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 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...
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.
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.
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!
The motif: Pineapple S-737, found through Crochet Pattern Central
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?
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.
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.
I just finished blocking this doily and will send it off to my mom in the morning. She asked me to make her a set of blue doilies for the end tables in her living room. This was a fun and thankfully, easy pattern to do for my first thread crochet work.
The details: Petite Pineapple Doily
One of the reasons I liked this bag design was the clever use of 1/4 inch dowels in the top edge, making for a nice stiff opening. But once I tried it out, this is what happened! I decided that would drive me crazy.
My solution was to sew the dowels inside the lining. No more poking dowels and I'm happy to use the bag.
To attach the handles I used handle straps and tabs from Tall Poppy, large rapid rivets from Tandy, along with a rivet setter. A hammer, tapestry needle, and small scissors were also used.
I prepped a hole for the rivet post with the tapestry needle. I also made a tiny snip in the lining to poke the post rivet through.
The post then was easily pushed through the back to the outside of the bag.
The handle strap ring was joined with the tab and the rivet cap was placed on top of the post.
The last step was placing the rivet setter on top of the cap and tapping it with the hammer to fasten the rivet. This is done on a hard, flat surface. The setter is rounded on one end so the dome of the cap doesn't get smashed.
The rest of the rivets were attached to the straps and bag. Easy!
And lastly, a shot of the finished bag at night. My camera hasn't been working so a proper photo in natural lighting will have to wait until I can borrow a camera. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It took me awhile to find handles the length and style I wanted. I'm glad I waited until I found what I wanted.
Here's the results. I'm thinking of using these for the background of a hooked rug stool.
I also whipped the top seam edges open to provide a bit more room when using the bag.
To sew up the side seams I first used a ladder stitch with a single strand of yarn. I covered this construction stitch up with a whip stitch using 2 yarn strands.
While I was sewing it up, I thought of another way to sew a hooked bag together. I'll have to try it on the next bag I make. Stay tuned for Part 2, putting in the lining and adding the handles.
The FO in the photo: a drawstring bag. I used the bikini bag pattern in "The Happy Hooker" book but changed the strap and added balls to the drawstrings. The yarn is Louet Avalan, linen and wool. Oh, and I'm wearing a crochet bracelet with little corkscrews. It also works as a necklace. I used pearl cotton I had in my embroidery tin.
And I had enough yarn left to crochet this neckwarmer! It's not a pattern - just alternated single and double crochet stitches.
Yeah, it's been a couple weeks since I posted. No excuse really, although my camera seemed to have gotten the flu and refused to take any decent pictures. It did cooperate today. I made this bag from Interweave Crochet Spring '06. But I'm not a big tassle fan so I'm going to do some other sort of embellishment. Here's where you can vote again today (or for the first time if you didn't have primaries today). Please give me your opinions and suggestions!
Other updates: my hooked bag is waiting for its handles to arrive in the mail and the spokes stool is about halfway done but looking different from my original vision. More photos soon if my camera decides it wants to be helpful.
