Valentine's Gifts Are Finished

I finished Chloe's purse just minutes ago. Just in time to begin my Crochet Olympics project - which I couldn't begin last night because we were at a baby shower. Tonight we are having friends over to watch their hometown girl try for a gold medal in the women's moguls. I have to do my swatch gauge first, and I hope I can concentrate a little on the games while I'm crocheting. The Olympics are going to be a real social event in our home this year. We have several friends who don't normally watch tv and we've invited them to come in and see it with us anytime. Hope all my Team Wearables teammates are doing well. See you at the Medals Ceremony! 

Valentine's Purse Number Two

I crocheted this one right under Michaela's nose! She was working on her Senior Project - she's writing and illustrating a children's book - while we watched Dancing with the Stars and Kate and Leopold. She asked what it was when I had just the base and about four inches of the bottom done. I flipped it over my head and told her it was my new Jackie Kennedy hat. we had a few laughs, then she asked me to turn it into a beret because she would wear it. After that she got so caught up in her project that I guess she forgot about it. the pattern is from the same booklet I used for Brianne's purse.

I also started Chloe's purse. It's coming along nicely and I should be able to post it tomorrow. I have to drive 60 miles today to pick up a cake for tonight's baby shower so I won't have as much time to crochet. But I have to have it finished before the Olympics start so I can begin my new shrug. I'm really looking forward to doing a garment. I hope it turns out well.

In other news, I'm really excited about the fact that my parents have finally entered the 21st Century! They bought a computer this week and are now online. I'm sure they were not the last household on earth without one, but it was frustrating not to be able to email or point them to a cool website (like this one - Hi mom! Hi dad!)

 

First Valentine's Purse Done!

Wow, I really am back in the groove. I worked this up yesterday, between being a reading tutor, working with the kids at church, worship team practice, and dinner with pastor and his wife. Total time spent was about four hours! I couldn't find a 'real' button that worked with the back so I crocheted one. The pattern is one from Leisure Arts Leaflet #3775 called In The Bag. Of course I tweaked the pattern to be more of what Brianne would like - which means I made it a little bit smaller, used a different weight of yarn, and crocheted the button.

Michaela's purse comes from the same booklet. I am still planning on the Striped Purse for Chloe. Of course, I have to have them done - not only in time for Valentine's Day - before the Crochet Olympics begin! Unfortunately, I'm going to get a late start on that project! The baby shower for my new little friend is at the same time as the opening ceremonies. I'm not worried much though, if I truly have my groove back, I think I can handle it.

The challenge in my particular project is that this is the first time I have done a garment and I am enlarging it slightly from the pattern. I had thought to do it for Brianne, but she decided at the last minute that she wouldn't care for it as much as she first thought (that's no BIG surprise!) Then I realized I had the perfect weight and quantity of yarn to make it for me! I had ordered 16 skeins of Debbie Bliss wool/cotton to make a sweater a while back and it was tucked safely away in it's original shipping carton, just waiting for it's chance at the big time. Now it has dreams of Olympic glory - or at least of being crafted into something a bit more functional! 

How I Got My Crochet Groove Back

Well, I didn't particularly want to go to the meeting - the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) meeting. Daughter #2 said "I'll do better on the test if you go to the meeting." I didn't think I needed to go to the meeting. But go, I did. And I thought "Since I'm going to be sitting still for two hours, I might as well take something to work on."

I took the blanket I'm making for the little guy I looked after last week. Well, I crocheted like a madwoman. Turns out the meeting was mostly for parents whose children are at risk of doing poorly on the test - which daughter #2 is NOT. Turns out she (and daughter #3) got 30 extra-credit points in English class for having a parent attend. Lucky for her it picked me up out of my crochet slump and now I'm almost done with the blanket.
 

Valentine Doily

This is one of the WIP's I started to try to get my crochet groove back. It's a little time consuming with the changing of thread every round or two but it is working up rather nicely . . . don't you think? At least it will be a sweet gift for one of my girlfriends.  

