Adventures in Crochet (and spinning...)

10 Shawls Progress

2010-08-08T11:00:00.003-04:00

I'm behind in my original plan to do one shawl a month until I hit the ten shawl goal, but a little catch up it always good, right?

Seraphina - The shawl that is so much fun to make, stays on the shoulders so well, and handles multicolored yarn so beautifully. I forgot how much I like this pattern. Thanks Mary for selecting it for your hand spun!

Flying Diamonds Shawl - Such a lovely and intuitive pattern. There are fewer repeats to the pattern than you might think. One friend commented at first glance that this looked knitted! From her that is a compliment. =-) Both still need to be blocked. I hope to get it done this week in and around my second graduate class of the summer. Now that I have a new couch and the living room is arranged for a while, it leaves a space open for the blocking. (BTW I am loving the new couch. It is so nice to lay on cushions instead of rug covered cement...)

The knitting continues, although it is bothering my left elbow. I think it is the little finger movements of moving the stitches up for knitting. I'm taking it easy, but will keep going to build up those muscles...

The Baktus is coming along nicely. I had to frog the first attempt as the edge stitches were much too loose which impacted the gauge of the entire piece. A little experimentation with slipping that first stitch (thanks Donna!) and things are progressing nicely. It looks like I will have a knitted shawl in my 10 Shawls for 2010. Who would have thought? Not I!

Lastly, I picked up a dish cloth book yesterday at AC Moore because I liked the stitch patterns and thought they'd make nice baby hats. Started one. Frogged because it was not a good match to the yarn. Started a second, basket weave, which is coming along well. As for crochet, I'm back to working on a friend's afghan. Pics of these last pieces soon!

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Double Delight

2010-07-31T17:43:00.003-04:00

I finished the Foolproof Baby Hat and then went right on to an invented pattern of simple garter stitch alternated in stripes with stockinette. I am delighted with both hats! The first is so softly stretchy it will fit a variety of heads and as a friend pointed out be wearable for quite a while as the baby grows. The second has nice stretch, although not as much as the first. I feel so accomplished! I knit not one, but two hats.

I'm finding that knit is so different in movement and rhythm from crochet that they will be nice counterpoints to each other. Need a break from that crochet project, knit...and vice versa. So much fun.

In fact I am going to make a shawl/scarf that I loved from the moment I saw it. I attempted a crochet version, but with my new found/renewed skill it is now a MUST! (Um, I may have started it as soon as I finished the second hat. Of course I had to look up how to do a yarn over and knit through the back loop first...)

Proximal Zone

2010-07-27T11:30:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking of knitting baby hats in order to use up the yarn left over from various projects. I've been thinking about it for a while now. What had me thinking?

I haven't really knit for at least 25 years. My Nana taught me when I was little, but I was never very good at the whole tension thing. So, I gave it up. After crocheting for so long I figured that I should try again. I now know that I can bury a world of errors in textured fabric, and anyway the baby won't care.
Knit often uses less yarn so the smaller left overs would go further.
Knit has more stretch than the crochet baby hats I've made. I think it is better suited for those delicate little heads.

I've been ruminating on it for a while. I figured I could manage to work a flat piece with ribbing followed by stockinette and then just sew it up. Seemed it would be simple enough to be doable.

Well, I've stopped thinking and started stitching. Why now? My professor indirectly challenging me to work within the Proximal Zone. i.e. the state of learning where you are just a bit uncomfortable, but with support/guidance your goal is attainable. I found the challenge an attractive one. The more I thought about it I realized that this pretty much describes the link between myself and knitting. So, I got going. What have I learned?

Wooden knitting needles make a world of difference! They grab the acrylic just enough that I don't have to worry about them sliding out of the work.
Surprise! I can actually tell the difference between knit and purl stitches. I guess hanging around with so many knitters has rubbed off. =-)
Ditto when it comes to tinking. I have no idea if I put the stitches back on correctly or twisted them, but it looks decent. Woot!
I now really appreciate just how much faster crochet is than knitting. I've always known this for fact, but now have the experience to back it up. For this reason I'll likely stick to These small hats and maybe an occassional dish cloth. Oh, and the stuffed bears my Nana used to make. I want to learn to make those.
Width is hard to determine when your fabric is on the needle.
Knitting has a nice rhythm to it.
I can count to two over and over and over and over...
Getting to the end of a row with the right stitch count is a rush.

"Foolproof Baby Hat" from The Knitter's Book of Yarn

A Little Bit of This and That

2010-07-14T10:56:00.007-04:00

YCrochetY

Two beautiful hanks of hand spun yarn by my friend Mary are quickly transforming into a Seraphina Shawl. I love how well this pattern is showing off the various shades of blues and greens. I wish I'd been able to show just how brilliant the colors are. It is such an adventure to do a large project from hand spun. Before this the largest was a hat! I hope Mary likes it!

YSpinning - Tour de FleeceY

First mission accomplished...the four ounces of Shetland wool have been spun and are patiently awaiting plying. What they will become ultimately depends on how much yardage/weight I end up with. I'm thinking of making this into a three ply...

Then I went searching in my project bags for another UFO and came up with this. I haven't spun on this style spindle in some time and found it a pleasant change of pace from the Turkish I was using. Lesson learned. Have more than one spinning project going and have them on different style spindles. Fun! Oh...the fiber is Colonial wool and the spindle is from Zebisis.

YShopping - Chain Link ConferenceY

The CGOA Conference was held in Manchester, NH this past weekend. I wasn't tempted by any of the classes this year, but decided it was worth the trip to poke around in the marketplace. This was especially true when I heard that MissBabs was going to be there! Yes, those two lovely braids of fiber on the right are from her booth (left = BFL in Lake Michigan right = 50 Merino/30 Bamboo/20 Tussah Silk in Falling Leaves). Goal achieved!

I spent a few hours taking in the fibery fumes and enjoying all the lovely temptations. I managed to escape with just one more purchase. The beautiful purple and blue skein of sock yarn, much more vivid and deeper in color in real life, that jumped into my basket in the Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm booth along with a cloissonne stitch marker which is on the Seraphina at the moment. I left well satisfied that the trip had been worth the effort. Storing away ideas for the future!

YBaking - Celebrating Independence DayY

I hope everyone in the USA enjoyed their Independence Day celebrations! Mine was spent in the traditional manner of a BBQ surrounded by friends. My contribution was the dessert above. Several people had recommended these cookies made from a lemon cake mix. It was the first time I've ever rolled cookies in powdered sugar before baking. I love how they look all crackled and powdery. Were they good? Yes, but a bit sweet for me. I think next time I might try a tart lemon glaze made from the powdered sugar. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

Happy stitching, spinning, shopping, and celebrating one and all!

Spinning...Not just for cyclists

2010-07-03T20:29:00.002-04:00

Yes, you've guessed it. I am a first time participant in the Tour de Fleece! What's it all about? Set a goal and try to reach it by spinning fiber into yarn on every day that the cyclists of the Tour de France are spinning their wheels across the countryside.

So, what is my goal?

Am I going to spin X ounces of fiber? Nope

Am I going to make X yards of yarn? Nope

Am I going to spin enough for X project? Nope

These all seem just too daunting. So, I'm making it simple. I want to spin more often, but seem to get side tracked by other things. Therefore, my simple goal is to spin for a minimum of 15 minutes daily on any WIP in my pile. Um, don't ask me how many there are...I'm not going to count. I really don't want to know. ;-)

Today, I reached my 15 minute goal. A few more days like this and the entire 4 ounces of undyed Shetland wool will be finished!

Good luck to all participants. May you reach your goals!

Encore

2010-07-01T10:28:00.005-04:00

Do you find there are some patterns you've worked with that just require an encore performance? Perhaps it is akin the "potato chip knitting" where you cannot make just one. It is a rare thing for me to want to make something more than once, but there it is. Three shawl patterns that just would not let go! Of course the first is the Mock Faroese by Lily Chin. The evidence:

Then there is My Blue Jean's Shawl using Elisa's variation which not only caught my fancy, but also that of my friends and family. Of course, I loved the pattern so much that I was happy to make some for them:

#1 I thought was for me, but turned out to be for Gina

#2 This was meant for me, and I actually got to keep it!

#3 Went to my friend Gail

#4 Was a surprise for my Mom after she hinted rather heavily...

#5 A lighter blue for the spring and summer...for me

#6 Is a repeat of #2 for a swap partner. It went off to the midwest.

#7 Went to my sister after she wondered aloud when she would get one of these shawls. I later learned she had been hinting at the same time our Mom was, but I had missed it! LOL

The last one was the result of a search for a summer shawl for my mother (first picutre). It is the Crocheted Cobweb Capelets and Shawls (AC-31) by Evelyn A. Clark which comes in four shapes. All of these were made with fingering weight Frog Tree Alpaca. It is a simple pattern which turns out airy, drapey, and warm. When a friend asked for shawls fitting this description for some relatives, how could I say no?

The red triangular one has inspired me to make one of these for myself some day. I love rounded ones, but they just don't look well on me. If figure I deserve one...

So, what patterns have you stitched that deserved an encore?

Hello Again

2010-06-26T09:19:00.002-04:00

I am more than a little shocked to discover so much time has gone by since I last posted! January? Really? Ah, well at least there's always the opportunity to start again.

When last we spoke I was a renter. Now, I am a home owner! Thanks to the real estate market and the first time home buyer funds from the government I now own a lovely little condo. WOOT!

So, let's see, crochet... what do I have to report... Um, how about this?

It was started way back in November around Thanksgiving and just recently finished. Why? My sister took off for the winter and was not around to decide on the size or border. I still love this Mock Faroese pattern by Lily Chin. It is simply perfect for those yarns with long color repeats. I'm pleased to say she loves it and so does her husband. High praise indeed!

This make the third time I've crocheted this pattern and I am certain it will not be the last. Speaking of patterns stitched more than once, I'll have another to share next time.

Here's hoping everyone has been enjoying their stitching while I've been absent. I look forward to catching up with all of you! TTFN - Gigi

An Auspicious Beginning

2010-01-01T12:08:00.004-05:00

My first shawl for the 10 Shawls in 2010 is done! When I saw how quickly it was working up, I found it hard to put down. Then it occurred to me...wouldn't it be cool to be the first person to finish a shawl and do it on the first day of the new year? Mission Accomplished!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T17:31:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows me or has been reading for a while knows I am addicted to shawls. So, when a little birdy whispered in my ear that there was a group starting on Ravelry called 10 Shawls in 2010, what was I to do? Join and start planning of course!

Well, it is almost midnight in Olso, Norway. When it is 1 second past, we can begin. I feel lucky that I'm six hours behind. I get to start stitching at 6pm! What will the first shawl be? Well, since I am working on a large one for a friend, I picked a smaller one: All Shawl by Doris Chan. I have a skein of Sapphire Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn that has needed a project for a while. Soon it will be a shawlette!

Happy New Year to all (whatever time it begins where you are)!!!!!

