Yarning with a hook

FO: Short & Sweet

2010-07-19T04:34:00.006-05:00

Fell in love with this yarn when I found it on sale at Ewe'll Love It [Ravel It!] ages ago. Of course I had to wait for it to speak to me about what it wanted to become. Either that or wait for a pattern to call out for the yarn! Whichever way it happened (how can I possibly remember we're talking over 2 years ago now!) the yarn and pattern came together for a great garment!

Project details:

Pattern: Short and Sweet [Ravel It!] by Angela Best [Ravel It!] published in Stitch 'n' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker [Ravel It!]
Size: L
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton [Ravel It!] in Borealis (love this colorway)

Hook: Brittany 5.0mm H hook, 5.5mm I hook for edging

Pattern Changes: added some overall length, being the amazon woman that I am!

Previous Posts: Last Progress Report and Initial "Startistis" Post

FO: Into the Woods

2010-07-19T03:47:00.009-05:00

Well at least it was called it "Into the Woods" when Robyn [Ravel her!] blogged about it back in August 2008!! Yes this is another almost 2 year old project for Robyn. My job was the sweater main body and pocket pieces.

It is still on my queue for my husband.... but not so sure I could finish off the 4 zippers as well as Robyn did. After her amazing finishing job, Robyn took this photo of the vest modeled by her husband.

Since it is now published, I can fill in the details a bit..

Project details:

Pattern: Rugged Winter Vest [Ravel It!] by Robyn Chahula [Ravel her!]

Source: Crochet Today Jan/Feb 2009 [Ravel It!]

Size: L
Yarn: Moda Dea 'Bamboo Wool' [Ravel It!] (now discontinued, but was a great soft wool)
Colorway: Dark Gray

Hook: Brittany 5.0mm (per usual for Robyn's patterns, I had to drop a size)

FO: Drops 89-15

2010-07-14T08:10:00.013-05:00

I love this sweater!! If you've ever read this blog before you know I love Drops Design patterns [Ravel It!]. They are designed well, they use charts, the garments are flattering... you get the picture. I love the subtle designs they create with every day crochet stitches to achieve interesting crocheted fabric. This pattern used BLO dc and cross dc beautifully (IMHO).

Project details:

Pattern: Drops 89-15 "Crocheted cardigan in muskat" [Ravel It!] by Drops Design [Ravel It!]

Size: L-XL
Style: I considered the collar to be optional. I chose to not add it.
Yarn: Reynolds 'Madrigal' [Ravel It!] (discontinued.. a JCA find for me)
Colorway: Speckled Natural

Hook: Addi Turbo 3.5 mm hook

Pattern Changes:

Shaping - I started with a longer chain to accommodate wider hips (!), decreased for waist shaping while adding more rows to accommodate my height, the followed pattern to increase for bust
Collar - I did not add the collar.

FO: Austen Lace Muffler

2010-07-14T07:37:00.003-05:00

One benefit of delayed blogging is I can come out and tell you all about contract crochet projects because publication has already happened! I worked on this project for Robyn almost 2 years ago now and it was published in Interweave Crochet Fall 2008 as Austen Lace Muffler [Ravel It!] The yarn, Blue Sky Alpacas Royal [Ravel It!], was absolutely scrumptious to work with. I can only imagine how amazing it would feel against one's neck. Soft doesn't even begin to describe it.

I'm back

2010-07-13T10:06:00.003-05:00

Simply put here's where i've been...

I've also been crocheting a little for myself, a bit more as a contract crocheter, but mostly overwhelmed by the above. I'm trying to dig out and mount a comeback onto the crochet scene!

Sneak Peek

2008-08-08T10:08:00.003-05:00

I'm about to start another secret project for Robyn and come to realize I never posted a link to her sneak peek for the last project! Well the beautiful Blue Sky Royal alpaca I posted about turned into this wonderfully soft and ruffly fall accessory that Robyn blogged about in a sneak preview back in May! Rumor has it, that the accessory was touched and felt and even worn by many staffers at the publishing establishment. I'll let you know when it's really out!

Blog hiatus....

2008-07-28T12:32:00.003-05:00

I can't even begin to explain... suffice it to say that blogging time was usurped by the rest of life.

Here's a cool thing called a wordle to begin my return to the blogosphere

Secret Project #4

2008-04-06T18:02:00.005-05:00

Did I mention I love being a pattern tester? Well you can add in contract crocheter as well. I have another secret project!! All the WIPs are on hold now as I have a special quick project to crochet for Robyn [Ravel It!]. I can show you the yarn this time. I wish you could touch it...it's amazingly soft and luxurious. And just look at that little Alpaca face..

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WIP: Garden Party Wrap

2008-04-06T17:30:00.003-05:00

I just love being a pattern tester! Kim Guzman, aka crochetkim, was kind enough to ask a gang of us at Yahoo crochet-a-long to be her guinea pigs for her first laceweight pattern, Garden Party Wrap [Ravel It!]. Known to most of us as GPW now, this pattern is beautiful, and popular. She really hit it big with this one. It has been holding it's own as #1 new crochet pattern at Ravelry for almost a week now. I thought this would be a cool project to try out my ChainLink 2007 yarn purchase.. Just Our Yarn's "Aziza" [Ravel It!]. A zillion other things have been absorbing my time unfortunately so I have not made it very far on this project. Nonetheless, here's where I am so far...

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The Button Conundrum...

2008-04-04T13:17:00.033-05:00

I just can't decide!!! I have to figure out what Purple Haze needs so it can become wearable. Can it handle buttons through the pattern as intended or does it need the structure of adding a button placket? Will a button placket detract from the look of the sweater? Do I start with the somewhat ornate pewter buttons and see if the stitch pattern can hold these buttons? I have 5 of these so I could space them out as shown. I do think these buttons would work if I decided to add a placate, but would they be secure in the pattern holes? I guess I have to try this first.

If the oval buttons don't hold well and I decide the placate changes the look of the sweater too much then I might need a longer button that would stay in place better. I've been searching to no avail and am actually thinking of stealing the buttons off Twyla (these plain pewter, almost toggle-like buttons). In this photo, Twlya is stuffed inside Purple Haze so the button spacing was determined by where they are sewn on Twlya. I only have four of these buttons so I would have to space them out a bit more than shown.

Twyla would then need new buttons! I guess I could see if Twyla's pattern stitch can handle the more ornate oval pewter buttons. I have plenty of the yarn left from Twyla so I could tighten up the button holes as needed.

I also have some wooden toggle buttons or these round pewter buttons.....

Finally, I found buttons to use to make 3 linked-button closures for Drops 97-1. I really like how the color of the pewter buttons matches the edging and how the heart shape blends with the V-stitch pattern. What do you think?

FO: Purple Haze

2008-04-02T05:58:00.009-05:00

Can you believe it? I finally finished Purple Haze. Well, almost.... I still have to find buttons. It's been a while since I began crocheting it back during my infamous sweater weekend. Nonetheless, I actually wore it this past weekend with a linked button closure that I created on the fly (just so I could try the sweater) but I don' t like the way it pulls on the pattern. It looks like the sweater barely fits around me but that's not the case. Without closures, the weight of the sweater with the yarn-intensive shell pattern drags the sweater down. I had planned to use a whole slew of these little sphere buttons, but the pattern holes stretch too easily so it needs larger, plain (IMHO), pewter buttons. Either that or I might have to rethink creating a button placket with actual button holes so the pull on the pattern is more distributed. So, I'm still thinking about the buttons. In the mean time here are the details...

Project details:
Pattern: Purple Haze [Ravel It!] by Lauren Irving [Ravel It!] published at Crochet Me
Size: Purple Haze can be made in a variety of sizes - you can mix and match your sizes based on waist & bust measurements.
Style: There are 3 different sweater lengths (cropped, hip length, or peplum hem) and an optional collar. My sweater is hip length with no collar.
Yarn: Gedifra 'Cotton Merino' [Ravel It!]
Colorway: Purple
Hook: Brittany 5.0mm H hook, 5.5mm I hook for edging
Pattern Changes:

Back panel - as written except for lengthening it by 2 rows through the waist, and raising the back neckline as Lauren described in the comments on the Crochet Me website.
Front panels - in addition to lengthening by 2 rows, I modified the armhole increases so they would end at the same row as the back panel (I needed that symmetry... sorry Lauren!). The front arm hole increases still start earlier as Lauren intended.

Previous Posts:

Last Progress report
My initial struggle to make sense of the pattern

I think the armholes ended up a bit too big in the end, but I think I can live with that. I need to resolve the button issue before I can give my final opinion on this project. I still love the stitch pattern. I used a slightly heavier yarn than called for and with the weight of the shell pattern I think that was a mistake. I'm hoping I can use buttons, with or without a placket, to achieve a better fit.

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FO: Minicluster Lace Socks

2008-03-31T10:10:00.004-05:00

In honor of National Crochet Month, the Yahoo CGOA group held a sock help along using the "Minicluster Lace Socks" pattern by Janet Rehfeldt [Ravel It!] which can be found in the book she co-authored with Mary Jane Wood appropriately entitled "Crocheted Socks!" [Ravel It!]. I finished crocheting the 2nd sock while attending a La Leche League Conference this weekend.

Project details:
Pattern: "Minicluster Lace Socks" pattern by Janet Rehfeldt [Ravel It!]
Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Socka 100 [Ravel It!]
Colorway: blue-red
Hook: Addi Turbo 3.5mm
Pattern Changes: Simply put I increased to create a gussett for my ankles and decreased again - keeping with cluster pattern for my long narrow feet!

Cuff: Absent mindedly changed the cuff pattern to fpdc-bpdc instead of 3fpdc-bpdc.
Leg: As written with 26 miniclusters. Began heel leaving 14 unworked.
Short row heel: I worked 24 sc into 12 miniclusters and followed the pattern for the deacreases. As I read the pattern, when begininng the heel increases, one is to add an extra sc (in the side of the step) on each of the first two increase rows - not taking the first and second rows over 2 steps each as others have interpreted the pattern. I continued then increasing one step at a time so that in the end I did more increase rows and had 4 more sc than I had when I started. This increase solved my need to increase the number of stitches around my ankle.
Gussett/Foot: Switching back to miniclusters I had 2 extra - now 28 miniclusters. I worked 3 rounds of 28 miniclusters and then worked a decrease across 1.5 miniclusters at the side of the sock on each side so 3 miniclusters became 2 miniclusters.
Foot: 10 rounds of 26 miniclusters - repeat the decrease on each side - 15 rounds of 24 miniclusters. Completed the toe as written.

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CGOA Chain Link

2008-03-27T11:14:00.002-05:00

I love the fact that our National meeting takes place 40 minutes from my home. I can take classes with famous designers, shop at the Market Place, enjoy the company of fellow fiber enthusiasts and still come home and see my family at night! The only sad thing is that I forgot the meeting was moved from the beginning to the end of July so our family vacation is bumping into the front of end of the meeting. I won't be able to attend the Professional Day (wah!) but I will get there by Friday. Online class registration opened on Monday and I was ready at the computer with my finger poised on my mouse at 10am. So here's my class list:

Friday morning: F107C-Half Double Happiness with Karen Klemp
Friday afternoon: F204C-Design Your Own Stitch Pattern with Marty Miller
Saturday all day: S307C-Designing on the Vertical with Dora Ohrenstein
Sunday morning: N102C-Crocheted Tips, Tricks and Hints with Lily Chin

I can't wait!

Felted Memo Bag revisited

2008-03-27T09:52:00.010-05:00

This is the Felted memo bag [Ravel It!] I made as a CAL at Yahoo crochetchallenge in October 2006. In this previous post you can see it pre- and post-felting. I used an old belt as a strap, but I never liked the look of the ripple flap on top of the striped bag. For the past 18 months it has been hanging on the door knob of my yarn room. I thought of this bag while felting this past weekend and came up with a solution for the flap. I turned the ripple flap into an inside pocket for the now flapless bag. I like it a lot better now. Here's the old version for comparison,
and a few photos of the new inside pocket.

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FO: Lacy-Flap Felted Bag

2008-03-27T09:00:00.007-05:00

I knew this would be a quick project! The Lacy-Flap Felted Bag [Ravel It!] by Lauren Irving [Ravel It!] of Little River Fiber Arts was a CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge. I'm decided to leave off the flowers, but the bag itself I love. I showed the pre- and post-felting photos with all the dimensions in a previous post. I did off course make a few pattern changes so here are the details.

Project details:
Pattern: Lacy-Flap Felted Bag [Ravel It!]
Main Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool [Ravel It!]
Colorway: Dark Gray
Flower Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes [Ravel It!]
Colorway: Hush
Hook: Brittany K - actually ~6.75 - 7.0mm
Pattern Changes: Just a few!

Bag size was a bit different from pattern. My K hook is a bit larger than 6.5mm so my base piece was about 2 inches longer (5" x 17"). The bag itself was not as tall as the pattern - I crocheted until I ran out of yarn (after making the flap and strap).

The shaping was a bit more dramatic, because it started wider and I feared running out of yarn, I started making the decreases every row instead of every other row.

Strap was made with hdc instead of sc.

I felted the bag and strap more severely than the flap. I wanted to maintain the lacy look of the flap and wanted the bag to be smaller and to lose stitch definition.

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CAL - WIP: Lacy-Flap Felted Bag

2008-03-25T14:55:00.007-05:00

Startitis continues here at Yarning with a Hook. Unlike the others, this one will get to completion sooner as it is a CAL I agreed to do in March. For this CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge we're doing the Lacy-Flap Felted Bag [Ravel It!] by Lauren Irving [Ravel It!] of Little River Fiber Arts. I'm still not sure about the flowers, but the bag itself I like. I'm using Cascade 220 Wool in dark gray and my new Brittany (6.5mm) K hook (closer to 6.75mm). Crocheting went very fast and here are the final pieces...
Before felting.
Dimensions: Bag Base - 5" x 16"; Top opening - 5" x 12" ;
Bag folded flat - Top - 17", Bottom - 21". Height 12.5"
Flap - 14" x 6" ; Strap - 30" x 1"

and after felting...
Dimensions: Bag Base - 3" x 10"; Top opening - 3" x 7";
Bag folded flat - Top - 13"; Bottom - 10"; Height 8.5"
Flap - 11" x 5" ; Strap - 20" x 0.75"

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WIP:Short & Sweet

2008-03-25T13:15:00.004-05:00

This post will be short & sweet (i can't believe i just wrote that). I noticed while posting the photo of the Short and Sweet [Ravel It!] bolero for my Startitis post that in my haste to finish the first skein of yarn, I had inadvertantly left no neck hole! So I frogged, and crocheted again to the end of the first skein of Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton in Borealis , this time sticking to just one side! So here is the current state of this piece. Now I have to go finish my CAL projects and a few other things (including taxes!) before I will allow myself to continue any of the startitis projects (I know, I'm weird).

Startitis in honor of..

2008-03-18T12:50:00.008-05:00

National Crochet Month. I have a pretty bad case of Startitis this time around. I hope I can follow through with a good case of Finishitis! It all began when I started thinking about what I will wear at CGOA's Chain Link Conference this summer. I started perusing patterns on Ravelry and the next thing I new my Ravelry queue had grown considerably and I had begun 3 new projects...

1. Sweet Pea Shawl [Ravel It!] - This gorgeous shawl was designed by Amie Hirtes (NexStitch) [Ravel It!] and published in "Stitch'n'Bitch: Happy Hooker". [Ravel It!]. I made one a year ago for my son's 1st grade teacher. I think this one is for me. (I still have to figure out something for my son's 2nd grade teacher and my daughter's kindergarten teacher... another day.. another post). This time I'm using Classic Elite Imagine in this vibrant colorway of blue pink and purple. This is as far as one skein took me...

2. Borealis Short and Sweet [Ravel It!] - This bolero was designed by Angela Best (La Vonne's Knot Just Knits) [Ravel It!] and published in "Stitch'n'Bitch: Happy Hooker". [Ravel It!]. I think thousands of crocheters have made this in the past year so I decided to join in the fun. I'm using a cotton yarn without sheen or sparle, so I envision this as a more with jeans over a tank or T. The yarn is Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton in this cool colorway, Borealis. One skein completed the back top and part of the front... which I think I need to frog. I was only supposed to work one side of the front top...oops.

3. Drops 89-15 Cardigan [Ravel It!] - If you read this blog, you know I love the many crochet patterns put out by GarnStudio Drops Designs. [Ravel It!] This one has been on my to do list for a bit and I finally decided to start it. I'm not sure if I will make the collar. But I love the alternating "Structure" and "Lace" pattern repeats on the cardigan, so I need to show a close up photo. I bought this yarn specifically with this pattern in mind at the 2006 JCA sale. It's Reynolds Madrigal - a "soft speckled cotton". This is as far as one skein took me...
Let's hope in the next month I finish these 3 projects, sew the sleeve on Purple Haze and do my taxes!

