November Stash Progress

Well, it's been another good month. The most exciting part? No new yarn purchases to add to my actually shrinking stash!

My November completed projects are:
Turn a Square Hats: 197 yards
Mary's Slippers: 220 yards
Crocheted Neckwarmer: 347 yards
Emily's Winter Hat: 80 yards
Crocheted Flowers for trim: 69 yards

Grand Total: 1,132 yards

New stash size: 44,603 - 1132 = 43,471 yards

I promise to post more often. I am nearing completing Emily's striped sweater, which has been a WIP for almost two years!!!

Emily's Super Cute Hat

The hat she will never wear! I love it!

This is the Brr Babie Beanie by CraftyRahRah with a 5-Petal Flower by Julie Armstrong Holetz. Yummy!

Coolest Bag Ever

I have finished knitting the Felted Stained Glass Fan bag by Madelain Langan. Here is a picture of the bottom of the bag:

I need to tie in some of the loose ends, but it will be felted soon! I love the Noro in this bag, it's amazing!

October Stash Progress

I have finished:
Felted Crochet Tote: 495 yards
Turn A Square Hats: 202.9 yards
Grrlfriend Market Bag: 273 yards

Not finished, but I'm going to count it because I used up all the Noro:
Felted Stained Glass Bag: 440 yards

Total Used: 1,411 yards

The best part? Total purchased: 0 yards!

Current stash size: 44,603 yards

Turn A Square

I love these hats! So far, I have made two of them out of stash Paton's Wool and Noro Kureyon and I plan on making two or three more for Christmas.

I am a huge fan of Jared Flood's designs. They are simple, but appealing. I have a couple more of his patterns queued up, including a sweater for Bill when I get around to it.

Christmas!

Well, we are about two months out from the Christmas travelling season, which means it's time to get down to some Christmas knitting! It seems that I will be knitting something for at least 6 different people this season, two hats for one person! The trick will be to do all of it from my stash.

One particular project was a very specific request, so I bought some Cascade 220 wool last month, but so far, nothing this month! I am very proud of myself for resisting temptation. I think I can actually make it all the way through the New Year with no more purchases!

September Stash Progress

I feel good about my stash progress under my new goal.

So far in September, I have knit up 1,756 yards. Now, this includes a couple projects that I worked on in previous months but finished this month. I prefer to count yardage this way because there's no guarantee I won't frog a work in progress and put it right back in my stash. Counting only finished projects ensures that the stash is actually reduced!

So here's what I've finished this month:
A Sweater for Ronan: 250 yards
Blanket for Dale: 550 yards
Weapon of Choice: 200 yards
Elita's Scarf: 153 yards
Elery's Sweater: 273 yards
Don's Slippers: 330 yards

I have added a bit to my stash, but I have a good excuse for half of it! I have bought 2 skeins of wool to make a pair of felted slippers for my mother-in-law. She requested a certain color that I actually did not have in my stash, so I bought it.

I also bought a couple skeins of cotton fleece on sale because I've had my eye on a pattern for a short-sleeved sweater for a while. However, I will have to add a couple more skeins from the many up for trade on ravelry.

So, I have added this month:
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (on sale ) 430 yards
Cascade 220 Heathers (for a specific Christmas present) 440 yards
Total of 870 yards

Net reduction: 886 yards

I have fallen short of my 1,400 yard goal, but I will just plan to make it up next month. I have one larger project to finish that should take care of a good bit and a couple crochet projects that should help me churn out some yardage.

Weapon of Choice

This hat is cold and deadly, taking no prisoners, and killing all in its path. It looks friendly enough at first, in its soft yummy exterior…

It starts by snuggling up to you, and you will probably like the feeling on the back of your neck

But beware, as it creeps up you will lose yourself in the silky wool

it will take hold and smother you in it’s soft ribbing!

Did you ever play the game Assassin in high school or college? Well, Hat Attack is the same idea, except to kill someone, you knit up a specific hat in a specific size and mail it off to them. Once they receive their hat, they are dead. My hat is expected to arrive in New Jersey sometime tomorrow.

