tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172787802024-03-12T16:53:32.035-07:00crocheting through crabbinessIn which we do various craft projects to keep ourselves from poking those that irritate us with a sharp stick.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-13635605519720226152008-08-13T20:03:00.000-07:002008-08-13T20:31:01.302-07:00FOPaloozaGreetings Knitlings! Long time, no blog. <br />Pictured here is Weston, the stuffed sheep knitwear model (shhh he doesn't know he's a stuffed animal), showing off the Tweed Beret from Interweave Knits Winter 2006. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdU5ubuQ8zzdGbV8vMvvEt-PBLJ5rOzWi3SswOluuwMRipCR4WFQ77aAI3GIGuW-X3fo4-cPURmx-3JQ_Hd8u7nyMQHaFk7eFEJsHkLBCYGdDi5eRrH6MK3b1HLN_38w7Quws/s1600-h/Weston.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdU5ubuQ8zzdGbV8vMvvEt-PBLJ5rOzWi3SswOluuwMRipCR4WFQ77aAI3GIGuW-X3fo4-cPURmx-3JQ_Hd8u7nyMQHaFk7eFEJsHkLBCYGdDi5eRrH6MK3b1HLN_38w7Quws/s320/Weston.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234209362636318530" /></a><br /><br />This was produced from Caron Simply Soft and was knit I think three times before it passed the test. I messed it up once and in my rage managed to rip it all out to the cast on row and beyond. It was during the early days of knitting on double points. We've come so far since then, Weston and I. The other attempt was huge and I made a mistake in the ending ribbing that I decided I couldn't live with. The third time proved to be the charm. It not only looks very fetching on Weston but is flattering to the somewhat oversized human head as well. I have worn it in public to rave reviews. The scarf on our model is my own design based on a stitch pattern I found in Knitting Dictionary, 800 Stitches and Patterns by Margaret Hamilton-Hunt. It is one of several chevron patterns in that volume. I wore this much of the winter with a gray wool coat. I know, I'm a bit behind in my blogging. It was the winter of scarves and hats in a never-ending quest to find warm newspaper delivery wear. Let's all give Weston a round of applause for his fine modeling. <br /><br />Next up is the Boston Baby Wear. This layette was produced for Samuel Caesar Wood Perriello, recently of Somerville, Mass. He joined the crowd in Boston on June 26 - right on time. It's a shame I wasn't. I decided the week he was born to add the hat and booties. I also knit him a baby blanket - the Easy Eyelet Blanket from Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas - sadly not pictured before it went in the mail. Samuel was recently photographed wearing the sweater while vacationing on Cape Cod. He looked very New English and ready for fall. Hopefully he doesn't grow out of it before the leaves turn. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiGIFL_TpeHHjFjRedr7qsCEKkCpSH_wd33ZxXIipCxiFHb3cPo75lRVLE5dCARlW0gJmacpjL1FcQA3RqVVzQpwoFH7o1zEuETCOJwsjJE5iOvM-sMb6a9NU7vG4bPyrDEW4/s1600-h/bostonknitware.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiGIFL_TpeHHjFjRedr7qsCEKkCpSH_wd33ZxXIipCxiFHb3cPo75lRVLE5dCARlW0gJmacpjL1FcQA3RqVVzQpwoFH7o1zEuETCOJwsjJE5iOvM-sMb6a9NU7vG4bPyrDEW4/s320/bostonknitware.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234210552721914082" /></a><br /><br />Now it's back to the Olympic crocheting. I've got a Happy Blanket on the hook for a baby that's been here awhile. It will be done before the swimming I'm hoping. Go Phelps! And it is appropriately USA-themed. Carry on.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-63291980431732141762008-06-02T20:21:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:58:20.149-08:00Blog break broken AGAIN!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLYYNrOPm3-QIU2Bm72CG7OLffAG6RpYSAzcsZ2b27Hvy2cTxySSoSM5WdbfNtrfUSzU9iK6m7N7t5Nh3TWeCV7r_nSUz3fXCnXYraEn31XhVhOhKAx49tPugYI4rojs6UsuV/s1600-h/IMG_0405.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLYYNrOPm3-QIU2Bm72CG7OLffAG6RpYSAzcsZ2b27Hvy2cTxySSoSM5WdbfNtrfUSzU9iK6m7N7t5Nh3TWeCV7r_nSUz3fXCnXYraEn31XhVhOhKAx49tPugYI4rojs6UsuV/s200/IMG_0405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209359590427910002" /></a><br />It has been a lot longer than I thought it would be since I have blogged, but oh well. Time flies when you're having fun, knitting, or crocheting. The WIPs are flying off the needles. I need to post photos but I don't have any. Except this hat and scarf. This is not quite the parade of hats and scarves I promised in my last post but it will have to do. I bought this Noro on one of my three recent trips to Boston. It was purchased I think at Woolcott & Co., but I can't remember. I visited a lot of yarn shops. It's worked in garter stitch - inspired by Brooklyn Tweed's lovely garter stitch scarves and I'm quite happy with