Sew I See!

Last time I wrote (about a month ago), the sampler was on hold and the ogee afghan was the Project-in-Chief.  Oh, how the tables have turned... (Or something.)  Now it's the ogee afghan that's in time-out, and the sampler is back in the spotlight. But first, I have a couple of completed doilies to show! I mentioned in the last entry that I'd made yet another "Summer Splendor"-- my fifth : Pattern:   "Summer Splendor" by Denise Augostine Owens Thread:  (discontinued) America's Best Country Cotton Thread (size 10) in "Raspberry" (I used only part of one 350-yard ball.  Quite a bit left over.) Hook:  1.75mm Clover Amour (No. 0) As always, this is a relatively simple, repetitive doily pattern-- ideal, I think, for someone new to doilies or for any time you want to be able to just sit and crochet thread without having to refer to a pattern very often or keep intricate counts in your head.  And the results are always so pretty...

I've been a bad craft blogger.  I apologize, but I can't honestly promise I'll do better.  This time of year, when the blogging urge hits, I'm more drawn to my garden blog ... But I'll still post here from time to time, because of course there's always a craft project in the works.  ;o) The sampler afghan is still temporarily on hold.  (I'll get back to it soon enough.) Instead, I've been working on the ogee afghan .  I'm making strips, which I'll join toward the end of the project.  This should be a good plan for tweaking color distribution, but it also makes it harder to get a good "in progress" photo, since the unjoined motifs tend to curl up a little. Some "these'll-have-to-do" progress photos: - - - - - - - I've also been getting into doily mode, lately.  I think it has something to do with the warm weather.  Doilies are the perfect hot-weather project, since they use nice, coo...

I decided on the next block for the sampler afghan-- Triquetra Celtic Knot Afghan Block by Joyce Lewis.   Like those of her earlier designs that I've hooked ( Crocodile Flower and Simple 10-Petal Afghan Square ), I'm finding it very pretty-- and also innovative.  It requires that you pay close attention to what you're doing, on certain rounds, but the pattern is extremely detailed and clear. I still have rounds to go (not to mention the block border), but I snapped a (flash) photo of the block as it stands. It's currently at a stand-still, partly because I'm going to have to start measuring it and probably making adjustments to get it to the same size as my other blocks-- but also because I've been sidetracked by another project. I've started another afghan.  No, we don't need another afghan, but I like making them, so I will.  If it's a vice, it's a relatively harmless one.  Besides, I already have the unassigned yarn.  Why not ha...

"Shattered" (by Margaret MacInnis). I guess I already wrote about this first one, in the last entry.  It has some interesting textures.  Popcorn stitches.  Puff stitches.  Spike stitches.  Front-post and  back-post stitches.  Lots going on, here. - - - "Kingsley" (by Polly Plum). I wrote about this one last time, too.  I like the way it turned out-- particularly the "leafy"-looking design-- though I had to make some small changes to make it (more or less) match the other blocks in size.  I can't remember if I just left off a couple of rounds or shortened some stitches... I think I just left off some rounds. - - - "Beware the Ides of March" (by Margaret MacInnis). I left off the tapestry crochet and also left out one round to make the block match the others in size. This is another that I chose from my queue-- not a block that has (as yet) been specifically included as part of the CAL.  It's a while be...

I finished " Denna "! I started out making the 12” square but realized after the 10th round that my block was coming out too big. (My other blocks for this afghan are all smaller than 12” squares, before adding the border.) So I ripped back that round and switched to the instructions for the 9” square.  To get the block to the size of my other squares for this afghan, I needed something in between the 9” and 12” block, so I adjusted the last two rounds slightly. I think there are some minor number errors in at least the last round of the 9” pattern. It looks like it was copied and pasted from the 12” pattern, and the designer forgot to adjust some numbers. Of course, by the time you get to the last round of the pattern, you can probably figure out what to do, just from the photo, and since the pattern is free (and available in three sizes), we can’t really complain. ;o) I love the way this block turned out!  It was pretty easy to crochet, too, which was nice, after the more...

My  English Garden block (designed by Julie Yeager) is finished! I changed the last couple of rounds slightly-- mainly to increase the size.  More details on my Ravelry project page (linked above). I've started on the next block-- shattered  (by Margaret MacInnis)-- but I'm waiting for the last day of clues (released tomorrow) to be able to continue with that one.  I have a progress photo from yesterday (not up to date on my progress so far) at the Ravelry link above, but since some people are working on this one as a mystery CAL, I guess I won't post that here, just in case. April's block is from another guest designer, Polly Plum, but we're still waiting for that one to be available (seeing as it isn't technically even April, yet).  In the meantime, I decided to try another of that designer's blocks.  She has some stunning ones available.  I started with a freebie that's been in my queue for months: Denna .  I'm not sure my color place...

How's that for a cryptic-looking post title?  ;o) I was feeling in need of a new blanket project-- a sampler, preferably-- when I came across a crochet-along for 2016.  The BAMMM Shazaam 2016 Afghan CAL  (Ravelry pattern link) is being hosted by designer Margaret MacInnis, a.k.a. Muggins, at her Ravelry group.  (Here's the thread devoted to the CAL.) The afghan is a "block a month" crochet-along, and you can read all about it at the links provided above.  Some of the 12" blocks are totally new designs; some (maybe just the alternates/"fillers" for people who want more than a total of 12 blocks for their afghans?) are patterns that have been around for a while.  Most will be the work of the main designer/hostess, but there will be at least five blocks from guest designers, too. From what I understand, most of the blocks are free, but at least some of them will be paid patterns-- with a (temporary) coupon code for a significant discount.  (So far,...

I found some photos of projects from late last year that I'd never processed and uploaded.  It's good to fill in the blanks on some of those projects on Ravelry.  It looks so much nicer with a photo!  (g) Textured Turban (Free pattern.)  I made this one as an extra to put in my niece's Christmas present.  It's a cute little hat, but if I were doing it again, I'd use a seamless join for every round, because every time I think about this project, it still  bothers me that there was a visible seam down the back.  (g)  Yes, seamless joins take a little longer, and there are (many) more ends to weave in that way-- but the nicer result would be worth it, for something like a hat. Irish Mesh Cowl This is another free pattern.  It makes a really pretty cowl, I think, and it works in a variety of yarn weights.  This was some light fingering that I dyed myself.  I did have some issues with the pattern, but I think that was my own f...

I've been away for far too long.  Time to get back into the blogging habit (maybe). One recent project was whipping up a few of the "little doilies" from Patricia Kristoffersen's 99 Little Doilies.   I wanted them to go with my mother's birthday gift, and I was pleased with how they turned out. I chose simple patterns, because I needed them done quickly-- and I was too distracted by worrying about my husband's travels to want anything too complicated.  (I'm one of those people who can't completely accept that flying is statistically safer than driving.) #32: #18: #54: For this last one, #25, I tried using a particularly small partial ball of thread.  At some point, I realized I wouldn't have enough yardage, so I adjusted the pattern (removed a few rounds).  I think it turned out well enough (though teensy).  I'd like to try this one again, sometime, in full size: - - - - - - - I finished my Old-Fashion...