My coat sleeves are always too short so the idea was easy to come up with - customizable cuffs that can bridge the gap between sleeve and glove, and I created my first Instructable with this "Unisex Wrist Warmers Quick Crochet Project".
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Easy Unisex Crochet Project
March 13, 2019
My coat sleeves are always too short so the idea was easy to come up with - customizable cuffs that can bridge the gap between sleeve and glove, and I created my first Instructable with this "Unisex Wrist Warmers Quick Crochet Project".
Make It Your Own - Wall Art Do Over
February 23, 2017
I had some pictures on my kitchen wall that I didn't care for anymore, and frankly, they'd been there way too long.
Crafting Cycles
November 17, 2016
I'm not talking about trends, but personal crafting cycles: switching from projects and mediums as passions arise, working on some during stressful times, and working on others just for fun. Does anyone else jump from craft to craft throughout the year? For over a month now I've been working with yarn, and I have a number of knit and crochet projects going at once.
One of these projects included figuring out how to get this Pink Camo yarn to form an argyle pattern that I'd seen on Instagram. I'm used to sock yarns working into intricate patterns, but not Red Heart Super Saver multi-colored yarn, this was really surprising! I finally got it to work after many, many, evenings of crochet:
Teach and Learn Something New
September 9, 2016
When you teach any subject, it can open your eyes to new perspectives and experiences. For years I taught knit and crochet classes at my local yarn shop, meeting hundreds of wonderful people of all ages, teaching them the basics and exploring lots of yarn projects. Sadly, the yarn shop closed earlier this summer ... things haven't been the same since then. It's made me think a lot about the experience of teaching and what I've learned along the way.
A Good Teacher is Always Learning
Books and Dr. Who
June 22, 2014
Listening to audio books is a great way to pass the time while working repetitive tasks, like crocheting endless rows of the same pattern. They're also great to listen to while cleaning house, long car trips and going to the gym, making boring tasks much, much more interesting!
I recently finished a crochet version of the fourth Dr. Who, pattern by Allison Hoffman. The doll was a gift for my dad since he was the one who introduced me to Tom Baker's Doctor, and the first time I remember seeing the show. The scarf colors aren't exactly accurate, but it was the best I could do in the time frame/resources I gave myself:
Books
Valentine Heart Crochet
February 5, 2014
I thought I should post at least the start of this project, I'm afraid I won't have time to finish it and blog before Valentine's Day... It's a cute heart crochet craft to share during any time of year, but since it's so quick to make, wanted to put the idea out there before February 14th.
It's about 2" tall & I plan on incorporating it into a necklace. This free heart crochet pattern is from José Crochet blog, and I'm adding it to my Ravelry projects, too.
This one came out to be about 3" and was made with some leftover fine-weight yarn & a 1.75mm steel crochet hook. I hope to make a few more with embroidery floss.
Hopefully in the next few days you'll see this here as jewelry, if not - be inspired! Lots of patterns are really cute in miniature. My initial plan was to make one and wear as a necklace pendant, but since then I've thought about:
- making 7 or 8 of these into charms on a bracelet;
- adding beads to the heart;
- adding additional crochet/beaded baubles along the necklace chain;
- make only one layer and use thick wool to make into a set of drink coasters.
Making any Valentine projects to wear or for your household?
Crafty Elastic Bracelets and a Do Over
September 8, 2013
Not much new in the crafty front these last few weeks, been traveling a little and saw my oldest off to her first year at college. On the road I was able to knit up a few cotton dishcloths - they are super fast & a nice gift when visiting folk. I love to use them at home in the kitchen instead of paper towels. Reusable and pretty, too! Forgot to take pictures, though, will have to make some more. Somehow it seems like my cotton stash of yarn never diminishes despite the quantity of dishcloths I make.
Crafty Mail
Below is a picture of bracelets my 10-year-old nephew made for my family with these new elastic bands I've been seeing in the craft stores. (I already ripped the tag off and wore mine before taking the picture). My favorite part of his creations? The labels he made for us, so we wouldn't mix them up. All together, a cute package to receive in the mail.
These really stretch a lot and the glow-in-the-dark is pretty bright! You can find bracelet band loom/kits online (affiliate link).
Crafty Do Over
On the car ride home, I thought I'd use leftover cotton to create a soft-toy and have decided that I will probably never do this with cotton again. There was an animal in mind when this was created - from a pattern - but it failed horribly with this yarn. I will be using an acrylic or acrylic blend for soft creatures in the future. Dare to guess what it was intended to be?
This has since been returned to it's yarn ball state and will one day become a dish cloth.
While traveling, I got fed up with having so many ideas all the time, but not making the time to create anything new. I don't really need to use the internet for inspiration or look at anymore sites, pins, pictures, magazines, etc.... I just need to sit down and make something. Hoping to do just that this fall. Whether I jump right into something new or try to wrap up old projects that are weighing on my mind - will have to decide where to begin. Sounds like a theme I've been playing for a while, just spinning my wheels and not going anywhere. But I'm fed up with it now, it's time for some changes.
Crochet Project in Reverse
February 17, 2013
This image should be animated. Finished this crochet cardigan, tried it on, then promptly *frogged it. I just wasn't happy with the fit.
*Frogging - the "rippppittt" sound a project makes when you undo it.
October
October 5, 2012
Just a quick update with a Halloween-themed project.
Does this make you want to learn how to crochet? At first I learned out of necessity – a knitted baby blanket needed a crochet edge. After that I was driven to learn so I could create amigurumi toys & it’s been non-stop ever since!
Conquering the Babette
July 6, 2012
Began in January, I was supposed to have finished this Babette blanket by the 1st of June. I’m not even close. The idea was to work on this project at home while I was recovering from my hip replacement surgery, and then gift it in time for my sister’s birthday. (Oh, I don’t think she reads this. I hope not at least.) Little did I know that sitting still is the exact opposite of what I’d be doing during recovery. I’m a little late with the present & now I’m feeling the pressure to get it done. The pressure that comes from wanting to start a new project but the bag of yarn in the corner is a blight on my w.i.p. tolerance. And, (mentioning it here, a little out of my comfort zone... but since it’s taking such a big chunk of time out of my life, it’s almost unavoidable…) I have to get hip #2 replaced later this summer, so I’m feeling an increased sense of urgency to get this done and out of my sight so I can move onto quicker and more fun projects!
The original strategy: work in strips, starting with the center and work my way out. I think I got up to 5 rows done and attached… only about 20 out of 130 squares!
The new strategy: 1) Get it out of the bag & onto this gigantic tray so it’s easy to pick up and work on at a moment’s notice. 2) Crochet all the center pieces first. The fiddly little squares at the base of each piece – if those are started, I can pick one up and jump right into the striping & continue to work the rows as above. At least now I know when the tray is empty of centers that I’ll be closer to being finished!
Only 7 colors worth of centers to complete before square-making begins again. I’m on my way to conquering this project. And most likely have learned my lesson and will never make anything so big again.
This past week we celebrated Independence Day with some friends and I got one picture of fireworks:
Maybe because the air was damp and rainy and the fireworks were pretty close – the thing that I noticed right away was the odor of the explosives. You don’t smell that too often and it instantly brought back memories of summertime for me. Of course, beaches and bbqs do that, too – but for some reason this smell stood out above all the others. I wonder if anyone else experiences things like this? I think describing odors is hard, but they certainly evoke specific memories.
.jpg)
