Irish Sea Boot Cuffs

Back in March (yes, I'm still playing catch up), I decided to try my hand at crocheting some boot cuffs. I figured that I like the legwarmers that we sold, at my store and boot cuffs were just shorter versions of that. Right? Sure, whatever helps me sleep at night, I guess. I honestly have no idea the purpose of boot cuffs but they look cool and people wear them in the winter time.

I won a bid, on Ebay, for a Leisure Arts #75472, Boot Cuffs and Earwarmers, booklet. There is some great stuff in there! I actually look forward to making more sets for this coming winter. I flipped through the pages and fell in love with the Irish Sea Boot Cuff pattern.

It was an easy work up but they are too big for me, if I'm wearing ankle boots. They are also a bit too big if I'm wearing taller boots but, the boots keep it in place so I guess it works out. Again, I'm not sure the purpose of these. Maybe they are just to keep the snow out, in case you have to tread through knee high snow? Or maybe they are just a style thing. I have no idea but it was fun and easy to make.

Do you have any idea what these things are actually supposed to do? Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts!

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

"Hello, My Name is Inigo Montoya..."

A couple of weeks ago, my swap partner and I met at  Los Palaminos, the local, authentic Mexican place, to...well, swap our packages. I throuoghly enjoyed our visit and am so happy that I can now share with you the puns that hurt my dear husband, so much.

At the beginning of the swap, I found out that K really likes "The Princess Bride" both the movie and the book were on her list of favorites. I have been wanting to do themed packages this year, so I decided that was what I was going to do. The first month of the swap, I spent more time actually planning out the packages than making the package. Oops!

This first package, I thought it would be fitting if I went with the quote "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." because we were just meeting. So, I included some note cards that said "Hello" on the front, I made a basket out dark blue yarn...I was trying to go for "Indigo" yarn but my Local Craft Shops didn't have any in stock and I was running short on time, so I couldn't order it. Then my favorite part was the actual pun.

I asked K if she liked to dye things (oh, yeah, I went there!) and because she said that she had no interest, I decided to try my hand at tie dying a project bag for her.  "Prepare to dye" was what I was going for and it still makes me giggle, because I'm a child at heart and I enjoy a good pun. My dear husband, however just shakes his head at me. It took a couple of tries to figure it out because the dye came in bottles so there was no dipping involved. This confused me even more but I'm glad that I don't have a blue or green pan/bowl/bucket now. The first try, there was more white space than I wanted. Pretty much, just the corners were dyed. It was bad. So I dyed it again and it came out much better.

I'm not sure that I will try tie-dying, using bottles again. But, it was fun and I hope that K enjoys all of the little things that were in the package, beyond just the themed stuff. I am excited to work on the second package, which isn't due until August. Now that I have the planning done, I can spend more time on the packages.

Feel free to check out my other posts about the swaps! Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

**The basket was made from the "Colorful Catchalls" pattern in the August 2015 issue of Crochet World Magazine

What two Needles Can Do

I realized, today, that I had not caught anyone up on anything craft wise. I apologize for that. Last week was pretty busy. We had store inventory that lasted until 2am and I hadn't caught up on sleep because some puppy wants out at 7a.m. on the dot, every day. Although I still feel sleep deprived I have had a day of rest so I feel much better.

I worked on a knitted sampler scarf and finished it April 11th:

 You can't really see the designs that well, in the picture.I think it may be the color of yarn I used. There were six "blocks" on the scarf. The ends were more plain. The middle squares were a heart, paw print, music note and (my favorite) a snowflake. I really liked this pattern (free download), because it was written for fourth graders which really dumbed down some of the things that confused me. I do wish that she had explained a little bit more on how to fasten off but it wasn't anything that a bit of Youtube or a friend couldn't help with. The scarf is a little short, like I said it was designed for fourth graders so it was probably meant for their size. I have been thinking of making more (for the practice) and donating the lot to some of the elementary schools around here for kids who forget their scarf or don't have one. Recess is no fun when it is too cold.

The next project that I have been working on is kind of sleeping right now. It is the Fireside Wristlets, also a free download. I like how they are turning out. I only have the one done, and the second is slowly coming together. I take it to work, so I can knit on my lunch. For some reason, the red is really difficult to knit with. It was the last color so maybe I got used to knitting and was knitting tighter? I don't know.

