Fourth of July Decor

One of my goals is to create something from this blog for every season. If I aim for just one thing, then I will slowly build up my seasonal collection each year. Smart, right? Last year I made a wreath and a hair bow and some flip flops. If you notice, none of that is crocheted! The year before, I held a patriotic coaster crochet along. A lot of you participated and it was fun seeing what everyone made. This year, I made up for last, with two crocheted projects!

First up, I made some patriotic coasters. These are round, not square, and finish up my set with the stars!

Second, I made a potholder. It's cute, but is it functional? I'm still not sure if I trust a crocheted potholder. Do you?

Did you make any fun decorations for this Fourth of July?

Fourth, Chicken, Etc.

Emily makes some amazing Instagram collages. I wish my Instagram photo dumps looked as good as hers! Okay, really she just knows how to put two photos side by side! haha I'm back with another edition of "catching up my blog in time for a NewlyWife update." Here we go!

Instagram albums. Yes please! I love them!

Matt and I roasted a chicken together... It was fun!

Matt with our friend's grandson. He will be an amazing dad someday!

I got ready for the Fourth in style this year... lots of projects.
This was my hair bow. :)

New bow for the front door. Makes me feel incredibly patriotic!

Fabric tied wreath. In love!

Turned flip flops into sandals with an old t-shirt!

Braiding a t-shirt into a headband. Note the manicure. :)

First time we put up a flag. It was awesome. Matt is awesome and finally got us a flag!

So I'm only two months behind now! haha Next update -- a wedding that I coordinated. That's right. I coordinated a wedding. It was awesome!

Patriotic Coaster Round Up!

I have been super busy and have not yet posted the coaster roundup.  It is finally here though!  Thank you so much to everyone who participated!  It was a lot of fun -- and quick!  I believe I promised some sort of prize, and I promise that I will think of something.  I'm just not sure what exactly to do yet!

Here are my coasters:

January - Yellow, Pink, & Sparkly

Jenn - Jenn Likes Yarn

Paula - Confessions of a Crochet Pattern Slut

Rengawk - Rengawk's Ramblings

Holly Louise - 'Cause I'm a Blonde

Laura - A Day of Grace

I love how creative everyone is!  Each person made it their own -- in some way or another!  Thanks again to everyone for participating.  If I missed someone, please let me know in the comments and I will add you!

Patriotic Crochet Along Participants

Thank you to everyone who has joined in so far.  I am having a blast crocheting my little coasters, and it has been fun seeing why you all chose to do it!  Here are the participants so far:

Jenn (Jenn Loves Yarn) is doing Red, White, and Blue.  The blue she chose is unique, and I love the combination of colors!

Paula (Confessions of a Crochet & Cross Stitch Pattern Slut) is also doing Red, White, and Blue -- and she finished hers already! I love the border that she added to around the edge, and the two with variagated yarn.  I have been looking for that yarn all over!  Also, cotton was probably a much better choice than my acrylic / polyester!

Rengawk (Rengawk's Ramblings) is joining us for her first crochet along!  I love it when people join up for the first time! She has a fun selections of reds, whites, and blues!  [And Rengawk, welcome to the CAL world!  I tried to comment on your post, but blogger was being weird and would not let me!  :(  ]

Holly Louise ('Cause I'm a Blonde) has a super cute blog, and has also finished up her coasters already!  She made a set in red, white, and blue for her grandma (how sweet is that??) and in pinks for herself! [And hello to you too, blogger would not let me post my comment on your blog either!]

Major props to the ladies who finished already.  They do work up pretty quick, don't they!  I finished up mine, I just need to get pictures taken!  Go ahead  an post here if you decided to join late, or if I missed you, or if you finished your set!  I cannot wait to see them all!

Patriotic Crochet Along

Last week, I talked about doing some sort of crochet along for the Fourth of July.  I know that pretty much limits this to Americans, but I am American and that is just the way the cookie crumbles!  However, with the pattern I chose, you can use different colors and make it non-American.  I am totally okay with that!  [Thanks for asking, Nevelyn.] Which pattern are we doing, you ask?  Why the Star Coaster of course!  And I would totally love to see it in your country's colors -- or whatever colors you like!

