Not Just Twiddling My Thumbs....

Really I haven’t been just sitting around watching Frank do work around my moms house. I finished a shawl got it in the mail, and oops, forgot to take a picture of it! Dang. With the leftover yarn I made a little hat for Riley, I sure hope it fits……


I’ve been practicing my knitting, if you can call it knitting. I only can do the knit stitch, I’m totally baffled by the purl stitch. I’ll have to have Ruth show me when I see her next, but I do need more practice doing the knit stitch, so I’ll keep at it.
How does it look bh?

Then I started a baby blanket, the pattern is out of the Happy Hooker Crochet book. In the book it is a small blanket for the car seat, but I wanted it for a crib size and I’ve probably managed to even get it bigger then that. I could run the stripes the long way though, so I’ll consider doing that. The colors remind me of that Brachs candy with the coconut.

Stocking Cap

Being on the Ferry to Washington with another crocheter, I learned how to make a simple stocking cap. Instead of crocheting in the round, you make a chain of 25 or so and then just single crochet back and forth in the back loop only. It looks a lot like you are making a scarf, but when it gets to the length to wrap around a head you slip stitch the ends together. Weave a double length of yard in and out of one end, pull tight, tie and you have a stocking cap with a different look.
I like it better with the edge rolled up, but the wind was really blowing so we wanted my grandson to keep his ears covered. I didn't add the pom pom that was recommended for the top either.

More Fingerless Gloves

I made these on the ferry ride down from Juneau. I like all of the colors, I think I'm going to have to make myself a pair when I find some green yarn to match my coat. I had picked up this yarn at Walmart, they only had one skein, so I'll have to look for more down here.

The Cassia Scarf

I made this Cassia scarf from A slice of Life blog, in some red yarn I had leftover from something....but I love this pattern. It works up easy and fast. Of course I changed it a little, I didn't make it as wide as the original and I didn't read the directions all the way through, oops, so I didn't start again from the middle and work the other end, so both ends would be the same.

I'm making another one in some green mohair that I have, this one I will work from the center to ends so they will both match. I think this would look great in a shawl too.

Arachne's Tears Scarf

I've been getting Interweave Crochet magazine in the mail for almost a year now, and this is the first thing I've made from one of them. This scarf was in the spring 2008 issue. I've really enjoyed the magazine, it really inspires me, don't know why I haven't made anything until now.............but this scarf is very simple, with a simple design, sometimes less is more.............
I didn't sew the beads on it like in the magazine, mainly because I have none, and where would I buy some here. I think I am actually going to keep this one for myself, and I might even wear it!

Cable Slippers

This is the first time I've ever written a pattern (pictures included, they always help me when I am learning something new) for anyone but myself. That takes time to write those! If anyone would like to try it out and give me feedback, I would really appreciate it.
Womens size 7 1/2 -8
Size J hook, red heart super saver yarn

Sole: Chain 21, sc down and around chain to beginning, keep working around for 7-9 rows (or to get to desired size) Adding and extra 1-3 sc’s on each end to keep it flat. If sole ends up too wide and too short for your foot, start over with a longer chain. I cut out and sew a fleece bottom to the inside (wrong side) of sole. If you do, make sure you leave the last row of stitches open.


Top (working from the top of the toes up):
Row 1: Chain 14, dc in 4th chain from end (this counts as 1st dc), and in every chain, for 12 dc’s across. Chain 3, turn.
Row 2: fpdc (front post double crochet) in next 3 dc’s, bpdc (back post double crochet) in next 4 dc’s, fpdc in last 4 dc’s. Chain 3, turn.
Row 3: bpdc in next 3 dc’s, skip next 2 dc’s and fpdc in 3rd and 4th dc, then go back and fpdc in 1st and 2nd dc’s that were skipped. Bpdc in last 4 dc’s. Chain 3, turn.
Row 4: fpdc in next 3 dc’s, bpdc in next 4 dc’s (these will be scrunched together due to the cross over, just separated them to find the right ones), fpdc in last 4 dc’s.
Row 5: bpdc in next 3 dc’s, fpdc in next 4 dc’s, bpdc in last 4 dc’s. Chain 3, turn.
Row 6: Repeat row 4
Row 7: Repeat row 3
Row 8: Repeat row 4
Row 9: Repeat row 5
Row 10: Repeat row 4
Row 11: Repeat row 3
Row 12: Repeat row 4
This completes the top, do not end.

Sides and heal:
Chain 22 and attach to other side of top with slip stitch, opposite of beginning of chain. (lengthen or shorten chain according to fit).
Row 1: With front side facing you, sc down top and all the way around (including chain) putting 2 sc’s in corners of toes. ( I ended up with about 20 sc’s on each side, not counting the heel). Slip stitch when you get to beginning. Chain one.

Row 2-3: sc all the way around in back sc only.

