Christmas Blessings to All

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours! May the New Year bring you lots of love, happiness, and smiles.

Crochet D Lane is Open!

After playing catch up with all of the Halloween orders; mainly Minion hats, I have reopened my Etsy shop and am taking on new orders. I have added eight new items to my shop. Christmas is just around the corner and if you place your order between now through Black Friday, you will be guaranteed to have your order arrive in time for Christmas. So stop on by my Crochetdlane Etsy shop today.

Merry Christmas to All...

and to all a good night!!

Santa Pants Purse Free Pattern

One of my lovely customers requested a custom Santa pants purse for her adorable granddaughter. I just love all of her wonderful ideas for crochet purses. So I came up with this adorable design. The pattern is so simple, I decided to share it with all of you. :)

Santa Pants Drawstring Purse

I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the colors red and black for the main part of the purse. For the drawstring, I used Red Heart Super Saver in white. For the top trim of the purse and pom pom balls on the drawstrings I used Red Heart Baby Clouds in the color white. For the belt buckle I used Sinfonia cotton yarn in yellow.

Starting at the bottom of the purse with the color red using a G hook, Form a magic ring or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: 7 sc into ring. (Do not join. Continue onto next row. mark rows as you go to keep track.) (7 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc into each sc around. (14 st)
Rnd 3: Sc into next sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (21 st)
Rnd 4: Sc into next 2 sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (28 st)
Rnd 5: Sc into next 3 sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (35 st)
Rnd 6: Sc into next 4 sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (42 st)
Rnd 7: Sc into next 5 sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (49 st)
Rnd 8: Sc into next 6 sc, 2 sc into next sc around. (56 st)
Rnd 9-16: Sc into each sc around. (56 st) Sl st in next st and fasten off. Weave in ends. Using black join with a sl st and ch 1. This will start the Santa belt.
Rnd 17-21: Sc into each each sc around. (56 st) **Remember to not join rows unless it is stated to do so and to mark rows as you go so you do not lose track.** Sl st in next st and fasten off. Weave in ends. Switch back to red by joining with a sl st. Ch 1.
Rnd 22-31: Sc into each sc around. (56 st) Sl st into next st and fasten off. Weave in ends. Using White Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn, start with a sl st and ch 3. *sk next sc and hdc in next sc. Ch1 * Repeat from * all the way around. (28 hdc and ch 1 sp) Ch 1 **You have just completed the eyelet row for the weaving of the drawstrings**
Rnd 32: Sc into same st as sl st, *2 sc in ch sp, sc into next hdc.* Repeat from * around ending rnd with 2 sc into sp. (84 st) Ch 1.
Rnd 33: Sc into each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends. (84 st)

Drawstrings (Make 2)

Using a G hook, Ch 100, using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the color white. Fasten off. Weave one drawstring into the eyelet st all the way around. Tie both ends of the drawstring together into a knot. Do the same for the other drawstring on the opposite side of the eyelet row.

Santa Belt Buckle

Rnd 1: Using a F size hook, Ch 20. Sl st to beg ch. Ch 1 sc in first st and in next 4 st. 2 sc into next st. Sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st. Sc in next 5 st, 2 sc into next st. Sc into the next 3 st, 2 sc in the last st. Sl st to beg sc. Ch 1. (24 st around. 2 sc in each corner)
Rnd 2: Sc in first sc and in next 4 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in next 3 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in next 5 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in the next 3 sc. 2 sc in the next 2 sc. Sl st to first sc. Ch 1. (32 st around. 4 sc in each corner)
Rnd 3: Sc in first sc. Sc in next 5 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in next 5 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in next 7 sc. 2 sc in next 2 sc. Sc in next sc. Join with a sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Sew onto the front of the belt. **I sewed it onto the center of the belt where I switched colors from red to black and then back to red again.**

Pom Pom Balls (Make 2)

Using White, Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn; begin wrapping around your four fingers 30 times. Cut the yarn, and using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in white, Tie a knot to the center and cut, leaving enough yarn to fasten to the end of the drawstrings. Trim the ends down to form a pom pom ball. You can leave them large or small depending on your preference. Fasten to the drawstring.

