Washcloths!

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.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Who-Who's There?

This week, I decided to join in on a Halloween Mystery Crochet A-Long (MCAL). This is my first color-work hat and I'm glad that I have had the practice because a blanket that I'm going to be working on, soon, for my husband is also color work. What I mean by color work is that I will be using more than two colors and carrying the yarn through the project, as if I were making a tapestry.

I love the cute little owls in their hats and the pumpkins that circle the top of the hat! I am worried that I followed the pattern wrong because I was under the impression that this hat was supposed to be a beanie. It is too tall for that. My husband says that it could be a slouch. Which, it could very well be. Because it was a Mystery CAL, we were not told what we would be making and we have no idea what it is supposed to look like. I left off a few rows, at the end because I was starting to worry. The pattern mentioned something about tails and I wasn't sure if there was supposed to be some sort of tassle at the top or what. So, I left that part off.

I am anxious to see how the other projects turned out.

Have you ever done a Mystery _____ A-Long? Does it ever make you nervous to not know how it is supposed to look at the end?

Feel free to leave a comment below and check out my other posts.

Remember, you are beautiful and well loved.

A Challenge of My Own Design

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good challenge. In fact, I often try to prove people wrong, within reason. I feel sorry for my doctors who tell me that I will never be able to sprint again because I didn't get the surgery to repair my knee. I graduated high school when everyone was telling me that I wouldn't make it. Never mind the fact, that I nearly dropped out to work, but thanks to some incredible teachers and my boss, I stayed. I was also told that I wouldn't make it through my freshman year of college and even though it took me six years and a few changes in my major, I graduated!

Granted, I'm still working on the whole running part but I'll be darned if I let anyone tell me that I can't do something without trying. Sadly, there are some parts where I got hurt in the process. For instance, when I was seven, we had this swing set with monkey bars (oh, yeah, it's that kind of story). My brother and I were always challenging each other. He would tell me that I couldn't do something, in that older brother kind of way, and I would try to prove him wrong. Most of the time it worked, but this time...he was right (don't tell him I said that...reputations and all). Anyhow, he told me that I couldn't skip two bars on the monkey bars and proceeded to show me that he could. My arms were a little too short and I couldn't even skip one. I knew this but, tried anyway because I've never let a challenge go without a fight. I got up to the top of the ladder, reached up, grabbed one bar and swung myself to reach past the two ahead of me. I ended up somehow flipping and landing on my wrist; breaking it. One challenge that I didn't quite meet. BUT I am proud to say that I can, now, skip two bars...maybe even three.

Long story to introduce a challenge of my own, that isn't so dangerous. I work at a clothing store and we get new shipments in, every day. I see most of the clothes before they hit the shelves and we have been getting a lot of yarny crochet/knit clothes in for the fall. This has me super excited! Some of the clothes has inspired me to try my hand at making similar pattern styles for crochet. I am working on one now that I have one side nearly finished. I'm just trying to figure out how to increase for the neck but it is going to be fun! So far, this is what it looks like:

Now, this is my first clothing design. I find it a little ambitious, even of myself, because I have only ever made one poncho and one shrug. I messed up, big time, on the poncho, and had a million questions with the shrug. I don't quite have the hang of closed necklines so this is going to be one interesting, yet harmless, challenge. No broken bones involved. So far, I like how it is turning out. I probably won't get to work on it until Sunday night or Monday. This next step is going to take a bit of thinking and playing with yarn.

Also, this is my finished Baktus! I frogged it (sorry Adrienne) because I didn't follow directions the first time. I will continue, with different yarn, with the way I was doing it before. Adrienne said that it would probably turn into a triangular shawl. I love triangle shawls!

And the little blond blob,is Sasha:

 

She is being an old lady today. She is around 8 years old and most days acts like she is still a puppy. I think the rain is making her sleepy. 

Feel free to check out my other blog posts and see what projects I have completed!

What inspires you to crochet/knit/design/craft?

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Yum cake!

Yesterday, I celebrated turning a quarter of a century old! Although I feel that I am too old for birthday parties and really celebrating getting older has lost most of its appeal to me...I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. Sunday, Jerad, his mom and I went to Genghis Khan Mongolian barbecue/buffet! It is one of my favorite places to eat and we don't go there often. Yesterday, I spent the day with my husband. We went for a walk, then went to a late lunch, grabbed more yarn (because one can never have enough) and then ran a couple of errands. One of those errands was hunting down some birthday cake because I have gone 8 months and several birthday celebrations, this year without birthday cake. Everyone else wanted pie or cheese cake (which is still not birthday cake). So, I found some cake. Yummy, moist white cake with chocolate whipped frosting on it.

And now I have filled my yen for cake this year. Bring on the pies!

Outside my birthday, I have kept busy with work and the usual. Same stuff different day. I took a break from crocheting for a week or two, nothing was really appealing to me and my yarn just wasn't cooperating. Jerad gave me a crochet stitch book for my birthday! So, now I can keep making new patterns beyond the single and double crochet stitches! I already have several ideas in mind. Thank you, my dear for this wonderful, and thoughtful birthday present. You are amazing!

 

One project that I am working on is another shawl! I love these CAL (crochet-a-long) projects that Adrienne Lash makes. I have said it before and I say it again, I love her patterns! This particular pattern is basically a four in one, which of course, I like. Except the projects all look beautiful and I want to make them all. At the same time. I only have two hands.  So, here is the one that I am working on. I just started it this morning:

The pattern is called La Tua Scelta, which means, "Your choice". I love the name of the pattern! The pattern is $5 but you get four choices. I am making the "baktus" shawl, which is the first choice. I was deciding between the baktus and the curly boomerang and decided to go with the baktus because I just finished a boomerang shawl, not too long ago.

