More Progress

What a busy week...crochet and otherwise. I've held firm in my resolution to begin attacking my Christmas list. I started at the beginning (a very good place to start--Just ask Julie Andrews!) with Mom's annual stuffed chicken. I use Irene Duquette's Cool Chicken pattern. This year I decided to make a very whimsical chicken. I used Red Heart Super Saver Marrakesh for the body, Tea Leaf for the feet and beak, and Magenta for the comb. The chicken is still in pieces. I like to have several projects at that stage before I start finishing them.

Mom's other request for this year is a hat with earflaps. She's saw them in stores and noticed how popular they are so she wants one. I really liked using post stitches when I made Bella's hat from Twilight the movie for my cousin last year. I was thrilled to find an earflap hat pattern that made use of post stitches. I'm using the pattern "Paula's Post Stitches" from the December 2009 issue of Crochet World. There's a matching scarf! I'm using Red Heart Super Saver's Williamsburg Print for the hat and scarf.

As you know, I've been thinking a lot about what to make for my niece Abby's Christmas tree ornament. Since I'll be making her one every year, I really want them to commemorate the years. She's only ten months old and she's been to the zoo three times. Ergo, I've decided her tree ornament this year will be a lion. I've decided to use one of SAG55's finger puppet patterns. As you know, these patterns aren't available unless you use the Internet Archive

I'm about bookwormed out. Not sure how many I made. And I'll probably continue making them as they're selling so well. I've sold eight this week.

I now have another commission for a baby afghan. My aunt wants me to make one for her friend. Ashley is expecting a boy this fall. The nursery theme is sailboats. The colors I'll be using are Red Heart Super Saver's Soft Navy, Paddy Green, and Tea Leaf. It should turn out nicely. My goal is to make ten squares a day. That means I should have the afghan done in a couple of weeks (three at the outside). And don't forget, I also have the baby afghan my mom commissioned me to make. Busy, busy!

The fish was a hit at story time. I've never seen anything be pulled and wooled so much. One little boy asked if the fish lived at the library. I said no, he was coming home with me. Little boy's reply: Well, what's he going to do there? I love kids! I have more programs tomorrow, but I didn't make any props. This week's events: Boats Preschool Story Time, a Tall Tales program for ages 6-11, and puppet play practice for teens.

If I continue making good on my resolution to tackle my Christmas list beginning to end, my next few projects will be curlicue ornaments, slippers, the lion ornament, and a scrap cat. How long do you think that will take me?

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Of hats, bookworms, and fish...

I finished up the second Heroes hat last Friday evening and mailed it off to Em on Saturday morning. I hope her friend likes it. The symbol ended up being a little crookedly sewn this time. But it does make it one-of-a-kind!

I've been using up those scraps I pulled out of my scrap box on bookworms. I think I've made about 20 or so. They are all solid colored. I didn't have any small balls of variegated yarn. The variegated ones are the most popular so I'll probably make some of those sooner rather than later. After I've used the scraps to make bookworms, I have even smaller scraps left. Those are going into fold top sandwich bags so they don't cause havoc in my scrap box again. I have some baby pink and orchid left over from a baby afghan. I think I'll use it to make a stuffed cat toy for my niece's Christmas present. I'll add in some cream to balance it out.

Tomorrow is the first round of events for the Summer Reading Program. During preschool story time, we'll be playing "Fisherman, fisherman, where's your fish?" I've made a small flat fish to use as the prop. When designing my own patterns, I am much better at two-dimensional things. I've made very few 3D items. I think I could, I just need more time to fiddle with the patterns. The fish turned out quite well. I didn't write down the pattern as I went, but I think I can duplicate it.

The week ahead holds more bookworms and I might get started on the baby afghan my mom has commissioned me to make. I need to get back to work on Christmas stuff. My sister's afghan is languishing. And I haven't even thought about the smaller projects I have on my list. I guess the best way to handle my smaller Christmas projects is just to go straight down the list.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Projects and Progress

Isn't that a great title for a weekly update? If I ever write a crocheting memoir, that will be my title. It smacks of Austen's Pride and Prejudice (which warms the cockles of my librarian heart) and yet is applicable to crochet. Projects and Progress...ahh, a great title! Okay, after that random musing here's my crocheting week in review.

