Afghan

While I have less yarn in my stash (only one blue tub) compared to most crocheters and knitters, it was time to thin out my stash.

READ: save money, but fulfilling the need to keep my hands busy to keep from going crazy.

How does one get a yarn stash?

Well, sometimes it's because you crochet tighter than the gauge for the project resulting in extra yarn. Or the bigger the project the greater the chance of erring on the side of too much yarn, especially when one is trying to keep a particular colored lot number.  Or you calculate 1 1/4 skein of yarn for a particular project, which means you have to buy 2 skeins.

Over time, extra yarn builds up. Luckily, I tend to like certain colors that work well together. Unless I happen to crochet a baby afghan there will not be any pastel colors in my stash. I do have some odd leftover yarns: a red from making a  couple of 'shark' hats, and camo from a baby hat and booties.

Yes, I have made this pattern before. Many times. The dark flower is a deep purple, not black. These gloomy days don't provide adequate lighting to take a picture. I added another row of seven which made 42 squares for this afghan. Finished size 54 x 64 inches.

New Afghan Started

Cooler weather is starting and I've returned to the one thing I love to do while watching the hubs and kidlet play video games or we watch TV.

Crocheting.

I've actually picked up a hook after ten months recovering from my last crocheting frenzy of 15 afghans (4 patterns).

The one I wanted to start was so confusing in the pattern instruction that I gave up after about six tries. I found another pattern, bought more yarn to be on the safe side, and started crocheting this weekend at the kidlet's swim meet.

I made 9 of these:

Looks like a snowflake, doesn't it?

Now, I have to make 36 more with the colors on the inside rotating in four different color patterns, before I crochet them together.

I think it'll be a good sized afghan in soothing winter colors.

That's it for today. We're having all our siding ripped off the house and I don't know how much writing I'll be getting done. They were right outside my computer window yesterday and it was BAD!

I'll post the project when they are through, complete with pictorial.

Later, Peeps!

Cozy Classic Afghan

I finished this afghan two days ago. . . and I will never make this one again unless serious amounts of booze or money are thrown at me.

Don't get me wrong though. The pattern wasn't difficult; it was tedious and mind-numbingly boring. Plus I had to make twelve strips versus the seven strips of the other patterns.

Not to mention I managed to bruise the first knuckle of my middle finger on my left hand, while working on the long crossover stitches. It took me days to figure out what I had done to cause all the swelling.

Cozy Classic in sage green with frosty green edging

Close up of pattern

I'll be packing it up and mailing this last Christmas present to my brother.

Yes, I have another pile of yarn to begin another afghan. This one will be for Brenda Novak's For the Cure auction, but for now, I will rest, read and write. Besides with the time change this weekend, I'll be walking while my daughter is at swim practice, not crocheting.

Later, Peeps.

My Mom

and I have a standing lunch date on Tuesdays.

Most of the time, I pick up a little something and we eat in.

My mom is 91 years old.

Here's my mom.

I hope to look so good at 91.

 

Sorry for the blurry picture, I was leaning backwards over a bed. And yes, I made her wear this shawl that I made her a few years ago.

 

It's a very simple, loose pattern of double crochet, chain two. She wanted something for her shoulders when she reads and my afghans are too heavy.

 

Here's an afghan I made her a few years ago.

 

I won't be making one of these for a long time, not because it's hard, but because it's cumbersome when it starts to get big. 

 Later, Peeps!

The Story of Will

Will is sad.
Will is a sad swim dad.
But why is Will sad?
Will is bald.
We don't know why Will is bald . . . but he is.
Will is a bald, sad, swim dad because his head gets cold.
Poor sad Will.

But wait!
Will has an idea.
Will will start chatting up the nice crocheting lady. Every swim practice, she set up her chair and her fingers start flying.
Will chats to the nice lady, but Will is patient. He waits until the right moment to strike.
It is cold outside.
Will asks the nice lady if she had made any beanie hats.
"Why, yes, I have. For my daughter."
"Could you make me a beanie?" asked Will.
"Tell you what, Will. You buy the yarn you like and I'll figure out how to make a beanie for your man-sized melon."
A few days later Will returned with Camo colored yarn, and the nice lady measured Will's melon. The tape measure loops around his head.
Then from ear-to-ear, over his head.
And one last measurement across the top of his head.
The next night, the nice lady started crocheting Will's beanie.

She had to rip out many, many rows to get the top nice and flat for his flat melon.
If she had to make it wider, she didn't want to start the side rows.
She wanted to measure it on Will's head.
That night, she put it on Will's head.
It looked like a camo yamaka. But it fit!
Nice lady finished the beanie hat.

Will is happy!
But wait. . .
Will wonders if nice lady could make it a little longer to cover his eyes.
Nice lady looks at the remaining yarn.
"Yes, I can make another one."
And she does.
Now Will is very happy.

Will has two beanie hats.

Later, Peeps! I'll post the directions under my Crochet page!