Crochet Eye Candy

 

Whispers Shawl is finished!  I must say this has been one of my favorite crochet projects.  I credit it to the yarn and the simple pattern.  The pattern is a $4.50 download on Ravelry.  Quite the bargain if you ask me! 

 

 

I used 2 balls Chroma Fingering Weight in the color Roller Skate for the shawl, and crocheted it with a Size E Hook. 

 

Here is more eye-candy.

 

 

 

Phoebe also gave her stamp of approval! 

I have already started a new knitting project, which is working up very fast, so maybe I will have another post in a few days!!

Bye for now!

Crazy Insane Variegated Madness!

Pure nervous energy started this little project.  I was at an impasse.  I had finished the Laura's Wrap and not certain on what to start yet.  So I picked up my circular needles and variegated yarn, next thing you know this is the result.  

I added a granny edging in teal blue.  I didn't want anything fancy-shmancey, just something clean and simple.  I think the variegated insanity framed by the calm blue is perfect.  It rather reminds me of myself these days!  LOL!!!

It is fascinating how variegated yarn works up.  How can anyone not like the color.  I want to dive right into it and get lost!!!  

I have been looking at shawl patterns on ravelry.  I have so much yarn that needs to be worked up, and I am in a crochet mood.  

These days Goodwill has been a fun break for me.  I am always looking for that treasure.  This long green sweater is my latest score for $3.75.  It looked in need of love hanging there on the rack.  it was dirty, out of shape, and had some pilling on it.  I gave it a good cleaning and hit it with the steamer. Ran it over with the little sweater shaver and a lint roller, and ta-da!  It is my favorite.  And I love it with denim. Olive green and blue is so pretty together.  Oh...the belt, a total score too!  

For those that don't know me, I love Goodwill.  Like my mom says, "It makes her happy"  LOL!  It really does.  Plus finding a treasure for under 5 bucks is so freaking fun, I can't explain it!  I must say, this is the grooviest sweater I have ever had!!!  

I  love this peaceful Sunday evening.  Hubs is gone to bed, Girlie is laying here next to me in peaceful slumber and I am enjoying the quiet.  I have a new little crochet project going, and a rather large order to get started on.  The beginning drowsy feeling is kicking in...it can't get much better.  You see, anxiety has been high these days.  I can't pin down one particular reason, maybe it is several things causing it, but it has crept in and really done a number with me.  So these moments where I feel calm and content are the best!!!  I think part of it is the fact that 51 years have hit and certain chemical changes are effecting my temperance, leaving me in an agitated state everywhere I go.   LOL!!

About the new crochet project, it is something kind of new to me.  I won't share a lot until next week when I can share some pictures, but I can say learning the technique has started the creative wheels in my head and I already have ideas on where to take it.  That's all I will say for the moment!

I hope everyone has a great week.  And may it include some yarn, too!!!

Dawn

My First Sweater!

Yay!!  My first "official" sweater complete!!  And I love it!  The yarn worked out a little wacky, but I still love it anyway!  

I found this super-duper easy pattern over at "Dances with Wool".   It worked up beautifully.  I made my cardigan a little longer, and also the arms and cuffs are a little longer too.   It is a raglan knit from the top down.  I find the medium size to be dead on.

You can actually see the way the yarn worked up.  Believe it or not, this is actually one yarn!!  It looked like a completely different yarn when I got to the end of the skein.  

What I learned from making this:  

• It would be easy to custom this to a larger size.  You can try it on as you go to make sure it fits right under the arms.
• It would be very easy to make a standing collar by doing several rows of k2, p2 ribbing before you start the increases.
• Also the placket for the buttons could easily widened for larger buttons.  
• Stripes would be pretty or using two shades of yarn every two rows!
• I used a k2, p2 ribbing on the sleeves and cuffs, I prefer the look.
• Once you have made one, you will have to do another!!

As you can tell I loved this.  I have always wanted to make a sweater, and it actually be something that I would wear!  And this pattern has giving me knitting courage to try more complicated ones.  

It will definitely be my "go to" sweater!

I also wanted to share pictures of the shawl I finished up awhile back.  

I used the flower loom to do the flowers and then crocheted them together using some black crocheted cotton I had on hand.  

It took more time than I thought it would, and I started to get burned out before I finished it.  Joining the flowers got a little monotonous and something that required more concentration than I had.  If you look close you will see little places where the joining is off.

