Chain Necklace

Chain, Chain, Chain

Knitter's Journey

This is a kit I picked up at the Knit & Crochet Show in Minneapolis. The picture is a little dark, but it is made with silver wire and purple beads. Right now I'm not sure I like crocheting with wire. The whole process was very tedious and I am such a perfectionist that I wanted all the chains to be the same. The advice I was given was not to fight it and let the crochet hook do the work. That's what I tried to do. The only change I made was to twist the strands (I made four) before attaching the clasp. It is a pretty necklace and one I will wear, I just doubt if I'll make another one anytime soon.

Projects in Progress

This is the start of my very first attempt to design a garment. I want to make a cotton lace top that fits loosely so a tank top can be worn underneath, or it could be worn as a vest during the colder months.

So far I have a swatch completed. It is made from size 10 mercerized cotton. Yes, it will take a lot of thread and will take some time and it uses a small steel hook. I don't mind. Many of my very first projects were doilies and Barbie-doll-type clothes. The next step is to block the swatch for the gauge. Then the sizing charts, graph paper, and a calculator will take over my work area.

Wish me luck!

What I Am Reading

Still reading Saving Fish From Drowning, by Amy Tan. I haven't gotten very far this week. Our Americans think they are guests of a primitive village, while the village people think one of the Americans is a god re-incarnated--I think.

Other Stuff

There isn't a whole lot going on in my area of the country. The weather is beautiful for late August and the pollen count is very high. I did find out some of my health issues are due to allergies, so the better part of the weekend has been spent trying to get rid of as much dust and pet dander as I can. This is turning in to a very difficult job, especially with two dogs who spend a lot of time in the house. If I can keep them out of the bedroom, I can at least have a pet dander/dust free place to sleep.

I am slowly getting more items up at DinaMarieCrochet. Come on over and check it out. I am still offering 10% off. Use BLOGGER01 for the coupon code. Once I get everything in, I just may have to have a bigger sale.

Have a good week!

The Chiton Pullover

Chiton Pullover

Designed by Melissa Wehrie

Knitscene Winter/Spring 2011

Made with Reynolds Cricket

This simple pullover is very simple and I absolutely love it! The directions are clear and easy to follow and, most important, it fits just like it is supposed to fit. Even though the temperature is still a little warm, cooler days will be here soon. I can wear this now as is and in the fall I can layer it with a long sleeve t-shirt.

Projects in Progress

I don't have anything in progress now as I just finished up all my projects (for now). See below for more information.

What I Am Reading

Here is an update on Saving Fish From Drowning, by Amy Tan. I am really enjoying this book, although it is taking me some time to read. Not because it is difficult, but I just haven't had much time. I did get a sense of the explanation of the title. On page 162 of my edition the phrase is explained as a Burmese phrase of the Buddhist belief in not killing animals. (Warning. this is a long quote, but I feel it is needed.):

"...They (Burmese fishermen) scoop up the fish and bring them to shore. They say they are saving fish from drowning. Unfortunately...the fish do not recover.

"...Did these people actually believe they were doing a good deed? Why, they had no intention of saving anything! Look at those fish. They were gasping for oxygen, and the sellers who squatted nearby, smoking their cheroots, hardly possessed the caring demeanor of emergency doctors or hospice workers. 'It's horrible,' she said at last. 'It's worse than if they just killed them outright rather than justifying it as an act of kindness.'

"'No worse than what we do in other countries,' Dwight said.

"'...Saving people for their own good'".

I am at the point were something bad may be happening to the travelers. Their tour guide is definitely missing.

Other Stuff

I do apologize for not blogging for the last couple of weeks. I have been more than a little under the weather. My health is getting better. If I would slow down, I'm sure I would feel a lot better.

I have also been getting ready for the local arts fair, which was yesterday. I am a little disappointed with the fair. Not the fair itself. The day was perfect for an outdoor event and, considering this was only the third year for this particular event and the number of booths doubled from last year, the event was well organized. My disappointment was that not many people were buying. I know the economy is not good, and after talking to experienced vendors, I don't feel as bad since they are having the same problems. People are looking, but not buying. My very sweet neighbors in the booth next to me advised me not to give up. Many thanks to my friends who stopped by to offer their support. I am truly blessed.