Refreshed

2009-12-30T19:27:00.005-05:00

I've been making so many large projects, that I forgot the joy of quick little ones. Thanks to the dishcloth swap, I've been refreshed. Perhaps I should intersperse some hats in with the larger projects for that little rush of success. After all, one can only use just so many dishcloths! ;-)

Create Your Own

Patterns: Fish Washcloth/Dishcloth, Super Simple Tawashi Flower, Amikomo 3-28, N-592 Ohina Tawashi, Fire Blossom Dishcloth, and Simple Scrubby

Homeward Bound

2009-12-23T17:04:00.003-05:00

In less than a week, I will be a homeowner for the first time. I wanted a house, but could afford a condo. So, I searched until I found the comforts I wanted. Now I'm looking forward to (in no particular order):

1) Having a dish washer again. It's been about 20 years.
2) Having a garage! I am so tired of scraping icy windows and shoving snow off my car.
3) A washer and drier in my home. No more common laundry. No running up and down the stairs. No more waiting for a machine or for people to move their clothes.
4) If it's broken or doing something strange, I can just take care of it rather than waiting and waiting for maintenance.
5) An extra bedroom for guests. =-)
6) Using something bigger than a tack nail to hang things on the wall.
7) NO MORE BUILDER BEIGE rugs!!!
8) Walls that are colored instead of white, white, white everywhere I look.
9) Furniture purchased to suit the space.

Oh, I could go on and on. I'm so excited and grateful that the current market conditions have helped bring this about, at last!

The circular lace afghan was meant for the guest bedroom whenever I found a place. Perhaps, that is why I have not frogged or swatched the new version. Perhaps, I'm waiting to be home.

Flashy Fiber

2009-12-20T10:25:00.003-05:00

The other day I was in the LYS looking for a semisolid fingering weight yarn to make a lace scarf. Um, this one. Anyway, I walked by a display with a big fluorescent sign stating, "Do not work with this yarn pulling from the center. It will tangle. It is designed to be worked from the outside." I looked, at the yarn in the baskets, but didn't see anything unusual. Just the typical skeins. I wondered, but moved on.

I kept shopping and walking by that sign. I could not stand it any longer and decided to dig through the baskets. That's when I discovered this: The sign was referring to these Zauberballs. It didn't take long for one to jump up and demand to be taken home. (I'm a sucker for purples). No pics yet, but it is transforming into the aforementioned lace scarf, beautifully.

Oh, and speaking of lace, yes, Halia is no more. I have not, however, gotten around to the circular afghan. I guess it needs some more time in time out.

Then there is the scarf I made from Wisdom Poems using half double crochet. The colors were so beautiful I realized a simple textured stitch was the way to go.

I'm really happy with the result. It is headed for the local women's shelter as requested by the author of the Halia pattern. I hope it keeps someone nice and warm this winter.

Not Quite

2009-12-09T15:51:00.003-05:00

These two projects have been in time out for a while. I've been trying to work up the courage to frog them...

This is the All Around Throw.It started out really well. Beautiful lacy center which lay beautifully flat. I imagined it laid out on a bed in my spare-bedroom-to-be. But...

In the end, there was extra material. There is no way to lay this out flat. Now I understand why it was photographed over the end of a bed. I thought the drape was simply because of the way it was laid out. Live and learn! So, here is the plan. I'm going to rip out the last ball of yarn and restart. I'll use two less sections. With luck the center will lay flat and I can just follow the rest of the pattern as written. If it does not lay flat I'll have to decide if I should rip it out or put the last ball back on and call it a day.

Then there is Halia. A beautiful pattern I just fell in love with immediately. A quick search of a LYS yielded this lovely natural BFL. It is just the color I need to round out my shawls/wraps.

Everything was going beautifully. The lace is lovely and has a nice rhythm to the work. But...
Upon starting the second half I got these! The staring edge is arched, but the pattern does not allow for filling in this arch when beginning the second half. Pulling them together results in this extra fabric. I could try blocking it out, but I'm pretty certain it will just reappear. NOT attractive. This one is destined for the frog pond never to return.

Now, what shall I do with the lovely wool...?

Feeling Flowery

2009-11-29T08:51:00.005-05:00

This... Plus this...

Equals...

This!

A little bit of flower like sunshine to cheer up the kitchen. This one isn't actually for me. It will be part of a round robin dish cloth swap.

I haven't done a swap like this before, but I'm looking forward to it. After sign ups, the moderator starts us off with 6 dishcloths. She sends them to the first person on the list. That person can take 1 or all of the dishcloths as long as she/he replaces each with a new one before sending them on. They can be knit or crochet. I will be far enough down on the list that by the time the package reaches me there is likely to be a nice variety of work by the various talented hands participating.

It has been a while since I did a swap. Thanks to Ravelry...here we go again!

A Thought for the Day

2009-11-08T08:09:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been in a joke shop? I have to admit even though I recently entered my fifth decade, I'd never done so. What's the point? It will be stupid. It will be gross. I don't need to go in there! Or so I thought.

There were stupid gags, and gross ones. But, surprisingly there were also some real delights: costumes, silly signs, games, gifts for milestone birthdays, sand art, rain sticks... We had a great time reading to each other and holding up our "finds". Laughing.

Then I saw it. It wasn't very big. Just a wee bumper sticker. It stopped us in our tracks. The message?

Life is Sexually Transmitted

Hmmm, how true!

Seclusion Success

2009-09-13T21:27:00.004-04:00

I spent the weekend secluded in my home so as not to spread my germs. Sometimes, sharing is not a good thing-LOL!
.

Anyway, since I was stuck in the house with the prospect of boredom, my thoughts turned to UFOs. I was hoping there was something in the pile that could give me that victory rush one gets when finishing a project. Lo, there was one. The Cotton Country Shawl which I started last November was patiently waiting for two measly rows and a border.
.

Ha! Easy peasy and DONE!
.

I'm so happy with the result. I wanted to be enveloped. Adding 3.4 extra repeats resulted in a shawl that when lain on my shoulders reaches just past my wrists. Of course the fact that it is made from silky wool rather than cotton adds to that yummy wrapped in comfort feeling. Just what I needed. =-)

Causing a Stir

2009-08-28T18:16:00.003-04:00

Questions fired in rapid succession from two nearby tables in a restaurant when I pulled out my Jenkins Turkish Delight:

Whatcha doin'?
Is that a toy?
Is that cotton or wool?
Can you repeat that?

The verdict? That's so cool! LOL

Spreading the fiber love. =-)

Progress...

2009-08-27T18:13:00.003-04:00

Progress Blocked: I thought I'd be working on getting my classroom ready for next week. But... someone has decided to sleep on my supplies! I don't call him "box cat" for nothing.=-)So, here I am posting to the blog. There is a lot of spinning to catch up on. Serious progress.

Progress Success! First, this little beauty came to live with me for a few weeks. The lovely Gina lent me her Ashford Traditional. It is a sweet wheel.
I took to it quickly and spun some soy silk. See the two skeins below? The one on the left was spun on a spindle and the one on the right on the wheel. They are amazingly similar!Then, because I had to try something else I grabbed 4oz of Falkland Combed Top dyed by the amazing Heather of Sereknity in her Black Forrest Fudge colorway. Yummy!I'm really happy with both of these yarns. I wondered if I would be able to spin on a wheel, and now I know. Woot! A lot of the things I've read about spinning make more sense now that I've sat sat a wheel. Thanks Gina!

Progress? No. Learning? Yes. Then I had to try out my new Greensleeves Ethan Jakob spindle. I decided it might be just right for the one and only fiber batt I own. I had no idea that there were so many different ways to spin from a batt. I think I tried them all! Here is some on the Ethan Jakob and on a toy wheel spindle twice its weight.

Close up...In the end I gave up and threw all of the spun stuff away. I think there is just too much going on in this batt: 50% BFL, 40% Bamboo, and 10% fire star. The different fibers tended to separate as I spun so there would be stretches of almost pure BFL or Bamboo. Not my thing. That and they seemed to want to tangle.

I'm sure much of this is my inexperience! I thought the BFL would balance the slippery bamboo. Nope. Not in my hands it didn't. I'm going to have to just let this one go and stick to top for a while.

So, the rest of the batt is up for grabs. There is more than 3oz left... Interested?

Saturday Spinning

2009-08-19T09:31:00.001-04:00

Cozie Complete

2009-08-14T07:07:00.002-04:00

Well it wasn't done in the morning. It took until about 1:30 to finish 2,000 stitches and block this 30x30 cozie. However, I'm glad to say: mission accomplished! I love how it came out. This morning after a trip to the post office, it will be heading out to Sophie with the purple one.Moments after taking these photos I started the next project. I dug out the blue alpaca, found an appropriate hook, printed the pattern, and packaged stitch markers, a darning needle and a pair of folding scissors. One traveling kit complete!

Of course there was still the question of whether there would be enough time to finish the wrap before the High Holidays. So, off to the calendar I went. After a little counting and a little math, I know this can be done! Just 4 motifs a day will get me to the necessary 114 with time to spare. Let's hope I can keep the pace when school starts a week from now.
Here's yesterday's motifs: I realized quickly that leaving the end dangling from the center would ensure I placed each motif the same way up. Also it helps me orient as I join the points. No twisted motifs here! (Well, as long as I pay attention - LOL) So, the "Star of David" wrap is well begun. Woo Hoo!

Seeing Stars

2009-08-13T09:03:00.003-04:00

There I was innocently surfing around Ravelry: reading forum posts, answering messages, catching up on my friends' projects when I was stopped dead in my tracks by this:

Queenies Clementine Crochet Lace Wrap (Ravelry)

It is pretty and lacy, but that is not what made me gasp. I was done in by the fact that each motif looks like a Star of David! It is very very difficult to find motifs of this shape that look really good. Yet, here there is an entire wrap's worth? Woo Hoo!

Then, I had a vision. Myself wearing this wrap during High Holiday services with the family. Snugly wrapped in a soft layer of alpaca to combat the always chilly air conditioning. What color would it be? Well, blue of course. I have the perfect yarn sitting in my stash.!

I thought maybe for next year. Not this year. The High Holidays are only a few weeks away. That plan is changing thanks to my sister the knitter with whom I shared the pattern link. Her reply?

WOW!!! Teach me, teach me, teach me, (jumps up and down)

She is so excited that she is planning to accost a friend to teach her to crochet the wrap since I am too far away. I cannot let the knitter wear this wrap before I do! No fair! So, this morning I am attempting to finish up the blanket I'm making for Sophie's Cozies so I can begin the shawl with a clear conscience.

Wish me luck! =-)

WIPs Running Wild

2009-08-09T11:40:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been overrun with WIPs? Ever look around your home and realize that every available surface has some work in progress (or two or three) sitting upon it waiting for your attention? Yeah, me too.

A few weeks ago I decided I had to get the fiber WIPs in hand. Fiber-in-Waiting was stashed. Then, with a new box of zip top freezer bags, I managed to corral all eight or so projects into one Lantern Moon basket:Hooray for containment! Of course I promptly started a new project because my Jenkins Turkish Delight arrived in the mail and I just had to try it out...right? LOL Anyway, last night I came to the conclusion that projects near completion had to be cleared out.

First up to be emptied was the wagon wheel spindle I bought for my students to use. It can be dropped and survive nicely. On it was some red merino which has now been finished, plied, and is soaking as I type. The rest of this merino is going back in the stash for testing future spindles.
I think this yarn will be a light fingering. As I was skeining I realized there was more than enough to make a kippah. I look forward to my first FO with hand spun!

