Thursday, February 17, 2005

Brave New World

Had a study group over here last Thursday... senior AP English class had a project to do on Brave New World ( I dont know how I managed to escape reading that in High School, guess I have to mend my education now) and these girls waited till the night before to pull the project together. Typical!

Although I can't really blame them, I do my best work when under pressure. Something about having a deadline somehow makes thoughts conjeal into something worth putting on paper.

Anyhow, this girl was walking through the house just amazed at all the yarn I have.. I guess it takes "new eyes" to see what we are used to. I started thinking about it and I have yarn in every room of the house except the kids rooms, the bathrooms and my husband's closet. Oh dear, sounds like I have let it get out of hand. :( Time to stay away from eBay for awhile.. ouch!!! Either that or SELL some of it that I bought on sale.. (which is why I bought it to begin with, thinking I'd make a profit..LOL.. now I can't stand to let it go)

I started showing my daughter's friend some of the things I've made, and she fell in love with the purple handwarmers.. so I gave them to her. She just went on and on.. How did you know my favorite color was purple.. I love these.. thank you so much. I am so glad to see them go to someone who will enjoy them. My own offspring wont wear anything I make.. sheesh.

Btw: the people who put out the SnB book are going to do one for crochet. Check out the post at getcrafty.

almost 6am, time to wake the youngins...and to look at new templates for this baby...

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Linkster

just a couple of links today:

poptop hat

yes, it says knit at the bottom of the page, but it truly is a crochet pattern.

crocheted carrot (for dieting?? hehe)

and I soooooooooo want this bag:

I sent an email to hubby asking for it (the bag, duh!), too bad valentines has already passed.

I've been so busy with cleaning house (omg, the mess a teenage boy can make.. I think we cleaned 3 large black trash sacks out of his room and there's still mess, but at least now you can see the carpet in about 85% of his room) and setting up new computer and work that I've hardly had time to crochet. Last night I tried to crochet but fell asleep with the hook in my hand.. LOL.. woke up several hours later still holding it.

My approximation of a Sierpinski shawl is coming along nicely. Instructions I started with are here. Alternate instructions here. Mine won't be an exact Sierpinski because I wanted more of a curve to fit over the shoulders, so I'm making some alterations to the pattern. I think I like it.. who knows, maybe I'll frog it and start over. eek.

I'm making it out of some vintage Bernat Savannah, which is an acrylic/cotton blend. The color is misty blue. I had 7 skeins which I think it going to be just enough, but I started getting panicky that it wouldn't be enough around skein #5, so went looking for more. Luckily, the YarnBarn had 3 skeins available and a wonderful price (not being sarcastic.. 1.50 a skein) so I got them, sight unseen, just hoping they would match. They arrived yesterday and I think they will match (haven't checked numbers yet, way too busy) and even if they don't.. I can do something else with them.

ok, i hear the hook calling me....

PS. sorry about all the goofed up links.. think I got them all fixed now... what I get for trying to post while child is waiting to use pc. That's my story!! :)

Sunday, February 13, 2005

What Kind of Yarn are YOU??

You are dishcloth cotton.
You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

They don't know me too well.. while I do like to stay home, I sure don't like to clean. :)


What kind of yarn are you?
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Saturday, February 12, 2005

Alienware Rocks!! kinda

Finally had the time to finish cleaning out my little "hole in the wall" where my old computer resided before aol ate it for lunch...thanks for the memories aol.. never never never install anything above aol 5 on an older system...it wrecks havoc and the damage is almost always unrecoverable from. :(

So, since my system was nearly 4 years old anyways, decided to get a new one.. went with alienware this time instead of micron..

So far the system is great... but installing starband hasn't gone well, and the case on the main cpu is cracked. :(

Fortunately the damage is only on one side.

We will see what happens next week when Customer Service receives my email with the pics of the damage. :::keeping toes crossed, can't type with crossed fingers::: Posted by Hello

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Hats & Hoods & Scarves, Oh My!!


a beret and scarf made with Caron's Simply Soft brites

Hooded scarf, I think the pattern is from www.lionbrand.com. I made it tri-color to use up scrap yarn.

back view, with tassels.

hooded scarf in red. seriously considering donating the hooded scarfs to the band booster's garage sale. we'll see. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Handwarmer pattern

to those who asked for my handwarmer pattern.. here it is, such as it is. I've never written a pattern before, so please let me know of mistakes, omissions, etc.