I did learn a lot from my first time out as a vendor--I need bigger tables! Some displays would also be nice. I have a year to get more things ready and to find a bargain on tables and displays.

My Etsy shop is a little empty right now, but it will be back to full soon. Give me a week or two as I am also going to make some updates with the store.

Finally, as you may have heard, we had a horrible tragedy at our Indiana State Fair when the wind from a storm toppled the stage for a concert. Many people were injured and so far, six people lost their lives. My husband's cousin is one of the seriously injured and she is still in an induced coma. Please keep her and all the victims and their families in your hearts as we work through this terrible disaster.

Have a good week!

Knit and Crochet Show

There isn't much to report for this week. We got back last night from spending five days in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the Summer Knit and Crochet Show sponsored by CGOA and TKGA.

This conference was awesome! I met some new friends and attended three classes. I learned from Joan Davis how to properly take measurements and consider the different types of ease when choosing the size of garment to make. Also from Joan Davis, I took a class in crochet camisoles that fit. My last class was a fun bead crochet class (see picture above), Double Helix Crochet Necklace & Bracelet, taught by Darla Fanton. I spent way too much money at the vendors market.

Now I'm home and need to go back to work tomorrow so I can start saving up for the next conference in 2012. I also need to figure out when I'm going to have time to implement some great ideas for designing and to use up the yarn I came home with.

Have a good week!

Drum Roll Please

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

Here it is--all finished!! It is very colorful and doesn't really match my decor; however, my dogs like it. This project was a lot of fun. Some of the stitches were pretty boring and some were a really interesting--none were very difficult.

Projects in Progress

This week I made four placemats, four coasters, four can cozies, and a poop bag dispenser. These are made from Lily Sugar 'n Cream, light blue and faded denims, and stitched in single crochet. If they don't sell at the arts fair, then I'm keeping them. I little Scotchgard sprayed and they will last forever.

This swatch is for a pullover I am going to knit for myself. The yarn is Reynolds Cricket, a 52% Rayon and 48% Wool DK yarn, in a light purple. The yarn is very soft and looks like a heather yarn. I found this yarn in the clearance room at a local yarn shop and I can't seem to find too much about it on the internet. I hope it was on clearance because the owner just needed room for the summer yarn and not because the yarn has been discontinued. If my sweater goes well, I have other things I'd like to make with this yarn. There was a really pretty natural color. The only difficulty I see with working the yarn is that it is loosely spun and tends to split.

What I Am Reading

I am making slow progress on Saving Fish from Drowning, by Amy Tan. Most of the people in this book appear to be the typical ugly Americans traveling to countries they know nothing about and, therefore, are getting into trouble. On the side, this book also give insight to the culture and history of a country I don't know too much about--China.

Other Stuff

My grandson spent the past week with us. He is ten years old and so much fun. We had a basketball camp where I work and he attended the camp for the week. Then we saw the new Harry Potter movie in 3D--good movie--and we stuffed ourselves with nachos and cheese and soda. He then spent the night at my in-law's farm and rounded off the week having dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We really should do this type of thing more often. I really enjoyed the time spent with him--I hope he did, too.

Next week in the Knit and Crochet show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I can't wait!

Have a good week!

Week 63 Challenge--Final Block

#52 Up and Down Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This is my favorite go-to stitch. It works for anything and gives a nice texture. Next week I will have a picture of the afghan all put together with the edging.

Projects in Progress

I am working desperately on getting things completed before the art fair. This is the latest hat and scarf done in a Crossed Double Crochet Stitch. There was just enough left to knit one pair of fingerless mittens. All my ideas for stitches come from The Ultimate Sourcebook for Knitting and Crochet Stitches, Reader's Digest. The book has more knitting stitches than crochet stitches, but it's something I can go to for reference for anything I'd like to make. There are other stitchonaries out there and someday I'll get more for crochet stitches.

