I'm BACK!!!

I know its been forever...or so it seems. But family comes first. Now that my mom is settled in the nursing home and her house is sold and finances are taken care of, I can relax and get back into my blogging. And I did NOT forget about the contest. It will officially begin on October 1st. Since I have been gone 3 months, I know a lot of you have given up on me and I want to be fair so that everyone has a chance to win, I will let the contest run for the entire month of October. The prize will be what you see in the photo....3, 50g. balls of Elann Esprit cotton/elastic yarn.....perfect for a pair of crocheted socks! On October 1st, I will post what the contest is about. Its very easy and anyone who crochets can enter.

As for what I have been up to for the past several months, I did NOT stop crocheting. In fact, if you check my Flickr link, you will see several new FO's. I am not going post a lot about them here. Most were gifts for my b/f's grandkids. Right now, I am working on charity pieces....a poncho, a sweater, hair scrunchies, hats, scarves, etc., along with holiday gifts. Most of these I will post about in the near future. On my hook at the moment, is the Dusk Sweater  from the Fall edition of Interweave Crochet. Its a pretty easy, but very lovely design. I cant wait to finish it.

That's all for the moment. Now I have to go around and visit all the blogs of my friends and fellow crocheters that I have not been able to get to for so long.

Crochet, Away!

Round About Sweater

I just started this a few days ago. Doesn't look like much yet, but its coming along nicely. I have been wanting to try making a sweater and I wanted to make it with as few seams as possible. I found patterns online that were done in the round, but they started at the shoulders.....I wanted to start at the bottom. So I decided to try designing one myself. So far so good. I still have aways to go on the body but its moving along. I chose a pattern with a 2 count pattern stitch so increases and decreases would be easier when the time comes for that. And I am doing the pattern in blo so the sweater has some give to it and isn't stiff. I figure it will be for the coming Fall season so I have plenty of time to work on it. I know most people are thinking about spring wearables but I wanted to take my time with this project.

The yarn I am using is Simply Soft Shadows....I love the colorway. It will go with anything and anything will go with it. I will post more photos as the work progresses. I'm writing the pattern as I go along and hope to try getting it published. We'll see what happens.

Crochet, Away!

I'm Addicted!

Ok...its official. I am becoming sock obsessed. Here is my latest creation.

I started out with a pattern but for some reason, the directions werent working out so after frogging the darn thing a half dozen times, I gave up and just made a simple sock using sc and esc. Nothing fancy but I like it. I used sock yarn for this one....Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in "Roses". I LOVE the feel of it and its stretchy so it fits nice. I bought 2 other Panda Cotton varigateds so you will probably see more socks in future. But unless I hit the lottery, I wont be buying much more sock yarn....I just spent $150 for SIX pair of socks....OUCH. Not all the same brand of yarn, though. But I have splurged enough for now. :)

Crochet Away!

Snowflake Afghan

Here is one of several WIP afghans I have going.

This one is my favorite....a Snowflake Afghan. I have 2 rows finished.

You can find the pattern here.

The motifs are relatively easy to do....its the joining that

is tedious. A lot of ends to weave in, but its coming out really nice.

I am using Caron Simply Soft in the Country Blue and 2 strands

of Bernat Softee Baby Sparkle in the sport weight. I am starting

to run out of the Sparkle and I havent been able to find any in

the sport weight so far, just the fingering weight, so I hope I have

better luck soon. I wont be able to work on it till after Christmas,

anyway, so its ok. I just wanted to show how it was coming along.

Crochet Away!

SIP (Sock in Progress)

Here is the sock nearly finished. I'ts been like that for several days now.....I just got around to taking a pic so I could post it. I have to have my D try the sock 0n before I do the toe so I can see if I have the proper length. I should be able to finish it up this week, then I'll work on it's mate.

I have started another sock for myself in cotton thread and its coming out very nicely, but it's a toe UP sock instead of a cuff DOWN, like this one.

Still looking for a good Thanksgiving project. Hope I find one soon :)

Crochet Away!

First Socks

I have been wanting to make a pair of crocheted socks ever since I saw the lovely knitted ones that have been made in K&C. I had seen socks crocheted of regular yarn and they were more like slippers than socks. I wanted regular socks I could wear with shoes. So I was fortunate to find a good book that has step by step instructions about making crocheted socks. The pattern for the socks I am making is in the photo....it's a beginner pattern to get used to the form. Although I have made bootie socks in this fashion, I thought it better to start from the beginning and see how it goes. I am alergic to wool so originally I wanted a cotton blend but I found this Pima cotton and I really liked it so I bought 3 hanks of it....should be enough for a couple pair. I love the color, too. I have the leg, heel and heel turn finished and I have just started on the gusset. If this first sock comes out right, I will continue on to the second one. One thing I like about this pattern is that it's done in one continuous piece. Will post another photo when I am finished.

Crochet Away!

Anastasia

This is one of 3 afghans I am currently working on. This one will take me the longest. The pattern is simple....its the EDGING that is going to be a killer. Its not only very ornate, its crocheted SEPARATELY from the afghan and then SEWED on! I have never done that before so I sure hope I dont have too much trouble with it. I am a little more than halfway done the center section. I had to stop tonight because I ran out of yarn :) I'll pick up m0re this week.

Crochet, Away!

A Bit of Whimsy

I found the link to this pattern on KAC....one of the ladies posted it and it looked SO cute and easy, I HAD to try it :) So here is my WIP....its called a "YoYo" Afghan. Its just DC circles surrounded by chains and SC's ....its join as you go and is GREAT for yarn scraps. I am making this one for our"Whimsy Room".....part office, part guest room. Just a little throw as an accent. Great on-the-go project. Find the pattern HERE.
Crochet Away!

Exchange Bag, Part 2

Here is the finished Exchange Bag. It measures 8" square, which is what its supposed to measure, so I was right on with the gauge. I did put a pocket on the inside, too. I decided to give the bag to my b/f's DIL...she just had a baby and I figure that SHE deserved a little gift, too :)

Crochet Away!

Exchange Bag

I found this in the Happy Hooker book....and I couldnt resist. I would never use it myself as I am a BIG bag person and this one is only about 8 1/2 inches across, but I thought I could find someone to give it to. As you can see, its a WIP, but its coming along. I am thinking of putting a pocket inside for a cell phone. I'll take another pic when its completed.

Crochet Away!