Next up will be more plying. My first attempt at creating a three ply from three singles from the Romney I finished a bit ago. Wish me luck!

Animoto

2009-07-30T18:54:00.003-04:00

Want to make quick music videos? Try Animoto! I wanted to test it out before making some things for my classroom, so I picked some pics, some music, and voila!

Traveling Surprise

2009-07-24T16:13:00.002-04:00

So, yesterday I got a postal slip that said I had a package from Megan. I was mystified. I thought, I only know one Megan. What would she be sending me? I'm upstream from her in our Traveling Scarf group on Ravelry...

Then, today, I got the package from the post office and nearly cried I was so touched by the enclosed notes. I hadn't even looked into the bag at the scarf yet. Then, then I opened the bag. Oh, my it was a beautiful soft scarf. See? Megan in cahoots with Julie made this lovely traveling surprise. You see, we had a few scarfs go MIA in our group and one of them was mine. It looked like I would have to be satisfied with the enjoyment I got from designing a piece for each scarf that came my way. There would be no happy scarf wending it's way back to me after traveling around two countries.

Now? I have a wonderful scarf all my own. And it has come from two countries! Julie is in Canada and Megan in the US. I don't know if I can properly express how touched and thrilled I am to have this scarf.

Thank you ladies for your thoughtfulness. I LOVE IT!

Spin, Span, Spun

2009-07-23T06:12:00.002-04:00

This is a new record. I stopped only because...I ran out of fiber!

As I have become better at spindle spinning, I've been able to handle bigger and bigger cops on my spindles. This, a Bossie midi, has the largest one ever:

2 5/8 oz - 1.25 oz spindle = 1 3/8oz of lovely Romney

I hear tell that one should be able to make a cop that at least weighs as much as the spindle before winding off. I can now say I've done that! WOOT!

Sophie's Cozies

2009-07-20T15:37:00.002-04:00

Sophie is a delightful 4 year-old who wanted to go to the hospital and play with the children to cheer them up. Unfortunately, there are age minimums for volunteers which do not allow for those who are so young. Undaunted, Sophie and her mother came up with a different idea: give the children hugs and snuggles! How? With small blankets made from soft yarns. And Sophie's Cozies was born...

After reading about Sophie, I wanted to make a cozy.

So I stitched up this Bobby Square sans a few rounds (click picture for pattern) with the left over yarn from the Wheelchair Wrap. Then, I tossed it on the scale. It looked promising so I kept going.When the squares were done there were just a few grams left...not enough to join. So off to the stash I ran. I knew there were some scraps of white in this same yarn in there somewhere.And, lo my memory was good. Plus, I think the crochet gods were smiling on me. Just as with the purple, there were but three grams remaining when the joining was done. (Perhaps that is a sign that it was meant to be?)And here it is! I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. The picture is a little washed out. The colors are more vivid in real life.

Here's hoping some little one is well comforted by this soft cozy and the loving heart of Sophie.

Purple People

2009-07-13T07:08:00.003-04:00

Some time ago, my sister asked me for a shawl. Not just any shawl. She wanted a "Perfect Spring Shawl" for her own. (It is a version of the My Blue Jeans Shawl which was modified by the ever creative Elisa. Thanks Elisa! If you want to make one from Dream in Color Smooshy you can find my counts here on Ravelry. )

If you have been reading for a while, you'll know this is the seventh time I've made one of these!

I warn you, making them is addictive! They are quick, easy, and lovely. This one is done in Dream in Color Smooshy's colorway Pansy Go Lightly. There are subtle color variations of blues and greens which don't show up as well as the dominant purple. I'm happy to say she loved it.

The other purple thing finished is the Wheelchair Wrap. Why purple? I wanted to use Lion Brand's Pound of Love for its softness and washability. I did not, however, want it to look like a baby item. It is meant to be worn by an adult after all... It turned out that my stitch gauge changed so that there is enough extra material to actually wrap the front or pin it closed. A happy accident. The row gauge came out right on the money.
This pattern is a good one for quick gift or charity crochet.

Friday Faces

2009-07-11T10:01:00.004-04:00

Faces of the painted variety that is...Actually those are some samples that I painted on the back of my hand/arm. Usually Friday nights are reserved for fun of the yarn variety, but who could resist the call of a good friend for help with her 6 year-old's birthday party? I ended up face painting.

Face painting is fun, especially when you let the little people describe what they want. They get so excited and have clear opinions. The birthday boy had a skull and cross bones on one cheek and a snake on the other. I think my favorite of the night was the girl who wanted to world on her cheek. Every time I saw her after that I caught myself singing "We Are the World". Nearby adults burst out laughing when they made the connection. The kids thought we were crazy.

One little guy kept coming back for more painting. When I cut him off he had a snake on one cheek, an apple on his forehead, a cloud and stars on the other cheek, a skull/ghost on one hand, and a heart on the other. I think he was all of three years old! LOL

My biggest challenge of the night was another three-year-old who was sucking on a ring pop while I tried to paint butterflies on her cheek. Did you ever notice how much the cheeks move when the mouth is sucking? Yeah, not so easy that one!

I thought I'd make it to stitch night after the party for some fun of the yarn variety. Nope. The party that was to end at 8pm went until 9pm. No yarn for me, but the reward of many smiling children was worth it!

Charitable Thoughts

2009-07-02T14:55:00.006-04:00

Have you read any of the Debbie Macomber books about Blossom Street? They have been on my "some day I'll read those" list for a while because most of them take place in and around a knitting store called "A Good Yarn". The side effect of reading these novels is wanting to stitch along with the characters.

I have read the books out of order, so in finishing up the series I'm actually reading book three Back on Blossom Street where the characters are making lace prayer shawls.

Now, I've made a few of these in the past, but not recently. In fact I haven't done any charity stitching in a while until I made this the other day:

Divine Hat by Rheatheylia
Free pattern found HERE and Ravelry pics HERE

It will go into the Chemo Cap stash where they collect until I think there are enough for a reasonable sized donation. By the way, if you crochet, this is a fun and easy pattern. I enjoyed making it and will likely make a few more some time.

But, back to the topic: Prayer Shawls. So, where does one begin to look for a new pattern? Ravelry of course! A quick search for worsted weight, free, crochet, and shawl turned up this:

I realize it doesn't look like much laid out flat; however, it is a clever design (pattern). It is short so that it can easily be worn in bed or a wheel chair, has a pretty decorative edge, and because of its shape will sit on the shoulders with little sliding. There is a great pic on Ravelry (here) showing it being worn. I imagine this being a restful pattern to stitch given its elegant simplicity. It should work up quickly once I make a trip to the yarn store. (No, really. I don't have enough yarn in this weight living in the stash to make the shawl!)

So, two afghans and a shawl on the hook it will be.

A Shopping We Will Go...Baa

2009-05-17T19:37:00.004-04:00

Tis the season for Sheep and Wool Festivals. In the last month, I've been to two. The mission this year was to acquire a Golding Spindle... Check

.80 ounces - spins like a dream

Try some Bossies...Check

A matched set of minis in cherry (.46 ounces each) and a midi in rosewood (1.46 ounces?) Yummy!

And see how many different types/blends of spinning fiber I could acquire...Check

Since I haven't been spinning long, I don't know what I like. Only one way to find out, right?

Here's what I bought:

Shetland, Falkland, and a 3.5 oz braid of three colors of Corriedale from Purple Fleece
Merino/Tencel 70/30 in purple from The Fiber Fetish
Kid mohair/Cormo 50/50 from Buckwheat Bridge Angoras
Alpaca/BFL 50/50 from Moon Shadow Designs (sorry, no web site)
Border Leicester from Riverslea Farm
Corriedale from The Sheep Shed
Romney from Foxhill Farm Fibers & Sheep (sorry, no web site)
Merino/Silk 80/20 from Hampden Hills Alpacas
Coopersworth - pin drafted from Turtle Creek Farm (sorry, no web site)

And here's what I already had:

Undyed Blue Faced Leicester from Blarney Yarn
Merino from Snokist Farm Girl (4 oz each of red, purple, and blue) and two more in peacock and Navy from the Fiber Studio
Handpainted Superwash Merino from Zebisis Designs
Colonial that was primarily purple and streaked with other colors from Yarn to Spin
More of the Colonial in number 4 in brown shot through with red, blue, yellow etc. and some Merino in greys from Elegant Ewe

I'm thinking that I am well stocked for a while! This is the entire stash. Some is partially spun and one is almost completely spun (brown merino). Now to find a good place to store it all...

It's all His Fault (THANKS!)

2009-04-23T15:23:00.003-04:00

At 8am my phone rang and I was greeted with the question, "So, what are your plans for this morning?"

Hmmmm, I thought, he needs or wants something...

Turned out I was right. His lunch was sitting on the dining room table about 1/2 mile from my house. Since we live so close I have keys to their house and they have keys to mine. Getting the picture?

You guessed it. Off I went to run some errands, stop by the house, and then drive about 25 mins., through road construction, to my friend's work. He was very happy to avoid buying take out.

Now, I could have gone home at this point. But, I am on vacation. That's no fun. Being half way to a yarn store I rarely visit was enough incentive to keep on trucking north. After all, I need a niddy noddy. I've spun enough to be tired of using my forearm or the back of a chair. That's a good enough reason, right? (Say right!)

The trip was a definite success. See?

I've never seen this type of niddy noddy before. It makes a two foot skein and look...
It comes apart into two flat pieces! Perfect for traveling with a spindle. So clever.

Um, while I was there, I may have found some more top like the purple Colonial I showed you on Tuesday.

The one on the left is more of the Colonial top and the one on the right is Merino. Both are four ounces of loveliness. The price on all three was just too good to resist. The top was actually less than what I paid for the first 4oz on-line!

So, to my early morning caller... It is all your fault, thanks!

False Faroese Fantastic!

2009-04-22T11:25:00.003-04:00

If you guessed that the Kauni was a shawl, you were right! The Mock Faroese Shawl by Lily Chin to be exact. Come to think of it this is the same pattern on which I used Noro for the first time. Must be good luck!

Here the shawl is blocking with the Wool Inspector looking on. She actually had to be convinced to leave this one alone as the crinkle of the plastic under the towels got her all excited. Thank goodness for pins holding it all down! It received her seal of approval. After drying...LOVE!

There is always that moment when you first put on something you have made and pray that it will be as wonderful as you imagined. Larger than the first, beautiful drape, the right colors to make you look good. Sigh. No disappointments here!
It is hard to see, but the first section is a deep purple, followed by a black and then a light gray. As the colors progressed the black and purple became lighter/more vibrant and the gray deepened. Here I thought there were just three colors when I picked it out!
Now, back to the baby blanket (and of course some more spinning). =-)

Kauni Konvert (and spinning)

2009-04-21T19:48:00.002-04:00

See? Even though I have been bitten hard by the spinning bug, I still crochet.This is fresh from a soak and ready for blocking. You'll get to see it tomorrow if the rain stops so that I can take some pics. This Kauni is the ET colorway of blacks, greys, and purples. I just love it. When I purchased it two weeks ago it was set aside. Motivation to finish the baby blanket. Is the blankie done? NOPE. What changed? I need to do the border on the blanket and that just didn't fit with my weekend away. However, a full skein of Kauni, I figured, would be enough to keep me busy. Um, well, I finished this item on Sunday evening and had to switch off to spinning (poor me - LOL).

