Fancy meeting you again…

Well, well, well… You’re still here! 

I apologize for being gone for so very long. But I’m back. I was busy tending to other things, however, I’ve managed to do some knitting and crocheting in all the time I was away. 

Currently I am working on a Voodoo You Love Me doll using Lion Brand Heartland in Everglades Tweed. He’s a cutie pie. Have a look:

I had to teach myself how to knit magic loop with this pattern. Surprisingly, it was not as fidgety as I had anticipated. Thank goodness. Quite frankly, I think I prefer it to DPNs. 

Other things I am working on include:

1. Slipper socks
2. Moss stitch socks (yes, still… Sigh)
3. Sock yarn blanket
4. Vortex handbag
5. Crochet voodoo doll
6. The afghan that ate Tokyo (again, still…)
7. Seed stitch turtleneck pullover (may or may not frog)
8. Two more voodoo dolls
9. Countless other handbags that just need finishing touches
10. And I feel like I’m forgetting something, but oh well…

Here are some photos of random things I’ve made:

My first Voodoo You Love Me doll

Fleur De Lis washcloth

Chunky yarn octopi

Jellyfish

Joker Octopi

Hodgepodge granny square bag

Sock Yarn blanket

You can checkout other things I’ve been working on or other foolishness I’ve been getting into on my Instagram: Ninjadorable 

It’s aliiiiiiiiiiive!

Well, well, well… I’ve been gone for a bit. But I assure you I have been busy.

I have finished a few things for myself, my shop, and I have even started my Christmas gifts.

Here is a variety of photos of things I have been working on:

Easiest Fingerless Gloves in Vanna’s Choice – Cranberry

Link to FREE pattern on Ravelry: Easiest Fingerless Gloves

Scotty’s Hat in Vanna’s Choice – Cranberry

Link to FREE pattern on Ravelry: Scotty’s Hat

Shorty Seed Stitch Socks in Sock-Ease – Taffy and Red Hots

Shorty Seed Stitch Socks in Sock-Ease – Taffy and Red Hots

A Day of Style Tote in Berraco

Link to pattern info on Ravelry: A Day of Style Tote

Peace on Earth Tote in Red Heart Shimmer with added granny square pocket

Link to pattern info on Ravelry: Peace on Earth Tote

Slipper Socks in Wool-Ease – Lemongrass

Shorty Socks in Patons Kroy Socks – Blue Ragg Stripes

Button Flower Headband in Deborah Norville Everyday

Flower Headband in Read Heart Super Saver

Kerala Tank in Bernat Cotton-Ish

Link to pattern info on Ravelry: Kerala Tank

Bridal Shawl in Homespun

Link to FREE pattern on Ravelry: Bridal Shawl

Moss Stitch Socks in Knit Picks Felici – Shamrock

Multi-Directional Scarf in Deborah Norville Everyday – Parrot – with added fringe

Link to FREE pattern on Ravelry: Multi-Directional Scarf

Multi-Directional Scarf in some mystery yarn that was in my stash

I’ve made a few other items that I haven’t taken photos of yet. There are also super secret Christmas gifts finished and/or in progress that I won’t be posting until after the holiday.

I’m also experimenting with writing some simple knitting patterns for hats and as I get those done I hope to post them here. 

I’ve got a long list of things to finish so I had better get going! Look for a new Pinterest Day post soon!

She’s crafty, knits in the round, she’s crafty, man, she’s always, uh… making stuff.

Still working hard over here. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot accomplished. I’ve managed to finish a few things and make progress on some other things. So here is a picture heavy update of things I’ve gotten done:

Using up some microfiber yarn.

More microfiber yarn. Headbands this time.

I’ve had some handbags sitting in my purgatory pile for quite some time. I got them out and worked on them for a bit. This included getting my sewing machine out and reacquainting myself with how it works. I’m happy to report that it was like riding a bicycle.

Added lining to two of these three handbags.

