Not Quite Vintage

attempting to crochet

This week, I have been trying to fit in a little crochet in the evenings as I relax watching a mix of dramas and The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

I got off to a slow start on Monday while watching House. After pulling out a skein of cotton to make a one of the dish clothes I liked from the September/October issue of Crochet Today, I worked for most of the hour before deciding to frog the entire thing. I just didn't like the texture the pattern produced. Darn.

I took Tuesday off and tried again last night. This time I pulled out some Naturally Caron yarn I picked up last week. I am working on a couple gifts, so I can't tell you what I am trying to make, but I promise to share later. I worked a couple motifs only to have a big, huge mess of knots come out from the middle of the skein. Honestly, I was so excited when on the first try I pulled out the end of the yarn from the middle of the skein. No big wad of yarn came with it, no pulling of other yarn, nothing. So, I am really not sure where the heck the big huge mess of knots came from. Since I only bought one skein of yarn for each project, I frogged what I had completed and started to un-knot the yarn. A lengthy conversation on the phone with my Pops and about five more minutes later I had it all cleaned up. Phew, yarn saved. 

I had to take a little break after that for dinner, but afterward I was ready to try again. Under my cozy quilt and while watching ANTM followed by the much more brain-worthy The National Parks I completed more than a dozen motifs. It was a good night all-in-all for crochet.

lacey scarf complete

After a week of fitting in a bit of crocheting here and there, my lacey scarf is finished! With just one skein of yarn and a few hours invested, I have a great skinny scarf in my favorite color.

It was quite an easy pattern - by the time I had completed a handful of motifs, I had the pattern memorized. I really love a crochet project that doesn't require me to carry around and keep checking my pattern. That requires too much thinking - I rather prefer the relaxing repetition of it all.

I have a feeling I will be making a couple more of these this season for gifts, but this one is all mine : ) How could it not, its my favorite color - green.

lacey WIP

After all my crochet talk yesterday I was inspired to start a project last night. A quick and easy Queen Anne's lace scarf that I found on Ravelry. No new yarn necessary, I just picked a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease I had in my stash. After an hour or so in front of the tv I ended up with this.

I did have to pull out my crochet book a couple times to make sure I was doing things right and my stitches definitely improved as I practiced. I forgot how much I love crochet and how relaxing it is.

Anyone watch the premier of Glee last night? It is oh so quirky. I can't tell if I really like it or if its novelty will wear off soon.

time for crochet again

Last night while driving home, the sun was shining, New Order was on the radio (Alt Nation on Sirius is like my college soundtrack relived) and even though the temp was in the low-eighties I could feel Fall approaching. Then my mind flicked to crochet. Something about Fall and Winter make me think of yarn crafts again. Not sure why, maybe it is the cozy factor. So when I got home and checked the mail I was quite happy to find the September/October issue of Crochet Today. I know it is really a big advertisement for Red Heart, but sometimes there are some good patterns. The cute alarm clock on the cover drew me in.

As I kept turning pages I kept saying to myself "that is so cute," "I should make that" and "I need to save that pattern for later." So what did I find?

An upcycled tee with a very cute crochet neckline. On my crafty to do list for sure.

I could really use some new cotton dish clothes to replenish my stock.

An earth-friendly grocery tote. This could make a great holiday gift.

For the person who has everything - a lacy river rock. I have seen some amazing crocheted rocks on Flickr here. This pattern is by Resurrection Fern.

A cute beret... not sure I would make it in raspberry : )

There are a few more patterns I have bookmarked, but I will end with this one for Halloween crafty disguises. I like the superhero mask.

So, does the coming of Fall change your crafty to do list? What are you working on?

friday mish-mash...

Ah, look what I found last night while pruning my rose bushes - a sweet birds nest with a tiny speckled egg nestled down in amongst the throrny branches. Pretty smart birdie momma protecting its little one from the crazy squirrels in my yard.

I have to admit, I am happy she decided on the rose bush for building a nest because last year I battle birds nests in my gutters. No so much fun.

