Christmas/Birthday Season Gifts

 So this is what I have been hold up making that has kept me sane, and also a way from posting.

For my family November marks the start of the birthday, Christmas gift giving seeing as we have 5 birthdays scattered between now and Christmas.  So family if you dont want to know what your possibly getting stop reading now!!

Above- Soft silky fuzzy mill end mystery yarn.  Simple pattern,  Chain an even number +5 for turning, in 6th chain from hook sc, sc, ch 2, sk 2, sc 2 -- across ending with a sc 2.  Then for all fallowing rows,  Chain 3, sc2 in next chsp, ch 2, sc 2 in next chsp repeating till end.

Simple HDC cowl with fringe.

 A set of matching arm knit cowls, last 2 photos are of the same cowl just stretched out.  First one is a smaller size meant for a specific tiny person.

 Men's hunting cowl, simple DC in BLO worked flat then sewn ends together.

 Midnight titled squares and triangles with fringe.

 Tulip Filet blanket.  Its shown while I was blocking it, so its folded over on itself.

 Close up of tulip pattern.

 Healing Teal-  Short version of BoHo Lily Spiral Vest --claimed--

 RH Dragonfly- Short version of BOHO Lily Spiral Vest -claimed-

  Cute mits in a simple -Ch 1 sk 1 sc 1, repeat- made with a cashmer blend in silver.

I know I have a few more peices but I am not sure where I stuck them.

Fringe and other things

 So this is the Neon bright RHSS I was using to try and do an argyle color pooling.  I think the color changes are just to long to get the look I wanted with out making a queen sized blanket.  Not to say you cant get the argyle, I just wanted solid colored, but you can easily make a smaller scarf with multi colored argyle that's heavy on the black.

That being said I did still get a neat color pooling that I liked.  Little zig zag groupings of colors.  I decided to turn it into a cowl, with some fringe which meant Dayton would be front and center making sure each strand was placed just right and if she didnt like it she would attack.
I am still debating on if I want to try and do a bit of knot work with the fringe or leave it as is.


Last, I finished off the bit of gold and scarlet silk/wool blend roving I have had on my Ladybug for a while now.  I find the spinning to be very relaxing for me once I get into the grove of it all.  I was hoping to get enough out of it to weave a scarf but that did not happen, so I am still not sure what I will make with this very soft fingerling weight single.

Still trying to get myself into a creative mood to 'dive' into christmas/birthday gift  making I have a few things on my list but not nearly enough.  I know I want to do some more fingerless mitts but I don't want to do the same ones I did last year so I would need to work up a new stitch pattern.  I have a throw I have been pecking at in filet crochet that is working up a bit narrower then planned so I have to think of a good way to edge it.

Updates -- &-- Sad news

Sad news first, my beloved beagle Buddy died over the Laborday weekend.  (He is the one on the right of the photo hidding his face)  His passing has hit me pretty hard, he has been my little baby for over 10 years, the reason I smile out of the blue.  I have been pretty depressed and have not even realy touched my crochet hooks since.

BUT the birthday season (Nov-Jan) is comeing up on top of Christmas so I have been forcing myself to work on items.  I have a filet blanket in the works as a christmas gift, and I was thinking of some scarfs.        
           
I dont know if you guys have seen the craze that is resurrecting with variegated yarn, but I plan to try dipping into it.  Planned Pooling, where you work up the yarn with a pattern planned out - this tool is pretty useful once you understand out to use it.  The popular pooling trend right now seems to be argyle.

Here is an example of how I worked up a planned pooling with RHSS Neon's-

 So some tips on how to use this site- decide on the stitch/pattern you want to use to make your item.  Then chain all the way threw your first set of color changes (or in my case for this pattern 1/2 ((no stitch count as not all skeins are identical even in the same color way), you want to start your first row on a next color-- I plan on using the moss stitch (sc, ch) so I would start mine with ch 2 of  purple, then sc into the 4th chain from hook working across ending with a sc in the last color change that you want (for me its the orange), now to make sure you get the colors to cascade add 2 more stitches (or a less slanted version do just 1).

I got roughly 50 stitches into each color change in the pattern. I rounded up/down on a few colors that gave 48/52 in some spots but 50 in others.  So what you want to do is work up a few inches (4 at least) and count how many stitches you get in each color change and just plug them into the site, this way you dont need to know a chain/hook/tension/gauge as you will be working with the hook and tension you want. You will want to take your time, and be patient as it does not always work up properly the first try (trust me -.-) just make sure when you start your first row of work you start on the first color you list on the site.  You can always over chain your starting chain to do that, and just undo the extra once your finished.   This works best with color changes between 4-12 inches anything less and you only get about 2 stitches and it wont pool well, and more is more likely to result in stripes unless you work on a large piece.