My assassin is very quiet, haven't heard a peep from her since this whole thing began, so I have no idea where my hat is....

1400 YPM

So, I ended July with the new goal of ending 2008 with less yarn than I started with. How is it going? You can see the totals here, but the short version is that in 1.5 month's time, I have ADDED over 5,000 yards to my totals.

Clearly, I need a different goal, something to give me a little more focus that this ineffective one. So, here is the new one.

There is a good chance that we will have to move in about two and a half years when my husband is finished with grad school. I currently have 46,900 yards in my stash. My goal will be to get down under 5,000 yards BEFORE we move. If we move in June 2011, this gives me 30 months during which I will need to knit/crochet at least 1397 yards per month.

That really puts the size of my stash into perspective, doesn't it?

So, my new goal is to knit/crochet at least 1,400 yards per month for the next 30 months! Wow.

Garage Sale Weakness

No sooner had I almost finished that baby cardigan... a garage sale sign pops up that says "Craft Supplies"!!!

I stopped by and picked up 5 partial skeins of kitchen cotton and three skeins of a mystery dk/sport weight yarn. I am estimating about 300 yards of the cotton and about 900 yards of the mystery yarn. The mystery yarn will be used for Derek's scarf and hat while the cotton will be used for dishcloths for Christmas.

Add 1,200 yards to my total, please!

Elery's Sweater

I finished up a super cute, super easy baby cardigan this weekend. It's a gift for Justin and Michelle's baby, expected to arrive in November. I've heard that they're going to call her Elery.

I made this completely out of stash yarn, scraps of acrylic baby yarn that's been sitting around. I started with the pink, then ran out of my little ball only to find out it was a different dye lot than the other 2.5 skeins of pink yarn in my stash. That's when I switched to white. I am actually very happy with the results.

I don't know exactly how much I used up on this sweater, but I'm calling it 273.1 yards based on my ravelry stash totals.

Found Some More Yarn

This is starting to get a little annoying! I found parts of a skein of baby yarn tucked away in one of my knitting bags. I'm using it to work on a sweater a baby girl expected in November, but it's two different dye lots so I'm mixing in white.

Add to stash: 341.25 yards!

Don's Slippers

I have complete my first finished object of the month! I made the Cable Guy Slippers for Don, using the yarn I had frogged from the Celtic Tote. I love how they turned out, though next time I would make them a little shorter than called for in the pattern. That way, they would require slightly less felting and the cable would be a little more defined. But, they're great. I only need to pick up some slipper bottoms to sew on to make them a little more grippy.

I'll post some pictures once I get them taken.

This used up approximately 330 yards of my stash!

Last Adjustment for Free Yarn

So, a friend gave me one more skein of worsted weight wool to add to my pile. Thankfully, this matches a previous skein so I should be able to make a little something out of them.

45,743.4 yard + 219 yards = 45,962.4 yards

Stash, organized

I spent a couple hours organizing my stash this weekend. I dug through everything, got it sorted into ziploc bags, and re-packed it up. It gave me some ideas, seeing everything all together. However, it also led me to uncover a little more:

Baby yarn: 227.5 yards
Jaeger wool: 95 yards

New Total: 45,420.9 + 95 + 227.5 = 45,743.4 yards

Yarn Market is Evil

Well, maybe just a little too much temptation in our large warehouse for little weak Melisa. The good folks at Yarn Market in Ohio invited us into their warehouse and showroom this morning and I went crazy in their bargain yarns. Oh well.

Araucania Atacama: 1,100 yards for only $47
Lily Chin Grammercy (Blue): 1,524 yards for only $54
Lily Chin Grammercy (Grey): 1,651 yards for only $58

For a grand total of 4,275 yards

New total? 45,420.9 yards

Okay, I think this has become a little bit of a game to me, but now I need to be serious. I have more than enough yarn to get me through Christmas. Do you think I can avoid any purchases until after the holidays? That should be my new goal, because this is getting ridiculous.

Give-Away Update

So, I have finally boxed up and shipped off my Caron yarn to the winner of my give-away. Now, I can actually tally the stash reduction officially.

