WIP Wednsday

A Rose in Bloom afghan-size I hook
2 thread ties-a red one in a pineapple pattern-size 8 hook and a blue one in hdc-size 10 hook
A Cocoon sweater-size K hook
A 63 squares afghan-size H hook, could be anything from G to K, depending on pattern
A pair of crocheted socks in baby yarn, 2 colors of pink-size E hook
A pair of knit socks in RHSS camo-size 3 dpn
A pair of knit socks in baby yarn-lilac-size 3 dpnA pair of knit slipper socks in Caron SS-baby varigated-size 7 circ
A crochet tank top-size G hook
A sherbet tank top-size H hook
A knit basketweave scarf-size 10½ straight needles
A crochet eyelet wrap-size J hook
A doily for the doily swap in Aunt Lydia's ecru-size 7 hook(hope that's ok with my swap partner, AL is the only thread I can afford)
Finish detangling that tote of yarn, almost there, just got tired of it, plus I need to finish that shawl and those ties. There's some more stuff in there that needs frogging too.
A beret from the Homespun I used on my black/white pineapple shawl.-size K hook
2 mini-shawls-black in size 0 hook and blue in size F hook, same pattern as the pineapple shawls I've been making only in lighter yarn and smaller hook. This is really an experiment to see what it'll do, it could flop or it could fly.
A knit dishcloth-size 8 needlesA crochet dishcloth-size H hook
A Fleuri Bag-needs to be lined and put together

UFOs I found that I want to finish:

An arrowhead afghan-if I can find the colors I'm using-size ? hook, will have to experiment, not sure if I used hook specified in pattern or went larger.
A scrap afghan in the step pattern-I'm calling it Around the World in 80 Scraps-it's in the quilt pattern called Around the World and I probably can find 80 different scraps to use in it.-size H hook

Also:

A hat from Yarn Cat's site-Claire-almost finished
A Cats Afghan-using baby yarn and a H hook

This list keeps getting longer and longer......

Ok, I really didn't need to start the hat but it looked so nice, the cats afghan is for my first grandbaby so that one's justified *G*

I treated myself

I went to my LYS and was looking at the yarn again. I really can't afford to get much of what they have but I wanted to get some to try the wristwarmers with. I found some Cascade superwash wool from Peru at a little over $10 for 100g. I think it's a sportweight yarn, it doesn't feel very heavy. One should be plenty to knit a pair of wristwarmers. I'll be using my dpn and doing them in the round so I won't have any seams to bother with. If they turn out I might write out how I do them.

I like the fact the wool is superwash, I hate handwashing things. I'll probably air dry them though.

More wristwarmers

I thought I'd try a different yarn to see how they would look, I'm knitting this pair with size 8(US) needles and Bernat Frenzy in Black Blast. If they turn out good, I might post the pattern in my pattern blog, I'm using the same method the crochet ones used only I'm using garter st since they're knitted side to side and the ribbing wouldn't be going the right way.

This yarn is hard to see the sts, that's why I'm only using garter st, the yarn will add the pizazz, if you've seen Frenzy you'll know what I mean.

I really need to get a move on the Roses

That way I won't have anything after it that has a specific deadline. This doesn't either, really but I want to finish it first since it's for someone else and most everything else is for me.

I'm about halfway done with the roses in 2 more colors and starting the last two colors then I can start making the squares.

The only other thing that has a deadline is the doily and I'm about halfway on that one, hope my swap partner likes it, it's in varigated purples.

Wristwarmer

I just finished a pair of wristwarmers for the Cold Hands, Warm Heart CAL at Crochetville, well almost. I still have the fun fur trim to finish on one. I got the pattern here and I really like them because you can whip out a pair in almost no time at all. They were a little plain though when I tried them on so I got some Lion Brand Fun Fur in a coordinating color and crocheted a fun fur trim around the wrist, hand and thumbholes. I like them a lot better now:


I think I'll be making some more of these.

Almost done

The room I've been cleaning on is almost done, all I need to do is get Ricky to move the old computer junk and other stuff out for me then do a little more rearranging. It's almost time for after pics and anyone who's seen the before pics here will be surprised-scroll down a few posts. Where once you couldn't walk in without stumbling over something now there's almost nothing at all on the floor and the center of the room is clean, except for running the vacuum. The ironing board has been cleaned of the stuff I put on it while picking through stuff, been folded and is leaning against the wall, all the stuff I thought I wanted to keep is in a box in the closet floor and the guitar equipment is towards the back of the room instead of the middle. All my yarn, thread and stuff is either in a box in the closet, in a tote under the milk crates or in the milk crates except for the stuff still in my bedroom, living room and dining room. I'll get to those when I get to the rooms to clean.

I wonder if I subconciously don't want company and that is why I keep such a cluttered up house....

Pack Rats Anonymous

I posted a couple of posts ago about how I was a pack rat so I figured I might as well advertise the fact. I was looking for a pack rat picture on Google so I could make a button and also came across a website called Pack Rats Anonymous. I don't have time right now to explore it but since I'm a pack rat I thought I'd also link to the site since I am using part of their picture in my button, it's only fair, right?

I don't think I'll join, I just thought I'd link to the page since I was using their pic, there's no cure for me, I've been a pack rat for much too long ;)

Anyway, if anyone else is a pack rat too click the button on the sidebar and have a looksee at PRA ;) and if you want, grab the button and advertise the fact on your own blog:

*YAWN*

I woke about 5 this morning and Ricky told me to go wake BJ up-he had to be at work by 6 and since he's living here temporarily it'll take him an hour to get to work. Thankfully that will only last about a month until he moves to his USM dorm. He had already got up and left, never hurts to make sure though.

I really don't want to get back in that room and clean anymore but if I don't it'll never get done-I'm the world's laziest when it comes to cleaning and I have my grandmother's pack rat tendencies. At least I got all the junk out, it's just a matter of setting the trash bags out for the trash men to get today and rearranging all the stuff still in there. Still I'm tired and have a crick in my neck so I don't feel like doing anything. Once I get in there I'll be ok cause once I start something I usually try to finish-except crochet/knitting for some reason-go figure.

Guess I better get going, I have to go to town in a bit for a couple of things.

At least I'm getting a good start on transforming the room into my crochet/knit room.

I'm very tired now

I knew there was a lot of junk in that room, I just wasn't aware how much until I started cleaning this morning-the hazards of being a pack rat, I suppose. I still have a lot of organizing to do in there and there's some things that Ricky will have to throw in his truck and take off for me but the biggest part is done.

I thought I'd show what the crates on the wall look like, they're almost full of the yarn I've been buying lately, most of it is for projects I have ongoing but some of it was just because I liked it. I usually buy RHSS because it's just about all W-M sells. They have some Mainstays and a few Simply Soft and Lion Brand. I have a LYS but their prices are way out of my league. The yarn I've had for years has been organized for the most part either into boxes or totes. I have a couple of boxes full of stuff that needs to be frogged and I still have quite a bit of tangles stuff to untangle but when it's all done I'll have quite a stash, even though most of it is quite old. As long as it can still be crocheted or knitted then it's still worth having. I'm also going to try scrumbling sometime or other so all the little bits will come in handy. One of the bins is pretty full of Bernat Frenzy that I've been snatching up while W-M has it on clearance. $1.94 a ball is pretty good for that stuff and it makes nice scarves.

Anyway, pay no attention to the stuff still underneath the bins, like I said, I'm not through organizing yet ;)

Milk crates aren't just for milk anymore

I've had these milk crates for a long time, years even and usually they become a catchall of stuff that can usually be thrown out. I've been cleaning the front bedroom out so we'll have room to store some of my son's stuff that he can't have in his dorm room in there and I had 5 of them, 2 of them crammed with stuff that mostly got thrown out. I'm not saying how many 30 gallon trash bags I have filled so far from that room but the trash man will probably wonder what's going on ;)

Anyway I got some nails and nailed 4 of the crates along one wall where I found 4 studs and nailed the 5th one under the first one I nailed up. I started putting my skeins of yarn that still had wrappers on them in the crates and I have a lot of that although most of it is slated for various projects I have going on. I plan on separating the skeins without wrappers into boxes according to whether they can remain a skein or if I'll have to wind them, it will depend on if they're tangled or not. The room is still a big mess but only because I haven't organized what's in there, most of the trash is gone except for some stuff I can't get to until I start organizing.

So I guess I best get to organizing while I feel like it, huh?

The CAL is on the move

Looks like I had some takers for the Cathedral Window CAL, now to get started on a page for it. I have a free account at ASP with plenty of space. I can host pictures at Image Shack so I don't use up space at ASP.

I'm still scratching my head over the design and how to do the picture page so I'll be playing in MSFrontPage. I code my own stuff and I don't let MS code it for me but it is a good program to play with HTML then I can just C&P the code over to ASP when I get it right. The only gripe I have about ASP is the timeout if you're idle for a certain length of time, and when you're writing code in the code block you're still idle. It's much easier to write the code, tweak it then C&P it to ASP than to risk losing it by losing track of time.

