Loss

It has come to my attention that the greatest tool I had for my crafting has been retired. The webmistress of www.knittingpatterncentral.com and all her sister sites has retired from posting patterns. I was lucky enough that my hubby knows how to save a webpage for offline viewing that will basically be the entire website until it directs you away from that domain. If you are online though, at that point, it will still take you to the link. I am very sad to see these wonderful tools stop growing. They have been my "go-to" site for about 6 years. This is a great tragedy to crafters everywhere.

Lets all take a moment to grasp the scope of this loss....

Hot off the hook

Just in time for christmas.
Will get links added soon.

Slipper pattern here
Flower pattern here (free registration required)

Cousin JBSB-33030 Jewelry Basics Glass Seed Beads 1.1 Ounce-Pkg-Clear (Google Affiliate Ad)

Quick Update

Got a big project in the works.

Working on a bridal veil for a vow renewal.

Frogging

Un-knitting is no fun at all. :(

Surprise!

So today I noticed in my Blogger Dashboard that this blog has reached 11,000 pageviews! That's about 10,999 more than I thought I'd ever have. ;) Thanks for the support.

Quick Update

So all things craft related have kinda taken a backburner for a while since my aunt passed away.

Been working on a doily out of a pattern booklet of my Mom's. So far its going well. After its done and blocked, it should be about 16" across.

More to come soon.

Help

I am looking for a pattern that I saw years ago. It is either a pillow or a pillow cover, I can't remember. It was done with light blue thread (I think), and was composed of 9 (?) irish rose motifs (?). I saw it on AnniesAttic.com when they were still doing the Free Pattern of the Day. (Which has been discontinued for some time now.) I have scoured their website to no avail.

I realize this is a very vague description, but I'm hoping to find it again. I am willing to pay for it if it can be found. If you find it (or one similar (; ) please contact me through the link at the top of this page.

Thanks.

Up-cycled

Loving my new "yarn bowl". Picked up at a local consignment shop for about $25. There were other cheaper ones but this one really caught my eye. Yellow roses are my Granny's favorite. It will keep her in my thoughts long after she passes.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Just found out both of my children need to wear pink to school on Friday. I'm assuming because of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Not a problem for my daughter...she has a ton of outfits with pink in it. But what do you put on a 6 year old boy?

So I began scouring the internet for a pattern for a ribbon. Came up to this one: http://bwalker8706.blogspot.com/2011/10/breast-cancer-awareness-ribbon-pattern.html. No pics or anything, but it looked pretty straight forward.

After a quick trip to Walmart and a quick purchase:

Lion Brand 421739 Babys First Yarn-Twinkle Toes (Google Affiliate Ad)

I was able to produce this:

I glued the top to the bottom and the pin to the back:

And was done in about 20 minutes. Now to let the glue dry.

Progess

Slow and steady wins the race...

Invisible Join

Clover 1009I Soft Touch Crochet Hook-Size I9 5.5mm (Google Affiliate Ad)

Attempted the Invisible Join featured here. Turned out pretty well. The yarn needle is pointed at the join. Not bad for a first attempt. Will definitely use again in the future.

Made in K-town: Wiggly Tutorial (2)

Made in K-town: Wiggly Tutorial (2):

'via Blog this'

and here is part 2.

Made in K-town: Wiggly Tutorial (1)

Made in K-town: Wiggly Tutorial (1):

'via Blog this'

Gonna give this a try soon. I think it will make cute pillow covers.

Rolled Brim, Cable Knit Owls, Newborn Hat

Skill Level:

Advanced Beginner to Intermediate

Materials:

Solid Color Worsted Weight Yarn (Ex: Red Heart Super Saver) You could use a variegated yarn but the cables will be easier to see in a solid color.

Set of 4 or 5 U. S. size 7/4.5 mm Double Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Cable Needle (or smaller DPN)

Stitch Marker

Special Stitches:

C4B (cable 4 stitches back): Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle, hold to the back of work, knit the next 2 sts, knit the sts on the cable needle.

C4F (cable 4 sts forward): Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle, hold to the front of work, knit the next 2 sts, knit the sts on the cable needle.

