new scarf

Okay, I have to confess. I ordered more yarn! LOL I am terrible! I so enjoyed working with the Stylecraft DK that I ordered more, even if it came from UK. There was free shipping over $50 purchase. My thought is to make a wider afghan... But you never do know ...

In the meantime, while waiting for that yarn, I have in mind to make a SHADA scarf with the other colors I have on hand. I have to get my stash down to make room for incoming and that is a scarf I've wanted to do. It is one of the longer scarves and used only in the one episode. I do not plan to work some backwards as the knitted pattern shows. I'm just going to follow the colors. My tickly thing is that DWS and WLK start and end at different points.

The SHADA is made up of bits of two scarves. Which scarf is first on the actual scarf, I don't know. I guess it depends on which way you look at it? In crochet, your stitches face a certain way so an experienced crocheter can tell where you began working. Not sure how it is in knitting.

Still some thought to go into it.

I've finished the scarf I was working on. It's a simple, straight dc scarf with a sc edging. Nothing fancy about it. :-) Finished size is 6 1/2" x 71".

Also, just as a side note, I decided to leave the Hook and Needle Club. Though I've gotten a few patterns that I would like to work again, overall I just haven't gotten the use out of it that I envisioned. In a few kits I used just the yarn and the cost for one or two skeins of yarn is not worth it. Then there is the time. I have less time now to pursue items that I can't use even if I might enjoy the challenge of it. At first I just changed my settings to receive a kit several months apart, but then I realized that things will likely not change in that amount of time so I gave it up. I still think it's a good club for those who knit and crochet.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Hook Needle Club dishcloth

I took a break from the Who scarf - yeah, I know I just started it LOL - to make one of the projects in the Hook and Needle Club kit I had not gotten to yet. I decided to make the dishcloth and was surprised that it is a simple V stitch pattern with a single crochet multi-round edging. I chose to do a different edging on mine as you can see.

I worked a round of single crochet, then I worked a round of V stitch to match the body of the cloth. The finished size is 9" (worked with a G hook), a little smaller than the projected size in the pattern, but I personally prefer a smaller dishcloth.

There are a few other projects in the kit. I haven't decided which, if any, I'll pursue. Even though this was a simple pattern I've worked many times, it was still fun to make, a quick easy thought-free project.

The kit came with a generous 4 skeins Creme de la Creme Sandy Print cotton yarn so that made me pretty happy and I felt I got my money's worth with this one.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

shopping

I haven't finished the football ghan. But I have a good reason. Really. :-) Hubby and I went out of town and while there discovered a Hobby Lobby with a Michael's right next door. We also passed a store called Yarn It (I think), but we were in someone else's car so we couldn't stop and didn't have time later. We only had time to hit the Hobby Lobby sadly, but I did a good bit of damage there. LOL

I went in needing ONE skein of yarn. I ended up with this, plus one skein which  jumped out of the picture.

As I looked at the yarn I decided I needed some "baby" colors. It seems every time I turn around, someone is having a baby. Of course, I couldn't decide which colors I wanted so I picked up a few.

I also wanted to compare those two brown Vanna colors for my Who scarves. I haven't looked at that yet, but will do so soon.

I have received two Hook and Needle Club kits in the past couple months that I haven't made yet. I hope to get to those soon as well. So many projects, so little time!

I've made so many dishcloths lately and working with cotton causes a little more stress on my hands as I apparently work tighter with cotton. It doesn't flow as easily for me. With that in mind, I took a break from cotton for a little while, but intend to go back and finish those bits of cotton yarn I have left in time and also make these two kits.

That's about it for now.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Hook and Needle Club kit hat

Back in November I posted a picture of the crocheted hat I made from the Hook & Needle Club kit. Here it is again to refresh your memory. It uses a bulky yarn and for the crocheted version H and N hooks. I think I used H and L hook for mine though.

My daughter then took the leftover yarn and made a hat from the knitted pattern that was included in the kit. Remember there was enough yarn for a hat and mittens but I didn't make the mittens.

Here is the result of the knitted hat. My model was so good. I couldn't decide which picture to share. :-)

This is not really a pattern I'd want to make again, but it was fun to work it once. It's a snug fitting hat, perfect for my small head.

Now the scarflette I made with a past kit is one I want to make again - if only I could discover where I put the pattern. LOL

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Hook and Needle Club Scarflette

I finished the Hook and Needle Club scarflette crochet kit. I think it came out pretty well.

