update::: starburst afghan

 

the last several day have been spent taking care of a sick little girlie.  lots of cuddles, ice cream, romen noodles, gilmore girls, and crocheting for me.

 

 

 

i'm not sure how many granny squares will be needed to make this afghan but i have to be close...

 

 

at least with the first round/row.  now to work on finishing a few more granny squares

 

hello 2014

With all my Christmas projects finished I was able to think about my first project to do in 2014.  Well my second project but first fiber related one.  The first project was clearing the clutter out of my closet.  Not so fun though really necessary.  I justified not having to clean or put things away for a couple months because the clutter was helping to hide Christmas presents.  It worked till the day after Christmas.

 

Now onto things that are more fun.  I've been looking at crochet motifs and granny squares quite a bit lately and decided I want to make a afghan.  I like this bobble pattern but when I made it there was something about it I didn't quite like.

 

 

Maybe it needed a little more color....

 

I do like it better with more color but nope, it wasn't a color thing.  I realized that the bobbles are cute and I like the texture but my ocd side will have issues.  I see myself spending a lot of time trying to keep them all from going concave.  Not how I want to spend my time.

 

I decided to try a sunburst pattern and really like it.

 

I found lots of pretty colors to use with making sunburst granny squares that were already in my stash.  So the first craft project  of 2014 is a stash buster project, YAY!

 

I'm making good progress and trying not to think of how many granny squares I will need to make.  Just thinking of all the color combinations I can make with the pretty yarn.

 

 

Happy 2014!

crafty catch-up

last week i helped a friend finish up several projects she wanted to get done before going to visit family.  so i thought this week i would get some of my own finished.

i finished the rainbow suncatcher that i started back in june.

and made a candyland suncatcher

to match the hansel and gretel cross-stitch i still haven't finished.  does anyone remember when i started it? because it has been so long i don't.  i do know it has made a several moves and had to be started after 1995 because the copyright and print date in story book cross-stitch.

i made this petticoat/skirt that i should have months ago.

to layer with this dress.

i made a couple more of these bags.

and picked up some button making supplies.

because i love this fabric so much i don't want to toss out even the smallest bits of it.

i still need to finish my ruby gloom doll.  i'm making her from the strawbeary doll pattern in amigurumi. of course i'll need to adjust the pattern a little; ruby is not that tall.  she's a chibi. 

 when i ordered my buttons i found these bandages and had to get them!

my kawaii tape came this week, and i am waiting patiently (not really) for my washi tape. 

 i'm trying to think of a weekend sewing project to get lost in.  no i'm not going to work on my cross-stitch or ruby gloom because my fabric stash is screaming at me to come and play.

crocheting more ~ suncachers

i've really been enjoying making suncatchers; all the pretty colors and patterns.  i'm working out of my stash and have plenty of yarn to work with.  but i'll have to head out to shop soon and pick up some metal rings.  the suncatchers i've been working on were made with 5 inch rings and  no. 10 cotton thread.

i'm also having a little fun catching the sun or light in them.

yesterday my oldest caught a double rainbow. y'all have to look closely to see it though.  look above the noticeable rainbow and the tree on the far right and there it is.  both rainbows were brighter when we first saw them.  but they started to fade away quickly.

last night i emailed my hubby and asked what colors i should use for my next suncatcher and he replied rainbow.  i guess from the double rainbow my son caught and my hubby's response it is time to hook me a rainbow. 

i hope all y'all have a good day!

suncatcher ~ pattern

no 10 cotton thread yarn in pink and ocean
1.15mm crochet hook
6 inch metal ring

suncatcher pattern
round 1: chain 2, 6 single crochet in second chain from hook, join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

this is the right side of the suncatcher.  leave the tail hanging out on the back side to mark the back.

round 2: chain 6, double crochet in the same stitch, chain 3 *(double crochet, chain 3, double crochet) in the next single crochet, chain 3; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the third chain  of  the beginning chain 6.

round 3: slip stitch in the first chain 3 space, chain 1, single crochet in the same space, chain 3, *single crochet in the next chain 3 space, chain 3; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

round 4: chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch, chain 5, *single crochet in the next single crochet, chain 5; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

round 5: chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch, chain 7, *single crochet in the next single crochet, chain 7; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

round 6: chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch, chain 9, *single crochet in the next single crochet, chain 9; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

round 7: chain 14, * double crochet in the next single crochet, chain 11; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the third chain of the beginning chain 14.

