Afghans

granny square

There is nothing better than snuggling in to read, watch a movie, maybe just take a nap with your favorite afghan. For all of you youngsters an afghan is just a fancy word for a knitted or crocheted wrap. They come in all shapes and sizes, made for young and old, and are one of the easiest things to make. Afghans are often given as gifts and may become family heirlooms. Many people use an afghan as a throw on a chilly day, as a bedspread, or as decoration for the back of a chair. 

Join as you go afghans are made up of many different pieces, one piece begins where the last was left.

Mile-a-minute afghans are usually made in one piece and with a minimum of stitches; they are the simplest style to make and are especially popular with beginners.

Motif afghans, such as the granny square, are composed of many different small pieces, called motifs, squares, or blocks. These motifs may be all of the same design or of different designs, but they are typically the same size, for ease of joining.

I've started making Lazy-Boy-Afghans, super warm, fluffy and extremely comfortable.  Great for cuddling up with a good book or stretching out in in your Lazy-Boy for game night.
    



                                                




The afghan is 50" x 80" with a crocheted border and no fringe. Long enough to pull up to your chin and cover your feet too. I made one for my husband and they are available now, custom order! Click here to order one. Plenty of time before Christmas to order more than one for the men (or girls) in your family. Customize colors to match your favorite teams!

An afghan is not only great for the cold weather but a fabulous home accent as well, so may you find comfort in your afghans!

Market Hat Display

These hat flower mannequin stands came about rather hastily. I didn't have time to look for a ready-made hat stand, so of course, I decided to make my own! Pinterest came up with some very nice examples, so off to the craft store I went, with a vision in mind. I ended up creating 4 stands, and honestly love them!

You will need:  
4 Large styrofoam balls
4 Wooden dowel pieces
4 Tin buckets
Cement (just a small bag)
Felt  
Tulle
Floral Foam 

Step 1: Cut your wooden dowels to a desired length. I chose two heights, since they are being used for display at the craft fairs I attend. 

Step 2: Make holes for the dowels in both the floral foam (cut to the size of the container your using) and the foam balls. I used a knitting needle. Be careful especially with the foam balls, you want them to stay round (patience required).

Step 3: After making sure the dowel fits in your pre made holes, use a glue gun to adhere.

Step 4: Fill tin buckets1/3 of the way with the dry cement mix. Make sure you are setting the containers to dry on a covered surface (that way if something leaks...). Add water and stir the mixture until it is no longer lumpy. Set your piece of floral foam into the bucket. Press and stick firmly. I think for some I used multiple pieces of foam. You could do the foam first and then the dowels, but let's just say the best method is yet to be tested. Let the cement set according to the instructions on the cement bag.

Step 5:  Next I used pre-cut felt pieces but I would suggest finding sheets that fit your styrofoam balls much better than what I had. I stretched the foam by wetting it and using a steam iron. Then I pinned the felt to the foam balls. I used tulle of matching color to wrap over the foam balls.

Step 6: I cut pieces of green blanket binding (because I just happened to have some lying around, waiting for this exact project to be used). I used the fabric to cover the green floral foam at the base, using a hot glue gun to secure it in place. No, I cannot feel my fingers anymore and I am sure if they ever tried to fingerprint me they would fail.

Step 7: Dressing my flower heads. I am using them now for my crochet hats, which can be bought here, hurry though they go quick! Or contact me for a custom order and make yours one-of-a-kind!

Find the original inspiration here and here and as always, may you find comfort in your hats!

Bread Making

Cold weather always brings thoughts of home made breads, warm kitchens, and grandmas. Some of my fondest memories of growing up are of us kids being chased out of grandma's kitchen because we were underfoot and in the way. After the dinner was cleared away and the dishes done we'd watch as she mixed up a batch or two of bread. I know for all you youngsters this idea of whipping up a batch or two of bread may seem daunting, but stay with me.

As a small child it was always magical to see flour and water mixed together, changing into a wonderful smelling and tasting bread. Just waiting for it to be completed while our mouths watered, excited and filled with anticipation of getting a taste of that warm, buttery bread.

Watching grandma knead the dough, punching it down and waiting for her to let us try. Seeing my small hand in hers touching the dough was always fascinating. When I make my own bread and get to that part, feeling the warm soft texture, breathing in the smell of sweet yeast, it always fills me with a sense of satisfaction.

bubbly

Then the anticipation of getting the first warm slice of bread smothered in butter, its worth all of the waiting. Try out the recipe I use,  Buttertop Bread from King Arthur Flour. You can do it!

• 3 cups Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons potato flour or 1/3 cup dry potato flakes
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons soft or melted butter
• 3/4 cup to 7/8 cup lukewarm milk*
• At the end, top with 1 tablespoon butter, melted

• *Use the greater amount in the summer, the lesser amount in the winter, and somewhere in between in the spring and fall. Your goal is a soft, elastic dough.

Mix yeast with 3/4 cup lukewarm milk and let set 10 to 15 min until bubbly.

Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients together until you've made a smooth, though somewhat sticky dough. If you're uncertain about the amount of milk to use, start with the lesser amount; you can always add more as you go along.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, which allows you to track the dough's progress as it rises. Cover, and allow the dough to rise for about 90 minutes; it should become quite puffy, though it may not double in bulk.
Gently deflate the dough, and shape it into a 9" log. Place it in a lightly greased 9" x 5" loaf pan.
Using a sharp knife, cut the loaf vertically down the middle from one end of the pan to the other, almost but not quite to the bottom of the pan.

