Didn't Make It

I tried as hard as I could, and I still didn't get the Star Wars afghan done. I cannot believe I let this happen. I decided that I would use a couple of the squares I haven't attached to the afghan yet to make a pillow. I had planned on making a pillow to match the afghan anyway, I was just hoping to get the afghan done first. I think that I'll be able to get the afghan done by next week, so I'm going to keep plugging away at it. I'll post a picture as soon as I get it done.

Toy Tote

I took Baby Girl to her first birthday party last week. I had made the birthday girl a bassinet purse. Well, the her 10yo brother couldn't keep his hands off of it so I asked him if he me to make him one too. I was joking at first, but then I got a mental picture of it. Of course, the said "NO!!!", but then I explained that I could do one without the hood and in camoflage yarn. "Oh, yeah!!" he said. So, last night while watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and made a little tote bag for his soldier men. I started the same as the bassinet purse, but did 3 rounds of dc in stead of the 2 rounds of tr that form the ruffle. The last row of dc is for the drawstring : 1 dc, ch 1, sk next st, 1 dc. Then I did a round of sc followed by a round of reverse sc. For the drawstrings (I made 2), I did ch 101 and slip stitched across. I rather like the way it turned out. I can't wait to give it to him.

Mini Death Star

I was stumped for something to make for dh's cousin for his birthday. I know he's a big Star Wars fan, but the only Star Wars thing I've done the afghan. No way. I only had one day!!! Well, in a mad search through patterns, I came across a hackey sack pattern, done in thread that I had originally intended to be a golden snitch. Well, done in worsted weight yarn instead of #10 thread made it about the size of a softball. I added details in black done with a back stitch and Voila!!!! A miniature Death Star. I sure wish I could get some of these ideas to George Lucas and get permission to use these designs to sell and stuff.

Now I just have to find a box to wrap this thing in.

Baby Girl's Bikini Top

I have had a skein of Red Heart's Bikini yarn for about a month. I haven't been able to decide on anything to make with it. Well, Baby Girl is always trying to take off with my foundation garments so I decided to make her one of her own. I spent a lot of time frogging, but I finally hit on a look I liked, at least for the triangles. Now to put them together. That entailed more time trying it on and taking it back off, frogging and redoing. She was getting very impatient. I finally got it done and on it went. She strutted around the house feeling all grown up. I'm rather proud of it. I'm trying to practice getting a picture in my head to go from there into the hook and translated into yarn. Man, that's a lot of work, not mention frustrating. My next idea is a full length cloak. I don't know if I want a hood on it or not, but probably. I'm going to save that for after the holidays.

Crocheted Runes

It is amazing that no matter what I"m reading, when the word "crochet" is there it immediately draws my attention. I was reading an article on runes and seeing the word "crochet" stopped where I was reading and my eyes went straight to that word and started reading from there. It was directions on how to make a set of crocheted runes using size 10 thread. Well, I thought I'd give it try. Boy, was that square tiny. And you had to make 2 of them and slip stitch them together?! There was no way I could do that; they were just too small. Well, about a year or so later I'm sitting here trying to find something new to crochet and happened to remember the directions for the runes. So I dig through the yarn that I inherited from my mother-in-law and lo and behold I found a misty sort of blue. I tried out the square and TA-DA!! I had a size I liked as well as a color. Instead of making 2 separate squares though, I did a row of back loop only into the last row of the square and then completed the second square from there. That gave me both squares connected by a sort of hinge that I could use to just fold the thing in half. I used a sunny yellow to back stitch the design on one half of the rectangle, folded it in half and slip stitched the 3 sides closed. I'm looking forward to having a whole set made (along with a bag to put them in, of course!) :) I'll post pictures of the whole set as soon as I get them done.

