Blanket news

This is the latest blanket that I've been working on. The color parts are double crochet and the black rows are crossed half doubles.I'm going to put black around the edge when I get done with the red.








This is the second to last scrap blanket that I made. I'm sitting on top of it because it's being used as a chair cover at the moment.



I've been working on my third walker tote using Pop 'N Yarn in Regal Blue and Calif. Coral which is a bright shade of orange.

Happy magnets

I have six handmade refrigerator magnets on the freezer door at the moment. I made 4 smiley faces with the intention of using them as promotional tokens for my new knit & crochet group. The first time I used wiggly eyes.
I used a new children's toothbrush to brush the faces' fun fur hair.

I made my first plastic canvas project, a kiwi fruit a few days ago. Except for the yellow center which is crochet thread, I used worsted weight yarn.






The faces without eyes. I won't show you the disturbing photo of one of the faces when it had a needle stabbing through its head when I had to weave in the ends of its hair. Rest assured it kept a smile on its face the entire time so it must not have been too painful.













I picked up a double crochet striped blanket that I hadn't worked on in a long time. I'd say it's baby blanket size. Have to weave in many, many ends. (I'm just not pleased with the way it looks when I crochet over ends.) I haven't decided which color I'll use to go around the edge. I'm thinking I might go with teal or turquoise.


















It occurred to me that I didn't have any photos posted of my hand holding my knitting. This is a scarf in bulky yarn that I pick up occasionally. I prefer the slickness of Sensations knitting needles by Jo-Ann Fabrics. My blue needles are size 10 and my pretty green ones are 10.5.

I have more blanket news. I'll post more pics this week.

The new knit and crochet connection

This week has gone by quickly. Today I've spent most of my time in my bedroom crocheting the scrap blanket from the previous entry while listening to The Janson Directive by late author Robert Ludlum. I'll probably get more of his books because they have a pleasing amount of action in them. He was the creator of The Bourne Identity. I'll have to get that one for sure.




Above are the items that I received from my West Virginian Rockford Crochet partner for January's exchange. Two 6" squares, a cotton dishcloth, hat and bookmark. They are at my computerless friend Kathy's house at the moment. They'll return home on the 16th.


I converted the bookmark into a refrigerator magnet by gluing on magnetic tape with Tacky Glue. The peel 'n' stick adhesive didn't adhere well enough.


On February 6th I started a new Yahoo! group for knitters and crocheters. It's called Stephenson County Knit & Crochet Connection. I'm still getting the word out about it through flyers and business cards.

You can read the description about it here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scknitcrochet/

Today I approved the first member so now there are officially 2 members!

Crocheting on impulse

I made it over to the group foster home facility on Monday the 2nd to make my second donation. Under the stuffed animals is a scrap blanket that I crocheted. There are several crocheted hair scrunchies and one knitted headband which is atop the Red Heart Grey Heather scarf. I liked the sweater underneath it, but it's too small for me. I bought it from a thrift store. I received a sample of Celine Dion's new fragrance which I'd sent for. Left click your mouse for a closer look at the items.

I finished the scrap blanket that I made for myself and started making another scrap blanket with half double crochet clusters of two and rows of double crochet to speed the progress even more. I should donate it to a nursing home when I'm done. I have one done already that could use some company in the trash bag that I have it stored in.

I very awkwardly held the camera with my left hand to take a photo of how I hold my hook. The button for taking the photo is on the right side of the camera.

I must've been watching a season 2 episode of The Waltons on DVD when I decided on impulse that I'd like to make a cotton dishcloth. Peaches 'n Creme Pink Lilacs. It almost used the entire 2 oz. skein.

For those of you who don't already know this, the grandmother on The Waltons crochets. She usually uses an off-white thread and a steel hook, but last time it looked like she was using a white hook that looks like a plastic one that I have and off-white worsted weight yarn. The actress wasn't faking it. She could crochet rather quickly and uses a grip like you would holding a pencil. I can't hold my hook that way for long. I think the way a person holds their hook might depend on how their hand and wrist bones are formed.