Crocheted Granny Square Vest

Finished Vest!!!
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

I thought I would repost a picture of this vest for my bloggy friends. Here lately I have really gotten hooked on Ravelry, and this vest has received some attention lately.

I have so many irons in the fire right now! Working on the Stitch Diva Knit Cardi, a knit scarf, and a crocheted scarf...and now I would like to tackle another vest for moi! Oh the inhumanity of it all! LOL!

But seriously, to me working on this vest was nothing but a labor of love. I felt as if I were painting with thread. I was asked by an etsy customer if I could make a vest. I immediately responded that I would give it a try and jumped in head first as I always do. Piecing and pinning until I got the shaping just right. I do have some left over squares tucked away in a drawer waiting for me to add to them, perhaps to make a vest for myself...but I will have to finish up a couple things first!

Here is hoping that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Slideshow!

Please allow me to share a slideshow with you! Enjoy all the grannies!

Ladies & Gentlemen...My First Sweater!

Yes, it has been in hibernation for quite some time! I was reunited with the pieces of this sweater as I was digging through a basket of yarn...there it lay, neglected and unfinished. I felt bad for it...so out it came. And my God! It took no time at all to sew the pieces together! I basically had it done!

Aint it pretty?

I especially like the bell sleeves!

It is a little bit large on me, but I don't even care! I love it! Can't wait to wear it!
The yarn is yummy!

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to pick this back up again. I think it is because I was a bit intimidated in assembling it and a bit critical of my knitting. We must strive not to be so hard on ourselves! Lesson Learned! Like anything else in life you just get in there and tackle it.
I am so proud of it I can't stand myself! I have been jonesing all day to share it with my bloggy friends! Yes, there are a couple blips in it here and there...but just look at it. It's just so darn pretty!!!

I am off of here for now. Ready to enjoy my evening and relax a bit!

Lovely Blog Award

award
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

Alessandra presented me with this Lovely Blog Award! Thank you so much Alessandra, I graciously accept it! If any of you haven't checked out Alessandra's blog, Just Be Happy, you need to. It is full of beautiful crochet, and little snippets of her cooking and sweet Baby Lucas mixed in there!

So, I as well want to pass the award on!

Anyhow , here are the guidelines for the award:

1. Accept the award.
2. Post it on your blog saying who gave it to you.
3. Pass it on to other new blogs you think are wonderful.

Make sure you leave a note on the blogs you award and the one who gave it to you to let them know you participated in this award. It's a nice way to connect with people and see what other wonderful blogs are around. So I hereby extend the "One Lovely Blog" award to the following:

Attic 24 I give this award to Lucy because her blog brightens my day and gives me so much inspiration. It is actually eye candy! Her crochet is beautiful, and that combined with her eye for color is almost more than I can stand!

Kar's Down Home Bliss I also pass on the Lovely Blog Award to Kar. I love her blog. It is full of crochet and her life in Idaho! Her photographs are great! Thisis another blog that I love to follow and look forward to reading daily!

Catch Up Time

Wow, it feels like I have been away forever even though it has only been a few days! Getting back home felt so good where I am surrounded by my yarn, close to my comfy chair, and my internet connection!

So, now down to business. Time to share! I was at a conference for work the last part of this week. My days were spent in a large classroom. But my evenings were all mine! I packed my knitting bag full to take with me! Primo crochet time!

First let me show you a couple of pictures of the hotel I stayed in. It was absolutely gorgeous!




Not bad at all! There was a spa in the hotel...and yes...I paid it a visit. I decided on a facial and loved every minute of it. I felt truly pampered.

What a life, huh?!

I finished up my granny square scarf during my evenings away. This joining as you go method it wonderful. I am not sure if I would do an entire afghan in this method, but for a scarf it's great. I kept this one simple and just added a simple edging.

After blocking the scarf the squares lay very flat and pretty. I think more pictures of this may be coming. There is no light today, just clouds.

