Some Finished Objects

Two sets of Crochet edged pillowcases for Kyle and Courtney's Wedding on Saturday!

Yoked Baby Cardigan for a friend of Migi's.

Two projects done, thousands to go!

Some Knitting and Crochet

New socks cast on last night - first socks in a couple of months!

Scarf - probably a Christmas present (if I can get over the fact that it didn't felt like it was supposed to)

Crocheted scarf - don't have enough of the blue so it will be finished with white and thereby "two-toned" (I will call it a feature - not an error)

One of the mittens I designed as a gift.

Oooo La La

Saturday is my friend's birthday.

I found a pattern on Ravelry for some felted slippers.

I've never felted before - it seemed good.

It was good.

It got better.

I added crocheted roses from Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers

I don't think Duffers is a good name for this slipper pattern. They are much more elegant than that name would imply.

FYI: I frogged the celtic knot purse/scarf that was on my to finish list. I decided I didn't really want a bag, and I also didn't want to knit a lot more and turn it into a scarf - the yarn was too scratchy. That yarn has now been turned into these lovely felted slippers!

P.S. the table cloth in the background is one I bought at the Good Will Bins on Crap by the Pound day. It's beautiful and in near perfect condition!

Fairy Knitting and Crochet

One of the things I've always most enjoyed crocheting is lace, so I've been eager to try knitting lace to see if I like it as well.

I do.

But the lace yarn is so much finer than the crochet thread - I feel like a fairy knitting spiderweb with pine needles!

This will eventually be knit up into a lovely wisteria colored scarf with an all-over leaf pattern.

In the mean time - I have made a real push to get WIPs moved off the to do list - and here is one of the items. A second pair of crochet-lace-edged pillowcases for Sunshine.

The List

NO new projects will be begun until the majority of these WIPs are completed!

1. July Socks

2. Lavender Wrap-around Skirt

3. Celtic Knot Bag/Scarf (can't decide what it is going to be yet) frogged

4. Scrappy Quilt

5. Crocheted Edging on Pillowcases

6. Circular Shrug

Once I have knocked back the above projects to a manageable level, I may begin these projects:

1. Doll with Carrying Case and Clothing

2. Apron

3. Union Jack Cushion

4. Cushions for Outdoor Furniture

5. July-and-a-half Socks

6. August Socks

More Pillowcases

More pillowcases finished!

The green pair is for El Guapo and I - even though the quilt in our room is pink and yellow!

The lavender ones are Sunshine's - I wanted a better photo now the sun is out.

I used blue crochet thread for the trim. I really like how it turned out.

Posh

Look at this charming old chair El Guapo brought home to me yesterday! I've wanted a chair similar to this for a long time. Can't you just see it - dressed up in something floral and sitting demurely on the patio?

I sewed these posh pillowcases together yesterday, using the tute from here. I'm really please with how they turned out. I chose the fabric for Sunshine - her room is grey with lavender accents. Now, I am ready to crochet some pretty white trim around the edges.

I spend soooooo much time in the car waiting for girls - classes, appts., sports, etc. I need to have portable projects to keep me from going quietly insane. I hope the crochet trim lasts a while. Though, I do have one more set of pillowcases begun; a quilt to hand quilt; one more sweater sleeve; and I need to cast on another pair of socks. Surely, with that many projects going, I will have enough to do while waiting in the car!

March So Far . . .

As mentioned earlier - On Presidents' Day the girls and I went shopping in Salem with El Guapo's sister and her two girls. We went to a new resale shop - Plato's Closet - and I went a little nuts! I spent quite a lot of money - but I bought two bags worth of really nice clothes. Pictured above are the Aeropostal long sleeve shirt and the Charlotte Russe Hounds Tooth jacket that I bought there. I'm also wearing the Ralph Lauren jeans I bought at our local 2nd Hand shop - Second Glance Annex.

I meant to start a second project because I like to have two projects going that I can switch back and forth between, in this case it was going to be my knitted cardigan and then these pillowcases with crochet trim (inspired by the lovely cases on Rosehip .

I didn't mean to get so carried away that I completed this project in one weekend - it was supposed to last a while. Fortunately, I have more fabric, crochet thread, and pillows in need of cases.

This fabric came from my stash and has been there so long it's practically vintage. I really can't remember where it came from or when!

