Summer is here and the kids are home all day long! What better way to bring in the summer than with great activities that don’t require the TV or any electronic devices.
Do you have a roadtrip planned? How about a day at the beach? Camping anyone? No matter where you go, even if it is just outside to your back yard, this totable Tic-Tac-Toe game board will promise loads of entertainment for all ages. Perfect for around the campfire when you are hanging out with the kids, perfect to pull out at the beach for some fun in the sand, perfect for picnics where you can open this up for some competition across the picnic table. There is nothing like an old fashioned game of Tic-Tac-Toe to bring on a some competitive spirit!
This is the perfect solution to long boring “I don’t have anything to do” blues! This game board easily cinches up into a bag or satchel and stores all the game pieces. Open it up and you are ready to play. Make up rules, make competitions, make point goals to claim a winner! First person to get 25 Tic-Tac-Toes takes the prize!! Whatever way you play, it is sure to provide lots of old school fun without relying on modern technology to fill those hours.
This project is a great stash buster for using up that extra yarn. It also would be a nice project to make in cotton for all-weather, all-terrain play. I would also suggest that you can put velcro on the back of the X’s and O’s as well as the squares to provide more stability. Make the O’s in one team color, the X’s in a rival color and make this a sport related rivalry game! The possibilities are endless! There are so many options with this game board!
Get yours started today and watch how much fun this pattern will provide! Follow along with my step by step tutorial and written pattern for year round enjoyment!
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make this fun game:
My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.
Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
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Pattern:
Designed by Nadia Fuad You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.
NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
Special stitches:
Ch(s): chain(s)
YO: Yarn Over
BLO: Back Loop Only
St(s): Stitch(es)
Sl st: slip stitch
SK: Skip
SC: Single Crochet
SC2TOG: Single Crochet Decrease
DC: Double Crochet
Pattern:
If you have any confusion or difficulty with reading this pattern, please watch the video tutorial to have visual instructions.
Board: Ch 62 Row 1: DC in 4th Ch from hook and across, turn. (60) Row 2: Ch 3 (Counts as DC), DC in each st across. turn. (60) Rows 3-31: Repeat Row 2
Be sure your piece is square, if it is not, do more or less rows to make it square.
Continue to SC around entire piece.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Assembly:
Make a very long chain and weave it around the outer edge of the whole board and tie together. (This is the drawstring)
Surface crochet straight lines to make the Tic-Tac-Toe Lines (See video tutorial for visual instructions)
O’s (Make 5)
Work in continuous rounds and in BLO
Ch 21 Rnd 1: SC in 1st ch to form a ring, SC in each ch around. (21) Rnd 2: [2SC in next st, SC in next 2 sts] 7 times. (28) Rnd 3: [2SC in next st, SC in next 3 sts] 7 times. (35) Rnds 4-6: SC in each st around. (35) Rnd 7: [SC2TOG, SC in next 3 sts] 7 times. (28) Rnd 8: [SC2TOG, SC in next 2 sts] 7 times. (21)
Fasten off with long tail for sewing.
Sew “O” Closed and stuff with stuffing (see video tutorial for visual instructions)
X’s (Make 5)
Work in Continuous Rounds and in BLO
First and Second Arm of the X:
Make 2 of these pieces:
Ch 2 Rnd 1: 6 SC in 2nd Ch from hook. (6) Rnd 2: 2 SC in each st around. (12) Rnds 3-7: SC in each st around. (12)
For first piece, fasten off. For 2nd Piece, DO NOT fasten off
This next part is Attaching the First and Second Piece (See video tutorial for this part) Rnd 8: SC around current piece, continue to SC in each st of the other piece. (24 sts) Rnd 9: SC in each st around. (24)
Sew the hole between the arms closed (See video tutorial for visual instructions) Next part is creating the third arm of the X Rnd 10: SC in 12 sts, Sk the last 12 sts. (12) Rnd 11-14: SC in each st around. (12)
Assembly:
Stuff the piece of what you have done so far then continue with round 15
Next part is creating the 4th arm of the X
Attach yarn to the free stitch on round 9 Rnd 10-14: SC in each st around.
Stuff the rest of the X then go onto the last round. Rnd 15: [SC2TOG] 6 times.
