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Inspiration
I am progressing nicely on the Doris Chan cardigan/vest. I am about to start the bottom section. Since the chest congestion is gone I am able to spin with ought coughing. So far I have spun a little more than one ounce of the Freckle Face Fiber in the Tehachapi Three Peach color way. I am using a button top drop spindle from Spindlers Cottage.
This morning someone shared a link from the Crochet Dude. He was directing people to a blog for a fellow crocheter. She undertook a daunting project for 2011 -- to crochet one new granny square each day in 2011. I can't figure out if she managed to hit 365 but her mid year progress was amazing. Here is the link to her blog. Beautiful, amazing and incredible!
view link
Have you ever reached so high in your crocheting goals? I know that I have not.
This morning someone shared a link from the Crochet Dude. He was directing people to a blog for a fellow crocheter. She undertook a daunting project for 2011 -- to crochet one new granny square each day in 2011. I can't figure out if she managed to hit 365 but her mid year progress was amazing. Here is the link to her blog. Beautiful, amazing and incredible!
view link
Have you ever reached so high in your crocheting goals? I know that I have not.
New Outlook
Well with the holidays behind me I am really excited to start something just for me. I have lots in the project queue. I just finished a broomstick lace scarf as a last minute gift. The closest LYS to my home is going out of business and I am going to miss it. Not only did she stock a wide range of fibers from expensive to reasonable but she had been in business so long that you knew if you were looking for something obscure she just might have it.
So far the GOB discount is only 20% so it will take a while for them to actually go out of business. That is unless she has a buyer in the wings waiting to take bulk inventory off her hands.
I found a cotton / poly blend ribbon yarn from Germany in a beautiful pearl gray. I just need to weave in the few ends and wrap.
I am torn what to start next. I think the broomstick cardigan from Doris Chan's book Crochet Lace Innovations. I have some Blue Sky Alpaca / Silk to make it in but I am going to play with the pattern initially in Caron Spa. It is done top down with some increases at the neck line and I would prefer to understand the pattern totally before I use the expensive yarn.
So far the GOB discount is only 20% so it will take a while for them to actually go out of business. That is unless she has a buyer in the wings waiting to take bulk inventory off her hands.
I found a cotton / poly blend ribbon yarn from Germany in a beautiful pearl gray. I just need to weave in the few ends and wrap.
I am torn what to start next. I think the broomstick cardigan from Doris Chan's book Crochet Lace Innovations. I have some Blue Sky Alpaca / Silk to make it in but I am going to play with the pattern initially in Caron Spa. It is done top down with some increases at the neck line and I would prefer to understand the pattern totally before I use the expensive yarn.
Holiday Gifts
I had an exciting adventure on small business Saturday. The group I crochet with on Saturday's went on a discovery adventure. The first surprise is that I got to ride the blue line for a quarter. Wow! We took the train from Long Beach to downtown LA to go to the garment district. We had heard that the big fabric store in the garment district had yarn. Not just big box yarn but good yarn. So off we went. What fun people watching. Early it wasn't too crowded so we just walked and watched. Kelly bought a Spiderman knit cap for her 4 year old nephew. When we go to Michael Levine's we were very surprised. They had some high end yarns. Price wise they weren't discounted but it is another source for yarns especially since the shop closest to me is closing.
We were on a mission to find Katia Triana or Triana Lux. It is a strange 'yarn' that looks like a flat tape yarn but it expands into a honeycomb like tape about 6" to 8" wide. you simply put your knitting needle through the holes on one side of the 'yarn' -- this is called casting on. 8-) Then you take the other needle and begin to knit the remaining fiber. In the end you have a ruffly scarf.
Well they no longer had Katia products but they did have the Red Heart (Sashay) version of the same thing. It is a little different but you can accomplish the same thing. Katia is about $10 to $14 per skein. Trendsetters has a version for $17 a skein (if you can find it). The Red Heart is $5 a skein. If you are interested I would suggest looking at Michaels. I don't think Joann's carries Red Heart. I can do a scarf in an evening. Needless to say the neices are getting ruffly scarfs for Christmas.
After I get the Christmas stuff out of the way, I want to play with the Red Heart product and see what I can do with it crocheting a scarf.
I have just about finished the scarf for the Susan G Komen knit in next weekend. I can't attend but I am sending a scarf to sell. I found some beautiful acrylic baby yarn by Sirdar that I am using. I am going back to Velona's to see if there is any left in any other colors because it works like a dream.
Hope eveything is going well for everyong.
We were on a mission to find Katia Triana or Triana Lux. It is a strange 'yarn' that looks like a flat tape yarn but it expands into a honeycomb like tape about 6" to 8" wide. you simply put your knitting needle through the holes on one side of the 'yarn' -- this is called casting on. 8-) Then you take the other needle and begin to knit the remaining fiber. In the end you have a ruffly scarf.