Speaking of spinning... My spindle collection has grown to five. The two newest are perched atop that lovely superwash merino roving. I bought one spindle from Zebisis and received two! WOOT! The one on the left is Dichroic/Murano Style Glass (the bonus) and the one on the right is Empire Jasper. I haunted her Etsy shop for a good week before clicking "buy" on that beauty. I have an affection for stone, and just could not resist any longer! The Jasper is now busy spinning up that merino.The glass one was pressed into service almost immediately to ply the two cops of lace weight from my True Creations spindle. Since I don't have a lazy kate and did not have a good experience with plying from center pull balls, I tried this:

The two toilet paper rolls were threaded onto the handle of my broom and resistance was provided by laying it on the slick wooden surface of my coffee table. It worked pretty well! I didn't have to stop and untwist the singles and when pausing just snugged up the singles and set down the spindle. By the next time I do this I'll have put together some type of Kate.

And here's where the spindle went next. This is Colonial top that I got on sale from Yarn to Spin. I was curious to see what the striping of the colors would do when spun, and also hadn't tried this fiber before. Two very good reasons to give it a go! Well, the fact that it is purple, blue and red didn't hurt either. The fiber is actually much darker and quite vibrant. Once I got the hang of the less slippery Colonial, it has been a dream to work.

Any ideas what the finished Colonial would be good for making?

Color Play

2009-04-08T17:09:00.002-04:00

The advantage of purchasing three different colors of merino at once is being able to play around with confidence! I'd wondering what would happen if I just lay two colors on top of each other and let the spindle pull the wool pell mell into the yarn. Then, I read about doing just that in Spinning the Old Way, so of course I had to try it.I used bright blue with purple and this is what I got. It is not quite this muted in real life, and I think I like the effect. I'll have to set and then crochet this sample to see how it plays in the stitches before I decide if I want to make some more.

Of course once I tried that I wanted to see what it would look like if I alternated sections of two colors. This sample is the same blue worked with scarlet as the second color. I like the effect. It is also my first Navajo ply! I had seen this done on a wheel two years ago so just dove in and figured it would turn out alright, and it did. =-)

I'm reserving judgement on the Navajo ply until I see how it looks after its bath. Why? The down side to this technique is that if a section is a bit thicker, it gets MUCH thicker when plied together with itself than the surrounding yarn. Still, I like the color section, so I'm sure I'll be doing more spinning this way.

Anyone wondering about the baby blanket whose center is due to be completed today? *Cough* I'm a bit behind *cough*. I have firmly set aside the spindle for the evening until two repeats are done (more if I can manage it). I'm finding it hard to balance these two hobbies.

I'm sure it will become easier as time goes on... right?

Falling Behind and Leaping Ahead

2009-04-05T09:26:00.005-04:00

I have to play catch up on the baby blanket today as I am now two days behind. At one point I was ahead, but then this happened:

Well, to be honest "happened" isn't the right term. This was quite intentional. I wanted some peaceful sleep. Don't laugh! I have been jonesing to make lace weight yarn, work faster than the Spindolyn, and not be stuck sitting down. I was dreaming about spinning...constantly.

So, I gave in and went shopping yesterday. As luck would have it the little beauty above was just waiting for me. It was the only lightweight spindle in the shop. This bubinga topped lovely was made by True Creations and weighs just 4/10 of an ounce. It took a little practice while standing in the shop to get a feel for making a fine yarn, but it just suddenly clicked. I wound off my sample and plied it back on itself. See?

I knew yarn this fine on a drop spindle was possible; I just didn't think I would be able to make it. Ha! I'm learning not to underestimate what can be done with a bit of reading, the right tools, and a strong desire to reach that goal. (Of course, beautiful fiber doesn't hurt. I may have purchased some of that, too. But that is another post.)

As for sleep? I slept very peacefully last night, thank you! ;-)

Scheduling

2009-04-01T22:38:00.004-04:00

I think it is time I do some scheduling...including blogging more regularly!

Why did this come up? Well, I have been doing some deadline crocheting lately and not enjoying the pressure I put on myself. Crochet is supposed to be fun! That's when I realized that part of the fun is seeing the progress.

I considered doing the schedule a few ways:
1) A set amount of time to work each day.
2) A set number of inches.
3) A set number of repeats/rows.

As I thought about it I realized that #3 was my best bet. Why? Well, since I know how many rows it will take to finish the body of the pattern, I can predict on a calendar when it will be done. Very motivating!

So, this project now has a daily deadline of one pattern repeat (4 rows).

As of this evening I have completed row 52 and should be done with the body no later than Monday the 6th. The pattern is the Nostalgic Wrap by Kay Meadors, a baby blankie for one of my favorite co-workers. Her baby boy is due in June. The Bernat Baby Softee has a really soft texture which I just love.

How's your latest project coming?

Makin' Yarn and Stuff...

2009-03-09T19:07:00.003-04:00

I've been bitten by the bug! As my sister put it, I've got the spins!

About a month ago, I saw one of these at the LYS in the hands of another customer. Hmmmm, I thought. That has potential. Well, it was not long before I'd ordered my own and here she is loaded with a single that I've plied back on itself.Look how consistent I'm getting. This is only my third spindleful. It is so exciting each time I wind off to see what it will look like. (I promise pics of the first, second, and this third skein soon!)What else have I been up to? Well, there is this:and this

for my ISE 7 Pal. And then there are these

February Square

March Square

These are the second and third blocks for the Year in a Blanket! I think the center of the March Block may have to be reduced to make it look more in proportion, but I won't decide until I see the rest of the blocks...

So far so pretty!

Oh, I haven't forgotten the contest. Thank you to everyone who shared a story. I loved reading them all, and hope you did as well.

I put all the names in a hat and pulled a name...

PIGBOOK1

Hey Britt, get in touch... There's a skein of yarn with your name on it!

CONTEST - Feeling the Love

2009-02-14T07:30:00.005-05:00

First and foremost to all my wonderful readers

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

CONTEST:

What are your favorite Valentine's Day memories? Share a story and share some love. =-) Leave your story in the comments and I will randomly select one winner of yarny goodness!

My favorite memories of Valentine's Day don't involve traditional sweethearts.

For example, early in my high school years I didn't yet have a steady boyfriend. For me that year Valentine's day was going to be a bust, or so I thought. I came home from school on that afternoon and headed for my bedroom. As I climbed the stairs I realized there was something in the doorway to my room. I couldn't quite see what it was until I reached the landing. There in front of my door was a Cabbage Patch Doll and a card...from my father. He wanted me to know I was loved. I was so surprised and touched. Even now it makes me smile.

Then there was the Valentine's years later when I was working in an office. I returned to my desk to a surprise. Standing in the middle of my desk was a little printed card leaning on a two inch tall stuffed cat with a silver bow around its neck. The card thanked me for being such a good friend. That was about fifteen years ago. Are we still friends? You bet!

So, what moments will you always remember when Valentine's Day rolls around? Do tell!

Who Could Resist?

2009-02-08T09:10:00.008-05:00

Turns out, resistance was futile! I went to the Superbowl Sale last weekend at my local yarn store. Twenty-Five percent off yarn? Well, I needed some more white Cascade 220 Superwash for the Year-in-a-Blanket. Therefore, I needed to go, right? Support me on this. Everyone say it together: RIGHT.

I was doing really, really well. Browsing patterns, chatting, fondling yarn, and only the two skeins I came for in my basket. (You can see what is coming...)

Manos. Silk blend. Purples with a hint of pink and blue. Exactly the yarn to make this pattern which has been haunting me since I first saw it on the cover of Interweave Crochet:

I even had some silk blend at home in a deep deep purple that matches it to make a great border! It had to be done. Right? When was I going to get a deal like this again?

What can I say, resistance was futile... And I'm thrilled! =-)

In other news...
Remember that plan I made for 4 WIPs? Hmmmm, nice plan, but plans are mailable.

1) Lacy & Lovely Crocheted Scarf: almost done. Just needs fringe.

2) Hexagon Baby Sweater: now an UFO. The yarn is too scratchy, and I'm not thrilled enough with the look to give it away as a gift. It will be repurposed... Besides the first baby is a girl.

2a) New plan? Make this! But leave off the hood. Here's the progress.
3) A baby blanket made from Chris Simon's Star Overlay Squares: Changed my mind. I'm making another sweater. Pattern is in the car because I hope to get the yarn today. Details to follow.

4) Sweet Lorraine Lace Scarf: had grown to over 5 feet long! I love this pattern! =-)

5) The Wild Waves Scarf has seen some action as well. Since it is small, it has become my purse project. People's eyes always pop when I pull it out. This yarn is by the lovely Heather of Sereknity (Wild Side) and it gets raves each time! The colors are much brighter and more intense than in the picture...

Note: Her lovely yarn can also be found at the Loopy Ewe!

I guess that's it for the update. Progress is good!

Buried in WIPs

2009-01-28T17:29:00.006-05:00

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

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

2009-01-28T13:59:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-01-26T18:16:00.001-05:00

Or better yet, whatzitgoingtobe? Any ideas?

More soon...

Traveling Fun

2009-01-24T08:27:00.004-05:00

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

2009-01-20T15:56:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-19T10:12:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-18T07:40:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-07T11:27:00.006-05:00

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

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

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. =-)

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.

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.

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

Join the naming fun!

What colors and name would you give your bat?

Challenged

2009-01-05T18:21:00.003-05:00

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?

2009-01-03T11:15:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-01T12:05:00.003-05:00

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!

Accounting

2008-12-31T16:09:00.002-05:00

With this being the last day of 2008, I got curious. What has my year of crochet looked like? Between the blog and Ravelry I was able to take an accounting. The total is startling!

31 Infant Caps
12 Shawls
11 Dish cloths/scrubbies
10 Scarves and 6 scarf sections
7 Hats
5 Cat Toys (approximately)
1 Pair of Mitts
1 Very Small Stuffed Animal
1 Baby Blanket
1 Ipod Cozy
Some Snuggles (no idea how many...)

If you don't count the snuggles or scarf sections that is 80 items or 6+ projects on average a month. WOW! I had no idea. Kinda cool to discover I've had a prolific year.

Ericka Jo got me thinking about how I wanted to start the new one. She suggested that we should start a new project at midnight to bring in the new year. I like the idea. With all the snow and ice we've had, I have been wishing I actually made the mittens for which I purchased wool this summer. So, at midnight I will begin. Perhaps having them as WIP instead of just skeins of yarn will get me moving!

HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Santa's TSG Swap Elf

2008-12-29T17:43:00.006-05:00

Santa enlists all kinds of people to act as elves during the holiday season. You just never know who they will be! Well, this year I discovered one of them was my TSG swap partner. See, the return address proves it!I could not picture what might be hiding in this HUGE package. (CD case for scale)Imagine my delight to discover that Santa knows I celebrate Hanukkah and wrapped my package accordingly. And so on the eighth and final day of Hanukkah when all the candles are lit, I received eight yarny candles ablaze on the back of a tremendous shawl!According to the note it took an entire month to design and create. The work is so detailed! She even made the candle flames a bright yellow in contrast to the golden menorah. I am overwhelmed by her generosity.

