Pictures!

At long last, I took a few pictures of works in progress and the first one, below, is the baby sweater I'm crocheting for my soon to be granddaughter. I'm crocheting it from the neck down with the wonderful, expert help (via DVD, of course) of Mary Rhodes. She has such a lovely way of conversing and slowly goes through each step needed to create this lovely sweater. I've never crocheted a sweater before so this is exciting for me.



I am a visual learner so I could read this pattern till I was blue in the face and not 'get it', but when I see it done it's a completely different story. I'm using Rowan baby merino and although I'm not overly fond of the color (purchased it online), I want to use it because it's a great quality yarn.

Next, I'm working on an afghan using 1824 Cotton in lots of different colors which I purchased some time ago. I hope I have enough to complete this but if not, I'll be FORCED to purchase more yarn.

There is no rush for this item so I can take my good old time until the yarn runs out....so it will either be a lap blanket or an afghan, whichever comes first so to speak.

I'd like to crochet a hat and booties to go with the sweater but I don't seem to have any EASY patterns for either one.....if anyone reading this has a pattern that is very easy could you comment and I'll email you, or vice versa? I thank you in advance.

Well, that's all for now but until I post again, be safe, be happy, and crochet as often as possible.


"An optimist expects his dreams to come true;
A pessimist expects his nightmares to."
Lawrence J. Peter

The New Year, etc.

A clean slate on which to write all my crochet hopes and goals. I really love the new year because it's all just waiting there for us with absolutely no wrong turns...it's ours for the taking and we can go where we want to with it, so here goes:

1. I hope to crochet more things this year.
2. I hope to use ONLY my ample stash yarn for all the above.
3. I hope to learn the Tunisian crochet method and then try it our with a brand new pattern.
4. I hope to figure out some of the patterns I've had repeated difficulty with.
5. I hope to meet an experienced crocheter who might be willing to show me when I need help.
6. I hope to crochet many new Christmas ornaments for each of my kids who've asked for a gift of them next Christmas.

So, there you have it, a modest list but a good deal of hopes on it. I would love to hear what my fellow crocheters are hoping for in 2007 and let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy and productive New Year! Please comment and share your thoughts with me.

Christmas in 9 Days!

I cannot believe that the "big day" is so very close at hand. Where does the time fly to as we go about our daily routines day to day? I know it's going faster than ever when even my kids say the time is going too quickly!

I switched my blog over to beta, but have the same address and I really think this makes life alot easier in the blogging world. I've read others who have done so as well and they've had some problems but perhaps that's when it was brand new and some kinks needed to be worked out, or at least I'm hoping that's all it was. For me, so far, so good.

As for my crocheting, I'm still stealing a moment or two here and there to work on the afghan for the love birds and need to be finished it by at least March. I have quite a long way to go but I really enjoy the pattern (shell stitch) so it won't be something I can't wait to finish. I also crocheted quite a few new ornaments for the tree this year and they all turned out so cute. I've certainly got enough now so it's time to put a "hold" on any more Christmas things.

Instead I'd like to try my hand at a crocheted baby sweater but I'm kind of frozen in my tracks with the thought of it. I've never crocheted any garment, other than scarves or hats and with the fitting, etc., I don't know if I can do it or not. Also, it's not like I have anyone close by who's a seasoned crocheter and could help me out if I ran into a problem.....so, what to do...what do you think?

Monday, Monday

Here is a hat I just completed using Shelridge Farms merino which is heavenly to work with. It is supposed to be for my sweet little 2 year old granddaughter but I have my doubts that it will fit her. I don't do well with making hats that fit...why is this? In crochet, I find it much more difficult to measure my gauge so I usually don't......I can hear the gasps now! :)

Another problem I run across is when beginning a new round, it's sometimes a puzzle which stitch I'm supposed to be either slip stitching into, or beginning my new round.....can you offer me some suggestions? This particular pattern says to slip stitch into the last st of the former round and then turn.....chain 2 (which doesn't count as a stitch) and dbl cr into the first stitch and continue around. Does that mean to dbl cr into the base of the ch 2, or into the first stitch after that? I'm full of questions today, so while I'm at it, if any of you have a very basic, can't fail, hat pattern you can recommend, I'd love to know about it.

When finding a pattern you like, how do you then convert that pattern to say a toddler size, from an adult or preemie size? This eludes me when it comes to my crocheting, although not so with my knitting. I find it easier to figure things out when it comes to knitting, perhaps because the stitches are so much easier to see and count. Any suggestions?

I guess I've peppered you with enough questions for one day, so I'm hoping to get lots of answers and if you'd rather, just email me.....I can't wait to find out what I'm doing wrong and see if any of you can suggest a basic hat pattern that works every time. In the meantime, be well, be happy, and crochet on!

Using Yarn I Already Have!

I'm feeling pretty good about dipping into my huge yarn stash these days for my current projects. I've been too easily tempted to purchase new yarn when I wanted to knit or crochet something, rather than seeing what I have in my stash that would be equally as good! Here's an afghan I've started using Mission Falls 1824 cotton, which I bought about 4 years ago with the thought of knitting a baby afghan with it....NOT. I've been enjoying my crocheting too much to knit many more afghans and crocheting the afghans goes so much quicker too...gotta' love that!

