Flirty 30’s Tank Top
I finally finished the top from Interweave Crochet’s 2008 summer issue. 
It took a while only because I had a problem with a big tangled mess that I posted previously. I thought it came out quite beautifully. I had a little trouble weaving in the ends, so I’m not sure how long it will last. I will try to keep washings to a minimum, I think.
I love this pattern. It was so easy to follow. My only problem initially was that there were not pictures of the back to know where the buttons would go, but the pattern was easy enough to follow there. Unfortunately, the pattern does not explain how to finish off completely where the ribbon is concerned, so I did not actually finish it. The ribbon is left loose in the back. As long as I wear my hair down, you can’t really tell. I will post the picture of the top being worn tomorrow.
Big Bow Cardigan Finished!
I need to take a picture, but I am officially finished with my Big Bow Cardigan. What makes it official? I wore it to work today. I know it’s a high of 76 today in Seattle and no one should be wearing any kind of wool today, but I wanted to show it off.
I am still working on the Snow Drop Scarf. I kind of stopped because I wanted to make a pair of socks for my husband, but the pattern I chose to start from is just way too hard! I found one pattern that I will try. I believe I have enough yarn to make it work.
I am also working on a rectangle sparkly shawl for my mom. I’m hoping to have it done by her birthday in October or at least by Christmas from Crochet World magazine. I’m not liking the yarn much. There’s a silver thread interwoven that tends to pull and bunch around the cotton thread. Hopefully it will finish up nicely.
Big Bow Cardigan & Snow Drops Scarf
I finished the crochet portion of the Big Bow Cardigan the other night and am now waiting for it to dry before piecing it together and adding the buttons. I know this one has taken me forever! I got bored with all the single crochets once I got over the initial hurdles of where the stitches were supposed to go. I’m just glad the designer was open to questions on Ravelry!
Anyway, while looking for a project I could start with material already at hand, I flipped through the magazine one more time and came across the Snow Drops Scarf. It is quite pretty and I am enjoying working in filet for the first time. However, I am not happy with the yarn I am using. I forget right now what brand it is, so I will update later tonight when I have the tag in front of me. It bought it fairly cheap at Wal-Mart because I loved the color and how soft it feels. However, after working a few rows, I came across yarn that had begun to unravel or uncoil. Hard to explain but basically the yarn had puffed up to twice it’s normal diameter making it useless. I had to snip that off at both ends and kept going. I thought well this must be an anomaly, I’ll keep going. Well, I’m into my third pattern repitition now and I’ve had to snip several inches maybe now as much as a foot and a half of this fat yarn. I am quite annoyed!
On the other hand, the pattern is actually quite fun to follow, props go to Doris Chan the designer. Its not insultingly easy (at least not to me!) but neither did I feel I needed extra help to understand. My problems stemmed from not re-reading the instructions at the beginning regard the right side and wrong side and losing my place. My husband’s iPod Touch has a great program called Stitch Minder which really helps to keep you from losing your place. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a similar widget for the Mac or for my PC for that matter. This makes it difficult when I want to crochet and he wants to use the iPod at the same time. In any case, if you happen to own an iPhone or Touch, I would recommend downloading this free app. It has saved me several times with the Big Bow Cardigan and the Dr. Who scarf.
I will post pictures as soon as I’m done with both projects!
Getting Loopy Contests
I have been listening to the Getting Loopy in Prime Time podcast for a few weeks now. I enjoy Mary Beth’s interviews with designers and magazine editors. Every week, she hosts a contest. I have been entering them consecutively since I started listening. It finally paid off a couple of weeks ago, and now again on last night’s episode. I haven’t received my first prize yet, but I expect to in the next few weeks. I believe I won a bag of samples and goodies sold for the purpose of encouraging free form crochet. I kind of like the idea of free form, but I do need to learn more technique first.
Last night, however, I won something I’m really excited about. I won a copy of Creepy Cute Crochet! I have mentioned this book before, but could not convince myself to spend the money. Now that I will have a copy, I can begin my army of undead to battle the army of ninjas! Mostly, I just want to make my husband something out of crochet that he will actually want like a ninja. As soon as I get my copy, I will hopefully start a few projects and post about that here.
