Gemstone Spider Afghan

Blogger has changed things around again. I guess change is inevitable in this day and age, but I sure don't like it. heh Showing my age, I'm sure.

Anyway, I finished what I am calling the Gemstone Spider Afghan. I am really pleased with the way this turned out.

I decided to write up the pattern as an afghan rather than a scarf and it is available in my Ravelry store. It's so much easier (and faster for the buyer) there than at Etsy where I have to physically send out the files to the buyer. As the files expire in my Etsy I will probably not renew them there.

The finished size on this is about 45" x 55" worked with an I hook and Vanna's Choice yarn. It is easily adapted to any size though. One strip takes a full skein and enough of another to do two spiders.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

pinafore

My first dress! It's the Angel Wings Pinafore by Maxine Gonser. You can find the pattern at Bev's Country Cottage. My daughter pinned it (at Pinterest) and made one herself. Then she told me it was very easy and I decided to give it a try. She was absolutely right. It was very easy and came out so cute!

I haven't added any adornments as of yet. She added a cute little flower to hers which looks wonderful.

I think I might put this together with a pair of white booties I purchased from Merry's Merry Handmades.

Truthfully I can't get over that I actually made this. Every time I look at it I am amazed that it could have come from my hands. There have been a few projects I've made over the years where when I look at photos of them I can't believe I actually made them. Do you ever have that feeling? Most of the time my feelings are totally opposite and I wish I would have done this or that differently even though the finished product is actually fine. I admire people who are rightfully confident in their abilities

If you decide to make a pinafore also, you might check out the Ravelry photos. There are many variations in design. One lady made one for her 3yo and she looks so cute in it!

Next up for me are squares and more yo-yos as well as more spider strips for a ghan. I did put up a spider stitch tutorial at the YouTube site.



I do have it written out as well. Just haven't decided what to do with it. heh

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

giganto afghan

Look at me posting so many times in one week! :-)

I just had to talk about this Giganto Blanket. I saw it on Pinterest and could not resist doing some investigating. Yes, I know it is knitted, not crocheted, but still ... Can you imagine how huge this must be? Heavy and warm. Not for me in Louisiana, of course! I have my A/C on right now.

Anyway, I found her FAQ (previous link) and then I went to her Ravelry and Etsy shops (slightly cheaper on Ravelry) where she has the pattern. She says there it is really a tutorial as the pattern is simply knit and purl stitches. I think the pattern itself tells about the felting process - step by step things. I haven't actually seen it.

If you don't have the upper body strength to hold 6# of super duper bulky yarn on a 1 1/2" pipe, but can't do without this afghan, you can purchase it for $449 at her Etsy shop. That is the price listed today. $25 shipping in the states.

Laura gives you all the info - you can get the yarn at Sheep Shed. $15.50 per pound and you need 6# for the size Laura makes. You could probably get less and make it smaller. This tempts me, but how ridiculous would it be to have a bulky afghan in Louisiana?

She uses 1 1/2" PVC pipe. I went online and found that this is the diameter. If you want to know how large this is, you can measure a glass or something. This site says a 1 1/2" pipe is 6" circumference (around). For your reference:

For Steel Pipe or PVC Plastic Pipe
3.25" (83mm) = 3/4" pipe
4.00"(102mm) = 1" pipe
5.00"(127mm) = 1 1/4" pipe
6.00"(152mm) = 1 1/2" pipe

That said, I cut out a 1 1/2" cardboard circle and it was 5" circumference so until I can actually measure a piece of PVC pipe, you're on your own there.

I went looking to see how large a crochet hook I could find. The largest I found was 28mm V hook at StitchDiva (made by Ed Jenkins at Jenkins Woodworking).

Now to figure out how 1 1/2" pipe corresponds to crochet hooks and knitting needles. The largest I have is a broomstick lace pin which is a #50. Jenkins says this is 25mm. I measured it around and it is 3 1/4" circumference. So this pipe is much larger than that. A conversion chart tells me that 1" is 25mm so 1 1/2" is about 38mm.

I doubt I will attempt this because the expense would be ridiculous for the use I'd get out of it and besides that, I don't knit. I had a lot of fun investigating it, however, and watching this video of Laura working.

She does say that the unspun roving sheds a good bit so if you have allergies might not be the best project to try.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Chain Reaction

Some time ago I purchased Crochet Me Workshop: Chain Reaction Afghan Project Crochet-Along with Kristin Omdahl and Marcy Smith.
 
My purpose was so that when I was ready to make those squares I would have specific instructions to go with the printed patterns. I don't regret that purchase. However, I finally pulled it out and was watching it yesterday while sofa-ridden with a pulled back muscle.

It is NOT what I call a Crochet-along. They do not start a square and then take you through the making of it. They do show you how to work specific stitches in the squares and give many tips on designing your afghan and assembling it. It is well worth the purchase, but it is not a start to finish guide to each square. If you are working the square patterns via paper and need a bit of extra help with making the different stitches, this is the perfect thing.

I put it aside for now, but will pull it out again if I have trouble with any of the squares as I try to work them. I didn't want to have to print out all the paper patterns, but I might end up doing that after all. [Added: If you want the patterns, they are available for free at the Crochet Me web site. Here Chain Reaction Afghan Project or Chain Reaction Project ]

If you enjoy crochet-alongs, you might want to have a look at Bernat's mystery CAL going on right now. I'm bad with mysteries. I always want to know what's going to happen immediately. That said, I love to try patterns. LOL Maybe I'll wait until it's done and then do all the squares at the same time.

I haven't worked either of these though I'm tempted. :-) Never enough time to do all I'd like to do. I have a number of videos I'd like to make. Might work on that today if I can. My washing machine is very loud and right next to where I videotape. I wash pretty much every day ... We'll see how that works out.

I also received the Vanna's Choice yarn with which I want to make a spider afghan out of the strip pattern I used for the spider scarves. The "plan" is to make spider strips and name strips and join them together. We'll see how well that plan works out. :-) I have two spider strips completed and one name strip.

I'm also still making yo-yos and trying squares between projects. What are you working on?



Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Beyond the Square Crochet Motif book review

I have been anxiously awaiting this book and it did not disappoint. The book is Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs: 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and other unexpected shapes.

I actually sat down and started reading it rather than flipping through the pictures as I normally do with crochet books. Don't get me wrong, the pictures are amazing. Very clear. Nice variety of colors for every palate (yeah, that was a bad play on words). The info on the beginning pages just caught my eye - and my interest.

From how to figure out yarn amounts needed to explanations of terms and reading charts, it's all there. One section I found particularly interesting was "some stitch abbreviations and symbols". I know the stitch abbreviations, but have never worked a pattern completely in symbols, so I found this very interesting and informative. She even includes circles on which to place your own symbols (Photocopy the page first, though. Don't write in your book!)

She gives you different options for beginning and ending a round, hints and tips, how to join motifs and more. Another interesting section was "the principles of flatness". You may already know the standard increases to keep your circle flat (6 for sc, 8 for hdc, 12 for dc, and 18 for tr). Those are well known. But she goes a step further with what to do if this is not working for you. She also gives options for edgings and different ways to work your corners. I have a number of these in many of my patterns but it is really good to see them side by side and how they differ in look.

Of course the bulk of the book is made up of motif patterns and there are a great variety to work with. Circles, triangles, hexagons, squares and even a section on "unusual shapes" which includes a rectangle, oval, star, heart, half circle and even interlinked circles.

All in all, if you're looking for a book on motifs with just that little bit extra, I recommend Edie Eckman's book. I got this one from the library, but it's going right on my Amazon list!



Happy crocheting!
Sandie