When My Hobby Meets My Job

I spent this past week finishing up my scarf and fingerless gloves for my Cheshire Cat costume. And a mouse for the dormouse hunt. Now that these are done, I guess I'll sew together the baby afghan doe my cousin. The pattern for the mouse was a free original pattern by KristieMN on Crochetville forum. The pattern for the gloves came from a 1985 crochet magazine. I don't know which one...I just torn out the pattern. See this post for more details about the scarf and gloves.

 

Summer Reading and Crochet...Not Best Friends!

The Summer Reading Program is well under way in my four libraries. Registration for the reading contest was last week and events start this week. Today alone, I saw 108 people. I need a nap, but I don't think I'll get one. I really think my crocheting will decrease while I'm in the midst of summer reading. I think I'll just want to veg out in the evenings instead of being industrious.

I did finish the baby afghan I was commissioned to make. Here's a picture of it:

I'm still working on the Cheshire Cat scarf and the teapot cozy. Hopefully by June 20 (the date of the Mad Hatter Tea Party), I'll have the scarf, cozy, fingerless gloves, and a dormouse completed. After that, I guess I'll start working on my brother's afghan again.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

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!