HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A New Year -- do I set resolutions NO!

But I do have some goals. I would like to learn how to crochet: socks (I have some great sock yarn), gloves (at least fingerless!) and mobious scarf.

How about you?

It always feels like I time to set goals. However, September still feels more like a time to start something new. I am sure it is from all the years of starting school in September!

Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

December Snow

Same view, 2 different days. It looks much prettier when it is not snowing at the time of the picture. The second picture reminds me of pictures from my childhood where the colors are starting to fade.

I have felt very lucky that I can work from home today. Probably tomorrow too, since the temperature is not planned to go above freezing so the snow will turn to ice. If I worked closer to home --

like I used to! -- I would be more willing to driving in but it seems silly to risk my life to drive 23 miles with those idiots who don't think they need to slow down when it is icy out.

Caitlin Likes her Afghan

Finally got to give Caitlin her afghan. She seemed to really like it. Of course, she is spending the winter -- their summer in Australia so it is folded up on the end of her bed here in Seattle. If she was home today, I suspect she would be using it! It is cold out and has been cold for several days now.

Does it look familiar? Yep, it is the background for my Blog heading!

Hooded Scarf

I createad 2 scarves for the NW Family Holiday campaign. The first one I made I did not like the pattern or the yarn that well. This one turned out well. I used yarn I received at the Knit & Crochet Show. On the last day of the show, they had a number of hooks, needles and yarn free for the taking.

I took this yarn and created this scarf. I have 2 balls left which I plan to create a scarf for the Warm for Winter project. However, since the blessing is tomorrow morning, I suspect it will have to be the first scarf I make for next year.

You Light Up My Life...

Lighted crochet hooks! I thought they were hocky until I started riding in a carpool. It is very dark in the morning when we head off to work (6:20 am) and especially in the back seat, I could not see my crocheting! What is the point of riding in a carpool if I can't listen to my book on mp3 and crochet while we ride. These solved my problem! I can really see my crocheting AND I can even use it to count my stitches.

I have been working on the Lion Brand Yarn Crochet Along project. It is surprising how often I miss a stitch on the simple blocks I have been making!

Herrschners had a great sale on them! They were only $3.99 a piece. That is pretty reasonable even for un-lit hooks. Since I was placing an order, I also ordered the afghan kit which has a pattern I have been searching for over the past several years. I haven't started it yet but it looks so lacy and I wanted to see how then made look like it is in layers -- my fear is that i have to sew them together!

Pet Sweater and Blanket

I found a new favorite site -- crochetkitten.com! It has many pet items but also other free patterns. As you can see by the picture, Baby was NOT the model for the sweater. I knew I would never get her in it and I didn't want to cover it in cat fur -- any more than it is just by my working on it!

I used Sensations Multi-Brite for the center of the sweater and blanket and trimmed it with Lion Brand Jiffy Wine.

I bought the Wine colored yarn to help fill out the second Linus project blanket I made. I bought a second skein of the Sensations yarn when I realized I did not have enough for the blanket and learned my lesson about buying enough at the same time because the dye lots were VERY different.

So, I tore out the additional rows. So then it was too small, so I edged

it with the Jiffy yarn. It was not very easy to find a color that went with the yarn, Jiffy was the best match.I double-crocheted onthe short ends and singled across the sides that were ok.

Towel and WashCloth Set

Well, I finally finished the towel and washcloth set. I found the pattern on the Coats & Clark site. I even bought the eco-cotton blend yarn. It feels so soft! However, I found a cotton yarn at A New Yarn that matched the Mary Kay containers I planned to combine with the towel and cloth for the Workplace Giving Auction.

The first time I made the towel. I did not make the 8 sqaures (4 for each end of the towel)

at the same time. So, when I went to make the 4 for the end of the towel, I grabbed the wrong hook -- the downside of the Clover Ergo hooks, they are all the same color -- they were too big. Which I did not notice at first. The second error I made was slip stitching the 4 squares to the center of the towel instead of sewing them. This made it real puffy which may have been why I didn't catch the size error.