Caron Pound of Love: 9,086 yards
New total: 50,231.9 yards - 9,086 yards = 41,145.9 yards

I am now within 10,000 yards of my original totals, which is still significant, but is at lease manageable. Now for more knitting!

The Swap Meet

At my knitting club today, we had a yarn exchange and my goal was to leave with less than I came with, or at the very least, leave with things I had a plan for!

I gave away:
Berrocco Comfort DK: -178 yards
Jo-Ann Sensations Smania: -309 yards
Lion Brand Cotton-Ease: -414 yards
Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering: -175 yards
Lion Brand Suede: -488 yards
Total Traded or Given Away: 1,564 yards

I added:
Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds: +135 yards
Lion Brand Homespun: +100 yards
Mysterious Sock Yarn #1: +200 yards
Mysterious Sock Yarn #2: +200 yards
Reynolds Lopi: +50 yards
Total Added: 685 yards

Overall, there was a net decrease of 879 yards!

New totals: 51,110.9 yards - 879 yards = 50,231.9 yards

I have decided to finish the Scrappy Baby Afghan that I started a looonnggg time ago. I had decided to use up all my little bits of baby yarn, because I didn't have enough of any one color to make a whole blanket, so this is what I ended up with. I love it, but unfortunately, I still have a ton of left over baby yarn. I'm probably going to switch to hats and cardigans, because I'm sure I have enough for those.

I also decided to make this smaller for a car seat, so it will be for Chrissy and her baby due in February!

Gingham Baby Blanket

For the trip to Milwaukee this weekend, I dug out an old crocheted baby blanket that I had been working on a while ago. Happily, I have finished it and it is darling.

[I will put in a finshed picture here just as soon as I get them back - had to purchase a disposable camera to use at the zoo this weekend and decided I would use up the second half of the roll on my stash and projects].

And, my stash count is somewhat reduced by the additional yarn I used, 227.5 yards

New total = 51,338.4 yards - 227.5 yards = 51,110.9 yards

Oops!

I forgot, last weekend I spent a few hours knitting with friends. One of them gave me a skein of dark grey Louet Merlin that they didn't want. How can I turn down free yarn? Now, I have one in black and one in dark grey, so I'm going to have to ponder what to do with them.

New Total: 51,182.4 yards + 156 yards = 51,338.4 yards

I can't say I'm sorry

I am in Milwaukee, WI, right now to visit the in-laws and took a trip to one of their local yarn shops, Fiberwood Studios. I picked up three skeins of beautiful Heritage hand painted sock yarn by Cascade in a deep red mix. I will be making a scarf for my mother-in-law out of this. I bought so much, that I'll probably be making a hat or mittens, too!

Then, when I got back to the house, my mother-in-law gave me some discontinued Orchid Line yarn, a lovely mohair/silk/wool blend in a beautiful raspberry color.

So, my totals go up again:
Cascade Heritage: +1,311 yards
Orchid Line Yarn: +1,225 yards

New Total: 51,182.4 yards

Pretty Pinafore

I finally managed to sew on the buttons for the Debbie Bliss pinafore dress that I have been working on for a very long time. It's a little big, but I love it!

Give-Away Winner

I have drawn a winner for the yarn, and it is Donna Lynn! Here's what Donna said she was going to do with the yarn:

I would love to find several homes for your yarn! My DH and I are in the process of becoming medical foster parents, taking in medically ill children. Almost all of the children come into the program with absolutely nothing and literally nothing to call their own. We will only have each child for up to a few months each (usually) and my goal is to make sure each child leaves our home with their very own afghan. We will be primarily taking care of babies, however, the need is so great that I have started to collect and donate squares and yarn for larger afghans for older children and the teens who are in this program. I am in contact with our caseworker through this program and she is thrilled that we are trying to help because the need is so great for these kids.

If you send me the yarn, the love would literally be scattered to several deserving children who need nothing more than love!

Congratulations! I'll be in touch!