Anyway, be on the lookout for the new page sometime within the next week or so.

Now I know I'm off my rocker

I just posted a new thread in the Crochet Along forum at Crochetville to do the Cathedral Window Afghan. I can host it at a site I have so that isn't a problem, the only problem will be if there are any takers.

I did make a button, just in case:

Back from yarn shopping

And other stuff. I found some pretty colors in RH to do the Cathedral Window in so I guess I don't have a choice.

My colors are:

Mainstays:

I got my black and white in that to save some money, every little bit helps around here.

RHSS:

Lt Varigated:

Monet

Dk Varigated:

Plum Pudding

Here's a pic, the black is on the bottom and kind of hard to see:

Totally off my rocker

But it's such a gorgeous afghan! Cathedral Window

I've acquired this pattern and I'm going yarn shopping today. Not that I don't already have enough to keep me busy, but I've also heard this thing is a bear to make. I've also heard it's totally worth the frustration when you get it made. It's huge-around 6'6" diameter. I'll just have to work on it a little at a time until I get some other stuff done-yeah, right, how many times have I already said that? LOL

Anyway, that thing is just too pretty not to make so I'm going to give it a shot. Hopefully I can find the purples I'm looking for, if not my second choice is blues.

I'm getting it bad

And I don't need a cure......or do I? ;)

It's gotten to where I can be doing the most ordinary things and see something and think "I can do that in crochet" or "I wonder what that would look like in crochet"

Ordinary things like tank tops, bags, whatever. The latest was when I was using the restroom at a pool party and saw a mesh bag hanging on a hook and thought "I bet I can crochet that" It was made out of some kind of plastic screen stuff with cloth handles. It was lime green with pink handles.

Is there even a cure for this?

Do I even care?

Not really and maybe someday I will crochet something that pops into my head like that.

Just wanted to get that off my chest before I went to bed.

Baby crochet

A lady in our church is pregnant and I wanted to make her something other than a blanket, clothes or anything that is normally crocheted for babies. A newbie to Crochetville was asking for suggestions and someone else suggested a portable diaper changing pad done in the potholder stitch. I don't like holding the piece the way the tutorial describes, it slows down my progress so I hold it like I always hold my crochet projects and just crochet through the back lp and next loop below, I get the same results and it goes almost as fast as doing plain sc.

I found a partial cone of some Peaches n Cream cotton yarn and I'm trying this with that. I'll have to wash it when I'm done to make sure it's clean and sanitary but it's coming along pretty well. I'm using a size J hook and ch 56 to have 55 sc across the narrow end. I'm figuring at least 30" long should be long enough and I'll be putting a tie on one end so it can be rolled up and tied for portability.

She looks like she's pretty far along and I haven't heard when her shower is yet so I'm trying to hurry with this, now that I have the stitch down (after frogging a couple of times cause I lost a st somewhere) I should be able to have this done fairly quickly.

She's my former sister in law's niece so I wanted to do something I hadn't done for anyone else, this sounded like something special.

Now that I've got the stitch down I might be making some potholders from some old yarn I have lying around, no more making two squares and joining them together. For functional potholders this stitch is great.

Another shrug

I've started another shrug, this one is from a frogged sweater. I frogged the sweater awhile back and wasn't sure what I was going to make with it and this morning it spoke to me and said it wanted to be a shrug. It won't be exactly like the one I just did although I'll be using the same stitch-a V stitch, it's easy and works up fast. The pic I'm posting is the start of the sleeve, I don't know if I'll try to finish or put it up until I do a few more roses but I just wanted to start it.

If you can't see it, the yarn is a light blue and I think I have enough to make a shrug with longer sleeves and still be able to add the ruffle. I'm hoping I can make it a little looser too, I made the starting circle a bit bigger so that should help. I might make the back a bit bigger too. I'm not sure exactly how long I want the sleeves yet, but I'm thinking maybe ¾ length, we'll see, that seems to be the length the yarn is telling me to make it so that's probably what I'll do.

Here's the pic, FWIW:



At least it's helping me with one of my crochetalongs, the Recycled Yarnalong ;)

Finished shrug

I just finished the shrug I started yesterday. I wanted to finish last night but the Voyager DVD we were watching was really interesting, we're into season 7 and it's really good. I don't think we ever saw season 7 when it first ran so these eps are new to me.

Anyway the shrug turned out better than I thought. It fits snugly, which is ok, I want to wear it over some of my sleeveless dresses to church so my shoulders will stay warm when the building A/C is working a little too well.

I can't tell you the name of any of the colors, there was no label and like I said in my earlier post I've had this yarn for a long time now, it's just now told me what it wanted to be so there it is. The ruffle kind of gives it a more sophisticated look, I think. I didn't want just the shrug, I wanted it to come a little more around to my front and I knew I didn't have enough of those yarns to get it all the way across my big bust so I think this is a good compromise.

Anyway, here's the pic. I took them with my webcam so they aren't the best. I had to shrink them down a lot to get them to not look fuzzy and the color isn't the best but here it is:



The colors are teal and a varigated in purples, darker teals and navy mostly.

I jumped on

The shrug bandwagon. It's surprising how fast these little things work up. I picked up a couple of skeins of yarn that I've had for *mumble, mumble* too long. One is a very pretty turquoise yarn and kind of soft, there's only a partial skein of it. The other is a varigated in mostly purples and teals. I had a full 3-3½ oz skein of the varigated and thought I had another so I set out to start the shrug this morning. I used the turquoise to start the sleeve then switched to the varigated when I got to the body. When I got low on the varigated I looked around for the other skein I thought I had and couldn't find it. I knew I had some more of this color somewhere and finally found it, in a throw I was going to frog anyway since I didn't have enough of any of the colors in it to finish it and wouldn't be able to get them anywhere either, that's how long I've had this yarn.

Anyway, I frogged the throw back to where I could get the varigated off and it's about another full skein so I rolled it up, now to see about finishing it.

I'm thinking about doing something with the sleeves, I left them short but they're kinda plain so I'm going to scratch my head about what I'm going to do with them. I'm also going to be getting another color that coordinates with all the ones I'm already using and make a little shawl collar on it too. I'm hoping to finish before Sunday so I can wear it to church, it should be just right for keeping my shoulders warm, they keep the temp a little chilly in there.

Anyway, let's get back to shrugging along ;)

Update on the Roses afghan

I figure I might get it done faster if I post progress on it.

I just finished the last of the orange roses I need for it. I finished the yellow ones earlier this morning.

Now all I have left are the lilac, pink, white and red ones to do then there's turning the roses into squares and putting them together. I'll be crocheting them together, to me it's faster and makes the afghan stronger plus I hate sewing squares together and won't unless there's no other way.

Another update will come when I finish another color, think I'll go with lilac.

It's a hit

Seems a lot of people like my little thread thingie. Others have said they use old milk jugs or coffee canisters or paper towel holders. All of those are good ideas as long as they keep the thread contained.

I do have to make a modification on the thingie, a big ball of thread (like Aunt Lydia's Big Ball) won't sit on it freely, it's just a bit too short. I'm thinking about a couple of ways to modify it without taking it apart that should work, or I'll just use my paper towel holder, no one seems to want to hang paper towels on it anyway. I'm working on an idea anyway and holding 2 threads together, the paper towel holder should hold both balls for me. That way I won't have to do any cutting on my other one, I can just use my paper towel holder.

That was another good idea, Michelle ;)

I made a thread thingie

I got this idea about a week or so ago and Saturday when me and Jen had to run to Fred's for some more cleaning supplies for the church I got what I needed.

I made a thingie to hold my balls of thread while I'm crocheting. I bought a toilet paper roll holder for about $4 from Freds and got a piece of a 2x6 from church. They were throwing a lot of old lumber and stuff away so I figured they wouldn't mind if I snitched that little piece. I rescued it from the dump, right?

Anyway, I finally got everything out a little while ago and put it together and tried it out. It works! The ball of thread is off the ground and rolls freely on the holder. I'm sure it's not perfect but it's a lot better than it rolling around the floor or something.

I just wanted to show it off. I would have done it yesterday but after scrubbing 3 swimming pools I could barely lift a hook, much less a screwdriver.

I'm probably going to paint it later, don't have any so I'll have to hit the dollar store and see what they have.

BTW, whoever's in the Doily Swap, that's a sneak preview of the doily I'm making, hope whoever gets me likes it.

That didn't take long

After almost 2 balls of Frenzy the scarf is done. It hangs just below the bust on both sides and is just about the length I wanted to make it. It's so soft I'm going to have to make me one too in one of the other colors I have. I hope she likes it.

I'm definitely getting some more of this to play with if they still have it when I get more money.

Here's the pic:

Frenzy scarf

I'm working on a scarf for my secret pal at church out of some of that Frenzy I just bought. It's turning out pretty good, I'm using a MAM pattern from a book of MAM afghans I have. It's really just nothing but V sts with a dc on each end, very easy to do. I don't want the scarf to be one of those mile long things, just something to wear with her outfits or in cool weather to keep her neck warm. It should do that pretty well, it's soft and cozy feeling with just a little prickliness to it.

