Watch out FSU, here she comes!!!

Letter Pillows I made for my girls dorm room.



KamoKitty that I made for her last summer, to help her being away from her real cat. Don't remember where the pattern came from, but I do know it was online. If/when I do find it again, I'll link it here.



The cat she had to leave behind. :( No animals in the dorms. (other than goldfish type fish)
Don't worry momma, Thunder still gets the Tuna juice on his dry food.



Dads truck, partially packed, getting ready to go.



Ready for FSU!!

They actually left Thursday and moved her in on Saturday. I just haven't been able to emotionally look at the pictures till now. Even now it makes me want to cry to see her pretty face and not be able to talk to her any ole time I want. I know I must let her go and let her grow.. but it's hard. If I let go, she'll be more willing to come back.

Procrastination Pays Off

I've been wanting to go to HobbyLobby for over a week now, and kept finding excuses not to go...too tired, too hot outside, gas is too expensive to make a run JUST for yarn, I got too much yarn already, etc etc etc. And I was really having a battle with myself because the Omega Sinfonia that I like is.. now was.. on sale. But I ended up not going.

I was GOOD!! I was RIGHT!!! I am VINDICATED!!!! Hobby Lobby has the TLC Essentials that I want for my Cathedral Window afghan on sale this week. I'm going first thing Monday Morning and get it. I usually go to work first, then go play, but with all this heat.. I know I won't go shopping if I wait till the afternoon. Thank goodness for part-time jobs that let you set your own hours.. woohoo!!!

Difficulties

I'm trying to write out instructions for the Honeycomb Shawl and Word crashes on me just as I'm putting on the finishing touches and thinking about asking for testers. Lovely. I hope I saved most of it before the crash.

I'm having a hard time settling into doing anything. Restless. Talked to John today, he told me some of the trials and tribulations of getting S. settled in the dorm room.. he said it was extremely hot. I believe it. I remember how bad it was in June when I was there for orientation. I've tried calling her dorm a few times this afternoon and the phone just rings and rings. I know she's probably having the time of her life.. but I need to hear from her.

This is so hard.

Pictures?... We got pictures

Pink shawl made from "Conny" yarn. It's a vintage all acrylic imitation mohair yarn from Israel. I don't know the name of the stitch. It looks like a honeycomb to me and that's what I'm calling it till I learn different.

I took a stitch I saw in a japanese pattern book and made it slightly lacier. Maybe someone else knows the name of the stitch. I don't know if I want to fringe this or do anything to the neck edge. I really love this, it's so soft and light. The pattern works from one fingertip to the other, so the sizing is extremely variable. The pattern increases every row and when the shawl is about half the size you want it, then you start making decrease rows.



Close up of the pattern work. (yeah I know it could've used a better background, but I was lucky to get my teen to model at all). I want to call this an "interlocking ring" or "honeycomb" pattern.



Hooded cape from "Wrapped in Style" booklet. I made it with Light n Lofty instead of Homespun, and have not put the funfur on the edge. I dont think I'm going to either, as this was made simply because I had the L&L at an almost free price, and was making this just for the heck of it. I also chose not to go full length. It will probably be given away to someone.



back view. uh.. that's not a tail on the thing, I just didn't have time to weave in the ends before picture taking time. My daughter's best friend is very graciously modeling for me.



Serafina Shawl made in Homespun & M size hook. I think the color name is Antique. Funny story, I made this same shawl in the Mission color for my daughter's theatre teacher, then made one just like this for my son's long suffering English teacher. Then my daughter decided she didn't like the Mission color and wanted one in Antique for her theatre teacher. soooo back to the hook I go. And in the middle of making it, I found multiple flaws in the yarn.. so I write to Lionbrand and they send me not 1 replacement skein, but 3!! so I had enough to make a 3rd shawl. Which I don't know what it's eventual fate will be. Right now I wear it while on the computer when it's cold. I may give it to a friend.


Wrap from a Crochet! magazine (I'll look up which one). The one in the magazine was made with Paton's Grace in Apricot with a multi-color edging of Funfur. This one is made with Omega Sinfonia. I think it's still too short and I'm not sure I will edge with funfur.. maybe just do a picot or a small shell edging.

Close up of pattern stitching.

I have found another pattern book I want to add to my collection. It's Leisure Arts "Stunning Crochet Shrugs". Michaels didn't have it last week and I haven't been able to make it to HL yet. Maybe Thursday of this week. Hope so cuz they've got the Sinfonia on sale. Wouldn't you know it.. when I just bought some 2 weeks ago. Sheesh.

