greetingarts

maybe I should move on

I finished up another little baby blanket this weekend, my third in a few months.  I think I need to stop now, at least for a while.  Wouldn't want to be too boring, you know. 

This one is about 23" square, crocheted with an I hook and Lion Brand's Pound of Love in Antique White.  Another fast project, the pattern is easily memorized, but is still interesting and entertaining to crochet.

As usual, it got tested out the moment it was finished, but this one will be going to charity when I have my next knitting guild meeting.

And now, I'm on to Halloween costumes.  Rebecca wants to be Pearl, The Cloud Fairy, so tonight I plan to cast on and start knitting those pink-and-white striped knee high socks.  The worsted weight yarn (in Carnation and White) has already met with her approval, and I'm hoping they knit up quickly on size 5 or 6 needles.  I'll do them toe-up so she can try them on as I go.

We put up the first of the Halloween decorations yesterday, in a feeble attempt to lay out the welcome mat for Fall and herald in some cooler temperatures.  I don't think it worked too well, it's supposed to be 94 today, and 101 tomorrow and Wednesday.  Ugh.

no turtle's pace here

I finished up Mama Turtle and her Babies a couple of weeks ago (man, are they flying by or what?!), but haven't had time to take pictures or blog about it until now.  Yup, the irony hasn't escaped me, either.  The school year is off with a bang, and the girls and I have been super busy.  It's all good, but every day seems jam-packed and I feel like I'm running a mile a minute until I fall into bed after midnight.  I'm sleeping well at night, though, that's for sure.

This pattern is from Ana Paula Rimoli's second book, Amigurumi Two! Crocheted Toys for Me and You and Baby Too.  The babies and cracked egg store inside Mama's shell, which I think is hilarious (because it's kind of anatomically correct, if you know what I mean), yet also very practical.  The finishing instructions for where to attach the legs and head are a little vague, so I made the neck and limbs look too long, but it's easy enough to eyeball it.  If I hadn't been so lazy hasty, I could have - should have - adjusted it a lot better.  But the kids think she's cute, and love the babies, so it's fine.  And now that's another project crossed off the list.

bald spots

Mama Baby Beans was just supposed to model this little beanie I made for charity, using this pattern and one of my crocheted flowers, but now I'm thinking it looks pretty good on her. 

Without it, she still looks pretty good from the front.

But this view isn't one of her favorites.  She made me promise to blur it a bit.

Maybe I'll make another little beanie in green, just for her.  To match her eyes.

one small pair

 

Had fun making a very quick little pair of baby booties that I donated along with the fruit hats at the beginning of the month.  Even though it was just a couple of weeks ago, I don't quite remember any of the details, except that it was made with Crochet Me's Simple Baby Booties pattern with a smaller crochet hook (D, maybe?) and 100% wool yarn in a sport weight (leftover from my baby afghan).  Silly of me to make it out of that wool, since I really should have used something machine washable.  I modified the original pattern by making a bobble in the proper spot rather than sewing on a button.  This way they're perfectly safe for little ones and I didn't have to do any sewing or searching for matching buttons in the correct size.  Win-win. 

My little model tried putting them on, but at just about 3" long, they were a tad small, even for her.  So she had to settle for sticking her face in the photo at the last second.

now I have a list

So I guess some pairs of little ears around here heard me whoopin' and rejoicing over finishing up some of my old projects, and decided they'd better give me something to do.

Found a stack of my crochet books on the coffee table, along with a two page wish list.  So far I've made two peanuts...

next time I'll listen

Another one bites the dust!  This was the longest crochet project I've ever had going, I think.  Started it way before the wave blanket, and I finally hooked my last double crochet for it on July 11, 2009.  It's at least a two and a half year project, probably older.  The photo is totally misleading, because that armchair there is one of those kid-sized upholstered seats, only about 2 feet high.  The finished baby blanket is not quite exactly square, at 31" x 30".  But who's measuring?

The pattern is Interlocking Colors, again from the book 200 Stitch Patterns for Baby Blankets. I used a D hook (yes, that's right, a D, what are you lookin' at?) and some teeny baby yarn that my friend gave me to make a charity blanket with.  As she handed it over, she told me to double the yarn, but I didn't listen.  Oh, no, I didn't want to waste yarn so I used one single strand, and millimeter by millimeter, I built this blanket.  And now, it's done.  The members of my knitting guild aren't going to recognize me without this blanket on my lap, it's what I've worked on without fail when I needed something brainless, automatic.  I'm not sure yet what charity I'll be giving this blanket to, but I can't wait to let it go!

Since I always like to have at least one project going that is slated for donation, I'm  now looking for the next pattern.  Preferably one that involves extra bulky, chunky wool and a Q hook...

baby granny scarf

Still playing catch-up with the projects I completed before my internet connection went kaput last month.  Here's the Groovy Granny Scarf I test knitted for Gardiner Yarn Works in early May.  I made mine with a G hook and Paton's BumbleBee Baby Cotton in sherbet colors, less than a skein each of Daffodil, Wild Rose, Sweet Grass and Petunia.  Don't you just love those names? 

box of love

Box full of love, for Father's Day.

Top shelf, folded hearts by Rebecca, and pictures of love from Jessica.

My absolute favorite drawing is Steak (with a bite taken out).  Daddy likes his steaks on the raw, bloody side...

And bottom filled with Corazoncitos, Mommy-, Rebecca- and Jessie-sized.

Happy Father's Day, Richard, Dad, Peter, Ye Ye and Grandpa, we love you!

oh my starling

I helped Alice test out her Starling Handbag, back in late April, early May,when it didn't have a name yet.  It is brilliant, and I love her pattern for her funny comments, clearly written directions, and of course, the finished project which is completely seamless and very versatile.  She seriously put a lot of thought and much effort into writing the pattern, all with the intention of making it available to everyone.  She and I sent emails back and forth several times over many weeks, and I was only one of more than half a dozen testers.  A lot of work was put into it, and Alice has just posted her signature handbag pattern on her free downloads page.  Yep, you heard me, it's absolutely free. 

Mine (or, I should say, Rebecca's) is made with Lily Sugar 'n Cream 100% cotton yarn, in Cornflower Blue, White, Rose Pink, Hot Green and Yellow.  Sound familiar?  I do like this yarn, and I *love* the bag.  I haven't lined it yet, but plan to use a lime green fabric that has little orange and yellow daisies on it.  I used a G hook, and it measures about 8.5" x 11" x 2.5".  I'm pretty sure I tested the large size, but for some reason I can't find the notes I wrote about it, maybe I sent them off to Alice and forgot to keep a copy.  Anyhow, I'll make the smallest size for Jessie, I need to find an aquamarine-colored cotton.  She's decided that's her favorite color.  I just love hearing the way she says it, "ahh-qwah-mer-een," emphasis on the last syllable.  So cute.  Just like the handbag.  Now go make one, you know you want to.

little artist dude

Finished up this Little Artist Crayon Keeper today.  He'll be going in the Arts and Crafts basket that my daughter's first grade class is raffling off at Open House in a few weeks.  I mostly followed the pattern, with just a few minor adjustments, and it went together pretty well.  I think it will be a hit with the six year old crowd for sure, they really aren't tough to please.

This little guy even has thumbs.  So funny!