Whoa! Happy New Year 2013!

Jan6

Time sure has flown, hasn’t it. Last I blogged it was the end of November. I’d petered out that last week or so of NaBloPoMo. I was holding my own for a bit there, but yeah. I’d probably have better luck with a sweater.

But the holiday time has come and gone and there was crafting and the emergence of a new, obsession, to use a better word. Nails!

I’d gone to a holiday swap dinner and learned about a monthly nail subscription from Julep. I really like the polishes I got from it; nice and thick, smooth texture and nearly opaque on the first coat! Not sure I’ll purchase every month but I’ll definitely be participating again. I like nail polish because it’s a way to pretty myself up without makeup. I don’t work outside the home, so I have very little need to keep up foundation and lipstick and all that jazz, so nails are the next best thing!

Between polish changes I’ve been crafting.

Oh So Cozy Cowl

Handspun Falkland from ShadyFibers

Size 5.0mm Tunisian crochet hook(H)

Remember when I picked up tunisian crochet back in 2012? Well, it resurfaces every so often and this time it was in the form of a cowl. Strangely enough, it was too narrow to be comfortable so I cinched off the top and now it’s a hat! Perfect! It has a nice, easily memorized stitch pattern, and I’ll probably try it again and get it right the next time!

And here’s my first two FO’s of the new year:

Quick Cable Slouch Hat

ArtYarns “Reality”, which I received in the holiday swap

Size 4.5mm and 6.5mm needles

Seed Stitch Mittens for Men

Misti Alpaca “Qolla”, also received in the holiday swap

Size 4.0mm needles

I’m currently working on a tunisian crochet shawl called Venus. I’m almost done, but here’s a sneak peek:

It’s turning out fairly large unblocked because I’m using a sport weight yarn instead of lace, but it won’t grow that much more because it’s a microfiber yarn.

That’s it for this post, TTFN!

Relearning Crochet (NaBloPoMo Day 18)

Nov18

I learned to crochet as a child, but apparently I wasn’t doing it right. I let that go until my young adult years when I was expecting my first child. I crocheted most of a layette set(I wasn’t interested in the booties), and it turned out I could use only the hat and blanket. The ‘jumpsuit’ wouldn’t fit most preemies. So much for gauge, I didn’t even know what that was. Didn’t do a swatch!

Fast foward to the impending birth of my last child and I was at it again. This time I was gonna get it right! I’d re-learned crochet. I had “Crochet in Plain English”, by Maggie Righetti and a host of hooks and yarn at the ready. I was, however still too chicken to go the whole layette route and opted for blankets and hats and sweaters.. Easy, boxy, things. Hell, before a year was out, I was making hair scrunchies(I miss those!), bags, hats, scarves, blankets. I’d even gotten into Tunisian crochet.

But I fell into knitting almost a year later when I got frustrated that all the ‘nicer’ stuff turned out to be knitted. I went through phases of preferring one over the other and today, I can comfortably say I don’t have a favorite of the two. They are equal in my heart. They *do* have differences that I like about them(for instance, ripping regular crochet is less stressful because you only have one live stitch at a time; no need to have a bunch of stitches secure on a needle when you’re done ripping, like with knitting or tunisian; knitting is slower but uses less yarn, etc.), but I’ve long given up thinking one was *superior* to the other, ya know?

Well, I had to re-discover a neat crochet tip yesterday while v-chatting. Apparently I could avoid all the many ends of multi-yarn crochet projects by stitching over the loose ends on the next row of crochet. Duh! Why didn’t I think of that? I have been trying to keep the errant ends on the inside/wrong side of the work and so far, so good. But I’d only done it the last couple color changes so I still have a bunch of ends to deal with. Oh well, Live and learn.

TTFN!

Nothing To See Here…(NaBloPoMo Day 16)

Nov16

So I’ve gone and done it. Started another Harlequin Hoodie, this time for me. I chose more ‘mature’ colors, like brown, black ,tan and off-white. I did start with yellow in the mix but ultimately the yellow got taken out of the options. I can always use it for something. Hmm.

