FYI, CrochetMe has done an awesome job updating their website! If you haven't seen it yet, I totally recommend checking it out. I'm hooked (pun intended) on the forum, as usual. Forums are my favorite source of yarn related info... From reading the CrochetMe Blog, I've become aware that the founder, Kim Werker will be promoting her new book this weekend at Spark Craft in Cambridge, and again on October 14th at Webs! I really need to go to one of these! I may try to get to the on in Cambridge this weekend, but if I can't then there is always the 14th. Kim does a great job promoting crochet. She's part of the reason I've become so much more interested in it lately. Yay Kim (and the crochet revolution)!

NEXT!

September 28th, 2007

Since I'm on a crochet kick... I'm working on coming up with a crochet rasta-style hat. I'm planning on making this one for James, so he's being included in the design process. The first part of the process was figuring out what type of rasta hat he likes. There are so many different ways of making them. So, he and I spent a few hours browsing the vast internet world for rasta hats. To the left you'll see the inspiration for the hat I'm designing. That one is knit, but mine is going to be crocheted. To be honest, I can't remember where we found this image, otherwise I'd link to the website.

Then, I brought home some Classic Elite yarn boards recently and asked him to choose a yarn and color that he liked. We choose classic one fifty together, and he picked the color he liked best. I took the liberty of choosing a crochet stitch pattern that I felt would work, and that I felt comfortable writing a pattern with.

Yesterday I did my gauge swatches, steamed them then stared working on the hat. I'm starting the hat where the lace begins. Once the top portion of the hat is finished I'm going to single crochet around the bottom edge for the band and the brim. I haven't quite figured out exactly how the brim is going to look. I'm thinking I'll try a few ideas once I get to that point, then choose which ever one James likes the best.

To the right is an anklet that my friend Emma made for me. I love it! I haven't taken it off since she gave it to me. The beads are wooden though, so I should probably remember to remove it for showering. Thanks Emma!

Moving right along...

September 26th, 2007

Here is another crochet motif pattern! I love that Pam has me working with her on the Classic Elite Web-Letters. Each pattern that I design I also get to feature it on my website. Keeping a collection of the patterns I've written together for those of you who are interested. It's keeping me designing, that's for sure.

For this scarf, I'm planning on teaching a class on October 13, 2007 at Hub Mills Store in Lowell, MA. The class will be from 11 am – 2 pm for $15 plus the cost of materials. I'm planning on teaching crocheters how to create this simple motif and join the motifs together to make the whole scarf. I'm hoping that everyone who comes will have at least a little crochet experience as I don't expect to be able to spend much time going over how to do the stitches. If you're interested, please contact me, as space is limited. If I get a lot of responses I'll consider doing a second class on the 20th.

Since we don't have a whole lot of people at work who know how to crochet, I've been concentrating lately on coming up with more crochet projects. There are a few ideas in the works. I think it's about time that crocheters get some more pattern recognition. I'm becoming much more comfortable with the idea of writing more complicated crochet patterns too. But for now, I'm working on more simple ideas.

Welcome Mozy!

September 24th, 2007

On Thursday, James and I picked up a friend for our little Jelly Bean. Meet Mozart (or Mozy for short). He's a vocal little rascle. Loves to run around the house and unravel a little yellow ball of yarn. He's super cuddily and enjoys sleeping beside Jim's head at night, sharing his pillow. Jelly didn't really know what to think of him at first. This strange creature came into her terretory and stunk up the place like kitten. After a few days of hissing at a closed door Jelly saw Mozy break free from his entrapment and wander freely around the house. Jelly followed close behind making sure the creature wasn't going to do anything she didn't like. After 2 days of following the kitten around, she began to become more comfortable with it, and even let it get close enough to touch noses before hissing. There was never any physical abuse between them, just a few harsh words. Today they were running back and forth from the kitchen to the computer room chasing each other. Now they're only hissing when they get snuck up on. It's actually rather amusing. When Jelly sneaks up on Mozy he'll hiss and jump a foot into the air, then run. Jelly follows.

I'm really happy they're getting along well.

The Crochet Motif Pattern is up!

September 19th, 2007

Thanks for the great e-mails asking for the Cardigan pattern. It really inspired me to get crackin' on it. Over the weekend I spent some time double and triple checking it. So, now it's ready for you to all enjoy!

Here it is!

Masterful Knitting continues

September 18th, 2007

I've been getting renewal notices from TKGA recently. They've been reminding me that the 1 year mark for the Master Knitting program is coming up quickly. If I don't finish the level before the 1 year mark, I need to get a new version, and possibly will need to redo parts of it... which, isn't really something that sounds super progressive. This weekend I picked up my binder, and started sifting through it to see what I have left. I was able to knit up all but 2 of the remaining swatches. Last night I knit up the final 2. Now I only have a few questions, a report on blocking and a striped hat to finish, then I'm done! Hopefully I can do it all before October 10th.

To the right you'll see my last swatch. It's the only swatch that requires color changing. Aparently the right edge, where the color changes (and where I goofed and thought the color was going to change, so I cut the blue yarn by accident) doesn't want to be smooth. I plan on reknitting it, as I'm totally unhappy with it. It looks like the problem is in the row before the color change, which is pretty strange. I guess I'll have to be a little more careful when I'm doing those parts. I'm also going to do a little research to see if there's anything special I can do to prevent this.

I learned something on this swatch: When changing color while working in a rib, to prevent the multi-colored purl stitch, change your colors preparing to work a right-side row, then on your first row knit all the way across. Then on your next row, continue working in the rib pattern as before. I had my doubts, but as you can see, there are no multi-colored purl stitches in the rib. Nifty.

The Wool Bam Boo Crochet Motif Cardigan - Finished

September 14th, 2007

I'm not 100% sure what I want to do with this design yet. The idea of making another one somewhat makes me cringe, so I'm hesitant about submitting it to any magazines. I also can't decide if it should be a spring or fall type garment, so I'm leaning toward posting it on my website, and letting it be available all year to anyone who wants it.

I've worn mine a few times, and I need to add another row or two around the neck to make sure it doesn't slide off my shoulders. That gets somewhat annoying. Once I do that, I'll update the pattern and turn it into something pretty to post on here.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might call this one? Crochet Motif Cardigan just sounds too boring, and obvious, so I'd like to think of something else. I was inspired to design this from working on some crocheted snowflakes. However, these motifs aren't very snowflake like, so the word snowball came to mind, but they're definitely not ball like either. I'll keep my thinking cap on, or if anything comes to mind, please e-mail me.

Wisdom-less

September 12th, 2007

The wisdom teeth removal went very well. I think we spent more time in the waiting room before James was called in, than it took for them to be extracted. I was hoping I would have more time to work on my scarf than I did, but at the same time, I'm glad that he didn't have to be in there very long. I'm not usually put into a position where I need to care for someone who can't really operate on their own. It was quite a different experience. I learned that I get really anxious, and feel like I need to do things all at the same time, when I probably don't have to.

When we left the dentist's office we went to get the prescriptions filled, but I thought he would be more comfortable at home, than waiting in the car, especially in his drowsy/-not feeling so well state. So, I ran in to get them filled, then we drove home. I wanted to get him comfortable before I left to pick up the prescriptions, but he wandered into the bathroom, and I paced back and forth in the kitchen not knowing what to do first. The dentist said he had to begin taking the drugs within the hour, so I felt rushed to get them picked up, but I didn't want to leave him alone in this state... decisions decisions. I asked him if he'd be okay if I ran back to the store. Of course he said he would, which eased me, but I still had anxiety that I shouldn't leave him... but the store's only a few minutes away... so I went.