Comment Spam and Yarn shopping

Oh good grief.. I just got spammed for the first time in my comments. The perpetrator didn't even have the cajones to leave their real name.. just Anonymous. Yeah, right, like I'm going to invest in something unsolicited and from an ANONYMOUS poster. Where do these people store their intelligence? In the freezer? If intelligence was something that got used up.. they'd certainly never run out.. because these spammers don't USE what little they have to begin with.

Made a run to the "big city" to get Meningitis shots for oldest, school supplies for #1 (& only) son, got battery for key with alarm for older car, and scored big on an estate sale. Just ran in on a whim to see if they had any silverware or plates that daughter could use in her dorm. Lady told me we could have anything in the kitchen except the Microwave.. for FREE. She also gave us two small round particle board tables and a wallhanging. She also offered us 3 TV's, but we turned them down.. they were too big and my daughter's roomie is supposedly bringing a TV. I'm really happy about the things we got for free. Not that buying any of that would break us, but it helps to have somethings free, with paying out of state tuition.

I think I have some of the yarn for my Cathedral Window afghan. I really wanted to use Paton's Canadiana.. but I found TLC Essentials on sale at Michaels..for 2.75 a skein. Only problem is that they didn't have a great selection of the variegated. I did get the Shaded Blue Jean, and then some Navy blue and some Steel Blue and some white. Thinking I could use the Steel Blue in place of one of the variegated and the Navy in place of the Black. Then I started looking at other places that carry TLC Essentials and found a place that has a variegated called Dream, that I think would work well with the Shaded Blue Jean, but their prices are higher than I would like to pay.

I really meant to also go to Hobby Lobby today, but ran out of energy. I was so tired and weak I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it home tonight, so passed on HL. Maybe they will have a variegated of TLC essentials that will work with the BlueJean, and I won't have to order my other variegated. I also need to go swimming in my bathtub full of yarn and see what I have of TLC in there.

Mood: Tired, but accomplished.

Music: G&R: Sweet Child of Mine (haha.. what the kids have on their "confuser")

Pre Semi-Empty Nest

My oldest leaves for Florida State University in less than a week. I'm already beginning to feel the labor pains of letting go. These are emotional (of course) rather than physical, but hurt just as much. I just hope we don't have a fight before she leaves.

Here's a Tip

When using very fine, mohair like yarn.. be very careful not to make mistakes... it's hell to frog. I only noticed the mistake about 10 rows away...>>sheesh<<

Crochet Kroshai Crotchet Krahchit

Interesting little post I ran across in the Daily Chaos blog, about the history and meaning of the word Crochet.

Now I know why I'm krahchitty when I can't kroshai.

Yarn Addicted.. who me?

Do you think you might be addicted to yarn? Then Ya gotta read Cerridwen's post about yarn addiction. Although she is a knitter (sigh) she has a great sense of humor about how yarn can take over a life. I wish I had written her post.

I dropped a ball of yarn in ranch dressing this afternoon. NO, not on purpose. I kept watching the yarn jump around as I crocheted and thinking I needed to move the bowl before it happened.. and then it did. I guess I get to try out the "yarn in a pair of hose" laundry trick. I already rinsed it off, and it's sitting near the dish drainer. I suppose DH will think I've really gone bonkers, seeing yarn in the dish drainer.

I'm working on trying to figure out this stitch:


I found it originally as a Poncho, but I want to make it into a shawl. I can't find it in my Complete guide to Knitting and Crochet Stitches. I NEED a copy of the Harmony Guides #6 & #7. I hope Josi over at Weird Mirror gets some in soon. I may have to break down and pay a little more than what she sells them for. I have soooooooo many ideas bouncing around in my head.. the number of WIPs keeps growing and growing. argh.

I'm also going to join the Crochet-a-Long at Crochetville for the Catheral Window Afghan. I'm not a big fan of Annie's Attic patterns, but this one is drop-dead-in-your-tracks gorgeous. This one is too pretty and too complicated for me to use plain ole red heart. I will have to find something nicer. After I get the pattern. LOL.. that's going to be a challenge as it's out of print. And I'm too scots to pay too much for it.

1 more day left on my current eBay sales. Gotta get more listed. And that means more pictures..