I have been wanting to make a scarf for myself to wear this winter and I am pretty sure I want it to be in grannies. I just haven't decided on the yarn yet.

I have scarves coming out the wazzooo! My fingers have been busy all summer long.

It's been fun to knit one, crochet one! LOL! All this scarf action has me looking forward to some fall weather!

Let me share another little scarf! Instant gratification with using large needles and this bulky yarn!


So, this morning since my hands were idle...which I do not do well on at all...I picked up my large needles and a skein of this yummy bulky weight Lion Brand Yarn. This yarn has been in my possession for quite awhile. I think the reason I brought it home is because of the colors! Love em! Only one problem...I need another skein!!

So I made a mad dash to Michaels for some more. BUSTED! Please don't tell me that I am not going to be able to find more of this. And it's Sunday...so I couldn't get to Hobby Lobby!

I'm crossing my fingers that I can get a couple more skeins of this tomorrow. I hate to frog such pretty stitches!

I think it's now time to sit back and relax a bit. My weekend seemed to have been swallowed up by my conference, and for some reason I feel robbed!! And a bit tired. And, tomorrow is another Monday! And a long one at that! Booo!

Yes, More Grannies

Pulled from a basket, a project that was tucked away and forgotten. It has now been found!

In an atttempt to get my yarn stash organized I keep running across things like this. It can almost get like Christmas, opening up a bag of long forgotten yarn! I had run across this a few weeks ago and put it to the front of the to do list. The colors and look of these little granny squares are far too pretty to be cast aside!

I am leaving for a conference this week and I think these will make it into my suitcase along with another little pretty I am working on. My evenings will be all mine! Held up in my room, no dishes or housework to do...no laundry...no taking the dog out. You get it! So my plans are to just chill out with my yarn and hook and relax! And yes, maybe shop a little, too!

I am looking forward to going and seeing old faces and visiting, as well as getting back home on Saturday to Mr. B and Phoebe!

Life is good, at the moment!

My New Look!

This morning after uploading some pictures onto my computer, just for the heck of it, I hit the slideshow button. I was amazed at how much better my photos looked on the black background of the slideshow. So, I then thought, hmmmm....maybe I should change my blog! Well as you can see I did. And I am liking the new look it gave it. So this is my new look! I hope you enjoy it!

As I was looking through all the photos I had uploaded this past week I made a observation...I HAVE MADE THREE SCARVES THIS WEEK! That's a new all time record for me! With my back being in the state it had been, I really couldn't do much of anything else. I am happy to say, my back is feeling great! A little achy in the evening, but the dr. said that will probably be that way for a couple of day because of the needle.

Okay, so now to business!

Here is number one.

I knit this up out of a colorway yarn I got at Hobby Lobby. It is called Epais - Colorfusion Yarn Bulky Weight. It is super soft and the skein is mega size! This has been sitting in my stash for a year now, and I am finally getting to using it. I still have half of the skein left!!!

It's hard to tell here, but this scarf is nice and long and a good ten inches in width. I imagine it will end up in my etsy shop.

I like it knit up in a stockinette stitch and am now curious how it would looked crocheted.

Next!

I got this little scarf finished up. I really like it. The pattern is pretty basic. Knit for six rows, stockinette for twelve rows. My yarn started to felt just from me blocking it!

I am definitely going to make another one of these. I have more of this yarn in a black with bright pops of color in it.



Thirdly!

Yesterday late afternoon I picked my crochet hook back up. Some yarn I had picked up in Hobby Lobby was calling my name, and I could just picture it in granny squares.

So I'm thinking, hey, it's 94 degrees outside...let's make another scarf! LOL! What can I say, it's either that or a afghan...I went for the scarf. Well, I got that booger done in one evening! It is a little bit "neutral" for me, but the contrast of the brown and cream makes it appealing to my eye.

Check it out!

I made my square with clusters of 4dc instead of the standard 3dc clusters. It really made a pretty square. I also joined the squares as I crocheted. I am beginning to form a great appreciation for joining squares in this manner. It's a nice break from seaming them up.

Here is a close up of the granny.










If interested, here is my yarn and colors I used:

Hobby Lobby - I Love This Yarn
Size H Crochet Hook
Toasted Almond
Coffee
Ivory Tweed

Quick and simple! Nothing like instant gratification, right?

You may have gotten the impression I like Hobby Lobby! LOL! When I was in there on Friday I had noticed they have added some new yarns. It is so hard to abstain from taking a shopping cart full home!

I'll leave my bloggy buddies with the wish of a great week!

TaTa!

Saturday Morning Quiet Time

Welcome to my little corner of the world! When I am here I never want to leave. This is my morning place, it's all mine, I have total control as to what is playing on t.v., how many lamps are lit, the thermostat...you name it! This is the place where I kick back with my yarn and crochet hook or knitting needles, whichever I am using at the time, and forget about all my problems! It is most important that there be a good movie playing while I am sitting here!

As I was straightening up the living room I had this idea...yarn candles! I wouldn't light these, but they are so pretty sitting under the light, a source for more inspiration!

Agree?

It has been a wonderful Saturday morning. As usual I am always up early, and once Phoebe is fed and "does her business" we settle in and watch something on t.v. and I pick up my knitting, well this morning it was knitting. My crochet hooks are not far out of reach!

Check it out!

I have really grown a fond attachment to this little scarf! It has been quick and quite rewarding! I finished it up this morning. As soon as the light is right I will shoot some pictures and share. If you would like the details you can check me out on ravely.com! There I go by Buckster.

I had to make a visit to Hobby Lobby yesterday and did not leave without visiting the aisle of yarn. I picked up these! I am thinking of very earthy granny squares that have a lot of texture! I can clearly picture them in my head!

I have had to pick up my knitting needles for a bit because my elbow has ached lately from using that teeny crochet hook. I am so anxious to finish my brightly colored granny square scarf, but not quite ready for that fingering yarn and tiny hook...but I suppose some of you know how it is!

Pain sucks! :-)

I had my epidural injection in my spine on Thursday and I can say I feel great!! Just a bit tender from the needle. This time he went in two places in hopes I get longer relief. I am hoping for PERMANENT relief.

Well, Saturday morning is calling me. Time for some breakfast, and the plants on the screened in porch need some of my attention!

Happy weekend to all!

Colorful Place Mats

Just a quick little post to share this picture I found while surfing on the internet. When I saw it, I said to myself, "now that is cool!"

Agree?

I am not sure how these are backed, they look pretty stiff. I was thinking maybe a sheet of plastic canvas sandwiched between two layers of granny squares.

This is another idea that is going into my want to do vault!

They look like they are pretty easy to make and would make great Christmas gifts! Which is not far away!

Just had supper and ready to sit down with some yarn. I cannot have anything else to eat for the rest of the evening. I'm having another epidural steroid injection in the morning. I am hoping this will help my back out. I would so much love to get back to walking at the track again! As it stands now, I wouldn't be able to make one lap! :-(

Fortunately I have plenty of projects to keep myself busy!

My Grandmas Could Crochet

This morning I was clicking through my flickr account, and began to think to myself that I am a bit odd. Most of my pictures are of "things". Sure I have a few family pictures intermingled in there, but it is mostly of my crochet and knitting projects. I think it is because they make me happy, I have always preferred a good illustrated book over "just words"!

As I was looking over picture after picture, I stopped on this one. It is a granny square afghan made my Grandma Alice. It s color and boldness grabbed me. I am certain it was made with odds and ends of yarn. In fact, I used to send my Grandma packages of leftover yarn. She put it to good use here!

My Grandma Alice as a dynamo with a crochet hook! I would bet she could crochet with her eyes shut. I never observed her knitting, and don't think she could.

