Friday, April 26, 2013

Progress of a Sorts

Again not much crocheting to report this week. I made 7 squares for the afghan I was commissioned to make. Most of my time was spent on a felt set that I'll be using for a Cinderella Around the World event tomorrow.

I made an impromptu trip to Michael's on Sunday and stocked up on felt and puff paint.

I found out this week one of my cousins is having a baby in August. It's a girl. I'll raid my yarn stash and see what I can come up with.

Here's a picture of the latest baby afghan I completed.


And here's a picture of layout on graph paper so you can see what I mean about not being able to tell totally how it will turn out until it's done.

 

 
Until next time, happy crocheting!

 

Friday, April 19, 2013

Sewing More Than Crocheting

This week I've been sewing more than I've been crocheting. I'm making good progress on the afghan for the couple from church. The baby shower is Saturday. I can't make it because I have to work, but I'm hoping to give it to them on Sunday.

While I was sewing away the other night, I realized I can't count. I'm short two Coffee squares. I've looked high and low, so I didn't make them. Ergo, I can't count because my layout clearly tells me I need 8 not 6.

After I wrap this one up, I'll start on the one I've been commissioned to do. I've added another color to the lineup, Coffee.

I need to get started on my Cheshire Cat costume for the Mad Hatter Tea Party in June. I'm going to use Pink Tones, Purple Tones, and a ripple pattern to make myself a scarf. I also plan to make fingerless gloves. I'm going to try my hand at sewing and make a set of cat ears on a headband.

I also found the cutest tea cozy pattern via Pinterest. I might make it to cover my teapot for the Tea Party.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Where Is My Motivation?

Sad to say, but I haven't been very motivated this week to crochet or craft much. I don't know if it's the weather (Spring is finally here with a vengeance!) or the remnants of my sinus infection.

I did finish 2 felt sets this week. They are both nursery rhymes. One is Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. The other is Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook. I have several more sets in the works. Several are for this year's summer reading program theme, "Dig Into Reading."

I finished running in the ends on the squares for the baby afghan that's for the couple at church. I started sewing the squares together last night. I think it's going to look good. I'm never sure just looking at my layout on graph paper. I color it in with colored pencils, but the colors never match especially for the variegated colors.

A friend has commissioned me to make a baby afghan for her stepdaughter. It's a boy, and I've been given complete autonomy. I do love plotting a new afghan. The colors I'll use are Williamsburg Print, Carrot, Gold, Claret, Hunter Green, Bay Print, and maybe Coral.

I plan to spend part of my weekend sewing on the baby afghan and working on felt sets. Let's hope my industriousness comes back.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

NCM 2013 Wrap Up & Craft Shopping Expedition

I'm sorry my National Craft Month Wrap Up post is a little late. Last Friday was a work holiday and I've been on vacation this week.

I crocheted/sewed 22 of 31 days in March. I made 87 baby afghan squares. I sewed together and edged 1 baby afghan. I made 2 dishcloths.

Here are pictures of the coasters, dishcloths, and baby afghan. The afghan is the super secret one for my friend Anna. I've given it to her so now I can share about it here. I used Paddy Green, Lavender, Wildflower, and Shaded Purples. The coasters and dishcloths were a wedding/housewarming gift for my friend Laura.




Last Saturday, my sister and I made a trip to Knoxville. The plan was to visit all four craft stores in town, but we only made it to A. C. Moore and Michael's. A. C. Moore had all their yarn on sale. I bought 6 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver (in colors that I cannot get at my local Wal-mart). I also got 4 skeins of cotton yarn. In Red Heart, I got Pale Plum, Light Sage, Light Periwinkle, Medium Purple, Melonberry, and Country Blue. I can't recall the names of the cotton. The Red Heart yarn was on sale for $2.17 per skein. That's 62 cents less than my Wal-mart. The cotton was on sale for $1.25. It's usually $1.89.



At Michael's, I bought 9 new rubber stamps. These come in handy for card making and teen projects at the library.

I thought I'd mentioned this earlier, but one day I took inventory of all the Red Heart Super Saver colors at my local Wal-mart. I then made a list if colors they don't have so I know I have to get those elsewhere. That day, I discovered 2 colors I didn't have. I couldn't resist buying them: Charcoal & Lemon.
I haven't been doing much crocheting on my vacation. I've been working on new felt sets for my flannel board. By the end of the month, I plan to finish the afghan for the couple at church.

Until next time, happy crocheting!