The goal of this little crochet along is to complete a set of four coasters by July 4, 2011.  That gives you exactly two weeks!  So let's break this down into 2 blog posts.  First, this week, tell a little about yourself and what colors you chose.  If you want, take a picture of your materials!  Leave a link back to your post in the comments, and I will try to do a compilation post later this week.  I would use a linky tool, but they are no longer free and I'm cheap. haha

I will start!  I'm Megan (I hope you know that if you are here) and I chose red, white, and blue because I love the U S of A!  I also realized that my husband loves having a Fourth of July party, and I do not really have any patriotic decor -- the shame!  I made this awesome table runner for my Mom a few years back and planned to make one for myself, but I get craft-stracted (that's distracted by other crafts).  Maybe I will pick up some star spangled fabric on clearance this year!

I got started on my star coasters a day or so ago (okay so I get to cheat the system when I set up the crochet along.  I had a nice cup of (decaf -- it was 10 pm) coffee and some Seventh Heaven on dvd... I was kickin it old school!  I have one coaster done.  Three more to go!  I decided to switch up the color order & maybe use 2 different blues (see the top picture).  The first one was a little bunchy at first -- but a little blocking fixed that problem right away! 

Now, I can't wait to hear who is joining me!  And what colors you will be using.  Oh yeah, and I will definitely be sending out a little goodie to a random participant -- I will draw names after the second post!  Don't forget to leave a comment with a link to your post about the crochet along!  Try to have your comment up by Monday, June 27th!

Fourth of July Crochet Along

I have not done a crochet along with you all in a very long time. Since we have about three weeks until the 4th, I want to do a quick crochet along. Which pattern do you want to do?

Star Coaster

Fourth of July Coaster

I really want to make this snazzy wreath too, but I don't think 3 week is enough time. What do you all want to do?  How many coasters should be in our little set?  I hope you all join me!

July 9: Stars & Stripes Wreath

Pattern #190: Stars & Stripes Wreath

This pattern from Lily Sugar & Cream makes a perfect decoration. How cute would this wreath be on your door during the beginning of July?

Picture from Lily Sugar & Cream:

July 8: Americana Place Setting

Pattern #189: Americana Place Setting

We had a party on the 4th this year -- and how perfect would this have been for the table? Perfect, I tell ya! My parents could use a set as well, as they always have a fourth of July party, complete with backyard fireworks!

Picture from Coats & Clark:

July 7: 4th of July Coaster -- COMPLETED

Pattern #188: 4th of July Coaster

This is another great project for the fourth of July. These are different coasters, but I love them as well. Mixing a few of these with the star coasters from earlier this week would be a great hostess gift for a barbecue around the fourth.

-----------------------------------
 

Updated June 25, 2013: These coasters are adorable. And like the potholders, it really is a navy blue in the pic (not black). I am so glad that I finished these before the fourth of July!! This was a fantastic quick project!

 

July 6: Patriotic Potholder -- COMPLETE

Pattern #187: Patriotic Potholder

Another great pattern for the Fourth of July, if you are American, that is! I have never made a potholder like this, so this will be a challenge for me! haha

---------------------

Updated June 24, 2013: I made this a few weeks ago because I really wanted to get some projects finished. I also really wanted to make some new decorations for the Fourth of July. What do you think? How did they turn out? Also, do you trust crocheted potholders or are they more for decoration??

 That really is navy blue with the red. I just realized that the editing really makes it look black. Whoa.

 

July 5: Star Coaster - COMPLETED

Pattern #186: Star Coaster

This is another great patriotic project. I really should have made these before yesterday. oh well. Now I can get started for next year! haha

-------------

Updated 8/24/2011:  This was actually a project for a Crochet Along that I hosted this summer.  It encouraged me to finish this quick project, and bring some others along for the ride!  Here are my completed pictures. As always, you can check out my Ravelry project page for more info.

July 4: Fireworks Afghan Square

Pattern #185: Fireworks Afghan Square

This pattern is going in my block of the month afghan, for July. And it's perfect for the fourth, right?

Picture from Crochet N More: