Tying Up Loose Ends

This is C's Big Boy Blanket that finally got finished after 3 years. I thought that I'd better get it done to coincide with his move to his big boy room.

My husband and I were unduly worried about this move, but C. completely surprised us and didn't even bat an eye. He made the transition easily and without any tears. We were shocked and very proud of him.

I think spending time in the space beforehand, and seeing all of us (my husband, me, his grandparents) working on the room made him excited to switch rooms. Plus, we emphasized what a big boy he was, and that the nursery was for a "baby."

As he got ready for his big change, I finally bound off and wove in some more ends on this blanket (which is made up of single, double, and half double crochets).

I'm happy it's done and I do like the colors/ feel of the blanket, but it's not my favorite thing I've ever made. I started this before I knew a lot about yarn, hook sizes, etc. So, my gauge changed a lot about two years ago, and that's a little odd. Also the yarn I used (Naturally Caron Country) was maybe not the best choice for a blanket.  I've learned a lot since I started. Still, I have a feeling it will be snuggled and loved by C. and so that makes it perfect in my eyes.

MIA

Unfortunately I have not been MIA due to a fabulous tropical vacation, or even--God forbid--because of the rare earthquake, hurricane, and tornadoes my region has experienced as of late.

Nope. It's only because of running out of yarn with only about 10 inches left on the border of my basket weave throw. Don't you hate it when that happens? You're almost to the end of a project and then your momentum totally stalls. Truthfully, I still have not made it to the craft store to pick up more yarn. Hopefully sometime this week...

Anyway, I'm calling this blanket 99% finished.

It wound up being about as long as me-around 63"- and about as wide as a twin bed. (You didn't really expect me to measure it, did you?) I used the same ribbed border technique that I discovered from the Crochet Shrug I made earlier this summer. The blanket part is very thick, heavy, and extremely warm. The border definitely has a different weight to it, but it doesn't bother me too much. If I was making it again, that's something I would consider changing; it's the right look I was going for, but it doesn't have the same heft as the rest of the throw.

Now that we are getting ready to move into autumn, I know this blanket will start getting a lot more use. I'm also happy to be checking one more blanket off my WIP list.

Make That 4

I did say that I was "obsessed with blankets", didn't I?

Now I have four blankets that I need to finish. I guess three wasn't enough pressure for me so I had to add this one into the mix.

I swear this was such an impulsive move...I wasn't planning on making this ripple blanket at all. I didn't even have the pattern in my queue on Ravelry.

But maybe I should have seen this coming: I kept talking about wanting to try a zig zag pattern here and here. If you add in my strong desire to use up stash yarn and my current infatuation with blankets I guess it all makes sense.

These are all acrylic yarns from my stash. Most of them have been used for various baby knits over the years. This blanket will be for the crib in Little C's room. He does need a blanket this year, so it will be a useful item. I debated adding the pink, but I'm sure he doesn't care about those things yet. It's more of a "nursery blanket" than a blanket specifically for him anyway. Plus, I had a lot of pink that I wanted to use up.

The ripple pattern is strangely addicting; it's hard to stop once you get going. I followed an excellent tutorial  to learn how to do it, and after a couple of rows it was easily memorized. I love seeing the blanket grow and changing the colors. I probably made the blanket a  little too wide (it's more twin bed -sized, than crib- sized) but if I ever do have a girl (again, with the baby girl talk! Sheesh.) then it would always look cute on her hypothetical big girl bed.

Anyway, before I get way too far ahead of myself, I need to finish this new project (as well as the other 3). I probably have to add 30 or so more inches in length. Hopefully I don't spontaneously start any more projects. I can't trust myself to be sure though.

Obsssed With Blankets

It's really hot around here right now. So, of course in contrary madness I want to crochet or knit blankets all the time. I have three blanket WIPs currently in my closet.

Here's the roundup:

Little C's big boy blanket:

I started this in the summer of 2009 and it has made several appearances on this blog. I am starting to get that anxious and panic-y feeling about it, which usually means that I MUST complete a project as soon as possible. Two years is a little too long to languish. I'm going to try very hard to finish this up in the next few months.

Basketweave Throw:

I started this in December (2010) and am really close to finishing it! (this is an old picture).  Finishing it in almost 6 months isn't bad at all. I only have to add on about 8 inches in length and put on a border. I'm hoping to finish this by the end of the summer.