it. I had to buy another skein of yarn to make it as long as I wanted so at the end of the day this is a very pricey scarf. However, when the bracing South Dakota wind is whipping around me I'm quite happy to have the Noro - at any price - wrapped around my neck to keep off the breeze. The hat is made of a less high-brow product, Vanna's Choice. This is the project I made with the new Lion Brand yarn and I was quite happy with it as well. It was fairly soft to the touch for a relatively inexpensive acrylic and I liked how it worked up. Originally I made the scarf to match a tan Cotton Ease hat. However, I often wore the combo on my newspaper route and the yarnovers in the Lion Brand hat were letting in too much of the bracing wind. So the purple hat is made from the same pattern but with no yarnovers. I would make it a little shorter if I were to redo it, but since it takes the air on the paper route I'm not too worried about it.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-68994420593467006902008-04-11T16:48:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:58:20.575-08:00Blog Break Broken!!Amazing, but here I am updating the blog. I have noticed that the blogiverse expects more than the twice-yearly blog post. I will try to comply. <br /><br />This winter's goal was to finish one of the four (yes four, don't judge) afghans I had started. Mission accomplished and then some!! Since the great state of SD received 8 inches of snow this week I am still counting this as winter and I have completed two of the four afghans. Yes!! Two! If I died tomorrow it would be with less WIP shame. Both of these afghans were started to use up yarn stash. I realized my folly when I repeatedly found myself in the Wal-Mart yarn aisle to get yet another skein of Lion Brand's Jiffy Thick & Quick's Adirondacks. I thought I had the perfect project to use up yarn I tried to crochet a sweater vest with only to rip it out twice. Unfortunately, I did not read the ball band carefully enough. It was four skeins of Wool-Ease Chunky and 45 (probably not quite that many) skeins of the Jiffy before Snug was completed. Snug was a pattern I found on someone's blog that I then printed from the Internets. Here it is in its baby form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaz52wVYuaIT602RDfgey4Q9mm_y225uPA2___cKFL9cdu00CX6q7dDeh6eRO255E0IKCYOtbeh2MvxcUzNxZSrxMwpuUvmxc3IwW5S7N8xIsoAj5USg-rZTi-YuepbkEtm9s/s1600-h/greenafghan.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaz52wVYuaIT602RDfgey4Q9mm_y225uPA2___cKFL9cdu00CX6q7dDeh6eRO255E0IKCYOtbeh2MvxcUzNxZSrxMwpuUvmxc3IwW5S7N8xIsoAj5USg-rZTi-YuepbkEtm9s/s200/greenafghan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188143662992375474" /></a><br /><br />The other finished afghan started as a retirement gift for a co-worker two years ago. It sat around my apartment for awhile because I ran out of the yarn for the border of the strips but once I decided to scrap the original border yarn and resorted to a little Red Heart Light Sage I was in the clear. Then it was a marathon crochet session to finish all the strips. I worked out a lot of crabby. :) I'll admit I fell by the wayside once I had to contemplate the mammoth sewing together of 15 strips but I rallied. Here it is. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireUg3_G02qvYej64lrwIftRq2j_cT8aTCs3_HITLNTS0n9Xad3bXLzPSt0mnyBahwMvSMFmyyD_SwphyIOBYmv0kYJbK1SHY0mYlGrR27drgge-clpmArdI4ZFs4EDYWdtqWO/s1600-h/snug.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireUg3_G02qvYej64lrwIftRq2j_cT8aTCs3_HITLNTS0n9Xad3bXLzPSt0mnyBahwMvSMFmyyD_SwphyIOBYmv0kYJbK1SHY0mYlGrR27drgge-clpmArdI4ZFs4EDYWdtqWO/s200/snug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188141360889904802" /></a><br />It is somewhat unbelievable to me that I have finished both of these. I emptied two knitting bags of these mammoth projects. I feel almost lonely without the pressure of these two projects looming around the house, calling pathetically from their respective areas. Of course I now have some leftover yarn to dispose of, but no matter. I have plans for it!! There. So Proud. A blog post. Who knew? Next up, a parade of hats and scarves. Try to control your excitement.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-25865084517177484722007-08-07T11:58:00.000-07:002007-08-07T12:11:00.095-07:00Dog DaysIt has been many months since my last post, but I have not been idle. Babies have received blankets, sweaters, hats and bibs. Other baby products such as hats and sweaters were stored away for any litter of winter babies who currently are in hibernation but might pop up at any time either seeing their shadow or not and then acting accordingly.