Short update

It's almost Thanksgiving, and I don't have much to show for crochet content. I think I have almost burned myself out on making potholders for now. I found a cute Hexagon Christmas stocking pattern I want to make, and have one hex block made so far. I've gone back to reading a lot for now.

My grandsons are all growing and getting to be more fun daily!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This weekend

The above are potholders finished this weekend. Still didn't finish the other magic square (ran out of that color of yarn) or the Hot/Cold Potholder (uh, oh, the loss of interest). The floral potholder is the Rose Ripple pattern by my friend, Claudia Lowman.

These were completed in between going to an all day family birthday party yesterday, and all of our normal errands that we usually run on Saturday.

No photos today. Just a quick update. We didn't travel this weekend, but kept oldest GS and got to keep newest GS ( 2 months old) overnight on Sunday. He still wakes up alot in the night, so the challenge was to get some sleep! :) I have decided that Dh is a "baby whisperer"along with already being an "animal whisperer". He was great with the baby, who actually slept a lot of the night due to his Grandaddy's intuitive attention. The little guy has colic and doesn't sleep well at night. I got to Crochet a little bit, started 2 "magic" potholders for me, but didn't finish either. Almost finished a "Hot/Cold" Potholder, but need to finish the edges up. Probably won't make that one again, as it is kind of plain looking, but somewhat "fussy" to make. I'll add a photo when I finish them.

Another Gehaekelte Topflappen. Sorry for the poor quality photo, but this was the best I could get at night on a dark background before I sent it out to the recipient. I made this one to send to a swapper for September. I thought I would really like the colors on this one, but now that it is finished, I'm just sort of "meh" about it. I now feel I should have added more color, and have decided I'm not all that fond of the ombre's anymore. Oh well, live and learn, I guess. At least someone can use it. LOL! I am feeling the same way about my Sugar n Cream yarn. I don't like it anymore! However, I will still use it to make myself dishcloths because it is perfect for that!!!

Ripple Potholder

Ripple Potholder by Claudia Lowman. This has been my latest potholder project. I really enjoyed the pattern, and as with the other ones I have made lately, there are endless color variations you can use. Claudia likes to make additional embellishments for the middle of hers, but I am not going to add anything to this one. Claudia hosted a "crochet-along" for her pattern on Ravelry recently and had a good response.

My current audio book is "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. Very entertaining so far!

More stained glass

I am making this one with J. P. Coats thread #3. I like the colors, but compared with the other two I have made, it appears not to be as bright. Maybe if I frogged it and added yellow instead of purple? The thread is a little bit too thin for my liking also. I can add another row since it is smaller thread, thus getting more color on it and it still works up to my favorite size, 7".

Yesterday was DH's birthday, and we celebrated quietly with our son and his family. For his gift, I bought him a set of boat seats to replace the old torn up ones in his boat. My grandson X, came back from Lubbock where he had been visiting his mother for the summer. My boss at work quit!!, and so I have had a busy week at home and at work. ;)

I am between audio books right now. I would like to continue the series I have been listening to, but our Library doesn't have the last two books on CD yet. My son has an Ipod that he might let me borrow, and I can possibly find them and download them from the Library on Overdrive or NetLibrary. I have been proud of myself, as I am trying to get a little more technically savvy this year. :)

Dh’s mother got to see her newest great-grandson the other night. She is recovering from a recent fall, but still hosted the family at her house, so that everyone could come at once to meet the newest family member.

DD's birthday was yesterday! (Happy birthday, Grim!!)

Gothic Stained-glass Potholder

Here is my most recent potholder, a variation inspired by the Gehaekelte Topflappen pattern. I have been admiring some similar "kaleidoscope" potholders made by a Ravelry friend, Claudia, and decided to make this one. I wrote out my varied version here:


Gothic Stained-Glass Potholder
(inspired by the Gaehaekelte Topflappen by Creadoo)

Yarns: Elann Sonata, Omega Sinfonia, Red Heart Crème de la Crème, Tahki Stacy Charles Classic Cotton or a similar weight yarn (various colors and Black)

Hook size: B

Finished Potholder size: 7 – 7.5”

Stitches used: magic ring, fpdc, fptrc (only used when there are two rows of same color), ch, sc, dc, picot - if you need instructions, there are many tutorials on the web

Row 1: With first color, make a magic ring, ch 3 for beginning dc, dc 11 into ring, join. (12) (Ch 3 will count as beginning dc in every round).

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. join. (24).