The Heroes hat is in pieces--the hat and the two pieces of the symbol. I plan to finish it up tonight and mail it tomorrow.

I have a new commission from my mom to make a baby afghan for a cousin's baby. For once, it's a boy. I've said time and again that I don't particularly liker working with pastels. That being said, I like the color scheme for this afghan. The nursery set is blue and brown, so I'm using Red Heart's Coffee, Aran, and Light Blue. Sophisticated yet perfect for a baby boy.

The bookworms are selling well. I've sold ten in the past week. This is fortuitous because my scrap box is nagging me. After all the moves, the yarn balls are all tangled up. I straightened it up the other day. The scraps too little to make even one bookworm went into a plastic fold top sandwich bag. The smaller balls went into a tote bag. They will shortly be turned into bookworms.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Project Planning

Not much going on this week crochet-wise. I had plans last night to work on the Heroes hat, but my dad got me interested in the movie Savage Sam and there went those plans. They are rescheduled for tonight.

This past weekend I did manage to gather up the yarn for my cousin's afghan. More multi-colors than solids. I'm planning a 7 x 12 squares (roughly 35 inches by 60 inches).

I also worked out a plan for a crib size baby afghan. No one wants one yet, but it's nice to offer the option. 6 x 10 squares (roughly 30 inches by 50 inches).

I also straightened up my pattern binder. Patterns have been scattered here and there from the three moves and the many projects I've finished up. I have a HUGE 3-ring binder with 3 sections: Patterns I've used, Patterns I plan to use, and Afghan grids.

Until next week, happy crocheting!

Back in the Saddle...

I've found myself wanting to crochet more this week and even planning projects in my head. The purse and matching bookworms went over well with my five-year-old cousin. Her response, "I love it! I love it!" Well, to be honest, this is the way she responded to all her gifts.

The baby bootie ornament was also a hit. I had to explain it to the mom-to-be so I think next time I'll include a Christmas card that explains that this is the baby's first Christmas ornament. I want to adjust the pattern a bit--sometimes the bootie just doesn't look like a bootie.

After confirmation from Em, the second Heroes hat is under way. This one needs to be a bit bigger so I've added 4 stitches to the last increase round.

I've decided to put my sister's afghan on hold for the moment. I'm just tired of working with those colors. So now I'm planning the afghan for my cousin. Lots of pinks and purples.

Until next time...happy crocheting!

Christmas is Coming,

The goose is getting fat,
Please put a penny
In the old man's hat
~Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Ack! Only 217 days until Christmas and I've barely made a dent in my list. As you know I've got about 6 afghans on my list this year. To be perfectly honest, I'll be amazed if I get 2 of the 6 done. Ornaments are also popular on my list this year. I've had several requests for my crocheted ornaments (bells, stockings, wreaths, and gingerbread houses).

I do have several dilemmas on my list this year. What to make for a 10 year old girl who loves to read? (She already has plenty of my bookworms.) What to make for a 12 year old boy who only likes video games? My mom has decided she wants a hat with earflaps and tassels. That should be fun to make. I haven't found a pattern I like yet. I've also decided to make my niece a new ornament every year. By the time she's 18, she'll have 19--enough to fill a small tree. The problem is deciding what to make.

In other news, I've been a bit more productive this week. I've made several bookworms, 5 for a birthday gift and some to sell. I've also made a baby bootie ornament. My cousin's wife is expecting a little boy this Summer. The shower is this weekend. I used to make hats for showers, but babies don't need hats in the summer. And a baby bootie ornament (Baby's 1st Christmas) is a better keepsake. The Heroes hat is the next item on my agenda. Then it's full steam ahead with my Christmas list.

Super Secret Birthday Present

Here it is, the super secret birthday present revealed. It's a kokeshi doll. Many thanks to Michelle McLaughlin at Suncatcher Eyes for the pattern. It didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped, but it's still pretty darn cute.

I may experiment a little bit and make myself one. The reason I made it for my friend is that she lived in Japan for a couple of years while her dad was in the Navy. And then we both took Japanese history in college.

What I learned from this endeavor: my embroidery skills need serious work. That's a butterfly in her hair and flowers on her dress. Yes, if I hadn't told you, you never would have guessed. They just look like a bad attempt at embroidery.