Two Amazing Things were Accomplished Today

and both were before 9am.  First I finished the leg warmers!!! and I'm sorry to say that I had to wear them a little and take pics of them...not the greatest pics, but proof that I can make leg warmers....

And as always there's Max....he always loves to have his picture taken....

The other amazing thing that I did was I discovered that I could crochet a mini pumpkin in under and hour...

I mean come on....how cute is that little guy.  So needless to say I am taking to night off, but tomorrow..tomorrow it's cleaning and off to the post office.  Got stuff to mail!

then it's right back to knitting/crocheting for things to do, projects to finish!

Distance Can't Keep Crafters Down

I moved to the East Coast and left friends and family behind.  I post on Facebook, Twitter, have this blog, text, g-chat, talk on the phone A LOT.  But sometimes that's not enough.  My best friends and I craft.  and craft hard.  Christy can paint, draw, crochet, decopage, and if there's something she wants to learn she does it.  Emily cross stitches better than almost anyone I know - and now has a computer program to design her own cross stitch patterns for herself and her mom (who also cross stitches AMAZING pieces).  Then I moved and we lost some of the ability to be able to collaborate face to face.

But Christy, genius that she is, started a blog for us where each week we come up with a small "mission" that will prolly include some kind of craft so that even though I'm so far away we can still show each other what we've been working on and joke and laugh.

And even though I'm far away we still have a way to craft together.  Sappy yes...but totally awesome.  So while there's knitting groups and things out here, there's no reason why you can't craft long distance too.

CAMEL!!!!

The yarn for my newest project came!!!!!!!  This blanket is gonna rock the house.  I was working on the camel square a little last night and Oh YEah, i'm excited.

I love blankets that are made in squares/strips whatever.  Full piece blankets can get tedious, especially when you're working with one or two colors.  I usually end up hating life by the end of a blanket (no matter what colors or pattern I'm working on) just because I'm so over the pattern I'm working on.  This is another reason why working on two - five (sometimes six) projects at once helps me.  That way when I start hating one a little I can just move onto another one.

Back to projects!!!! Woop!

Cats and Crafting

I love animals.  Always have, that's why I'll never be able to be one of those people who advertises her wares as "made in a pet free home"....

This morning I was trying to work on one of the multitude of projects I'm working on at the moment and Pandora - who hasn't really handled the move to the East Coast well (she should have let me tranq her - like I did her sister, Py hasn't even noticed we've moved) - came over to me and laid right in the midst of my knitting.

And truthfully it wouldn't have mattered what project I was working on, she would have laid across anything.  Their favorite is when I'm working on the computer to come and lay across the keyboard.

So for all you crafters out there with cats (because dogs really don't so much get in the way as lay next to you and make you REALLY warm) maybe you should set aside a room that no one is allowed in but you and you can craft in piece.  Or you can do what I do and set my crafting aside to pay attention to the cats.  Which really just encourages their poor behavior.  So really the Fortress of Solitude is the way to go.  Right Beth?

The Working Girl VS The Knitting Girl...an epic battle

I started a new job today (WOOP) but already my projects are suffering.  I set a daily goal for myself to keep myself and my projects on track....not today....today I started work at 10 worked till 4.  that shift eats up my whole - hold on....hubby and I are arguing about who's turn it is to pick a movie, I'll be right back...ok I'm back. Where was i?

Oh!  Right, that 10-4 shift eats up my whole day and then leaves me with getting home just in time for dinner then  to hang out with hubby and animals....oh man the animals are really upset about my working.  I have both my cats on my legs right now and Max (my dog) well he's not really speaking to me at the moment.  Which would mean you would think that I would now have plenty of time to knit/crochet....whatever but I just dont have the motivation.  So I guess it's either work, and take on less projects, or dont work and think homicidal thoughts the longer I'm at home with everyone....it's really a tough choice.

I think it'll get better when I start working the 1-7 shift.  Then I'll have the whole morning to do my projects then work all afternoon/evening....yeah that's the ticket. Just gotta make it thru these 1st couple of weeks then it's back on track!  *cheerleaders scream in my head*  I CAN DO IT!

Craft Fairs

I was thinking about starting on the craft fair circuit.  The only problem with that is that I would need to build an inventory....I'm not really that great at crocheting/knitting something and then hanging onto it unless I made it for me.  I also have a problem repeating patterns (which is why - most likely these leg warmers are taking me forever and a day [sorry Chloe, they're coming I swear!]).  So that being said how could I really go on the craft fair circuit and have stuff to sell?

