The makings of a rippleghan, and a crocheted "fit to be tied" handbag

This is such a busy month with so many things to make! This is one of my WIPs:

This is my version of "Fit to be Tied" from Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker. I started this project in Red Heart Soft, and absolutely detested how fuzzy it was looking. My sister in law is a sophisticated kinda gal, and I just couldn't see her carrying a fuzzy bag. So, I restarted it using one of my absolute favorite yarns - Sinfonia. It's a 100% mercerized cotton, and its in sportweight. Because of that I had to change all of the dimensions, stitches, and hook size, so I've been winging it. Its turning out great so far. I picked up that wonderful black and white fabric from Ikea, and it will line the bag. A pretty black ribbon with white stitching will be threaded through the gaps near the handles. I might need to make me one of these.

Also this week, Hobby Lobby had once again put their Yarn Bee Mosaic Twist yarn on sale. I have made a couple scarves, a hat, and a throw from this yarn and I just can't use it enough. This stuff is regularaly $6.50 a skein, but is currently $.99! I bought a ton of it! I plan on making a ripple-ghan in stripes for my queen sized bed. I can't wait to start it , but it will have to wait for after all the holiday gifts are completed - which knowing me will likely be Christmas day while we are in the car on our way to the in-laws.

Teva Durham's crochet skirt

I started this skirt a couple days ago and its working up beautifully even w/ the wrong yarn - we'll see how it turns out.

Tis the time for making Christmas presents!

Every year for about the last 4 years I've been making a lot of the Christmas presents that I give, and I always forget to take pictures. This year I plan on keeping track of everything I do as I do it so I won't get behind. I wish I would have done this before so I could prove how much I've improved. Then again, maybe I wouldn't want to be confronted with my early sad attempts at crochet.


So...I have my list of names, and I'm slowly checking everyone off. Mostly I'm crocheting and making jewelry this year. Here is my first finished present for my 2 year old niece:

This was made from a generic pattern in a pamphlet purchased at Hobby Lobby, and the yarn is Lion Velour in bulky. I didn't do too well at this because its actually supposed to be ribbed, but I didn't understand the front loops/back loops only. I had never seen that in a pattern before but I guess I will know for the future. It still came out pretty nice, I think.