<br /><br />Other projects await final finishing details like having their provisional cast-on removed so as to allow seaming and ribbing or simply participating in the ceremonial weaving in of the ends. Unfortunately I have found finishing to not be my thing. I apparently am a process knitter. I like to knit - and crochet. I seem to care not what happens to the projects after the knitting is complete - unless they are for the aforementioned babies of which there have been many. I currently have three purses awaiting final finishings as well in the hopes they can one day leave the house without their plastic bag disguise. The shame of being lining-less is too much.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I have started to design a new sweater for myself that is probably too wide, but fortunately will allow for some shrinkage as the yarn is cotton. I found the strength to make up the pattern myself after reading the Yarn A-Go-Go blog whose author assured all of the Internets that we could follow her instructions and produce a cute summer sweater that fits. However, I decided to strike out and add ribbing before moving into the pattern stitchwhich was differently constructed than the Go-Gos. Then I decided to add a few stitches to be on the safe side and am now possibly knitting the Sweater that Became a Pop Tent. (I don't know if that's how you spell the pop in tent but I'm going with it for now.) The Sweater I am currently designing is an effort to use up the never ending cones of variegated blue, green, off white yarn I purchased in a weak moment to make a sweater I've completely forgotten about in the Quest for the Cute Summer Sweater. Apparently the original pattern turned out not to be the Holy Grail. Side note: The fact that this is August and the window for the Cute Summer Sweater is rapidly closing is not lost on me.<br /><br />I will soldier on meanwhile, putting off my New Year's resolution to learn to knit socks and cables, absorbing as much of the air conditioning as possible to prepare for Afghan Season. Pictures next time, I promise.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-58411127521839140562007-03-01T10:34:00.000-08:002007-03-01T11:04:13.723-08:00Stupid Mercury and its freakin' retrogradeI realize I am probably inviting the wrath of the universe with that title but it's already rained down upon my head somewhat so what the hell.<br /><br />Yesterday as I was reading the Internets I noticed a lot of posting on Mercury and its retrograde rampage. I stupidly thought to myself, why that's funny, I'm having a great lot of knitting fun. No astronomical games of cat and mouse here. Then I began the decreases on a beret I had nearly finished - 9 rows left maybe. Well, I realized halfway through the decreasing that I was messing it up. I thought, I will rip back row by row and fix this. So I began. And let me also add that yesterday was one of those bad temper days where you're not sure why you're pissed but then you get to work and realize there are many reasons waiting for you. And as the day goes on the list gets longer.<br /><br />So yeah, this was not my day. But, I thought, it will be better once I'm home and can work on the knitting. So I began the tinking and it was going pretty well until I got to the stitches I had knit together. They started to come apart in a way that was not conducive to beautiful bereting. I tried to pick up the stitches, they looked like hell. So I thought, I will take the beret off the needles and just rip like a madwoman until I'm back in business. Madwoman was the operative word. I could not figure out at what point back in business should be. I ended up ripping out the whole thing. THE WHOLE FRIGGING THING!! Two weeks of my crafting life gone. My only solace at the end of this mess is I know I can do it again and this time I'll know how to do the decreases. And hopefully, mercury will be out of its freakin' retrograde by then and maybe I'll have grown some sense.<br /><br />I was going to post a photo of a finished project but blogger will not let me. Mercury, man, give me a break already.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1169140153200877982007-01-18T08:57:00.000-08:002007-01-18T09:10:29.596-08:00Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2915/1662/1600/410041/corn%20nativity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2915/1662/320/25421/corn%20nativity.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is the Corn Husk Nativity. This decoration was always placed on our mantelpiece when I was a kid. The angel hung from a hook on the fireplace. I don't remember a Christmas without this decoration.<br /><br />Originally I thought it was a project my mother and grandmother had made during their corn husk doll period but I recently learned it was a gift to my mother from a friend and she likely received a piece from each year.