It is the little things that make life what it truly is, an adventure. It is these same little things that should be savored, whether they are good or bad. Here,you will find a bit of everything, from craft ideas to my own savors and thoughts. Enjoy!
This week has been super busy and I feel terrible because I've been trying to make two posts a week. My manager is on vacation this week so I've been getting more hours, which I can't complain. I have had finished projects, but I've just been lazy on posting.
This dish/washcloth was part of last weeks Mystery Crochet-A-Long (MCAL) and I didn't post it last week because it wasn't revealed until Friday and I didn't want to ruin the reveal. I really like it though. It is a FREE pattern to download and is called the Snapdragon Dishcloth by Willow Yarns Design Team. I think that it would make a beautiful afghan made of these squares but I do really love it. The camera doesn't really do the color justice. It is sort of a darker teal, it looks more green in the picture than it is.
Since I have finished the Wrapped in Love blanket (coupon code ILY4EVER, good through June 1, 2016) I have been searching for new projects that aren't blankets. I still have to work on my blanket for this year's Afghan Swap but I'm taking a small break on that one. I found a little pattern, and I apologize for not being able to link it to you, it is not available for download, for a pup's bandana I absolutely love this pattern and I wish I could share it with you. It was an older free pattern from a craft store and I'm not sure which one. There is a button to secure the bandana and the spaces around the collar make it adjustable. Sasha loved her bandana so much that she wouldn't let me take it off of her, all day. In this picture she was a little more interested in the squirrels than looking at the camera but I think it is a good shot. I will probably be making more of these bandanas for her, in the future.
That is all of the projects that I have finished, right now.
What have you been working on?
Let me know in the comments below. Also, check out my other posts! I always enjoy hearing from you.
Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.
Hey, there! I hope that you are having a wonderful week. Now that I finished the "Wrapped in Love" blanket, I have been trying to find projects to do. I joined this group on Ravelry that hosts a KAL (Knit-a-long) and CAL (Crochet-a-long) washcloth every week, throughout the year. So far I have three cloths finished. One is a work in progress and I'm going to show you two of them today.
I am only showing you the first two because this week is a Mystery CAL, which means that we get the pattern in portions and it is revealed at the end. The reveal is tomorrow, so I don't want to spoil the surprise. It is really a beautiful cloth though. I will probably make more.
This first cloth was actually taken from an afghan square. It is a free pattern to download, so you should check it out! I never thought to use afghan squares as cloths but now that the idea has been pressed in my brain, I will be making more in the future.
This second cloth is also a free pattern and is a corner to corner cloth. I love it because I had just finished the corner to corner blanket before this was posted.
Now, one of the very first things I realized is that there are 52 weeks in a year. I'm a little behind this year so I won't have so many cloths from this group but I love these cloths and will be making at least one a week. That being said, I had no idea what I would do with 52 cloths.
As it turns out, my Sister-by-law is going to be getting her own place within the year. She will be turning 18 and I'm not sure what things the company she is going through will provide for her. She has made such great progress in keeping herself together and we are both so proud of her. So, we are starting to get things around for her place because she doesn't have much of her own, right now. I thought that these cloths would be a great idea! Who doesn't love handmade washcloths? I just hope she uses them. I have had a couple people say that the cloths were too beautiful to use and so they sit on a shelf. In my personal oppinion, it isn't a dish/wash cloth unless you use it as one. But, to each their own.
Beyond the washcloths, I'm a little bit lost on what to make for her. I do plan on making her a throw/afghan but that's going to take some time. We are looking for sales on house things too but I want her to have more than just cloths that are homemade.
What are some of your ideas? Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts. I always love hearing from you.
And now...For the moment I have been waiting for...It is finished! Well, it doesn't have a border yet but the main part is finished and I don't always like adding borders to blankets. I will probably add one, but for the moment, it is fine.
I just published the pattern to my Ravelry Store. If you use the coupon code: ILY4EVER you can get this pattern for free, until the end of June 1 (my wedding anniversary).
This pattern was tough to write. Mostly because I made a graph (yes, it has a graph! For those of you who have my Boston Red Sox Blanket pattern, I'm going to work on graphing that one too) in Excell and spent at least three hours trying to figure out how to merge it to a word document. Now that I did that the first page is blank. Yes, the first page is blank but do not worry! You aren't missing out on any information! Apparently when I tried to have only the chart page landscaped, Word decided that adding a polar bear lost in a snow storm, would be a great idea. Lovely.
So, once I figure out how to do that, which I though I had it figured out and then I sent it to PDF...poor polar bear is still lost in a snow storm, I will post a pattern update.
This pattern is very dear to my heart. I minored in American Sign Language, in college and got to know some really cool people who use ASL. This sign is one of the ways that I can communicate to my husband (who is not deaf or hard of hearing) when we are in a room full of people, after I have a seizure or just because.
I think that this pattern does well with just two colors, but I'm wondering how it would look with either the background or the hand striped. It came out to be a 49"x46" blanket. So, big enough for a child or just as a couch throw.
Check out the pattern and let me know what you think in the comments below!
Also, check out some of my other patterns and posts!
I received a Star Wars Crochet Amigurmi kit for Christmas and didn't really touch it until recently. For some reason the tiny characters and the safety eyes seemed a bit overwhelming. Talk about making mountains out of mole-hills. These little things are so easy to make!
The kit came with enough stuff for a Storm Trooper and a Yoda.
Because I like color more than mostly white things, I decided to try my hand at the tiny Jedi master, Yoda.
Here's how it turned out:
The most difficult part was attaching the tiny sleeves (just barely big enough to go around the tip of my pinky) to the tunic/coat/thingy.
Safety eyes is seriously just a matter of finding the right place so it doesn't look like a fish and doesn't look cross-eyed either. Not that there is anything wrong with being cross-eyed...I mean, I did it to freak out my babysitter's when I was a kid. One of them actually refused to babysit us after that and the "I can pour my own hot chocolate" incident (which no one was harmed in). I was amused by the things that freaked her out. It was far more entertaining than going to bed.
Anyhow, this little dude is just the most adorable thing I have ever made. My dear husband has taken to it, and by that I mean, he has taken off with it. He also managed to make a friend mad at us by saying "We found a car...It's a toy-Yoda" while pulling out this innocent little thing. Poor guy.
Have you made any tiny critters? What seems like a daunting task, when it comes to crafting?
Let me know what you think, in the comments below. Also, check out some of my other blog posts!
I know that it is "Mother's Day" and to all of the mothers out there, great job! You truly do make a difference and should consider yourself, very blessed. You do what others cannot and it is amazing! I know that the job doesn't pay and you are not always shown appreciation through out the year. Especially the new mothers with babies who do not know how to communicate and aren't old enough to give back. The single mothers, or mothers whose spouces are often gone, you shoulder your household and your children often do not see that.
Step mums, you are amazing in your own right! You accept children, who are not yours by blood, as your own. Often times, kids are partial to their birth parents and you need a lot of patience in waiting for them to come to you. I know, I have a wonderful step-mum but it wasn't until recently that I began including her in the Mother package. Just keep holding on. You are wonderful and do a spectacular service.
Mother figures, the children may not be yours but you care for them as if they were. You are a different strength and source of encouragement. I have an aunt who has been in my corner since day one. She is my personal cheer-leader, my voice of reason and my worry stone. In the rare times that I am so upset that I cannot think clearly, she has calmed me and helped me find the light. She has wonderful kids of her own and still finds time for me.
