Busy, Busy Week!

It was my nieces birthday a few weeks ago and we bought her the most adorable little chair from Ikea. It's a replica of the adult Poang chair. As much as I loved it, the cover on it was just a plain oatmeal color so I had to do something to give it some color. I picked up some fabric on the same Ikea trip, and used it to sew a little pillow. I added on a pink flannel rectangle panel to the front, and embroidered her name on it in stem stitch. I love it and so does she!

I also worked for quite a while on the picot mesh skirt from Loop-D-Loop Crochet. At some point I realized that it was working up way too big for me, even though my gauge matched. I decided to try working in decreases by skipping stitches, but after working several rows and trying it on I realized it looked horrible. I have since restarted the piece over in Senseo crochet thread in black with a metallic thread. The yarn is much smaller than what the pattern calls for, but its working up in my size this time. There's also no stretch at all to this yarn, which means I had to make it looser than usual to fit over my large hips. :) (in proportion to the rest of me, anyway.)

I also started my ripple blanket while I was lying in bed the other night watching Heroes because it was the closest yarn to hand. I wish I would have noted whos post it was that recommended the pattern that I'm using. It's a really big ripple and its working up really well.

I also got a great DVD this week about learning to knit. I ordered it off of Amazon - The Complete Beginner's Guide to Knitting. I think its a bit cheesy, but since it works so well it doesn't matter. The instructions are better than any I've ever found, and the chapters are laid out well. It moves slowly and you can repeat with the push of a button. It's a great setup.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Beginners-Guide-Knitting/dp/B000A0P6A4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1196994526&sr=8-1

All in all - its been such a busy week! I just have to remember to type it up once it a while or I forget and never do it. I can't even begin to remember all of the projects I've done that have no documentation.

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.