<br /><br />I have been the keeper of this nativity almost since I moved away from home or shortly after I graduated from college. It's been bounced around from one apartment to the next and used to be on display all year in a house I rented. It is in surprisingly good shape for its lifespan and the aforementioned traveling from place to place. I've been searching for a stable it for several years and finally found really the perfect thing at a discount store that shall remain nameless. It has a moss-covered roof and special perch for the angel, who no longer hangs from her hook. That was really sort of cruel after all.<br /><br />I had given up hope of finding anything that could work for them and resigned myself to stuffing them with Kleenex to get them to stand on their own. I displayed them this year, in their new stable on top of my entertainment center.<br /><br />It's funny the role a group of corn husk dolls can play in your memory. I associated these pieces with our Christmas celebrations as much as I did the books my mother only let us read during the holiday season, the felt advent calendar with pieces we snapped on the felt tree every day and another Santa advent calendar that good friends of ours refilled with candy each year. My mother did a lot of things that made our holidays a special time. I suppose any tradition does. I'm so glad to have these things to remember her and that special season of the year when it seemed there was always a little magic in the air. She has been gone for almost 20 years but the time she took with us and her holiday preparations are still there in my memory. And now that these nativity people have a more permanent home it feels like she is closer to me than ever and a little bit of that magic has returned.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1166472736988570732006-12-18T12:07:00.000-08:002006-12-18T12:12:17.030-08:00Foiled againSadly I have no pictures for this post although there should be some. This weekend I finished a sweater vest I worked on most of October, but alas, I don't really like the fit. I was afraid of this as the piece progressed. It was worked with two strands of Lion Brand Homespun and is pretty thick. I don't need anymore thickness in the chest area, thanks. I will try it on again and maybe the wonkiness will work out in the wash. Who knows. It just riles me that I worked so long on something I don't really like and probably wouldn't wear.<br /><br />So now I will wait to see if I like it better after washing, find out if my friend Marlys wants it or rip out the yarn and make another something. And maybe I'll just take it to Goodwill and count it as charity knitting. Any port in a storm.<br /><br />I did get something done this weekend - another Mason-Dixon dishrag. I really love those things. This is a Christmas knit to match another dishcloth pattern I finished awhile ago. I am now crocheting one last Christmas project. Not sure if it will be done, but hope springs eternal in craftland. It's not that complex but one never knows. I was trying so hard to avoid this stress this year - so hard!!<br /><br />At any rate, the cards are out. Most of the shopping is done and 2/3 of the gifts are wrapped. Not bad if I do say so myself, although I'm not saying it loudly in case the universe cares to deliver another knitting failure to my doorstep. This leaves my plan for a Winter of Sweaters on shaky ground.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1165256360721033642006-12-04T10:11:00.000-08:002006-12-04T10:19:20.913-08:00frogging-the good kind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2915/1662/1600/855784/frog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2915/1662/320/497264/frog.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here, in all its glory, is the frog. The pattern was procured from crochetme.com - great web site. Its perch on the couch here is an improvement over the kitchen counter photo. It was definitely a dead frog walking shot. He looked like he'd been stretched out on the dissecting table. Good grief. Not a happy time for frogs. This is such a cute pattern with the little flies and the drawstring mouth so you can throw your flies about and then catch them and stash them. Much as I like him I'm not sure I did him justice. His pupils should be larger and in my weaker moments I've thought he resembled a pig. But if he is received well by the small boy he is USPSing his way to now I will be happy.