Getting Loopy comes on Monday nights at 6:00 PM PST. Listen in! It’s wonderful to hear about crochet and about other people who are into crochet.
WIP: Big Bow Cardigan
I have been working on the Big Bow Cardigan by Julia Vaconsin from Interweave Crochet’s Winter issue for the past couple of weeks. I keep getting hung up with each new set of instructions. My biggest problem I find is that I have trouble seeing things spatially. I don’t know how the garment is supposed to fit together. Every time I arrive at a new set of instructions, I am lost all over again. I read, and re-read then attempt, frog and read again the instructions. I am very grateful that I have a co-worker who crochets and for the Crochetville forums. They have been so helpful in explaining the pattern to me in a different way so I actually understand! I am working on the back right now and it looks like I only have the left sleeve and the scarf that forms the bow left to do. Hopefully today I can get some advice as to how to move on from here because I am stuck yet again.
Crochet Blocks – Triangle shawl [updated]
I have been working on three projects at the same time, a Dr. Who scarf, a receiving blanket for my friend who’s expecting her second baby sometime in the next two weeks, and a triangle shawl made up of crochet blocks from 200 Crochet Blocks, Old Vienna and Alhambra for a birthday present for my husband’s aunt. The Dr. Who scarf is somewhere beyond six feet long probably closer to ten feet and much more to go. The scarf is my first commissioned work being done for material cost only, but still it makes me feel good to know that.
The receiving blanket is for a baby boy in a blue Batman print flannel with a variegated blue to white crochet thread border. I am making it up as I go along, and as I learn new stitches from other patterns. I do like how it is looking anyway. I will have to put aside the other two projects in order to finish this one first. I especially want to get this one done soon since I don’t know when my friend will pop (so to speak).
The triangle shawl is the one project I’m actually enjoying. I like working with this particular yarn more than the 100% acrylic stuff from the scarf or the small crochet thread for the receiving blanket. The yarn I’m working with, Plymouth Yarn Encore, is 75% acrylic and 25% wool. It feels good in my hands as I work the blocks. I am still trying to get my tension right in each square. I’ve made about eight or nine as of last night. I think I will need another ten or so to make it the right size. I have been concentrating on this one because I enjoy working on it even though it should be second on my list of priorities.
Better cascade scarf photos
I realized the picture I had posted for the aqua cascade scarf did not do the scarf justice. Below is one shot I took this morning before work. The other photo apparently did not upload properly.
Cascade Scarf in aqua
I made a cascade scarf from this pattern in gorgeous aqua. It is only the third one one I’ve attempted! The first one was with this dreadful acrylic yarn that feels terrible to the touch. I wanted it to be a gift, a sort of thank you, but it was just too awful the way it was. I bought yarn to finish it anyway, and another skien for a second one as another late Christmas gift. I ran out of yarn once again, and decidedly finally that I couldn’t give anyone that awful material from the first scarf. I went to a yarn store in the Ravenna area since my husband was getting a haircut in Wallingford. My first visit in an honest to goodness yarn shop, Acorn Street Yarn Shop. I bought this lovely wool, acrylic mix in aqua which was just a dream to work with. Anyway, I am working on my fourth cascade scarf which is actually the second one all over again. I’m hoping I can try another hook and ten fewer chain stitches to see if I can make the one skien make it for one full scarf. I’m enjoying making this pattern. The aqua scarf is just beautiful. I hope my co-worker will like it anyhow.
Denim Afghan
As promised albeit a bit late, the picture of the finished afghan. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to take a picture of the afghan unfolded. I think it is quite beautiful.
I adapted this particular pattern from a pattern I found online. It called for a P hook and well I couldn’t work with a hook that size. I used an ‘I’ hook instead. It’s basically, chain until it is 60″-65″, then single crochet 12 rows of the denim (multicolored), and 6 of the ivory until it is 43″-46″.
Christmas gift number… I lost count
I finished the afghan for my friend Serena this morning. I gave it to her when I got into work. I’ve been showing off to everyone at the office. My boss tried to wrestle for it, but I told him he would have to wrestle the pregnant lady, and he back off.
I will post a picture tonight since I forgot my camera. I’m very proud of my efforts. Unfortunately, it will be another few weeks before I will start another project. I’ve got at least three more to go this year, and then I’m done.
Wish me luck!
Merry Christmas
