Sew I See!

Whoa.  It's already been twenty days since my last post?!  Where does the time go? I thought I'd drop by to at least mention my currently open (yarn-based) projects. #1: Oldest in the list is a cotton market bag .  Once I worked through some issues with the pattern, the bag worked up quickly, but then I got to the point where I needed to make the handle... and it got set aside... and (almost) forgotten. #2:  Then we have my third knitting project-- a pin cushion / knitting doo-dads cushion .  Again, I went through most of the project pretty quickly, but then I got to the point where I'd have to sew the pieces together... and it got set aside... and (not quite) forgotten.  (Hm.  I'm beginning to see a pattern here. (g)) #3: At that point, I started another "secret project" (gift item).  I got pretty far in that one, and I was still enjoying it, too, but somehow I was sidetracked into afghans... Ah, yes. I think it was because we were ...

What's this? Knitting needles?!  Shocking, isn't it?  ;o) For a while, I resisted all thoughts of learning to knit-- at least partly out of loyalty to crochet.  I liked the looks of both, but I felt that crochet often got short shrift.  Poor thing.  Plus, everyone always comments on how fast crochet is compared to knitting.  (Not a selling point for knitting, honestly.)  Also, how long would it take me to learn a whole new craft?  Why bother, when I already knew how to crochet?  Despite those concerns, I eventually decided that, ok, I would like to know how to do both, mainly because it would open up a whole new collection of free patterns-- and because I'd fallen in love with knitted lace shawls.  (There are some lovely crocheted shawls, too, but they're not quite the same thing.) I tried to teach myself to knit a year or so ago (or who knows how long ago, the way the months zip by).  It was not a success.  At all. ...

I came across some stunning crochet afghans (and cushions) this morning: They're all by Moxy Crochet , based in Cape Town. Though the patterns don't seem to be identical, the motif they use reminds me of the African Flower motif.  ( Here on Ravely, and here , in a slightly modified form.)  I've bookmarked that pattern before, but these photos have brought it to the forefront of my crochet-obsessed mind.  ;o)  I love the colors they've used-- and the mixture of fuzzy yarn with plain is beautiful, too.  Simply gorgeous work. If I didn't already have a list of projects I want/need to make (some of them before Christmas, too), I'd be tempted to start a new afghan inspired by those in the photos. (Especially the one in the upper right-hand corner.  It will surely haunt my dreams. (g))

I finally finished the Summer in Sweden ("Weekend in Stockholm") afghan-- about a week ago, actually, but I'm just now getting around to taking a few photos.  I tend to put off photographing completed crochet projects.  Some of my least favorite types of photos to take, because they usually turn out blurry or otherwise blah, but I'll do my best. :o) Here are a few of the better photos I managed to take this afternoon: There are a few more in my Flickr photostream, too, but they're pretty much just more of the same.  I may try to take a few more in better light and "pose", one of these days.  For now, I really just wanted to do my little write-up before I completely forget what little I still remember about the making of the blanket.  ;o) Pattern: Debbie Stoller's "Weekend in Stockholm Throw" Yarn:  I used mixture of 100% acrylics.  As for amounts, I used less than a skein of each of the colors listed below.  Some were ...

I was looking at color charts for a couple brands of yarn this morning, trying to remember the names of a couple of shades I'm using in my current afghan-in-progress (the bands of which I've either thrown away or stowed into a folder for the free pattern's sake).  So many pretty colors!  Why don't the local branches of the craft stores carry them all?  (Not a serious question.  Still, I wish they would .) - - - - - - - Speaking of the Summer in Sweden Afghan... After weaving in all the ends on my initial stack of 40 squares (which went well right to the end-- never got completely sick of the process!), I decided to embrace the old "in for a penny, in for a pound" mentality.  What's the point of crocheting a blanket that's just a tad too small?  I don't like a blanket that doesn't cover my feet when I lie down and pull it up under my chin, and though this is intended for a couch / lap blanket, I suspect the time will come when I'll want t...

