Hmph - what to do....

This is a no picture kinda day.

I sat last night and started the Men's Vest from my Year of Projects list and found that I didn't like how it was working up with the yarn. If you remember from previous blog posts, I had started the vest with a different yarn and didn't like it then. I'm beginning to think that the problem isn't the yarn - it's the pattern. I start working it up and I really just don't like it very much.

So then I got to thinking - I could find a replacement garment and do an even swap out. Well - that didn't work out so well either. I went through my magazine and found nothing. I went through Ravelry and found a few things, but they were all knit. I went through my magazines again and found a nice crochet sweater, but I have to admit, I read through the pattern and it confused the crap outta me. I did start that one but the pattern was not working well with the yarn. I'd have to go buy more yarn and I really don't want to do that.

And I'm brought back to the thought that the patterns I really liked on Rav were knit patterns.

Unfortunately - my knitting skills are extremely immature right now.

So what do I do? Take the project off the list completely? I know I don't like the pattern I picked now that I've started it with different yarns.... and I cannot find a suitable crochet replacement.... and knitting a full sweater right now is kinda out of the question considering I seriously suck at knitting right now (good enough for small easy projects, not good enough to tackle a sweater and have it done by Christmas).

I'm looking for some advise - help help help!

Q is for Queen

And that is exactly how the man made me feel today.

I admit I had a rough day at work. I came home and simply crashed. I wanted nothing to do with anything - only to kick my shoes off and breathe a moment.

He asked me to go see a picture in the guest room because he didn't know where he should hang it.

I said later.

He started playing around, trying to get me off the couch - and the more he pushed and pulled, the more like a marionette I became. Laughing, he pushed the couch to the hallway entrance and announced that's as far as he could get me. Begrudgingly, I finally went to the door and what did my little eyes behold - a new yarn stash organizing shelving unit!!!!!!

Apparently he bought it yesterday - I was not feeling well and napped while he and the kids went shopping. And this morning he put it together and even put my yarn in all the basket cubbies. I was totally surprised!

It's very exciting, to say the least. I was very surprised and felt very special that he would do something like that for me, especially as crabby as I was to him yesterday (again, I didn't feel very well although I acknowledge that is no reason to get crabby with people, especially your loved ones).

Then to top it off, we had to go shopping. He asked if I wanted to go out to dinner and had me believing that we were going to go to our favorite little Mexican restaurant - much to my surprise, he turned early and took me to my favorite Japanese hibatchi grill - a very nice place.

After filling me full of wonderful food, we went shopping for some new shirts for our son and was taken down the basket aisle to get a new, matching basket for my hooks and needles.

What a day... a completely, unexpected wonderful day - one fit for a yarn queen

*smiles*

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This post is part of the ABCs with the Accidental Knitter meme. The Ravelry post is here if you are interested in reading other posts or would like to join in yourself!

Year of Projects: Week 9

Project Percentage Complete: 29%

Overall Percentage Complete: 41%

Number of Project Items: 28

Number of Added Items: 21
Total Items: 49

Considering I was out of town last week, my Year of Projects post was pretty "blah" - no text to tell you all about my progress. So let's start from last Sunday for this post.

I was out for the weekend visiting my mother. In that weekend, I was able to use up a ball and a half of cotton yarn in making washcloths. My mother cabbaged onto those relatively quickly so I have no photos to share of them. Adding those three cloths to my overall total upped my overall percentage complete a few percent but they did not help my project percent complete.

I didn't go to yarn group on Wednesday because I had a pretty blah headache. I sat for a bit when my daughter asked me to open her new package of ear buds. Oddly, they are required for school since a lot of lab work is done. At least they are thinking about personal hygiene and how gross it would be for 25 kids to share a handful of ear buds. Anywhoozles, I took the opportunity to pick up the hook and crochet a little pouch. It'll be good since they could easily get switched with some of the other girls who my daughter said had the same ear buds.

While I have slowed down considerably on my dining room table runner, I did decide to make the Spiderweb Diamonds pattern in the August 2011 Crochet World magazine. I am making it using regular ole acrylic WW yarn, dark brown. I have a half wall at the front door that we plan on tearing out. In fact, it had slats going from the wall to the ceiling and several of those have already been removed. This is why I need the "runner" there. The original pattern called for #10 thread and would work up more as a doily. The one I am making is much thicker and sturdier and should hopefully serve its purpose well.

I do know that my non-list item list is growing insanely quick. I could not have anticipated all of these wonderful projects jumping out at me BUT I do need to reign myself in soon and start working on the three big Christmas presents: the men's vest, the afghan, and the Joseph wrap. If I don't get serious soon, coupled with school I'll never get all my Christmas presents finished.

Speaking of, this week landed me back in school. I'm wrapping up my final semester for my master's degree. I figure that I may slow down a bit, but hopefully not stall to a complete stop as I have plenty of things I need to finish before Christmas. My internship is what kept me from putting a bunch of other items on my list - I'm hoping to at least make it through this short list.

Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Men's Vest (Christmas present)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- Joseph Wrap from Crochet! Magazine (as Christmas present)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas presents)
- 2 sets of Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (as Christmas presents)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 4 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (as office Christmas presents)
- Easy Cabled Scarf (my own pattern) 

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [65% complete]
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4 [90% complete]
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- 4 thread crochet coasters
- WW Yarn Runner for  ledge [25% complete]

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 4 Knit Washcloth
- 3 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- Ear Bud "purse"

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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Remember Grandma: Post 1

I have decided to share items out of the box I received from my mother. The box houses items my grandmother gathered shortly before her death. The emotions are hard to describe but there is something there that inspires me to share this experience with me.

Today I opened the box on my own terms. I wasn't looking for anything specific, only to begin removing some items and remembering long lost memories.

The first item I took from the box was a small jewelry box. In it was a silver charm bracelet adorned with horse related charms. There was a horse head, a horse shoe, and a covered wagon to name a few.

Not related to horses but in the same box, were for additional charms. Three of the charms were on the cardboard from original purchase. There were four states in all, Florida included. I'm guessing it was something my grandmother wanted to collect. She got a good start but soon forgot. Or perhaps the charms she was looking for were disconnected. I dunno.

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure why she would leave this for me other than I was the only grandchild that had horses and genuinely loved to be around horses. I think the state charms were just in the box - it was the horse theme she was looking at when deciding to put this item in a box especially for me.

The next item I pulled out was a rather yellowed organizer box. It had a lot of thread in it, mostly new. There was also a thimble inside. The most touching item in this box was the finger pin cushion.

I am not sure if Grandma made this thing or even if she used it (I never saw her use it) but for some reason she kept it in this box in its own little slot. Either someone gave it to her or she used it religiously (out of my sight)... and it got a special spot.

Well, Grandma can rest assured knowing that if she took care of it, even if I don't know the reason why, I'll take care of it too.

Anyone care to take a stab in the dark at what this is?

Hint: it is not craft related *laughs*

My Grandma and Grandpa *L-O-V-E-D* to travel. I don't know how old I was but I know I was very small when my Grandpa bought a Winnebago. They went everywhere. They loved to go to campgrounds and they belonged to various groups that focused on going places in the mini-home.

This little gem was her travel ashtray. She took this little treasure everywhere in that motor home. She never used it at home and quite frankly, I'm surprised it ever left the motor home. I'm not sure why she chose to give it to me considering I'm not a smoker, but for some reason she bestowed this memory-reminder to me.

The final item I'd like to share with you today is a pincushion, hand made by my grandmother. I'm not sure when she made it but I know I had never seen her use it. My mother confirmed she made it.

She took a can and did some simple adornments to it to come up with this adorable little pin cushion. I think I'm going to attempt to re-make it in my own style; however, Grandma's works just fine right now too.

I did think it a little cute at how old the pins in this cushion are. I left them in it and feel that those pins have lived a long life in that pincushion - who am I to come along and muck it up.

I have to say that other than the ash tray, the few items I have pulled from the box are not necessarily things I remember existing within my Grandmother's life. But I know they were hers and I know they meant something for her to want to give them to me. Perhaps the stories will slowly come together and one day I will know. Right now I am content knowing my Grandmother thought of me.

<< Read Previous Post ----- Read Next Post>>

If you are not familiar with this series, please start with the introductory post located here.

Remembering Grandma

The family was able to steal away from our busy existance and make the 2 and a half hour trip to my mother's house last weekend for a good visit. I hadn't been able to visit with my mom for a couple of months so it was really nice to be able to sit and chat with her. Perhaps it was selfish of me, but I made no plans to visit with anyone else outside of her, my brother, and my sister-in-law. I don't even know if anyone else knew we were in town.

Of course, if they read this blog they know now. *chuckles* I'm sure they don't so all is well in Cris-ville.

Not sure if you all remember my G is for Grandma post, but this was my maternal grandma.

I usually take a travel project or two with me when I go to Mom's house. I was sitting in the living room and cast off a dish cloth and needed a tapestry needle. Taking a long shot, I asked my mother if she had one. She said no but quickly corrected herself to say she may have one that is mine.

I was rather confused considering I keep my crafting supplies under strict lock and key rather organized and know I never leave anything behind. Everything has a place, you know. So she led me to the guest room where she proceeded to pull a carboard box out. She said my grandmother, before she passed away, had begun packing things for the grandkids - things she wanted us to have and knew we would enjoy. Apparently grandma knew me well enough to know that I was a sewing fiend.

I went through the box briefly because it was becoming a rather emotional experience for me. I was actually surprised at how emotional I became - I did not know I had buried all of those tears.

So I think, perhaps, I may slowly begin to unpack the box. For the blog, I think I may take a picture of the items as I unpack them and go over any memories or why grandma thought perhaps I would use the item - Obviously this would be more of a series on the blog because I am not sure I can go through the box that quickly. I'm not 100% sure of what is in the box, but I know there are some pretty interesting items that you may be interested in seeing - perhaps if not crochet related, still craft related and interesting nonetheless.