I never really looked closely at the label of this yarn before because I've never bought it, price was just too high for 50g of it. I looked at this one and this is what Frenzy is made of:

37% nylon
30% acrylic
12% polyester
10.5% alpaca
10.5% mohair

No wonder it normally costs almost $5 for 50g, with alpaca and mohair in it.

I guess our W-M must be discontinuing it since they've marked it down to $1.94. I'm hoping to get more if I get some more extra money, doesn't really look like anyone's buying anything in the discount buggy, or they have loads of the yarn they've discounted because the buggy is always full when I see it.

They also have some Lion Brand bouclé and some Bernat Galaxy yarn there, if it's $1.94 I might get some of that too.

A little stash growth

I came into some extra money today so I went to W-M to see if they still had the discount buggy out in crafts. They did so I picked up a ball of Bernat Frenzy but none of them were marked. They had been marked at $3 but they weren't marked so I took it to one of the pricing thingies and scanned it. To my surprise they were now $1.94 so I went back and picked up 8 of them in 4 different colors-Ok, one of them is still marked $3 but it was still $1.94. I also picked up a couple more Bernat Softee Baby (not on sale) in the mint and lilac since I seem to be using that in several different projects and will probably pick up some more next time I have some money so that I'll have enough for all the projects. Then I picked up 3 balls of Aunt Lydia's #10 crochet thread (not on sale either) in some colors because I really want to do my swap doily in something other than ecru or white. I'll finish the ecru one and keep it but start a new one in one of the colors I just bought.

I just did the math and if I had bought the Frenzy at the regular price it would have been $34.56 + tax. I paid $15.52 + tax so I saved more than half getting it on clearance. I've always wanted to try some of the novelty yarns but as you can see, they're pretty expensive unless you can get them on sale like I just did. I want to use one of the blue ones in a skinny scarf for my secret pal at church since I haven't given her anything this month yet and blue is her favorite color.

Anyway, here's a pic of what I got. Crochetville is rubbing off on me, I'm impulse-buying yarn now, hehe:

WIP list sorted, sort of

I've kinda-sort of, put my WIP list in the order I need/want to finish. The first two are definitely the two that need to be finished first, as for the rest, they're kinda-sorta in the order I'd like to finish them. I've also found a couple of UFOs in the tote I've been detangling that I'd like to finish, that list is under the WIP list just in case I find more UFOs.

WIP:

A Rose in Bloom afghan-size I hook
2 thread ties-a red one in a pineapple pattern-size 8 hook and a blue one in hdc-size 10 hook
A Cocoon sweater-size K hook
A 63 squares afghan-size H hook, could be anything from G to K, depending on pattern
A pair of crocheted socks in baby yarn, 2 colors of pink-size E hook
A pair of knit socks in RHSS camo-size 3 dpn
A pair of knit socks in baby yarn-lilac-size 3 dpn
A pair of knit slipper socks in Caron SS-baby varigated-size 7 circ
A crochet tank top-size G hook
A sherbet tank top-size H hook
A knit basketweave scarf-size 10½ straight needles
A crochet eyelet wrap-size J hook
A doily for the doily swap in Aunt Lydia's ecru-size 7 hook(hope that's ok with my swap partner, AL is the only thread I can afford)
Finish detangling that tote of yarn, almost there, just got tired of it, plus I need to finish that shawl and those ties. There's some more stuff in there that needs frogging too.
A beret from the Homespun I used on my black/white pineapple shawl.-size K hook
2 mini-shawls-black in size 0 hook and blue in size F hook, same pattern as the pineapple shawls I've been making only in lighter yarn and smaller hook. This is really an experiment to see what it'll do, it could flop or it could fly.
A knit dishcloth-size 8 needles
A crochet dishcloth-size H hook
A Fleuri Bag-needs to be lined and put together

UFOs I found that I want to finish:

An arrowhead afghan-if I can find the colors I'm using-size ? hook, will have to experiment, not sure if I used hook specified in pattern or went larger.
A scrap afghan in the step pattern-I'm calling it Around the World in 80 Scraps-it's in the quilt pattern called Around the World and I probably can find 80 different scraps to use in it.-size H hook

She liked it!!

Actually, she loved it. Ms. Janie, the lady I made the Candy Apple pineapple shawl for.

I took it to church with me this morning and when she got there I handed it to her and told her it was for her. The look of surprise and delight on her face was worth it (as always), especially after she unfolded it and tried it on. It's really roomy on her and she should get lots of snuggles from it. She mentioned that it must have taken a long time and I didn't say anything, as anyone who's made it knows, it only takes a few evenings to get one done, they work up so fast. I did take my time with this one to make sure I didn't make too many errors and there was only one that I found that won't show so I didn't frog it back.

I don't have a picture of the finished one but since the other picture is of the finished one before weaving in ends I'm sure most can see how it looks and can imagine it without the loose ends.

They will be leaving Thursday for their new home and I told her I wanted their address. I didn't tell her why but I'm still working on his ties and I can just send them when they're done. I'll send along washing instructions as well since this is #10 thread and has specific washing instructions. I might just include the part of the wrapper that has the washing instructions on it for her. Tonight is their last night at church, he'll be doing Wednsday services at the new church so I'm glad I at least finished the shawl.

I'm going to miss her and not just because she makes the most mouth-watering baked goods you've ever eaten but because they're the most wonderful people anyone could know.

I'm still going to miss her cinnamon rolls too *drool*

Crafty to-do list

Thought I'd make a list of some WIP that need finishing plus a WIM list too.

WIP:

A Fleuri Bag-needs to be lined and put together
A pair of crocheted socks in baby yarn, 2 colors of pink
A pair of knit socks in RHSS camo
A pair of knit socks in baby yarn-lilac
A pair of knit slipper socks in Caron SS-baby varigated
A pineapple shawl-just need ends tucked in
2 thread ties-a red one in a pineapple pattern and a blue one in hdc
A doily for the doily swap in Aunt Lydia's ecru(hope that's ok with my swap partner, AL is the only thread I can afford)
Finish detangling that tote of yarn, almost there, just got tired of it, plus I need to finish that shawl and those ties. There's some more stuff in there that needs frogging too.
A beret from the Homespun I used on my black/white pineapple shawl.
A 63 squares afghan
A Rose in Bloom afghan
2 mini-shawls, same pattern as the pineapple shawls I've been making only in lighter yarn and smaller hook. This is really an experiment to see what it'll do, it could flop or it could fly.
A Cocoon sweater
A knit dishcloth
A crochet dishcloth
A knit basketweave scarf
A crochet tank top
A sherbet tank top

WIM:

From the Woman's Day Granny Squares 1974:
Pastel Camisole
Shell Strap Camisole
66 Square Afghan
Stained Glass Shell
Swiss Vest
Granny Pullover
Pouffy Beret
5 Square Pouch
Cardigan and Scarf
Turtleneck Dog Coat
*Told you I'd like to make just about every pattern in there, these are just the ones I REALLY want to make*

A Serafina shawl

I'd like to get back into more thread crochet, maybe small things like bookmarks, doilies, toys, snowflakes, etc.

A cape for this winter, shawls and ponchos are nice but I think capes are about to make a comeback too ;) and they're so cozy.

That's about all I can think of, I'll probably update the WIM list as I think of things I'd like to do.

I had more WIPs than I thought I did, once I started listing them, going to have to finish some of the WIPs before I get to the WIMs, I'll just keep adding to the WIMs. When I get some of the WIPs finished then I can pick from the WIMs for future projects.

My First Swap

I just joined my first swap at Crochetville. It's the doily swap that just opened up. I filled out the survey and said I wanted to do a small doily then changed my mind about an hour later. I had been going through the magazines (that I could find) and found one that I really liked. It's much bigger than 8" so I edited my post to say to switch me to the large doily group. I found the pattern in a magazine a friend of mine gave me called Diana's Crochet Collection-Classic Crochet Number 1. The magazine is from April, 1986 and there's a doily in there that's really pretty but it uses #5 Pearl cotton which I don't even know if I can get. I think it would look better in the #10 thread anyway so I broke out a new ball of Aunt Lydia's in ecru I had bought a couple of weeks ago and started the doily with a #7 steel hook. It'll still be quite large since the original doily is supposed to be 19", I don't know how big mine will be but it's a safe bet to say that it will be bigger than 8".

I'm not saying what the pattern is or what the doily looks like since I don't know who my swap partner will be yet and I'd like to keep the doily a surprise, with maybe a teaser every now and then.

I haven't made a doily in years, the last one I made was a pineapple one I have in a magazine I can't find right now. It has basketweaves on the very outside and turned out really pretty. I gave it to my MIL that year for Christmas and she had it framed. I might have to go over there one day and take a picture of it since I didn't have a computer back then nor did I have the foresight to take a picture of it. Now that I have a computer and a sorta decent digicam I can get a picture of it to keep.