Note:

This pattern is untested as of 09/01/2012. If you find any errors, please don't hesitate to email me at: elizabeth.hardy@hotmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

PATTERN

Brim:

Cast on 56 sts and divide on DPNs as follows:

-If using 4 DPNs: Needles 1 and 3: 20 sts. Needle 2: 16 sts.

-If using 5 DPNs: 14 sts on each needle.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist the sts. Place stitch marker at 1st stitch.

Rounds 1-5: Knit around.

Cable Owls:

Link to this image can be found here.

R6: K3, P8, K3; repeat 3 times more.

R7-8: K1, P2, K8, P2, K1; rep 3x more.

R9: K1, P2, C4B, C4F, P2, K1; rep 3x more.

R10-14: Rep R7.

R15: Rep R9.

R16: Rep R7.

R17-18: K1, P2, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, P2, K1; rep 3x more.

R19-21: Rep R14-16.

R22: Knit around.

Begin Decreasing:

R23: K5, K2tog; rep around. (48 sts)

R24 (and all rem alt rnds): Knit around.

R25: K4, K2tog; rep around. (40 sts)

R27: K3, K2tog; rep around. (32 sts)

R29: K2, K2tog; rep around. (24 sts)

R31: K1, K2tog; rep around. (16 sts)

R33: K2tog; rep around. (8 sts)

Finishing:

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull until snug. Secure and weave in ends.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Success at long last!

I have finally figured out the errors in the Hipster Doily and Large Hipster Doily patterns offered by Rachel at CrochetSpot.com. I am emailing the designer to get her input and hopefully see the Large Hipster Doily pattern reposted on CrochetSpot.com.

Wish me luck.

Definitely trying this one

Bananas Foster http://bakingbites.com/2012/07/bananas-foster/

The Clothes Pin Bag

Just finished. I made the drawstring a twisted cord instead of the ch 80. Found here.

DIY Laundry Detergent | How Does She...

DIY Laundry Detergent | How Does She...:

And this

'via Blog this'

Sabby In Suburbia: Homemade Christmas: Pendant Necklaces & Glass Magnets

Sabby In Suburbia: Homemade Christmas: Pendant Necklaces & Glass Magnets:

Gonna have to try this!

'via Blog this'

Hot Off The Hook

Just finished this little keychain for our key at work.


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note™, an AT&T LTE smartphone

Small Gift Bag

Tomorrow...well, later today anyway, is the baby shower i got invited to. I didn't have time to do a complete baby set like I normally would. I made just the no scratch mitts. After I got off work I realized that I forgot to get a gift bag. So I hooked this one up in about an hour or so. Pattern can be found at: www.caron.com/projects/ss_party/sspar_crochet_gift_bags.html
I did the smallest size in Caron Simply Soft in Dk Country Blue.  Turned out pretty good I think.

New Stuff

Well I got a new phone yesterday. And it is a Samsung Galaxy Note. It even has a Blogger app. Its pretty sweet.

Disgusted

Well...didn't succeed. I think I'm gonna have to email the designer. I've worked this pattern over and over again and I just can't seem to get the end result described in the instructions.

Hipster Doily....Again

So I decided to give it one more shot. This pattern is driving me crazy. At this point, I have exactly the number of stitches I'm supposed to have according to the pattern instructions...hopefully it will turn out right because I may not give it another chance after this one.

Arrgh!!!

This pattern makes me so angry! I always end up with 1 too many points after the second layer of the pattern. I can't find my mistake. Its just so frustrating.......Ok, rant over.

Making Progress

I just finished round 9. Only 11 or so more to go.

Craft Auction Project

Well.......today I changed my mind about the item I'm making for the craft auction. I received an email about a pattern I had commented on previously because I had some trouble with it at first. I forgot to unsubscribe to the future comments after I got my issue resolved. Luckily for me I didn't. ;) The email stated that the poster could use the pattern to make a blanket. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks...that would be so much prettier than a giant granny square. The pattern can be found at: www.CrochetSpot.com/crochet-pattern-large-hipster-doily/ The gauge swatch is supposed to be 2" but using 2 strands of worsted weight yarn and a J hook, mine was 6". I estimate if I follow the pattern as written, the finished size will be about 30". I plan to continue for 1 or 2 extra repeats to make it a little larger. Wish me luck though, its down to the wire getting it done. Might be pulling an all-nighter tomorrow to finish it on time.

