Look Up

So this month is yet another blogging month and I am finally back. Well, sort of. I am on my final month of this school year and I want to start blogging again. I feel like I have missed a good deal of my life with this job and a bit of my creativity has been drained but I feel it coming back. In fact, I am working on a pretty cool new project. I found this book called Urban Paper and have introduced the concept of paper toys and robots to my students. I hope to get them to try to design their own Mars lander for Space Day (May 7th). Oh and for those of you who wonder about my title this month time... Look Up is the theme for this month. Space is looking up, right? ;) Check out the blog for the book.

First Wearable Done!!

So I just finished blocking my first wearable for me!! It is not perfect (a BIG whole on one side because of too many stitches and one pineapple that is a little wonky) but I love it. Here are some pictures from blocking (one of me in it on vacay soon). I haven't blocked in a long time and it was a challenge but I think I did OK... especially without any special tools. The close up is of the pineapple pattern. I think it was very easy (but I think most patterns are easy by the end) and a great place to start with a first wearable. I might even make another Doris Chan design before the end of summer... but this one might be a swim cover-up.

Let me know what you think! I am currently working on a scarf, three shawls/wraps, a cardigan, and I am thinking about starting something else but not sure what. I hope to have at least two of these projects done for my trip... maybe more but who knows. I guess I should get back to work. More pictures later but I will be out for a while... next blog post will probably not happen for a month. Have a great month and happy crafting!

My first wearable: Part 1

I have been surfing the internet (and my extensive book collection) for a good first wearable
project for myself. I was thinking maybe a sweater or a dress but those are very ambition (read: takes a lot of yarn) so I choose a tank top instead. I found this on Knit and Crochet Today and decided it looked easy enough to try. I am making it in Lake (blue) Cotton Ease (50/50 cotton and acrylic) and so far I have just finished one skein.

It is going well. I have been working on it for about a week now (off and on but more like 2 days). I have frogged several times because I keep losing track. It is hard to pay attention and watch TV but it is not that hard if you focus. The pattern is available for free on the website and I think this is a very cute pattern for anyone. This show sometimes comes on different PBS stations. You can use their website to find a station. The instructions on the show are great to help you be successful with this project.

This is me in it so far. I am making a L/XL (same size on the pattern) and it is a little big on me without it being blocked... it is might be huge when I finish it. I am in the exploded pineapple repeat section. I hope to finish this this week and start my first real blocking project (well one this large). Tell me what you think!!

Happy crocheting!!!

Crochet Exchanges rock!

So I have been busy with my new group on Ravelry... The Crochet Exchange Club (CEC). It needs a little work but so far I love it. So I finally got to participate in one of the exchanges, the May Flower Swap. My partner sent me these beautiful roses, all made with handspun (and even dyed) yarn. She also included the really pretty stitch markers.

I made these roses, since she likes roses, but I don't think they are as nice as hers. I tried five different patterns and still love hers more. Oh well. I should be sending these out today. I hope she likes them.

Later I will show you a preview of my first crocheted wearable I am making for me! I have made wearables before but never for me. I want to make a ton this summer... since yarn is cheaper than clothes... but it all depends on how this project turns out. Oh, and two new books and a magazine review in the future!

Happy crafting!

AW: my squares were featured on Pay it Forward

As some of you know (if you have been reading along) that I have done some charity work (I am starting slowly) and made a bunch of squares to send to a little girl in New Mexico for her school's Pay it Forward project. Well I finally checked and she featured me on her blog (I am the Benicia CA one). Here is the pic she used (aren't the blocks pretty?). Now I just need to share some of my other work with y'all. Hopefully, I will get around to that soon.

Book Review: Blueprint Crochet

I love books, maybe even more than I love crafting but I can't be sure. I am going to add to my crafting madness here by including reviews of my favorite crochet and crafting books. We will start with a new jewel!!


Blueprint Crochet by Robyn Chachula


My hubby just bought me this book because he wants me to work on sweaters for me and thought some of these were very cute and structural (which I love). It also to be written by one of my all-time crochet designer Robyn Chachula. The book includes lots of really architectural designs (lots of math and science-y looking stuff) but it is all done through symbols!!! Symbols work so much better for me than actual instructions it is insane. I actually find that I don't even try most difficult patterns if they don't have symbols and diagrams to help. I am a very visual person so I need that kind of support (and I am sure other people need it too).

