Finished

My Icelandic turtleneck  is finished but not yet completed. I had to rip it back the first time because of bunching in the yoke. Although the bunching is still there, it’s less noticeable. The little details I plan on sewing on will correct any flaws…I hope. So for now, this is what I have to show for a months worth of crocheting…..

Of course, I have a gazillion other projects on the go but this was the one I made for me 🙂

Yikes! It’s been months since I last posted here. They say “Time flies when you’re having fun“. Well, I must have been having a wonderful time! 🙂

Christmas has come and gone. All the gifts were bought and crafted, wrapped and opened. All the food was cooked and eaten, the remainder passed along or frozen. All the mess was cleaned up and home has been ‘put to rights’ again…except the tree, which will remain up until after New Year’s (why not). My two teenagers are at their Grandparents’ and Dad’s celebrating Christmas with them and New Year’s, as well. I have a week off work and I am basically all alone at home.

I say basically because there is a little mouse in my apartment. A little mouse that has left tell-tale signs of it’s route through my kitchen and living room in the form of mousey poo. And two nights ago I heard the little critter gnawing away at something in my living room, but do you think I could find him? Even with stealth-like movements and a quick flip of the light switch, I was unable to spot my furry friend. I moved things around on shelves, peeked under furniture, but to no avail. He was too quick and/or smart for me 🙂

Anyway, the mouse and I are getting along alright, for now. It’s been suggested that I get a trap of one variety or another to ‘deal’ with my ‘problem’, but I just don’t have the heart. Whether it’s a Jube Jube on a mouse trap that will spring to life, thus taking the mouse’s….or paper so sticky that it will render the poor little fluffball helpless until you ‘dispose’ of it…ah geez, I just can’t do it!

So, I move my cone of cotton thread off the floor at night so my new found friend doesn’t eat it on me. I’m working Chloe Nightingale’s Icelandic Turtleneck pattern, from the Crochet Me book, for myself. I had my thread “custom made” for me at a cool little shop in Montreal where you can pick and choose your threads to combine into any weight yarn you need.

Icelandic Turtleneck

I have also started reading two books: The Power Of A Promise by Lesra Martin and Life On The Other Side by Sylvia Browne. Both are proving to be interesting reads. I’m thinking I’ll write a review for each book when I am done, since that is something I haven’t done before. So come back for those reviews as well as my finished Icelandic Turtleneck 🙂

Happy New Year to you all!

The Craft Goes On

One Christmas gift is complete! I finished the scarf, using Misti Alpaca Lace Weight yarn, a short while ago. It took some thinking, but I’ve come up with Gift #2. I’m working on a Vest pattern from Diamond Luxury Collection leaflet 1188. It’s an easy pattern, worked in two types of rib and then sewn together on 8mm needles. Instead of the yarn called for, I am using Patons Shetland Chunky in Oxford Grey.

Diamond Luxury Collection - Vest

I’ve decided that I will take it easy on my crafting fingers this year and spread my wings in other directions, as far as Christmas gifts are concerned. So, I’m enrolling in a few different art workshops at my local art store, Meta4. I’m looking forward to the Glass Fusion class and possibly a jewelry making class, as well. I’m still planning on giving everyone at least one homemade gift, but it won’t necessarily be using yarn 🙂

Since I am only a couple of inches along on the Vest I am knitting, I will refrain from posting a pic. But one will follow shortly! Especially if Barb at Never Enough Wool is right when she said it would take me only 8 hours to complete!

Mmmm Mmmm Salad

I had the yummiest salad for supper tonight!  And yes, I took a picture of it!

 

Isn’t it just scrumptious looking?  Well, it was just as scrumptious to eat 🙂

For those who might want to try this themselves, I used: a couple of handfuls of mixed greens, a handful of blackberries, two slices of cucumber cut into halves, a handful of julienne carrots and a good sprinkling of Raspberry Vinagrette. Simply sweet and utterly delectable.

5 Good Things

1. White Carnations nestled in my favourite planter.

Today was a hot, hot day and these flowers made me think of cool breezes with their snowy white blooms. How could I not take home a bunch? Especially since they were sold at a discounted price 🙂

2. Misti Alapaca lace weight yarn in a sumptuous golden hue.

This particular pattern is my adaptation of the Beachcomber Shawl pattern from the July/August 2010 issue of Crochet Today! My foundation chain is 4x longer than what the original pattern calls for.

3. My boyfriend who thoughtfully gave me this edition of Crochet Today! as part of my birthday gift this year.

This edition is chalk full of gorgeous patterns for women, children and your household. So many patterns to choose from and only two hands!

I absolutely love the Lace On The Bias summer tank top. It is simply elegant, with spaghetti straps and easy fringe. Definitely on my list!

