I've been busy!

Whew!  It's been a long time since my last post, but I've been busy crocheting away at these afghans.  The original plan was for 8 afghans, but on second count, I decided to make 10 as we have 2 new families this year.

AFGHAN #1:

I finished afghan #1 w/in the allotted month and a half.  Once it was finished, I wasn't too happy with how it turned out.  Too many mistakes in the sewing part, and too many tails.

So I decided to keep it for the family.  They were happy, but it means I need to make another afghan.  This actually turned out to be a good afghan to start this project. I learned several key techniques I would need on the next 7 afghans.  1) cut your tails as you go, 2) crochet in the tail of the first color when you switch colors rather than tying the two ends together.  This makes changing colors much easier and looks nicer.  3) count, count, count.  4) know which parts of the stitches in a pattern are important to match up later on, and which ones aren't.

I also had a lot of that gorgeous yarn left over so was able to use it in two more afghans (see below).

AFGHAN #2:
This next afghan was from a pattern I found online. The pattern called for all the motifs to be the same color.  I first thought it would look nice if I made the "lines" in the center of the circle a different color, but that was way more work than I was up for, and didn't look as nice as I thought.  Next I went through the leftover stash from afghan #1, and found I could mach up shades of colors nicely.  So afghan #2 became my first "altered" pattern.  I followed the stitches in the pattern but changed the colors. 

AFGHAN #3:
During this same time I was working on afghan #3, one of the kits I had purchased from Herrschners.

This afghan turned out beautiful!  It took awhile for the pattern to emerge and I was sure I was doing something wrong.  Thankfully the pattern actually warned of this and instructed to stay patience and keep going for 10 or so rows.  So glad I did!  You can't really tell from the pictures, but the yarn is very soft, this is quite an elegant afghan.

AFGHAN 4:
Afghan #4 was the only request I took.  My brother heard me talking about my afghan project w/ my mother and asked if I would make him a granny square blanket in dark green.  I'm not fond of one solid color (as you can see) so I changed it to camouflage. 

This is just a basic granny square on steroids.  It got kinda boring after awhile so as soon as I ran out of yarn, I ended it.  Probably should have made it bigger.  I added a solid border and fancy tails to the corners just to add some...life to it.  Hope he likes it.

AFGHAN #5:
Afghan #5 I did during this same time and was another kit from Herrschners.  The colors are darker than the picture shows, and unfortunately darker than the pictures in the catalogue.  My sister-in-law saw me working on this one over Spring Break and kept remarking on how much she liked it....so guess which one she is getting :)

AFGHAN #6:
Afghan #6 is one I had in mind from the beginning but took me a while to find the pattern.  I finally found it at Lions Brand yarn HERE.  (I need to add my photos and comments to that site.)  I changed one of the colors (can't remember which) and the pattern only called for 32 stars, which I didn't think was right, so I made 50 instead.  To make all 50 fit, I had to modify the star pattern.  I used a 5 leaf flower pattern.  This was the easiest and fastest afghan out of all of them.  I made the stars in 5 and 10 increments over a week so they didn't take that long.

I love how the back of the stars came out.  I was nervous about sewing the stars on, since I knew the stitches would be seen on the other side.  After some trial and error, I finally found a nice pattern that would secure the star AND look like a star on the back side.  There's no surprise which family is getting this one!

AFGHAN #7:
Afghan #7 is the first one I started back in January.  It is my "Eco-afghan".  This one took a back burner after I started the project.  When I started, I had trouble w/ the color changing, but by the time I was done w/ afghan #6, I was a pro and ready to tackle this one again.  Since it is an "eco-afghan" the colors do change slightly.  As I ran out of one or two colors I had to substitute in the best match I could w/out pruchasing more yarn (part of the "rule" I made for this one.)

I like the way the chevron pattern worked out.  The yearn is heavier and will be perfect for the person this one is intended for :)  I picture this on a truck seat bench or back of a car to quick throw down as ground cover while watching the races...hint! hint!

AFGHAN #8:
I LOVE this afghan!  I saw this picture floating around Pinterest but could not find the pattern.

I received a free pattern from Herrschners that looked similar but in black and white.

I followed the pattern but used the gorgeous yarn from Afghan #1 again.  I had 8 colors so just divided the large and small circles required by 8.  Then outlined the whole thing in solid black.

What do you think?  It's not exactly the same as the Pinterest one, but pretty darn close!  And the yarn is so soft!  This is definitely another family favorite.

AFGHAN #9:
This next afghan came about after having too much yarn left over from some of the other afghans.  I didn't want to make another motif styled afghan.  So this is entirely my own design and pattern, can't you tell?

The colors are very bright (brighter than the picture shows) and the yarn is that soft Vanna White yarn.  This one Wanda tried to bribe me into keeping, but no.  It will make a nice lap blanket or baby blanket (hint! hint!).  I might make another one for Wanda once I'm all done.

So that's 9 out of 10, done and 3 months until Christmas.  I'm ahead of the game, but the last one I'm working on is the hardest.  Stay tuned!

Recent Crochet Projects

Even w/ all the kid and summer activities, I've been able to sneak in a couple projects.

I found the pattern for these cute little flowers over at Easy.  She has lots of wonderful crochet ideas.  I took her flowers and added beads to the centers then attached them to bracellets and rings.  They would also make nice headbands.

The flower pattern came from Sew Ritzy-Titzy.  I just added a crochet leaf, although her fabric leaf I've logged away for another project.

