oops.....

so i thought i was making good progress and zipping right along...i wasn't paying attention and i dropped a stitch early on...soooooo.....i am going to have to frog back to the first block of chocolate and re-do....what did we learn? probably nothing ;) but this go 'round i will count as i go...instead of looking like a throw...it looks like a skirt...

crochet-knit

this is the second type of crochet i learned as a kid- the first being a granny square. it is a hybrid of crochet and knitting and you need a two hook hook- so to speak :) i have a set of needles that were made for me out of wooden dowels- and if you are handy- i would recommend this over the steel needles that are sold. while i like the the fact that the hooks are joined with the plastic thread in the middle- for smaller projects, what i have found is that the hook heads are too rounded. for this stitch, you really need a super pointed hook in order to pick up the stitches.

anyhoo, i think i have finally decided on a project for the leftover holiday yarn. now, i have had this yarn since the early 1990's and back then, i snatched up any yarn that was on sale- and for some reason variegateds were popular. i finally used up baby yarn i had around from that era too- let's just say acrylic yarns last forever :) it's tough to tell from the yarn i am using, but this stitch is really good for reversible patterns. i made my friend a twin size afghan years ago- cream on one side and rose on the other. easy to pick two colors and run with them. this stitch is fairly easy to switch colors in order to make a multi color on one side and solid on the other or whatever.

if anyone is interested, i can post a how to- let me know.

scrapped the sampler

i wasn't feeling the front and back post stitches. not my favorite to work although i do like the way that they look- just too many blocks where i didn't enjoy working. i find that unless i am enthusiastic about the project- it simply sits there forever until i rip it out and start again. my husband laughs about the piles of what he calls 'spaghetti yarn' after i make a mistake or start a project over. i often have the spaghetti yarn piles :)

so, i am ripping the sampler out- only had about half dozen squares- and i decided to make a striped reversible throw. the second style of crochet i ever learned was way back in the early 1980's- crochenit. now, it's a fad that is catching on but back in the day- it was unique and i made my friend kim a cream and rose afghan for her bed. i doubt i would work a project larger than a twin bed in the crochenit only because the weight of the project makes my tendonitis flare up.

so, i will keep posting about where i am and- i hope to have some pics up this week about the 3 projects i have started right now. the maine-endwell craft fair is november 8th at the high school- 10a-4p. that's where i'll be if you are in this neck of the woods- come on over :)

new projects

i am a goodly way into the ripple- and so i decided to start another project. i like to have 2 or 3 going at the same time so i don't get bored :) i try to pick different stitches and designs to work on simultaneously and so i picked a square project. this one is granny square with hearts design and is in colors i don't normally work with- lavenders, raspberries, burgundies. i hope it goes well...

i also wanted to use up some rogue yarn i have lying around in a bag. folks often gave me yarn that they didn't want that had been hanging around in their closet in a bag. so, now, i am attempting to find a home for each and every skein. not an easy task- so i picked a sampler 'ghan. i like some of the stitches better than others but it's only one square per type of stitch- so, i'll be ok :)

as always, i will post pictures when i have enough done to make it look good :)

of autumn days and old friends

ooh- there is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to change here in upstate new york. the farmer's almanac says first frost will be on or around october 13th- we'll see. hubby and i have lived in our home almost a year and a half- and for two summers- i have been visited by a friend on our back deck- mr. six legged spider. spiders don't have long life spans so i thought i'd better grab a picture as this will probably be our last summer together. he hangs out on the screen and on the table on the deck.

i am currently working on a project i affectionately call the 'retro ripple.' i had never tried a ripple pattern but i can see why they are popular- they work up fast and look nice- and are warm... it is big enough to cover my lap at this point. it was the increasing and decreasing that initially threw me off- in this case- 3 extra stitches at the top of the wave and taking away 3 at the bottom. but, after ripping out 5 rows and having a pile of what mr. betmo calls 'spaghetti yarn,' i got the hang of it :) will keep you posted....

sorted out new projects

i have a craft fair coming up in november- and i decided to do a couple of 'quick' projects. i started what i am affectionately calling a 'retro ripple' and a sampler throw. i am taking the time to learn some new stitches- i had never done a ripple. i never have been great at increasing and decreasing :) it's actually kind of fun. i can see the draw to crocheting the ripples. the sampler is just that- different squares of different stitches put together- i'll do pictures as i get something to show.

otherwise, quiet rainy day here in upstate new york. us open is in rain delay so we are watching a replay of a jimmy connors in the 1991 semifinals of the us open. mmmm... i think he wins :) hubby and i will celebrate our 12th anniversary tommorrow- my how time flies... :)

only the good friday

the blue ice throw is done! i called it 'the throw that never ended' because every time i thought i was done adding border- there was another round. but it was definitely worth it :) i started this throw because i wanted to try making strips instead of squares. i liked it. the popcorn stitches i profiled below add texture but they also create warmth. this throw is solid! nice and dense- heavy to hold in warmth.

the pillow was supposed to be a snowflake throw with matching pillow but the stitch style- one with post stitches- was tough for me. i figured them out but the way i needed to move my wrist made my tendonitis flare up and there was no way i was going to make 100+ squares in that stitch. i compromised and made enough for the pillow :) i am happy with the results.

please drop by my etsy shop and take a closer look :)

joining and popcorn stitches

there are many different ways to join squares or strips or whatever shape- together. i will be right up front and say- i don't care for whipstitch. yes, it makes a flat seam, but it just isn't as sturdy as other methods. i can't gauge the right amount of yarn and it's too much like sewing. ok for small squares- not so much strips. generally, i attach squares into a strip and then attach the strips. in this latest project- i just made strips. in this particular instance, i joined the strips using the slip stitch. pretty basic stitch but it holds firmly- and this is a heavy, warm throw.











































i learned a new technique with this project too- the popcorn stitch. it's really nice to add texture to a piece and i think i am going to name this project 'snowballs' because that's what the popcorn stitches remind me of :) it isn't a difficult technique but it is a bit time consuming.



basically, what you are doing is making 5 double crochets in one stitch and taking your hook out of the loop- putting it through the first double crochet and then in the loop and bring the loop through the first double crochet. voila`! a popcorn!

new projects

i have started a blue and white ripple style throw that i am calling 'ocean waves' and i have a feeling it will go quickly. i always wanted to try a classic ripple stitch and decided to just for for it. i have done all kinds of squares and recently, strips, so it just seemed time. i will take some pics soon of the progress on both of the current projects. haven't decided the third to start yet.

juggling projects

i am currently working on 3 projects in various stages of completion. 2 i am very close to finishing- a baby blanket in log cabin style with pastels and a blue and white throw perfect for holiday/winter decor. i have a stroller blanket about half done and i hope to wind things up by the end of the month.

but it's too darn hot! i enjoy listening to jazz while crocheting and i have a favorite local station here in the binghamton, ny area- 92.5 FM. anyhoo, the holiday blanket is a combination of single, double and popcorn stitch crochet. the log cabin style block blanket is single crochet only with multiple color changes- which can be a wee tricky sometimes. i like to mix up the construction of the projects too- so, we have a block design with individual blocks being sewn together to make the blanket; the strip design where individual strips are made in the round and then sewn together; and the stroller blanket is continuous- i just pick up the hook and go!

hopefully, i will be able to put some more projects in the queue for the holiday season :)