Sunday, June 30, 2019

Puff Stitch Blanket



Off the hook AND all the ends woven in!!!  This blanket is done.  And isn’t it cute?

I really like how this turned out. It is the Puff Stitch Corner-to-Corner Blanket from Crochet! magazine (summer 2019 issue).  Yarn is I Love This Yarn color 482 Flapper Girl.

The yarn color is so summer-y and the color changes worked out well. Finished blanket measures about 45x46-inches.  The pattern was fairly easy to follow. There may be a small mistake is the decrease section because I kept coming up a stitch short. Ended up changing a 3-dc dec to a 2-dc dec and all worked well from there.










Sunday, December 23, 2012

Hey! The blog is still here.

And I've been absent for a while!  Just testing here to see if I can remember how to do this.

Got an early Christmas present. 



Betty Crocker's Cooky Book - a reprint of the 1963 original.  Lots of old favorites inside.









Bad picture but great present.  I love to bake cookies.  And I've been wanting this book for quite some time. 

So I'm going to bake some cookies. 

I am still crocheting and have been working on my knitting skills.  Life is very good and I am blessed.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

MS Blues Marathon

Since I didn't have much else to do today, I got up early and went to watch the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson this morning. Although I have run in a couple of 5Ks, I've never actually watched other people run. I thought it would be interesting (and it was). It would also give me a chance to cheer on other runners and be encouraging!!!. So far 2-1/2 hours this morning I stood in downtown Jackson, first at about mile 6 then at just past the 9 mile mark, and I clapped and yelled and woo-hoo'ed!!

And there were lots of runners! I was amazed that so many people were willing to take on the challenge of running at least 13.1 miles for the half marathon. Maybe one year I'll give it a shot, but for right now I'll stick with the 5K races.

This picture is the group of guys in first place. Check it out - their feet are not touching the ground! These guys covered 6 miles in about 30 minutes. I think they were floating.





Friday, January 02, 2009

Finished - Pineapple Heirloom Afghan





I really like having a nice afghan thrown over the back of the couch. My husband likes having a blanket handy on chilly mornings.


I finished this one a few weeks ago. It is the Pineapple Heirloom afghan from the book 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans & Throws. Don't remember if I've posted about this book, but it has some beautiful patterns in it.


This afghan is made from Red Heart Super Saver, so it will stand up to lots of use and washing. The pineapple panels are alternating strips of white and aran. It turned out pretty good and is a nice size too!


Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year!!



Well, let's see if I still remember how this all works....
Title - check - that's easy!!
Picture - check - an almost traditional southern New Year's meal. Hoppin' John, cornbread, and, um, well, it is stuffing. It should be turnip greens but I forgot to buy greens when I went to the grocery store. So we had left-over stuffing instead.
Post - check - (I can still blog! Amazing isn't it?) But the Hoppin' John was really good. It's a mixture of black-eyed peas, ham hocks, and rice. Hubby made the cornbread 'cause he does that much better than me.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Posting, Beanies, and Posies

I admit it - I got so caught up in the wonders of Ravelry that I almost forgot all about this blog. Oops! So here is an actual post!

I finished a couple of things yesterday. These are from the Boy Beanie pattern in SnB's HH book. I think they turned out good.

And if I don't forget about them, I'll give them to my nephew for Christmas next year. Both were made using Plymouth Galway worsted yarn. And, of course, the black and gold is for USM (University of Southern Mississippi). Go Eagles!!

My next major crochet project will be this from the latest issue of Interweave Crochet, The Ring Around the Posie top...

The yarn is a cotton blend in a lovely lilac color for a cute little spring-time top. I'm going to try to keep posting updates of my progress on this. (I'm going to try to start posting my regularly again.)

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Finished WIP - Socks!!

Two of my goals for this year include 1) actually finish my unfinished knitting and crocheting and 2) get a grip on organizing my collection of pattern books, leaflets, and magazines. So with that goal in mind, I have finished the knitting on a pair of socks. I don't even remember when I started these. But I had finished one sock and got past the heel of the second sock when I put them in the bottom of a bookcase and left them there.
Finished project number 1 for 2008 is a pair of Rock 'n' Ribbed socks. Pattern is in the book Knit Socks. They are made from Regia Nation Color sock yarn. Nice socks that fit well but I could have made them just a tad bit longer. It struck me as I started to blog this that the phrase "Nation Color" just might represent some country's flag. Through the magic that is Goggle, I now know that the Nation is Germany. So if I ever go to Germany, I can wear these socks and be very patriotic! (Honestly, I have moments of "blondness" and if I had realized that this yarn was in flag colors I would have purchased the red, white, and blue version to wear on the 4th of July.)
Works in progress include the reindeer tree skirt I started last month. I'm about half-way finished, but we used the half-skirt under the tree anyway. It is going to be nice as you can see in the pic. Miss B there was more concerned with the old toy stash in the corner, then looking cute for my picture.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Dishcloth - X-Stitch

A new crocheted dishcloth! This pattern is found here and is part of a kitchen set, although I only made the dishcloth. The yarn is cotton Sugar & Cream in the color Creamsicle.

