Another project finished! This one is a cuddly laprobe using Lion Brand Homespun yarn in Colonial, Windsor and Baroque.
I started it to use up the Homespun yarn, and to have a cuddle blanket for the couch. I still have quite a bit of Homespun yarn to use up, but this was a good stashbuster!
It worked up beautifully, and was such an easy pattern - one row of single crochets, one row of double crochets in each color.
The border is a 5-double crochet shell pattern with 7 double crochets in the corners.
It turned out just lovely! I used a size M hook, and the finished product has nice drape and feel.
I've moved on to another WIP, one started at the beginning of 2014. It was the first go at a mood blanket. I knew it was going to be big, so I planned it for a queen-sized bed - 11 blocks across with the blocks measuring nearly 12 inches. The pattern is just beautiful, but each block took about two hours to complete. Needless to say, I didn't get very far - about two and a half rows done before the WIP was silently hidden away...
I took the squares apart, no minor task since I couldn't find where I tucked ends, and found I had exactly 24 squares. I laid them out into a 4x6 square laprobe, alternating plain and variegated evenly.
I'm using a join-as-you-go method, and it's going together quite quickly. I'm using an H hook, and it's everything I can do to not spend every waking moment working on this WIP. I never thought this project would see completion!
The other project in the works is the reorganization of the yarn room. It started with tackling a room I haven't set foot in for two years - long story. Needless to say that room has been cleared out, cleaned, carpeted and repurposed. The items put in that room cleared out another room I now call the yarn room. All the yarn is in one room, organized by color in totes. All the crochet books and magazines are on a bookcase in the room along with all my WIPs. I even have a file cabinet for the loose leaf patterns. So very excited!
Happy on the Hook!
Gwenhywfar
After creating my 2014 Year In Review, I realized just how many WIPs I had and it was a bit disturbing. The most disturbing part was the photos I posted detailed only about half of the works in progress I have stashed about my house.
The month of January was a whirlwind of cleaning, both at work and at home. Part of this process was organizing the Yarn Stash. Now all the yarn is first sorted by weight. The #4 yarn is sorted by color. The crochet cotton is sorted by color as well. And it's all in one room, all together, with the crochet books!
During this process, I discovered all the other WIPs hiding amongst the Yarn Stash - yarn purchased for a project and sitting snuggly in its bin, waiting for some loving attention. Or the other projects in totes with yarn purchased and pattern ready to go.
The corner-to-corner afghan is the first completion in my 2015 Goal: Tackling the WIPs. This afghan is destined for the Blankets for Barracks Soldiers project. This was a great project, used up a lot of yarn (stash buster!) and it's something I felt connected to. Every time I sat down to work on a few rows, I thought about the soldier - man or woman - and hoped it would bring some cheer into his/her day, knowing that someone spent quite a few hours thinking about them and thanking them for their service.
This new year has been a bit strange on the outside of the house as well...
We had hardly any winter in December - in fact temperatures reached almost 60 degrees at one point. January and the beginning of February have been a mixture of rain, fog, rain, fog, a peeking of sunshine and yes, even snow.
On one of the mornings, I woke to snow - or a dusting of snow. I haven't missed it much... don't care for shoveling. Wasn't thrilled with the arrival until I stepped out my back door and saw this...
I made the dogs hold still long enough to grab photos of these wonderful tracks. They brought a smile to my face as I imagined all these birds scurrying around my yard, unknowingly leaving their mark for me to find. I didn't want to walk anywhere and disturb these little bits of birdy fun!
So here's to tackling the WIPs this year and taking time to enjoy the beauty of nature!
Happy on the Hook!
Gwenhywfar