Granny Afghan

Just found out today that my dad’s family is having a family reunion in 4 days and it’s going to be close to where I live (for once). They always do a craft auction to help raise money for future reunions instead of asking for donations or assuming that someone else is going to pay for it and sticking 1 person with the bill.
So anyway, with only 4 days to go, I decided the quickest thing would be a granny square afghan. I’m using 10 skein of Red Heart Super Saver simultaneously with an “S” hook.

It’s definitely working up very quickly. After almost 2 rounds, it’s about 10”.

Will definitely post completed pics with the winner at the auction. (And how much it goes for (; )
Also in the works, another baby set for the girl I grew up next door to. She’s having her first baby in July and it’s a boy. Getting to expand my horizons (a little bit) working with different colors.

Going to do the booties after I finish the afghan for the craft auction. Wish me luck. gonna need it if I’m gonna get everything done on time.

Things I've Learned Recently

1. I prefer wood crochet hooks when working with cotton yarn.
2. I prefer the Clover brand of aluminum crochet hooks and yarn needles.
3. It's going to be a very long summer trying to keep my children entertained.

Testing

Testing a new blogging software. If this posts, it worked correctly. 

Pot Lid Grabber Hats

Just finished these for a lady I work with. Pattern at: www.crochetnmore.com/lidgrabberhat.htm
Used Lily Sugar 'n Cream in 00095 Red.
Hopefully she will spread the word and I'll get to make a little extra money ;). No really, I do it for the love of the craft not the money.

My baby girl is knitting!

This needs no intro.

Does this make anyone else mad, too?!

So you went and bought that yarn you needed for that special project. You get it home and the first pull makes the mess shown above. Is there any way to prevent this other than starting from the outside tail?

Request from my daughter

My daughter got a guitar for her birthday a couple weeks ago and now she's asked for a guitar strap. Can't find a pattern I like........so, I'm waiting for inspiration to strike as I fiddle around with a hook and some yarn.

More to come soon...hopefully. ;)

DW Logo Dishcloth

Finished this up last night. Not blocked yet. Pattern at: http://www.irishlace.net/knitting/dwlogo-washcloth.html

Only took me 9 days to complete thanks to an insane work schedule.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Whipped these up this week for the ladies I work with. Got the pattern at: knottygeneration.blogspot.com/2008/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html Only took about 15 minutes for each one. Worked the 2nd and 1/2 of the 3rd petals on the back bar of a lapel pin. (Easier than having to glue or sew them.)

New Toy!

While I was in the big city earlier this week, I just couldn't resist stopping in Michaels and look what I found on sale for $3! I've always loved the look of hairpin lace and now I can learn it. So far its kinda awkward but with a lot of patience and little help from the tutorial I found, I'm beginning to make some progress. The tutorial I'm using can be found at: www.stitchdiva.com/tutorials/hairpin-lace Best one I've found so far.

Done!

The set is finally all done. Just in time too. The baby shower is in 9 hours. Talk about burning the midnight oil lol.

Well, I had the hat over halfway done. I tried to pull it out of my crafty bag and proceeded to pull one of the needles out of the work in progress. Arrrgh! So now I get to start completely over again. Lovely.

4 Down, 1 To Go

Only the hat left and I'm all down with set #3. For the booties, I used size 6/4.00 mm knitting needles to achieve the smallest size. The next pair I make, I think I'm going to make the cuff the solid coordinating color to help tie the pieces together a little better. (Which will be happening soon, just found out another friend is pregnant.)

3 Pieces down, 2 To Go

Working on Another Baby Set

One of my cousins is pregnant with her 4th child, but its her first little girl. So I decided to knit her one of the little sets I've been doing for people. I'm using Caron Simply Soft in Baby Brights Ombre 9801 and Orchid 9717. So far its looking really cute. Will have pics up as soon as I get them all done.
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