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!

project #2 - bubble frenzy beer cozy

pattern used -

• Bubble Frenzy Beer Cozy by Lisa Gentry

yarn used -

• assorted recycled cottons
• approximately 8 ply/DK weight
• used three different colours
  

hook used -

• 4.0mm hook

thoughts -

• I'm not really a fan of the whole beer cozy concept... Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I don't actually drink beer!
  
• now that I have made it... I've decided that I quite like it... and it will fit perfectly over a bottle of Smirnoff Ice... Mmmmm.... VODKA
  
• I followed the pattern, but added a third colour. So I still made the colour changes in all the same places as the pattern called for, but I alternated through three colours instead of two. It seems to give the pattern a completely different look.
  
• totally off-topic, but is it possible to alternate between three things... or does the term ALTERNATE technically imply that there are only two possibilities???
  
• I also made the accompanying coaster from Lisa's pattern, and added a final trim in sc using size 20 crochet thread and a 1.25mm hook
• the coaster will live on my desk here... the perfect spot for my coffee cup

project #1 - miniature handbag

I have started out on a self-imposed challenge... which will keep me more than busy over the next few weeks!

Lisa Gentry has published a new e-pattern book... called Hooked For 30 Days - 30+ Crochet Designs In 30 Days. Each day she will be adding a new pattern to the book .

Well, I had this crazy idea that I would keep up with her, by creating each project on the day that it comes out.

Sounds insane, right???

Well... it would have been insane if I had started when the first pattern came out...10 days ago, but I didn't...

So I'm going to start now...and try and catch up!

I know... it's beyond insane... especially when you consider ALL the other projects I have going on at the moment. But cheer me on anyway!!!

Here's the first project:



pattern used:

• CrochetDiva's Lucky Charm by Lisa Gentry... currently available as a free pdf
  

materials used:

• pattern calls for size 10 crochet cotton... but I wanted to use what I had on hand, so I used size 20 crochet cotton and a fine recycled ribbon type yarn, and just worked them together
• also needed about 400 beads... all from my recycled stash

hook used -

• 1.5mm

thoughts -

• it took me forever to thread all those beads on, but I love the result
• in fact, it probably took me longer to make this miniature bag, than it would have taken to make a full-scale one
• pattern is well written and easy to follow
• I had orginally planned to put a small lining into the bag, but the stitches sit so tightly together, that it doesn't need one
• I love the way this piece turned out... although I'm not entirely certain what I will use it for

collecting stamps...

Just wondering...

Do children still collect stamps these days??? What about coins???

Perhaps it's a dying art.

When I was growing up, it was a very 'boy' thing to do. All the boys seemed to have either a stamp album or a coin album, where they lovingly and carefully stored away their treasures. There was always great excitement when a new item was added to the collection.

One of the great decorator items of my childhood home, was the STAMP LAMP. Made by my father, it was the focal point of the living room. Originally it was a glass wine carafe. Dad had covered it in stamps... added the necessary cabling... filled it with sand... and added a lampshade. I loved the STAMP LAMP.

Unfortunately it didn't stand the test of time, and no longer exists. But I always imagined I would one day make one of my own.



Over the years, Mum had hoarded an interesting array of goodies. Mostly things from our childhood. Toys, school books, letters and cards. All sorts of things which we had long forgotten about. So it has been an interesting time to sort through these memories, now that she has passed away.

While sorting through my brother's memories, we came across a huge envelope BURSTING with stamps. They had been collected with the aim of addding them to the stamp album, but they didn't quite reach their destination. Most had just been torn from the corner of their envelope, and stashed away.

Of course he no longer wants them. They've been in storage for at least twenty years, and naturally his interests have changed since then.

But I couldn't allow them to be trashed!

They're home with me now... to be transformed into something new. Perhaps my very own STAMP LAMP, or maybe a vase.

Actually... I'd really LOVE to cover my filing cabinet... but I don't think I have nearly enough for that. Maybe I will start... one drawer at a time?

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth... honest!

I've just been really distracted of late!

There's been lots of re-organising going on at my place lately... and it's eaten up all my crafting time. But it's been wonderfully therapeutic, none-the-less...

