Wouldn’t you’d love to give a handmade blanket as a gift (or even have one for yourself) but you just don’t have time to crochet the whole thing. I get it! Now here is a way to make a lovely blanket in just a fraction of the time. Just take a piece of fleece and put a beautiful edging on it. Easy peasy! There are many, many easy borders to add. 
Here’s how you do it. You’ll need to punch small holes about 1/2 inch apart and a 1/2 inch from the edge all the way around the fabric. (I cut the corners of my fabric into a soft rounded curve. See photo.) The easiest way to do this is with a skip wheel that you can use with your rotary cutter. You can also do it with scissors or an ice pick. Then you need a nice soft yarn. I like Caron Simply Soft yarn for these. This is the pattern to the one I just did here. Round 1: Insert your hook in any of the holes and crochet one half double crochet and chain one. Repeat all the way around for every hole. Round 2: Single crochet in every half double crochet from Round 1 and in every chain space. Join to first single crochet with a slip stitch. Round 3: Ch 1. 3 Double crochet in next stitch. Chain 3. 3 Double crochet in same stitch. *Skip next 2 stitches. Single crochet in next stitch. Skip 2 stitches. 3 Double crochet, chain 3, 3 Double crochet in same stitch. Repeat around from *. These blankets can be made in any size from baby blankets to large bed size blankets. Have fun!
As promised yesterday here is the pattern we are going to use for or Temperature Scarf. Actually, we have decided to use many stitches in our scarf…changing stitches each week. So for the first week (January 1-7) we are using the Chevron Stitch. This nice little pattern is from Dena Stelly. You can print it by clicking this link. 
It’s time to plan and get busy on your “Temperature” project for this year. Remember last year we did a Temperature Blanket. 
Here are the colors that we’ll be using for our Virginia Temperature Scarf. Click this link and you can print out the blank chart to develop your own plan. 
“Mixed Flowers in a Jar”, acrylic on canvas, 9″x12″. Available for sale $185. Contact kwalker@kellywalkerstudios.com
It’s done! We finished the temperature blanket yesterday. Boy was that a project….lots of fun but it did require determination to finish. I used single crochet for the majority of blanket but I did do a double crochet – chain one to separate the months. I also used a bobble/popcorn stitch on the snow days. I love how it turned out….but it is really long! I will probably turn up the bottom and stitch the sides to create a pocket for my feet since I plan to use it as a lap throw. Now to decide what to do for 2017…maybe a scarf!
I made an agreement with myself to get The Studio straightened up on my final couple of days off. Since the space is small we really have to keep it organized in order to be able to find the things we need to work. And that is hard to do when there are so many people there creating cool things each week. But we can do it! So yesterday I took everything out of storage areas and decided what goes and what stays. What a mess. But it’s coming along. I don’t know about you but I am more creative when my studio space is organized.
What are your art resolutions for this new year? Did you make any? Do you want to create more? Want to learn something new? A new technique? A new style? Want to paint more? Want to paint larger….or smaller? Want to learn to sew or knit or crochet? Or just have more fun with art and crafts? Whatever it is JUST DO IT and get in touch with your artistic side. It’s time to refill the glass!!!!
The Studio 