As for me and my blog - I am not sure I will get around to posting tomorrow. My YOP summary post is up-to-date. I do my best to keep that one current so if I cannot get to it before it auto-posts, what is on it is still accurate to my week's progress. I had no FOs other than the small ear bud purse I posted about yesterday -

Other than that, I do hope you all are having a fantastic, creative, and wonderful day.
~ Cris

Read Next Post >>

Worsted Knitt's Designer of the Month

Oh dear readers, you know I don't normally post twice in one day but gracious - I have some fun and exciting news.

Yours truly was selected to be Worsted Knitt's Designer of the Month - that's right... ME! Even more of an honor is that I am the first crochet designer to be featured on the site. How exciting is that?

I'm pretty darn excited, to say the least. Lumia, from Worsted Knitt, e-interviewed me and was patient with my forgetful ways.

Interested in reading the interview? Here's the link!

Be sure to look around Worsted Knitt while you are there, especially if you are a knitter. I found the website while looking for beginner knit patterns, but I have to admit, I love looking through the gallery and the book reviews are fantastic.

Ear Bud "Purse"

I could technically wait until Friday to post this but I am choosing not to wait... simply because I don't like waiting *laughs*

If anyone is interested, I could write the pattern up.

I will probably write about this again in my Sunday review of my Year of Projects progress - but I'm gonna tell you why now too. *laughs*

I stayed home from yarn group last night because I had a headache. I sat watching TV when my daughter brought her ear buds to me. They were still in the package. She said she tried to get them open at school but couldn't. Ear buds were on the list of school supplies since there is a lot more lab work for the kids. It's a good idea, really, simply for personal hygiene.

So instead of sitting there, I figured picking up the hook may take my mind off my headache. It only took about 45 minutes total to whip up the little ear bud purse pictured above. I used scrap yarn. The flower is raised from the disk. The back is the same green as the edge and handle.

I'm sure there are a million things I could do different to better the design but for a quick job off the top of my head, I don't think it turned out too badly.

P is for Practice

One of the most important words for crochet is practice. I know the only reason that I am able to keep a relatively steady gauge and tension is that I have had many years to practice the craft - this isn't to say when I take on a new technique of crochet that I don't have problems... I do. I just keep at it until it looks right and I can do it consistently.

a boo-boo

An example would be my recent return to knitting. I am by far good at it. In fact, dare I say - I stink to the high heavens! My tension is strange and I am constantly splitting the yarn or twisting the stitch the wrong way. That may not sound promising but the truth is - I'm a lot better than I was a month ago. I am doing all of those same things but with much less frequency - and that, to me dear readers, is progress! (another P word, YAY!)

I know that learning a new craft is frustrating and sometimes daunting. The hook doesn't want to grab the yarn or the yarn has a death grip on the hook... but I promise you with practice you will progress to precision in producing professional looking pieces.

HA - now that's a lot of Ps :)



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This post is part of the ABCs with the Accidental Knitter meme. To see other posts, visit the Ravelry Forum Thread for her meme. (link here)

Year of Projects: Week 8

Project Percentage Complete: 29%

Overall Percentage Complete: 36%

Number of Project Items: 28

Number of Added Items: 10
Total Items: 44

I desperately hate modifying a post after it has been published and viewed by others; however, I needed to drop some text in here (or something). You see, I was out for the weekend and I thought that I put this auto post thing in queue WITH information; however, I obviously put in the basic stats on my progress but I forgot to write anything!

So for the last week, I worked on my table runner a wee bit and didn't do much else. I rode my bike with the kids a lot.... and I cleaned the house... a lot. - but other than that, not much has been happening. I am getting motivated to start the men's vest though.... maybe this week......

maybe.



Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Men's Vest (Christmas present)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- Joseph Wrap from Crochet! Magazine (as Christmas present)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas presents)
- 2 sets of Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (as Christmas presents)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 4 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (as office Christmas presents)
- Easy Cabled Scarf (my own pattern) 

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [65% complete]
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- 4 thread crochet coasters

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 2 Knit Washcloth
- 2 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector

---------------------
This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

WIP Wednesday

Oh boy - I almost missed an opportunity to post the mega-progress I have made on the table runner...

Ok, just kidding - other than being a little longer, it looks pretty much the same as it did last week.

I will admit that I'm a little worried. I think that I tightened my gauge a little so there is a possibility that my table runner will be more trapezoidal than rectangular.

OOPS.

Right now its not terrible but I would not be feeling too well if I had to rip the whole thing out and start over - or at least start over 2 inches from the end.

That, my friends, would be depressing.

But for now I'm just plugging along hoping that a good blocking will solve my problem in the end.

baobab (c) Cris Porter, 2011

On a completely non-crochet related note, and quite frankly more of an FO than a WIP, I decided to spend my Tuesday night painting. I don't know why - I just felt like it.

First, my apologies for the picture quality. I have found that while a lot of things can photograph just fine inside, a painting needs to be outside. And right now it's 11pm and I'm pretty sure it's lighter inside than it is out.

