Afghan finished!

I have finished my brother's scarfghan, see:

Catching up

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! Well, things have been rather chaotic here for quite a while. There's been colds, a touch of the flu, 2 birthday parties and family stuff between then and now. I haven't even done all that much in the way of crocheting until last month. That was how I really realized that I had too much going on. So, now I'm back at the hook.

I made a baby afghan for my cousin's best friend using the Adoring Hearts pattern from the book, A Crocheter's Garden of Afghans (see my January archives for a picture). Unfortunately, I was unable to find my camera before I had to deliver it. This sweet afghan was made with Bernat Baby Coordinates in Sweet Pink and White. I alternated squares with half of them being pink with white hearts and the other half being white with pink hearts. I finished with a round of white single crochet and the border round of big pink treble crochet shells. I turned out really pretty. I'm sorry I couldn't get a picture. That afghan went over so well, that another aunt (great-aunt, actually) asked me to make her one only in green and white and a little bigger. So that's what I'm working on now. I've got just over half of the squares done. I'm again using the Adoring Hearts pattern and Bernat Baby Coordinates, this time in Iced Mint and White. I'm going to do the same border with one round of white single crochet and the final round of big green treble crochet shells. I have my camera again, and will definitely be getting a picture of this one to post here as soon as I get it done.

My next project will be to finally finish my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan. I finally got the logo graphed out and will be doing a panel at the top and cross-stitching the logo on. I might even add some golden snitch squares along the bottom, but that's going to depend on how long it takes me to get this afghan put together and the logo panel done. After I finish that afghan, I'll be starting on a set of placemats. They'll be done in delta crochet that I learned from an online crochet class at Hass Designs. I'm looking forward to getting started on those. I love working in the round at any time and this is a kind of filet, but it's triangle-shaped instead of squares. I've never been able to get the squares to be squares, they're always rectangles. The triangles I can do :)

I've lined up some projects to complete/do after the holidays. I have some other things I'd like to do, such as learn new techniques, study calligraphy, use up some of my scrap stash. Especially that last one. I've got so much scrap yarn, that I'm running out of room to put it. I'm going to have to get it worked up. Our house is so small, that there's barely enough room for us sometimes as it is. LOL I'll keep you posted (pun intended).

Quiet Time

Things have been quiet on the home front for the last couple of weeks. Not a lot on the hook, although there needs to be. I've been making Angels For Hope angels, in the hopes that I'll be able to rejoin that wonderful organization again before long. I've been doing thread angels. I love the tiny little size :)

Speaking of thread, as y'all know, I took the online Delta crochet class at Hass Designs. I have successfully completed all the lessons with the only exception being the starching. The lavender ornament has been the only thing to get starched yet. I have 3, count 'em 3, doilies in my bag just waiting to be blocked and starched. Anyway, I have discovered that I love thread!!!. I tried my Angel square in size 10 thread and it came out to be about 1 1/2 inches wide. It's so cute!! :) So I think I'm going to go in search of more thread patterns. I'm not real thrilled with filet, but I know if I find one that I just love, I'll do it.

My gift list remains unfinished. Most of it, I haven't even started on. I did get a Harry Potter logo graphed out. I just need to join the scarves and do the logo panel. I am wanting to make some of the Star Jasmine delta crochet doilies as placemats for my aunt. It's the aunt that always made me feel like I could succeed at whatever I wanted and has really inspired me to continue in crochet and also to pass it along to the next generation. That doily pattern calls for size 20 thread, but I only had size 10 and since I don't have it blocked yet, I don't know if it's going to be the right size. If it's still too small, I think I'll probably try one with a size 5 hook and/or maybe a size 5 thread. It'll probably wind up being one of each until I find the size doily I want.

New Pics

I finally got pictures from my digital camera to my computer. First is a picture of the Delta crochet flower ornament from the Delta crochet online class at Hass Design. I'm not sure what lesson it's in, but I actually made a couple of others first. This one is the first one that looks like the chart and hence the only one I've actually blocked. I've also completed the coaster and it also looks cool, but I don't have it blocked yet.




