A crocheter who loves books.....

The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 4 is one of the books I got over Christmas. Now, I have a few stitch dictionary books already...but it is always nice to add another one to the collection, right? "Crochet is the hottest trend in crafting today. This inspiring fourth volume from the best selling stitchionary series includes chapters on many different crochet techniques: basics, geometrics, color, lace, edgings, and embellishments." What I really like about this book, is all of the stitches have beautiful photos taken of them that are crisp and clear. Each stitch has written and charted directions. The charts are drawn in color similar to the swatch example on the given stitch. It is also a great source for some crochet inspiration if needed.

This reference is coming in handy for me right now. I am currently working one one of my crochet resolutions for 2008. Making something for charity.

Crochetville is having a CAL for Warm up America. Caron is sponsoring a contest for making 7" x 9" crochet or knit sections (rectangles) for Warm Up America. It's called the Soften the World Simply Soft Sweepstakes. There are two categories, individuals and groups. Individuals can submit a single rectangle to win $25 in Simply Soft yarn (20 winners chosen randomly). In the group category, the group that submits the most rectangles wins a check for $300 for their group. All rectangles must be made with Simply Soft yarn and will be donated to Warm Up America. So, I have been using my stitchionary as a guide for my rectangles. So far, Crochetville has collected 235 squares. And so far, I have crocheted ONE! I am getting there. If you are interested more about the contest or would like to participate, click here.

Who knew????

Who knew that winding endless balls of yarn could be so fun? I am procrastinating on my boboletta. I am excited that there is a CAL (crochet a long) on crochetville about the boboletta. The pattern is not difficult, but there are a couple of sentences that could have been worded differently. I am waiting for a couple of people to catch up to me on the pattern so we can work it out together. Hmmmmmm...what else could I be doing? Ahem.....finish a Christmas gift maybe. Maybe not. So, I decided to clean up my yarn baskets and try out my new ball winder. Trying to organize. Trying to procrastinate...must. finish. first wearable.

Snow day....

Well, we had our first snow day of the school year. It was a nice way to extend a weekend!

The kids had fun playing in the snow and building snowmen as I crocheted!!!!! I have been busy the last few weeks crocheting, but really nothing to show for it. I ripped out my Kimono Shrug at three times due to my sides not lining up. But thanks to the people responded, especially Ghost...I think I have fixed my problem...Thanks.

Well...then I received some of my order from Webs. 13 skeins of Berrocco Ultra Alpaca (the rest is on back order ). I decided to put my Kimono down, and start something else. I ordered the Boboletta Cacoon Sweater pattern from Gourmet Crochet. Then, I received my order from Joann.com which included a ball winder. Oh, boy...what fun. So, to make a long story short....I decided to ball up some Ultra Alpaca and start the Boboletta. Currently that is what I am working on now. I will definitely take pictures on my progress and the beautiful yarn as soon as I get new batteries for the camera!

I also destashed my Noro Silk Garden to make a scarf. I have made the Shelly scarf from Crochet Me, about three times now. It is a real easy pattern, and the results are beautiful. I decided it was time to make one for me. I don't know how I feel about this yarn. I am hoping it will soften up after washing it. It is a bit scratchy...and now that I am writing this....it probably not the best yarn to wrap around my neck. Hmmmmm, going to have to rethink this one.

My hubby asked for me to make him a hat. I have never made a hat before, except for my Cranium hat. I was looking at Crochet Garden's Thick Warm Crocheted Winter Hat. So, that is a project for another day.

I think that crocheted cables are the "new" crochet thing. I have noticed them in a lot of designs. I am going to have to practice these, because I am not finding them that easy. Have you noticed a lot of cables?? In the next weeks or so I will be reviewing a couple of books that I received for Christmas. Oh, great fun!!!!!

Happy 2008

Just wanted to wish my blog readers a Happy New Year filled with lots of love, much happiness and health. Thanks for being faithful readers and making this blog a success this past year.

On Crochetville, they have a thread going on about what your crochet resolutions will be in 2008. I thought I would share mine with you today.

Since I have been crocheting for almost a year....these are my first crochet resolutions.

• Try to use up stash yarn. Maybe difficult since I have so many sized and colored balls left.



• Only buy yarn for a project I plan to do. Unnecessary yarn buying because it is on sale or free shipping after $45. Of course this does not apply to my Christmas $$ that I plan on buying random yarns on sale online....



• I need to not be so afraid of making a wearable. I need to be challenged more and need to try to understand patterns more and construction of a sweater.



• Need a well written explanation on how to sew squares together.



• Find a basic class on sewing...it would help my crochet skills.


• Do some sort of charity crocheting this year.

So...that is it for now. I am sure I will think of many through out the year. I have decided to try my hand and hook at the Kimono Shrug pattern. I bought Caron Simply Soft in a light purple with white as the second color. So far I have ripped it out several times. I am having problems with the most simplest of things. Does this ever happen to any of you???

I can't for the life of me get this side to be straight. Mind you, the opposite side is perfectly straight. I do not understand because I am counting correctly. It is so frustrating to me. I should be able to get this skill down...hehehhe. How am I ever to make a wearable with my crocheted sides like this. Hmmmmmmm, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Anyways, enjoy your New Years!

4:30 in the A.M.

Yes....you have read that correct. I was up until 4:30 A.M. not wrapping gifts but, Christmas morning trying desperately to finish my grandmothers afghan throw. (I did a variation on this pattern.) You know....it is not like I left it to the last minute on purpose....but it just kinda happened to work out like that. I did start this project soon before Thanksgiving....I remember because I was contemplating on bringing it to Thanksgiving dinner to work on the afghan in front of her...but quickly rejected that idea because it just didn't seem right. Then soon afterwords I had the sickness from hell. And you know that one is really sick, when they don't want to do anything that they normally do...ie, go on the Internet, crochet and talk on the phone. So...I really did not get the urge to crochet again until two weeks ago. I read fellow blogger blogs....trying to get inspired to finish up on Christmas crocheting...only to get really put off by the fact that I only had 8 more days until......And of course when I did finally did get inspired to start to finish....I totally procrastinated on this particular project and made a scarf for one of my friend's Christmas gift. Suddenly....it was Christmas eve...and I still had three more balls of yarn to miraculously whip up in to this throw. Is this going to happen? Is this ever going to be complete and ready to give Christmas day? It had to get completed...I had no choice.

I started crocheting around noon on Christmas eve. Did some stitchin' until around 1:30 P.M.....went food shopping for Christmas dinner (and yes...thank you I know what you are all thinking...I do wait until the last minute to do anything. Thank God for the last minute or nothing would ever get done in my life) By the time I got home, food put away, children had to get dressed and ready for Christmas eve celebrations at my Father -in-laws house. Ekkkkkkkkks...no time to shower.....just straighten up hair a bit by throwing it up in a clip....and continue stitchin' till we left at 4:00 P.M.

Enjoyed a nice dinner of stuffed shells, stuffed mushrooms, lots of shrimp and tons of goodies. (very tasty Nicole, BTW) And sat myself down on the nice cushy sofa and started stitchin' again. Volunteered my two sister-in-laws to roll a skein each into a ball for me...and you guessed it...stitched. Fast forward to 10:30 P.M......got children into bed all cosy while sugar plums danced in their heads.....left Santa's cookies and milk...left reindeer food outside (oatmeal and glitter mixed up) and carrots for Rudolph. Played Santa for two boys, set up the bikes....and grabbed a drink, watched It's a Wonderful life (again) and Christmas Story (twice that night) and stitched.....and stitched, and stitched and stitched until I could not stitch no more...and my wrist was aching too. Looked at the DVD clock and it flashed 4:30 A.M. WHAT THE %$&! My kids are going to be up in less than three hours......ekkkkkkkkkks and....wahhhhhhhhhh the afghan is NOT done yet.

In a quick 2 and a half hours from 4:30 A.M....opened presents....YAY (see Christmas post), washed new dish set from mom for Christmas dinner, washed table cloth and napkins, started ham...started boiling potatoes.....and talked to family...they are coming at 1:30 P.M. or so. Time check...10:30 A.M....get children dressed to go outside and ride new bikes in driveway (every where covered in snow by the way....) and finally sat down to weave end many ends....and finish fringe. 12:30 P.M....rolls around....not finished with fringe yet...looks up outside and notice my family is here already. WAHHHHHHHHH...not finished. Not dressed....runs to pack afghan in a box...and greets family frantically.

How does this story end?

With one very happy grandma and an afghan with almost all of its fringe!!!!!

Ho- Ho-Ho!!

Wishing everyone in Blog land a very Merry Christmas. We are just finishing up the day here...had my family over for dinner. Super yummy appetizers...a nice maple glazed ham, garlic mashed potatoes with melted cheddar, sweet potatoes, buttered corn, Campbell's soup bean and onion mixture. It was a definite Christmas feast. Santa was very nice to us this year. And my poor living room looks like Toys 'R' Us threw up in our living room.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Five years ago today, my son Aidan was born at a whopping 11 pounds and 4 oz. He was such a huge baby. He did not even fit into newborn clothes or diapers. He had some breathing problems at birth...and needed a blood transfusion so he ended up in the NICU for about a week. I can't believe it has gone by so fast.

O.K...so I have been among the missing. I have a good excuse, I really do. I am recovering from strep throat and the worst ear infection I have ever had in my life. The pain was so intense that I had to go to the ER in the wee hours in the morning to get checked out. I could not wait until my Doctor's office opened the next day. I had a few days of the chills and sweats...but that has passed. I have a missed a whole week of time. I did not even leave the house for anything. You know when I am really sick when 1) I don't log on to the computer for a couple of days and 2) did not have any interest in crocheting at all. I have soooo much to do. We'll see if I can get it all done.