Yarn!!!!!

I’m just about finished with the doily. I also found out that The Rag Shop is going out of business. I went this morning – their products are 20 – 50% off. The yarn and crochet/knitting tools are 20% off. Yarn is going FAST. I picked up 13 skeins of Homespun. 7 of one color and 6 of another (cleaned them out of both colors). I picked up Williamsburg and Mediterranean. I feel like I’ve worked with Mediterranean before, but the colors don’t seem familiar to me. Anyway, it’s beautiful.

Framed Roses

My newest project that I’m working on is a doily called Framed Roses. It’s from the House of White Birches Collectible Doily Series and it was designed by Lois Waldschmidt.

I’m using Frosty Green, Ecru and a light pink size 10 crochet thread and a size 7 hook.

I miss working with thread and making lace. It was strange, however, working with the steel hook and thread after working with the N hook and bulky yarn.

Super Fast and Easy Throw

I have a friend who is suffering from some unknown sickness. I enjoy making blankets/shawls for friends who are suffering from either physical or emotional things. I really ought to have a few items made up ahead of time, because it seems that things strike several people at the same time. But, I don’t, so I’m stuck. I have another friend who I would love to make something up for, but I promised myself I’d get this one out, first.

I’m using Lion Brand Homespun, Prairie, Super Fast and Easy Throw from Lion Brand and an N hook. I’m on the 3rd of 6 skeins.

It would be nice to finish this before the 24, but we will see.

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6/21/07

The throw is finished!

It measures 44″ wide x 60″ long. I love homespun! It’s a great blanket and I hope the recipient finds much comfort in it.

Update on Kenny’s c-mama ripple

I washed Kenny’s blanket today. It was made from Red Heart. It’s not as soft as the other blankets made out of Caron Simply Soft, but it did soften up a bit. Good, because it was a little too scratchy and I just would have been upset if it hadn’t softened.

Emily’s c-mama ripple

Well, the blankets are all done. I am amazed. I gave myself until June 23 to complete them all. Here it is, June 18 and they are all done. I just have to wash them and all will be great! Yeah!

Her blanket was made with Caron Simply Soft, c-mama’s ripple pattern and a J hook. It measures 31″ x 60″. I probably should have made it a bit wider, but it’ll work.

Blanket #5 of 6

Woo Hoo! I can seriously believe that I’ll finish these blankets BEFORE our trip.

I have Caytie weaving in the ends on her blanket. Phew.

Levi’s blanket measures 38″ x 50″. The blue is Caron Pound and the black is Caron Simply Soft. Again, it was made with the c-mama ripple pattern and a J hook. I think of the colors, it’s my favorite one of the 5.

Purse Hanger

I had been surfing Wikipedia and came across Rose McGowan’s page. Yes, I used to watch Charmed.

I learned there that Rose and her friend, Natasha, started Pinken Mint making and selling purse caddies. I went to that site and found out what purse caddies were. I had never seen or heard of these. How cool! A hook you place on a tabletop to hang your purse. It keeps your purse right next to you instead of on a chair back or on the floor, yuck! Well, their prices were a bit more than what I would want to spend (although I would never turn down one of their beautiful caddies) so I went searching.

C&W Designs has beautiful hangers but were still a little expensive for my taste.

Flo’s Accessories sells purse hangers at a fraction of the cost. They aren’t as gorgeous, but there are some nice designs and lots of choices. But, the cost was still a little higher than what I wanted to spend. I’m not cheap, but I do live on a budget.

I did a bit more searching and found some, but the less expensive they got, the cheaper they looked. I didn’t want my purse dropping to the floor.

Finally, I went to ebay. I found quite a few. Some looked the same as what I found with web searches, but I still couldn’t find the one I wanted to spend my cash on. Then I found Sandstone Designs. There were different kinds of hangers and one that I saw said it held up to 20lbs. But some of the hangers didn’t say how heavy a purse/bag it would hold. So I contacted the seller and she told me that the ones that said 20lbs were the only ones that held 20lbs. Ok. So those are what I’m looking at. Now, which design? Well, I made my decision, clicked on the “Buy it Now” button and paid for it. I suppose I could have driven to her home to pick it up since she doesn’t live far, but she mailed it off and 2 days later it came in the mail. It’s lovely and I’m completely amazed that it works. I love it.

