yarnneko

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a new (to me) stitch

I have often tried to create the "basketwave" stitch - you know, the one where you go in the front posts of some stitches and back posts of other stitches, creating a raised stitch effect. For some reason, I have not been able to "get" this stitch.

Until this past Monday - on the way to work, with my younger son driving, I pulled out a hook and a skein of Lion Brand "Jiffy" in an off white color and calculated the stitches. I proceeded to crochet and *ah hah* the stitch made sense to me and it worked up wonderfully. I have finished about half of a scarf in that particular stitch (it's for my oldest sister) and I am quite pleased. I would have done one thing differently, though. I would had approxianately 4 rows of plain double crochet at the beginning (I didn't leave any) and 4 plain double crochets on the sides. I think it would have been neater. But I didn't feel strongly enough about it to rip it all out. I'll just put more of an edging on it than I normally would.

I received my order from Lion Brand's online shop yesterday. I had order the colors to make a Harry Potter school scarf and they look great. I'm going to make up a pattern for the "new" scarf, from the current movie. It should be relatively easy to do. It doesn't appear as if any special stitches are used. Yup, I know the original one was knit, but it should be relatively easy to convert to crochet. Maybe I'll feel ambitious and try the afghan / Tunisian stitch on it.

At any rate, that's where the crocheting stands now. I have finished a pair of the stocking earrings and promptly misplaced them during the preparations for Thanksgiving dinner. I will have to do that again. Of course, I didn't write it down - that would make it _too_ easy;)


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I'm still here

Nope, I didn't fall off the edge of the earth. Just like most people in the U.S., I was getting ready for Thanksgiving. I was lucky enough to have what's left of my extended family come over last Saturday and that was good. I also had an opportunity to give my older neice the skinny scarf I made for her out of Bernat's "Disco" in purple and black (sorry, I don't remember the yarn names.) They are purple and black for the Baltimore Ravens - she's a football fan.

Than I made my older son a black wide scarf out of Caron's "Pounder" yarn. The temperature has dropped drastically and he was waiting for public transportation in the cold, so I thought that would be a good idea. It's fairly plain, just row upon row of double crochet. I probably would have made it in the "Harry Potter" colors, but I didn't have the particular colors on hand. Maybe next time.

Yesterday was Black Friday and I had to work. I don't think I would have been out at 5am at the Wal-Mart* (looks like that was a _good_thing, too). But I would have liked to have made it to A.C. Moore or Michael's or Jo-Anne Fabrics for their early bird sale. Of course, they have a discount for the early birds, but I bet it was _crowded_, too. I did visit Michael's today, as they had a coupon for 20% off of everything up until noon. I like Michael's but wasn't too fond of whatever fragrance they had going on there, a combination of pine and pumpkin pie and something else. At first I thought it was just the candles, but it still smelled strong where the yarn is kept. I can only guess they must be pumping the smell in. It's not for me.

I guess if anybody wanted the "traditional" Christmas yarn, they must have purchased it already. They certainly wouldn't find any of it at Michael's. Apparently, the yarnaholics that didn't have to work Friday hit their yarn department pretty hard. Oh well, hopefully that kept more money in my pocket;)

I only have one crochet project in mind to finish before Christmas. Since I haven't started it yet, it should make things a bit more challenging. But I do have the supplies and the pattern, so that's about 75% of the work there. I'm altering an existing pattern to reflect more of what I want to achieve. I don't know how well that plan will work out, but I'm willing to give it a try. Currently I am working on a scarf in the Caron "Rainbow Tones". Interesting effect, but I'm a little disappointed. I'm not really sure exactly what I expected, I guess for the yarn to be more red than rose. But it is working up nicely.

* I get no kickbacks from any of the stores I mentioned. However, if they want to give me a kickback, I'll be happy to take it and I'll tell you folks about it so maybe you can get in on that deal;)
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The sock earrings and other adventures

So far I haven't quite mastered the sock earrings - something about turning the heel isn't quite working for me, but I will keep on trying to get this right. My cat Spike has decided that the little socks are _his_ plaything, but I don't know why.

I've gotten some great ebay deals from arhett, who is selling lots of new Red Heart Supersaver yarn*. I also purchased Carolyn Christmas Savage's new booklet on amiragurami (I know I messed that up) animals. Pretty cool.

I've been working on scarves for "Crocet With Dee"'s challenge of 60 scarves in 60 days. SO far I have 5 done, working on my sixth.

Target has their yarn on sale for a quarter a skein. Look for it in the front of the store where their $1 section is, they also have Halloween stuff on sale if you're interested.

Wednesday I plan to get on a plane and see how security is. The plan is to crochet some preemie hats and maybe a Christmas stocking on the long flight to California. I'm not taking scissors, just one of those yarn cutting medalions. I haven't been on a plane for about 8 years, so I'm sure there have been a lot of changes in the check in process.








*If you don't like Red Heart, that's cool, just don't bother telling me about it. I don't like brussel sprouts but I don't email people about it.

I'm still standing

Okay, I have been away for a while. Between work and everything else going on, I haven't felt like posting or crocheting too much. But I'm starting to get some semblance of normalcy, at leat for a while.

I finished my friend's wrap. It was going to be a poncho, but my brain forgot how to make it work. I tried for 2 days and gave up because I just couldn't figure it out, even when I looked at a poncho I ahad already finished. It's like that sometimes - well, at least for me it is.

I received the Bernat's free "Disco" yarn - it's a rich turquoise color. Some folks have complained, but I am willing to pay a reasonable postage to take it off their hands;) It definitely brightened up my week. My skein came from Mary Maxim's, which really confused me. I didn't remember ordering anything from them for a while. They also include a $5 off certificate for their catalog, which was thoughtfully provided.
I took 2 different skeins (black and purple, for my neice who likes the Ravens football team) and made a skinny long scarf. It worked up very quickly and it doesn't shed as some "fur" yarns tend to do.

Paton's has a contest for $500 worth of Paton's Yarns. You can only enter once a day per household. I, of course, have been entering each day (when I remember) in hopes that I'll get more yarn because I so _need_ yarn . Okay, I don't need it but I want it. But maybe _you_ really need it - here's the site:

Click here: Patons Yarns: Just Crochet it!

I am also working on making little sock earrings. I think I almost have it sussed out, this third sock looks more sock like than the first two. If I figure this out (and I hope to in the next few days, barring any disasters such as overtime from work) I'll post it. I was thinking of making a set baby colors for my sister-in-law because she works in the NICU where I donate my preemie hats. It would be cute to make them in Christmas colors, too. I'll see how it works out.

getting better

Slowly but surely I am starting to crochet again. I made 2 preemie caps this week, not a big deal, but a start. And I finished half the poncho I am working on, so that's a plus for me. I skipped A.C.Moore's "Moonlight Madness" sale tonight because I really don't need any more yarn and I'd just buy more if I was there. I could probably insulate the house with the yarn I've got everywhere. It might be a good idea with the price of gas these days.

I looked at a lot of crochet blogs as part of my "rehab" - *wow* those people are so talented. It's almost intimidating to see what has been created, but it's also inspiring, too. The photos are great and lots of people post their patterns, which seems very generous of them. I have to tell you, tho, some of the color schemes I don't "get" but I've never been a slave to fashion. Actually, more of a fashion victim;)

Outside of that, nothing to really report. Just the usual go to work, come home routine. SOme days are better than others. I may have more time to crochet this weekend, I'm having a d&c on Thursday and am supposed to "take it easy" the rest of the weekend. That depends on whether the weather is nice. I have a lot of yard work to do before it gets too cold. But one day of crocheting...., well that would be pretty cool.





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