Little things add up ...

First it's a trivet and then it's a pot holder ...

Grandma's Potholder

But that's only a prototype. I had to make an bigger and better one right? So I made this one ...

One with a little more imbellishment. But could I stop there? Oh no, there are lots more to do with those crochet hooks. And plenty of left-over yarn to use up. Waste not; want not. That's right ... they're all crocheted too. I don't know what's gotten into me. So I decided to do another 3-dimensional trivet. Another hot pad ...

I've got to keep this one for my tea pot. I might even make a few for Christmas gifts though.  And about those shawls that have taken over my life lately ... Well I finished one for my Mom too.

Blocked and put away for Christmas. If it looks familar it's because it's the Stacy Shawl pattern from the book "Wendy Knits Lace". I love that book and especially this shawl.

But then I also love the simple shawl by Stephen West called the Boneyard Shawl. I finished this one 2 days ago and before you give me high praise for being a really fast knitter ... let me explain that I've been working on this all Summer. It was my "go to" project when I needed something simple to relax with or to knit on while talking to friends.

I wore it yesterday and love this one as much as the others too. So that's the picture story of my knitting life lately ... with crochet stepping in now and then.


(All details for all the above projects can be found on my Ravelry page)

Go ahead and make something!

Busting the Stash ...

A reversible flower hot pad ... a trivet for setting hot stuff on like a tea pot to protect your table!

I'll be crocheting up more with either cotton or wool or whatever I have stashed away leftover from past projects. Having trouble figuring out how to do it? How about coming to my workshop at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in November or December. (dates to be determined)

Bust that Scrap Stash!!

Looks like knitting but it's NOT ...

Tunisian Crochet.

If you're a Senior crocheter like I am you know this Tunisian Crochet is based on the old Afghan Stitch. So it's not as new as it sounds. But something different is being done with it. Turning it into wearable fabric is one. And even the stitch can be altered to look different as this Tunisian Lace Scarf is ... the pattern is:

Tara's Tunisian Scarf

by Ellen Gormley

from Interweave Crochet, Accessories 2010

Looks like knitted lace don't you think? Once you get the rhythm going it's relaxing to do this one needle project. It's small so you don't even need a special needle other than a crochet hook without a finger rest on it.



Only one modification and that is one extra stitch. I chained 15 instead of 14 and put one extra plain stitch at the end so that the left side matched the right side better. I also made this scarf long enough to wrap around my neck twice to give it more of a Cowl effect.

Came out really nice using Misti Alpaca Cotton Silk yarn. The cotton makes it soft and the silk gives it some warmth. Best of all .... the colors will go with everything!



Now what more can you ask out of a little scarf, huh?

I crochet as well ...

as knit. Although, I use to feel like a crocheter is the "poor" cousin of the knitters. Yet I still loved to crochet. I'm obsessed with knitting but my first love is crochet. After all, I crocheted for over 40 years.



I want to share this wonderful article I read today. Very inspirational and even contains some of my own beliefs as I was growing up such as; "Every dream begins with the decision to try to accomplish it. If you believe you can, you can." I thought of my great grandmother Brown when I read it. I spent many hours visiting with her when I was a child. I thought she was fascinating. I loved the stories she told of her own childhood. And of course I loved her crochet!



After every crochet class I teach now; I no longer feel like a "poor" cousin. I now feel like the "rich" Aunt sharing my love of Fiber Art.

And teaching a skill that will last forever.

Multi-tasking is the name of my game.

Yarn of the Month knit up to 4" squares ...
washed and blocked [a quick blocking that is.].

Dream Big by SWTC

2 sts/inch on US 15s
100% Superwash Wool
132 yards Color: 623

Karaoke by SWTC

4.5 sts/inch on US 7s
50% Soysilk, 50% Wool
110 yards Color: 314

*Love the way the color changes and the way the yarn knit up.

Therapi by SWTC

5 sts/inch on US 7s
50% Wool, 30% Bowlder (Jadeite) Fiber, 20% Silk
110 yards Color: 530

Alpaca Cotton by Rowan

4 sts/inch on US 8s
72% Alpaca, 28% Cotton
148 yards Color: 00403

*If you're allergic to mohair, this one is a great substitute. Produces the halo of mohair, but isn't. Still should be warm with the alpaca. I think this was my favorite in this month's selection. Created a beautiful drape after washing and blocking too.

Interesting yarn but I'm not rushing out to buy any yet. I've got a lot on my plate already. But who am I kidding? I cast on and crocheted up this scarf below in 2 days just after buying the yarn at my LYS Seed Stitch Fine Yarn ...

Double Bubble Scarf from Crochet in Color ...
using Spud & Chloe Sweater. [Gosh I LOVE this yarn] [Did I tell you that already?]



