My Favorite FO Ever

But first, an update on other projects.

Man, am I ready to get this Cycling Aran out of my house. It was zipper's fault. I really loved knitting this sweater. It will be the warmest sweater my brother has because I held the DK/Worsted double. I know, I know too thick but I wanted it extra squishy because of the cables. Oh well, he can pull it out next winter. Just a few more stitches in the zipper, then it's off to big brother.


I've been trying to be good (environmentally conscious), so I whipped up these crochet grocery bags. These bags are really strong and stretchy and quick to make. Very easy pattern, but because of the continuous increasing and decreasing, I wouldn't advise making these bags sleepy or tipsy, LOL.

I made the Ribbed Lace Bolero for Teddy Bear. The Easter outfit needs a post of it's own and I should be getting the kids ready for bed now, so next time. Long story short, much to my disappointment Teddy Bear has developed a strong opinion on what she wears. So all my Easter dress ideas went out the door when we got into the store. What a shame, some of the dresses came with matching dresses for your dolly too. "No! I don't like that one." She got on my last nerve. I'll have to make her put the dress back on for a picture. I hate how the Lace Bolero came out by the way, but she wore it anyway.

And finally. I really do think I've made my favorite FO ever. When flipping through the Spring 2008 Interweave Crochet online. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this magazine because this Floral Lace Belt just called me. The largest size called for 10 motifs but because I measured my waist and divided that by the width of each motif, I decided to make 12. Too big! But this is o.k. I'll come up with a different closure than the ribbon one shown. I thought that making this belt would be like going to Universal Studios and learning how Star Trek is made (totally taking the mystery out of the whole thing), but no. I was still fascinated with this belt when it was done and can't even believe myself that I could make something so beautiful. It was easy. Am I bragging? Well, whatever. I just love this piece, O.K.?

Teddy bear is already hatin'. "Where's mine?" I'll get to it, because for some strange reason I have the crochet thread called for by the pattern in almost every Spring color.

My next venture will be the China Doll Top on the cover. There are detailed instructions for shaping for almost every figure even the busty AND hippy like me. I'm so much deeper in love with crochet right now.

Fat Bottom Bag

I like it! I wish that I was good at sewing so that I could have given it a lining. Very cute but too small for me. It also needs a closure. Maybe a snap closure. Until I work these things out it will be a small project bag. Perfect for these socks I have going on. You've probably already figured out that I never make my bed. I'll try not to take pictures of it in the future I promise.

I really like the shape of the bag. That's why I'm making a market bag for myself. I've always admired those wonderfully colorful felted bags you sometimes see. But, what if one of the food items you put in it leaks, what a tragedy that'd be. So basically, I'd be bagging items to put in my bag. How wasteful.
So, this seemed like the perfect time to start a project I've been wanting to embark on for quite some time. Something with plastic bag yarn. I got the instructions from this site referred to in a Crochet Me article. It's pretty easy, but making yarn for just my little project is taking A LOT of bags. I think that by time I finish the quantity used will be the equivalent to the number that could fit in an overstuffed kitchen bag. Maybe about $300 dollars worth of groceries. My "bisquits" are about 2 inches wide. I wanted a big bag so I'm trying to make chunky yarn and I'm using a size N hook.

I owe my brother a hand made birthday gift. It's really pathetic because his birthday was in August. Well, he wanted a vest with a little intarsia in the front. Boring. I couldn't do it. I ripped it off the needles several times. Finally, I took a stand (not directly to my brother yet). I will not start on another mile long stockinette project! He will get the Cycling Aran and love it. It's pretty fun and easy so far.

Almost Done!

Listen while you read...

One more sleeve to go of the Gathered Pullover. I'm unraveling the body of the BR sweater to finish up. I thought that this piece would yield two large balls of yarn, but not so. Maybe I nicked the strands while unraveling. Darn it.
I like the way it fits so far.

And, since I'm ever so guilty of lurking on natural hair blogs but never posting about my natural hair, I thought that I should share. After realizing some time ago that the blogosphere had such a large collection of natural hair journey journals, I decided to jump right in. Because I never viewed my current hair style as a journey as much as I do a destination I think it's been hard for me to keep up with hair posts. I mean, how much can you talk about a hairstyle that rarely changes. It's probably just me. I'm posting now because on Friday I'll be getting my first professional up-do. A style that I found on Renaissance Hairtopia. I can't wait until I have enough hair for a wedding bun. Wish me luck!

Excuse my mess.

2 FO's!

This right here is a lace shawl.


Yarn Used: Knit Picks Shadow 100% Merino
Kneedles Used: Size 6 Circular Susan Bates Quicksilver.
Modifications: The yarn. The pattern calls for DK weight, since I used lace weight it's about half the size it should be. This is cool wit me.

I don't care how easy it was, the pattern said it was lace, so I finally knitted lace! Oh wow, I'm a knitter. I'll wear this in the Fall and Winter while knitting on the couch. My kids fight over "blankies." Even if I'm using it, they claim they're cold so that they can get under it with me. This would be fine, if they didn't want to pin my arms down while snuggling up.

And, one sizzling hot Coechellllllllla. Did ya'll catch my Italian accent?

Back fat included. It's still hot. Heyyyyy!

Yarn used: Fine weight recycled very snaggy single strand 100% rayon.
Main Kneedles Used: Size 4 Addy Turbos ( I finally recognized their worth).
Modifications: A couple. I had to do a stretchy bind-off so that it would glide over them hips. I picked up about 150-160 stitches around the armholes to eliminate gapping at the neck and to hold in some of that back fat.

I'm satisfied with both projects.

Going Green and Teddy Bear's Skirt

I've been wanting to knit a skirt for her for a while now. Since it's such a small project, I don't see the sense of buying a pattern, especially since it's time for me to get my design mojo going again. However, I don't know if Girl Power is the way to go. Yes, I plan to make it longer than this (to the knee). I'm testing pattern swatches now. For some reason I was dead set on Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece, but I'm not anymore. Stay tuned.

I done really gone green now, ya'll. I've tried to unravel sweaters before, but unsuccessfully. This is a vest that I've had for about 7 years now. Purchased from Banana Republic back when I tried to acquire only classic clothing. That method worked cause I've actually literally worn out a lot of the clothes from that era. This sweater however is hanging on strong, but I just can't make it look cute any longer cause now I need the next size up.

It turned from this....
To this...The smaller balls are from the neck and arm trim, the large from the body. I think I have just the tank in mind, it's supposed to be a quick knit too. Like I said, stay tuned.