Week 9 Challenge and a Pretty Flower

The block for Week 9 from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches is #26 Simple Shell Stitch. This completes one row. Only 54 more blocks to go! WooHoo!!! My goal is to post a video on how to do the Tunisian join. Hopefully I'll have that soon.

I haven't done much else except the crochet coaster. There are two reasons for this:

First, I interviewed for a promotion that would have been a considerable increase in pay, which would have meant a little extra to buy the yarn on my wish list. That promotion didn't happen. So now I'm back to working with what is in my stash and saving for yarn to make myself some knit and crochet tops I've had my eye on for a long time.

Second, we usually spend this time of year getting our yard ready for the summer. We like to get everything done now so we all that needs to be done is spend a little time on those

hot evenings mowing, weeding and watering. Mother Nature hasn't cooperated with us this year. We have had either torrential downpours or scalding heat. This week we had both. It's hard to believe that after over three inches of rain at the beginning of the week, all the flower beds were completely dry by the weekend. That's life in the Midwest.

I still have five more Christmas presents to make and six months to finish them--plenty of time!

Have a good week!

Week 8 Challenge

I have been on vacation this week. The first part of the week, it rained. The remainder of the week was just to stickin' hot to do much of anything except stay inside for a lot of knitting and crocheting.

The block for this week's 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches challenge is #7 Alternate Puff Stitch. This was a fun stitch and would be good made with cotton for a dish cloth or something really soft for a face cloth.

Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl. Someone came up with the great idea to supply all the volunteers with hand crafted scarves. We'll need to have 8000 done by the Super Bowl. This is my third one. I haven't set a goal for this; just make scarves until they either don't need any more or time is up.

This was a fun project made with plarn (yarn made from plastic grocery bags). It's called The Ultimate Grocery Bag designed by Cindy aka RecycleCindy. Her website is MyRecycledBags.com. This is a great way to use up all those plastic grocery bags.

This week I joined a Knit Along on Ravely--KAL with knitwitsalli. We will be making dishcloths designed my Alli Barrett. Our first one was for Father's Day. My father passed away 23 years ago - right before Father's Day. I am considering making another one and give them to my brothers.

Finally, I worked on making more CD coasters. There is an arts fair in August. I am hoping to have enough of my own designs to sell.

That is all for this week.

Happy Father's Day!

Week 6 & 7 Challenge

Block #8 Chevron Relief Stitch from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches

Block #7 Arch Stitch from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches

I don't know where time has gone. It's summer and we spend a lot of time outside...guess I just forgot to post last week.

Today is muggy and stormy. We worked outside until we couldn't stand it. So today I post. It may be like this for the summer, but I am keeping up with my challenge.

I've also been working on Christmas presents, my fiber pal challenge, and a scarf--pictures to follow some day.

Having a fiber pal is so much fun. We get monthly challenges that really get the creative juices flowing. And the best part--I get something hand crafted just for me! As all crafters know, we very seldom get to keep the fun things for ourselves. We either give them as gifts or donations. From my fiber pal I've received things such as potholders, a scarf, face cloth, and notebook. Each monthly box has a handcrafted item and a few goodies. I look forward to the little package coming every month.

There is a sweater I would like to knit for myself. I want to make it out of a silk blend yarn, which is a little out of my price range. It's time for a yarn diet until I can save enough money to buy the yarn.

I am on vacation this week. If the weather keeps up as it has been this weekend, I should get a lot of knitting and crocheting done.

Have a good week! Keep cool and dry.

Week 5 Challenge

This week's block from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches to Make An Heirloom Afghan is #41 Fan and Popcorn. These blocks are so easy and they take less than an hour to crochet. I probably could sit down and make the whole afghan in about two weeks; but there is this challenge. I have figured out how to attach the first row with the Tunisian join. When it's time to join more than one side that I will have to refigure.

Meanwhile, the vest is finished. The pattern is Ivy League Vest designed by Eunny Jang and the yarn is Knit Pick's Palette yarn in lots of colors. I am very happy with they way this turned out. The fit is great, especially since I went up a size on the needles. My recommendation is: the pattern calls for a lot more yarn that is needed. I thought when I was ordering two balls of each color that it seemed like a lot of yarn for a colorwork vest and I was right. Sometimes I should listen to myself.

We have been spending some time working outside. This weekend we planted a Spirea bush that has tiny pink flowers. It's been very hot, so I don't spend a lot of time outside - just short bursts of work, but we did get everything accomplished that we planned for this weekend. Now we can enjoy the holiday.

Today is a day set aside to remember those who have fought for our country. God Bless You All!

Week 4 Challenge

This week's block from 63 East-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make An Heirloom Afghan is #55, Parallel Post Stitch. Post stitches are one of my favorites. It is an easy way for a little texture in crochet.

THE CHALLENGE IS ON! I have 59 more blocks to make and I am already bored with the whole project. Will I continue or shove it in a drawer to be forgotten?

Meanwhile, the fair isle vest is coming along nicely. The armhole shaping is done and the only thing I need to be concerned about is the neck shaping. It can be difficult to keep track of all the shaping while keeping the garment in pattern. My chart has helped a lot. I used different colors to mark for the different shaping; green for the waist, pink for the neck, and blue for the armhole.

Once this vest is finished, I'll need to concentrate again on Christmas presents. I don't want to stay up all night through the month of December trying to get projects completed on time.

We have had twelve straight days of measurable rain. The last two days have been sunny and dry. The weeds are taking over!!!

Week 3 Challenge

This week's block from 63 East-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine To Make An Heirloom Afghan is #44 Cluster Braid. I really like this stitch--it would be good for a scarf. I can also see it for a very sturdy tote bag.

The fair isle vest is coming along a lot better and I am happy with it now. This time I have charted the whole front; marking all the shaping. The chart is quite large, but with the magic of a copier, my working copy is about the size of a sheet of paper. I thought the symbols would come out too small, but it is surprisingly easy to read.

This week I also made my fiber pal something to do with food. The May challenge for this swap is difficult, but I came up with something. It is a bit of a stretch, but I like it--I may have to make one for myself. I don't want to say what it is because it's supposed to be a surprise, but I can say it is made from Lion Brand Recycled Cotton. The yarn is a little difficult to work with because it splits--a lot. However, the color and drape is wonderful.

With Spring finally here, I am spending more time outdoors; at least as much time as my allergies will allow. This weekend we cleaned out the rings under Scarlett and Rhett (our maple trees we planted shortly after we were married). I then planted purple, pink, and white petunias. Next weekend I am hoping to clean out the flower beds at the side of the house. Maybe I should take pictures.

Week 2 Challenge

The second block from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make An Heirloom Afghan is #10 Offset Cluster. I've decided to try a tunisian join for these join-as-you-go blocks. If it works, I'll give the directions with pictures.

We just got back from a week in the Smoky Mountains. It was awesome! Not only did we see mountains, rivers and streams, and a lot a trees; but we saw bears, wild turkeys, deer, and snakes. We are ready to go back. Too bad we have this thing called jobs.

The only thing I got done this week, along with the block, was to frog the fair isle vest. Something just wasn't going right. If I'm not happy with it now, I know I'll never wear it. Since vacation used up my money, I don't really have anything else to work on. Guess I'll be casting on soon. This time I am going to use larger needles (turns out my knitting in the round is a little tight), make it a size larger, and follow the directions. Maybe I'm just not ready to make modifications on fair isle knitting.

Happy Mother's Day!