hats and squares and scarves

Busy fingers and busy hooks. This week I made a few hats. I know these two look the same but they are not. One is a dark blue and the other is purple. :-) I have a small head as does my sweet model here. I think they would easily fit children or a small woman's head.

I also made a smaller variegated green hat.

I think that one would fit a younger child.

Besides the hats, I've been making squares. I started out envisioning 12" but after 9 rounds I couldn't envision it anymore and decided that was a great size! I have 3 finished and another begun. I also have a second partial skein in the same color to work more up. It's funny how as time goes I get impatient and want to be done with it even though I love this pattern, one of my favorites.

I am also still working on the pattern for the shop. I have completed a sample scarf using one of the edgings. The pattern will have many options and additional information. I always try to include as much as I can in a pattern that someone is kind enough to purchase.

I think that is all that's been completed this week. I've emptied out a bin to put my finished projects in until they're sent out. That will save me multiple trips to the post office.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

fingerless mitts and pattern preview

I apologize for not updating in so long. I have not been idle, but the projects I've been working on did not produce anything I could post about yet.

However, I have now finished - tada! - a set of fingerless mittens. My very first. Yes, they did come out looking like mittens and even more or less like the pattern. I did not use the reverse sc edging.

The pattern is at Red Heart and is called Crochet Lace Fingerless Mitts. Very easy pattern if you know front post and back post hdc.

Of course you have to pay attention to what you're doing. I was working on this while watching the Saints game which, to my consternation, kept being interesting! LOL Great game. I was having trouble with this one round. FINALLY, I actually READ the round carefully. You know, the part where it says TURN or DO NOT TURN. LOL That was crucial in that step and I was distracted and didn't catch it.

I completed the mittens though it probably took me longer than it should have. The second one went much quicker. Here is my  proof - a picture.

The pattern called for a superfine (#1)  sock yarn (Heart & Sole Mellow Stripe) and a D hook. The yarn looks like a very nice yarn - it has aloe and everything! But I did not have any. So I went with #3 Moda Dea Sassy Stripes Crayon. I used a G hook.

Since that is a thicker yarn, supposedly the mitts came out larger than they would have. They are a little large on me but might fit a person with larger (wider) hands. I think I could use them though. They don't fall off or anything. At the wrist it fits fine.

In other news, I am compiling a page for the web site on problems and solutions that folks have while trying to make granny squares. If you have a problem that you have found a solution to, do holler out and I will add it. If you are the first to send that particular problem and solution (or a new solution to the same problem), I will give credit. If you send me something I will assume you are giving me permission to post the info on the web site.

In even more other news I am working on a pattern that I've had for a while, but have not done much with. This is a pattern that is close to my heart as I designed it to go with an unpublished story I wrote. The original was meant to be an afghan made by the hero's daughter as a Christmas gift to him. I shared the pattern as a lapghan during the Crochet Cabana anniversary. I plan to make it available with info on how to make it everything from a scarf to a full size afghan in my Etsy shop. (If the story is ever published it will be included free in the book - but don't hold your breath! I haven't submitted it anywhere.)

Here's a sneak preview, in scarf form. The scarf is not finished ... I will tell you that it is a sampler. Each portion is a different pattern. It will probably be nine or ten inches in width.

I thought I'd also share a few links that I ran across this week. Some I've been to before and some are new (to me). Hope you enjoy them.

Symbol Crochet program
https://stitchworkssoftware.com/

http://crafty-anna.blogspot.com/

http://iamtotallyobsessedwithyarn.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html (rectangle granny)

Puff Stitch square
http://crochet-mania-grannysquare.blogspot.com/2009/01/puff-stitch-crochet-square-5-rounds.html

Jacob's Ladder hat and scarf
http://crochetncrafts.com/crochet/jacobsladderpopcornhat.html
http://crochetncrafts.com/crochet/jacobsladderpopcornscarf.html

Crocodile Stitch http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/crochet_me/archive/2011/11/17/creating-the-crocodile-stitch.aspx

WOOL project (Warm out of Love). Even though the page says October 2010, the Facebook page is active.
http://www.warmoutoflove.com/

The Granny Ripple
http://thelazyhobbyhopper.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-crochet-granny-ripple.html

Loom Knitting, some good videos
http://isela.typepad.com/loomknitting/videos.html

That's all for now.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

6 hook scarf

Another six-hook scarf. I started again with the F hook and worked 6 rows with each hook - F, G, H, I, J, and K. Then went backwards K, J, I, H, G, F. I put white between each scrap color I could find. I used my Susan Bates hooks for this scarf as I had a full set all together and it was easy to see which one I'd just used so I wouldn't get confused. That was the plan anyway. LOL

Finished size is about 66" long. Narrowest section is about 5" and widest is about 7".