<br /><br />In other news, I have started a sweater. I tried to knit a sweater in November per the knitalong, but it did not happen - almost, but not quite. The only thing standing in my way was the clamoring Christmas knitting making its complaints ever louder by the day. And also that nasty picking up the stitches business. I could have had the vest done weeks ago had I just completed that job. And now I am crocheting a baby blanket and contemplating the beginning of another crocheted sweater. I have gone crazy, there is no return. Unfortunately my hands and shoulder are not really running at peak production speed. I'm going to consult Mr. Chiropractor about that. One's health cannot be allowed to interfere with the holiday knitting and crocheting.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1162597565002468382006-11-03T15:37:00.000-08:002006-11-03T15:46:05.016-08:00FOS - Really<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/1600/hats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/320/hats.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some FOS as promised in the last post - however, not the ones I intended.<br /><br />The first are two hats knit from the Fall issue of Knit It for two impending babies. They were a very easy and quick knit on the favorite Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. I am hoping to get some matching sweaters made for these two little beanies. I think these two little hats are almost too precious to be borne.<br /><br />FO #2: The Wristies from the latest Crochet <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/1600/wristies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/320/wristies.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Me. I remembered why I love to crochet so much - it's quick. These worked up in no time. I had a little trouble with the thumb hole on the first one but I figured it out. And I screwed up the color pattern but I decided to keep it. I liked it and was quite a ways along when I realized the error.<br /><br />FO #3: Last but not least - Humphrey from the Monsters of Teen Craft Tour. He worked up really quickly too. I just used some scrap Red Heart. I need to glue his eyes on better as one has already fallen off, fortunately not in the midst of his photo shoot. He is now the office mascot.<br /><br />There are more WIPs t<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/1600/Humphrey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/320/Humphrey.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>o become FOs. The sticking point is sewing the lining, but I finally found some material I think works. Stay tuned.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1155305232716048792006-08-11T07:05:00.000-07:002006-08-11T07:07:12.720-07:00FOs to come<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/1600/ballbanddishcloth.5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2915/1662/200/ballbanddishcloth.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was determined to have some finished projects to post on this here blog next time I made an entry but alas, I have only one to show. There are more at home but have yet to reach photographic glory.<br /><br />This is a ballband dishrag ala the Mason-Dixon book. I have two other MD projects done and a couple more non-MD projects that are almost done but for finishing and linings being sewn. Stay tuned and I'm sure on the edge of your seats.<br /><br />The yarn elite will perhaps delight in knowing I've strayed from the Red Heart fold for a time. I have embraced the Sugar and Cream and it's sister from the north Peaches and Creme in order to knit some lovely dishcloths. I love the cotton as its colors are so cheery. I've also contemplated knitting My Dream Sweater, the sweater for which I learned to knit, using some grey Lion Brand Woolese. I am hoping to cast this on shortly as I saw that pattern probably five years ago and have yet to make it.<br /><br />In the last week I have conquered double pointed needles, well, I can use them, and am knitting yet another dishcloth. I noticed one fewer stitch on a recent row than I was supposed to have. I did a quick increase and hope this won't cause too much mayhem.<br /><br />Other WIPs:<br />* The blue purse from Stitch and Bitch - needs to be sewn together and joined with some type of lining<br />* Fall purse that is done but for the lining and handles. I even have the handles - how fun is that?<br />*Tree skirt I've had done for four years but have yet to sew the crocheted poinsettia flowers onto. I think it would look prettier under the tree than trussed up in a plastic comforter bag in the closet. It's just the tedium of all that sewing. God help me. Maybe this weekend. (Ha, ha, ha.)<br /><br />Planned projects:<br />* Some funky baskets from the Hip to Crochet book, done in Woolese Chunky (yet another non-Red Heart project).<br />* A frog bag complete with flies from the summer issue of Crochet Me.