Working With Variegated Yarns

A message was posted to the CP list about working with variegated yarns. This got me to thinking. Why have I always loved variegated yarns? This is what I finally decided on. All those colors at one time, knowing that the colors are going to change at regular, measured intervals but at the same time not knowing when or how that change is going to take place depending on the stitch/pattern that is being used. For example, I have made granny squares that have each round a different color. My sweater I made, had the same color repeat for every other row, so that when I did the pattern rows, the sequence gave a rainbow effect. I also made a snake with camoflage yarn and it turned out to have the darker colors on one side (which I used as the top when I sewed on the eyes) and the lighter colors on the other side. Completely unplanned on my part, yet anticipated once I notice it. (it also looks like I planned it that way to the average Joe on the street LOL therefore making me look extra smart with a hook and yarn ).

On the other hand I made a baby afghan with Homespun in Blue Ridge where I wanted to let the yarn do the talking rather than a fancy pattern. I did it in nothing but straight rows of double crochet with a row single crochet and then reverse single crochet around the edge. I didn't get pictures of it, unfortunately before it was sent to the expectant mother, but the effect was stunning. Even though that color is a pretty even mix of blue and gold, the afghan looked like a clear night sky: all midnight blue with specks of gold.

When AC Moore had a two-fer sale on their Red Heart Super Saver yarn, did I take advantage to get yarn for the various holiday projects I have on the board? No. I went through grabbing up different colors of variegated yarn that I wanted to try out. Don't get me wrong, I love solids. I did that same sweater pattern in soft white for my mother-in-law last year for Christmas and enjoyed every stitch, and have actually done a lot (if not most) of my recent projects in solid colors, but my first love will probably always be variegated.

Stash Inheritance

I inherited MIL's yarn/thread stash and got it home yesterday. Bless her, she could not keep yarn from tangling and knotting up. So, I spent the most of the afternoon and all evening yesterday untangling and rerolling just about every bit of yarn in the bunch. One color (Red Heart Raspberry) was so bad, that she had gotten frustrated with it and started cutting it every time she came to a big knot. So now I have all these little balls and bunches not even long enough to make into a ball. As we used to crochet together all the time, it was the hardest thing I believe I have ever had to do. I did find a bag of purple Red Heart Plush that she had bought to make me an afghan for Christmas. I'll be starting on that as soon as I get caught up on some of my other stuff.
I am going to have to wash just about all of it, since her and FIL were heavy smokers. Whew is it strong! At least I won't have to throw out the stockings full of snags and runs. I'll just use them to keep the yarn neat in the washer and dryer.

Relaxing needlearts

It never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel when I am crocheting. I have been working on learning to knit and I find that even that is very relaxing. The in and out of hook or needles is very Zen-like and when I'm working on a familiar pattern (aka Mama's sweater) I can kind of phase out and drift out in space. During a morning of mourning, I have found comfort in going through motions that are so ingrained by now that I could practically do them in my sleep.
While working on my first knitting project (a preemie body warmer), I ran into directions that I couldn't get to sink in. I turned to my Crochet Partners friends and was cheered and heartened by the many fine artist who responded for my plea for help. I am glad to say that I am now confidently working my way through this pattern and I think I may see the completion of it by the end of next week! I have been able to turn to that same group to help me through my most trying times (even though few know how much of a comfort they have been).
On a happier (and crazier) note, I have recently been going over my list of WIPs and WIMs that need to be done in time for the holidays (or before). I am afraid that I am already behind. An afghan I had thought to have finished by now is barely halfway done. Mama's sweater is almost half done and there are many other items I haven't even started yet. AHHH!!!!!! I think that instead of trying to get things completed before I start anything else, is the wrong angle to take. I think I'm going to start a couple of other things so I'll have something to switch off to when I start to get stalled on one. Wish me luck!!!

Birthday tomorrow

Well, tomorrow's the big day. My baby is going to be 4 years old. I got her party dress done and it is absolutely adorable, even if I do say so myself. I'll get pictures up after the party. I've still got quite a bit to do in the house so it will be up to company. My oldest son has been a super help in getting stuff done. He helps me do whatever I say needs doing and almost never complains. His brother has been very helpful in the babysitting capacity. My 10yo has been great about keeping his sister occupied and out from under foot while making sure she doesn't get in trouble. I must say I have some great kids. I'm kind of excited about the birthday cake too. I got a Bake n' Fill cake pan and am looking forward to trying it out. I'm going to try it tonight so if it's a big flop, I'll have plenty of time to make another one.
Crocheting-wise, I've been picking up after taking a few weeks off. As I promised, I got my mom's sweater panel done and I finally found my patterns so I can resume the Star Wars afghan. I also finally found a pineapple pattern that I like to use for my mother-in-law's tablecloth. It's actually a runner or doily, but it's made in panels. I think if I can just figure out how to make it twice as long, twice as wide and add 2 or 3 extra panels to that double width, that it will be the right size. I'll be starting my yarn shopping next month for yarn for Christmas gifts. I am very excited about it because, of course, I love shopping for yarn.