Now my problem is that in trying to use different yarns I had available I used a couple of pastels, which are not good for the male segment of our population. With that in mind, I'm not sure where to send this scarf. If you have an idea, do holler out.

While this was fun and interesting to make, if you look at it and don't realize the different widths are on purpose, you might think what a lousy crocheter! LOL Another note is that yarns used should be of same weight or you won't get equal distribution from your different hooks. I don't mean all #4 yarns, but look at them and feel them. Will they work up the same? I didn't have a lot of choice since I am using leftovers, but did try to do this.

I also wanted to mention Share a Square here one last time. This is the organization that provided afghans for children at cancer camps, one of which was in Louisiana, my home state. 150 afghans were made using 80 squares from 80 different people. That is a HUGE undertaking. Shelly is making ghans again this year, for a different camp. How many ghans depends on how many people participate. Right now in order to make 100 ghans she is still in need of 400 squares from 40 different people. In other words, people who have not yet sent anything in. I believe there are 80 afghan kits complete (either assembled or waiting to be assembled). If you are on Facebook, you can read the November update yourself. I might also mention that the rules allow for a person to donate the yarn and cards with their name on it, then you can make the squares and donate in their name. This is nice for someone who wants to participate but doesn't crochet.

The absolute deadline for squares to be received by Shelly is December 15. I suggest mailing by Friday, the 9th to be sure they arrive on time.



Happy crocheting!
Sandie

squares and a scarf

I have been bad about taking photos and posting, but I'm going to catch up now.

First I have been making 7" x-stitch squares. There is actually one more to go with these (in the rose color).

Of course, there are always saltines and yo-yos.













Then I found a video at YouTube demonstrating how to make a log cabin afghan. I have long wanted to do this, so I started off making a small square along with the video. It wasn't very difficult. I just grabbed colors out of my never ending leftovers. The video is very well done.


Lastly, I remembered a while back reading about a scarf made using a bunch of different hooks. I had this in the back of my mind and was intrigued with the notion so I decided to do something with that idea. Here is my first result. I'm going to work another soon because this one came out very narrow.

Finished length is 62 1/2". Width is 4" at widest point.

Each row has 10 stitches. I started off with an F hook.

Here's what I worked:
with green, 1 row each hook - F, G, H, I, J, and K
with cream, 1 row each hook - K, J, I, H, G, and F.
with green, 2 rows F
with cream, 2 rows G
with green, 2 rows H
with cream, 2 rowsI
with green, 2 rows J
with cream, 2 rows K

Then repeat the pattern with the next section always beginning with the last hook used. For the two-row pattern I did not cut yarn, but rather carried the yarn up.

For my next scarf using this method, I am thinking to use one hook for several rows, then the next hook for several rows etc, using the same color yarn if I have enough of any color in my stash.

I think that is all I've worked up thus far.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

on my hook

Here is the baby afghan I finished. I ran out of the green yarn with a round and a half to go on the last square so I had to drop one column. Even so, I think it came out a nice size. I did measure it, but I didn't write the measurements down and the ghan is packed away so ... you'll just have to trust me on that. LOL The squares are assembled using the continuous join.

I've also been making 7" squares with larger leftover balls. Yes, I am determined to use all this yarn up - at least a good portion of it. It gets harder as the quantities go down. I know some folks do mix different types of yarn - like a boucle or a brushed acrylic with a regular yarn. I may give that a try. I'll have to have a sit down and think on it. ;-) Maybe pull out a book of stitches and see what I can come up with. That is both the fun part and the excruciating part, making the decision.

I also want what I make to be useful so we'll see what happens next. I still have a cold so that is hampering my thinkin' a bit.

Before I sign off I want to thank all our veterans for this service. Our great country would not be what it is without the many sacrifices of our servicemen. A round of applause for them all, past, present, and future.

Happy Crocheting!

Sandie