It would  be pretty over a black turtle neck.  I am thinking I may put this in my etsy shop.  

So, now I am in full sweater mode, and have already begun another!  LOL!  I am so ready for fall and sweater weather!

Before I go, here is a picture of me in my sweater!!  Isn't it cute!

I'm off for now.  Have tomorrow off for Labor Day so I have a whole day to do what ever I want. Who can guess what that will be?   LOL!

Crocheted Leaves

I am ga-ga over these crocheted leaves!  I want to crochet a whole tree full, LOL!  And I think they go perfectly with tiny pumpkins.

I was on the search for the perfect crocheted maple leaf last week.  Google-ing, searching ravelry, and etsy...and some pinterest.  Pinterest led me to this etsy shop, ka-ching!!!!  Her shop GoldenLucy Crafts, is full of patterns for leaves and seashells.  I purchased her maple leaf pattern and it is awesome.  Easy to follow and she also has step by step photos.  Right now she has a pattern for an oak leaf that I am seriously eye-balling!  I'll probably get it, but first I want to make more maple leaves.

I experimented with some different yarns.  It's too hard to pick my favorite, they are all so pretty.

AUTUMN-EEEE!!

I finally finished up my third shawl.  I had a hard time trying to figure out what kind of edging to put on it.  I knew it needed one.  

I had this chenille by Lion Brand that I picked up from a sale bin that worked perfectly.  It really made the blue pop.

It is very "fringe-like" and so freakin soft!!  I do want to make more of these, maybe for Christmas or my etsy shop.  If you are interested in the pattern it's a Lion Brand freebie, called South Bay Shawlette.  The pattern doesn't have an edging, I added that myself.  

Isn't it yummy as a scarf!

And of course, worn like it was designed to be.

That's about it for now.  Enjoying a rainy Labor Day, with homemade soup and movies.  There is a Mash marathon on TVland my husband can't step away from!

I hope everyone has a great week!  Now I'm off to make more leaves.  (That seriously sounded like a "Martha Stuart" quote!)

Bye

Granny Square Love!

The granny square blanket I picked up at the thrift store inspired me to do one of my own.  Her she be!!  I used the join as you crochet technique which really sped up the whole process.  Finished it up in about a week's time.

As I was finishing it up I decided it needed tassels on each corner.

I did each corner with a different color tassel.  cute??  I really like the blue and the purple against the black.

Then it hit me....I knew I had to do it...so, the final touch to the blanket....

You got it!  A little owl!!!  Now how fun is that?

I have decided to donate this to our local Hospice.  It is something I have always wanted to do.  My hope is to make about 3 to 4 afghans a year just for donating, and my hope is that although it is just a crocheted blanket, that it will brighten up a room and bring a smile to someone.

How can you not help yourself from smiling at this little guy!!

I think this would also make an adorable little baby blanket.  Maybe that will come true, maybe with little owl squares???  just a thought floating around in the back of my brain.  LOL

I have some good news about those who have sent me emails and comments about this pattern.  I knew it was in one of my crochet books.  Well I found it!!

It is out of this book, Cozy Crochet, by Melissa Leapman.  It is the Lacy Evening Shawl.

I wish I could remember the yarn I used, but it has been so long ago, I can't remember.  I do remember I got it from A.C. Moore, so it wasn't anything pricey.  It is a soft acrylic.  Hopefully I will get to wear it this coming fall, if it should ever get here!

Y'all have a good week!!  Happy Hooking!

Dawn

Crochet, Crochet, Crochet!!!!

As promised, I am posting the sunflower pattern for those of you who would like it.

For flower center  (sc are worked in the back loop to give the flower center ridges)
Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc into 1st ch. Mark start of round with a contrasting thread.
Rounds 2-3: work 2 sc into each st around, move marker
Round 4: 1 sc, 2 sc around, move marker
Round 5: 1 sc around, move marker
Round 6:  1 sc, 2 sc around, move marker
Round 7:  1 sc around, and end round with 1 sl-st into 1st st. of round.
Work flower center twice. Then sandwich the wrong sides of the circles together and crochet together with sc brown.

Petals:  Using a yellow attach yarn to one sc of the flower center,
*(2dc, 2trc, chain 3, sl st in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook, 1tc, 2 dc) all in same stitch, ch 3, sl st into next sc of flower center,  - Petal made!
chain 3 and repeat at *, continue in this matter all the way around flower. After the last petal chain 3 and attach to beginning dc.

