Yarn Along - Oct 17, 2012 First Spinning & I Can't Count!

Ok, it has been a LONG time since I participated in a Yarn Along but I actually got my butt in gear and did it.

Here is the back of the first item that I have ever attempted to make myself, besides hats.

I love the yarn.  It swtiches from the cottony peach and white to a satiny copper and bronze.  I got a great deal on enough of it on Ebay to make myself something.  The decreases worked great, I had the stitch count I was supposed to.  I just added a few rows to it, just so it's a couple of inches longer. 

This, THIS, is the start of the second half:

Yep, that totally uninspiring two rows that I have RIPPED OUT at least 5 times.  WHY CAN'T I count to 97?

Seriously, I do the chain row, do the foundation row of singles, think I'm fine.  I do that first row of double crochet and I've lost a stitch or two.

And that lovely book (er - grumble) is my school book, which is all I have been reading right now.  I working on some accounting classes, but at the tech school, I have to take Microsoft Word & Excel.  I'm really good in those programs, or used to be, but I had never worked anywhere that used the 2010 version, so I have to do the classes.  ugh.

This is what I did last night:

It's terrible, it's uneven, I felt like swearing the entire time I was watching YouTube and trying to figure out how to use the drop spindle to spin.  I had to give it a try, because my husband made me the drop spindle. (Isn't he sweet!)

I don't know if my issues came from the fact that I was using predyed roving that I got a couple of years ago for my needle felting and it really seemed to stick together and I couldn't get it to draft.. I don't know if I'm just a complete idiot and will never figure it out.  It just frustrated me.  I don't know if I like it.  Now that I have it on the drop spindle, I don't know what to do with it.  Right now, it is not giving me the feeling of satisfaction that I imagined. In fact, it's making me rather cranky.

Guess that means it is a perfect time to do schoolwork, grumble.

Yarn Along - May 9, 2012

Joining Ginny for another Yarn Along .

The bane of my existence - the blasted blanket from the Bernat Mystery Crochet Along - added another row of completed motifs on to the finished blanket.  I was seriously hoping that 4 rows of motifs would be enough and I could finish it.  It's not, I need at least another row - drat!!!

It was driving me nuts.  So, I started a scrap afghan.  Didn't use anywhere near all of my scraps, but I think it turned out nice as a great big Granny square - no piecing together!  It's the perfect size for a lap blanket.

I'm going to give it to my Aunt Janet who just lost her husband, because it's full of my prayers for her.  I was praying the Rosary the entire time I was crocheting it for her.

As for what I'm reading, I'm just starting Children of the Lamp: The Cobra King of Kathmandu.  I've really been on a fantasy kick and the young adult section of the library is the best place to get the ones that are fantasy and not smutty.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Yarn Along - April 25, 2012

Jeepers!  It's been forever since I participated in one of Ginny's Yarn Along's . 

So, here is what I've been working on - when I'm not working and not getting ready for K's First Communion.

First, this afghan and it's parts have been the bane of my existence for the past two months. 

The different motifs

Sure, fun concept - get a clue every week, then put it together.  Clues, not so bad, actually learned how to follow a pattern a little better and learned how to kind of follow a diagram (not too bad when I work on them together)  Putting the bugger together has been horrible. WHY would anyone make something to be joined. Gack!  Plus, the design at Bernat.com is horrible, so coming up with my own layout.

Well, I'm halfway through assembly and I better get my butt in gear to get it finished for my Mom for Mother's Day.

So, why aren't I done, yet?  Well, I've been crazy busy with working for my Dad, and this is the other reason:   my beautiful new niece.  So, of course I've been making stuff for her.

I had to make her a hat:



which is too big after a certain 5-year-old JAMMED it on her head. (The 3yo didn't even try!)

Here's a better picture of just the now too big hat:

Then, I had to make another hat, which did fit, and should work nicely, since it's in a nice cotton.

Isn't she sweet!  I love those cheeks!

And, I have been doing some thing with yarn, that are just fun.  I'm in the process of making unicorn tails for my girls, based on this tutorial from The Juise.  I didn't follow the instructions, exactly, mainly because my internet was down.  So, I've made this one and I've got one more ready to finish.

Hope everyone has a great day. I'll check out the posts AFTER I get home from the doctor and some farm appointments.  Happy Wednesday!

Yarn Along February 15, 2012

It's that time of week to once again join up with Ginny at Small Things for her Yarn Along - where I admire what everyone else has accomplished and I hide behind my pitiful attempts at accomplishing something.

