Sharing my obsession with knitting and crochet. I will tell you all about the projects, patterns, yarns and threads that give me such joy! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:46:00 -0600 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:46:00 -0600 Hi there,   I'm so sorry I haven't posted to this blog in SO long.  I have LOTS of excuses: My husband has been recovering from a torn achilles tendon, and then LOTS of complications from that. I got a work-at-home part-time job, so it's been a challenge trying to squeeze and extra 20 hours out of my week. I've been writing reviews for theTOS Homeschool Crew on my other blog, and that has kept me very busy in all that extra time. My camera will not allow me to download to my computer anymore.  So when I want to share something with you, I have to take the camera to the drug store and have my pictures put on disc.   So, all that being said, here's what I want to show you today:       This was my hat contest hat for the Knitter's Day Out gathering at the end of September.  My best girlfriend, A.K.A.  bff, and I have been going to this knitter's gathering for the past 3 years.  We shop for yarn and accessories until we drop and take classes to learn new techniques.  This year we learned entrelac and toe-up socks.  Each year, part of the entry fee is donating a hat to the caps for kids charity.  It is optional to enter a hat into the contest.  Last year, I won with my pumpkin hat.  This year I entered the hat above.  Truthfully, I don't like it.  I knitted a basic cap, then crocheted and knitted different flower patterns that I found on the Lion Brand website.  Just go to www.lionbrand.com and type "flower of the week" in the search box.   I used scrap yarn to make the different flowers and a micro-fiber yarn to make the hat.  I love the feel of the microfiber yarn, but working with it is difficult, especially when you crochet, because the yarn splits into tiny threads when being worked.    Well, my hat didn't win...but my BFF and I won the raffle and we split $100 to spend in the yarn market!!!  I got a kit so that the boys and I can dye some sock yarn with Kool-Aid, and a kit to make felted clogs.  Before that I got a kit called the "lulu shawl."  I bought it just for the name!   If there's a yarn gathering near you, find a bff and go.  I'm already looking forward to next year.  Here's a tip:  I put all my change into a jar or piggy bank all year and that's the money I used to buy yarn in the yarn market.  If I hadn't won the raffle, I still would have had plenty to spend.  I got some lovely, and unnecessary things, but felt really treated at the end of the day.   So, shop around and find a gathering for you to go to and feed your need for yarn! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/742960/ Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/742960/ I have a bunch of things I want to share with you, especially since I haven't written for quite some time.  If you want to know why, go to my other blogg www.homeschoolblogger.com/lorilynn   But today, I'm so excited to show you my new laptop bag.  I saw the idea in a book I got from the library called, "AlterKnits."  I really love this book and hope to find it for myself one day.  I based my pattern for my bag on the author's knit bag.  I crocheted mine from a lot of scrap wool I had.  I cleared my stash of feltable-wool with this project.   First I crocheted a swatch.  I can't remeber exactly the size, but I think it was 6x6 inches.  Then I washed the swatch until I couldn't see the stitches anymore.  Then I measured the end result.  I divided the ending measurements by the 6 inch beginning measurement and got a percentage of shrinkage.  I measured my laptop and determined the size bag I wanted to fit my laptop.  The thing Ioved about the pattern in alter-knits is that the stripes ran vertically not horizontally.  So I made sure my measurements would allow me to crochet my piece horizontally but then sew it so that the stripes ran vertically.   This product was tedious because it was just a big single-crochet rectangle.  I would use a ball of wool until it was finished and then just start with a different color.  I had several balls of brown and tan, so I tried to alternate them with the other more colorful balls.  Here is a picture of both sides of the bag.       After I finished the large rectangle.  I washed it to felt it.  It always takes me three washings to get the material exactly how I want it.  I never want to be able to see the stitches.  I like it to look like a piece of fabric.  Once I got it felted, I sewed across the bottom and up one side to make a long bag.  Then I used an exacto-blade to cut in the handles, and voila!  I think it's a cute bag.  It was easy to do once all the measurements were made.  All in all, I'm very pleased with the end result. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/715862/ Sun, 9 Aug 2009 18:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/715862/ Hi again,   I know it's been a LONG time since I've added anything to this blog.  Much has happened since I last posted and I'm working on a post to explain that on my other blog (www.homeschoolblogger.com/lorilynn) but for right now, I'll just have to add when I have time.   Not only have I not had time to blog, but I haven't been knitting or crocheting as much as a few months ago.  I have managed to finish a few projects, but things that would have been complete in a matter of days are now taking a few weeks.  I was thinking about this last night laying in bed.  I used to take a few hours in the evening while watching the ball game or TV to work on a project.  I haven't had that time recently, and it makes me a little sad.  My husband knows I need it.  