Back From Vacation!

Before I left on vacation, I finished a few projects. These socks were a fun test. I did the ankle sideways so that the stockinette I crocheted would stretch the right way. It's quite nice, but I need to make it tighter. It was fairly thick yarn, so they worked up really fast.

Stitch and Pitch was the Wednesday before I left. It was great! The air was cooler than I expected, the Jays actually won and we had fun watching Ace the bluejay play with this fantastic knit sign some of the ladies made.
I won a doorprize, too. As soon as I saw the ticket I knew that it would turn out I won a knitting pattern book. I did, of course. It looks nice, but how useless. If only I could have won some yarn! Several of us won- some of my friends won a copy of one of the Yarn Harlot books, which still would have been better than what I won! I was glad to win and all, but... well, it does seem kind of a waste. Oh well, maybe I'll learn to knit big needle afghans (When I could just crochet them? Yeah... ok, no).

I also finished this tank. I started it on Wednesday at the Stitch n' Pitch, and I finished the next day at knit night. It was way too hot to wear it here- it still is- but I wore it once in nice cool California.

We went up to the mountains outside LA. My uncle has a cabin up there and it's just gorgeous. The air was cool and dry- after the heat here (it got up to 39- 49 with humidex one night. That's 125 with humidex in farenheit) it was an incredibly welcome change.
Andrew and I had a fantastic week. We played tennis, talked, went on hikes, did a Pirate Ship cruise around the lake and even did Zumba. My brother's girlfriend is an instructor and generously did two sessions with us during the week. It was fun! A lot of excercise- WOW do you move. We all got seriously sweaty.

Of course, I found the area yarn store. Mom was nice enough to drive me over one day and I got some yummies. Two skeins of Cool Crochet in chocolate and ebony- yum. I love that yarn and it's discontinued. I'll have extra of my pink, so I'm going to make a striped tank top. I'm excited for it!
The real treat I got myself was some Mirasol Miski. Ooooh, it's soft. It's baby llama, and the colour I got is a rich, soft, buttery and a bit peachy yellow. I fell in love. I considered getting something else, because I could have gotten a cardi's worth out of other yarns for the same price, but there was no way. I was in love and it was coming home with me.
I'm glad I did. It's so soft and it worked up so nicely and the finished hat is gonna be a favorite. I'm excited for fall already! I made it after dinner one night while we were all chatting. My family members commented on it and were impressed that I was just making up a pattern as I went. It was a pretty easy thing- just some cables for density and warmth. I added that little fp/bp rib at the bottom that can be turned up for a fisherman's cap style or down to cover my ears. I only had a tiny piece of yarn left at the end!

My cousin commented that they had all just been sitting around, and I had a hat to show for the evening. That's part of why I love crochet- I was just as active in the conversation as anyone and I still made something.

It was a great week. I love my family and we had so much fun together. We spent one day out on my uncle's powerboat with the cousins, and it was a blast. We did various activities with the whole family and I got to chat with everyone in the evenings, and even sing while my uncle played guitar one night. I have two uncles who play guitar quite well and they played for us a bit. Mom was practicing during the week- she's not bad but needed to build callouses.

Anyway, the whole week was just a blast. Andrew had a great time too, and we're both looking forward to next year. I'm so lucky to have such a great family!

Speaking of great- Andrew got me a Wii Fit Plus as an early birthday present! I spent an hour on it tonight and hope to do 5 hours a week on it. I have a goal to get in better shape and loose a pound or two. I don't really need to- but I'll look and feel better if I do.

I start my first shift tomorrow at the yarn and craft store... I am so excited!

Crocheting at the Cottage

A handy guide to crocheting at the cottage.

Crocheting on the dock is great! You can sit and chat while you work and soak up the rays. Remember, make sure your fiber can get wet!

And, uh, make sure your pattern can get wet too. That, or be smart enough to hold it in place, or you too may hear "Is that paper supposed to be floating in the lake?"

Those new anti-gravity chairs that are getting popular are great to crochet on! They put you at a perfect angle.

You also get a great view of your work with the lovely forest above.