This was a keyhole scarf, the first I've made, so I really enjoyed trying out that procedure. The pattern was pretty simple to follow though you had to pay attention.

As I said previously, this pattern uses Deborah Norville acrylic yarn. This yarn is a beautiful yarn and quite soft. I did have that same silly problem with bits of another color in the second skein. I thought at first it was just part of the variegation, but looking at the previous skein where I had the solid pink it didn't look the same.

I have had this problem occur with at least three manufacturers. It's unbelievable to me that *I* could have this happen so often. I am only one person. How many others must have this happen and I don't hear about it. If all of those people are reporting this problem, and the company is making it good - which they generally do - how are they making money? The last time I specifically told the company in question that I could still use the yarn for the particular project and didn't need replacements but just wanted them to know about it. They still sent me replacement yarn, which I appreciated.

The explanations I've received just aren't doing it for me. There must be a way to fix this problem or at least catch it before it hits the public. It may not be an easy solution, but it's very discouraging. I can imagine if you are making items to be sold to others, or for designs to be photographed in magazines, this would be a big big problem and cost countless hours if a piece has to be remade.

In this case I actually tried to cut the yarn but then found the extra bits went throughout. These were the only two skeins I had so I went ahead and finished it. I only used a small bit of the new yarn and was on the last few rows. With it being a variegated yarn, I figured it wouldn't be too noticeable. Here's a pic. What do you think?

As to the pattern, it's a nice one. You work the middle section and one end of the ruffle, then turn around and work the other end. Of course, there is also the keyhole.

I have started working with the kit I received before this one. It uses a chunky yarn. I've had two knots in it so far, but no color changes in the wrong places. :-) It's an interesting pattern. I'm finished making the hat but there are mittens to make as well.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

hook and needle club

I've received another Hook and Needle Club kit. I have already begun this one  though I haven't started the last one yet. It just came in at a great time. I had finished the last troop hat I can do (no more yarn) and had nothing of particular urgency to get to at that time of night. On came the Christmas movies and out came the package. :-)

The yarn is Deborah Norville Everyday soft worsted acrylic. It's a Premier yarn. It also says anti-pilling. That's a nice perk if it works. The label on the Lilac Ridge color says there is a pattern inside and you should purchase enough yarn in the same dye lot for your project. It doesn't tell you, however, how much that is (that I saw anyway). Shhh. I'm going to tell you. The pattern shown is a diagonal stripe. Inside it says you need 4 balls in each of 3 colors.

The pattern in my Hook & Needle kit is a striping scarflette. In other words, the yarn makes the "stripes". I like the yarn very much. It's soft, a bit on the thin side of worsted.

The pattern is a nice one too. It is a thinnish scarf using front and back post stitches so far though I see in the pattern there will be V stitches and shells. I haven't gotten that far yet. You can see my progress in the picture. When I finish it, I'll post the completed scarflette. No problems with the pattern at this time.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Hook and Needle Club

I received my Hook and Needle Club kit last week. I don't have the time right now to work on it, but it is one that I am anxious to try.

I haven't opened the package because it would just be too tempting!

First, I must get these troop hats done. I may work this kit before I hit the donated yarn though. :-) So much yarn temptation!

If you are using the hat patterns I posted, please do check the posts before commencing as I update the actual post if I find errors or make changes.

As I'm going through the patterns to put on the new Crochet Cabana site, I've found some minor errors and have changed a few things. Of course, you know that means I probably made new errors! LOL

The good news is that many of the patterns I had on the site years ago will be back. These are not fancy patterns - I lean towards the simple, for beginners in most cases, though I do challenge the beginner to  use a few special stitches like front post and cross-stitch and V-stitch. These are not difficult stitches once you get to know them. You will find simple hats, scarves, afghans, shawls, dishcloths and a few miscellaneous items like simple baby blocks, beanbag, bookmarkers, placemats etc.

I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am hopeful it won't be too long before we can have the site up and running though everything might not be in place.

I spent a good part of this weekend putting photos in photo albums on Picasa/Google+. However, although it was easy to add the photos, I have found photos appearing in the wrong albums and when I move or delete them they don't seem to leave the incorrect spot and there are multiple copies of things in some folders. I will take a break and see if when I come back to it everything works better. :-) Then I'll decide if that is what I want to do with the photo section.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie