June 3, 2008

I recently ordered Casual to Classic: Fashions to Crochet from Annie's Attic. The three cover sweaters really impressed me. Out of the 12 patterns in the booklet I can see myself making 7 of them. There are a couple of skirt patterns that the slim, trim Offspring would look really cute in, too.

What really appeals to me is the simplest pattern:




I have no idea why I like this so much. Maybe it's just the sheer simplicity of it. Now I have to decide what color.
Countdown 1,000: 132

Labels: Crochet, WIMs and Wants

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May 12, 2008

Countdown to post #1,000: 149

While I'm not ready to give up dishcloths yet, I have found another sanity maintaining craft project:



They are useless but I cannot resist them. In fact, I am quite taken with the idea of crocheting miniature food. I've added lots o' patterns to my ravelry faves. Significant vacation time will be spent on this latest obsession.
The Details
Pattern: Quick Cupcake
Hook: I made one using size F (3.75 MM) and another using size G (4.0 MM). There was very little difference size-wise in the finished product, but the yarn preferred the size G.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Chocolate (of course!) and Soft Pink
Commentary: I am in love. I've got some off white yarn for vanilla flavored cupcakes tomorrow!

Labels: Crochet, FO's

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April 25, 2008

Cindy left the following comment:

You are not unmotivated, you are at that place
between still water and simmering water.
Relax.

I just love this and need to remember it when I get down about finding a project. ('Cause yeah, it does depress me when I can't get into a project.)

I did, by the way, find something that seems to be working for me:





This would be the First Love baby afghan. (I decided to be a rebel and NOT link to the Ravelry page...I've got nothing against them, just thought I would be different. But until I post the FO deets, you can check out my project page here.)

The wife of one of my fellow teachers had a baby boy LAST MARCH and I've finally found the pattern I want to use for his blankie. Sheesh!

Labels: Crochet, Fan Mail, WIPs

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April 7, 2008

I stayed up past my bedtime last night to do the heel on the sixth pair. I must have been too tired because I flubbed it. I thought I could get away with a creative fudge here and there, but when the sock was tried on it looked terrible. There were a few large gaps and the stitches were too stretched out. I frogged and I started over this morning. I added 10 more stitches so I hope that will help. I really hate mucking it up, though. Oh well.

I worked on this WIP for a little yesterday:

But I was just itching to start something new. It didn't help that I had the new issues of Crochet Today and Interweave Crochet. I really loved the Tunisian Lace Ascot (scroll waaaay down), but I only have a size G tunisian hook. The pattern calls for a size J and when I tried it as written, the piece was about 2 inches wide. The pattern doesn't list the multiple of stitches needed to increase the width, so I whipped out a book I bought when I was 14:




And found a similar tunisian stitch pattern and voila!



Isn't it strange how differently the color turned out? The left is closest to real life. I managed to hide the wonky bottom too.

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet, Socks, WIPs

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April 6, 2008

Yesterday I took a break from socks to declare war on one of my WIPs:





I'm now the proud owner of this FO:




I like to think of it as the crochet version of Branching Out. I first saw it done by Valli, who got the pattern from Craftster.org. I've linked to the thread. The chart is on the second or third page of the thread.

Labels: Crochet, FO's

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January 20, 2008

Lots of little things to mention today...
50 Book Challenge
I thought I would go for 50 again this year (10 is probably more realistic, but I like to dream big.)

1. 204 Rosewood Land-Debbie Macomber (It's a guilty pleasure. Formulaic to the extreme...even more noticeable when read back to back, but I love the stories.)
2. 311 Pelican Court-Debbie Macomber

You can be sure that I am reading 44 Cranberry Point right now.

Irony
I told Andrea about 2 weeks ago that I was going to send her all those dishcloths I made over the holidays. I finally got to it yesterday, even though I had to brave the elements:




Ok. These are "elements" in Montgomery, Alabama. I found it really ironic that my husband called while I was on my way to the post office and said he was really worried about me driving in these "conditions." I was mailing items to Manitoba. These "conditions" are probably spring-like there.
I think I'm the only person who sees the irony.

The Elements
More pics. Offspring and the Stray have rarely encountered such dire conditions. I love the picture of them. He's being a smart ass and she's just sighing*...