I am also loving the Beautiful Basket worked in tapestry crochet. A bright, colourful accent for your home and a great way to showcase your crochet talents.

Thank you to my boyfriend for giving to me this collection of patterns that will have me stitching for quite some time 🙂

4. Blueberries…which are not only yummy but are packed with antioxidants. I love just eating them uncooked as a snack. Mother Nature gets a 10 for this creation 🙂

5. My new job at The Pantry Shelf. Wonderful decor, friendly staff and great food. What more could I ask for!?

Update! Update!

Summer is here and I am LOVIN’ it! I’m already sporting an impressive farmer’s tan and raccoon eyes. I’m planning a “Day In The Sun” so that I can even things out. My supplies will include: water, sunscreen, towel, barely-there clothing, cool shades, sun hat, a good book (Right now I’m reading “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell. Thought-provoking.) and, of course, a selection of yarns & crochet hooks.

I’ll also have my MP3 player. Notice I didn’t say iPod. Not because I’m not a fan…I am….but because I’m too cheap to spend that kind of moolah on something I only use once in a blue moon. So there.

Anyhoo…

I have been crafting some jewelry, scarves and bags lately. To the right is my version of the Granny’s No Squares bag from Debbie Stoller’s “The Happy Hooker” (awesome book).

I also posted a New! Free crochet pattern, Slinky Scarf, on Cut Out & Keep. Check it out! While you’re there, take a boo at my other Free patterns: Teddy Bear Camera Case, Knitted Ridge Dish Cloth and Easy Coin Purse.

Oh! And what’s playing on my MP3 player? Well, for those inquiring minds that simply need to know, it’s a mish mash of Indie and Garage Bands. If you haven’t yet heard Magneta Lane, and you like girl bands with attitude, then I suggest you hop on over to YouTube  and have a listen 🙂

Free Pattern – Crochet Ridged Dish Cloth

Here’s a pattern for a crocheted dish cloth that mainly uses double crochet. By working around the post of a double crochet in the row below, you can create a ridge, which is a handy scrubbing texture for dish cloths.

Crochet Ridged Dish Cloth

CROCHET RIDGED DISH CLOTH

Materials: 50g Dk weight cotton and a 4.5 mm crochet hook

FPdc: with crochet hook at front of piece, work dc around the post of dc in the row below.

BPdc: with crochet hook at back of piece, work dc around the post of dc in the row below.

Ch 39.

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc across. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 2: [Ch 3 counts as first Dc in every row] **Dc in next 2 sts, BPdc in next dc. Repeat from ** across. End with dc in turning ch. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 3: **BPdc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next st. Repeat from ** to last 3 sts. BPdc in next 2 sts. Dc in turning ch. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 4: **Dc in next 2 sts, BPdc in next st. Repeat from ** across to last 3 sts. Dc in next 2 sts and in turning ch. Ch 3 and turn.

Repeat last two rows until a total of 20 rows have been completed.

Edging: work sc in each stitch around, working 2 sc into the side of each dc along side edges and working 3 sc into each corner. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Knitted Dish Cloth

I thought I’d take a wee bit of a break from my crochet designs to try my hand at designing a knitted dish cloth. I went for something that would be fairly easy for a beginning knitter, while still keeping it interesting. Here is the end result….

Tiled Dish Cloth

The pattern for this dish cloth is sold in a kit. The kit includes: 50g cotton yarn, knitting needles, and the pattern. This would make a wonderful gift for teens and adults, alike! This kit is sold by OTBcreations. To request price and colour choices or for any other questions, write to OTBcreations@hotmail.com .

Stay-cation

I have been neglecting my posts because I’ve been on what is known as a stay-cation. Unlike a vacation, where you go to some other place to enjoy R&R, a staycation means you stay at home (or near to home). For my staycation, I’ve been house-sitting for my Mom. I decided to pretend that I was at a resort, soaking up the suns rays, reading, napping, crafting a little. So, I haven’t been home to take phone calls, business has been put on hold, and my crafting was on the back burner while I cleared my head and took some time off from the daily bump and grind.
I will soon return home and I will pick up where I left off. This includes updating my blogs and taking pictures of some of the items I’ve been knitting and crocheting while staycationing 🙂

Crochet Classes

Beginning the week of July 6th, I will be hosting Beginner Crochet Classes in my home. The fee is $58 and includes: yarn to make two projects, a 4mm crochet hook, patterns, 5 hours total instruction time and refreshments! Wow! What a deal! I will also be including some of my original patterns as a bonus!

What are the projects for this class?  With the help of my daughter, I narrowed it down to the Summer In The City Purse (Crochet! magazine, July 2009 issue)

and the Hat (Crochet, by Anne Akers Johnson).

          

I am super excited about the class because there is nothing I enjoy more than teaching others the fun and fabulous art of crochet!