Category: Crochet
Monday, December 31, 2007
Since the New Year is right around the corner, I worked on a plan of action for 2008. A way to get myself organized as far as which projects are priority to finish, which need progress, which need to be started and completed before the year is up, etc.
So I wrote it all down, and now feel like I have a handle on things. First things first, Finish Nez’s Afghan. Then finish Smitten (Amelia’s cardigan). Then finish the crochet tablecloth. I’m just about done with the afghan and it’s coming out fabulous. I really like it. I have one more border to work (12 rows of ripple), then 6 rounds of edging and weaving in a zillion ends. Smitten needs a sleeve finished, another sleeve worked, then it’s on hold til I either can find some more yarn via Ravelry, or til February when Knit Picks will have available the colorway I need. I’m short 2 skeins to finish the left front piece. :( Hopefully the weather will hold so that when I do finish it, Amelia will get some use out of it before spring arrives. The tablecloth is crochet thread. I think I’m more than 1/2 way through the required rounds. And it’s only about 36″ in diameter so it shouldn’t take too long. And I actually like doing thread crochet. So it should go pretty quick. If I finish the blanket and what I can do on Smitten before I get more yarn, then I’ll work on the tablecloth while I wait.
Once all that is finished (I’m guessing about Feb or March), then I start on the Christmas projects. I ordered a kit from Annie’s Woolens for a knit stocking. I plan to make it for Amelia because she doesn’t have her own stocking yet. Last year we used one that DH had given to me when we got engaged. If it goes well, then I will make one for myself and for DH, so we all have handmade stockings. I’m keeping it to those 3 items. But before I start on that, I think I’m going to make a few snowflake coasters. I’ve never done fair isle before, and I’d rather practice on something small before I tackle a project as big as the stocking.
I’m also working on the woven afghan. I can make 2 squares in less than 2 hours while watching television in the evenings. So this is a great break away from all the other intense projects.
In addition to all that, I want to get some decent progress done on the Gingham and Ruffles granny square afghan and the bear claw knitted blanket. No rush to get them finished, but I do want to make some significant progress.
Then if time permits during all of this, I’d like to make a few loom knitted items. I’m thinking of trying out the Irish Hiking scarf modifying the pattern (as needed) for the loom. I think it would be good practice and fun to do.
So that’s the gist of my plan for 2008. I’m well on my way as I spent most of the weekend working on the afghan for my sister. And it feels good to have some sort of plan for finishing my WIPs and getting some stuff done that I really would like to have made before the year is over.
Posted in Crochet, Knitting, Projects | No Comments
Friday, December 14, 2007
I’ve been inspired to work on my afghans. I’ve been browsing afghan projects on ravelry. Just looking at what others have made really is inspirational. And it’s motivational. I want to get working on my afghans again and get them finished so I can show them off.
For some reason, after months of letting it sit, I picked up my sis’ afghan and started the left border. I got the first 2 rows of it done. Each border is 12 rows, then I have to do a 6-round edge on the whole thing. But once I get going it’s not that difficult and it’s actually fun watching the ripple take shape. It’s a pretty simple pattern repeat (but I do have to say it in my head as I go along). Maybe I’ll actually get this done soon. There really isn’t much to do on it.
I’ve also made some great progress on Amelia’s cardigan. Although I did hit a snag. I measured her chest and it measured exactly with what the size 2 finished measurement is. I knew that wouldn’t work as she’ll outgrow it too quickly. So I decided to make the next size up even if it is a bit big on her right now. Of course, I ended up running out of yarn. Now I need to order more just so I can finish the left front panel. The right and back are done. The sleeves are in a different color and I have more than I need for it. Go figure. So I’ve got to remember to call Knit Picks before it’s too late and pray that they can get me the same dye lot or if not, that it’s not too far off the mark. But I did start the sleeves while I wait for more yarn to finish the front.
I also made a crochet hat ornament for a co-worker. She loved it. You can see pics at Flickr.
Posted in Afghans, Crochet, Knitting, Smitten | No Comments
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The top border is finished. Now comes the fun part of figuring out how to pick up 103 stitches evenly along the left side. :) Yeah. I have a feeling it’s going to come out a little wonky, but that’s okay. It’s just a throw that will be tossed on the couch. Despite the trouble I’ve had with Homespun, looking at the blanket now that it’s looking like something, I’m actually pleased with how it’s coming along. It looks pretty neat. I’m looking forward to seeing the final result, now that I’m seeing it take shape.
Posted in Afghans, Crochet | No Comments
Friday, October 19, 2007
Sheesh. It’s been a while. October has officially become a busy month. With Amelia’s first birthday and trips to FL to have cake and presents with the grandparents and 2 weeks worth of sickness in our house and now preparing for Halloween, it’s been so busy. 2 weeks ago, Amelia came down with a cold or something and spiked fevers up to 103. An ear infection that had her screaming 3 nights straight from medication. Me developing the flu, I guess and being bed-ridden for 3-4 days. Then to find out it’s a massive sinus infection. So now I’m doped up on meds as well. Amelia had her one-year checkup and I baked cupcakes for her class at daycare. Plus we’re trying to figure out what to do for Halloween. It’s been a few busy weeks since I last posted.
And sadly enough, because of all the stuff going on, I’ve missed 2 SNB nights and have hardly worked on anything knitting/crochet related. It’s still warm here, so now that I’m working on the edge of my sister’s afghan the whole thing has to sit in my lap. Not fun to have a thick warm blanket on your lap when it’s sweltering hot. Plus I’ve messed up somehow and my ripple isn’t going the way it should. I need to take some time to recheck stitch count and pattern repeats to see where I went wrong and fix it. Then there’s a section hanging off the end of the border that I have no idea how it fits into the whole thing. It will be interesting to see where it goes, but I’m trying to take it one row at a time. With this yarn it’s so hard to see the stitches, much less in a ripple. ugh! I will be so glad to be done with this project so I can finally be done with Lion Brand Homespun for good.
As you can see, I finally also got my blog working again. So many errors and attempted fixes and it was all due to one plugin causing me so much grief. So I disabled that plugin and all is well.
So start commenting! I have none!
Posted in Crochet, Personal | No Comments
Thursday, October 4, 2007
There haven’t been many posts from me in a while. I’ve been crocheting even though there isn’t really anything new to report. I’ve pieced together the rectangles for my sister’s afghan and I’ve started on the wavy border. It looks really neat so far, but in the past week, we’ve all fallen ill. Guess the flu is going around and we all caught it. I’m still feeling sort of crappy, so I haven’t really worked on anything this week.
We’re going to FL this weekend for Amelia’s 1st birthday party, so I’ll be too busy anyway. Hopefully when I get back, I’ll be feeling more myself and things will get back to normal. Then I can really get working on the border and have something to show. Till then, you’ll just have to wait.
Posted in Afghans, Crochet, Personal | No Comments