Thank you so much to my personal elf!

Keeping Warm

2008-12-28T06:21:00.006-05:00

So, Friday at "knit night" I was sitting next to Mary who was making a beautiful set of hand warmers she had designed. I think that might be the reason I got so excited when I saw these beauties. This free pattern works up quickly and has great stretch! Just enough to keep my hands warm and in crochet trim!

Note: used H hook instead of G

Why is this so important, you might ask? The holidays are mostly over. Well, there will be a new baby in the family come February. Plenty of time to make a warm blankie you say? Ha! I got an invitation to the baby shower and it is much sooner than expected. MUCH sooner.

As a result, I've been crocheting like mad because I know better than to wait until the last minute. Progress has been good. (Sorry, no pics yet...) The center section probably needs 4 to 6 more rows. That's the easy part.

The hard part? The border is twelve rounds! Yes, you read that correctly. I spent part of last night mapping out the numbers to see if I had the right count to make the border work.Not surprisingly I don't. That's what happens when one changes the gauge. I'll either have 8 stitches left over or need to add in 6 more. Luckily, I think this will be fairly easy to adjust. Now, I just have to figure out how many stitches to place on the sides for the first round to make their numbers work... back to the math!

Little Things...

2008-12-26T10:50:00.004-05:00

Thirty little caps all in a pile...

Thirty little caps laid out in style...

Mission Accomplished... Thirty caps in twenty-two days! If the post office is open this morning, they'll be on their way, too. =-)

Three little treats to make us smile...These were for a Holiday BBQ. An annual tradition for which the BBQ is fired up and the men folk do stand outside in the weather to cook. YUM!

Making little squares is not a trial...

These cheery flowers are additions to two Traveling Scarves that came my way recently. It is so much fun to play around with motifs and stitch patterns finding just the right thing to add! I think I had spring on the brain when I made these. (Trying perhaps to counteract all that snow? LOL)

Now, there's just one more BIG thing to say...

WISHING YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Messing Around

2008-12-17T06:50:00.004-05:00

The messy season has arrived with a bang this year. First an ice storm that knocked out hundreds of thousands of people's power (many of whom are still waiting to be restored) and then this morning I woke to this!

Yeah, and there is more coming later in the week. Is it any wonder they decided that my school district will not reopen until January 5th? I've been off since last Friday and thought I'd be going back at some point. That was until I talked to one of the teachers living in the district and found out what a mess the area is in. Not only are there still downed lines and tree limbs everywhere, there has also been a flooding problem. Man do I feel lucky to live where I do. The impact in my immediate area was minimal!

So, it is an extended vacation for us. Here's hoping they have a good plan for making up 8 days of missed school! If they do not extend the semester, I'll never get through the remaining material without being VERY creative. I can do it, but it will take a lot of planning and reconfiguring!

Hope everyone is safe and warm. Here's hoping that if you are still waiting for power to be restored that it comes today!

Successful Seconds!

2008-12-15T16:58:00.002-05:00

So, I decided to try the same pattern again and, voila, success!This one is Lion Brand Wool-Ease using a J hook which is two hook sizes larger than the one I used on the first go round. Then, since it is for a little girl, I had to add the pom-pom. I'm contemplating making another hat for variety...

More Pics:

It will be cute if the edge needs to be turned up!
The hat is so stretchy that I can actually try this one on. =-)
As disappointed as I was the first time, I'm that happy with the final version.
The Adventures never end.

How to Enjoy the Winter

2008-12-13T07:04:00.004-05:00

Saw this on Ravelry, and could not resist sharing. Such a hoot!

In other news...

No new baby caps, but I made a Driftwood Cap last Saturday which is now dry. It was supposed to block bigger as a gift for the 6 year old I picked off the giving tree. It DID NOT GROW (swatches lie, swatches lie, swatches lie). It only measures 16 inches around and 7 inches tall.

Sigh. I'll have to look into the stash and make the next out of acrylic instead of washable wool as I'm now all out of girl colors (only dark red and green left).

So here's the question: Do I put it in the package anyway and hope she is a small six-year-old? Or do I donate it to one of the keep folks warm type drives that abound at this time of year, so someone will enjoy it? Help!

Progress

2008-12-10T17:49:00.005-05:00

A little bit of this...

A little bit of that...

And plans (well, more plans)!

This one is for soon...

and this one for the future.

just too cute!

Saturday Fun

2008-12-07T14:58:00.002-05:00

Our city is active in promoting the downtown businesses. This past weekend was a "downtown hometown" weekend where over 40 businesses offered 30% off a single item/service! How could I possibly resist visiting the LYS since it was participating? I'd have to be crazy not to go.

Well, it turns out I should have read my newsletter a little more closely. The LYS was also having their Grand Reopening sale. So, not only did I get 30% off one of these balls of Cascade 220, but I pulled a "25% off entire purchase" ticket from the bucket! Yipee! I think there is enough here to do the squares for my Year-in-a-Blanket squares (Ravelry group). And, yes, I succumbed to a pattern as well. The little hats have the cutest flowers on them. It is the flower patterns I really want. Those flowers have a lot of possiblities...

After the LYS, I walked down to my favorite gift store and bought myself a gift. I've wanted one of these Lampe Bergers since I first saw them several years ago. They are not inexpensive, but with 30% off it was right in my price range. It is simple, pretty, and smells oh so good. They were developed by a pharmeceutical chemist who was looking for a way to clean the air. I don't know if it cleans, but I do enjoy the light scent. =-) Info here and here.

Lastly, a hat update! The count as of this morning was 6 days and 11 hats!

Hat the Sixth Hat the Seventh Hats the 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th

With Thanks to the Rents for This One!

2008-12-06T06:44:00.002-05:00

The Mom Song from Northland Video on Vimeo.

Just had to share!

Spoiled!

2008-12-04T16:19:00.004-05:00

I'm participating in a swap on Ravelry and have I been spoiled! These beautiful crochet pieces arrived first, then today I got a ticket from the mail man for a package. I figured it was yarn. Boy was I wrong! A full set of the new bamboo handled crochet hooks by Susan Bates. Not one or two like I thought I might get, but the entire set! Woot! Lucky me. =-)

Thank you spoiler whoever you are!

On the hat front we have these:

Hat the Fourth and Hat the Fifth

Made using this pattern

Modifications:

Used H hook. Changed round 3: Ch3, dc, 2dc, (dc, dc, 2dc) around (40 st). Worked through round 8 even. Shell edging. On the second one I added another round of working even so the end could be folded up into a cuff.

Day Two

2008-12-03T17:14:00.002-05:00

Hat the Second

This is the Knit One Save One Worsted hat again, but I changed the cuff to give it more stretch:

Round 10: dc around

Round 11: alternate dc with fpdc

Round 12: Use round 14 of original pattern

Hat the Third

(my favorite so far)

pattern here

This one takes much longer to make as it is worked flat to a length of 10 inches before sewing up. I love the look, but since my goal is 30 hats, I think I'll go for quick! More tomorrow. =-)

Gotta Goal

2008-12-02T18:41:00.004-05:00

GOAL: 30 caps in 30 days December 2 through December 31 for Knit One Save One

Cap the First

Made to pattern with worsted weight and an H hook.

WISH ME LUCK

(And make a few if the mood strikes...)

Thanksgiving Play

2008-11-28T13:02:00.002-05:00

Did you know crochet is a spectator sport? Apparently my kitty thinks it is! LOL She snuck up very quietly between the sofa and chair to watch...The Country Shawl is growing nicely! Almost at the end of the second skein it is now 18.75 inches deep. =-) A cute alternative to a pom pom. I love pom poms, but I don't like how I can pull out the piles no matter how tightly I tie them. Also, I am terrible at shaping them by hand so chaining is a great alternative!

Hope you had fun with family, friends, fiber, and hook/needles/spinning yesterday! I certainly did.

Celebrate!

2008-11-27T12:02:00.003-05:00

With family and friends may you be blessed

Good wishes to all for happiness!

Feeling Country

2008-11-20T15:39:00.004-05:00

I don't think I can often claim to be feeling country, but in this case it is true! I've been smitten by the Country Cotton Shawl. Now, truth be told, I've seen this shawl on a number of occasions and simply didn't feel any pull to make one. How did that change? I blame Elisa. She and I have similar taste in many things. Not the least of which is shawls. I'm fortunate that she can see the potential in a project where I sometimes miss it. Such was the case with this shawl.

Instead of cotton, Elisa made this with sock yarn. Trekking sock yarn in shades of red. Then she had the audacity to tell me how wonderful it was! Even sent me a special e-mail singing its praises. Yup, I was sunk, and grateful. See?

I wish the picture was clearer, but there will be better soon. I fell in love with this colorway of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool on a trip to Vermont. Could not walk away. In real life it cannot decide if it wants to be blue or purpley blue. Just love it. The silky wool has a body that reminds me of cotton a bit and is behaving beautifully with the pattern. Can you tell I like it? Here's another hint. That picture is what I've accomplished since staring this last night! Pardon me, I must get back to crocheting... =-)

Do Over...Done!

2008-11-12T19:16:00.002-05:00

Squea! I love, love, love this scarf! A little lacy, a little texture, a whole lot of length...What's not to love? Specs:

Pattern: Acacia (Ravelry Link)

Yarn - Knit Picks Gloss in Fingering Weight, Color Cosmos

1.5 skeins, approximately 330 yards

74 inches long x 4.5 inches wide

I changed the pattern a little by doing a hdc foundation row and adding stitches until I liked the length. I haven't had a scarf I could really wrap up in for ages! Happiness is...

It Followed Me Home...Really!

2008-11-06T15:17:00.004-05:00

It was a dark and mild Halloween night, when suddenly my plans went awry. Partying in a LYS is just too good to pass up. Would you? I figured I would eat, drink, be merry, and crochet the night away. Horror movies and outstanding company, what could be better? I'm saving my yarn budget for a little get away this weekend, but who could resist a yarn named Purple People Eater on Halloween? Especially, when the LYS decides to celebrate the holiday with a discount?

Heather of Sereknity (Etsy Shop) has done it again with a bright purple (sorry the picture doesn't do it justice) with little touches of blue. My colors? OH YEAH! This fiber blend is known as Good Harbor which is 70% superwash merino and 30% seacell. It has such a lovely sheen and soft hand. I see another shawl in my future!

Speaking of...

I have started working on the Pampilles shawl (Ravelry Link) with some yarn that followed me home from a different LYS. They are moving and clearing some inventory...yum!

L to R:

1) J-Knits Superwash Me - Light Sock in Louisiana colorway

2) Classic Elite Yarns Alapca Sox in a dark grey (3 skeins)

3) The Great Adirondack Yarn Company Soxie in the Beach House colorway (2 skeins, but not for me!)

This will shortly be "do over v2.0". See the lead edge? That angle that starts in the middle and drops away. Um, not quite right. It should be straight! I'm working from a diagram only as the original pattern is in French. I need to change the edge and see if it comes out a bit straighter. Wish me luck!

Can I have a "do over"?