Well they no longer had Katia products but they did have the Red Heart (Sashay) version of the same thing. It is a little different but you can accomplish the same thing. Katia is about $10 to $14 per skein. Trendsetters has a version for $17 a skein (if you can find it). The Red Heart is $5 a skein. If you are interested I would suggest looking at Michaels. I don't think Joann's carries Red Heart. I can do a scarf in an evening. Needless to say the neices are getting ruffly scarfs for Christmas.
After I get the Christmas stuff out of the way, I want to play with the Red Heart product and see what I can do with it crocheting a scarf.
I have just about finished the scarf for the Susan G Komen knit in next weekend. I can't attend but I am sending a scarf to sell. I found some beautiful acrylic baby yarn by Sirdar that I am using. I am going back to Velona's to see if there is any left in any other colors because it works like a dream.
Hope eveything is going well for everyong.
Happy Thanksgiving
Best wishes for a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are enjoying the day with your family.
Thread crochet
I love thread crochet. Once in a while I go to an estate sale and find beautiful crocheted potholders. A couple of weeks ago I found a few things I'd never seen before. I think they are for washing dishes, but I'm not positive.
One looked like an urn. It was flat, but two layers with an opening at the top of the urn big enough to put most of your hand into. My guess is that you are supposed to put your hand in & wash dishes with it.
The other reminds me of a full long skirt of a doll dress with a loop at the top to hang it by. I think it is intended for washing dishes too, using the full ruffly-looking bottom. It was pretty easy to figure out the pattern for that one and even though it's simple it is so different and interesting I decided to make some to give as Christmas gifts. Here's the pattern:
Size 10 crochet thread in two contrasting colors
Size E hook (Note: The stitches will be very loose.)
Size 0 hook
Dbl-trbl = Yarn over hook three times, then insert hook into space. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through stitch - five loops on the hook.
Loop yarn over hook and draw through two loops, (there are now four loops remaining on the hook),
*yarn over hook and draw through two loops**, repeat * to ** twice more.
This completes one double treble crochet.
Row 1: Using the larger hook chain 6. (counts as starting ring, first dbl-trbl, and ch 1)
Dbl-trbl in first sc, *Ch 1. Dbl-trbl in same sc.** Repeat * to ** 13 more times. Ch 1. Sl st into chain 5 of initial chain. You should have 16 dbl-trbls, including the initial chain.
Row 2: Sl st into space between ch-6 and first dbl-trble. Chain 5. Dbl-trbl into same space. *Ch 1 dbl-trbl in next space. Ch1 and dbl-trbl in same space.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Ch 1. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5 (32 dbl-trbls)
Row 3: Same as row 2. (64 dbl-trbls)
Row 4: Same as row 2. (128 dbl-trbls)
Row 5: Same as row 2. (256 dbl-trbls)
Row 6: Sl st into space between ch-5 and first dbl-trble. Chain 5. *Dbl-trbl in next space and ch1.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5. Fasten off. (256 dbl-trbls)
Row 7: Join contrasting color in any ch 1 space. Chain 5. *Dbl-trbl in next space and ch1.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5. Fasten off. (256 dbl-trbls)
Loop: Using the smaller hook, on right side join contrasting color to first ch and ch 17 or to desired length. Sl st to other side of first ch. Turn and sc over chs - about 20 scs. Sc over both sides of loop once or twice. fasten off. Bring both end of contrasting color to wrong side. I like to work in the ends by threading them into a darning needle and working them under the loops of the row 1 dbl-trbles. If you pull it tight it doesn't show.
Since the pattern is so simple I have been making them while I watch TV. I've finished 4 so far and working on a 5th. If you try it tell me what you think of it.
One looked like an urn. It was flat, but two layers with an opening at the top of the urn big enough to put most of your hand into. My guess is that you are supposed to put your hand in & wash dishes with it.
The other reminds me of a full long skirt of a doll dress with a loop at the top to hang it by. I think it is intended for washing dishes too, using the full ruffly-looking bottom. It was pretty easy to figure out the pattern for that one and even though it's simple it is so different and interesting I decided to make some to give as Christmas gifts. Here's the pattern:
Size 10 crochet thread in two contrasting colors
Size E hook (Note: The stitches will be very loose.)
Size 0 hook
Dbl-trbl = Yarn over hook three times, then insert hook into space. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through stitch - five loops on the hook.
Loop yarn over hook and draw through two loops, (there are now four loops remaining on the hook),
*yarn over hook and draw through two loops**, repeat * to ** twice more.
This completes one double treble crochet.
Row 1: Using the larger hook chain 6. (counts as starting ring, first dbl-trbl, and ch 1)
Dbl-trbl in first sc, *Ch 1. Dbl-trbl in same sc.** Repeat * to ** 13 more times. Ch 1. Sl st into chain 5 of initial chain. You should have 16 dbl-trbls, including the initial chain.
