Buried in WIPs

So, that cleaning I mentioned earlier...

Part of the reason for it was to prioritize my WIPs. I knew I had quite a few. So many in fact I was feeling a little immobilized. I discovered long ago my tolerance level is for a maximum of 4 WIPs at any give time. Want to know how many I have left after a bit of frogging?

TWELVE!

Yes, that's right, t-w-e-l-v-e. No wonder I'm feeling buried! LOL

1. Perfect Spring Shawl
2. Sweet Lorraine Lace Scarf
3. A baby sweater I found which, I think, only needs to be sewn together. (A little research should help me rediscover the pattern...)
4. Olde Peddlar Shawl
5. The third One Row Lace Scarf
6. Lacy & Lovely Crocheted Scarf
7. Hexagon Baby Sweater
8. A baby blanket made from Chris Simon's Star Overlay Squares
9. Country Cotton Shawl
10. Wild Waves Scarf
11. Hooded Baby Jacket
12. Celeste Shawl

This does not count the Traveling Scarf, the Year-in-a-Blanket squares, or the random blanket squares I'm making as the mood strikes! I had no idea there were so many. EEK.

What's a girl to do? Place a bunch of these in time out and work through it all a bit at a time. So, to pull out four I'll work on:

1) Lacy & Lovely Crocheted Scarf - This is a fairly quick pattern and the gift for my ISE7 pal. It has a deadline which is coming up soon, so it goes first.

2) Hexagon Baby Sweater - I've done most of the work on this one. If it washes well it will be a gift to a co-worker who is due in April. Again - a deadline.

3) A baby blanket made from Chris Simon's Star Overlay Squares - I'm not certain if this will be the gift or not, but another co-worker is due in June. I'm going to make a few more squares then decide if I will put this one to bed and choose a different pattern, or keep plugging away at this one. Yes, another deadline.

4) Sweet Lorraine Lace Scarf - This one I promised to Gina! Must finish...

What is in the on deck circle?

The third One Row Lace Scarf. Yes, folks - something for ME!

I'm off to pack up the WIPs that are being put aside. If they are out of sight, it will reduce my desire to work on them NOW. =-)

Am I alone in this? Is anyone else feeling buried in projects?

Yarnie Things

My mother's hat was quickly followed by this one, but I forgot to blog it!

The yarn had been sitting in the stash for a while and was an attempt on my part to branch out in the colors scheme a bit. The base is blues and purples but it adds browns and golds. After working it up, I feel fairly certain it is not me in shape or color. Still, it is pretty... =-) I did some tinkering with the pattern to make it more slouchy, which worked (see my Ravelry page for details - or pm me.)

Then there is this:

Last October when I made the "I've Got Spirit" scarf, there was quite a bit of left over yarn. So, I started a simple granny square snuggle. I have no idea why I set it aside, but I rediscovered and finished it today!

As to why I discovered it? Well, today is a snow day off from school. I had promised myself that the next decent block of time I had would be dedicated to gathering up and sorting my crochet stuff. So I've been frogging, winding, putting away hooks/notions, and sorting/prioritizing WIPs. Such a relief! I may have to do a WIP post soon to encourage myself to get some of this stuff finished. (Of course I hardly have to mention that there are about 15 projects in my head that I want to make... don't we all?)

Be safe and warm!

WHATZIT?

Or better yet, whatzitgoingtobe? Any ideas?

More soon...

Traveling Fun

So, when I joined a Traveling Scarf group on Ravelry I just thought it would be a bit of fun. These groups ask each person to start a piece of scarf and then send it to the next person on the list. The scarves travel from member to member of your group until they come home with a piece from each person. The results are never predictable!

What I didn't realize is the variety of stitches, squares, patterns, and yarns it would provide me the opportunity to play around with!



Here's to opportunities to play!

The Blankie

As crocheting is ever an adventure, this one taught me a number of lessons:

1) Don't attempt a new pattern when you only have a few weeks to produce said blanket

2) Don't fool with the gauge on a Terry Kimbrough design unless you plan to leave off the elaborate edging. Go with a heavier yarn than called for if you want a more solid look rather than changing hook size. I forgot I had done this with the first of her designs I crocheted, and should have done so again here!

3) Make the center big enough that if you decide to bail out and do a more simple edging, the blanket will still be of a usable size. It turned out lovely, but I'm just not happy with it being a smidge under 2 feet wide. It will be OK for use in the car seat or as a drag around, but little else.

4) Lion Brand's Baby Soft is a nice yarn to work with. It is a little thicker than the Bernat I generally use and is a blend of acrylic and nylon. Although not exactly rough to start with, it was nicely soft after killing. (I was trying to get some more width out of the blankie!)

Would I use this pattern again? YES! I love Terry Kimbrough's designs. They are fun to stitch and beautiful. I am making a promise to myself that the next time I do one, I'll go all the way through and add the amazing edging!

Mom's New Chapeau

How can one resist an exchange like this?

Lynn Marie: Haha! Horray! :o) The pattern is Pretty Puffs Slouchy Hat. Wicked quick, wicked easy and loads of fun. I started at the beginning of Ever After and finished it about 30 minutes before it ended. Gotta love crochet.

ME: Thanks for the pattern! The hat is so cute that I may have to make one for myself. =-)

Lynn Marie: Oh, you’re welcome! I love it so much I think I’ve made about 5 already. Haha. It’s wicked addicting.