Now the fun!  do a chain stitch with a tapestry needle and a bright green at base of petals around flower.  I chose to put a pretty button in the center, but several small buttons would also look great.

With this little sunflower you can do so much, it is great attached to a granny square.  The brown base can be filled with fiberfil to make a great little pincushion!

As you can see above,  I have created a little wall hanging which also includes little birds!

Scotty's Place had the cutest little birdies she had been making which caught my eye; I was able to find the pattern on ravelry, so I got  it. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bird-applique-2.  It's a very nice upload!!!  I did them in black to make the little crows. 

Isn't it cute???!!!!  I promise you, once you make a sunflower, you will have to make another!!  The little birds take all of 10 minutes to work up.

Of course, a beaded tassel is a necessity!!! 

It's been quite a week here.  HOT, for one thing.  Miserably hot.  Work has been busy and a bit on the insane side!  So, once I get home in the evening, I change into some cool and comfy and decompress in the a/c with my yarn at my side!  Friday I did get to the thrift store at lunch and found a couple treasures.

I snagged this granny square blanket for $7!!!!  It is beautifully crocheted, I couldn't walk out of the place without it! 

Phoebe totally approves!  I got it home, stuck it in the washer, and it's already in use!  (It has inspired me to start a granny blanket!!)  Yup, a trip yesterday afternoon to A.C. Moore and the insanity has already begun.  I can't wait to share once I get started!

I got a pretty little scarf crocheted up.  It took all of two evenings.  Isn't it pretty!
I am so ready for Fall!! 

I cannot wait until it is cool enough that I can start wearing this.  I crocheted this shawl years ago in this super dooper soft purple yarn.  I have had some requests for the pattern, but for the life of my I cannot get my fingers on it.  I'll keep looking.  It is in one of my crochet books, so I know it is around this house somewhere.

I cannot wait to wear it!

And the pictures don't lie, It is extremely soft!!!


I have been getting a lot of questions about this blanket from my Happy Hookah Goodness posting.

I do not have the exact colors I used, but I can tell you some of them.  The variegated yarns in these squares is Red Heart's TLC Essentials.  I used three colors: "sedona", "coraline", and "island".  I love the red one, "sedona", and use it in a lot of my crochet.  Fore those wanting to doe something similar to this I can give you my formula.  I kept the center of the large squares the same, blue.  Each square has white, and sedona in it.  If you keep the white and the red in the large squares you can change out the other yarns.  You can see I used some yellows and a pretty mint green.  I hope this helps.   If anyone has a question for me, I am happy to answer, but it would be best to email me at the address on my profile so I will be sure to see it!!

That's about it for now.  Phoebe says to tell everyone to have a great week and stay cool!

Post Christmas Slow Down

Well, finally, I finished up my shawl!!!  Once I got past Christmas, I drug this out and finished it up.

 Isn't it beautiful!!  That Miss Babs yarn is da bomb!!! 

 Here is a littlel closeup.  This pattern is super easy!  I like the texture, and I love the little lace stitch in it!

Check it out wrapped around my neck!!!  Doesn't it bring out my blue eyes!!!  Those wanting the pattern, you can find it here.  It's called La La's Simple Shawl by Laura Linneman.  She has a lot of nice patterns available on Ravelry!  The yarn is from Miss Babs, and is Yowsa What a Skein, in the color of Crimson Fronted Barbet.

 The Last Little Angel of Christmas

Adorable or what???  I wanted a new angel for my Christmas tree this year, and of course, I wanted to crochet her.  After surfing ravelry looking at patterns and projects I decided to do my own thang...and this is what I came up with.  I knew I had to use this silver novelty yarn in her.  It worked perfectly!

 Look at that hair!  I put it in one strand at a time, and didn't stop until I had it nice and thick.  It was pretty simple, just took a little bit of time. 

 Yes, she has a nose and little ears!  Easy to make.  I simply double knotted my white yarn, and then with a needle pulled both ends through her head, the knots made perfectly shaped ears and noses!

 The little gold collar contrasts perfectly with the silver trim. 

 One has little laced ballet slippers.  Due to the lack of time, I didn't get to work on these as much as I would have liked to.  I can see all kinds of variations for her.  She does have wings, but are just hard to see from the front. 

Bye for now!