<br />* Pumpkins made on the knitting loom.<br />(Sorry to report the previous two projects will be done in Red Heart. It's hard to leave an old friend.)<br />* Crocheted edging for about four baby blankets - in preparation for the next deluge of babies my friends decide to produce.<br />* Halter top for my niece from Knitty that will soon be too big if I don't get going.<br /><br />In other news, I have found the size seven wooden needle I thought I lost. (This meant I could return the metal ones I had purchased as a replacement.) It had fallen down between the seat and driver's side door of the car. Don't ask. I also found the bamboo double-pointed needles I bought on vacation and then squirreled away in a project bag currently used to house odds and ends - not the New Knifty Needles. These beauties are now in use on the dishcloth - the dishcloth that is growing beyond its needly confines. Any suggestions?mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1149871672614100082006-06-09T09:46:00.000-07:002006-06-09T09:47:52.633-07:00Practicing motherhoodToday on my way to work I saw two little girls taking their "babies" across the street to what I assume was daycare. These dolls were appropriately cared for as it was very windy and their mothers had covered their heads with a blanket. This was the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. I could see these two at the tea table comparing their children's accomplishments - maybe doing a spot of knitting or crochet. Or rushing to the office after the kids were deposited safely.<br /><br /> On the crafting front I have again been foiled by my former favorite yarn brand. I believe it has again discontinued a yarn when I was in mid project. Rational people will say stop with the low-brow acrylic. I quit the whole project and went on to something else. I am really getting sick of this retiring business. How are you supposed to reduce the stash when everything's getting discontinued? I was so mad I could have spit. Instead I started some cotton dish cloths and went back to my happy place.<br /><br /> Perhaps I could post a photo of these projects at some point - if they're ever done.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1142883287033429962006-03-20T11:18:00.000-08:002006-03-20T13:25:15.343-08:00Crocheting through crabbinessSo, my big hobby in life is crochet. I have many hobbies but this dominates much of my craft time. It also is the main reason I am still close to sane and has prevented me from throwing little children though plate-glass windows. Just kidding. There are no flying children near me now or in the past.<br /><br />So I love the crochet, but recently I have been the victim of a yarn conspiracy. I have started many projects with what I thought was the right amount of yarn only to discover when it was nearly too late that I did not have enough at all.<br /><br />The greatest calamity occurred in the form of the Navy Fleck blue sweater. First, I did not read the pattern correctly and used worsted weight yarn instead of Lion Brand Homespun. As a result, I used more yarn than the pattern predicted. But I loved the Navy Fleck and could already imagine the beautiful sweater it would create. I had the back of this sweater almost done when I realized the error of my ways.<br /><br />So I then commenced the Great Navy Fleck Yarn search. I looked in every store I could with no success. I called yarn stores, no success. I then looked up the Coats and Clark Web site, again disappointment and shame. I called Coats and Clark and learned the horrible truth. The yarn was discontinued -- aaaaahhh!! I had suspected as much but didn't want to admit it was true. I then turned to Ebay hoping for some minor miracle. They had two and a half skeins for sale but by the time the auction was done they wanted $30 for the lot. The inbred cheapness of my pioneer ancestors would not let me pay that much for two and a half skeins of yarn I could normally purchase for $12 at the most. Yes, I know what you're thinking, if only you had. The Navy Fleck I did have was the scraps of another project that was also a disaster because it didn't fit when it was done so I gave it to a friend. Anyway ... I ended up putting the yarn away and starting another project, but the conspiracy continues.