2008-10-26T08:35:00.002-04:00

This is the Acacia Scarf by Megan Marshall which is a newly added free pattern on Ravelry. For me this pattern was love at first sight. I have been looking for a project to use up two skeins of Cascade 220, and thought this was it. Um, no. The Cascade didn't want to be this scarf, but my Knit Picks Gloss did! Good thing they both have the same yardage! The scarf has a wonderful texture and lovely drape in this yarn. It is also soft on the skin. Seems perfect no? Well, there is just one small problem. Or maybe two. (Are you thinking I'm going adventuring? You would be right!)

I swatched. I did! I wanted the right hook size and drape. I got it. I did, however, neglect one little task. I didn't measure the gauge. It is a scarf. Who needs gauge? Hmmmmm.

The original pattern turns out a 70 inch scarf. Too long for me so I ran some numbers to shorten it. Ha! Want to guess how long my 60 inch-scarf-to-be turned out? Mumble, mumble, 48 inches, mumble, mumble.

I wasn't deterred and decided to see if the shorter length would work. Yeah, not so much. So it is off to the frog pond and I'm going to try something different. Instead of chaining to get the length, I'll do a hdc foundation chain so I'll know exactly how long the scarf will turn out! Hopefully my tension will be consistent with the rest of the scarf...

So, I need a "do over" to get this one right. Fingers are crossed!

Shapely

2008-10-23T16:48:00.003-04:00

Feeling shapely? I am today!

I wanted to do some simple motifs as a sort of "break" from big projects. It is also another part of my stash busting efforts. I want to move along most of my acrylic. Motifs like these allow for even small bits to be used.

So, here's my first attempt. I saw this really cool blanket (pattern) on Ravelry (link) and thought it would be fun. Here's the first triangle...

I really like the look. Making it, however, is not my idea of relaxing and fun. I'm not a huge fan of post stitches and did not realize at first that the entire thing is post stitches! Oops.

So I moved on by pulling out this book.

Let me stop for a moment and tell you of my love for this book. The motifs are clever and attractive. The projects help the reader see the possibilities created by linking motifs together. The instructions are clear and the pictures enticing. I love this book. I recommend it to anyone who wants to break out of the motif "box" and into other shapes!

I was hoping for a cute double crochet triangle without those post stitches. No luck. There was a great one in single crochet, but I'm not that patient. I want quick and gratifying! I did try to make one on my own. Nope. So, I thought, let's try a different shape. Page 96 yielded this beauty:In a mere five rounds (plus a single crochet edge to make joining easier) there sat a beautiful six inches of hexagon. And, bonus, the center looks like a flower. Yup, this one is a keeper!

Look out Caron Simply Soft stash yarn. Your days in the skein are numbered!

Special Delivery

2008-10-21T19:48:00.003-04:00

I've been watching the mail for this package....

In only moments I had it open!What was inside? A dancing sheep...Or two...

And a crochet hook!

Thanks to Jennie the Potter for the custom order! Want one?

She'll make one for you, too!

Hmmm, what should I make first?

Tea or hot chocolate to "christen" the new mug?

P.S. Hey knitters! She makes ones with knitting needles, too...

Who's Got Spirit?

2008-10-12T10:14:00.003-04:00

Me! LOL

Do you remember Spirit Week? Did it occur at your school? It does at mine!

Each day next week has a theme. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress up to fit the scheme, and it can become quite entertaining. This year I actually remembered to plan ahead. I have a flower lei for Hawaiian Day, my BoSox cap for NE Sports Team Day, and a Tie Dyed bandanna to wear on Tie Dye day (yup, I keep it low key). But, I didn't really have a good combination of clothing for Red, White, and Blue day where everyone wears the school colors to show support for the sports teams.

Remember that pink scarf? Well, the scarf strikes again! This one is meant to be a bit silly and fun. It reminds me of something a cheer leader might wear. (Although, my sister says it looks more like an Olympian's ribbon - the ones that hold the medals.)
Three quick swipes of back loop single crochet with a flower off the end of two of the passes and voila! I got the idea for the flowers from the shawl on the front of IC this month. =-)
I have heard that after Spirit Week, the red, white, and blue Friday is going to continue. So, this will get a lot of use. This is the first project that I have purposely "killed" by steaming with a very hot iron which is hovered over the acrylic. It is really amazing how much softer/more flexible it becomes. Now, I won't squeak every time I move! LOL

Enjoy your long weekend if you have one!

Dry!

2008-10-06T17:48:00.003-04:00

Thanks for all your well wishes. They worked!

Quick pics before running off to work this morning!

I love how soft this turned out. The yarn is quite springy so the motifs are a bit more elongated than I expected (but still pretty). If I were not in such a rush to get this done I might have swatched and gone down a hook size.

It was fun wearing it around school today. More than one person stopped me to get a better look. =-)

Fingers Crossed

2008-10-05T19:29:00.002-04:00

Twelve hours and counting until I need this to be dry and ready to wear. That fan will be running all night. I'm not taking any chances! Fingers crossed that I have not miscalculated on how long this light worsted will take to dry... Oh, and if you ever need someone to booby trap your kitchen, I'm your girl*. LOL

*Fan cord runs from counter across to the table while the ironing board extending the blocking space cuts you off from the other direction!

In the Pink

2008-10-05T07:17:00.004-04:00

When this arrived in my mail box I was immediately taken with Doris Chan's design for the Sweet Lorraine Lace Throw. I want it as a scarf. Badly.

Of course that means stash diving to find just the right yarn. While several presented themselves for consideration I suddenly realized the scarf had to be pink. Breast Cancer pink. Why? Well, one of the clubs at my school is doing a week of awareness and fund raising so they have asked everyone to wear pink. Pink every day. Do you know what color is not currently in my wardrobe? Yup. You guessed it. I don't feel like wearing a little piece of pink ribbon is enough for me. I want a bigger statement. I'll have one by Monday...

Excellent progress! I started Friday night and completed the second ball by the time I had polished off my cup of chai on Saturday.
There is nothing quite like traveling with your project and taking some quiet moments to crochet in public. Surpisingly not one person noticed the woman sitting in the window crocheting the bright pink scarf! I think maybe they were too focused on the door to the shop where yummy drinks, hand made chocolates, and Gelato can be found.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Off to attach the third and final ball of yarn to the scarf. Must block it tonight!

Yarn Picture!

2008-09-30T17:27:00.005-04:00

I bet you can see why I love this yarn. So many colors! Actually this picture is still a bit washed out as the main color is a deep blue toned pink. I swear when I went to check out the yarn outlet last weekend I was planning to leave with nothing but a pattern or two. Ha!

I was almost out the door when I noticed the little basket in the corner with about a dozen random skeins of sock yarn. When I saw this beauty with its accent colors in shades of pink, blue, purple, gold, orange, yellow and a touch of green I was done for. I am so curious to see how it handles the larger stitches of crochet (as compared to knit)!

And just for fun...
Gratuitous cat picture I ran across while uploading. Peneenah doing one of her jungle cat imitations. She loves to hang out under the branches of my big living room plant. Day or night there is a good chance that during the summer, she'll be laying in the shade!

Randoms

2008-09-29T19:52:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling guilty for not updating more frequently so thought I'd give "randoms" a try!

The Noro shawl is done, but pictures aren't ready yet. Not for lack of trying on my part. First it was the rain and now it is that none of the pictures did it justice. I think I need to enlist some help to get good pics of this one!
With the cooler weather this cabled hat (Ravelry link) has started knocking on my to do list. I have the right weight of alpaca in blue and also in green. Looking at the completed projects, I think I will use ribbing for the cuff of the hat rather than continuing the pattern.
Last weekend I finally made it to one of the semi-local yarn outlet shops I have been meaning to visit for more than a year. Sorry, no decent photos yet of these. I fell in love with a sock yarn that is merino, bamboo, and nylon which is destined to be a shawl. It has a lovely soft hand. It will be way down on the stitch list, but that is no hardship. I can admire (and pet) the yarn in the mean time! Also, I picked up a pattern book with some nice basic baby sweaters that should come in handy down the road.
My father's scarf continues to grow in little bits. The deadline is looming, so I have to get going!

I think that will do it for now. Pictures soon, I promise!

Desire

2008-09-20T10:12:00.006-04:00

I've been on a shawl making kick for a while now. Lacey, thin, thick, big, small, long... love them all. But, the mojo is changing direction. I've been fighting it off since I have projects I need to finish. I have stash yarn I want to use up before buying more. I fear, however, that the time is rapidly approaching when I say "to heck with it" and begin anew.

What's tugging at my brain? Baby blankets!

First there was this beauty for which I actually found some nice naturally colored cotton. This Tiramisu Baby Blanket is a free pattern generously offered by Alicia Paulson.

I just love how sophisticated this natural yarn and brown ribbon look together! I'm not usually one to put ribbons on baby blankets, but for this one I'll make an exception.

I've resisted the Tiramisu for so long that my heart now longs to make this one first:

This one is called Exquisite and comes from the genius that is Terry Kimbrough! I've made one of her blankets before and loved it (as did the mom who received it). The pineapples are such a classic crochet motif and the center, while lacey, is still solid enough to provide warmth. I had to have the pattern for this. So, two false starts with Amazon followed by a winning bid on E-Bay and the pattern is now patiently waiting for some attention.

If the mojo does not fade out after making Exquisite and Tiramisu, I also want to make this one:

I love the edging on this one! So feminine and soft. Another winner from Terry found in this pattern book.

The last one that is calling to me is by Carole Rutter Tippett. The Spiderweb seen here on the cover of Snuggle-Up Baby Afghans.

This is another classic crochet motif/pattern. It has grown on me over time, and now I feel the need to play with it. Besides the look, one of the things I really like about this design is that it can easily be adjusted to make a smaller receiving size blanket.

Here's hoping that by getting these out of my brain and sharing them that I will have enough patience to finish what must be done first! Hope you enjoyed the baby blanket fest. =-)

By the Numbers

2008-09-19T05:52:00.002-04:00

Not much crochet has been accomplished lately, but there is a project whose completion is becoming absolutely necessary with the turn of the weather: my father's scarf. I've just got to get moving on it! So, yesterday I decided to carry it with me everywhere and see if I could add a bit here and there...

Row 1 - Drive through! The line was long enough that I completed an entire row while waiting for my bagel and tea. Yummmmmmmy.

Row 2, 3, 4 - Slow computer. Working in a school as I do, turning on a computer is an exercise in patience. The network just takes forever to acknowledge and sign. So 2 and a half rows later I was finally able to put in my class attendance. The last half row was finished just as the bell for the students to come to class sounded off.

Rows 5, 6 - Puppy time. All I can say is timing is everything. I arrived at my friends' house just as one of them was taking their 6 month old puppy out to "do his business". This of course meant that I could not go inside because the puppy would try to follow me instead. So, there I stood where he could see me crochet bag in hand. He took so long that I actually finished two rows. Good doggie.

So, it was not much. A little here and a little there, but it is 6 more rows than were complete the day before! I'll call that a success. =-)

Experimenting

2008-09-13T07:09:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Sorry to have been a bit absent these last weeks. School started. It seems to take about two weeks to get the mojo going again. I expend so much energy with the students getting them motivated and revved up for the new year, that I am exhausted when I get home. Unfortunately, this means I don't trust myself to work on the crochet without messing it up! LOL

I'm out the other side now and have picked the hook back up. I'll likely have a FO by the end of the weekend. Yipee! But, in the mean time I thought I'd share an experiment. Namely this one:

The idea of a two color spiral has fascinated me since the first time I saw it in an magazine. So, I finally decided to play around with it. The concept, once grasped, is fairly simple and it works up almost as quickly as single color work. The only problem? This:

Unless you are looking at the hat from the very crown, it simple looks like a striped hat! No real bang for my buck. If I wanted plain old stripes, I'd have done that. Disappointing. I'm glad to have tried it and it will continue to live in the back of my head waiting for the perfect project!