And perhaps most importantly- the best thing to do around the campfire doesn't involve fiber at all- enjoy your marshmallows and I hope you guys are having a great summer!

On The Mend

Finally I'm just about back to normal. I'm on my last day of amoxicillin and my tooth-holes appear to be healing well.
While I've been getting better, I've been doing a lot of sitting around and crocheting, mostly while watching MASH. I'll admit, it's been kinda awesome that way. Anyway, the project I've been working on is the River Walk Wrap from the latest Interweave Crochet.


It's beautiful. I love the pattern and I'm really pleased with how it's working up- I'm more than halfway now. It is also an incredibly non portable project. As you can see I'm working from 3 cones of cobweb weight, which together make up almost laceweight. The two smaller cones are 100% silk that's basically sewing thread, but really gorgeous. The huge cone is cotton/acrylic, and it's very soft and nice to work with. I love Value Village- they were all about 1.99-2.99. Yummers.

I have other plans for this yarn, too. The cotton/acrylic blend is gonna get mixed with another cone I have of laceweight acrylic in light blue and I'm gonna make some socks out of it. Just to see how it feels, really- with this much yarn to play with, I definitely feel free to experiment.

Just for fun, here's the bigger version of my new ravatar. I decided my old one wasn't crochet themed enough. Inked with a sakura graphic marker and coloured with various art markers.

Toothaches Suck

So I have been less active crocheting in the last few weeks. Partly we went away for awhile- Andrew and I visited my parents for a few days, then went up to my extended family's cottage.
Partly, this week I have had a miserable toothache.
I was hoping it was just what I had last year- a cut from my wisdom tooth on my cheek that really hurt but healed and was fine. But the pain got worse and finally I realized last night that I had to see a dentist.
Today I went in and found out the gum is infected and it'll just keep happening. So now I'm on antibiotics for this, and to fix the problem I go in tomorrow and get two wisdom teeth out. I am so not looking forward to it- but hopefully the pain will go away. Oh boy, do I want the pain to go away.

I have been working away on some nice lacy projects, and I even got my crazy cobweb weight dress started, but I just don't have any energy to post or take pictures or do much of anything. I went out today to stitch night, but mostly because I love it so much and it is a great distraction.

I can't wait to be able to chew stuff again...

Finished Socks and New Job!

I finished my awesome knee-highs! Now if only it was cool enough to wear them... Ok, I don't really mean that. I like that it's warm.


Aren't they pretty? Right now I'm working on the Botanical Pullover from the new Interweave Crochet, but I'm making other socks now too. They're something that basically I'm working on while on my way to work. This is how I figured out I can make a toe in about 30 minutes. Yay!

That does mean that I finally have a job! It's just a part time position, but I'm really liking it- more than I expected I would. It's at an awesome new trendy ice cream shop. My boss is a really nice guy, my coworkers seem really cool, it's a great neighborhood and we've gotten some terrific customers, and I'm making a reasonable wage. All in all, it's been really fun so far.
That said, I hope it's not warm enough for me to work tonight- I want to go to stitch night!

Some Pretty Yarn and Socks!

I've been making socks. I'm pretty pleased with them- I've been planning them for quite some time.
They're knee highs based on two patterns I've made before. I'm getting there with the heel to these socks- I just need to figure out how many rows and decreases and such to work. But I have the stitch pattern figured out.

They're comfy- and I've gotten so much done from the first ball. Seriously, the sock and a half up there is from the first 100g. I'm gonna be able to make another pair out of this yarn!

I went to Mary Maxim today to apply for a job. At knit night last night, Sarah mentioned that they were hiring a part timer. I need a job, I love yarn... I had to apply! I've been applying like crazy to jobs, and have a huge batch of applications to go out on Monday.

I also had to pick up some yarn while I was at the store. This is for a present I'm planning for someone!
I also got two more balls of the self striping sock yarn I've been using a bunch- On Your Toes. For 8$ a ball, making two super awesome pairs of socks, totally worth it. I am seriously getting a good sock yarn collection. I'm excited! I shouldn't have bought more yarn- but I also did over 12 hours of babysitting Monday that really burned me out. Spending a bit of that money on pretty yarn to be my therapy. It's definitely cheaper than real therapy... and softer and prettier...

