New Hooks

New Hooks


I went and got my hooks awhile ago. While looking at my blog I noticed that I haven't blogged in awhile and I never posted about my new hooks. So here we go. I got aluminum and steel hooks from Herrchners.




This is a set of 10 they cost $9.99









This is a set of 14 they cost $7.99





All together the two set costed me $17.98 not including tax and shipping of course. I think that is quite the bargin considering that a 24 piece crochet set at that site cost $29.99. They come in individual plastic sleeves so maybe that's why there is such a price difference. I will keep them in a litttle plastic container like the ones for children to keep their pencils in or in a plastic shoe box. So I still save!

Soft Shell Baby Blanket (Blue)

Soft Shell Baby Blanket (Blue)

So this is the new blanker using a thicker Red Heart Super Saver yarn. It gives a thicker blanket and the stitches pop better.

The stripe panel is still longer than the shell panel but it was easier to match them up.

Vintage Pill Box Hat

Vintage Pill Box Hat

I got this pattern here. A friend of mine is a part of the Red Hat Society. So I still have to add the purple ribbon but this is the finish product. The picture does not show the details right. I will try to get a better shot.

My mistake in yarn selection

Okay, another lesson learned. I did the soft shell baby blanket as you can see in my last post. I got the pattern from the Caron website. I did not however use Caron yarn. I used Bernat Softee brand. It's not because I don't like Caron products, it's just that the store I shop at the most didn't have that brand in stock. I didn't think that it would make that much of a difference. I was wrong. The Bernat yarn was softer, yes, but also thinner than the Caron yarn I think. This difference made the blanket smaller than it was suppose to be. Though I was happy with the final product it could have been better.

Also because the yarn was thin it made the project, in my opinion, take longer and up the difficulty level because of the joining you have to do. It was hard for me to get the hook in those tiny spaces some times.

I wasn't going to do this pattern again. At least not for a while but my friend is having twins and really liked it so I'm giving it another try. Her babies are not due until October so this gives me plenty of time to finish these blankets if I get to frustrated. However, I've started today and things are going much smoother. I think this is because I am using Red Heart super saver yarn since the babies are due during the colder months I can get a way with using a bulkier yarn. Of course I will post pictures when I'm done.

Also like I mentioned in the other post: I'm not sure if it's because I used different yarn than what the pattern was written for but the stripe panel is longer than the shell panel so I had to "make" it fit together. So we will see how the panels will come out with these 2 new blankets.

Update!!! The stripe panel seem to always be longer than the shell panel. Also using thicker yarn really does make a big difference!

Baby Beanie

This is a baby beanie. You can find the pattern here. I try to include a free something when my customers orders from me. This beanie will go with the soft shell baby blanket I made. As you can see I added the ruffle at the end.








The beanie with shell trim.

Soft Shell Baby Blanket

Soft Shell Baby Blanket

Just finished a blanket for a customer. I'll have pictures posted later today. It was a little hard than I thought so it took a bit longer. Mostly it was the joining to the strips that held me up. My blanket doesn't look just like the picture. I suspect it is because of the yarn that I used. All in all I like this blanket and just got an order to make 2 more. If you like the pattern you can find it here.

Also I'm not sure if it's because I used different yarn than what the pattern was written for but the stripe panel is longer than the shell panel so I had to "make" it fit together.

Mary Jane Skimmers

 Mary Jane Skimmers

I am making these for my mom. I hope they fit she has tiny feet about a size 5 though I have seen her buy shoes in the kids section (a size 4 1/2) can you believe that!

I also made a pair of these for myself but I only made a one layer sole. It made a difference in the final look of the slipper.  

One layer sole it looks more like a slipper sock. Two layer sole looks more like a slipper shoe. Either way, it is still cute and very warm. That's saying something since I prefer to be barefoot! Hey, what can I say I'm an Alabama girl no matter where a may live. I love the wind blowing through my toes. Aaaahhh...the memories.

This is a better picture of the slippers.

Crystalite Crochet Hooks

My hook broke!