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WIP: Minicluster Lace Sock - one done!

2008-03-18T09:38:00.006-05:00

I'm making progress on the socks I'm making with the Yahoo CGOA group in honor of National Crochet Month. Here's the first sock done - except for weaving in ends and stitching the toe closed. The pattern we are using is "Minicluster Lace Socks" by Janet Rehfeldt (Ravel It!) which can be found in the book she co-authored with Mary Jane Wood appropriately entitled "Crocheted Socks!" (Ravel It!). I will detail all me pattern changes in the FO blogpost for this project. (I can never leave a pattern alone...) For now lets just say that I increased for a gussett for my ankles and decreased again - keeping with cluster pattern for my long narrow feet! By the way, I'm using Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Socka 100 in a cool blue-red colorway.

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Fishnet Crocheters

2008-03-06T16:46:00.003-05:00

I've been meaning to blog about why I abandoned my husband on the afternoon of his birthday. (or put in a most positive way... how I gifted my husband with an afternoon alone with his lovely children on his birthday). Back on Feb 24th, I finally attended my first CGOA Chapter meeting with the Fishnet Crocheters. I hope to be able to attend more. The group is geographically spread out with members hailing from Central & Eastern Massachusetts, RI and Southern NH. Their meetings are held in different locations, and with my family's varied activities, I had not yet been able to join them. In spite of the date, this meeting location was just too close to pass up. We met in Gardner, Mass - some photos (including a rather stunning, not, one of yours truly) are posted at the Fish Tales area of their website. They meet twice a month and I'm hoping to be able to rearrange a conflicting Thursday meeting so I can join them while my children are at school. When you add in the travel time to more distant locations, the Sunday meeting would take to much time away from my family.

WIP: Minicluster Socks

2008-03-06T15:25:00.005-05:00

Did you know that March is National Crochet Month? Well, in honor of this, the Yahoo CGOA group is conducting a CAL of sorts. There is no designated leader, so it is officially a Sock Help-along as all members will "help each other along". The sock pattern we are using is "Minicluster Lace Socks" by Janet Rehfeldt (Ravel It!)which can be found in the book she co-authored with Mary Jane Wood appropriatedly entitled "Crocheted Socks!" (Ravel It!)

I am known for never leaving a pattern alone, so right off the bat I changed the cuff pattern. Actually this was done unintentionally. It has a fpdc/bpdc pattern, but not in the 1-1 style I have made many times before. By the time I realized this pattern was different, I had finished the cuff and was beginning the leg. I'm not frogging it!

By the way, I'm using Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Socka 100 in a cool blue-red colorway. I have 460m so as long as I don't make the leg too long I should be able to get 2 socks out of this skein. I'll probably stop before the toe and begin the other sock, just in case (I can always make toes in a contrasting color).

FO: Drops 97-1 Hooded Cardigan

2008-03-06T13:55:00.008-05:00

I finished my "Something for Me" sweater, aka Drops 97-1. This was part of the "Something for Me" CAL at Yahoo CrochetChallenge. All in all I think it turned out well. I like the final outcome although I was a bit skeptical along the way! I wasn't sure how I was going to edge this jacket, but after stashdiving, I ended up using some gray KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, double stranded.
The major issue involved the waist shaping. I need to remember to trust my judgment about shaping in crochet. Until someone shows me otherwise, I should follow my gut which says not to make increases or decreases that change the width by an inch or more in one row. Let's just say it makes for interesting seaming. Another way this sweater achieves interesting seaming (memories of Purple Haze....yes, it is almost done) is that its front and back shaping are not aligned. This was particularly tough to smooth out with bulky yarn and a crocheted seam. Finally I didn't like the dark brown wooden toggle buttons that I had chosen before I settled on the gray edging. Now I'm hunting again (yes, more PH memories) for some sort of pewter button. But this time I want to make linked button closures so the edging will show on both front panels. For now I'm wearing it open.

Project details:

Pattern: Drops 97-1 or Ravel It
Main Yarn: Reynolds Lopi or Ravel It
Colorway: Red/White #002
Edging Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
Colorway: Fog
Hook: Boye "N" - actually ~7.75mm
Pattern Changes: Just a few!

Assembly - In light of the quirky side seam shaping, I felt the crocheted seaming recommended was too bulky and "bulgy" at the increase points. I actually crocheted an entire side & sleeve seam and decided to frog it in favor of an invisible weave seam.
Sleeve Edging - I have long arms so I did 3 rounds of sc in the main color before joining the contrasting color for 2 rounds of edging in sc.
Body/Hood Edging - I added a row of main color edging in sc followed by 2 rows of contrasting color edging in sc (not the dc-group)

WIP: Drops 97-1

2008-02-26T15:41:00.005-05:00

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!

FO: Ultimate Crocheted Socks

2008-02-21T10:53:00.006-05:00

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.

WIP: Ultimate Crocheted Socks

2008-02-19T14:26:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-19T13:48:00.005-05:00

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??!!)

Sneak Peak of Secret Project #3

2008-02-12T19:30:00.002-05:00

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!

WIP: Drops 97-1

2008-02-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-11T10:34:00.000-05:00

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.

[Ravelry] links for Ravelry members... Join now it's amazing!

FO: Baby Hoodie & Hat

2008-02-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

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.

[Ravelry] links only work for members of Ravelry... Join now it's amazing!

Absolutely Precious 3 - Navy

2008-02-05T19:05:00.000-05:00

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).

[Ravelry] links only work for members of Ravelry... Join now it's amazing!

February CALs

2008-02-01T13:06:00.000-05:00

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....

FO: Shades of Blue Round Ripple

2008-01-30T14:24:00.000-05:00

This was done as part of the Round Ripple CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long. I chose Lyn's Round Ripple pattern I did for a neighbor 2 years ago (pre-blog). This one will be for my sister's grandson (due in May).

Project details:

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft - light worsted weight - acrylic - ~1000yds

Colorway: White, Light Country Blue, Country Blue, Navy Blue

Hook: Brittany H (5.0mm) hook

Pattern: Lyn's Round Ripple

Size: Approximately 40" in diameter

Pattern changes: None! I ended with the hdc edging suggested in the pattern.

A new fiber artist is born...

2008-01-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

I had so much fun on Sunday afternoon. While the wind howled and a snow squall blew through our town, my 5 yo dd curled up on the couch with me in front of a roaring fire and asked me to teach her to crochet. We started with finger crochet, and progressed to a large hook. She decided that using that hook was hard but finger crocheting was fun! So we stuck with finger crocheting for now. Many chained belts, headbands and necklaces were made that afternoon.

Round Ripple CAL

2008-01-25T13:29:00.000-05:00

Well, this past Monday we officially started the Round Ripple CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long. People are free to choose their own RR pattern. I decided to stick with Lyn's Round Ripple pattern I did for a neighbor 2 years ago (pre-blog). I am making this for my niece's baby boy (due in May). I am using some Simply Soft I had in stash. I started with white, then Light country blue, and then country blue. After a few more rounds I plan on adding navy and then a final border row of white.

I have a lot of Simply Soft in navy, so I'm hoping to do a baby sweater for them as well. And I bought the cutest baseball buttons today for it!

Secret Project #3 is finished

2008-01-25T13:20:00.002-05:00

But that's about all I can say...

I mailed secret project #3 off to Robyn 2 days ago. You can read about her thoughts behind this project here. So, hopefully she'll receive it today, put on the final touches and post a sneak peek by early next week. As always, it was a joy to crochet something designed by Robyn. The pattern was clear, well written and the final garment was fantastic. We are all in for a great treat when this booklet of crochet by faye patterns for the "yet to be disclosed" yarn company is available. I, for one, can't wait!

Motif - Pattern identification

2008-01-16T19:11:00.001-05:00

I hope someone out there can help me. My neighbor & her Mom have discovered an unfinished family heirloom. It's a crocheted tablecloth that my neighbor's grandmother was working on before her death, many years ago. They even have the thread she was planning on using to finish the project. We are trying to identify the pattern for these motifs so that they will be able to commission someone to complete the project. It appears to be a collection of larger circular motifs that are joined with a smaller circular motif.
So... anyone have any ideas??

I Love this Case!!

2008-01-16T15:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I lived so long without a hook case. And more to the point I can't believe I waited so long to order this hook case after I discovered CrippenWorks. OK - I'll back up. I needed a case for my crochet hooks. I kept thinking I was going to crochet one like this, or make this Felted Hook Case (it was actually on my WIM list in August 2006) or even this Berroco one. But as my hook collection grew, I realized that all of those would be too bulky to carry all my hooks and I just couldn't seem to leave home without all my hooks! Then I saw the story "Going Custom" in Crochet Me about handmade crochet hook cases designed by Katharyn Crippen Shapiro of CrippenWorks. I was in love! The article explained how you can buy a standard crochet hook case (or knitting needle case) or you can work with her to design the case that's right for you. Following the suggestions in the article at Crochet Me, I prepared. I counted my hooks... there were 29. I measured their lengths, I grouped them into sets based on circumference. Finally I sent Kathy a note last summer, detailing my hook collection and all their measurements. She sent me back a note within 2 days explaining my options. She recommended I make two cases with 20 slots each so I have room to grow. She also said she was happy to make just one case, a longer roll, if I preferred. Well the ball was in my court and I was stumped. I couldn't decide. I pondered and then I procrastinated.
Well in the chaos of late December I managed to lose not one, but two of my beloved Brittany hooks. Enough was enough. I waited until after the holidays (well sort of) and sent Kathy an e-mail in the midst of New Years weekend! I received an e-mail back on a Sunday morning promising me a price and delivery date later that week. On Wednesday, that arrived. I paid by credit card at her website, and on Monday the case was in my mailbox! Now here's the funny part... we had 14 inches of snow on Monday, so I never made it down to my mailbox that day. So finally on Tuesday, as I waited for the school bus with my kids I picked up the mail, and started cheering. So here it is filled with my hooks! It is everything I wanted and more. It is beautiful, expertly made in my choice of fabric and I know it will protect my cherished hooks for years to come!

Random thoughts of current and future projects

2008-01-14T12:33:00.000-05:00

1. I finished crocheting the parts to Robyn's Sweater . Now comes assembly, edging and weaving in those blasted ends.
2. Purple Haze sweater is currently one-armed. I hope to jump into that sleeve as soon as #1 is in the mail. I'll update this with another photo soon...
3. Baby items... I need them soon. Friend is due 2/23 and my niece is due in early May.
4. A Sock CAL is starting 2/1 at Yahoo Crochet Socks (still voting on the pattern - will be an online freebie).
5. Another Sock CAL is starting 3/1 at Yahoo CGOA (still voting on the pattern - will be from Crocheted Socks book).
6. Next sweater for me will be Drops 97-1 using Reynolds Lopi .
7. I have some bulky yarn in a pretty purple, Royal Classic Yarn Soft Tweed (bottom photo) that I want to use for a sweater for Abby. I was thinking of making her another popcorn pullover (in bulky as it calls for this time). She's really outgrown her first one (made with ww yarn). But, I'm not sure.... I might decide to upsize this hoodie pattern for her instead.

So what are you all hooking or thinking about hooking??

WIP: Purple Haze progress

2007-12-29T00:20:00.000-05:00

Purple Haze was the third sweater I began during my infamous sweater weekend. I'm making this one for me, using Gedifra 'Cotton Merino'. Unlike the other two sweaters, this one has gone more slowly as I struggled to make sense of the pattern. Don't let that dissuade you from making this though. Lauren Irving is a great new designer. She thinks "out of the box" as they say and subsequently this sweater is just shaped a little differently. Thankfully Lauren patiently responded to my e-mails and helped me step a bit out of my comfort zone. Purple Haze can be made in a variety of sizes - you can mix and match your sizes based on waist & bust measurements. You can choose from 3 different sweater lengths (cropped, hip length, or peplum hem) and choose to add a collar, or not. Mine is going to be hip length with no collar (I think).

So finally I have significant progress to report on PH. The back panel is complete and blocking - as written except for lengthening it by 2 rows, and raising the back neckline. The front panels are complete and blocking as well (in fact I've already seamed the shoulders). In addition to lengthening them by 2 rows, I modified the front panel armhole increases so they would end at the same row as the back panel (I needed that symmetry... sorry Lauren!). The front arm hole increases still start earlier as Lauren intended.

Now for possible buttons.... I bought 3 sets of buttons at the LYS yesterday. The white ones in the middle are pretty but not for this sweater. The petals or flowers are pink - perfect for some yarn in my stash.... The other two sets are possibilities, but neither one is a winner for me yet. Are the pewter ones too ornate for this textured stitch? And although the "black ones" have a pretty purple opalesence in them, are they too stark? Any thoughts?

I'm currently crocheting the first sleeve and I'm really hoping to make significant progress in the next 3 days, because finished or not this moves to the back burner on January 1st (Robyn's project trumps PH).

FO: Easy Tweed Scarf

2007-12-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

This was the mindless project for the car trip to NYC. I started it in Massachusetts as we began our journey south on December 22nd (after dance and piano recitals). The stitch pattern allowed me to crochet by feel in the dark, so I was able to finish it in Connecticut several hours later. I sewed in the ends when we arrived in NY. I didn't have an intended recipient, but not to worry. I wasn't even able to get a photo taken before my MIL claimed it and promptly put it away (it matches her new gloves... who knew?) Instead here's a photo of the yarn.

Easy Tweed One Skein Scarf

Project details:
Yarn: Red Heart Easy Tweed - bulky - nylon/acylic blend - 143yds
Colorway: Blue tweed
Hook: Boye K (~7.0mm) hook
Gauge: 4 st / inch
Size: Approximately 36" long x 5" wide.
Pattern: My own

Ch 146, must be an even number

Row 1 - sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 1, skip one ch, sc in next ch, repeat from * across, turn.
Row 2 - ch 1, sc in 1st sc, sc in ch-1 space, *ch 1, sc in next ch-1 space, repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 3 - ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sc in next ch-1 space, repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn.
Repeat rows 2-3, until skein runs out.

FO: Balaclava

2007-12-28T23:29:00.001-05:00

I learned a new word in making this. After our 3rd snowstorm in 8 days, with total snow accumulation of almost 3 feet, I finally took my dh's requests for a ski mask (aka 'balaclava') to heart. I searched online, came up with a basic pattern, hunted through the stash and voila - a ski mask!

Project details:
Pattern: Aunt B's Ski Mask/ Helmet Liner
Size: Adult Large
Yarn: Cascade 220 & Cascade 220 Quattro - ww - 100% wool - ~300 yds
Colorway: Navy/Black multi; Black solid
Hook: Boye K (6.5mm) hook
Gauge: none given
Pattern Changes: After 7 inches, I skipped 32 st, chained 34 for the mouth opening. Continued until I rain out of navy/black Cascade 220 Quattro . I trimmed the mouth/eye opening using black Cascade 220 and a smaller hook (H, 5.0 mm)

FO: Cluster Hooded Scarf

2007-12-28T22:47:00.000-05:00

I began this project on a whim, as a possible teacher gift, just because it was starting on December 9th as a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long. The designer, Peter Franzi, aka hooker-bear.com, had graciously offered his pattern at no cost to the group to do as a CAL. I jumped in, first thinking of my ds' 2nd grade teacher (until I remembered I already had teacher gifts...) and then thinking of the wonderful lady who teaches piano to both my kids. I finished the scarf a few nights before the Holiday Ensemble/Recital, enough time to wash and dry - a must for this yarn - and delivered at the performance.

Project details:
Pattern: Cluster Hooded Scarf
Size: one size, women's
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver - ww - 100% acrylic - ~800 yds
Colorway: Aran
Hooks: Brittany I (5.5mm) hook
Gauge: 13 st x 9 rows = 4 x 4 inches (as written, 14 st = 4")
Pattern Changes: Just one! I shortened the scarf by 20 stitches, starting chain = 247.

Another secret....

2007-12-28T16:55:00.000-05:00

Look what I found in a box on my front steps back on December 14th. The yarn is... a secret! It came from Robyn along with the swatch shown. It's for a project for her new booklet (not to be confused with her new book) and on her blog she's decided to share her design process about the projects in this booklet, but not to tell you the yarn manufacturer or specific yarns used.

This project is a shortsleeve cardigan with a cool textured stitch in a yarn that just shines in this stitch pattern. Go check out Robyn's post on this project, and while you're at it check out all her posts on this upcoming booklet.

I'm so excited to be crocheting another piece for Robyn. I had to finish up some holiday projects (see future posts) before I could start this... that and I had to replace my lost beloved Brittany I hook (did that today - yipee - bought J and K hooks , too). Now I can finally grab my hook and start crocheting!