Check here for fit against the sole for fit. Mine were a little big so on the 4th row I decreased sc’s, about 1 per side. After the 4th row you can end or make a big loop and start from there when you secure to sole.

Attach to Sole:

Pin top to sole, wrong sides together, starting with a pin at the toes and heel to make it even. Slip stitch around. You can end here or add a cuff.

Cuff:

Attach yarn where the heel and top join.
Sc around back of heel in back stitches only, work around back of heel to top (do not work across the top yet), slip stitch into top, chain one, turn and sc back along heel in back stitch only, this time go all the way around across the top, ending where you started. Chain 2 (turn ?) This is a good time to try on and see if the heel is too loose)

Working back across the top (clockwise) dc in all the sc’s (decrease in heel if needed) all the way around, you want an even number of dc’s. I decrease randomly until I have 30 all the way around. Join at the top of your chain 2 with slip stitch. Chain 2 (counts as your 1st dc)

Row 2: fpdc in next dc, bpdc in next dc, fpdc in next dc, switching back and forth all the way around. Join with slip stitch. Chain 2.

Row 3: fpdc in next fpdc, bpdc in next, etc, working your way around so you have the front posts in the front posts and back posts in the back posts. Slip stitch to join.

Don't forget to add some "no slip" on the bottoms. I use that rubber stuff from craft, and just cut out any shape and hand sew it on.

Swirly Hats

It has been doing nothing but raining for weeks now, so I've been doing nothing but crocheting! I was working on slippers when an idea came into my head for some hats with fun fur. I wanted to make a hat for my great nephew who will be 2 years old in November. I love the swirl pattern, and thought that would be really cute on little kids' heads. Here's what I came up with:



It's a good way to use up fun fur when you are tired of making slippers!

Look! No Fingers!

I was messing around with the Tunisian (afghan) stitch and came up with these using the lace stitch. Even though they aren't something I would wear, they are pretty comfy. They don't take much yarn so it's a good way to burn up some of my leftovers in my stash.

ooooh, I still love my wedding rings too :) But I was trying to show the pattern better, more then my ring!

What the...............

So I ended up taking out the last row and just doing the ruffle edge, I can tell, which of course bugs the crap out of me...............but will a non-crocheter know?


I keep thinking I should do "something" of my own. I always have ideas in my head, so why not try it. I found this yarn at the thrift store and it is so soft. There were 2 skeins so I thought for sure I'd have enough. I really like how the Luna Scarf is made from the middle out, so thought I would do the same for this scarf. One side took one skein, so why wouldn't I have enough for both sides?


There isn't enough yarn to do the ruffley thing on the edge, so a couple of solutions: Frank said to leave it as it is........uuuuh no, could take out that last row then put the ruffley edge on, then just give it away (Autumn always likes my stuff), or just take it out and make a hat out of it. Any ideas?

The Luna Scarf

I got this pattern off of Craftster. It's easy and fast to do, plus it looks great. I made a few changes (always) but still like the results. I'll probably put them in the Christmas bazaar I'm going to be doing in November when I'm in Washington. Last year they had this great Alpaca yarn that for some reason I didn't buy any of, maybe I'll make enough from my sales that I "won't not" buy any this year.


I'm thinking red would be nice too............I'll have to dig though my stash.

Finally finished something

Guess I haven't posted in a while, ah, that is because I haven't had time to make anything! I started this purse for Mikayla thinking I would work on it all summer and have it finished in no time. Well I finally got it finished, and that is because I wanted to take it with me this week-end. Hope she likes it:

Yet more purses!

I managed to finish a few more purses, but I'm thinking these will be my last for a while this summer. I saw a purse shaped like this a couple of weeks ago, and loved it, so adapted it to my ties. I really like the green one. I'm trying to finish up the purse I crocheted for Franks daughters birthday, it's just waiting for Frank to make the handles.

Tank Top

It fits! Here it is all done and modeled......
I'm surprised I had any time to crochet since our summer season is really picking up, but I did manage to make this tank top for a personal swap on craftster. My swap partner picked out the pattern and I made it with some yarn that was included in some yarn I had ordered a while back.At first I was all worried that I would run out of yarn and that would be the end of it. I sure hope it fits her, I think it would have been better to have her close enough to try it on from time to time to make sure. The pattern is called the "cowgirl tank top" from DIY. Front, pictures don't do it justice. It's made to be form fitting.
Back, maybe I'll be able to get my swap partner to send a picture with it on.....if it fits!

Market bag

Finished this bag for Stephanie's bridal shower, since they'll be living in Seattle, I thought she should have one, can't use plastic in Seattle! But I'm really hoping the straps don't stretch too much! I hope she can get some use out of it.

