project #18a - kozie janezies

pattern used -

• Kozie Janezies by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

hook size -

• 4.5mm bamboo hook

yarn used -

• I used two strands of 4ply/sports weight yarn, worked as one
• pattern actually calls for a 10ply/worsted weight to be used

comments -

• I really wanted to make these in the ruby red, because I am totally in love with the baby ones
  
• unfortunately they're nowhere near as cute as the baby ones, but then again... I don't have cute baby feet any more either!
• 
  
• I had to stop a round or two early, because they were coming up too high on the top of my foot
• take a close look at the photo below... see the shaping on the inside heel of the feet? I don't know if it is my crocheting, or the yarn, or the pattern... but for some reason it seems to stick out like a bit of a growth
• 
• I should try blocking them to see if that helps... but next time I would fudge the pattern a bit, to avoid the stickie-outie-bitties (yes - that's a technical term)
• despite the fact that this style is not very flattering for my feet (it makes them look shorter and fatter than they need to) they are actually quite comfortable to wear
• instead of buttons, I used a couple of beads from an old bracelet

project #17 - lacy hands

pattern used -

• Lacy Hands by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• my very own handspun alpaca

hook used -

• 3.0mm bamboo hook
  

comments -

• I modified the pattern slightly to accomodate the handspun yarn
• I used a ch36 to begin, and only worked 10 rows of pattern before beginning the thumb shaping
• these are my first project ever made from my own handspun yarn... and I'm VERY EXCITED about it!!!

project #16 - beaded dance bracelet

pattern used -

• Beaded Dance Bracelet by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• I'm guessing a size 10 crochet thread

hook used -

• 1.75mm steel hook
  

comments -

• the beaded flipped double crochet stitch used in this pattern was very difficult for me to master
• in fact, there are not enough rude words in the dictionary to accurately describe the challenges which I faced with this project
• in my opinion, it was an absolute bugger to make... but I'm glad I stuck with it... just in case I ever come across the beaded flip stitch again

project #15 - beautiful saver

pattern used -

• Beautiful Saver by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 10ply/worsted weight reclaimed wool, in pink
• grey and black sewing thread

hook used -

• 4.0mm aluminium hook

comments -

• the pattern calls for the flap to be made using a different colour of yarn from the body of the bag
• but I didn't want a harsh contrast, so instead... I used the same yarn, PLUS two strands of sewing thread... one grey and one black... all worked together

project #14 - treasure basket

pattern used -

• Treasure Basket by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• jute
• a little bit of dark brown cotton for the trim

hook used -

• 4.0mm aluminium hook

thoughts -

• I love the way this bowl has a circular base, but squares off at the top
• I made some modifications to the original pattern
• worked bottom as per pattern instructions
• worked sides as per instructions, UNTIL the end of round 7
• round 8 - repeat round 2
• round 9 - [13sc, sc2tog] 4 times - 56sc
• round 10 - repeat round 2
• round 11 - eyelet round - [sc, ch1, skip next sc] repeat to end - 28sc
  
• round 12 - [2sc in each ch1 space] repeat to end - 56sc
• round 13 - trim - change to dark brown - sc in each stitch - 56sc
• fasten off
• thread a double strand of dark brown through the eyelets, tie ends together in a knot and add beads
  

project #13 - book flowers

pattern used -

• Book Flowers by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 8ply/DK cotton

hook used -

• 3.5mm bamboo

comments -

• there are three different flower options which make up this pattern
• I have made #2
• quick and easy to make
• the original plan was to use this embellishment on the journal cover... but it just didn't look right
• so now I will hold on to it, and use it to embellish a bag or purse later on in the year
  

project #12 - cover story

pattern used -

• Cover Story by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• recycled 5ply/sports weight wool

hook used -

• 3.0mm bamboo

thoughts -

• in order to fit my journal, I only needed to ch28 at the beginning of the pattern
• even in the 5ply yarn, the cover is a little bit bulkier than would be ideal
  
• 
• I've embellished this with some remnants, and a wooden button
• the 'button' was originally part of an old child's puzzle... I've just drilled a couple of holes to use it as a button
• although it looks like it would be an ideal cover for a child... it appeals too much to MY INNER CHILD! so I am keeping this one for myself
  

project #11 - oasis painted pedis

pattern used -

• Oasis Painted Pedis by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• wonderfully soft recycled cotton, 5ply/sports weight

hook used -

• 2.5mm steel

thoughts -

• this is a nice, clear, easy-to-follow pattern
• I had to stop about five rounds before the end... because they were getting too long for my feet
  