Once I got to the store everything seemed to slow down on me. The pharmacy technician took forever to wander over to me. I knew that I needed to just slow down and be patient, there was no need to feel so rushed. As I was leaving I was reminded to slow down again by the automatic door opening remarkably slowly. At this point, I felt as though there was no reason for my rushing about. Things only get partially done when one rushes, so I'm glad the universe helped me realize this again. James was sitting on the bed when I returned. No tragedies, thank goodness. All that worry for nothing. Once he was comfortable and settled I ran back out to get applesauce, but this time, there was no rushing, and no worrying. I finally remembered that these things aren't necessary, and that the universe always has a way of taking care of everything. So, I picked up a few things for my dinner and took my time driving home. The rest of the evening was pretty relaxing, and he wasn't in much pain, which made us both pretty happy.

I think this was an interesting experience... definitely not one I get to experience very often. I'm sure that having kids is something like this... Hopefully I get better at the whole anxiety thing before that happens.

Life's funny little coincidences

September 11th, 2007

Life is just too funny sometimes. First thing this morning, I began working on today's Web-Letter, and learned that Cecily Glowik—one of the aspiring designers here at Classic Elite—learned to knit the same way, at the same time as I did. She received a Stitch & Bitch book from a friend three years ago for Christmas. As I read, I wondered if Pam had confused our stories, so I wandered over to Cecily to learn that, no, it was true, we were inspired to teach ourselves to knit at the same time, by receiving a similar book. I had received Stitch & Bitch Nation from Jim's sister, which is the sequel to Stitch & Bitch… close enough. The similarities amused me.

Today I get to leave work a tad early. James will be having his wisdom teeth removed this afternoon. I'm sure it will all go smoothly, but I understand why he's a little nervous. It's not something anyone goes through every day. I'm planning on working on my crochet motif scarf while he's having it done. Hopefully I'll be able to get quite a few stars finished. I'm more than half way, but I haven't got much more time. I need to have this finished and photographed by the 25th. It's a relatively simple motif pattern, there are only 2 rounds, and it is connected to the existing star motifs on the second round. The only thing I wish could have been done differetnly is that the pesky ends don't land in any place convenient. On the cardigan I did recently the ends were in a place where future motifs joined, so I was able to weave them into the chains as I worked past them. But not this time. I couldn't figure out how to get it to line up that way. Oh well. Looks like I get to spend a relaxing hour or so weaving in ends. It'll be a good way of getting myself to slow down and be in the "now" for a little while.

Busy little bee

September 7th, 2007

Oi, I've been a busy little bee lately. I'm finished knitting the Forbidden Leafy lace cardigan... but I really hate the way the sleeves came out. I designed them to be 3⁄4 length, but I didn't compensate enough for the cuff width, so it's a bit too tight, then I was being lazy and changed balls of yarn mid row. I've noticed that with small yarns this isn't so much of a big deal, but with really big yarns, it's far too noticable, especially in reverse stockinette. SO... I'm seriously thinking of ripping out the sleeves, redesigning them and knitting them again, either long sleeved in stockinette OR short sleeve in the leaf pattern. I'm still deciding... It's kinda been pushed to the back burner. I've been working on a crochet motif scarf for an upcoming Web Letter, so I need to finish that up.

I've also begun to work as a tech editor for Interweave Crochet in my spare time. This has made me realize that I need a new computer. I bought a laptop when I was going to school, about 5 years ago, and I reformatted that and I've dedicated it to yarn related things, but it's totally not cutting it. The monitor I use at work is 23", the one on my laptop is about 12. I'm so used to tech editing at work with 23" to work with. So I'm really, seriously considering breaking down and buying a new IMac. I'm planning on submitting lots of designs for upcoming magazines, so my goal is to buy the new computer once I get 3 or 4 more designs accepted. I'm thinking that will justify it for me. Plus, I'm sure having a great computer at home will really inspire me to do more designing and pattern writing.

Another update... is that the Fall issue of Interweave Crochet will be out soon! They've updated their website, and you can now go see the Wool Bam Boo Cardigan that I stressed about back in April. The issue will be finding its way to stores on September 18th. Just in case you're wondering, yes, that is ALL crocheted.

My Raw journey

Patterns for Sale

Tweed Beret

Violet, the Slouchy Head Friend

Lush Woven Scarf

Petal Socks

River of Life Socks

Crochet Motif Cardigan

Beatrice Ribbed Tie Coat