I have not got a good sample worked up yet myself but I pick it up and play with it when I am feeling particularly sad to try and take my mind of things.  I am going to unravel what I currently have on my hook, and try to work it up again with a larger hook and see if that helps me get the pattern I want with the pooling with out having to work length wise.

 Last bit of news, I have managed to brake my ergo handle.  The bottom has torn open in such a way that the hook slips down and pokes out the bottom.  I am going to try some gorilla glue on it and see if it will hold up before fully giving up on it and throwing it away.

Finished

24 oz bottle with less then 20 yards of yarn.

When I got to the strap I decided to do it as double V's by (Dc2 , ch 1, Dc 2) into the same stitch, then turn the work, slst to the chain and repeat!

It makes little O shapes and has a great feel, nice and stable.  I like how stretchy the mesh is so I know it will fit almost any water bottle I have.

I like it enough that I might want to make a few more if its maiden voyage goes well.  That way when it soaks up all the sweat on the bottle and I hang it out to dry I have a dry one to use.

I know its a small thing but its the first thing I have made solely for myself in a long time, as well as the first none BLSV that I have worked on in a while.

Its been a while....

Sorry I have been slacking a bit on the updates.  Mostly I have been working on smaller versions of the BoHo Lily Spiral Vest, between dealing with real life issues and trying to get outside more and be more active.

Here is the first thing I have picked up to hook that is not a BLSV.  I am semi free forming a holder for my water as this bottle does not contain a handle or easy to carry when damp.  So I just decided to whip up a chain loop holder.  I am thinking I will add a long strap so I can sling it over a shoulder.

How I did it?  My bottle is 2 inches wide, so I started off with a G hook and made a chain 6 ring which was 1/2 inch wide.
Then worked 6 (ch 3, sc) into the ring.
Next to give it a bit of stretch so I could use it for multipul bottles and not just this tall skinny one, I did 6 (ch 4, sc) around working into each chain sections from previous rows.

I am continouing the ch 4, sc each row now till I get the length I want then I will cap it off with a row of sc.  If I do a long strap I might work it in DC.

BTW I am down 29 pounds since the end of May!!!  So my slacking here wasnt all going to waste.

So fancy

 Got to visit the zoo with my favorite niece over the weekend.  Here she is showing off her BoHo Lily Spiral Vest  for all the goats in the children's petting area to see.

This one was worked up in a J hook, and I eliminated most of the repeat sections to make it a toddler size like recommended in the sizing notes.  Its just a touch big on her but thats ok she can grow into it!

What I am up to...

We had a pretty bad storm roll threw yesterday, it took out our tree in the back yard and our A/C.

 So I am sitting in a house about 90 degrees give or take a breeze from the windows waiting for a repair guy to tell me what is wrong, and then take all the money I could have spent on a new fridge (need), or yarn(want).

So I did what any reasonable hooker would do, and finished off the wip on my hook.  This is a hot pink child size BoHo Lily Spiral Vest.   I used my own hand ply'd cotton to make this, and actually had to ply up a few yards to finish off the last round.   I eliminated all the repeats before the arm round, and adapted the arm holes to a 30 chain (still worked the same amount into it in the next round).  I only worked the smaller edge for a few rows.

Do to the heat I opted not to steam block this as I dont want or need the added heat and humidity it would provide.  Since it is cotton I soaked it in cold water and pinned it out on my blocking mats

Hubby just bought these mats for the floor at the end of the bed for me, and I dont think he would mind if I used them to block out a wet block so our bed didnt get wet/damp.

I am hoping Jordan (niece) love's it even if it isnt her current favorite color AquaTeal.

Yes an other one...

First and formost thanks to Beth for being my model again!

I finished this cute smaller version of my BoHo Lily Spiral Vest in Red Heart Unforgettable Dragonfly.  Doing the small version only ate up 3 skeins (technically 2 1/3),  I used a H hook, and omitted a few rows after the arm section, plus did the alternate smaller edging provided in the end notes section of the pattern.

Pictures where taken when it was litterly just off my hook, I had not even got to tuck in the tails because I did not bring my full crochet box to gaming last night just yarn and a hook.  I am really enjoing making these in the 'smaller' verson.  I need to get around to blocking both is one and the gray one I finished a while back, as bueatiful as I know they will turn out setting them up and pining them and steaming them is a dreaded task.  I think I dislike blocking more then I dislike weaving in tails.

Today only!!

Wish me HappyBirthday and save $1 off my BoHo Lily Spiral Vest purchase on Ravelry!

After clicking 'buy now' click the 'use coupon code' in the lower left and just enter the code 'HappyBirthday' and save!

Then come back here after you make yours and show me I would love to see it!