I was trying to think of options, like maybe I could crochet/knit hats and bags or scarves for an inventory (each one different...)then maybe have a binder with pictures and prices of bigger items - like afghans, baby blankets, etc.  If someone really wanted an afghan they would pay me and it would be first come first get.  I would just have to keep a log, which thanks to Hedy I'm actually quite rockin at.

I think it's too late for the craft fairs this year anyway  - they just sent out their sign up sheets, but you'd already kinda need to have stuff to sell before you sign up right?  Or it would be a mad dash to the finish line to make sure you had enough.  Besides people at those shows/fairs have a TON of inventory ready to go.  I dont really have that kind of time, not with how many people are getting pregg-o that I'm making blankets for already. ;-)

That's my other problem.  I gift.  I don't sell.  Take for instance when I made a pair of baby booties for my friend Jaime's little nephew. (Super cute converse style booties), anyway I had been working on other projects and forgotten about those booties and she asked when they would be ready and I flipped and felt so bad that I didn't charge her for them and she pitched a fit.  Told me that was no way to run a business.  And I know it's not, but I had forgotten about her order, I had to make it up to her somehow.  Right???

SO maybe it's too soon to be thinking craft fairs.  I'm too likely to gift something than not, and I have a problem making something for some that I've already made once...not too mention I pride myself on being an awesome pattern picker for people.  I rarely let people see the blankets that I've picked for them, or their babies, because I believe that, aside from the colors (and even that sometimes I dont let the people pick) the blanket should be a surprise.  Now for complete strangers ti would be different, seeing as I don't know them like I know my friends and family....

Also (and please don't tell my husband this) it's probably a little bit of anxiety that keeps me from going and doing craft fairs.  On Etsy it's easy cuz you don't see who looks at your work, you don't see their faces.  I get nervous whenever I give someone anything that I've made.  No matter how amazing I think it looks while I've been making it, when it's time to give them the blanket, the hat, whatever I'm sure it looks like trash.  It never does, but it's how my brain works.

Before I can craft fair must work on:
Repeating patterns
building an inventory of stuff not for me and not for gifts
getting over that people will pick out something that doesn't suit them in the least and that I believe I could pick for them better....
my anxiety

I don't think that list is completely insurmountable.  Just a lot of easier said than done stuff.

Afghan Hooks (A Gripe)

I'm making a blanket.  It needs a size F Afghan Hook.  Now this is not to be confused with a normal crochet hook (I have multiple size F crochet hooks)...No what I need is an afghan hook.  What, you're asking yourselves, is an afghan hook?

Well if a knitting needle met a crochet hook on a blind date, got married, and had a baby - that baby would be an afghan hook.  It's got a hook like a normal crochet hook, but it's long and has a stopper at one end like a knitting needle.  and I need one.  I have a size J afghan hook from a project I made a few years ago, but this is for a different project and if I use the J hook (which I could) it would throw the gauge of the whole project off and instead of a normal size baby blanket I would have a GINORMOUS (that's right, I said it) baby blanket....not that there's anything wrong with that, but then I would need to buy a lot more yarn than I have to.  In other words it would be a mess.

So I went looking for one, Joann's only had the size J, Michaels had never even heard of an afghan hook, so I called a specialty yarn store, surely they would have them.  Nope.  I was told by the proprietor of Mystic Yarns that "There really hasn't been much call for afghan hooks since the seventies, but maybe you should check with Joann's."

*SCREAMS*

So I went onto Joann's website and found what I looking for, FINALLY! but then there was the cost of shipping which was twice as much as the hook itself.  *thud*  So today I've decided to order the hook and to offset the cost of the shipping I'll just order more yarn for this blanket.

Which - those of you out there who know about fiber work know, there's a problem with dye lots.  HA!  Not this time.  I have all the yarn already for the background of this blanket and each individual square of this blanket has it's own colors.  So that being said I can buy whatever yarn (provided it is the same weight) that I want. :-P Take that.

So, that's my gripe, what's the point of bringing back "vintage" crochet if NOWHERE is going to sell the right tools??????

*sigh* off to order my hook....

Is there ever such a thing as too many projects?

