New Post On The New Blog

Christmas in August

I've been crocheting a lot lately. Every year we hold an annual craft sale at work. This year I'm making items to sell.

To read more about what I've been crocheting and knitting lately, head over to the new blog

crochetincolors.com

See you there!

Regia Socks

I don't know what it is about spring that makes me want to knit socks. 

I've been searching for Regia Super Jacquard for awhile now. It's been discontinued so I've searched eBay, Etsy and Ravelry. Why are the coolest lines always discontinued? I found this skein on eBay for a reasonable price. The one I really wanted (kolibri #7204) was about $38...I think I'll keep searching different yarn shops for it instead. Anyway I love the way this one is striping.

I know I keep promising the pattern for the stripey hanging basket. I promise I will post it soon. I just don't know which day yet. 

Have a great Sunday✌

My Finished Zoe Shawl

I finished my Zoe shawl a couple weeks ago, but just today took the pics

I don't like my photos, Noro is hard to photograph accurately

This is not the typical shawl size. It's pretty small. I'm not sure if I would even call it a shawlette, but I did leave off the ruffle which would have made it a tad bit bigger. I only used one skein of Noro and didn't want to use more... me being lazy and wanting to finish.

I do like the colors, and this Noro is much easier to work with. It's the Silk Garden Sock.

I found the pattern on Ravelry of course. Click here if you're interested in making one.

Now I'm working on something crocheted, but I can't share what it is just yet. I have a deadline that's way too close... so I need to get to it.

Have a great week!

Another Noro Project

I've started another project... my crafting ADD will not let me finish the ten that are still not finished.

It's a shawl and I'm using Noro Silk Garden in color 307. Noro colors are so hard to accurately capture in photos (or maybe it's the one taking the photos)

Today, I plan on taking the photos for the Inside Out Crocheted Bowl that I posted about a few days ago.

The pattern is ready to post so hopefully I'll get it all posted by tomorrow.

But don't hold me to that... I will definitely try

I'm adding this photo by request to show the skein of yarn. You can't really see all the colors. 

Autumn Hats

I knitted a couple of the Autumn Hats last week. This pattern has been sitting in my Ravelry library for at least a couple of years.

I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick for the pink one. It's much nicer than the purple one. I had the Hometown USA on hand for that one. It's 100% acrylic so it doesn't feel or fit as nice as the pink.

I didn't notice the difference in color until I photographed these. The purples are obviously different dye lots. It's not as noticeable in person.

This is a great instant gratification project. Using size 10.5 and 13 circular needles, I finished both in less than two days. It's not a free pattern, but worth the cost if you want something fast for a gift (or several gifts). If you're interested in the pattern or just want to check it out, click on the link above.

I wish I had someone else to model these. My photos would have been much better. Ireland can almost wear the pink one; our heads are similar in size.

I'm still working on the Scrump hat, and having trouble with the yellow stuff on top of his/ her head. 

I don't know what to do about that. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. 

I really don't know why Ireland chose this for a hat, but I'll make anything she asks from me.

Any ideas?

Finally Baby Chicks

Ireland has been begging for baby chicks for a very long time... we finally gave in

Michael worked all weekend on a chicken coop and I tried to educate Ireland and myself on how to take care of them. I also tried to explain to her that the babies would grow into chickens

 

She didn't care to hear all of that... all she sees are cute little things. We got these on Saturday and they seem to be growing like crazy. It may be my imagination but I'm sure they are already slightly bigger. They are Rhode Island Reds... I heard the eggs are the best. Hopefully they will survive and grow into chickens and will still let Ireland pet and hold them.

Sunday we spent the day with my family. I took a couple of pics and really love this one

 I've been pretty busy so progress on the socks has been slow

I really messed up the gusset, but there is no way that I'm going back. I'll just have to remember to mess up the second one, so they'll match. Maybe I can show more in a few days.

Have a peaceful week

Spring and Wool Socks

Spring and wool socks...what a combination

I've been enjoying the wonderful weather here in NC. I'm soooo happy that spring has finally arrived, but all I'm motivated to do is knit these socks that I've started. I'll go outside and weed the flower beds for like...10 minutes, and then come back inside or go to the porch swing to work the socks. Addicted!
This self striping sock yarn is addictive. It makes you want to keep going to see each stripe form.

 My worsted ones are also coming along. The second one has been started.

  I worked on the striped ones yesterday while watching Ireland at gymnastics. These are the perfect take anywhere project. Speaking of Ireland and gymnastics, here she is proudly showing off her new leotard. She wanted me to take her pic

We switched gyms last week. I really hope she learns alot here. I'm just as excited as she is, and I hope this is an activity that she will continue to love to do. I really don't mind going on Saturday mornings. It gives me an uninterrupted hour to crochet or knit.

And here is the pitiful hydrangea that I mentioned in my previous post. Who knows if the poor thing will even bloom this year. It's trying to form little green sprouts, so maybe it'll be ok.

Michael, uuuggghhh!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Worsted Socks

I've crocheted nothing in this past week. Instead I started a pair of worsted socks

When I received my swap package with the Cushy Chroma sock pattern, I knew I wanted to make a pair. Worsted weight yarn produces such a fast project. So here I am with one done and getting ready to cast on the second.

This one fits great. The only moderation from the pattern was with the cuff. I only wanted an inch or so of ribbing. A little boring to look at, but good practice for me. I need to work on the details...like kitchener stitch and losing the little hole on each side of the ? whatever that is called. (still learning the sock terms)

These are not the prettiest, but the next pair will be more colorful. I've already started another pair (remember I have crafting ADD) using ONline Supersocke.