It's a Blog Button!

Alright, so I'm having a crochet slump . . . I'm just not focusing very well. So I've been playing with my blog again and I created a button for my site. Isn't it perty?! Maybe someday I will have a full-fledged website to display my creations on . . . with a store and everything! Now that would be cool.

But I really need to get over my slump. I'm not sure why I can't get excited about crocheting. I have some really great projects that I'm working on. I just can't seem to stick with one long enough to get anything done. I'm signed up for the Crochet Olympics too. I need to train!

Maybe I'll just read a good book this weekend and give the crochet thing a rest. I really wanted to get the Table Runner done. I guess it's taken the wind out of my sails. I should just force myself . . . nah.

A Little Good-natured Rhyme For the BIG Game!

Ok, so this isn't really crochet related . . . but the cottage will be alive with the sounds of helmets and shoulder pads clashing and colliding this weekend! We are so looking forward to seeing the Seahawks make their first Superbowl appearance on Sunday. In honor of this momentous occasion, I've written a little tribute to my favorite team!

As Superbowl XL approaches
The Seahawks and all of their coaches
Are preparing for battle
Amidst Steeler prattle
Which will be met with touchdown reproaches!

GO SEAHAWKS GO!

WIP - Table Runner

This is the modest start I have on my table runner.











Having a two year old around the house this week while my friend C is getting ready to come home with baby has left little time for crochet. But I wouldn't trade this week for anything! We've had a lot of fun visiting baby, playing hard . . .and we've even had a few naps in the process.

With Superbowl coming on Sunday, it's safe to say it might not be done in time but we're hoping to have a great party anyway! How can we not, watching our beloved Seahawks in their first ever Superbowl appearance!? J & C will be here with new baby and family. C and I have great plans to continue our needling of DH who was mistaken for baby's Grandpa in the hospital!

Big brother tried to take over the newest blanket I'm making. I already have someone in mind for it so I now have a new WIM. I think I'll make a huge Granny Square with Wool-ease in "Wood" What a manly little blanket that will make! 

It's a Girl!

Baby blanket #1 has a new owner! Friends J & C welcomed their baby girl tonight at 10:40pm. Big brother got to spend the night at 'Auntie Tina's' house while mom & dad were at the hopital. I'm on my way to the hospital right now to meet her!

What Kind of Yarn are You?

This is kind of a fun quiz to take:



You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

My latest WIM

Oooooh! I was checking out some links in the Berroco newsletter I got today. One thing led to another and I found this cute bolero. I wonder if any of my girls would like me to make it for them?

In other news, I must get to organizing my stash and patterns today. Amazingly, I have been keeping the house fairly tidy, but my craft room has been in complete disarray since Christmas. I still have to put together the box to send to Korea and I've been wanting to get my Crochet Journal updated and pics posted, too. So many projects, so little time.

My next must do crochet project is the Superbowl Table Runner. I am having the hardest time finding the right colors for the lettering. Sage is too green, teal is too blue. Navy borders are too dark, French blue not grey enough . . . you get the picture. I will do this project, I will! Seahawks fans have waited almost thirty years for this game . . . I will give DH a Superbowl Table Runner for the big day!

'Little Boy's Blue' - Homespun Hat

I finished the Homespun hat after a disastrous 1st attempt (ended up with a round mat suitable for the cat to sleep on!) This one will be shipped off to Korea with the neckwarmer and Woven Stitch Scarf, some Aplets & Cotlets and the DVD set "Over Washington" - all gifts for Chloe's Korean family. 

