Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Husband Hat

My husband wanted a simple, no frills hat that folded up. Here's the very simple pattern that I came up with.

Sorry about the girl head...don't have a man one yet, so she'll have to suffice. The hat looks big on the head, but fits hubby's noggin perfectly.





Material:
2 skeins of Patons Classic Merino Wool
I (5.5mm) hook

Gauge: 6 rows x 6hdc = 2"

Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each row. Do not join rounds

Holding two strands of yarn together:
Round 1: Using magic ring, sc 6 stitches into ring (6)
Here is a link to the magic circle instructions http://www.crochetme.com/Dec_Jan_0405/reads_round.html
Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
Round 3: (sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (18)
Round 4: (sc in next two sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (24)
Round 5: (sc in next three sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (30)
Round 6: (sc in next four sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (36)
Round 7: (sc in next five sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (42)
Round 8: (sc in next six sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (48)
Round 9: (sc in next seven sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (54)
Round 10: (sc in next eight sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (60)
Round 11: (sc in next nine sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (66)
Round 12-26 : hdc in each stitch around (66)
Row 27: With contrasting color, sc in each hdc around, join with a sl. st. to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends. Fold up to desired length.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

You Make My Day!


I was given this award by Riohnna, Lesalicious, and Ashley! Thanks ladies, that means so much to me!
I want to pass this on to the bloggers that make my day! I look forward to their posts everyday!


You guys are awesome!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Meeting Crochetvillers!

Yesterday I got to meet and have brunch with three Crochetville members that live close by.

From left to right:
SubwayHooker (Carol), me, Isserlie (Lisa), and AuntBubbels (Janet)



I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had. We gabbed for three hours and never ran out of things to say. Three hours!!

Janet was so sweet, she made us felted hook holders and gave us each a clover soft hook! I also want to say a big thanks to Lisa's hubby. He sat in the car and waited patiently all that time!

We all agreed we should definitely do it again. I had a blast!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Vanessa's baby shower

Yesterday was my cousin Vanessa's baby shower. It was alot of fun and I even won a baby shower game, heehee!

Here's a pic of my cousin opening the Through Any Window Baby Blanket. It was very well received! She liked it so much that she passed it around. It's really heartwarming when someone appreciates something you've made for them.



She received some other crochet baby items that were too cute! I didn't get a pic, but my favorite one was a little pink dress with pineapples on the skirt. My new obsession is pineapples! I must get that pattern.

Here's my grandmother and I (my aunt cut our heads off, oh well). This is the grandma I made the Seraphina Shawl for at Christmastime. Isn't she adorable?



Don't be fooled by her innocent looks. She's quite the raunchy little thing!

I'm off to meet the villers soon! :) Happy Sunday!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Blocked!

Don't get excited, I'm not talking crochet blocks. I mean blocked at work! Apparently some of the youngins were abusing the internet and now all "personal and social networking sites" are banned, so no blogs, myspace, facebook, xanga, or anything remotely social. So I'll only be checking in at night, from home, from now on. Though I can still acess the ville!

This week was Catholic School week and all the parents at Pi's school were asked to donate a small item to the school, to be distributed to a few charities. One of the items needed was baby sweaters. I was only able to whip up one since it was a very last minute request.

Since I've been making so many girl related items lately, I thought I'd do something for a boy and I really like it! If you look closely, the buttons are car shapes! The pattern is Kelly's sweater again. Told you I liked this pattern!



Remember these mittens? My friend Rosanna from work will be having surgery on her hand and will have an even larger cast, which required a super super sized mitten. This one was made with an M hook. Look how large it is!



I also made a simple winter hat for anonymous husband. He wanted something simple but long enough to be folded up. I couldn't find anything that was as simple as he wanted, so I made one up. I haven't gotten a pic yet, but as soon as I do, I'll post the pic and the pattern. The pattern is so simple, I feel silly posting it, but it might help some newbie out there with their first hat, so why not?

Thanks to those who have asked how I've been feeling. The doctor said I don't have bronchitis, but thinks I had a very bad reaction to my flu shot. I'm still feeling under the weather but not nearly as bad as earlier this week. I mostly just have some congestion, but I'm back to work and can function.

This is going to be a busy weekend for me. My cousin's baby shower is tomorrow and then I'll be meeting 3 other local Crochetville members for brunch on Sunday. I'm really excited!!