I didn't see the error until I brought it to the Seattle Crochet Guild meeting! Fortunately, I only showed it to a few people before I realized the errors.

So, today, I finished the towel for the second time. It came out MUCH better. While I was at our meeting, I bought the last 2 skeins of the same cotton (we have our meetings at A New Yarn). This time I made all 8 squares at once and I even sewed the 2 groups of 4 together at the same time so I used the same process.

I had to take apart the old towel to used some of the yarn for the new towel. It took me a while to find the ends I had woven in -- that is a good thing! I always feel like my ends are so obvious.

Finger Puppets

I also made finger puppets for the auction along with their own little container. The directions were from Crazy Crochet. This book is geared toward children to the patterns are pretty general. Basically, make a rectangle as tall as your finger and wide enough to go around.

It said to then sew it together and THEN put the face on. It was much easier to put the face on before sewing it closed. It suggested hair for the girls and hats for the boys.

The next project was creating milk and cookies. So I used the pattern for the mike glass as the container for the puppets

Gecko Bookmark and snake

I created a Gecko bookmark and a bending Snake for the workplace giving auction at work. I have not made toys before. I was a little worried but I think they turned out okay.

Both sets of instruction were a little lacking but I was able to figure out most things. On the Gecko pattern, it did not tell you to slip stitch onto the leg after making the 3 toes. If you do not, they are more in a line instead of how they appeared in the pattern picture.

For the snake it said to put in craft wire. However, when I got to the store, there were SEVERAL different weights of the wire AND it was $5 for the smallest container. I only needed one foot but I would have to buy significantly more PLUS a set of wire cutters. So I used a cigar filter cleaner instead. It is not quite strong enough but it worked!

I have the googly eyes left over from making candy cane raindeers with my nieces back when they were young and wanted to that type of activity :)

Check Out Ravelry

Ravelry is a network of Crocheter, knitters and all "fiber" crafts. It takes a bit of time to get invited to set up an account. but once you do you have a wealth of information at your fingertips. As well as a ton of groups both local and international. I have already been able to find patterns for some projects!

I quickly found a pattern for a chemo cap using Baby Clouds yarn (one of my many stash!) for a friend is WAY too young to be battling cancer.

I am on a committee at work to work on our Workplace Giving auction (I have already submitted 2 afghans, hat/scarf set as well as a crochet Gecko bookmark/snake/crayon kids item. During our meeting this week, they were talking about creating items for pets so I quickly found some patterns for "cuddle mats" and of course toys!

Crochet and Knit Show in Portland

Last weekend I went to 1 and 1/2 days of the Knit and Crochet Show -- Should be named Crochet and Knit show, in my opinion. I attended one class. It was a great time. I bought too much yarn -- if that is possible.

I also took a knitting class -- a free drop in class sponsored by Coats and Clark. Knitting would be fine if there just were hooks at the end of those pesky needles!

Check out some of the photos I took while there.

Sharing Photos

This weekend I went on a photo shoot with the Shutter-up group from work. We went to Point Defiance Park and took pictures. The great thing about taking photos in the digital world is that it is FREE! Unless, you count our lunch or breakfast out!

We went through some of the gardens and then down to the beach. We were going to go through Fort Nisqually but it cost $4 and were tired by that time. We headed to Never Never Land but it was gone. :(

More fun for me was sharing pictures with my friend in North Carolina. I sent her a camera and she took some pictures on Saturday. On Sunday, I helped her set up a Picasa account and upload them into an album. Always the teacher, I had fun talking with her about pictures. It also gave us something to talk about that was more fun then the trials of our jobs and lives.

3rd Times a Charm!

Well, it took me 3 tries to make my first pillow. Last year when I made Kirsten's afghan, I thought I would make a pillow too. I bought a pillow form and figured I would just crochet a cover. I did, but getting the size right was a challenge (I wasn't following a pattern) and I didn't like how it looked. I figured if I did just single crochets on the back and shells on the front, that would work. NOT!