Then, there are those who want to be mothers but may not have them yet or cannot have them at all. I fall in this category. Mother's day is difficult for me, for many reasons. One of them is that my doctors have told me that I may never be able to actually have children of my own. All the stuff is there to get pregnant and carry a child. However, because my vitamins are so low, getting pregnant may just as well be signing my death certificate. Babies will take whatever they need and if I barely have enough for myself because my body isn't absorbing the vitamins like it should or goes through them too fast...well, apparently you can't survive long without any nutrition. I have been married for almost three years now, but I am not a mother, even though I want it so badly. I have known others in similar situations. It is difficult but there are ways around it. We have all talked about adoption and eventually, my husband and I will be able to become parents.
If you don't have kids, this is still your day. Sure, you may not be a mother but that instinct is still there. Even if you never want to have kids, I won't judge. In fact, there is some need for women who don't want kids, in the career industry. How horrible of me to say, right? But get this: the women who have kids have obligations that trump work (no shaming here either). Those who don't, are the ones who step in so that you can enjoy your child's graduation, care for them when they are sick...etc. Women who don't want to have kids are amazing in their own way. I applaud every person who has kids or doesn't. You all rock!
So, happy Women's Day, to everyone! To all the mothers, happy Mother's day!
Stay Strong! Remember that you are beautiful and well loved, and not just on this day.
Special shout outs to:
Lisa (my mother), Debbie (my step-mum) and Aunt Amy (my life cheerleader)! You are amazing and I have been very blessed to have three women who care for me as much as you do.
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!
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
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.
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.
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!
Hey, there! I am so excited because I have been working on a blanket for someone who is getting married this year and I finally finished it. Seriously, I wove in the last end maybe fifteen minutes ago! I bought this pattern back in September,for $5. Nancy Liggins (I am in no way affiliated with her or her patterns) has many designs in her Ravelry shop and I have seen some of her blankets published on Mary Maxim. She is going places and isn't hard to see why. Her patterns are easy to follow. They are mostly charts, but she provides the number of stitches needed between the clusters. I'm glad that I chose this pattern because I was really struggling with clusters/bobbles/popcorn stitches and after a couple months of doing them, I can do them quickly and without hurting my wrist!
I am wanting some of her other patterns but I'm also trying to focus more on some of my other unfinished projects (stuffed dino, playbook, three blankets and probably more to come) as well as my own pattern writing.
Speaking of pattern writing, I did write a Free pattern for a Holey-Moley Washcloth. That you could check out.
Feel free to leave comments, I do enjoy hearing from you. What projects have you recently finsished? Which ones are you working on?
Also, check out my other posts!
Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.
This is a poem that I wrote a few years ago. At the time, I was struggling, heavily, with how I looked and finding every flaw in myself. The other day, I went back and read some of my poetry, like I sometimes do and this little gem melted my heart and helped me see exactly how I want to see myself. The attitude that I/we should all have. It is one thing to want to be healthy it is another to criticize every minute detail. I worked very hard on this poem and most of the time I do not share my poetry with people. Please, do not copy this poem as your own. You may share it, but please, credit me for the work and heart poured into it.
Masterpiece
Cassie Taber
Look at me!
Just look at the disaster I have become!
These colors don’t blend well.
The shape, here, just won’t do.
There are scratches that won’t fade
And spaces He didn’t fill.
The paint has bubbled here
And drips where it shouldn’t.
The colors are too pale,
Too bright or light for anyone to see
Yet, He calls me His masterpiece?
Some work of art I am!
I am nowhere near perfect.
There is so much that is wrong,
So much that I would change.
“But I’m not finished with you, yet,”
A gentle voice tells me,
Hurt by my thoughts
As a brush clinks against the jar that held it.
His steady hand guides the brush to my canvas.
Who am I to tell the artist
What is good and what needs to change
When I am the one who cannot see the whole picture?
After
all, He calls me His masterpiece.
Feel free to leave comments below. I do always enjoy hearing from you. Also, check out my other posts!
Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.
Warning: This post is not about crafts. This is some serious stuff.