Give-Away

This contest ended on August 10th

I have decided to give away a portion of my stash for no reason other than to clear some space in my house and reduce the yardage I have listed on Ravelry. In the last few days, I have gone through my entire stash and taken an inventory. I currently have over 48 thousand yards, or over 27 miles, of yarn in my house.

I am offering up 9,086 yards, or over 5 miles, or 11 skeins, of Caron Pound of Love worsted weight yarn. This is 18 percent of my stash!

This yarn was purchased with the intention of crocheting an afghan, but that was over four years ago. The yarn has been stored in the plastic bags it came in, in a tub in a spare room. It's in good shape, but I know it feels sad being left in those skeins for so long. And I know that I will not be able to use it in the near future.

So, I am looking for a good home for this yarn. It's free, and I will even ship it to you. All you have to do it leave me a comment here telling me what you'll do with the yarn if you win it. I will draw a winner in one weeks, on August 10th. All entries before 6pm that day will be counted.

If you're on ravelry, make sure to give me your username so I can easily get in touch with you!

This includes the following colors:
3 Midnight Blue - 546
3 Lt Grey - 591
3 Cape Cod Blue - 539
1 Forest Green - 534
1 Azure - 523

Stash Honesty

Ok, so in the spirit of being honest with myself, I have added all my acyrlic and other chain store yarn to my stash on Ravelry. There was a huge bin of this stuff underneath my bed, and now it is all out in the open. It is not new stash, but it has seriously upped my totals.

Bernat Softee Baby Yarn: 4,322.6 yards
Worsted Weight Cotton: 520 yards
Worsted Weight Acrylic: 9,086 yards
Joann Yarn: 309 yards
Knit Picks Swish Superwash: 220 yards
Lion Brand Suede: 488 yards
Wool-Ease: 522 yards
Patons Wool: 390.3 yards
Plymouth Encore Worsted: 1,300 yards
= 17,157.9 yards

Grand Total Now = 48,646.4

I will consider this my real starting point, as I believe it may include all my stash. I do, however, reserve the right to adjust my goals if I discover more somewhere in my house!

Stash Swap

In the spirit of stash reduction, I left the house today with the intention of returning one skein of sock yarn left over from a baby hat I had made. While out, I was inspired by a beautiful shrug that was knit from side to side and decided I would design something similar for myself. If course, I picked up a new skein to work up swatches.

My new totals:
31,433.5
- 136.0
+ 191.0
31,488.5

Ahh! I went in the wrong direction. But that's okay for now, because I'm picking up my celtic tote again...

Football Hat

With season tickets for this year on the way, I decided I needed a hat to keep me and my ears warm during the games at Ohio Stadium. Here is my Football Hat. The hat is knit from the top down.

Materials

Worsted weight yarn in scarlet, grey, and black

Size 7 dpns and 16 inch circulars

Pattern

1. When directed to increase, knit in the front and back of the indicated stitch. Start with the double pointed needles and, if desired, switch to the circulars when possible
2. In grey, cast on 4, spread to the 4 double pointed needles
3. Increase in every stitch around (8 total on needles)
4. Increase in every stitch around (16 total on needles)
5. (Increase, knit 1), repeat around
6. (Increase, knit 2), repeat around
7. (Increase, knit 3), repeat around
8. (Increase, knit 4), repeat around
9. (Increase, knit 5), repeat around
10. Knit around
11. (Increase, knit 6), repeat around
12. Knit around
13. (Increase, knit 7), repeat around
14. Knit around
15. (Increase, knit 8), repeat around
16. Knit around
17. (Increase, knit 9), repeat around
18. Knit around
19. (Increase, knit 10), repeat around (24 stitches on each needle, for a total of 96 stitches)
20. Begin pattern section, working in stockinette stitch. Repeat this pattern 4 times around the circumference of the hat.
21. After pattern, work in plain stockinette stitch for two more rows
22. Work in k3, p3 ribbing until hat reaches desired length (to try on, just slip the stitches onto some scrap yarn and try on.
23. Bind off loosely

Pattern & images © 2008 by Melisa Darnieder. Personal use ONLY. Commercial use, including selling items made from this pattern, is prohibited. All rights reserved.

