Sunday, December 23, 2007

It can be difficult to do Christmas shopping and not get a little something for your self. I ended up getting Lacy Crochet while browsing at Black Ink in Harvard Square. I had some pearl cotton sitting around and made the flower pot holder/doily from it. I didn't have enough for the last 7 rows so I had to improvise and make a smaller doily. It also looks cute as a pouch. The lampwork glass beads on the drawstring are from Roessler Glass in Boston's South End.

This just finished crochet thread zippered coin pouch looks like it could be a pattern in the book.
And an unexpected Christmas present, my invite to Ravelry arrived today!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

94 Days

No digital camera + no internet provider = infrequent posts. Here's a smattering of projects I've been working on while being a blogging slacker. My current commuter project is this scarf, using the wonderfully named sidesaddle stitch. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a silver gray color, using a size I hook. It took me awhile to find the stitch that matched the look I had in my head. I'm happy with how it's turning out, it's very textural and very soft.

Next up and also almost completed is a cardigan from the Doris Chan book, whose title I'm blanking on at the moment. I had some leftover Plymouth Encore from a charity project, so I thought I use it up. I love these patterns that don't require seaming.
I had enough yarn leftover from the Staggered Web top to whip up these shell wrist warmers. I found the pattern through Crochet Pattern Central.
And, what the heck, I'll throw in another picture. Because, who knows, it could be awhile before my next post. An all day carry tote from the Lotta Jansdotter book, made using leftover upholstery fabric I've had for ages, and some wool that's too thin for hooking.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Caribou Abydos Vest

I finished the Abydos vest a few weeks ago. It's a pattern from Doris Chan's Amazing Crochet Lace. I used the yarn called for in the pattern, Filatura di Crosa's Brilla, a cotton rayon. If I had seen this yarn in a yarn shop, I probably would have passed it by. I purchased it for a great price at Elann. It was quick and easy to crochet, with no seaming.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Two Mini's

It's summer...
but it feels like autumn.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Last train to Utopia

Yesterday I took a quick train trip to Salem to the Peabody Essex Museum for the last day of the Joseph Cornell show, and I'm so glad I did. It was a full survey of all his work. There were many collages and box constructions I hadn't seen before, along with many favorites. A day full of wonderful images, and a very blue-colored day. It was an extremely well put-together show. I believe it travels to San Francisco next-go- if you're in the area.
I crocheted this scattered web lace for a sweater while I was traveling on the train. It will be the lace top in the new Loop d Loop Crochet book. I feel like the fabric is a little stiff even though I have the right gauge. I may block this piece and see if it softens up. Tomorrow, some rug hooking to show you!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Some Summer Thanks

A delicious dinner thanks to the farmer's market, including homemade mozzarella cheese.
And progress on a sunset scarf, thanks to Bonnie, who gave me the yarn awhile back.


Tuesday, July 24, 2007

3 C's

1: My clivia is blooming! Friends gave me this plant about 7 years ago when they moved to California. It sprouts a couple leaves every year. I was so surprised when I noticed the flowering stalk had appeared. Isn't it pretty?

2: A quick on-the-go crochet project finished. The one skein scarf from the Happy Hooker book. It's linen and very, very long!

3: Chemistry is finished! I did enjoy it but I'm very happy to have most of August free to finish up (and start new) rug hooking and crochet projects.




Monday, July 16, 2007

Zippered Case

I have had the worst time trying to photograph this bag. The pale pinks keep washing out, so this will just have to do for now. I finished punching this bag a few weeks ago and this weekend sewed the sides and put the zipper and lining in. Rug hooking really goes fast with the Oxford Mini needle. It's primarily worsted weight yarns except for the pink which is Paton's SWS (soy-wool). I'm liking the pencil case shape. It's about 9 inches long by 4 inches with a gusseted bottom.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

March of the Mansions

Yesterday morning 3 old Victorian homes were moved along the middle of Mass Ave in Cambridge to a new location a few blocks down. What a surreal parade. The photo above is from today's Boston Globe. I stopped by their new location Saturday early evening and a crowd was still checking the scene out. The worker below answered bystanders' questions and filled us in on the details of the move. The houses were placed on hydraulic trolley beds with tiny little wheels, about 4 ft off the ground. It then only took 3 men to steer the houses down the street using remote controls, much like a video game or remote model cars. Trees had to be trimmed, posts and street lights removed or shifted. The largest mansion had to straddle the center median. The move took 5 years of planning. It made me think of Howl's Moving Castle.

Now the houses stand in their new places while their foundations are built.

Here's the spot they used to occupy.

