Progress, progress, progress

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

2014: A year in review and a New Year to ponder...

2014 was definitely a year of mandalas for me. As I created the collage, I was pleasantly surprised how much I really did accomplish. I tackled several projects I had never done before - mandalas, fingerless mittens and coasters. But most of all, the afghan is by far my favorite.

As I review the last year in crochet, I look back and think what the year was like. I spent a good deal of time crocheting on my Blankets for Barracks Soldiers afghan, and it's almost done. We're nearing the time to ship the blankets off. It looks like we'll have 4 from our group of three crocheters and one that was just donated today. I've picked up a few WIPs and work on them off and on - I've found I like to have a couple on the hook at the same time to keep from getting bored. I've spent a good deal of time looking at patterns in 2014, and not just ordinary patterns. These are ones that will challenge my abilities and skills, learning new techniques and stitches.

Before I get into that, just a quick peek at my Christmas this year...

This was a special Christmas for me and my family. My mother and I cooked three Christmas dinners for family. We love cooking side by side, and each of these meals had nearly completely all new recipes - another love for both of us. This Christmas was spent celebrating with family and sharing laughs. Shortly after one family dinner, a cousin accepted a marriage proposal.

In my own home, each Christmas decoration has a special meaning. Most were made by my father, mother or myself. Some were passed down from my grandparents. Some were given as gifts. Growing up, my family would always give gifts we made and a good number were Christmas decorations. My father's skill in the wood shop were phenomenal. My mother continues her talents with paper crafting, sewing, crocheting, crafting, quilting and more. I so strive to be like her.

Dad's woodwork is shown above - the reindeer, the tree and the gingerbread family in front of the clock. Below is a combination of both parents - the cloth angel is mom's and the wooden one is dad's. Mom created the nativity scene. Underneath the tree are packages created on Cricut, a paper laser cutting machine.

My tree is the most precious this year. I haven't put up a tree larger than the one you see in the above photo since I've been in this house, mostly because of the fur monsters. This year I decided to try it and see.

The tree is in the same place as my grandparents had it when they lived in this house. As I was decorating it, I was filled with memories of Christmas Day with them as a child and I could feel their spirits fill the house. Some of the ornaments are hiding in this photo, but they are the old painted glass ornaments. I also have some ornaments my grandparents hung on their tree as well.

It was this tree that got me to making crocheted snowflakes this year, by the way....

Now back to new patterns and WIPs. Of course, as I was looking through massive amounts of patterns this year there are those normal afghan, doily, scarf and shawl patterns. But I have found some with unique stitches and uses of colors that I am anxious to get started on. I am hesitant to dig out a new pattern, however, looking at this:

You guessed it -  WIPs! From the top left: Mood blanket, temperature blanket, Blankets for Barracks Soldiers, baby blanket, Stitch-Cation and lap robe. I have kept current on tracking my mood and temperatures for 2014, so I can pick that project up at any time - really! The Blankets for Barracks Soldiers is almost done. The baby blanket, well, I don't like the pattern so I'm not sure what to do there. The Stitch-Cation came at a bad time when I was horribly busy, and I didn't want to fight squares that weren't the same size. The lap robe is meant to pick up when I just want to relax, and it's nearly done. So all in all, not too bad.

Good thing I'm okay with that list, because I am starting a new project - the 2015 Moogly Afghan Crochet-Along (CAL)! I have chosen my colors using I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby:

Sagey Tweed, Cranberry, Cream and Dark Olive.

A new pattern will be released every two weeks on Thursday, for a total of 24 12-inch blocks by the end of the year.

The month of December is for joining and borders.

The best part is the author of the Moogly blog has recruited 24 crochet bloggers to design the 24 blocks for the year, which will guarantee that the blocks will always be free and available for the CAL.

The schedule is as follows:
January 8 & 22
February 5 & 19
March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16 & 30
May 14 & 28
June 11 & 25
July 9 & 23
August 6 & 20
September 3 & 17
October 1 & 15 & 29
November 12 & 25

More information is available at mooglyblog.com/2015-moogly-afghan-crochet-along with additional information at mooglyblog.com/2015-cal-block-1.  

Here's to ringing in a New Year, full of hope and yarn!

Happy on the Hook!
Gwenhywfar

Stash Bustin'

The time has come to use up yarn. While it's nice to have yarn on hand for that quick, I-want-to-start-a-project-now moment, I have more than enough for those times. I decided to tackle the Lion Brand Homespun stash first. I have leftovers from various afghans, plus skeins I've bought for projects I'm just not sure I'll tackle. And then there are the skeins I purchased on sale (bonus!!).

I started with a sc, ch1 afghan (taken from a dishcloth pattern), but the unique pattern that was so visible in the dishcloth disappeared in the afghan due to the yarn. My mother had purchased some Homespun Thick and Quick and whipped up a simple afghan of one row of single crochet, one row of double crochet. I liked the looks of it and frogged out what I had started.

It works up fast and is oh so soft like Homespun is meant to be. I'm carrying the yarn on the side for all the colors, eliminating the need to tuck all those slippery ends! The length is set - I believe I crocheted 120 chains and I'm using a size N hook. The yarn is Homespun Baroque, Windsor and Colonial.

It's a great stash-buster, and an easy pattern. Right now my life is hectic at work planning a fundraiser and a parade, so I need a pattern I don't have to think. And I need to crochet just to unwind. I will be looking for other easy patterns that are stash-busters as well, because work will get only busier now as fall arrives.


Happy on the Hook!
Gwenhywfar

Soft and cuddly, for me and the fur monsters

I love the feel of Lion Brand Homespun yarn. My dogs love Homespun yarn... more specifically when I'm crocheting with Homespun yarn. The first non-granny square afghan I made was with Homespun. I'm not sure that was one of the smarter choices, now that I look back on how I struggled with the yarn. But I love the afghan. In fact, I made two. Simple afghans of just row upon row of single crochets.

Even though I don't have the afghan out this time of year, the minute either of the fur monsters can get near it they want to cuddle into the soft fibers. I really can't blame them. Homespun entices you to curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate with no mind of what's going on outside.

Homespun can have a mind of its own. It's a bulky weight yarn but woven with the strand is a thread that gives it another hint of variegation. That strand is heavier than sewing thread, but it can unravel. I've learned to tie knots at each cut end of yarn to prevent this. In addition, I wonder how well the ends will stay tucked in because of how soft the yarn is.

All in all, I still love the yarn. I generally don't recommend beginning crocheters use the yarn until they are comfortable with basic stitches and have their tension evened out a bit. Tight stitches with Homespun yarn would likely cause frustration because of the yarn's tendency to unravel/fray.

This doesn't stop me from using the yarn, though. I made a throw for my mother using two strands with Red Heart's Holiday Stripes Throw (LW1882). All the while, the fur monsters curled up on my lap to 'help' me make this gift for her.

When I finished, I decided I needed to make one for myself.

All that's left to do is tuck ends and finish the border. Why don't I learn and tuck ends as I go? Life would be grand, I would be less stressed and much happier, and the afghan would be DONE by now! Ahh, but we don't learn, do we. But I am close, really close, to being done. It's on the table, instead of a bag. So maybe even work on it tonight.

Happy on the Hook!
Gwenhywfar