I didn’t have enough muslin to line the yellow and black chevron handbag in the back, but I did use some denim to make the bottom a little sturdier, as that particular bag is quite bucket like instead of being some squares sewn together like the other two. Handles were added to the chevron bag and a shoulder strap was added to the orange,blue, and white bag. The purple granny square bag needs handles and I am still deciding if I want to buy or make them.

Here is the orange, blue, and white bag finished. I had planned on selling it but I like it so much that I’ve been usuing it.

Love it.

In sock making news, I had been working on another pair for the husband. This time in the colorway Red Hots from Lion Brand Sock-Ease.

Vanilla ankle socks with a Fish Lips Kiss heel.

One done…

And BAM. Socks for the husband.

After that was done I picked up some socks I had been working on for myself. These socks are worked with one round of solid and one round of self-striping yarn. I think the colors are really pretty and work well together.

Striped shorty socks for me.

Here’s a fun experiment I tried with the toe.

I have been using the FLK heel as my go to heel for socks because I like how tidy it looks and how comfortable it is. I have used it on a few pairs of socks and one day I said, “Self, this could be used as a toe, I just know it. One of these days, self, you’re going to have to see if you can make it work. Tim Gunn style.” So I decided to try with this pair. I worked the heel instructions as they are written but then I grafted the stitches together after the heel was worked instead of working back into the round. I’m glad to say there was minimal cussing involved, and that’s only because I hate kitchener stitch. Here’s a pic on the sock blockers.

FLK heel AND toe. Hold on to your hats, friends. Shit just got crazy.

Currently, I am working on making a throw with some Red Heart Super Saver scraps I have. It’s quite busy looking but I hate to waste any yarn. Even if it’s scratchy, cheap acrylic. It’s basically just a giant mitered granny square. It’s going to take awhile to finish. I have learned my lesson and I have been weaving in ends after about every three color changes. So that will be nice. Once it’s done it will actually be done and I can celebrate with karate moves and wine.

Oh, I almost forgot. I finished my Garter Slipped scarf that I was working on. I haven’t taken any photos of that but it sure felt good to get it done. Ends weaved in and all that jazz. It turned out quite nicely.

Now it’s time for another pot of coffee and getting back to my hooks and needles. Huzzah!

 

Granny Squares, I Made Some.

Hello dearest readers. As you know I joined a granny square exchange group. It’s quite exciting… If you’re into that sort of thing. And I totally am.

I have been scouring Pinterest for different squares so I can learn some new techniques. Some of the links lead to just pictures and no pattern or to a pattern that costs a ridiculous amount of money that I refuse to pay for. I mean, one pattern had you pay for EACH ‘step’ of the square so the damn thing ends up costing you like $20.00 and I’m just not going to do that. If I pay you $20.00 you better come to my home and make the square while serenading me. Seriously.

Anyhaps, I decided to do a few free-form squares for fun and games. I ended up with one I really liked and I actually took the time to write it down. So here is the first crochet pattern I have ever written. I hope you like it, and further, I hope it makes sense. If you find mistakes or I have confused you to the point that you want to hunt dolphins, please message me and I will be happy to make corrections or join you for an epic dolphin punching-event.

Materials:

US Size G hook, Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver for this pattern)

Gauge:

This square should measure 6″x6″ when finished.

Abbreviations:

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• st: stitch
• sp: space
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• sk: skip

Special Notes:

A ch3 at the beginning of a round will count as your first dc unless otherwise indicated.

Now – On to the pattern:

Ch5, sl st in first ch to form a ring

Round 1:

Ch3, 2 dc, *(ch3, 3 dc)  3 times*, ch3, join with sl st in top of beginning ch3.

(12dc and 4 ch3 sp)

Round 2:

Sl st in next dc, (ch3, 2 dc, ch3, 3 dc) in same dc, ch1, *[skp ch3 sp and first dc, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc, ch1) in next dc], repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of beginning ch3.