When life gets in the way

Whew! It's been rather busy and harried. MIL is still in the hospital and the doctor's have given up on saying when she may get to come home. They've given her a 50/50 chance of pulling through this without surgery and a 20/80 chance of making it through surgery, I think of any kind. She has emphasema and has had pneumonia bunches of times, so surgery is not something they like to even talk about. Any way, between trips to the hospital and trying to get my house company-friendly, I've been pretty busy. The kids are thoroughly enjoying their summer vacation. It's even been dry enough to get in the pool a few times. The boys bicker constantly though. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but there are times when I just have to step in and tell them "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I did get the back panel to Mama's sweater done and I finally found my crochet binder with all my Star Wars patterns, so I will be able to finish the square I started and get at least one other one done this week. I recently joind HeartMadeBlessings and am working on 2 squares for that this week. I'm doing a royal blue granny square and a purple square in a pattern as yet undetermined. I'll be putting the final touches on Dorinda's party dress on Friday. I was working on a camo afghan for my son's friend. It's just a big granny square as of right now, but I think I'm going to frog the whole thing and start over. I'll have to look through my patterns, but I'm leaning toward a ripple, even though I really don't like those. I have a hard time keeping count. My sides usually end up going all wonky. Or I might do a panel or MAM style. Well, I'm going to redo that and start on a friendship-shawl for the mother of that same friend.

I'm doing the Snoopy dance!

Man oh man, have I had a pretty good couple of days. I recently submitted the pattern for my Angel Square to the Crochet Partners pattern library and there it is big as life and I am so tickled to have my very first design "official". Now for the happy part. The next morning when I checked my email, there was an email from a lady who is a member of HeartMadeBlessings (an organization that makes squares and afghans for various forms of comfort) (THUD) asking permission to post a link to my square to be used by HMB! Wow! I was so flattered and it made me feel so good to think that some deserving person was going to be warmed by a part of me, so to speak. Now, as if that wasn't excitement enough, I get up this morning, check my email and there is a message from Just Plain Fun crochet club (again THUD) informing me that I was a winner in the May raffle! Can one say WOWEEEEE!!! As I have never won anything in my life (except for ten cents that I won from a bottle cap from Tab soda when I was about 9 yo), I was tickled. I even had the option of receiving it via paypal. So now I have $14.05 in my account that I can use on ebay, which is about the only time I ever use paypal.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! My day is going to be pretty uneventful and blessedly quiet. My son does have a cub scout car wash to go to, but that's all I'm going to have to do today. I'll be surfing the web in search of gift ideas. I'm putting my older son's Star Wars afghan at the top of my priority list and I'm hoping that if I concentrate on finishing what I've already got going that it'll be easier to find gift ideas for everybody else on my list. I'm determined to finish another row of squares for the SW afghan and the back piece of my mom's sweater done by the end of the week.

Crochet Stress Relief

As my poor mother-in-law's hospital stay drags on and on, I have found myself crocheting faster and faster. She was hospitalized two weeks ago for pancreatitis. What we thought was going to be a week to ten days in the hospital is turning into three weeks or more. I have been working on a party dress for my daughter for her birthday next month and what I thought was going to keep me busy for about three weeks, has been finished except for the sleeves and sewing the buttons on. I've done quite a few small projects like angels and butterflies for Angels for Hope, a couple of scrunchies, and a couple of headbands. Keeping my hands busy has helped me immensely in being able to stay calm and be supportive of my husband and my second son (who is the closest to MIL of my 3 kids). I don't know what I would do if it weren't for my hooks and yarn/thread.