Crochet Squares...

Ah, today I am getting my sunshine!  I have windows and doors open -- just until it starts getting chilly later this afternoon, mind you.

I have been involved in a granny square swap with Debi over at Dly's Hooks and Yarns over the last few months.  Last week I received from her a beautiful blue granny square, a notepad, and a couple other little gifts that seemed to disappear as fast as I opened the envelope.  Thank you, Debi.

By now, Debi has posted about the squares I sent her.  Her blanket is going to be huge by the time she gets it all together!

I sent Debi two regular grannies, one granny I kinda made up as I went along (upper left).  I have seen them around before but I wasn't following any pattern.  What really happened -- my son was hogging (LOL) the computer and I couldn't get to the printer.  So I just started crocheting and that's what I ended up with; it turned out okay.  The square on the bottom right is called Bea's Flower.  It's from a Norwegian blog called Knitting and Some More.  Some of the instructions are tough to follow, but using the picture helps a lot.  I don't know if my square looks like Bea's square, but I like it.

So that's just a couple of things I've finished lately.  I have one of the two baby afghans done; and, I suddenly realized last night my niece is graduating high school in a couple of months!  More projects; that's okay.  Keeps me out of the stores as I am trying to use stash yarn as much as possible.

Everyone has a good rest of the week!

Renee  :)

More, More, More...

Ah, yes.  Am I over committing myself?  I wonder...  

A Song of Ice and Fire Reading Challenge (aka Game of Thrones) -- see also my sidebar for the link.  The first step here is to find my books.  We moved six months ago, how time flies!

A friendly granny square swap now on its second square, over at Debi's blog, Dly's Hooks and Yarns.

A Round Ripple Crochet-A-Long with Pammy Sue.  She has a Flickr group to post pictures, progress, tips, and hints (I also have a link in my sidebar).  There is an option of a pattern from Crochet World, December 2011 issue; or a free similar pattern (link listed in the discussion thread on Flickr).  If you don't know Pammy Sue, you must read her stuff; she will crack you up.  Her blog is Scotty's Place.

Then there is Share-a-Square.  The last deadline is coming up.  I want to send 50 squares come February 1st.  I have 15 made; anyway groups of 10 if I don't make it to 50.

When do WIPs (works in progress) become UOs (unfinished objects)?  I have a blanket for my husband (not blogged about previously).  There's my sister's Christmas present from 2 Christmases and my first post ago.  And that Christmas garland which should be properly called Winter Garland (which we don't seem to be having anyway).  If I sit here long enough I am sure to come up with more things. 

Oh, I know... I have a great nephew who will be born in probably April and I want to make an afghan for him.  Perhaps that Round Ripple if I can find the right colors and right yarn out of my stash.

Anyway, I need a plan if I'm going to accomplish all this.  First and second are Share-a-Square and Debi's swap while going through my stash for the Round Ripple.  Maybe then the Winter Garland which just needs the hanging string or whatever you call it; I think I will style mine after Lucy's Jolly Festive Bunting.  And, and, and...

Gotta find those books!

Have a good rest of the day...
Renee  :)

P.S.  Oh, and I need to show you the Christmas presents I made and give last month.
P.P.S.  I don't remember where I got the photo from, but it sure seems to fit me today!

My Square is Ready...

Hello, and how is everyone today?  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Onto business...

Granny square swaps are great stash-busters.  I am participating in Debi's swap over at Dly's Hooks and Yarns.  When I chose the colors, I was ready for some "not-Christmas" colors, if you know what I mean.  And I wanted a pattern I had never made before.  So a-surfin' I did go!

I ended up at Sunshine and Whimsy's free pattern, the 6" Sunburst Square.  I pretty much followed her pattern, except (and there's always an except -- I hardly ever follow a pattern exactly)...  I made the last row dc's around with 2 dc's in the V-stitches.  Here's hers for comparison:

It's a quick and easy pattern to work up.  And I get to mail my square to Debi before the deadline.  I'm trying to redeem myself for that mix-up over at SIBOL with the Jan Eaton square.

Okay, back to Christmas WIP's.  I'm making garlands, buntings, whatever the correct phrase is, for this year's gifts.  Oh, and one for my house, too.  Plus I have a new great nephew on the way, be here in the spring.  This pattern just might be the one I use for his blanket!

Photos later this week on Christmas progress.

Happy, happy,
Renee  :)

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week... Day Three

Hello All!  Today's post is all about Organization.  Oooo, that sounds so official.  I say that because my stash yarn is NOT organized to any great extent.