Crochet?
I'm not sure how, but it hit me yesterday that I have been doing a lot more knitting lately. Have I stopped being a crocheter? I just don't know. I've got plenty of projects on the hook. I just don't feel like working on them. I seem to be deriving more pleasure from knitting...although my work is not so great. So, am I a knitter first and crocheter second? It's starting to feel that way and I feel a little guilty about it. Am I being disloyal to my fellow sisters with hooks? I've even had such disturbing thoughts as "Why does crochet try so hard to be like knitting? Why can't it be happy just the way it is?"

Speaking of Sticks
All this knitting has been a learning experience:

1. I like a firm knitted fabric. Sometimes this means going down 3 needles sizes before I'm happy with what I'm getting. For instance, I am currently working on a dishcloth with worsted weight cotton and size 4 needles.
2. I like smallerish dishcloths. The one I just mentioned? 35 stitches wide.
3. This will end up as a post of its own, but I am by no means a fearless knitter. I am ashamed of my product and very afraid of anything new. I've recently begun a program to get over these issues.

*I think they went to look at rings today!

Labels: 50 Book Challenge, Crochet, Knitting, Livin' in Dixie

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January 3, 2008

Well, I finished another dishcloth today. This time it was crocheted. I tried to get a pic, but the sun is down and the flash on my camera just really screws up the coloring. I'll take a pic outside tomorrow and post it. My average is now 1.3 FO's per day. I go back to work next Monday, so the average will plummet after that. But for now I'm stockpiling FO's.

The hook was the instrument of choice today. I also worked on my crochet version of the branching out scarf.

After I post this I'll be starting another super secret wearable pattern. I'm not sure if it can be defined as a sweater. Although I was not happy with my work on Mondo cable, I think keeping the project somewhat secret and not naming it helped. So, I'll leave you with the hint that my approximate gauge needs to be 4 stitches per inch and I'll be casting on 10 stitches to begin.

Labels: Crochet, Dishcloth Therapy, FO's

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January 1, 2008

Well, here it is: The Mondo Cable (Pattern for sale here)




I appreciate all the kind comments I've gotten on ravelry and in my flickr album, but I gotta tell ya', folks that I don't feel very victorious. Blocking did not tame the curl very well so I ended up with somewhat bulky seams:






The length is a smidge short. I would be happier with maybe an extra 1" or 1 1/2" to the length. There's some uneven knitting as well. Overall I'm not happy with it.

I feel like this is yet another in a long series of disappointing sweater projects.
Let's review:
September 2005




It was obvious from the first wearing that this would not do. Although made of cotton, crochet is HEAVY...especially when the cotton is worsted weight and the stitch pattern is solid (as opposed to open work). Back to the drawing board...

December 2005




Adjustments are made to pattern. I decide to delete the sleeves. But that tweak is moot because I decide to use ACRYLIC. I don't have a problem with acrylic, it's just that between the months of March and November, it is an uncomfy fiber (remember, I live in Dixie). Because I decide to make it a bit more form fitting, the option of wearing it over a long sleeve shirt in winter is out. And despite my attempts to make it a tank, the sleeves are more like cap sleeves. And not little delicate ones. They don't lie flat, they just sort of stand at attention at the shoulder. There is some weird bunching at the underarm.

April 2007




I decide to give garment making another try. When I first tried this one, I was happy. But the sweater showed its true colors during the road test. Again I forget that crochet is HEAVY and the sweater is lengthened by the end of the day. The clever little cross over detail is also like a neon arrow: LOOK AT MY BELLY!

I really think the biggest problem I have is that I don't pick good projects for my body type:

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet, FO's

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December 31, 2007

FO Report
Total FO's: 26 (avg. 2 per month)

Crocheted FO's: 17 (65.3%)

Knitted FO's: 9 (34.6%)

Baby FO's: 8

Charity FO's: 7

Dishcloths: 4

December FO's: 6

Wearable FO's: 6 (doesn't include baby items)

Book Report
Books read in the 50 Book Challenge: 5

Blog Report
Total Unique Visitors: 10336 (approximate)
Busiest Month: June (with 1588 unique visits)
Slowest Month: March (664)
Most Comments: December (24)*
*Records only go back to June when I started with Haloscan (at that time all the comments from blogger went towards June's stats, so I don't count it)

Labels: 50 Book Challenge, Crochet, FO's, Knitting

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And the very easy pattern:

Hook size I
Worsted weight yarn (I was using a 6oz skein of Caron Simply Soft in Victorian Rose and used maybe 3 oz of it

Ch 15
Row 1: Sc in third chain from the hook. *Ch 1 skip 1 chain sc in next chain to end. Ch 2 Turn
Row 2: Sc in first ch 1 space. *Ch 1 skip next sc. Sc in next ch 1 space to end. Ch 2 turn.