You might notice the slight curve at the bottom of the cloth. My gauge was too tight for the first few rows. That's because I used two different hooks. And the different hooks, both size G, worked up at differently. And why did I use two different hooks?

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to purchase a crochet hook to use just for dishcloths and I could keep it in the bag with my cotton yarn. So I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased this:

It's a Susan Bates Bamboo Handle crochet hook. And it just doesn't work for me - I can't figure out how to hold it properly. The handle just kept getting in my way. I gave up on the hook after a couple of rows and switched to my regular all metal Bates hook. Really, I should have frogged the whole thing and started over, but I kept it as-is as a learning example.

And that's the story of dishcloth number 2!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Random Felted Potholders

I have an aunt who always appreciates hand-crafted gifts so I try to make something special for her each Christmas. This year, since I had some extra Cascade 220 left in my stash, I decided to make her some felted potholders.

Before felting, this is what they looked like. It's a super-easy pattern. I used a J hook and did 50 rows of 40 single crochet stitches. To make the hanging loop, at the end of the last row I made a loop of 20 chains, turned and did 24 sc in the loop. I used the Random Stripe Generator to create the color scheme.

(Actually, I just discovered the Random Stripe Generator and I've been playing with it all weekend. It's a fun and useful script so I've bookmarked the site.)

I threw the giant squares in the washer with a couple of towels and, using the hot water wash cycle only, I got felt! I ended up having to run the wash cycle twice to get fully felted. They have been drying all day. These are large potholders which I really like. They measure 9-inches high and about 8-inches wide.

I've still got some yarn left so I'm going to make up a few more of these for me. An important note for future reference - When using white towels in the washer with the crocheted item, always put the crochet inside a pillowcase. If you don't do this, you will have lot of white lint to pick out of the felt.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Wednesday Washer - Idiot's Dishcloth

I've had this idea, that since I have Tuesday Tomes (or books) I could also start a Wednesday Washer with dishcloths. There's a lot of free patterns on the web. I can always use more dishcloths and they are a quick project to do in the midst of the larger projects I've got going.

So I present here **Ta-Da** the first project!! This is called "Idiot's" Dishcloth. I've seen these made by other knitters, it's a basic pattern which can be found here. It's knitted from Sugar & Cream yarn and I really like how the variegated version worked out.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Fashion Crochet by Caroline Horne

In my never-ending web search for interesting crochet books, I often stumble across older titles that sound good but there's no picture of the cover and no real information about what is in the book. This is one of those books. Really, that is why I decided to just list my books here as I attempt to get some sort of organization to my pattern stash.

Back in 1969, Coats & Clark revised a little British book and brought it to America. It is the book shown here - Fashion Crochet by Caroline Horne. Caroline Horne introduces herself as a teacher of Fashion Crochet and I know she put out a couple of crochet books.

Fashion Crochet contains 14 patterns of "attractive chic clothes". And it does have a good list of items with instructions of how to make a handbag, pants, hat, coat, dresses, and slippers. There's even a pattern for a pair of stockings!


But readers of modern pattern books would be surprised to see how the projects are presented. There's no full-color pictures here. Just black-and-white drawings, although there are also some small B&W photos of stitch samples. And the directions include a period after each abbreviation, something that modern books don't do.

It's an interesting book but I probably won't make anything from it. Although...if I do get really bored one day, I might try the stockings. The gauge is 5 grps. to 2 inches.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Happy Hooker - Debbie Stoller

Truth be told, I almost didn't purchase this book. I'm not a big fan of the title. I get the SnB thing and the HH pun, but I didn't look at it and think "Oh, how cute, I must buy this."

However, this book contains the pattern for Stitch Diva's Baroque Jacket which I was planning to buy anyway. And there's more really neat patterns inside, including Julie Holetz's Fat Bottom Bag and the most adorable pink fuzzy bunny slippers designed by Shannon Murphree. So far, I've made the Baroque Jacket and the Fat Bottom Bag. I plan to make the Li'l Monkey afghan soon.

Actually, there's 40 crochet patterns here and they are all really good. One pattern, the One Skein Scarf, has turned up as a free pattern on Patons website. There is a major list of errata though and you can find that here. .