And need to get 18 y/o a meningitis shot before she heads off to university next month...and she missed her dermatologist appt...and 16 y/o needs to take Spanish 3 final.. and enroll for part-time college classes (to satisfy DAP ~distinguished achievement program~ requirements) .. You'd think it would slow down some over the summer.

Our coffeepot stopped working today too.. Monday isn't going to be a good day.

Too good to miss

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

At first thought, you think.. so what. So go check it out.. it's different than anything I've seen before.

Kinda reminds me of an online/postal confessional. (and no, I've never been to confession, not a catholic, so please don't get offended if I'm way off base. This is just what it reminds me of)

More soul sharing at http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/

This guy is brave. I admire him for his efforts and his honesty. You GO Steve. You're the man!!

Blogging For Freedom

The Electronic Freedom Foundation is sponsoring a Freedom Blogathon.




Info from their newsletter below.

* EFF Announces "EFF15 Blog-a-thon" - Blog for Freedom!
July 19-August 2

For the past 15 years, EFF has been fighting to preserve
the constitutional right to freedom of expression on the
Internet. In the last few years, we've seen an explosion
of expression as new web publishing tools emerged,
providing countless netizens with their own personal First
Amendment machines. This month is our 15th anniversary
and to celebrate, we're putting these publishing tools
front and center. We're holding an EFF15 Blog-a-thon
where you're invited to blog about your personal
experiences fighting for freedom online - a project to
celebrate new publishing tools, attract new EFF members,
and mark our 15th all at once.

We want to hear about your "click moment" - the very
first step you to took to stand up for your digital
rights - whether it was blogging about an issue you
care about, participating in a demonstration, writing
your representatives, or getting involved with EFF.

As a thank you, we've enlisted an independent panel of
judges to choose from among your posts for "Most
Inspirational," "Most Humorous," and "Best Overall."
At the end of the Blog-a-thon, we'll announce the
names of the three bloggers with the best posts on our
website and in EFFector. We'll also publish the three
best posts on our site and send the authors a blogging
"kit" as an extra thank you: an EFF bloggers' rights
T-shirt, special EFF-branded blogger pajama pants, a
pound of coffee, and a pair of fuzzy slippers!

Follow the links below for details on how to participate
and watch the Blog-a-thon - and for extra inspiration,
check out the posts by EFF staff members and interns
describing their first steps in fighting for online
freedom:

Join the EFF15 Blog-a-thon!

eff15

Free Patterns, Until Sept 1, 2005

After Sept 1st, these supposedly will be gone gone. so grab them while you can. (there's some there for knitters too).

Italian Styling

cd holder granny style bag

skimpy little top

cloche

ivory shawl with flowers

Very cute things from an Italian magazine called Mani di Fata. Thanks to the Crochet Partners member who posted the url to the magazine.

I'm almost monolingual (I can mangle espanol un poco), but am able to decipher most of the above patterns because.. HURRAY...they show them in English.

And to the KnittersInOurMidst.. they do have some knit patterns. It's up to you to find the free ones though. There's also a ton of embroidery available.. not sure if much of that is free though.

What time does the train leave?

Do you think he knows his servant is leaving home next month and he's trying to catch a ride?

Mystery Thread

I received in an ebay auction some mystery thread on a blue spool. No markings and no clue to where it came from. I thought I had enough to make a shawl. Wrong. Posting this to solicit help in identifying it. It feels like it's all cotton and has a beautiful sheen. It's bigger than size 10, I think it's about size 5.




Above is the shawl in progress, and then there's a bit of the thread next to a size G Boye hook.

Any ideas anyone? I'm thinking maybe the Perle cotton on a spool from Herrschners might be a match. Or maybe some of the thread at Elmore-Pisgah? I'm really leaning towards the Herrschners though because if you look at their picture closely, you can see that the interior cone is blue, the same shade that this thread was wound on. Unfortunately, I can't find the cone this morning.

Thanks to any who can suggest somewhere else to look. I'll probably just order the thread from Herrschners and if it doesn't match.. I'll use it for something else.

Feeling Irish?

5-Ring Rose


I've been playing with Irish Crochet recently. I didn't feel like using the tiny thread that IC is supposed to use, so I used some Aunt Lydia's fashion thread. I think it's size 3. Also used a G hook. I think it turned out ok. The ends haven't been woven in because I don't know if I will keep this, or what to do with it now that it's made.

