Madison Cubs Afghan

I am a teacher at Madison High School in Southern Indiana.  I designed this afghan with my school's mascot and donated it to our art department for their annual fundraiser.

I LOVE designing afghans with school logos or names.  This one was very challenging as I had sometimes 20 bobbins of yarn to work with at once.  Good thing I'm a detangling guru!!!

When working on the "Madison Cubs" line, I was frustrated to find, about halfway thru the line, that I was working it as a mirror image!  The words were backwards!  Oh no!!  With all the bobbins, it was challenging to unravel the work but was a lesson well learned!  Double check which side you're on! 

Here is a lapsize afghan I made using the logo of the previous school I worked for.  This was designed and gifted to the school secretary who was a personal friend.

Puppy Paw Scarf

This scarf has been such a popular one for me to make!!  Designed by Amy B., the pattern can be found here ----> Meandering Paw Prints Scarf. It used about 1 skein of yarn.  I usually make 6 sets of the paw prints for a scarf that ends about about 5 feet long, give or take.  

I think it works so well with ombre yarns.

When my niece needed to earn a couple of thousand dollars for her school trip to Washington D.C., I used this pattern to help her out.  All of the money I made was given to her for her trip and the popularity of this scarf added $600 to her fund.  Fur baby parents love this scarf.  Schools with animal mascots love this scarf (it's a paw print of LOTS of different animals!).

File this pattern away somewhere safe.  You'll use it a LOT!!

The Pencil Scarf

As a teacher, I fell in love with this pattern, which can be found at Crochetions - Pencil Scarf link .  It's perfect for the teacher, crossword puzzle fan, accountant, those in a "pencil pusher" job and so many more.  It's simple and works up really fast.  The yellow part take about a full skein.  

Below is a photo showing it over my cape.

 DEBI'S DRAWSTRING BAG

 

I designed this bag to go with the checkerboard afghan (see photo at end of directions) found on Sara’s Crochet Blog, https://saracrochets.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/free-checkerboard-gameafghan-pattern-part-one/.  It's great for holding the checkers and if on a road trip, can double as a pillow  for your child in the car!

Yarn:  Model was made with 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver yarn (364 yds), plus a few yards of a 2^nd color for the stripe.  (I prefer Red Heart Super Saver yarn for my bags because it is a bit stiff, which works well for bags.) 

Hook:  “H” for bag; Hook “J” for braid.

Special Stitches:  dc2tog –  Yarn over (YO) hook, insert hook in stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).  YO hook, pull through 2 loops.  YO hook insert in next st, pull up a loop, (4 loops on hook).  YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook).  YO pull through last 3 loops.  

DIRECTIONS:  Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch2 (counts as first dc here and throughout), work 11 more dc in ring; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2(12 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, *2 dc in next dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of orig ch2 (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next  dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next  dc;  rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (36 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 2 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (48 dc)

Rnd 5: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 3 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 3 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (60 dc)

Rnd 6 & 7: Ch2, dc in each dc around; join with sl st in top  of beg ch2. (60) 

Rnd 8: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 4 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 4 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (72 dc)

Rnd 9: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 7 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 7 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (81 dc)

Rnd 10: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 8 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 8 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (90 dc)

Rnd 11: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 9 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 9 dc;  rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2– 99 dc.

Change to 2^nd color.

Rnds 12: Rep Rnd 6.

Rnd 13:  Ch3 (counts as dc and ch1); skip dc; *(dc in next dc; ch1; sk next dc); repeat around. Join with sl st to 2^nd ch in the beg ch3.  (50 spaces)

Rnd 14 & 15: Ch3; *(dc in next dc; ch 1); repeat around. Join with sl st to 2^nd ch in the beg ch3.

Rnd 16:  Ch2; dc in sp; *(dc in dc; dc in sp). Repeat around. Join with sl st to top of ch2.  

Change back to 1^st color.

Rnd 17 & 18: Repeat Rnd 6. (100 dc)

Rnd 19: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 23 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 13dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2.  (92dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 20: Ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 22 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 12dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2 (88dc; 4dc2tog)

Rnd 21: ch2; dc in next 9dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 21 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 11 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2  (84dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 22: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 20dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 10 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (80 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 23: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 19dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 9 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (76 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 24: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 18dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 8 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (72 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 25: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 17dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 7 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (68 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 26: Ch3, tr ch in next 4dc; ch1; *(tr ch in next 5 dc; ch1); repeat around.  Join with sl st to top of beg ch3.

Rnd 27: Ch2, dc in next 4 tr ch; dc in sp; *(dc in next 5 tr ch; dc in sp); repeat around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch2.  Cut yarn and weave in ends.

DRAWSTRING BRAID:

Using a “J” hook and two strands of yarn (I used one strand of black and one strand of red), ch 125. Leave about 4” of tail at beginning of chain.  At end, cut off yarn, leaving about 4” tail.  Weave braid in and out of the ch1 spaces created in Rnd 26.  Tie ends securely together, using tails at each end.