FO: Two-Toned Pullover

2007-12-28T16:30:00.000-05:00

Another sweater finished in November (but not quite in time for his 8th birthday) was Alex's Two-toned Pullover. This one was also started in October, during the infamous sweater weekend, and greatly benefited from my late night hooking marathons during my beloved Red Sox' World Series romp!

Project details:
Pattern: Two-toned Pullover found at freepatterns.com
Size: Child 8
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft - worsted weight - 100% acrylic - ~800 yds
Colorway: gray and navy
Hooks: Brittany G (4.0mm) and G7 (4.5mm) hooks
Gauge: 14 st x 14 rows = 4 x 4 inches
Pattern Changes:

After completing the "front" panel, I decided it wasn't as wide as needed and the neck was too high (not large enough opening). The back panel was supposed to be a simple rectangle with no neck shaping. So, the "front" panel became the back panel.
The new front panel was modified to be wider at the bottom (starting chain increased by 8 chains), decreasing at the armholes to match the width of the back panel (the side seams will be slightly to the back) and also to have a larger neck hole.
My ds is way too skinny a kid to wear sleeves that aren't tapered. So I decreased the starting chain at the cuff and increased every few rows to create tapered sleeves. I modeled these sleeves off the "Boys Geometric sweater" I made him before I started blogging - from the now defunct Solutia website.

FO: Ballet Sweater

2007-12-28T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm finally blogging again!! I think I've figured out that one can volunteer too much for one's sanity. Hopefully, I'll be able to better balance this in the new year.

I started this sweater during my sweater weekend and finished in early November. It was a really quick crochet project due to the chunky yarn (and the kids size!).

Project details:
Pattern: Lion Brand Ballet sweater
Size: Girls 6
Yarn: Lion Brand Chunky USA - bulky - 100% acrylic - ~500 yds
Colorway: Grape
Hook: Boye K hook (almost 7.0mm)
Gauge: 8 hdc = 4 inches (10 cm)
Pattern Changes: Made the back and sleeves as written. I was making the pullover and didn't want the thickness of a doubled ribbing as written. Following a trick I learned crocheting a secret Robyn project, I made the front ribbing and then crocheted both "panels" of the front off the same ribbing.

JCA yarn sale...oh my

2007-10-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

Let's just say, I think I earned my own invitation to next year's pre-sale at JCA Crafts... Here's the math. I purchased 42,754 yards of yarn which included 259 50g-skeins, 20 100g-skeins and 1 cone. The 50g skeins are mostly a 100% wool, DK weight mystery yarn, some 100% cotton and a cotton/acrylic blend. The 100g skeins are sock yarn and the cone is angora/nylon.

The mystery yarn I fell in love with is pictured in the 3 columns on the right... yes, there are nine different colorways. The yarn appears to be from Romania with the brand name "Fantasia". The Romanian distributor/manufacturer is "Industria Filati Buzua SA". There's no further information about the yarn on the label. JCA staff said it was 100% wool. The consensus of the fiber enthusiasts present was that it was a DK weight. I measured 11-12 WPI here at home and I unwound 2 different skeins (twice, each) and measured the yardage at 132 yds. So, I have 36 skeins of hunter green, and 20 skeins each of red, dark brown/eggplant (in some light there's a purple tone to this yarn), navy, periwinkle, lilac/mauve (again in different light...), charcoal, taupe, cream.

In front of the Fantasia, you'll see I couldn't resist grabbing 3 more skeins of Reynolds Gypsy - 100% cotton, 82yds/50g, 5st/inch - in the Ocean blue color I used for Twyla. I had 11 skeins left over, now I have 14.

Second column from the left show 2 bags of Swizzle sock yarn (75% Superwash merino wool, 25% nylon), each with 10 skeins, in blue and black. I guess I'll be making more socks!

In front of the Swizzle is my second mystery yarn. These skeins have no labels, but the bag is labeled "Reynolds, 100% cotton yarn, 106 yds". It was soft with nice twist, and was too inexpensize to pass up. I bought 20 skeins in navy.

The left-most column, has the remaining cotton yarns and a cone of Reynolds Devotion (51% Angora, 49% Nylon, 93 yds/50g, 4st/inch) in forest green. In theory I should have 1860 yds , but Devotion comes as 2 strands, and I still think I can easily split this yarn to double the yardage of a less bulky fiber.

In front of Devotion are two boxes of Adrienne Vittadini "Miranda" (100% cotton, 87yds/50g). I have 870 yds of this woven cotton yarn in two colorways - oyster and taupe.

In front of Miranda are some Abby yarns - 10 skeins of Reynolds Fiesta (cotton/acrylic blend, DK weight, 105 yds/50g) in hot pink and another 10 skeins of Reynolds Saucy Swirl (100% mercerized cotton, 185yd/100g, 5st/inch) in a variegated colorway (dark pink, light pink, white & gray). I had 5 skeins left of Saucy Swirl (same dye lot) after making the Sweet Pea shawl, now I have 15.

Now I need some more plastic tubs!

WIP: Purple Haze

2007-10-29T09:48:00.000-05:00

I might have thrown Purple Haze from Crochet Me in the UFO or Frog pile but for 2 reasons - 1. I love the look of the sweater too much to give up and (here's the big reason) 2. Lauren Irving (the designer) has practically held my hand while I slowly stepped OUT of my comfort box and tried something new. In the end, there is progress to report, although most of it, so far, is in my level of understanding of the pattern.

This was the third sweater I began during my sweater weekend at the beginning of the month. I'm making this one for me, using Gedifra 'Cotton Merino'. Unlike the other two sweaters, this one has gone more slowly as I struggled to understand the pattern. Now if I were one to just crochet a pattern, follow the directions and hope it works out in the end, I would probably be wearing Purple Haze right now. My passion for understanding a pattern before I make it, for having a vision of how it's going to look, and for practically memorizing the schematics usually saves me hours of heartache. I can catch the errors, see how the pattern needs to be modified to fit my body and make changes without excessive cycles of hooking and frogging. I have, on rare occasion, been able to blindly follow a pattern when I don't know the outcome exactly. This requires knowing and trusting the designer. I can do this when testing for Robyn, like on secret project 2, when even she wasn't sure how exactly it was going to turn out. (Actually I'm sure she did in her head, just not on paper.) In the future, I'll be able to do this with Lauren. Her e-mails have been insightful helping me to understand her "out of the box" approach to this sweater. It's funny, usually by the time I finished writing my e-mail to her asking questions, I had furthered my understanding so much that I would end each e-mail, with "I think I get it now". She would begin each e-mail "Yes, you get it". I'm waiting on one final e-mail back from Lauren and then I think I'm good to go. I'm going to frog back this a bit, I made the armhole too long (gauge problem) and then I think I'll be off to the races! Thank you to Lauren for answering e-mails, to Kim for creating (and re-creating) Crochet Me and to Jess & Casey for sharing their brilliant idea known as Ravelry with the world. (I first contacted Lauren through her Purple Haze project page on Ravelry.)

I will make this sweater....

WIP: Two-tone Sweater

2007-10-29T09:47:00.001-05:00

Baseball helps crochet productivity! My World Series fiber project has been Alex's Two-toned Pullover which I'm making using Caron Simply Soft in gray and navy. I started this one during my sweater weekend as well, and thanks to my beloved RED SOX, it has been moving right along. I had just finished the front panel on 10/12 when I took this photo. Here it is, wet, on the blocking board. It wasn't quite as wide as I had intended, and the neck seemed a little high....

So, the front panel became the back panel, and the new front panel was modified to be wider at the bottom, decreasing at the armholes to match the width of the back panel (the side seams will be slightly to the back) and also to have a larger neck hole. I made it through the armhole decreases on Saturday night and then I finished the shoulder sections of the front panel and started the first sleeve while watching the Red Sox complete their SWEEP of the World Series. Of course, between the game and my infamous pattern changes, I didn't get as much done. The sleeves were supposed to be straight. I'm tapering them. As you can probably see, the back panel has been blocked, but the new front panel has not and the sleeve is just begun.

WIP: Ballet Sweater

2007-10-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

Simply put, it's almost done... I'm talking about Abby's Ballet sweater by Lion Brand in Grape LB Chunky USA. I started it during my sweater weekend, and it really flew. I had finished all the pieces back on 10/12. Here they are on my blocking board. As you can probably see, the front and back panel had been blocked, but the sleeves were just laid out.

The pieces are assembled, and all that remains is to edge the front panels. The pattern calls for a picot on the surplice edge, dropping to simple sc on the neckline. I hope to finish that and weave in the ends at Abby's ballet class on Tuesday.

Three new projects

2007-10-13T09:49:00.000-05:00

I couldn't decide which sweater to start the weekend after I mailed Secret Project 2 back to Robyn. It was the last weekend in September. Purple Haze from Crochet Me was starting on October 1st as a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long, so I could swatch this a bit but didn't feel like I could really take off on it. Besides, I felt bad that I hadn't started the kids' fall sweaters. Abby wanted the a ballet sweater in purple (of course) and Alex had chosen a two-toned sweater in navy and gray. Being indecisive as usual, I started all three.

1. Purple Haze by Crochet Me. This one's for me. I'm using Gedifra 'Cotton Merino' - 52% Merino wool, 48% cotton, 110yd/50g, 4.25st/inch. I have 20 skeins (2200 yds) in a medium purple color - which you can see in the 2nd photo of this post. Now PH calls for DK not worsted weight, so I had to work out a few gauge issues. Hence why I had to start early! I worked the two shoulder sections of the back, joined them and worked a few more rows of the back. (Actually I crocheted until the first 50g ball of yarn ran out). I stitch pattern has grown on me. At first it reminded me too much of the sideways shell baby blanket, but eventually I got over that. Now I love it!

2. Ballet sweater by Lion Brand. This is for Abby - size 6. I'm using LB Chunky USA - 100 % acrylic - 620yd of a grape colorway - seen in the 3rd photo from the bottom of this post. With a K hook this really flies (I'm actually using a 7.0 mm hook, labeled K, but not!). I stopped this one when I finished the back panel.

3. Two-toned Pullover at Free Pattern Central. I'm making a size 8 for Alex using Caron Simply Soft in gray and navy. The ribbings will all be navy then there are spike stitches to create the pattern. Here's the very beginning of this one at the end of my crochet weekend...

FO: Secret project 2

2007-10-13T09:34:00.000-05:00

The absent blogger returns.... getting the kids and frankly all of us settled into the new school year took a little more time than I realized. All extra time was spent on this secret project. Back in the end of August I received a package of yarn from Robyn so I could crochet another piece for new book. The yarn is Lily Chin's Chelsea - a wool, cotton, acrylic blend in this beautiful shade of dusty light blue. Well a few weeks ago, I mailed the piece back to Robyn, in an almost finished state (as she requested), so she could tweak the garment to match the image in her mind! It was a bit frustrating not to hold the final garment, but I knew it would turn out amazing after the tweaking was done. I was right. So here's a mini sneak peek, but go (right now) to Robyn's blog for her sneak peek!

Shhh... it's a secret!

2007-08-26T19:38:00.000-05:00

Look what I found in a box on my front steps, the day after we came back from vacation. The yarn is Lily Chin's Chelsea - a wool, cotton, acrylic blend in this beautiful shade of dusty light blue (which I just don't seem to be able to capture correctly tonight). It's paler than this, and oh so pretty and soft. The yarn came from Robyn along with a swatch (that's carefully draped so you can't really see it!) I'm so excited to be crocheting another piece for her new book. She's definitely one of my favorite designers. You can see I've already grabbed my Brittany hook and started crocheting!

You'll have to wait until 2008 for this book, but she has a bunch of designs shown here that are in the new Crochet Me book due out in just about 6 more weeks!

FO: Drops 88-20 Girl's Tank

2007-08-26T14:31:00.000-05:00

I never posted progress on this project because I started it just before we left for vacation and finished it, all except for those blasted ends, before I returned. The ends are now woven in, so here's the finished product instead, being modeled by my adorable sweetie!

Project details:
Pattern: Drops 88-20 Safran Tank
Size: Girls 7/8
Yarn: Katia Mississippi 3 - fingering - 60% cotton, 40% acrylic - 430 yds
Colorway: Lilac
Hook: Addi 4.0mm F hook
Gauge: 18 dc x 11 rows= 4" x 4" (dead on!)
Pattern Changes: (Barely ONE)
I actually followed this pattern to the letter. Seriously. The only thing I did was incorporate the Peter Franzi method of removing the hole at the beginning of a row of dc: Ch 3, do not skip the first stitch, but do a dcdec in the first 2 stitches.

FO: Twyla

2007-08-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago I was all ready to post another project update for the Twyla Cardigan by Berroco. Really, I even had this photo taken July 31st. See? I was going to say that I had finished the first sleeve (modified to be tapered) and that I was starting the second one. Well life erupted with several family emergencies and frankly I'm not sure I knew what end was up for the last 2 weeks. Life has "settled" and now I'm left with just my own kids both sick with strep! So now that I can finally get online long enough to post (honest, I haven't even edited over at ravelry for the past week !!!!) I get to make an FO post instead of a WIP post!!

When I first looked at this pattern, I fell in love with the textured stitch pattern. I noted way back when that I would probably taper the sleeves. Of course I forgot this detail and crocheted about 14 rows of the sleeve before realizing I didn't want a 14" sleeve at the cuff. So I frogged that, whipped out my trusty graph paper and designed a tapered sleeve. When I got to the first increase, I realized that the body of this sweater has decreases but not increases and I also had to create a method to increase without disrupting the stitch pattern.

Project details:
Pattern: Twyla Cardigan by Berroco
Size: medium
Yarn: Reynolds Gypsy, 1577 yds (19 hanks)
Colorway: 'Ocean Blue' (my name for it)
Hook: Brittany 5.0mm H hook
My Gauge: 7.5 clusters x 13 rows= 4" x 4"
Pattern Changes: (just a few)

Stated gauge was 8 clusters x 9 rows in 4"x4". I used the stitch counts for a medium (giving me slightly wider panels) but altered the row counts and crocheted the length of the pieces to the schematic measurements.
Increases in stitch pattern:
-To increase 1st half cluster at beginning of row: Ch 3 after completing cluster at end of previous row, turn, hdc in 3rd ch from hook.
-To increase 1st half cluster at end of row: hdc into turning chain of previous row.
-To increase 2nd half cluster at beginning of row: Ch 3 after hdc at end of previous row, turn, crochet cluster into 3rd ch from hook and hdc.
-To increase 2nd half cluster at end of row: crochet cluster in hdc and top of turning chain of previous row.
In order to taper the sleeve (and lengthen it as well):
-ch 38, rep row 1 of back (37 sc)
-Rows 2-5: Follow pattern from back row 2-3 (18 clusters)
-Increase 1/2 cluster at each end of rows 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 31, 37, 47 (26 clusters)
-Rows 48-60: Work even (26 clusters)
Sleeve cap was modified slightly to accommodate my row gauge:
-Row 61: Sl st over 3 clusters at beg of row, leave 3 clusters unworked at end of row (20 clusters).
-Row 62: work even (20 clusters)
-Row 63-68: Decrease 1/2 cluster at each end of row (14 clusters)
-Row 69: work even (14 clusters)
-Row 70-75: Decrease 1/2 cluster at each end of row (8 clusters)
-Row 76: work even (8 clusters)
Edging on the body of the sweater was as written except:
-I added an extra round before the button hole round
-I made 4 button holes, each 2 sc long, separated by 10 sc
-I added an extra round after the button hole round, except at the neckline where I replaced the sc with sl st.
Sleeve edging - only 3 rows of sc (I guess I made the sleeves a tad too long!)

Ravelry, oh ravelry...

2007-08-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

I've promised an explanation of my absence... and I promise I will still blog, but my online time is definitely being sucked by Ravelry right now. Have you been there? Do you have your invite? Go, run, sign up for an invite and then go about your life and have patience. Many, many people are waiting for invites, but rest assured, ravelry is well worth the wait. Can you imagine fiber nirvana? Then you've imagined ravelry. It is a truly amazing knitting and crocheting community. (Yes both together and Look Ma, we're NOT fighting!)