round 8: (change color) chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch, *3 single crochet, 3 half-double crochet, 3 double crochet, 3 half-double crochet, 3 single crochet in the chain 11 loop, single crochet in the double crochet; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet.

round 9: (switch back to the first color) chain 7, treble crochet in the same stitch, *chain 5 single crochet in the second double crochet from the previous row,  chain 5, treble crochet, chain 3, treble crochet in the next single crochet; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the fourth chain of the beginning chain 7.

round 10: slip stitch in the first chain 3 space, 3 single crochet in the same chain 3 space, 5 single crochet in the next chain 5 loop, single crochet in the next single crochet, 5 single crochet in the next chain 5 loop, *3 single crochet in the next chain 3 loop, 5 single crochet in the chain 5 loop, single crochet in the next single crochet, 5 single crochet in the next chain 5 loop; repeat from * around and join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning single crochet.

 round 11: (change color) chain 3, double crochet in the next single crochet and in each single crochet around, slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 3.

 round 12: chain 1, single crochet (back loop only) in the same stitch, single crochet in each double crochet (back loop only) around, slip stitch into the first single crochet.

round 13: chain one, (crocheting around the ring and working in the back loop only) 2 single crochet in the same stitch, 2 single crochet around the ring in each single crochet around, slip stitch into the first single crochet.

round 14: chain 5, skip the next 3 single crochet, single crochet in the next single crochet, * chain 3, skip 3 single crochet, single crochet in the next single crochet; repeat from *around and join with a slip stitch into the second stitch of the beginning chain 5.

round 15: slip stitch in the chain 3 space, chain 1, * single crochet, half-double crochet, chain 3, slip stitch in the back of the first chain, single crochet in the same chain 3 space; repeat from * around, chain 140 (or the length you want for hanging) slip stitch to the beginning single crochet, finish off.  tuck in all loose ends.

if y'all would like to see more fibers on friday projects head on over to Beth's place visions of sugar plums.

suncatchers

i've been playing around with crocheting suncatchers.  these were made with pattons grace: snow, aquifer, cardinal, blush, ginger, sky, and clay. the ring is  5 inches and  metal.   i haven't decided if i want to put an edging on them or leave them as they are.  the more i look at them in the picture; they need an edging.

i made this one using a 6 inch metal ring and no. 10 cotton crochet thread in lemon and gray.  i tied a evil eye bead from turkey onto the hanging chain.

hanging in the sun...

fibers on friday ~ flowers

I've been playing around with making crochet flower pins to add the the baby hats I made last week.

This flower is almost as big as the hat. It will look so cute on a newborn!

I made a couple flowers with a sports weight yarn to show the flowers more clearly.

All three of these flowers are basically the same.  I chained 32 for the yellow, 48 for the blue, and 66 for the pink to start.  After you get the chain done, double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook, double crochet in each chain to the end.  Chain 1 turn and single crochet in the 1st double crochet, *5 double crochets in the next double crochet, single crochet in the next double crochet, repeat from * to the end. Single crochet into the 2nd stitch of the chain 3 from the previous row.  Finish off and cut the yarn leaving a  long tail (about 14 inches.)Follow the natural curl; arrange and stitch to hold in place.  Sew the pin hardware to the back of the flower.

(I chained 60 for the big girl hat flower.)

handkerchiefs ~ April

I found some embroidered floral handkerchiefs the other day and decided they need crochet edging.  This is the first one I finished.  I used DMC Cotton Pearl in white and a 1mm hook. 

The first round is single crochet into the scalloped edge.  The second round is single crochet, chain 3, slip stich in the back loop of the first chain, then single crochet in the next single crochet; repeat around.

stash busting ~ a bit of this and that

This is what I've been working on this week.

I finished up some flannel wash cloths that have been half finished for over a month and crocheted an edge on the wash cloths from last week.

I found 6 skeins of Patons Be Mine in Fuzzy Yellow, 2 skeins of Red Heart Hunny in Sunny, and Bernat Softee Baby in White stashed away and decided it was going to be my next stash busting project.  Three skeins of Be Mine were from the same dye lot so I decided to make a simple knitted baby blanket.  I cast on 60 using 10mm needles and knit every row until it was 40inches long.  Then using a K hook, put a single crochet edge on it.  The blanket turned out so soft and fluffy.

I'm working on baby hats with the yarn that doesn't match up in dye lots. 