Apart from blocking a few doilies (Treasure, Summer Splendor, and the Fancello Pineapple Oval-- all of which I still need to photograph...), I've been spending my crochet time on the Summer in Sweden afghan. I made the first two batches of eleven blocks (each) using the assembly line method, as I described in an earlier entry.  I modified the method for the next batch(es), mainly because I was running out of a couple of colors-- but also because I wanted to emphasize one or two bolder, darker colors, or use them more often so that they wouldn't feel unbalanced in the blanket.  To date, I've crocheted 40 blocks-- mostly only rounds 1-4 of each.  I think I might want to add another column/row/whatever of blocks to the width (possibly to the length as well), but I'm going to wait until my current set of squares are all done before I make that call. In the meantime, I've moved on to rounds 5 and 6 of the current, existing squares.  Those are the rounds worke...

As promised, I've taken a few progress photos of the new afghan/throw. Or the motifs, rather. They're nowhere near being connected, yet. Here they are in a couple of stacks (minus a couple that I've worked through to the next round)... And spread out in the first of two sets... They'll take much more room than this when they're done, of course. I just wanted to fit them into the photo and give you an idea of the color scheme. I still haven't decided if I'm going to stick to the "use each color only once per round (per batch)" rule. So far, I have, but I may change that in the fourth round... or in the next batch. I think I may want to work more of the dark blue and dark green into the motifs so those darkest colors don't seem too spotty.  (Besides, I love love love that dark prettiest-blue-ever, so I want there to be plenty of it in the blanket.) It's coming along. I think I'm going to like the finished product, and th...

So, I started my Summer in Sweden Throw (aka the Weekend in Stockholm Throw)! I originally selected the pattern based on photos of the finished blanket-- because I just liked the look of it-- and until I sat down with hook in hand, I hadn't really paid much attention to the construction (except to note that it was made of joined motifs).  Well, come to find out, this motif is made up of bunches (and bunches) of treble crochets.  Bunches of them.  That took some getting used to, because it's been a while since I've made trebles in yarn, and they can be a little of a pain, until you get in the groove of crocheting them.  (Fortunately, the groove has been found.  I'm happily trebling away.  One good thing about trebles?  They fill up a lot of space quickly .) Then there's the fact that this particular pattern is a little bit... weird.  It's not the easiest thing to understand-- but at least once you do understand what you're supposed to do, none...

Literally and figuratively.  ;o) I dusted off the sewing machine this afternoon.  (I know .  I actually sewed something.  This blog should really be named something else entirely, considering how rarely I sew.)  I finally cut and hemmed some "thrifted" ($1) full-length jeans down to capri length.  I've been meaning to do it all summer, but I really don't enjoy the process of hemming things, so I kept putting it off.  Sewing doesn't get much easier than hemming, but I always worry I'll get the legs uneven, or too short, and I don't like dealing with all the pins... nor do I particularly enjoy sewing over the thick bunches at the seams.  But all that said, it worked out fine, and now I have another pair of comfy denim capris for around the house wear. I probably ought to carry the sewing momentum on to making the simple skirt(s) I've been planning to sew since last summer.  (Then there are all those curtains I want to make...) As for th...

This feels surreal... I think I just actually finished the Fuzzy Diamonds Pillow !!  (Could I be dreaming?)  According to my Ravelry project notes, I started that thing in July of last year, so it's about time the crazy thing was done. Crocheting with novelty yarn is still Not Fun (which is a big part of why it took me a year to finish the pillow), but it wasn't that bad, once I got started.  Anyway, it's DONE, now.  It doesn't really "go" with our style of decor-- especially not our living room-- so I just tossed it on the bed.  It can stay there for a while. In the end, I just single crocheted the two halves together.  No need for a fancy border on this one, I think.  First, because I am so, so ready for this pillow to be finished. Second, because I shudder at the prospect of crocheting more fuzzy yarn right now.  Third, because aforesaid fuzzy yarn is kind of floofy, and I suspect that a border of any real width would flop all over the pla...