Anyway, I hope by starting the doily now I can get it finished in between the rose afghan and the 63 squares afghan that I also need to do.

You know what else I like about this pattern? It's charted, all the patterns in this mag are charted. I think all doilys should be charted because IMO you can work a doily faster from a chart than you can from a written pattern. That's just me, of course, someone else might think differently.

OK, I couldn't wait

I took a picture of the shawl, I still have all the ends to tuck in but that's all. I plan to give it to her on Saturday if she shows up at the workday at church. If not she'll get it Sunday morning.

Here it is:



I'm too tired to tuck in the ends right now, that's some dark yarn and is hard on the eyes so I'd rather tuck the ends in when I'm not tired so I won't miss any or put them where they'll slip out. I left them long so I can work them in good.

No more Homespun for awhile

While the yarn is incredibly soft it's also incredibly frustrating to work with. I broke the J Crystalite hook I was using just before I had to start the last row of pineapples on the pineapple shawl, where you work each point separately. I figured I'd break one before it was over with but I'd hoped I could finish the shawl before I did, my aluminum Boye J hook snagged the yarn pretty badly and it took me twice as long to finish a point as it did when I finished one with the Crystalite hook.

I'll post a picture of the Candy Apple pineapple shawl after I get the ends tucked in, right now I just want to put the thing down and rest my wrists awhile, maybe pick up something that isn't so hard on them, like regular yarn, I have 2 pineapple shawl collars started-the same pattern as the shawl only with sportweight yarn and a small hook. They'll be way smaller than the shawl-the black one got to row 6 before it was as big as row 4 on the shawl, so we'll see how they look when I finish. I have in mind a miniature shawl, closed in the front around the neck with a couple of buttons that are crocheted together in a small chain. You can wear it over a sleeveless top, dress or even a sweater/turtleneck in cooler weather.

We'll see if my idea works.

I got another idea

I'm finished detangling for today anyway, we have an early church this evening and I need to get a bath and wash my hair so it'll have time to dry before we go. It's sort of going to be a fellowship/goodbye dinner at 6 since our pastor is leaving next week. Dinner will be at 6, bible study at 7 and cake/ice cream afterwards. I'm really going to miss them. Ms. Janie's shawl should be finished by then, don't know about the tie, might have to send it to him.

Anyway, my idea. I just got through rolling a 4 oz ball of black sportweight yarn, don't know if I bought it or if someone gave it to me but I got to thinking, usually a dangerous thing for me to be doing (see posts about crochet dummy ;)) Anyway I got out my #0/3.25mm steel hook and I'm going to see how the pineapple shawl will look as a scarf. I think it will be big enough to go around my neck as a scarf when I'm through, I'm only to row 6 which is the starting of the beginning shells. I'll let you know how it goes, I'm off to the bath, then I'll pick up the shawl and try to do some more on it, I just don't feel like detangling anymore right now, especially after those 3 balls of country blue I had to wind-1-7 oz, 1-4 oz, and 1-3 oz ball-that gives me a heckuva lot of country blue yarn to figure out what to do with, I'm thinking maybe a Serafina after I finish a couple of other projects. After I finish the rose afghan I'm going to start crocheting for me, it's about time, out of all the stuff I've crocheted over the last year I've only kept a few things, a Homespun pineapple shawl, some socks and a couple of dishrags and a capelet.

I think I need to start crocheting/knitting for me now.

I was right

It's good to know my estimating skills are still good. I just finished winding that big skein of country blue and I was curious as to how much it weighed so I pulled out my kitchen scale and made sure it was set to 0 then weighed the cake. It weighed in at a tiny bit over 7 oz so it was just about half of one of RH's Pounders. I remember years ago when W-M was selling the pounders that I bought some and this is what's left.

I'm glad the whole skein wasn't tangled, just the two ends or I would have been forever untangling then winding that one. As it was, it still took awhile cause the closer I got to the end the more it tried to tangle when I would pull it out but I managed to get a decent looking cake from it. It looked kind of dirty in places but I think when I use it I should be able to wash the item and it will come clean.

Well, back to the tangle pile.

This could take awhile

I just liberated a huge old skein of country blue RHSS from the tangle. I think it used to be one of the pounders and it looks like there's still half of it or better left on the skein. I would leave it as a skein but it looks rather untidy that way and I'd be afraid it would tangle too badly if I didn't wind it. I hope my toilet paper roll can handle it, I seriously thought about seeing if I had a paper towel roll for this one but we'll see.

Back to winding, I brought it over to the computer since it'll take awhile and I have a couple of friends on MSN, even though we aren't really saying anything ATM, I think they're both a little busy since they're both at work.

*Roll, roll, roll your yarn till it's all wound up

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, winding is such fun*

it's getting easier

The more I detangle the easier it's getting, there isn't so much to go through each time I get a bunch out. I think I'm going to run back to the Dollar General and get another 20 quart drawer tote, they stack and I want to use them to store all this old and leftover yarn in. I got 2-18 gallon totes from W-M the other day to use for the new yarn I buy, I'm buying a few skeins every time I get some extra money so I'll have a good stash built up this winter when I don't have as much extra money coming in from the swimming pools and I'll be able to crochet/knit without running out of yarn. The totes were even on sale, they were $2 apiece and I'm really tempted to go back and get a few more to put in my yarn room because they had a bunch of them there. They had the 4-drawer things on sale too but they were still almost $10 apiece and I figured the tote would be the better deal. Maybe if they're still on sale when I get paid by one of my customers later next week then I might get 2 or 3 more of them-can't have too many totes ;).

Well, I was just rambling while I was taking a break and getting some breakfast so I guess I better get back to detangling.

After untangling all day

I made a pretty good dent in the tangled yarn. Some of it looks like it would make interesting scrumbles. I'll have to go through all the yarn when I get it all detangled and set aside what I think I'll need for the dummy then set aside the ones I might want to play scrumbling with.

Can't wait till I get through with these other projects so I can play around just for me.

UFO/Detangling

I've been slowly but steadily going through that 35 gallon tote of UFOs and tangled yarn. I started around 7pm last night and went till 10 when we went to bed. I started up again about 7 this morning and it's just past noon now and I'm making some headway. I bought one of those 20 quart stacking drawer things from the Dollar General store last week and am filling it up with the yarn I'm winding. It's almost full with tiny to pretty good size cakes of yarn and there's still a lot left to untangle. I'm still not sure if I want to try untangling the #10 thread, I'll decide when I get more yarn out of the bunch. If I can wind it several times around my hand I'll keep it cause I can use it in the small granny squares I'm making for my dummy. It doesn't take much to make the first round so there isn't any reason to throw away the small bits unless they're really tiny.

I've been thinking that when/if I get through with my dummy I've been toying with the idea of trying scrumbles with what's left, I should have a lot to play with and should get some interesting textures. That's one reason I'm thinking about trying to untangle the thread because I can use it in the scrumbles since there aren't any rules to scrumbles/freeform crochet.

Anyway, I was just taking a small break before I finished winding the latest yarn I pulled from the tangle so I better get back to it.

Lotsa tangles and UFOs

One of the things I'm going to need to do if I'm going to do this dress dummy is untangle some of this tangled up old yarn I have. I'll be using as much scrap yarn as I can find and will probably frog some UFOs to use since some of them I can't tell what I wanted them to be so I might as well use them for something constructive and be doing something for the UFO-along I'm a part of.

As tangled as all this yarn is I don't believe in throwing it away. If it got tangled it can be untangled, you just need lots of patience. I have a 35 gallon tote full of UFOs and tangled yarn, some of it isn't tangled but I'll have to go through the tangles to find that.

So, in between finishing the Candy Apple Pineapple shawl and tie for our pastor and his wife by the 23rd, when they leave, the rose afghan I have to make and the dress dummy I should be quite busy for awhile.

At least I'll have my yarn untangled and the UFOs either frogged or set aside to finish later.

Just about got the dress dummy figured out

I'm not going from the neck down, I'm going to make small squares and join them. I can fill in the curved gaps with sc, I think.

I'm going to go to some stores around town and see where I can get a foam mattress pad the cheapest then cut out 2 pieces from my measurements for a front and back then I'll have something to go by to lay my squares out. I can use fiberfill to stuff sections that need a little more shape.

As for the bust, I've been thinking about that boobie pillow they've been talking about over at Crochetville, I think I can adapt that pattern to do the bust. I don't need the dummy to be a perfect match to my measurements since I probably won't be making any fitted clothes (not with my body anyway, hehe) I just want something to use to see how tops or skirts will fit and how shawls and ponchos will drape.

I've decided that some small circumference PVC pipe should make a good stand and support for my dummy, I'll just need to hit the hardware store for the stuff I need when (if) I get the dummy made. I'll have to have the stand in it before I stuff it too much because I'm going to make a support for the dummy to sit on across the shoulders, kind of like a big T.