I didn't realize, until last night, when I broke down in tears because I'm trying to juggle life and there may have been a few more lemons added to my pile, that I'm not who I was. In some ways I am:
I'm no where near perfect
I am independent to a fault
In my imperfections, I struggle.
Before my parent's divorce, I didn't see myself in bad light. I was starry eyed and believed what everyone said. I could take compliments. All that changed in the divorce. I'm not exactly sure when it was but I started seeing everything that was wrong.
My legs were too long, and thighs to big. So, I refused to wear shorts.
My feet are long, so I wore sneakers and kept my feet covered.
I refused to let anyone touch me. I refused to let anyone see me. I hated myself, how I looked. I hated it when people said "You look just like your mother/father" so I piled long sleeves and pans on. I didn't want to be noticed so I wore doofy glasses and I didn't give a care what anyone thought. I wasn't pretty. I didn't want to be pretty.
I wanted to be invisible for several reasons. I was happy when my classmates didn't know I existed when the subs called my name and I quietly raised my hand. I was happy when they didn't know me. I was invisible in the classroom. I felt unseen at home and to add to it, I literally began to fade into nothing. I stopped eating at school. I would go to the library during lunch hour. I barely ate at home, only when I felt shaky or my stomach hurt from having nothing for too long. When I was in High school, I weighed less than 100 pounds at 5'7".
When I came to college, I started to go to church. I wanted to take better care of myself so I asked people to help me remember to eat, every day. After attending church, for some time, I began to feel beautiful, not just because I was eating but because I truly believed that God had made me beautiful. I was that starry-eyed girl again. I didn't mind the hugs. I didn't mind the compliments, I knew my flaws but they didn't hang like a dark cloud, over me.
Then, I moved to a different town. I didn't have a church to go to (and I'm not saying that this is the church's). We began to struggle financially when I did my internship. So, I ate less. I would skip breakfast, have a snack for lunch and ate very little for dinner. It has since continued. There are honestly days that I try not to eat so that my husband will have enough food. Even though we have food in the house. I am, again, teetering on the line between okay weight and underweight.
I see my flaws, all of them and it looms over me:
My thighs are big, my legs are too long, my toes look like monkey feet, my hair is a mess, my face broke out with acne, I have a bit of a stomach, my teeth aren't pure white, I have so many scars from the past and I bruise easily.
This week, I have been struggling, at work, to feel like I'm doing my job well. The way some people talked, I wasn't doing a very good job. Although other factors were involved with me not being able to complete my work, I'm never one for excuses.
I struggled this week, at home. We have been without a vehicle for over a year and I see how it affects my husband. Knowing that I am unable to provide that small luxury to him, for this long, makes me feel worthless. I work five to six days a week but when I'm home, I am lazy. I feel like society says that even if I work outside of the home, the home is still my domain and therefore I must cook, clean and take care of all of my famillies needs. My husband is sweet and keeps up on most of it. He never tells me that I have to clean or cook. I feel like I should. In that, it adds to the feeling that I am not a very good wife.
When he compliments me, I counter it with a flaw. He says he likes my legs, I say they are too fat. He says I'm perfect, I say I have a stomach, he says that's normal, I feel like I want to cry.
Then I read some notes that I had written on Facebook. I will have to re-post them here. They made me realize how I am to myself and I want to cry in shame. How long have I been writing these posts and I close out with "Remember you are beautiful and well loved" and here I am not believing that.
I struggle with how I see myself. I don't see myself in the way that everyone seems to see me. That's the truth. I don't say things to fish for compliments. When I am "down on myself" I truly believe what I say. I struggle with eating and I struggle with trying to please everyone and never feeling like I do. I don't expect anyone to understand but it is very real to me. My struggle is real and we all have our battles.
In the next few days, I will be publishing some of my notes and perhaps some poems I have written, to this blog. I know that it isn't yarn and I have been working on my yarn projects. I haven't really finished anything yet. I keep jumping projects. When I do finish them or start a new one, I will update the progresses.
