I am pretty close to being done with my first poncho. I just need to do the edging and the collar. I was hoping to finish it over the weekend, but I was too busy doing other fun stuff. Oops. ;) It looks like it might not be too large for my 4-yr-old niece, after all. Or at least, not too long. My gauge is weird. I thought it was right on, but it's not. 4 rows in the "block" stitch of the pattern is supposed to be 4"; in mine, it's more like a little over 3 1/4". Whoa. Guess I should switch to a P hook for the next ones? I'll see how this one ends up first.
I am totally waffling about which shawl to make for my grandmother. It's going to be a combination (95th!!!) birthday and Chanukah present, so it's got to be good! I wanted to make a Seraphina's Shawl for her, but it calls for a very large amount of yarn, which makes me worry about a few things. First of all, I only have 2 colors of Homespun in that quantity, and I don't think either of them would look great on her. Second, the shawl is huge, and she is tiny! She is under 5 feet tall and very petite. Third, it looks difficult!
I am also considering Doris Chan's All Shawl. This calls for less yarn and looks easier to make. However, I know my grandmother...She'd take one look and go "It has holes in it!" LOL. This is what she did when I gave her a Snuggly Scarf a few years ago, and the scarf is not particularly hole-y. But the shawl would be warm and cuddly anyway, so...probably a good option. I'd also like to make one of these for my mom for Chanukah, but I kind of doubt I'll have the time, what with all 3 girls' ponchos and a shawl for my grandma. I have been crocheting maybe an hour or so per day when I have time, and I'm not the world's fastest crocheter in the first place.
I am also considering this shawl, but it looks ridiculously easy and ridiculously boring. I have no problem with the pattern actually being easy, I just don't want it to look like it was!
Decisions, decisions. If anyone has any suggestions or opinions on this, please let me know.
I'd like to make something small-ish for my sister for Chanukah, too. I'm thinking about these Dorothea Dishtowels; then I could make it a gift for her and my brother-in-law, since I never know what to get for him. But again, I'll have to see if I have the time.
We went to a Renaissance Fair yesterday. Now I've decided that I really want to make one of these so I'll have a costume to wear to these things. It's for experienced-level crocheters, though. Ummm...Maybe I'd have it finished by Ren Fair 2012 if I started today? ;P Yeah, I think I'm being overly ambitious.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
I'm back!
I've finally picked up my crochet habit again. Had to stop for a while (about a year!) due to chronic pain in my neck and shoulders. The pain is still there, but I finally got really sick of not having a creative outlet, and one day last week I found myself on Ravelry again and realized that I wanted to make Martha Stewart "Coming Home" ponchos for my little nieces out of all the Lion Homespun I still have... :)
I'm taking it easy this time around, only crocheting for an hour or less at a time. The first poncho is still coming along quickly, though. My little nieces are ages 3, 4, and 6; the ponchos are sized 2-4, 4-6, and 6-8. I started with a poncho for my 4-year-old niece, and I thought the size 4-6 one would work since, duh, kids grow. However, it seems to be turning out too big for her (and my gauge seems to be right on). I don't know if I should give it to her anyway (she'll grow into it), or give it to her 6-year-old sister instead...My little nieces (I keep calling them "little" because I also have another niece who's quite a bit older than they are) are, well, little. Not so big for their age groups.
If anyone's reading this, what would you do? Give it to the 4-year-old, or the 6-year-old? I'm going to see how the finished product turns out before I make a final decision on this, but any input would be much appreciated!
I've just spent a lot of time updating my queue on Ravelry. I've had to move all the clothing to the back of the line for now, because I've been doing Weight Watchers Online and losing weight! Hooray! I plan to lose about 13 more pounds, and I don't know exactly what size I'll be at that point, so I've got to hold off on making garments for myself.
I have to keep reminding myself to focus on GIFTS. Like, things that aren't for me! I'm such a selfish crocheter most of the time.
On top of the kids' ponchos, I'm hoping to make a shawl for my grandma, a poncho or shawl for my mom, and a bag for my sister. Whether I can get all of this done by Chanukah remains to be seen. I'd like to make some things for my friends, too, but I can get away with giving most of them belated gifts, and they'll still love me (I hope).
Old crochet project news: I am wearing my Abydos vest today for the first time in a while. It fits me again! I'd gained quite a bit of weight since making it, but now I've lost it and then some. It looks good, but the rayon chenille is shedding all over my black outfit. D'oh.
The Java Jammie gets A LOT of use. Here it is in its final form (sorry for the crappy cell phone photo):
Aaaand I still haven't blocked my Queen Anne's Lace scarf. It's difficult to find time and space to block things. I'm hoping to do it this Saturday morning before we go out, because that way it'll have all day to dry.
And that's it for now. If you've read this far, please leave a comment and let me know that you're reading! It means a lot to me.
I'm taking it easy this time around, only crocheting for an hour or less at a time. The first poncho is still coming along quickly, though. My little nieces are ages 3, 4, and 6; the ponchos are sized 2-4, 4-6, and 6-8. I started with a poncho for my 4-year-old niece, and I thought the size 4-6 one would work since, duh, kids grow. However, it seems to be turning out too big for her (and my gauge seems to be right on). I don't know if I should give it to her anyway (she'll grow into it), or give it to her 6-year-old sister instead...My little nieces (I keep calling them "little" because I also have another niece who's quite a bit older than they are) are, well, little. Not so big for their age groups.
If anyone's reading this, what would you do? Give it to the 4-year-old, or the 6-year-old? I'm going to see how the finished product turns out before I make a final decision on this, but any input would be much appreciated!
I've just spent a lot of time updating my queue on Ravelry. I've had to move all the clothing to the back of the line for now, because I've been doing Weight Watchers Online and losing weight! Hooray! I plan to lose about 13 more pounds, and I don't know exactly what size I'll be at that point, so I've got to hold off on making garments for myself.
I have to keep reminding myself to focus on GIFTS. Like, things that aren't for me! I'm such a selfish crocheter most of the time.
On top of the kids' ponchos, I'm hoping to make a shawl for my grandma, a poncho or shawl for my mom, and a bag for my sister. Whether I can get all of this done by Chanukah remains to be seen. I'd like to make some things for my friends, too, but I can get away with giving most of them belated gifts, and they'll still love me (I hope).
Old crochet project news: I am wearing my Abydos vest today for the first time in a while. It fits me again! I'd gained quite a bit of weight since making it, but now I've lost it and then some. It looks good, but the rayon chenille is shedding all over my black outfit. D'oh.
The Java Jammie gets A LOT of use. Here it is in its final form (sorry for the crappy cell phone photo):
Aaaand I still haven't blocked my Queen Anne's Lace scarf. It's difficult to find time and space to block things. I'm hoping to do it this Saturday morning before we go out, because that way it'll have all day to dry.
And that's it for now. If you've read this far, please leave a comment and let me know that you're reading! It means a lot to me.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
More crochet mishaps
Still workin' on the Java Jammie. I think it's coming out too small. :( I should've gone up a hook size. Here it is being stretched out on a cup:
Itching to start something new, I decided to try out a Lace Cap from the free pattern by Kim Piper Werker. I used black Caron Simply Soft. It seemed to be coming along fine, until all of a sudden there weren't enough stitches left in a row for me to do what I was supposed to do...Now I don't know if I should attempt to find whatever the mistake was, or start over. I think my gauge is too small (as usual), anyway.
And, last but not least, I am trying to make a scarf for a friend using Cherry Tree Hill Zebra Caribe yarn. I'm using the Surreybelle Scarf pattern by Sarah Cooper, available as a free Ravelry download. Anyway, it's not really coming out like the one in the picture in the pattern, but it is pretty. Beautiful, in fact. That's not the problem. The problem is that this mostly cotton yarn is not soft. Now who wants to give their friends scarves that aren't soft?! *sigh* I don't know what to do. Any way to soften this up? Anyone?
I will probably continue on with this scarf, regardless, if only because I don't know what the heck else to do with this yarn (and it is very tricky to work with)!
Itching to start something new, I decided to try out a Lace Cap from the free pattern by Kim Piper Werker. I used black Caron Simply Soft. It seemed to be coming along fine, until all of a sudden there weren't enough stitches left in a row for me to do what I was supposed to do...Now I don't know if I should attempt to find whatever the mistake was, or start over. I think my gauge is too small (as usual), anyway.
And, last but not least, I am trying to make a scarf for a friend using Cherry Tree Hill Zebra Caribe yarn. I'm using the Surreybelle Scarf pattern by Sarah Cooper, available as a free Ravelry download. Anyway, it's not really coming out like the one in the picture in the pattern, but it is pretty. Beautiful, in fact. That's not the problem. The problem is that this mostly cotton yarn is not soft. Now who wants to give their friends scarves that aren't soft?! *sigh* I don't know what to do. Any way to soften this up? Anyone?
I will probably continue on with this scarf, regardless, if only because I don't know what the heck else to do with this yarn (and it is very tricky to work with)!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Jammin'!
It looks like I may finally get my Java Jammie! After a few more unsuccessful attempts, I think I've gotten it started the right way. Didn't even substitute SC for slip stitch. It looks like it's coming out right. I can't wait to start adding the little flowers. Heehee!
QAL scarf - pre-blocking
It's done! Except for weaving in the ends and blocking, that is. :) Hope I will get to block it this weekend. What a wonderful thing to be able to wear this Fall! I should call it my Back-to-School Scarf, since I'm about to start grad school after having been out of school for a long time.
I still have a decent amount of yarn left even after making the scarf...not sure what I'll do with that yet.
Still wanting a Java Jammie. I think I will try it with round 1 as sc instead of sl st, since I can't seem to get it right with a row of slip stitch.
I still have a decent amount of yarn left even after making the scarf...not sure what I'll do with that yet.
Still wanting a Java Jammie. I think I will try it with round 1 as sc instead of sl st, since I can't seem to get it right with a row of slip stitch.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Queen Anne's Lace Scarf
I had a little trouble getting this started the other day--I messed up joining the first and second motifs, and wound up having to frog. After re-starting, though, it's coming out well. Hooray!!
I love working with this yarn. It's the Handmaiden Double Sea Silk I got in Toronto. I guess I'd better enjoy it, because it was so @#$% expensive! The most I'd ever paid for one skein of yarn, but I think it was worth it. It's so beautiful and soft. I love the colors--this pic really doesn't do them justice. Different shades of purple, and some brown.
The pattern is so easy once figured out. I should be able to work on it in front of the TV...I'm about to go test that theory now. ;)
I love working with this yarn. It's the Handmaiden Double Sea Silk I got in Toronto. I guess I'd better enjoy it, because it was so @#$% expensive! The most I'd ever paid for one skein of yarn, but I think it was worth it. It's so beautiful and soft. I love the colors--this pic really doesn't do them justice. Different shades of purple, and some brown.
The pattern is so easy once figured out. I should be able to work on it in front of the TV...I'm about to go test that theory now. ;)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Hello! It's been quite a while...
I took some time away from crochet again, and now I'm back. Or trying to be, anyway. I've had some seriously frustrating crochet "issues" lately.
First, there was the lovely Java Jammie. I've been wanting to make one of these for years now. Literally. I had the yarn, so I finally gave it a shot. The first few rows looked weird, but I kept going...and it was coming out really cute! Then, I realized I'd screwed up around the flowers and hadn't increased where I was supposed to. So much for that ever fitting a coffee cup. I frogged it...and haven't been able to get it started the right way since!!! :(
The problem: Rnd 1: Work 1 sl st in each ch around.
A row of slip stitch? How's that work, exactly? Seems like, in my case, it doesn't. Did the designer really mean sc instead? Or am I just missing something? HELP! (Please?!)
Next, I tried to work on the Zen Scarf I'd started and left to hibernate for a while. I got it started up again, or so I thought; but it kept coming out wrong, with really strange edges. I ended up frogging it because I just couldn't figure out how to continue the pattern the right way. I also didn't like working with the pattern very much. It was incredibly difficult to keep track of which row I was on (I suppose I should've been writing it down, or checking the rows off, or something; but I hadn't when I'd started out, and maybe that was the entire problem). Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but for now, it's in the frog pond.
Then, I tried to make a Tunisian Lace Ascot. That didn't work out, either. I think maybe Tunisian crochet is not my thing. I eventually got the first row done, was all excited, and messed up the second row and couldn't figure out how to correct it without starting over. Then I couldn't even get the correct number of loops on the hook again.
GRRRRRRAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.
I have finally decided to try out a Queen Anne's Lace Scarf. I hope that turns out to be easier; it certainly is pretty. (No working pics with the pattern, but there are a ton of projects with pictures on Ravelry.) I want to make it using some beautiful Handmaiden Double Sea Silk yarn that I bought last week in Toronto at Lettuce Knit, while my husband and I were on our (delayed) honeymoon. :) (Honeymoon was fabulous, by the way!!)
I hope the QAL Scarf is a quick project, too, because I will soon be starting graduate school and probably won't have much time for the yarny goodness. *sigh* We'll see, though; I may still be able to fit in my crochet habit somewhere, now that I've picked up my hooks again.
First, there was the lovely Java Jammie. I've been wanting to make one of these for years now. Literally. I had the yarn, so I finally gave it a shot. The first few rows looked weird, but I kept going...and it was coming out really cute! Then, I realized I'd screwed up around the flowers and hadn't increased where I was supposed to. So much for that ever fitting a coffee cup. I frogged it...and haven't been able to get it started the right way since!!! :(
The problem: Rnd 1: Work 1 sl st in each ch around.
A row of slip stitch? How's that work, exactly? Seems like, in my case, it doesn't. Did the designer really mean sc instead? Or am I just missing something? HELP! (Please?!)
Next, I tried to work on the Zen Scarf I'd started and left to hibernate for a while. I got it started up again, or so I thought; but it kept coming out wrong, with really strange edges. I ended up frogging it because I just couldn't figure out how to continue the pattern the right way. I also didn't like working with the pattern very much. It was incredibly difficult to keep track of which row I was on (I suppose I should've been writing it down, or checking the rows off, or something; but I hadn't when I'd started out, and maybe that was the entire problem). Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but for now, it's in the frog pond.
Then, I tried to make a Tunisian Lace Ascot. That didn't work out, either. I think maybe Tunisian crochet is not my thing. I eventually got the first row done, was all excited, and messed up the second row and couldn't figure out how to correct it without starting over. Then I couldn't even get the correct number of loops on the hook again.
GRRRRRRAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.
I have finally decided to try out a Queen Anne's Lace Scarf. I hope that turns out to be easier; it certainly is pretty. (No working pics with the pattern, but there are a ton of projects with pictures on Ravelry.) I want to make it using some beautiful Handmaiden Double Sea Silk yarn that I bought last week in Toronto at Lettuce Knit, while my husband and I were on our (delayed) honeymoon. :) (Honeymoon was fabulous, by the way!!)
I hope the QAL Scarf is a quick project, too, because I will soon be starting graduate school and probably won't have much time for the yarny goodness. *sigh* We'll see, though; I may still be able to fit in my crochet habit somewhere, now that I've picked up my hooks again.
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