I then came across a free pattern for a button pillow with buttons on the side. I first thought I would make it with Seahawks buttons or football buttons (I have fabric of footballs!). However, when I was showing it to Margie (Kirsten's step-grandma) she scrunched up her nose at the thought! So, I decided that may not be the way to go.

My first plan with the buttons was to put them on both sides. White as the base and then dark blue button on top of the white button on the light blue stripe, light blue on the the dark stripe. Well, sewing on buttons proved to be about the hardest part of the whole project. Sewing through the yarn and 2 buttons was about all I could handle!

I mentioned this was my 3rd attempt. The first was the single crochet mess. The second was this pattern. I got within 2 rows of having it completed and ran out of dark blue yarn. I also had very little of the light blue. I could not find more of the light blue which I believe was Red Heart Country Blue, but believe it or not, I had NO covers left to tell me for sure. Again, I fell victim to the company not making a color that I did not have enough! (I feel better about buying 15 skeins of the teal for Carmen's afghan now!)

Back to the dark blue issue, I bought a new skein of the "no dye lot" midnight blue. However, it was significantly darker than the left over skein I had. So, I abandoned the project with 2 rows to go.

As I was trying to get items from Kirsten's birthday list, I was not able to purchase the items in the stores, I had to order them online so I was not going to having anything for her to open. Monday (we were celebrating on Wednesday! I decided to start over. This time using the new skein of dark blue. I had to tear out the first attempt to recover the light blue yarn. I also had to keep the number of rows for the light blue the same since I only had the yarn that was in the second attmept!

Believe it or not, I actually got it done -- even with going to the Mariners game on Tuesday night. Needless to say, I crocheted through the entire game! She seemed to like it when she opened it.

Smilebox Birthday Card

Here is a birthday card I created with the Hallmark Smilebox for a co-worker. It is quick and easy. If you don't mind ads on the side, there is no charge!

Make a Smilebox free ecard

Sensations Yarn Scarves and Hats

I bought one skein of the sensations yarn. Thinking I could get a couple scarves and hats. The skeins look as big as the Caron one pound skeins but they have significantly less yarn. So I bought a second skein! I made 2 hats and 3 scarves. I liked this color partly because it reminded me of carmel fudge swerl ice cream!

The pictures to the right are of the hats. My niece was kind enough to "model" one for me. I suspect it looks so good because of her!

2 of the scarves I made were made using the pattern for January 27 in my 365 day calendar. It is called Tiny Textures. Basically alternating front and back post double crochets. It is hard to see the texture in the varigated yarn. The blue is the same pattern but smaller yarn and hook.

Clone Brush in MS Digital software

Yesterday, Carrie and I went to the Greenwood Car Show. We got there early so at least a few shots did not include a swarm of people too. I have posted all -- that are fit for posting in my public gallary.

I took a picture of a jump seat but there was a no parking sign right behind the seat. I cropped the picture and then used the clone brush to put sidewalk behind the seat.

I had to be careful as I was using the clone brush. Basically, you mark a spot on the sidewalk as the starting point. As I brushed, it moved with my strokes so I had to make sure I did not copy the planter into the back of the car.

I also used it to brush out the door knob of a picture of the red flying horse logo that used to be for Mobil. Someone had it on the side of their car.

I did a lot of cropping as well on the pictures.

Yarn Holder

One challenge we all face is keeping our yarn feeding without it getting tangled. This is a somewhat unique yarn holder :) but works fairly well. If you are like me, and have a cat that sits for hours on your lap, placing the yarn between her ears keeps the yarn feeding freely! Much better then when she sits on it!

Jury Duty Scarves -- 3 cute, one...

Last month I spent 3 weeks on Jury Duty. I decided while I was doing this, I would learn some new patterns and stitches. As is always the case -- for me, is some turned out better then others! I liked 3 of the scarves and I have not figured out what I must have done wrong on the 4th but I sure did not look like the picture with the pattern.