Do I have enough scarves?

Apparently not ...



And it's another crocheted piece. Just a temporary break from knitting?

But I do need to finish knitting this ...



Have you had enough already? I'm a Stitching what??!

I've got weekend plans ...

For the next few days I'll be working on this ...



With only a break to take a ride to New Hampshire on Saturday to see [as my DH would say] the "Little Chickens". We haven't seen the Grandchildren in a long time. I miss them. I need my little munchikin fix!


So this little number will have to what.



.... and this one below too.


I'm not happy with it anyway and plan to frog back and start over.
But I've got enough to keep me busy ...

And I can only dream about butterflies right now.


'Coz there just is not enough time in one weekend!

Crocheting presently on top of my schedule.

As you know, I completed the Crocheted Lacy Shawl ...

Which is on display at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn if you want to get a good look at it. It consists of 2 rows that are done over and over again. Even a beginner can crochet this one. I'm happy to have it done and it came out even nicer with this yarn than I had expected; Rowan 4 Ply Soft in a very neutral green. What a nice drape. And warmer than it looks too.

But now I have also finished a Crocheted Sampler Scarf. I started out with a pattern called the Aran Sampler Scarf by Marlo D. Cairn. But I changed it up a lot and added a number of other stitch patterns after doing just a few from the original pattern. I used Spud & Chloe Sweater in the color vanilla. Very Aran Style don't you think? I did add some lace to the scarf also. I want to show beginner crocheters that after learning the basics stitches (ch, sc, hdc, dc & tr) that, just like in knitting, how you combine these stitches creates the patterns & designs. So here's some pictures ...

Now it's on to a crocheted Belaro with the yarn left over from the scarf. [okay, I did have to buy more yarn to add too it ... but it'll look so nice with the scarf.]

I'm still knitting too. Honesty!

Where am I at on what I'm doing these days?

Before I go on & on about either knitting or crocheting, I want to announce our 10 year anniversary today. DH spent yesterday afternoon with his oldest daughter and I came home to see this package sitting on the table ...



"This is for you, but for TOMORROW," said my smiling sweetheart. "I bought it myself," he said. I love this guy. He was so proud to have this for me to open up tomorrow (well today).

I'm taking him out to dinner tonight. To our favorite restaurant, Finz!

I've been working on 2 WIPs this past week. Not missing in action, but sometimes I feel like I'm missing. The Crochet Shawl is continuing to put me to sleep on the commuter rail into work & on the way home too. But I have only one more skein left to go. I'm ready to be SO DONE with this! I'm going to let Courtney of A Yarn Tale at my LYS (the new owner) put it on display since she has the book, Plus Size Crochet: Fashions That Fit & Flatter the pattern is in. If you're new to crochet; this is a perfect project for you but note that there is an error in the pattern. It's missing a 'chain 2' in the second row after doing the 5 dc shell. But easy to make once you know about the missing chains.



Of course I had to start another project. You know I'm a "starter" right? But this one I will finish by next week. I'm doing it for Seed Stitch Fine Yarn to put on display and help promote the new yarn line by Blue Sky Alpaca. It's called Spud & Chloe. It's a Cotton & Wool blend. Has the smooth feeling of cotton but not the scratch of wool. The flexibility of wool and the warmth without being too warm. Does that make sense? If you don't care for wool around your neck, you won't feel it in this yarn. I love working with it!

The project is called the Aztec Scarf by Amy O'Neill Houck. Now this is an Intermediate crochet pattern. I plan to give a one day 2 hour workshop on this scarf in November. Come join me!



And last but not least ... Glow in the Dark Yarn?



What do you suppose I plan to do with this?

Anyone interested?

This was posted late on the website for Seed Stitch Fine Yarn of Salem, MA and it never got in this past newsletter from SSFY. But I'm still hoping to catch the eye of a few of my beginner students who might be interested in learning some more crochet while working on this shawl.



Woodland Shawl Workshop - Pattern from Interweave Crochet Fall 2008. Let's work on a beautiful crocheted shawl together. We will learn how to read a crochet chart, while creating the flower border. It's easier than it looks! Must know some beginning crochet, such as chain, single, and double crochet. (In-store sample @SSFY)
Intructor: Rhonda Culbert

Sunday, February 8, 1-3 pm
Sunday, February 22, 1-3 pm

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Just call Seed Stitch Fine Yarn!



I've been busy finishing a few small projects this past weekend ...

Socks anyone?



Just the Basic Sock pattern using Regia sock yarn.

And sometimes you need to cover something old to make it seem new again (sort of).



Great way to use up Bits & Pieces.

I just can't throw anything away ...