I have a set of Crystalite crochet hooks. I don't know for how long I have had them maybe a year or two. Today while finishing a snowflake, my precious G hook broke. Which brings me to the importance to getting the right tools and storing them. The Crystalite hooks have served me well but I apply a lot of pressure with the way I make my stitches. My stitches are usually very tight. So right now I have tape the halves together so I can finish my project but tomorrow (if not tonight) I have to go and get new hooks. Steel or aluminum this time. Also at some point I need to get a storage system. One day I also want to get these really cool wooden hooks by Brittany (picture below). They are kinda pricey for me right now so it'll be hook by hook.

The hooks I have now. The hooks I will most likely get.

The hooks I'm in love with!

Frogging

Crochet Lingo

Frogging - refers to when you rip out or undo your stitches. 

Say it 3 times fast... rip it rip it rip it -- sounds like a frog's croak, right. Hence the term, frogging.

Popcorn stitch baby blanket

 Popcorn Stitch Blanket

I made this blanket for my nephew. This is the blanket where I learned the important lesson of counting stitches. It is made up of sc, hdc, dc, tc and popcorn stitches. I like how it looks and the next time I make one like it I will keep track of what I am doing pattern wise and post it.

Granny Square blanket

Granny Square Blanket

This is a granny square blanket I have made for my niece. Colors blue, yellow and grean. I'm making another one for my other niece in colors pink, yellow and green.

Brown Kitty Mini

Brown Kitty Mini

I still have to finish the face but I think it's pretty cute. I made this one's legs a bit longer than the pattern says. You can find the pattern here.

"Flame Brown" Doll

"Flame Brown" Doll

Tools:

Hook: H-8 or 5.0 size

Yarn: Red Heart

Yarn Color: Sunshine Print (the socks and shirt)

Yarn Color: Coffee

2Black Beads (eyes)

I'll have to work this pattern again because I lost track of where I was sometimes but I did find a pattern that is similar to what I did at Lion Brand Yarn. You have to sign up to read this pattern. The legs and arms on my doll are different and is wearing a hat but the body is the same just longer(more rows added). Still have to finish the face but pretty good looking right now. Two rows of double crochet fold it over and the continue single crochets to make the collar, sleeve and ribbing on the socks.

Creating Patterns

I am making a bear that should look he has on socks and a shirt. This is only my second time making a pattern and the first time actually writing it out. Once I'm finished I will post the pictures of the bear along with the pattern. Believe me the pattern will be very simple.

Name Change!

To make my site a little more relevate to what is actually on here I decided to change the name. Most of the things I will on here are more corchet projects so it just makes sense.

Pierre Octopus Amigurumi

This is Pierre Octopus I made for a friend and co-worker. He's the first amigurumi doll I have completed and my first commissioned doll at that! Cute, huh?

For sale:$20 usd

Amigurumi

I have seen many amigurumi dolls. I didn't know just how easy they were to create though. I love it. So long with the pictures of the granny square I have yet to post I will also be posting a doll I've made.

Counting Stitches

Ok. So I'm making this blanket for my nephew. I'm not following a pattern is simple singles, half double, doubles , triples and popcorn stitches. But I didn't count my stitches so my blanket is about 2 inches wider in the middle then at the bottom and top. I tried to make it make sense by decreasing stitches once I noticed that was getting too wide.

Lesson Learned: Count your stitches!

Update

I have been crocheting. I have several more granny squares and I am working on a blanket for my new nephew. I just haven't had time to upload the pictures yet. I will do so soon. 

On other news I am getting a ton of books delivered to me. I you would like to read my reviews go to Worth Reading It?

No 74

or #74 in book

Yarn: Red Heart

Color: Peruvian

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 3 and 1/2 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

No 68

or #68 in book

Yarn: Red Heart

Color: Peruvian

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 3 and 1/2 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

No 31

or #31 in book

Yarn: Sugar N Cream

Color: have to check

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 2 and 1/2 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

No 23

or #23 in the book

Yarn: Sugar n Cream

Color: 

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 3 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

No 15

or #15 in book 

Yarn: Sugar n Cream

Color: have to check

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 3 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

I will try to get a better picture, if I used the flash it becomes to bright and you cant see anything either.

