Tuesday, February 26, 2008

WIP: Drops 97-1

This is the sweater, Drops 97-1, I'm crocheting as part of the "Something for Me" CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge. I'm using a bulky wool yarn, Reynolds Lopi, in a Red/White colorway. I've made quite a bit of progress so far.
Here's the back panel with sleeve backs.
The front panels are also made in one piece with the sleeve fronts. I'm a bit further along than this picture shows. Here I'm less than 10 rows into the 2nd panel. Now I have just a few rows more to crochet on the top of the 2nd panel.
I need to start blocking the pieces. Assembly comes next!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

FO: Ultimate Crocheted Socks

My husband's belated valentine gift was delivered yesterday evening (minds out of the gutter people) in the form of Dorothy Hardy's Ultimate Crocheted Socks from Crochet Me. A group of crocheters at Yahoo Crochet Socks and another group from Ravelry's Recipe for Sock-cess - CAL also made some UC socks. Here's my pair for my beloved!

Project details:

Pattern: Ultimate Crocheted Socks
Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock yarn
Colorway: "Chelsea Tweed"
Yarn: Silja Sock yarn
Colorway: "Hunter Green"
Hook: Addi Turbo hooks - 3.5mm (sock), 3.25mm (cuff)
Pattern Changes: I made modifications in width to fit my dh's ankles. In addition, this pattern has a bit of confusion at the gussett and heel. So, combining my sock crocheting experience with the suggestions from the designer herself and a fellow raveler, here's what I did:
  • Toe - For a more secure toe, I slip stitched across the bottom loop of the starting chain and then did the first round of the toe with 10 sc in both loops of the starting chain and 10 sc in both loops of the slip stitches. For my dh's wide feet I took the toes out to 48 sc.
  • Foot - Accidentally made a little longer than necessary, I crocheted 28 rounds of esc. I think 24 would be a better length for him, or even 20 with the full gussett.
  • Gusset - Here the marker confusion begins. Here's what I did. Fold the toe & foot flat and locate the center stitch on top of the foot. Place markers 11 stitches on either side of the this center stitch. Because I made my foot too long, and because the width was sufficient at 64 st, I only followed the pattern for gussett increases through round 5. Then I skipped the even round and did one more increase round to reach 64 st, ending at the second marker.
  • Turn Heel - The other point of confusion in this pattern. IMHO, as written the heel would not be centered with the toe. To ameliorate this problem, I suggest one locate the bottom center stitch and then place new markers 2 [3, 4] stitches to either side. Then sc over to the first heel marker, sc in the marcked stitch, and follow the heel instructions beginning with "place marker in st just made". (skip "sc in marked st and in each of the next 14 sts"). Since I had ended the gusset with 64 st, I now followed the heel instructions for medium size, but ended the heel when I reached 52 st to accommodate dh's wide ankles.
  • Ankle - I decreased to 50 st in the first round of esc, even for 5 rounds, decreased to 48 st on the 6th round, even until yarn ran out (9 more rounds).
  • Cuff - I switched to the contrasting color, crocheted a round of dc and then 4 additional rows of fpdc/bpdc ribbing.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

WIP: Ultimate Crocheted Socks

These socks are going to be for my husband. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, I started a tradition last year of crocheting him socks for Valentine's Day, so I had best finish these ASAP... they're a few days late. I'm making Dorothy Hardy's Ultimate Crocheted Socks from Crochet Me. These began as a CAL for more experienced sock crocheters at Yahoo Crochet Socks . I also invited people from Ravelry's Recipe for Sock-cess - CAL group to join in on the fun. Shown here is the completed first sock. I'm turning the heel on the second sock and heading for the finish line. I'm using Patons Kroy Sock yarn "Chelsea Tweed" with Silja Sock yarn "hunter green" for the cuff.

Valentine hearts for the kiddos

I decided to make a quick heart to give my beloved urchins, along with their conversation heart candy, of course. I love Ravelry. I searched and very quickly found this Roxycraft pattern, I <3 U [Ravel it] (that's a sideways heart between the I and the U). Perfect... and with some yarn in stash I was off. I finished the 2nd heart just before they hopped off the bus!

Project details:
Pattern: I <3 U from Roxycraft
Yarn: Caron Perfect Match
Colorway: Red
Hook: Addi Turbo 4.0mm hook
Pattern Changes: NONE!! (can you believe it??!!)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Sneak Peak of Secret Project #3

Robyn just posted her Sneak Peek of the last project I crocheted for her. You can read about her thoughts behind this project here. The anticipation of seeing it actually on Suzi has been killing me (and I know what the whole item looks like!). I just had to see it with the buttons and the arm bands... and now we can! Go, click, follow the links to Robyn's blog. The sneak peeks for this booklet have been awesome. I want it now!