Childrens Washcloths

I saw some knitted lion washcloths on crafters the other day and wanted to try and crochet them. This is my version:
I'd like to make a few more, but I will do the face a little different, more embroidery on them. I like that they are little too, for little hands.

Favorite Tie Purse So Far.....

I just finished this purse today, I love how it came out, it's going to be another one that I hate to get rid of.................but I really will hardly ever use it, so I'll send it to WA, see if it will sell. Maybe my friend Zonia will want to keep this one for herself.

On the bottom under the points I put ties going the other direction, I didn't want there to be a seem across the ties so I attached them to the liner.

On the inside I made a couple of pockets from one of the left over ties.

First pair of socks?

They're supposed to be socks anyway! I followed the directions and it said to go all the way to the middle of the heel before making the space for the heel, when I make them again, I will go to where my heel starts and add the space there. I think these would fit someone with a size 10 foot better. Plus I was thinking this yarn would be thin enough for socks but now that they are done I think I need even thinner yarn, these are more like slipper socks. Oh well............

Slippers

I ran out of the fun fur yarn when I was making these slippers. Thanks to my sister and my friend Zonia, now I have enough for a couple more pairs! I think these are such cute kids slippers.

Potholders in the round

I saw this the the latest Crochet magazine, I was using this in another project and thought they would make cute potholders. I think I'll add them to the wedding present for next week-end. Simple easy and cute!

Personal swap

I just got this magazine holder today in the mail from a personal swap. She got some of my coasters. I like how it has "his" and "hers" spots for magazines! Frank has decided it needs to go in the bathroom on the back of the door.

Something different

I made my first doily this last week-end, wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but if the directions had not had a picture I wouldn't have been able to follow them, http://jpfun.com/ This is for a wedding we are going to here in town in a couple of weeks.

And these earrings are for a swap I'm doing (I hope she doesn't look!) I got into Franks stash of small arrowheads he made and found a couple that come close to matching. I like how they turned out so much I think I'm going to have to make me a pair, except there are no more that come close to being alike so I'll have to have him knapp out some more!

Things in the works

YEAH! I finished "the afghan"!! It's boxed up with the cookbook and ready to go. I'll post pictures of it later. I'm working on 2 swaps right now, one is almost ready to send and I have a couple items made for the other one. We have a wedding to go to here in town in a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd make a small basket of stuff for it. Started a heart doily, never done one before so we'll see how that turns out, and a set of turk knot coasters. Since I was making coasters I decided to make as many as I could from my supplies, I think I just finished knotting 4 pairs, now just need to finish the ends. I finished moms slippers for mothers day, her feet are so small. They look like the blue ones already posted.

Seems like these coasters are pretty popular, thought I'd send some down to Washington in my next box. I saw these at the Oregon coast a few years ago and didn't want to pay $18 for them, so recently I found how to make them on the web, where I can't remember, it was after a lot of searching!

More tie purses

I think I'm addicted to making these purses! I made 4 more today, I like this one so much I may end up keeping it for a gift.


I really love the back of it.

This one I did a switch up on the handle. After looking at the picture I don't think I like the stitching along the outside of the tie part, I may have to take that out and do something different.
Zonia wants me to keep making wine bottle holders, but I don't know I think purses will go over better.

Finished the Baby Sweater!

I thought I would finish this on the ferry, but I slept instead, fun week-end in Juneau!


This was a fun and easy sweater, I'm thinking I'd like to change it and make another one for Kyler, no opening in the front, make it more boyish, and of course I'd have to make it bigger so he could wear it next winter, gives me lots of time!

I really need to work the THE afghan! I'm going to make myself do a few rows everynight. Joined 2 more swaps, probably will be my last until after summer...........

The Baby Sweater

OK, here is where I am right now on Josh and Audra's babies sweater:
I finished sewing up the sides and now I need to decide on what color to do the trim in. This is the "Baby it's cold outside" sweater from Skamama. But I didn't use a bulky yarn, so I ended up adding more stitches, plus I made the inside front a little wider since there were a lot of comments about the babies tummy peeking thru there. It was a lot easier then I expected it to be, and worked up with only 1 skien of yarn. I have a few ideas on how I want to do the trim, I think I'll end up doing more of these, since it was so much fun. I'm not sure what size mine is going to be, but I'm sure it's around 6-12months, which will be a good fall sweater and might fit by then.

Birthday Present

My mom sent me the Happy Hooker crochet book by Debbie Stoller, THANKS MOM! Here are a couple of the things I've made out of it so far:



Autumn has snagged a scarf and wants a potholder in hot pink and black though. I'm thinking JC and Mikayla are going to want some potholders too. Plus BH wants me to make one, popular item! I've learned alot from this book already, like my half double crochet that I thought was a half double crochet was really a heirloom half double crochet, oops..........It's also given me the courage to take on projects I've never tried before, like the baby sweater, I sewed up the seams today, it's looking good.