In spinning, I’ve gone back to the Fessler spindle again. I just decided to suck it up and accept the smaller output. Since I spin predominantly feltable fibers I can just spit-splice ends together whenever I run out of singles. Not exactly my favorite way to handle that, but it’ll do.

Still plugging away at kid sweaters, little by little. At this rate it’ll be Summer again before they have them in hand. Then I’ll have an excuse to put them aside for later work *evil grin*. Nah, I’ll get it done. Soon.

I’ve also managed to finish 1 of the recent e-book purchases, “Hilda Hopkins, Murder She Knit”, by Vivienne Fagan. It was an enjoyable read, though I wish it didn’t end so abruptly. Well, you get what you pay for, right? This afternoon, I started “White Heat“, by Paul D. Marks. Another enjoyable read, though the dialog can be a bit… slow. I hope this one resolves more completely. In fact, I’m going to end this post now, and find out!

TTFN!

Another FO (NaBloPoMo Day 15)

Nov15

She loves it!

The Harlequin Hoodie is finished. I changed things a little by making less rows on the hood and cowl to fit her smaller head. I’m tempted to make one of these for myself; I’d need the full 18 rows for the hood. Big Beanlet requested one too. Sigh. I can’t keep up with kid knits as it is; I’ve no business adding to the queue.

I used 2 and about 1/3 of a 3rd ball of Loops and Threads “Impeccable” in the Holland colorway. That was a little depressing as crochet tends to use way more yarn than knitting for the same size garment, but to be fair, the put-up for this yarn is less than what I’m used to for acrylics. Oh well. The rest will become matching mittens. I tried the edging in the same yarn and it wasn’t ‘popping’ so I made the edging from some leftover pink Erdal “Lazer”. I think it worked out well. It came in handy because today was picture day, and while I wanted little one to stay warm, I didn’t want her hair messed up by a standard hat.

All in all, I enjoyed this quick project. Try it yourself!

TTFN!

It’s been a long time…

Sep28

since my last post, I know. I have been working on projects of the yarny kind and here’s the proof:

Not one, but two! crocheted Chevron Lace cardigans. One for me, and one for littlest Beanlet.

We have been getting compliments left and right on these sweaters, especially when we were them at the same time. I’ve since moved on to knitting a different sweater that I will feature in another post(read: when I get a decent photo of it!). But little one has taken to spending a little more than a few minutes every morning trying to decide which one to wear that day. After I finish some school sweaters for the older two Beanlets I may go and make yet another for her( my most appreciative yarn-gift recipient of the three), before I get started on another for myself.

This will serve as my ‘Rhinebeck sweater’ for this year’s visit. Yes! I’m finally going again after a long, 4-year absence. I can’t WAIT!!! Are you going? If so, hope to meet you there!

In this post:

Chevron Lace Cardigan

About 8 balls of Red Heart Super Saver(mill ends) in Aran Fleck

Size 48 done for me in a K hook, Size 44 for her, but with a G hook

Both of these took 4 days each of work, having not worked on any other projects.

Hookin’ Again( Or, Yay, Crochet!)

Apr24

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)–:

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

Cotton Granny Square Apron(two separate links)–:

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

Feb15

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.

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!).

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

Nov1

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.

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.

Jan20

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:

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.

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.

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)

May12

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:

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:

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! 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!

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

Popovers! And 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!

Adrift in Crafts

The adventures of a woman chin-deep in crafts, who doesn't want to be saved

Category Archives: Crochet

Whoa! Happy New Year 2013!

Relearning Crochet (NaBloPoMo Day 18)

Nothing To See Here…(NaBloPoMo Day 16)

Another FO (NaBloPoMo Day 15)

It’s been a long time…

Hookin’ Again( Or, Yay, Crochet!)

Back in the swing of things

Addiction–Not Pretty, but perhaps Useful

Just Doing It.

Goodwill Hunting! and FOs( pic heavy)

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