Row 3: Change to black, Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. join. (48)

Row 4: Change to next color, ch 5, dc in same st, sk 2, *dc, 2 sc, dc in same st, sk 2*follow * to *around. join. (should have 16 ch 2 spaces).

Row 5: with same color, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in each ch 2 sp around. join.

Row 6. Using black, sc in each dc and ch 1 sp, making a fptrc in valley, around. join.

Row 7: With next color, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same sp, 3 dc ch1 3 dc in each “point” around. join.

Row 8: Using black, make same as row 6, only using fpdc instead of fptrc, around. join.

Row 9: With next color, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in same sp, 4 dc ch 1, 4 dc in each “point” around. join.

Row 10: Using black, make same as row 8. join.

Make 2 sides for potholder.

Joining: Using black, sc in each st around, making picots at each "point", join. Add a bone ring, sc around it. Finish off.

July happenings

The photo above is of some of the books I have either been reading or listening to on Audio in the car lately. They are Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracey and The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. I also just got done listening to the third book of the Eragon "Inheritance" Young Adult series.

The photo above is of all the potholders I got yesterday in the latest swap for July.

And saving the very best photo for last, here is my newest Grandson, E. He was born last week, and was healthy. Now my oldest Grandson, X, finally has a baby brother! DD and DH both have birthdays coming soon. I am still crocheting some on potholders, but have slowed way down. I have already sent the one for August and just need to send out two more for September and October, respectively. I think when this swap is finished in October, I will take a break from swapping for a while.

Old Fashioned Potholder

Love. This. Pattern! This pattern is called "Old Fashioned Potholder" by Cathy Irish, and can be found on Ravelry. I am in a couple of potholder swaps and wanted to find an easy pattern that was quick to make. This is the winner! I can make about 1 a day just crocheting in between the other things I do all day long. The pattern is simple, but the colors make the potholders fun to make! I used Elann Sonata, with Paton's Grace and Takhi Stacy Charles Cotton Classic thrown in sometimes, also. One potholder is made entirely with Red Heart Creme de la Creme yarn, because it is a rougher yarn than the Elann, Grace, and Takhi. Love the colors of the Creme de la Creme, but the potholder isn't quite the quality that I was looking for.

Swappin

The top two potholders are a couple that I sent to my friend Claudia in Houston as part of our 3 potholder swap. The top pattern is Potholders by Bea Aarebrot and the second one is the Gehaekelte Topflappen by Creadoo. I also sent a fish potholder from a pattern I made up a couple of years ago. Below are two more she sent my way as a "thank you" for helping her a little bit with getting started on her blog. The pattern is one she created and the pattern can be found on her blog, Delights-Gems.

Grape Cluster Potholder

Here is a potholder pattern I am currently experimenting with. It is the free Grape Cluster Potholder by Maggie Weldon. I improvised and added the last couple of rows around the edge. The yarn I am using here is Hobby Lobby "I Love this Yarn". Actually, I don't really "love this yarn" too much. It's a little "soft" for potholders in my opinion, even when doubled. I might have to insert potholder insulation from JoAnn Fabric to stiffen it up. I do like the yarn size and the colors. I am in another Crochet Potholder Swap and we are supposed to swap 4 times a year. I need to have my first 4 potholders made by July 5. I have already made two and another front side of this pattern with different sized hooks, trying to get it down to a size I like. I think the general rule of thumb for a good sized potholder is between 6 to 9 inches wide. My personal preference is about 7 to 8" wide. The G hook produced a 9", the F hook produced 8 1/2", and the front side I am still working on was made with an E hook. I am hoping the E hook will produce the "magic size" that I like! I'm not really sure why my bottom photo turned out so dark, but it is the back side to the potholder. I almost like it better than the "grape" side! I will try to post better photos of all the potholders later.

More Potholder Goodness!

Look what my friend Claudia from Houston sent me yesterday! Woo hoo! Am I scoring lately, or what?!!! This lady is absolutely very talented and creative!! The "Green Eggs and Ham" and the "Tropical Sunset" are both her own creations. I personally think one day soon we will be seeing her patterns in books and magazines!

Sock Monkeys

As one of my friends mentioned, these remind her of the car commercial featuring a sock monkey who gets a "Mom" tattoo sewn on while having fun out on the town. :) I found this cute version of the Origami Hot Pad over at Violet VanderVool's project page and decided I "had" to make a couple for the twins. (AND yes, I'm going to say it) I had more fun than a barrell full of Monkeys making them!