For this project, I am using Red Heart Super Saver "Shaded Dusk" (love the name!) and a size K hook. I love how it is turning out, so far.

What projects are you working on? Feel free to leave a comment below and check out some of my other CAL posts!

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Summer Shrug CAL update!

If I haven't said it before, I'm going to say it now: I love Crochet Alongs (CALs)! I love knowing that I'm not working on a project alone. There are some people who are able to work ahead and in turn help answer the many questions that I end up having. These people are patient and enjoy helping others who share the same interests in making things that they do.

This is my second CAL and another one of my "Firsts". The last CAL was my first shawl. This one is my first article of clothing that isn't a poncho. Yes, I am working on a shrug, along with several others who are working on the same pattern. The pattern is amazing! I have had some troubles with it but I cough that up to trying to de-stress from my current job which makes my brain not work correctly all the time and things that should make sense, don't. So, my confusion is of no fault of the pattern's author. Just mine.

I have enjoyed seeing what everyone has chosen as their colors for the shrug. One chose to do theirs in autumn colors, which I just love and I wish I had the yarn needed for that one! Looks like I might have to meander on down to the local craft store and see if I can find any. Oh, no! What a terrible, terrible task....ha!

We are all on clue two out of three, or four. I have finished the body of the shrug and seamed the sleevies (as my husband and I call them thanks to a youtuber (Markiplier). Here is a picture of where I am at, right now.

I'm getting ready to do the border around the opening of the neck-waist. This pattern is available for $5 (USD) on Ravelry. Adrienne writes such beautiful patterns and I am excited to see how this one turns out as well as what other patterns she has in store.

What projects are you working on? Feel free to post in the comments below and if there is a link to the pattern, feel free to post that as well!

Remember that you are Beautiful and well loved.

RAKs and CALs

 

Yesterday,  I recieved a package from a beautiful heart, (Knitru) who is in a Random Act of Kindness group that I joined. This month, I asked for yarns so that I could get busy with a granny square blanket for someone special. She warned me of a "Yarnsplosion" and I am so excited with what she gave me. I love each and every one of the colors and I can't wait to see how they look in the blanket. Thank you, so much, Knitru! You are amazing and you helped make my week. 

I also received a Dragon shawl pattern from_ Vivilion. It is a pattern that I have been wanting to try and now that I have the pattern, I am waiting for my yarn to tell me that it is ready to be made into a DRAGON! So, hopefully a future post will be of my journey making this beautiful dragon shawl.

  

In other news! CALs have started again! For those of you who don't know what it is, a CAL is a Crochet Along. I participated in one a few weeks back and enjoyed it so much that I joined another one by the same person! This pattern that she is making is of a Summer Shawl. I am so excited because it is my first piece of clothing (that isn't a poncho). I am making one in a pale yellow color and I'm hoping that I am able to make one that rocks as much as the pattern does. The great thing about CALs is that I'm never making it alone and I can ask as many questions as I need to. There is a wonderful group of crocheters that are ready and willing to help explain when I don't understand.

What are you working on? What was something nice that someone has done for you or you have seen done for someone else?

Feel free to post in the comments below and check out my other posts!

Remember you are beautiful and well loved!

New Adventures with Yarn

Alright, I am so super excited to be able to share with you, the finished product of the CAL (Crochet A Long) shawl that we were working on. It was so much fun to work with these beautiful ladies on the same project. They helped me when I had questions and we chatted while waiting for the next clue. I love a good mystery and this project kept me anxious for the day when the next clue would be released.

Here is the finished product:

The border has sweet little butterflies! I tried to capture some in the picture above, but I'm not sure if you can see it. I did not block this (mostly because I don't know how and I don't have the room, right now. This pattern also called for beads, which I did not use because my local craft store didn't have the beads I was looking for and I'm not patient when it comes to creating something for someone. Haha!

I gave this shawl to one of my co-workers who was not having a good week. I hope that it helped to brighten her day. She likes to bow hunt and the colors reminded me of the pink camouflage shoes that we sell, which reminded me of her hunting hobby.

I am excited to start a new CAL! I am looking for one right now, so if you know a good one, let me know in the comments below!

Also, I decided to teach myself how to knit and after 15 minutes of trying to figure out how to cast on, I am getting the hang of it. Here is a scarf that I'm making. I'm not very far.

As always, have a blessed day.
Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

My first Crochet Along

I would like to think that I am an adventerous lady. I am willing to try almost anything and when it comes to crafts, I'm game.

This past week, I found a group on Ravelry: Make1-designs that is starting to host Crochet Alongs (CALs). What this is (if you don't already know), is a group of people working on the same project at the same time. The pattern is given out in portions. First, the supply list comes out and then the first part of the pattern. Then a week or two later, the second part of the pattern comes out and so on. I joined a Shawl Crochet along and here is what I have so far:

I don't really know what it is going to look like, in the end. But I do love a good mystery. I find that I love the CALs because if I have any questions about the pattern I don't feel shy in asking because if 20 people are where I am, at least one will have the answer. It helps build a sense of community between crocheters and we help each other out.

The picture above is the completed, first part, of the pattern. The second part is supposed to come out today and I am so excited for it! If you haven't already tried a CAL or KAL (Knit  Along), I highly recommend it!

Have you tried something like this before? What did you like most about it? Was there anything you struggled with? Would yo do it again? If you haven't done an -along, yet, is it something that you would like to do?

Feel free to leave comments below, I always love hearing from you!

Remember that you are beautiful  and well loved.