Mom: Make mine black……………….tee heeeeeeeeee!

No, please. No, could you/would you. She knows me well. When mom actually asks for something outright, I'm going to make one for her. See?

The balloon was pressed into service as a model because mom asked for a change after I surprised her with the hat at a baby shower. You see, Lynn Marie had added a ruffled edging. Mom wanted it. Luckily, my sister was sporting one of the hats Lynn Marie had made! I swiped it, analyzed the edging and voila!

Oh, and as for the baby whose shower we were attending, she got this:

The pattern = Snuggle Up by Terry Kimbrough. Deets later!

Moving Em' Along

Do you ever have the experience of making something for yourself only to find out you made it for someone else? I don't mean the "Oooooooo isn't that pretty can I have it?" reaction that we sometimes get when others see our hand work. Followed by the, "Will you make me one?" question that we are often happy to oblige.

I mean when you finish something and it is great. You really like it. Then you let a friend/family member try it on and they look FANTASTIC in it? Even better than when you tried it on? I'm convinced this is because it was never for you in the first place. You was really making it for that person all along. It just happens too frequently to be an accident. And it delights me to make my pals so happy by handing over the article (and making myself a new one).

Case in point:
I decided to try making a cowl for the first time yesterday and went stash diving for the right yarn. I've had this beautiful yarn since (oh my) September of 2006 when its siren song called to me. I just never found the right stitch pattern to show it off. This, however, seemed perfect.

It was warmly snuggled around my neck when I went to have dinner with friends. Not 5 minutes later, I no longer owned it. And this time? It isn't even staying with my friend Gail. She is going to give it to one of her friends because I promised to make her another one! LOL She's paid me for the yarn and then bought me dinner. Good deal all around.

By the time I'm done, there will be three of these. One for the friend, one for Gail, and then finally one more for me. And in case you are wondering... I am planning to keep that one!

Bat, Bat, Bat

Meet Boo, the newest member of my household!Isn't he sweet?

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A little while ago, I spotted this cutie designed by Mochimochi and sent a link to my sister. She thought it was adorable.

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Sis: That's so cute. I might have to make one of those.

Me: Well, if you do I want one!

Sis: Hmmm, I'll split the pattern with you.

Me: Check the attachment - I've sent you the pattern. =-)

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Far be it for me to rest on my laurels and let her change her mind! It ended up that I purchased the pattern while she bought the supplies and provided the labor.

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However, the discussion did not end there! Colors had to be picked. That devolved into a mad session of namestorming. Well, look below and you'll see what I mean.

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Black and white: Zebrbat, Zebat, Zebat (French) or Batxedo

Pink and Sparkly: Baterina
Pink and white: Pepmintbat
Pink and green: Preppybat
Green and Brown: Ecobat
Black and Blue: Bruisebat
Black and Yellow: Bumblebat

Green and White for St. Patrick's Day: Batrechaun

Blue and white: Channubat
Green and red: Chrismabat
Red, white and blue: Patriotibat or Soxbat

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Join the naming fun!

What colors and name would you give your bat?

Challenged

Caroline challenged me to do this, so here it is!

(Original challenge issued by this blog).
1) go to the 4th picture folder
2) go to the 4th picture in the folder
3) tell 4 things about that picture
4) tag 4 more people

Fact 1: This picture is almost three years old - It is of the 2006 Boston Knit Out, and Crochet Too
Fact 2: Although I participated in this fastest crocheter contest, I'm not in this picture. =-)
Fact 3: The announcer said I won, but there was some confusion and it seems I actually came in second. Lucky me still got a prize, because they had already announced me as the winner before we realized there was a problem!
Fact 4: If memory serves, after convincing me to enter this contest, none of my knitterly friends (one of whom snapped this picture) participated in the fastest knitter contest. Hmmm, what's up with that?! LOL

TAG, YOU'RE IT! Elisa, Zuleika, Michelle, and Julie

Good Enough to Eat?

Given the presentation one might think so! Lime & Violet are to blame for this one by introducing me to LorabudKnits on Etsy.Generally, I can go take a peek on Etsy and resist. Such was not the case this time! This luscious lace weight is 700 yards of the Dark Turquoise colorway. The bright blue against the deep gray was just too much to resist. So, I guess this one was a holiday present to myself.

I'm thinking it will become another Crocus Bud Shawl. I might make it wider and shorter than the first one. However, thanks to Ravelry, I'm now going to have to swatch this stitch pattern and see how the colors play (Rav Link). If the gather as I think they will, this could be stunning!

Unfortunately for my desire to play with this yarn, there are quite a few projects that need to be done first! I can slip in some little ones like the hat below,

but not a full sized shawl... (that's my story and I'm sticking to it - LOL)

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Dreaming

The first FO of the year! I changed my mind about the mittens when I realized I could finally start my Year-in-a-Blanket project! (Ravelry Link)

This is the Dream Catcher block to represent January (used J Hook). Why a dream catcher?

Well, instead of resolutions, how about focusing on our dreams? The dreams we hold in our hearts for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world. I'm inspired by this thought. It seems so much easier to say I dream of... and then work toward making it come true. "Catch" your dreams!

What are your dreams for the future?

As for me, I'm working on dreaming big. For one, I want a house and it is about time I get moving toward getting one!