Repeat row 2 until the scarf is length desired.


Now is that easy or what? (oh, ain't the model a cutie???)

Labels: Crochet, Free Pattern

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December 27, 2007

This:




Is a gauge swatch. I hit gauge on the first try (amazing). I've been down this road before. I set out to make a sweater...and rarely make it to my destination. We'll see how this journey goes. Last night I managed to cast on the 79 stitches required for the back (German cast on, mind you...eeempresive.) and finished up the eight rows of purl 3 knit 1 ribbing. I'm now on the 6th of 19 stockinette rows. I'll be ending on a wrong side row. Anyone know what I"m working on?

I also cranked out a pair of Bron's mitts for Offspring in Autumn Red:




Stats:
Pattern: Easy Victorian Shell Mitts
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Color: Autumn Red
Hook: US size G/4.0 mm
Time: This project takes two hours, tops (and I'm kind of slow due to cats on my lap, next to me and on my shoulder)
Commentary: I've made three pairs this week. This is an easy, mistake-free pattern. Easily adjusted for any hand size or fit requests.

I also started another BSJ. No pics yet, but I'll get some.

During all this knitting/crocheting I was obsessing. Earlier this year I purchased a copy of The Opinionated Knitter and decided yesterday I wanted to meander through it again*, but I couldn't find it for the life of me! In the search I also made an important self-discovery: All those times I think I'm organizing...I'm not. I'm just moving the disarray to a different place. So I resigned myself to just waiting. "It will turn up" I told myself. (If anything, I could just order another copy...that way I would be sure to find the original one!). Well, as soon as I started working on the BSJ, it came to me: "Heeey, I was reading it when I had jury duty this summer!". Sure enough, it was still in the "jury duty bag." Whew! Found it! I really hate it when I can't find something I know I have. My next project is to remember which book it was that had several options for finishing sock toes...not using the Kitchener (*patooey*) stitch.

OH! In other week-old news, I have some new tatts:




I apologize for picture quality. This is about the only focused one I could manage.
It's an add on to this one and goes all the way around my ankle:




Also on my shoulder:




I probably should have spared my readers the peely, flaky photo, but I'm excited and wanted to share. this was originally a lower back tatt, but I'm not ready for that yet. If you haven't figured it out yet, I just pick tattoos that I like. No real personal meaning or anything. No original design. Just flash from TattooFinder.com and Tattoo Johnny. But I do have a knitting tattoo idea percolating. But I want to incorporate some crochet as well.

No plans for the rest of the day. Not sure I'll be doing any stitching. I did yesterday and it really irritated the cat wound (little furry bastard.) I'll probably read. I guess if I finish, that will get me up to 7** of my 50 Book Challenge.
*I love to read EZ, her books are so much more than "reference."
**erm, make that 5

Labels: Crochet, FO's, Knitting, Wild Hairs

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December 24, 2007

That is probably a misleading title. In order for me to show some productivity on the crafty front, I have to spend most of my time ignoring housework, family etc. Crafts=quality couch tater time.

I'll start with yesterday's project:




Found the pattern on Ravelry. It's on the Bernat site, but you have to register (free) to get to the pattern. These will be given to a teacher at school. She is the faculty adviser for the Respect Life Club and she finds homes for all the baby things I make.

Today's FO is the latest offering from Wonder Woman Bron.




I really enjoyed this pattern. ICG*, indeed. Hopefully, Offspring will grace me with her presence today and I can model these for you....and in natural lighting. They aren't as kelly green as they look. The color listed on the label was the perfect description: "Guacamole"

I really enjoy the feeling of completing something and wish I did it more often. Unfortunately I've convinced myself that I really don't have time for crafts except during Christmas Holidays, Spring Break and Summer. My students would probably better off if I hooked/knitted more often. At least I would be in a better mood! *grin*

I also think I'm not sure of who I am craft wise. Yes, I realize that this statement is stupid. Knitting and Crochet are hobbies for pete's sake! But my personality doesn't allow for that. I'm obsessive, overly critical of myself and I tend to compare my work with other's work...and I ALWAYS find my work lacking. So I've never really known what to do with my hobby. I don't think it is good enough to share with others. I'm pretty slow so on the charity front the number of my offerings pale in comparison (see? there I go) to most crafting for charity folks. So many times I'm left feeling kind of guilty for spending money on something that for the most part has been pretty useless.