Cover the loaf with lightly greased plastic wrap (or a shower cap), and allow it to rise until its top has crowned about 1" over the rim of the pan, about 45 to 60 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Lightly greased loaf pans

Ready to bake!

Bake the bread for 35 to 40 minutes, until it's golden brown. Tent it lightly with aluminum foil after about 15 minutes of baking; because of its somewhat higher sugar content, this bread tends to over-brown if not covered.

Remove the bread from the oven, and brush it with melted butter. Cool completely before slicing.

Store bread, tightly wrapped, for several days at room temperature; freeze for longer storage.

Yield: 1 loaf, about 18 servings.

We'll keep it a secret that I enjoyed making it just as much as they enjoyed eating it. (And that I never make just one loaf!) May you find comfort in your warm, bread baked kitchen! And don't forget to check out my Etsy Shop for newly added warm-weather goods!

Crochet Hook Case

The 'old bag'

This project is a necessity for any one that uses crochet hooks.

All you need is: scraps of fabric, a button, some gold braid cord, and an old case to use for the pattern-making part.

I wanted to make my new carrying case slightly larger than the last  but without the zipper. I used 2 colors of material, inside and interfacing 

These are the cuts I made:

2    10 x 17 inch rectangles, one out of each color fabric 

1    5 x 14 inch rectangle, out of your inside color for the pocket to hold my hooks  

2    5 x 2 inch pieces, one out of your inside color and one out of the interfacing
2    3 x 2  inch pieces, one out of your inside color and one out of interfacing (these will be use for  holding markers and needles)

2 more rectangles out of interfacing 

        1   10 x 4 inches

        1   10 x 14 inches

2    5 x 2 inch pieces, one out of your inside color and one out of interfacing

2    3 x 2  inch  piece, one out of your inside color and one out of interfacing (these will be use for  holding markers and needles)

After all your pieces are cut out start by sewing the smallest pieces and work your way up. 

For your 3x2 piece you just want to hem it on all four sides, making sure you attach your interfacing.
For the 5 x 2 inch piece you’ll want to stitch it together with its interfacing.

 To turn my work right side out I use a scrap of ribbon. Just sew it in one end in the middle and tuck the ribbon in to your fold. Sew the item up and pull the ribbon through! So much easier than trying to turn some thing small right side out with like a safety pin or tweezers or the last bit of your patience you have left.

Next we will work on the hook pocket; on one of your 14 inch sides you’ll stitch a hem. This gets placed on your 10 x 17 inch inside piece. Pinning it in place, turn your inside rough edge and stitching it into place.

Now we can pin the rest of the interfacing to the back of your inside piece.

Next lay out your hooks on your now attached pocket, so as to best judge how many hook slots you’ll need and how big they need to be  you should also mark your half-way point. I place pins where I’m going to stitch. Also remember a slot for your scissors. 

Line up your out side material so both fronts are facing each other pin and stitch around the out side leaving a small opening to turn every thing right side out.  Trim all four corners and then pull through opening.

Stitch around the outside edge and at your 6 inch marks.

 I rolled my case up, attached a button, and used gold braid as a closure. I'm looking froward to offering similar cases for sale at Three Comforts, so let me know if you want one in the comment section below!

As always, may you find comfort in this tutorial (and if not then let me do it for you!) And check out the new stuff at my Etsy shop!

All about Three Comforts

As a child I always enjoyed creating new things for myself but once I hit motherhood I spent more time thinking of ideas and less time turning those ideas into creations. Now that my daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman, about to start a family of her own, I’ve rekindled my passion of creating products that are natural and homemade, for myself and for others.                                                                       

It's time I introduce you blog readers to me: creator and owner of Three Comforts. I'm in my early 50's and the proud mother of a wonderful woman who is married to a wonderful man. I'm sure every mom who's in the empty-nesting phase of their life will agree, it's still hard to believe that my little girl isn't 2 any more. I'm a home maker and crafter, I enjoy baking breads and candy making. 

I have a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design, which helps in conceiving and executing my ideas. 

I enjoy sewing and painting, and find crocheting very relaxing. I find that I'm always looking for new crafts to try.

I enjoy natural living and making lotions, body scrubs, and body sprays that not only smell great but are good for you too. I'm one of those sensitive skin people and have tried a little bit of everything, personally, I like my own stuff best.

I started the venture of running my own business and chose the name Three Comforts. Three Comforts because life for me has always presented its comforts in 3’s: like a good book, with a glass of wine, sitting next to a roaring fireplace, or a get together with good friends, great food and a cup (or three) of good cheer. In keeping with my theme of threes I offer products for Beauty, Body, and Home.

Recently we moved across the country (from Stanwood, WA to Andover, MN) which added a whole new challenge to my business. As I have a wide range of products that I make, I’ve spent some time checking out the new market that Minnesota represents and have adapted my product line to suit Minnesotans. In designing my products the overall theme is comfort and my hope is that my products will bring you more comfort in your life. 

Thank you and may you find comfort in your life!