Lisa’s Hand Warmers

1 skein of Moda Dea Sassy Stripes

Or

2 skeins of fingering yarn (or one skein divided into two balls)
Fingering yarn is worked holding two strands together.
(I’m not sure of the amounts needed for the fingering yarn yet, still working that out)

Size G hook.

Chain 12 for average width wrist band

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and in every chain across. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)

Row 2: working in Back Loops Only, sc in every sc across. Do NOT skip 1st sc.

Repeat row 2 for 33 rows. (If you have wide wrists, you may want to go to 35 rows).

Ch 1, bring up beginning Row to make a tube, and slip stitch across to join.

Ch 1, and sc even around the tube you just made.(34 sc)

NOTE: on the follow rounds, do NOT join, but do MARK the beginning of each round. (I like to use a length of scrap yarn, in a contrasting color. Other people use bobby pins or safety pins. Whatever works for you, but do make sure to mark the rounds.)

Round 1: sc in the next 6 sc, 2 sc in the next sc (increase), sc in the next 17 sc, increase, sc in the remaining 10 sc. (36 sc)

Round 2: sc in each sc around. (36 sc.)

Round 3: sc in first 8 sc, 2 sc in the next (increase), *sc in the next 8, increase* repeat between * twice more. (40 sc)

Round 4: sc in each sc around. (40 sc)

Round 5: sc in first 9 sc, 2 sc in the next (increase). *sc in the next 9, increase* repeat between * twice more. (44 sc)

Round 6: sc in each sc around. (44 sc)

Round 7: sc in first 10 sc, 2 sc in the next sc (increase) *sc in the next 10, increase* repeat between * twice more. (48 sc)

Round 8 -10: sc in each sc around. (48 sc)

Check mitt for fit at this time. Usually I need between 10 and 14 rows for the palm area. This will vary for the individual who will be wearing it and the crafter/artist. Assuming that the mitt is now near the base of the thumb:

Round 11: sc in first two sc, chain two, skip 10 sc, sc in remaining sc around. (38 sc and 2 chains) (this makes the thumb hole)

Round 12: sc in first two sc, sc in each of the two chains from the previous round, sc in next 14 sc, insert hook into sc on previous round, draw up loop, do not complete sc, insert hook into next sc, draw up loop. Yo and draw through all 3 loops on the hook, decrease made. Sc in next 18 sc, decrease. (38 sc)

Round 13: sc in each sc around. (38 sc)

Round 14: sc in first 17 sc, decrease, sc in next 17 sc, decrease. (36 sc)

Round 15: sc in each sc around. (36 sc)

Check fit again. If the round is near the bottom of the little finger, you are ready to finish. If you need more length, continue sc around until it is long enough to suit you.

Finishing round: chain 2, do alternating fphdc (front post half double crochets) and bphdc (back post half double crochets) around. Join to chain 2 and end off. Weave in ends.

Extras: you can trim the wrist area with eyelash or funfur. What I did was to do two rows of hdc around with funfur.

Choose any small flower pattern you like and sew it to the back of the handwarmers.

TaDa!!! You’re now the proud owner of a pair of handcrafted handwarmers.


Seraphina Shawl

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I finally got all the ends woven in on the Seraphina (or batwing) shawl. Isn't it lovely? I made it from LB's wool-ease. I wish it had less wool content in it, because although it's gorgeous, it makes my back itch to wear it. And the Homespun shawl doesn't have that effect. I plan to wear the Seraphina to work today.. supposed to be in the low to mid 40's as a high. Brrrrrrrrrrr. Time to go get ready. I'll upload more from work if time allows.

The third picture is to show the sparkly of the yarn. :)

btw, this is my first time using photobucket to upload to my blog, we'll see how it goes.

ps: photobucket did OK for loading the pics.. had to resize, but the text wasn't to my liking at all. I had to go in and take out a bunch of extra space.