Row 2: Sl st into space between ch-6 and first dbl-trble. Chain 5. Dbl-trbl into same space. *Ch 1 dbl-trbl in next space. Ch1 and dbl-trbl in same space.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Ch 1. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5 (32 dbl-trbls)
Row 3: Same as row 2. (64 dbl-trbls)
Row 4: Same as row 2. (128 dbl-trbls)
Row 5: Same as row 2. (256 dbl-trbls)
Row 6: Sl st into space between ch-5 and first dbl-trble. Chain 5. *Dbl-trbl in next space and ch1.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5. Fasten off. (256 dbl-trbls)
Row 7: Join contrasting color in any ch 1 space. Chain 5. *Dbl-trbl in next space and ch1.** Repeat from * to ** for each space. Sl st into chain 4 of ch 5. Fasten off. (256 dbl-trbls)
Loop: Using the smaller hook, on right side join contrasting color to first ch and ch 17 or to desired length. Sl st to other side of first ch. Turn and sc over chs - about 20 scs. Sc over both sides of loop once or twice. fasten off. Bring both end of contrasting color to wrong side. I like to work in the ends by threading them into a darning needle and working them under the loops of the row 1 dbl-trbles. If you pull it tight it doesn't show.
Since the pattern is so simple I have been making them while I watch TV. I've finished 4 so far and working on a 5th. If you try it tell me what you think of it.
Progress
I am about half way done with the body of the top I am doing. It was the cover project of the Summer issue of Interweave Crochet. I am using Madelinetosh merino light for the project. The body is in Dahlia - a dark wine color - and the yoke is in a very light value called Posy. I must crochet much looser than the designer because I had to go down a hook size and make a smaller size than the pattern said would fit me.
The first skein got me almost 1/2 way up the body of the top so I should be good to go with enough yarn. I am even thinking about making it a little bit longer than the pattern calls for. we shall see when I get closer to the shaping for the yoke.
I will post a pix as soon as I get the camera out of the car. Today it just rained and rained. A nice surprise for so Cal. We don't usually get measurable rain until late November.
The first skein got me almost 1/2 way up the body of the top so I should be good to go with enough yarn. I am even thinking about making it a little bit longer than the pattern calls for. we shall see when I get closer to the shaping for the yoke.
I will post a pix as soon as I get the camera out of the car. Today it just rained and rained. A nice surprise for so Cal. We don't usually get measurable rain until late November.
Tired and In Full Sensory Overload
Well VKL (Vogue Knitting Live) is officially history here in LA. From a vendor perspective it was a mixed bag. I am certain that we did not do great. I am sure we did better than a normal weekend at the shop.
What was great was that I got to see lots of the shops from the area that I have never visited. What was not so great was that the marketplace where our booth was hovered around 60 degrees most of the time.
During the Friday night 'gala' Debra Norville was walking around the floor interviewing people. Surprise is that she is tall. In addition to teaching standard classes Nikki Epstein was holding 'drop in Learn to Knit' sessions that were free. I met Lorna from Lorna's Laces and Kaffe Fassett. There were lots of yummy yarns and lots of inspiration. Not too much crochet but I did see ideas that could be adapted.
One fun note was that Bag Smith had HUGE Tunisian crochet hooks. By huge I mean you would need to use several strands of bulky yarns on them. Couldn't even guess as to a letter size but probably about 1.5" to 2" in diameter and at least 2 feet long.
What was great was that I got to see lots of the shops from the area that I have never visited. What was not so great was that the marketplace where our booth was hovered around 60 degrees most of the time.
During the Friday night 'gala' Debra Norville was walking around the floor interviewing people. Surprise is that she is tall. In addition to teaching standard classes Nikki Epstein was holding 'drop in Learn to Knit' sessions that were free. I met Lorna from Lorna's Laces and Kaffe Fassett. There were lots of yummy yarns and lots of inspiration. Not too much crochet but I did see ideas that could be adapted.
One fun note was that Bag Smith had HUGE Tunisian crochet hooks. By huge I mean you would need to use several strands of bulky yarns on them. Couldn't even guess as to a letter size but probably about 1.5" to 2" in diameter and at least 2 feet long.
Not Crocheting but Finished
I wanted to share pictures of the two finished and blocked War of the Roses Shawls.
Tour de Fleece
Well the Tour de Fleece for 2011 is in the record books. I am not sure how many people total participated; but, I know that I had a wonderful time. I did not get tons of fiber spun but did make great headway on my goals. One of the last things I did spin was a small amount of hand dyed Australian merino that had been a gift. I spun and plyed a beautiful hand of about 120 yards that is between a lace weight and a fingering. The guy that does sound at one of the concerts in the park I attend has been asking questions about my spinning and telling his wife who is a knitter. I gave him the finished yarn at the last concert as a 'pay it forward' gift.
To my delight I had a message on my Ravelry page when I got up on Saturday morning thanking me for the gift. It is such a joy when one of your 'children' sparks rays of sunshine.
To my delight I had a message on my Ravelry page when I got up on Saturday morning thanking me for the gift. It is such a joy when one of your 'children' sparks rays of sunshine.