Flowers in the Snow Blanket:

Ok, confession: I have made very little progress on this blanket which was started in January 2011. I think I made one more circle and that's it. This was supposed to be my longterm craft for Girls Night. That didn't really happen b/c as it turns out, it's hard to focus on counting the stitches while under the influence. Another non-alcoholic impediment to my progress is my lack of incentive. The blue stripe blanket is definitely for Little C. and I know it will go at the foot of his bed. The Basketweave Throw will definitely be used in the family room during TV-viewing. As for this? I have no idea who it's for or where it will go. I keep thinking that it would be very pretty in my daughter's room, but I don't have a daughter!!! Ha! So I'm sure this lack of purpose has hindered my progress. I will probably keep adding a circle here and there until I figure out what I'm doing with it.

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I definitely already have my hands full when it comes to my blankets...and yet I can't resist this beautiful throw (Ravelry link). Like the Flowers in the Snow blanket, I have no real reason to make this, other than for aesthetics. I love the original happy yellow, but it wouldn't go with anything in my house. I've considered going with a slate blue-gray or chocolate brown and using it in my own bedroom, but so far I haven't committed. If or until that happens, I'm sure I'll just continue to daydream about it and other blankets. It's about 100 degrees out. What else would I be doing?

Spring Stash Cleaning: Twister Doll Blanket

I'm a pretty stubborn determined person. When I have my mind set on something I'm probably going to do EVERYTHING (legally speaking) possible to make it happen. It sounds nice when you call it perseverance or determination, but truthfully, it's really just about stubbornness. I'm like a donkey that won't budge when it comes to certain things (like maybe about using up my yarn stash). Unfortunately the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The Little Man has been starting to show this trait with a vengeance since he entered full fledged toddlerdom and man, am I getting a taste of my own medicine.

Little C. and I have been battling over his emerging values. These pillars include:

1. drinking water ONLY out of the blue plastic cup--not the green one! For the love of God, not the green one, so help us!
2. reading Little Quack Dial-a-Duck (the sequel to Little Quack Hide and Seek) no less than 10 times in a row.
3. "sweeping" (and I use that term expansively) the floor anytime he catches sight of a broom. This is fine in our own home, but he had a fit in the fabric store over the weekend when he saw a maintenance man with a dustpan and broom and wasn't allowed to "sweep" the floor himself.
4. watching Guy Fieri on the Food Network when he is eating his lunch/ snack as well as Ina Garten during dinner (God help me when they change the lineups).
5. only eating food that is smothered in tomato sauce or apple sauce.

While coping with the development of my son's determination and perseverance, I have been doggedly going through my stash and trying to use up yarn. I'm making progress on the flower pillow for my niece, but red warning lights and sirens starting going off in my head when I realized that I couldn't give something to one little niece without giving something to the other one. (this post of mine pretty much covers that topic).  Thankfully, that's when I spotted these forgotten Circles in the Square that I made for her two years ago.

When I made the "Twister" throw for her back then I overestimated the number of squares I needed. Hence, I was left with 3 strips of joined granny squares and about 5 that were unjoined--all sitting in a bag in my closet. I didn't have any idea what to do with them until I remembered how much my niece loves her baby doll. All baby dolls need a blanket, don't they? I merely had to join the strips and assorted squares, sew in a bunch of ends, and block it. Voila! A doll blanket for my niece that matches her throw.

 I have one odd square left. Now what do I do with that? A washcloth? A coaster? A book cover for Little Quack Dial-A -Duck?

Maybe I'll just keep it as a stash busting memento. I'm almost as excited to be lightening my stash as I am to be giving this to my niece. Hope her baby doll likes it.



Girls Night Long Term Project: Take 2

I've been diligently working on my basket weave blanket which, as you may recall, was supposed to be my long term project for Girls Night. I abandoned it as an idea for craft night because I was crocheting it so quickly. I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with another idea that I could work on during these meetings. It had to be something easy, fun, and practical. I normally don't make New Year's resolutions (this year I made so many I had to write them all down. I just counted and there are 22 of them--don't ask!) One of the craft-related resolutions was to be more resourceful with the materials I already have. For knitters and crocheters this means "stash-busting."

I really hate waste. Whenever I knit or crochet something I always look at the little ball of yarn left after a project and think, 'Now what am I supposed to do with that?' I always figured I would eventually make a scrap blanket of all these leftover yarns, but I hadn't found a pattern that I wanted to use. Until now! This pattern was exactly what I was looking for.

These little circles will eventually have a white (or cream, or beige, or gray) square border around each one. And then I'll sew them all together. Right now I'm just having fun making the different colored circles though. They're fun, provide instant gratification, and they're helping me meet my resolution to be more resourceful.

They're perfect for the meetings with the girls. I have a lot more yarn to filter in, so I can see this being a very long term project indeed.