I hate it when ideas grab me and won't let go, sometimes I hate it anyway. If hubby knew what I was doing he'd probably send me on to the loony bin but oh, well ;)

Yeah, I'm really off my rocker here, but isn't that the way most inventors are? ;)

I just had a really crazy idea

I was just reading at Crochetville about someone who got a dress dummy for real cheap. Someone else posted about a thread at Craftster about making duct tape dress dummies and I posted a site where there's a tute for making one. The trouble with the duct tape dummy is that you need two people to make one, the model for the dummy and the person to wrap the model.

I just had a wild idea to crochet one. Using old leftover yarn and a small hook for a firmer fabric I think I can make one. I can start at the neck and work my way down using my measurements. Then I can stuff it to my measurements and put it on a stand. If I decided to use it for sewing then I'd be able to stick pins in it without them getting the sticky stuff from the tape all over them. I don't know when I'll be able to attempt this since I have some stuff that needs to be done first but when I get an idea like this it usually won't let me go until I try it.

Wish me luck. I have no idea if it'll work or if I'll be able to write a pattern for it but for now I just want to see if I can make one.

Thread tie

I said I might make 2 ties for Bro. David in an earlier post and I think I will. I started on a tie that is incorporating a small pineapple pattern in the middle. I hope to have the pattern written up as I make it and will post it to my pattern blog. This tie is being done in some red #10 thread that I've had for a long time and I'm using a #8 steel hook. I think it's Red Heart but I'm not sure since the label is long gone. It could be Aunt Lydias but it's doubtful I usually only buy the big white or ecru balls of that.

Anyway, keep a lookout for my tie pattern in the near future (I hope)

A knitter's tip

For anyone who's just starting out to knit and wants to practice stitches but not make swatches that can't be used for anything or don't really want a scarf then why not try potholders or dishcloths. You can use acrylics for potholders and ww cotton for dishcloths. For potholders I'd recommend you make 2 just alike then sew them together wrong sides facing.

Another tip: If you aren't doing any fancy patterns but just basic stitches then try slipping the first stitch of each row without working it

For instance: If you're working stockinette stitch then on the knit row slip the first stitch like you're about to knit it but slip it to the right-hand needle without working it, on the purl row slip the first stitch like you're about to purl it but slip it to the right-hand needle without working it.

For garter stitch simply slip the first stitch of each row as if you're going to knit it.

Some suggested dishcloths:

Stockinette stitch: Cast on the appropriate number of stitches for how wide you would like your dishcloth to be, work in stockinette st (k 1 row, p 1 row) until the dishcloth is a big square. Bind off

Garter stitch: Cast on the appropriate number of stiches for how wide you would like your dishcloth to be, work in Garter st (k every row) until dishcloth is a big square, bind off.

Seed stitch: Cast on an odd number of stitches. Work in seed st (k 1, p 1) every row until dishcloth is a big square, bind off in k 1, p 1. The odd number of sts cast on lets you start with k 1 each time, if you have an even number of sts cast on then you would work the first row k 1, p 1 and the second row p 1, k 1. Work these 2 rows until dishcloth is a big square then bind off either in k 1, p 1 or p 1, k 1- whichever row you happen to be on at the time, just keep to the pattern.

Personally, I like the seed st for dishcloths for the texture. Seed st gives a good texture for scrubbing.

I think dishcloths and potholders are better for stitch practicing because they're small and don't take long to make, plus they're usable after you're finished.

Of course you could always make smaller squares of practice sts and sew them together into an afghan or even a poncho. Sampler squares can be used in any number of ways, just like in crochet.

Tata for now, just thought I'd throw my 2¢ into the tips bucket

A little tip

I posted in an earlier post about making a crochet tie for our pastor as a goodbye gift from me. I'm using #10 thread and a #10 needle so the work is very small. I have to take my glasses off to see it straight (I'm nearsighted and wear bifocals and the bifocal doesn't let me see my work right or something) I'm making the tie up, using only hdc and I've figured out my row count. I know how many rows I need to go before starting the decreases for the other part of the tie and hit on an idea to help me count the rows. I put a small safety pin (wish I had the tiny gold ones) every 10 rows so I only have to count 10 rows at a time. It really helps my eyes if I don't have to constantly count from the bottom.

I'm sure somone thought of this but I thought I'd put it here in case someone hasn't.

Crystalite hooks

While they're a little different to use and not quite as smooth as an aluminum hook I found one thing out-they crochet Lion Brand Homespun better than Boye aluminum. For some reason the Boye J hook snagged the yarn on almost every stitch and I was starting to get frustrated when I decided to try my J Crystalite hook. It barely snags it once in awhile and I'm much happier now and should get this shawl done in no time and with much less frustration. I don't know why it's better with the Homespun but when I made my Homespun shawl I had been using the Crystalite K and didn't have a problem with snagging. I guess it's the way they're made or something. I don't know how a wooden hood would do since I don't own any but for Homespun yarn Crystalite hooks crochet it much better than Boye aluminum, at least for me they do.

Many, many thanks to my fairy godmother who RAOK'd me with them, you have saved me a lot of frustration with Homespun yarn, which I love to work with for it's softness but found frustrating because of the snagging.

It's a good thing too because I just had to frog the whole thing because I miscounted on the first row, now I can redo it without all the frustration of snagging the yarn.

Our Pastor is leaving

Yesterday our pastor informed us that he had been called to another church. He and his wife will be leaving at the end of the month. They've been with us for 11 years and it will be hard to say goodbye but I understand that when God tells you it's time to move then you have to move.

I've decided to make them goodbye gifts. I'm making him a tie from #10 crochet thread in dark blue. I might make 2 in different styles, I don't know yet. I have one started, it's just simple hdc but the color is really pretty.

I'm making his wife a pineapple shawl in Homespun, color Candy Apple. It's a gorgeous red and red is her favorite color. She's quite a bit smaller than me so I will be able to use a smaller hook, I'm just trying to decide whether to use a I or a J. I used a K on mine. I have 5 skeins of the yarn just in case, I'd rather have too much than not enough and I can always find something to do with any leftovers.

Anyway, even though it'll be hard to lose them hopefully they'll enjoy my gifts and we'll get another pastor as loving as he is.

God always knows what He's doing so I'll just trust that He has already sent another pastor our way, we just have to find him.

I will post pictures of the gifts as soon as I get them done, I've only just started on the tie.

I had an idea

While I was crocheting on another little capelet like the black/red one an idea hit me to try something. I might later when things settle down around here, it's VBS this week and I'm helping in crafts (no surprise there). We were working with red clay today and that stuff was just about like going outside and finding a gravel pit and picking up a handful of that clay only this was redder. Our theme this year is Indian based so we were making clay bowls/cups/etc and this stuff gets everywhere. At least it washes right off and we had plastic aprons for the kids to wear over their clothes. Surprisingly there wasn't that big a mess made except on the kids' hands. Tomorrow we'll be making leather bracelets with their Indian names on them using colored Sharpies which should be fun. Later on in the week we'll be making salvation bracelets with colored pony beads and leather, decorating picture frames and making feather headbands. At least we got the messiest craft over with first. I'll have pictures later when I get all of them made. So far I've made two bowls and both bracelets.

If I get this capelet done I'll write it out and post it in my pattern blog.

Why socks?

For some reason I can hear non crochet/knitter/crafters asking this question. I can hear them asking "Why knit/crochet your own socks when it's probably cheaper to buy them?"

There are several reasons:

First: They're fun to do. I pick my color/s and start making my socks.

Second: While they're possibly more expensive than buying them I also feel that handmade socks are more durable than ready made socks. That's JMHO

Third: They're unique. My handmade socks don't look like anything you can buy off the shelf, they're made by me and are therefore unique. Unless someone else takes the same yarn, needles/hook and makes theirs exactly the same as I did. Then they're still unique because no two feet are exactly alike and you make your socks to fit your feet. Which brings me to...

Fourth: I find most store bought socks are too tight in the cuff and bind my ankle. I can make my cuffs a bit looser to not be so tight around my ankle. I make them to my specifications, not the specifications of Hanes, FOL or any other mass market sock maker out there.

Why am I even making this post? It's my blog and I can ramble about whatever I like in it, no one's forcing you to read it and if you don't want to read it you're free to click something else. Also I just thought someone should list some of the reasons they like making socks. I can probably think of some more but right now these four are enough and I'm going to make socks as long as I'm able to knit/crochet and if someone doesn't like it then they don't have to watch me now, do they?

Slipper sock

I know I said I was going to frog the slipper sock but I got to looking at it and I think I'll go ahead and finish it. I was at the toe decreases anyway so I wasn't far from finishing. I'll make another to go with it and have a nice warm pair of slipper socks for this winter. They won't be too awful big on me, my feet are a pretty good size, 9" long and on the wide side. I took a picture, almost done with the toe decreases now so you can see what it's going to look like. I didn't use a pattern, I'm just winging it with a basic pattern, going mostly by tutorials and instinct.



I really like the colors, it's Caron SS in baby pastel shades, I forget what the actual name of it is but I do like it and if I have to I can get another one but I think I'll have enough left in the skein to get another sock.

