Short 'N Sweet

Another thing I've had my eye on for a while is the Short 'N Sweet Bolero from the Stitch 'N Bitch book. I don't wear boleros but for some reason I have wanted to make this ever since I saw it. I thought I could give it to someone for Christmas but I'm not sure who yet because it turned out a bit too small for the person I had in mind. I used Caron Simply Soft Eco in Wine Country and an H hook.



This pattern was really fun and easy to do but it seemed to me that there might have been a simpler way to write it. Maybe I'm just spoiled on Doris Chan patterns but finishing off and adding another piece of yarn just to chain 3 and finish off again seems a bit retarded to me. Other than the few odd instructions it was a nice little project. It still needs to be blocked but it looks very cute on.

Hook and Weave Shrug

I have wanted a shrug for a while and have had intentions of making this one ever since I got this issue of Interweave Crochet way back in the Fall of 2007. Last month I finally pulled off the sticky note bookmark labeled "shrug" and got to work. The pattern is called Hook and Weave Shrug by Jennifer Orr. In the pattern you make the shrug a solid color and then weave a contrasting color through to make cute little stripes, hence the name "Hook and Weave", but I decided to make mine with stripes and get rid of some small balls of yarn I had lying around. I used Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather and Caron Simply Soft Eco in Black and Wine Country with an I hook.

The pattern is great, it's simple and fun and really easy to adjust for size. You could make a 2x or a toddler size, whatever you want by simply taking a measurement of the arm spread and adding a little extra for the cuffs to fold over. I will probably make a couple more of these for Christmas gifts.

I will try to get some pictures of me wearing it pretty soon but here are a couple I snapped this morning.

Cat Ear Hats and Scarf

I have been looking a long time for a good cat ear hat crochet pattern. I've tried several and they've never turned out to be what I wanted. This pattern is the closest I've ever come to finding what I want. It's still not exactly what I was looking for but it's definitely the cutest finished product. The pattern is called Holy Julie Newmar Batman! and is available for free at Gege Crochet.



I made this one using some Vanna's Choice yarn that I frogged from my Ridge Swing Cardigan that I gave up on after running out of yarn and never finding the same colors again. The colors are Taupe and Dusty Blue and I used a K hook for this one. After showing this picture to a friend he asked if I would make one for his son who is a skateboarder. Seems like a great hat for skateboarding to me. So I made a second hat using Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather and Caron Simply Soft Eco in Black and an I hook. I really liked the color combination so I made a scarf for myself using the same pattern. I still haven't mailed this to him but I promise I will before it gets cold enough to use it!

Dinosaur Hoodie

I spent the last couple weeks working on the Dinosaur Hoodie in the June 2009 issue of Crochet World magazine. I used Vanna's Choice in Taupe and Dusty Blue and a J hook. This will be a birthday present for my cousin's son. The party is tomorrow and it's a water gun party so it should be a really great time. Here are a couple of pictures of my son wearing it.

Amsterdam Coat - Update 1

Last Sunday I started the Amsterdam Coat by Doris Chan. This is a free pattern available through NaturallyCaron.com. I'm using some Red Heart yarn - I know, I know. But the color (Earth and Sky) was just too awesome and I had to try it. I bet it will soften up with a wash or two.

This jacket is just flying off the hook. The pattern is very simple and quick to work up. In just four days I am almost ready to add sleeves and be done! I love all of Doris Chan's patterns but I think if you are looking for a good one to start with, this might be it. It seems to be the easiest of the four Doris Chan jackets I have made so far. (By the way, next on my list is the Lacy Duster I've had my eye on forever)

Here is a picture of the neck shaping.



Sorry about the burst of sunlight down the middle, I took a million pictures trying to get the light right but as you know this is a perpetual problem for me.

I don't know how I can have a light on, a lamp on, a flash on my camera and still end up with dark pictures like this but this is a picture taken just after making the band and starting the "skirt".



As of right now I have used three skeins of yarn and I'm almost finished with the skirt section - about four more rows unless I want to add some length. I also added two rows to the body but I didn't want to add too much because it will gain a lot in blocking.

I'm taking a break from it tonight to work on an old hibernating project and give my hands a change of scenery but it should be finished quickly.

Outta Chocolate Complete!

I finished my Outta Sight jacket a while back. I was waiting to get some pictures of me wearing it before I posted this but it doesn't look like that will happen soon so I'll just add them here later when I get them.

I'm really happy with how this turned out and can't wait until the Fall to wear it. I love the color. It's Caron Simply Soft Eco in Chocolate and I had two skeins left over so I can make something else, possibly one of the tanks made from the same pattern in the book. I didn't make the string that laces the front together, I may do that later or I may just get a few clips next time I visit the craft store.

Here are some pictures of the blocking. It gained a lot of length with the blocking and I love long jackets. I think it's going to look really cute with some jeans and a tank.

Beaded Jewelry

My grandmother's birthday is this weekend so a few days ago I started to work on a broomstick lace shawl for her. Despite my testing the initial base sc chain twice, after the first row of lace it was apparent that it was going to be a little small. I kept going, hoping that with blocking I could make it work and then as a last resort I could make another panel and add it on at the top to widen it at the shoulders. But after four days of working on it and becomming continually more discouraged I gave up and went back to the pattern books to find something else.

I came across a page of crocheted wire jewelry and that's been something I've wanted to try for a while. So I got out a hook, wire, beads, and findings and started to figure something out. I started stringing beads and wrapping wire and before I knew it I had made half a bracelet and never even used the hook! But I was accomplishing the goal which was to have a gift for my grandmother so I was still happy although it wasn't what I'd set out to do in the first (or second) place. It felt odd to be making a crafty gift that wasn't crocheted. But for now crocheted wire is still on my to do list and here are some pics of the finished products. A bracelet and earring set in blue.