This is the place where you can have a notebook with all of your projects - WIPS & FOs, with photos (from flickr) and details (yarn, pattern, pattern modifications) and links to all of these details either within ravelry or for someone like me, links to blog posts detailing pattern modifications. A place where you can have all of your stash yarn listed with photos and details (yes, details of fiber, manufacturer, yardage, weight, how many skeins you have). A place to list a queue of pending projects and yes with details of these projects and link to the pattern and the yarn from your stash. So for an organizing nut like me, I can still blog about yarn purchases and think about what I might make with the yarn like I did here and here, but then instead of having to search for those posts and read through them to see what projects I was thinking about I can just go to my Queue on Ravelry. Oh and one of my favorite things about ravelry... searching! You can search to see what other ravelry members have made with a certain yarn OR you can search to see what yarns others have used to made a certain pattern. Isn't this just the coolest fiber-related invention ever? Can you tell I'm head over heels in love with ravelry? Here's an awesome sneak peek that explains it all better than I could and a link to Unraveled, the ravelry blog, if you want to read even more

Oh I almost forgot to tell you. With ravelry in beta testing now, Jess & Casey (the amazingly talented creators of Ravelry - who I met at in NH at the Knit & Crochet Show) need feedback on bugs etc and they need help editing the pattern and yarn info being entered by members. They allow us fiber enthusiasts to assist them in the creation of this amazing site. So I've been editing the patterns of Interweave Crochet, Drops Designs, Crochet Me and many of the books that I own in order to get ravelry ready for the big launch out for beta testing.

So, now do you understand where I've been?

CGOA Chain Link conference

2007-07-20T10:19:00.000-05:00

I was thrilled when I heard that Chain Link was going to be in Manchester, NH this summer as I'm less than 40 minutes away! With the kids summer schedules and my dh's job demands, I wasn't able to go everyday, but I enjoyed every minute I was there. (With this years experience under my belt though, I'm already making plans to be able to go every day next year!)

I have so much to say I can't even think straight. I arrived on Friday afternoon with time to spare to browse the market place before my 2pm class. When I checked in at registration they informed me that I was among the lucky fiber enthusiasts to get a goody bag from Coats & Clark with 6 skeins of yarn. TLC Sparlke Soft ~ Mint, Moda Dea Washable Wool ~ Aqua, Red Heart Hula ~ Lemon Fizz, Red Heart Easy Tweed ~ Blue, Moda Dea Fashionista ~ Olive, and Red Heart Tweedle Dee ~ Fireside. I didn't take a group picture, just individuals, because of ravelry....ah, ravelry (that's another post to come). Of course, I only have one skein of each... I guess I need to go buy a book with one skein patterns.

At the market place, the vendors had an amazing amount of fiber everywhere you looked. Similar to many other crocheters, I was a bit disappointed by the scarcity of crochet supplies, books, pattern leaflets and crochet samples. I was looking more for pattern booklets than for yarn (due to the warehouse sales in my recent past). I was hoping to see some of the yarn companies bring their crochet booklets the LYS don't usually carry. Like the ones online at Tahki, NY Yarns, Nashua, and Rowan. I really wanted to thumb through them, but I couldn't find them. Knitting was omnipresent at the market. The attendees were largely crocheters and I'm afraid we ended up with a bit of a catch-22. Many crocheters were so angry about the lack of materials that they spoke with their wallets by not purchasing anything. Some vendors felt their belief that crocheters won't buy good yarn was proven at the show and have vowed not to return next year. The WEBS blog tells the story of their disappointment with sales. One vendor I really enjoyed was The Elegant Ewe, a shop located a little more than a hour from me in Concord, NH. They had brought their entire collection of crochet books (after all this was the National Crochet conference!). I didn't spend much time in their booth as it was packed and I figured I can always make a day trip to their shop! I did however buy the Doris Chan's book Amazing Lace from them. (Doris was on hand signing books when I was there and while she was signing mine she told me she has a new book of crocheted tops coming out in September called, Everyday Crochet . The preview looks wonderful. Before heading to class I stopped by the Creative Partners booth and introduced myself to Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss. They, too, were signing books and since I already owned what they were selling one said, "Well too bad you didn't bring them with you". Little did they know I was going home nightly so sure enough, I returned the next day with my books for them to sign.

Finally I headed for my Friday class, "Crochet Lite" with Karen Klemp (Almost Amy Designs). It was a cool class discussing what some of us at Yahoo CAL do all the time - reworking patterns for thinner yarns. She showed a cabled sweater from Glorious Crocheted Sweaters made in a worsted weight yarn and then another one this time made in a fingering weight yarn.... wow! Karen recommends going to thinner yarns with as big a hook as possible (while maintaining stitch definition) to increase drape. The results she showed were absolutely stunning. I was reminded of the Art of Crochet online seminar on Yarn: gauge, drape & substitutions from this past Spring.

After another spin through the marketplace, I attended the CGOA annual meeting. It was fun to see the "bigwigs" of CGOA and I won a door prize! Omega thread. I'm a yarnie not a threadie...I'm stumped. Any suggestions?

On Saturday, I took an all day class "Customizing Existing Patterns" with Lily Chin. It was a lot like her book Couture Crochet which I own, but it went a bit further with examples and explanations on each idea. Another participant said it was like the class filled in the missing pages at the end of each chapter, answering all the questions you had while reading. Lily is a hoot, truly making class entertaining and enjoyable as well as educational. She emphasizes crocheting to your shape, not the standard sizes provided in a pattern. Now, of course, I have to crochet only for the kids until I lose 20 lbs. Then, I'll take those measurements and crochet for myself!

Before I left I made one last tour through the market place. My stash is huge because of the JCA & Westminster warehouse sales but I wanted to support the show and I was looking for something that just struck me. Finally I found the shop, Just Our Yarns, whose yarns grabbed my attention. I spent the final 15 minutes, as the closing announcements rang out, choosing from the gorgeous selection and left with this beautiful 525yd skein of 5/2 100% Tencel yarn called Aziza.

OK, long enough post. Someday I'll have to tell you guys about Ravelry. Have you been there yet? Go. Run. Ask for an invite. When it comes you'll be in fiber heaven.

Twyla - WIP report

2007-07-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've been neglecting poor Twlya . An awesome textured stitch design first drew me to the Twyla Cardigan by Berroco. Lot of other distractions both fiber-related and non-fiber related have kept me away, but lately she's had all my fiber-attention. One reason it's been hard to find time to crochet Twyla is that I was at the point on the front panels where there is shaping on both sides, and this requires a bit of attention. This weekend at CGOA I had one of those (DUH!) moments. Lily Chin was teaching us some details about adding shaping to existing patterns and we were using gauged graph paper. She mentioned in passing that sometimes it helps to chart out a written pattern when there's shaping on both sides (DUH!). I have used graph paper a zillion time when reworking patterns - the Caprice dress for Abby, the Drops Top sleeves, the Autumn Spice challenge, but I never thought about using it to just make life easier in a pattern without a problem. Since I graphed out the front panel my hooks have been flying.

Now I can really show off my blocking board!

Birthday goodies..

2007-07-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

I mentioned on Yahoo crochet-a-long that my dh took my not so subtle hint (I left this website, with the best price I could find, open on the computer several days in a row) and bought me this large Sew-EZ blocking board for my birthday.

There's more info at this site (after all this is their awesome picture, so I should link to them too!) Honestly, only later did I remember that I had told him that going to and taking classes at CGOA Chain Link could be my present... ooops!

Anyway this board is amazing. Someday I'll show you the picture of Robyn's awesome piece blocking, but for now you'll just have to be patient (I'll show you Twlya blocking in a post coming to you soon!). The gridlines on the board make blocking to schematics a snap. In minutes you can have a sweater pinned and blocking.

Following tradition, my dh also took the kids shopping at the mall. He steered them away from the candle and jewery stores and they came home instead with an assortment of Godiva white chocolates (my fav) and the kids' choices in scents from Bath & Beauty including pomegranete bubble bath, pomegranete shower gel and "stress-reducing" mint hair conditioner (it actually says"breathe deeply for best results" on the bottle!).

Secret Project...

2007-07-16T14:45:00.000-05:00

Where have I been? The absent blogger returns! So many distractions, but I'll focus on the ones relevant to fiber arts! For this post... my secret project. I've been wary to post, as I was afraid I would reveal too much, that and frankly I was just too busy!

So back in the end of April I got this e-mail from Robyn, asking me (yes, little ol' me) if I would be interested in crocheting a sample of one her designs for her new book. You can bet I was interested. I've never done contract crochet work before, but I loved the idea, was honored that she thought of me and answered a resounding "YES"! In early May, I received the pattern (of which we may not speak) and the yarn (of which we may speak) - SWTC Oasis. This yarn, 100% soysilk, is amazingly soft and creates a fabric with awesome drape. It kind of funny in that it crunches up when you crochet it, but after blocking it is a totally different creature. The resulting fabric is soft, smooth and incredibly drapey (Is that a word?... If not, it should be!)

The day after the yarn arrived by dh became severely ill with chicken pox (not fun in a 44yo), so with that mess added on my plate as well as end of school year activities for 2 kids I was glad to know the project didn't need to be completed until the end of July. Nonetheless, I started working on it in bits and pieces while finishing up the cardigan, the pillows for Abby & Alex as well as the last teacher gift, a pair of mitten I forgot to photograph! After that it became my primary at home project (I was too afraid to take it out where prying eyes may see too much) while working on poor neglected Twlya (more on her later) away from home.

As the CGOA Chain link conference was approaching I doubled up my effort to finish this so I could send it off to Robyn and still have time to do my homework before my classes at the conference. I sent this off to her last week. The yarn was a joy to work with. The finished garment is amazing. I wish I could have shown it off to friends and family before I sent it. Robyn should be proud of her awesome design. I'm proud of my work on the finished piece. Here's a tiny sneak peak. When her book comes out, run and buy it. Then look for a bolero in Oasis and crochet it!

ETA: Robyn just posted a sneak preview! Go take a look!

FO: A L E X pillows

2007-06-05T07:57:00.000-05:00

As I explained in my ABBY post, I started making letter pillows from the patterns by Kimberly at Woven~n~spun to spell out my kids' names way back in 2005, put the project on hold and came back to it this past month. Kimberly has now just about completed the alphabet and I was thrilled to test both Y and X patterns, and thereby complete my kids' pillow sets. Without further ado... here's the finished set for my son, and the most recently completed letter, 'X'.

Project details:
Pattern: Woven~n~spun alphabet pillows - A - L - E - X
Yarn: Red Heart SS 'Blueberry Pie, Soft Navy
Hook: Brittany 5.5mm I hook
Pattern Changes: NONE!! (can you believe it??!!)

FO: A B B Y pillows

2007-05-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes finishing an old WIP is impossible for reasons beyond your control. I started making letter pillows from the patterns by Kimberly at Woven~n~spun way back in 2005. My plan was to spell out each of my kids names (short versions!) for their beds. The letter A was available so first they each got their A.

Shortly thereafter, as the patterns became available, I added 2 Bs for my dd and an L and an E for my ds. This is where these two projects remained for over a year. Kimberly lost her Mom. I can imagine her grief was overwhelming (I've lost both of my parents) and understandably healing took time. Her project of designing alphabet pillows was put aside. While my kids have wondered wbout their missing letter, we took it as an opportunity to learn empathy and to understand that what is happening in others lives may be more important than what we want.

Well the remaining alphabet letter pillows are being designed as I write this and I was thrilled to test the latest letter out for Kimberly and thereby complete my daughter's pillow set.

Project details:
Pattern: Woven~n~spun alphabet pillows - A - B - Y
Yarn: Caron Perfect Match White, Pink & Red
Hook: Brittany 5.5mm I hook
Pattern Changes: NONE!! (can you believe it??!!)

FO: Vintage Motif Cardigan

2007-05-17T15:09:00.000-05:00

This sweater began as a CAL at both Yahoo crochet-a-long and Crochetville inspired by Artemis who was inspired by Roli, not once, but twice! My version of the Vintage Motif cardigan is finally finished, and with not a yard of yarn to spare as I desperately tried to lengthen the sleeves. I actually unraveled 2 extra squares (I nixed the gussets) and frogged the swatches I had done a year ago when I was deciding what sweater pattern to make with this yarn. There's nothing left, I even had to save the longest ends after weaving in for future repairs. Earlier stories in the saga of the motif sweater can be found here and here.

Project details:
Pattern: Crocheted cardigan aka Vintage motif cardi
Size: medium (with a slightly larger motif)
Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in 'Mulled Wine', 1540 yds
Hook: Brittany 5.0mm H hook
Pattern Changes: (just a few)

Motif - I added an extra round on the motif (total of 8) to make it just under 4.25" instead of 4.0". The back panel is 5 motifs across, this should give me the 1.0-1.25" extra width I desire.

I blocked the squares before assembly and blocked the panels after assembly. Assembly was done by whipstitching across rows and down columns of the panels.

I decided not to use the gusset squares as with them the sweater was just too bulky on me (see here).

Sleeves: I added 4 motifs (a 3rd row) to each sleeve.
Sleeve cuff/edging. I did not use motif cuff as written (where they ease 4 motifs to 2 to make a cuff). I just didn't like the look of it. Instead, after adding the extra row of 4 motifs, I joined between 2 squares on the underarm seam and began the edging of BLO sc and tapered it as follows:

row 1 - BLO sc in every stitch around
row 2 - BLO sc in every stitch with a BLO scdec at the square junctures (4 dec per round)
rows 3-5 - repeat row 2
row 6 - repeat row 1
row 7 - repeat row 2
rows 8-11 - alternate rows 1-2
rows 12-13 - repeat 1
row 14 - repeat row 2
rows 15-18 - repeat row 1

FO: Girls' Simple Openwork Shrug

2007-05-02T13:32:00.000-05:00

We were in NC this past weekend for my niece's wedding. Abby wanted to wear her Caprice Sundress to the brunch the next morning, but she thought her shoulders might be a bit cold. Of course she could have worn her wedding sweater, but she wanted to run and play with her cousins and thought a shrug would be better (and yes, my almost 5 yo dd really voiced all these opinions on her own!). So, this Simple Openwork Shrug was born.

Girl's Simple Openwork Shrug

Project details:

Hook: Brittany 4.5mm hook
Yarn: Classic Elite Flash 'Pink Tweed'
Size: This fits my 5 yo who wears mostly sizes 5-6. It was 22 inches x 10 inches before sewing.

Pattern: My own - designed to match stitch pattern of NY Yarns Caprice Sundress.

Ch 90 , must be a multiple of 4 + 6.

Row 1: Dc in 4th chain from hook, (dc in next ch) twice, *ch 1, skip one ch, (dc in next ch) 3 times, repeat from * across.

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *3 dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * across, dc in top of turning ch.

Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, *3 dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * across, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch.

Repeat rows 2-3, ending with row 2, for a total of 20 rows, or as wide as you need shrug to be.

Fold in half, bringing the top of final row to the foundation chain.

Holding right sides together, sew 20 stitches in from each end to form sleeves. Weave in ends.

WIP: Twyla

2007-05-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with the Twyla Cardigan by Berroco immediately because of the stitch pattern. It's different and textured and just "spoke to me". Finding the right yarn was a different story until I hit the JCA sale last fall. I saw this Reynolds 'Gypsy' - 100% cotton, 82yds/50g, 5st/inch which I bought in 3 colorways. The 'ocean blue' was calling to me across the sale floor, "Twyla, Twyla, Twyla". Well being sick and tired of assembling the motif cardi was just the impetus I needed to start this cardi. I've done a fair amount of frogging on this one as it requires more attention than I've been giving it - I think once I settle down and give it some uninterrupted time it will go fairly quickly. I have about 11 inches done on the back panel. The blue yarn is really pretty. It has 3 different shades of blue plied together.

WIP: Vintage Motif Cardi

2007-05-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

Vintage Motif cardigan - a CAL at both Yahoo crochet-a-long and Crochetville using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Mulled Wine and my Brittany 5.0mm H hook. Progress has picked up, but I haven't had a chance to blog about it. Let's see if I can piece together (ugh, no pun intended) what has happened since my last report.

I posted at Crochetville on April 16th that I had finished making all the squares, and had begun weaving in ends and assembling sections (front panels, back, sleeves) and blocking the sections after assembly. In this photo I had assembled the front two panels - the one on the left was blocked the previous night and was dry. The one on the right was wet, just blocked. Also in the photo are 16 of the 25 panels for the back pinned on my board (where I put them back in February - they were the first 16 squares done) surrounded by the other 9 for the back and the remaining giant pile of squares!!

As of the 18th, I had assembled and blocked the first sleeve, and was beginning to worry that even with a 3rd row of 4 squares, the sleeves are so, so short. On the 2oth the 2nd sleeve was assembled and blocked and I had started weaving in ends of the back panel squares.

As of the 23rd, my concerns grew to include the huge gussets! Here is a photo of the sweater laid out with one sleeve all sewn in. I was thinking about making a smaller gusset, maybe 4 rounds instead of 8.
In the end I sewed the 2nd sleeve in without a gusset and this is where I stand now. I have to remove that first gusset and possibly use these 2 squares towards longer arms - maybe that easing 4 squares to 2 squares as the pattern suggests. I guess I could try that on one arm and see. At this point, I figure I'll do the body edging first and then see how much yarn I have. I'll probably end up just edging cuffs until I run out of yarn...