Then my bags, oh my beautiful, fun bags.  I got the idea for these bags from one Future Girl's  blog. This link is to her free download page where you can download the pattern for her Starling handbag.  As you can see I took some liberties and added longer handles and embellishments.  I really need to go through her tutuorial on linings as mine didn't come out quite right....they were a bit off but the hand sewing covers it up...I hope.

 

This cross pattern comes from a silly little crochet magazine I receive in the mail.  I don't know why or how I started receiving this, but I do, and occassionally it has cute patterns that I can follow.

Summer = Fair, so when the fair is over does that mean summer is over?

This year the Teen and I submitted some of our handmade awesomeness to the Fair.  My photos are kinda blurry as I only had the camera phone w/ me when we went to the fair.

 Lol, we got Red Ribbons straight across the board.  Don't know if they equate to any premiums (cash) yet, but it was fun seeing them hanging up at the fair and having friends and family go see them.

The judges actually commented on each item so we have an idea of what to do to get a Blue ribbon next year....we'll see.  As the Teen says, "I don't believe in re-dos.  Once is good enough."

I love that the Teen submitted this dress she made from her dad's old shirt.  It looks absolutely cute on her!  Her sewing style is...unique to say the least.  More of - eye it and hand sew here and there, then any great seamstress skills.

This photo is of my friend's felted hat that won the Judge's Prize. She just started felting this year!  She learned so she could teach her GS Troop, and now she's an artist.  She also submitted a beautiful scarf out of silk, but that photo really looked too bad to post.

Too bad the photo is fuzzy, because the hat is gorgeous!

The Teen's BFF is an amateur photographer.  Here is the photo she submitted:

...and now the fair is done and gone.  Time to start thinking about school shopping.  Ugh.

Where have I been and what have I been doing

OMG, can't believe it's been so long since I last posted.  I've got to come up with a better game plan to stay on top of things.  I have been very busy crochetting away.  I love to crochet :)  It calms me and provides the creative outlet I seem to need....every day!

Here's what I've completed while away:
First up, my very first QUILT!  I am so excited!  I used the applique I purchased at the Sewing Expo from Hawaiin Applique.  I can't believe I actually made a quilt with a backing and hand sewn border. This will be a Christmas wall hanging that I seriously thinking of giving to my sister-in-law as a present.  She is my quilt sewing buddy in that she inspires me :)

Next up, a baby blanket (afghan) and matching hat.  This is to replace the hat I made for my nephew's new baby, but was way too small.    I had a small problem with counting....I didn't... so its not exectly square, but I'm hoping the baby won't notice.  The pattern is my own, one row of double crochet, a row of single crochet, a row of bubbles, a row of single crochet, repeat until reaches desired length.  I love how the back side came out smooth and consistant :)

And third,  a large afghan for my hubby!  Yeah, I'm pretty proud 'cause afghans take like forever to make and that's usually way past my attention span, so for me to actually FINISH a project that I started months ago, was pretty awesome :)  And hubby loves it!  He is so happy I made him an afghan.  Apparently it's the first and only one he has that he can call his own.  Kids...not so happy, they were looking forward to it as well.  So on to more afghans!

So many blogs...so little time

I am having so much fun visiting all the OWOH blogs (at least trying to visit them all). Hope I can get through them all by Feb. 14.

Don't you love it when you go to one blog that takes you to another that takes you to another, and soon you forget what you were originally searching for but are so happy at where you ended up?  Well one of my fav blogs to start the "don't know where it will end" journey is One Pretty Thing.  If you are crafty and have not visited this treasure trove, you really must put it on your DAILY travels.  I don't know how these ladies keep up, but every day they have wonderful links to crafty goodness all over the web.  At the moment I am obsessed with crochet.  So I usually start wandering to crochet sites. My latest little find is JulieK. She has the cutest little crochet heart pattern. 

The pattern was a little tricky to follow and I'm not sure I got it quite right.  I had trouble at the point and then again at the top (I know, kinda crucial for a heart).  You'll see Julie's hearts are much more "heart" shape whereas mine are more "heart-ish" shaped.  I'd be curious to know if anyone else tried this pattern.

I had been working on an odd little doily pattern that I got in the mail, but was getting bored and thought these hearts would spruce it up.  What do you think?  The home-critics were not that impressed but I thought it was cute enough to put on the entrance table w/ a candle.  (Valentine day decorating...done!)  I have misplaced the odd little Crochet magazine where I got the doily pattern.  If I find it I will add that link as well. 

My photographic skills definately need improving. I would put more items on Etsy, if I could figure out how to get the pics to look more appealing! This is another of my 2010 resolutions.

Enjoy the hearts!  ~mly

2010 Projects

The year has started off pretty well. I completed the Granny Square afghan (I actually completed this right before Christmas, but close enough!), the yarn basket, the smaller yarn basket for mom, and several hats.

The granny square blanket was inspired by a pattern I saw at www.purlbee.com. I adapted it to the request of my daughter (she picked the colors.) I don't see the pattern on their site anymore but they are offering a class, and there is a picture of the original one there.

The yarn basket was inspired by one of my favorite crochetters "Attic24". Again I adapted the pattern to match my own taste (I got bored just making single crochets) and the smaller yarn basket was born out of a request by my mother for...you guessed it...a SMALLer basket :)

Both are perfect for holding more yarn.