FO Finally Revealed

Awhile back, I posted this pic, and said I was making a secret lil something for a friend. This here is Vanna's Choice yarn in Cranberry and Mustard.

I started this little ditty over 3 months ago, and just recently finished it, just in time for my friend's birthday. Too bad it's getting warmer around here. She (and I) are big Harry Potter fans so this was pretty fun for me to make, and fun to watch her open.

With the leftovers from the scarf, I make a quick little beanie hat (only took two days! love it). Pattern: http://firebrunette.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/single-crochet-beanie-pattern/

the courage to frog

I am a novice at crochet. I've been working on my rainbow ripple afghan for awhile now, and it's just not working out. I mean - it's not horribly bad, or misshapen. But I keep having to fudge the numbers. I'm thinking I should rip it all out and just do plain rows of double crochet. But all that work.....and it's really not bad looking....but I am just holding off the inevitable by continuing to work on it? UGH.

What would you do?

The Yarn Predator

The fierce yarn predator.

Do not be deceived by his adorable nature.

My Rainbow Ripple Afghan was moving happily along, until the above cat, my Bandit, got into my yarn. And I'm snowed in. Can you think of a worse situation for a yarnoholic on a mini-jag? So now I'm stuck with all the other projects which seem less enchanting, and no yarn for the Ripple, until the snow clears up a bit.

And as I write this, it begs the question - why do yarn fanatics even have cats? it seems to be a common thread among us. we like yarn, cats like yarn. so why keep them around to tangle up and snarl the yarn we hold so dear? I don't know for sure, but I bet it has something to do with that second picture up there.

A yarny resolution

I was reading Lucy's post about stash busting at : http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2010/02/stashbusting.html

Then I read this post over at Green Apples:
http://stitchywitch.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/choosing-patterns-that-suit/

And I thought to myself : Self, I think a resolution is in the works here. Not only should I stash bust, and buy only patterns that I would buy completed in the store, but I NEED to finish all these WIPs I have going. I have four going actively at the moment, I don't even want to know how many are hibernating.

Rainbow Ripple Afghan (using Attic24's Neat Ripple Pattern)

Lacy Panel Jacket for me

Autumn Lapghan for grandma

Plus there's one more, but I can't show it yet because the recipient reads this.
So there, I now have a yarny resolution for 2010

It's done!

So I finally finished the pink/cream/green blankie I was working on. The finished measurements were approx. 40" x 36". It was going to be 40" x 40" but I was getting all twitchy and mean to my hubby so I figured I better quit, lol. Here's the finished blankie before weaving in ends: The mere though of doing another blankie would make me twitchy all over again, so I decided that it was time to give in and buy the second one. So sorry second twin - I promise you are not less loved, I just didn't have the time or determination to make you a blankie also. Here are the two blankies "artfully" posed:

Things to come

So with my cousin having twins (or really, when anyone I know has baby/ies), I feel this weird urge to knit/crochet a huge non-stop storm. Do you get that way? I think of million patterns I've seen that would be so cute in such and such colors, and then I go off and buy them. Very seldom do I finish these projects, mind you.

However, 2010 is going to be the year of not-quitting. So at the very minimum I'm going to finish the two blankies for my cousin's babies. I'm about half done with the first (as per my last post). And now, I'm putting my thoughts towards the second blanket. I figured that with twins they will get a gajillion matching things, so I'd make two blankets, in different colors and patterns. I think the second one is going to be a ripple blankie. I've never done it before but I saw Attic24's tute ( http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html) and it doesn't look so hard.

So.....IF I finish those,.....I was thinking....maybe I could even make the twins little shirts...something like...http://www.yarnydays.com/2009/01/bombay-love.html ? But we shall see.

Appetite Fatigue

I've been so busy working on a new project. I've had a terrible case of startitis lately. I've just started projects all over the place. I had to invent places to keep the projects (or really, keep the kids out of them).

But I've settled down a bit, and have mostly been working on a baby blanket. My cousin is due in 4 or 5 weeks with twin girls (!!) and I decided that I must make them crocheted blankets. So yarn was carefully selected for the first one, and I've been working away on it ever since.

Have you ever heard of Appetite Fatigue - where you get tired of eating the same old thing over and over again? Well, see - I think I have Appetite fatigue with this blanket. It's made with light wight yarn, and a small hook, and it's just plain rows of double crochet. What was I thinking? I must have been off my rocker! I've employed my husband to bribe me into finishing it. We'll see if it works. I think the worst part is, I'm still not sure if I like the color combination. One day I'll be sitting there thinking how cute, and clever it looks, and the next I'll think it looks like utter tacky trash. Do you ever feel that way about a project?

*cry* I just realized.......once I'm done....I'll have to make another........it's for twins you know...oh dear...what have I gotten myself into??

**Note to self: next time you want to make a baby blanket - banish any yarn smaller than worsted weight from your mind, woman!**

Rainbow-y goodness

Have you ever come up with a project in your mind, and done careful preparation for it, and then to have it come out exactly as you saw it in your mind's eye? This is exactly what happened to me! I've been wanting a rainbow vertically striped scarf for some time, but it had to be just so. It seemed crazy difficult to do knitted, but crochet....yes, crochet was the ticket!

I've never, no, not once, ever had another project come out so perfectly the way I imagined. The yarn was soft and cuddly, the colors were bright enough to be fun, yet subdued enough so I don't feel like I neon sign.

The entire project was just a joy to make, and I was delighted to find that my crochet had improved markedly since the last time I'd attempted a scarf - the edges were straight and even this time.

I know I must sound boastful, but truly, I'm not trying. It's just been one of those wonderful things were everything seems to be going my way, and I have to tell everyone about it. Do you know what I mean? I love love LOVE this scarf, and I simply want to snuggle up in it and wear it everywhere.

Maybe this is a sign that I should make a rainbow blanket in the same colors? Hmmm...