I'm not sure on the size, I think it's 16x24 (I didn't pay attention) and painted in acrylics on canvas. I call the painting "baobab" as it is inspired by Le Petit Prince, or the Little Prince. If you have not read the book, I highly suggest it - and even more so read it in French, the original language, if you can.

It is funny because after I painted it, I sat and played the cloud game in my photo and it seems I did a distinct Nessie or sea turtle (depending on who you are) and a rather cloudy looking whale. And then I looked at the painting. Knowing the story and the purpose of the baobab, I began to actually feel sorry for the little moon/planet.

I dunno - I'm such a dork.

Anywhoozles - that's all I have for today. I hope you have a great day!

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This post is part of the WIP Wednesday link party over at Tami's Amis blog. Stop by if you are interested in reading more WIPs or if you want to post your own.

O is for Ogle

And ogle I have done -

This last weekend the man and I took the kids to the state fair. I made it clear I really wanted to hit up the hobbies building because a gent in my yarn group had won 2nd with a knitted afghan that took him 2 years to complete. So that is what this post is all about - ogling the wonderful fiber arts and hobbies from the state fair.

First I want to apologize for a lot of the glare in the photos. The majority of the displays were behind glass. It was nice to see they took great care in the delicate items created by so many people, but it did make it difficult to get a good photo.

The first photo to the left here is of some gorgeous pillows. The majority of the pillows were done in thread and were crocheted; however, a few worsted weight items made their way in. I really liked the two pillows here, the white with pearls and the blue and white up in the upper side of the photo. I went back to them a few times over.

The rose pillow was gorgeous too, but I think because the others were thread, they sat somewhere special in my list of preferences/difficulty to complete.

Surprisingly enough there were not a lot of crochet afghans. Of the afghans on display, I have to say I was a bit disappointed in about half of them simply because they looked old. Not vintage old - old as in it looked like it was just pulled off someone's bed and brought in as a last minute entry. Seriously - so many of them were pilling and some of those were physically dirty. A run through the wash would have been a good idea. But - there were some very nice ones, as you can see by the image to the right.

There were a lot of gorgeous crochet wearables as well. I could tell a lot of people took a lot of time to really make quality items for entry

Now, while the crochet afghan department was a little lacking, I have got to say the knit entries blew me away. It was insane to look at some of the designs - knowing it took those individuals a lot of time. As I said in the beginning, the primary reason I wanted to go to the crafts area was to get a gander at a knitted afghan a gent in my yarn group entered and won 2nd place on.

This is his afghan!

I really wish I was able to get a nicer photo as this one does it NO justice whatsoever. The color changes were awesome and the stitch work was amazing. I have only seen him work on sweaters at yarn group so I knew from the quality I seen in that work that his afghan would be beautiful - and it did not disappoint.

I was really bit with the bug to create something for next year's fair. I have only entered something once in my life, a piece of bobbin lace when I was about 11 years old. I won 2nd place - losing only to my instructor (as it probably should be, yes?)

Anywhoozle - back to my ogling adventure.

There were a lot of other crafts in the building as well, which inspired my kids to thinking perhaps they would want to put something in the fair next year. There were even lego creations which made my son really happy.

This is a box someone took the time to carve. I don't remember the exact method used or the type of wood, I just remember my jaw dropping at the exquisite detail.

The baskets entered were really nice too, which of course peaked my yarnie interest because every dedicated yarnie needs some awesome baskets to hold his or her work, right?

*laughs*

The basket that made first place was really well put together. I don't know if the person had a pattern (is that what its called for basket weavers?) or if it was of their own design, but it was really nice. The stitching (again, not sure what the translation for basket weavers is) was really tight and consistent across the whole piece. I ogled that basket for quite some time.

Trust me when I say there were a LOT of baskets there I would happily bring home and fill with the deliciousness of my yarn stash.

I am going to leave you with this last photo of my daughter. As I was browsing through the afghans and wearables, I looked over and she was admiring the dolls and their crafted gowns.

I guess the fair left us all with more than just thoughts of what we could possibly enter next year - it also left one little girl with stars in her eyes and a mother knowing she needs to get crackalackin' in finding some cute patterns for her dolls.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

--------------------------

This post is part of the Learn Your ABCs with the Accidental Knitter meme. Others are posting their links in the Blog Hub Ravelry Group and the link party is located here (link will be made once available).

Year of Projects: Week 7

Project Percentage Complete: 29%

Overall Percentage Complete: 36%

Number of Project Items: 28

Number of Added Items: 10
Total Items: 44

I started my week off finishing off the crochet pattern for the Dishcloth Mania Ravelry Group, week 13. I got up early last Sunday while the family slept in - it took me about an hour and a half to do the pattern, which modifications. Here is a link to the pattern if you want it - but I'll warn you, I had to make some modifications to the pattern. The counts for the rows are off. I also added an edging. My edging caused the cloth to ruffle a little bit, but I'm ok with that. I actually think it turned out pretty good.

product of my quiet Sunday morning

In other good news, I decided on a pattern for my table runner. I am making the Lacet Table Runner which was originally published in 1935. I chose the pattern because of its simplicity. I kinda wish I had chose something a little more intricate, but I'm not sure - I waver back and forth between it being a good decision and it being a cop out.