Here's what I'm up to:

Green yarn is a crocheted apiary puff from Ravelry - way to use up all the little bits and bobs, figured out that if you use worsted weight instead of the SOCK YARN!!!!!!! they will never be 3" across - so, I'm just going for it.  It'll be warm however it turns out.

Blue yarn is a very soft acrylic - Satin by Bernat.  I'm using my Tunisian hook to work on a Mobius twist shawl for my sister.  Frogged the whole thing yesterday and started over.  Tempted to frog it again, because the yarn is thicker than the pattern called for and I'm not sure if I'm happy with how it's turning out.  It's not as open as the picture in the pattern, so it will be warmer than I really wanted it to be.

As for reading, I'm following the pattern that is on cover of the Tunisian Crochet book - it's a good basic book that I borrowed from the library and I don't think I can renew it - someone else has it on hold.  (Might have to get photocopies of the patterns I like.)

I just got The Beekeepers Apprentice from the library and I'm hoping it will be good.  I've been on a Sherlock Holmes kick lately.

And, I'm reading the US Catholic Catechism for Adults for my Catechist training on Saturday - this book is so easy to understand.  It's laid out that each chapter starts with a profile of a saint, then goes into theology, then discussion questions and a prayer.

Yarn Along February 8, 2012

Nothing much to report here this week.  I'm following along with the Yarn Along again this week. (Even though not much going on the hook)

I'm still plugging along on the same afghan.  Had lots of things taking up time  - check out my posts on sausage making.  Yummy.  And I'm still reading the sausage making book, but also reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

On the other hand, here is something that is worth a whole post, but I'll give you a tidbit of it.

Check out this amazing couple's rosary that I won from Melanie at The Rosary Chick .  She does amazing work and I feel blessed to have won this personalized rosary.  She put our last name on it and then on each side, which she did in our wedding colors, she added our names.

The best part, my husband sat with us and used the rosary with me while we praying the rosary last night.

Go check out Melanie's shop Trendy Traditions and show her some love.

Yarn Along - Feb 1, 2011

February already!  HOW did that happen????

Have any of you worked on a knitting/crocheting project that kept putting you to sleep?  I don't mean because it's boring - which could also be the case, but because you keep the house cool and you're buried under ALL this yarn!

This is what I'm working on. 

My sister "destashed" by GIVING me all her yarn and the request that I make an afghan for my brother-in-law.  I'm crocheting with a Q hook (MAN, this sucker is HUGE like, my gauge is 3 stitches to 4 inches!) and three strands of yarn at once in a half double stitch.  It's roughtly 7 ft wide, you know, crochet until it looks long enough.  Right now, 30 rows long.  I wasn't sure how to work in the hunter orange, but I think it works.  I'm doing 10 rows of the light blue, navy blue, and black combo and then I throw in 2 rows of the hunter orange - she gave me 3 skeins, so it's working.

I'm one my 6th skein of black (3 oz), 3 skein of navy blue (7 oz), and the 2nd skein of light blue (16 oz).  I need to about double the number of rows and it'll be done.

It's working up fast with the size, but it's getting heavy, so my thumb hurts from hanging on to that weight.

It's going to be SOOOOO warm, but my brother-in-law is always cold and he's 6'4", so needs a lot of blanket.

As for what I'm reading, I'm reading Home Sausage Making. 

We're going to make Italian Sweet Sausage this weekend and Pork and Apple Sausage.  I think we're going to smoke the Apple Sausage and use the Sweet Sausage is going to be used fresh.

Hope everyone has a good day and I'll be back later to ready everyone else's Yarn Along with Ginny at Small Things .  Fixit and I are headed out the door on a field trip.

Yarn Along Jan 25, 2012

Hmm,  is it still a yarn along if you aren't working on anything, but got a bunch of stuff done over the past week?

For lack of a better idea, I'm going to say Yes.  So, I'm following along with Ginny over at Small Things again this week.

Since last week, I finished the puppy blanket I was "test-driving" the pattern for. 

I also did up four hats, one for each of my kids and then one for my husband.  All of which are currently residing with their various owners and I have pictures of none of them.