Now you are all finished! I hope you have fun creating this! It really is adorable!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

This year the girls got their very own Christmas tree to decorate and display in their room. Zella wanted a white tree because white and silver are her favorite colors. Xiera loves pink,rainbows, and kitties so she picked out some colorful ornaments to decorate the tree with. She chose the Cheshire cat to place on top of the tree. The girls both decided to make it a Lalaloopsy tree and sat their favorite mini lala dolls on the tree.

To keep with tradition, we took the girls to visit Santa the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They got their lists ready and were all smiles to see their favorite jolly guy.

This year Zella declared that she wanted to visit Santa separately from her sister. So she went first and had a very serious talk with him. I heard something about a Baby Butterscotch Pony. ;)

Xiera was next and they were both all giggles and smiles about something.

The nice balloon lady made Zella a snowgirl.

And Xiera requested a Candy Cane man with a top hat and scarf. (Totally her own creation.) She is so funny!

I just love Christmas time. Don't you?

It's A Holly Jolly Christmas Launch

The Who's Who Holly Jolly Christmas Launch is going on right now on facebook. You can find it HERE. Many talented and amazing designers are listing their best of the best designs for the launch. Here are my contributions for the launch. The first is The Most Famous Reindeer Of All Hat.

I just LOVE this hat and all of it's fun texture with the soft furry beige yarn and those silly antlers. I have already sold two of these hats with Buy It Now but am hoping I can get my hands on some more of that furry beige yarn so that I can list it in my Etsy store. The next is Candy The Snowgirl Hat.

Like the reindeer hat, it has a ton of texture to offer and the bright fun colors really make this hat an eye catcher. I have also already sold two of these since the launch started last night. I am hoping to find more white fluffy yarn and textured yarn for the tassels tomorrow while yarn shopping, so that I can list this one in my store as well.

I'm Dreaming of....

a White Christmas....how about you?

Christmas = Peace, Love, and Joy

What a wonderful, yet relaxing celebration it was. Christmas Eve day was our busiest day. We visited my beautiful in laws at noon that day, and we had such a wonderful time. It was a bit hectic, but a blissful hectic with 8 little cousins running around ranging from ages 2 to 11. We enjoyed a turkey feast and then the opening of gifts shortly after. Dessert followed after that for those who still had room in their bellies for more. Grandma Karen (my mother in law) found them the most unique gifts. All of the older children were given marionettes that bared an uncanny resemblance to each cousin.


Everyone absolutely adored these! The 2 youngest girls were given sweet little doll houses that you could tell were going to be treasured for many years to come.

This year we found an equally unique and special gift to give to my beautiful mother-in-law. I shopped online at The Vintage Pearl and found the most perfect necklace for her.

It is called the layered circle of love and was hand stamped with all 8 of her grand children's names.
Later on Christmas Eve, we enjoyed dinner at my parents' home. Soon after we gathered around their beautiful tree to open gifts.

The girls were delighted (which may be an understatement) to open their gifts and find new lalaloopsy dolls to add to their collection.


The girls and I had made special Christmas ornaments for everyone this year. It has become somewhat of a tradition for us actually. Last year we made snowman ornaments made from infant socks, and this year we made cinnamon cookie cut out ornaments along with feather filled clear glass ball ornaments.

They turned out quite lovely I think.
We then had to hurry home so that we could set out snickerdoodles and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer and then it was off to bed. On our way home, we admired all of the beautiful Christmas light decorations.

Then 8 a.m. on the dot Christmas morning we were awakened by a very excited Xiera announcing that Santa had come! We rushed trudged sleepily into the living room to see what the jolly old elf had brought.