Hope you're all having a happy Friday!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Pay it Forwards

All of my pay it forwards have been received, so I'm posting what I've made for anyone who missed it:

To Ashley went one of these from SnB: Happy Hooker. I love making these bags!



This next one went to Snappish. It's a pineapple scarf from the 2008 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar. I've always liked pineapples but am petrified to try thread, so I was stupid excited when I saw this pattern.



This went to Riohnna. Its one of my St. Maurus Headwarmers



I also sent some kiddie scarves for Ashley's and Riohnna's bambinos.

I had so much fun with this that I can't wait to jump into more swaps. We are nearing the end of our first swap at Swap Swap Gals. I can't wait to show you guys what I made for that!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Where did that nail go?

I called out of work sick yesterday. I tried to get up to go, but there was no way I was crawling out of bed. After calling my boss, I went back to sleep and slept til 3p.m. Even with waking up so late, I was still out cold for the night by 11p.m. I'm back at work today, though I don't think I should be.

Sunday night I developed a cough which has now turned into wheezing. I'm going to see the doctor after work tonight just to make sure its not bronchitis. I don't think it is, but better to be safe than sorry, right?

On another note, hubby and I have decided we must have joined the mouse of the month club by accident. We caught our 3rd mouse since November this weekend. Yet, we're not allowed to get a cat.

Onto even grosser things...

So I'm on the subway this morning, reading Dune, when I hear this "snap, snap" noise. I look up and the man sitting across from me is...get this...clipping his fingernails! On the subway!! After he clips, he's throwing them on the floor. Nasty!

Now, don't get me wrong and think I'm a sissy for gross stuff. I've seen loads of nasty things on the subway and my tolerance is usually pretty high but there is something about clipping nails on the subway that is just so...inappropriate. I mean, the nails can fly! "Snap....clip" and you could lose an eye! Who knows where that thing is landing?

I'm all for multi-tasking on the subway...reading, crocheting, paper-work, studying, eating, applying makeup...whatever...but clipping nails is not cool.

So what inappropriate things have you seen in public? Really, I want to know.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Shells Raglan Sweater

In my sick stupor this weekend, I haven't been able to do much but lay in bed, so I finally finished Pi's raglan sweater!

I didn't use a pattern, just the general guidelines for a raglan. The top and sleeves are worked in hdc. I increased on the last light pink row by 20 or so stitches and worked shells to get the A-line fit for her.

I added buttons though they are mismatched. She was too excited for me to go and get all matchng buttons, so they are all the same size and color, but different styles. I made her a matching headband too, at her request.



She picked all the colors and I ended up using a little more than 5 balls of Plymouth Encore. I used an "I" hook for thr top and a "J" for the shells.

Back



Close up of shells



Pi said the shells remind her of waves and I should call it Ocean Waves. Too cute! I couldn't get her to take it off so that I could get a picture of it flat. She went to stay with her dad last night and took it with her.

Ok, its time for me to jump under the heating pad again. Hope everyone is staying warm in this frigid weather!

Friday, January 18, 2008

TGIF!

No crochet projects to show. Sorry guys.

I did finally finish the second sleeve on Pi's sweater but not much more since then. Between being pretty busy at home this week and having a cold, I've been more out of commission than I'd like. This weekend, I plan to stay in bed, rest and finish up the sweater, finally. Also, I've got some secret swap crocheting to finish and mail off on Monday.

In other news, my dad will be doing his first communion and confirmation this year and has asked me to be his sponsor. I'm really excited about this! My dad is finally coming home to the church!! Its a big sacramental year in general for my family. Besides my dad, the twins will be doing communion and confirmation too and Pi will be doing her first reconciliation and communion! AND my parents will be getting married in the church as well this March!!! How cool is that? They were married by a Justice of the Peace over 27 years ago, but are now re-newing their vows. Talk about the warm and fuzzies!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Baby, baby!

I made a sweater for the same cousin I made the botched bunny hat and the Through Any Window Baby Blanket for.

I used Bella Bambina's Kelly's Sweater pattern. I've used this pattern before and will use it over and over again, because its simple, fast, and has great results.



Even though I know the baby is a girl, I get tired of just pink, pink, pink, so I used a mint green color and added flower buttons for the girly effect.

I'm still plugging away on Pi's sweater. I never did finish that second sleeve. Its just so repetetive and boring that I can't look at it for more than a few minutes at a time. I'm telling myself that I MUST finish the sleeve by tonight. That's probably going to go as well as me telling myself I MUST go the gym today.

