oh wait, this isn't Frank Sinatra singing "My Way". It's just it's the end of the year and it seems like this year sped by.
Here's a few things I learned this year: Charity work is good, but don't pick a lot of different charities to crochet for because you probably won't have the time - just saying.
In my part of the world, the economy hasn't "recovered" from the "recession". I put quotes around those words because although the media seems to think there has been a complete recovery, it hasn't happened here (yet?) and I know more than a few people who live in different parts of the US that say pretty much the same thing. So I need to work on my (huge) stash and also swap/sell/whatever the yarn I probably won't use. I have 3 skeins of beautiful bulky autumn varigated yarn. It's gorgeous. But it's wool and the likelihood of my using it is between slim and none. Wool makes my throat and sinuses clog up and that doesn't make for an enjoyable crochet project for me. Why did I buy it? It was gorgeous and I hadn't connected the dots between the watery eyes and my use of wool. (I bet you thought I was going to say "it was on sale";)) But don't worry, I have plenty of yarn.
That if I really plan to make some Christmas gifts or ornaments, the time to start is _now_...well, actually after I get thru the few projects I didn't finish for 2011.And yes, I got projects that go back a few years that aren't finished, unfortunately.
but it's a quiet night, I'm in my jammies so I'm not going to beat myself up about this anymore. I finish what I can, that's all I can do. I want to have more fun with my crochet instead of trying to rush through a project to start a new one. I think my wrist would also appreciate it. It gets pretty bad at work and sometimes (_eeek_) I don't want to crochet when I get home. I know, sounds crazy.
So I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year, I hope the New Year brings you all you could possibly want and to enjoy your crocheting.
Happy New Year
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwaanza
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Night Before Christmas for Crocheters
Twas the Night before Christmas (for crocheters
CROCHETERS´ NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
~ Nancy Massaroni adapted by Dee Stanziano ("Crocheting with Dee")
`Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished crocheting not under the tree,
The stockings weren´t hung by the chimney with care
`Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep-he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6´´ too small.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my hook to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.
And although I was tired-my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.
"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don´t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you´ll work out just fine!
I know this is hard as it´s just your first year
But I´d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!
And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa´s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand crochet from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.
His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU crochet all this stuff?"
He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to crochet when I was just a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I´d thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my crochet hook and yarn for a cap.
He began then to crochet, first one cap then 2-
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.
Quickly like magic his hooks they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your crocheting sometime around JUNE!"
Friday, November 25, 2011
She taught me to crochet
In memory of my older sister Bee, who taught me how to crochet.
I wrote this back in 2006, talking about my older sister and how she taught me how to crochet. She would have been 61 today. With the hustle and bustle of preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas (which she loved), I decided to take the easy out and repost this little bit of writing.
This rant started off as a response to the "Not your Grandmother's crochet" phrase.
(-)
My older sister, Bee, taught me how to crochet (and knit). She took dress design in her vocational school and that's something the students had to learn. She sewed her prom gown and made a beautiful smocked dress as part of her studies at Mervo. She struggled teaching me how to crochet because I was (still am) very impatient. It seemed to flow freely from her hands, but I just couldn't seem to grasp it. It took me about a few months of practicing and watching and Bee showing me time and time again for me to get that "aha" moment.
I had to make something for my Home Ec class, any project, but it had to be crocheted or knitted. The Home Ec teacher didn't show us _how_ to do it, we were supposed to know. And we were also supposed to bring the item into class so she could see us actually work on it.
I choose yellow and green yarn for the colors (it matched my bedroom). The yarn I bought was rug yarn, I think. It was the least expensive of the yarns in the five and dime I visited and the start of my love affair with Boye hooks, a size H.
Bee did the chain stitch to start. I had great difficulty starting the project. Now I realize I pulled the chains too tight and couldn't work stitches in them, but I didn't know that then. I don't remember if Bee tried to get me to make them looser or not. At any rate, I was stitching along. Horizontal green and yellow stripes, done in double crochet, that had a sort of "rib" effect. I didn't know I was supposed to put the hook under _both_the loops on the top of the stitch. Bee probably did about 30% or so of the afghan. But having to take it to school and show my work made me try to learn the stitches better.
The teacher had doubts (reasonably so) that I was actually doing the work. I was slow and it would be unreasonable to think I had gotten so much done so quickly. But the day finally came when I could whip the project out of my duffel bag and actually accomplish some rows while in class. After that, the teacher didn't question my ability to crochet. I honestly don't remember what other people made. I can't remember if there were amazingly complex patterns or just ponchos (it was the late 60s). But I was sure glad I got that project done. And it certainly kept me warm.
The afghan is long gone now, a victim of time and moving. It wasn't that beautiful a project, but it was important to me. The joy of actually creating a project that big has stayed with me. I still enjoy the accomplishing of any project, whether big or small. And I've made a ton of afghans since that time, but that first one remains in my memory as an extra special afghan.
After all, how many crochet projects keep you warm, co-ordinate with your room and get you a good grade in school?
I wrote this back in 2006, talking about my older sister and how she taught me how to crochet. She would have been 61 today. With the hustle and bustle of preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas (which she loved), I decided to take the easy out and repost this little bit of writing.