• this meant that I don't have the shell edging near the toe end of the sock
• instead, I added a round of sc in a contrasting colour... which I worked on the wrong side of the sock
• then I embroidered a row of running stitch, using two strands of yarn
  

project #10 - night out on the cape

pattern used -

• Night Out On The Cape by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• recycled yarns... a chenille and a ribbon yarn worked together
• between the green contrasts in the ribbon yarn and the soft texture of the chenille, this project totally reminds me of nature... of moss growing on an old piece of timber
  

hook used -

• 4.5mm bamboo

thoughts -

• I like the panels with the little hearts in them, but I really wasn't sure about the long sections of chain
• the longer the garment 'hangs' for, the more the chains droop... and I'm starting to like the result
• there is also a pattern for a shawl pin with this cape... I only worked one round of the pattern, and added a bead every second stitch
• the ring of the shawl pin? it's ONE of those wooden curtain rings, of course!
  

project #9 - trellis & vines

pattern used -

• Trellis & Vines by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• ssshhhhh.... don't tell anyone, but I've used NEW YARN... brand new!!!
  
• I was given this yarn in a care package from a fellow crafter (thanks Lyndy)
• it's a fun, sequinned yarn in a deep emerald green colour
• Lincraft - Shooting Star Yarn - 50g ball
• I used less than half of the ball
  

hook used -

• 2.5mm steel

thoughts -

• the original pattern calls for this to be worked in crochet thread and leaf beads, it is designed to 'dress up' a plain t-shirt or top
• it wasn't really my style... so I decided to play around with the sequinned yarn instead, and omit the beading
• I won't ever wear this... but I'm thinking that it would make an interesting trim on a knitted top
  
• it will go into my stash, and you may see it re-appear one day on a garment for my daughter

project #8 - measure up

pattern used -

• Measure Up by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• assorted reclaimed yarns
  

hook used -

• 2.5mm steel

thoughts -

• these are supposed to have a circular tape measure inside... but I didn't have any in the house
• I found some large, strong, circular magnets... which were just the right size
• they make a perfect pin keeper... or pin 'pick-up'
  

there was a bonus pattern for butterfly, too...

project #7 - grandma's peek-a-boo

pattern used -

• Grandma's Peek-A-Boo by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• burgundy reclaimed cotton, 5ply/sport weight

hook used -

• 2.5mm steel

thoughts -

• these are the most adorable booties that I have ever made!!! so much so, that I found myself wanting another baby (aaaarghhhhh) just so I could use them...
  
• did a few less repeats on the bonnet, so that it would fit better
• I like the shaping in the sole

project #6 - beaded dance choker

pattern used -

• Beaded Dance Choker by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• I started out with a navy blue size 3 crochet thread... but it was too chunky for the look that I wanted
• so I tried a beige size 20 crochet thread... but it was too fine
  
• I didn't have anything in between, so I decided to 'bulk up' the size 20 thread with some sewing cotton
• love the effect of the beige, black and mustard combined

hook used -

• 2.0mm steel hook

thoughts -

• because I used a finer cotton, it didn't turn out long enough for a choker
• it's a tiny bit big for a bracelet

project #5 - sadie's lace

pattern used -

• Sadie's Lace by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• black-white recycled wool, 8ply/DK weight

hook used -

• 4.0mm hook

thoughts -

• it took me a long time to get into the rhythm of this pattern, but once I mastered that, it was easy to work on
• the black and white yarn is surprisingly difficult to photograph
• if I make another scarf from this pattern, I will certainly make it much longer... I prefer longer scarves
  

project #4 - wishy washy dishcloth

I didn't have a thick enough cotton in my stash for this project, so I decided to combine a couple of finer cottons together... by plying them on my spinning wheel



first I chose the cottons I wanted



then gave them a little twist, to see how they would look when plyed



tied all three strands to the leader yarn on my bobbin



then began to ply them together, by pedalling the wheel in an anticlockwise direction, and allowing the cottons to twist across one another



when the bobbin was full, I wound the yarn into a hank and washed it, to set the twist



pattern used -

• Wishy Washy Dishcloth by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• recycled cotton, plyed as above
  

hook used -

• 5.0mm hook
  

thoughts -

• nice design, but I prefer a more solid fabric for my dishcloths
• maybe it's my imagination, but I see little butterflies in the pattern... do you???
• 
• see the head at the top... the puff stitch forms the body, and the two pairs of wings?