This is more of my new sock yarn. I guess it's not so new anymore- I got it about a month ago from KnitPicks. I love Stroll Tonal <3! So many pretty colours. I can't wait to make something from these. I'm gonna keep doing the same as the socks above- basically a plain foot with a fun ankle. I like it. I might try working the ankle pattern onto the top of the sock.

The project I'm designing with sl st is made from this pretty yarn- Cool Crochet. I love it, I'm so sad it's discontinued! It's just got a really great sheen to it.

Pattern: Fluffy Pullover

Someone on Rav asked me for the pattern for this. I have been meaning to start on writing patterns, and this one was really simple. It seemed like a good place to start!
If you make this, please leave a comment or link to your project, and please let me know if I can change anything to make it easier or if you find any errors!

Fluffy Pullover

Materials:

Bulky weight mohair, approx 400-500 grams.

Large hook- 7 to 9mm, to get gauge.

Gauge:

4 DC and 3 rows = 2 inches

Written size medium. Bust size 36”. To increase or decrease size, add or remove 5 fsc for every 2 inches from starting chains.

Worked bottom up in joined rounds. Ch 2 do not count as stitches.

Dec refers to DC dec. To work: Yo, insert into first stitch, pull up loop. Insert into second stitch, pull up loop. YO, pull loop through first 2 stitches, YO, pull loop through remaining 3 stitches.

Body:

FSC 83 stitches. Join with sl st, being careful not to twist.

Round 1: Ch2, DC into every st, join with sl st.

Round 2-3: Repeat round 1

Round 4: Ch 2, Dec over next 2 DC, (1 DC into next st) for the next 43 sts. Dec over next 2 DC, mark st. (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st

Round 5: Repeat round 1

Round 6-9: Repeat rounds 4-5 twice.

Round 10: Ch 2. (Dec over next 2 DC) twice, (1 DC into nex

t st) until stitch before marker, (Dec over next 2 DC) twice, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 11: Repeat round 10.

Round 12-13: Repeat round 1.

Round 14: Ch 2. Work 2 DC in first DC, (1 DC into next st) until marker. Work 2 DC into marked st, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 15-19: Repeat round 14.

Round 20-21: Repeat round 1.

Fasten off. Leave marker in.

Sleeves:

FSC 26. Join with sl st being careful not to twist.

Round 1: Ch 2.1 DC into every st, join with sl st.

Round 2-10: Repeat round 1.

Round 11: Ch 2. Work 2 DC into first DC. (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 12: Repeat round 11.

Round 13-29: Repeat round 1. (Rounds can be removed or added here to adjust sleeve length)

Fasten off, leaving long tail.

Make 2.

Yoke:

Pin sleeves- one at beginning of body rounds and one at marker, or so they are even across body. Make sure ends of rounds are facing the body so the tails can be used later to sew underarm to body. Count 5 sts out from each marker and pin. You should have each sleeve pinned to body with 11 sts.

Join yarn to body at the left of one of the pinned sleeves. Lay sweater so that it is flat with the sleeves on the side. Place marker on the st on the fold of each sleeve.

Round 1: Ch 2. (1 DC into next st) across body and around the sleeves, leaving 11 pinned sts on either side unworked. Join with sl st.

Round 2: Repeat Round 1.

Round 3: Ch 2, (1 DC into next st) until 1^st marker. Dec over next 2 sts. Work 1 DC into next st and across to next marker, dec over next 2 sts. (1 DC into next st) around, join with sl st.

Round 4-6: Repeat Round 3. Try on sweater for a better fit- it should stay up fairly comfortably. Dec more over these rounds for a tighter shoulder fit.

Round 7-8: Repeat Round 1.

Round 9: Ch 2, (1 DC into next st) until 1^st maker. Work 2 DC into next st, (1 DC into next st) around until 2^nd marker. Work 2 DC into next st, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 10: Repeat Round 9.

Round 11-12: Repeat Round 1.

Fasten off. Sew sleeves to body under arms, weave in ends and block.