Crocheting through the pollen outbreak...

Spring has more than sprung in my neck of the woods. The pollen will choke you. My black car is yellow. My sinus infection came back with a vengeance over the weekend and gave me bronchitis to boot. That slowed down my crocheting a little. I spent most of the weekend in bed sleeping.

However, I did manage to crochet some. Here's what I've accomplished since my last update:

• 25 Buff squares for the Peter Rabbit afghan
• 5 Country Rose squares for the Peter Rabbit afghan

There's a story behind the pink yarn. My original color selection was Red Heart's Rose Pink. The one problem: the color is only available at A. C. Moore or online. My mom & I were planning a trip to the city anyhow so I stopped by A. C. Moore to get the yarn. Would you believe they were sold out of Rose Pink? They were. At JoAnn's, I found another color that was a close match: TLC Essentials (from the makers of Red Heart) Country Rose. It was a bit more expensive, the skein had 1 less ounce, and the color was a smidge darker than the Rose Pink, but I could make it work.

Hoping/planning to have the Peter Rabbit afghan completed by the end of the weekend. Wish me luck!

Easter & Beyond

Hello, folks! As promised (to you & me), here I am with a weekly update.

Over the long Easter weekend (4 days!), I took a break from granny squares to make some Easter bookworms. I like to put them in plastic eggs for holiday gifts. I make them to match the eggs so bright colors. I ended up making more than I needed--26. Everyone loved them. Now, I'm in the mood to make more worms!

But not until I finish the Peter Rabbit baby afghan. Which is moving right along, I'm proud to report. Since my last post, I've made 24 squares. The Frosty Green squares are done. I got overly enthusiastic and overshot by one. (I'll rip that one apart and make some bookworms!) I've started on the Buff squares. Not a very excited color to crochet with, but it's soothing so I guess I shouldn't complain.

I'm headed to the big city tomorrow to fetch the Rose Pink from A. C. Moore. Hopefully, they still carry it. If not, I'll have to order it online. I'm also going to the used bookstore. Who knows what I'll find there?

Anyway, by this time next week, I would love to have all 81 squares done. We'll see how that goes...

NCM 2010 Wrap-Up

March has officially ended (like a lamb, I'm happy to report) and so has National Craft Month. I had a great time crocheting through the month. I was rather surprised with the amount of crocheting I got done.

Here are my totals for the 31 days of my NCM Celebration:

• 21 four-round squares for my sister's Christmas afghan
• 61 three-round squares for my friend's baby afghan
• 5 three-round squares for the Peter Rabbit baby afghan

My crocheting fun is not ending because National Craft Month has. You know me...I always have a project in the works. My current one is a paid gig. A friend's co-worker is having a baby. They're decorating the nursery in Peter Rabbit. Enter me, my crocheting skills and the perfect color scheme for a Peter Rabbit baby afghan. I'm using Red Heart's Frosty Green, Buff, and Rose Pink. The afghan is for a baby girl. Another option would be Buff, Rose Pink, and Spa Blue. For a boy, I would use Frosty Green, Spa Blue, and Buff.

I've enjoyed posting these weekly updates so much that I plan/hope to continue them. I like to report my progress on a regular basis.

Until next time...

NCM Week 4 Update

This week has been a little bit different as I've started a new job. The hours are reasonable so I've still found time to crochet. I also crochet a bit on my lunch hour. Here's what I've accomplished during the fourth week of National Craft Month:

24 three-round granny squares for my friend's baby afghan (That's all 81 I need!)
almost 2 four-round granny squares for my sister's Christmas afghan

As you can tell, the baby afghan is on its way to completion. The 81 squares are done. The ends are run in. I've already started sewing them together. Not sure what I'll do when it's done. I still have quite a few squares to make for my sister's Christmas afghan. I may start the squares for one of the other afghans on my Christmas list. Maybe my aunt's or my brothers. W only have a few more days of NCM left (5 or 6 by my count). I hope you enjoy the last days as much as I plan to.

NCM Week 3 Update

Spring is springing here in my little corner of the world. The warmer weather and sunshine has had a great affect on my crocheting. Shaking off the winter blahs, I am in a crocheting mood. That is, when I can convince myself to come in from enjoying all the beauty outside. Without further ado, here's what I've made during this third week of National Craft Month:

• 10 three-round granny squares for the friend's baby afghan (Color: Red Heart's Soft White)
• 13 four-round granny squares for my sister's Christmas afghan (Color: Red Heart's Aruba Sea)

We only have 11 (or 12 depending on how you count) days left in this year's National Craft Month Celebration. I'm having a ball with my celebration. How about you?

As previously resolved, the bookworms are on a temporary hiatus until April.

See you next week!

NCM Week 2 Update

This week has been much more productive crochet wise. Without further ado, here are my accomplishments during the second week of my annual National Craft Month Celebration.

• 27 (three-round) granny squares for a friend's baby afghan
• 6 (four-round) granny squares for my sister's Christmas afghan

Even as I work on these squares, I find myself plotting ways and means for the others. The one for my brother will be purely hodgepodge. The one for my cousin will also be hodgepodge, but with more of a plan using her favorite colors. For my one friend, I already have the yarn--different shades of blue. For the other friend, she's made her preferences known, but I don't have yarn that suits them just yet. And I have a bunch of pinky coral wool yarn that my sister wants me to turn into a baby afghan. No she's not pregnant, she's just planning ahead. Several years ahead to be exact.

I've been thinking about the bookworms, but haven't made any yet. I think the bookworm making may rollover into April. I have lots of variegated yarn that will make great bookworms. I think I'll make three of each color.

And now, back to the crocheting!

NCM Week 1 Update

What with moving and the weather, I'm sorry to report that I haven't accomplished much crochet wise during this first week. The things I have completed are bringing me closer to crocheting.

I am settled enough after the move to actually find my crochet stuff. I sorted through my yarn and gave a bunch to my aunt. She's making hats for charity on a knitting loom.

The weather is finally warming up here. Normally, the weather doesn't affect my crocheting, but this winter seems especially long.

So, this evening I'm planning to curl up with a good movie, a cup of tea, and my crochet hook. I'll keep you informed.