I was sidetracked from this by the need to pack for my niece's wedding, by my desire to hook instead of sew (hence I started Twyla), by my dd's desire to have a matching shrug for her sundress (for the post wedding brunch).

FO: Splatter Stitch Scarf

2007-04-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

Second prescool teacher done! Here's the scarf I ended up making for Mrs. G. I call it the Splatter Stitch scarf as that is the stitch they use and I don't put on the pom poms! I made it once before, so it went really fast. I really like the texture created with this stitch pattern. I also love how it turned out with this rich burgundy color. Hopefully Mrs. G. will like it as well.

Project details:
Pattern: Caron's Pom Pom Scarf
Yarn: Red Heart SS 'Burgundy', worsted weight acrylic, ~100-150 yds
Hook: 5.5mm I hook
Pattern Changes: (really minor, for once!!) I left off the pom-poms.

FO: Scallop Wrap

2007-04-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

One preschool teacher down, two to go! Mrs. P.'s shawl is complete! This was a pretty quick project that I whipped off in just a few hours. I think it might work better in a Super Bulky yarn as recommended. Nonetheless, I still like it.

Project details:
Pattern: Moda Dea Scallop Wrap
Yarn: Caron Perfect Match 'Cape Cod Blue' worsted weight acrylic, double stranded, ~600 yds
Hook: 11.5mm P hook
Pattern Changes: (as always)

Hook size was increased to meet gauge.
I wanted the shawl to be a bit longer down the back, and the scallops just seemed like they needed a bit more bulk to them at the bottom. So, at the end of row 13, do not finish off, turn.
Row 14: ch3, dc in first ch-3 space, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, *3 dc in next ch-3 space (8 times)**, 1 dc in next ch-3 space (3 times), repeat from * across, ending at ** with 2 ch-3 spaces remaining, 2 dc in next ch-3 space, 1 dc in last ch-3 space, 1 dc in 3rd ch of ch-5, turn.
Row 15: ch5, dc in the space after first 2dc group, ch 2, dc in the space after 2nd 2dc group, [(ch 1, dc in 2nd dc of 3dc group, ch1, dc in space between 3dc groups) 7 times, ch 1, dc in 2nd dc of 3dc group, (ch1, skip next dc, dc in next dc) twice] 5 times, [(ch 1, dc in 2nd dc of 3dc group, ch1, dc in space between 3dc groups) 7 times, ch 1, dc in 2nd dc of 3dc group, ch1, skip next dc, space before next 2dc group, ch 2, dc in the space after next 2dc group, ch2, dc in 3rd ch of ch-5. Finish off, weave in all ends.

Teacher Appreciation Week

2007-04-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

is the first full week in May (according to PTA site). Or, if you prefer, the NEA says that National Teacher Day is the Tuesday of the first full week in May - this year May 8, 2007. In either case I need to get hooking. I recently completed the Sweet Pea shawl for my son's 1st grade teacher (I made his kindergarten teacher the Seraphina shawl) and realized that I have never crocheted gifts for the preschool teachers (other than some small bookmarks one Christmas). Well my dd will be 'graduating' from the Sunshine School this June and heading off to join her big brother at the public elementary school in the fall. For four years these 3 wonderful teachers have been guiding and teaching my little ones, I think it's time I hook them something nice. I let the kids have a LOT of input on this and we've been pattern hunting and yarn hunting through the stash all weekend. (I'm determined these will be stash busting projects). The kids amazed me with the insights they had to their teachers personalities, colors and even styles.

This Moda Dea Scallop Wrap was posted on Yahoo crochet-a-long the other day. Both kids said it looked like Mrs. P., but it needed to be blue. I didn't have any super bulky blue yarn so we doubled up on some worsted weight yarn and made a shawl. Here's a close-up photo.

Now, on to Mrs. G. "She's not a shawl person", says my ds. "She wears scarves", adds my dd, "even inside." Colors, they decide, have to be rich, earthy, not pretty pink and purples. They liked Robyn Chachula's appropriately titled scarf pattern at Crochet me "Zen and the art of stash diving" and they really wanted me to use RH painted desert. They are dead on about the colors for this teacher, but I wasn't sure about the yarn/pattern combination, but I said I'd give it a whirl. I started, but after they were asleep I decided my gut was right and I hit the stash again and tried the same pattern with some Colinette Mohair 'Mist' leftover from the lapghan kit (shown with 'Mist' on hook here). I think a non-variegated mohair might be a better choice for the pattern. This yarn is working OK, but not for Mrs G. (too much pink and purples and I think the mohair might be too "hairy" or itchy for her).

I started again this time using a basic acrylic in Burgundy and Caron's PomPom scarf pattern that I've used before. It uses a really pretty splatter stitch pattern and I leave off the pom-poms!Last, but not least is Mrs. F, a teacher and director of the school. The kids chose mittens for her "because her hands are always always cold". They are right. She does like to have mittens in her pockets, even in summer, just in case. Most likely I'll use Sue's crocheted mittens and some simply soft in some springy colors... we still have to check the stash for this.

FO: Spring Flower Cardigan

2007-04-05T10:46:00.000-05:00

I thought I was on schedule to finish this for my niece's 4/28 wedding, then Abby asked last weekend if she could wear it on Easter Sunday! Well, it's finished with days to spare!! This is my version of Tammy Hildebrand's Spring Flowers Cardigan. The original pattern is in Crochet! May 2006. After swatching many patterns, I had decided on this pattern even though it is written for size 3 thread. The pattern had a few glitches, I even sent an e-mail to Crochet! magazine one evening. Get this... they called me back the very next morning!! Of course, I had found a glitch their editors had missed, or at least that's how I interpreted our telephone conversation. Nonetheless, I was impressed by the prompt reply. In the end I made my own modifications as usual.

Final result - Abby's happy, and that's what matters! (Photo taken by her 7yo big brother Alex!)

Project details:
Pattern: Tammy Hildebrand's Spring Flowers Cardigan, Crochet! May 2006.
Yarn: Gedifra 'Wellness', a worsted weight cotton/acrylic blend (~780 yds)
Hook: Brittany 4.5mm hook
Pattern Changes: (as always)

I used ww yarn instead of thread. I determined that my gauge (7hdc = 2in, 6 rows in pattern = 2.25 inches) together with the pattern as written for size 2 would match the measurements of the size 6 (determined by the published thread gauge).
Body was completed as written, except that I added another 3 row pattern repeat to match the size 6 length of 12.5" (I realized later this is really long, by the way).
Front panel tops were completed as written except that the pattern contains an error in the neck shaping area of the fronts. As written the shaping occurs every third row such that the shaping would be at both the neck opening and the armhole opening. I assumed this was an error and proceeded with shaping every third row, only at the neck edge.
Back top was completed as written.
Sleeves presented another problem. Sleeves were crocheted in the round on the sweater after the shoulder seams were joined. The number of stitches the pattern called for (size 2 or 6) was way too few to fit around a 12 inch circumference armhole (correct for size 6). I just crocheted an even number, matching my gauge and ended up with 42 hdc around. The original pattern calls for no tapering, just a gathering at the wrist with a row of scdec. Of course I changed this as well. I followed the 2 row pattern as written, but added tapering with a hdcdec under the arm and at the top of the sleeve on rows 9, 15, 21, 25 and 29. So my stitch count ended up as follows: rows 1-8 (42 st), rows 9-14 (40st), rows 15-20 (38st), rows 21-24 (36st), rows 25-28 (34st), rows 29-30 (32st). Because I added the tapering, I changes the first cuff row from scdec around to (scdec, sc) around. I did the final edging row of the cuff as written.
Buttonhole band was done mostly as written. Row 1 - I needed 48 sc to span my right front edge. Rows 2-3 as written. Row 4 - I evenly spaced 6 buttonholes (7hdc in between each) using only ch1, sk1 (not ch2, sk2) as buttonhole as I have small buttons. Row 5 - as written except I didn't fasten off (you reattach in this same space to do the neck edging).
Button band - as written except 48st with a new skein attached at the side of the last row of the left front panel. Again, I didn't fasten off (you reattach in this same space to do the neck edging).
Neck edging - Row 1 - using yarn left hanging on the buttonhole band, sc evenly around the neck shaping, placing scdec as needed to smooth out the steps, sc across the back and around, placing a matching number of sc and scdec on opposite side neck shaping. Row 2 - I did a second row of sc - sc evenly around the neck opening, again placing scdec as needed to smooth out the steps. Row 3 - picot edging around as written.
Bottom edging - as written except using yarn left hanging on the button band.

FO: Sweet Pea Shawl

2007-04-03T14:21:00.002-05:00

Finished! I just love saying that. I love love love completing projects - it's such a great feeling. This one is Amie Hirtes' Sweet Pea Shawl - a CAL at Crochetville! that I joined on a whim. The pattern is available online at her site NexStitch.com as well as in the book "Stitch'n'Bitch: Happy Hooker". I have to say that I am so very happy to report that this pattern (unlike so many other recent patterns) isn't so riddled with errors that you have to rewrite it 10 time along the way! There's one small error, that's corrected in their published errata, and the stitch diagram was correct all along.

Project details:
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy Swirl, in dark pink, light pink, gray and white; ~925 yds, including fringe.
Hook: Brittany 5.5mm I hook
Pattern changes: (minor). I thought the intended recipient would appreciate a slightly wider/longer shawl so I increased the starting chain by 30 chains in order to add 3 shells (about 9 inches) to the starting width.

Active WIPs...

2007-03-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

So, the currently active WIPs include:
1. Vintage Motif cardigan - a CAL at both Yahoo crochet-a-long and Crochetville! Progress seemed to have slowed since my last report (too much project jumping lately), but there are a few more squares in this photo. I've completed one more since this photo was taken so I'm up to 32 out of 75. I'm using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Mulled Wine and my Brittany 5.0mm H hook.

2. Bob's Fall into Fall Vest from Kimane Designs. I'm using Cascade 220 wool in a dark teal colorway and my Brittany 5.5mm I and 5.0mm H hooks. Since this earlier post, I've finished crocheting the second front panel, assembled the vest and completed the edging on one armhole. Due to its size, it's an "at home" project now. I'm a bit worried about the width of this vest. My husband has a favorite pullover knit vest, size 50-52. I had measured it and decided on doing the 2X based on this vest. After completing the 2X back, I decided to make the 3X front panels (only differ in width at the bottom - not in length or shoulder width) to gain a little extra breathing room. Well, as is the vest will be tight on dh. Why? Because knit sweaters stretch... a lot. He took off his pullover vest the other day and I re-measured it (stretched from being worn all day). I was a full 2 inches wider than it was un-stretched. That's 4 inches total in circumference. Houston, we have a problem. If it were just an inch, I could hope to gain a bit of room by making wider buttonhole bands (and I still may do this). I could dissemble the side seams and try to create some sort of gusset. Or, I could hope that the 15lbs he has lost since December is a sign of things to come and that he will lose a few inches in girth before next fall.

3. Sweet Pea Shawl - a CAL at Crochetville! that I joined on a whim. The pattern is by Amie Hirtes (NexStitch.com) and is available online or in "Stitch'n'Bitch: Happy Hooker". I had some yarn in my stash (Reynolds Saucy Swirl) that I thought would work, and I had an idea for a recipient (to be named later), so I grabbed my Brittany 5.5mm I hook and I was off. I added 3 shells (30 ch) to the beginning width for a total of 23 shells. I completed another row of shells of last night, finishing the 2nd 100g skeins. That makes 140 shells out of 276; I'm more than halfway there!

4. Spring Flowers Cardigan - by Tammy Hildebrand's in Crochet! May 2006. This is for Abby for a wedding this Spring. After swatching with my new Brittany 4.5mm hook and Gedifra 'Wellness' yarn, which I think is able to carry off the pattern stitch quite nicely, I decided on this pattern even though it is written for size 3 thread. My gauge together with the pattern as written for size 2 will give me the size 6 I need. Here's the body of the sweater (made in one piece) at about row 10 - one skein crocheted.

WIP progress... February - early March

2007-03-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

Last I blogged a list of WIPs, they included these:
1. Peter's Jacob sweater - a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long using RH Medium Spruce for my dh, Bob. A gauge problem has been discovered somewhere between me & the pattern. Most likely, this will be frogged and I will try again with a reworked pattern.
2. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - Originally meant for dh, now for me. Story & progress photo at the sock saga post. WIP turned UFO for now. Status = 40% complete.
3. M ar di Gras Carnival Sock s - a crochetsocks CAL. This sock pattern and pattern stitch makes for a pretty tight sock...more info & progress photo at the sock saga. WIP turned UFO for now. Status = 15% complete.
4. Autumn Spice Cropped Cardigan - this diversion from my sock nightmare became a nightmare all of it's own. Eventually I won, even beating those blasted ends. Status = 100% complete.
5. Southbay CGOA sock - Originally seen at the sock saga post, these were completed in time for valentine's day for my dh. Status = 100% complete.

Then I sidetracked and completed these:
1. BICO, hat & booties - Status = 100% complete.
2. Comfortghan squares - Status = 100% complete.

Squares for comfortghans

2007-03-17T15:20:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that a fellow crocheter a mom of 2 little girls, lost her dh suddenly last week. I joined with others to make some squares to send to an awesome crocheter who is assembling these squares into comfort-ghans for the mom and her girls. As of yesterday, she had received 103 squares for the mom and 86 squares to split for the girls; six more packages arrived today. I sent in 6 squares - I kept trying to use up little balls of yarn! The bottom two in this panel are Dayna's Four Heart's Granny, top left is Julie's Lady Square Variation and top right is Prescilla's Circle of Friends Square. The last two are mostly random crocheting after staring at more square patterns than you can imagine!!

FO: BICO for a baby

2007-03-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

as opposed to my big girl! I made this BICO (and hat and booties) for my son's art teacher. She's having her first baby and well, I crochet things! As with Abby's BICO, I began this Baby It's Cold Outside on a whim as a stashbuster. I found 2 skeins of Peacock Baby Rainbow yarn in a blue/green/yellow colorway in my stash, grabbed a 6.0mm hook and started hooking (with 2 strands)! I edged the set with some bright yellow, Caron Perfect Match 'Lemon' left from Abby's ripple afghan.

For the BICO, I followed the pattern for a 12 month size in order to end up with a 6 mo size with my hook and yarn. The only exceptions to this is that I made the neck hole a tad smaller and I made a change so that the front panels would match better. If you've read the BICO CAL thread at Crochetville, then you might remember that as people made BICOs with a "non-Homespun" yarn, they noticed the rows of hdc didn't match up perfectly in front. When you join the yarn to make the left sleeve and front panel the instructions have you join at the sleeve end and crochet a RS row on top of the previous RS row. Instead, I joined at the neck edge, crocheted a WS row and continued for 3 rows to the neck opening. On the fourth row, when I get to the neck edge, I can't ch8 to add 6 hdc on the next row as that would make the neck hole too big. I needed to add these 6 hdc on to this 4th row, so I did. When I reached the neck edge on the 4th row I added 6 hdc using the chainless hdc foundation row. Then I crocheted row 5 into these added hdc and the rest of row 4, and continued for 2 more rows to complete my sleeve. Now, as I ended at the sleeve edge, I had to slip stitch in the first 19 stitchs and then begin the front panel (the lines of which now perfectly match the right panel!)

For the hat, I wanted to make it using hdc to match the BICO, but all the baby hat patterns I could find were sc. So, I winged it! I based it on the LB velvetspun hat pattern (without the top knot) and I used my daughters 22 inch "big baby" doll to size the hat. I started with 8hdc in a ring - increased so the stitch counts in rows 2-6 were 16, 24, 24, 32, and 40. I worked even rows until long enough to cover the dolls ears! Then I did two rows of yellow to match the BICO edging.

The booties were a variation on Bev's Very Easy Booties. I was using double stranded baby yarn, instead of worsted weight so I basically made them to match her measurements, not her row counts. I replaced the last row with yellow, for an edging.

FO:Autumn Spice, ends woven in!!

2007-03-16T18:05:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd post a picture of my version of Autumn Spice, modeled, with all the ends woven in, finally! Details of the trials & tribulations of crocheting this sweater can be found in this earlier blog post. Here are the final details:
Hook: 6.5mm

Yarn: Cascade 'Lana de Oro' Tweed - worsted weight - 45% Superfine Alpaca, 45% Peruvian Highland wool and 10% Donegal (tweed) - 770yd maroon, 110 yd charcoal.