Not My Knits: Pink Zig Zag Blanket

The other day I got to thinking about where my crochet/ knitting obsession originated. It feels like it was an overnight thing: one day I was a normal young (ish) woman, minding my own business, and the next thing you know I was tackled by this tremendous urge to crochet/ knit. All the time.

I started to feel victimized by the power of this addiction.  And if it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.

Then I realized that I'm probably not that "normal" in the first place (but who is?) And that the obsession wasn't an "overnight thing" at all. In fact, the groundwork had been laid in my childhood. Maybe even in my very DNA.



I mentioned before how craftiness is in my blood. Clearly being surrounded by such talented ladies--or more truthfully--being surrounded by the finished objects of such talented ladies had a huge influence on me and my appreciation for handmade things. You can't spend years under the blankets that someone has spent literally hours and hours crocheting for you without thinking about the artistic decisions and skill that went into them.

This is one such blanket. The Pink Zig Zag blanket that spent some time at the foot of my childhood bed, and spent much time in my parents' TV room. It's a blanket that both of my childhood pets loved (by the way, ever notice how cats and dogs are instinctively drawn to knitted or crocheted throws? It's like a magnet) and I have vivid images of them curled up on top of it. I borrowed it from my parents this month to take a photograph of it. As it sat folded up in my house while I waited to give it back to them, I was astounded to discover how much it felt like "home" to me. It was such a comforting object and had such a nostalgic "home" feeling to it. Some things can be very powerful like that. But I hadn't really ever experienced that feeling to such a degree before with a physical object. It's fitting, I suppose, because this is a blanket that was made by my own grandmother's hands. Each stitch crocheted by her.

I know that this blanket is one of the stops along the way on my crochet/ knitting journey. Now that I know more about the craft I can appreciate my grandmother's sense of color (she stuck to a pink hue and alternated three colors, one being a variegated yarn which brought in a touch of light brown); her consistency (I can't see any mistakes, her gauge doesn't change, and she single crocheted a border around the entire blanket using a pattern instead of just going about willy-nilly, which I unfortunately tend to do); and her pattern choice. I know zig zags or chevrons have been very popular in the past. They have a more modern feel to them today (sometimes softened into ripples instead of zig zags). They could even be considered quite fashionable since they are always visible when it comes to the design house Missoni ( a beautiful, Missoni-inspired, knitted chevron blanket pattern can be found here). It's a pattern that I know my grandmother must have enjoyed making because there are several more of these blankets at my parents' house that I grew up with. From my own experience with the earflap hats, I know that you only revisit a pattern if you really like it.

I plan on showcasing these blankets here in the future. I've decided to periodically highlight some of the crocheted and knitted pieces that have surrounded me as a child and as an adult in a series of posts titled "Not My Knits." It's a way for me to pay homage to the people--both living and deceased--who have made these items, and it's also a way for me to understand how they influenced me directly or indirectly.

Who knows, but after studying my grandmother's blanket for so long I'm kind of wanting to make one myself now! Remember, it's in my blood. 

Girls Night Longterm Project

So, remember how I mentioned that instead of working on small crafts for each Girls Night, we decided to individually pick a long project to work on each time we meet instead? Well, this is it.

This is the beginning of a throw blanket, crocheted in a basket weave pattern. The basket weave effect is produced by using front and back post double crochets. The pattern can be found on lionbrand.com, but you have to register to view it, I think.  I'm using 3 double crochets; the pattern calls for 4.

Recognize the yarn? It's the yarn that I've attempted to use for a couple different projects over the last 10 years. First for a lacy throw (undocumented) and then for crochet pillows . This time, I know it's the right project; the pattern calls for this yarn (Lion Brand Homespun), and I've been wanting to make a cozy throw for myself for awhile. Something warm to throw on (ha, get it? puns are fun) while watching TV at night. This will be perfect.

The yarn texture, as well as the pattern, makes for a very thick and warm result. At this time of year when it's rainy, windy, cold, and possibly snowing, crocheting this blanket is a welcome refuge. I kind of get to snuggle under it while I'm making it! Get me a steaming cup of hot cocoa and a good movie and I'm good to go.

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The are a couple drawbacks to this project, however:

• I must finish my Christmas knitting/ crocheting ASAP and this is making me procrastinate
• This is supposed to be a long term project, but I'm probably going to finish it really fast and not during Girls Night

Maybe I'll have to come up with a different idea to work on this year with the girls. Maybe hand stitching something? I'm definitely not likely to ever hand stitch something on my own. And the meetings with the girls would force me to do it. Hmmm...I'll have to do some research.

