A Long While...

Well, I have been gone awhile.  What's been happening and what I've been crocheting all that time? 

We've moved:  different house, same town.  I currently have a broken foot; so much is unpacked even at this late point.  I DID make sure where my yarn and patterns ended up in the new house, but I think I still have more yarn in the garage.  Hmm, problems and dilemmas.

Hooky-wise, let's see.  Three squares for SIBOL, but I neglected to take pictures.  AND, try as I might, they ended up packed and moved to the new house.  So I was the reason Mrs. Twins' Jan Eaton (3) was late in being done.  And, you can tell how early in the summer this was.  The Jan Eaton (3) blanket was #82.  Mrs. Twins and SIBOL are currently on #107!

Utilitarian crocheting from my stash is what came next: a dishcloth made with thrifted Peaches 'n' Creme, a beautiful self-striping green.  I had to make the dishcloth because this house doesn't have a dishwasher!  I was the dishwasher, et al, til I broke my foot.  Now it's my poor husband.

Then came a rug to put between the kitchen and dining room, but has ended up where the dogs like to sleep (one at a time, thankfully).  Oh, lesson learned on this one to use stitch markers if I don't want to count.  The rug does tend to veer out a bit at one end, bottom left in the pic.  It's a lot more noticeable in person.  Two strands held together of Red Heart Super Saver, half doubles and double crochets, made up as I went along.  This went so fast, and not as fiddly as I thought two strands would be.  This was my first time using two strands held together and an 'N' sized hook.  Easy peasy!

I am still working on the blanket I started last year.  I have all 35 squares done now, they measure 11" each.  I am trying  some different joining methods.  Nothing's really clicking yet.

A Happy and Safe Halloween to all!

Renee  :)

SmoothFox and Online Angels...



Charity Square No 1

 

 If you don't know SmoothFox and her patterns, she is very ingenious in designing and generous in giving free crochet patterns.  She focuses primarily on squares, but does venture into baby blankets and scarfs.  In the past few months, she has branched out to knitting, and designs and patterns for knitting.  All her patterns are listed on Ravelry as well as her blog.



Charity Square No. 2

In February 2011, she announced she would dedicate 4 charity patterns to her favorite charity -- Online Angels.  These patterns are for crocheted squares (6" or 12").  Cindy (at SmoothFox) will email the patterns to you IF you make one square per requested pattern.  The idea, of course, then is to ship the completed squares to Online Angels who will assemble them into afghans.  Online angels is a charity that distributes hand-made items and other supplies to those in need.  They run great programs!

Charity Square No. 3

I requested all 4 patterns because... well, because I like me some free patterns!  Ah, but that meant I committed to making at least 4 squares.  So, I ended up making 3 from each pattern = 12.  I made 8 quick and easy granny squares.  That equals 20 squares of  the 6" variety.  Yay me!  I'm good, I'm on a roll.  Let's make some 12-inchers! 





Hah!  I did 2 granny variations and decided the
big squares are NOT for me.  They take way too
long.  Give me the quick and easy of 6" squares
anytime!

Charity Square 4



SmoothFox opened this challenge on February 25.  The goal was 500 squares by ending date April 30, 2011.  On April 9, she revised the goal upwards to 800 due to the fact over 600 squares had been received.  As of today, as listed in her sidebar, over 700 have been received -- that's with 11 days to go!  

6" Charity Granny Squares

She also gives special mention to those crocheters who make and send in 20 or more squares.  Guess what?  I have 22 ready to go to the post office.  Yay me!  Am I shallow enough to want to be on the "Special Kudos" list?  You betcha!



Everyone have a great and safe weekend!

Renee   :)



12" Charity Granny Squares

UPDATE:  Link your stuff at AnneMarie's Breiblog. 















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.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week... Day Two

Today's post is to be about how we bettered ourselves craft-wise over the last year...

The beginning of 2010 saw me make up my mind I was going to get back into crocheting whether my hands liked it or not!  Some arthritis, especially in the left hand,  made me think that crocheting would make everything worse. 

Well, I bought my Clover hooks...already had my stash.  Hmm, this just might work.  My hands, esp. the left one, felt better -- not as "swollen" or stiff; both were more flexible.  I couldn't believe this! 

Well, it didn't take me long to start making plans.  Afghans, squares, garlands, all kinds of yarny goodness floated through my brain!  I do miss making doilies though.  I wonder if Clover makes small size hooks with big handles?

Yes, crochet still makes a difference in how my hands feel.  I didn't crochet yesterday; NOT once.  (I did look at patterns though.)  And my hands feel "swollen" and stiff, maybe not as bad as before; but I can definitely tell the difference.  And, THAT is a good feeling.

See you tomorrow for Day 3,

Renee  :)

P.S.  If you want to post along with the rest of us, click on the above banner!  Whee!

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week... Day One

A week full of yarn people blogging together is what 2KCBW is all about.  The first day's post is to compare a yarn you love with a yarn you hate, or whatever degree of emotion you feel about said yarns!

To begin with, I have to confess of not ever using any other yarn except 4-ply worsted weight.  I have used all sizes of thread... I used to make tons of doilies back in the day.  You know, the pre-arthritis days.

Anyway, my current yarn of choice is:  Red Heart Super Saver (aka RHSS).  Durability, range of colors, availability, price are all the reasons I use it.  I use it especially for afghans.  Below are squares I did for Share A Square this year.

My choice of the "other yarn" used to be my favorite until K-Mart stopped carrying it.  Ok, so we don't have a K-Mart in my town anymore either.  I am speaking of LoveKnit.  (Actually, I think the manufacturer stopped making it.)  Much softer than RHSS right on the skein.  Price, color, durability -- all there.  Below is an afghan I made for my father-in-law's Christmas present about 25 years ago.  He had cancer, and so sat a lot of the day.  This photo was taken last week.  As you can see, still holding up strong.  I actually buy any and all LoveKnit I find at thrift shops, garage sales, etc.

So, my "Tale of Two Yarns" is done.  If you want to participate in Knit and Crochet Blog Week, click on the banner at the top of today's post.

See ya tomorrow!
Renee  :)