I have made pretty decent headway on the table runner, which I shared with you earlier in the week. I like the pattern so it isn't dreadful to work on - I'm just having a problem with drifting off thinking about how long it'll be before I'm finished. I shouldn't because that seems to make the work more tedious. I honestly have no idea when I'll be done with it but I know I'll love it when I'm finished.

On top of that, I do think I'll be starting the sweater vest on the list later this week.



Project List Items (not complete)

- Filet Market Bag
- Lacet Table Runner [...started...]
- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Men's Vest (Christmas present)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- Joseph Wrap from Crochet! Magazine (as Christmas present)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas presents)
- 2 sets of Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (as Christmas presents)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 4 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (as office Christmas presents)
- Easy Cabled Scarf (my own pattern) 

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [65% complete]
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector
- 4 thread crochet coasters

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 2 Knit Washcloth
- 2 Crochet Dishcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector

---------------------
This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

Correct or Not to Correct... that is the question

I'm going to apologize upfront for there being no pictures. I genuinely am not wanting to get the camera out and do all the rigga-mah-roar it takes to get photos onto this machine.

Anywhoozles

Yesterday was the state fair parade - a psychology student's dream as far as observational studies. Granted, the majority of the folks are fine ranging from extremely well off to just normal, every day folks. There are some, though, that can surprise even me. Such as this year, for some reason there was a high adult-to-child ratio as far as people standing with bags fetching candy... yes, I said adults with bags. I have seen adults help small children before, but this was rather odd for me.

I chose to sit back in my chair, without a plastic bag, and crochet. The kids were going to do their candy thing and I was just going to relax.

Now, my experience with crochet/knitting in public is pretty restrictive to me doing it in the car or during yarn group, where we meet at Barnes & Noble. But the car - that's probably not considered public other than folks in the next car at a stop light looking over and wondering what in the hell I'm doing. The yarn group at Barnes is definitely public, but I have to admit that not many non-yarnies make their way over to chat and ask questions. It is like there is a force-field of yarny goodness around us.

But the parade was a bit different. I was sitting there before the festivities and a well-off looking lady popped her chair right down next to me. I don't mind - it's a free country, yes? (note - by right next to me I mean I had to scooch over a few inches to give myself elbow room to crochet). She looks over and says "oh - whatcha knitting." I just said "I'm making a dishcloth.

I didn't correct her on what I technique I was using to make said dishcloth with.

She went on about how she uses those all the time and loves them. I made a comment about liking that it saves me money buying sponges for dishes. She agreed and said something else I don't quite remember.

I didn't know if I was supposed to correct her or not. I didn't want to discourage her friendly, curious nature - but the more she talked, it seemed as if she was acting like she knew more about it than she obviously did (or didn't, as the case may be).

So what do you do - would you correct someone in this situation? Have you had something like this or similar happen?

I guess I kinda feel "eh" about it - sure she is walking away with an incorrect assumption of crochet, but I also didn't make her feel silly in front of the other 300 people standing around us.

WIP Wednesday

Ahhhhh WIP Wednesday, I have missed you so!

The last few weeks have landed me in quite a busy time with work, family, getting ready for school (me AND the kids), summer, and a host of other little things that always seem to creep up at the least opportune times. Oh well - that is life, right? If all of this wasn't happening, it wouldn't be much of a life, eh?

So a few days ago I gave you a peek into my WIP baskets and a project bag - I would hate to be repetitive on that .... so I won't. I have had one main project since the Thread Coaster Incident of 2011 (dramatic statement, much?) and that is the thread table runner.

I am working my way through the Lacet Table Runner - a vintage pattern by Cotton Spool Company circa 1935.

I have finished about 3 and a half inches and it is in a place now I call autopilot. I can easily work on the pattern, pick it up, put it down, without losing my place or count. It looks a bit scrunchy in the picture, but experience tells me it will look a lot better once it is blocked and on the table.

I'm a little concerned at the estimated time to complete. I've already put 5 hours into it and have 3 inches - so that tells me that each inch will take approximately .6 hours - which is faster than when I first started. Granted, I'm more comfortable with the pattern now and it's not like I'm creating the Mona Lisa in a table runner. So at .6 hours, I'm looking at approximately 47 hours instead of the originally estimated 230+ hours (things were slow in the beginning!) - I don't think that is a narrow enough range to be a good estimator, so I figure in the end, it will most likely take me 60 or 70 hours total. That's still crazy to think about.

I will say I kinda wish I had picked something a little more intricate. I'd like to get your opinion on this - do you think the runner is going to be too plain?

And in all of this, it seems I'm cutting my circulation off!

I do have proof. See!

Look at my finger - the red line is where the thread is going across. I'm pulling so tight so consistently that it's denting my flesh!

Crazy, huh?

Do your fingers get like this when you do thread crochet or do I have to learn to lighten up? *laughs*

What is really sad is that picture was taken a good 5 minutes into a break - which is when I noticed it. I have no idea what it looks like right after I stop crocheting. I'll have to keep an eye and if it is significantly worse, I'll take a picture and show you.