No 30

or #30 in book

Yarn: Red Heart

Color: Williamsburg

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: have to check

Time: approx 2 and 1/2 hours

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

Ferris Wheel Granny Square

Ferris Wheel Granny Square

or #79 in the book

I don't know the name of some of the squares that I am doing. The book that I am getting them from just has them numbered. So I am naming them on my own. Also when you see the time that is how long it took me. I am still pretty new so it my take you much less time.

Hook: I or 5.5

Yarn: Red Heart

Color: Peruvian

Finished Size: approx 8 inch square

Time: approx 3 hours

I had to delete the pattern. I thought the book was out of print but I saw it the other day at Michaels.

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

Fancy Granny Square

Fancy Granny Square

or #1 in the book

It took me 3 tries to get this right. The pattern was a little confusing. I didn't understand the part that says "working around the next..." you'll see what I mean. Also this square takes a bit of yarn. I would say about half a skein. So this is not a scrap yarn project unless you like the multicolor look which is actually quite pretty. The yarn I used is multicolored.

Yarn: Red Heart

Color: Peruvian

Hook: I or 5.5

Finished Square: approx 10 inches

Time: approx 3 and 1/2 hours

 

I had to deleted the pattern. I thought the book was out of print but I saw it the other day at Michaels.

Pattern from Leisure Arts "99 Granny Squares To Crochet" published in 1998

Log Update Jan 19

Sunday Jan 18 2009
Bad Day

3 Little Debbie Dunkin Sticks
1 piece of fried BBQ chicken
Mac and Cheese]
2 cups of sweet Ice Tea
lots of water (actually my fav to drink)
bag of microwave popcorn
sausage egg and cheese sandwich
No Exercise

Monday Jan 19 2009
2 biscuit sausage egg and cheese sandwich
1 cup of coffee
3 tacos (beef, cheese, sour cream)
1 Little Debbie Dunkin Stick
10 min of Tae Bo (DAMN I'm out of shape!)

Dark Patches

When I gained weight not only did my body change but so did my skin. I have break outs regularly but what I would really like to get rid of are the dark patches on my cheeks. I would also like to even out my skin tone overall.

Losing Weight

I have always had a eating disorder. I overeat or binge eat but I do not vomit it up. For years I was able to not show any visable signs but when I stopped playing sports the weight pile on. Now I am 290 pounds and wondering when the hell did this happen. It's time to take back my body. My goal is to get back down to a size 8. It will be a battle everyday but damn it I'm going to try.
I will try to post my daily consumption log here weekly. As well as any exercises I do. Hopefully by posting my progress it will aid to keep me motivated.

My now (hopefully when turn out to be my before) picture: posted soon

Natural Hair Starting Length

This picture was taken on Jan 2nd. My hair length right now is a 3 to 3.5 inch afro slightly longer when hot combed. This is a pretty good length considering in late July 2008 I shaved all of my hair off! I must admit I haven't been taken care of my hair which is probably why it grows so slowly and breaks off so much. My goal is to get my hair to shoulder length again but this time all natural.

Basic Granny Square

This is a Basic Granny Square

Instructions are taken from here

Size: 7.5 inch square

Size: I hook

CH 4, join.

Round 1: Ch 3, 2 DC in the loop,* CH 2, 3 DC in the chain loop, complete 3 times total from*, CH 1, SC in beginning CH 3. This will put you at the center of your chain space.

Round 2: Ch 3, 2 DC in the same CH 2 SP, *CH 1, 3 DC, CH 2, 3DC in next CH 2 SP, Complete 3 times total from *. CH 1, SC in beginning CH 3 to join.

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 DC in the same CH 2 SP, *CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, CH 2, 3DC in next CH 2 SP, Complete 3 times total from *. CH 1, SC in beginning CH 3 to join.

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 DC in the same CH 2 SP, *CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, CH 2, 3DC in next CH 2 SP, Complete 3 times total from *. CH 1, SC in beginning CH 3 to join. 

Round 5: Ch 3, 2 DC in the same CH 2 SP, *CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, 3 DC in next CH 1 SP, CH 1, CH 2, 3DC in next CH 2 SP, Complete 3 times total from *. CH 1, SC in beginning CH 3 to join.

Solid Granny Square

I got the instructions to make this square from Teresa. Watching her youtube video really helped in making this square.

Size: 7 inch square

instructions coming