Craft Bucket List

Here is a list of some large projects I would like to tackle at some point in my life before I kick the bucket (which will hopefully occur sometime when I'm in my 90s, preferably in my sleep, maybe while wearing the following sweater with the cathedral quilt and hexagon throw pulled up over me, with a crewel pillow behind my aged head):

Cathedral Window Quilt

I love the effect you get from the folding of the fabric. It truly is a mixture of origami and sewing. I know this requires a lot of pressing, and at this point that gives me flashbacks from when I was trying to make the baby "quilt" with my gigantic pregnant stomach. I think I need a little more time to pass before I can revisit quilting.

The Dude's Sweater from The Big Lebowski

This pattern is a copy of the sweater Jeff Bridges' iconic character wore in the movie. I'm still not sure if I am willing to put the time and effort into making this. It would definitely be fun to have, but when would I wear it? Hmmm, maybe I don't want to look like The Dude afterall. And it would require a ton of time and dedication to essentially look like a slacker. I don't know if I can live with that kind of irony.

Crewel Pillows (these are from Williams Sonoma)

I really admire the Middle Eastern style of crewel work. Before I attempt this I need some tutorials (haven't really been able to find what I'm looking for), crewel needles/ hooks, and appropriate thread/ fabric. I need to research this more.


Hexagon Throw (picture from Garnet Hill)

This is the project I'm most likely to accomplish b/c it's in my skill level, and I'm very comfortable with granny squares. I really only need to think about yarn color for this.

So, these are the bigger projects on the Craft Bucket List for now. I have a lot of little things on the horizon that I'd like to accomplish, but these are the longterm committments that sit in the back of my mind. It's dusty and cobweb-y, but there are honest-to-god thoughts back there, I swear.

Inspiration

I received a new Garnet Hill catalogue in the mail last week. I

was so excited to see so many beautiful handmade products in its pages. From the Christmas ornaments and stockings to these stunning throws, it was a crafter's dream.

These blankets are particularly awesome, because they're crocheted! The top two are hexagon grannies (I mentioned how I have been wanting to make something with that pattern).

And this last one is--you guessed it---Circles in the Square, which I am very familiar with. Circular patterns are very eye-catching and more modern looking when it comes to granny squares, in my opinion.

I'm currently knee-deep (hand-deep?) in yarn at the moment, making a lot of holiday gifts, attempting crochet snowflakes (I spent two hours working on one before I realized the pattern I was using was flawed. I would like to stab the pattern writer with my crochet hook! Hey, that's a lot of valuable nap time to waste, people!), and constantly feeling the pull of other crochet projects I would like to try. The pre-holiday season is a very busy time for us crafters. If you know other knitters/ crocheters, I bet they have started to get that serious, game-face look. Maybe beads of sweat have started to break out on their brows. When you talk to them they have that far-away, preoccupied look on their faces? Yep, they've got a lot of crocheting/ knitting to do before Dec. 25th.

I'm going to buckle down, focus on my current projects, and finish them. Then I can start to think about these lovely inspiration pieces pictured above...or maybe I should get started on next year's Christmas gifts?

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For the cost curious, the hexagon blankets are priced at $348 and the pillows at $98. The Circle in the Square blanket is priced at $128. Crafters all over Etsy.com are raising their prices, I'm sure.

Yarn Thief!

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..."

I admit it. I'm guilty. This poor blanket was just minding his own business when I began stalking him from around the corner. He was the perfect prey: vulnerable, rich, and oblivious to the danger lurking nearby. I waited patiently for my chance to ambush. Before he even knew what was happening, I had already mugged my victim, robbing him of the precious yarns that were rightfully his.

Ha, ha, I laughed maniacally as I ran away from the scene of the crime, leaving him in a heap on the floor. I clutched my stolen treasures in my arms: 7 skeins of yarn in the blanket's vibrant colors! I knew I would be easy to trace, but I didn't care. I already had visions of sweaters, hats, and gloves dancing in my head.

Before the yarn police caught up with me I had already spent most of what I had stolen. The yarn was used on 4 hats, 1 sweater, and various accents on other pieces. Too bad, blanket. You may have caught me, but you'll never get your yarn back!

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This will eventually be Baby C.'s "big boy blanket" so I have some time yet before I make restitution by buying more of these yarns and actually finishing it. I'm only a quarter of the way through. I like to have a number of projects going on simultaneously, and I've been very distracted lately by them. I'm even playing around with knitting again. I'm pretty determined to get the hang of it this time, but it's slow going for me. Again, I have plenty of time to learn. Now especially, since I'm looking at a life sentence in the slammer.

For My Sister

Circles in the Square for my sister's lovely daughter.

Twister anyone?

I liked this pattern. Hope my neice likes it too.