Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Testing Phase

I am in the process of working through the pattern I've drafted for my Crochet Wedding Garter. I have completed the center section and have determined that 28 inches of length should be appropriate for a 24 inch thigh. Now, for the ruffly sides.

Tiny crochet can be so beautiful, but I can only work on it for a little bit at a time. My hands begin to get all cramped up and tired. I've got to be persistent, though, because my hope is to make one of these for my sister and another for a good friend. I've got a few weeks before the first of the weddings....

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Design Phase, continued

I have completed a swatch and draft pattern for the crochet garter. My next task will be to actually following the pattern and create a full-sized version. I think it's beautiful, the only question will be how it lays when fully constructued and worn. Crochet tends to be more stiff than knitting, so it will be interesting to see if this works out.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Designer Phase

I am designing a crochet garter for my dear sister's wedding, which is coming up in June. I had initially started trying to make the Knitted Lace Wedding Garter by Diane Willett, but apparently I can't handle size 0 needles with thread. So, I decided to keep the concept but create it in crochet, something I know I can complete in the next few weeks.

Designing in crochet seems much easier to me than designing in knitting. Because you only work one stitch at a time, it seems easier to design as-you-go when crocheting. Perhaps that is only because I'm much more comfortable with crochet, but maybe not.

I am currently sifting through stitch dictionaries trying to finalize the look of the ruffles on this project. Then I hope to finish it up and get the pattern uploaded to Ravelry. This will be the first design where I've actually kept track of the pattern so others can do it, too!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Darn Pinafore

I love Debbie Bliss designs, but I can't understand why this project wouldn't be worked in the round? It's a perfectly reasonably project to work in the round, and would completely eliminate seaming. I detest seaming and I usually work all my projects on circulars anyway.

I REALLY should have looked harder for my size 3 circulars. I know they exist somewhere, well, at least I *think* they exist somewhere. I really need to do some inventory.

Anyways, it's coming along. I only have about 40 more rows to complete on the back of the skirt, then it will be complete. Yay!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Matching Beanies


I love this hat pattern by MK Carroll. I made one for Emily and then Bill asked for a matching one. Happily, there was enough left of the blue/purple skein to make it.

I made it in Lion Brand Cotton Ease, with a size F hook. I followed the pattern, with the following changes:


  • Follow the pattern but make the first 7 rounds blue

  • Follow with a round of white

  • Follow with blue again, but continue the increase pattern through round 11 (you'll have 88 stitches after this).

  • Continue even, switching back to white for the 15th and final rounds

Thursday, April 3, 2008

I have a problem

I have a serious problem. I am keenly aware of the items I have in my stash, thanks mostly to Ravelry. However, I just went to Joann's and bought even more yarn. Ok, so it's only 6 skeins, and it's for the next couple projects on my queue, but it's still more yarn. My husband has been supportive thus far, but I think it's only because he's not fully aware of what I have hidden away.

I bought some Lion Brand Cotton-Ease for a few crochets beanies that I intend to make as soon as the Pinafore Dress is complete. I also bought some crochet thread for the gifts I am hoping to start on soon. But then, I ALSO bought some yarn for the little romper pants I thought Emily could wear under her pinafore for the wedding. Now that I think about it, though, that's an awful lot of things for a little baby to be wearing, so I think I will return those.

Good, I'm back down to 4 skeins. That seems a little better, somehow.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Ravelry

The wonderful creation that is Ravelry has lit a new fire in my knitting. I have rediscovered my stash and added over 30 projects to my queue. I really believe that this site will help to keep me on track, if only to fulfill the desire to complete projects and someday have someone "fave" my projects. Eventually, maybe it will push me to create my own patterns that others could work on.

Ahh... it's fabulous