Ok, I"m procrastinating but I wanted to finish the slipper sock before I left since I didn't have much left to do on it. I don't know why I've read that the kitchener stitch is so hard, I read the directions several times when I was reading about knit socks and I didn't even have to go back and read them again when I was weaving in the toe stitches. I think I did a pretty good job for my first knit sock on 2 circular needles, the top is a bit loose but that just means the sock will slouch, it's about crew length, a good length for slouching.

Sock, sock, sock

Here I have 3 socks in various stages of completion. Beginning from the right: Two-tone crocheted ankle sock in two shades of leftover pink baby yarn, knit camo ankle sock in RHSS, knit lilac ankle sock in leftover lilac baby yarn.



By the time cooler weather approaches Mississippi again I should have at least 3 more pairs of handmade socks to keep my feet warm. These are some small projects, along with the knit basketweave scarf, to go along with the 3 afghans I still have to finish.

In other news, a lady in church gave me a Mary Maxim catalogue and on the front is a knit poncho. it's made with 4 different knit blocks and I intend to see if I can replicate it. It's also on their website. If it's simple enough for a beginner to do I'm betting I can figure out how to do it and make my own. It won't be anytime soon but that's ok, as long as I have a picture to look at I should be ok. Click one of the sites to enter (I went into the American one) and click Poncho Gallery. It's on page 2, scroll down to the bottom, it's the Easy Blocks Poncho.

Anyway, I have work to do today, not much but it won't get done with me sitting my fat behind in front of this computer

Ramblings

I think I'll keep the directions I wrote for the capelet I just did (see previous post) on my computer for reference for now until I'm sure I won't get into any trouble for posting it. I will definitely make more of them in other colors from my stash later when I get going on the roses afghan, I'll have quite a stash of leftovers from that when I'm through since I only need 8 roses of each color for the afghan then it won't take much more to do the border if she wants me to use each color in the border like she did with the other one. It doesn't take a lot of yarn to make the capelet, I'd wager about 3 ozs of each color you're holding and I just can't see paying $58 ($43 on sale) for something I can make myself.

The knit scarf is coming along nicely and works up incredibly fast, just like Drew said. You get 10 rows knit before you know it and it's time to reverse what you were doing. I really have to watch myself at this point so that I don't confuse myself over what I'm doing or I get funny looking basketweaves. I've just started the third weave, which is a repeat of the first, there's 10 rows one way and 10 the other way. I've only worked on it sporadically and still have 22 rows done on it.



The sock I haven't picked back up, might do that today after I get back from cleaning pools. I hardly wear socks in the summertime anyway. This is probably the best time to knit them though, so I have them ready for when cold weather gets here so I probably better at least try to finish the ones I've started on.

Replicating

At Crochetville someone posted in Seeking Patterns a site selling Crocheted Capelets and wanted to make one. Looking at it, it's easy enough to figure out, you just need 2 strands of yarn and a really big hook. I used Red Heart SS in black and red with an N hook and I think I replicated it quite nicely.



It fits me and I wear an 18 top so it should fit just about anyone. I wrote down how I did it in Notepad but I'm not sure I should post it anywhere. I don't want to get into trouble with anyone. I feel it's kind of like everyone copying Martha's poncho, I copied this capelet. If anyone knows if it would be safe to post my directions, let me know, please.

I'm going to knit for awhile

To rest my wrists. Knitting isn't nearly as hard on them as crocheting is. I still have some crochet projects I need to get out but I won't be in an insane hurry to get them done.

I have the roses afghan to complete
The 63 squares to get a move on
The pineapple shawl for my secret pal-I might swap this one and do a seraphina one instead, that is one gorgeous shawl.
I have a pair of socks I'm crocheting from leftover baby yarn
A pair of socks I'm knitting (see earlier post)

I think I'll frog the other knit sock I was working on and start it over, it's still too big and I want it to fit. Frogging's no big deal in this instance since it was an experiment and I expected to have to frog. At least the other one I started last week should fit, if my calculations were correct.

I've also started a knit scarf. Drew is making one for a Christmas gift for someone and has a link to the pattern. It's a basic basketweave pattern that works up fast. I like the garter st edge he's putting on his compared to no edge on the original so I'm putting a 3 garter st edge on mine as well. I'm doing mine in RHSS in Orchid, a very pretty color. I'm also slipping the first st of each row, that makes a neater edge than knitting the first st of each row.

That's about all for this post, see you next post.

Washed and ready to pack

I've finally finished the pineapple pillowghan and washed it. It wasn't hard, except on my wrists sometimes, I've got the beginnings of carpal tunnel I think.

Anyway it turned out really nice and soft after I dried it with some fabric softener sheets.

Here's the pic:

Trying it again

I'm not going to allow knitted socks to defeat me, I've almost finished one I'm trying on 2 circular needles and although it'll be a bit big I can wear them for slipper socks when I make the other one. I'm at the toe decreases now and since it's kind of one that I'm winging and not following a pattern I'm doing the decreases the way I want, it's practice, so I'll find out what works and what doesn't.

Today I went to my LYS and bought a set of dpn in size 3 which is the largest size recommended for socks. They're bamboo from Clover and I wish I hadn't wanted them now, I could have ordered the same thing from Herrschners for about half the price and waited about a week to get them in. I might do that from now on, this LYS is pretty pricey on everything. Their wool/nylon sock yarn is almost $9 per 50g ball and I can get wool/nylon sock yarn from Herrschnerrs for less than half that for a 50g ball-in fact, I could buy 4 balls from Herrschners for that same $9 my LYS wants for 1 ball. Sure, it's a different brand but I've never had my head turned by brands, if the yarn is the same fiber content then I will buy the lower priced one. Maybe my SIL will take the broad hint I just gave him and remember to send me some for Christmas *crosses fingers*

Anyway, this time I'm not going to let knitting socks on dpn defeat me. Right now I'm practicing on some leftover baby yarn since it's the same weight as sock yarn and maybe by the time I can get some sock yarn I will have mastered the knit sock-either on dpn, circular or both.

The knitted sock will fall to me!!

Homespun Hat

I have about a skein and a half of the Homespun I used to make my Pineapple Shawl so I decided to make a hat to go with it I'm using a pattern from the Lion Brand website that uses Homespun so it should go pretty well.

Beret/scarf set

I've finished the crown, the rest will have to wait, getting dinner ready and have other things to do before we go to Wesson on Saturday for my son's graduation from the community college and to see my Mom and Dad, who should be there late that same afternoon.

Homespun Pineapple Shawl

Finished my shawl and it's sooooooooo snuggly. I used Lion Brand Homespun in Metropolis and a K hook. It'll be really comfy in late fall/early winter or if the a/c in church is cooling a little too well.

Here it is, I had to put something light under it so that you could see the pattern better:

I'm going to make one more that I know of, for my secret pal for her birthday. It's not till August so I have plenty of time.

Now to get back to the pillowghan.

I talked myself into it

I'm making myself a pineapple shawl, I'm already up to row 9.

The yarn is Lion Brand Homespun in Metropolis, it's a black/white twist and the look is a black/white tweed that's very soft and snuggly feeling. I think this is going to be one lovely shawl. I originally got the yarn intending to do a cocoon sweater but I think I want this shawl now.

Pics will come in a few days when I'm done.

Sweater Reborn

After I finished frogging the cardigan and rolling all the yarn I had to try out the pineapple shawl that I saw at Crochetville.

The pattern can be found here. There are some corrections that need to be made if it's to work out right:

On row 1 you only need 16 dc, including the beg ch-3

On row 3 you should have 34 dc, including the beg ch-3

Hopefully you can work the rest out.

Yes, it is a doily pattern. When you work it in worsted weight yarn and a K hook you also get a beautiful shawl. It wraps around me pretty well and I'm a pretty good sized woman so it'll probably fit up to a x-large, at least.

It took almost every scrap of yarn I frogged out of that sweater to make the shawl and I only had enough to do the first round of the edging. I still think it looks fine with only that. I toyed with the idea of maybe using the fringe I frogged off the sweater front on the shawl but decided against it, I think fringe would take away from the simplicity and beauty that is already there.

I'm giving it to my mom, it'll be her Mother's Day gift albeit a little late but they'll be coming down to visit next week so I'm sure she won't mind getting it a little late.

Anyway, here it is:

Loads of yarn

I've frogged 3 sweaters so far.

I don't think I'll ever try to frog chenille again, it's a pain in the hiney. I did get some very pretty rust red and black yarn, not a whole lot, it was really thin. I had to be really careful because it hung up easily and if you tugged very hard it would snap.

The first one I frogged was a blue acrylic, looks like it's pretty lightweight, maybe sport. I'm not exactly sure yet what I want to do with it but I didn't lose a whole lot of it except at the shoulders where the seams were serged.

The one I just finished frogging is a 55% ramie/45% acrylic in a very pretty light peach. I will be doing this I think. I saved the fringe that was on the front of the sweater and I might use it on the shawl, if there's enough. I know it won't take all the yarn to make, I'm not going to use a N hook, I'll be using a K.