Pattern changes:

I crocheted the back panel of a medium, almost as written. I began with 9 shells across, for 25 rows (12 shells high). I dropped a shell on each side for the armhole inset. I wanted the back neck opening to wider, but not as deep, so I continued with 7 shells across for 14 rows (7 shells high) and then skipping the center 3 shells, did 2 more rows (1 shell high) on the outer 2 shells for each shoulder.
I crocheted the front panels of the small, adding in a sleeve inset. I began with a panel 4 shells across, for 25 rows (12 shells high). For the arm hole inset, I dropped 1 shell at the side edge and continued with 3 shells for only 7 more rows (4 shells high) as I wanted a lower neck at the front. Then I dropped a shell at the neck edge and continued for 9 more rows (4 shells high).
The sleeves were completely re-written as I made tapered sleeves to get a little more length out of my limited (discontinued) yarn yardage. I started with 5 shells across, for 12 rows (6 shells high). On row 13 I added another dc, ch2 on either side of the center shell. On row 14, I replaced the center shell with two partial shells (dc, ch2, 2dc, ch2, dc). Row 15 was worked as if there were 6 full shells below and row 16 has 6 full shells. I crocheted another 21 rows (10 shells) of 6 shells wide (when I ran out of yarn!!).
I crocheted the edging using the contrasting yarn. I made 4 rounds of sc on the whole piece, including sleeve cuffs.

Crochet Academy

2007-03-01T17:50:00.000-05:00

Last night I participated in part one of a three-part online seminar offered by Josi Hannon Madera at her Crochet Academy. This Academy, along with Josi's incredibly innovative designs with her custom pattern generator, is part of her newly launched website, the Art of Crochet. The series is entitled Yarn: Gauge, Drape & Substitutions, and as you can guess, last night we covered gauge.

Our homework was to crochet 3 swatches of a DK weight yarn using 3 different hook sizes - 4.0mm, 5.0mm and 6.0mm. I used Sirdar Salsa DK, left over from my Floral Fantasy Sweater. The yarn label recommends a 4.0mm hook or knitting needle. The knitting gauge listed is 22 st x 28 rows for a 10cm (4") square swatch. So, here are my swatches. Although I ran out of yarn halfway through my 4.0mm swatch, I can extrapolate the results (not the best idea when swatching for real, but it will work for this exercise). Also, while confessing my shortcuts, I should add that I had to photo my swatches side-by-side instead of stacked in a pile because when stacked there was no edge definition with this pink fuzzy yarn.

Our intial assignment was to measure the size of 20st x 20rows inside our swatch. Then we were asked to count how many stitches and rows were contained within a 4" x 4" area. Here's my results.

20 st x 20 rows		4" x 4"
Hook	W x H	Hook	S x R
6.0mm	6.50" x 4.75"	6.0mm	12 x 17
5.0mm	6.00" x 4.50"	5.0mm	13 x 18
4.0mm	5.25" x 4.25"	4.0mm	15 x 19

It was interesting to see the different swatch sizes result. Josi did another variation of this assignment. She made 4 swatches using a 4 mm hook with 4 different yarns DK yarns - 2 Debbie Bliss yarns, 2 KnitPicks yarns. All listed a knitting gauge of 22st/4in. Even within manufacturers the resulting swatches were different!

This class was reaffirming for me. It's no secret that I personally love the math of crochet. I make mostly garments for me & my kids (ok dh gets a few) and I almost ALWAYS swatch, measure and swatch again with mulitiple hooks and multiple yarns. The timing of this class is cool for me too, after my gauge problem with dh's sweater (and yes, for the first time in history I didn't swatch... grrrrr!), and as I've been proofreading and testing patterns for some designers lately and realizing the importance of checking the math of their gauge and final garment measurements.

On a related sidenote, I watched an Uncommon Threads episode on DVR the other day where Lily Chin recommended measuring a "hanging" gauge for garment swatches. Something to think about... I'm looking forward to the the next two classes to learn more about drape.

Felted Clutch Purse

2007-03-01T12:13:00.000-05:00

I'm not the gal who collects purses. I use bags and totes to carry my stuff. If I don't want a big bag, I put my license and a credit card in the back pocket of my jeans. But, this time, I need a clutch. My dh has won another award and we are invited to a snazzy dinner at the Boston's Four Season's Hotel with the CEO & Board of Directors for his company. I have my sister and another babysitter lined up. I found a dress - it's a dark navy sleeveless sheath dress with a matching jacket - and minutes ago UPS delivered my shoes. I just needed a purse. So a few days ago I had an idea for a felted clutch. I hunted through my stash in search of dark navy wool, but instead found Cascade 220 Quatro Black/Blue plied yarn. I thought it might be dark enough and set out to just wing it. My goal was a clutch about 8.5-9" x 5". So what do you think?

Felted Envelope Clutch

Hook : K (closer to 7.0mm)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Quatro
Prefelting dimensions:
12" x 19" unfolded,
12" x 11.5" folded, flap open,
12" x 8" clutch
Postfelting dimensions:
8.5" x 9" flap open,
8.5" x 5.5" clutch

Ch 36 (until I had 12 inches)

Row 1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, ch 2, turn. (34 hdc)

Row 2-33: Repeat row 1 until fabric measures 15-16" (or desired length)

Row 34: hdc dec over first 2 stitches, hdc in next 30 st, hdc dec over last 2 stitches, ch 2, turn. (32 hdc)

Rows 35-40: repeat row 34 six more times. Fasten off. (20 hdc).

Fold bag bringing row 1 to row 31 (3 rows before the first decrease row). Whipstitch the side seams. FELT! Embellish with vintage pin. Here I use my dad's college ring given to my mom before he left for WWII and later made into a pin.

Men & Crochet

2007-03-01T10:16:00.000-05:00

There's a new CGOA chapter forming in Oakland, CA. The Men Who Crochet Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America will focus on men's involvement in the needle arts, but the membership will be open to both genders. It's being started by Peter Franzi, a great designer I'm privileged to know (you know, "know" in the online sense). Of course I live on the other coast, but if you know of anyone in the Oakland area who might be interested, send them to Peter!

On a more local men & crochet front, dh has his socks, and he loves them (but you wouldn't know that because he hasn't commented on my blog about that! Just kidding dear!!). But I also wanted him to have a sweater and a vest.

The sweater I chose was Jacob's sweater designed by the above-mentioned Peter Franzi. A bunch of us were so thrilled to finally find a great pattern for our guys that we decided to do a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long the day Peter first published his worsted weight design online. Several people were interested in a lighter version made with sportweight and Peter accommodated their wishes and began to redesign the sweater sportweight (simply following the ww pattern using sw yarn would be a bit too lacey for most guys). Peter also tried to deal with the requests of annoying people like me who were interested in a V-neck version - with a wide center cable pattern? what was I thinking? Peter's was absolutely right - no V-neck on this sweater. I knew my guy would wear a heavy cabled sweater (and forego the jacket) so I began the ww version using RH Medium Spruce. I made ribbings and started the front panel of the sweater. I'm usually fanatical about swatches and doing the math to figure out if the gauge is right and if the stated gauge will result in the specified size. Of course I didn't this time and I was halfway through the front panel before I realized that it was 10 inches wider than it needed to be. Yes 10 inches! So I stopped and contacted Peter. The bad news is I will be frogging the front panel of the sweater. The good news is Peter's sportweight version has been accepted for publication and Peter is now re-working the kinks out of the ww version. I promise to double check my math and stitch gauge this time before I start crocheting cables like a madwoman!

Meanwhile, I started a vest for my dh and I'm hoping it won't be more than 2 weeks late for his b-day (last Saturday). I'm using the same design I used for my son's vest - the Fall into Fall Vest from Kimane designs. For my husband I'm using Cascade 220 wool in a dark teal colorway. I purchased this yarn for him at my LYS's 2006 Superbowl yarn sale. I've finished the back panel and part of the front panel. I need to go wind some more hanks into cakes so I can keep hooking. Bob picked out his own buttons last Friday. How'd he do?

Spring cardigan swatches

2007-02-18T17:35:00.000-05:00

As I posted earlier I need to make a cardigan for Abby for a wedding in April in NC. The yarn I want to use is Gedifra 'Wellness', a worsted weight cotton/acrylic blend (1210 yds). I mentioned these possiblities before, but I think I've ruled them all out for this project (as much as I love several).

Kim's Girl's Jiffy Jacket - I love this pattern, but I decided I really want the stitch pattern to be a little open
Robyn's Belle's Flowers - I will make this, but not for the wedding. With this yarn, the motifs were twice the size as designed, making them way too big for a little girl's sweater.
Drop Design 90-16 - I decided this is too open a stitch pattern - not enough warmth.
Crocheted Garden's Sweet Miss - beautiful, but this yarn wouldn't do the pattern justice.
Back to School - too boring - not open enough stitch pattern .

So did I mention, I really want the stitch pattern to be a little open.

I figured I might have to design the sweater around the pattern stitch, so I went a little swatch crazy last night and today. I tried the Coats & Clark Ruffled Cardigan after I saw this young teen, no-ruffle version at crochetville. It has possibility, it looks fine with this yarn. It seems a little bland, but I could edge it in a pale pink to match the dress, or run a pink ribbon through the edging.

Then I started searching magazines.... I pulled the second swatch stitch pattern out of the Openwork Coat from Family Circle Easy Crochet Spring 2007, a rewrite of a vintage pattern. I like the stitch pattern, and it's fine with this yarn, but I think it's too big a shell for a little girl's sweater, particularly if I decide to crop the cardi.

The last two swatches I have are from patterns written for finer yarns again, but since they are also written for toddlers, I was hoping that I could use my yarn with appropriate hook and end up with a sweater for Abby following a 18-24m pattern.

In Melissa Leapman's "Seasons of Love, Sweaters for the Family", I found Baby's Dainty Cardigan. I like the look in the photo from the book, but I think the yarn might be too thick for the pattern stitch. The shells are not as large as the openwork coat shells, but I'm not loving this swatch.

Finally, I found Tammy Hildebrand's Spring Flowers Cardigan from Crochet! May 2006. I love the look of the cardigan in the magazine photo, and I think the yarn is able to carry off the pattern stitch quite nicely. I don't think I'd add the flowers to the sweater, but maybe some pink flower buttons to match the pink in the dress. I think this is my favorite swatch.

So what do you all think??

FO: Socks for DH!!!

2007-02-14T11:41:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it? My dh finally has his socks! After a visit to sock hell earlier this month (see sock saga), I won the battle and my dh received his socks this morning, for Valentine's Day, no less! I made him a toe-up socks in order to accommodate EE ankles, and I frequently tried them on his feet! I began with the Southbay CGOA sock using my Addi 3.5mm hook with Silja sock yarn in light gray. These are truly custom made socks so I need to document the pattern changes, in case I ever make him another pair!

Pattern changes:

1. Begin with ch 10 and then increase as written for the toe, but continue to increase to 53 st.

2. Continue in pattern stitch for 20 even rounds and then increase (dc, sc, dc) at the top of the foot to accommodate the wide ankle as follows:

Increase to 55 st, 2 rnds even
Increase to 57 st, 4 rnds even
Increase to 59 st, 2 rnds even
Increase to 61 st, 1 rnds even
Increase to 63 st, crochet 1/4 rnd to a side when laid flat.

3. PM at sides for heel, and begin short-row heel with 31 st. Follow pattern for heel decreases and begin increasing when 6 steps on one side and 5.5 steps on the other.

End heel with 65 st, 4 rnds even
Decrease at each heel edge - 61 st
Decrease at each heel edge - 57 st

4. Continue in pattern for leg for 20 rounds even. Do a round of dc ending with dc, hdc, hdc, sc, join.

5. Add sideways rib: Ch 9, sc BLO in 2nd chain from hook and each ch to sock edge, *slip st in next 2 dc, turn, sc BLO in next 7 sc, sc in last sc, ch1, turn, sc BLO in each sc to sock edge*, repeat * to * around sock edge ending with sc in last sc at top, fasten off. Use tail to join cuff.

I love that it's easy to make a custom sock!

Girl's spring cardigan search...

2007-02-09T11:02:00.002-05:00

I need to make a cardigan for Abby for a wedding in April in NC. The wedding is in the late afternoon/evening so she will need some coverage for this dress. She'll be a week away from 5 then and she's tall. So we're talking size 6. I'm hoping to find a pattern so I can whip this off without it turning into another version of my most recent quick sweater fiasco!

In the ideal world, the cardigan would be a little lacy, or textured or something other than just hdc or dc. Or, does the dress demand something more simple from the sweater? In any case, I would like to use this yarn, a wonderfully soft cotton blend in white (center left in photo). It's Gedifra 'Wellness' - 60% cotton, 40% acrylic, 121yd/50g, 4.5st/inch, $1.50/skein. I have 10 skeins (1210 yds). I've searched online and have a few possibilities but, almost all require a bit more tweaking than I'd like or just don't quite match what I'm thinking. So, my online pals, I'm hoping for some more ideas. I've searched the books I own to no avail, but I haven't yet gone through the past 2-3 years of Crochet!, Interweave Crochet, FC Easy Crochet, BH&G Simply Creative Crochet, and Crochet Today magazines - all of which I own. So if anyone has any ideas please shout them out!

Possibilities so far:

Kim's Girl's Jiffy Jacket (I love this pattern, I made the adult version for me) - possibly a little too heavy, not lacy enough?
Robyn's Belle's Flowers (sizes 18m - 8/10) - I just bought this one. It was on the top of my list, but I have two concerns - is it too busy on top of the dress, and it's written for Microspun yarn.
Drop Design 90-16 - I love it - but a little too open mesh for the spring evening wedding?
Crocheted Garden's Sweet Miss - beautiful, but again calls for Lustersheen or finer yarn.
Back to School - sizes 2-8, right yarn, but all dc... too boring, or is this what I need?

Any other ideas??

WIP: Vintage Motif Cardigan

2007-02-09T11:02:00.000-05:00

You know how see an old pattern and the picture is kind of blah so the pattern just doesn't wow you? Well that's what I thought about this vintage motif cardigan until some ladies at the 'Ville showed off their sweaters. Here's Roli in her Simply Soft version and in her Tweedy woolblend version with modified cuffs. Here's Artemis in her Wool-Ease version modified to get full length sleeves. Pretty cool, huh? They look so different!

Well their handiwork has inspired a double CAL - one at Yahoo crochet-a-long and one at Crochetville. The sweater is made with 4 inch motifs so several of us are modifying the size or adding motifs to adjust sizing. In addition, some ladies will be using different square patterns. I can't wait to see what they all create.

Here's my single square, done according to pattern at 4 inches, using my Brittany 5.0mm H hook and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Mulled Wine. In the end, after a math session, I decided I'd add an extra round for a little ease, and am making 4.25" squares in 8 rounds. Below you can see my first 4 squares, and then 16 squares pinned to a board.

January WIP progress report

2007-02-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

So back in December, the ongoing WIPs included...
1. Peter's Jacob sweater - a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long using RH Medium Spruce which I am making it for my dh, Bob. I've made a bit of progress, but not enough for a new picture. It was put on the back burner in December for presents and then again this month because I wanted to finish....the socks.... status = 20% complete.
2. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - The long awaited socks, formerly for my beloved dh.... story & progress photo at the sock saga. Status = 40% complete.

New WIPS in January
3. M ar di Gras Carnival Sock s - a sock-a-long at crochetsocks. This sock pattern was designed for small feet and the pattern stitch makes for a pretty tight sock...more info & progress photo at the sock saga. Status = 15% complete.
4. Autumn Spice Cropped Cardigan - this began as a diversion from my sock nightmare... and became a nightmare all of it's own. At the end of the sweater saga, I won. Status = 99% (just those blasted ends!)
5. Southbay CGOA sock - this is the new pair for dh!! story & progress photo at the sock saga. Status = 45% complete.

February will hopefully see the completion of at least one pair of socks, the ends woven into Autumn Spice, some major progress on dh's sweater and, yes I started another CAL - a Vintage Motif cardigan with both the Yahoo crochet-a-long gang and Crochetville!

WIP nightmares, part 2 - the sweater

2007-02-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

So in the midst of the socks from hell, I decided I needed some quick satisfaction. I thought I would find it in the form of Autumn Spice. The pattern stitch was open and it looked like this would be a quick & satisfying hooking project. I had some wonderfully soft yarn that I bought off the sale rack at my LYS this summer. Cascade 'Lana de Oro' Tweed - worsted weight - 45% Superfine Alpaca, 45% Peruvuan Highland wool and 10% Donegal (tweed) - 770yd maroon, 110 yd charcoal - I knew what I had was all there was so when I saw the yarn requirements for this sweater I thought it would be the perfect match. The pattern & the yarn just kept calling to me, I couldn't help myself, so I put down the socks and I started. I was crocheting the back panel in medium and what began as a pleasant evening crocheting turned into a frustrating evening of crunching numbers as I tried to figure out the pattern schematics.