But I've been easing up on myself. I'm allowing myself to work with no real goal. I let the projects pile up and don't even worry about my unfinished business. I'm slowly feeling less and less guilty about my UFO's. I get done with what I can, when I can. Yes, I still feel bad that I'm a pretty selfish crafter. The few times I gave to others, there was barely an acknowledgement, so I quickly stopped giving handmade gifts. ..

I guess I'm really just rambling :-) Sorry 'bout that!

Coming Soon: why photos should be banned from crafty books/sites/mags...


*Instant Crochet Gratification

Labels: Crochet, FO's, Knitting, Thoughts on My Craft

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November 11, 2007

Pics!

All in a week's work...



All of these were made using the same pattern.
From left to right:

• Cotton Chenille purchased from e-bay. Eventually it will be a baby blanket for a colleague's son (born in April, folks. I'm way behind). I'm concerned as to whether this is good enough to give. I know it isn't traditional baby colors, but it's for a boy who will be close to a year old by the time I finish...past the new-born pastel stage, wouldn't you say?
• Joanne's Rainbow boucle in Red. Sent to me by a fellow blogger and for the life of me I can't remember who. Please 'fess up! Originally this was a "yoga" project. In other words, I just needed to meditate with yarn (that's 90% of my projects). Offspring said she wants to use it as a baby blanket when she has a son (a loooooong while from now). So I'll weave in ends and store it away from cat hair and dust.
• Caron's Simply Soft Brites. Scrap yarn "yoga" project. I'll send this off to Hugs for Homeless Animals later in the week.
  

Labels: Crochet

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November 10, 2007

As some may have guessed, I am back in the "crafty" cycle of my life (there are approximately 3: Teacher cycle, lazy cycle, crafty/blog cycle). I've blogged a few times in the last couple of weeks and I've started stalking online pattern sites etc.

The trouble is I've found SO MANY things I'd love to try! It's pretty much left me paralyzed. In the end, I will not attempt any of them and I'll just sit down an make a huge granny square (and even that is iffy.)

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet

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June 19, 2007

I'll begin with Amy. Remember I started a greeny blue tweedy version?




Well, this is destined to be frogged. I'm quite disgusted with myself. I know that yarn companies put few ounces in multicolored yarn skeins. It is one of the first things I ever learned about yarn. (Knowing this fact doesn't help me understand it, though.) So how I could forget that the colorway I was using was 3 oz worth of yarn and not 3 1/2 I'll never know. 4 3 oz skeins does NOT equal 4 3 1/2 oz skeins...it doesn't matter how dead on the gauge is.

So no progress there. I am done with the back of a new pink Amy, though.

Baby Surprise Jacket
When you see this yarn, you will understand why I was determined to use it.



Isn't this the coolest?! The photo really is not doing justice to the rainbow effect. It truly is Roy G. Biv-ing. I think it will be a great baby jacket if I actually finish.

Unfortunately, I haven't even finished the decrease section. Progress: slow.

The Thing
I thought of making this a post to itself. I really HATE the Thing. And I now understand Yarn Snobbery. If you are bi-craftual (Ravelry has it's own vocabulary...awesome!) then you may understand. All my crafting life I've been an acrylic user. And I mean the cheap Red Heart petroleum based stuff. Most of my work tended to be crochet afghans. RH works for this purpose and works well, so I never understood the brou-ha-ha. But now I'm trying to knit with it. (My knitting to this point has been Caron Simply Soft scarves and cotton dishcloths.) I am not an eloquent enough writer to describe the absolute....awfulness of this stuff. My wrists hurt and the work looks like crap:
I'll admit that I'm not the best knitter or photographer. But let's compare the work above (3 increase sections, a cardigan border and buttonhole and 2 stripes) with the Gift of Friendship Scarf I recently cast on:


Fingering weight merino from Knit Picks, peeps. Tell me yarn doesn't make a difference (and BTW, not much progress on the scarf, either.) I've just given up on the Thing and I'm futzing with something right now that will still get me to my goal of making a sweater. Even though the yarn was awful, the exercise itself was not futile. There is much I learned. All that was really left of the Thing was two color pattern and some fancy cast offs. Right now in my knitting life I don't care about that, so I just set the Thing to the side.

