Saturday, June 18, 2011

Knit Your Bit

You might remember I recently worked on some Knit Your Bit scarves. Well, KYB is in the news. Here's a recent article on the effort.  If you want to get involved, you can go to the WWII museum web site Knit Your Bit page. There are patterns there for your use.

I also have patterns on my charity patterns page that you can use for this and other charity efforts. Some of the patterns are adaptations of the KYB designs, done with permission. You actually have many choices with regards to chevrons and ripples particularly. In fact, I just finished a chevron scarf for Special Olympics.

The scarves are sent to veterans around the country to let them know they are not forgotten. Very worthy cause.

I'm still working on the pergola pattern. I confused myself by the way I'm working it, using both colors. The blue is sort of in the middle of the pattern repeat. We'll see if I am successful in getting a pleasing look. You never know until it's done.

Do you ever wish you'd taken a different tact when you've done too much to consider froggin' it, but not so much done that you are excited about going on and finishing it? I think those end up being UFOs, eh? Often I think to myself I should have done it this way or that way. I confess that to you all here so that when I work it again I'll remember what I wanted to change. :-)

In the case of the Pergola, I've reworked my little "cheat sheet" to use a triple crochet instead of a double triple (as noted on my blog about the first one). I find that to work better for me. I also use a shorter turning chain to go with the shorter stitch. I also made a cheat sheet for my cheat sheet noting which color follows which rows. For example,
Red  1-9, 2-5, Blue 5-9, Red 1-9, 2-5, Blue 5-9
You see where I'm going with this. :-) I apparently need all the help I can get with this particular pattern. It's not hard to work. You just need to keep your place, particularly remember whether this is the ch-3, sk 4 row or the ch-4, sk 3 row.

I had also noted whether it starts as an "up" or a "down" pattern, but that rather confused me because it's a "ripple" and part of it is up and part down. LOL If you look at the picture the first row is all dc, then the second gives you the lift stitches. Then the next row is your "going up" row. At least that is how I look at it. You start off low and go up.

If I did another scarf with this pattern, and I might as this is my second one, I would do a full up and down for the blue. The Turqua and Blue one I did looked quite nice. I don't know why I changed it for this one. Silly me. If I were making it for myself or another effort I would use one color. Maybe in another one I could use one color and edge in the second color. Or I could do 5 rows each color. Like 1-5, 5-9. So many choices.

I will definitely finish this one though it might take a while. :-) I messed up last night and forgot the dc row in red, so I had to rip back a whole section. Broke my heart.

You know you'll see the finished product when it's done.

A little OT - if you think of it, please say a prayer for my nephew Alex. He's just arrived at his Navy duty station.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Friday, June 17, 2011

Jean Leinhauser

I wanted to talk a bit more about Jean Leinhauser. I did learn that she died of a heart attack and that is always a shock to those who care about a person, so unexpected. What is not unexpected is the outpouring of love within the crochet community. She will indeed be missed. My sympathies go out to Rita and all her family and friends.

Although I never met her in person, I spoke to her via e-mail a number of times. One particular instance comes to mind. During the Crochet Cabana 10 year anniversary, Janie Herrin had given me permission to post one of her patterns and to keep it on my web site. Years later I learned that Janie had sold her designs to Jean and Rita. I contacted Jean through Crochetville and she gave me permission to keep the pattern on the web site. I thought that was very generous of her.

Jean also visited the memorial page I made for Janie and was so sweet and complimentary about the page. One thing she said to me sticks out and applies today as we think about Jean herself passing on. She said, "It is really amazing that so many of us who never met her [Janie] considered her a dear friend. She and I spoke on the phone and emailed back and forth, and I truly loved her. She was a beautiful and gentle soul." I would say the same of Jean. Even though I never met her, I know I will miss her gentle soul in my world.

If you don't have a Jean Leinhauser / Rita Weiss book, how can you look at yourself in the mirror?? LOL I'm just kidding. It would be nearly impossible to own them all, though I've made a pretty good start. I have so many and even one that was autographed by the legendary duo. If you need to round out your collection with another wonderful book, Search Amazon.com for Jean Leinhauser

It would be nearly impossible to list all her books, but here are just a few of the books that I personally own. As I went through the list, I thought to myself that I own quite a lot of crochet books! LOL It seems a great many of them are by Jean. I guess I liked her style. :-)
100 Crochet Projects
All About Crochet: The Dictionary of Crochet Stitches and Techniques
Weekend Afghans
365 Crochet Stitches a Year

100 Purses to Knit & Crochet
New Ideas for Today's Crochet 
7-Day Afghans
101 ripple stitches: Knit and crochet
100 Afghans to Knit & Crochet
101 Crochet Stitches: With international crochet symbols
50 Crocheted Afghan Borders (Leisure Arts #4382)



So many folks have blogged about her. I thought you all might enjoy reading some of these posts.

CGOA http://cgoanow.blogspot.com/2011/06/jean-leinhauser-rest-in-peace.html

Margaret Hubert http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com/2011/06/it-has-been-long-while-since-i-wrote.html

Kim Guzman http://kimguzman.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/memories/

Doris Chan http://dorischancrochet.com/2011/06/15/the-passing-of-a-crochet-legend/

Gwen http://qtracregal.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/new-poetry-warm-and-sweet-in-memoriam-jean-leinhauser/

Wheat http://wheatcarr.com/passing-thoughts/jean-leinhauser-irreplaceable-loss.php

Marcy Smith http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/marcy_smith/archive/2011/06/15/farewell-jean-leinhauser.aspx


Leslie http://www.crochetbug.com/square-9/

Marty Miller http://notyourgrannyscrochet-marty.blogspot.com/2011/06/jean-leinhauser-my-friend.html

Jean, you will be forever in our hearts.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Thursday, June 16, 2011

SO chevron scarf

Another Special Olympics scarf down. This one is a simple chevron. About 6" x 60"  The edging is single crochet.

My next one will be the Pergola. I've already started it. Haven't decided how I'll work the colors yet. It's a more complicated pattern so make take a little longer to complete.

I also completed a cotton dishcloth in crochet and attempted a knitted one. I did the knitting part okay, but when I tried to finish it off I messed it up terribly. We (daughter and I) tried to fix it, but ultimately I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. I have one additional stitch now. The knitted part looks fine. :-) At least that is something. The difference in feel between the knitted and crocheted one is amazing to me. The crocheted one is a tighter weave, more sturdy, but the knitted one feels soft and flexible. I like them both in different ways. I think the knit look and feel would be great for a wearable.

Anyway, that is what I've completed. More to come, God willing. :-)


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

RIP Jean Leinhauser

It is with a sad heart that I let you all know that legendary crochet designer Jean Leinhauser has passed away.

Jean was instrumental in putting together the Crochet Masters Class at CGOA. The CGOA blog announced her passing in this post http://cgoanow.blogspot.com/2011/06/jean-leinhauser-rest-in-peace.html

If you google her name you can read all the kind words spoken by those who knew and loved her. I have a book here myself that was signed by her and own many others that she and Rita Weiss authored.

Jean will be missed. My sympathies to her family and friends.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie