Crochet Shawl - In Progress

Good morning, world!  I'm taking the time to let you all know that I have a lovely crocheted shawl in progress.  I found a lovely pattern on LionBrand.com that I decided to give a try.  It's a half-moon/half-circle pattern, which I'm finding to be both interesting and a bit of a challenge as the shawl nears completion.  Expect pictures and a link to the pattern when I'm finished!

(As a teaser, you can go to Lion Brand's website and search for "Emily Shawl" to find the pattern.  Just click here!)

Projects in Progress

So much to do and so little time!  It doesn't seem all that long ago that I was working diligently on another knitted scarf, a crochet tote, an afghan, and goodness knows what else!  I've hit a bit of a slump with my work as of late; mostly because I've been moving around and under a lot of stress the past few months.  The good news is that I'm starting to settle back in and create again.

As of right now, I have three projects in process.  The first is my ongoing battle with the motif-based hexagon throw I've been working on.  I'm at a bit of a standstill with it again because I managed to lose most of my crochet hooks (including the hook I was using on the project) in one of my recent moves.  The second is another knit scarf that I started months ago and just never got back to.  The third is another dishcloth collection that I've started.

Pictures of completed projects will be posted as soon as I can get decent photos to upload.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful spring!

SOPA Strike

Hello all!  I just wanted to give fair warning that I will be participating in tomorrow's SOPA Strike in order to tell our lovely government to stop trying to censor our internet.  Please consider boycotting the internet for the day in support of this movement.

Thank you.

Crochet Cotton Tote - In Progress

I'm making significant progress on the crocheted tote bag I've been working on.  I don't have much more to go with making the gusset, and then I have two side pockets and the straps to crochet. Then, it's time to play with the sewing machine to finish things off!

I figure I'll have this finished before the end of the week.  ^_^  I will definitely post pictures when I have it finished.  Look forward to it!

Ribbed Knit Scarf

Here's the other project I managed to finish in recent history.  This is a ribbed knit scarf I made, which measures about 48 inches long.  I would have made it longer, but I really didn't want to go through the effort of adding a new skein of yarn.  I figure I can make a second scarf from the full skein I have left.  ^_^

Knit 2, Purl 2 ribbed scarf

I've started another scarf in the same knit style, but with pastel ocean-ish colors.  We'll see how long it takes me to finish that one.

Happy crafting!

Crochet Rainbow Beanie

Yet another productive day!  I crocheted this beanie while running laundry at my in-laws this past week.  Overall, I'd say this was about 4 hours worth the crochet work, including the assistance I got from Felicia, the in-law's cat.  XD

Rainbow beanie, modeled by yours truly!

 I really like how this one turned out.  It's all double-crochet, following a very simple hat construction formula I got from a crochet magazine.  (I can't remember which one right now...I'll have to find it!)

Feline Intervention

I love my cats, I really do.  However, they have this wonderful knack of finding and bothering me at the least opportune times.  For example, I was working on a knit scarf last night, and one of my cats (Kai) decided she needed to perch on the arm of my chair to assist me.  She really wanted to place herself squarely on my lap, but I managed to keep her from doing so.

Why in the world they feel that I need their help or their supervision is beyond me.  I just know that I have quite the pair, between her and Jinx.  At least his method of helping me translates to him sitting beside me and yammering away at me to pay attention to him.  I swear, you can hold entire conversations with Jinx, that's how vocal he is.

Anyway, I believe it's time to try and get some more knitting done.  They're both asleep at the moment for their afternoon snooze fest.  ^_^

Rainbow Knit

I'm so happy with how this random project turned out!  I had one ball of rainbow dyed wool yarn that I received for free at a Stitch 'n Bitch session.  I tried crocheting with it, but the yarn was a bit inconsistent; I'm pretty sure this was handspun wool yarn.  I decided that since I was having trouble crocheting with it, I could practice knitting with it, and see what I ended up with.

Well, here's what I ended up with!

Seed Stitched Knitting - My first complete knit project!

I think it turned out very well for it being a first project.  Here are a few more photos of it, just because I feel proud and accomplished.  ^_^

 Happy crafting, everyone!  ^_^

Knitting Project

I'm so excited!  My first knitting project is almost complete!

It wasn't too long ago that a good friend of mine tried teaching me to knit, and I finally understood it.  In exchange, I helped her learn to crochet, which was a lot of fun.  Anyway, I had a ball of wool yarn that I randomly got for free at a local Stitch 'n Bitch session.  I'm seed stitching it, and I'm almost to the end of the ball of yarn.

I'll post pictures when it's complete!

Lacy Dishcloth Pattern

Here is the pattern for the third dishcloth in the sampler.  I used a green self-striping cotton yarn from Lily's Sugar 'n Cream collection.

Materials:  1 ball (2 oz) of cotton yarn; Size 5mm (US H or 8) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge:  14 sc and 14 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)

Pattern Instructions:

Ch 41

Base Row:  1 dc in 3rd ch from hook.  1 dc in next 2 ch. *Ch 1, skip next ch, 1 dc in next 3 ch.  Repeat from * to end of row and turn.  (You should have 39 stitches)

1st Row:  Ch 2.  *1 dc in each of next 3 stitches.  Ch 1, skip ch 1 space.  Repeat from * to last 3 stitches.  1 dc in each of last 3 stitches and turn.

2nd Row:  Ch 2.  *1 dc in first stitch.  Ch 1, skip next stitch.  1 dc in next stitch.  1 long dc (insert hook in ch-1 space 2 rows below).  Repeat from * to last 3 stitches.  1 dc in next stitch, ch 1, skip next stitch.  1 dc in last stitch and turn.

3rd Row:  Ch 2.  1 dc in first stitch.  *Ch 1 , skip next ch-1 space, 1 dc in each of next 3 stitches.  Rep from * to last 2 stitches.  Ch 1, skip next space, dc in last stitch.  Turn.

4th Row:  Ch 2.  *1 dc in first stitch.  1 long dc over next ch-1 space.  1 dc in next st.  Ch 1, skip next stitch.  Repeat from * to last 3 stitches.  1 dc in next st, 1 long dc over next ch-1 space, 1 dc in last stitch.  Turn.

Repeat 1st to 4th rows until work from beginning measures approximately 11 inches (28 cm).  Fasten off.

Edging:  Work 1 round sc evenly around outer edge, having 3 sc in the corners.  Slip stitch in 1st stitch.

Next Round:  Ch 2.  1 dc in each stitch around, having 3 dc in the corners.  Sl st in top of turning ch.  Fasten off.

As I stated earlier, I used self-striping yarn for this pattern.  I just like the way it turns out!