Until then, if you will please remember that you are beautiful and well loved, I will try to remember too.
Please, feel free to write comments below, I always do enjoy hearing from you.
A lyric video of a song I turn to help me feel better.
Over the course of the three or four years that I have been "playing with yarn", as some like to call it, I have accumulated many scraps of yarn that are too small to use in a full project. For a long time, probably about a year, I have thought about using these scraps for granny squares, but never got around to it and didn't know what to make with granny squares.
I have been watching some of my friend, Vivi's projects developing over the past couple of months. She has been making these African Flower Motif softies/toys and they look so beautiful and cuddly. The pattern calls for various colors of scrap yarn, which I thought would be an amazing way to get rid of some of my scraps in my yarn stash.
We have a niece and nephew in Texas. Our nephew just turned two and our niece is going to be four years old, this summer. I am not sure how long making these softies will take me so I'm planning on making one for each of them, as their Christmas gifts.
Right now, you may be saying, "Uhm, Cassie, it is only January, you have eleven months still." and to that I say "yeah, and?". I am trying my best to plan out my projects for the year. So far, that means me taking on five projects at once and making my rounds when I get bored with one. I wasn't able to make anything for Rebeckha and Ken, this past Christmas and I feel bad about that.
Today, I started working on the Puff the Magic Stegosaurus for Ken and I'm still trying to figure out which one to make for Rebeckha.
So far, this is all I have:
Thankfully, the motifs are quick work ups. I have finished all of the squares, triangles and Octagons. I'm working on the Heptagons and then all I would have left would be the hexagons and pentagons. Whee!
What projects are you working on?
How do you use your scrap yarns?
Feel free to leave a comments below, I love hearing from you!
Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.
As you may, or may not know, I am a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. I have been ordering custom crochet hooks off of etsy with a Lord of the Rings Theme. My first one was the Eye of Sauron and I recieved Treebeard in the mail, yesterday!
I showed everyone at work and they didn't really seem to care.
Anyhow. The detail on these hook designs are amazing! There are little bark scratches on treebeard, his eyes, his little ears. I love it all!I love that the designer did not forget the back on either hook! I know several designers that concentrate on the front and not so much on the back. I love my hooks and I will be ordering sometime soon. I'm not sure what I'll get though...
Here are my ideas:
Hobbit Door
Gladriel's Phial
Gimli
Gandalf the Gray
Something to do with Aragorn (not sure yet)
or Gollum
Eventually I will have them all. I would like to figure out how to make a hook stand so I can display my LotR hooks when I'm not using them.
What do you think?
Feel free to leave comments below and check out my past posts! I always love hearing from you.
I finally finished both the pattern and the scarf! Whoo! There were only a couple things that I had to fix with the pattern which is a huge win for me. The pattern is now avialable for download at $1.99 USD.
I am working on several other pattern designs, at the moment. I just started writing out the Lord of the Rings blanket design, and I'm waiting on the "TreeBeard" hook I ordered, so that I can start making the actual blanket. Hopefully, that means I will be able to start it on Monday.
I'm sorry that my "Tapestry style" patterns do not have a graph. I haven't quite figured out how to manage graphs on my computer.
Since the new year started, I have been able to draw out three new pattern designs. Two of them are blanket designs and one is a scarf. One of the blankets and the scarf are designs inspired by Lord of the Rings. Oh, yes, I'm going fan girl in some of my designs.
I was looking for Lord of the Rings patterns and there aren't very many out there. Most of what is out there, are knitting patterns. Trying to knit and not drop stitches frustrates the cookies out of me. So, I had this grand idea that I would come up with a few crochet designs for Lord of the Rings fans, or those who know someone who loves Tolkien's works.
I finished handwriting the pattern for the Gondor Scarf and now I'm testing it before it moves to a typed and published version. So far, this is where I am, and of course I had to use my Sauron hook for the project. I am hoping to have the scarf and pattern finished by Friday.
