Are You Hooking?

I have a love/hate relationship with crochet. My sister Jill taught me a couple of years ago. After a million tries to just single crochet, I figured it out. Her words?

"Don't quit your day job, Sarah. I think knitting is your thing."

Flash forward and I think I have the basics - single crochet, double crochet, yarn over. But give me a pattern? Puhleeze. I'm ripping back at least 5 times. I think that crocheters, or hookers as they like to be called, have an crazy ability to "see" their pattern. As a knitter, I really rely on the pattern directions to the letter. When you crochet you have to "see" where you are going as you are going there.

So here is my latest crochet obsession: Queen Anne's Lace. It's a free pattern on K2togonline. The yarn is a silk/cotton blend Debbie Bliss Stella in this really awesome orange, only 2 skeins.

Hmm, i thought, what else do I have in my stash that would make an excellent scarf? What about a webby black Rowan cotton?

Very dramatic, don't you think?

Crafty Mondays

I'm not the only crafty one in my circle of friends. Many of my teacher friends have a hobby they enjoy: digital scrap-booking, beading, knitting, or crochet. This summer my friends and I started gathering for Crafty Mondays.

What do we do? Well, we all work on our latest project together and discuss new ones over light snacks.

What's cool is that each one of us is working on something different, but we are all artists: making something from raw materials with our hands. We "ooh" and "ahh" over each other's projects. And laugh over silly stories.

I'm so thankful I have a group of people I work with that I enjoy hanging with outside of my profession.

Slubby Scarf - a Recipe

Three words: It is HOT!

But that's not preventing me from doing a little knitting with my handspun. Teal gave me the batting 2 years ago after she went to the amazing Southeastern Animal and Fiber Fair. Drop-spindle spinning takes a long time. A very long time, but it's so worth it.

This pattern is a recipe, which means that it's a simple idea, but can be easily adapted based on yarn yardage, personal tastes, etc.

You will need:

1 skein of Spud & Chloe Outer

approximately 6 oz handspun.

Size 15 needles

My scarf measured about 5.5" X 72"

Recipe:

1. Cast on 14 stitches with handspun. Knit 6 rows.

2. . *K1, YO to end.

3. Knit, dropping all YO as you go.

4. Knit one row.

**Repeat from * twice more. You should have 3 dropped stitch sections.

Then knit 4 rows garter stitch with your Spud & Chloe Outer. Cut your ends, pick up the handspun and repeat.

I ended mine with 6 rows of Spud and Chloe Outer, largely because I was running out of yarn. Also, I chose not to weave in my ends too much. I think it adds to the charm.

Now, if it would just get a little cooler.....

Summer Craftiness

It's well into summer here in Oklahoma; it's so hot Ava said this to me when we went to get Vincent from camp:

"Momma, it's so hot my brain hurts! Pick me up!"

Summer gives a me a chance to MAKE all the fun accessories I think of during the school year AND find on twitter and facebook. Here are some things I've made:

kindle cover out of up-cycled jeans

FAVORITE ballband dishcloths

princess-size purse

handspinning with Dawning Dreams batting

market Bag in dishcloth cotton

zig-zaggy wristlet
Bustle Backpack
Ruffly Tote from up-cycled jeans

Vincent's Americana Quilt

All of this, plus some more coming! Come back Monday for a Crafty Monday post!

Join the Hat Brigade!

I've been knitting hats again. Recently, someone shared with me that a dear family member had been recently diagnosed with cancer. I can only imagine what they are going through. I observed from afar my mother's diagnosis and treatment of stage 3 breast cancer. It is a horrible disease and there is so much suffering from it. I firmly believe that we are here on this earth to help ease pain and suffering in all people.

So join me.

Join the hat brigade. If you sew or knit, make someone a hat. If you are lucky and you don't know someone with cancer, make a hat for someone and take it to the hospital. I'm sure that the volunteer league could find a recipient.

Here is the hat I recently made for a special someone:

It's called Felicity. It's a slouchy, stretchy hat made with Berrocco Comfort. The yarn is an acrylic blend that is super soft.

HeadHuggers is an organization that helps provide hats for women recently diagnosed with cancer. There are groups from all over the U.S. and internationally.

If you know someone who has cancer or has been recently diagnosed, please find out how you can help them. I've found out that some people just need someone to listen. Or help with dinner. Or just be there.

Valentine's Day Card-making 2011

While at home for yet another snow day, Vincent, Ava and I made owl valentines this morning. We found the idea from FamilyFun, a great website for parents and teachers.

First use the template to cut out a teardrop shape and then fold at the top, making a triangle.

Then cut out 2 eyes. Vincent was tired of cutting teardrops, so we opted for the paper punch.

You're ready to glue! Print out your saying, get your eyes ready and glue all of your owl's details.

Finally, use up all of that glitter glue (that you have in the depths of your craft closet) and add colorful eyes to your owl!

When we finally thaw out, we'll cut little holes in the bottom for some twizzlers, lollipops or smarties.

This project was a little labor intensive. It took about 2 hours to make 30 valentines. It gave both kiddos some more experience with making art. I asked Vincent if he gets to cut anymore at school and he said, "only on occasion, in art class." Hmm, I see more art projects in his future....

I enjoyed the time AWAY from the chatter of the television and video games. Seriously, if we don't go to school soon, I'm going to start homeschooling....

Snowpocalypse 2011: What I Sewed

Last week, I taught school for 1 day. Yes, 1 day. Then we had a record-shattering snowfall here Tulsa.

14 inches of snow.

That is enough snow to shut a Tulsa down for a while. So, with the 4 snow days that followed (and there is still question as to IF school will resume Monday) I sewed. And sewed and sewed.

So first, I made 3 baby quilt tops. Using Aimee Ray's pattern, I made 2 blue and 1 pink quilt top.

My plan is to embroider them with the nursery theme. I'm planning presents for 4 babies this spring.

Also, I embroidered the onesies that have been sitting in my craft closet with more art inspired by Aimee Ray.

I have both of her books. I love how she has simple projects and simple motifs that are so pretty when stitched. Also, you can combine several designs to make a picture for a quilt, blanket, etc. Here's the link to her stitch along that just finished up last week.

Next up is a zippered wristlet. Last year, I learned how to sew a simple zippered pouch. The wristlet is just a handle attached - I found several tutorials and then took some of the design elements from them to create my own. Here's the tutorials:

2 little hooligans

Pink Penguin

Skip to My Lou

They have 2 little pockets on the inside for cards, keys or a phone.

I made progress on another baby blanket for one of those spring babies:

The pattern is Open Work Baby Blanket by Trudi Brown. It is an easy, 3 row pattern repeat. Of course, I'll be working on this tonight while watching the Super Bowl.

And guess what? School just called and there's no school tomorrow!