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?

project #3 - save the humans market bag

pattern used -

• Save The Humans Market Bag by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 8ply/DK weight recycled cotton in an emerald green
• very fine purple variegated yarn
• purple ostritch yarn

hook used -

• 5.0mm hook

thoughts -

• important note to self - IF IN DOUBT, CHECK YOUR GAUGE... and LISTEN TO YOUR INSTNCTS
• the body of the bag is worked sideways, then folded in half so that you can stitch up the side seams... then the band is added, gathering the bag in at the centre
• I like the style and appearance of this bag... but mine is WAY too BIG!!!
• now a big bag isn't usually a problem for me, as I like to carry a lot of stuff with me... but this bag s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s like you wouldn't believe
• it is so big, and has so much stretch in it, that I would not be able to use it as a market bag... once I start putting my shopping it, it will be dragging on the ground
• the REALLY SILLY part... is that I knew right from the beginning that it was working up too large... I know that my tension is loose, but for some reason I chose not to go with a smaller hook size... other crocheters knew just by watching me work on it, that it was going to be far too big... they called it a HAMMOCK and made a point of checking my gauge for me (thanks Daphne)... and it was clear to everyone that it would be too big... but I just kept going!!!
• so now I have a uselessly big bag, and no one to blame but myself
• I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with this pattern... just that it might be worthwhile to check your gauge early on, so that you don't make the same mistake as me
• but it looks nice!