Thursday, December 29, 2011

Garnet Roses Table Runner


The February 2012 issue of Crochet World just came out and has my Garnet Roses Table Runner in this month.  This is just one of my pictures but they have a great on on their website.  If you want to check it out click on Crochet World under Joyce's Links at top right. 

Monday, December 19, 2011

There's A New Kid In Town......

We got an early Christmas present this morning.....our grandson Charlie was born at 7:59 a.m. He weighs 8 lbs 1 oz and is 20" long.  Everyone is doing fine.  What a great Christmas gift !!! 

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Lighted Ornaments


The following ornaments are something new this year.  These are 4" ornaments that slip over a bulb on the Christmas tree to light them up.  They were crocheted in halves then saturated in stiffener and stretched over a Styrofoam ball then glued together.  Very easy to make. 


These are 2" ornaments that I put over a string of lights to put on the mantel.  If you are wondering what the little note says on the mini long underwear they were made by my Mom (a very crafty person herself !!) I think the year we got married if I remember right and had this little poem with them that says.....

I've washed them in Woolite,
So they didn't shrink,
Nor are they for Junior,
If that's what you think.

I sewed them myself
they look very neat
They're not to admire
But to wear on your feet.

So take off the buttons
Remove the stitches with care,
You've gained 2 pair of socks,
But you've lost your underwear !!

How cute is that !!! 
Here is a close up of the 2" ornaments.  Very pretty at night !!
This one I tried to make as a lighted tree topper.  It was formed as a 6" ball but it didn't look quite right so I put a light in it and wrapped some pip berries around it to make a little lamp.  Looks like it's sitting in a nest.  I think this about covers all the crocheted Christmas decorations I have out this year.  I'll save the snowman stuff for when we finally get some snow :)

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas Tree Doily

This pretty little doily came from a pattern off e-patternscentral.com.  It was designed by Dot Drake.  It was worked in size 10 thread and a 5 hook and measured about 9" and has little seed beads sewed on for ornaments.  It was very quick and easy to make. 

This one was also very easy.  It was from the September 2002 issue of Decorative Crochet magazine and was designed by Hiroko Hanai.  It is called Deer Chasing Deer.  I worked this one in size 30 thread with a size 12 hook and it measure 18".  One of them I made I tied some 1/8" ribbon around the necks on the deer.  That added a colorful touch. 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Holly Berry Centerpiece

This pretty doily pattern was in a box of old crochet  books and magazines I bought at a neighbors sale years ago.  It was from a magazine called Crochet World Omni Book, Winter 1982 and was designed by Mary Werst.  There are 2 patterns, one is a large one and one is smaller.  This one is the larger one.  It is worked in a size 10 thread and a size 5 hook and measure 20". I used ecru, burgundy and dark green threads but white would really set it off, too. 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Last Day


YES !!!!!!!  Finally finished the last of the harvest today !!!!!  All that was left was some wet ground at a neighbors they were waiting till the ground froze enough to finish and it worked out.  Rick had to go down at 2 a.m. to get started but it was well worth it to be finished especially since we both have nasty colds and weren't in the mood to do anything.  At least it's over......till next summer.......

Monday, December 12, 2011

Mantel Scarf turned TV Scarf


This was a pattern for a mantel scarf that I re-arranged so it would fit on top of the wooden TV top I made to be able to sit more stuff on top that little skinny TV top.  It is from "Pineapple Thread Christmas" by Cylinda Mathews at crochetmemories.com.  It has these really pretty pineapples on the drape edge.........

                  ....and these really pretty snowflakes on the flat part.  Great for all winter long !!! 

