Afghan Entered!

After months of not working on it when I should and then rushing at the last minute, I have finally completed my afghan for entry in the Herrschner's afghan contest!

My Chain Ghan was named by my daughter and my husband's hobby of chain maille was the inspiration. It took me months of working with Hubby to get the pattern set up and written the right way and getting stuff turned around.

May and June were a flurry of crochet stitching as I rushed to complete the afghan in time to be shipped off by the July 15 deadline. I not only made the deadline, I shipped a week early! So now the wait begins. I hope to hear contest results by mid-August. 

Finally! Progress

I stalled out on the afghan. I bought all the yarn I'm going to need (I think) for it and then hit a wall. I just couldn't get going on it. Well, yesterday I sat down and really got to work.

I had the beginning done. I had to get through the next step. That's the part I've been having trouble with. Well, I now have it done!!! I am finally ready to plough full steam ahead on this thing :D

I've used a lot more of this first skein of yarn than I thought I would. I only hope that I've bought enough of the main color. I did buy extra figuring it would be easy to find something to do with leftovers, but now I'm not so sure there's going to be leftovers.

Herrschners Afghan Contest

I have decided to enter Herrschner's annual afghan contest. I'm re-trying a pattern I first came up with 5 or 6 years ago. I couldn't get it the way I wanted it then. I wasn't at the skill level I am now and I didn't know the first thing about pattern design on that kind of scale. I'm ready now, I think.

I've been using yarn from my scrap stash to work out the pattern and get it the way I want it. Hubby's been a huge help! He's the one that inspired the design and he's been helping me tweak it. I've done 2 practice swatches and gotten the pattern right and the border the way I want it. I also found that the yarn and hook I was using is the right choice for the job :)

So, all I had left was to choose the final colors and get to work. I chose Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn in Aruba Sea and Real Teal. This yarn has enough body to keep my ghan from being too floppy. I'm using my CGOA 2009 commorative hook. It's a size H. That size hook makes a firm enough fabric to hold the pattern properly and loose enough to give the afghan the drape I want.

I'm looking forward to making this afghan. Working on it is going to be fun. I always love to watch a pattern transform what is essentially a single strand of yarn (albeit a very long strand) in to a beautiful and useful item that will provide comfort and add beauty to someone's life.

As I was looking forward to the late night tonight and the first kisses and hugs of the year from family, I got a phone call from my aunt saying that not only my favorite great-uncle, but also my granddaddy are in the hospital.

The great-uncle is marking time. Big Daddy gave a big scare last night, but is doing a little better this morning.

"What you do on the New Year's Day is what you'll be doing the rest of the year". That's what Nanny used to say and my mama. I've found over the years that it is only partially true. The sucky New Year ends on a much brighter note and vice versa. I dislike the notion that I might be spending a big part of my year grieving. Not my favorite way to spend time.

So I will now be sitting on pins and needles most of the day by the phone waiting to hear updates and dreading the call that I pick up the phone and hear my mama or aunt crying. I'll know then. Thankfully, my boys are grown or next thing to it and my baby girl is old enough to understand. They all know about, have been through, and mostly understand the grieving process. That's usually the hardest part with kids in my experience.

Crocodile Stitch!

I was looking at some project photos on the Crochet Partners YahooGroup and found something that looked like scales! How fabulous! So I read descriptions and found out that it's called the crocodile stitch. I turned to YouTube, of course (it's usually the first thing I do when looking to learn a new stitch) and lo and behold, several videos were there. There was even one for left-handers! Groovy! So, I got out some yarn and a hook and in about half an hour, I had a uber groovy swatch of "dragon" scales:These were made with worsted weight yarn (CYCA's size 4) and a size I hook. They were very fabulous, but not quite what I was looking for. So I grabbed some Vanna's Glamour Yarn (in red) and a size E hook and tried another hook. The resulting swatch was much more like what I had in mind.

How fantastic would a tabard made with this look for cosplay! Oh my gosh! I am so excited. One of the videos on YouTube even suggested making leg warmers. That would also be fantastic :D Oh, and here's the 2 side by side:

New Definitions for Ugly Words

Someone used the work "pimpin' " in a conversation with me a while back in describing some jewelry. I didn't say anything at the time, but now as I've let it stew on the back burner for a while, I must speak out.

I cannot believe that parents do not either pay attention to what their kids are saying or don't care. Words like pimp and 'ho and tramp are not words that should ever be glamorized. As parents we spend all this time and energy in teaching our kids to be independent and empowered. By using these ugly words in this seemingly innocent manner, those who use them are degrading themselves and giving away their personal power. This is equally true for girls and boys. It has more visible effects on the girls. I found a link to an article that puts into words what I have felt for years.