Before I go, I'd like to say a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my blogging buddy and friend Lesalicious!!! Happy 27th Birthday!

Monday, January 14, 2008

What I want to be when I grow up...

Have you ever had a moment of clarity where you just KNEW what you wanted to do with your life? I had that moment this morning.

As soon as I woke up, I rushed to the window to get a look at all the snow that was supposed to have blanketed the city last night. Nothing. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Still nothing.

At that moment, I decided I wanted to be a meteorologist. What other job is there where you can always be wrong, but you still have a job? What other job allows you to spout untruths on television (not including all those gossip shows of course) but still be watched every night by millions of people? Weather people. Clever little monkeys aren't they?

Onto craftiness. Here's my first felted project! I sent this off to my Holiday Roak too. Considering it was the first time I felted (and in the laundromat to boot), it came out really well and nearly the exact size the pattern called for. The laundromat lady was none too happy with my felting experiment at close to closing.



The blanket stitch was not a part of the pattern, but I added it to tie in the color of the middle lace part better. I think it also gave the felted piece a much more finished look.



Oh yeah, HERE'S the pattern. I'm going to make one of these for myself eventually. It fits perfectly into my purse as its no bigger than a makeup bag.



This weekend wasn't very productive for me as far as crochet goes. Friday night was spent with my best friend and some of her co-workers. We hadn't seen each other in nearly four months. How ridiculous is that, considering we only live a few miles from each other? Our schedules clash. Anyway, we were out til nearly 2. We had dinner and the best sangrias ever at a little Cuban place at the South Street Seaport. So no crochet that night. Sunday was spent running errands the entire day and so no crochet that day either.

Saturday, I started a raglan style cardigan for Pi. I managed to get the neck shaping and shoulder parts done with no problem but the raglan type sleeves were driving me insane. So after doing an entire sleeve in hdc (can we say forever?) I frogged the entire thing and went with a sleeve that was crocheted seperately and sewn on later. That looks much better, but that's as far as I've gotten. Tonight's goal will be to finish sleeve 2.

This leaves me with a small design dilemna that I'm hoping you guys can help me with. The sweater fits Pi perfectly around the back, chest, and arms but she's a little rounder in the tummy area. If I keep going with the same pattern as I am now, the cardigan will be too snug around the belly. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I can make the bottom of the cardigan A-line, so it billows out a bit? I've looked online and haven't seen anything like an A-line cardigan. Help!

Laurah, I futzed with my camera alot yesterday morning. Your tips helped me to get better lighting and a clear picture, but even with using the macro feature ( little flying flower thing), no zoom, and making sure the green focus box was only on the object in front, my backgrounds just won't blur. Fiddlesticks. Thanks for trying to explain it to me though!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Teeny Tiny Ami's

Check out the teeny timy ami's I made! They're part of a last minute Holiday ROAK over at Crochetville. The recipient doesn't read my blog that I know of and she should have this today, so I'm posting them.



The mouse pattern is a free pattern from Kristieskids found HERE. The bird pattern is called Birds of a Feather by Hannah Kaminsky. I found this pattern on Ravelry. I didn't have safety eyes, so I just sewed on eyes. I even gave Birdie eyebrows, which might be a little creepy.

Pi really likes the mouse. I'm going to make her one as a surprise this weekend.

Remember I mentioned I took a boot class camp yesterday? Please elevate my "ouch" to "holy crap!" I.Feel.So.Sore! Walking down the steps to the subway was an adventure. It hurt so badly I was walking super slow while holding onto the rail. That speed is just not acceptable for subway commuters and I was given my fair share of dirty looks. Don't worry, I gave my fair share of dirty looks back.

I'm wondering if this pain is really worth physical fitness. Let's review the facts:

1. I'd like to lose more weight, but its not on my "must do" things right now. I had previously lost 55 pounds. 15 have found me again, so that's a net loss of 40 pounds. I could lose 40 more, but I'm pretty comfortable where I am.

2. Hubby loves me just the way I am and could care less if I lose weight. He feeds me well.

3. I'm happy.
4. I like chocolate. Ok, maybe I should be more honest. Chocolate and I have a love affair going. *insert sappy romantic music here* I love it and it loves me. Life would not be worth living if not for chocolate. Chocolate is another way I know that God loves me. He gave me this wonderful gift of chocolate and I should accept it wholeheartedly. Chocolate is just...perfect. This is my ode to chocolate. And we lived happily ever after.