This rant started off as a response to the "Not your Grandmother's crochet" phrase.
(-)
My older sister, Bee, taught me how to crochet (and knit). She took dress design in her vocational school and that's something the students had to learn. She sewed her prom gown and made a beautiful smocked dress as part of her studies at Mervo. She struggled teaching me how to crochet because I was (still am) very impatient. It seemed to flow freely from her hands, but I just couldn't seem to grasp it. It took me about a few months of practicing and watching and Bee showing me time and time again for me to get that "aha" moment.
I had to make something for my Home Ec class, any project, but it had to be crocheted or knitted. The Home Ec teacher didn't show us _how_ to do it, we were supposed to know. And we were also supposed to bring the item into class so she could see us actually work on it.
I choose yellow and green yarn for the colors (it matched my bedroom). The yarn I bought was rug yarn, I think. It was the least expensive of the yarns in the five and dime I visited and the start of my love affair with Boye hooks, a size H.
Bee did the chain stitch to start. I had great difficulty starting the project. Now I realize I pulled the chains too tight and couldn't work stitches in them, but I didn't know that then. I don't remember if Bee tried to get me to make them looser or not. At any rate, I was stitching along. Horizontal green and yellow stripes, done in double crochet, that had a sort of "rib" effect. I didn't know I was supposed to put the hook under _both_the loops on the top of the stitch. Bee probably did about 30% or so of the afghan. But having to take it to school and show my work made me try to learn the stitches better.
The teacher had doubts (reasonably so) that I was actually doing the work. I was slow and it would be unreasonable to think I had gotten so much done so quickly. But the day finally came when I could whip the project out of my duffel bag and actually accomplish some rows while in class. After that, the teacher didn't question my ability to crochet. I honestly don't remember what other people made. I can't remember if there were amazingly complex patterns or just ponchos (it was the late 60s). But I was sure glad I got that project done. And it certainly kept me warm.
The afghan is long gone now, a victim of time and moving. It wasn't that beautiful a project, but it was important to me. The joy of actually creating a project that big has stayed with me. I still enjoy the accomplishing of any project, whether big or small. And I've made a ton of afghans since that time, but that first one remains in my memory as an extra special afghan.
After all, how many crochet projects keep you warm, co-ordinate with your room and get you a good grade in school?
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
In memory of Robin Freed
in memory of Robin Freed
Triple triangle square
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa120706.htm
Lace motifs - these are great
http://www.mypicot.com/crochet_patterns_quilt_motifs01.html
double heart square
http://www.crochetnmore.com/bonnieschristmasdoublehearts.htm
Teresa's "Art of Crochet" blog has a wonderfully textured knobby granny square
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/02/crochet-knobby-granny-square.html
baby bonnet squares
http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2007/03/bonnet-babies-crochet-square.html
hearts in a row square
http://www.freepatternsdonnascrochetdesigns.com/hearts-row-patches-free-crochet-pattern.html
Northern Lights motif is made in size 10 crochet thread, but I bet it would look great in fingering or lace weight yarn
http://www.karensvariety.com/NEWSLETTER/Patterns/NorthernLights.htm
Concentric circles from Lion Brand
http://cache.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&faqKey=335
This is really cute - a retro polka-dot square
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=86785
torch flower motif
http://pandacrochet.8m.com/torchflower.html
That's it for this week. I hope you enjoy exploring the various motif patterns I have posted. As usual, no payments of any kind have been given to me to post these links. Everybody's too broke for that nonsense;)
_enjoy_
Friday, September 30, 2011
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....
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....
Friday, July 01, 2011
on the hook
I haven't crocheted for a while. Not for lack of yarn or patterns, I am just determined to finish a project (a filet lion curtain) before I start a new one. It sounds very noble but it's actually been a work in progress for over a year. I am 19 rows in to a 55 row piece. I am using worsted weight cotton yarn, so it is a rather large piece. I was within 10 rows of having it finished and I found a mistake in row 20 that made me rips out those rows. I reworked the piece and again came within 10 rows of finishing and found a mistake in my old friend row 20 and of course I ripped it out again. If I ever make it past row 19 and I find a mistake in row 20, I am not going to rip it out again. If it takes me that long to find the mistake, I am going to just fudge it so it will work. I had intended to finish it by May 1, 2011 and here it is July 1, 2011.
My difficulty with this particular project is because I don't normally do filet crochet, I get lost. I can't watch TV when I'm working on it because I am not paying enough attention to the pattern. And considering that TV is my normal evening entertainment, you can see how there would be a conflict. It's goofy not to crochet _anything_ and than not make the time to work on the project that's bugging me. And I've made a panel before, so it's not like it's a brand new pattern to me. I just need to sit my butt down and work on the curtain.
So hopefully I get the fingers flying and finish this piece. It is plucking my nerves by not being finished, but I will finish it so I can go on to other projects, Preemies need hats, I need to donate some squares and of course (as always) there are patterns I want to accomplish. So wish me luck cos I need it.
_Enjoy_
So hopefully I get the fingers flying and finish this piece. It is plucking my nerves by not being finished, but I will finish it so I can go on to other projects, Preemies need hats, I need to donate some squares and of course (as always) there are patterns I want to accomplish. So wish me luck cos I need it.
_Enjoy_
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