So, if you are interested in one of these lovely purse hangers, you can check out any of the links I included, search on your own, but I love the hanger I got from Sandie at Sandstone Designs. I don’t know if she made them, but it was a very smooth transaction with her.

C-Mama’s Ripple Pattern

Notes:

The above photo was made using a J hook and Caron Simply Soft worsted weight yarn

dc dec – yo, insert hook in next dc, draw through loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, insert hook in next dc, draw through loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, draw through remaining 3 loops on hook.

Join new color – at the last 2 stitches of the row before color change, yo, insert hook in next dc, draw through loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, insert hook in next dc, draw through loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, and with new yarn, yo, draw through last 2 loops on hook, chain 2 and turn.

Row 1 – Foundation chain multiples of 17 until desired length. I usually chain another 17 to make sure that it’s wide enough. dc in 3rd chain from hook. 1st 2 skipped chains count as 1st dc, dc in next 5 chains, *dc, ch 1, dc in next chain, dc in next 7 chains, sk next 2 chains, dc in next 7 chains, repeat from *.

Rows 2 and following – Chain 2, turn. *dc in next 7 dc, dc, ch1, dc in ch 1 space, dc in next 7 dc, sk 2 dc, repeat from * to the last 8 dc, dc in next 6 dc, dc last 2 dc tog, ch 2, turn.

***Note*** To make this ripple with Homespun and Suede – see this post for photos, etc. – 7 ripples 45″ x 65″, 5 skeins of Homespun, 5 balls of Suede. For blanket that is 7 ripples 45″ x 84″, 6 skeins of Homespun, 10 balls of Suede.

Blankets 3 & 4 of 6

Well, when making blanket for all 6 kids, the blankets need designations, too.

This is Kenny’s blanket. It measures 34″ x 34″ and was make with Red Heart. I know. But he picked the colors out. I’m hoping, hoping, hoping, that it will soften with a washing.

I used my C-Mama’s Ripple Pattern and a J hook.

This is Jordan’s blanket. It measures 34″ x 48″ and was made with red, white and black Caron Simply Soft, with a J hook and C-Mama’s Ripple Pattern.

I am working up Levi’s now. Caron Simply Soft black and Caron One Pound navy blue. Emily’s blanket will also be C-Mama’s Ripple Pattern using Caron Simply Soft white, navy and light blue. I finished Kenny’s blanket in 6 days, so I’m confident I’ll get Levi’s and Emily’s finished before we leave. Now, about those ends in Caytie’s blanket that need to be woven…maybe I can show her how to do it.

Crochet Overlay Jewelry

I recently purchased “Crochet Overlay Jewelry” by Melody MacDuffee. I had purchased 2 Trixie Belden books from Amazon for my daughter with some babysitting money I owed her. But the total was less than $25 and they qualified for free shipping on orders $25 or more. So, I went searching for a crochet book.

It came in the mail today. First, let me say that this book is different than other pattern books I have seen. Melody has a nice “Welcome” in the front of the book briefly describing what overlay crochet is. Besides an apparently gifted crocheter, she is also a gifted writer. The next section of the book is the General Instructions. Normally I do not read these. But, normal crochet pattern books do not have 5 pages of instructions. They simply have the patterns, which are the instructions to the project. Melody takes the time to let the reader know that they do not have to strictly stick to the patterns. She gives suggestions such as larger hooks and yarns if crocheting with sewing thread is intimidating or impossible. I think that’s great for new crocheters to know. When I first began crocheting I thought I had to use the colors/yarns/hooks that the pattern called for. LOL Very funny now, but that’s what I thought.

After Melody speaks about the general instructions of overlay crochet, assembly and beading, there is a Stitch Dictionary.

Then come the patterns. They seem to be written very clearly and come with diagrams. The photos are color and simply exquisite.

The only downside to receiving this book is the commitment I have on making 2 1/2 more blankets before June 24. Oh, how I want to try my hand at crochet overlay!!!!! Well, I’ll make time on our trip to work this.