Category Archives: Crochet

Hookin’ Again( Or, Yay, Crochet!)

I started out crocheting years ago, as a child. I picked it up again as a young adult but by my third child I was ready for something new, so I learned to knit..

Over the years I kept seeing those long crochet hooks or sometimes double-ended ones and didn’t know what they were for. Right before I learned to knit I dabbled in what is called Tunisian(or Afghan) crochet and it was ok, but I didn’t quite get it that first time around.

Fast forward to 2012 where I met some lovely ladies in a G+ Hangout and re-learned the process. I’ve since cast on for a Red Scarf project submission but I put it down because the hook was just too fiddly and too small for the yarn I am using.

Just last week I purchased a larger, flexible, double-ended crochet hook and I will restart the scarf. But in the meantime I’ve started a cute little dishcloth, a la a pattern from Jennifer Hansen, on Craftsy.com (The course in which the pattern appears is $29.99–check it out!)

The smaller, stiff hook I was using for the scarf would probably go better with this Sugar N Cream yarn but I’m going to keep on keepin’ on until I finish. The next one will get the smaller hook, so that I can free this one up for the scarf. ;)

What’ve I been up to?

Tunisian Dishcloth(Craftsy.com class)–:

Tunisian Dishcloth

Honey Badger Socks(Ravelry link)– Made in scrumptious Shalimar Yarns ‘Breathless’ in colorway ‘Sedge’:
Honey Badger Socks Honey Badger Socks close-up

Cotton Granny Square Apron(two separate links)–:

Granny Square Apron

This apron is actually a mixture of two ‘patterns’. The square featured is not in the original apron concept pattern, but I figured any square would work.

 

I’ve since finished the Sari Lace Triangle and all that needs blocking is the corners. Yeah. It’s so big I couldn’t fit it all on a queen-sized bed.

 

Maybe if I’m lucky, after these, I’ll catch a bout of finish-itis and clean up my WIPs. One can dream, right? ;)

 

What are you working on?

 

 

Back in the swing of things

First off, Happy New Year 2012!

Quite a bit has occurred since my last post.There’s been some knitting/crocheting of new projects, as well as finishing up an old, long-standing WIP.

In the finish-up department:

There’s the Cable Plait Bag that I started wayyyyy back in 2009. Finished it Christmas Day, 2011.

Plait Cable Bag done!

I actually had to call Big Beanlet back to get a picture of it, because she’d run off with it before I could finish a sentence. I’d been putting off lining the bag for fear that I’d mess it up. Silly me needs to get a picture of the lining; I don’t know why I didn’t think to do that before I let it out of my sight again.

After that, though, I got back into a bout of startitis and wound up working on a Half-Granny Square shawl, which I actually started and finished before I even bothered with the bag. I’d bought two skeins of this awesome Loops and Threads Luxury Sock yarn, but found myself crocheting the shawl instead of actually making socks. Since crochet takes more yarn than knitting, I went back for another two skeins to complete the project. (Gotta love coupons from Michaels and A.C. Moore!).

Crochet sock yarn shawl

All of these were finished before the near year began, and I’m now on a new ‘mission’ to complete and work on projects with a different goal/inspiration in mind. I’ll detail that more in the next post.

TTFN!

Addiction–Not Pretty, but perhaps Useful

That was the theme for a recent photo from my 365 challenge. I’m referring to a washcloth pattern that I found, when looking for something small and portable to work on while running errands that required long waits or travel.

Washcloth in progress

I had about 8 or 9 balls of dishcloth cotton. I was supposed to make some new potholders but got sidetracked by a stuffed animal pattern, only to abandon that(for the time being), to wind up working on the washcloths. The pattern is easily remembered and that only fueled my crochet addiction.

I’ve got some Sugar n’ Cream ‘Denim’ yarn which is a bit thinner than the regular style. I’m going to make towels with those instead of cloths. Can always use more kitchen towels, right? ;)

I’m making minimal progress with Eileen. I’ve long since finished a front but I had to rip the second front when I realized I’d done too many waist decreases. Oopsie. I should be picking that up again in the next few days. It’s just the portable, mindless, addicting washcloths came into my life and totally took over.

On another note, I might wind up dropping the second towel to get back into wearables for the Beanlets. It’s getting cooler and that means hat and scarf time. Littlest is begging for gloves instead of mittens. I really am not a fan of knitting all those fingers. I convinced her to stick with mittens by telling her that your hand stays warmer if all your fingers are together; like in a mitten. She went for it, so I’m off the hook for now. ;)

I’ve got some undyed Merit brand 100% wool I picked up a the Save-a-Thon a while ago, I was making a shawl from it but it’s just too thick and not very shawl-like. It’ll make a decent hat for her and that’s what it’ll become. I just need to find a suitable pattern.