SC 1st and 4th sts together.
Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Assembly:
Tie a string around the center of the X to cinch it in to create an X letter.
Weave in all ends.
Enjoy!!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia
The yarn provided for this pattern is courtesy of Red Heart Yarns
When we were children, my two older brothers and I were given many opportunities to try out any extracurricular activities we wanted. My parents’ rules were, if we decided to try something new, we couldn’t quit the entire season. We had to stick it out even if we didn’t like it. We NEVER had to go out for it or try it again if we hated it, but once we joined, we had to finish. It was a lesson in not giving up, not quitting, not letting your teammates down, and a whole lot of life lessons bottled up in that one rule. It was good and bad. Good because I found out that I enjoyed being part of the chess club and became the chess club president, but bad when I realized my athleticism consists of how hard it is to dodge a volleyball coming straight for my face. Yeah, that smarts.
My mother is an avid reader. On average she is able to read three books a week. She told me long ago that when she decides to read a book she has a rule; once you commit, finish it. Even if it’s challenging, once you begin, don’t stop until the end. That rule, again.
I am to crochet, what my mother is to books. Crochet is my passion, my delight, my respite and relaxation from the crazy chaos of life, but my threshold for commitment has yet to reach the standard of sticking it out no matter what on each project I begin. I have a half dozen WIPs (Work in Progress) as we speak, maybe more, all unfinished and no definitive plan to finish. I need to re-learn that rule to commit and finish, but my attention span is different with crochet, and it isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Sometimes, the easiest thing to do is walk away and leave a project alone for a little while…or a long while.
Several years ago, I purchased beautiful wool. I had begun to make lovely granny squares with the intent to put them together for a blanket; this was BEFORE I started the 365 Days of Granny Squares Project. Those early squares are still waiting in a basket to be made into that beautiful throw I always planned to get to.
I started a butterfly project a month ago, it sits in a bag unfinished because I didn’t like the shape of the thorax and it was frustrating to frog and change it over and over so I tucked it away for an “I will revisit this someday” project.
As I sort through my crochet and craft area, preparing to transfer several things to my new home, I am surprised by how many projects I have stumbled across that I have yet to finish. A partially finished cowl, a graphgan, a cute start to a hat, a baby blanket in its early stages. What in the world was I thinking?! It’s a bit sad really, I have a great beginning but no ending to these lovely pieces that sit in boxes waiting to be brought back to life.
I have resolved to get to work on finishing what I started, to revive that rule. Maybe now is the time that each project can be brought back with the potential that was always there, it just took this time to realize it! The future is bright for those lost works in progress! My work is cut out for me, but a stockpile of great material awaits our YARNutopia community! I see lots of tutorial and pattern potential!
I know I am not alone when I say I have a few projects left unfinished. Are you that “commit and don’t quit” crochet artist? Or are you the one who has your works in progress on hold to revisit someday? Share here on your strategy on tackling your long lost WIPs (Work in Progress)!
It has been no secret that for the past 8 years, I have been battling severe illness as I continue to fight Crohn’s disease. By the end of 2015, I had spent a good portion of another year hospitalized after having 2 major surgeries. I was determined to go into 2016 with hopes for better health. There was a scary episode at the end of 2015 where I went septic and things were pretty bleak. That experience, and the fact that it brought me too close for comfort to no longer being here on Earth, was what inspired me to take on the challenge of a 365 day project. Yes, I know, nothing like a brush with death to make you want to look forward in life! Seize the day; or, in my case, more than 365 of them!
This was my status on Personal Facebook Account on the very last day of 2015. Thank you for being my stars! I love you all!!
I wanted to start the new year with a project that would chronicle days I could try to stay out of the hospital. Following surgery in December 2015, I remember late night talks with my mom about challenging myself to work toward a long term goal. This particular challenge had to be something that wasn’t too overwhelming. (Note: a 365 day project, no matter how small it seems at the time, can sometimes get overwhelming) I decided on crocheting a single granny square each day with the help of my dad who would record a video tutorial of each afghan block. Each day that I was able to stay out of the hospital was another day that I would work toward health and wellness. Each square represented a step in this journey. I was able to make it nearly 8 months before I ended up in the hospital again, but even then, I was able to continue filming my tutorials from my hospital room. I remember saying often that nothing could happen to me all year because I HAD TO get that daily square filmed and posted! Not only were people counting on me, I was counting on myself!
