Okay, so right now I have a bunch of projects going on all at once:

- I’m making a shawl for my friend Amy
- I’m making a martini baby blanket for my sister’s friend (see last 3 posts)
- I’m making a new coin purse like the ones I made for my aides (see a few posts ago). This is my travel project because it’s very small and portable.

So, up next, another project for me!!! I’m making Chanson en Crochet, using some Berroco Love It Colors yarn in a gorgeous variegated blue color pattern. I bought this gorgeous yarn at Knit Happy in Tennessee. I’ve been drooling over it for a while.

Here’s a picture of the finished product from Ravelry:

Ooh, pretty!

So, although I am not rushing through any current projects, I’m very excited to be free to make my own!!

I’m sure many of you have been thinking to yourselves, “Why, a baby blanket made with alcohol symbols? Where can I get me one of those?!” If that is the case, or if you just like stuff made to look like liquor, help yourself to the pattern. It might make a cute dishcloth or framed art, or a patch on a blanket for an adult. Or, if you have the last name Martini, it’s perfect for you!

So, for those of you interested in repeating my process, just get yourself a knitting book and some needles and yarn.

If you are interested in the shortcut, which I highly recommend, then here’s the pattern for my martini square #1. To follow it, assume that the empty squares are sc stitches in your original color (in my case, ecru) and the squares with “X” in them are sc stitches in your second color (sage green for me). I held the yarns together, sometimes weaving in and other times letting the green hang while I worked with the ecru, so the green would be in the middle where I needed to pick it up the next time.

**NOTE: You will need to click on the photo to see the whole thing so you don’t lose columns.**

I worked the pattern from the top down, but it would just as easily translate from the bottom up. If you can’t figure it out, leave me a comment here and I’ll try to clarify or spell out instructions for stitching.

If it looks a little skewed in the translation, just pretend all the squares are the same size.

Jess

Okay, so I’ve calmed down and realized that I need to stick to what I do best. So, here is attempt #1 at making a crochet martini-patterned square (or, in this case, rectangle):

I’m also going to experiment with embroidering a martini glass onto a plain rectangle, and making a flat crocheted martini glass and sewing that onto a rectangle. Then I’ll let my sister pick her favorite one and go from there to make the blanket.

Ahh, feels good to be home in crochetville!