I believe there were two little girls who made it to Santa's Nice List this year!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has a wonderful and safe New Year's this weekend.

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

Our tree is up...

And decorated with our favorite treasured ornaments.

The stockings are all hung and we have a new little friend who came to visit us from the North Pole.

Her name is Holly and she is such a sweet yet mischievous little elf. She has been very busy popping up in different places in our home every morning. She is Santa's spy and she leaves us every night to tell Santa Claus if the girls were being naughty or nice.

The girls simply adore her as do I! :)
Last week Xiera and Zella took another art class making Christmas ornaments. They made many different kinds. They made puzzle piece wreathes, stamped Christmas cards, gingerbread people, and glitter ornament balls.

I am finishing up the last of my custom Christmas orders this evening and mailing them out in the morning. I am really cutting too close this year. Note to self: **Remember to switch your Etsy store to vacation mode right after black Friday to ensure all orders will get out in time for Christmas.** I have come to realize that people do not read the BOLD notice at the top of my store stating that I am no longer taking Christmas orders after December 2nd. I have pulled many late nighters because of this but even with the lack of sleep that I have had, I still have been very pleased with a few custom orders I have created.
One of my favorites was this custom stocking hat I made. It is reversed in color compared to my original Holly Jolly Elf hat and features a holly leaf and berries on the front cuff band with a red pom pom ball dangling from the end instead of a bell.


It turned out VERY cute I think!

Spending A Little Time With Santa

Christmas is once again rapidly approaching us. Of course our weather isn't exactly as expected; 65 degrees in Ohio at the end of November. Not that I am complaining in the least. It is really nice to not have to wear a bulky coat everywhere.
We kept with tradition and visited Santa Claus at the community center. The girls dressed in their beautiful gingerbread girl dresses for the occasion. Their adorable dresses were made by Mandy of Gooseberry Lane Originals. I am making a pair of leg warmers to match these dresses. I unfortunately did not have enough time to finish them before visiting Santa but plan to have them finished before the girls have their Christmas portraits done. Karen of Layla*and*Stitch made their long sleeved peasant shirts they are wearing underneath their dresses. So cute!

There is something almost magical when walking into the center and hearing the orchestra playing Christmas songs and seeing their gorgeous Christmas tree all lit up and decorated to perfection.

The girls' eyes widened with excitement and their smiles expanded from ear to ear!

They brought along their American Girl dolls this year and I wished I would have had dresses made to match for their dolls. I will have to make a mental blog note and do that next year. Build A Bear Clothes do work great for American Girl dolls though. That is what we did for Xiera's doll so she could have her doll dressed for the occasion.
Santa arrived on his sleigh on wheels and you could hear the squeals of excitement come from every child there. While waiting in line to get balloon art from the talented balloon lady, the girls snuck onto the sleigh to take it for a "pretend" spin.

Finally after a long wait in line while filling up on chocolate chip cookies and dancing to Christmas music, the girls were next to have their balloons made. Most children had crazy elf hats, candy canes, snowmen, and reindeer made.

Xiera's request was so sweet that it made my heart smile. She had asked for a baby Jesus. I am so happy and proud that my girls remember the true meaning of Christmas. It isn't about the presents, the decorations, the lights, or Santa. It is about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The talented balloon lady didn't hesitate, and began whipping up a baby Jesus balloon for her.

and then she made another for Zella. :)

Soon after, the girls finally had their visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself, Mr. Claus. Xiera shared her list with him which included a few of her favorites that she would like to have this year; A Figit Friend named Willa, A Penbo Penguin, Laguna Blue Monster High Doll, and a few Lalaloopsy dolls; Rosy Bumps and Bruises, Suzette La Sweete, and Holly Sleighbells.

Then it was Zella's turn.

Zella didn't have a list but had only one special request; The Monster High Doll, Abbey Bominable. Santa reminded them to be good little girls and he would do his best to make their Christmas a happy one this year. :)