The angel square picture is one I made for an exchange partner using some scraps I had received from a new member of one of my exchange groups. I didn't have enough yarn of either color to finish the last round, so after doing some math a couple of times, I used both colors. I didn't think I would like it, but when it was done it was great! I love it when I surprise myself :)

I also have completed my first Heartmade Blessings comfortghan. I was thrilled to be able to do it. I just finished getting it washed and all yesterday and it's going in the mail today. The joining and border don't really show up well on the computer, but it has a little metallic gold thread running through it and really looks glitzy in real life.

My next project isn't really crochet, but it's one I've had waiting for a long, long time. I made a sweatshirt jacket for my sister with handprint angels of both the boys for Christmas one year. I only had the two boys and she loved it. Well, I now have a girl to add and the original shirt has seen some fairly frequent use. So, the shirt needs to be replaced and the baby girl added. The original jacket had gotten lost many moons ago and I just found it last night, so as soon as I find the new sweatshirt, I'll be on my way to replacing it. When I get that done, I'll be getting my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan put together. I did find a HP logo that was large enough for me to copy so I'm going to see if I can graph it out and do a logo panel at the top like the Star Wars one I did for DH and DS #1.

Crochet Slump

I've been in a crochet slump. I hate that when it happens :( Anyway, since it was in the 80's Easter, I didn't get the buttons sewn on DD's cape and of course, no pictures yet. I've got an afghan that I thought up for the Herrschners afghan contest, but I only have the first row done. I signed up for the Delta crochet class at HassDesign and even got the first ornament done, but I got it mailed off before I remembered that I didn't get pictures of it either. I have gotten all the scarves done for my brother's Harry Potter scarfghan done, but I have yet to put it together. So as you can see, I've kind of been playing around with little stuff, but not getting more of my bigger stuff done.

I printed out all the lessons from the Delta crochet class yesterday and did another ornament yesterday evening. I did the new one in lavender. I'll be getting pics of it up as soon as I get it blocked. I must say that I like Delta crochet better that filet. Not only did I learn a new technique, I learned to read the symbol chart and since I've never blocked anything a day in my life, I'm learning how to do that too. This has inspired me though to move on to some of my other projects that are waiting for me to get to them. And I found the perfect yarn and perfect pattern for my sister. I'm afraid to share it prematurely since she reads this blog too LOL :)

Secret Sister gift

As part of a secret sister exchange, I received a couple of skeins of Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn. I have recently rediscovered the joy of working with cotton and I made this butterfly washcloth: I also made a butterfly bookmark with some purple thread I received, but I didn't get a picture of it. Yesterday I started on a cape for my daughter to wear with her Spring dress. I'll get pictures of it posted as soon as there's enough of it to post. :)

Sharing Crochet

Hi all! I was just catching up on my blog reading and reading Dee's latest article reminded me of my doctor's appointment yesterday. No, not the appointment itself, what happened in the waiting room. Now, I go to the health dept. so I always take crocheting with me since I never know how long I'll have to wait. Usually I get a "oh, that's pretty" or " what are you making" and that's it. Yesterday I met up with a lady who not only crochets and sat trading techniques with me, but also lives in the same town. Small world, huh :) But the highlight of my day came as I sat waiting at the pharmacy end of the building, again, waiting. A lady sitting behind me stood up and leaned over to watch me make a granny square. She said "do you know how to make those little round ones? Do you start with a piece of cardboard or something?" She of course was talking about a yo-yo. So I set down my square, grabbed the other end of the skein and made a yo-yo. When I handed it to her, she said "Yes, that's what I'm talking about! Can I keep this?" I was hard pressed not to laugh out loud. Of course I told her to keep it. She told me she was going to take it home and make some more. She looked to be about the same age as my mama and she was so tickled with that little ole yo-yo. It's amazing that a little thing like that yo-yo could put that big a smile (and that kind of a smile) on someone's face. She acted like I had just made her day. I know it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day :)

Crochet Olympics Afghan Complete

I had originally thought I won a bronze medal, but when looking back over my crochet journal, I discovered that I had all but the border done on my afghan by the time of closing ceremonies. YEAH!!!!!! I completed the final round of it last night. Here is the completed afghan, the one I am so proud of and my greatest accomplishment to date (due to the fact that I started it and completed it in the time frame I set myself).