(24 dc, 4 ch3 sp, 4 ch1 sp)

Round 3:

Sl st to ch3 sp, (ch3, 2 dc) in ch3 sp, ch1, sk next 3 dc, *[(3 dc. ch3, 3dc) in next ch1 sp), ch1**, skp next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch3 sp, ch1], repeat from * around, ending at ** , join with sl st in top of beginning ch3.

(36 dc, 4 ch3 sp, 8 ch1 sp)

Round 4:

Sl st in next dc, (ch3, 2 dc, ch3, 3 dc) in same dc, ch1, 3 dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, 3 dc in next ch3 sp, ch1, 3 dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, *[sk 1 dc, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) in next dc, ch1, 3 dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, 3 dc in next ch3 sp, ch1, 3 dc in next ch1 sp, ch1], repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of beginning ch3.

(60 dc, 4 ch3 sp, 16 ch1 sp)

Round 5:

Ch3, dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch3 sp, *[dc in next 3 dc, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch1, hdc in next 3 dc, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch1**, dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch3 sp], repeat from * around, ending at **, join with sl st in top of beginning ch3.

(76 dc, 4 ch2 sp, 16 ch1 sp)

Round 6:

Ch1, sc in same sc, sc in each st and ch1 sp around, working (2 sc, ch2, 2 sc) in each corner ch3 sp.

(108 sc and 4 ch2 sp)

After weaving in your ends you should end up with a solid granny square much like the one on the right in this photo:

Rosemary’s First Granny Square

If you choose to make this square using multiples colors, I recommend beginning each new color in a corner space. If you would like some help making this square with color changes, please let me know. I will be happy to give you tips or I can even re-write the pattern to include the changes.

In other news, I am still rounding up links and photos for the Pinterest day post. I want to be able to give everyone proper credit and give you the links to the patterns if you want to try them out.

Cats and yarn living together.

I went ahead and did the silliest thing a yarn crafter can do.

I adopted a kitty cat.

This is Miss Kissa

Needless to say, I haven’t accomplished a whole lot since my last post.

I’m currently working on the last panel of my giant knit afghan. I’m ahead on my granny square exchange timeline.

I am happy to say that I’ll be starting my Pinterest day post soon. I’ve rounded up a few granny square patterns that I liked and tried out. A few have worked out well, one of them not so much.

Until then, please enjoy some random photos of my cat and some granny squares.

A virtual cornucopia of yarny things.

I’ve been trying to get back to my UFO stash.
I decided to break out the afghan that ate Tokyo. I’ve made some progress on it, finishing panel 7 of 9 and starting panel 8.

Work 4×2 ribbing for the rest of your life.

The pattern is simple enough. So is stitching the panels together. But the ends to weave in. The ENDS!! Make it stop.

And as if I don’t have enough to do, I went ahead and joined a Granny Square Swap Group. I’ve already made some squares.
I thought it would be a fun way to use up scrap yarn and try out new stitches and techniques and what have you.

It’s more likely that deep down I’m a masochist and I need to seek some sort of treatment.

In other news, I’m trying to think of some fresh ideas for posts, as I think constantly publicly flogging myself for all my unfinished work will probably get tiresome.
I believe I’m going to start a Pinterest day (how frequently, I’m not sure yet). This will consist of choosing a pin from my mile long crafty Pinterest board and seeing if it’s worth while to have pinned at all. From there we can either ooh and ahh over it or laugh at how miserably it has failed. I look forward to starting this tradition and really exercising my sense of sarcasm when things go terribly, terribly wrong.

Until next time.

About that purgatory thing…

I haven’t been very good at working on my current unfinished projects the last few days.

I managed to weave in ends on this set of washcloths.

I was also able get a lot more done on my current scarf. I ran out of yarn for it. So into purgatory it goes. Not helpful in busting the stash of unfinished business. Sigh.