And so it commenced, we started filming our first granny square on December 31st, 2015 to launch on January 1st, 2016. YARNutopia’s 365 Days of Granny Squares tutorials were born.
Beginning and Near Endings
This project began as a very personal goal, I had a small following on my Facebook page and YouTube channel, and wasn’t sure if this would even be something that would catch on. Would I just be on my own for a year making squares? Honestly, I had zero idea of how this would turn out, and because of that, I failed to foresee a few issues that arose during the process. For the most part, it went quite well right out of the gate. I was keeping up the pace, squares upon squares, one a day with no problem. Until…I had a problem.
In my zeal to get started, I failed to garner the proper permission to film some of the squares that had free patterns available online. I was contacted by some of the designers that I filmed their squares without their OK. They had a totally valid position, and for the most part, handled professionally and successfully. It was my own misunderstanding to not consider going through proper channels, and it resulted in a few squares being removed from the early part of the project. This helped to change my course. I went through the correct procedures moving forward. It forced me to push myself even further to design my own squares. A total of 33 of my own designs were part of this project. It taught me extremely valuable lessons in the process. That can be humbling to go through.
Sometimes, it takes finding yourself in an uncomfortable position to really push yourself to get more creative. I remember considering giving up. That was until one particular keyboard warrior wrote to me with a few intense, nasty, and unnecessary insults to really push me right back up again. To anyone I hurt in this process, my sincerest apologies. For anyone who tried to come at me to hurt me or get me to quit, thanks for everything. It was because of what you did that made me want to finish. That was a turning point. Moving forward things were otherwise very successful and positive.
A Debt of Gratitude
There is no way a project this lofty could have been accomplished solely on my own. As mentioned earlier, I was able to garner permission from a wide array of incredible designers that allowed me the opportunity to use one or many of their patterns in my project. There is a list at the end of this blog linking every designer that contributed their designs. PLEASE, I implore you all to visit their websites, blogs, Ravelry stores, and Facebook pages. “Like” and “Follow” these amazing, creative people. There would be no 365 Days of Granny Squares without their help. I wish I could gather everyone who helped me on this daily endeavor and give these ladies and gentlemen a standing ovation! I owe each of them a debt of deep genuine gratitude. I learned so much from every square. I am literally in tears writing this part of the blog because it is difficult to put into words what this entire process meant to me. I can look at certain squares and remember what they represent in this journey. There is a square on the day I had to have another biopsy. There are squares that represent health victories and squares that represent some rough patches. 2016 brought so many highlights, and there is a square that reflects many of those amazing personal moments. Although this started out as my own journey, it became so much more than I could have ever imagined. These granny squares truly became my journal written in yarn.
The hunt for squares
The process of finding squares for my year long quest was somewhat of a challenge to search online for free patterns from designers. If their written patterns were easy to follow and understand, I would contact them to ask permission to use their design. As I said, were numerous amazing designers that lent their patterns. Up until the very end I was receiving requests and replies to use patterns, but the year ran out of days! Their patterns are an incredible tool for those who are participating in the 365 Days of Granny Squares project. Having the accompanying written instructions to assist with the tutorial has helped tremendously for people wanting to learn how to read patterns, as well as those who prefer that over a video tutorial. At the bottom of the 365 Days of Granny Squares blog, I listed the designers’ links to their written patterns. In my video tutorials, I mention the designer and pattern name for that particular square, and I share a link to the written pattern in the description of each video tutorial on YouTube. I also share a link to their written pattern on social media when I share the square of the day every morning. All of these things help followers network with so many in our crochet community.
Yarn for days!
When taking on a project of this magnitude, planning ahead was a necessity. Thankfully I had scrap yarn to get things started which saved me from having to purchase a bunch of yarn for this monumental project. This ENTIREtask was accomplished using ALL scrap yarns that I have collected in my stash over time. I began the project using Red Heart Yarns in Super Saver and kept that constant through the entire year. There was no waste when using yarn scraps, and it keeps everything consistent by using the same fiber and brand for each square. I tried keeping the supplies for this project as modest as possible.