The top photo is of all the potholders I have received so far in our swap. I am supposed to get two more soon. The next two photos are of my Mother's day "gifts" from my two children and 3 grandchildren. I got taken to lunch at my favorite Italian restaurant in North Richland Hills, TX called "Nicki's". LOVE that place! DD had decided my "old" digital camera was a dinosaur and gifted me with the new one (photo in middle). I still haven't sat down and played with it (as you can see I used "old dinosaur" to take these photos, LOL)!! I am still "potholder" obsessed and glad I am in a swap so I can crochet as many as I want and won't have them flowing out of every drawer in my kitchen! LOL!

Back to the 70's!

I got my first potholder from Dani in California for the Dazzling Dozen 2010 Potholder Swap! LOL! Boy does Dani have my number! I was in junior high school in the early 70's and very much into the Smiley Faces, Peace symbols, etc. I told her I love color and kitsch and she gave me both! She also added extra goodies and sent some chocolate and a bookmark showing a photo of the Redwoods! This is why swapping is so fun!

Scalloped Potholders

I re-discovered Priscilla Hewett's Scalloped Pot Holder pattern and made two more this week. I am on a serious pot holder making binge! Good thing, because I have joined another Swap in Ravelry called Dazzling Dozen Potholder Swap and we are put in groups and then one member a month gets either 5 or 11 potholders, depending on how many months you sign up for! I got picked for the first month, so I am eagerly anticipating the potholders I will get! I think this swap is more up my alley, as it isn't just one time a year. I have been having a bunch of fun cruising Ravelry and the internet for new potholder patterns to try.

Seeing Double!

Got to see my sweet twin grandsons this past weekend. I miss them already! They are at the very fun stage!

My DH got to ride a Harley Davidson with my DD, they made a trip to South Padre Island and had some father/daughter bonding time.


While there, I finished up this "Stir me up" potholder pattern by MintyFresh on Ravelry. DD grabbed it for herself, and told me the only potholders and dishcloths she has are the ones I make for her. Awwwwww! Isn't that sweet? :)

2010 Potholder Swap!!

My five potholders arrived today from the 2010 Potholder swap I participated in on Ravelry! What a lot of fun! Two of my potholders came from overseas, Germany and the UK! They are all gorgeous and I love them!

The top photo is from Lucia Rook, who also participated in the swap, but isn't a member of Ravelry or Flickr. She e-mailed to show me all the lovely potholders she received and I am sharing her photo here. The one I made is the chicken.

Happy Easter

X came this afternoon to color and hunt eggs. He picked me a bunch of wild iris growing around our property. Isn't it beautiful?

Gehaekelte Tawashi

I was cruising through Ravelry this morning, and some cute Tawashi's caught my eye because they were made so similar (on a smaller scale) to the Gehaekelte Topflappen I just made. This one was a Japanese pattern so I just decided to try to figure it out and think I came fairly close!!

My version, using a G crochet hook and some old Red Heart Acrylic yarn (Ombre color of your choice and white): To begin, using the Ombre color, I just made a magic ring, ch 3, 11 dc into ring, sl st in top of beginning chain, tighten magic ring. Changing to white, ch 3, 1 dc in same st, ch 1, 2 dc in same st, skip one space, *2dc, ch 1, 2dc in next st, skip 1 sp*, follow * to * around. sl st into top of beginning ch. (24 sts) Sl st in next st, sl st into ch 1 sp, ch 3, 7 dc into same ch 1 sp, 8 dc into each remaining ch 1 sp around. (48 sts) Sl st into top of beginning ch 3. Finish off.

Make another side, then matching wrong sides together, with Ombre color, join with sc and go around the tawashi (as in photo), making "petals". Finish by making ch 10, join in beginning ch for loop.

Another potholder!

Finished today, another Gehaekelte Topflappen by Creadoo. It is written in German and I translated it a few months ago with a lot of help from many different sources! I am still not sure it is the EXACT pattern, but I even got a translation from someone who reads German, and my translation below which is basically:

"Ch 6, join to make a circle, then Row 1: ch 3, 11 dc into the ring (12), Row 2: ch 3, 1dc in same space, 2 dc in each dc around (24). Row 3: ch 3, 1dc in same space, 2dc in ea dc around, (48). Row 4: ch4, 1dc in same space, *sk 2 dc, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in next sp*, follow from * to * around. Row 5:ch 3, 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in same space, *sk 2 dc, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in same space*, follow from * to * around. Row 6: same as row 5. Row 7: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, three dc in each ch 1 sp around Row 8: same as row 7. Row 8: dc 8 in each ch 1 sp around. Row 9: sc through both sides in each stitch across top of flower, sc, ch 1, sc, ch1 all the way down then back up and continue this around each petal. "

was pretty accurate from what I can see. However, I have seen several other different "modified" translations lately that I think I like better. This time I used a magic ring instead of the ch 6, join. This one is a little larger than I like to use, even though I used an F hook to make it this time. I will most likely make more, but I really like the look of the ones that Kudepihha made and the ones made for the potholder 2010 swap, by bluej (both in Ravelry).