<br /><br />I made a crocheted purse out of another Red Heart color variety, consulting the package first to get the yarn amount needed. I then even purchased that amount. I was about an inch and a half from being done when, yes, you guessed it. I ran out of yarn. Now living in the country's bread basket, 50 miles from the nearest Hobby Lobby, it was not possible for me to jaunt out like some city slicker after the exact yarn I needed. So, I waited and of course started something else. The purse was for me anyway so no big deal. This weekend I went to yarn mecca (otherwise known as Sioux Falls) to pick up the needed yarn only to find out that Hobby Lobby was out. There was no time to visit another store due to numerous visits to scrapbooking kingdoms. So, back I went to Brookings with no yarn to finish the purse. Spring is looming and this is not necessarily a spring purse. What's a girl to do? Can we stand to be deprived of a new fabulous purse. Oh, the horror.<br /><br />I had listened to the lectures from my three older co-workers, otherwise known as the domestics, following yarn conspiracy No. 1 about buying enough yarn for the project all at once. But how can I cope with patterns that lie? It is a dilemma. Meanwhile, I thought I was running out of yarn for my current project only to discover a huge pounder skein in my stash. A narrow escape, but perhaps the tide is turning and Yarn Conspiracy 2006 is over.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1128974973698412742005-10-10T12:55:00.000-07:002005-10-10T13:10:20.886-07:00Flying Chicken and other calamitiesSo the other day I had to go to this swanky church dinner full of intellectuals and people with good table manners. I showed up in what I thought was a nice outfit - green dress pants and a black short-sleeved sweater. I was also wearing these slip-on sandals with heels. I was thinking I looked like a cross between Audrey Hepburn (add about 30 pounds though) and Coco Chanel ( of course I was alive and these people aren't). The woman that organized the whole event looked at my tastefully chosen ensemble and informed me in front of those assembled that she had four sweaters in the car in case I needed one later. We were eating outside. Four sweaters, this is someone who comes prepared for the worst - like a surprise cold snap in the mild of the entree.<br /><br />When I arrived at the dinner the restaurant personnel mistakenly thought I was part of the wedding party that was also dining in the same area. I'm sure the mistake occurred because I look so young and vivacious. So I was asked at least twice when the rest of the party was going to arrive. I finally told them, I don't know, I'm with these people - that's why I'm sitting with them. ( I didn't really say that last part). This was after I crunched through the gravel bedding they have in the back yard of this restaurant so I guess it can also be used as a huge litter box. My heels were sunk down in the gravel while chunks of it was stuck between my foot and shoe.<br /><br />After sitting down a friend of mine called on her cell phone so I had to get up and call her back. We were coordinating a drinks rendesvous, some things are more important than food.<br /><br />When I got back I noticed a knat had committed suicide in my water glass. This is not something I find terribly disturbing because the previous night one had died in a similar fashion in the glass of water I keep by my bed. So instead of fishing it out with my finger I politely told the waittress I needed more water. She was ready to refill when I said, no, no, I need a new glass. So that situation was rectified.<br /><br />I was then sailing along, chatting and eating when I went to cut my final piece of what to that point had been a delicious cheese-filled chicken roll. I cut into the remains of the bird and pow, the other piece of chicken flew off my plate into the middle of the table. Oh my gosh, I said, hoping no one had noticed (yeah, right, it was a small round table), yet trying to act apologetic in case someone had. I then quickly scooped the escapee off the table and onto the side of my plate. The dinner ended without further incident.<br /><br />Later on I was telling the lady with four sweaters about the bug incident the next day said, well how could you see it? Just lucky, I said. Couldn't you have just drank it, she asked. After looking at her with what I'm assuming was a mix of horror and disbelief, I said, ah, no.mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278780.post-1128027043655432252005-09-29T13:47:00.000-07:002005-09-29T13:51:27.636-07:00Clouded by crabbiness<span style="font-family:georgia;">Well, here's my blog. Its creation was requested by a friend of mine who I'm sure thought this would just be a fun joke, but no, here it is - the blog. Ask and you shall receive.<br /><br />Clouded by crabbiness is a title suggested by friends of mine as a description of I guess, some of my behavior patterns. And that's fine. It's true.<br /><br />Now I'm wondering what to write. This is a lot of pressure. I'll have to think about this some more.<br /></span>mathaphobichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052675321832524139noreply@blogger.com1