I think I am addicted
As I "speak", Michael is outside butchering my plants again.  He was so proud as he showed me his "trim job" of the hydrangea in front of the house. It's about a foot tall now. What am I going to do with him? It was getting ready to grow green and bloom. I would post a picture, I still might.

Have great Sunday!

Slow Progress and a Box of Goodies

I'm still working away at Ireland's blanket

I'm trying to be creative with the squares, which is making this a slower project than I would like. Who am I kidding? Even if every square were the same, it would be a slow project for me.

Sorry for the photos, I snapped these with my iphone in a hurry

I decided to add a couple of Minnie Mouse squares. We have Disney on the brain (planning a trip later this year)

I'm making this a little differently than other crochet mood projects. I notice some are making their squares according to their mood for the particular day or week, and then placing them in order as they go. I'm doing the same in a way. I'm placing them where ever I feel like they look best. So is this truly a crochet mood blanket? I don't know.

The sock knitting is going pretty well. I'm now at the toe of the first. Hopefully, I'll still be motivated to finish the second.

This was a few rows before starting the toe

 Don't judge, remember, it's my first

Earlier this week I received a package from a Ravelry swap that I participated in.

I love it. I racked up, 3 skeins of Wool-ease, crochet hook grips, candy, handmade soap, buttons, a sock pattern, notepad, postcards from Minnesota, a knitted dishcloth...even something for Ireland. Fellow knitters/crocheters are the best aren't they?

Have a great weekend,
Liz

Sock Knitting

I've become obsessed with socks. I've always been intimidated by the thought of knitting them. But Instagram has motivated me to try

I have lots of sock yarn scraps left over from crocheting shawls. So for these I'm using Noro, Spud and Chloe, Universal, Wisdom, and a couple unknowns.

My apologies for the photos, these are not set up well. I'm being lazy.

They're not perfect. This first one is a little big. My stitches are sloppy. My feet and ankles are slim, so the fit is a little loose. Hopefully they'll be pretty and colorful even if they may not be a perfect fit. I've learned that socks are way easier than I thought they would be.

dpns are a breeze for me...why are circulars so hard? Anyway, I hope I won't lose steam after the first. I'm reading that socks are addictive so I'll try to make my second pair look and fit better. I'm looking for some colorful sock yarn for the next pair. Any recommendations would be nice.

Ireland's blanket is coming along, but of course I've lost interest. I'll force myself to keep crocheting a couple squares every other day or two.

The pattern for these are from Purl Bee, the Sporty Striped Peds.

I don't know why I'm so obsessed with knitting lately, but I'll post a pic of Ireland's blanket in a day or two.

Have a great weekend!

The Tornado Twister

I was so excited on Friday to check the mail and receive my copy of the pattern that I designed for Spud and Chloe. It is a multicolored, crocheted cowl.

This is the project that I blogged about a few months ago. I'm so happy that you now get to see what I was creating. Spud and Chloe have named it Tornado Twister. I love the name and how it turned out in print. 

I received a copy of the pattern and the catalogue it's featured in.Obviously, I'm really excited. I love seeing my cowl being worn by a beautiful model:)

The new Fall 2012 Blue Sky Alpaca catalogue can be found here. There are so many great projects to see, mostly knitted, but a couple of crocheted items...the Tornado Twister being one of them.

Designing this cowl has been a fun experience and I hope Spud and Chloe/ Blue Sky Alpaca will allow me to design for them in the future. The yarn is pretty divine to work with. Here is the link to the post where I blogged about my experience with the yarn.

To see more projects check out these links:

http://www.spudandchloe.com/

http://blueskyalpacas.com/

I hope you all had a great weekend...mine was relaxing...I'll blog about it in a few days. For now I'm going to enjoy my newly published pattern. Can you tell that I'm excited?:D

Spud & Chloe Yarn Review

A few weeks ago I mentioned working with some new yarn, but I couldn't really go into great detail. I have been working on an important project with Spud & Chloe and now I'm going to write a post about my experience with this yummy yarn...kind of like a mini review.

I received a few hanks of the Fine or sock weight yarn and decided to take it to my LYS to wind it into balls. I also wanted to introduce it to the owner, Ruth. She doesn't carry the yarn and I knew she would be interested to see it, and hold it, and touch it. Ruth was busy with other customers, so she set me up with the winding contraption.

I started winding it into balls and was sooo pleasantly surprised to see that there was not one single break in any of the skeins or hanks. That is great for us crocheters/ knitters. We all know how frustrating it is to buy yarn and have to deal with the breaks and knots while working a project.

I have to say that my experience with this yarn has been great. First of all, I love the weight. I love working with fine or fingering weight yarn. You can use it for anything...socks, clothing, bikinis, bags, anything. I think it is also perfect for garments such as sweaters. You will not end up with a bulky or stiff garment from sock weight yarn.

The texture of Spud & Chloe Fine/sock is really nice. It feels so smooth to the touch. Michael (my other half) even ooohhed and aaaahhhed over it, tehe. Can you imagine, a man that doesn't crochet or knit, admiring yarn...funny huh?

There are no thin/ thick places in the skeins. It is consistent throughout each skein. Remember, I am working with five skeins here, not just one. Every single one is consistent.

Another important feature is splitting. We all know how frustrating it is to crochet with splitty yarn. It can really slow down the hook. There is no splitting with this yarn.

The colors are gorgeous as well. I don't think my little photos or photography skills do the colors any justice.

As you can tell, I love this yarn. I will definitely use it again. I really hope my LYS will carry it sometime in the future.

Each skein is Superwash 80% wool and 20% silk (nice huh)
65 grams and approximately 248 yards

You can also go to spudandchloe.com to find more info about the yarn and where you can find some for yourself. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do.

In the near future, I will post more about the project that I made with this yarn.