I've decided to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the projects I have to work on over the course of the next year.  I wish I could say that I'm one of those methodical people who works on one project until it's finished then moves onto the next project.  Sadly that is not the case.  I'm one of those people who isn't completely satisfied unless they're working on two or three projects (preferably four at once).

For example, right now I'm working on the last of my cousin's leg warmers (don't worry Beth, should be done here in the next few weeks) and a ____________ for a birthday gift for ___________ (not all my projects are public<3).  But is that enough?  No, today I'm going to get the main color yarn for a baby blanket for my girlfriend Brandee, and the first color for a stripped blanket that I have designs on making.  Four, that should be enough...I hope.

In any event that's why I started this spread sheet, because I KNEW that I had too many projects to keep track of.  So for all you gift knitters and business crocheters, you CAN take on more than one project at time....you just need a way to keep them organized.  A spreadsheet works for me, but some people prefer a desk calendar with deadlines set for themselves.

So no, I dont think there's ever such a thing as too many projects, so long as I can keep them all straight.

Anhedonia's a Mean Mamma-Jamma

I have SO many projects....all totally fun, and yet here I sit....not wanting to do anything...

The cool thing about fiber working (any kind of fiber working) is that you can do it on your couch!  The laziest place ever....that's why fiber working and I get along so well.  Cuz I'm lazy and I enjoy the lazy crafts

I suppose it doesn't help that my dog is sleeping next to me on said couch and my hubby is also snuggled on the couch....it's really warm and nice, and makes me want to nap instead of what I should be doing.  Finishing projects, starting new projects, etc.

And yet I can feel nap time winning out even as I type.  I think I'll put a movie on and see where the evening takes me.

This One's for You Ali!

I was talking to my friend Ali the other day - she totally rocks btw - and she told me how cool it was that there are people out there who can knit/crochet things other than something that comes out in the shape of squares/rectangles (scarves, afghans, etc).  That got me to thinking; there is SO much you can do with squares and rectangles and sometimes the finished product doesn't even come out shaped like a square.  On top of that they're projects that are really easy to manage.

So for all you beginner crochet/knitters (truthfully it'll probably be crocheting for a while as I'm still really learning how to knit) below is the start of the new "Square/Motif a Month" section.  It will include a square/motif (a motif is an easy item to make that isn't always shaped like a square but can be used in the same way as a square) instructions on how to make the square/motif and a project that can be made out of the squares.  Please post your pictures and comments about the projects I've posted.  I will try to have pictures for the progress of the progress so that you have examples of what the stitches will look like.

Square 1:
Basic Granny Square
Please note that this square can be made in one color or in multiple colors.  The instructions below are for multiple colors, but if you want it to be a solid square just don't make any of the color changes noted.

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
ss - slip stitch
dc - double crochet
* - repeat

Special Instructions:
To make a slip stitch, insert crochet hook into next stitch and pull yarn through.  You'll have two loops on your hook.  Now pull the first loop through the second and you have a slip stitch!

Fasten Off: this is where you will be ending a yarn color or the square itself, cut yarn (leave at least 6 inches of a tail for weaving in) and make a slip stitch, instead this time just pull the whole tail through the second loop on hook.

Foundation Round:  In Color A ch 5, ss into first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: ch 3, into the ring make  dc.  ch 3 *3 dc into ring; ch 3.  Repeat from * twice. Fasten off.
Round 2: Attach Color B into any ch-3 corner space.  Ch 3; in same space make (2 dc, ch 3, 3dc), *ch 1, in next ch-3 corner make (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc).  Repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1 and ss into third ch of ch 3. Fasten Off.
Round 3: Attach Color C in any ch-3 corner space, ch 3, and in the same space make (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc).  *ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 space, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 space.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Ch 1, 3 dc in last ch 1 space, ch 1, ss into third ch of ch 3. Fasten off
Round 4: Attach Color D in any ch-3 corner space.  Ch 3, and in same space make (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), *(ch 1, 3 dc) in every ch-1 space to next corner, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 corner space; repeat from * 2 more times. (ch 1,  dc) in every remaining ch-1 space, ch 1, ss into third ch of ch 3. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

If you need visual examples of what the square looks like as it progresses there are a TON of websites out there with visual as well as written instructions for the Basic Granny Square.  Keep in mind there might be some variations, but in general they will all look about the same.

Now onto the fun part.  The project!