On the craft front, I just finished another set of crocheted cotton coasters. This has been my go to easy craft of late. For the weekend, I have two Pieced Together Quilting Bee blocks to finish and 20 packages of fabric to ready for my month - May. I am determined to mail them out early next week. Seriously, I promise.

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Did you know there is a big birthday celebration going on at See Katie Sew. Stop buy and leave a comment to be entered to win one of many, many great prizes. Happy birthday Katie!!

And don't forget if you want to win a patchwork belt, be sure to comment on my last post.

the power of crochet

Last night before I went to crochet class my Pops told me about a news story he just heard. It was about a 98 year old woman who had been burried in the rubble of the Italian earthquake for more than 30 hours. Do you know how she passed the time? She crocheted!

Isn't that just amazing? I can totally see how she was able to focus on her crochet instead of the reality of her situation and how it helped her pass the time. I use crafting for similar reasons sometimes - to redirect my mind, to keep me busy, to feel like I am accomplishing something.

I've mentioned before that my crochet teacher Erna is in her late 80s. I know her love of crochet and knitting and her passion for passing along the crafts to others (she has been teaching for over 30 years) has kept her life moving forward. How many of would feel so incredibly blessed to be so healthy, so mobile, so patient and so sharp in our 80s.

Both stories are inspirational.

recharging

I have been trying to write a post all week, but the words just aren’t coming. February was crazy busy with deadlines and when March came, I was left tired and feeling uncreative. I have a partially finished overdue quilt block for Katie on my sewing machine, a messy craft area and a long list of to dos. But I had to take a break, even if it was unintentional.

I have been trying to recharge and refocus this week and hope to be back at the crafting this weekend and blogging next week. For now, here are a few in progress pictures of my current crochet project – about the only creativity I have been taking part of over the past few weeks because I can easily pick it up while vegging out on the sofa.

Till next week my friends. Have a great weekend.

one square down, one to go

This weekend I made some major progress on my granny square pillow - I finished one side and am about halfway finished with the second side. I really hope to finish the back by my class on Wednesday so I can get my teachers input while I crochet them together. The square looks a bit wonky right now, it will look much better once I block it.

And waiting patiently for me to finish my pillow is this pretty rainbow of yarn. It really can't wait to become a colorful tote.

A friend started a bag just like this over the weekend and I am dying not to be working on mine too. I WILL finish my pillow first, I promise.

procrastinating and crochet coasters

I know I said this in my last post, but it has been a really busy, crazy time for me. I have been working on a couple  projects that are due next week. You have seen glimpses here and here. Working on these projects has had me a bit overwhelmed when combined with lots of work, a department move (came in to a new workspace today), taking care of my Pops and an intense desire to spend all my time crocheting. I know crocheting is just my way of procrastinating, but I had to give into it last night while watching a packed primetime on ABC. I crocheted up a few coasters out of leftover cotton yarn.

A couple are for my new desk... And one is for my friend Ang to brighten her new desk too.

I am liking circles so much I may have to try this for my next project.

catching up and some granny square practice

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I last posted - it wasn't at all intentional. I have been crazy busy at work and at home lately, mix that with extreme tiredness and you get a sick day on Friday. It was so nice to catch up on sleep and to have a lazy day on the sofa with embroidery hoop in hand. I wish I had more opportunities for days like that.

Valentine's Day for this single girl was spent with her Pops and Miss Molly - I really couldn't ask for better valentines. Pops loved his hug, although I think Molly really wanted it to be her softie - she was eying it all night with her big brown expressive eyes. I really should have made her a dog-sized one I guess... maybe next time.

My DVR is all but clear too - I was struggling to find good things to watch yesterday while crocheting. Luckily it will fill back up this week with new episodes of House, Chuck, Heroes and LOST.

I have been struggling to decide what my next crochet project will be. I don't want to be overwhelmed with an extra large project, would love to do something in bright spring colors, but am just not sure yet. So in the meantime, I decided to practice my granny squares by making a couple huge grannies and turn them into a pillow cover. I had some yarn in my stash that matches my sage green furniture and decided to to get started yesterday afternoon. You know, I always figured grannies would be hard, but they are actually pretty easy.