Today is the FIRST day of the rest of your life!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Baby Afghan

Afghan - for pattern see ByHook

Saturday, November 15, 2008

New Autumn Purse for the Church Bazaar

I had this camouflage yarn in acrylic that I thought might make a nice tight body for an Autumn colored purse. It did, except I ran out of it! So, I added black Wool-Ease on each end to finish up. It isn't as thick, so the weave was not as tight. However, it did turn out nicely.

I wanted it washable, so realized that I could not hook the handles on permanently. Therefore I used button flaps on the inside to that should the new owner decide to change handles, it would be very easy. I made a Japanese type knot and half of a butterfly closure to the middle could close easily. I found it holds three skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn quite nicely!


The second photo shows that it isn't a large purse, but large enough. I did not line it, so it would not be good to carry bobby pins or little pens around, but is a good purse to toss in larger items for a quick trip to church or the store.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Potholders Again

Still making these for church. Found out the bazaar won't be until December. Why so late???? Anyhoooo, I'm showing two of each to show how bad my camera is taking color photos. The first ones actually are pretty true to color - so only am showing the front and back.....they are different! This is the double potholder that my SIL told me how to make and they are pretty easy ... I just have to be careful not to
get them too small.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Potholders Galore

I have been messing around with various patterns from my crochet book trying to improve my skills. They are fun and quick and interesting - and not very easy, I might add!

Below is the back.  It was hard to get this thing to come our straight and look right, but I think it turned out okay.  The color that looks blue is really a dark teal, and the olive green is really a dark dusty green.  Can't get the colors to come out right - might try again outside and see if the sunlight helps.

This is a cotton potholder made in a pattern called Catherine's Wheel.  I thought it was an appropriate name, but don't like the final outcome.  I think I'll test it out more and see if I can come up with some way to make the "wheels" come out more like a true circle.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Candy Corn!

Our Potholder Along for October had this pattern for Candy Corn Potholders - so I turned one into a Candy Corn Hot Pad to match. Easy pattern and free on the net. I think these will make cute gifts!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Megan's Afghan Finished!!!!

I finally put the pedal to the medal and finished Meg's afghan. This sucker is one heavy piece of fabric!! She will be warm, for sure, if not too warm. I ran out of the lighter purple yarn, but had too much of the other. I think I could have put another few rows around the border, but instead ran out of will. When you are sooooooooo close to being finished, it is hard to stretch the project out longer. I think, no matter what, she will love it, and it is  certainly long enough for her to snuggle up.

Next comes Cindy's, but I keep changing the pattern. I want it to be just right for her. Hmmmm?????

Monday, September 22, 2008

New Hot Pad/Pot Holder

Made in wool. I changed the pattern around a bit...looks cute!

Lynne's Slippers

These are much pinker than they show in the photos. Wish I had not used the blue for the second layer of the soles, but can't worry about it now. They are going to be big on Lynne, but the pink will most likely shrink some, so then they should fit better. Otherwise will make her some more!



Saturday, September 13, 2008

New Tanks for Me

I am a bit disappointed in the Sweet Tea (rose) as when I changed
colors for the short rows the new yarn, although of the same dye lot,
is lighter. It looks like it has a stripe right across the bust
line. In person it does not show as brightly as it does in the
photo. I am wondering if I can dye this to look all the same
color....??? Anyone have any experience coloring Cotton-Ease?? I
made a size 45 but it is too large for me. Looks fine under a jacket
or sweater.

The Cameo is a size smaller, and still a tad larger than I'd like. I
love the yarn, and even though it is really shiny, it looks good with
a pair of jeans. Just the right color. It is a 42, so I think the
next one I make will be a size 40 and see if that fits. My problem is
that I have bulges where one should NOT have them, so it can't be too
tight.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Yarn for my Troubador Socks

Yarns for the Socks

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Cat's New Bolero

I was smart enough to purchase the crochet book, "Everyday Crochet" by
Doris Chan. She has some of the cutest "lace" patterns for tops - and
even though they are a bit complicated, they are worth the time. I
finished this one as a "try out" to see if I could make the pattern
- using a bit of yarn that I would not have used had I figured I would
actually finish it and like it! However, it goes with lots of tops
and a pair of jeans, and looks pretty good. I still have not decided
as to whether or not I will put any buttons or closures on it, so it
is what it is for now.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Toe-Up Socks for me!

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Monday, August 11, 2008

Jacob the Bunny

This is from the Interweave Crochet magazine. Summer '08. I didn't
look it up on the internet, but there has to be an errata on
it...calls for two rows of white in the pattern for the hands/paws,
but when looking at the photo in the magazine it is quite obvious that
there were three. Other little details are off, too, so if you like
him and want to make him, make sure you check for the errata first!


I made this for Amy Jo, but he is so cute I might keep him for myself!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Crooked Dish Cloth for Sissy

The dish cloth is also made with Cotton-Ease. I didn't realize it was
a bit crooked until it was photographed. How did that happen? It is
the same pattern throughout. Perhaps it is the crooked single
crochets around the side. I think I should work on side panels within
the pattern so it will be even. Hmm?? Will have to think about
that...some sort of pebble pattern perhaps, or some single or double
crochet for an edging.

Now she and a friend are testing the finished products to see if they
are okay for their intended use (and don't fade and shrink).

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Potholder and Dishcloth

The purple dish cloth to the right needs a border, I think. Made with Cotton-Ease, by Lion Brand.




The cotton potholder, below, in Cotton-Ease also, was made for  a CAL on Ravelry.com.  It is a little twisty, but blocked nicely. The colors are brighter than shown, and the yellow is actually chartreuse.


Neither of these is outstanding. just functional in nice bright
colors!  My kitchen needs brightening, so wanted to see how these work up...sell these at the church bazaar, and then make some for me!


The potholder to the right was an attempt at changing the pattern to make it less curly, and in essence it was coming out like an ice cream cone! I just kept at it, adding stitches, until it came out relatively square.  The colors are dark maroon, light mauve, and black.  Unfortunately they don't show up well here.