Now, go read that article and I will get off my soapbox :)

FO's and UFO's

I found some sock yarn I couldn't resist. I got a swatch made up and Dorinda decided that it was the perfect yarn for her a pair of socks! So much for me a pair of socks. She picked out an eyelet pattern! There's nothing like just diving in and trying a new technique to help you learn fast. So I got them done in about 4 days! I was so excited. I figured it would take me a couple of weeks.

Now I'm on to get that baby layette set done. I'm hoping to have that confounded afghan done by the end of next week. I dislike round afghans. They start out really great, but by the time you even get halfway through, it takes forever to get one round done.

Baby Stuff

Well, a friend of mine is having a baby! I don't think it's been officially announced yet, so I can't name names. However, I can crochet the layette! I've had this kit from Mary Maxim, I think, for a couple of years. I've been bored with my stitches for a while so haven't made anything since Christmas! So when I came across this kit I decided to finally get it made.

The set includes an afghan (of course), a sweater, and a bonnet. It's all a ripple pattern in white with a row of mint green now and then and a lovely little ch-loop edging. It also came with pink yarn to make little rosettes to sew on to finished items, but I decided to wait until I know if the baby is a girl or boy before I do that. If it's a boy I can just leave everything as is. If it's a girl I'll make the roses, but probably in yellow instead of pink. The pink is nice, but I yellow roses better :D

I've got the bonnet and the sweater done and the afghan is about halfway there. I had forgotten how absolutely adorable baby sweaters are! I am so looking forward to being able to present this set to the happy parents.

From Hooks to Needles Part 2

So, I have slipped (or slipp-ered) to the dark side. I finally finished the mate to my sock.

I love knitting socks! The double point needles were tricky at first, but I got the hang of it. Turning the heel was kind of touch and go. Like the first sock, the mate required lots of frogging and multiple starts. I finished around midnight last night and am so thrilled that I have a complete pair.

I also have to admit that the one pair of crocheted socks I made was not anywhere near as comfortable to wear. It was kind of like walking on coarse grain sandpaper. The knitted ones felt just like store bought socks only softer. I'm going to look into comfortable crochet patterns though. Crochet is faster for me than knitting and the knitting just isn't as relaxing as crocheting and I must say that I would far rather work with 1 hook where I can frog just to my mistake rather than 4 needles where I have to frog the whole thing when I mess up :)

From Hooks to Needles

I decided to try my hand at sock knitting. I haven't been able to do anything with a crochet hook lately. I pick up some yarn and a hook and blah! I stitch, I frog. I stitch, I frog. So I decided to try out the sock yarn that I've been looking at for the last couple of months.

I found some purple (my favorite!) self-striping sock yarn that I liked a couple of months ago for my birthday and even bought a book called Learn to Knit Socks by Edie Eckman. It has a very basic ankle sock that I thought would be perfect for my first attempt. So last weekend I sat down with my needles--yes, double point needles-- and got started. It took me three evenings to do it, but last night I completed my first sock!

I should have made it about an inch longer and I think I should have reversed the decreases since I'm working left-handed, but overall I am tickled! I started the mate to it this morning and am getting ready to work on it some more. I hope to have it done by Monday!

I would like to dedicate this pair of socks to my Great-Aunt Jane. Who I grew up hearing stories about the tick, tick, tick of her needles to outfit her babies with plenty of warm winter wear :D I hope to learn some of the finer points of knitting from her.

2010 Winding Down

Well, this year is almost over. My Christmas shopping isn't done, but is planned. I know what I'm getting, when and where. I can move on to the whole resolution making part of the December doings.

My first resolution is to post more often here. I stumble upon it occassionally and realize that it's been 4 months or more since my last post. I have more than that going on usually. Of course that's also one of the reasons I don't post more often. So, anyhoo. I'm going to start blogging more often.

My second resolution is to find some way of getting into healthier habits. I never learned to ride a bike, but I know how to roller skate, love to dance and I have a great neighborhood to walk in. Surely I'll be able to work in something even in the winter! Maybe I'll be able to actually do something besides hand out cups of water at the Thin Mint Sprint in March.

I generally don't like resolutions, but I think that if I look at it as goal-setting instead of resolution making, it won't be so bad :)

New Project. Finally!

Whew! School is done. I finished my final course needed for my associates degree in accounting. It's been way too much homework and way not enough stitching!

I'll have to admit though. I was stuck. Every time I picked up a hook and yarn to do a few stitches, I would sit with it in my hands, start a chain or a chainless row of some sort and wind up pulling it all out again and winding the yarn back up. I had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand I would feel better initially because of the stitching. On the other hand I would be depressed because I didn't have anything accomplished. I'm a project-oriented kind of gal and the lack of progress on a concrete item would really get me down.