Monday, February 11, 2008

WIP: Drops 97-1

In the midst of all these baby items, a "Something for Me" CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge began at the beginning of this month. I'm making the sweater that was next on my list - Drops 97-1. I'm using Reynolds Lopi in a Red/White colorway. With the bulky yarn it's coming along quickly. I realized last night that the sleeves are actually made in one piece with the back/front panels. I'm just about at the point where I need to add on the sleeves. More to come later....

FO: First Love 3

At the suggestion of my daughter, I added a blanket to the Baby Hoodie & Hat before shipping them off to friends. I was stashbusting for these projects and had some, but not a lot, of the Monet left, and none of the gray. So I added in some white and a medium blue to try to keep this gender neutral. This is a pattern that I have done twice before, pre-blog, for a cousin's baby and for another friend's baby.

Project details:
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver, 100% acrylic; ~150 yds
Colorway: Monet
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver, 100% acrylic; ~225 yds
Colorway: Windsor Blue
Yarn: Caron Perfect Match, 100% acrylic, ~250 yds;
Colorway: Bright White
Hook: Brittany I (5.5mm) hook
Pattern: First Love [or, on Ravelry]

Hopefully blocking will help solve the problem I created using different brands of yarn. Not all worsted weight yarns are the same! Caron Perfect Match is heavier, IMHO, and honestly I also think the Windsor Blue was heavier than the Monet... so the blanket wasn't laying perfectly flat.

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Friday, February 08, 2008

FO: Baby Hoodie & Hat

One more baby project done, and not with much time to spare. This baby is due on the 23rd so I must get this shipped out ASAP. The parents have decided to let the baby's gender be a surprise, so gender-neutral colors available in stash were chosen! Once again we must have Big Baby model the outfit! As always, photos are clickable.

Project details:
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver, 100% acrylic, ~350 yds;
Colorway: Light Gray (~280 yds), Monet (~70 yds)
Hook: Brittany (4.5mm) hook
Pattern: Baby Hoodie & Hat [or, on Ravelry]
Size: 6 month
Pattern changes:
1. Edging - I did 2 rounds of sc. For sleeves, I put in some decreases in the 2nd round to gather in the sleeves a bit.
2. I did not include the drawstring. Instead, I made a crochet button, a la BICO [or, on Ravelry], and a loop button hole instead.


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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Absolutely Precious 3 - Navy

This sweater & hat set will be gifted to my niece along with the Shades of Blue Round Ripple. This is the third sweater & hat set I have made. I think it makes a very nice gift set. This baby, due in May is the first of the next generation. So I guess I'm establishing a precedent with this layette!


My own dd is insistent that I photograph these pieces on her doll, "Big Baby". I have to admit she wears them well! Remember all photos are clickable!



Project details:
Yarn:
Caron Simply Soft - light worsted weight - acrylic - ~400 yds
Colorway: Navy Blue
Hook: Brittany G (4.0mm) hook
Pattern: 'Absolutely Precious' [Ravelry], designed by Denise Black in "24-Hour Crochet Projects" [Ravelry] ed by Rita Weiss
Size: 3-6 month
Accessories: 4 baseball buttons
Pattern changes: Only minor corrections to the body pattern.
Body - Row 1 ends with Ch 3, turn. I think it should be Ch 1 because Row 2 begins sc in first dc.
At the end of last row, I do not finish off but instead continue with the edging (if not using contrasting color).

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Friday, February 01, 2008

February CALs

I've been swallowed up by CALs again.... but it's a good thing. I just finished my blanket for the Round Ripple CAL with the Yahoo crochet-a-long gang. Today is the beginning of a "Something for Me" CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge. I'm going to make the sweater that was next on my list - Drops 97-1. I'm using Reynolds Lopi in a Red/White colorway. It should move pretty quickly using bulky yarn. I think the straight parts of the back and front panels will be my Superbowl crochet projects on Sunday.

Today or Monday another CAL starts. This one is for socks..... Dorothy Hardy's Ultimate Crocheted Socks from Crochet Me. I miss making socks! Somehow I stopped making them...not sure why. Anyway, this CAL is happening in 2 places. I started it as a CAL for more experienced sock crocheters at Yahoo Crochet Socks . (There's also a beginner one running at the same time where parts of a pattern are given put in Lessons). In this CAL people just get the pattern and crochet at their own pace. I figured the more crocheters involved the more fun we'll all have, so I invited people from Ravelry's Recipe for Sock-cess - CAL group to join in on the fun.

BUT... I must finish a baby sweater for my niece's baby due in May. I'm using the pattern I have used twice before - Absolutely Precious by Denise Black in 24-Hour Crochet Projects ed by Rita Weiss. My niece heads out of the country in 10 days and I want her to have the sweater & blanket in hand before she goes. So today while I watch the sleet and hail fall, I am folding laundry and crocheting a baby sweater. The sooner I get it all done, the sooner I can start my CALs!! Somewhere, somehow I should also finish my Purple Haze. I just need to attach the 2nd sleeve and crochet the edging. I'm still not happy about my button choices, though, I think that's why I'm sidetracking....