What I am Reading

Because all my extra time has been spent working on items for the art fair, I haven't had much time to read, so Saving Fish from Drowning is still on the shelf. So far we are just getting to know the characters. The book is told from the point of view of a woman who has recently died. If I'm understanding this correctly, the woman is telling the story to a medium.

Other Stuff

The Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is in just over a week. My homework is done and my notebook is packed and ready. Can you tell I'm excited? I'm not sure about which projects to take to work on while there, but I have a feeling that once I take the course on creating a camisole, I'll be shopping at the market area looking for the perfect yarn to make myself a camisole.

The heat is on again in the midwest. I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting tired of hearing about the heat index. It's hot and hot is hot no matter how hot it is.

Have a good week!

Week 62 Challenge

#23 Slant Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This is an easy stitch to crochet and I think really unusual. I like it! One more block and then the edging. WooHoo!!!

Projects in Progress

I have nineteen days until the Art Fair and need to get crackin' on getting some things done. This is a hooded scarf (scood) knitted in moss stitch. I even had enough left over to make two pairs on knitted fingerless mittens, each in a different size.

This is a swatch for a crochet hat and scarf in Crossed Double Crochet Stitch. I get most of my stitch ideas from Reader's Digest's, The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches. The swatch worked up quickly, so the hat and scarf should work up quickly, too.

What I Am Reading

Girl With a Pearl Earring is finished. This was a pretty quick read and I guess it could be called a page-turner. For some reason, I wasn't happy with the ending. I'm not sure why, except that it just ended. If you want something low key and fun to read, I would recommend this book; but if you are looking for a message, I don't think it's there.

Now I am reading Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan. Tan is probably one of my favorite contemporary authors. I had a chance to see her at a lecture sponsored by a local university. She was both insightful and entertaining--just like her novels. I've just started, so there isn't much yet to report except for this: "...and I learned to hide from pain. I hid my deepest feelings so well I forgot where I had placed them". There are times when I wished I could feel like that and other times I'm glad I don't. Without feelings, what are we?

Other Stuff

The weather has turned so stinkin' hot, that I can't stand it. Summers in the American Midwest does sometimes get hot, but I can't remember heat indexes over 110 degrees. My office is air conditioned, but the gyms are not. I found myself putting off taking a restroom break just so I wouldn't have to go out of the office. Then the power went off this afternoon, so I went home.

Have a good week!

Week 61 Challenge

#3 Double Crochet

63 East to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

Two more weeks and then the wrap up. WooHoo!

Projects in Progress

I call this "The Invasion of Chemo Caps". This project started as a call from a crochet guild's challenge to other crochet guilds to crochet chemo caps in time for the Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis taking place at the end of July. I took up the challenge with the goal to have at least a dozen caps finished. I think those dozen caps multiplied when I wasn't looking. Seriously, I crochet projects such as these to relieve stress. The rhythm of a basic single crochet cap takes the day's tension out of the shoulders and then I can relax to work on more complicated projects. Well, there has been more than my share of daily tension lately, so I took my frustration out on the caps; all for a good cause.

This is a swatch I made for the next hooded scarf. It is a basic moss stitch that I will use all over and maybe into some matching fingerless mittens. Stay tuned for updates.

What I Am Reading

For the first time in a long time, I had to put down a book. 1984 is back on the shelf for awhile, not because it isn't a good book, but because my mood just couldn't tolerate the darkness of humanity expressed in that book. I'll get back to it someday.

Now I am reading Girl With a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier. I'm not too far into the book, but I am enjoying the story. Chevalier has done what I always like to do when visiting art museums--make up a story to go with the picture.

Other Stuff

This is a holiday weekend in the United States. The Fourth of July is when we celebrate our independence, honor our founders, eat potato salad, and shoot off fireworks.

Please visit my Etsy store. The price on some older items has been lowered and I am now offering 10% off for all my readers. Just use the coupon code: BLOGGER01. As always (and for now), shipping is free.

Have a good week!