, sc all in next corner ch of Round 3.  Sc in 3rd ch of initial 3 ch of Round 3.  Join with sl st in initial sc.

  B     A  
  A   B

 

 

Seam together squares, according to diagram above, with slip stitch.  Neaten Finished Mini Squares by weaving in and trimming tails as needed.

Round 5: In Color A, join with sl st and sc in next 22 sc of Round 4.  [2 sc in corner.  Sc in next 22 sc of Round 4.]  Repeat steps in brackets 2 more times.  Sc 15 into corner chain loop.

Neaten Finished Pot Holder by weaving in and trimming tails as needed.

Happy Crochet!

Love,

b

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