Saturday, May 30, 2009

It's Done!


You know how sometimes you see an absolutely ugly baby and you have to say something, but all you can come up with is "Wow! What a big head!" or something like that. Maybe this hasn't ever happened to you . . .

I was trying to come up with something positive about this afghan I've just finished for Cheerleader. Here goes:

1. It's done!


2. It's warm.


3. It doesn't have any mistakes.


4. It is done in U of O colors (although living in the same city as OSU may make this last one a negative.)

I'm just glad Cheerleader likes it so well. If she tires of it, the dog likes it also! (I'm glad El Guapo never reads this post - he dislikes having Ripple on the couch, but during the day I get tired of the constant arguing trying to keep her off).

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Arm Warmer Blog . . .

Ta da! Finished. . .
I realize I am indulging in risky behavior here, and that this blog is in danger of morphing into an arm warmer blog, but I had to show the last four pairs of armwarmers (or wristlets) I made for Cheerleader for her Spanish 3 project.



The above wristlets I made by chaining 35, joining the chain into a circle and then using the granny square stitch until it was the correct length. Nothing terribly complicated.




This last pair was made using the pattern I wrote earlier, but I used baby weight yarn and a size D crochet hook.


If Cheerleader and her partner don't get an A on this project, it won't be because they were lacking wristlets!


Thursday, May 28, 2009

Hey Cupcake!


So, these aren't the best photos I've ever taken, but the cupcakes are darling! I couldn't resist - having seen knitted and crocheted cupcakes everywhere lately, I had to make some. I don't know when I've had so much fun, either! Talk about a quick, satisfying little project. I stuffed these with lavendar and plan to give them as gifts when we go to France in two weeks, but I am planning to make one for myself to use as a pin cushion.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Why some WIPs take longer than they should . . .


She doesn't find this to be a problem. In fact, it is nearly the perfect situation for her . . . she is as close to me as she can get right now; she is involved in what I am doing; and she is not 'technically' on the carpet.

I've been working on this afghan for Cheerleader since my parents came to visit in April. My mom brought her 20+ year old stash of yarn (it was dusty), from her knitting heyday, and Cheerleader decided that even though the colors are atrocious, they are U of O colors and that's where she's planning on going to college, so why don't I make her an afghan? There is both too much and too little yarn, too many colors, but not enough of the colors I need, so we added black and have varied the pattern from the original concept and Cheerleader is thrilled. Once I get the dog off and finish (I just have the edging left), I'll spread it out and show you.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Lest You Think I've Been Idle. . .



I would hate for you to get the wrong idea! Just because I wasn't posting for nearly a month, doesn't mean I wasn't working on anything. I finished this little quilt for Sunshine -- I tied it with pink, white and red buttons rather than quilting it in the traditional manner, and I am rather happy with the result. I've also been sewing costumes and have gotten in rather a lot of crochet. I hope to show some of those photos in the coming days (or weeks depending on time).

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

OOOOPS!

Don't you just hate when you're cruising along crocheting. . . say you're on row 15 and you discover a fatal error back in row 4?


Yeah. Me too.


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Crochet Sweet Lolita Wristlets


Here is a picture of Cheerleader modeling the Sweet Lolita Wristlets I designed and crocheted for her Spanish 3 final project. The wristlets are really quite snazzy and easy to make -- Cheerleader says they are like a sweater for her arms and has been wearing them every waking moment since they were wearable (as opposed to being actually finished).
I have never written a pattern before, so if I messed something up and you need assistance, please feel free to ask. I have made a sincere effort, however, to make the pattern readable and followable. Also, I used American terms.

Wristlets (make 2)
Materials:
Yarn of your preference for main color
Yarn of your preference for trim
Crochet hook, size I
Crochet hook, size G

To begin, Chain 40

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across (39 sc). Ch 1, Turn.

Row 2: sc in back loop only of first 4 sc; ch 1, skip next sc (sc in back loop only of next 4 sc; ch1, skip next sc)* to end. Ch 1, Turn. (see photo for sc into back loop only).







Row 3: sc in both loops of first 4 sc; sc into 1st space. (sc in both loops of next 4 sc; sc into space)* to end. Chain 1, Turn. (see photos for sc into both loops and sc into space)
Repeat rows 2 & 3 until you have a total of 30 (for a sm/med size) rows.
Put right sides together and slip stitch sides together. (these sides are comprised of the row you just finished and the beginning row, the chain foundation).
Using a G size hook, and the trim color, add trim to the top and bottom edge of your wristlets. I made a picot edging, but a shell border would be nice as well.
To make the cords for the wristlets, I followed the directions in this website video: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-friendship-bracelets-using-a-braiding-disc/
I used three strands of one color and 4 strands of the other to make a varigated cord.
Once your cord is made, thread it through the spaces of the wristlet. I arranged my cord so that it tied on the outside, but you could also position it so that it ties on the bottom. (I just thought the outside of the wrist would be less bothersome to the wearer). There are seven rows of spaces in the wristlets, I threaded the cord through the third row of spaces from the hand side.
Using different weight yarn and different size crochet hooks will make a nice variation on these wristlets, you will just need to adjust the size.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Thrifting and a new creation!



Look what I got at Goodwill this afternoon!!!! 100% Cashmere, beautiful grey color and it looks like it was never worn -- all this for $4.99!!!!


Gotta love Goodwill.





And look at what I made! Cheerleader is involved in a major project for Spanish, which in some weird way involves fashion w/Extra credit for having an actual product. I found a freebie pattern for arm warmers that I thought she would be able to crochet. But she had trouble (didn't make it past the chain foundation), so I took over. That is when I realized that by following the pattern, I was not going to end up with the arm warmers in the photo. I was frustrated, but determined. So . . . I made up my own pattern and it is a huge hit. Cheerleader won't take them off and she wore them when we wandered around town this afternoon and received several compliments from strangers on the street! I will get the pattern instructions and photos sorted and post them here (hopefully in the next week).