As a matter of fact he just said, "Come over here and sit beside me and crochet!"  But, alas, there's emails to check and laundry to be done.   While checking email, I read an article by Michelle Edwards on the Lionbrand ezine.  I enjoy her writing very much and she is definitely passionate about knitting.  This article, today, inspired me, however, to find time to work on my projects in a more creative way.  Check it out:   http://tinyurl.com/llbefj http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/710921/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/710921/ For the past month, I've been a crocheting fool!  I even threw a little knitting in there.  You see, we were getting ready for a trip to Northern Minnesota to visit family.  I just can't arrive empty-handed, so I tried to make gifts for every family member.  I have pictures to show you and I'll share my patterns when I had one.   For my sweet neice, M, I made her a little pillow for her bed.  This was made with chenille thick-and-quick from Lion Brand.  It was actually one of the skeins I got for Mother's day from Big Dog and the boys.  I simply crocheted two round pieces and then single crocheted them together.  I found two old large buttons to sew into the center.  Here's a tip if you try to recreate this pillow.  Sew the buttons onto the pillo first AND THEN stuff it!  It's really hard to sew these two buttons tightly together after the pillow has been stuffed.   Laying on top of the pillow in this picture is a dragonfly necklace I gave to M's mother, my sister-in-love, K.  I used an old pattern book and found a "trim" in the book that would give an interesting detail to a pendant or necklace.  I attached a jewelry clasp, and voila!, a lovely necklace.  The  following picture shows the necklace a little closer.   I gave this hat to our nephew W.  Modelling for the picture, however, is my handsome, and tall, son Big Mac.  I found the pattern for this hat in the Knit Pattern-a-Day calendar that I received at Christmas.(Thanks Joannie!)  I had to adjust the pattern somewhat because when I made it to size it was HUGE!  Of course, I wasn't using the yarn required.  I used Vanna's yarn, also from Lionbrand.   The next project was the knit shopping bag from Lionbrand.  This was my favorite project.  I used a varigated cotton from Lily.  The colors were gorgeous.  Although the bag took a little longer than some of the other projects I was really happy with the shape and appearance.  I'd like one of these for myself!  But I did give it to my mother-in-law, B. And since I tried the knitting pattern, I decided to try the crocheted shopping bag as well.  This bag, also from Lionbrand, worked up really quickly.  But I did like the knit version better.  I gave this bag to my sister-in-love, the same woman to whom I gave the dragonfly necklace.  She flattered me very much by carrying the bag and wearing the necklace most of the week.   Add to this a shell-stitch towel-thing with two matching dishcloths.  By towel-thing, I mean those towels that you hang over your oven-door handle.  This one is completely made of cotton worsted-weight, there is no tea towel attached.  I love it and have two here at home.  When I found the pattern again, I used the leftover cotton from the two bags to make one.  Then I had enough left over for two small dishcloths.  I gave this set to my mother-in-love, J.    All the gifts were well received.  It's funny to me that the kids get such a kick out of their auntie making something for them.  I saw a commercial recently where the narrator sarcastically comments about the "aunt who makes all of your Christmas gifts."  Well  our neice and nephew seemed to really enjoy everything I made for them.   While on our trip  I began an afghan out of scrap yarn.  I can't wait to show you the picture.  I've received a lot of oooh's and ahh's while working on it in Minnesota.  I have a feeling it will find it's way to MN in a Christmas box this Fall!  But more on that later. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/697507/ Tue, 9 Jun 2009 19:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/697507/ Hello from Vacation-land!  We are on the tail-end of our trip to N. MN to visit family, but I just wanted to share this great idea for your yarn stash.  Check it out here.   I'll be back blogging in a week or so...once I've put everything away and recovered!  I can't wait to show you what I did on my summer vacation. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/694827/ Mon, 1 Jun 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/694827/ Last Friday, my BFF and I headed over to our favorite yarn store for a night out.  She was showcasing a jewelry maker who makes stitch markers, but also makes earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.  While there, of course, we shopped for yarn.  In the course of time, I picked up several skeins to carry around with me.  But ended up putting each one back as I would change my mind and select another color or textured that appealed to me.  At the end of the evening, just as I was ready to check out, I put down the fuschia wool I was carrying and opted for a cotton cheneille in a gorgeous mango color.   The shop had a cute face cloth called the petal face cloth on display worked up in this cotton chenille.  I decided I would make that face cloth.  As a matter of fact, when I had to go back to the yarn store to pick up the bracelet I won in the drawing, I picked up another skein for my BFF so she can make the petal face cloth too!  Yes, I won a hand-beaded bracelet made by the jewelry-maker being showcased at the yarn sotre!   So, since the Mario Hats were finished, I decided to cast on the petal face cloth on Sunday night.  