Baby Booties and Hats -- So Cute!

Spring is here and it is lovely outside.  The trees are leafing out and everything is just .... well, pretty.  My Daphne bloomed with snow on it but it is now putting out new leaves.  The Camellias still haven't bloomed although my neighbor's  is loaded with blooms.  I'm hoping that mine are still developing since they are only about 2 feet tall while her plant is almost 6 feet tall.  At least mine are green so they look healthy.  And, of course, I had to buy some yarn to make a baby blanket and matching hats and booties.  Had to share since they turned out so cute.  Nothing is cuter than booties unless they are on the baby's feet, of course (smiling).  Nothing else noteworthy is going on here so I've not posted.  I'll try to do better and at least check in monthly if not more often.  Maybe something will happen worth talking about.  In the meantime, check these out:

Lion Brand Jiffy in Coral Gables & Kitty Hawk & Rose Spray

Lion Brand Jiffy in Kitty Hawk

More Shawls

Well, here it is August already.  I've been watching the Olympics and am thrilled that the USA is doing so well but am especially happy that Michael Phelps is continuing to add to his medals.  I like Ryan Lochte but am rooting for Michael this year.  Both are equally talented.  Anyway, while watching the sports events and sitting on my posterior on the couch, I continue to make shawls.  I signed up to make one while the Olympics are on and have started three different ones and unraveled all three.  I could not figure out the intricacies of the patterns so rather than frustrate myself with the struggle, I started over today with a pattern that I have made before.  This way I can be sure of finishing it before the end of the Olympics.  Sigh.   I really wanted to make the new ones but just could not figure out the pattern.  Maybe I'll try it again another time.  Before all this angst, I finished some rather simple ones and have posted them here.  It is fun to see the completion of a project and I am using up stash at a fast rate of speed.  Soon I may see the bottom of the closet.  Don't hold your breath....I may find some new yarn before that happens.  So much yarn and so little time.

Flying Diamond in Royal Blue and Snapdragon Green

Eva's Shawl in Red Heart's Mystic Cornflower

Elegant Simplicity by Lion Brand in Red Heart's Cornflower Blue Mystic

Shawls Now Number Fifteen in 2012

Is it hot enough for you?  Whew!  It is very hot here in Bowie and very humid.  We have many trees in our yard that provide shade so our yard stays about ten degrees cooler than the surrounding area but at 105 it's still HOT!  Just standing outside is hot.  Shaunti loves to chase the Frisbee but she hasn't wanted to go out to chase squirrels and that's her favorite game.  We just have to be happy that we have air conditioning and that we didn't lose power last week when many around us did.  A friend lost everything in the freezer....it was a big freezer so it was a significant loss.  So, I've been crocheting and listening to my books....no guilt.....what else could I do?  It's too hot to do anything else.  Finished three shawls and am making a major reduction in my yarn closet.  I even have empty hooks where yarn bags have been emptied and removed.  Hmmm, I'm getting that worried feeling that I maybe should order some yarn to be sure I don't run out.  Hypnosis might prevent me from hitting the 'buy' key at least for a little while.  Just kidding about the hypnosis.  The three shawls are:

Angel Wings Shawl by Julee Reeves

Tea Wrap/Sea Shell Wrap by Lion Brand

Peacock Shawl published in CrochetMagazine, Autumn 2011

Another Shawl for Charity

I love making shawls.  They have no specified size and don't require sleeves to be inserted into impossibly smaller or larger holes.  In general they let you choose any kind of yarn and any hook as long as you like the effect.  They are the perfect item for using up yarn and that usually results in beautiful but useful items.  Here is one I just finished.  I am already hard at work on another one.  I am gradually reducing my yarn closet and can now see the back wall.  Yea!

Yarn is Lion Brand's DK Bamboo Cotton in Snapdragon

Pattern is Have A Heart Designed by Joyce Nordstrom at Red Heart

Below is a picture of the latest garden asset.  Shaunti thinks its her garden and we don't tell her otherwise but we call it Ichabod's Garden.  Some of you will recall the movie with Johnny Depp while others may recall the story about the headless horseman.  The crane was just too beautiful for us not to add to our yard.  Then we had to have plants to surround the feet and then, and then, well you get the picture.  We think we are finished planting for now.  All are growing nicely

New Year 2012 and New Wrap

The New Year is here.  It has been a very warm December but has now cooled down to a more normal temperature.  Today it is mid-30's with a high near 50.  The sun is shining and Shaunti insists on going out to chase the Frisbee.  B-r-r-r-r-r!  So, we bundle up and go with her.  She has finally learned to bring it back and drop it...at least we don't have to chase it.  In between these forays into the 'wilderness' I continue to crochet.  Finished my first afghan in 2012 for the HAP project.  It is the 37th I have put together.  I just finished a throw for a friend and a shawl/wrap to have in reserve just in case I need a gift.  Both were made using Lion Brand's Pound of Love with a trim using Vanna White's Barley.  Very nice yarn.