Finished (mostly) in time for

so I finished the smaller version of my BoHo Lily Spiral Vest in time for my birthday!!

 I used all 3 of the tips in the pattern to reduce the size, smaller hook, smaller yarn, alternate edge row.  This shot is of it un blocked which is why there is a little sagging in the middle.  I litteraly just got it off my hook and had to get a photo of it so if you spot the tail ignore it!!

I am hoping I can get it blocked tonight so I can start wearing it all the time.  It took up about 1250 yards of yarn so only slightly less then the pattern calls for.   Compared to the original pattern when drapes down to my heels, this one stop just below my booty so while it is about 1/2 the size it is still about the same amount of material and work, because as we all know the smaller the hook the more difficult the work. 

Happy Birthday Deals

So in honor of me getting older then dirt on my birthday Monday June 20th 2016 I will have a promotion going in my Ravalry shop.

If you use the promo code  HappyBirthday (no space) you can save $1 off the price of my BoHo Lily Spiral Vest.

This promo is only good for the 24 hours of June 20th starting at midnight of June 19th and ending at midnight on June 20th.

Deep thoughts...

so as some of you might have noticed, I have not been as active latly.

I have had a few things pop up in my life that have made it hard to feel creative.  I am struggling with depression, but I am getting professional help for it.  Part of my depression has made me feel less creative, and I have not actully picked up a crochet hook and made anything in almost a month now.

Crocheting is the one thing I use to do to get my mind off things and destress.  It has been difficult, I have picked up a hook and yarn several times but only made a mess that I wound up frogging in frustration.  

Last night I was finally able to start something.  I am using a mystery yarn that is super silky and smoky gray to make a smaller version of my BoHo Lily Spiral Vest I am using a H hook this time instead of a J, and I plan on doing the alternated edging meantioned on the last page to get  16 points instead of 8.

I am hoping this one will come out 'shorter' because I am only 5'3 and the first one I made with Shawl in a Ball is just a tad to long and brushes the ground.

 I am also hoping this will reignite my spark for crochet and I will start to feel creative again.

If you are struggling with depression, feeling over whelmed and hopeless, seek out help.  Crisis Text Line  things will not magically get better, but if you work at it you can find your balance again.

A yarn tail...

So a while back I had this idea to make some cheap almost free storage for my yarn.  I got a bunch of free 1ft cube boxes and make a 3 tall by 2 wide shelving out of them holding them together with some binder clips and a bit of tape.

It held up really well, and I guess I went over board with it because I added to it, taking it to 5 tall, 3 wide.

I came down into the basement the other evening to find it like that (see top photo).   Face down yarn everywhere.

I pulled the boxes back up right, hardly any of the yarn stayed in the boxes.  Just the box with my greens, and oddly the bulky purple and 2 skeins of blue.

I have taken the top two rows off hoping that will be enough so it will not fall over again.  I just need to find a new way to store my yarn and soonish.  Its that or decide if I need to start destashing -- which would be alot of stress because I can look at each  skein I own and give 3 projects I want to do with most of them.


I might be able to part easily with some of the short variegated skeins because its harder for me to get enthused about a yarn with colors that will pool and hide the design.  Maybe I could part with a box of chunky yarn as I dont use it unless commissioned or I have an idea that can only be done with chunky which is rare.

I realize as I am avoiding picking it all up I have a crap tone of blue and green shades of yarn.  Blue/Green is not my favorit color, gray is (right now) and I barely have 3 used skeins in gray.


So what is your favorite color, and go look at your yarn stash and see if it reflex it.

Ravelry!

Crochet Creations by Sara Ravelry Shop

So I am in the process of setting up a Ravelry Shop, currently just the Boho Lily Spiral Vest is the only pattern.  I am working on moving all my older PDF patterns over and hopefully will be using it soley to host PDF's.

I am hoping this will make it easier for everyone to access the patterns, and any pay/donation patterns bought on ravelry will be able to instantly download there, so no more waiting for a response email from me!

I decided to do this when I realized blogger was having issues with the html donation links.  This was brought to my attention when someone was having issues with donating for the new BoHo Lily Spiral Vest Pattern.

To those of you who don't have a Ravelry account yet, it is worth it to make one.  There are literally thousands of free and pay patterns at your finger tips.

 

BoHo Lily Spiral Vest [Pattern]

 Ok it is finally here!

You can now get your hands on the BoHo Lily Vest pattern!

This one has been a monster to write/rewrite and I couldnt have done it with out help from my pattern tester, Laura from YarnOverHookAndFibe.

This pattern is a donation only pattern.  I am charging $2.50 but if you love it feel free to tip over!

Click here to donate $2.50


Alternatively you can also buy it from my Ravelry page but keep in mind there are additional taxes/fees involved so the price will be slightly different over there.  
Extra thanks to Linda for getting me photos, and finding a model to show it off!

