The Newest Finished Crochet Project: Crocheted Lap Blanket and Its Pattern Guide

It is about four months since I started with crocheted lap blanket and I only finished it yesterday. It took a long time, but I can say it was for good reasons, namely that I was busy with other projects in between and that sometimes I was an expert procrastinator.

This crochet project was redone a few times as well, since I had trouble with the crochet pattern (which I made myself). I kept being unhappy with how it looked, but third time is a charm, or was it the fourth?

This lap blanket will be perfect for those cold nights sitting in front of the television or computer, and it will be even better for a pet to take over. I got an order for one of these from my own husband, so I will probably start another one soon.

This crocheted lap blanket was a blast to make, but I had to remake it a few times to get the pattern right.

Lap Blanket Crochet Pattern

Sadly, I can't tell you exactly how it was made, as I never made notes. I can try to give you a little guidance if you want to try to make something like this yourself. Take note that I expect that you already know how to crochet and what the different stitches are. I'm not going to explain every detail, but feel free to ask me a question.

I'm sure you can make something like this yourself with the guidance I'll give you on the pattern I made.

Terms Used
Single Crochet - SC
Half Double Crochet - HDC
Double Crochet - DC
Double Crochet into Front Posts - DC into FP (to make another front post)
Triple Crochet into Front Posts - TC into FP (to make another front post)

First Row
Chain as many chains as you need until the lap blanket is as wide as you want it.

Second Row
SC or Half Double Crochet HDC to create your strong base.

Third Row
Chain 2,
{skip 2 stitches,
DC 5 times into the 3rd stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
do a petal stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
DC 5 times into 3rd stitch,
skip 2,}
DC into FP in each of the next 3 stitches,
grit/seed stitch into the next few stitches (as many as you want - I had 7),
DC into the next 3 stitches,
do the same stitches as between the "{}",
grit/seed stitch again (I have 6),
DC into FP in each of the next 10 stitches (this marks the middle of your work).
Continue with the rest of the row in the same manner. Finish your row with a DC into the last stitch.

Variations in Rows

The rest of the pattern is basically the same, but there are variations to create the certain look.

From this picture, you can see the variations and add it to your pattern.

Variation 1

Every second row I changed the following regarding the groups of shells and petals:

Original:
skip 2 stitches,
DC 5 times into the 3rd stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
do a petal stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
DC 5 times into 3rd stitch,
skip 2

Variation:
skip 2 stitches,
do a petal stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
DC 5 times into the 3rd stitch,
chain 1,
skip 2,
do a petal stitch,
skip 2

However, do this only to the ones on the inside, never to those on the sides. You can change them as often as you want.

Variation 2

As you can see, the front posts often twists. I do this by changing a part in the pattern. I will try to explain as best as I can.

This is how I make the 3 FP:
DC in FP,
DC in next FP,
DC in next FP.

What I do to twist it, is this:
TC into the last FP of the previous row,
TC into the first FP of the previous row,
TC into the middle FP of the previous row.

Just keep your head. Please look up how to do these on your own, as this pattern is purely a guidance and not a full pattern.

I hope that this pattern inspires you to make something amazing this week. I am currently trying to learn a new skill, so I will not have anything new for you for a while. I hope that soon I can show you some of what I learned, but until then, happy creating!

For more information, visit our website's entry on this project by following this link.

My Home Decorations

Let me share with you two of my decorations I made for my flat. I have to say, they didn't come out at all as I planned, but at least they are decorating the place.

You will see here that my own trade is crochet. I love to crochet. I feel like I can make anything I want, and best of all, I can make it while watching my favourite programs. A bonus is the satisfaction I feel once I have a completed project, but my perfectionist side sometimes spoils it by noticing flaws.

Crocheted Lampshade

The crocheted lampshade, made with wire, spool knitting, beads, toilet roll and variety of crochet stitches.

This lampshade might not look like much, but it creates such a beautiful ambiance. My plan with this lamp was to make it a little larger, but I lacked the right materials, such as proper wire. I did have some wire that I use for my beading, which you can see around the beads (covered with spool knitted wool).

I made plenty of mini crocheted circles and crocheted them together to merge the top part and bottom part together, while still looking nice. The bottom part got it's volume from the curled wire on the inside - again, I would have like it to have had more volume, but creativity comes from making something with what you have.

The top of the lampshade is a piece of toilet roll crocheted over. It was the perfect size to fit snug over the light bulb. Just be aware that this room doesn't get used a lot, which means the light never gets time to really heat up. I have no idea how well this decoration will handle heat.

