things I'm working on

Well, I've been working on a few things here and there. I made an afghan and turtle for a friend of mine but I have (apparently) forgotten how to upload a photo. I've been working on squares and preemie caps and of course, my WIP - the filet curtain...still not finished.
I'm thinking a new baby girl is coming to my extended family next month, if all goes well. I need to start my planned afghan. I will be swiping an element or two from somebody else, but I think it will be good. It will be sort of a quilt time afghan, done in pinks.

I must have a dozen crochet books around me, old and relatively new. There is simply not enough time in the day to work on all I want to do. So maybe I'll learn how to crochet with my feet. That way I could work and crochet at the same time. I know it couldn't be anything too complex, but I'd be able to get my crochet obligations out of the way.

And here's a strange thing you won't believe. I decided to participate in a yarn bombing. Oh yeah, you heard me. But it will be a yarn bombing with a twist - I intend to give a piece of sculpture a hat and a scarf. That way, if somebody removes it, they can actually use what I crocheted. Well, it works for me.....
later....

wow, just wow

I can't believe it's been so long between posts. I guess that's the reason we'll never see "Crocheting Lessons - the movie" come out;) Part of the reason has been life, work has been a bear. But work is always a bear, isn't it? But a bear to the point my wrist was painful when I crocheted. Oh well. Things have eased up a little (I think) so hopefully I will be able to post more.
What's going on here? We had a relatively mild winter, especially compared to the 4 feet of snow we got last year. I got a big raise (okay  so it wasn't so big, but it's the first one in a few years). I seen some robins in the front yard and this morning I seen a bunny in the back yard. So life is generally good, with a few rough spots, but that's how life is,

I did make 2 scarves for the Special Olympics this year. I hope they announce the colors earlier because it seems difficult to find the right colors in the stores once Red Heart has announced them. And truthfully, sometimes I'm no so fond of the color selections. I did like this year's colorway, a light blue and a darker blue. It seems especially cheery to me  and everyone seems to need a little cheering up these days.


I have finished an afghan I was working on for my nephew's friend. I got to take a photo of it. It's white and shades of purple. I made it sort of like a log cabin quilt, with the color blocking. I was quite happy with the way it turned out.

Right now, I am working on a baby boy afghan, light blue and darker blue (hmm). I am doing a giant granny square in a Fibonacci sequence  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number.  I keep spelling "Fibonacci" as "Fibronacci" which shows you how fiber has taken over my mind;) I think it looks pretty cool. I had originally thought of doing a 7 point star afghan, but I realized that if I ever wanted to start on it, I'd have to use something I could just make up as I go along. I think the ripple star afghans are great, I've made a few, but I  didn't feel I had the concentration to stick to a pattern at this time.

Last week I visited D.C. again to see the Smithsonian coral reef for (probably) the last time. Craig and I had a great time and we managed to positively identify two of my pieces. I did not follow somebody else's excellent advice of taking the photos I have of the pieces I made to the museum with me. It would have made identification a bit easier. I mean, after all, who doesn't have white yarn in their stash? So now I got to label and post the photos  and upload them - hopefully soon.

So I'm still here, I'm still crocheting, just a little bewildered at the moment but that will pass. Despite the fact that the weather called for a snow flurry or two today, I can see by the daffodils in my front yard spring has finally arrived. I will clear the winter cobwebs out of my head and enjoy the spring.

Later, dudes & dudettes....

FM July 13, 2009

Hi, again. I must have really been slacking off because it took me until last week to realize I did not post July's "What Day Is It?". Sorry about that, folks. I've been in a bit of a crochet rut, just keep making preemie hats. There's nothing wrong with making preemie hats, but I need to push myself to do something that requires a bit more thinking. Maybe I will finally decide on the baby afghan pattern for the upcoming great nephew. Whatever I decide, I am sure to be shopping my stash for a few reasons - I got a ton of stash but I don't have a ton of money;) (just like everyone else out there, unless maybe Donald Trump reads this blog, which I doubt).
Enough with the silliness, on with the freebies.

I really like this heart afghan. I'm a little sorry I seen it because now I'm thinking "yes, that would be good for the next great nephew" and I already got a few thoughts on what I want to make for him. This one might win based on the requirements. I'll keep you updated.
www.premieryarns.com/patterns.php?id=110

Here's a pattern (with corrections) for pineapple socks. I wonder how they would look in the multicolored sock yarn I currently have in my stash?
http://loveyarn1984.blogspot.com/2009/06/pattern-for-pineapple-socks.html


I generally use a sponge, but they get smelly _quick_. And I do have a few knitted dishclothes from exchanges but they seem too pretty to use. Maybe I'd feel different if I made my own. Plus it would be quick and relatively easy to break me out of the preemie hat rut.....
http://crochet.about.com/od/freecrochetpatterns/ss/Openwork_Dishcloth_Pattern.htm?nl=1


I thought this was pretty cool, but it sort of reminded me of a giant scrubby pad. See photo 3 for a crochet wire chair.
http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/07/06/the-best-of-2009-student-design/


Berroco is having a contest using their sock yarns. And you don't have to make socks to enter, you can try something different with your sock yarn stash. For example, a crocheted dodecahedron
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/celestine_crochet/celestine_crochet.html


I know June has passed and that is a popular month for weddings. But people get married other months. Here's a pattern for a crocheted garter.
http://froggedknits.blogspot.com/2008/06/stephanies-crocheted-wedding-garter.html