De-Stash Status

Beginning July 29, 2008, I will attempt to reduce the size of my stash by keeping track of how much I have on hand. I can add to it, as long as I am honest and keep track of my additions. The goal is to have fewer yards at the end of this year than I have right now. Here's the tally:

July 29, 2008: 31,433.5 yards
August 2, 2008: 31,488.5 yards
August 3, 2008: 48,646.4 yards
August 15, 2008: 51,182.4 yards
August 15, 2008: 51,338.4 yards
August 18, 2008: 51,110.9 yards
August 20, 2008: 50,231.9 yards

On August 20th, I recorded ALL of my stash, and on the 21st, I gave away over 9,000 yards. So, my starting point for the year is now my August 21 stash. I will try to end the year with less than 41,145.9 yards of yarn in my stash!

August 21, 2008: 41,145.9 yards
August 23, 2008: 45,420.9 yards
August 25, 2008: 45,743.4 yards
August 27, 2008: 45,962.4 yards
September 2, 2008: 45,632.4 yards
September 3, 2008: 45,973.6 yards
September 7, 2008: 45,700.5 yards
September 8, 2008: 46,900.5 yards

Butterfly Baby Hat

A simple baby hat using a band of butterfly stitches as an accent. The pattern is written for three different sizes, newborn, 3 - 9 months, and 9 – 18 months.

Materials
DK weight yarn
Size 5 needles (the smallest hat will fit on sixteen inch circulars)

Gauge
22 stitches per 4 inches

Sizes
Small, newborn
Medium, 3 - 9 months
Large, 9 - 18 months

Pattern
Cast on 72 (80, 88) stitches and join in the round
Work in plain stockinette stitch for 6 rows

Purl next round

Continue in plain stockinette stitch for 2 (2.5, 3) inches
Begin first butterfly pattern

1. (move yarn to the front, slip 5 stitches purlwise, move yarn to the back, k3), repeat around
2. knit around
3. repeat round 1
4. repeat round 2
5. repeat round 1
6. repeat round 2
7. (k2, slip needle behind the 3 strands from bottom to top, knit into the next stitch, slip the three strands over top of the needle, k5), repeat around

Begin second butterfly pattern round

1. k 4, this is the now the location of the beginning of the round
2. Repeat rows 1 through 7 of the first butterfly pattern

Continue working in plain stockinette until the hat measures 5 (5.25, 5.5) inches

Decrease Rounds:
Size Large Only:

• (k2tog, k9) around
• knit

Size Medium and Large:

• (k2tog, k8) around
• knit

All sizes:

• (k2tog, k7) around
• knit
• (k2tog, k6) around
• knit
• (k2tog, k5) around
• (k2tog, k4) around
• (k2tog, k3) around
• (k2tog, k2) around
• (k2tog, k1) around
• k2tog around, break yarn and draw yarn through all 8 stitches. Pull tight and weave in.

Pattern & images © 2008 by Melisa Darnieder. Personal use ONLY. Commercial use, including selling items made from this pattern, is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Baby Hats

So, I ended up not really liking my wrapped stitch swatch, so not baby hat trio. But, I will be working up the pattern for my Butterfly Baby Hat, which I think turned out really cute. I just need to get the directions right for all three sizes.

Baby Hat Trio

In wading through my knitting stitch dictionary, I have an idea for a cute set of baby hats. It's simple, but three different hats, all using an interesting/unusual but simple stitch to get a very cute effect. I have the idea for two of them, and just need to put together a third to round out the group. Things always seem better in threes.

The firts is a pink baby girl hat, using the butterfly stitch. The second is a little blue hat using a wrapped stitch that I found, it ends up having a polka dot kind of effect. The third is a mystery. I will definitely post the patterns once I have them completed.

Market Tote Test

I tested my Market Tote today at the Clintonville Farmer's Market and it was a smash success! I loved how it stretched in all the right places, and I got so many compliments on it. I took some pictures and sent them off to be printed for my submission. Must be mailed out next week to get there in time!

