Time to get back to crochet

I've been felting quite a bit and now it's time to show some of the results.

Found a great buy on Bernat's Feltit in the color "Fresh Poppy" (i think they must be discontinuing this color) and bought TONS of it.. cleaned out the bin ..lol.

I made my own pattern for this.. it's not even written up yet. But I did post the diagram for my idea on my pattern blog. I will eventually write up the numbers, but for those who are confident to proceed on their own.. this should give you a starting point.





Here's a purse I made for one of the nurses who took care of me during my latest surgery. Her first name is Lisa too. She admired the bags I had with me preop, so I made this for her while I was recovering. I haven't given it to her yet.. I don't know when or if I will see her again.


Prefelting



Drying over a woven basket



Finished. But it's VERY floppy, in this picture it has a tupperware bowl inside to give it some stability. I will either need to find something to give it more structure.. or felt it again.





This is a bag I made from the pattern available here.



Prefelting



Drying over a Wine Box.. lol



Showing finished size with a magazine



Finished and needing a shave




This last one I'm very pleased with. It's one I made from a stitch pattern I found. It didn't turn out exactly like I had planned, but it's great anyways.

The stitch is very yarn intensive, but makes for a very sturdy bag when felted. I would've made it bigger, but ran out of the dark teal.



Finished, with magazine behind it to show the size (still drying).



Here it is stuffed with plastic bags, drying.



Prefelting with the magazine lying on top of it to show size.



Right side out



Wrong side out.. which I also think looks attractive.




I have two or three more bags in progress.. hope it won't take me as long to finish and post about them as it did these.

Gone Fishin with my hook

Made with Lily Elite Cotton (Red, White) and Speed Cro-Sheen (black). The Speed Cro-sheen is a lot different in size than the Lily Elite, but since it's mainly used for showing the separation of the colors, it didn't seem to matter much.

clickable

Will be giving it to one of my dhs secretaries who is retiring tonight. Made pic in a huge hurry.. I was on my way out the door to attend her retirement dinner.

It's a good size.. enough for a small wallet, lipstick, cellphone and not much else. I've already started another one (this one was supposed to be a xmas gift.. I think I have time to make another before then) and will get measurements on the next one.

The pattern is one that OldBagLady had posted on the 'ville a long time ago. It's no longer there, don't know why it disappeared. Hers were originally made with worsted weight acrylic yarn and were quite a bit larger.

Use it up

Being raised by Depression era parents, one of their mottos was "make it do, use it up, wear it out".

I'm using it up.

This is from yarn from my stash... Paton's Canadiana in School Bus Yellow, Deep Orange and Orange Salsa (discontinued variegated). Even more economical, all were bought on sale when Hobby Lobby was getting rid of their Canadiana. Too bad they no longer carry it.. I've gotten to love it.. it's a great yarn.




clickable

Stitches used:

Closed Shell (5dc), Wave, Star Stitch (also called Marguerite Stitch), Closed shell (6dc), Somerset Stitch, a stitch that I don't know the name of..kind of a spike stitch.., trinity stitch, forked halfdouble, Closed shell (5dc), Wave stitch, reverse wave, Catherines Wheel, a row to end the catherines wheel .. making an even row, star Stitch, two rows of sc, Odd forked Halfdoubles, a row of sc, then reverse sc around the edge and inside the handles.

Most of these can be found at various places on the web if you're not familiar with them. Others I got out of my Harmony Guides (300 crochet stitches and 220 more crochet stitches) books.

I'm still not quite satisfied with the handles on this one, but decided I'd go ahead and leave this and improvise something different for the next tote. Yes, there's another version of this brewing in my head.

What do ya'll think? Other than the bright colors.. hehehee.. can't miss this thing could ya?

I used about 1 skein of the yellow and orange and 1/2 skein of the variegated. I still have more yellow and orange and some green I bought on ebay.. a little more expensive than what I paid at HL.. but not much. Considering gas prices.. it was probably a huge bargain for me since HL is 40 miles away.

Yet another felted Waves of Color tote

Can you stand another one? I think I'm getting a little better at this. I'm beginning to learn how to adjust the stitches to get what results I want.... This one unintentionally turned out in a wedge shape.. which I kinda like!

All pics clickable of course.



stitch definition prefelting




Showing size of bag prefelting. (it probably shrank at least by 1/3..I need to get a pic with a sheet of paper to show the after size)



Post felting but pre shaving




After a Shave





The pattern is from one that was previously posted gratis on Crochetville.. however it's no longer available. At first just the pattern was taken down, but now, the whole thread where we discussed making of the bag is unavailable.

I'm hoping that this means that the designer is moving towards publishing. She's a very talented person and I hope that's what the disappearance of (all of her) patterns means.. and not something bad.

And I owe huge thanks to a couple of generous crocheters who sent me Paton's Leaf Green wool when I ran out at almost the end of the bag. THANK YOU LADIES!

Calamari

Man, I love seafood. Shrimp, Fish, Oysters, Clams, Scallops, Crabs. I even like Calamari (I'm getting hungry typing this post).

After posting about the fish post (and getting a comment from Lady Linoleum!! wow.. she's my hero, I can't believe I got a comment from her.. I'm so not worthy) I remembered about the Squid Purse I made a couple of years ago to torment DD.

(as always, both pics clickable to see larger)





front



back



There's a story behind this. Sometime before I made the above, my son and husband were snacking on some calamari. My daughter comes walking in the kitchen and says.."oh.. Onion Rings.. may I have some?" My husband and son both being of devilish nature, did NOT tell her what she was eating until all 3 had finished the snack. Daughter dear still has not forgiven the boys for playing this trick on her. She's not allergic to seafood or anything.. just doesn't like the idea of eating squid.

So when I found the pattern over at C'ville, I had to make it for her. I should add eyes (not blood shot ones ala LL, but googly) right now the poor thing is sight impaired. This baby is mine. Not going anywhere (except maybe out on the town with me) and of course, dd doesn't like it.

I forgot to add anything to show how big it is.. but a candybar sized cell phone would fit with plenty of room for some other odds and end.

Fish Food

Ya'll might remember me posting about a fish purse not too long ago.






I was planning on sending it to my great-niece via my sister. Well, I did send it last Monday and finally remembered to email my sister about it today to see if it arrived and if K liked it.

Here's her reply:

Well, I didn’t even show it to her. I liked it too much to show it to her!!!!! I figured I could use it a few times before I let her use it. She has so many pretty things, princess stuff……..dresses with veils and scarfs, purses, jewelry, shoes, ribbons for her hair……………..

I couldn’t help it! Too cute!! Maybe I’ll let her have it next year! I know I’m a terrible “granny” but ………it’s just too cute to pass up.

I’ll probably break down and offer it to her in a few weeks…………

For K*** and myself, thank you for the fish purse. Just too cute…you should do one in Nemo colors.

They say having kids around keeps a person young at heart…………it may be true.


P.S. I even tried it on as a hat! It’s cute that way too.

I thought her comments were very funny (and flattering) and wanted to share with ya'll. I wish I had a picture of the fish hat. I'll ask her for one and post it if she will allow.

Fish Purse

Here's a funny fish purse I made back before Christmas.. just for the heck of it.

Shown with mouth closed and then open (drawstring closure).









Please click for more detail

I made this out of some RedHeart that Michaels was clearancing out at 50 cents a skein.. they only had 1 of purple and 1 of green left... what a bargain eh?

Sending it off to my great-niece in Florida care of her Granny (my sister). Hope the little girl will enjoy it.

Oh.. the pattern is available on Crochetville.