Shamrocks

The original pattern for this is "Shamrock Bookmark" designed by Michelle Ryan and is available on Ravelry. This obviously is not a bookmark. I used a size 7 steel hook and size 10 thread. The result--a wall hanging. The thread came from my stash and there wasn't enough to do an edging. My husband and I had a good time last night cutting the backing and mat, mounting the fabric, and placing everything in the frame. I am pleased with the end product. It is now hanging on a dining room wall with an Irish Welcome Prayer and the family history.

On my needles now is a knited cabled coat in red. If I'm lucky, I'll finished it in time to wear at least once before warm weather settles in.

What I am reading:

Shades of Earl Grey (A Tea Shop Mysery), by Laura Childs

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast CraftLit.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics

North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, from Audible.com.

The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, from Librivox.

Baby Socks

My how time flies! I have been crocheting and knitting a lot; reading and listening a lot; and walking a lot. That does not leave much time for writing. Therefore, I have added writing more to my list of “Things I Need to Do More”.

Pictured is a pair of baby socks made from KnitPicks’ Risata yarn in Sable, using size 0 double pointed needles. The pattern is adapted from Ann Budds’ “Better Than Booties Baby Socks” pattern. The pattern can be found on the Knitting Daily website. I used a 1x1 ribbing for the leg, knitted the pattern’s heel and toe shaping, and finished with a three needle bind off. These socks are quick and easy. I know of two baby girls who will be wearing these socks; one of them a granddaughter due in July.

New to my blog – Books I Am Reading/Listening. I have several books going. The only reason I can think of for reading more than one at a time must be from my undergrad days as an English Literature major. Many times I had more than one literature class a semester, and each class averaged six to seven books along with short stories and poetry. I had to quickly get in the habit of reading several things at once and this is a habit I never broke.

Without further delay – Books I Am Reading/Listening:
Gunpowder Green (A Tea Shop Mystery), by Laura Childs, an old fashioned hold in your hand book.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics
North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, from Audible.com
The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, from Librivox

Happy Spring!

Happy New Year!

‘Tis the time for New Year’s resolutions. Mine are: exercise more; read more; and crochet/knit more. I have the same resolutions every year and do well except to exercise more. There is only so much time in a day. How can I exercise, read, and crochet at the same time? Solution – put yarn in an apron pocket, plug in my new purple iPod nano fully loaded with audiobooks, and get on a treadmill. Problem – I have enough trouble walking and talking at the same time. And now I’m adding listening AND crocheting to the mix! Beware pedestrians.

I’m on a baby blanket kick right now, but babies can’t have too many hand-made-with-love blankets. Sometimes the blankets don’t come out as well as I would like. For instance, this ripple blanket is a little small. It’s my own pattern (ripples are easy) made from stashed yarn. Next time I will add a few more ripples and another pattern repeat. The blanket can still be used as a throw for a newborn baby.

Have a great 2009!

Brrrrrrr.......

Hairpin Lace Baby Blanket from Winkin’ Blinkin’ and Nod, published by Bernat, 1979.

The first day of winter and it is freezing out there! What better way to spend a frigid day that by finishing a baby blanket.

I just love going through old patterns. You never know what treasures are buried in my pattern library. This is my first attempt at hairpin lace. It is very easy and quick. The hard part was deciding on an edging. I don’t like fringe on blankets so I make up my own edge. This one uses the three colors and picots on the last row.

The recipient of this blanket is due in March, so the lace will be perfect around then. Not so today!

Have a blessed and safe holiday season!

Socks & Alpacas

Pedicure Socks

I did it! I finished eighteen pairs of socks! I saw a pamphlet at Hobby Lobby for pedicure socks. The pattern came home with me, but as usual, I decided to make some changes. The pattern I used is a basic sock pattern I’ve had for so long that it is memorized. All that is needed for pedicure socks is to stop knitting a few rows before the toe shaping, add a few rows of ribbing, bind off, and sew for a toe opening. Easy! The hard part was keeping my interest to get all the socks finished. Half the socks were done in a print yarn and the other half were solid colors. I just kept switching colors after every sock. Can’t get bored that way and Second Sock Syndrome was not an option.

For Thanksgiving, my husband and I went to North Carolina to spend the holiday with my brother, sister-in-law, and spend a little time with Mother. We took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains so the guys could indulge in their photography habit. We stopped at “An Alpaca Farm & Store on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains”. If you find yourself on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I definitely recommend you stop at Peaceful Heart Alpacas. They are located at the 204 mile marker. These are such beautiful and gentle animals, not to mention the yarn!!!! Of course I came away with a hank of yarn made from two of their alpacas. I think I am going to make a pair of fingerless gloves with the yarn.

Christmas is not too far away. I hope you have a blessed and safe holiday.

Moody Blue, Rose, and Red

Part 2: Fashion Doll Period Ensembles – The 1940s “Moody Blue, Designed by Holly Fields, Crochet World, December 2007

My very first crochet projects were Barbie clothes. My Barbie was the very best dressed Barbie in the neighborhood. I still love to make these tiny clothes with tiny hooks, tiny snaps, tiny beads, and tiny accessories. I made these for a co-worker’s granddaughters.

This particular pattern was very frustrating. I don’t know if it was me or the pattern, but I had a difficult time getting the pattern to work and still fit the doll. In order to get anywhere close to the gauge, I had to use a size 2 steel hook instead of the size B suggested. The size B aluminum hook was just too lose, but the steel hook seemed to work better. There are also many other adjustments I made to the pattern. Again, I don’t know if there are errors in the pattern, or I just crochet funny. Anyway, because of copyright laws, I don’t want to put the corrections here, but I’ve got them saved.

Right now, I have two projects going – a hairpin lace baby blanket and eighteen pairs (yes eighteen) of pedicure socks – all need to be completed before Christmas.

Slippers Anyone?

50’s Style Slipper, designed by Marion Kelley, Annie’s Favorite Quick & Easy Projects

I have never been one for swatching, but this project convinced me how important it is to take that first step to any project. How fun it was to find out that different combinations of yarn and hook would produce different sizes of slippers!

My stitches tend to be a little tight when I crochet, so I automatically go up a hook size. Now I find out that sometimes the yarn can also make a difference in stitch gauge. All the yarn I used came from my stash (good way to use up some yarn) and all yarn is worsted weight. Red Heart Classic produced the largest slipper, using a J aluminum hook. Plymouth Encore Worsted produced the smallest slipper, using an H aluminum hook. However, for the other slippers made from the Plymouth yarn, I got a good mid-size using a size J aluminum hook for the foot and a size H aluminum hook for the flaps. I seemed to hit the middle road on all the other yarns by using a size H wood hook for the slipper foot, and a size H aluminum hook for the flaps. Hmmm…do I crochet looser with a wood hook? By the way, the pattern calls for a size F hook. I didn’t even try that!

What am I going to do with ten pairs of slippers? One pair I’ll save to enter at the county fair next summer. The others, like everything else I make, will be given away. I know people with all sizes of feet, so I am sure I can find a pair to fit at least eight of my loved ones. Personally, I’ll probably keep the purple and black one for myself. It’s stretches nicely and fits my foot like a glove. My hubby won’t have to worry about my cold toes this winter!

My next project is also going to use up some stash and will take me back to my first crochet projects – crochet outfits for Barbie. I can’t wait to get started – after making a swatch, of course.