You can’t plan for everything!
Taking on this mission also meant that I had to plan for all sorts of situations. There was so much concealed when I took on this project that lasted for 365 days. Over the course of the year, we experienced many technical difficulties. We had upload fails, we accidentally released videos in the wrong order, and we mixed up footage. If you can imagine all the possibilities of accidents that could go wrong over an entire year adventure, we probably encountered a majority of them. My dad and I had a very good system worked out, and filming a daily video went fairly smoothly. However, nothing about this was predictable. Filming in the hospital became necessary at one point during this journey. If I was able to keep the squares in order, and not have any breaks, it meant having my dad bring the studio to my hospital room. Again, at this point while feeling so ill, I thought about giving up on this project, but I had gotten so far, so giving up was no longer an option. Sometimes it was necessary to film a few days in advance to bank up some tutorials in case I was unable to be in the studio. Whether I filmed one video a day, or filmed a few in a day to take some time off, I would always add the daily square to the blog, and I posted the new square to my social media sites every single morning when I woke up. Although we had a few mix-ups and personal mishaps, there have been no late granny squares, and I was able to accomplish everything I had hoped for.
To those who participated in the journey
The feedback throughout this process has been unbelievable. Along the way, I was lifted up in ways I cannot put into words. The growing following that came every day to post, discuss, and share their thoughts about the day’s square was incredible.
I want to take a moment to thank every one of you who were here. Even if I didn’t comment on each post every day, I read and saw it all — every single square, every beautiful color combination, and every kind word you said to me and to each other. How do I say thank you for all that you did for me and for one another? I’m so proud of my YARNutopia community! Thank you for showing up every single day. You may not know this, but it was each of YOU who inspired me each day to show up, work hard, and keep going. Every message and kind word went straight to my heart. This project was a collective effort from all of us. WE DID IT! Myself, my dad, the designers, and YOU the crocheters. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this epic journey. I witnessed something truly remarkable as this year unfolded. It makes me sad to see this project come to an end. I won’t have you here with me every single day for our daily square, but I’m so grateful this brought us together over our mutual love of crochet. I feel like I know all of you as we crocheted together through it all. There are seriously no words. #uglycry
What the future holds
I will be keeping the 365 Days of Granny Squares page up for a while and may replace a few squares here or there at some point. This one year commitment to a project of this magnitude was satisfactory to achieve. Many have asked me to do another year, but I think one year was sufficient to prove to myself that I could do this. I am happy and have no regrets looking back. I learned invaluable things about our crochet community, about myself, about commitment, about the power of positive thinking, about having a passion to pursue a goal, and about how yarn can tie so many across our globe together. I was happy to be the one to share this experience with all of you who came every day or just stopped by for a few favorite squares. This isn’t the end of what I am capable of doing. I look forward to new challenges in 2017 including some fun monthly projects! The work to do this project took a lot of effort not only on my part but also for my dad. We both look forward to a bit of rest and relaxation before we get back in the studio. There is much more to come from us in the future! So stay tuned!
To my Daddy
First and foremost, I could not have done this project without my supportive family, and of course, Nate! I cannot finish this blog without a huge mention of what role my dad played in this yearlong endeavor. Where do I start when it comes to thanking him? How does one encapsulate the gratitude I feel for someone who was with me at every single moment of every single project? He stood tirelessly by my side and filmed 365 squares (plus our bonus square). There he was, right by my side, ready to go each day until the very end! I don’t think anyone could understand what a colossal task this project was other than my daddy. His exemplary video and editing skills made every square come to life on the screen. He was the one who worked tirelessly through the year, late into the nights making our videos, making edits, taking out the bloopers (yes, one day, we will have a blooper reel), corrected me, helped me, supported me, challenged me, encouraged me, energized me, untangled yarn for me, laughed with me, and by indirect means, learned crochet along side me! He never gave up. He never complained. His dedication and commitment to this project cannot go unnoticed. Thank you, Daddy. Your patience and sense of humor made doing this monumental project so much more fun than I could have ever imagined. I love you so much! SHOUT OUT TO MY AMAZING DADDY!