Bass Pro Shops

So, I have made my first ever purchase from Bass Pro Shop, my father's favorite store. At the suggestion of someone on ravelry, I checked out this. It seems like the perfect solution to my circular knitting needles problem, and hopefully won't fall apart quickly like some other solutions I've tried. I'm so excited to have it arrive!

Market Tote

I have completed my market tote and love it so much! It turned out so cute that I decided I wanted to submit it to Interweave Crochet for their Spring 2009 issue. It seems so far out into the future, but it's probably really not. I am working up a second swatch to include with the submission, which will also include photos and a written description of the pattern. Thankfully, I don't have to send in the actual bag I made, so I can use it at the new farmer's market near my work on Thursday. I've got the pattern written up, so if by some chance they decide they like my bag, a lot of the work is already done.

Finished Objects

I am on a tear. I have been knitting up hats like crazy, and thinking of new designs like mad. It's like posting my first real official pattern on Ravelry gave me a new kind of energy. My first goal is to finish up my Clintonville Market Tote and get it posted here.

I went to the Clintonville Farmer's Market last weekend with my daughter and we had a great time. But, I seemed to be the only person walking around without my own non-plastic grocery bag. I resolved to check out Ravelry for a pattern to work up quickly. When I did, it seemed that there was a lack of crochet totes that I really liked, excepting Jill Chatelain's Rust Goes Green tote, which I intend to make next. So, I am making my own!

I've made a nice criss-cross pattern of dtrs, which seems to make a nice mesh pattern for the bag. Most of the pattern is written up, but I need to finish it to make sure it's useable. Hopefully in the next week, or so.

Sampler Crochet Dishcloth

This will be used for a crochet workshop at work. The idea is to introduce the main stitches while giving a little time to practice them.

Materials
Worsted weight crochet cotton
Size I hook

Pattern

• Ch 25 loosely, turn
• Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn (24 sc total)
• Row 2: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn
• Row 4: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn
• Row 5: dc in second st and in each st across, ch 3, turn (the turning ch 3 is counted as the first dc, so there are 24 dc total including the turning ch 3)
• Row 6: dc in second st and in each st across (including the turning ch 3), ch 3, turn
• Row 7: dc in second st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, repeat from * across, ch 3, turn
• Row 8: dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, *skip next dc, dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * across, dc in turning ch 3, ch 1, turn
• Row 9: sc in first dc and in each stitch across, ch 3, turn (24 sc total)
• Row 10: dc in second st, *ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st, repeat from * across, ch 3, turn
• Row 11: dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, *skip next dc, dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * across, dc in turning ch 3, ch 3, turn
• Row 12: dc in ch-1 space and in each st across (including turning ch 3), ch 3, turn (24 dc total)
• Row 13: dc in second st and in each st across (including the turning ch 3), ch 1, turn
• Rows 14 - 15: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn
• Row 16: sc in each st across, do not finish off,
• Outer edge: sc around edge to finish off. On edges of rows, make two sc in each dc row, one sc in each sc row.

Lull

I find myself in a weird lull in between large/rushed projects. I finished my sister's garter, finished my shrug to wear to Knitter's Connection, and finished the latest hat in the Great Hat Race. Sure, I'm working on a little baby hat and am finishing my felted entrelac tote, but there is no deadline for those and I feel very relaxed.

The hat I'm working on:

After all my purchases and free yarn from the Knitter's Connection, I have tons of options for my next big project. I should and probably will finish up my stragglers, but then I could work on:

1. Emily's next sweater
2. Husband's sweater
3. Sister's shrug
4. Mom's bag
5. Mother-in-law's bag
6. Stepmother-s bag
7. My wrap #1
8. My wrap #2
9. My scarf

I could also begin designing my next project, which I think will be a crochet shrug. I have lots of yarn left from the knit shrug I made, and it was such a hit that I want more. Or, I could work on my idea for a stranded tote...

Knitters Connection

I got to attend KC yesterday and I am in love. This was the second annual Knitters Connection held in Columbus, OH and sponsored by The Merc. I was not able to attend last year, but heard such wonderful things about it that I put it on my calendar to make sure I'd get to a class.