Parenthetical Project - Potholder

All of the Potholder talk over at the Crochet Partners List made me want to make the Sunflower Potholder I'd seen online. This one's for me! The concensus at CP (and this group knows what they are talking about!) is to use 100% cotton or wool yarn for a safe and thick potholder. Acrylic and nylon yarns can melt at high temps, potentially causing severe burns or even melting the fibers into the skin. I used two strands of 4-ply worsted weight cotton for this. Because it is only one layer, I will only use it as a hot pad to protect my table unless it thickens up during the washing process.

Blog This

I'm learning to make changes on my blog and have added a new side bar category: Crochet Blogs. I am accepting "applications" for additions to the links I will list there. If you would like your blog to be considered for a link, please post your real name, your blog address, and a brief 'advertisement' of your blog (25-40 words) as a comment under this subject. I will use the following guidelines for adding blog links:

Guidelines:

• Content
  
  • Must be a crochet blog
  • Suitable for all ages
  • Not a commercial site
    
• Relevance
  
• Has useful tips and/or patterns
• Updated consistently
• Aesthetics - should be easily navigable

So . . . Get busy and bring on the blogs!

WIP Volume 4

This is my latest attempt at a hat for Chloe's Korean brother. I'm sticking with this pattern I think. It is adapted from the One Skein Hat & Scarf Pattern. I changed the brim to a FP/BP Double Crochet and am doing the rest of the hat in sc. Otherwise the pattern is the same! =) 

Adding Patterns

I've added some patterns to the posts below, due to the overwhelming responses I've had. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments and for taking an interest in the art of crochet. Check back often for more fun ideas and patterns!

WIM - soon to be WIP

Well, the SEAHAWKS are going to the Superbowl! I've been wanting to make a table runner from an Annie's Attic Booklet - Year Round Table Runners in Thread, a football field with crocheted letters. I'm considering adding something about Superbowl on it. In the meantime, I've finished the Checkerboard/Tic Tac Toe board . . . see pics below. I'm getting ready to do a hat out of Homespun and the Valentine's Day Stripe bags for my three daughters. I also promised to have pics of my Project Journal up tomorrow. Ooops - better get busy =)

Checkerboard Finished

I am so pleased with how the Checkerboard/Tic Tac Toe board turned out! It is thicker than I imagined but really sturdy and lays very well. I hope I can wait til Christmas to give it to the recipient!











Pattern: Checkerboard side (see below for Tic Tac Toe Side and Joining directions) Finished size is approx. 12" x 12"

Materials: 1 skein each RH Super Saver Black, Red; Size I crochet Hook

With Black Ch 41.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, *change to red, sc in next 5 ch, change to black, sc in next 5 ch* repeat between ** three times, change to red, sc in next 5 chains, Ch 1, turn.

Row 2-40: sc in first 5 sc, *change color, sc in next 5 sc* across, ch 1, turn. At end of Rows 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 & 35, change color in last step of last sc. Do not fasten off at end of row 40.

Border: ch 1, 2 sc in last sc. sc in the end of row 39 and in next 37 rows, 3 sc in corner, sc in next 38 st, 3 sc in corner, sc in end of next 38 rows, 3 sc in corner, sc in next 38 st, 1 sc in corner, sl in front loop of each sc around, sl st in first sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Tic Tac Toe Side

See Below for Pattern











Pattern: With black, ch 41.

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each ch across (40 sc); ch 1, turn

Row 2-13: sc in first sc, *change to red, sc in next 12 sc, change to black, sc in next sc* three times. Ch 1, turn.

Row 14: sc in each sc across.

Rows 15-40. Repeat rows 2-14 twice. Do not fasten off.

Border and joining: same as checkerboard above except do not fasten off at end. Leave a tail long enough to whip stitch pieces together using the back loops only of border row.

WIP-a-Day 3

Baby blanket #2, a receiving blanket, is for a momma due in April. I haven't made many baby things over the years so I'm hesitant to try my hand at clothing, although my Grandma knitted many fine baby sweaters for my children and others. Maybe that should be a resolution this year - to try crocheting at least one garment for babies. The detail of the stitch on this blanket is shown below.