I actually finished another blanket/beanie a week or so ago! It is a beautiful denim blue with a grey edging. My friend loved it so much that she said she wanted to use it for her baby photos! How awesome is that! Since I don't know what happened to the pictures I took and put on the computer, I'll wait until she has her baby and maybe show off those pictures!
I also joined Ravelry. HOW COME I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE BEFORE?? I love it. I am in love with it. Or maybe lust. It's hard to tell the difference. But anyway, I have found SO many adorable patterns that I want to buy and make for Hailey before winter is over, my favorite being this sweater!
And yes, it is knitted. I love it so much. I could do it!
Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a while! Times have been pretty busy, and I haven't had much time to crochet like I would like to.
I have been working hard on a small baby afghan and matching beanie for a pregnant friend of mine who is due in January (or is it February?). I am way behind on the blanket (it's been about a month since her baby shower...oops!) but the last few days, I have been able to play a lot of catch up. I am still working on the beanie, so once I have that done, I will take pictures of the set before I hand it off to the soon-to-be mama!
I have also been knitting lately. Like, a lot. As in, I really, really, really like knitting. My only problem is, I taught myself, and right-handed at that (I'm left handed, I crochet left-handed), so I am horribly and awkwardly slow at knitting. I don't know how to hold the needles or yarn for tension at all. Anybody out there want to help me??
My main "obsession" right now would be dishcloths. My sis-in-law has several knitted cotton dishcloths and I love them. I have a crocheted dishcloth, but it's not cotton, so it's not super awesome, but it works, and I actually really like the textures and ability to hold water and soap while washing dishes. Walmart, bless its awful heart, has Peaches 'n Cream cotton balls of yarn for under $2!! And so many fabulous colors. I have to save my money so I don't buy them every time I go to the store. I bought black (good dark, solid color for dishcloths) and have been working on one. My only problem is, I keep changing the pattern. I make one for a few good rows, then find another pattern I like better, so I unravel everything, and start all over. It's taking me forever. I am also "practicing" a dishcloth with normal worsted weight yarn at work, and I am actually really liking how it is turning out!
Ooh, I also REALLY want to make socks. And a stocking like this great video I found online!
However, that requires special needles that I don't have, but would love to some day acquire. Oh, someday!!
That reminds me. Anyone know of any good ways to store yarn??? I looked it up online and people were saying things like, "You never need to keep leftover yarn" or "Give the rest of the yarn with the blanket/gift so that if anything happens, they'll have matching yarn to fix it" or "Why the heck would you save leftover yarn you're crazy." What! I mean, some of the projects I've made have barely used even half a skein! I have soooo much yarn left over, and over my dead body will I just throw it out. I just need to find a better way to organize it than throw it in a box in the same plastic grocery bag that it came in.
Anyway, no pictures today. I'll keep working and crocheting and knitting. And spending hours watching knitting and crocheting videos online. And drooling over crochet and knitting books at the store.
Christmas is coming up, so have fun with whatever fun things you are making for Christmas! What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Share!
Have I ever told you about my absolute undying love for flamingos? And my kind of detestation of crochet hats and how I had sort of made a vow that I would never make them?? Well in the end, we know that love wins out all! And now I really do like making the hats! I made this all up on my own, after learning a few basics from online and getting my inspiration from an Etsy shop that I will have to find the link for because I can't seem to find it now...
I think it turned out well and more pictures to come of the hat itself!
I decided a few weeks ago that I needed to be better about my exercise routine. So on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, Hailey and I have been bundling up and going for a walk/jog around the neighborhood. It's been pretty good! (although I'll admit I haven't been for about a week because I have been so busy!)
I had a hat for Hailey, but I really wanted something I could tie around her chin. A few minutes after an online search, and voila! We have cuteness!
I used CrochetnCrafts' pattern right here because I loved the gradual earflap instead of the triangle look. It is all shells (you know me and shells!). I used size G hook as it suggested in the pattern. As for the yarn, well, I just used what was left over from my other blanket! I love leftover yarn!
This hat was super easy to make and I actually started about 3 others all in different colors! I'm really excited about them and excited that Hailey has something to wear to keep her head warm during our jaunts outside.
She is just too cute! The hat was a little too big, but really not too bad!
I also knew that with cooler weather coming in, I was going to have to start making Hailey wear shoes. At least for church! I am going to make her some boots for every other day wear. I am really hesitant right now about buying normal shoes for Hailey because her feet are so TINY that nothing even really fits. Hence the beauty of custom crochet.
The pattern came from one of my favorite youtube videos by tjw1963 on Crochet Geek channel. The pattern is for baby Mary Jane's. I liked this pattern a lot because of the simplicity and easiness. I made these shoes very quickly. Well, that's a lie. I got distracted and only finished one and then the second one just needs some final touches on it.
Also, I stole the buttons from my mom's collection. Don't you just adore them??
Would you judge me if I told you I've actually picked up on some knitting and am really quite starting to enjoy it...?
There are so many things you can do with knitting. So many types of stitches. I've always looked at sweaters and wondered how that is made and then suddenly...here I am making that in my hands!
It's really incredible. I've got a lot of practicing to go, but I think I might even try to pick up a book and, I don't know, maybe make something!
Don't worry. I still choose crochet as my forte. I'm just saying. Maybe I should have named this blog "I Love Yarn" because, well, I really do love yarn, be it knit or crochet. That way I could write about whatever!
So don't hate me if I happen to start posting about knitting projects, too.
Ok, time for bed!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wow. Last post August 28. I did not mean for that to happen! I had been having some issues with blogger so I am sorry for my long absence! Doesn't mean I haven't been working, though!
So here it is!
This is the yellow/gray/white baby afghan that I made for my friend's baby in Logan. Her theme was yellow, and making a yellow blanket...is honestly a little sickening. I needed to throw in an accent color. I chose gray at first, but thinking about it, I wish I would have done a cute green or maybe even purple. Oh well! Next time!
I used the same shell pattern, except minus the shell edging (mostly because I was just really running out of time). You see all those strings hanging there? The WORST part about switching out colors so often. Every single one of those loose ends had to be woven in. Yet again another reason why it took me so long to want to finish this.
And I'm sorry I wasn't able to get a full picture. Once again, I was kind of pressed for time.
The next time I make a blanket, I may have to rethink the color-switching thing. It's cute - it really is! But I'm going to have to really put my "press forward" attitude on if I am serious about it. For now, I might just stick with a solid color and my standard ribbon on the corner. Or a flower. Either-or.
I also did a couple burp cloths that I also was pressed on time for and failed to take any pictures.
I promise - I'll do better!
Current project...trying to figure out what to do with 3 tiny skeins of SUPER soft/SUPER thick yarn that I picked up at Walmart/how am I going to turn it into something useful for my friend's new baby? Any suggestions other than a blanket?
Also...Walmart has their flannel on sale for $3.50/yd. How can I resist??? That is SO cheap and SUCH a good deal, I could totally stock up and be prepared for any burp cloths or blanket hemstitch ideas that come my way! Oh, what to do, what to do.
I love to crochet.
Lastly, I had a really fun night with my sister a couple weeks ago. She suggested we have a movie/crochet night! Sounds boring to you, but that's really what we did! That's when you know you love your sister so much that you look forward to nothing more than to sit down and watch "The 10th Kingdom" with her while crocheting!
Stay tuned for more pictures as I continue on crocheting!
