You know, when you’re plunking ahead on a project, then you get hit with a case of strep throat and possibly mono (but hey, you’re still waiting to hear back about the mono from the lab test from the doctor’s office so you’re not really sure you have it) but can barely pull yourself out of bed, all while on your 29th birthday, and you just lose steam? I had one of those weeks.

So how about some crochet? Let’s discuss.


sick camp, again

I got really wrapped up in wanting to make a Granny Square afghan last summer (what do you know…it’s another one of those started, then forgotten projects that I am SO GOOD at) and, surprise, surprise, it’s been sitting in a basket in my sewing room since last summer. It’s such an easy, mindless project that has been nice to have while I’ve been so sick. And I’m glad to be working on it again, because I really do like it.


granny stack

I’m just using basic acrylic yarn (Vanna’s Choice…not mine, however) and although I’m glad I’ll be able to wash it without problem, it makes me realize just how much I don’t like acrylic yarn. If I ever do something like this again, I’ll definitely go the way of cotton–if I want washablity, or wool. The acrylic is pilly and not very soft. It’ll work well to go at the foot of a bed, but not something that I’d like to cuddle up with on the couch in the winter.

But, perfect for working on in between nap times. Do yourself a favor, and take a pass on the strep throat. You’ll be glad you did.

Also, as a side note, I just wanted to add that I haven’t forgotten about the hand quilting tutorial, but it will be a little further off than I had originally planned. I’ll make a big deal about it once it gets a little closer though!

I am so easily swayed by peer pressure. Okay, so nobody pressured me, but I still couldn’t help myself.



didn't need a new hobby

So yeah, I’ve got a bit of a crochet addiction now. I kept getting caught up in all of the new crochet that kept popping up in my photostream on Flickr in the past month, but then! I found out there was going to be a crocheted potholder swap. And then I may have signed up…without completely knowing how to crochet.

I do know how to do some basic crochet. Very, very basic. So, to work on my skillz, I thought I’d step the difficulty level up an notch and try the hexagon pattern that I found at this lovely website. They turned out a little like this:



yarn bowls

Not so much what I was hoping for. I don’t know if I’m just reading the pattern wrong or my stitches are too tight, but I added a few chain stitches here and there, and a few more stitches in the final row, and things are looking so much better.



didn't need a new hobby

So much better. It looks a teeny bit different than the pattern wanted them to look, but I’m happy with them. I hadn’t intend on wanting to continue on with these, but I think I’m going to attempt a full afghan of them. We’ll see though…I’m easily sidetracked.

I’ve just got to say, there’s a lot of really good things going on right now. Like for instance, it’s the most lovely day we’ve had here yet this year. I have to admit, I’ve been a little jealous looking at all of the photos of people already experiencing spring, but today, it really feels like we’re not too far off.



afghan progress

Also making me happy is how fast I seem to be coming along on my first crocheting project. I can’t believe how fast it’s moving. In just over a week, I’ve done all of this:



afghan progress

The only downside to the whole thing is that I really had no idea how much yarn I was really going to need. As I keep adding rows, I’m really starting to notice that I’m just not going to have enough to finish the whole thing up. I’m worried that I’m not going to find what I need to finish it. I’m not real worried about things like dye lots–I’d just like to have a close match. Even so, I’m nervous I’m not going to find what I need.



afghan progress

So, spring weather, crocheting progress, and a TiVo that is filled with last night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony so that I can see all four original R.E.M. members play “Gardening At Night” makes for a great day. The best of days!

Thanks to all of the good advice left in the comments from my last post, I’ve been able to get myself off to a decent start with crocheting.



Afghan's Start

So it turns out that crocheting is nothing like knitting! I had no idea about this. Despite this minor issue, I stuck with it this weekend (and with far less throwing of the yarn and hook as well as inappropriate words used for frustration then when I learned to knit, actually) and managed to do pretty well. The photo above is just about one day’s work on an afghan.



The Goods

Now, I do realize that everyone and their mother are making afghans these days, but I’m really smitten with all of them.

I’m going to try really hard to only use what yarn I’ve already got on hand for this project. Most of the yarn that I pulled out is wool–Cascade 220 and Lion Brand Wool, but I’ve also got to use up some of the cheaper (and not nearly as nice to crochet with) Lion Brand WoolEase. I wouldn’t normally mix the two kinds of yarn, but I really want this to be a project that I don’t have to buy anything new for. I figure, not only is it a good way for me to stash bust, but it’s also a good way to practice–crocheting and staying on task with a project.