#2

It's such a mess outside right now - cold, snowy, icy rain, slushy foot-deep puddles. I need a dose of something cute, like these cat slippers. I love the embroidered bees and wasps and triangle trim. I believe they're of Chinese origin, photographed at work. Wish I had a pair for my wet feet.

I'll have to make do making a pot of tea in a hand-thrown pot made by a former coworker many years ago. The hot pad is a single crochet simple square motif of Habu cotton yarn.

#1

The first post of 2011.

Though really, I should say the first post in a good long time - since the summer. What can I say - I guess I was lazing on sunny afternoons. Then September came, working full-time and going to nursing school full-time kept me away more. Blog posting fell to the bottom of a long to-do list. I have a little time before school starts again. So, here I am; Happy New Year! Hope you've been well.

What other firsts do I have for the new year?
My first mitten, not only of 2011, but the first mitten I've ever knit.
Subway Mittens, designed by Colleen Michele Meagher. Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Lichen colorway.

Another first, a simple, single strand, crocheted, a January necklace. Habu merino lace, charcoal gray.

And the last first, the first blizzard of the new year. I can't claim making it, but I've enjoyed partaking in its beauty.

May your new year reach great heights.

Last days of May

Random views from the last days of May

and now it's June

F+A+E Brooch

F+A+E brooch is the mystery blog giveaway. And the winner is...

Chickenbetty!

Please email with your address info or pm me on Ravelry. Hope you like it! It was crocheted with a Habu silk using a 1.7 hook. Below is the piece as shown in the book.

Here's a photo from the Knot book that displays all the motifs used throughout the book.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

BLUE

Blue. I'm surrounded by blue these days.

My sister, Jenny, gifted me the shawl pattern, Wings of The Valkyrie by Jennifer Benson. I'm crocheting it with Zitron Trekking Pro Natura, a wool/bamboo blend yarn. It doesn't look too impressive in its current unkempt state, but the blocked swatch gives a preview of its future loveliness. The pattern can be found here or on Ravelry.

On the blue knitted front, I've started my first lace scarf, Anita Caroline, designed by Bonnie. It's a really pretty lace pattern, that's interesting to knit, but not too complex for a beginner like me. It too will open up once finished and blocked. The pattern can be found on Etsy or Ravelry

Yes, still more blue, but this one is finished. Topflappen, is a fun, uniquely shaped potholder. It was crocheted with Paton's Grace in azure, gray, and beige stripes on front and solid azure on the back. It's on its way to the recipient's mailbox, who just happens to love blue.

Rain's gifts

It's so nice to have April begin with sunny weather. It seemed like March was nothing but rain. In mid-March, on a day with huge wind gusts and torrential downpours, Bonnie and I spent the day in New York. I've never seen so many broken, abandoned umbrellas but what really impressed me were the hearty souls bicycling through the New York streets in the pouring rain. We managed to stayed dry for a good amount of time at Habu Textiles.

There are so many intriguing and unusual yarns. I'd have been happy to sit on a stool there all day long, picking up one yarn after another, creating crochet and knit stitches. There are a few more photos of the shop here. By the time spring arrived, I had finished crocheting a doily full of flowers using Habu Tsumugi Silk. It's a free pattern from Pierrot Yarns. Once the silk has been washed and blocked, it softens and drapes so nicely, so exquisite. I'd like to make a summer shawl or top with it.

I found the perfect book to encourage my experimentation with some Habu yarn samples. Knot is a Japanese thread crochet book of small accessories and jewelry. The other day I used a bit of silk and one of the shapes in the book to make a brooch. It reminds me of Birch tree seed pods.

As a way to say goodbye to National Crochet month and share some Habu goodness, I'm having a mystery giveaway. The winner will receive a crocheted item from the Knot book, made from Habu yarn. I'll include some other surprises as well. Just leave a comment that you're up for a surprise. I'll randomly select a winner on April 17 and show you what the winner won.

Washing Winter Away

Isn't it nice to finally see and feel the first signs of Spring? I'm looking forward to the temperature climbing into the 50's this weekend. Just about time to do some spring cleaning. Since it's National Crochet Month, here's a washcloth crochet pattern I worked up for some gift-giving during the holidays. I wanted a pattern that wasn't too feminine, but also wasn't a plain Jane. This is what I ended up with-it uses an easy spike/relief stitch and a simple border all around. While I made it to use as a washcloth, it could fit right in in the kitchen too. I used sportweight yarns, but really any weight could be used.

Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Sportweight yarn, Malted Milk and Ginger. You could crochet 2-3 cloths with one skein.

Berroco NaturLin, Oat and Chocolate. One skein makes one cloth, with a good amount left over, but not enough for 2 (in the size I made them).

Pattern: Open Ridge Washcloth
Dimensions 8 ½ inches by 8 ½ inches
Hook: G/4.0 mm
Yarn: Sportweight cotton or linen, such as Knit Picks Simply Cotton or Berroco Naturlin

Notes:
If you tend to hook tightly you may want to use a larger size hook for your chain row.
Work the chain at the beginning of each row loosely.
Increase or decrease the beginning chain row by even numbers in order to change the size of the cloth.
Any weight yarn will work-adjust the hook size and number of chains accordingly.

Instructions:
Chain 36 loosely.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd chain from hook, and 1 sc in ea ch to end. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, skip first sc, * skip next sc, hdc in next st, 1 hdc in space between last 2 st., * repeat from *to *, ending with 1 hdc in last sc. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in back loop of ea st, end with sc in the ch 1. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the cloth’s length is equal to its width, or to your desired size. End with row 3. Turn.

I added a simple edge of 2 rows of sc. Change it if you'd like!
Row 1: Ch 1, 1 sc in ea st across, 3 sc in the last stitch for a corner, sc evenly along each of the sides, continuing to place 3 sc in ea corner st. Sl st to first sc. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in first st of corner, place 3 sc in middle st of the corner, 1 sc in third st of corner, and continue 1sc in each st, and 3 sc in the middle st of each corner. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Weave in ends and block lightly if needed.

I'm using my initial swatches as coasters. These were made with Elesbeth Lavold Hempathy. They look spring-like to me!

(Off to Ravelry to add the pattern there)