Just a heads up, this pattern will not be a free download.
Some people "geek out" over Star Wars, some over Dr. Who. Me? I geek out over Lord of the Rings.
What do you "geek out" over?
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My last post was filled with my New Year, yarn resolutions. Although I think I have a pretty good start, considering that it has only been a week into the new year, I don't count this project towards my goal. I decided to try my hand at making a toy, my new years resolution is to make a doll. When I looked at the doll patterns that I have, they seemed overly complicated and super tiny. I wanted to try something that I didn't think I could mess up. So, I tried this rabbit here.
At the time that I started collecting every free pattern there was, related to crochet, the pattern was free. Now, it is on sale for $4 USD. The pattern was mostly easy to work. The sewing instructions and eye instructions were vauge. I did not use saftey eyes as the pattern had called for. I don't know how to use them and I only have two pairs. Fun. So, I embroidered (which by the way I'm not really good at) the eyes. There were no instructions on how to make a pom-pom that the pattern called for so my bunny is tail-less. Poor bunny.
I would have liked to have a little more instruction in some areas, especially considering that this was my first toy pattern. In my future designs, I am going to try my best to have full instructions because you really don't know who has chosen your design as their "Learning Project".
Speaking of new designs, I am working on two at the moment. The first is another graphed blanket but that probably won't be up for a long while. The second is part of me getting in touch with my Lord of The Rings geeky side and it is going to be, I think, a pillow. I have it drawn out. I was wanting to make a scarf but I think it is going to be too wide.
So, future designs: some will probably have something to do with Lord of the Rings, there aren't that many crochet patterns related to Tolkien's works and I really want to change that. I am going to work on other projects and get a hang of some more designs. I did design a shawl for a gift but didn't write down the pattern. I'm going to try and remember it and have that up soon. So, there are a few designs going on. Be on the look out for those.
Freddy has, apparently, claimed the bunny as his own. I'm surprised that he is not afraid of it. Ha!
What project(s) are you working on? Feel free to leave a comment below, I always enjoy hearing from you.
Every year, since I started to crochet, I have tried to learn something new. Granted, I have only been crocheting for a couple of years, so I have a lot to learn. The first year was just grasping the basic stitches. My new projects had something to do with learning a new stitch and I kept track of what stitches I learned. This last year, I wanted to start making my own pattern designs, which I did. I have even sold a couple of them.
This year, I hope to continue with designing, and possibly start a CAL (Crochet A-long) of my own.
I have so much that I want to do this year that I don't even really know where to get started.
First, the blankets. I have been able to add on one blanket per year that I have crocheted. Las year I barely was able to make three. There was the Ladybug blanket for Emeline, the diamond blanket for my swap partner and finally the Boston Red Sox Blanket for my hubby.
This year I'm going to try for four blankets.
There is one I already started, for a special someone who is getting married, this year. I joined another swap, so that is the second blanket. I want to make a Cathedral Rose Blanket for our living room, and then one for a Christmas gift. (Every year someone has received a crocheted blanket for Christmas and I would love to keep that going).
Blankets are things I already know how to make, so I'm not really learning anything there. I just added one for a challenge.
This year, I am going to learn multiple things:
I want to learn how to crochet:
Socks
Toys (more specifically dolls)
and some sort of wearable that isn't a poncho (like a sweater, dress or skirt)
Along with all of this, I am going to be making Christmas Decorations for 2016, because we have only a couple decorations. I have already started on a Tree Skirt and I'm trying to find a pattern that Jc likes for his sock. Ornaments are small projects and would be a marvelous break from the four afghan projects.
It seems like I have bitten off more than I can chew, but it is going to be a wonderful journey and I'm excited for it.
Do you have any resolutions this year?
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Have a very blessed New Year and always remember that you are Beautiful and well loved.