I don't think I'll be frogging any more sweaters right now, I don't have much time to haunt garage sales and the thrift stores have put out their summer stuff, I might find some cotton sweaters if I'm lucky but I might have to wait till fall to start haunting the thrift stores again.

Anyway, soon as I get all my yarn balled up nicely I'll post a pic of all I got, and it was all free cause it was either sweaters that Jen left after she got married and one that someone had given me that I don't wear.

Free yarn is always nice.

Frogging the first sweater

I got the sweaters washed and took a look at the blue one to see about getting it apart. It looked like the sides were chain-stitched together and all I had to do was find the right end and start unraveling. The only obstacle I've found is that the neckline and sleeve tops have been serged so I cut just below the serge and get that part off then start frogging until I find the end I need. The rest goes pretty fast, frog it all out and start rolling it up. I have 2 softball size balls of beautiful light blue yarn so far just from the sleeves, I'm about to go after the front and back. I think I'll just let the neck ribbing go, it doesn't look like I'll get much out of it anyway.

So what am I going to make with it? Well there's a pattern here that makes a lovely shawl when done in yarn. I'll have to see if I have enough after frogging the front and back of the sweater to make one. There's a pink one here which was done with a N hook and worsted weight yarn. The yarn in this sweater looks more like sport weight yarn so I won't be using that big of a hook, I'll just have to experiment and see what looks best.

We'll see if I even have enough yarn from the sweater first.

Frogging sweaters

I've been reading at Crochetville about people buying sweaters at thrift stores for practically nothing and then frogging them for the yarn. My daughter left a couple of sweaters here after she got married and the seams aren't serged so I think I'll wash them to get the musty smell out (they've been in her room a couple of years now) and try to frog them. They're both 100% acrylic, one is a pretty blue and the other is an orangy red and black chenille-feeling one. I hope I can get the yarn out of them, I might try to make a couple of tank tops with the yarn. I guess we'll find out when they come out of the dryer, I had a load I needed to wash anyway so it did double duty, I'll have clean clothes and a couple of nice smelling sweaters to frog.

Will keep you updated on whether the frogging was successful.

I'm also going to hit my local Salvation Army sometime and see if there are any treasures there waiting to be discovered.

WIP Wednsday

I've been keeping up with mine in the WIP thread at Crochetville but haven't been putting it here so here's my first WIP report for my blogger. It's just a C & P from that post.

I've finished the baby set for the baby shower.

Now working on the pineapple pillowghan, got 3 more squares done, need 9 more to finish.

Have the yarn I need (I hope) to finish the cocoon sweater-I think I'm giving that to my mom for Mother's day, it's a bit tight on me and she isn't quite as big as I am, I think she'll like it too.

Finished a pair of socks from sock yarn and a basic pattern the other day, love them.

That's all I'm owning up to right now.

Finished the baby set

I finished the babyghan this morning so the whole set is ready to box and wrap. The shower is less than 2 weeks away so I had plenty of time, if I hadn't had the pineapple pillowghan to complete and send off. Now I have to finish that, hopefully this week so I can send it and it'll get there before the 17th.

Here's the baby set:

Finished socks

I finished the socks from the Bernat Sox yarn my fairy sent me. They're warm and comfy and I'm wearing them right now.



They really brighten up the feet, don't they?

Frog

Yep, I frogged the knit sock. The farther along I got the more it looked like it would fit André the Giant *cringe*

Oh well, mistakes happen, I didn't like the k2, p2 ribbing anyway. I frogged it back and took out 8 sts and started over with a k1, p1 ribbing and that looks a lot better. I was only about 23 rounds into it anyway so it wasn't too big a deal to frog it.

Now to see how this will look as it gets longer.

A button

I was playing around with The GIMP and trying to make a button for my blog and this is what I came up with:



If anyone wants to link to me, save it to your own server, please.

The socks are coming along

I've finished the top ribbing, I went for 2" and it looks like it will be enough. Now I'm working on the leg, which could take a little while since I've decided I want knee socks out of this yarn. They'll be a little thicker since I'm using Simply Soft but they should be warm this winter. The color is striping fairly well, it's Baby Ombre and I think the pastel colors will look interesting on knee socks, we'll see. I may have to do some shaping down past the calf so the socks won't be too big around the ankle but I'll worry about that when I get to it, I'm a fairly good knitter so I should be able to figure out what to do.

Since I know I can work this method so far I'm putting it down for a bit so I can get to work on the other crocheted sock I started, I want to finish it by Sunday so I can wear the socks to church-should get some interesting reactions, doncha think?

After I finish the other crocheted sock I also need to finish the purple pillowghan and send it off, plus I need to finish the babyghan before the 14th so I better get a move on.

I was going to keep the pillowghan a surprise but I also wanted to be sure the person getting it would like it so when I caught him on MSN this morning I asked him if he wanted to see what I had so far and he said ok. He said he probably wouldn't be able to tell what it was anyway since he knew nothing about crocheting but I think he at least knows it's an afghan now and he not only likes it, he loves it (insert cheering smilie here) At least if the WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the red heart that popped up on my MSN after he got a look at it was anything to go by.

Anyway, I was curious about whether I could use this technique or not and since it looks like I can I'll put it down and it'll be my next project to work on along with the other rose afghan I'll be making. More on that when I get started on it, it'll be quite interesting to see how all the colors look together on that one.

Getting a start on the knit socks

I've gotten a start on the knit socks, I went to Wal Mart a little while ago and got 2 sets of #6 needles in 2 different colors. They're 29" and I wish I could have gotten 12" or even 16" ones but the 29" ones were the only ones Wal Mart sells. I'm using Caron Simply Soft to practice with since Wal Mart doesn't sell sock yarn.

It was a little clumsy at first until I figured out how they were doing it, now it isn't so bad and I actually like it better than using dpn because if I want to take it with me to work on I can just slide the stitches onto the cable and they won't drop off the needles. I'm not even using a marker for the beginning because of the different colored needles, I just remember which color needles I started with and that's all I need to remember.

We'll see if it's any easier doing the heel and gusset when I get to them, I'll keep you updated.

Knitting socks

I've been looking at How to knit with 2 circulars and it looks interesting. I might be able to handle knitting socks like that, I'll just need to get a couple of circular needles and give it a try, just reading it can be confusing sometimes. I have to get the materials and actually do it as I'm reading it so that it'll start to make sense, not that some of it doesn't already make sense, I just need to do as I read then I can comprehend it better, that's just the way I am. I'm looking forward to it, then I can knit and crochet socks, whatever bug bites.

I'll post later how that comes along after I get my needles and some practice yarn.

Finished a sock

I finished one sock out of the sock yarn my fairy sent me. I really like it, it'll brighten my feet up, that's for sure. I'm going to have to order some more sock yarn and experiment, I'd really like to try to make some knee socks too, I might get some WW yarn for that, it might hold up better for the taller socks.

I still intend to learn how to knit socks as well, I might try to find a 12" circular needle and do it that way instead of with the dpn.

A new yarn store has opened up downtown, I found out about it from someone who told me about it. I went to look and I'd have to have a bag full of money to get any yarn there, the wool/acrilic sock yarn was about $9 a ball and some of the 1.75 oz hanks of wool was around $14 a hank. I might save my money over the summer and get some, or I'll start ordering from Herrschner's, their prices are a bit more reasonable, they have a wool/nylon sock yarn for $2.56, I think I can afford that better if I want to make wool socks. Right now the Bernat Sox acrylic/nylon is quite soft and feels good on the foot. I did get a 24" bamboo circular needle in size 13. It was $12 but I have a pattern that calls for a size 13 circular needle so I got it. I'll try that pattern later, at least I have the needles. I think I might like them, they're really smooth-feeling and if I do like the way they knit I might get some more of them.

I'll post a pic of the socks when I get the other one done, it's just the basic sock pattern from the sock book I got in my package. I thought I'd better do the basic sock a few times before I try anything fancy, get it down first. I might be able to work my own patterns then.

I do like these Crystalite hooks

They're much lighter than aluminum hooks and don't hurt my hand as much to use them. At first the yarn doesn't slide as smoothly as it does on aluminum hooks but after a bit it loosens up and slides fairly well. They're a little on the flexible side so you have to be careful with the smaller ones but I will be using these as much as I can, especially with big projects such as afghans. I can crochet just as fast or faster with them and don't have quite the strain on my hand as I do with a heavier hook. I'll just have to keep the thing they came it because it's hard to tell what size you're using and the size is marked on the package. Until I can remember what color is what size anyway.

Ok, back to trying to finish these afghans so I can play with my sock yarn and work on the other rose afghan that's been ordered.

My very first RAOK package is here!!

I got an email about a week ago telling me to expect a package and it's here!!



It's 2 balls of Bernat Sox yarn in Hot Tamale-love the color, can't wait to try it out

A Learn to Crochet Socks book

A set of small Crystalite hooks to go with the large set my last secret pal at church gave me-I have a new one now, it's a new round of secret pals.

I absolutely love it all.

Darn it...

