CONTEST - Feeling the Love

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?

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!

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

Buried in WIPs

So, that cleaning I mentioned earlier...

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

TWELVE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is in the on deck circle?

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

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

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

Yarnie Things

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

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

Then there is this:

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

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

Be safe and warm!

WHATZIT?

Or better yet, whatzitgoingtobe? Any ideas?

More soon...

Traveling Fun

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

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



Here's to opportunities to play!

The Blankie

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

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

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

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

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

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