A few recent crochet projects

Lest you think all I've been doing with my time lately is reupholstering (although, weeks after finishing those dang chairs, it still feels that way), here is a smattering of recent crochet projects that probably don't each need their own blog post. Hopefully they don't feel slighted by having to share the spotlight, however dim.

Project 1: My little sister Bekah turned 20 a few weeks ago (happy birthday, Beeks!), and although I've never seen her carry a purse, I crocheted this for her:

Obviously, I'm all about useful gifts. I used this pattern for the bag and was pretty pleased with it--it worked up quickly and easily--although I kind of botched the lining. It will function just fine, and even has a cute little pocket (I tried to take a page from my friend Amanda's book by adding fun interior details):

But I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job attaching the zipper, and had to warn Bekah to be very careful when unzipping it--I'm not sure where I went wrong, but I think I didn't sew the end of the zipper into the lining quite well enough, because it's one good tug away from being torn out completely. To make up for the crappy lining job, I tried to satisfy her Harry Potter nerdiness with this adorable necklace from Bit of Sugar, a super cute etsy shop that is not compensating me in any way for giving them a glowing review:

Do you HP nerds get it? It's even cuter in person than it looked in the pictures online, and was shipped so quickly. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be filled with authentic liquid luck, since Bekah lost her phone the next day and this necklace proved ineffective in  helping her find it. But I suppose they'd be charging a lot more if it were actual felix felicis, wouldn't they?

Project 2: I realized a while ago that the hot pads in my kitchen were, in a word, horrifying. I think there were little pieces of everything I've ever cooked burned into them, and although they've been washed a thousand times, I don't think they'll ever be the same. So I decided to crochet some cuter ones, thinking that surely my functional items could be adorable, too:

And while the functional + adorable theory is a good one, I am still using my disgusting old hot pads because I haven't wanted to mess these ones up. But at least they look cute in my kitchen! (Made using this pattern.)

Project 3: Forrest's first birthday is swiftly approaching (how? how?!), and I thought it would be nice to crochet something for him. I'm sure this admission will win me top spots on plenty of Mother of the Year lists, but I've never crocheted anything for my own child. There are a few hundred children in the world sporting something I've crocheted for them, but the fruit of my womb is not one of them. (Okay, not exactly true. I did make him a winter hat last year, but honestly, it wasn't all that cute, and I only let him keep it because I didn't think I'd be able to sell it.) (But I'm not that awful . . . I did make him a baby quilt!) So his first birthday seemed like an appropriate time to finally crochet something for him.

I hooked up this little sweater vest, using a pattern from Crochet Today magazine (minus the clown car . . . ). I'll admit, it doesn't look that cute in the picture I took, but it's actually really precious in real life. One problem: it. is. gigantic! I tried it on him (I know, I spoiled the birthday surprise!) and it kind of looked like a huge breastplate. I doubt it'll fit him until he's 2 or 3, so I guess I'm starting from square one for a birthday gift for him. Oh well, at least he'll look real sweet in a year or two, wearing his sweater vest!

I'd like to crochet a blanket for him, but I know it would come in second place for him--the lovable-cuddly-comfort-blanket spot has already been taken in his life:

He absolutely loves this super-soft blanket that my former boss crocheted for him while I was pregnant--he cuddles with it whenever he sleeps. So I suppose I should get used to the feeling of coming in second place for his affection, since I know nothing I make will be able to take the place of his blankie . . . although I love that he adores this gift from a friend I admire and love so much. I seriously can't believe this little goober is turning one!