The last few weeks, however I've been working on a project that has a purpose. For our annual adult volunteer training weekend for Girl Scouts we have an auction during that weekend that raises money for financial aid for new leaders who need it to take trainings and such. Well, I had planned on putting together something to donate to that auction in addition to the bath set I had already planned on. It's a kid's wilderness kit: backpack, bottle holder (both crocheted) with things in the backpack like handwarmers, a space blanket, a bandana, etc. I also have 2 more bottle holders that will be offered as a pair separately from the wilderness kit. The designing of the backpack seemed to break through the block I had.

I now have a Red Heart Bikini backpack and a Red Heart Pumpkin bottle holder. I had all this orange left over since it doesn't take that much to make the bottle holder, and I was wondering what to do with the rest of it. Well, lo and behold I came across the pattern I had gotten last year from Herrschners for an afghan called "Candy Corn". It's a Halloween-themed afghan and I had planned to make it last year but didn't have the time with school and all. So now I have yet another project going and all is well.

I hope to have the orange squares done in a couple of days and the designs on at least some of them so I can get some pictures taken and posted.

Returning to Crochet

It always amazes me how long it's been since my last post. I have got to be better about that.

I did actually get those soda tab necklaces done! I got the last one done 2 days before I needed them :) They were a huge hit I am proud to announce. I have committee members this year that tell me they still have theirs. That makes me happy. I think the proudest I am of those little things is the trefoil I designed for them. I'll post a picture soon (I hope). I still have a huge baggie full of can tabs (I don't think they all came from soda) that were donated to me by a fellow committee member -- thanks Julie! I saw a purse online using soda tabs that made circles used as the sides of the bag. I tried to duplicate it, but I didn't write anything down and wound up with 2 very different looking circles. I plan on trying again with a notebook handy so I don't make that same mistake.

My current project is to make something do donate to the Trainfest fundraising auction. They hold an auction every year to raise money for the adult learning scholarship fund. Anyway, I've seen an earmuff-type project that I could use my trefoil design for. I am going to do some bottle holders I designed last summer and I'm thinking about doing a day hike kit which would be a crocheted daypack, swap sash, bandana, etc. I haven't decided if I'll do one kit with how to put one together with patterns and all or if I'll do a set of 5 or 6 kits to be put to use immediately by a troop. Oo-oo-oo, maybe I'll do a pillowghan-type arrangement so if a girl (or grown-up for that matter) gets lost, she'll have a way to help stay warm. I'll have to think about it some more.

No Crochet!!!!

I can't believe that I still don't have those soda tab necklaces done yet! I haven't been doing my homework at school during my long break between classes, so I have to do it at home and that cuts into my crochet time. I don't do thread work really well at school. I have to pay to close attention when I work with thread and I can't do that at school. I do have a couple more bath sets to do. Maybe I'll take those instead of the soda tab necklaces.

Anyhoo, I've decided to get back to doing homework at school during my long breaks between classes and use the time I have been doing it at home for crocheting. That way, hopefully, I'll be able to get the soda tab necklaces done in the next couple of weeks. It would be great if I could get them done by the Trainfest committee meeting on Monday, but since I've got 8 more to do, I don't think that's going to happen. I do have the original necklace made with sport weight yarn. I'm going to cut those little dears right off of there and use them for thread necklace number 10. I hope to get one done every couple of days. That will put me getting number 17 done in time for me to get them to the council office at the first of the week of Trainfest. I plan on dropping them off when I go to drop off my handouts and stuff to get copies made for my classes. I'm also going to get the bath set done by then for the auction they'll be having at Trainfest.

Wish me luck! I have a feeling I'm going to need it. :)

Test Day

I dislike the fact that most of my instructors give tests on the same day. Today I had two- math and business finance. I think I did okay on the business finance test. I think I flubbed on the extra credit on it though. I was really hoping to get full credit on that extra credit too :(

My math test only had 4 problems! I was okay for the first 3, but that last problem I am worried about. Well, maybe not real worried. After all, it's a little late now. But I'm going to be antsy about it until Monday.

I got my Critical Thinking test done and then my Business Law test. Those I got done on Monday. I have a income tax test on Tuesday. Then I'll be done with tests for at least a couple of weeks.

Books Away, With Hooks I Can Play!!!

Wow, I was worried I would get behind in some of my classes since I missed so much school at the beginning of the month. So far, other than missing all of chapter 2's lectures in tax class, I think I'm okay. I got an A on my math lab and today at home I got a really great start on my finance take-home test, finished my federal and state tax forms for tax class and I'm going to try to do my online test for business law tomorrow at school during my really long break between math and tax class.

I'm trying to get into the schedule that I originally worked out at the beginning of the semester. Since I have those long breaks 3 days a week, there's no reason why I should have much homework to actually do at home. That way, when I do get home I'll have all kinds of crochet time. Not to mention time to help the kids with their homework.

