Its Finally Finished!

This is the layette I started a couple months ago and got a bit sidetracked on. I stayed up till about 2 in the morning watching reruns of "The Twilight Zone" till I was done! I am very pleased with the way it came out. And I decided to use my model to display the outfit this time. Its a little big on her but thats ok, since the baby is due in Aug. and sure wont be wearing an outfit like THIS till the end of September, probably.

So now its all ready for the baby-to-be to wear. Another project completed. About 10 more to go, LOL!

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August Challenge Part Uno

First off, I have to say its nice to be back....I wasnt able to add anything for awhile because I had a system meltdown. But things are pretty much back to normal.

Second, here is my contribution to the first part of the CFL August Challenge. I was first going to do a book cover but after doing about a dozen rows of that, I realized it was going to be TOO thick and if I did it in thread, it would take me an eternity! So as I was sitting in my chair working on a cryptogram (I love cryptograms!) and staring at my pencil, it came to me.

This pencil cover was made with a double strand of #10 cotton and a #9 steel hook. Six sc stitches worked in rounds till it was long enough and a sl st at the end. I cut the end about a yard long, and, using a tapestry needle, looped it through the last stitch several times so I had 3 loops, then I cut the excess off and cut the loops apart at the bottom. I braided the ends, knotted it and then pulled apart the strands of thread to create a tassle. You could dress it up with a charm or beads instead. Took me about a half an hour and I like the feel of it as I work on my cryptograms :)

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Daisy Charity Square 2

Well, I tried the square again with the next larger hook and would you believe it STILL was 7 1/2 inches when I was done? I was getting exasperated, but I went up ONE more hook size and gave it another try. When I was done, it was 8 1/2 inches! Well, the only thing I could do was take off the last round and do it over with a smaller hook, but it still came out to 8 1/4 inches. I am sending it that way...I hope its ok.


If you are interested in getting the pattern, you can ask for it by e-mail and it will be sent to you, provided you agree to make at least ONE square and send it in for charity. You can get info about the square HERE.

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Update - 4/2/10 - You can no longer get the pattern by request. You now have to join the designer's Yahoo group and then you can access the pattern. A bit inconvenient but it is a nice pattern to have.

Daisy Charity Square

I got the pattern for this about a month ago....and promptly forgot about it. I got an e-mail reminder the other day that I hadnt made my obligitory square in exchange for the pattern...OOPS! So I sat down this evening and I worked on it. Took me THREE hours to make this square....no WONDER she wants people to make them and send them to her :) The thing that frustrated me, along with how confusing the pattern was, was there was NO gauge given. So I made up the square and it came out to 7 1/2 " instead of the required 8. I was NOT a happy camper. So I traded up a hook size and am trying one more time. If its not 8", I am going to send it along anyway. I have to admit its an ingenious design and now that I know how to do it, I will remember in case I ever decided to use it again.





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Bag Swap 2

Today I got a box from my swap partner for the bagswap at K&C. I was surprised at how HEAVY it was. And was MORE surprised to see what was inside. ALL kinds of goodies! A crocheted bag with accessories....change purse, make up bag and keychain! Not to mention CHOCOLATE....YUM!!! And a ball of pink thread and 2 skeins of eyelash yarn....I am going to make something SPECIAL with that :) And tea (how could she know I drink de-caf :)) and trail mix, a doily (going in my bathroom) and a crocheted edging. But the heavy thing was a hard bound book with knitting patterns...WOW! I guess I am going to try to learn to knit now :) Many thanks to my partner, Michaela....you outdid yourself.

July Challenge - Part Deux

Something you find at a party. Well, no particular party was specified, so I figured this would work.....my own version of the Cupcake Purse. :) Again, I pretty much made it up as I went along with a picture I had seen online as a partial guide. Not sure what I will do with it yet, but I am sure I will find SOME little girl to give it to.

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July Challenge - Part One

I have finished half of my July Challenge for CFL. Something you find in or at the ocean. Well, here is my little Damsel Fish. Looks a bit like one I had when I had a salt water aquarium years ago. I made him up as I went along and I think I am going to use him as part of a mobile of oceanlife and give it to Sydney, since everyone calls her room the "Jimmy Buffett" nursery....the walls are painted in murals of the beach and ocean...its pretty cool.

Second part of the challenge will be up soon. Crochet Away!

Special Socks

These are the kind of socks I wish I had had when I was a little girl. When I first saw patterns for them I just HAD to try making some. I made a LOT of them about a year ago and gave them to my b/f's little granddaughters but they have grown out of them and a request was made for more. :) So I put my other projects on hold in order to make up some more for the girls. Here are some of the ones I made.

I love the look of the sparkly beads but I also love the look that buttons add to the trim...especially since you can now get buttons in so MANY shapes. These are princess socks...they have a couple tiara buttons along with just the different pink and lavender shapes.

These are seashore socks.....they have shell buttons and
sandal buttons....you can even see a little shovel button in the
corner. I think the girls are going to really love these....I just
hope mom can get them to share them :)

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Bag Swap

I am involved in another swap on K&C....its a bag

swap. Any kind of bag so I made this one. Its a BIG one (18" in diameter) but I really like bigger bags....I carry a LOT of stuff :) Despite its size, I think it came out great! My D saw it and SHE wants one..he,he.. The only part that I had a pattern for was the front section....which I believe was supposed to be done in a much thinner yarn but I wanted something larger and this is how it came out. The back is just a large DC circle. You can find the pattern for the front HERE . But be warned....its only for the front and some of the directions may seem a bit off. But if "I" can figure it out, anyone can :)

As you can see, I lined the inside with a different fabric and I think its very pretty. I had to hand sew the entire lining since I no longer own a sewing machine...that took a whole evening since I had to sew the front and back lining together first, THEN sew it in to the bag and THEN sew in the back lining. I sure hope my partner likes it. If she doesnt use it for a purse, its large enough to carry around a crochet WIP :)

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My Birthday

Today is my 53rd birthday. Its a good one. The last few years birthdays for me have been like just any other day. Its nice to have someone to share it with now :) My b/f gave me a very sweet card and is taking me to dinner later on this afternoon to The Dillworthtown Inn. My kids are busy....not surprised....but I will see them later in the week. A friend of mine got me this mug...very appropriate for someone my age :) But you are truly ONLY as old as you feel....and I feel very young :)