So that's what I have on the hook at the moment beyond a few other things you've already seen.

Thanks for taking a gander!
- Cris

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This post is a part of the WIP Wednesday link party hosted by Tami Ami's Blog. Head on over there if you like to read what people are working on or if you want to share a link of your own.

Vintage Pattern say wha?

Since the mess with the thread crochet coaster, I decided to drown my woes in more woe - aka I started the thread crochet table runner. I decided on a relatively simple pattern I found on Ravelry: The Lacet Table Runner.

I admit, I did pick it because it looked relatively easy, leaving the struggle of the work purely to the mechanics of crocheting with thread and a hook barely to big to see. However, I was a bit more excited when I opened the link and found that the pattern is circa 1935.

(c) TextileHistory.org

I had never heard of the "Cotton Spool Company" which peaked my interest. After a few hours in, I decided to give my poor fingers (and eyes and brain) a rest from the thread and started looking some things up. They were interesting enough to me so I figured I'd share them here... hopefully I have the years right.

As it turns out, Cotton Spool Company is an early name for Coats and Clark. The history really starts in 1806 when Napoleon had blockaded Great Britain, causing silk to no longer be available on the market for weavers. At this time, the Clark family had a loom equipment business and had sold silk threads for the warp of the loom. Due to the blockade, Patrick Clark figured out how to twist cotton yarns together to produce a thread that was similar to silk. This new thread was so strong and was smooth enough that Clark knew it could replace the need for silk in the looms.

From there, the Clark family opened a new factory in 1812 to make cotton sewing thread. A few years after that, James Coats opened a cotton mill thread. In 1830, James Coats' sons, James and Peter, bought their fathers mill and expanded within the decade. The business included exporting to the United States which created the need to put a Coats family member, Andrew, in America to manage the business on that side.

In 1864, over 30 years later, the grandson's of James Clark opened a cotton mill in New Jersey. Close to 1870, the Coats family began manufacturing their thread in Rhode Island under the name Spool Cotton Company. In 1899, the Spool Cotton Company took over the sales of the three brands of Coats and Clark interest in the US: Coats Cotton Spool, Clark's ONT (Our New Thread), and Mile End. It was at this point that the two companies came together, making it almost impossible for other US based companies to compete with their product.

I think the oddest thing for me is that the merge happened, according to the various histories I found, in 1899. If they merged at this point, why are many of the Spool Cotton Company patterns tagged with dates from the mid 1930s into the 1940s? Did the company not change their name or maintain this side name for publications? I'm not entirely sure. I'm going to keep looking in order to satisfy my own curiosities. If you choose to look too or you know the answer already - do post back and let me know!

Back to the pattern... reading the pattern has been relatively simple, although statements like "finish it to make it look like the other side" makes me chuckle on the inside. I could see how this pattern, which has been simple for me thus far, could stump someone new to crochet or reading patterns. I am not perfect though - there are a few places I had to re-read the pattern and really ponder what the intention was before starting. So far, I have been ok.

Do you have any favorite vintage patterns you'd like to share a link to? What about difficulty reading these patterns - have you tried one? What was your experience?

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References:
http://www.coatsandclark.com/about+coats/history/

http://www.textilehistory.org/ClarkThread.html

N is for NoOOOoOoOOoOOOoOOOoooOooo

*wiping tears from my eyes*

I know I have mentioned before, multiple times how thread crochet is just not my thing. It just isn't. I admire those who can create the most delicate works of art from thread time and time again. I know there is a talent there. A high level of patience and talent. Truly - I love to look at what others create - the key word is OTHERS. I'm not saying I can't - I just say I prefer not too. My patience just isn't there 90% of the time.

So as I said in my post yesterday, a friend asked for some help with a thread crochet project. I went and loaded up on some off-white thread and got the magazine she was going to be using. To top it off, I bought a small pattern book because it had some cute doily looking coasters. I need coasters for my new table....

Sunday morning I started off by starting and finishing a simple little crochet dishcloth and thought I'd start with my coasters.

I worked for about three hours and came up with the above image. I really like the petals and how it all works together. I was actually surprised when I looked at the clock and saw just how long I'd been working on it. The pattern seems to work up fast in the sense I didn't get bored with the stitches (not actual time taken).

But I am gonna guess you are wondering what the title of this post has to do with me working on a thread crochet coaster pattern.... this... this is what it has to do with it....

 As I worked my way through round 8 (of 10... I was that close to done) - I laid it out flat and gave it a wee bit of a tug, not much more than I'd be doing to block it.... and the thread in the starting row broke.

Apparently there was a weak spot and the little tug pulled it apart....

All of it - gone.

In my head, I shrieked "NOOOOOoOooOoOOOoOo" like a slow motion scene in a bad movie. My heart sank and I knew I was done. I had to put my hook down and walk away for a moment. I came back to take another look at it and I can honestly say I have no idea how to fix this to where it will look good.

I have had moments when the cat snags my WIP or I see a mistake 3 rows prior that I should have noticed before - all fixable. In that very moment, 3 hours of thread crochet gone.

So I think I'm going to close the pattern book and take a quick break for the day. Perhaps go shopping or something - anything. And come back later to begin my second coaster... which will end up being my first.


Oh well.

Have you, reader, had any of these moments? Had something be gone in the blink of an eye - a lot of work gone?


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This post is part of the Learn Your ABCs with the Accidental Knitter meme. Others are posting their links in the Blog Hub Ravelry Group and the link party is located here (link will be made once available)

Year of Projects: Week 6

Project Percentage Complete: 29%

Overall Percentage Complete: 37%

Number of Project Items: 28

Number of Added Items: 10
Total Items: 38


A few folks have asked about the pattern I will be using for the table runner. Honestly, I am not sure. I have a couple that I'm interested in that I've favorited and added to queue on Rav, but I have not made a solid decision yet. If you have a favorite or one you'd like to challenge me to crochet, post a link in the comments. I'd love to take a look!

A friend of mine that attends the same yarn group as I do grabbed me last Wednesday at group and showed me some patterns in the Crochet World magazine that she wanted to try. She is more of a knitter and I'm more of a crocheter, so I said that I'd help her..... even though they are thread crochet patterns.

(If you are a new reader, you probably haven't seen me say this before so I shall repeat - I am NOT a fan of thread crochet. no no no definitely not).

So being the wonderful friend that I am *coughs lightly* I bought the magazine before I left Barnes and headed over to Michaels (a mean store combination, if you ask me) and got a few balls of thread. I also picked up a small pattern book with thread patterns because it had some really cute coasters in it... and I need some coasters for my new dining room table. I think when I finish all the chair toppers (my pattern linked below) and the coasters, I should take a picture of my table so you can see it with all the crochet stuff on it.....

Anywhoozles - while I am not a fan of thread crochet, it seems that is something I'll be doing for a little bit. Which also means I'll most likely be doing thread for a while.

And how in the world does this apply to my Year of Projects post? Oh... I will most likely be starting on my runner soon so I need to find a pattern here in the near future.

That is all.

Project List Items (not complete)
- Filet Market Bag
- Lacey Table Runner for kitchen

- Throw for living room sofa (no pattern selected yet)
- Men's Vest (Christmas present)
- Round Afghan/Throw (potential Christmas present)
- Angel Tree Topper
- Joseph Wrap from Crochet! Magazine (as Christmas present)
- 11 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (office Christmas presents)
- 2 sets of Golf Club Covers (no numbers) - (as Christmas presents)

Project List Items (done)
- 3 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (personal use)
- 4 pair of Paperclip Ice Skates Ornaments (as office Christmas presents)
- Easy Cabled Scarf (my own pattern) 

Added Items (not complete)
- Wristlet Bag (adjusting pattern) [65% complete]
- EnviroTote Market Bag #4
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector

Added Items (done)
- Wristlet Bag (making my own pattern)
- Mystery CAL Beach Bag
- 2 Knit Washcloth
- 2 Kitchen Chair Wall Protector

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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.

WIP Piles and "My Spot"

It has been a bit since a regular ole post from me - I believe last week. I put a little bit of "me" into my YOP posts on Sunday, but to sit down and write out a blog not associated to any link party or meme... well, gosh, it's been a week - if not a little more.

I woke up this morning and hopped into blog world. It's one of the things I like to do first thing on Saturday morning. As I sat here reading other blogs, I thought I should post something of my own. I didn't know what - but I thought to myself "Hey, Cris - you haven't done a WIP Wednesday in two whole weeks - maybe you can share some of your WIPs."

Then I looked over next to the couch, where I keep my work basket, and realized I had a few going on at once. And then the bigger realization that while I fancy myself a rather organized person, my WIPs were just kinda thrown together. So why not share that...

This is my couch. I do most of my crochet and knitting here. More specifically - I sit on the side with 1 pillow and my baskets/bag are on the other side there.

There is a huge picture window to that side as well and I can look out on our large tree to watch the wind blow it around - I love watching trees in the wind. It's pretty calming (Is it coincidence I tend to paint landscapes - specifically trees? I think not.).

I'm hoping to be able to set the guest room up as a craft room, but right now I make the most serious joke "We are unpacked unless you open the guest bedroom door.... then we aren't unpacked anymore." I have successfully shoved about 50 boxes of stuff into that room. Other than our bedroom and the activity room, both downstairs, there is no indication anywhere in my house that we just moved in. ... other than my end tables don't match the entertainment center.... and the area rug for the living room hasn't been put down yet (on order) ... and there isn't anything on the walls.....

ok - we'll just stick with the joke "don't open that door"

For posterity - here is a picture out my big window. Obviously it looks really dark because of back lighting - but the room is bright. Usually I don't have to turn on any lights until the sun goes down. And that goes for pretty much any room upstairs. Our electric bill is nice.

Anywhoozles, let's get back to the WIP Pile portion of this blog.