Crochet Olympics Progress

As promised, I have taken pictures of the squares I have done so far for my own personal afghan. There are 9 all together so far with only 3 more to go. I'll post the last squares when I get them done. Here we go!

Baby Afghan

Here is the first baby afghan I've ever made for any relatives. This one went to a cousin that I graduated high school with. He and his wife have been trying forever to have a baby and now they have one!! Woohoo!! I was tickled to make this, especially after I heard that they got almost no blankets at the baby shower. Here's the completed ghan:

Here's also close-ups of the squares I used (See the post "The Baby is Coming, The Baby is Coming") once they were put together as well as close-ups of the border that ended with a final round of reverse single crochet:

"Enchanting" exchange square

This was my next item completed in 2006. It's from an afghan called "Enchanting" in a Leisure Arts book called Absolutely Gorgeous Pineapple Afghans by Patricia Kristoffersen. This lovely square was a bit challenging for me and I learned not to try a new pattern after 8 pm :) It turned out so well that I did another one in different colors for my crochet olympics afghan (more details in future posts LOL).

Pictures--FINALLY!!!

I finally got pictures off my digital camera and onto my computer where I could post them for you guys to see :) I'm going to start with the sweater I made for my mama for her birthday. She was very happy to model for me. The pattern came from a subscription set called (I think) Vanna's Crochet Favorites. It's the same as the one I did for my mother-in-love for Christmas year before last.

Squares needed

Do you knit or crochet? Do you have 12-inch squares lying around or maybe you just have an enormous amount of stash that is preventing you from indulging in new purchases. Here's your chance to put that stash to excellent use and squares a new home. I'm talking about HeartMadeBlessings. I've been making squares for this organization for about a year now and we have recently had a huge wave of requests come in. We can use all the help we can get. If you can help out contact someone at the HeartMadeBlessings site and they can get you going in the right direction. Thanks a bunch!!!

Family Stuff

Stevie is set to start back to karate class today. I'm hoping that the extra physical activity will help with his ADD. The medicine seems to be working, but I really don't want to do this for long term. He's also set up to start grief counseling tomorrow. I'm hoping that will help with his attitude, although at the age of 11, I know that incipient puberty has a lot to do with that :) OOh! Speaking of his karate class, I better go make sure he has a clean uniform LOL

Baby's afghan

I finished the baby afghan just in time! It turned out great :) To recap: I made this afghan with Red Heart Baby in white and mint twinkle. I chose the two granny square patterns and did six of each. When I got all of the squares done and ends woven in, I joined them all using the white with a "sc in first square, ch 1, sc in corresponding st in second square, ch 1, sk 1, sc in next st on first square" and the border matches the green squares, except the border is white with green hearts. I have pictures, but my camera has gone AWOL. As soon as I find it, I will have all kinds of pics to share.

Done! and done!

As you all know, I have a month-by-month plan for getting holiday gifts done this year. Most of them are things I wanted to do last year, but I didn't get started anywhere near early enough. So, I am doing them for this year. For January, I wanted to finish my son's Star Wars afghan and make a baby afghan for my cousin who is having her baby today. Not only did I get both things done as planned, I was also able to do a comfortghan for my best friend, a couple of squares and bookmark all for exchanges. I've been considering starting some a couple of other things that have caught my eye over the last couple of weeks, but I have enough on my plate (hook?) right now to keep me busy.

