Laundry Soap...

I do a lot of laundry.

With four grown people in my house, two of them being high schoolers that both play sports, I do about 10 + large loads of laundry a weekend. At the time I found the shower cleaner recipe I also found one for laundry soap. Well, I just made my second batch and I love it. It's easy to make, works very good and saves a lot of money.  You can find the recipe here ---> Homemade Laundry Soap.

So you know, washing soda is very hard to find in my area. But, after a little research I found that washing soda is soda ash which is used to control the ph in swimming pools. You can also order washing soda online.

I found a couple of recipes for laundry soap that use baking soda instead of washing soda or add it in along with the washing soda. The two are very different from each other and there is some controversy about using baking soda over washing soda.

The laundry soap works great. Everything smells clean with no heavy perfume smell. If there is a heavily soiled area, I pour some on the spot and rub it in before I put it in the washer.

I am happy to make it simply for the amount of money it saves me. Money, of coarse, that can be spent on more yarn - that makes me very happy.

{hugs}
Laura

Little Blue Bird...

I've been working on this little guy for a few days. He turned out so cute - my little blue bird.

{hugs}

Laura

Shower Scrubby...

I love to check out the Tangled Happy blog every day. In July of last year, I found this pattern for a flower pillow. Well, the second picture in the post is for a shower scrubby. You just crochet 4 rounds of the pillow pattern and stitch them together. I love this idea and I have been thinking about doing something like this with cotton yarn. I can just throw it in the laundry with the towels to get it clean, which makes me happy.

For the scrubby that I made, I crocheted 4 rounds of the pattern for the front and 5 rounds of double crochet plus a strip of 5 double crochets across - and long enough to fit the hand - to make a "handle" for the back. I used Sugar and Cream yarn in Cream, Robins Egg, Rose Petal and Ecru.

Can't wait to make some more...

{hugs}
Laura

Puff Puff...

This is what I am working on right now...

{hugs}
Laura

Mug Cozy...

I just finished this pink mug cozy for my favorite coffee mug. I received this heart mug many years ago from a little friend at preschool. I think I love the handle most of all. Well, when I saw this mug cozy pattern over at Micah Makes I knew it would great on my heart mug. I used Sugar and Cream Scents yarn in Rose Petal. And, because my mug is larger, I had to add a few rows. But I love the way it turned out.

Also, I have been reading a new book, which is borrowed from from my friend Lisa. It is one of her favorite books.

{hugs]
Laura

Crocheted Mason Jar Cover...

I found an old mason jar in the garage and decided to make a cute cover for it. I used my Sugar and Cream cotton yarns for it. I love the rainbow look...

{hugs}
Laura

Crochet Owl Pattern...

I loved making the owl in my last post. When I saw the picture of it on Pinterest, I knew I wanted to make a few. But after searching for who posted the original picture, there was no pattern to be found. So, I decided to sit down and try to figure it out on my own. When I had requests for a pattern, well, I must say that I was very happy. So, to the best of my ability, I wrote down a pattern. Now, please keep in mind that I have never written a crochet pattern before. I really hope you enjoy making this little owl as much as I did.

{hugs}
Laura

I used Sugar and Cream cotton yarn with a H/8 - 5 mm crochet hook. I also crochet very tightly. 

Start with a magic ring and hook 6 single crochet into it. Then, pull it tight and slip stitch into the first single crochet to join. This is your first round. 

Second Round - Chain one and then hook 2 single crochets in each stitch. Slip stitch into the chain one to join. 

Third Round - Change colors and then chain two. Hook a single crochet in the first stitch and then chain one. Single crochet in the next stitch and then chain one. Repeat until you get to the end of the round and slip stitch into the second chain of the chain two. 

Fourth Round - Change colors and chain one. Double crochet in the chain one space and single crochet in the single crochet stitch, repeating this until you get to the end of the round and slip stitch into the chain one.  

Fifth Round - Chain two and double crochet into the same space. Then hook two double crochets into the next stitch, one single crochet into the next three stitches and then two double crochets in the next two stitches. At the top of your circle you will have -

(from right to left) ch 2 + dc, 2 dc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 dc, 2 dc.

Now, slip stitch in the next stitch, single crochet in the next three stitches and then hook two single crochets in the fourth, repeating - 

*1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in 4th st* 

around the rest of the body ending with a slip stitch into the last single crochet stitch, a slip stitch in the chain two space and a slip stitch in the first double crochet. 

To finish the top of the owl, you will hook a half double crochet in the next stitch, double crochet, chain one, double crochet in the next stitch, half double crochet in the next stitch, slip stitch in the next two stitches, half double crochet in the next stitch,  double crochet, chain one, double crochet in the next stitch, half double crochet in the next stitch and finishing with a slip stitch in the next stitch. 

hdc, dc + ch + dc, hdc, sl st, sl st, hdc, dc + ch + dc, hdc, sl st

Leave a nice long tail of yarn when you cut, for finishing. Pull the yarn all the way through the loop on your hook and pull tight. Using a yarn needle,                                              

  

weave your tail through the back of your owl making your way up to an ear.

To make the ears into more of a point, run your needle through the 2 double crochets and pull tight, loop through and pull tight again. Then, weave your yarn over to the other ear and repeat. 

For the eyes, make a magic ring with eight single crochets. Slip stitch into the first single crochet to join and leave a long tail when you cut your yarn. Use the tail to stitch the eye in place. Choosing a dark color, make a french knot for the eye. 

The beak is embroidered on with yarn. 

When you are finished, weave in all of your loose yarn ends and cut them off.  

FYI - I have removed the stitch count for each round because I did make a mistake in my counting (uh-oh). I will be refiguring those and will hopefully be putting them up soon. I do appreciate any feedback given about the pattern...