Dishcloth frenzy

A view of our SUPERHERO, Sonny, facing down his ARCH ENEMY, the vacuum cleaner!!!




To those of you who have been wondering, I really am still alive over here, just haven't blogged lately! I have been knitting and crocheting a lot, just small items, dishcloths, potholders and dishtowels. I have just been obsessed with it this past month! I am planning on joining the potholder swap for 2010 in Ravelry. I have 5 potholders made, now to ship them off before the deadline of March 27. In return, I will receive 5 back from other participants. I have seen some really lovely one's out there that people are working on! Can't wait to see them all when the swap is over with! I had to include the photo of Sonny above, because he is so fierce and funny about defending us from the VACUUM cleaner! He also has to keep an eye out for any radio controlled robotic toys that might be sneaking up on us!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!

Snow Day!

The snow was really beautiful falling all day long yesterday. We ended up with about 9" here at the lake. Some cities to the North around the Metro area received as much as 12 to 13". According to the news channel yesterday, this is the largest snowfall recorded in one day for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area since they have been keeping recorded data (over 111 years worth). A lot of people were without electricity by the end of the day, but we were lucky and didn't lose power. I also managed to get an extra day off since the power was out today at the building where I work. As you can see above, my grandson enjoyed his day out of school building a snowman with a heart! I made it to a Michael's store and bought some Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick and plan to try to make another "Fourteen" neck warmer (a little longer this time).

More generalities

It's been rainy and chilly here off and on, and everyone at my house is sick with colds. Other than that, everything is going ok. I have chugged through another 2 books on CD and have read several more. We just vegged out yesterday and watched a lot of kids Movies on the FX channel with my oldest GS. My daughter's FIL has been in Haiti helping with the earthquake efforts. He is a surgeon and I am sure his skills were sorely needed. I hope to hear from her soon how his trip went.

The photo above is of another neck warmer I completed about a month ago. This one is knitted and the free pattern on Ravelry is called "Fourteen". It is being modeled here by "Sonny". I wore it to work one day, and realized it is still a bit too short for my taste. I think I would prefer it to cover my chest as well, since my leather jacket doesn't button all the way up to the throat. I plan to try knitting another one sometime and adding a few more inches and see how that works for me. It was a very easy pattern and it did keep my neck cozy and warm the day I wore it!

Generalities

Weather predictions were wrong.....no snow for us!! Haven't been doing much lately except listening to books on tape. DD got to come up here last week with her job to a buying fair, and we got to visit with her some. It's never long enough! Been searching Ravelry for some new knit/crochet inspiration, but not finding much to interest me lately. Wore my neck warmer yesterday and figured out it was a little too short for my taste. Guess I might make another one a little longer and see if I like it better.

Books on CD

My newest obsession is listening to books on CD when I'm in my car. I'm currently listening to "Gravity" by Tess Gerritsen. It's really a good story! The first two I listened to were "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein, and "U is for Undertow" by Sue Grafton, and I was hooked! I haven't had a lot of time to crochet in the last week or so, but I am itching to make a couple more neckwarmers and maybe some fingerless gloves. I'm already trying to figure out some of this year's Christmas gifts and have some good ideas in mind! I'm meeting a couple of friends for lunch today, and since I get Monday off, I am looking forward to having a nice, long weekend to start a project.

The fisherman's wife....

This neck warmer is a little jewel called "the Fisherman's wife". I found the pattern on Ravelry, here. I made it last week when the Arctic freeze hit us down here in Texas, and it saved me from freezing on the long walk across the parking lot to the building where I work. Hubby has been eyeballing it for himself, I just might have a fight on my hands if I don't make one for him soon!

Beanie just in time for cold weather!

I completed this hat the other day. It is the "Divine" hat by Rheatheylia. Using Caron Simply Soft Shadows in "Moss", I went down two hook sizes, but it was still a little too big for X. I suppose it will still keep him warm, anyhow. I enjoyed making this one, and look forward to making a couple more of her other free hat patterns!

In other news, my little dog drank a small amount of anti-freeze on Saturday and had to be taken to the pet hospital. She ended up staying there for two nights taking antidote and having to be on an i.v. So far, she appears to have come through it just fine. I am so happy my little friend is ok!!