And now to shift topics completely, here's the finished wrap. I'm very happy with it all around except that's it's smaller/shorter than I had hoped. I went with a smaller gauge so I guess that's what I get. I think I'll have to redo it or else I may never wear it. It was alot of fun to crochet so it wouldn't be horrible to redo.






Tuesday, May 29, 2007

It's a wrap

Thanks to a couple free weeks between classes I was able to finish the summer wrap. I wove the ends in last night and now I just have to block it and sew the side seams. Once that's done I'll post a proper modeling shot.
I've been working on a hooked rug stool and bag but no photos yet of those to share. But I can show you a few granny square motifs with leftover linen/wool yarn. They're in rotation as coasters at my desk. My favorites are the 2 on the left.


Monday, April 23, 2007

Spring = New Projects

I recently acquired Amy Oxford's new fine punch needle. You can punch worsted weight yarns and finer cut (size 3) wool strips. I've been playing with various yarns and think this will eventually become a little zipper bag. The handwoven basket made by Rachael, a fellow rug hooker at work, is the perfect size for holding yarns while I'm punching. Now if I could only find my size 3 cutter head...
I decided to crochet this wrap from the latest Interweave Crochet magazine. The pattern calls for Blue Sky Alpaca's Melange but I'm using Frog Tree's sportweight alpaca. I had to go down hook sizes to get gauge. I wasn't sure about the purple color but now I'm really liking it.


Friday, April 20, 2007

What's in the project bag

While I'm riding the bus or waiting for class to start, I've been working on a simple scarf with one of the yarns my sister gave me. This week I've been doing it in style with the Lantern Moon project bag Bonnie gave me. It's a beautiful dusty purple color that changes color. The scarf is a simple stitch so l decided to add a beaded edge once the bulk of the scarf is done.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Crafting Donations

It sure has been a good long while since I've posted. Between work, going to school, being between ISPs, and a broken camera, I've really been slacking on updating my blog.
One of the Senior Class fundraisers at work this week is a craft sale. The photo shows what I gave them to sell. They'll keep the money for what they sell (though I'll be taking a percentage of the stool price if it sells).
And here's a little update on my swatch pole. The snowflake, 2 color checker, and green square are from the Crochet Stitch Bible. The other motif is the start of a doily I decided not to finish.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Lacy thoughts

I have the best sisters! Bonnie sent me these 2 skeins of KnitPicks Shadow laceweight yarn. They're such pretty colors. I wound the Sunset color into a ball yesterday. Now I'm at the library to check out a crochet stitch guide and find a nice stitch for a scarf. Thanks alot, Bonnie!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Year of the Pig

My favorite Year of the Pig photo, from the Seoul Times.
Happy New Year!

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Swatching Pole

One of the advantages of living in an older building is it's unique features. I love my very high ceilings, curved living room windows and odd shaped rooms, but what about the rather ugly water pipe in the kitchen? Why, start decorating it with crochet motifs and swatches. I've been crocheting some stitch pattern swatches and motifs. Here's the first of several adorning the kitchen water pipe. The motif: Pineapple S-737, found through Crochet Pattern Central
Size 10 JP Coats crochet thread, bridal blue
Size 6 hook
Approx 3 in. square


Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Toiling doilies

I never imagined I'd be crocheting doilies one day, but that's what I've been up to and finding it intriguing and fun. This is another pineapple motif doily for my mom. Same crochet thread and hook as the last. It measures 15 inches across. One more to go of the same for her. What could be next?

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Starting the New Year off with FOs

On New Year's Eve I finished sewing up and blocking a couple lingering crochet projects. First up, my first crochet garment - a granite vest. Not a fancy design but I learned a bit about fit, putting a piece of clothing together and the reverse crochet stitch. I picked the pattern up from a Patons booklet at Joann Fabrics. I used KnitPicks Andrean Treasure in granite. The only change I made was adding another round of single crochet around the neckband to decrease the depth of the V. If I made it again I'd make the shoulder straps shorter to fit me better. I'll probably frog this at some point-but that's okay as I learned alot from the process.

I finished this poncho awhile ago except for blocking it. When I saw my sister's gray poncho that she knitted, I wanted something similar! I used a pattern from the Garnsstudio website for a girl's poncho and figured if I used bulky yarn and a bigger hook it would turn out okay. It's 3 skeins of Sierra in mist. I may add a flower at the V-maybe one that can be removed at will.
Now to finish up my punchneedle and rug hooking projects. In the meantime, here's what I'm thinking about next for crochet, from Interweave Crochet Fall '06.