Since the spiral looked like horizontal stripes I wondered about making vertical ones and got this:

This I think is pretty snazzy. I expect if I start it at the crown it will make a wonderful swirl that resolves into these lovely straight stripes down the even part of the hat. When I have finished a few more of the UFOs, I'll give this one a go.

Playing with technique and pattern can be so much fun! Here's to those Adventures in Crochet! LOL

Beanie Bobble

2008-08-24T13:15:00.002-04:00

Another Sunday, another hat. I weighed the left over yarn from hat #1, and found there was enough for a second hat even though I had used a tiny bit of this skein for another purpose. Well, you know how swatches lie? Well, so does my scale! Here's the hat looking oh so cute, just like the first one. But, below is all the yarn that was left to make the second ear flap. Not looking so good!
A bit of reassessment, digging in the stash, frogging, and rework yielded this:Still cute! I got to play around with a bit of embellishment sooner than I thought. Can't you just see a little person bopping along with the braid bouncing around? Now to pick a new color for the next one...

Noro Newbie

2008-08-19T19:07:00.004-04:00

Sunday I decided to get my yarn back into the bins in which it belongs. This turned out to be problematic. Even though I've been working from the stash whenever possible, it seems I have more than when I started... Perhaps the yarns are mating?

Anyway, this realization that the stash had grown was just the excuse I needed to dig into my first ever project with Noro. I mean I have to use the yarn in the stash right? (Never you mind that it hasn't even been in there long enough to find itself a nice niche. It's stash yarn.)

What is responsible for my leap into Noro after three years of crochet? Three words: Silk Garden Sock. I'd never seen it before, and fell instantly in love with this colorway of purples, blues, and greens. Yum! I snapped up enough to make a shawl and crossed my fingers that the right pattern to show off the colors would appear. Ravelry to the rescue and I'm now crocheting away. Look how nicely it lays out the colors!When I pulled this from my work bag this morning I heard ooos and aaaahs from the ladies nearby. I love it when that happens! They were as fascinated as I am with the way the colors are moving across the shawl. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens as it gets bigger. Of to crochet. See ya!

A Touch of Cute for Sunday Morning

2008-08-17T10:02:00.005-04:00

Tooling around Ravelry looking at FOs has become an addiction. My first line of inquiry is always the activity of my friends. Their projects and the ones they have found never cease to provide entertainment and inspiration. Then I'd randomly search patterns or look at friends of friends. However, recently I discovered the link titled "recently added patterns" on the pattern search page. Oh, boy. Trouble! My queue and favorites lists just keep getting longer.

Well, from all those ideas leapt this precious hat design by CraftyRahRah. (Follow this Ravelry Link for the cutest pictures!) It is the Brrr Baby Beanie she designed for the little toddler of her household. It is offered in both American and UK terms on her blog. I could not resist! Down went the two scarves and two shawls I've been working on and out came a fresh hook. In no time flat there was this! This rather sedate, but still adorable, model is destined for one of the yearly winter hat and scarf drives that pop up everywhere around the holidays. The Moda Dea Washable Wool should be care friendly to whomever gets this precious hat. I know I am going to have to make some more of these and add embellishments like tassels and curly cues.

Sorry, no cute toddler around here to model. You'll just have to use your imagination on this one! Happy Sunday morning everyone. =-)

In the Pink and Silky Goodness

2008-08-13T09:58:00.004-04:00

First up the pink. This is my second go round with the "Prayer for Comfort" shawl from Annie's Attic #877531, Quick-to-Stitch Prayer Shawls. The first one was fudged a little as I was using two skeins from my stash and ran out on my way around the final edging. So, I had to give it another go with a bigger hook for better drape and an extra skein just in case. Turns out two skeins was just right this time!

Caron Simply Soft in Soft Pink

Hook US K/6.5mm

Only do 52 pattern rows before starting the border

29 inches x 67 inches

This shawl is quick, easy, and had the added benefit of my not needing to look at my hands. All stitches except those which end the row are worked into the spaces. I love how the top edge can be folded back to make a bit of collar.

Soon, unless there is someone out there in blogland that knows of a person needing a comfort shawl, this pretty will be headed for the Prayer Shawl Ministry at a nearby church. But, please, if you personally know of someone, give me a shout!

Now for the Silky Goodness. Remember that skein of Claudia Hand Painted I drooled over and subsequently purchased when it went on sale? It has been swatched!

Three and a half repeats plus the 4 inch wide border of Celeste! This is one of those times where I didn't dare proceed without a swatch. Why? I mean it is a shawl and I don't usually swatch shawls. Well, I've never worked with 100% silk before and had little idea how it would behave. I was surprised to find that the swatch did not grow vertically at all. Horizontally it didn't grow much either. Just the amount to smooth out flat! I didn't even need to apply pins to get nice points on the edges! I will of course be a little neater with the picots on the final shawl (I must admit to experimenting a bit).

Overall, though I am very excited to have a little peek at the silky goodness to come! I promise a progress picture soon.

Hmmmm, Not Quite

2008-08-11T12:01:00.003-04:00

So, I've been thinking for a while now that I'd like to try working with mohair. The yarn goddesses delivered. This wonderful yarn is Artyarns Silk Mohair Glitter which I picked up at 50% off! Yummy. (The close up is a better reflection of the color.)
So, thinking that the silk etc. would make the mohair easier to frog I set off on my plan of making an offset fillet crochet wrap. Hmmm. It is easier to frog. It did work. But, the color looks much darker once worked so the wrap looses the ethereal quality I was looking for...

(NOTE: Nothing I did could get this to look as dark as it actually is!)

So, now I am looking at Lily Chin's Knit and Crochet with Beads which has a wrap with the lighter look I want. The local library does not carry the sucker so I may go to the local book store with yarn in hand to give it a go sans beads... Wish me luck!

Crocus Bud Shawl

2008-08-08T16:24:00.003-04:00

BEFORE DURING
AFTER!

It was worth every moment of the month or so it took to complete!

Crocus Bud Shawl by Sharlene Boyce

Sweet Pea Lace 100% Wool colored with Earth friendly dyes by ZYarns aka Zweena Yarns

Started: July 2 and finished August 8, 2008

Approximately 6 feet of lace!

Knit and Crochet Show 2008

2008-07-31T15:23:00.002-04:00

The best thing about attending the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, NH was the people. There is nothing like being surrounded by people who love yarn and all the wonderful stuff that goes with it. You can start a conversation with anyone - an attendee, a teacher, a vendor, a guild member manning the desk - and never know where it will end up! So much creative brain power/skill in one place.

Then of course there are the "celebrity" sightings: authors, publishers, bloggers, and yarn dyers galore. I was luck enough to chat with Jess and Casey of Ravelry fame for the second time (first was at Rhinebeck meet up last year). They are still wonderful! (Hey Caroline! Where's that picture of us with Jess and Casey?) Taking a class from Lily Chin was fun as well. If only I'd had the presence of mind to bring my Couture Crochet to have it signed. Ah, well.

And there were the hand made items sighted all over the place. Dresses, vests, shirts, skirts, wraps, all created in knit or crochet parading around on the bodies of the show goers. Yummy!

I had a real treat in spending some of my time teaching. It was impromptu. The lovely young lady taking tickets at the door to the Yarn Market wanted to relearn how to crochet. She can remember her grandmother teacher her at the age of six, but didn't remember what to do anymore. By Saturday afternoon, she was back at it with yarn and hook in hand. It was a lot of fun to teacher her, so I think we both enjoyed ourselves immensely. Hi D!

Speaking of the Yarn Market, I may have acquired a few new things!

Going clockwise:

From Adironcack Yarns: Four skeins of Alpaca Yumminess!

1) Blue - Baby Alpaca 60%/Pima Cotton 40% in a blue that will look great with jeans! I am intrigued by the idea of these two fibers together. The alpaca lends incredible softness and warmth, while the cotton lends some coolness without adding weight. I'm hoping that this will be a nice "in between" shawl or wrap to use in those warmer months.

2) Gray - I have lately been in search of the perfect grey and here I've found it. These 100% baby alpaca skeins will become an incredibly light and warm scarf for those days when digging out the car is an exercise in weather endurance!

From the Yarn and Fiber Company:

One huge skein of Helen's Laces to make the Arrows Stole! This was the one thing for which I was actively searching. I think the merino in hot pink will be just wonderful with this pattern. NOTE: To see the third lace panel, click on the pattern shop pictures

From Glory-ous Knits and Gifts comes three items all at 50% off:

Two skeins of Cherry Tree Hill and a really interesting shawl pattern (#8225) from Knit One Crochet Too - It requires the use of five different hooks which applies Faroese shaping and a shawl collar.

Lastly, on the yarn front from the Elegant Ewe came the lovely skein of Zephyr - 500 yards of Plum colored Merino and Tussah Silk. Yum. I will finally get my own Ziggy Lace Scarf from this. I've made two (here and here) and given them away. This one will be mine!

Then there are two shawl closures and the Cameo magnet meant for wearing and holding your darning needles.

From the Elegant Ewe - It matches Seraphina perfectly!

From Moonrise (look under knitting supplies)

MOON GODDESS SHAWL PEG Artemis or Diana Moon Goddess w/ Ocean Jasper. Diana was the Goddess of the wild, of the hunt. Jasper was a favorite of the Ancient Greeks, the name comes from the Greek Iaspis, meaning spotted stone. They believed it gave you the courage to speak out, and trust your abilities. Jasper is abundant and found in many varieties. This is Ocean Jasper from Madagascar named for the wavy patterns of grey/green/white and cream with flashes of iridescence, it looks mysterious and wild and each bead is different.

From Copeland Glass

I had a wonderful time and sincerely hope that this get together is in Manchester again next year!

P.S. On the crochet front I finally turned some of the left over Dream in Color from all those shawls into what my sister affectionately calls a Keppe Cover (aka kippah). It's still wet, but I let you know how the fit is once it dries! But, it is looking good so far. =-)

Thank You ISE6

2008-07-17T18:25:00.007-04:00

First, a thank you to my ISE6 pal who tried very hard to get her scarf across the Canadian/US border to me. Unfortunately, I think Customs took a shine to her work and kept it!

So, ISE6 assigned me an Angel since my package never arrived. All I can say is wow did CathyCate spoil me!! Thank you for your amazing generosity and ability to read my mind. =-)

Take a gander:
Now that I've posted I can open the lip balm and Shea Butter hand balm! I love trying new natural products. These are all local to CathyCate so I never could have gotten them here in New England.

Those skeins of Panda Cotton are currently living on my coffee table where I am hoping they will whisper what they want to be. I'm excited to crochet them as I have been wanting to try working with bamboo. These skeins are 59% bamboo, 25% cotton, and 16% elastic nylon in my favorite colors of blue and purple.