This is the most recent afghan I knitted using Manos wool and knitting 3 strips of 4 squares each, then sewing it together. It is a classic design (from the Manos 'Seasons' booklet) and I do love it but it seemed to take forever. So, from now on, it's strictly crocheting for my future endeavors.

I'm still working on the gift for the lovebirds but that doesn't have to be finished till March of '07 so I have about 4 months to complete it. I'm using Rowanspun Chunky from my yarn stash and it feels really good to be using this up. I've had this for quite awhile also but it's such good quality yarn and it's working up to be a lovely afghan using the shell stitch.

Mind you, I have tons of good quality yarns left to use up (about six, 13 gallon bins full) and I'll be lucky to make a decent dent in all of it, but by golly, I'm gonna' give it the ole' college try, let me tell you. I feel kind of guilty for buying all this and letting it sit unloved and unused so this is now my goal....use up at least half of it before even thinking of buying anymore! What about all of my fellow crocheters....do you have this problem too or am I all alone here?? Tell me how you feel, if you have a large yarn stash, and if so, how do you use it up?

Finally!

The Rowanspun Chunky tweed has finally decided what it "really" wanted to be crocheted into.....a very simple, yet elegant, shell stitch afghan!

I have Lisa to thank for this pattern! I had tried so many different ones and nothing was working for this 'oh, so particular' yarn, until the shell stitch.
So, now I'm off and running with this very addictive pattern and the picture you see here represents about 8" of length so far with about 52" to go....that's not much, right?

I'm really not crocheting much of anything else right now but I am finishing up a poncho for my granddaughter using Araucania Nature Wool in a lovely hand dyed red color with light and dark shading and I'm contemplating crocheting her a hat to go with it if I can find a good, basic pattern.

I'd like to get some progress bars up and running here but these things take some time which I am running out of lately. Christmas (okay, I've said it) is quickly approaching and I have 3 projects in the works already, not counting the poncho or the cap. I hope to complete each of them but frankly, as the song says, two outta' three ain't bad".


I'm totally enjoying my crochet time and find I have to be careful not to crochet exclusively....thereby avoid my knitting which I love as well, but after all, I do have quite a bit of crochet time to catch up on and I'm looking forward to it!

Looking for Afghan Pattern

I have about 10 skeins of Rowanspun Chunky and I've been trying to find an afghan pattern that would work using this yarn. It's a tweedy type wool with that sheepy smell still on it but I don't mind that because I know that once I wash and block it, it will smell sweet, but what I am concerned about is the weight of the finished blanket. I'd like something that is lofty but not too 'holey'. Would anyone have any suggestions and what are your thoughts about this yarn if you've used it for any crocheting?

Above is a picture of 4 rows that I did last night in single crochet, using 2 strands of yarn together and casting on an odd number of stitches, skipping the first stitch, sc into the next, ch 1, skip the next st, sc, ch 1 and so on but even though this would wind up being warm and snuggy in the end, it will probably weigh a ton.....so this won't work.


The color is a bit blah, but on the other hand, it would go with anyone's decor and I would like to give the completed afghan to my son and future daughter-in-law at her bridal shower in late January, 2007. I've tried a few pattern stitches that I have on hand but so far, nothing really flatters the yarn or seems to work well with the texture of it. I really hope I don't have to abandon this yarn or I don't know what else I would want to make with it.


So, as you can readily see, I really need your help in trying to get all my ducks in a row here, LOL, and all suggestions are welcomed.

Lazy Sunday

I love Sundays whenever we don't have plans and I can knit, crochet, read, and do my Sunday crossword puzzle.......it just doesn't get much better than a day like that. I've been looking at lots of crochet patterns lately and would like to give a mitered square type afghan a try. It looks a bit daunting but I love the finished look of this pattern and the color scheme could be anything you'd have in your yarn stash, the sky's the limit.


I've been crocheting more coasters, trying out different patterns to find a favorite. So far I like the six sided brown ones with the light and dark coloring. It's nice and flat too for mugs or glasses to rest on without wobbling.

Not much other news other than it's a gorgeous fall day outside and I'm loving the chill in the air. I keep threatening to move to Maine one of these days because I don't like hot weather at all, but I'm probably all talk and no snow shovel! :) So, until next time, dear readers, crochet on.

My Love of Crochet, Revisited :)

I've come full circle and I'm back to a craft that I've always liked but now find I'm loving! My recent posts have all my crochet news on my knitting blog and while, I'm sure there's no law that says I can't, I figured it was about time to begin putting all crocheted content in it's very own space! After all, crocheting needs just as much expression as knitting and I feel a great deal of crochet expression coming on, let me tell you!

Here's the lap blanket I finished for my mother for Christmas. I used GGH Aspen which is a combo of 50% merino and 50% acrylic. It's a bulky yarn with alot of loft and warmth so I think she'll love it keeping her nice and toasty while she watches television or reads.

Also some Christmas ornaments I've been crocheting in between other WIP's (guilty as charged, with way too many other projects ongoing). I like trying different ornaments and even though there are some adorable knitted patterns, I seem to prefer crocheted miniatures. I'm looking for the whereabouts of the exact pattern for the 2 mini mittens in the picture attached with the white i-cord.Here's a close up pic of them on the left:If anyone knows where I can get this pattern I would appreciate a comment from you...so far no luck on locating it.

Do take care and go gently, dear readers, until we meet again.