In the couch picture, those are pretty much the majority of my WIPs. I left out anything that I hadn't actually put a stitch into since we moved. That means about 3 project bags located in the 'guest room.' Although if you think about, the boxes really are the guest - they won't be there forever (I hope).

Ok ok - back on track, Cris - back on track!

The small wicker basket on the couch is the easiest of my WIP Pile containers. In it is nothing but balls of cotton and some knitting needles and a crochet hook. This basket is for making simple dishcloths and washcloths. This one travels with me. I really like the basket and the projects in it are very simple and easy to work on regardless of what is going on around me.

In the striped bag is my "Square" bag project. I call it the "square" bag because the picture on the pattern made it look square. I wanted a square bag - I started working on it and darned if it ain't round. No, I didn't read the pattern before I started... I just started. By row 5 I realized this was a big round bag - and there was no going back at that point. I've changed the pattern enough that it isn't near close to the original pattern - but it's still round. It's ok. It's almost done. I just have to do the handles for it and line it. Not more than an hour or two of work left for the bag.

The striped bag also houses 3 balls of thread, a magazine, and a small pattern book that will soon be migrating over into the bigger basket below - I talk about that tomorrow in my Year of Projects posts.

In the big square basket on the floor (which is hard plastic, cheap buy from Wal-mart but matches my furniture) I have several WIPS.

So let's take a gander inside the big tan basket of doom.

The notebook has lots of stuff in it. That page is the rows being counted off for the big green cone of yarn. That picture with the notebook is prime display of how I design patterns too. That same notebook holes the scribbled on pattern for the chair toppers and the new pattern for the wristlet.

You can see my Kindle in the picture. I keep Ken (that's it's name) in the basket so when I want, I can reach over and read some more on War and Peace (a goal for this year) or flip through the pattern books I have on it.

The big brown ball of yarn is for the crochet chair toppers. I have finished two. I have two more to go. The small wad of brown in the bottom left by Ken with the crochet hook sticking out of it is the wristlet I'm working on. I'm about halfway done with it (and the pattern). The green cone is for a knitted dishcloth from the Dishcloth Mania ravelry group. It is one from a week ago, not the current one. What can I say - I'm a slow knitter. The last WIP in there is the ice skate ornaments. If you look between the green cone of cotton and the big brown yarn ball, you will see a white ball of yarn (its inside a plastic bag) - that bag has red, green, and white yarn - all for the ice skate ornaments.

I also have some random crochet/knit equipment in the big basket too, but it is stuff that I keep on hand. My traveling bag of crochet hooks and other craft trinkets is currently in the big striped bag - that is a staple that stays near me no matter what project I'm working on.

I think one of the least noticeable things about the picture inside my basket is that I have a hook/needle set for every project. I tend not to share. Do you do this too or do you have a minimal set of hooks and needles you share between projects? 

So that is it - that's my space with my WIP Piles. Sadly, I wish I could keep it a bit more organized, but for some reason - this works as organized for me when it comes to my crafts. It keeps everything I'm working on in the forefront of my attention and if I get bored with one stitch, I can drop it and easily pick up something else.

I know I've asked for posts and pictures of your spaces in the past, but let's share them again! I'd love to see your process for WIPs.

M is for Meditative

Image (c) Melbangel Store on Artfire

I am very open with the fact that I have panic disorder and thanatophobia. I feel that until people become more open about mental illness, the negative connotations and stereotypes will continue to exist. I freely answer questions about it and live a perfectly normal life regardless of what people think. I have come to a point in life where I know these problems are just part of who I am although I have spent a lot of time understanding each and doing my best to control them - which has been relatively successful the last two years.

I enjoy crochet for so many reasons and I am thankful it is a craft that I picked up as a small girl. It has been a consistent my entire life - it has always been there for me.

As I got older and my disorders made themselves more apparant to me, I realized quickly that crochet can help alleviate the stress and panic associated to both. Picking up the hook is meditative for me.

As I crochet, I can lose myself in the repetition of the stitches - of the pattern. I fall into a quick rhythm in which I can either watch TV or attempt to clear my mind of various stressors. I have never successfully cleared my mind completely to relax; however, I think crochet gets me pretty close.

This is just my personal experience with crochet. Research shows that I'm not completely insane in my experience (well, at least this one, right? *chuckles*). There is research that exists showing both the mental and physical health benefits of hobbies like knit and crochet. For the sake of this blog post, just trust me that they are there - I may write something on them in the next few days considering I want to have all my citations in order.

So in the meantime, happy meditating... er, I mean crocheting!
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If you are interested in purchasing the little yoga/meditative ami pictured on this blog, head over to Melbangel's Artfire Store and buy it for $4. I've never used her store - I just thought the ami was appropriate AND adorable.

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This post is part of the ABC's with the Accidental Knitter meme. If you are interested in reading more of these posts, feel free to visit the Ravelry thread for these posts. (I would link to the Mr. Linky but unfortunately, I usually post long before the linky is available and I always forget to go back. I'd rather give you a working link now). You can visit the Accidental Knitter's blog directly by clicking this link.