I did, however, use up lots of scrap yarn making these headbands:

Please don’t judge me by my Christmas tablecloth in January.

Now I’m working on some more washcloths because I need more of them in my life.

Also, I crocheted this baby beanie. The ends aren’t woven in because… I have issues.

That’s all for now. #startallthethings #finishnone

Making a dent in my WIPs

Yesterday I talked about getting my “Project Purgatory” under control. Using the guidelines I made for myself, I was able to make a bit of progress in my goal.

Between yesterday and today (and a couple pots of coffee), so far I have accomplished the following:

• Frogged one pillow – It wasn’t the correct size for a pillow form.
• Frogged the facehugger – I just wasn’t happy with the way it was turning out. I need to think this one over a bit more.
• Weaved in ends on the two fair isle hats – Finished.
• Weaved in the ends on one washcloth – Finished.
• Weaved in the ends on the zombie hat – Still needs the finishing touches with needle felting.
• Weaved in ends on a handbag – Still needs lining and handles.
• Completed crocheting a potholder, including weaving in the ends.
• Completed 80 rows on the latest “My Garter Slipped” knitted scarf, by Bereni, from my first post.
• Started making a list of materials I need to complete some other projects.

Progress! I’m so proud of myself!

Since the weather here is cold and dreary, I plan on working on the purgatory tote bag quite bit more this evening. I’ve found that a fresh pot of coffee and kind of bouncing back and forth between projects helps me get more done than if I were to try to just concentrate on one specific thing. It also helps me in not starting yet ANOTHER project.

So I am going to pour myself another mug of joe and get back to it. I hope that you are making progress on your WIPs and UFOs. I hope you’re making progress on any and all of your goals!

WIPs and UFOs

I have a very large tote bag that I keep my unfinished projects in. I lovingly refer to it as “Project Purgatory”.

I like to put things in the tote bag that are mostly finished. Things that need ends woven in or things that I need to get a couple materials for to finish them up. My intentions are good. Really, they are.

I recently went through this bag of nonsense and I have found that I have a lot of finishing to do:

• Zombie Hat: Needs embellishments and ends woven in.
• Baby Sweater: Needs another skein of yarn.
• 2 Throw Pillows: Need pillow forms.
• 3 Handbags: Need handles and linings.
• 5 Washcloths: Need ends woven in.
• 2 Fair Isle Hats: Need ends woven in.
• Change Purse: Needs clasp.
• Felted Tote: Needs handles.
• 2 Small Afghans: 1 needs ends woven in, 1 needs finished or frogged entirely.
• Large Plush Face Hugger (From Aliens): Needs finished or frogged entirely.
• 4 Miniature Plush Figures: Need embellishments.

Then there are the things I am currently working on. Like the scarf from my last post, a crocheted potholder/trivet, a knitted queen size afghan.

It’s so difficult to get motivated to finish these things sometimes. When I look at the pile of projects it seems so overwhelming. Even just weaving in ends seems like it’s too much just because I know how boring and tedious it can be.

I am making it a goal to get all of these projects taken care of as soon as possible. What I am going to try is this:

1. I will choose an unfinished project out of my stash.
2. I will assess what needs to be done to complete it.
3. If I need materials and I have time to get them, I will make a trip to the craft store.
4. If I am unable to get the materials for the project, I will simply choose a different project to work on.
5. Once I have chosen a project and have the materials needed to finish it, I will set a timer to work on the project for at least 90 minutes.
6. I will work on the project for the given time until it is finished or the timer goes off.
7. If the project isn’t done when the timer goes off, I will pick up where I left off the next day for the same amount of time.

I am going to try to hold true to this to get these projects finished. And I will try to post the finished results here when they are complete.

How do you motivate yourself to finish projects? Do you find it easier or more difficult to finish projects when they are for someone else?
How many UFOs and WIPs are too many for you?

Share some of your “Project Purgatory” busting secrets with us!