And if you want to learn to crochet the first 95 pages are full of instructions.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Calorimetry Finished

Although I'm still working on the tree skirt, I needed a quick project to take to a get-together at the new LYS in Jackson. (It's called The Knit Studio and it is in Canton Mart. It is a really nice store and Judy, the owner, is very friendly.)

Anyway, I had the Calorimetry on my to-do list and I found some Noro Kureyon in my stash. I know some folks had problems with the width of this, so I went down one needle size and used a size 7. It is still a little wide, but it fits well. And I really don't have a problem with this width, it will keep the top of my head (and my ears) warm should we every have any cold weather here is Mississippi.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Book: our best Baby Afghans

This book was copyrighted in 1996 and I've probably had it about that long. This is one of my favorite crochet pattern books and is most definitely the one book that I have used the most. It's so well used that it is now falling apart and I'll have to pick up a new copy before long.

Our Best Baby Afghans is put out by Leisure Arts and contains 54 crochet patterns for some wonderful baby blankets. There's small blankies and larger afghans, one-piece patterns and motifs to sew together.

This is the book I go to again and again when I need a gift for a new mommy.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Challenge Done!!

Today is the last day of the NaBloPoMo challenge. And I made it!! Yep, I have posted to this here blog every day for the entire month of November. Yippee!

It feels good - I've finished the challenge, I've crossed that bridge.

I probably should challenge myself more often. But I am glad that this one is over. I will keep up posting more to my blog and that's good because I almost let it die over the summer.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Waiting for '08

Well, the Christmas Tree Skirt has really put me on a tight schedule so I've had to put aside all the other projects I'm working on. But, since I had the yarn, and the needles, and the pattern, I just had to see how difficult the Shell Lace knitting was going to be.

And Taa-Daa! I knitted up (and blocked) the right front piece. I'm really pleased with how this looks, especially since there is one stitch on each shell that is a purl 15-loops together.

This will be a nice project once the tree skirt is done. It's a wee bit advanced for my knitting abilities and I'm going to need advice on a couple of things. But I do like challenging myself now and then.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

No Pics - Too Busy

No pictures tonight, but I've been busy. I've got the front half of the Shell Lace Jacket blocked out (and I will have a picture of it tomorrow). And I'm almost finished with the third triangle of my tree skirt.

I'm also almost finished with the NaBloPoMo challenge of posting every day for the month of November. All I have left are two more posts after this one!!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Rolled Brim Hats


Well, it is starting to get a bit chilly here so I made hats for hubby and me. I found the pattern on Ravelry. You can find it here.

The hats are made with Galway worsted yarn. Mine's the blue one, hubby picked out the tan yarn for his.

I followed the pattern working the hat part as a spiral but I changed to rows for the brims. That gives the stitches in the brim a slightly different look. (And since you can't really see that too well on the photo, you'll just have to trust me that there is a difference.) Hubby wanted a wider brim so I worked two extra rows on his.

Quick, easy projects like this are great to do, especially when I have another large project going. And the status of the Christmas tree skirt? I've got 2 of 9 triangles done and sewn together. A third triangle is in progress. I'll post a picture at the half-way point.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Interweave Crochet 2007



By no means have I finished going thru all my books, but today's Monday Book is a magazine. I found the Winter 2007 issue of Interweave Crochet in my mailbox today. I've only had a quick glance thru but it looks like a good issue.

Doris Chan has an article inside on bust, waist, and hip shaping, which I'm looking forward to reading. You can get a good look at the patterns inside here on Interweave's website. I really like all the shawls, especially the Flowers for Eryn Wrap.

This is currently the only magazine that I subscribe to. (I do buy other crochet and knitting magazines, but I usually pick them up at the local Border's - gotta support the bookstores, ya know.) And I really like the direction that the magazine is taking.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Marbled Chocolate Treats

Fixed this tonight for church. Chocolate covered graham crackers!! And they are good.

Found the recipe here at Kraft Foods. Just thought I would share with everyone out there.

Hope ya'll all have a great week!!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

But will she finish??


Hubby put up the Christmas yesterday. I decided it was time to start on the tree skirt. So the big question that I am asking myself is "Will I finish before Christmas?" There's a good chance I might, although hubby's afghan might well become an after-Christmas present.

This pattern is in the Nov/Dec 07 issue of Crochet Today. It's really cute I think. I've got one panel done and I'm almost finished with the second one. And there's only nine panels and five reindeer, so I'm good (I Think).

Friday, November 23, 2007

You Did What???

So I was talking with an older gentleman earlier this year. And he mentioned a few things that he always wanted to do but didn't. He had put things off, figuring he would have time in the future to make it happen. And now, due to life circumstances, he wasn't going to ever be able to do those things. It was a statement of regret and a giving up of life-long plans.

