Fireworks Afghan

Note to Self: NEVER make another afghan in Catherine's Wheel Stitch unless poking yourself with crochet hooks isn't masochistic enough. :D

Seriously, It took me what seemed forever to finish this ghan. It was SO boring that I regretted starting it after only a few rows. But stubborn woman that I am, I wanted to make it. NEVER AGAIN! The stitch is nice but one row doesn't get you very far with all the stitches you have to do for each wheel. I edged it in 3 rows of sc in the BLO and one row of crab stitch....which didnt take long at all.

If you are curious, you can do an online search for "catherine's wheel stitch" and you should find some directions. I got mine from a book but since stitches aren't copyrighted you can put them anywhere.

I am glad its finished so I can move on to other things. This project is one reason it took me so long to post....I haven't been able to finish anything else.

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Yes, I am Still Alive!

I keep coming back to my blog but have had no new projects to share. Not because I haven't been crocheting....I do that every day. But the projects are taking time and I am not finished with them.....and I prefer to share finished work.

However, I do have a couple projects that are nearing completion and hope to post about those soon. In between my crocheting, I have made a couple videos for Ravelry which I want to share. This is a short one which explains how to do a no-chain beginning dc. Its easy and a lot of people have found it helpful.....



Other videos to follow. :)

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Changes

For those of you who regularly check out my blog, you may have noticed things are a bit different. After almost 3 years of blogging, I thought it was time for a new look.....I hope you like it. :)

In between posting my work, I am going to occasionally look for some feedback from my readers by asking some crochet questions to which people can post their answers. I thought this would add a little depth to the blog. :)

For my first question, I am going to ask what are you all working on right now? I started working on a summer top....the Sea Breeze Top. And I just bought the thread and beads to make the Beaded Cobweb Lace Scarf....looking forward to starting that.

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A New Video

I was asked on Ravelry if I could explain how to do cables in crochet. Rather than just do step by step photos, which you can already find online, I decided to make my second video on the subject....

This is the most common method of doing cables, but you can make wider cables or narrower ones. I am currently working on an afghan with a 3 stitch cable, with only one crossover. Cables are a great way to add texture and interest to a pattern. If you have never tried making cables, maybe my video will help. I hope so. :)

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And Now For Something Completely Different....

I like thongs and was lucky enough to come across THIS pattern for this one. It calls for crochet cotton and a B hook. Being a little on the larger size, I used a C hook and sock weight yarn. I started one in Panda Cotton, but didnt have enough yarn to finish, so I found a skein of Sockina Cotton in my stash and tried using that. This is how it came out.

I made a couple changes in mine. I made it in one piece and connected the sides instead of using ties and I left out the side straps in the back. But it fits....and comfortably! I am going to finish the other one as soon as I get some more yarn.

If you dont like thongs, you could make the back the same as the front, only a little larger....the pattern is repetitive. There is also a chart that makes the pattern very easy to follow, however it is hand drawn and very small, so you might need a magnifying glass or a way to enlarge it, but it DOES help. The link page is in mostly in German but at the bottom there is a PDF link for the pattern in English. I hope you give it a try.

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My Spa Cloth

I am very into spa items. I like a little luxury in my bath. So I wanted a luxurious face/body cloth that would be soft, yet be textured enough to exfoliate. I made this up myself and have put it on my pattern page, if you want to try it. It makes a thicker cloth, which I prefer. And I wanted to make something I could sell without needing permission from a designer.

I like this pattern so much, I will probably make a face towel and maybe a soap saver. If I do, I will post those as well.

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Heirloom Baby Blanket

The first time I saw this blanket about 3 weeks ago, I just HAD to make it. Fortunately, someone asked me if I could make a baby afghan for them to give as a gift. So I sat down and started working on this beauty. Everything went smooth.....till row 9. Then I was totally confused. I did a little research and found out that others had been confused as well. I tried a couple suggestions...still didn't work.

So I was browsing in the grocery store a few days later and found that Crochet Today had published a magazine with their All Time Best Blankets, and what should I find inside but the same blanket pattern. Well, I thought that, perhaps, the pattern had been revised and I could have give it another try. No such luck.....still stuck at row 9. I was ready to throw the thing in the trash when I happened to see something in the pattern notes, which read, “Refer to the stitch diagram while working this pattern. which will clarify the complex instructions.” And I said, "Diagrams? What diagrams?" So I turned a couple pages and there they were....the charts for the blanket. It was a cloud parting moment. I went to row 9 on the chart and Ah HA! THAT'S what she means! And on I went. I didn't look at the written instructions again.

And this is the result. I am very pleased with how it came out. I used sport weight yarn instead of baby yarn and a G hook. You can find the text pattern HERE. If you need the charts, you will have to get the magazine. but its worth it. If there is a baby in the future for you or someone you know, this blanket will be treasured.



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An Apple a Day....

.....keeps the dishes clean. :)

I have been wanting to do this dish scrubbie ever since I first saw it ages ago. You can find the pattern HERE. Mine came out bigger because I used a larger scrubbie and had to make more sc's around the edge. But I actually like the fact that it's a little bigger. This is a great little gift item or even better in your OWN kitchen. A quick project with a practical use. :) Enjoy!

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My First Video!

I finally did it. I figured out how to successfully create a video with my new camcorder AND upload it to YouTube. I did the video mainly for my crochet column on Ravelry, but I was told I should link it here, too...so I did. Its a short tutorial on how to do a single crochet foundation row. I hope you like it...I think it came out fairly well. :)

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Teacher's Friend Pocket Scarf

I got a couple photos from my friend of some holiday projects I completed. These scarves are my own design and were given to a couple ladies on my b/f's side of the family. I had fun making them and I might make myself one....it would come in handy. When I do, I will copy down the pattern and put it on my pattern page.

The first scarf was made from Bernat Worsted....the big skeins. The blue one was made with Simply Soft. I call it the "Teacher's Friend" because I wish I had had one when I was teaching...would have helped at recess time. :)

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