All these squares
Throughout this project, I demonstrated how to make each granny square in a video tutorial. Participants are then on their own to decide what to make using their squares. Some have participated from the beginning of the year making each square, and some jumped in on occasion to make a square that stood out. The creativity of what we’re sharing has been fabulous! Projects that have been made and shared on our Facebook page have left me speechless! You are all so talented!
Throughout the year, I have collected the squares and have been using them in blanket projects. From the start, I planned to pay it forward and make blankets for people in need. So far, I have managed to make 3 blankets using a variety of the squares. Each blanket has found its way to a very special home or charity and will continue to do so as I finish using all the squares in this project. This was my way of giving back for a year of healthier and happier days.
Now the year has come to an end. It will be strange not having a square to post tomorrow morning, but at the same time I am thrilled over a successful goal achieved. Today is so bittersweet! Not many can say they crocheted a granny square every day for an entire year and got healthier doing it! That’s a pretty great ending to 2016 and an even better way to start out another great year! Together we came so far! Here’s to a year ahead of more epic crochet days! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Cheers to 2017 being a wonderful year for all!
~Nadia
Find the list of contributing designers here: (AGAIN, please visit their pages, “Like” their work, and “Follow” them on social media!)
Here is the Fallen Leaves Cup Cozy! One leaf applique doubles as a secret pocket which is perfect for a tea bag, some cash, or a gift card to a coffee shop. Mug cozies make great gifts for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, colleagues and many others on your gift giving list.
Some suggested gift ideas: Mug or Travel mug + Cup Cozy + Hot Cocoa/Cash/Tea Bags/Specialty Coffee makes the perfect gift for that “hard to buy for” person on your list!
The handmade cup cozy adds a personal touch to an already awesome idea!
I have added a button to my cup cozy. You can get wooden buttons at the Etsy Shop Wood Be Fancy. You do not have to use a button, you could sew the seam up and have it slide on a travel mug.
Follow along with this video tutorial to learn how to make this cup cozy: The instructions start at 6 Minutes, 50 Seconds.
My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!
Pattern:
Designed by Nadia Fuad
Questions? Leave a comment! You may sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my name and Etsy Shop (YARNutopia). Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own.
-This pattern is for a standard sized cup. You could make it smaller or bigger just making more rows on your backing portion.
-You can make this cup cozy with any yarn: Cotton, Acrylic, Polyester
-You can make this using a bigger crochet hook if your tension is tighter
-You do not have to add the appliques, you could just have a plain cup cozy sans the leaf design.
-You can make the backing of your cup cozy bigger by chaining any even number.
Special Stitches:
Ch: chain
St(s): Stitch(es)
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
TR: Treble Crochet
Picot: Ch 2, sl st in same st
Backing of Cup Cozy
Ch 12 or any even number.
Row 1: HDC in 2nd ch from hook, *Sl st in next ch, HDC in next ch, repeat from * across. (11 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, Sl st in 1st st, *HDC in next st, Sl st in next st, repeat from * across. (11 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, HDC in 1st st, *Sl st in next st, HDC in next st, repeat from * across. (11 sts)
Rows 4-28: Repeat rows 2 and 3 ending on a repeat of Row 2.
Fasten off with long tail if you are sewing it closed.
Fasten off with short tail if you are not sewing it closed.
Weave in all ends if you are adding a button.
Leaf: Make 2
Ch 9 Round 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next 2 Chs, HDC in next 2 Chs, DC in next, TR in next, 10 TR in last ch
Working on opposite side of foundation chain: TR in next, DC in next, HDC in next 2, SC in next 2, Sl st in last.
Round 2: [Sl st in next 2 sts, Picot] 5 times, sl st in next 3 sts, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 3 chs, sl st back in the same st on round 1 of the leaf, sl st in next 3 sts, Picot, [sl st in next 2 sts, Picot] 5 times, sl st to beginning, Picot, Fasten off. Assembly step:
Sew leaves and button to cup cozy. When sewing one leaf, be sure to keep it open as a pocket.
Chain a loop on the edge of the cup cozy for looping around the button.
See video tutorial for visual instructions on all the pieces and where they go.
Weave in all ends.
Enjoy!!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia
