Update...

So here is what my current project looks like so far.

I was trying to get it so you can see the pattern in the photo, which you sort of can. As I said in the last post, it's a really simple pattern, just a side to side alternating rows of double crochet and single crochet. But I am really pleased with how it's coming out. And you can see the yarn is so pretty. I think that's one of the reasons I am sticking with such a basic design really, so the focus is on the yarn.

Now if I can just make it through the whole blanket without dropping or adding any stitches anywhere and not realizing for twenty rows! I am kind of notorious for that. Well, I don't know if notorious is the right word--I am the only one I've ever discussed it with, so to speak. Suffice to say, it can happen if I am not paying close enough attention on a side to side project (which is why I usually stick to squares).

I had originally planned on making it a seven skein blanket--six skeins for the main body of it and one for the border. But it looks like I'm going to have to go pick up a few more (another bonus of using Red Heart, usually there's not too much risk of getting a bad match if you have to buy more yarn for your project at a later date). Still, it will be totally worth it. Besides, if it gets big enough and I have some yarn left over, maybe I can make myself a pair of socks with the extra. :o)

That's all I've got for now. It's raining here--again. I kind of wish it would stop. Sigh. But, tomorrow is my Friday because I have Friday off. My husband and I are going to the Rush concert Friday night. Friday should be a good day for crocheting because I went ahead and scheduled some errands for during the day since I'm off--oil change, dentist appointment, and of course I'm going to take the project with me to the show. I was working on my first pair of socks at the concert last August. It's almost becoming something of a tradition now.

Hope you all have a groovy and dry week!

Peace,
C

On to the next project.

Well, now that I've finished Hobbes (who went over quite well, by the way!), I'm on to my next project. This one will be a birthday present for a friend (the big 3-0). Her party is on May 3, so that's my deadline.

I'm just making this one a throw, and I'm using my giganto-hook. I am not actually sure what the size of it is, but it's that big plastic grey hook you can get at Wal-Mart or Joann's. I love it.

I've got seven skeins of the yarn I've chosen and am pretty much just planning to go until I have one skein left and then do a border. The yarn is Red Heart Super Saver in the color "Bay Print." It's a really pretty variegated yarn in dark blues and gray-greens with a bit of a sandy color as well. The colors make me feel like I'm at a lake in the mountains, so I am tentatively calling this one the "Lakeshore Throw." I'll get some pictures of it up this week, and you can see the actual yarn in a picture I put up a few posts back (the one with Mr. Picasso Pants).

I am still playing with the pattern a bit, but I think this is what I've settled on for now:

Chain 151.
Single crochet in second chain from hook and every chain across (150 sc).
Chain three, turn.
Double crochet in each sp across (150 dc).
Continue alternating rows with sc and dc.

I like how it's looking so far, we'll see if I can keep doing it without going crazy or if I end up ripping it all up and starting over with a new design...

Well, that's it for now. I wish you all a happy week!

Much love,
C

Quick update on a finished project (yay!)...

Hey everybody, meet Hobbes.

Yay! I finally finished! I am doing a little happy dance! So is Hobbes, in fact...
I am oh so very glad I finished this, for oh so many reasons! I am very glad I made it, and I feel my friend will enjoy it. The body was pretty easy but the head I am pretty proud of (even if I still think it's a little too big). I ended up doing it in the round all orange until I got to the muzzle, and then I stitched on (cross-stitched actually) the stripes. I'm sure there's probably a better way out there to do it, but I think this worked well.





He's all nice and floppy like I feel the "real" Hobbes would be, and he's plenty cuddly. Not that I imagine my adult male friend will be doing much cuddling, but still. It counts in theory.

Now it's time to tackle my next project, another blanket. I am going to use my giganto-hook for this one in order to save on time and sanity. It makes for a quickly worked project and though it's a little looser weave, it comes out very soft. I'll keep you updated on that one. Also, I think I still have a few "archived" projects to share with you as well.

In the meantime, enjoy your weeks. Happy crocheting and existing to you all!



Peace,
C

(Mr. Picasso Pants wishes Hobbes could stay, but he understands he's going to a good home, and he'll probably get to visit him often enough.)

Variations on a pattern...

Here are two blankets I made using the pattern "Jesse's Square" from the 2007 Crochet Pattern a Day calendar.






























I started one, then had to take a break and started the second, which was a gift for friends, then went back to the first one after I had finished blanket number two.



In the first, I made twelve of the squares in alternating wine red and heather grey. Then I took the second half of the square pattern (after it was squared off, since the center is actually circular) and repeated it in black around the blocks.









The second blanket is actually just one giant square. I started off with the circular center portion in oatmeal and then finished the original square pattern in dark red, then continued repeating the square portion of the pattern until it was blanket-sized.







I very much enjoy this pattern, it is fairly easy to make, and it looks very intricate. I may try it again using a smaller hook and more squares at some point.

Hobbes update: Well, I completely redid his belly last week. It looks the same, just not lopsided, which I realized it was after my last post. I have started and undone the head about four times now. I do think I've settled on how I am going to make the head at this point though. I think I am going to make the head solid orange except for the muzzle (white) and then stitch on the stripes afterward and see how that goes. Fingers are crossed. Ideally I'll get that done this weekend, but I guess we'll see. I have until next Friday.

Until the next post, I wish you all well and hope you have a happy week!

C

In progress...

So, I have about two weeks left to finish my current project. It is a birthday present for a very good friend of mine. I was hoping to document the pattern as I went and then be able to make at least two more (one for my nephew and one for myself), but it looks like my friend is going to be getting a one of a kind original, because I apparently suck at documenting patterns, and also, I don't know that I'll want to go through this again.

What I am making is a stuffed Hobbes doll, as in Calvin and Hobbes. Here is the picture I am using as a guide:


And here's what I've got as of tonight:


All I've got left is the head. Of course, that's probably going to be the really tricky part, but we shall see I suppose. I guess I could have stuffed the body before photographing it, but the idea of having a decapitated Hobbes lying around the house is just creepy. Anyhoo, as I said, two weeks to go. I hope H likes it. I think he will, but I might get him a gift card to Chipotle too, just in case.

Maybe after I get some other projects under my belt I may come back to this and try it in a smaller size? Hmm...I am not sure.

For anyone interested, I am using Red Heart sport weight yarn in Pumpkin, Black, and White. It looks like about 1 1/2 to 2 skeins each of the orange and black, and about one skein of white will go into this. I feel like the orange might be a little too bright, but I am not finding a highly wide range of orange yarns available, and I feel it is at least appropriately tiger-ish.

Meanwhile, my newly adopted jinxlet, Mr. Picasso Pants, is ready to help me with my next project, a birthday blanket for a friend turning 30 early next month. See, he's all raring to go.

I'm kind of excited about this project too, I found a really nifty variegated yarn, which you can kind of see in the photo. I only hope A likes it as much as I do!









Well, until next time folks. Enjoy yourselves!

C