I'm still having troubles with knitting on circular needles. I don't know what is up with that and if I can't figure it out, I will be posting with pictures so you can see and maybe tell me what I'm doing wrong or give me any advice. I have tried watching youtube videos for this. My problem seems to be in getting the dern stitches to slide from the cord to the needle. Maybe my cord is too long?

What projects are working on? Have you tried anything new, lately?
Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts! I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Afghan Swap 2016: Package #1

 Today, my swap partner, Vwoman and I were able to meet at a local Mexican eatery "Los Palaminos" for lunch today. It was great to be able to meet her and her mum, and introduce her to Jerad as well. We had great food and great company, despite the cold weather.

As part of our visit, we swapped our packages. It was fun opening them and watching her open hers as well. In mine I received the beautiful shawl pictured above,

Three beautiful fingerless gloves. The pair on the right matches the shawl. I love all of these and will be strutting my stuff at work! These will help, even in the Summer time when the store has the Air Conditioning on and it gets too cold for my hands. I will be nice and cozy all year round!

Some colored pencils, an adult coloring book, a pattern for Reindeer mittens, and a recipe for Russian Tea and Date balls. I'm pretty sure that my Mimi (Dad's mum) made the Date Balls, but never shared the recipe. Which, of course had the grand kids coming around for more. They may have been figs, instead but they look very similar. I just know that whatever it was it was yummy and I can't wait to try out these recipes!

Some safety eyes for the toys and dolls that I plan to finish, buttons to add to my collection and two Dahlia bulbs (which Jerad was surprisingly excited about). We have been wanting to start a garden and these will be perfect for it. Now, we just have to wait for the frost to stop making appearances.

Lastly, a beautiful skein of Lion Brand Heartland yarn in the Bryce Canyon colorway. I am excited to find the perfect project for this yarn. I think I might actually have a second skein in my stash. Or my dark purple would look great with it. Hmm...I guess we know what I will be doing on my days off. Pouring over my library of patterns to find the perfect one.

Thank you, so much! I enjoyed our visit and I am enjoying everything you have made for and given me. I am excited to start the next package!

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.
Feel free to leave comments below and check out some of my other posts! I always love hearing from you.

Two Sticks and Some String

I have decided that I'm going to try my hand at knitting, for the third time. I love crocheting but I can do anything that I have a pattern for and I have been writing patterns. I will continue my crocheting but I'm up for a...new, not-so-new challenge.

About a year ago, I went to the craft store and bought this "I taught myself Knitting" kit that came with a book. I didn't really look at it too much because I mainly wanted the needles. I worked on a make-up remover pad after getting frustrated with a scarf. Neither of which are in the book. Where those patterns are, I have no idea.

This book, scares the life out of me. To start, with the cover: The girl looks like she wants to kill me and laugh while she is doing it. If there hadn't been needles in the kit, I probably would not have bought it. She scares me.

Then, I open the book and starring at me is everything in three languages! Awesome. This certainly does not help soothe my worry about trying to make something nice out of, what looks to be, steel chop sticks and some yarn.

There is a scarf, some potholders and a...Poncho? Seriously? The poncho is the third pattern that they decide to put in a Beginner's book? I'm sorry. I'm still trying to decode K2 P2 M1...and you stick a PONCHO in the midst of that? Only a couple patterns from that are sweaters. You know, the thinks that have sleeves and holes for your head....those things. That is NOT a small project!

Granted, when I started crocheting, I went from one scarf to an afghan. But that was with one hook, not two needles! I didn't even start wearables until a year or so into crocheting. The idea that I'm going to make something that someone is going to wear, all day, is frightening especially when the reason why I stopped knitting was because I can't figure out how to pick up all of the stitches I drop without undoing the whole project!

So, here I sit, with two sticks (yes, I know they are needles) some string, and a book that I want to toss.

If you have any suggestions for a less intimidating book or pattern, please! I beg you, leave comments below. I've been searching Ravelry and found some patterns but I'm thinking they may be on the advanced side. I have size 6 and 8 needles.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved. Have a blessed day!