Some of the great things about being on jury duty:

• Learned the buses again.


• Got to hang out in downtown Seattle -- and eat out almost every day!


• Listened to my book on tape and crocheted on the bus each day.


• Met some great people who were on the jury with me.

Crochet Cable Starter Scarf. This scraf is from the Knit and Crochet Today PBS show. I like that they show how to do tasks in both knit and crochet. The web site is linked to the right. This "cable" is done using front post doubles and triple crochets. I have been thinking about trying it as a "panel" afghan. I think it would look neat as an afghan with the panels done in different colors and then sewen together. Another great -- take along project.

Basket Weave Scarf. This is also a stitch that is in my 365 patterns calendar. It looks like some of the stitches go sideways but it is again done with the front and back post double crochets. I also did this in light green. Left over yarn from the "KCLS Meeting Afghan"!

Mile-A-Minute Scarf. This was on the inside of a skein of Coats & Clark yarn. However, I certainly did something wrong! It called for 2TRCL which I interrupted as 2 Triple crochet clusters. When in fact it meant 1 cluster with 2 triple crochet stitches on each side of the 3 chains. If the picture to the right had been included, I would not have made the mistake. It is included in the online instructions.

Tip: If there is a pattern number on the instructions you find either on the skein wrapper or free patterns in the store, you can go to that company's website and enter that code and usually you will see the instructions on their website. Some will also include corrections and/or comments from people who have used the pattern.

Peppermint Twist Pattern (April 8) from 365 Crochet Stitches a Year: Perpetual Calendar . I purchased this for myself (for Christmas) from the Cultured Purl yarn shop in Gilman Village, Issaquah WA. The link is to the calendar on Amazon. This scarf is a bit too wide. The great thing I like about the patterns in the calendar is it gives you the number of stichets to complete one pattern plus the extra stitches for the beginning chain. This is done with front post triple and double crochets. That is what gives the look like the opposite color is in the other color's row. Do do a front post stitch down into the other color. This pattern is like the cable pattern above in that it has a very definite right and wrong side.

KCLS Meeting Afghan

Two weeks ago we had a craft fair at work. About 16 people participated. A BIG thank you to Susan L. for organizing it and guarding our prized possessions. I displayed 2 afghans and 3 scarves. The picture of the afghan is one I created during meetings at KCLS. When I was not making scarves for the Warm for Winter project during meetings, I was making this afghan. The basket weave scarf on the left side of the afghan was used with left over yarn.


Yarn and hook: For this project I used a J hook. I used most of 2 1-pound skeins of Caron yarn in each color. It really depends on the size you want it to be and how loose. The one I am making right now (on vacation), I am using an I hook. The border color does not use as much yarn as the shell part. It is also great in one color.


The first time I made this pattern, I was in North Carolina visiting a friend who had just had a baby. Needless to say, we were home a lot during the visit. I had her take me to the local discount store and I bought yarn and a hook. I was able to finish an afghan as a thank-you gift when I left! I also made an afghan for my cousin while she was in the hospital last winter and I was spending HOURS with her in the hospital.

It is my favorite pattern. It is SOOOO easy and a great take along project. You can create the panels on the road and then put them together at home. Also great for summer project. Put it together in the fall as we weather gets colder.


To Begin: Chain 6, connect with a slip stitch.


First Row: Chain 3, 3 dc, 3 c, 3 dc (shell), dc in top of chain 3 of previous row, 3c turn.

Second Row: Create a shell in the 3c of the previous row, dc in top of chain, 3c turn. Repeat row 2 until it is the length you want. Note: You will go around this for the border.

Border: beginning in the 6 chain circle at the beginning. With the right-side facing you (the first row shows the front of the double-crochets)The picture to the right shows the tops of the double-crochets in the first row, the tops sort of slant toward you.