I signed up for Sally Melville's "Two Colors Two Hands" class to learn more about fairisle knitting (or stranded knitting, or color work, etc.). It was fabulous. We learned about 5 different ways to work with two or more colors, including the Portugese purling technique with the yarn wrapped around the back of your neck. It actually worked! I am already planning my first fairisle felted tote bag.

After the class, I had the pleasure of sharing lunch and then a few hours of knitting time with other KC members. It was awesome. Next year, I am going to attend the entire event. Definitely.

Stephanie's Crocheted Lace Wedding Garter

I fell in love with Diane Willett's Knitted Lace Wedding Garter, but couldn't seem to handle the size 00 needles that were required. After a week of fighting with the slippery cotton thread, I decided that I needed to design my own in crochet.

This is a gift for my sister Stephanie's wedding.

This pattern is on Ravelry.

Materials
cotton thread - size 30
crochet hook size 7 (1.65 mm)
1/4 inch wide blue ribbon
thin elastic cord
sewing notions

Gauge
The length of the garter is customizable. Research on the internet tells me that the standard thigh is 20-22 inches. The size I am working for is 24 inches. To this, I have added 2 inches to provide some gathering in the material. My total length is 26 inches.

Center Section
Throughout the pattern for the center section, the turning ch 2 is not counted as a hdc. Work this section to the desired length by repeating rows 3 and 4. Complete a number of rows equal to a multiple of 4, ending with row 3.

1. ch 10, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in next 7 ch, ch 2, turn (8 hdc)
2. hdc in first hdc, ch 2, skip next 2 hdc, hdc in next 2 hdc, ch 2, skip next 2 hdc, hdc in final hdc, ch 2, turn
3. hdc in each hdc across, with 2 hdc in each ch2 space, (8 hdc total), ch 2, turn
4. repeat rows 2 and 3 until pieces measures the desired length. Make sure that you have completed a number of rows equal to a multiple of 4, ending with row 2, ch 3, turn

To get 28 inches, my version was 192 rows long.

Edging
The edging is worked along each side of the garter. The instructions below will get you through the first side and then you just repeat on the other side of the center section.

1. Make 2 dc in each row across the side, counting the first turning ch 3 as the first dc. Make sure to get one stitch on the foundation row. You should have twice as many double crochets as you had rows, plus 1. I have 385 stitches. ch 3, turn
2. 2 dc in 1st dc, skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc in next stitch), *skip next 3 dc, 5 dc in next dc, skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc in next stitch), repeat from star across, skip next 3 dc, 3 dc in last dc, ch 1, turn
3. sc in 1st dc, 5 dc in next ch 3 space, *skip next 3 dc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next dc (this is the middle dc of the 5dc group), 5 dc in next ch 3 space, repeat from star across, skip next 3 dc, (sc, ch 3, sc) is last dc, cut thread and finish off.

Assembly
Make sure to block to get the proper stitch definition, paying particular attenting to the ch3 loops on the outside rows. After blocking, sew into a ring. Thread the ribbon and elastic through the openings in the center of the garter, making sure the elastic is hidden behind the ribbon. Sew the two ribbon ends together, making sure to leave enough ribbon to stretch to the desired length. Sew/tie the elastic together to the desired length.

I got the pattern for the flower from SkaMama's blog.

Pattern & images © 2008 by Melisa Darnieder. Personal use ONLY. Commercial use, including selling items made from this pattern, is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Great Hat Race #2

The hat for the second round is now complete, and it was a quick one. It ended up being teeny-tiny and I think it would only fit a preemie. Very cute, though!

I'm glad it was quick because I have only a week to finish my sister's garter! Ahh!!!

Great Hat Race

I have entered the Great Hat Race on ravelry, to knit hats for charity while satisfying the competitive side of me. In two days, I have finished the first hat and will ship it off tomorrow to Texas. It's exciting - I'm already looking forward to the next hat to see how difficult it will be!

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....

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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