This might be one of those cases where someone just thinks about sweater design from a different perspective than I do. Maybe if I followed the pattern exactly as written it would work. But for the life of me I can't see how. I feel like I was trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I like the designers work. I have other patterns of hers I want to try. I'm pretty sure she is a XS and it seems like the pattern wasn't easy to scale up to larger sizes. As I read the pattern, when you get to the XL the front panels together are 7.5in wider than the back... so there'd be a ton of gathering at the shoulders to attach the front panels. In addition, the back but not the front has a cut for set-in sleeves, so either that's a mistake, or the side seam is slightly to the front. I sort of get this, as maybe because the shell pattern is 2.5" the inset for the front and the back is created only in the back, but think about it, this would effectively add yet more width to the front panels and less to the back!! OK, rant over....

So basically, I loved the stitch pattern, and I had this yarn, and I wouldn't back away from the challenge! I ended up making the back panel of the medium and the the front panels of the small (redesigned to include an armhole inset). I based my general measurements on the Drops Cardigan I did for the crochet olympics last year. Then since yarn was limited, I used the gray tweed to edge the sweater body. I wanted to save every available inch of the maroon for the sleeves.

I made and frogged the sleeves a zillion times. They have to be made from the wrist up, I knew I would have to do 3/4 sleeves because of yardage, so I was trying to make tapered sleeves to get a little more length. First I had to design an increase within this shell pattern. After that I started making sleeves. The first try I started too narrow (nice width for wrist, but not for elbow where it ended up...) After several attempts, I figured out how wide to start, and where to increase, and finally I had the sleeves. The tapered sleeves can be seen in this photo of the sleeves laying in place.

Of course I still have to weave the ends in. But in then end I really like my variation of Autumn Spice - although this "quick break from the socks" nearly did me in, I would not be beaten! Now I just those blasted ends to weave themselves in, and the temperature to rise out of the single digits so I can wear it!

WIP nightmares, part 1 - socks

2007-02-05T10:22:00.000-05:00

My ds has been having nightmares lately... I think I have been too, but then again I've been awake. I've been living my nightmare... I've been frogging more than hooking. January was a frustrating month on the crochet front. I'm fairly adept at tweaking patterns to fit, but sometimes it's nice to just crochet what's written and not have to do the math every second. That sounds funny on my blog, 'cause those of you who know me, know that one of the things I love about crochet is the MATH. Yes I admit it, I love math... but I digress, back to crochet and WIPS...

So my 2007 resolution was to finish making my beloved dh his socks - 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) using Patons Kroy Socks in 'Windsor Tweed' with Silja in 'dark charcoal' for contrasting cuff, heel and toe. So I picked them back up where I left off, finished the leg (55 st around using a 3.25mm hook) of the 2nd sock so both were ready to begin the heel. I switched colors and began the short-row heel. Now, probably because it involves math, I actually enjoy making short row heels, and in no time I am about ready to start then increase on the first heel. So picture this... here I am, feeling so proud of my progress, and as we're sitting in front of the TV, I realize my dh has his shoes off, so I try to put the half sock on his foot.... it DOESN'T FIT!! AGH!!! I had taken all the measurements they tell you to take, foot circ, leg circ, foot length etc. Well, I knew dh had a wide foot, what I didn't realize was that while his widest foot circ is 11 inches, he has wide ankles so the circ around the heel/ankle is 14.5" at the widest point. No way can a crocheted sock stretch 3.5". I refused to frog these babies though, I had spent way too much time on them! I figured they would fit me, even if I had to redo the cuff to make it tighter. I spent the rest of the evening re-reading this pattern, all the other patterns in the book and then digging through all my other sock patterns. (It was then that I ran in to the Autumn Spice sweater pattern, but that's another nightmare story!)

It was time to start again. This time, I decided a toe-up sock was the way to go to accommodate EE ankles. I would try them on his feet hourly if we had to! I chose the Southbay CGOA sock using my Addi 3.5mm hook with Silja sock yarn in light gray. So these have been chugging along OK. I just had to stop and check it on his foot every so often. I took them out to 53st from the toe, did 20 rounds even and then began to increase at the top of the foot as the ankle approached. When I was ready for the heel I had 61 st. I just have to stop frequently to check with his foot. Now that I know sock #1 works through the heel, I'm playing catch up with #2. Then I need to see if I did too many decreases after the heel (it still needs to get over that 14.5" stretch!) I love that it's easy to make a custom sock!

In the midst of all this (while I was still chugging away on those first socks for dh) I started another pair of socks as a sock-a-long at crochetsocks. This time they chose M ar di Gras Carnival Sock s, a pattern available at e-pattern central by the same designers as my Crocheted Socks book. Well this one is definitely designed for small feet! More math!! I increased to my usual stitch count for the top cuff and leg, but the stitch pattern just doesn't have much give to it at all. Like another person working on them said, it's a good pattern for elastic sock yarn. I stuck with it to help others through it, but now that most if not all others have finished ot stopped, I'll put it on a back burner. I've done more than this, but not enough to warrant another photo!

So thus is the nightmare sock saga.... two on hold, one moving along slowly but steadily with lots of measurements and adjusting.... maybe I need to go make a sweater!

Drawstring Backpack purse - pattern modifications

2007-01-11T16:27:00.000-05:00

I made this purse for a niece for Christmas. I found this Backpack pattern that seemed like a smaller version of what I wanted, but the pattern directions left me baffled - definitely an editorial snafu there. So I decided to make a similar backpack based on this Drawstring Purse pattern. I used Sugar 'N Cream cotton yarn in navy, and my Addi 4.5mm G hook.

My changes from this Drawstring Purse pattern:
1. I did 8 rounds of increases instead of 6 (rounds 1, 8 were sc, rounds 2-7 were dc so I had 84 sc per round when I finished the bottom of the bag.
2. I crocheted 20 rounds of hdc before beginning the drawstring round.
3. The drawstring round and final 3 rounds were as written.
4. I based the one piece drawstring/backpack strap on the "Alternate look" described on the Backpack pattern - I made a chain about 36" long and then did 4 rows of hdc. Then I laced it through the spaces in the drawstring round and sewed the straps to the base of the bag (at row 8).

I did this in the round, joining each round as called for... if I were to do it again I would spiral the bag for a neater (no traveling seam) look.

December progress report

2007-01-10T13:24:00.000-05:00

I never actually posted a challenge for what I wanted to do in December. I was too busy trying to get it (and everything else) done! Now, looking back, I'm trying to remember.....

1. Peter's Jacob sweater - a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long using RH Medium Spruce. This was finally officially started on 10/25. I started it on 12/2. I'm making it for my dh, Bob. I actually did make some progress, although I haven't touched it in weeks... more on why in a minute. The pattern is fun to do and once you get the rhythym going you can really fly on it. Status = 20% complete.

2. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - In an attempt to appease my dh (and because I really want to make these for him, but don't tell!), I actually worked a bit on his socks using my 3.25mm Addi E hook and Patons Kroy Socks in 'Windsor Tweed' with Silja in 'dark charcoal' for contrasting cuff, heel and toe. I'm ready for the heel on the first sock and have a few more rows 'to heel' for the 2nd sock, so I'm getting there! Status = 40% complete.

3. Drawstring backpack purse - I made this for an 11.5 yo niece. I made her sisters Dot's little ditty bags for their b-rthdays in October and wanted to give her something. It's made with Sugar & Cream cotton in Navy and a 4.5mm hook. I'll blog the pattern changes (a few, as always), but it was based on a combination of these 2 patterns here and here. I think she liked it! This photo shows it being "modeled by" my 4.5yo dd. Status = 100% complete.

4-5. Dot's little ditty bags - I made two of these while traveling to NY after Xmas. I planned on giving them to our 8yo and 10yo nieces. Of course I left them at my MIL's house the day we saw them so I mailed them to the sisters after we came home with appropriate "girl stuff" inside. I used RH 'Windsor Blue' and 'Lavendar' with a 5.0mm H hook. Status = 100% complete.

6. Colinette afghan kit - My dh gave this to me for my birthday last summer. I actually stopped crocheting his socks to work on this because he's the kind of guy who really wants to see that you liked his gift. Of course I did!! What hooker wouldn't like to work with this amazing fiber! It was just a tad hot in July for all this wool and mohair. Anyway, I finished crocheting it!! Now I just have to deal with those blasted ends!! Status = 99% complete.

So that's December... I feel a 2007 WIP explosion coming...

October & November report!

2006-12-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

Somehow with Halloween, my son's birthday and Thanksgiving I never posted a report for October - so instead here's a 2 month progress report...

My plan for October was to "whip some WIPs" and start some new CALs. These included 3 WIPs (Floral Fantasy Pullover CAL, Tennis Sock CAL, and Colinette afghan kit) and 2 new CALs (Felted Memo Bag CAL with crochet challenge and Jacob's sweater CAL with crochet-a-long) and if possible to start on vests for the kids.

My plan for November was to "whip the WIPs" I never got to in October and start some the CALs that I never started. These included 2 WIPs (Floral Fantasy Pullover CAL, Colinette afghan kit, and dh's socks) and Jacob's sweater CAL with crochet-a-long (start date 10/25, LOL!)

So here's what really happened:

1. The Floral Fantasy Pullover CAL at Crochetville began October looking like this. By months end it looked like this but then remained unassembled for several weeks. Finally in a post-Thanksgiving push, I finished my version, complete with all the usual pattern modifications. My dd has already claimed the unused collar as a scarf! Status = 100% complete.

2. Tennis Sock CAL - I have no motivation for summer socks right now. Officially shoved to UFO status until Spring.

3. Colinette afghan kit - I did manage to get a few more rows in on this one. New photos will appear soon. Status = 35% complete.

4. Felted memo bag - Yahoo crochetchallenge bag CAL. I grabbed a hook and began this on 10/16 using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Hyacinth, Hollyberry and Fog, and a K hook. Here it is as a new WIP, again crocheted but not sewn, and finally pre- and post-felting. All done in about a week in October! It still needs the strap added. Status = 99% complete.

5. Peter's Jacob sweater - a CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long using RH Medium Spruce. This was finally officially started on 10/25. I started it on 12/2.

Sidetracks in October included
6. Dot's little ditty bags - I started these on a whim for my twin 9yo nieces birthday , and sent them off with appropriate "9yo girl stuff" inside them. I used RH 'Dark orchid' and 'Light Fuschia' with a 5.0mm H hook. Status = 100% complete.

7. Fur-trimmed poncho and beret - I made these two sets for a friend of my dd and her big sister. Status = 100% complete.

8. Pink perfection vest - except Abby chose white. I started this in mid-October and finished it within the week. Status = 100% complete.

9. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - In an attempt to appease my dh (and because I really want to make these for him, but don't tell!), I started his socks using my 3.25mm Addi E hook and Patons Kroy Socks in 'Windsor Tweed' with Silja in 'dark charcoal' for contrasting cuff, heel and toe. Status = 25% complete.

Sidetracks in November included three more projects:
10. Baby It's Cold Outside - another Crochetville CAL enveloped me...that and Abby needed a fall jacket! I had some Antique Homespun and a skein of beautiful dark silver gray Simply Soft for trim. So it was a stashbuster finished in just a few days!! Status = 100% complete.

11. Fall into Fall Vest - from Kimane designs for Alex using Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage. I started this in early November and finished it within the month, not quite in time for his birthday, but almost. Status = 100% complete.

12. Prayer/Healing Shawl - an impromptu stashbuster (Barrington Homespun - leftover from the ponchos) for my ds' teacher's aide who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I used this Lion Brand pattern (made in one direction though, not out from the center in 2 directions). I was in such a rush to give it to her, I forgot to take a picture... oops! Status = 100% complete.

All in all, a prodcutive two months!

Westminster fibers: more yarn!!

2006-12-01T23:46:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a post from Nancy at Crochet Partners I heard about this fantastic yarn sale at Westminster Fibers. They are the distributors for Gedifra, Jaeger, Rowan & Nashua Handknits yarns. Apparently they are closing the NH warehouse and moving to North Carolina. According to them this was a sale not to be repeated, ever. It was amazing. I didn't have as much of a plan in my head as I did for the JCA yarn sale, thus I'm actually thinking I may not have purchased enough yardage of certain yarns for adult sweater projects. This of course would mean my kids get more things! (Since all but one are machine washable, it's certainly possible). Anyway, here's the loot...

Schachenmayr nomotta 'Micro' - 100% microfiber, 160 yd/50g, 6st/inch. I have 10 skeins (1600 yds) of this pretty blue multi. It looks like 3 ply twist of light, medium & dark blue. I currently have no thoughts for this sportweight yarn, just couldn't resist it at $1/skein.

Jaeger 'Aqua' - 100% mercerized cotton, 115yd/50g, 5.5st/inch, $1.50/skein. I have 20 skeins (2300 yds) of this soft navy cotton. My first thought is some version of the the Sassy Shells Tank from Crochet Magazine July 2006 issue.

Gedifra 'Cotton Merino' - 52% Merino wool, 48% cotton, 110yd/50g, 4.25st/inch. This pretty purple yarn (top in photo) was so soft I just had to buy 20 skeins (2200 yds) and at $1/skein it didn't even hurt a bit! One possibility is Crochet Me Purple Haze, but this calls for DK, so I'll have to check guage etc.

Gedifra 'Wellness' - 60% cotton, 40% acrylic, 121yd/50g, 4.5st/inch, $1.50/skein. I have 10 skeins each (1210 yds) of 2 colorways (white and a pale dusty rose) of this soft cotton yarn (center in photo). These are most likely headed toward some more summer tops... yet to be determined. I think I'll have to go search out some more Drops Tops! With the limited yardage, however, I may consider some sort of spring cardigan for Abby instead.

Gedifra 'Florida' - 50% cotton, 50% acrylic, 143yd/50g, 6st/inch, $1/skein. I have 10 skeins (1430 yds) of this darker, dusty rose yarn. It is also wonderfully soft, and is itching to become something..... maybe some sort of spring cardigan for me...

Classic Yarn 'Soft Tweed' - 56% wool, 20% viscose, 14% polyamide, 10% silk, 87yd/50g, 3st/inch, $1/skein. I have 10 skeins (870 yds) of this luscious yarn in a purple/white tweed (top left). I grabbed it at last minute, when I touched it and decided it was a steal that was calling to me for Abby. Of course it is the one yarn that's not machine washable! Nonetheless, I see a warm sweater in her future...perhaps a few sizes up when she wears less of her food!

Rowan '4 ply soft' - 100% Merino wool 191yd/50g, 7st/inch, $2/skein. I have 20 skeins (3820 yds) of this beautiful light blue fingering weight yarn (top right). It is incredibly soft, and I think will surplant previous yarn possibilities and become that Spring Green cardigan from Annie's Attic also called Lacy Diamonds. That would take 2400 yds. That leaves another 1400 yds for a kid-sized vest or sweater.

Regia '6 ply Tweed' - 70% wool, 25% polyamide, 5% viscose, 137yd/50g, 5.5st/inch, $1.5/skein. I have 10 skeins (1370 yds) each of the green tweed and the grey tweed (bottom left and center). I grabbed this yarn thinking it was thin sock yarn, and while it could be used for heavy socks, it's not fingering weight yarn. So... now I'm thinking it could be used for some vests or sweaters in Jenny King's For the Boyz pattern booklet.

Jaeger 'Matchmaker Merino DK' - 100% Merino wool, 131yd/50g, 5.5st/inch, $1.75/skein. I have 10 skeins (1310 yds) of this muted olive green yarn (bottom right). I think there will be enough to make a vest for my dh from Jenny King's For the Boyz pattern booklet.

So there it is, all 18690 yds of it! Oh yeah one more thing... another book for the shelf! I own her 2nd Aran sweater book, but I didn't have the first. Now I do!

