Vacation Crocheting

Sorry it's been awhile since my last update. The week of August 12-16 was very hectic at work with me finishing up the summer reading program. Translate: I didn't crochet a lick all week.

This week I've been on my annual after summer reading vacation. I mostly just stayed at home...and crocheted. I've been working on squares for my brother's afghan and I made some coasters for a friend who just started college. Here's a picture:

I used the Cold Flower Coaster pattern from the DragonFlyMomof2 Designs Blog. I loved how they turned out and I was able to use up some yarn I'd been hoarded for a few years.

On Tuesday, I made the 1 hour and 20 minute drive to the nearest Hobby Lobby and Michael's. I didn't buy any yarn. This is actually a good thing. I have A LOT of yarn. I wouldn't go so far as to say too much, but it's a plethora to be sure. I'm going to concentrate on using what I've got. What I did buy: felt, puff paint, and white cardstock on sale.

I know the title of this blog only mentions crocheting. I wish I had called it "What is Bridget Crafting?" I have three main crafts that I practice regularly: crochet, card making (rubber stamps and scrapbook paper), and felt sets (to be used at storytime.)

Well, I guess that's all for now. Until next time, happy crocheting!

Pattern Woes

I've been quite productive in the past week. Perhaps a little too productive if you ask my hands. This weekend I finished the other baby afghan, worked on the capelet, and started some cats for Christmas.

Here's a picture of the baby afghan. I was pleased with how the bulls-eye layout turned out.

On Sunday night, I realized as I was about to start the 8th row of the capelet that it seemed too wide. It's only supposed to fit around the shoulders. It wrapped around me a couple of times. I sorted this out over a couple of hours. I changed my hook size from J to G and cut 55 stitches from the starting chain. I thought this was very odd as this was a pattern in Crochet Today Magazine. I've worked on it a little since Sunday, but I've decided there's no way I'll have it done for the Hobbit Party. I will finish it just not by the 15th.

I love making cats (it's a small single crochet pillow. You make 2 sides and crochet them other.). It's a great way to use up the scraps or small balls of yarn I've been hoarding. The pattern came from Women's Circle Crochet, Spring 1987. It's called "Sitting Pretty Kitty" and  Starlinne Garrett designed the pattern. I think I have about 5 or 6 cats on my Christmas list this year.

Plans for this weekend and next week include finishing up the cats. I may not put them together at this time. And then I'll work on something else on my Christmas list. Not sure what yet. Maybe squares from  my brother's afghan.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Babies and More Babies

I've been quite productive this week. I finished the squares for cousin #2's baby afghan. I edged cousin #1's afghan. I started my capelet for the Hobbit Party. I have 6 rows of cousin #2's baby afghan sewed together. Hoping to finish it by Saturday so I can deliver it on Sunday. Mailed cousin #1's afghan on Monday. It was delivered on Wednesday and she had the baby on Thursday. Very fortuitous that. Summer Reading is almost over I only have 1 more week and a Hobbit Party.

Here's a picture of her baby afghan:

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Of Cards & Squares

My best friend Vicky came for a visit on Monday. We celebrated Christmas in July by working on our Christmas cards. I stamped 100 and she did around 56. We also watched Christmas movies while stamping.

I've been skimming through my journals from high school, college, and grad school. I'm amazed at the amount of crocheting I did then. I definitely have less time now that I'm working full time.

In this past week, I've finished the Lemon squares and started on the Monet ones. This week, I plan to edge the afghan for my other cousin and continue to work on the squares for this one.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

A Few Small Projects

Last week, I mentioned that I bought skeins of the new Red Heart Super Saver neon colors. What I didn't say was that I tested them out by whipping up some birthday bookworms for my friend Anna. I really like how the colors worked up. The baby bootie ornament is for my cousin who had a baby shower this past weekend. I'm still working on squares for her baby afghan. It's been slow crocheting this week as work has been beyond hectic. But I'm going to soldier on.

I'm going to make the Catskills Capelet from the September/October issue of Crochet Today as part of my costume for the Hobbit Party. I plan to use Red Heart Super Saver in Grape Fizz.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Progress...of a Sorts

I've been making myself crochet this week. I've made 32 of the 81 squares for my other cousin's baby afghan. I've finished the Light Coral, Melonberry, Aruba Sea, and Honeydew squares. I've started the Pale Plum squares.

Went back to Wal-Mart this week and they did have the new Red Heart neon colors. I bought all three: Glowworm, Day Glo, and Blacklight.

 

Hoping to be as productive this next week even if I have to make myself. Also realized Christmas is less than six months away. If I can ever finish the baby afghans, maybe I can get started on my Christmas List.

Really looking forward to celebrating Christmas in July with my best friend Vicky. When we chatted this week we planned the menu: Mexican chicken casserole, steamed vegetables, and for dessert, pumpkin bread. It will be so nice to spend time together and make our Christmas cards for this year. We also looked through the latest issue of Crochet Today at the same time discussing which patterns we liked best.

Until next time, happy crocheting & crafting!

My Favorite Time of Year

On Wednesday, I went to Wal-Mart to get some last minute things for the company I was having on the 4th. I almost always walk through the yarn...just in case there are new colors or it's on clearance. Usually, Wal-Mart puts their yarn on clearance once a year, but that hasn't happened lately. Wednesday was my lucky day! Yarn was on clearance. I got 11 skeins of Red Heart and 4 skeins of Peaches & Crème 100% cotton.

Here are the Red Heart colors:

• Aruba Sea
• Ocean
• Blue Tones
• French Country
• Shaded Dusk
• Ranch Red
• Green Tones
• Candy Print
• Chili
• Primary
• Coral

I got 2 skeins of each of these colors in Peaches Crème: Soft Blue and Faded Denim.

I'm hoping Wal-Mart will be getting the new Red Heart Super Saver neon colors in after the clearance. We'll see.