That’s what’s been going on with the yarn-craft.. If you’re looking for photos, check here!

Just Doing It.

That is kind of how I feel about my latest craft projects. Other than baking for special occasions I’ve been contemplating practicing my baking a little more. I’ve always farked up whole wheat bread. It was always hard, and flat. Nothing I tried worked. But recently I read something about “vital wheat gluten”, which is supposed to help wheat breads rise better. I’ve yet to actually try it but hopefully sometime this weekend I’ll get around to it.

I did manage to make some banana bread, though:
Banana Banana Bread

from this recipe.

I’m thinking I should have added that 4th banana in there. Some of the reviews do indicate that extra banana would improve the moisture but I didn’t listen. Or perhaps the addition of baking powder may have something to do with it. In previous incarnations, with a different recipe the bread was always kind of flat and that one didn’t call for baking powder either, so I figured that was the problem. This loaf is somewhat taller but not by much(I’m starting to think other people are using a smaller pan than my 9×5′er, which could mean nothing I do will yield a taller result). Oh well, it’s still very good, even if a little on the dry side. Nothing a hot cup of coffee or tea or a glass of cold milk won’t fix.

In knitting I’m also slowly starting up. Oh I’ve knit the occasional hat or mittens or some other whimsy but one of the things I’ve been wanting to knit more of is sweaters for ME. Sadly, though, I’ve been quite reluctant to do so because of the four disasters in my knitting past: namely, the felting of my Cheesylove pullover, the shrinking of my beloved Central Park Hoodie by my MIL, and the fact that I ran seriously short of yarn for the handspun Heather Hoodie. Not to mention, the failure of kiddo’s Basic Black.

Eileen back

Enter Eileen. I just decided to jump in and do it. Of course the decision was facilitated by a sale at Michaels. ;) I went with a bold color that I love and so far the knitting is going ok. I was a little uneasy with the shifting charts; if you look at the back photo you’ll notice there is a center panel and two side panels. The side panel chart only has 6 rows but the center one has 8. The first repeat of the two charts started out with the same rows, only to have me start the side panel chart AGAIN before finishing the first repeat of the center panel. And there I was thinking I’d print the charts on the same sheet of paper and use one long strip of highlighter tape to track the rows. Sigh. Oh well. I guess I could still print them together since they’re small. But it hasn’t been a major hassle yet.

Now, while I did enhance my stash for this project I have been working from stash I already had.

Crochet Box

I had 3 balls of Lamb’s Pride Bulky laying around, seemingly forever, and decided now was the time. The other day I just started crocheting these rectangles, not even knowing what I’d do with them. I just needed to be doing something with my hands. My son came in the room and asked if I was making a box. I looked at the panels and just decided, yeah, I’m gonna make a box. And I did!

I’ve read that crochet is harder to felt than knitting and I’m seeing this may very well be true. I would have thought with the yarn being a single ply that it would felt lovely but, the crochet won out. You can still see some of the stitch definition. Also the finished item isn’t as sturdy as knit felt would be. There’s no way that box would stand up to the spindles, but this is even floppier than normal; everything is actually sitting in a hard plastic bucket the kids got a few Halloween’s ago. Eh, it works, right?

I hear Eileen calling so I’d better go see what she wants.

TTFN!

Goodwill Hunting! and FOs( pic heavy)

Several months ago I started troweling through some of the local Goodwill and Salvation Army shops. I’ve found that while the pricing is better at the SA shops, the Goodwill has better selection. Beggars can’t be choosers, though.

The other day I hit up the Goodwill down the road and came upon some goodies. One was a little red Jansport knapsack. Littlest Beanlet’s been hollering about a new bag since hers started falling apart. She loves her new bag and carries around the house all. the. time. There’s also a pair of knickers(?) I found that actually fit. The problem is, they’ve got stains on the legs. Very visible ones. I thought perhaps the owner didn’t want to bother trying to get rid of them, and just gave the pants away. But alas, washing did nothing. That’s not going to stop me. I’m going to over dye them. I’ll save the before and after photos for another post. I’ve got some cool ideas up my sleeve for that project.

Another goodie I found was this:

Score!

