Sew I See!

As I've done all through this photo challenge, I'm focusing on yarn crafts, so I left out any books about other crafts. These are (most of) my crochet and knitting books and booklets.  I've left out one book by accident and a few vintage pamphlets/magazines by design (didn't want to dig them out), but this is the bulk of them. (This doesn't include my notebooks full of print-outs of free patterns.) I find I'm much more drawn to collections of motifs and stitches, when I'm looking for a crochet book to buy.  Rarely do I want to purchase a book of "just" patterns-- because I usually don't feel that I like enough of the patterns to justify buying the whole book.  If I find something cheap enough (library book sales and the like), that's different, of course.  Also, doilies are a little different; for those, I will buy a whole book/pamphlet of patterns.

Not counting the FOs I use continuously-- doilies, decorative pot holders, dish scrubbers, and my crochet/knitting tool pincushion-- I think this is the last FO (finished object) I used.  This is my "Very Vintage V-Stitch-Ghan" .  It's not exactly afghan weather here (hasn't been for a couple months and won't be until late October, probably), but every now and then I still want a blanket (such as when I'm lying directly under a ceiling fan while using the Back Magic ). I had a lot of fun crocheting that blanket.  It's a little bit crazy with some of the color combinations, but I still like it.  It's surprisingly warm for something with so many small "holes" in the fabric-- yet it also feels a little bit lighter weight, which is practical in this climate. (There's a link to the free pattern on the Ravelry project page linked above.)

The next prompt in the Month of Craft Photos Challenge is "Texture". This is some of the most highly textured yarn in my stash.  It's Yarn Bee Highland Thistle (now discontinued) bought on clearance years ago.  I kind of like it, though the colors are very pink and purple, which Little Girl Me would have loved but Somewhat Older Me thinks may be a bit much, combined with the possibly excessive fluffiness.  It's partly eyelash yarn ("twinkled" eyelash, apparently), but it's also fairly bulky, so I think it will be easier to crochet (and maybe knit) than skinny eyelash yarn.  I have no idea what I'll do with it, though...

So, apparently there's a big to-do about Ravelry's "Ravelympics" and the USOC demanding that they no longer be called such.  (And I'll admit right now, I only skimmed their lawyer letter.  Life's too short to read legal mumbo-jumbo, unless it's a contract you're about to sign...)  I think there may have also been something about Ravelry no longer using the Olympic logo in any merchandise.  I agree with that aspect of the request-- but the name?  Come on! I've never taken part in the Ravelympics.  I was considering doing so this time around, but when it comes right down to it, I probably won't.  Nonetheless, I still have an opinion on this very important issue -- that opinion being that trademark privileges are often defended with ridiculous fervor-- and that some people take themselves way too seriously. I very much doubt that anyone thought the Ravelympics was in any way officially connected with or endorsed by the (regular) Olympics.  Wa...

I ought to be dusting the living room, sorting through accumulated "stuff" on kitchen and dining room surfaces, or cleaning the bathrooms.  Therefore, I naturally set about figuring out how to work our new(ish) scanner.  (I'm such a great housekeeper!) Quite some time ago, I was given (among a bunch of other things) an old copy of McCall's Christmas Make-it Ideas , a seasonally themed craft magazine.  It's from 1970, so of course many of the crafted items have a very retro look to them.  Others are just plain ugly.  (g)  I thought I'd share a few scans of things that caught my attention. - - - - - - -  Check out the snowman in this first photo. Those dark circles around his eyes are kind of creepy, aren't they?  - - - - - - -  Then we have this one, where Santa relaxes (a little too cozily?) with one of his over-sized elves, after a long day of toy-making (I guess)... And those clown mittens!!  What was it with ha...

The newest knitting skill I've learned is how to knit the "feather and fan"/ "old shale" pattern.  It's the laciest knitting I've done to date... possibly excluding the One Row Scarf-- but that one didn't feel as much like lace as this does.  (I need to get back to work on Multnomah again...) After I took this photo, I realized I could/should have taken a photo of the thrift store sweaters I felted (with felting as my "new skill").  I still haven't done anything with them, though, so at this point they're just shrunken sweaters.  (g)

I have things I should be doing, so naturally I'm procrastinating.  There's nothing to give the old blog a boost like a long to-do list!  ;o) - - - - - - I finished the t-shirt yarn dog toy basket yesterday.  It looks... kind of raggedy.  Well, it is made of rags, so... It's fine for a doggy toy basket, but I'm not sure I still want to make more for yarn storage.  Maybe, but not right away, at least.  (I need a break from it, anyway.  Crocheting with t-shirt yarn is a lot harder than crocheting with regular yarn or thread!) (Sorry about the crummy photos.  Not enough light, too lazy for tripod.) Trixie watched me pick up one of her toys, followed me from one room to another, then sat and watched as I put the toy into the basket/bowl.  I wish I had a photograph of how she looked as she stared at me in open curiosity.  Clearly, she was perplexed.  (g) I made the sides of double thickness by just crocheting the si...

Though I occasionally crochet or knit while sitting in bed, most of the time, I'm seated either right there at my favorite spot on the couch (note the crochet thread and doily on the end table) or at the computer desk in the background.  

I'm probably taking this more literally than intended, but this is where I get most of my inspiration-- online (Ravelry, for instance) and from the photos of craft books.  I have to be careful, though; looking too much at patterns and finished projects in either place can make me want to drop whatever I'm already working on in favor of something new. 

I've decided that I'm taking a day or two off the Month of Craft Photos thing.  (Since I'm not even playing along on Flickr, who's to care?)  I just don't feel the motivation on the weekends, and this (late) afternoon, I'm so tired.  The thought of figuring out what to photograph was not fun at all-- and having fun is the whole point of the meme!  This weekend, I'd rather crochet than fool around with the camera.  So that's what I'll do!  :o)  I'll be back with the photos on Monday, probably.