Superman/Batman update

So I have managed to get the right wing of the Superman/Batman blanket done.

This project is so large that it takes up whole length of my kitchen floor.  That is not even fully spread out.

I think I will work the left wing a bit differently, I did this side all in tunisian going sideways off the edge of the body.  I am going to see if I can match a DC to my 2x2 tunisian stitch which is 2mm.

I can not wait for this to be finished as it is so large it literally is bunched up on the ground at me feet as I worked it.  Making the kittys and dogs think its their blanket for laying on, and if it isnt as fluffy as they want they 'dig' at it.

Yarn Magic

 So while for photos of my BoHo Lilly Vest, I have picked up an old project that got put into hybernation back in October.

Some of you might remember it, the batman symbol with the superman symbol inside of it.  I had finished the main body of the work but set it aside due to wrist pain issues and the Amigurumi Event in NY.

Well I am back to working on it.  Crochet wise I need to add in both wings, thats roughly 5 to 6 1/2 feet (the wings are longer on the top edge then the bottom) added onto both sides.

In the end this project has taught me a lot about making tunisian crochet patterns, and how enlarging them can easily turn a normal blanket into a monster.  I am hoping I finish this blanket before the summer heat really set's in.

Now onto the topic, yarn magic!  I love how as I am working with this skein it has not collapsed in on itself.  Normally gravity would have caved it in by the second photo, making it a bit of a tangled mess to hassle with.

 I think this skein is just magic, as its a the large RHSS, and in the third pic the hole is now large enough I can stick my arm through it.

I dont know why but it always excites me when the yarn does this.  It happens so rarely for me that I like to think of it as a sign of good luck for the project I am working on. 

So does your yarn defy gravity?

 

Make A Wish Foundation

Ok this post is not about crochet today.  Its about helping out others.

My husband will be walking for Make a Wish Walk for Wishes this weekend.  Their goal is to raise $790,000 but they only have 3 days left and currently at $535,773.

We donated, and my husband and one of our dogs will be walking in the event sponsored by who ever choose to back him.   If you can, and want to donate please do.  You will be helping make wishes come true for same children battling life-threatening medical conditions.

This years walk is themed for SuperHero's so if you can, be a hero and donate, or come out this weekend to St Louis (Forest Park, Upper Muny Parking Lot) on April 16th and show your support.

Here is a photo of my loving husband, with both our dogs, Chloe (on the left) is decked out as Wonder Pup (Wonder Woman) and Buddy (on the right) is Batpup.

Forest Park, Upper Muny Lot

life-threatening medical condition

Bringing hope, strength and joy to children in the St. Louis area battling life-threatening medical conditions - See more at: http://walkforwishesstl.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1152860&lis=1&kntae1152860=6A63B1747A9245A68495597131707497#sthash.05CCaHm9.dpuf

Bringing hope, strength and joy to children in the St. Louis area battling life-threatening medical conditions - See more at: http://walkforwishesstl.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1152860&lis=1&kntae1152860=6A63B1747A9245A68495597131707497#sthash.05CCaHm9.dpuf

Bringing hope, strength and joy to children in the St. Louis area battling life-threatening medical conditions - See more at: http://walkforwishesstl.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1152860&lis=1&kntae1152860=6A63B1747A9245A68495597131707497#sthash.05CCaHm9.dpuf

Bringing hope, strength and joy to children in the St. Louis area battling life-threatening medical conditions - See more at: http://walkforwishesstl.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1152860&lis=1&kntae1152860=6A63B1747A9245A68495597131707497#sthash.05CCaHm9.dpuf

Mothers Day gift ideas

So I am working on a few ideas for Mothers day.  (Mom if you dont want it spoiled dont continue reading)

I may pick just one of the ideas to give her, or I might give them all together.

The book Cute Critter Crochet had a Tulip pattern in it I like, so I made a test one.  If I go this rout I will change a few things, it calls for flower wire, but I think green pipe cleaners would work easier so the steam doesn't feel so loose around it.  I would elongate the second outer leaf.  I would change up the long strip that is the petals, working the change between petals in the back loops to give them more definition.   It also called to hold the yarn double strand, but I opted not to and just used a smaller hook.

 These mitt's are my second idea.  My mom loves bright colors and the tie dye effect.  I had a good tie dye looking mystery yarn (feels like cotton but no label so not sure) and I wanted to make something new but still useable for her.

So I made a new pattern just for her.  They have spiraling holes that wrap all the way around so they are breathable, and wont over heat.  They should match the large boho vest I made her last year for her birthday.

I am also working on an idea, thats not really practical for spring/summer.  I might make it into a christmas/birthday gift, I dont have enough of it ready to take photos yet.