These were all stash busters, except my husband's.  He took me out and we went to JoAnn's (I really love that guy!)  And he let me wander the yarn aisles, but not unsupervised!  So, HE ended up choosing a really chunky WoolEase for his hat.  (My 5-year-old was really disappointed that Daddy only wanted a dark heathered grey, she really though he should have some bright pink mixed in :)  )

Has anyone every participated in a Crochet/Knit Along?  Bernat is doing one starting in February that is a Mystery CK Along - where you don't know what the project is until you're done, after getting clues each week.  Mystery Afghan  I think I'm going to try and follow along on this.  It says that you build on each week's skills, so I guess I'm game to learn something new.

I have nothing going for a project right now.  I can't figure out what I want to make.  I think I'm going to work up some cute hearts again and do a banner for each of my kids' classrooms or at least their rooms.

On the reading front, I've really been on a fantasy kick and the best books out there are in the Young Adult section.  Here are two books that I've just finished and I've ordered the next books in the series from the library.

Both of these are REALLY good and now I'm waiting for the next ones in the series.

Yarn Along - Jan 18, 2012

Good Morning!

I'm going to join Ginny for her Yarn Along again this week.

I got Fixit's blanket done last week and to my great joy, she has slept with it every night. I wasn't sure if she would like it, because it wasn't her "blankie." 

I also am working on pattern testing an "easy" puppy blanket for Mel over at Lazy Daisy Crochet .  I've redone the head twice, but I think he's kinda cute now.  Not the greatest color choices, but oh well.  So here's a picture of the head I've been working on, after several froggings. (you know, "rip it" out!)

Plus, I'm working on a project for a swap - that I'm supposed to send out by the end of this week!  I should make it.

But here is what I've been reading and working on for the kids.

Erec Rex is a series from the Young Adults section at the library.  It's where I've been able to find the best fantasy books - and I love good vs evil, where you know good is going to win, eventually, but also having to deal with internal doubts and struggles.

More Yarn

I'm going to Yarn Along with Ginny again this week.

I'm working on Fixit's blanket.  I am determined to use up some of my fabric and yarn stash - so I can justify getting more. ;)  So, I decided to make it challenging.  I've had this pink for Fixit since last fall, the funny thing is that Grandma made her Christmas vest out of the same color.  Then, I start working on her blanket and she told me that she doesn't like pink anymore.  Hmm, really?  Yep, my favorite color is blue.  sigh  Here's what it is starting to look like:

It's the first time that I'm purposefully switching colors before I just run out of a skein.  I'm following the Clever Blocks pattern from the book I'm reading - because I'm horrible at following a pattern.  I finally have this one figured out, but it sure involves juggling the skeins of yarn, because the colors are carried up the side.

Here's the book:

I got mine at Hobby Lobby with a 50% off coupon, but I think it would have still been worth the $24, because there is a ton of information in here - along with picture diagrams for every stitch.  I can't follow the pictures, but somethings it just helps to see where the stitch is supposed to be.

Yarn Along - December 28, 2011

I'm yarning along with Ginny again this week. 

It's just the finished pictures of Bug's blanket.  I just "wing" all my blankets, so when I got done with what was supposed to be the center section, I changed my mind.

I ended up doing a shell pattern around the outside and I was going to add more to the ruffle, but she only wanted 3 rows of shells - it was still almost two skeins of yarn.

Here's the blanket:

 

And as for reading, I just finished:



It was a fun read about a girl's school in Victorian England that was training the girls to be independent thinkers, instead of just aiming for marriage or a life on the streets.  The main character, Anna Quinn, had been at the school since she was 12.  Now that she was 17, she was not happy as a junior teacher to the younger girls.  She is inducted into the secret AGENCY where women are sent into roles that are virtually invisible like governess or companion to act as intelligence gatherers/spies for Scotland Yard, among others.

It was a fun book and there are supposed to be a couple more in the series.  I'm going to check with my library to see if they have the other ones, yet.

Yarn Along - Bug's Blanket

This is my first Yarn Along with Ginny at small things.  It's going to be crochet for me, because I have to relearn how to knit.  As for what I'm reading, I'm going to admit to a guilty pleasure. In a fit of nostalgia, I ordered a ton of the classic (like from the 40's and 50's) Nancy Drew mysteries from the library.  I love those!

I'm working on a Blanket for Bug.  I just got some of the Tunisian Crochet hooks and started her blanket with those.  I am planning on making it three stripes wide, but I think I'm going to have to redo the first stripe, because it was much looser than the section I'm currently working on.  The outer sections are going to be Red Heart Plum Pudding and the center section is Red Heart Aran.  I think I'm going to do the border in Aran, also, but I'll decide that when I'm that far.

Merry Christmas!