It's most liberating to clear the JUNK out of your life... which leaves the path clear for you to focus on the important stuff...

My craft room has had a massive clean out. The only problem is that I get distracted when I'm sorting, because I want to play with everything...



Like my button and bead collection...

I spent hours and hours the other day... sorting them into colour groups... and I loved every minute of it!

the humble dishcloth...

It's interesting to see how passionate people become on the subject of knit/crochet dishcloths.

They seem to either LOVE the handmade dishcloth... or HATE it! Either they can't get enough of them... or they can't imagine anything more repulsive. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. Which side of the fence do you stand on???

Until a couple of years ago, I hadn't even heard of a knitted dishcloth...

When I did hear about them... my response was UGH! Why make something beautiful, and then subject it to kitchen duties like that??? It made no sense to me.

But there are so many people around who LOVE their dishcloths. In the end, I decided that I had to try them... so that I could make an informed decision.

Well... I'm now converted!

LOVE the humble dishcloth and all that it represents. I had a friend visiting with his daughter a litle while back... and at one point he needed a dishcloth to wipe up a kiddie mess at the table. I passed him one of my fabulous creations... and he BURST OUT LAUGHING!!! and said "OMG... this looks just like something you would find at great aunt betty's house!"

I'm not entirely sure that it was meant to be a compliment... but I took it as one. I love that it has an old world charm, reminiscent of days gone by... and a simpler lifestyle.

Recently I made a dishcloth as part of a 'prize pack' for my local craft group. There will be lots of different cloths in the pack... all of which will look fabulous.

But I wanted mine to jump out from the others. Not to be bigger or grander or fancier than the others... I just wanted it to distinctly say:

"I WAS MADE BY LAUGHING PURPLE GOLDFISH"

• there's lots of colours... because I can never choose just one
• a simple design... just the way I like it... easy to make, and you don't need much pattern detail when you have all those colours
• it has a tasseled trim... so I didn't have to weave in any ends
• and made from recycled materials.. of course!
• plus it has a scrappy quality to it... which I adore
  

first ever pair of socks

So, I haven't actually made a pair of socks before.

I've tried. I've started dozens of times. But I always lost interest when the first sock was about halfway done.

Knitting... Crochet... Didn't seem to matter which way I went...

The problem with knitting is that I really don't like to use circular needles. Or double pointed needles. I mean... I CAN use them... but I'm just so slow with them. They feel awkward and uncomfortable to use.

When I knit, I like to 'tuck' the right needle under my armpit. I know it's a little bit odd... but it REALLY works for me. I've always worked that way... and I can knit quite quickly. I've been knitting that way for 30 years now... so it's a well established habit.

So that means that I need to use long needles... so circulars and dpns totally disrupt my style and my rhythm... in short, they drive me insane!

I love the neat finish of 'no seams'... as well as the fact that you don't have to actually DO the seaming. But to be honest, using straight needles I can knit and seam an item in about half the time it would take me to knit it using circulars or dpns.

Which might explain why this sock pattern really appealed to me. Each sock is knit in one piece using DK yarn on straight needles, and then seamed up the sides.

So... here we have sock one:



And sock two:



You might notice that they are not a matched pair???

They are my contribution to the MISMATCHED MAY oddball challenge which I was telling you about here.

You might also remember that I had started to crochet a pair of socks for that challenge? Well... they've been abandoned for the moment... but I will crochet some socks... one day soon!



pattern used -

• Cotton Socks by Jo Sharp
  

yarn used -

• crazy yarn mostly (but not limited to) 8ply/DK weight

needles used -

• 4.0mm

thoughts -

• these socks are not a 'fitted style'... but then we all knew that just from looking at the pattern
  
• they are in no way 'delicate'... but I didn't really intend them to be... I mean, look at my yarn choice
• mine are a bit big in the foot, and would not be comfortable to wear in shoes... but, they were intended to become a house sock anyway
• quick and easy to knit... but I think that next time I decide to knit socks, I will persevere with the circular needles... even if they do take longer... the result is better!
• despite all of the above... I LOVE THESE SOCKS!!!