My favorite thing to do with the basic granny square is make a hat.  Now I know it seems a little weird to make a hat out of something square, but come with me on this.

Make 5 Basic Granny Squares in any color(s) of your choice.  Take two of the granny squares, hold them wrong sides together, and whip stitch them together with Color D. Take the third granny square and whip stitch to the second square.  Repeat with the fourth square.  Now you have a line of 4 square.  Careful not to twist the squares attach the first and fourth square together.  You should now have a tube of four squares.  Take the fifth square and sew to the top of the tube.  Once this is done attach Color D and single crochet around the hat.  You can do this as many or as few times as you'd like. In the hat shown I did two rounds in Color D and two Rounds in Color B.

Stealing or Inspiration...You Decide

You would think that after having been crocheting for 20+ years that I would have a handle on creating my own designs.  Well you would be wrong wouldn't you.  While I have dabbled - for lack of a better word - in creating my own designs (like the totally awesome Lego Baby Blanket I crocheted for my cousin's baby) it takes a lot to really sit down and figure out a new design.

My solution?  I haunt crochet/knit websites (yes including Etsy) and study what's out there.  There have been some AMAZING items out there that I could never hope to recreate without a pattern, but there are other items out there that I look at and think, I know what book they found that flower in, or, they just extended a leaf pattern into a scarf with one row of single crochet!  Some of the pieces listed on my Etsy site have come from the inspiration of these other artists.

I had a hard time at first listing these items as I thought that it was rude of me to purloin these great ideas and then use them for myself, but as I've delved farther into the world of pattern making I've found several artists out there making the same things, almost to a T.  So I got over myself and listed the items on Etsy that were inspired by these tremendous artists.

On the other hand if something that I've designed were to show up somewhere made by some other artist I would be tremendously flattered.  Inspiration can come from anywhere - even a little bit of thievery I guess. *shrugs*

Well back to stealing....I mean being inspired.

Boston Style Leg Wahmers

We went to Southeast Boston yesterday to a birthday party of our friends nephew.  Because I didn't know many people I brought along my one knitting project that's been unpacked - the leg warmers.  In the beginning of the party I made conversation, met some new and interesting speaking people (I myself am from chicago, where we pronounce every letter....harshly), then as always I wanted to have some time to just be and not mingle so I got out my knitting.  Soon the table I was at was surrounded with my friend's family.  They started to play a card game then sitting to my left was a guy (Zack) who asked what I was making and started joking about wanting a pair (read "payah") and asked his friend Charlie (read "Chahlee") to get out his wallet.

Soon it was impossible to knit because I was laughing so hard at both the card game and the jokes that were being made at my knitting.  I know that knitting is something that is stereo-typically done by white hair grannies who are making doilies to cover the back of their couches (and god help me if I ever have one of those in my house...unless it's black...or metallic that could be pretty cool).  But come on people this is a new day and ago, they have a "Knit Your Own Royal Family" book for goodness sake.  This isn't your granny's knitting I'm doing here.

That's the cool thing about fiber working, the possibilities are endless and the product is almost always timeless,  sure color fads change - thank god we're not in the 70's anymore those oranges and browns were harsh - but the end result is always something lovely that with any luck is treasured (and used!) for years.

Moving with Yarn

Moving is hard.  Most of you out there probably know this but moving across country you have to downsize.  I had to convince my husband that moving with all my yarn, needles, patterns, pattern books, etc was absolutely necessary.  Needless to say he didn't really believe me, but being the awesome husband that he is he buckled down and made sure that there was going to be room in our trailer for all my needle crafting supplies.  Which basically means that he walked me through getting rid of things of mine that I hadn't used/looked at/read/whatever in over a year...what can I say, I'm a little bit of a hoarder.

So now I'm at our newest destination (Waterford, CT) and all my yarn - well 99% of it  - is still packed, and I'm going a little stir crazy because the yarn that isn't packed is for leg warmers that I'm not so much in the mood to work on...

So I decided to start a blog instead of working on the leg warmers and my husband is sitting next to me reading over my shoulder offering commentary on the behaviors of our dog - so I'm sure he'll be making appearances here as time goes on.

I'm off for now as Max (that's my dog) has wedged his way into my lap and is making it difficult to type.  Be back later with updates on the unpacking and projects as I take them on and finish them!

Happy crafting!