Picot-petal Rose

Here's another one. Same deal, ends not secured because I have no idea what to do with the thing. Both patterns came from "The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches" which I got at 1/2 price from a Barnes & Nobles that was going out of business (lost their lease).

5-Petal Flower

And here's one that is in progress. It's a little different in that I'm making it in size 10 thread. It's not great thread, being a cheapo brand.. but it was on clearance and is good enough to play with when learning stitches or experimenting. I don't mean to be a threadsnob.. but there IS a huge difference in thread. If you can afford the better thread, I'd advise using it.. it's so much easier on the fingers.

In the above pattern the leaves are added on seperately after the flower is completed. I used a size 5 steel hook (boye.. my preference.)

Comparison:













Demonstrating what a huge difference thread and hook size can make.

Binding by the Hook

Been on an international kick lately. First Japanese amigurumi, now Russian crochet. The russian sites are interesting, very often they will post the instructions with the finished work. While I can't read russian (even with the help of babelfish, it's a bit on the weird side).. I CAN read crochet diagrams. So this has opened up a whole new world of freebies.

Here's some of the places I've been visiting.

www.melissa.ru/forums

www.melissa.ru (put this into babelfish to figure out where to go..they have patterns on the mainsite without having to go into the forums)

http://forum.knitting-info.ru/index.php?showforum=60 yes, i know it says knitting, but it has lots of binding by the hook also. :)

http://www.ntl.narod.ru/rukodelie/shali/ (GORGEOUS shawls here> the download files won't work.. at least for me they wouldn't, but the pictures load nicely.

some of them I've found have links that only work when they are NOT in babelfish. So the thing to do is to open the page twice, once in Russian and the second time in babelfish.. and then flip back and forth so you can see what you're doing. This works best in a tabbed browser like Firefox.

A couple of clues or things I've learned: Charles is the Russian term for a Shawl. Napkin is a doily.

Stupid Pattern

One of the stupidest patterns I've ever seen. A shoulder wrap? grief. It's just a scarf that is joined at the ends. And LB has it mislabeled too.. at the top of the page it says Microspun and the pattern calls for Moonlight Mohair. someone was really sleeping when they added this to the site.

Have to take my son back to camp so he can attend the final sessions initiation.. he doesn't want to borrow my van, he'd rather ride back with his sister after camp ends tomorrow so he can torture her for another hour.

Then they're both home for what's left of the summer. Not sure whether to celebrate or mourn. Little of both I suppose.

I was crocheting when crocheting wasn't cool

Just got through reading a couple of rants and thought I'd share them. The first one by Bellalinda blogging her thoughts regarding Debbie Stoller and her coming to the rescue of crochet. I'm ambivalent about Ms Stoller coming out with a crochet book (someone alert Xavier Hollander..LOL).. sure it's great for "the other art" to be recognized.. but hey, we've been here all along and don't need to take a back seat to anyone or any other craft.

LadyLinoleum at Monster Crochet has a great blog .. with several pertinent posts, but this is one I really agree with.. Knitting Yarn? When did yarn become soooooooooooo specialized? I'm waiting to see some "Crochet Yarn" .. probably will happen after DS's book is published.

Oh, and I found a really great site for patterns.. only it's mainly in Russian. I don't read Russian, but I can figure out some diagrams (or schkemas as they call them). Babelfish to the rescue.

Amigurumi-lust, Blogger frustration

Ok. I think I know what's going wrong. I've been trying just to copy & paste from an email into blogger and evidentally the two don't get along. Sheesh.. try to take a shortcut and end up going miles and miles out of the way.

Anyhow, back to Amigurumi. For those who don't know (like me a week or two ago) Amigurumi seems to refer to single crochet in the round, and specifically to the making of small toy animals with this technique. I don't speak or read japanese, so I'm going from what I've seen on pattern book covers and reading in the crochetville forum.

They're very similar to occidental patterns, but the japanese style seems to be somewhat rounder, and the eye placement seems to be almost parallel with the creatures nose, instead of above.

Want to join in the fun? Check out this blog.

If this post works, I'll add some links to patterns. Cross fingers that this will go.

Yippee.. it worked. so here's some pattern links. Not all are japanese, but are still cute and could be made to look oriental with very little effort.

Bunny

da tame Bunny (I think) different link.

flamingo

PocketAnimals

Bee

Marsupial

Dragon

Panda

Monkey

Baby Harp Seal (ugh.. pdf file. I hate pdfs.. espescially when I'm using dialup. )