I really want to make everything in this book but especially the Sarah Bee Dress and the Katie Bolero. The book is totally worth the $23 if you want cute structural wearables. Check out Robyn's blog to find out more about this book and her other work (linked to the book title). I can't wait to share some of the things I make with this book!!! Oh and the cover is so cute too!


Enjoy!

Finally a finished Paisley Skies Scarf

So yes I did finish it (I am still weaving in some ends but on the most part it is done). I adapted the paisley pattern from one I found online (Patti had them available to see here). I really like the colors and how they work together. In the end I edged it with a modified pattern from a book (150 Crochet Trims). It is called an iris stitch but I like how it looks a little changed. I took the pictures pretty quick so they are not great but I hope you get the idea. The first one is me wearing it (and boy is that not flattering) and the second is just a closeup of the end of the scarf. I am currently filling the white spaces between paisleys (the gaps) and weaving in ends but it is war, and I love how quirky it is. Enjoy!

Wow I am not photogenic but the scarf still looks good. Below is the end of the scarf showing the detailing. I used our Peruvian fabric as a background (isn't it pretty?).

Happy NatCroMo!!

March is NatCroMo (also IntCroMo) which is celebrated all over the country (and world) both IRL and online. I have decided to celebrate this year in a couple of ways. I am going to blog everyday (or as close as possible) about crochet, charity work, crafting, and learning about crochet. I am doing several things this month to celebrate, including: taking two classes online at crochetville, participatine in my first freeform on ravelry, and starting some charity work (probably Project Linus but I don't know yet). I will keep you all up-to-date with that. In fact, later today (if it actually happens) I will post about the two patterns I have tested and some other projects I am working on. Please feel free to check out the information on both Ravelry and Crochetville.

Oh and Happy NatCroMo!

Finally some finished objects

So what has it been? A month? Well almost and I have been away crafting and dealing with life (so not fair that it interferes with my crafting). I have been crocheting a lot (and a little quilting but we will get to that in another post). During my crocheting I found a wonderful site called Ravelry! I think I am in love (and my husband is a little jealous). Well, while on it I found a charity project called Pay It Forward where a little girl in New Mexico is collecting crocheted and knitted squares and making blankets for children who need them for her school's community project. She has a blog here. Below you can see the squares I contributed (you can find all of them on my ravelry page).

I have also been working on some scarves and an afghan or two. Later today I hope to also blog about my v-day/six month anni decor... everything was made from what I had around and set up in one day. Well happy crafting and I hope to have more for you later!!

Oh I love penguins...

Now that I have come back to the world of crafting I am making stuffed toys and loving it. In fact, I just finished my first amigurumi (well proper one... I made animals before but never ones that really looked like anything). I made penguin and totally skipped steps (I am so bad with patterns but I think it turned out great. I got the pattern from Tiny Yarn Animals. After making the penguin J found a book of different creatures, like vampires and zombies, he wants me to make for him. I got it from the library and fell in love with Creepy Cute Crochet, which I will post pics of as soon as I finish a few. Ok back to crocheting!

What I am working on....

So I have two big projects going on right now (I still need to show you what I did for Christmas but it will come). I am making a new crochet bag because mine is just not cutting it and I am trying to make a scarf for the Vanna White Yarn Contest (I really want the money and recognition).

Here is the bag pattern (from Lion Brand yarns, which you may need to join to see the pattern). I am making it much larger and adding an extra row of pockets around the top. I am also doing it in a yarn that is a mix of browns and blues. I love it but it is taking a long time. I also hope to reinforce it with plastic on the bottom to hold better.

I am trying to make either a fractal scarf or a paisley scarf for the Vanna White competition. I found the paisley motif here. I just thought it might be fun but it is proving a wee bit problematic. I have only made one so far (pic below and that is my iPod touch for a size comparison) and I had a hard time with the small hook splitting the yarn. Maybe a bigger hook but then it will be a huge scarf. Hmm... must think on this. But what do you think about the colors and the paisley itself. Cool or not?

Oh and I am doing two monthly Crochet-alongs (CAL) on different websites. I am doing a block of the month on Craftster and a scarf of the month on Crochetville.org. I hope to keep this up and maybe hugely increase my stash of gifts. Neither one is started but I hope to do both by the end of the month. Oh and read four books.