Stone Mountain Throw by Marianne Forrestal

Country Wrap by Kim Guzman

Another Spring Like Day in November

Hard to believe that today is November 14th.  It is 70 degrees and sunny.  The leaves crunch under foot and it just doesn't feel like mid November.  Enjoy it while it's here...it could  snow a foot tomorrow.  Yes, it's been that kind of weather, changeable.  But, I have been steady in my crocheting and in knitting on my cousin's shrug.  I have completed a 2nd skein of yarn and another 4 inches of shrug....only 30 inches to go now.  I'll get it done soon.  I can only knit for so long before I wear out so in between time I made this lovely hat for the HAP group.  Check out their activities at their site.  Soon I'll have a cowl to go with the hat.  Both were made from Lion Brand yarns.  The orange is Jiffy's Rust and the other is Tweed's Woodlands.  The V-Stitch Beret and Cowl pattern was designed by Mara Callahan.  So, gotta go finish the cowl.  The model is unnamed at this time but she is happy to just be sitting wherever I place her.  Life is Good!!!

Mobius Shrug in Tweed

Today was a cold and blustery day.  It is now dark and only 5:30 p.m.  The loss of daylight savings time is always a transition.  More time to crochet!  Today I finished a shrug that I had started sometime ago.   The yarn is Tweed by Lion Brand and the Sequoia Shrug is the pattern I started out making.  It is a simple rectangle so when I determined that I didn't have enough yarn to finish it, it was easy to just twist one end, sew it together and then finish it using the same stitch as in the shrug pattern.  I added the shells and picots to make the edging pop out.  Of course, I had to devise something to cover up the seam so I made a strip of shells and picots and sewed it over the seam.  The yarn is stretchy and worked great for a mobius.  If you decide to try it, the pattern is free.  I recommend you get 4 skeins of yarn for the mobius.  If you decide to make the shrug, you'll need 5 skeins.

Notice the strip of shells covering the seam.

FUN FUR PROJECT FOR CHARITY

What fun I'm having making all these things for a craft show later this year.  I discovered that the Lion Brand's Fun Fur is fun to work with as long as you use large hooks and a soft 2nd or 3rd strand of yarn.  I just made a hat and a scarf using  Lion Brand's Tweed in Marble and Fun Fur in Lava.  It was fast and looks like it will be something that will sell.  I'm thinking of getting some more fur to go with my Homespun.  Wouldn't candy apple red and red fur be a pretty combination?  I have lots of the candy apple red Homespun.  Just never sure what I would do with it...now I may have a project.  Today it is raining!  Pouring!  We don't need more rain but guess the rain gods aren't listening.  Anyway, it's a good day to sort out some yarn projects, take some pictures, and post my results on my Ravelry Page.  Here are the recent project pictures.  Now it's time to go back and work on the Doily Shawl by Doris Chan. 

Wrap Front Shrug by Shibaguyz is Finished

It was a success.  February was a fun month with the Shibaguyz and all their crochet designs.  I did complete this beautiful wrap and even got the sleeves inserted properly.  I am always sleeve challenged with any item I have ever made beginning with my 8th grade sewing project...the sleeves didn't fit properly so I threw the dress away.  Well I put it in a closet and later threw it away.  But I digress...I was talking about sleeves not about my patience problem which is legendary!!!!  I mention the sleeve issue so no one will blame it on the design...it was purely mine and mine alone.  BUT, I did get the sleeves in as the picture shows and the wrap is, well, 'a wrap.'

So, now I have lots of new Shibaguyz projects to choose from.  I've made my choice, the Pewter Dress, but first I must make a gift for a friend.  A knitted gift, grrrrrrrrrrrrr, but I'll get it done.  The finished wrap was made with Lion Brand Microspun Royal Blue yarn.

Olivia's Jacket

This is a jacket for a very good friend's 4 year old granddaughter.  The pattern was easy to follow and made up quickly with the bulky Baby's First Yarn by Lion Brand.  It is soft and washable, a requirement for kids' clothing.  My friend and I conspired to pick the correct size and the package is shipping soon to Olivia.  It will be a surprise.  Here's the jacket completed using one of Lion Brand's free patterns, Baby's First Pink Raglan Jacket.  Now I'm back to working on my other projects for a bit.  Never without something to crochet. 

MARCH IS CROCHET ALONG WITH SHIBAGUYZDESIGNZ

Well we are rapidly moving into the 2nd week of March and the Crochet Along sponsored on RAVELRY by SHIBAGUYZDESIGNZ is moving along.  It is such a fun activity.  I chose the Wrap Front Shrug for my project.  Since I'm trying to use up stash yarn, I chose Lion Brand's Microspun in royal blue.  It is working up very nicely.  Right now, there are almost 300 of us knitting and crocheting one of their designs.  Stay tuned to hear how the crochet along is going.  Now, I must get back to my shrug.