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Meadowbrooke Gourds

Went to one of the neatest places around here I know of.  It's Meadowbrooke Gourds near Carlisle, PA. Their website is mbgourds.com if you want to check it out.  I did the create your own snowman workshop and "made" this lighted gourd.  I wanted one to use as a Christmas tree topper but it will also sit on a table.  I think that's what I'm going to do with it this year instead of trying to put it on an already decorated tree !!  They make it so simple to do.  They do all the work you just pick out the gourd, the accessories and the designs.  I know I have a lot of them already from ones I've grown and crafted but these seem so much cuter than mine do and a lot less work, too :) 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

This table runner was the third design I had published in Crochet World.  It was in the December 2008 issue and also in Crochet World's Christmas Jubilee Fall 2009 issue.  If you click on my links above the pattern is for sale at ePatternCentral.com.  Unfortunately I don't get any money out of it but it's there if you want to make it yourself :)  They also have a better picture of it on there than I have here.  It is 295 rows long and 61 rows wide.  Finished size is 11 1/2" x 40".  Worked in size 30 thread with a size 10 hook it took quite a while to make !! 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Time to bring out the decorations.....


This is one of my new crochet projects for Christmas this year.  It has a cotton center and the edge is worked in size 40 crochet thread and a size 12 hook.  The "ornaments" on the little trees are crocheted also.  If you want to see a better picture of it you can click on the link at the top right of the blog for Crochet World Magazine where it is in the December 2011 issue.  Scroll down threw the patterns until you find the picture then click on it for a full size view. 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Finally Back In The Field

After a couple weeks of rain delays the combines were rolling again.  Rick went up to help my Dad get his soybeans cut before the next rain system moves in.  What a challenge this year has been. 

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,,,,,,

I think my Christmas Cactus is a little confused.........it's been blooming like cray since before Thanksgiving !!! 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving everyone.....


I don't have a lot of fall crochet items that I have made but here are a few that I have done over the years.


The very first issue of Crochet World I ever bought was because this doily on the cover caught my eye in the grocery store.  It had little google eyes on the pumpkins but I left them off because I wanted it to be for fall instead of just Halloween.  It was in the October 2000 issue and is a design of Agnes Russell called Pumpkin Patch Doily.  This one I worked in a size 10 thread with a size 8 hook and it measures 21" across.  I really like how doilies look draped over a basket and display many of them that way. 
 
This is the same doily only it is worked in size 80 thread with a size 14 hook so it only measure 12" across.  It is actually made from tatting thread and the pumpkins are a shaded orange color. 

This Lacy Hat is starched stiff to be a wall hanging or door decoration and is from the book 101 Fun to Crochet Projects. It is a design of Mary Viers.  This one is worked in ecru with shaded gold thread pansies and a green ribbon woven around and into a bow. 

 This is one of my original designs that was in the October 2010 issue of Crochet World.  It is worked in size 30 thread and a size 10 hook. 



The sunflower edging on this linen center doily is also an original design.  It is worked in Lizbeth size 40 crochet thread.

I made this sunflower afghan many many years ago and I remember the pattern was from a magazine but I can't seem to find it now to give credit to the designer.  Looking back I guess I have done more fall crochet than I thought !! 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Burkittsville Craft Show

Today was the annual craft show at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.  Very nice crafts for sale and a very steady crowd came threw.  The doilies and ornaments went really well.  Guess I'm going to have to spend more time with the crochet hook  !! 


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Welcome

Hello and welcome to The Farmer's Wife Crochet.  It seems only fitting to combine farming and crochet designs since the lack of farm related designs was what got me into putting them into my filet crochet runners and things.  The first piece I remember working up was for a table runner called "Down on the Farm" probably in 1993 or so.  It was my second design that was published in the August 2007 issue of Crochet World magazine.  At the time we were still in the dairy business so it had some cows included in it.  More on the cow designs another day.....



When we quit milking in 1998 we also got into trucking and have a small trucking business now along with grain farming


I worked up this pattern for a trucking friend as a wedding gift. 


It's been a busy fall on the farm with a too wet spring, too dry summer and too wet fall, harvest has been very slow, delayed and disappointing......


....with not very many trips to the mill.....


.......and trying to get grain in the ground whenever possible.

But it has been a very beautiful fall.