Sauron's First Project

Hi, my name is, Cassie and I'm a closeted Lord of the Rings geek.

Everyone needs something to completely geek out over and although I love that crocheting can be a part of that...I mean not many people understand the different yarn ply's, hook and stitch names or crochet lingo like "FROG", outside of crocheters and knitters. I have always had a love fore Tolkien's works. I have read most of his books and Lord of The Rings is my favorite series next to Fast and Furious.

I've been looking at the crochet hooks on Etsy, that have been custom made with polymer clay handles. People geek out over Dr. Who, Star Wars and Disney and I have found plenty of custom hooks for those but they aren't me. The more I thought about it, the more I really wanted to get a custom Lord of the Rings, hook set. Eventually I would love to get some Lord of the Rings stitch markers as well, but for now, I'm just geeking out over the hooks.

So, I asked this nice lady, on Etsy who I have seen her hooks and they are all so very wonderful. I asked her if she would ever think about making some Lord of the Rings hooks. We talked more about it and I recieved my very first Lord of the Rings hook a couple of weeks ago. It is a size H, Boye crochet hook.

Of course after recieving it, I had to find a project for it, considering I'm still working on my husband's blanket for Christmas and that takes an I hook.

So, I worked up this elephant parade cowl:

This pattern is $3 USD and it is a great work up. If you enjoy or want to practice colorwork, this designer has great patterns for both knitting and crochet. Most of them are hats but I enjoy her patterns.

Remember that you are Beautiful and well loved.

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes...

I don't know what it is, but I have been on a, rather ambitious, crochet kick. I first started to crochet about two years ago. The process of learning was more frustrating than I would like to admit, because I had no one to show me and I am one of those 'see and do' learners. My first project was a scarf, which I gave to my husband. Then, I made a couple afghans, which I gave to my step mom and mother-in-law as gifts for Christmas.

More recently, I made a Santa pillow. I was bored. I had yarn. It was the middle of July and I was feeling a bit ambitious. I saw the pattern and decided to make it. It took me three days to make, which isn't bad for over 48 pieces for his beard alone.

Here is a picture of the finished Pillow.

I am selling it on Etsy.com because I have this terrible knack for making things and having no idea what to do with them, afterwards. I also have a ton of ruffle scarves and other things that I will be putting in my shop, soon. The moment it stops raining on a day I have off and I can get my husband to help take pictures.

My birthday just passed and I have been yearning to make something with crochet thread. Little did I realize just how difficult and frustrating the process of being able to, would be. The hooks are almost as tiny as a sewing needle and the thread is...well, thread.

Still I have been able to create a snowflake each day, for the past three days. Here are the ones I have created, so far:

 

I found the pattern for the first snowflake at the Snowcatcher Snowflake Directory.

The person who runs the directory and blog has created all of the designs for the snowflakes and has amazing stories to tell for each design. I love her snowflakes and I think I'm going to try several of her patterns.  

These last two snowflakes, I found the pattern for in the December 2010 issue of Crochet World Magazine. I love being a subscriber and trying new patterns. I am going to make a few more snowflakes and then stiffen them so they keep their shape while they are hanging on our tree. I will probably make more than our poor tree can handle, and end up selling them in my Etsy shop.

What are some ornament ideas you have?