Ok, so I'm being dramatic. I'll go back to the gym, but I reserve the right to complain about it.

Hope you all have a great chocolate filled weekend.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Lookie what Laura gave me!

An award!



I copied the meaning from Laura's blog:

From Xandra, creator of The Daily Dose Award: "This little award is called The Daily Dose - and here is all the important info to tell you what it is about and where it came from. This is a tribute to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog. I'd like to pass this honor along to some cherished blog friends. In a cyber world ... I often gravitate to these places for my "daily dose" ... because these particular women share bits and pieces of themselves that I just can't seem to live without. I sit in the morning with my hot cuppa Joe and stop by my "friends" to get caught up ... perhaps even a little "wrapped up" in their lives".

Thanks Laura, that made my day! Sometimes I wonder if ramble too much, LOL.

I have too many favorites to pick just three for my Daily Dose. To tell you all my little dirty secret, I visit all the blogs on my blogroll at least twice a day...sometimes more! I'm a blog stalker, heehee.


On a side note, I spilled coffee on a half skein of yarn today. Joy! First, I mourned the messed up yarn and then I mourned the loss of coffee...every drop of which makes me functionable (is that a word?) and non-cranky in the morning. I only have one cup a day, but it makes all the difference in my mood. Oddly, I don't need it on the weekends...maybe because I can sleep as long as I want?

I was able to finish my project (thank goodness it was almost done) by using the yarn in the middle of the skein, which wasn't stained.

Oh yeah, and I went back to the gym on Monday. Now, I'm not making resolutions, because I'll never keep them, but I am going to the gym while I have the gumption too. I took a boot camp class today. Can we say ouch? Ouch.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Bunny hat gone wrong...

In the new Crochet! issue, there is a pattern for a bunny hat for a 6-12 month old baby. I decided to make this hat for the same cousin who I made the Through Any Window Baby Blanket.

I decided I didn't need to check gauge. I mean, how hard is it to eyeball a baby sized hat, right? Yeah, mmm....k.

When I finsihed the hat, I thought it looked a little big, but figured it'd be ok. Not so much. It fits my over-sized noggin.



So now this hat will be part of Pi's Halloween costume this coming October. She's pretty happy...she got an unexpected bunny hat.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

*SQUEE!*

Anonymous husband and I are going to see Matchbox 20 in February!!!!!

Please, squee with me...

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor anonymous husband does not like Matchbox 20 AT ALL, but he loves me, yes he does, and so he's going with me! Thank you husband!

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Ami Doll x 3

Can you believe it? I got suckered into making a third ami doll! Pi really liked the second ami doll I had made for the twins and asked for one of her own. After 3 days worth of nonstop crocheting (thank you NYC subway!), I finished this doll last night.

Pi has named her Alice.



I also made a skirt for Alice...8 rows of increasing sc and then 9 rows of layered shells. You can't really see it very well because Pi has her hand over it. She loves it, which makes me really proud. I also crocheted that bow she's wearing.

Pi wrote a note for me before the doll was finished and asked me to blog it. As a side note, she's learned how to type in the address to my blog and access it all by herself! Ok, here's her note:

I am a girl. My name is Piper. My mom is making a doll for me. She is a very weird mom. Her name is Christina. She is my mom. My mom goes to work at 5 am every day so I can go to a nice school. My mom made me a scarf and a hat. The colors on the scarf and hat are pink and white. She is a graet mom. I love her with all my heart. She is all most done with my doll. She onley has to finish the head and hair. She is my heart. She makes the best food ever. This is my mom.

Isn't she sweet? That totally made my day!

Friday, January 4, 2008

Meme

I've been tagged by sharkmeat. She didn't tag me electronically...she just called over the cubicle wall we share to tell me to do this. :) (Also, she has learned to knit, but not crochet...YET! Congrats on joining the world of fiber!)

"The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.To participate in this blog game, copy and paste the above list into your blog, and bold the items that are true for you.

Father went to college (Dad was 17 when I was born so went right to work after hs)

Father finished college

Mother went to college (Mom was 17 when I was born so went right to work after hs)

Mother finished college

Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers (I never much paid attention to social class of my teachers or friends for that matter)

Had more than 50 books in your childhood home (oh yes, I was obsessed with books. Dad still reminds me how many he’d buy me)

Had more than 500 books in your childhood home (absolutely!)

Were read children's books by a parent (my mother read to me a lot)

Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (I was enrolled in dance classes…ballet, tap, and jazz when I was 7 or 8 and also learned flute in high school).

Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 (see above)

The people in the media who dress and talk like you were portrayed positively (no! I've always been a bit heavy, even as a kid, and fat kids were just not cool...unless you were Fat Albert)

Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18

Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs

Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

Went to a private high school

Went to summer camp.

Had a private tutor before you turned 18

Family vacations involved staying at hotels. (my parents had a timeshare type thing, where we stayed in our own log cabin type deal in PA for a week)

Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (I didn’t have any older siblings, so most of my clothing was new, though mom and I shared clothes when I was a teen).

Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them (my parents never bought me a car)

There was original art in your house when you were a child (I’m not sure if this counts, but my mother hand-sketched a picture of me as a baby that hung in our apartment).

Had a phone in your room before you turned 18 (yes, but I paid for it).

You and your family lived in a single family house (we’ve always lived in apartments)

Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home

You had your own room as a child (yes, until I was 7, then I shared with my sister. As a teen, I had my own room again because my sister and I fought a lot)

Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course (my church paid for a course for all the teens)

Had your own TV in your room in High School

Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College

Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 (yes, Grandma took me with her to Puerto Rico when I was 8).

Went on a cruise with your family

Went on more than one cruise with your family

Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up (no, but we went to the zoo and aquarium)

You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

Onto crochet...
If you've made it this far, I reward you with pictures. Here is some charity crochet. This square is from Kristy over at Crochetville. The deal is that you can get the pattern for free as long as you send in a minimum of one square for Kristy's charity. Go HERE to Kristy's blog for more info.

I love this square and I'd love to commit to making 1 a week, so at the end of the year, I'll have enough for an afghan. I think one of my sisters would love it.



These rectangles are for the Warm up America challenge from Caron. HERE is the thread on Crochetville about that one. Basically, we're making rectangles out of any kind of simply soft and sending it to Caron as a group. Caron will make these into blankets and the group who sends the most will win $300. So we can be useful and help the 'ville!



Additionally, I'm also collecting baby and preemie afghans and hats for a charity I'm personally involved in called Project Athena. This is a blurb I wrote a few months ago about Project Athena:

"Last year, I helped my daughter's girl scout leader, Denorah, with a charity group called Project Athena. Its like Project Linus, where we donate blankets to preemies in our local area. The project is named after her granddaughter, who was born preemie. Glad to say that Athena is healthy and doing very well. Last year, we only had a small number of local volunteers but donated a good amount of blankets. This year we are trying to extend Project Athena to also help a local group that assists teenage mothers who have chosen to give their babies up for adoption, rather than abortion. Denorah is also hoping to make Project Athena a non-profit organization this year. But in order to do that, we can't do it alone!"

Some very generous ladies at the 'ville have sent me wonderful baby blankets, hats, and squares. Thank you ladies!!

Thank goodness its Friday! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Pay it Forward teasers

To the ladies who are on my Pay it Forward list, your packages have been mailed.

Here's a teaser, because I'm bad that way.

Pay it Forward A: From Crochet Pattern a Day Calendar, 2008



Pay it Forward B: From Stitch N Bitch: Happy Hooker



Pay it Foward C: From a free pattern



Good luck trying to figure it out, heehee!
On a non crafty related note:
I did something weird in my sleep night before last. I woke up yesterday morning and the left side of my head hurt. I touched my head around the hairline and it was very sore. I went into the bathroom to look at my head and I am missing a patch of hair on the left side of my head! I must have been pulling my hair out in my sleep. What's up with that? Feel free to analyze me.
Also, I want to say hi Joyce!! I miss you and hope your new job is going well!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Through Any Window Baby Blanket - completed!

I was finally able to get these pictures up! Thanks for fixing my internet Ashley!



I finished the Through Any Window Baby Blanket on Monday night. I only did one more pattern repeat and the blanket measured 35" before the border and picot. With the border and picot, its close to 38". For some reason, I thought it would be about 30" with one more pattern repeat, but I'm terrible with gauge. I'm happy it came out so large though.



The pattern was easy, even the picots (I was scared of the picots because I'd never done one before, LOL) and worked up very quickly.



Thanks for this awesome pattern Laurah! Its a keeper!

trying...

I've been trying to get a post on since yesterday, but I can't upload pics for some reason. I'm fairly certain its not blogger, but my internet connection, which is being wonky. As soon as I get it all fixed I'll have a new post. I've finsihed the blanket!