I wasn't feeling well, so I crawled into bed and knitted while watching a little TV.  Let me tell you, this seemingly simple cloth is NOT for the faint of heart!  Each petal is made individually and then left on the bar of a circluar needle to be joined together at the center.  There is a lot of danger of twisting, once you've got these all on the needle. (as a matter of fact I did twist mine and just left it there!)  The needles used are small (calls for size 6-16" circ) I used size 5 because I didn't have any 6's and wanted to make this project.  I would consider using a little longer circular, because there are a lot of stitches stored on that needle once you get to the part where you are joining the petals.  It's easy to get confused because of how the stitches are crowded onto that needle, hence the twisting of the petals.  You will need to drop to a shorter length quickly, though, as you begin decreasing almost at once.   Here's the finished product:   The yarn itself is really lovely.  I've worked with sythetic chenilles before, but never a cotton chenille.  It has a lovely hand once finished.  While working on it, though, it is slightly reminiscent of chewing on a paper towel.  You'll see what I mean if you every have a chance to work it.  The petals are garter stitch while the center is stockinette.  It doesn't curl with the combination of these two stitch patterns.    My husband and I are taking the boys to Northern Minnesota in a few weeks and I'm trying to think of gifts to take for our family there.  I'm thinking I may wrap a hand-made soap in this face cloth as a gift for one of our relatives.  It is lovely in color in in texture.  If you could feel this cloth, it's incredibly soft!  I would love to wash my face with it!   If you're up for a challenge, give this pattern a try.  There are lots of ends to weave in, which is not my favorite thing to do, but it's worth the end result.  If you're not up for a challenge, try to find Crystal Palace cotton chenille and just use your favorite dishcloth pattern to make yourself a lovely face cloth.  You'll be glad you did! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/686867/ Fri, 8 May 2009 08:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/686867/ Well, I wrote to you earlier about making the Mario and Luigi hats for my boys.  Here's the finished products.  Aren't they cute?  The hats aren't bad either. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/686866/ Fri, 8 May 2009 08:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/686866/ My boys love that they can ask me to make something and it magically appears after a few days.  So, of course, I'm working on a special request project.  Our youngest son, T-bone, is in a Mario and Luigi craze.  So, he wanted me to crochet or knit a hat for him just like Mario and Luigi.  Actually Big Mac wanted Mario (red) and T-bone wants a Luigi hat (green). I found our pattern here: http://whitterer-autism.blogspot.com/2008/12/mario-and-luigi-hats-best-ever.html   I'll give you pictures of our finished products as soon as they are...well...finished. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/684553/ Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/684553/ Last week, our oldest son, Big Mac, had a dentist appointment.  Our dentist is right across the street from the local thrift shop, so we usually head across the street when dentist appointments have ended.  This day was no exception.   I found a long set of size 3 aluminum knitting needles and put them in my cart.   Although I didn't own any size 3s of this length, that isn't why I picked up these sticks.  On the end of one of the needles was an old stitch counter.  I've never seen one like it before.  My attraction to all things knit and crochet, as well as my attraction to antiques and different objects could not resist this stitch/row counter.  Check it out!   It says, "MORRELL KNIT COUNT" above the numbers.  It is made of a thin plastic.  There are two numbered disks attached by small brass rivets.  The disks rotate to display the numbers in the circular windows.  At the bottom is the patten information.  This counter slides on the end of your sticks as shown on the picture.  I just think it's so quaint.   So, that's my stitching find of the week!  Isn't it cool? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/683266/ Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/683266/ I have two stitch counters that work great for crochet, but not as well as knitting, especially when I'm knitting in the round.  The counters slide onto your hook or stick and you turn them to count the rows or stitches.  As I said, I've used these counters for years while crocheting and occasionally while knitting.  But a situation arose this week where these counters would not work how I needed them.   I'm working on a hat for one of my boys.  The hat is worked in the round and I need to count rounds.  I needed a counter that could work as a stitch marker as well as a counter.  Because the counters I own are a little less than an inch in width they would create a gap while I'm knitting in the round.   So now you know the "my problem" part.  Here's the "how I solved it."   First, I attached a ring to a doubled length of jewelry wire.  I ran the wire through a round pink bead, then through my stitch couter then through another round pink bead.  At the bottom I wound the wire around my needle-nose pliers and snipped off some of the excess wire.    Now I have a stitch/row counter that works great for my knitting projects!  And I didn't have to go out and buy a new stitch counter. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/677292/ Wed, 8 Apr 2009 18:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crochetlu/677292/