Mini Crocheted Tablecloth

I probably shouldn't call it a crocheted tablecloth, but it is what I wanted until I ran out of wool. I decided that it actually looks nice when it is such a small size. I got this crochet pattern somewhere on the internet, but sadly I can't remember where. I take no credit for the pattern.

It's fun to decorate your home with your own handiwork. If you have made something for your own home, please share it with us!

How to Find Yourself through Art

How do I find myself? How do I reconnect with myself or my family? It’s all too easy to loose touch with ourselves and it can’t (always) be blamed on the age of technology. Perhaps we can point our fingers at the media, as they do contribute to the confidence issues men and women often face.

Most women are unhappy with their own bodies and want to lose weight. We see the media’s images of perfect bodies (should we be reminded that they do belong to imperfect people) everywhere. We don’t necessarily want to look exactly like the model on the cover, but we do find ourselves thinking “I could look so good if I lost a little weight here or there”. We create ourselves as models in our minds, hoping to reach that unattainable goal.

Other people lose themselves in their fast paced race to the top of the corporate world. You always try to reach that next goal instead of enjoying the one you just scored.

The reason for your lost connection or how it happened is not what is important here, but rather how to feel more fulfilled and connected with yourself. No one knows you like you, right? If you know yourself so well, then why are you limiting yourself?

In short, to find and reconnect with yourself, you must do the following:

1. Be true to yourself
2. Be honest with yourself
3. Spend time with yourself
4. Be happy with who you are, not just accept yourself
5. Ask and answer hard questions about who you are and what you are feeling
6. Challenge yourself realistically

These can be reached in many ways. We will give some ideas that we hope will be inspiring. We hope to bring your image you have of yourself in line with who you really are (which is an amazing person you want to get to know better).

1. Imagination

Imagining ourselves looking like models is one of the problems our imagination has created for us. Our imagination can be wonderfully cruel sometimes. Yet, this same imagination can be used to your advantage.

Instead of imagining yourself looking like a model, rather try to put your imagination to better use. Imagine yourself exactly as you are and being happy with who you are and what you look like.

If you have trouble getting excited about being yourself, then perhaps you can make a few small changes and see if that helps. Make a few tweaks to your wardrobe or change your hairstyle (which can be anything from a dramatic cut to curling your always straight hair).

This is where the next part comes in…

2. Creativity

Be creative. It really is as simple as that. You can’t expect to find yourself if you hide away from who you are. Do everything you do in a way that you want to, not because others want you to. If this means to eat with your hands in an expensive restaurant, then do it (but don’t blame us for being thrown out).

Creativity is one of the many keys to happiness. You can explore your own creativity. Start with something small if you are new to it. You can look for ideas on the internet or try something random that comes to mind. You can try to make a really strange hairdo, but be sure to have fun while doing it.

Be careful to fall into the “But it could have looked so much better” hole. Focus your full attention on positive thoughts, such as “I am having so much fun using my makeup to draw this crazy looking house” or “My hair has never looked this strange, but you know what, it was worth it, as I now know that I have really nice and thick hair to do things with”.

3. Artistic Physical Activities

Dancing and yoga are two of the activities you can turn to when you are stressed or just feel like loosening your body. Both these activities challenge you to do something more than your body is used to. Focus on your body and the movements you force it to make while always being mindful and careful.

It is important for our mental, physical and emotional state that we keep active and it does do wonders when you are feeling a little low on self-esteem. While it won’t change your views on yourself immediately, it will help you connect with yourself in new ways.

Yoga is especially great for getting to know yourself. While you do the slow movements or meditate, you can allow yourself to ask yourself some deep questions and try to find the honest answers. There is no point in lying to ourselves, but we all do try to.

4. Be Inspired and Create from Within

Once you have fulfilled the requirements of all the points above, you can finally go big. This is something we want each and every person to do and feel free to send your end result to us to put on this website! We would love to hear from all of you and your stories.

For this challenge, we want each person to draw themselves. This picture doesn’t need to be perfect, as we are never perfect. After you drew yourself (on any medium with any medium) write down what you love and like about yourself. It must be things you have discovered about yourself on this journey of self-discovery. Again, be creative and have fun. It is all about you.

When you become stronger within yourself, then images in the media won’t affect who you are. You won’t look at the pictures of models and feel inferior, but rather look at it as art. Become happy with everything you are and stand for and do whatever you want to by not only finding yourself, but also connecting with yourself. Know who you are and what you are truly capable of through something as simple as art.

Remember to send those stories in (it can be anonymous)!