The conversation stuck with me and sadden me. Now I have list of things I would like to do someday, a list of things that I think would be fun to try. And as we were planning our vacation to Chattanooga this summer, I stumbled across the chance to actually do one of the things on my list. I thought of that gentleman and his lost plans, and made the firm decision to Go-For-It.

Want to know what I did?

I went hang-gliding!! And it was so much fun. Lookout Mountain Flight Park is just outside Chattanooga. I took a tandem glide with a wonderful guy. The photo above was taken by a camera attached to the wing. We went up to about 2,000 feet and then slowly (and safely) came down. Hubby watched from below. I really enjoyed it, the feeling of being totally free and being able to look around at miles and miles of scenery. I could even look down and see birds.

Did I mention this was fun? If I lived closer to Lookout Mountain, I would take lessons. I hate that I haven't found anywhere local to learn hang-gliding. But it is something that I want to do again, maybe on our next vacation.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Turkey Day!

A good day today. No pictures (left the camera at home).

But there was family togetherness, a Thanksgiving buffet, bread pudding with caramel sauce, chilly weather, a little knitting and a little crocheting.

That's about as good as life.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Holiday Reminder

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. So sometime between the food, the parades, the football games, remember to be...
God has blessed me so much over the past few years. I have a warm dry home, a loving husband, a good job, and wonderful friends, both real-life friends and internet friends. I haven't always had these things in my life, and I haven't always appreciated these blessing. But I am so glad to be blessed.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Book: Crocheted Baby Blankets


From the Vogue Knitting on the go! series, this is Crocheted Baby Blankets. It's a collection of 24 crocheted baby blankets. And they are nice!!

I love making baby blankets. They are a pretty quick project and I keep a stash of baby blankets ready to give as gifts to any new mothers. (So along with my yarn stash, book stash, and hook stash, please note that I also have a baby blanket stash.) The duckie blanket on the cover is, of course, my favorite project in the book and I plan to make it sometime in 2008.

A few of the other patterns I really like are pictured below.


Monday, November 19, 2007

FO: Waffle Lattice Shawl

Waffle Lattice Shawl designed by Elin Nybo. Pattern is in the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Crochet. I used 5 different colors of Cascade 220 for this felted shawl.

This was really a different type project from what I usually make. It's the second time I've felted anything. The shawl is made from a series of 80 connected chains. And then the whole thing is felted. And this yarn felts wonderfully!


And now for a revelation that I've never had to make before about any of my projects -- I'm not sure I like it. There I've admitted it and I feel better for it. I messed up on the colors, the reds are just too red and too similar. Really you can't tell that there are two different shades of red in this shawl. I should have gone with more brownish shades to contrast with the green. And it doesn't really fit comfortably. I wear my shawls a lot and I just haven't figured out how to wear this one well. It's basically a large felted net and tends to scrunch up in the front. I'm hoping it will grow on me though.


But...The felting part was a success! And I've got a good bit of yarn left so I think I may try making some felted potholders for Christmas.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Check back tomorrow!

Honesty time! I'm posting for the sake of posting. The shawl I've been working on is all felted, but my picture-taking man has gone to sleep. So I'll post pictures and descriptions tomorrow.

I've started knitting the Shell Lace Jacket today. It is going pretty well. Hubby even mentioned that my knitting speed has increased. He's right and I should actually be able to finish this jacket within this lifetime.

But I really need to put it aside and work on the afghan I would like to give him for Christmas.

So many projects! So much yarn! So little time.....

Saturday, November 17, 2007

No More Chains!!

Please, no more chains! I'm so tired of chains. Feels like I done 2,473 chains in the last week. And I just can't do anymore.

Okay, that's not exactly true. There's only 80 chains in this shawl, but they seem to just go on and on forever. However, I finished the crocheting part of this Waffle Lattice Shawl. I'm doing the really easy part now - the felting! I should have pictures of the completely finished, felted shawl tomorrow. So stay tuned!

Friday, November 16, 2007

The Wall

There are some strange things to see in this world. Things that most people never see, either because the oddity is located in a rather obscure location or because people just don't really look at their surrounding. But sometimes you can be driving along, say in rural south Mississippi, and you turn down a long gravel drive, go around a curve, and find -- The Wall.

My parents have erected a wall at the edge of the woods outside their home. It is a rather useful wall since my mom apparently has a large collection of birdhouses. But still, it's a wall, standing in the yard and was totally and completely unexpected. I love it!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Half-way!

I've met a goal of sorts today. Well, really I've met half a goal today. I've been taking part in the NaBloPoMo or National Blog Posting Month. Which means, I blog every day for the month of November. Since today is the 15th, I have made it thru half the month and posted each day! Yeah for me!!