3c, 2dc,2c,3dc in the beginning chain; 1c; in the next space 3dc, 2c, 3dc (this will create the back end of the sort-of arrow tip at each end of the panel) 3dc in each space until you reach the last side space. In the last space on the side, 3 dc, 2c, 3dc. In the 3c space at the end of the panel: 3dc, 2c, 3dc; 1c; 3dc, 2c, 3dc in first space on the second side, 3dc in each space up to the last side-space. 3dc, 2c, 3dc in last side space, slip stitch in the top chain of the 3 chain to join the chain.

Sew panels together. Hold the panels with the wrong sides together. You will work in the back side of the tops of the stitches only. Begin at second chain of the center chain of the 3dc, 2c, 3dc created in the first side space. Go to the end and then work in the ends.

You can do this one of 2 different ways (well, probably more then that!). The pattern says to sew the panels together with a yarn needle and doing the whip stitch. Why I do not use this method any longer is that you have cut yarn to thread through so you either end up being short or waste yarn. As a rule of thumb, I would measure double the length of the panel to cut. I was usually right...

The way I have been sewing them together lately is just doing a slip stitch, that way I just stay connected to the skein of yarn.

Rhododendron Park

Saturday a group of us went to the Rhododendron Park on the Weyerhaeuser Campus in Federal Way. (http://www.rhodygarden.org/page/page/1083572.htm) It was a beautiful, sunny day. Not too hot for walking but not so cold my fingers froze while taking pictures!

If you would like to see more pictures, I have posted them on picassa. http://picasaweb.google.com/pctrainer98/RhododendronPark.

Cozy Crocheted Capelets

It must have been the cold winter that made me decide to make soooo many of these! The first one I made was for my niece who is finishing up college at Whitman College. Her room is in the basement and so I thought she could wear it as she studied. I don't know that she ever used it but... I was sending her a fleece blanket and I remembered when I was in my basement bedroom, I had a hard time keeping my shoulders warm. It is hard to wrap a blanket over your shoulders and still be able to turn pages and/or type!

Then I made one for myself using the Homespun yarn. That yarn was too big so the capelet also was too big. However, it fit my sister. She has taken it to work to wear on those days that it is cold. I actually saw her wearing it! She liked it so well, she is planning on making one for her friend who is about to start chemo therapy.

I tried one more time to make one for myself! I used the Red Heart Really Soft yarn.

My older sister, only wants us to donate to her endowment at the University of Washington for her gifts. I did that, but I also make her a capelet. They have a condo in Sun Valley. While the unit is beautiful and has everything in it, it can be a bit cool. For this one, I used Vanna's yarn. The colors were pretty but it ended up taking THREE skeins of yarn. A review I had read about her yarn was that it was expensive for the amount of yarn per skein. I have to agree. Of course, I have used the Red Heart Super Savers for most of the afagans I have made -- they have lots of yarn!

Warm for Winter

At the Stitch & Pitch Mariner game this summer, a group was handing out flyers about making hats and scarves for the homeless. That was all it took for Carrie and I to go to town with making hats and scarves. I also discovered it was more fun to crochet while watching the games at the ball park than to keep score! I now have crocheting in my car all the time!

I have made over 20 scarves for 2008! The blanket was made by our friend Darcy who lives in Alaska. 3 co-workers also contributed hats and scarves. I have to admit a few of the knitted hats were so nice, I was temped to keep them for myself. Many of the scraves were made using a pattern I got in a breast cancer kit basically chains and single crochets with a LARGE (N or P) hook. Lots of the others were just solid singles, doubles or half doubles. I also started making single Mile-a-Minutes panels as scarves.

Want to participate? Here is more information: http://www.interfaithcouncil.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161

Kirsten's Seahawk Afagan

I made this afagan for my oldest niece. I was working on a "mile a minute" afagan during a Seahawk game and she asked me to make her one. So, of course when I asked her what colors, she said "Seahawk!" This is a double-sided patterns of shells. The doublesiding happens by doing a row of chain-7 between the row of shells and drawing the chain up into the next shell row.