* I'm in the middle of a production crochet project. I love being able to balance writing out my own patterns with following those of others - I see how some really talented designers write their patterns, which helps me to stay current with text styles and sizing, etc.
* Once the production crochet is finished, I'll hopefully have some time before V-day to make my husband a pair of socks. And I am also 1/4 of the way through with my pillow covers for my new couch.
* For those of you who carry Namaste bags (or want to): Hip Mountain Mama is giving away a Zuma at the end of February! Go to her blog to find out how to enter, and when you're done, have a look at the fun stuff she's got in her shop - lots of good environmentally-conscious items.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Like I need a new hobby.
Just after Christmas, I suddenly REALLY NEEDED TO SPIN. I'd never tried before, so I didn't have any materials, but I quickly remedied that with a visit to the local yarn shop accompanied by a couple of gift cards; where I got a pretty birds-eye maple top whorl drop spindle, made just up the road in Monmouth; and a little bag of black alpaca roving. I spent a bit of time watching YouTube videos of spinners, and read a couple of web pages on the subject, and then tried it myself. I did it for a few minutes here and there, and then over the last weekend while I was at my mom's house watching movies I finished spinning it, and set the twist (hopefully, heh):
The finished product is seriously overspun in many places (and thin as thread sometimes), underspun and thick in other places, and best of all I didn't feel like it needed to be any other way. Usually when I try something new, I expect to be good at it and when I'm not I get frustrated - like keeping a good gauge in knitting without ending up making the stitches so tight that my wrists hurt by the end of the project (which is one of the reasons I'm not all that great at knitting at the moment) or knowing exactly how to do everything right the first time. I just did what I could and as I got further along I had fewer slubs and was able to keep up with the spindle without having to stop and park it between my knees. I got another bit of roving the other day (silvery grey this time) and am excited to try again.
The same evening I was up in the spare room (a.k.a. the stash and Lego room) fixing my sweater shoulders, I spied some gold wire that I didn't know I had. So I sat down for a few minutes and whipped up a ring.
It was super fast and easy, just one row of single crochet, and I love it. Except for the other side, where I joined the ends of the row. I'll have to make another now that I know how.
(You can see my dishwasher-element burn there on my middle finger, too. It left a good scar.)
The finished product is seriously overspun in many places (and thin as thread sometimes), underspun and thick in other places, and best of all I didn't feel like it needed to be any other way. Usually when I try something new, I expect to be good at it and when I'm not I get frustrated - like keeping a good gauge in knitting without ending up making the stitches so tight that my wrists hurt by the end of the project (which is one of the reasons I'm not all that great at knitting at the moment) or knowing exactly how to do everything right the first time. I just did what I could and as I got further along I had fewer slubs and was able to keep up with the spindle without having to stop and park it between my knees. I got another bit of roving the other day (silvery grey this time) and am excited to try again.
The same evening I was up in the spare room (a.k.a. the stash and Lego room) fixing my sweater shoulders, I spied some gold wire that I didn't know I had. So I sat down for a few minutes and whipped up a ring.
It was super fast and easy, just one row of single crochet, and I love it. Except for the other side, where I joined the ends of the row. I'll have to make another now that I know how.
(You can see my dishwasher-element burn there on my middle finger, too. It left a good scar.)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
January...
... and my toes are numb. I'm glad my fingers aren't, because I've got stuff to do with 'em!
A couple of weeks ago, I finally finished my own modified version of my pattern from the winter '08 Interweave Crochet. Observe:
My main modification to the pattern was to begin in an XL at the bottom (because I am pear-shaped), and then switch to a Large right before the waist. I did run into a problem, though: the shoulders were too wide. (And this after I had a conversation with one of my designer friends about that very thing!) I thought I'd mention it here just in case anyone else has the same problem, with any sweater they make.
See the shoulder on the right there, hanging off the dressform in a very unflattering way. I pinned the other shoulder up so that the seam was where it should have been, to see where I should fix it.
My first plan was to frog the cap of the sleeves and re-crochet them so that the curve was shorter. Then I reattached them, and saw that I still had the same problem. So I removed the sleeves again, and overlapped the top of the cap with the shoulder part of the main body of the sweater. I overlapped three or four stitches. (Hope that makes sense.) I pinned the sleeves on and then sewed them on while the sweater was still on the dress form, to make it easier to see. Even with that small amount of extra bulk at the edges of my shoulders, it lays much much better and I'm pleased with the fit.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally finished my own modified version of my pattern from the winter '08 Interweave Crochet. Observe:
My main modification to the pattern was to begin in an XL at the bottom (because I am pear-shaped), and then switch to a Large right before the waist. I did run into a problem, though: the shoulders were too wide. (And this after I had a conversation with one of my designer friends about that very thing!) I thought I'd mention it here just in case anyone else has the same problem, with any sweater they make.
See the shoulder on the right there, hanging off the dressform in a very unflattering way. I pinned the other shoulder up so that the seam was where it should have been, to see where I should fix it.
My first plan was to frog the cap of the sleeves and re-crochet them so that the curve was shorter. Then I reattached them, and saw that I still had the same problem. So I removed the sleeves again, and overlapped the top of the cap with the shoulder part of the main body of the sweater. I overlapped three or four stitches. (Hope that makes sense.) I pinned the sleeves on and then sewed them on while the sweater was still on the dress form, to make it easier to see. Even with that small amount of extra bulk at the edges of my shoulders, it lays much much better and I'm pleased with the fit.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Attention, UK Crocheters!
Yarn Forward Magazine broke the news this morning:
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the latest magazine in the KAL Media portfolio, Inside Crochet.
Edited by Julie Holetz and Amy O’Neill Houck, the magazine will be launched on 27th March and published bi-monthly.
Pre-orders and subscriptions are available now from the website www.insidecrochet.co.uk.
More details to follow shortly.
I hear that it may also be available to American crocheters; I'm excited to see what Julie and Amy come up with!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the latest magazine in the KAL Media portfolio, Inside Crochet.
Edited by Julie Holetz and Amy O’Neill Houck, the magazine will be launched on 27th March and published bi-monthly.
Pre-orders and subscriptions are available now from the website www.insidecrochet.co.uk.
More details to follow shortly.
I hear that it may also be available to American crocheters; I'm excited to see what Julie and Amy come up with!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year!
Everybody else likes to post their new year's wishes early, but I thought I'd wait until y'all had a chance for it to sink in first.
Last night my husband and I watched movies until it turned midnight, while I worked on submission swatches. (My goal was to end the old year working on what I wanted to continue with in the new year. Hehe)
I'm really excited about this new year. I foresee a ton of awesome things coming up in the next twelve months. I hope you do too, for your own neck of the woods - this is going to be a great year!
Last night my husband and I watched movies until it turned midnight, while I worked on submission swatches. (My goal was to end the old year working on what I wanted to continue with in the new year. Hehe)
I'm really excited about this new year. I foresee a ton of awesome things coming up in the next twelve months. I hope you do too, for your own neck of the woods - this is going to be a great year!
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