This is a little granny square throw she made when she was near the end of her life, started after she had gotten out of the hospital and was staying with my parents because she was too weak and feeble to stay by herself. On close look many of her squares are upside down. I did have to go in and repair a couple that were coming undone, and resew a couple together. But even through all of that, her work was beautiful. When my mom told me she had this blanket stored away in a closet I jumped out of my shoes! It found its way home with me that evening.

As well, she loved making these ripple afghans. Each one she made was full of color. Her yarn was plain ole' Red Heart, which is what you could get at Woolworths. Her stitches are amazing. Each one identical. I truly appreciate the beauty in this. I have both of these blankets in my possession, and they remain out where I can see them every day and not hidden away in a closet.

My other Grandma, we called Grandma Esther, too had a talent with the yarn and hook. She loved to make doilies and table runners. The backdrop for this potholder is one of hers. She made it specifically for me, which makes it even more special. It was this doily that sparked my interest in crocheting with cotton thread and filet crochet. Maybe one day soon I will do a posting of some of the things I have made.

Grandma Esther was either sewing or crocheting. She was an excellent seamstress and worked as one for much of her life. She lived to be 94 years old, and was a pistol up until her 94^th year. We often talk about her when our family is together.

Below is an afghan I have in my possession which she made. Her eye for color was dead on! She was not afraid to combine colors, and it always looked great. I like to think I inherited my eye for color from her!

I love this afghan. And I particularly love the fringes!
Her stitches are also perfect, and her design is so pretty.
I hope you have enjoyed this posting. I just feel that these things need to be shared with others who could appreciate them as much as I do!

Granny Square Scarf FELTED!

Good morning to all my Bloggy Buddies! It is a rainy Sunday morning here in my part of the world, but I can think of know where else I would rather be at the moment. Here in my blog I seem to be resilient to the outside world!

So down to business! Here is my felted scarf! Now I ask, "aint it cool?" I absolutely love it with my favorite long sweater. I am definitely going to have to begin shopping for some boots!



I am so intrigued by this felting thing! As I pulled this scarf out of the washer I instantly loved it. How amazing to see the fibers locked together. I decided to run it through two wash cycles to make it a bit softer. It is soft, it truly feels like felt.

Below is a close up so you can see how the stitches disappear a bit.



The only thing I would have changed is to make my squares just a bit bigger. The shrinking was just in the width of the scarf. The length remained the same.



Before...The before scarf was just as pretty. But way to itchy to have against bare skin!


Interesting how the look changes by felting.



Oh!! Let me just share my latest Knit Picks order. This box was at my doorstep when I got home Friday evening! After a LONG day, and being extremely tired from the pain in my back and hip, opening this put a huge smile on my face!

These colors are so me...warm, look like Autumn. I am sure they will make their way into a scarf at some point! But for now they are displayed in a basket where I can get my touchy-feely fix every time I walk by them. This Palette Yarn has hooked me and reeled me in!



Okay, so now that I finished my felting project, I bring to you the beginnings of a Groovy Granny Square Scarf! This is also left over Palette that came from my Babette Blanket.



So whatcha think? I like it. I have done something similar to this only one square had a flower on it. You can see it here Buckster's Flower Power Scarf . I just felt for the size yarn I am using the flower may not work.



I think it's totally groovy!

I will leave you with this. It's perfect movie weather since the sky is so grey. I am actually loving the rain, which is much needed!

Ta-Ta!

My Granny Square Scarf - Pre Felted!

Buckster's Granny Square Scarf
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

Just a quick little post to show my scarf to all my bloggy friends. I do believe this one is a keeper and will go in my scarf repertoire for use when the weather starts to get cooler. I have a little bit of edging to do around the entire scarf and then it is headed to the washer to get felted!! I am pretty sure I can get this done this evening with a preview of the finished scarf tomorrow, along with a couple other goodies!!!

So now, it's back to the crochet hook!!