The Concept of Art: Fulfilment, Peace and Enjoyment

This post is from my previous website - they are written differently from my other posts, so if you don't like it, save yourself and go look at a different post!

What is it in life that gives you the feeling that you did well at the end of the day? What is it that makes you get out of bed early because you feel energised? Some might answer coffee, others will answer family and others might, possibly, have no answer at all.

It doesn’t really matter what makes you tick, as long as you find whatever that is. Art is special, as it has so many different branches where it is used or needed. In a previous post, art was above “rules” that might restrict its full potential, and in this post we are looking at, well, exactly what the title says.

Fulfilment

Sometimes we can’t help but feel that life is missing that something spectacular, that something that will make you feel a little more awake and happy. Some people find that creating something from something else is where they find that missing piece.

God creates from nothing, but we are given the ability to create from things around us. Sometimes our imagination creates better than our hands could, as many of us often have something amazing planned, only to see it look more than half of what we envisioned. Yet, we should never let that hamper our talents, but rather appreciate what we created for what it is: an artwork that will allow us to take a deep breath in and say “I am done”.

We all chase after something, whether it is money, happiness or love. When you have finished a project you have worked on for a few days, weeks or months, you can be proud that you pushed yourself to finish something that you have chased after. With other words, you keep challenging yourself, keeping you fulfilled and driven to reach some type of purpose.

Peace

Yoga is an art to find your inner peace, but sometimes writing or drawing can be just as helpful. It allows you to think only about what your hands are doing and enter your depths as you work. Sometimes you get glimpses of yourself while you work, realising why you are using that particular word or colour.

Art is not just writing or drawing, but also dancing and acting. Whenever you practice your own art, you are able to lose yourself in it, if you give it a chance. Even in hard times, you are able to work through your emotions so much easier when you put your emotions into your work.

Enjoyment

What is a hobby or a job without enjoyment? If you are not enjoying the art form you are currently doing, move on to another; it is the only way you can truly find peace and fulfilment.

These three things stand together to form a trinity of happiness. Find your happiness in the art around you, whether you made it or not. It can often be hard to find happiness when you go through hard times, but focus on the flower that is in bloom or on the little moth that is sitting next to the light, and if you feel like it, do something creative. May everyone find their peace, fulfilment and enjoyment.

If you have something to add to this discussion, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

The Concept of Art: Rules

This post is from my previous website - they are written differently from my other posts, so if you don't like it, save yourself and go look at a different post!

The concept of art is something that could and should be explored by any person, whether he/she is and artist (or even wants to be one) or not. It is something that can be very personal to each and every person, and, as such, the concept of art has many different branches within WillowSeed too. Today, however, we want to write about a particular branch, namely “rules”.

Are Rules Useful?

Rules can be useful if used as some type of guideline. Yet, WillowSeed personally believe that where some rules can be useful, other rules can hamper creativity. WillowSeed is against two particular rules that have been brought to our attention: writing in certain ways and sticking to one signature technique for your artwork. Both these rules can hamper the artist in exploring and growing their talents.

Art is not something that can be contained, oh no, for it is about being free – free to express yourself and hopefully find someone who understands the deeper meaning within the artwork (and perhaps even your own soul). It will be hard for people to see who you are if you hide behind the rules others put down for you (this is no reason for you to shun all rules, just certain ones set down for creating art).

The Personal Aspect

Is art part of our souls? Yes! Art is part of everything we are, for we create from what we are inside, do we not? We put a little bit of ourselves in whatever we create, which makes it such a personal, open project.

Artists show themselves, and therefore they often show their own vulnerabilities to the people willing to take notice. Others show their passion, their strengths and their talent. Each and every artist is unique and so each and every artist will have his/her own technique and signature. It is very personal and so is art. We choose our favourite artists because we like their particular technique. They create these techniques through events that make them the unique people they are and from talent bound to their own personality.

So, No Rules?

That’s not what we mean at all. Rules can be good, but some are but guidelines. Some people say their way of doing things is the right way only because it makes money for them. Others will try the exact same techniques and it will not work for them. Some artists will always live the “artist’s life” where there are struggles, lack of food and little understanding, but at least they are doing what they love. Just make sure you can pay the bills first.

Perhaps it is about finding the balance between what we want as artists and what people want from us as people. While you try to find that balance, try not to forget who you are and who you would like to be. Remember that art is not meant to be perfect, but its imperfections should be admired.

The next post will be a rant on the Concept of Art again, but this time we will explore a different branch. The Willow tree has many branches!