Gideon is missing mama's cooking right about now. I talked to him yesterday and when I asked him if there was anything he needed, he started listing off all this food :D Bless his heart. Him and Isaac are still cleaning in that house. At this rate, I don't know if they'll be able to have their house warming party on the 10th or not. He's still plugging away at it though. I'm proud of him!

Empty Nest Blues

Well, it's official. Gideon came home today after the family reunion to get the rest of his clothes and his movies and video games. Apparently the house is ready and Gideon and Isaac are going to be able to spend their first night in their very own place tonight. It's been heartbreaking watching him go through the movies and packing up all his clothes. He'll be coming again to get his bed. He's going to borrow Stephen's sleeping bag while he's awaiting the availability of a truck to be able to haul his bed. I guess I'll have to get used to him not being around. Oh, well, kids have to grow up sometime.

Crochet Classes are almost ready!

I am so excited about teaching the crochet classes at Trainfest. I'm just about all set. I have a lesson plan and I'm now thinking of someone to practice on. I think it would be a good idea to practice. I'm going to be hunting out some balls of yarn and making sure that I have enough of the right colors (solid colors, light but not white) and the right weight. I'm also going to hunt out all of my hooks and pack up my extras with the yarn and stuff I intend to take. I want to have extra hooks in case I have some that didn't get or forgot to bring their own hooks

I read a post to my CrochetPartners group that asked for crochet instructions to use for teaching a beginner class. The answer than I read pointed out the Craft Yarn Council of America's "Each One Teach Two" program. Not only are there really good diagrams and instructions to use for a beginner crochet class, there is also a certificate to print out to give to the students. I am so excited about that. So not only will my beginning crochet students get a Ghoul Scout SWAP to take home with them, they will also get a certificate saying they successfully learned to crochet! Groovy :D

For my advanced beginner crochet class I'll need to do more prep. I've got a lesson plan and I want to practice it too. However, the project for that class is using plarn (cutting plastic grocery bags into strips to use as yarn) to make a water bottle holder. I thought about using different colors of bags for each ball of plarn I make, but Mama suggested using the different colors in each ball to make variegated, maybe even striping patterns. I need to hurry up and finish those necklaces so I can play around with that idea and see what I like.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to make the plarn-making a family affair. I know I can get Dorinda and Stephen to help with the folding and cutting. I might even be able to get Steve amd Stephen to help with the joining and then Steve, Gideon and Stephen to help with the winding.

Planning Crochet Classes

I volunteered to teach a couple of crochet classes at the training weekend for our Girl Scout council in October. Now, I've really never taught crochet before, so this is all new territory for me. I'm going to be looking for some good graphics for my handouts. I know I've seen some I just don't remember where.

For my beginning crochet class, I'm going to have some crocheted stuff set out so people can see that crochet is not just afghans and doilies. I have a sweater, a bath set, a water bottle holder, and a table runner all ready to be admired and I hope to have a baby set (afghan, sweater, hat) ready, too. I'm also going to be wearing a necklace made with soda can tabs (although I suspect that some of my donated tabs didn't come from just soda cans ). This is also going to be my stash buster class. I'm going to use up a bunch of my yarn stash for the students to use. The class is only an hour and a half long, so I'm going to be concetrating on the slip knot and the chain stitch. If we have time, I'll move into the single crochet stitch. The project for the class is going to be a simple chain stitch (or single crochet stitch) SWAPs holder. I'm going to make myself one to be wearing with some SWAPs already pinned to it. The Ghoul Scouts I made a couple of years ago are what I'm using for the SWAPs. I'll be giving one to each of my students as a memento.

I'm also teaching an advance beginning crochet class. For that one, I'm going to have the same projects out as well as my Masters in Basic Stitches portfolio from the Crochet Guild of America. I'm also hoping to get some brochures for the Guild ready to set out for anyone who is interested. For that class, I'll be doing crocheting in the round. I'm going to have different granny squares to show off. I'm hoping that everyone who signs up for that class will already know how to do the double crochet stitch. The project for that class is going to be a water bottle holder made of plastic grocery bags. I'm also planning on going over some pattern reading and stitch anatomy.

For both classes I want to have a pattern or two for my students to take home and try out. I'm looking forward to teaching. I'll be a new experience for everyone involved.

Meet Bone-ita!

In order to advertise our Girl Scout leader training weekend event that's happening in October, I volunteered to make a milk jug skeleton that will be the end product of one of the classes. My own little Girl Scout Brownie contributed hands and feet as well as helped pick out the name. Her escort is my oldest son. He hates having his picture taken (in case you couldn't tell ).

She is wearing a SWAPs sash made with a Boye size I hook and Red Heart Super Saver "Pretty in Pink". My sweet Girl Scout Brownie also donated a SWAP and also made another one just for Bone-ita.