The Baby is Coming, The Baby is Coming!!

Now that I have finally finished the Star Wars afghan, I can move on to the baby afghan for my cousin. The pattern I originally picked out was quite a bit more involved than I anticipated, especially since I'm kind of in a hurry. I need something I can work on in the evenings while watching tv. I decided on a couple of 12-inch squares I found at HeartMadeBlessings , one is called Cable Hearts and the other is called Adoring Hearts. Since I'm making these with baby yarn (White and Mint Twinkle) and a size F Boye hook, the squares actually turned out to be about 8 to 8 1/2 inches. I'm going to make 6 of each square and put them together alternating the squares in a 3x4-square layout. I'll get pictures of it when I get it done and post them here for all you guys to see.

It's Done!!!

I finally finished that Star Wars afghan for my son. I am so tickled!!! I'm still trying to figure out how it got to be so much smaller at the top than the bottom. Of course,

I was never all that particular about stitch counts on the final rounds of the squares or anything like that, so that's probably the culprit. My son doesn't care. He's been waiting a year for this thing and he is perfectly happy with the way it is. Now I can move on to the baby afghan for my cousin whose wife is due February 4. AHHHH!! I've got to get crackin'!

Another new pic

I am now in a position to be able to participate in crochet exchanges again. YEAH!!! I've kind of missed them. I've been kind of separated from my crochet family since about August, so I'm very glad to get back and get to meeting and greeting fellow stitchers. I usually try a new pattern of some sort for my exchange partners so I did a square from A Crocheter's Garden of Afghans by Leisure Arts called "Granny's Zinnia". I just got the book yesterday, so I was tickled to have a reason to try something out. It turned out pretty well I think. Dh even said "Cool colors" :) I only hope my exchange partner will agree.

New Projects, New Pics

I finally got a picture of my new and improved Angel Square. I originally designed this pattern for an exchange partner when I couldn't find a pattern that "spoke" to me. Recently, in planning a HeartMadeBlessings comfortghan, I decided that my angel square needed to be 12 inches so I could use it for the afghan. It was rather fun to sit and stitch and then frog since I was doing it voluntarily instead of having to frog because of a mistake. I'm rather happy with the way it turned out.

I'm moving now

It's funny how a project can sit for months and never be touched and then all of a sudden when it does get picked back up, it just flies to completion. That is the way my mom's sweater went and now my son's Star Wars afghan. That afghan especially has been hanging around for almost a year. My son has been ever so patient and very philosophical about it. He told me last night that he knew he would get it eventually and sometimes stuff just didn't work out as planned. My husband's afghan was done in about a month. I just could not get going on this one after about two rows worth of squares. I did join as I went though (which I didn't do with hubby's) so at least I haven't had all those squares to keep up with. I now have all assembled and the only crocheting I have left is the border. I finished the cross stitching on two(!!!) squares last night and so now I only have one square and the logo panel at the top to cross stitch. WooHoo!!! I've already told my other son that I'm not doing anymore Star Wars afghans for at least a year after I get this one done. I'll probably wind up doing it, or at least starting it before the year's out if he decides he wants one bad enough LOL :)

My New List

I sat down and made up a list of projects for the new year. Here's what I've got so far: finish son's Star Wars afghan (I'm down to the last 4 squares!), a baby afghan for a cousin who's due in February, finish brother's Harry Potter afghan, finish another cousin's footsie afghan, butterfly afghan for sister, troll dolls for aunt, game bag for other son, camo afghan for nephew, love knot shawl for best friend as well as an angel afghan for same friend. Now, by the way I've got this worked out (and if I can stay on schedule LOL), I'll be done with this stuff by September. Of course there will be other projects that will come up, but I'm hoping that they won't cut into my list too badly. If nothing else, since these are all going to be Christmas/Yule gifts, I've got about three and a half months of fudge time :) And I'll remember to get pictures of everything before I gift it away.