Crafty Corner: Ladybug & a Scarf

Two crafty posts in as many weeks. It must be a miracle. Or my determination to become more consistent with my posting schedule. And I’ve finished two projects in the last week.

When I posted last week, I was almost finished with the ladybug I was crocheting. I finished it later that day.

view from side

top view

When I finished that project, I started a scarf pattern I found on lionbrand.com. The Tidewater Lace Scarf actually called for Cotton-Ease yarn, which I do not have any of. I did have a ball of Caron Simply Soft yarn(ok, I have more than 1). I thought that would work nice too. Since You work over the same pattern rows until it reaches a certain length, I wasn’t too worried about gauge. I worked on it for 6 days, a total of about 11.5 hours. It did turn out nice, even though I messed up a couple times on the pattern.

 

folded over

laid out

I’m planning on starting my next project today, this hat. I thought it was really cute when I was browsing through ravelry. Hopefully I’ll have something to show for it when I post next week.

Crafty Corner: Halloween & Winter

I had a longer post title, then figured this fit just as well. I have been concentrating this last month or so on just getting one project at a time done. If you follow my writing updates as well, you’ll know this is a problem I have in just about every aspect of my life, or at least creative life. But, it’s something I’m working on.

I did a Halloween-inspired bib and wash cloth set, both with Peaches & Creme cotton yarn in bright orange. The pattern was designed by Elaine Fitzpatrick over at Down Cloverlaine

I also finished a little sweater this month that was in a magazine my mother-in-law gave me. This one was knitted with Simply Soft yarn in soft green.

And a scarf that was in the book I used to learn crochet:

And a hat I just finished last week from a pattern by Jennie Harrell I had queued on Ravelry

My crafting is picking back up now that the weather is turning again. So, I may be doing these posts a bit more often. I try to finish at least one project a week. Depending on the project that doesn’t always happen though.

Knitting Monday: Running Out

Shortly after I figured out this knitting thing, I went and bought some more yarn(my mom had given me some with the learn to knit kit that I used while figuring things out). One of these was a multicolor yarn. I really liked the colors in it, but didn’t have a certain project in mind for it. I ended up using it to make Hayleigh a scarf(about half the size of what the instructions for the pattern were). I also made a pair of baby mitts for Nathaniel with it. This year I decided to make Hayleigh a hat that would match her scarf. I still had some of this yarn left after that, so I figured I could make her a pair of matching mittens when the gloves I attempted didn’t work out. I was able to finish the first mitten without a problem. But, looking at what yarn I had left, I figured if there was enough to finish the second mitten, it would be really close. Well, I got about halfway through the second mitten and realized there was no way I had enough yarn left to finish it.

We went shopping this weekend, so I figured I would see if I could find this yarn so I could finish the mitten. Of course, I didn’t think about it while we were at the mall and near two different craft stores. Instead I waited until we were at walmart. They didn’t have it though(just about every other color, just not the one I needed). Checked out JoAnn fabrics too, but it wasn’t there either. We never made it down to Hobby Lobby. Knowing my luck, I probably would have found it there just because we didn’t stop. After we got home, I checked out the yarn’s site, thinking maybe I would just order it from there. So, I found the right type and found the color. It was about the same price as in the store so I put it in my “cart” and went to check out. And then I see the shipping price. Almost twice what the yarn costs! I just could not see spending so much for one thing of yarn. So, her mittens are sitting in my project bag still unfinished. And they’ll probably remain there until I can find the yarn I need in the store.

Knitting Wednesday: Previous Projects pt 1

Basket Weave Coaster

Last year I decided I wanted to learn to knit. I found a teach yourself to knit kit, and my mom ended up getting it for me for Christmas. After going through the lessons in the book, I decided to start on some projects. The first one I found was a simple basket weave coaster. I finished that one in about a day. And within 24 hours had spilled coffee on it(if anyone’s wondering, I’m a total klutz so this is not surprising).

Simple Ridge Dishcloth

My second project was a pattern I found in the book that came with the knitting kit. There were two patterns for dishcloths. I attempted the dishcloth with eyeless, but kept messing it up. So, I tried the simple ridge dishcloth pattern instead and had much better luck with that.

One Row Handspun Scarf

After finishing the dishcloth, I decided to make something for my daughter. I found a pattern for a scarf and cut the width of it just about in half to make a smaller one. It was a simple pattern, just repeating the same row over and over until it was the desired length.

My Grandmother’s Slippers

I found a picture of these slippers, and they looked just like the ones my great-grandma used to make. The slippers I had were falling apart, so I knitted a pair of these. I didn’t sew the toe together tight enough on the one and did not make the poms for the top of them, but I do not think they turned out too bad. I might try to make a new pair for next winter.