I tried my very best not to start on a cocoon sweater but everyone kept posting pictures of these gorgeous things at Crochetville and in their blogs and I couldn't help myself. I had bought 2 skeins of Bernat Softee Baby-one in soft lilac and the other in mint. I was curious what the 2 would look like if worked together and that sweater called me again so I started one. The 2 colors look wonderful together and I'm getting more just as soon as I get the rest of the yarn I need to finish my pineapple pillowghan. I just hope Wal Mart doesn't pull what they pulled back when I was finishing a granny afghan for a friend and stop putting either of those colors up because they only had 2 skeins of the lilac at the store I went to the other day and now I wish I'd bought them both. There is another WM fairly close by that I can also check so I'm not totally screwed yet, we'll see. I'll have to wait anyway because I really need to finish the pillowghan and a babyghan before I get on too many other projects.

Speaking of that, on the UFO challange I've decided to finish an arrowhead design MAM that I started God knows how long ago and I should still be able to get the yarn I need to finish it. I used Red Heart Super Saver in colors that aren't likely to be discontinued so as soon as I figure out how much I have on hand and how much I'll need to buy it's back onto the Arrowhead. I'm not sure what I'll do with it once it's finished but I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

Anyway, I think I'm sinking in UFOs and Wannados.

Angel Piggy

Someone posted this pig in another pig thread at Crochetville's Show and Tell forum and I just had to try it. The pattern is here I used pink baby yarn for the main pig and lt pink baby yarn for the wings, 2 small buttons for the eyes and black button thread to sew on the eyes and make the nostrils.

Here's my little piggy:



I think I messed him up just a bit, forgot to crochet one rnd even on the snout before inc again so I'm making another one and am going to get some wiggle eyes for it. This one will go to my secret pal at church along with a bath pouf and some bath goodies in a Mother's Day basket I'm planning for her.

I'm going to make my mom a Mother's Day basket too-bath pouf and bath smelly goods. She'll get it a little late cause I'm waiting till she and dad come down around the 14th.

Stitch/row markers

I had been reading up at Crochetville about making stitch markers with fish hook earring wires. Since Wal-Mart here doesn't carry the ones that latch so the marker doesn't accidentally slip off I wasn't sure if they would do. I had a couple of them from a kit I bought and crocheted some markers on it with some pony beads and they worked because I could slip the end of the wire in the top bead. These worked fine for stitch markers then I got to thinking about making row markers without having to get numbered beads. I saw another post where someone was using copper wire to make markers so I got some craft wire from Wal-Mart-point: don't get the black for these projects, it'll peel-and some large seed beads that will slip over the wire. I took some needlenose pliars and cut a small piece off the spool then curled one end so the beads wouldn't slip off. I threaded 9 beads of one color and another bead of another color onto the wire then curled the wire around at that point so thebeads wouldn't slip up the wire. I then curved the wire around into a loop at the other end which should help keep the marker from accidentally slipping out of your work.

Here's the the 2 I've finished-each bead represents 10 rows and the odd colored bead represents which row you're on. Starting from the top, you can put it on row 10, then 20, etc. as stitch markers it doesn't matter. The picture is a little blurry but you can see what I mean.

I think I've got it

In the previous post I showed you an original design I was working out. It had some bugs in it that were easy to fix and I've completed another one with a hat and booties for my gift to my friend.

Anyway, here it is, the yarn is RH Baby Sport in Seashore:


I'll post the pattern in my pattern blog as soon as I hear back from my tester.

Sleeper

I just finished this a little while ago. It's a shortie sleeper, I still have to get some buttons for it but I just wanted to show it off.

The pattern will be in my new pattern blog as soon as I finish writing it out.



This one was just a test, I still have a little refining to do on it then I'm going to make another one to add to the gifts I'm making my friend.

Trying something

All the onesie patterns I've come across and tried always turn out looking more like for preemies than for a term baby and I've even gone up as much as 3 hook sizes to a K before it looked like it would even fit a newborn. I know I'm not crocheting that tightly since I'm keeping my tension as loose as I dare.

I decided to try my hand at making a sleeper. It seems to be going pretty well, I wish I had a baby sized doll to see, right now I'm using a teddy bear about baby size just for reference so I at least know it's big enough. I'm writing the pattern out as I go so maybe I can share it when I'm done if it turns out right. It'll be short sleeved like the diaper shirts and onesies but it could also be made long sleeved quite easily.

I'll keep you updated on my progress and pictures will be forthcoming if it does what I hope it does.

Wish me luck, it's my first try at my own design.

If this works I might adapt it to a onesie and diaper shirt.

I found the cutest skirt pattern

it's a Lace Edged Skirt

It's supposed to be made with 2 strands of #10 thread held together and a #1 steel hook. The biggest size is a medium (12-14) and I need at least a large so I'm giving it a go with some baby yarn and a size F hook and following the directions for the small size. If it doesn't work I can always frog and try again, after all, it's only yarn ;)

Sometimes I wish I wasn't a BBW *sigh*

Another Blooming Rose afghan

The lady I made the Rose in Bloom afghan for (see the My Prettiest Afghan entry)

This time she wants the roses in 6 colors-red, yellow, white, lavender, orange and pink. The second round will still be a medium to dark green for leaves and I was waffling with what to do for the outside 2 rounds-Either mint green or off white. I posted at Crochetville and ExIsle for opinions and most of them seemed to like my idea of mint green so that's what I think I'm going with.

I'll be working on this one in between a surprise I'm working on for a friend in Oregon and a baby ensemble I'm working on for another friend. At least I don't seem to be running out of projects, they seem to be multiplying.

The woman I made the pink poncho for absolutely loved it. She was at church this morning and I got the biggest hug and thank you I think anyone's ever given me. Her boyfriend was with her and told me I did an excellent job. A beginner could do the pattern I used, I've always thought the simpler a pattern was the better it looked. Not that I can't do complicated patterns and have on occasion, I just prefer simple, easy and fast patterns, I think most crafters do.

Anyway, I'll post pictures of the baby stuff and rose afghan when I get farther along with them, the babyghan is about halfway and the surprise isn't as far along as I'd like but I'm fixing that by working on it starting tomorrow. I've made a couple of onesies, a diaper shirt, hat and booties to go with the babyghan. The babyghan is lilac baby yarn and the clothes are blue baby sport yarn.

Enough rambling, on to crocheting.

A Little Experiment

I'd been reading at Crochetville about how to make stitch markers out of fish hook earring wires, pins and beads and an idea had been floating around in my head about maybe trying to crochet one so I took an earring wire, some baby yarn and pony beads and made one up:



It was only an experiment and I plan to get better at it. The next one will be out of thread and large seed beads as soon as I can get some of the large ones, I only have tiny ones right now which is too small for #10 crochet thread.

The other problem I've run across is the wire itself, it doesn't have the little latch on it to hook it closed around the work so it won't slip out. I think I've figured a workaround for that, in my next one I'll fix a bead close enough to be able to slip around the end of the wire and not slip off (I hope).

It'll take some more experimenting but I think I can do it. If I'm going to have stitch markers for my crochet they might as well be crocheted ones, eh?

My pillowghan is coming along

Since I've decided what I want to do with it I've been working on it part of last week and over the weekend. I've got 2 rows done and attached except for hiding the ends. I only have just over a month to complete and still have 20 more squares to make. They really don't take all that long, maybe 45 min at the most if I sit down and do one without being disturbed.

Anyway, here's what I have so far:



Just to clarify, it isn't blue, that's just the way my digicam sees it. It's actually RH Super Saver in Amethyst.

Some other finished gifts

I thought I'd post some other finished gifts I made recently. I made the orange Fleuri bag for a teen at church and she absolutely loves it. I made the cross bookmark for my secret pal at church.




I'm going to be making all kinds of small crocheted things and putting them back to use as impromptu gifts later in the year when I have Christmas parties to attend. We usually play the Santa game and having a handmade gift to give saves money instead of having to buy something and fight crowds all doing the same thing. Good thing I usually only do a couple of parties where I have to do that.

Finished a couple of things

A poncho for a friend:

It was a simple pattern, done in two different shades of pink, light and dark.

A rose bath pouf:

Also quite easy, found that pattern online.

I'll be making some more of the bath poufs in different varigateds for the base and white for the rose. I'm using Sugar & Cream, the only cotton yarn Wal-Mart sells and not a big selection of colors. I might be hitting Herrschners later on if I want to try some other colors. I'll be making 4 and sending them out as ROAKs as soon as I get them made. I can't afford to buy anything from anyone's list right now but I can make things from the heart and send them to some who haven't received much yet. I like making things and giving them away anyway, whether it's to friends here or all over the US/World, doesn't matter.

I'm still working on the baby blanket and I've started a new pair of socks for the Feet Need Socks CAL. It's a pattern I'm working on myself and using some scraps from the poncho, I should have enough to do a pair and I'm really liking them so far. Picture will come when they're done.

I hope I don't have too much on my plate.


Okay, my pictures for these are no longer on ImageShack, Sorry folks.