Week 12 Challenge

#25 Aligned Shells from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make An Heirloom Afghan.

As promised, here is the step-by-step of the join-as-you-go method I am using for this project. There is an excellent tutorial at Annie's Attic on how to actually make the join.

1. With the right side up and crochet hook, 3 sc in middle sc of lower right corner; 27 sc up right side of block.

2. 3 sc is corner sc; 27 sc up top of block; 3 sc in corner sc.

3. 27 sc down left side; 2 sc in corner sc.

4. Using tunisian hook, right side together matching stitches with the right side of the adjoining block, pick up sts.

5. YO, pull through 1st loop, yo pull through 2 loops. Continue across to last 3 loops. YO pull through 3 loops.

6. With crochet hook, turn work right side out; sc in corner sc (so you have 3 sc in corner); 27 sc across bottom of block, do not join.

7. With tunisian hook, right sides together matching stitches to top of adjoining block, beginning with the corner stitches (yes, a little awkward, but it works), pick up stitches.

8. Repeat Step 5. Fasten off.

Completed join

Right side view

That's it! An easy process--it just takes a little practice and hold your tongue just right.

Have a good week!'

Week 11 Challenge

#56 Snapdragon Stitch from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine To Make An Heirloom Afghan, Leisure Arts.

I seem to have lost a week. Does anyone know where I put it? I could have sworn I blogged last week.

I like to walk, work, and craft while listening to podcasts and audio books. Those darn ear phone lines kept getting in my way, sometimes unplugging the earphones causing my iPod to drop to the ground. Thus came the iPod lanyard. I can wrap up the excess lines around the iPod and shove it all in the lanyard case.

The iPod lanyard is very easy to make. Make a chain slightly smaller than the width of the iPod. Do not join, but continue to work in the stitch of choice until the length desired. I added a flap by working half of the last row and turning. Decrease on each side of the flap until you have the width and length of flap desired. Slip stitch down the side of the flap. Work a foundation double crochet chain until you have the length desired. Fasten off, leaving yarn long enough to attach a lobster claw. It's done!

I have several podcasts I like to hear on a regular basis. Right now (and I mean this very minute) I am listening to the Classic Tales Podcast. B.J. Harrison reads short stories and novels, releasing a free podcast every Friday. Currently he is reading The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. Even though I have read this novel before, I find myself deeply engrossed in the reading. A couple of weeks ago, the episode left off at a point where I almost got upset. "NO! Don't leave me here for a week! I need to know what happens! Wait. I've read this before. I know what happens."

Have a good week!

Week 10 Challenge

This week's block from 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine To Make An Heirloom Afghan is #33 Silt Stitch. I am not overly fond of this stitch. There just isn't much texture definition. After I added this block to the afghan, I realized that it was wrong side up. Further inspection showed that that purple block next to it was sideways. This is what is so great about joining-as-you-go. I only had to frog the joining round on the offending blocks and re-join. Awesome!

This is what I made for my fiber pal (Hi Jo Ann!) for the month of June. The pattern is on Lion Brand's website. This is a great place to find free patterns. There website is very user friendly. The pattern downloads into MY LYB just waiting for me to make. Each pattern even has a row counter and a place to add notes that automatically saves--ready and waiting for the next time.

Last week's Dishcloth KAL using designs by Alli Barrett, is Ladybug Daze Cloth. These are so quick to make and her designs are wonderful. I'm not sure how often we'll start a new KAL, but I want to make them all.

Other than that, I have been working on Christmas presents. And now my daughter and mother-in-law want crocheted iPod covers just like one I made for myself. More details on that later. Looks like I'll be busy for awhile.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

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!