Want a closer look at some of it?

Here's the beautiful sun catcher made of copper wrapped around colored glass spheres. One of my weaknesses is glass. I love how light looks through it!Isn't the soap beautiful? It smells amazing as well!I have to admit when I saw the box with "Designs by Romi" on top my heart about stopped. I've been admiring these shawl pins for well over a year. To buy one has been on my long term wish list and now I have one! The shape of the pin is a wonderful match to the pattern in the shawl.

Oh, you want to see the shawl? Here it is modeled by CathyCate's daughter who is the same height as me (how convenient). I tried to take pictures of myself wearing it, but they didn't come out well. So, I borrowed a few pics with permission...Close up. Can you see the faint green stripes?How about now?

Yes, folks. Not only did she knit a full size Forest Canopy Shawl, she over dyed it to match my color preferences! (You can read the details here.) If you could see the finished shawl live, the green is a very subtle and beautiful accent. Think peacock feathers.

Sigh. I could not be happier.

Thank You!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells

2008-07-12T11:29:00.003-04:00

Christmas in July!

The LYS is having a wonderful sale that ends today. Can you believe 30% off all yarn?! What I didn't realize was the sale loft was also included. Yes folks that means 25% off the original price, then another 30% off that!!!

Now, would you believe I just went in to look around? Would you believe I was fully prepared to leave empty handed? Well, I was prepared, but I knew better! Here are the goodies. =-)

From the sale loft came these three skeins of sock yarn that I have been admiring for a while. They are actually a deep green, but nothing I did could make the color come out right. Just trust me when I tell you it is pretty stuff. There is enough here for a good sized project. Don't ask me what. I haven't a clue. I felt very lucky to snag these. There was almost none of this stuff left and the color with the greatest quantity was the one I wanted! (I secretly think it was waiting for me.)

I fell in love with this yarn last time I wandered in, but had no project in mind and didn't think I could wear these muted colors (photo is a bit dark). I looked more closely yesterday and realized there was some purple in there.

See the purple mixed in with the brown and honey tones? Eureka! Purple = good. I headed straight for some sunlight and soon discovered it would work. Yup.
Love, love, love this yarn. So soft to the touch. It is my first ever Claudia Hand Painted and is in the Butter Pecan colorway. Now all I need is a pattern. I am considering Annette Petavy's shawl Celeste Shawl. (Shhhh. I know. I know. I remember Shawl-a-Holics Anonymous. I've admitted there is a problem, but do I have to recover from my addiction?)

How does 100% silk block? If it won't block nicely, then this shawl will not work. Anyone out there know?

So, that's the goodies. Saved $33. Totally worth listening to Christmas Carols in July. Off to pet the silk again and try to banish those darn carols from circling in my head...

Heads Up!

2008-07-11T07:39:00.006-04:00

So, I really liked this pattern when I saw it on Kirsten's blog way back in November. If you don't read her blog yet, you should. She has adorable kids and creates wonderful knitted and crocheted items! This hat was very very quick to work up. In fact I made it in less than an hour before going to work yesterday morning! I want to try it in something softer so I can donate them as Chemo Caps. I'll be sure to buy coordinating yarns so I can add the flower to the next one. This yarn was hanging in the stash and I was curious how it would work. (Don't ask me where it came from - I have no recall of buying it or having it handed to me by someone! LOL)

By the way, like the model?

Status report:
The Crocus Bud shawl has now grown beyond this size to nearly three feet in length! A little each day and it will reach 70 inches in no time. =-)
I also fell down and went boom on the shawl thing again...
More on that next time!

ETA: O.K. my cat loving friends...Look familiar? More here. Thanks to Guido for the intro to this on-line comic!

A Bunny Tale

2008-07-07T19:20:00.011-04:00

As we all know, Ravelry is a dangerous wonderland of inspiration that sucks you in won't let go! It got me this morning with a suggestion. Looking for a beginner project for kids? Why not make Artsy Fartsy Mama's knitted bunny? Knitted? Wait, I crochet! Yup, had to try and create a crocheted version. Not bad...

Lion Brand Pound of Love in White & Turquoise

My fabric was approximately 6.25 inches square

Foundation: ch 31

Row 1: Sc in bump of 2nd chain from hook, sc in each stitch across (3o sc)

Row 2 on: Turn. Ch1, flsc in each stitch across until piece is square

Follow directions on original pattern to sew up.

I'm not quite there with this little guy yet. I think next time I'll use thinner yarn and work out a better way to stitch the back so it will be smooth, but secure.

I didn't make a pom-pom for the tail because I worry about the little pieces of yarn with young children. Tried to make one of loops which is O.K. but not great. If you have a good idea for a kid safe replacement, please leave a comment. =-)

Part of the reason I will be making more? This was the smallest bag of stuffing I could find at my local craft store!

Anyone need a bunny army? LOL

Shawl-a-holics Anonymous

2008-07-04T08:19:00.005-04:00

At knit night last week Caroline and I were discussing what appears to be my recent shawl addiction. I counted it up and since March, I have made SEVEN shawls! Now, only three of them were mine, however, I think I am addicted. The last was made in just three days (Seraphina)!

MARCH: Dream in Color Smooshy in Midnight Derby

My Blue Jeans Shawl (severely stretched)

MARCH: Dream in Color Smooshy Nightwatch
My Blue Jeans Shawl (severely stretched)

APRIL: Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue

Annie's Attic Quick-to-Stitch Pray Shawls "Prayer for Comfort"

MAY: Dream in Color Smooshy in Gothic Rose
My Blue Jeans Shawl (severely stretched)

JUNE: Dream in Color Smooshy in In Vino Veritas
My Blue Jeans Shawl (severely stretched)

JUNE: Dream in Color Smooshy in Some Summer Sky
My Blue Jeans Shawl (severely stretched)
JUNE: Shakespeare color 09

Seraphina Shawl

And of course what was the next item I began stitching?

#205 Crocus Bud Crocheted Shawl (scroll down) in Zweena's Earth Friendly Yarns Lace Weight in color Sweet Pea

I may need help...

Discovery

2008-06-30T06:23:00.003-04:00

New shawls begin where old ones leave off. I've begun the process of reclaiming the yarn from the All Shawl. I am so glad that the generous Ericka was willing to lend me her niddy noddy. I just could not imagine reclaiming almost 900 yards of yarn without the proper tool! This process is akin to ripping off a band-aid. It will hurt, but if you do it quickly it won't be too bad.

So, ripping away! Having never used a niddy noddy before I have made a pleasant discovery. I knew this tool would make an arduous task go more quickly and easily. I had no idea the process would be down right meditative!

Yes, meditative. Rocking from foot to foot while manipulating the niddy noddy back and forth = blank mind. No thoughts, just action. It is quite restful. Right up until the moment my neck muscles remind me I am holding my arms in the air bearing weight at an angle that they are just not accustomed to. LOL

So, reclamation will occur in small spurts of meditative bliss. I may just have to get me one of these!

Impatient

2008-06-29T07:06:00.002-04:00

An impatient crocheter? Who, me? Yup! Couldn't wait to block one of the shawls...I love how the stitch pattern looks like little angels when it is stretched! Other proof of my impatience? I have completed two skeins and am most of the way through the third skein of yarn for Seraphina. I think the Harlot would certainly categorize me as a product stitcher. I want it. And - I want it now! LOL

Doings

2008-06-28T12:00:00.005-04:00

School is over for the year! I am taking a class, however, I get to be the student now. It is a nice change of pace!

Also:

1. Shakespearean Seraphina Beginning, 2. Sereknity Wild Side, 3. Olde Peddler Shawl 3 feet, 4. Shawls Awaiting Blocking, 5. Ziggy Scarf #2, 6. Snuggle Precious in Pink, 7. WWKIP Raffle Winnings, 8. Long All Shawl

#1-3 are WIPS that are getting lots of attention

#4 are staring at me waiting their turn to be pinned to the carpet. Since the number of towels/pins and the amount of floor space I can do without is limited, they'll have to take turns.

#5 has been a long haul. I just couldn't seem to keep the tension even the second time around and had to keep frogging. One long sitting later and all that is left is some weaving in.

#6 if you guessed I need to weave in the ends, you are right! Other than that, this snuggle-which-was-almost-a-baby-blanket is ready to go.

#7 not a project you say? Au Contraire! There be planz to try this pattern again as a scarf instead of shawl (thinner yarn) and working each side until I run out of yarn.

#8 my beloved All Shawl which is simply the wrong shape and length for me so will soon be frogged. Sigh. This one may have to go back into the queue for some tweaking at a future date...

There is more to say about some of these, but you'll have to wait until the next post. Have a wonderful weekend!

Toast

2008-06-22T08:21:00.003-04:00

Here's a toast to learning valuable lessons!

The shawl is dry and beautiful. Finished size is 24 inches at the back and the edging is holding its shape nicely. The color is marvelous. The corner stays on my shoulder when thrown (often a problem for me). It warm and enveloping like I wanted. So what is wrong?

A) It is too short. I now know that 25 inches would not have been long enough for a "full size" shawl for me.

B) The shape is far from flattering. I apparently need more angles. So, if I make another wedge construction shawl, I'll use a smaller gauge and fewer wedges so that the final shape will have clear angles at the bottom.

So, here's a toast to learning experiences. I'm going to reclaim the yarn. Maybe I'll use it for the Blue Curacao shawl and pray that it turns out to like me as much as I like it!

P.S. To all those in my "knitting" group, I promise not to frog it until you've had a chance to see it live and in person...

Fingers Crossed

2008-06-21T14:53:00.005-04:00

This past week the incomparable Doris Chan posted a free pattern on her blog (and on Ravelry). By the end of the day on which I noticed it I'd purchased yarn and begun. Now it is blocking on my living room floor where I can admire it!

So, why are my fingers crossed? Well, I'm hoping that blocking will grow it a bit as I ran out of yarn. I actually left off the final round of edging rather than rip back. So, I'm also hoping that without the weight of the final round the edge will hold a pleasing shape.

Only time will tell...

If the edge looks O.K., but it doesn't naturally grow there will be a second blocking. That one will involve pinning to create the length. Or at least that's my thought. What do you think? I'd appreciate your input. =-)

WWKIP 2008

2008-06-16T17:16:00.005-04:00

Did you have fun on Saturday? We did! And we raised almost $80 for charity to boot!

Anybody Hungry?

2008-06-08T07:20:00.005-04:00

I cannot help but think of food every time someone mentions pineapples even though the crocheted variety isn't edible! The design is pretty; however, I just don't see the pineapple. Scales? Yes. Pineapple? No. It is the wrong shape! It appears I am not the only one to struggle with this. However, having fallen in love with the Blue Curacao Shawl by Doris Chan, I had to try to create a pineapple... This dishcloth design was just the thing! I used a hook one size larger than called for since I was testing to see if I'll be able to make the shawl. It worked beautifully. Now, to scout out the prefect yarn before I purchase the book. (Yes, that's right. All this planning and I do not yet own the book. I'm thinking if I can be patient enough, it might become one of my birthday presents this year.)

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T11:27:00.003-04:00

The cost of freedom can be high.

So, to those who stepped up to fight

and especially to those who paid the ultimate price:

THANK YOU

Know that we remember.