the new project

I am workin on the 8 point star afghan from the "100 Crochet Projects". The pattern in the book uses Red Hearts' "Baby Clouds" (I think, it's that very fluffy yarn - hmm, could be "Light and Lofty") which I decided I didn't have the proper colors in that particular yarn. I am using Red Heart's soft yarn (no, really, I think that's waht it is called) and Caron's "Simply Soft" in a blue and white pattern. I am using an H hook (of course, it's a Boye;)) and it is working up quickly. Of course, it won't be finished in 18 rounds - the yarn is not that thick. But I'll just repeat the pattern until it gets to be the size I want. I'll probably make a turtle to go with the afghan (a co-worker's wife is pregnant.)
On the way to work (nope, my younger son drives), I crochet preemie hats for the NICU at University of Maryland Hospital. I like using varigated yarn, but I have to watch it. One time I put "curls" coming from the top of the hat and some parents didn't want their sons to wear a "girl's hat". Well, I thought it was cute.
Despite my protests to the contrary, I did buy more yarn at Wal-Mart. One is something I've never seen before from Red Heart - it's called "Strata". It is a wildly varigated yarn. I also bought a skein of yarn that had 70s colors in it . Yes, I know that's a crazy thing to do, but who said I was sane? I plan to make a turtle pin cushion out of that yarn, and maybe a few more pin cushions.
Oooh, I got to take a photo of the purse I made. It's cute, it's seasonal and probably a bit young for me....

p.s. I do not get a kickback from any of the companies I named. Now if they want to bribe me, they can just send me yarn - a lot of it;)

vital statistics for the socks

I used a discontinued Red Heart sport yarn called "Buckle" for the socks. Each sock took less than 1 3/4 ounces (49.6 grams on the package) or almost the whole skein of the yarn. I bought this quite some time ago, it was on sale. I don't have any other colorways, if indeed there were any different colors.
The pattern I used was "Tutti-Frutti" by Janet Rehfeldt, from the book "Crocheted Socks". The book came out in 2003, so I have had it for a while. But you can probably find it at a craft store. I used the large size, because I have large feet and I acheived gauge without much problem. This is unusual for me as I tend to crochet loosely and normally have to adjust the hook size downwards to scheive gauge.

I also wanted to include this poem. It's not mine (I could only wish!) but it's great because it takes an everyday article such as socks and praises them. Now my socks aren't anything like the socks described in the poem, but it's still cool to see how someone appreciates a handmade gift.

it's called "Ode to My Socks" by Pablo Neruda

http://www.beautifulwords.com/html/body_socks.html

2 Ugly Socks;)

I finished the pair of socks. If they are not the world's ugliest socks, they have to be in the top three of the list. I intend to put fabric paint on the soles so I can wear them as slipper socks.

you might need sunglasses or tada, the first ugly sock

Here it is, the first sock done in all its radioactive glory;) Despite the fact it looks small, it does fit my size 10 foot. If it doesn't look all orange and yellow and green, you may need to adjust your monitor;)
I already started on sock number 2. I doubt I will wear them with shoes as I can feel every stitch and that makes my feet uncomfortable. (I can sometimes do that with store bought socks.) But if not to wear out (which I really should, for the whole effect), I will put puff paint on the bottom and they will be slipper socks. I tried to get the other members of my family try them on, but I think they were afraid they wouldn't want to take them off - or maybe the sock would eat their foot, I don't know which;)

Barbie and Ken

I never had either of these dolls growing up because I didn't particularly want them. I had other dolls (anyone remember "Tammy, the Ideal teen"?) My girlfriends and I would make furniture or cars from anything we could get our hands on. That was fun. But I didn't know how to crochet back then. Later on, I got a Barbie so I could make clothes for her as a gift for my younger neice. I first worked with the very thick chenille for a project for Barbie - I made Barbie a mink coat. (I don't remember how I did it, just making it to fit the doll).

But some people take their Barbie and Ken a little more serious. At this website, Barbie ends up with some cool furniture, some cool clothes and a crocheted doggy.
check it out:

Click here: Threadbared: A Threadbared Epic: "Barbie & Ken - Living In A Crocheted Paradise."

fastest crocheter update

yes, I am slow with the news and I apolegize. But Lisa Gentry is officially the world's fastest crocheter with something like 172 stitches a minute. I'd like to lie to you and say I could stitch that fast, but why lie? I _can't_. I'd like to think if I was about 30 years younger, I'd stand a chance;)
I met M's Gentry at the CGOA conference and she's very nice, very approachable. She currently has a website with patterns to sell as well as free patterns. She even has the pattern for the project that took the prize.
check it out
Click here: Fastest Crocheter

there are some really cool patterns there.

the biology of yarn

I have a theory about socks that go into the laundry. Either the detergent and water causes some to mutate, so you can never completely match up your socks or the heat from the dryer causes the mutations. I can't figure out how I can buy 5 pairs of white socks in a pack and within 3 weeks, they are 11 different shades of white. I expect that won't happen to my ugly socks.

I do think yarn spawns more yarn. I'm always surprised to see how much yarn I have;)
This blog entry

Click here: Mambocat's Knitting Asylum: 07/01/2006 - 07/31/2006
from July 28, 2006 explains how this happens. This is not for the faint of heart - it actually shows yarn being born;) It's pretty cool.