My current project(s) usually reside somewhere near my end of the dining room table.  Don't look behind or to the side of my chair.  You cannot see the floor or lower wall for the bags of yarn and/or WIPs sitting there.  Drives my husband insane, let me tell you.  And he truly does not understand the concept of having more than one project going at a time.

I have several large plastic bins full of yarn and various crafty things; these currently live in the garage.  Those are the bins I found the 28 granny squares in awhile ago.  They are currently a WIP to become a blanket; I am using Priscilla Hewitt's flat braid join.  Once I figured how to do it, it works like a charm!

If you think you will see a photo of my dining room and my wonderfully messy work area, think again!  I will leave you with the image of "My Sweet Rose" aka "The Soul of a Rose" by John William Waterhouse, courtesy of jwwaterhouse.com.  This is such a calming picture for me.

See ya tomorrow!
Renee  :)

P.S.  Remember if you want to blog along, click on the top banner.

Share A Square...

Hello again.  I've finished 12 squares for Shelly Tucker's This Eclectic Life project called Share A Square.  She has taken on a massive mission to make 150 afghans for kids with cancer.  Each afghan is 80 6" squares.  I think these can rightly be called blankets, not afghans!

Out of the 12 squares, 5 are standard grannies.  Another granny has my very first flower on it.  And 2 of the patterns are my own; the 3 squares in the 2nd photo and the 2 pink ones in the 3rd photo.  The back one in the 3rd photo is a log cabin pattern from Dutch Girl Diary.  All the yarn is from my stash.  I don't think these squares even made a dent in my yarn, I have so much!

I went to mail the squares this afternoon.  Our post office has a machine in the lobby to do your own mailing.  It's a handy little thing.  But just because it's a 3-day holiday, the machine was not taking either of my debit cards - Visa or the other one that starts with an M.  I will have to go back on Tuesday and try again.

Just a reminder...

Hello to all!

I haven't been very regular in my blogging efforts this past couple of weeks. So this is just a quick reminder that on this Friday (Jan 28th) I will be choosing the participants for my Pay It Forward giveaway. If you want to be considered, just comment on today's post. Today's commenters and last time's commenters will be considered for the giveaway.

I am working on granny squares for several different causes. I don't have the fanciest yarns and colors, but I've got heart and good intentions. And a huge stash just waiting to go. LOL, don't we all!

Remember, leave a quick comment to let me know if you want to participate in my PIF.

See you on Friday!

P.S. Bloghop at My creative space at Kootoyoo.

28 Granny Squares...Wait! What?

Morning to everyone!

There's been a lot written lately, and over the past few months, about stash-busting. Some even go so far as to pledge NOT to buy anything new for a full year!!! I don't think I could handle that, but stash-diving IS something I can do.

So, about 2 weeks ago, I dragged my son...uh, he volunteered, yeah, yeah, that's right, he volunteered! Anyway, we went out to the shed and he helped me bring in 2 enormous bins full of yarn and stuff. This is stash that hasn't seen the light of day since we bought this house. We've only been here *cough* 9 *cough* years. The bins were then left in the garage until I could get to them.

A couple of nights ago, I was in the mood. Stash-diving here I go. It was so much fun remembering the yarns and colors I had worked with years ago. As well as some UFOs and other things...

I came across a bag full of blue, yellow, white, and tan yarns -- you know, a couple of skeins, some balls --leftovers from a bedspread I had made my dad and stepmom about 15 years ago. Okay, next bag...The same colors, only granny squares this time. Cool! I started counting -- 10 yellow squares, 9 blue, 9 white -- all edged with tan. 28 granny squares! 10 inch squares, no less!! Wait, what!?

I am still trying to figure out why I had that many squares. The bedspread I had made was full-sized and completed and given away. Why would I have so many squares left over? Generally, after a project of that length, I would be so tired of the colors I wouldn't want to see them again for a very long time

So, what to do with these 28 granny squares? A blanket, of course! Though I am going to have to frog all that tan edging and re-do it. It's embarrassing, but I am glad I've improved in some things over the years.

I haven't seen that original bedspread for some time, hopefully the weight and tension of being attached to the other squares has helped even them out over time!

The top photo are the 28 granny squares, of course. The next photo is a very bad one, taken in a hurry while the cat was still in the bag. LOL, I amuse myself sometimes.

He's Raji, by the way. That's short for "garage-y" which is what my son named him when Raji decided to live in our garage about 9 years ago. We had to adopt him after that. He was living off the dogs' kibble and that's just not good for cats. (I thought it was a pretty good reason, even though my husband didn't).

Always an adventure here at my house...


Renee