Jury Duty
I go, I sit, I read, I freeze. Still not picked (*sniff*) but still having to go every morning...without a project to work on. I really hope I'm either picked or excused tomorrow 'cause The Stray is at Band Camp (I'll give you a moment to say it....One time, at band camp....) and they are having a end of camp "show" on Thursday and I want to see it.

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet, Knitting, WIPs

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June 17, 2005

I have many things to blog about today, but I know hubby will interrupt and I'll have to finish later.

First, an incredibly random thought I had earlier this week: Ok, there are fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Jews (usually called ultra-orthadox or Hasidic) and Muslims (Shi'ite) but why don't you hear about fundamentalist Buddhists or Hindus?

I'm still thinking about Regina's quasi-rant about "knitting yarn". She makes the comment:

I was able to do both interchangeably and at that time (way back when) these processes were considered hobbies and not lifestyles. Though for me needlework took on a much more important role than just mere hobby.

Is it possible that we have begun to take knitting and crochet a little too seriously? I'm not trying to demean or marginalize the two, but since when are either "meditative techniques". Yes, yes, I get in a "zone" when practicing either, but do I truly reach that place of nothingness where ego is gone? So many books and journals these days seem to suggest that we can learn incredibly deep and provocative life lessons through a knit stitch or crochet hook. As my husband would say: :Uhm, you're over thinking this honey...it's just a sweater." At the risk of sounding "fundamentalist", are some people using knitting and crochet as their spiritual center? I don't deny that they can lead you to it, but they are not IT.

Yep. Hubby just arrived home. Later this evening, I will treat you to the Yale Girl pattern and show you a new place I've discovered to store my stash!

ta for now!..

...And I'm Back
As promised: Yale Girl







And the very easy pattern:

Hook size I
Worsted weight yarn (I was using a 6oz skein of Caron Simply Soft in Victorian Rose and used maybe 3 oz of it

Ch 15
Row 1: Sc in third chain from the hook. *Ch 1 skip 1 chain sc in next chain to end. Ch 2 Turn
Row 2: Sc in first ch 1 space. *Ch 1 skip next sc. Sc in next ch 1 space to end. Ch 2 turn.

Repeat row 2 until the scarf is length desired.


Now is that easy or what? (oh, ain't the model a cutie???)

I'm working on two other things right now, too. Hope to have them up soon as well.

Stash problems
Hubby has been asking me to clean up the computer cum craft room for about a week. He's been very patient and he has a point:






The problem is, my stash has outgrown my space and I don't want to tell hubby. (I keep him in the dark about the depths of my habit/problem)
But suddenly it hit me: Hey wait a minute....here, in the laundry room...




aren't those cabinets? And look, when I open them...




Isn't that just a bunch of crap we never use and I can throw away???
Hooray!! room for books and stash!!!! Hubby can remain ignorant!!

The trouble with kids today
As I cruised the streets today listening to Bugs Bunny on Broadway, it occured to me that the youth of today have gone without Looney Tunes and that, my friend is why they have no sense of humor beyond bathroom the bathroom kind. Seriously! Looney Tunes is genius:

sung to the "The Barber of Seville"
How do?
Welcome to my shop. Let me cut your mop. Let me shave your crop.
Daintily. Daintily.
Hey you!!! Don't look so perplexed. Why must you be vexed? Can't you see you're next? Yes, you're next. You're so next.

So tell me...where are 5 and 6 year olds exposed to words like "vexed" and "perplexed" these days. Much less opera. I won't even mention Wagner a la Bugs.

In the same vein...('cause kids don't get enough of this either)
Marlo made my day today...Mahnamahna Gotta love it. Just gotta.

Well, I guess I've gone on (andonandonandon) long enough.

Labels: Crochet, FO's, Free Pattern, Thoughts on My Craft

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Apparently, there are blogging "rules" and an "About Me" section is mandatory. Well, here you are:

I blog because I like to. I am a curmudgeon. What else would you like to know? Ask me, I'm happy to oblige!

Hub-a-Dub: Claims he is being punished for sins from a past life.

Offspring: A teen-aged girl who gets away with murder

The Stray: Offspring's boyfriend. We fed him and now he won't leave.

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• Emotion
• Welcome Back, Students
• Hope You Like Quiz Results...
• Mini FO & Secret Stuff
• 50 Book Challenge #13
• He's a Keeper
• Back to Work
• Ooops! Sorry for the confusion!
• A Setback
• One Step Closer to Twitchysticks

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June 21-September 1

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This work by Sara is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.