This is pretty cool - a spiral afghan.
http://www.caron.com/projects/op/op_spirals_throw.html



For smaller kids than mine are (my "baby" will be 28 this week) here's a counting fish toy (you may have seen it in the craft stores as a freebie).
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/BabyChild/LW1593+Crochet+Counting+Fish+Toy.htm


Again, a tutorial on ripple crochet from Teresa "Learn to Crochet". She does amazing tutorials.
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/07/ripple-crochet-playlist.html

That's all I got for today. Nope, no kickbacks from anybody to mention their sites or products - who has that kind of money;)

_enjoy_

Freebie Monday May 18, 2009

Hello again. I finally finished the baby afghan and have to finish the pink and white turtle that goes with it. Actually, all I have to do is embroider a face, stuff it and sew it together, not that big a deal. But it's crunch time at work so I'm not sure if I'll finish it this week...

Let's start out with a few blogs to check out:

This is Prudence Mapstone's blog about a scumble a week
http://prudencemapstone.blogspot.com

In case you are interested in recycling your plastic bags into "plarn" - plastic yarn, here's a blog about that
http://plastiqrecreation.blogspot.com/

Not a pattern, but a cool blog...
http://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/

Vickie Howell has a new crochet book out and here's an interview with her
http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/crochet-conflab-with-vickie-howell.htm


The next three links are from Vashti Braha's blog - the first two are about crocheting with wire
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-crochet-pattern-for-mothers-day.html
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-crochet-jewelry-with-wire-free.html
and this link explains how to keep your crochet inspirations in a reasonable order. I'll write thoughts for patterns on a scrap of paper. I'll lose the scrap and find it much later, when I can't quite remember what I was trying to do. This is a much more formal way to keep track of inspiration, but my informal way isn't helping me.
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-journal-about-your-crochet-ideas.html


This was a tough winter in many ways. My houseplants got hit hard because it got cold and stayed cold early on. I lost a lot of cacti, unfortunately. But now I can crochet a few to brighten my work area - it's really cute.
http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2007/11/thank-you-little-cactus.html


If you're old enough, you may remember the ads for the "crazy daisy loom" on tv. You could order an afghan kit that included a flower loom. Now you may be able to pick them up at a yard sale or thrift store (or E-bay). Noreen Crone-Findlay has a tutorial on "vintage" flower looms. ("Vintage"?! I guess that makes me "vintage", too)
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/how-to-make-flowers-on-vintage-flower-looms/

I knew my younger niece was pregnant, but until today I didn't know if she was having a girl or a boy. I suspected she was having a boy and I was right. Now I got to figure out another boy baby afghan (I've made 2 baby boy afghans for her already)...so I'm thinking, maybe this will be the next baby afghan?
http://crochetme.com/patterns/dont-be-square-granny

or this?
http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/projects/animals.html
I don't know yet. I have to think some more about this. I've got until August, so hopefully something will impress me..
I could make a crochet bib, but that would have to be extra because I did make the other 2 boys and afghan.....
http://crochettogo.blogspot.com/2009/03/crocheted-bib.html

That's it for Freebie Monday this week. As usual, I do not get a penny from mentioning any of these people or any of these sites. I'm willing to be bribed, but who has the money for that these days;)

_enjoy_

FM April 20, 2009

It has been very nice this weekend, though it might rain tomorrow. But I'll be at work, so presumably I won't see too much of it. Physical therapy is going fine, my right ankle feels more mobile. Even though I generally don't like to have my feet touched, I do enjoy the foot massage;)

I got the issue of "Apronology" at A.C. Moore. Very interesting and it has two aprons that use crochet - one uses parts of a doily. If you like aprons, you might want to pick this up. (Be warned - it's $15 so you might want to use a coupon in it).
Here's the free crochet patterns for this Monday:


This is a flower afghan from "Talking Crochet"
http://www.crochet-world.com/newsletters/talkingcrochet/pages/TCNL1709_patt2.html

I'm currently working on a baby afghan for a friend's daughter. But since I will be a great aut again sometime in August or September, I might choose this motif for a baby afghan from SmoothFox
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2008/11/foxs-baby-flower-motif-free-pattern.html


I thought this was great - instructions on how to use the motifs you have collected
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/more-motifs/2009/04/17/


This is a great idea idea if you have some old cds (or the clear plastic ones that you get when you buy the burnable cds) - a cd drawstring bag
http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/bags/f125001cddrawstringbag.pdf

This is quite lovely and good for my end of the world's (sort of) spring weather - a crocheted cardigan from Berroco
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/aruna/aruna.html

I thought this was really cool - crocheted pinwheel sweater
http://www.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=351024

This is so neat - it's a crocheted cat afghan tutorial by Teresa Richardson, "Art of Crochet"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG5dt2dPYsY

And another great pattern from Teresa Richardson "Art of Crochet" - a bingo bag. I would think you could use it as a craft bag, too.
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/04/crochet-bingo-bag-or-craft-bag.html


How about a rose pin (or magnet)
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/barbsfreepattern.html
from Crochet Corner
http://www.crochetmemories.com/newsletters/newsletter.html


This is really sweet - a flower pincushion from "Suzy's Stuff"
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/flower-mini-pincushion.html

That's it for this week, folks, As usual, no econimic incentives were given for the sites listed here.
_enjoy_