FO: Floral Fantasy Pullover

2006-12-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

The Floral Fantasy Pullover is a CAL at Crochetville. I definitely tweaked this pattern a bit by the time I had finished it. I changed the yarn, the hook size, the method of joining motifs, and the edging stitch. I ended up dropping the flared sleeves (no motif B) and skipping the collar entirely.
Yarn & Hook: I used 2 strands of Sirdar Salsa DK - a merino wool/acrylic blend, in place of the super bulky mohair/acrylic blend, with a 7.00mm hook. The sweater is made with motifs to be joined at the end. The super bulky recommended yarn makes a 7.5" Motif A with a J hook. Using a K hook (which actually measures 7.0mm) I was able to get the square to just over 7.25". I decided to go with that and use the shoulder and side gussets of the large size (instead of medium).
Joining: As someone at the 'ville suggested, I used a "join-as-you-go" method for assembling these motifs - anything to decrease the number of ends is a good thing!
Edging: With my 2 strands of yarn the 5 dc scallop edging was just too heavy and forced the sleeves (even without the larger motif B) to flare too much for my liking. Instead I simply put 3 sc in each loop to add a little weight to the sleeve ends and sweater bottom edge.
Sleeves: I used 2 motif A instead of the larger motif B at the end of each sleeve. I also modified the underarm gusset so that I began it at the middle of the 2nd motif, crocheted toward the underarm (joining to the side gusset), turned and then crocheted a 2nd sleeve gusset row from the underarm toward the cuff. On the 2nd side of the sleeve, I used this 2nd sleeve gusset row to seam the sleeve.
Collar: Try as I may I just couldn't get 4 motifs (particularly my slightly smaller motifs) to form a collar and lay nicely as the picture shows. I decided to just leave off the collar and added a few rows of arch stitch to tighten up the neck opening. I realize now that I didn't put the edging on the collar. I think it would be too heavy.
In the end this sweater fits a bit too tightly on me for my liking. In 2006 I regained about 15 of the 50 lbs I lost in 2005. I'll model it after I lose that 15!

Fall into Fall vest

2006-11-25T18:06:00.000-05:00

I just finished my son's vest - not quite in time for his 7th birthday, but better late than never. I love the pattern, which is not surprising because the designer writes wonderful patterns. (Hi Kim!!) The pattern is Fall into Fall vest from Kimane Designs. I used my Brittany 5.5mm I and 5.0mm H hooks and about 10 oz Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage (about 1/3 of 2nd skein remains). For those of you who pay attention to these things, yes this is the same yarn I used to make my Jiffy Jacket AND it's the same designer! I still have another 6 skeins of this yarn left so look for it to appear on some other wearable in the future! It's a tad big on him - I always forget he's not currently expressing my family's "tall" gene - maybe he will someday! I made the small 6X/7 size so he can grow into it. The XS 4/5 would probably have fit him now but not next year. The good news is he loves it. I think I'll make the pullover vest I plan to make him a tad smaller.

Newborn BICO with Baby Yarn

2006-11-15T13:05:00.000-05:00

Baby It's Cold Outside is another Crochetville CAL that I joined. This pattern is written for 6 or 12 months using bulky yarn. The pattern copyright allows for derivative works as long as credit is given back to Julie Holetz, the original designer.

That said, unlike the size 6 jacket I made, this is a theoretical pattern! I have NOT crocheted it. I wrote it up to help a villager who wanted to use baby yarn.

Her gauge: 36st = 8 in; 4 rows = 1.5 in.

For a newborn, I wrote this so the finished garment would have the following dimensions
Length: 8.5" (top of shoulder to bottom edge)
Sleeve length: 6" (from sweater body to wrist)
Sleeve circumference: 7" (flattened sleeve is 3.5" wide)
Body length: 5" (before sleeves begin)
Width: 9.5" (so chest = 19")
Neck opening: 3.5" (should be about 1/3 of width)

Pattern modifications:
Ch 43
Row 1: as written - 42 hdc (chain for desired width, here ~9.5")
Rows 2-13: as written for rows 2-9 - 42 hdc
Row 14: as written for row 10 - 42 hdc (here 15 rows should the desired body length of ~5")
Row 15: Adding sleeves (use chain number to achieve desired sleeve length, here 6") - ch 27 , follow row 11 as written, ignoring chain numbers, ch 28 (one more chain than other side)
Row 16: as written for row 12 - 94 hdc
Rows 17-25: as written for rows 13-19 - 94 hdc, until garment measured ~8.5"
Row 26 (WS): Creating the neck opening - Hdc for 39 st, Sl st in 16 st, hdc for 39 st (you should hdc for the sleeve length plus 1/3 of your back width, sl st for 1/3 back width, then hdc for the sleeve length plus 1/3 of your back width)
Rows 27-30: similar to rows 21-22; hdc across 39 hdc. (this is making the sleeve + shoulder area - the number of rows should give you the desired length of neck opening - here rows 26-31 should give me about 2.25in - if you think the neck opening is big enough after row 28, then add the chain 16 at row 29 instead of row 31 and continue with 53 hdc through row 35)
Row 31: similar to row 23 - adding chain for right front panel. Hdc across 39 st, ch 16 (chain number should be the number of stitches you sl st in for the neck)
Row 32: as written for row 24 - 53 hdc.
Rows 33-35: as written for rows 25-27 - 53 hdc. (ends right sleeve)
Rows 36: as written for row 28 - 27 hdc.
Rows 37-50: as written for rows 29-38 - 27 hdc. (fasten off when "front" side = 8.5")

Pick up for left sleeve (and shoulder) -
Row 1: as written for row 1 - 39 hdc.
Row 2-4: as written for row 2 - 39 hdc. (again if you think the neck opening is big enough after row 2, then add the ch 9 at row 3 instead of row 5 and continue with 47 hdc through row 9)
Row 5 : as written for row 3, except ch 9. (shoulder completed, ch to add left front panel)
Row 6: as written for row 4 - 47 hdc.
Rows 7-9: as written for rows 5-7 - 47 hdc. (left sleeve finished)
Row 10: as written for row 8 except hdc in first 21 st (half the width of your back)
Rows 11-24: as written for rows 9-18 - 21 hdc (fasten off when "front" side = 8.5").

BICO - size 6 sweater jacket

2006-11-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Baby It's Cold Outside is another Crochetville CAL that I began on a whim as a stashbuster...that and Abby needed a fall jacket! I had some Antique Homespun and a skein of beautiful dark silver gray Simply Soft for trim. I used a K hook that is closer to 7.0mm than 6.5mm, roughly 2.75 skeins of Homespun and a bit of Caron Simply Soft (single strand with K hook) for the edging.

The pattern is for 6-12 months, it was fairly easy to modify, but it took a little bit of attention when crocheting as I was modifying it on the fly. I made this for my 4.5 yo dd, who wears mostly size 5 now, but I wanted this to be a sweater jacket. I looked a a bunch of loose fitting sweater patterns and made what I thought would be a roomy size 6. I made the neck too big and modified it after the fact (homespun is forgiving). The pattern I have written corrects the neck size.

My finished garment has the following dimensions (including 0.5" edging on length measurements):
Length: 17.5" (top of shoulder to bottom edge)
Sleeve length: 12.5" (from sweater body to wrist)
Sleeve circumference: 10" (flattened sleeve is 5" wide)
Body length: 12.5" (before sleeves began)
Width: 16" (so chest = 32", with bulk yarn though)
Neck opening: 5" (should be about 1/3 of width)

My gauge with Homespun matched the pattern as written.

Pattern modifications:
Ch 41
Row 1: as written - 40 hdc (chain for desired width, here 16")
Rows 2-21: as written for rows 2-9 - 40 hdc
Row 22: as written for row 10 - 40 hdc (here 23 rows gives the desired body length of 12" - garment length minus sleeve width)
Row 23: Adding sleeves (use chain number to achieve desired sleeve length, here 12") - ch 30 , follow row 11 as written (ignoring chain numbers), ch 31 (one more chain than other side)
Row 24: as written for row 12 - 100 hdc
Rows 25-37: as written for rows 13-19, until garment measured 17" - 40hdc (here this gives you the total garment length and the sleeve width)
Row 38 (WS): Hdc for 43st, Sl st in 14st, hdc for 43 st (you should hdc for the sleeve length plus 1/3 of your back width, sl st for 1/3 back width, then hdc for the sleeve length plus 1/3 of your back width)
Rows 39-42: similar to rows 21-22; hdc across 43 hdc. (this is making the sleeve + shoulder area - the number of rows should give you the desired length of neck opening - here rows 38-43 give me about 2.5in)
Row 43: similar to row 23 - adding chain for right front panel. Hdc across, ch 16 (chain number minus 2 should be the number of stitches you sl st in for the neck)
Row 44: as written for row 24 - 57 hdc.
Rows 45-51: as written for rows 25-27 - 57 hdc. (ends right sleeve)
Rows 52: as written for row 28 - 27 hdc.
Rows 53-74: as written for rows 29-38 - 27 hdc. (fasten off when "front" side = 17")

Pick up for left sleeve (and shoulder) - with homespun, the RS-WS pattern is not apparent, so I followed the pattern instructions - if I were to use ww yarn, I would follow the RS-WS pattern and use a chainless foundation when adding the sleeve

Row 1: as written for row 1 - 43 hdc.
Row 2-4: as written for row 2 - 43 hdc.
Row 5 : as written for row 3, except ch 9. (shoulder completed, ch to add left front panel)
Row 6: as written for row 4 - 50 hdc.
Rows 7-13: as written for rows 5-7 - 50 hdc. (left sleeve finished)
Row14: as written for row 8 except hdc in first 20 st (half the width of your back)
Rows 15-36: as written for rows 9-18 - 20 hdc (fasten off when "front" side = 17").

WIP explosion... again

2006-11-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

I haven't even started the "scheduled" CALs because I've been sidetracked off my sidetracks...yes I'm that confused! I had another WIP explosion the last week in October so here's the WIP status report...

First old WIPs:
1. Floral Fantasy Pullover - progress = 90%. This CAL at Crochetville is STILL all laid out waiting for me to attach the sleeves, add underarm gussets, attach the neck and crochet the trim.

2. Tennis Socks - progress = 25%. Sock CAL at crochetsocks. No motivation - it's a summer sock.

3. Colinette yarns afghan kit - progress = 30%. 5 rows more than this photo, but untouched for too long.

4. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - the long awaited socks for my dh were begun...

New WIPS:
1. Baby It's Cold Outside - another Crochetville CAL enveloped me...that and Abby needed a fall jacket! I had some Antique Homespun and a skein of beautiful dark silver gray Simply Soft for trim. So it was a stashbuster!!

2. Fall into Fall Vest - Kimane designs for Alex. I have a few inches done, but need to frog it, I forget how little my ds is. I shouldn't "upsize" for him like I do for my dd.

3. Prayer/Healing Shawl - an impromptu stashbuster (Barrington Homespun - leftover from the ponchos) for my ds' teacher's aide who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

FO: Pink (White) Perfection Vest

2006-10-25T15:04:00.000-05:00

Abby's newest piece of clothing is done! This is a white version of Pink perfection vest. I used Caron Simply Soft and my Brittany 5.5mm I hook to get gauge on the pattern stitch. For the buttonhole edging, I used my Addi 4.5mm G hook. I love the way the vest is worked in one piece up to the armholes. I found these cute purple flower buttons (5 for a dollar) at the checkout at the huge yarn sale last week. My only pattern modification is that I did 5 rows instead of 3 for the button hole edging, with the button holes in row 4. I made size 6. It seems a little long, but Abby is tall and always growing!

Felted memo bag - all but strap

2006-10-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

This is the Felted memo bag I made as a CAL at Yahoo crochetchallenge using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Hyacinth, Hollyberry and Fog, and a 7.00mm hook.

Pattern modifications: I tried to add side panels to the bag by adding 11 st to each side of the front panel. This necessitated adding a base as long as the width of the side panels. You can see the bag unassembled here. I felted this 2 nights ago, but blogger wouldn't let me post..wah! So today, here it is before & after felting. Oh yeah, someone asked on the pre-felting post about dimensions. So, here's that info as well. Dimensions are in inches (H x W x D)

Before:

bag (13 x 15.75 x 4),

flap (15 x 10) .

After:

bag (9 x 9.75 x 2.75),

flap (9.75 x 8).
.

I still can't decide whether I want to try a felted strap or whether I'll use the leather strapping I have and make a thicker version of the strap I used on my well traveled bag.

WIP update: felted memo bag

2006-10-21T14:05:00.000-05:00

Progress feels good! I'm almost ready to felt! This is the Felted memo bag I'm making as a CAL at Yahoo crochetchallenge using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Hyacinth, Hollyberry and Fog, and a K hook (closer to 7.0mm than 6.5mm). I still need to sew the side seams and attach the D rings and then it's time to felt. I'm considering at crocheted/felted strap, so I might try to make that before I felt. Here are a few pre-felting photos. This is the bag opened up. I tried to add side panels to the bag by adding 11 st to each side of the front panel. The Fog rectangle will be the base of the bag. I ran out of blue (Hyacinth) after I finished the back so the chevron flap is just the Fog & Hollyberry.
Here's the bag as it will be assembled with flap open and closed.

Yarn score & new ideas

2006-10-19T23:02:00.000-05:00

Wow! Shopping at JCA was amazing! Thank you to Carol from CP for bringing me as her guest! I just calculated....22,334 yds of yarn including wool, angora and cotton. I'll start with the wool.

Reynolds 'Lopi' - 100% Icelandic wool, 110yd/100g, 3.5st/inch. I have 20 skeins (2200 yds) of this pretty red/white blend. It's a bulky yarn, so now I'm in search of an interesting sweater pattern for myself. Drops 97-1 is one thought.
Grignasco 'Australia' - 100% pure virgin wool, 95yd/50g, 4.25st/inch. I have 20 skeins (1900 yds) of this wonderfully soft wedgewood blue. Drops 97-6 is a possibility.

I couldn't resist these 1 kilo cones of Reynolds 'Devotion'. There were no labels, but according to yarndex this yarn is 51% Angora, 49% Nylon, 93 yds/50g, 4st/inch. In theory I should have 1860 yds of each color!! I'm pretty sure the black is heading toward the Robyn Chachula's Kimono sweater (scroll down) in "Not Your Mama's Crochet". The other two haven't yet spoken to me... although some of the blue could become Robyn Chachula's Spider shrug. I'm kind of hooked on her patterns as of late!

Reynolds 'Gypsy' - 100% cotton, 82yds/50g, 5st/inch. I have 12 skeins (984 yds) of the pale blue, 14 skeins (1128 yds) of the pale green and 30 skeins (2760 yds)of the ocean blue. The pale blue hasn't found it's voice, but the pale green is heading towards the Must Have Blouse from "24hr Crochet Projects", and the 'ocean blue' was calling to me across the sale floor, "Twyla, Twyla, Twyla".

Grignasco 'EURO' - 100% mercerized cotton, 612yd/200g, 7-7.5st/inch. I have 6 balls (3672 yd) of this bright teal green yarn - essentially a fingering weight, I believe. Remember that Spring Green cardigan from Annie's Attic? They call it Lacy Diamonds now. That would take 2400 yds.
Reynolds 'Madrigal ~ a speckled soft cotton' - 88% cotton, 12% nylon, 118yd/50g, 5st/inch. I have 20 skeins (2360 yds) of this almost tweedy yarn - it looks like a natural with a thin line of dark brown. This was purchased specifically for a new Drops pattern I love - Drops 89-15 - I'll probably skip the collar.
Reynolds 'Saucy Swirl' - 100% mercerized cotton, 185yd/100g, 5st/inch. I have 10 skeins (1850 yd) of this variegated dark pink, light pink, white & gray yarn. This had Abby's name written all over it. Drops s8-12 could use about half the yarn.

WIP explosion!

2006-10-18T09:40:00.000-05:00

Last night I had a WIP explosion. I finished the last "join-as-you go" motif on a sweater and didn't feel like beginning the final assembly process...so instead I started 3 new projects! (message to dh: yes your socks were included in this explosion!)

First old WIP progress:
1. Floral Fantasy Pullover - progress = 90%. This is a CAL at Crochetville. Here it is all laid out. I put a white shirt inside so you can see it better. I need to attach the sleeves, add underarm gussets, attach the neck and crochet the trim.
2. Tennis Socks - progress = 25%. Sock CAL at crochetsocks. No motivation - it's a summer sock.
3. Colinette yarns afghan kit - progress = 30%. 5 rows more than this photo.

New WIPS:
1. Felted memo bag - Yahoo crochetchallenge bag CAL. I grabbed a hook and started last night. I'm using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Hyacinth, Hollyberry and Fog, and a K hook (closer to 7.0mm than 6.5mm). I decided the pattern would be too flat for my purposes so I added 11 st more on each side to make side flaps. I'll cut back to the original width after I finish the front panel, crochet the bottom and then continue the back panel to match the stripes from the front. Hopefully it will work.
2. Pink perfection vest - except Abby chose white. I'm using Caron Simply Soft mill ends anf my Brittany 5.5mm I hook to get gauge. I like that the vest is worked in one piece up to the armholes.
3. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!) - In case you haven't noticed my dh has been mounting a write-in campaign in an attempt to solicit your help to convince me to make his socks!! So I started his socks last night... see dear! I'm using my 3.25mm Addi E hook and Patons Kroy Socks in 'Windsor Tweed' with Silja in 'dark charcoal' for contrasting cuff, heel and toe. They're supposed to have a slst BLO cuff, but that drove me batty last night so I restarted with a sc BLO cuff.