This was the favorite pattern of the week at my house and a request went out for one that would fit my girlie.  She also asked if I would make her a bumble beehive hat in black and yellow.  That's what she is calling it...the bumble beehive hat.

child size bumble beehive hat

Using 5 8mm dpn needles cast on 80; 20 stitches on 4 needles using Bernat Softee Baby White. Use a place marker to mark the beginning of the row. Pearl the first row, knit the next 4 rows.  Switching to Pattons Be Mine Fuzzy Yellow pearl the next 2 rows. Knit the next 5 rows with white, pearl the next 2 rows with yellow. Repeat the knit 5 rows, pearl 2 rows  pattern until it measures about 7 inches ending on the pearl 2 rows part of the pattern.

Decrease: Knit rows are with white, pearl rows are with yellow.  Knit 6, knit 2 together around. Knit the next 2 rows. Knit 5, knit 2 together around. Knit 1 row. Pearl 1 row. Pearl 4, pearl 2 together around.  Knit the next 2 rows. Knit 3, knit 2 together around. Knit 2 rows.  Pearl 2, pearl 2 together around. Pearl 1 row.  Knit 1, knit 2 together around..  Knit 2 together around.  Cut leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle sew through the loops and finish off.

I'm thinking of making some booties to match the little hats to keep up with the stash busting.

Ohhh, maybe little flowers to attach to the hats too?

handkerchiefs

I like to carry handkerchiefs.  Usually they are plain white men's hankies that I can pick up at a department store.  This year I've decided to try add some character to my handkerchiefs.

January:  crocheted lace edging on 2

February:  I made 15 and sent 12 as valentines.

March:  After making quite a few in February...

I'm starting to think about making my next hankie.

bunny slippers for two

We've been seeing cute baby bunny slippers a lot lately.  I know...of course...spring time...Easter, right.  My Girlies asked for a pair.  So winging the whole thing I made a simple ballet slipper with a strap.  Then added ears, pom-pom tail, ribbons, and face.  I don't think any of the slippers or ears were done the same way.  But they turned out and my Girlies are happy with them; that's what counts!

hello my name...

...is Jess and I'm a yarn addict.  I use to buy yarn when I had a project and then stash away the leftovers Then I started to get yarn for near future projects... and stash it away.  I progressed onto getting yarn for projects I wanted to do someday... and would stash it away.  For years now I've been getting yarn without any project in mind... and stashing it away.

A few years ago I started thinking that I need to stop buying yarn and get some of those "someday" projects done... I didn't notice my stash getting smaller.  See I was getting some of those projects done but still stashing away lovely new yarn that I just had to have.  So the next year came with a phrase/question to ask myself when I was looking at new yarn... "don't you have something like that at home?"  I even taught it to my Littles and asked them to parrot it back to me when I was looking at yarn.  That became the year that my stash of interesting/unusual yarn grew...I didn't already have it at home.

Last year I decided to I wouldn't get yarn unless it was for a specific project. Now I did do a lot of projects from my stash but I still found reasons to get more yarn... that specific project clause. 

This year I told myself I am not going to get any new yarn at all.  I told my Hubby and  Littles... they laughed at me.  That made me more determined to make it happen... a reward should keep me on track.  If I manage to stick to not getting new yarn all year in January I can indulge in new yarn.  I thought it would be difficult but it wasn't I've managed to not add to my stash... until last week.

I started making hats with some leftovers.

See the hat that doesn't have noodles on top yet?  And that bit of green on the band?  I didn't realize it was the last of the green.  I thought I had some more and cast on this hat next....

Yep, you notice how it has a green stem and leafs... I looked for something from my stash...I really did... a different shade of green... another color... type of yarn.  Nope, it wasn't going to work.  I really wanted that particular green.  I thought of waiting to finish it until next year.  NOWAY! I'm not going to procrastinate.  I don't want another unfinished project in my life.  I'm going to finish it now.  I broke down and got my first skein of yarn this year with  less then 4 months to go on my year of not getting new yarn. 

So here is my thought... If I keep this yarn on my needles and use it all up on projects for others before the end of the year it's like I never got it...right?

yummi 'gurumi ~ nigiri

I have made about half a dozen pieces of sushi and my girlies are having fun playing with them.  Here is the "snack" they brought me this afternoon.

In the larger compartment: salmon, egg, crabstick, eel, tuna and clam.

In the smaller compartment: shrimp and octopus.

Time to move onto rolled sushi and dim sum.