Summer Is Coming!

I know I haven't posted in a while. Life and work have been keeping me very busy. Summer is the busiest season for a youth services librarian. I'm getting reading for the summer reading program which will be 10 weeks total with 8 weeks of programs for different age groups.

Last Friday was the 10th anniversary of my high school graduation. Obviously instead of updating this blog, I was reminiscing. I'm quite pleased with where life has taken me. I'm proud that I still have the same best friend and hobby this many years later. I wonder what the next 10 years will bring.

I actually have several projects in the works. I'm still working on the Cheshire Cat scarf. I've finished the squares for my cousin's baby afghan. I started a cozy for my teapot (ripple pattern), and I ran in ends on the squares for the baby afghan I was commissioned to do. I'll be dividing my days into sewing baby afghans together and working on the projects for the Mad Hatter Tea Party.

My best friend came to visit yesterday and we tried a new craft: tie-dye. It was great! I think I might be addicted. The not knowing until the reveal/rinsing is great.

I'm hoping to keep my updates consistent during the summer, but I apologize in advance if they end up being sporadic.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Crocheting Squares & Costumes

I've been quite productive this week. I've made lots of squares and even started my Cheshire Cat scarf.

I've had to rethink the afghan for my cousin because I didn't end up with as many pink squares as I'd hoped. I have 10 Country Rose and 20 Pink Camo. I considered buying a skein of Light Raspberry to fill in the gaps, but decided against it. With a yarn stash like mine, I want to use what I've got. I've added Medium Purple and Orchid to the line up and taken away the Buff and Aran. I'm still planning to use the Frosty Green.

This is the second time I've made a scarf for a library event. The first time was back in January 2010 and I made a scarf for a Winnie-the-Pooh story time. Click here to see a picture of that scarf. The idea for my Cheshire Cat scarf was inspired by Alycia over at The Curious Pug. I discovered her Cheshire Cat scarf via Pinterest and knew I had to make my own. I'm using Red Heart's One-Ball Ripple Scarf pattern. I'm using a size H hook and Red Heart Super Saver in Pink Tones and Purple Tones. I'm working 8 rows of each color and then changing. I haven't decided which pattern to use yet for my fingerless gloves, but I'll keep you posted.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Crochet Is a Great Stress Reliever

I've been crocheting more this week. I needed to do so. Crocheting is one of those great hobbies that also functions as a stress reliever. I only have 8 more squares to make for the commissioned afgahan. I can't decide if I want to start the squares for my cousin's afghan or start on my Cheshire Cat costume. We'll see. For my cousin's afghan, I raided my stash and decided on the following colors: Pink Camo, Country Rose, Frosty Green, Aran, and Buff.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

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!

 

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!

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!

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!