The Finished Crap-Yarn Crochet Blanket

Extreme close-up to show the lovely pattern

Over all pattern

The sexy, rumpled look

The whole thing - reclining, Roman-like - on my bench

I don't know the dimensions, and I don't want to find my tape measure and figure it out - but I do know that it is surprisingly heavy for its size. This is a very dense pattern!

Today's view of the crab apple tree (note the sunny day!)

Thrifting

I had to share what I found when the girls and I went to the 2nd hand store last week. We all found something we wanted, but I get the prize for finding the PRIZE!

Beautiful, beaded crochet. Flawless, elegant and . . . $8.00!

End of December Catch-up

I've been quiet this month, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy, busy, busy. Made these adorable elf clogs (as seen on Allsorts), and work continues on the crochet throw made from the crap yarn. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to watch the pile of crap yarn diminish and see the, surprisingly, pretty throw develop! I am trying to get the second sock done for Cheerleader and I am working away on a beautiful burgundy "Rosebud" cardigan for myself.

El Guapo gave me all three knitting/crochet books that I asked for for Christmas, so I am set for the New Year.

There has been a mad spate of baking around here lately as well, but I don't find any good photos to post right now.

Have you made any resolutions for the New Year? I have decided that I kept last year's resolutions pretty well and I am going to just continue in that trend.

This is my last post for 2009, which turned out to be a pretty horrible year around here. Here's hoping 2010 is much better! (Actually, even just a little better would be much better). Wishing you a Happy New Year.

December

Gluten-Free Pie-in-a-Jar! As seen on Posie Gets Cozy. I made peach and cherry.

A new crochet project, another attempt to use up the tail end of last summer's crap yarn. I found the stitch pattern on a blog (Sarah London Textiles) and made a sample but couldn't figure out the entire thing - so was thrilled when I found Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches - because I found a very similar stitch pattern in there that took just a little tweaking. It's called interlocking block stitch, if you want to know, and it makes for a very dense piece of crochet!
Another view, earlier in the project.

The patchwork strip quilt I started to use up all my old fabric scraps.

Another view. I haven't measured it yet, as I am still undecided about a border. I have two large pieces of fabric which may work for the backing and that would determine whether there is a border or not. I am pleased with how it is turning out, but it is on hold during Christmas as I have knitting and other crafting projects in the works. And really, this quilt top has a Spring feel to me. (Forgot to mention that I got the idea for the strip quilt after looking at One More Moore).

Finis

Ah, isn't it lovely?

I did it! From a stash of extremely ugly yarn, I created a warm, functional, rather beautiful blanket!

Truly, sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I followed Lucy's (of Attic24) pattern for the floral squares, but varied the sizes and I also used her pattern for the scalloped edge. Thanks Lucy.

It isn't large, because even though I had plenty of some colors left, I had run out of others, but it is perfect for what it was intended - cool evenings on the patio.

Now, since I have such an embarrassing wealth of ugly yarn, I have decided to learn how to knit. It's frustrating for me as I have spent hours and hours and hours . . . crocheting, so that it is as easy for me as walking or breathing. This knitting thing, though! It's like learning to juggle while learning to ride a unicycle.

Impediments to Crafting

The dog isn't the only trouble I have when it comes to crochet. I sat down at the computer for FIVE MINUTES to figure out how I wanted to edge the Babette Blanket. I decided on a simple granny stitch with a final shell stitch. So, to get on with it . . . where did the blanket go? I had it spread out on the floor awaiting my final decision? Oh. Cheerleader is trying to squeeze in a nap under it. And look at Ripple! It really ticks her off when someone else is in her favorite spot on the couch and hogging the new blanket, to boot!

All Things Floral

So . . . much crocheting this week. I must admit, I am very pleased with how this is turning out. Just shows you shouldn't judge yarn for being ugly and nasty - it may have something beautiful inside just waiting to be released . . .

People have been walking past commenting on the sunflowers in the vegetable garden.

This is the view I see when I look out the bathroom window. We didn't plant any sunflowers this year - just so you know. The bounty is 100% thanks to the scrub jays who call our back yard and garden home.

These are my current favorite flowers. Kent Beauty or "Hop-Flower" Oregano. Aren't they lovely!?

Back to the hook and yarn. I'll keep you updated as the Babette style, join-as-you-go, garden flower blanket progresses.