On Mother’s Day, I got to go fleamarketing all by myself! Yay. I went back to that one I talked about in the previous post(and found out the tea I bought is called Peach Apricot), and went around looking for a pretty teapot and teacup set to enjoy my tea with. I didn’t see much and what I did see didn’t really grab me, or the price just wasn’t to my liking. I hit the Goodwill the next day and BAM! $1 teacup and saucer, from the CorningWare “Champagne & Roses” line. I’ve been searching the net for more like this but nothing so far. I’d just like another two sets of cup and saucer and the whole teapot, creamer and sugar bowl getup and I’d be good. I don’t want to start a whole collection going. Though if the entire line somehow landed at my doorstep, I wouldn’t mind too much. ;)

As for FOs, I’ve finished a stack of little coasters:

Springtime Coasters Springtime Coasters

They’re made from the Springtime Coasters pattern, here (Raverly link). Very quick and simple; a pleasure to crochet. I only needed one but I have so much cotton left over from the spiral potholder and cotton apron I figured I could make more. If anyone would like some coasters give me a holler. I feel a sick urge to make another set! :D I made them because I’ve been keeping my teapot on the windowsill next to me and it was sitting on one of the potholders. That thing is huge and hangs off the edge of the sill. I didn’t want to risk swiveling my chair and catching the potholder, thus pulling the teapot to the floor. Enter the coaster. Big enough to cover the bottom of the pot, yet small enough to fit neatly on the windowsill. It’s a win-win!

This is much better

What better to have with some tea than some baked goods? You know me and baked goods. mmmm mmm.

Popovers!

Popovers! And Strawberry Butter!

Strawberry butter

The popovers were fun and easy to make but they are bland. Not to mention the overwhelming egg taste(takes 4 eggs!). My two youngest love them, especially with the strawberry butter. If I try this again I will have to get a real popover pan because I can see the muffin pan just doesn’t do them justice.

Oh well, I think I hear a G hook calling me.

Happy Crafting!

Wow! What a week!

And I am TIRED. It was Spring Break for the kids so the hubby and I took advantage of that by taking the kids out almost daily. We didn’t do much on Monday. Tuesday, though, we went out bowling at a local bowling alley. Boy Beanlet tore it up and left us in the dust. Later that night I realized they made an error with our bill and we got two free games the next day! Again Boy Beanlet beat us in both games. All that and I broke my thumb nail like I always do when bowling.. After two days it was sore as hell. When we left there we headed over to my cousin’s house for the evening. Everybody was exhausted when we got home.

On Thursday, we took the train up to New Roc City and had a blast. There were some small issues with the game cards we were using but they were resolved really quickly. Everybody had a good time. Littlest Beanlet rode a carousel for the first time and loved it. The two bigger Beanlets and I gunned for each other at the bumper cars(OMG that was soooo much fun!), while their dad amused himself with some pinball machines. We gained a crap-ton of prize tickets and we divided them up among the kids. Everybody chose a whoopie cushion as one of their prizes and we spent the better part of the next 24 hours listening to them ‘fart’ and giggle.

Friday, after some early morning food shopping(fresh mozzarella–more on that in a bit), we settled in to relax and rest. And I needed it, because when I got up that morning it was all OUCH! I really wanted to soak in the tub but I’m trying to find good tub cushions. I used to have one from Bed Bath and Beyond some years ago and haven’t been able to find one like it since. Sigh..

During all the traveling to and fro, I worked on and finished the cotton apron and I’ve worn it a few times already; it’s a major success. I managed not to soak my clothes while washing dishes. :D And I wore it while working on a pizza for dinner last night. I got to use the fresh mozzarella I picked up at the market. I don’t know why I got the wild idea to do that though, as it didn’t turn out the way I’d have liked. I learned that the fresh cheese is too moist to leave on the pizza as long as I’d need to for thorough baking. It started to burn like marshmallows. Although, the crust was crispier than normal so maybe I did leave it in there too long to begin with.

I should add that strangely enough the cheese didn’t TASTE burnt; in fact it was good. It had a distinctly different taste than the preserved kind, but to get the luscious melt we like, preserved it is.

Today is Easter Sunday. We’re not celebrating with anyone this year, just relaxing at home and getting ready for another week. Apron pics are forthcoming, when I get a chance to go out with just ONE Beanlet instead of all three later on this week.

Weekend WIP and FO

A second set of spiral potholders has emerged!!

Done!

Before I’d even finished that first set I was already contemplating a second. And they are done. Now what to do with all those leftover balls of yarn? Why, pull out some other colors you have laying around and make a rainbow!

A fuller rainbow

And then sit there and wonder what in the hill street blues you’re going to do with that! Well, what goes better with a set of potholders than an apron!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d knit/crochet an apron but there it is:

1/2 way there

Well, there half of it is. Though, as of this writing I’ve since finished the red, went on to fuschia and am currently on purple. After blue it’s on to the greens and I’m done. Yes I know it’s not in the proper spectral order, but I like it.

This apron (Ravelry link!) is a single crochet deal. Usually I’d rather do a double crochet or even triple, but to conserve yarn, single it is. I figured I could gain height/length by striping with more colors, than doing a solid version a la the pattern. So I get to use up leftovers and get a pretty apron in the process! I’m enjoying the ride as the stripes build row by row. In fact, slowing down and enjoying the process(and hopefully learning things) is something I hope to do with all my crafts. I’m usually in a rush for the finished object.

I guess I’ve taken the ‘slow down’ approach a bit too far, as I’ve got other WIPS that sorely need attention. I’m always saying I’ll get to them and never do. It’s pathetic, I tell you. ;) Can’t make any promises but hopefully with the warm weather coming up I can start wearing the clothes I’ve been making, and showing them off. ;)

TTFN!

A Walk in the Park… and Potholder FO

We had a lovely, warm Saturday yesterday and I thought I’d go out walking in Central Park with the kids. Everyone had a good time, playground-hopping and seeing nature, NYC-style. There will be plenty photos here, you are forewarned.

While getting our fill of playgrounds(there are more playgrounds in Central Park that I’d previously thought!), we did some more walking around and eventually found ourselves at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. And saw this goose, and some of his/her friends:
Duck Duck Duck.. GOOSE!

These Canadian Geese were pleasant enough to let me take pictures of them, even stopping briefly so I get a halfway decent shot. There were other birds further out in the water that I can’t identify and they would keep ducking down into the water when I lifted my camera up. The kids had a ball with me getting angry at the birds. I’m sure a few passersby thought it was funny, too.

See? They couldn’t stop laughing even while I tried to take a picture of THEM:
All together now!

That’s ok. They stopped laughing long enough to point out the Guggenheim Museum on the other side of the park. I wasn’t even paying attention at first.

What's that over there?

We hit another playground before leaving the park and I got my old self on a swing and tried to snap a picture of the sky:

Up in the Air!
Mental Note: Must work on photographing motion.

That didn’t make me dizzy enough apparently, and I had to go on and finish some potholders I’d started Friday night:

Spiral Potholders

The “Stir Me Up Potholders”, by MintyFresh. I enjoyed making them and I’m sure I’ll do this pattern again. One can never have too many potholders right? ;)

All in all, a good time was had by all. Now I’m off to decide what order to arrange the colors for my next set of potholders! ;)

The post that wasn't(and the one in its place)

I could bore you with the sordid tale of my laptop falling in the hole(TWICE!) and my camera pretending to be broken and me almost FedEx-ing it to BFE for nothing, but I won’t. Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?

Between getting my system fixed and the camera working again, I bring you this!
All together now

The solid burgundy was done first.
Crochet Tam

I’d been wanting a nice, simple slouchy hat for the winter. I didn’t seem to find what I wanted in knitting, so I browsed crochet patterns and found one that worked well. Just wish I could remember where I found it. But here’s a similar one.

I had to rip the multi-colored one a few times because I forgot how many increase rounds I did before continuing on even and it kept getting too big. Way to record-keep Bean! Anyway, I got it finished and I’d like to make more of them. I had one going in the second pattern out of some handspun wool/silk from my stash but no matter how big a hook I use I’m not getting the drape I’m looking for. Methinks I need to use a different yarn. I’m also seriously considering making this next one a knit. I like the looks of this hat. Sigh, so many patterns, so little time.

I’ve been in the kitchen again too.

scratch biscuits
I got wind of these awesome biscuits from Yarngeek and had to try them out. The process was really quick and simple. That’s always a plus with me. As good as they are, though, I’m thinking I prefer buttermilk. So that’s next on the list one of these days.

That’s pretty much it for now, til next time!

TTFN

Quickie-Drive-By post…

The hands have been busy lately. I haven’t caught up on my old projects but I did start new ones. Like this crochet blanket:

Ring around the stash-busting

Just a random, huge granny square blanket that I somehow fell into. I crash-landed in crochet land a few months ago when I started the Big-A$$ Crochet Blanket. No sightings of Tom Hanks or a creepy-looking volleyball, but bets aren’t off just yet. I did another blanket like this a few years ago for a friend’s little one, but this one will get to be much bigger. I’m whittling down the stash with this puppy. Using whatever I can find that works with an H hook. Heck, I might even double some thinner yarns just to get them used up.

That’s been put on hold for the next week or so, because on Saturday I started working on a graduation dress for littlest Beanlet:

Beanlet Grad Dress-- Simplicity 4647

I’m making that pink get-up right there. I just jumped in headfirst with a complicated garment and I can’t turn back. I’m mostly done so I’m actually ahead of schedule, seeing as the event is on Friday and today is only Monday. So far, I have:

  • 1) Stabbed myself various times with pins
    2)Invented new cuss-words upon realizing I’ve messed up something
    3)Gone half-blind trying to pick loose errant stitching–White on white is crazy-making!
    4)Hollered 400000 times at the cat to ‘Stay off the %$%$ table!’
    5)Flip-flopped on whether I was willing crazy enough to try to make Biggest Beanlet’s grad dress too!( I won’t. Not enough time.)

    • You can see more photos of the adventure here.

    Ok, back to the trenches!