Wednesday Yarn Along Long Time

 

Well friends it's been a long long time since I checked into this space. What a better way to check in but with a yarn along of course.  Fall has arrived,  Halloween is here and Sandy is gone from the Northeast but not forgotten. 

 

 

 Once the weather started cooling and summer was officially definitely over it's crochet season over here.  What to begin with how about a couple of afghans.  The blue one is cozy and snuggly and the lighter colored is a lap blanket for V. for Christmas good for snuggling and reading. 

 Back at it again with the cotton twine working on another rug this time I'm trying to write the pattern for myself.  It's a little tricky for me because I tend to fly off the seat of my pants crochetting.

I have had some good reads which I hope to share soon.  I'm currently reading The of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling.  I love that the words dangerous and homeshooling are together in the title. 

Hoping your enjoying a good project or good read!

Yarn Along: A new rug

Made it in for Ginny's yarn along with a new rug that I'm working on.  I can't decide if I love it but it's fun to make.  It's similiar to this one.  The second picture is a rectangle for a tree branch for  the yarn shop for the Wake up the Earth Festival on May 5.  I'm loving the colors. Lastly these are the books I'm carrying around lately. 
Hope your enjoying a good read or yarn today :)

Yarn Along Wednesday:Cowl & Books

Joining for Ginny's yarn along. 

Finally finished a cowl for me. Started and completed this about a month ago but it was too loose so after I unraveled it and cast on 77 and used size 7 needles.The pattern is from ravelry the Birthday Cowl.Love it I just modified the stitches to cast on 77 and used smaller needles just wanted it to be more snug like a turtleneck. Loving this cowl so much that I'm thinking my wardrobe needs more.

We went to the used book sale at the library and found these books :

Nancy Drew Notebooks

Hannah West in Deep Water

My Brother Sam is Dead

The Journey Back
The First Woman Doctor
When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit
Guardians of Ga’Hoole Books 1-4

I know quite the variety isn’t? I think I’ll read a couple of the historical stuff ones first?

 For me the Singer Sewing Book. I think it will be helpful for when I start sewing again.

I also came across this magazine I found at the library.

I apologize for the grainy photos and no links hope your enjoying a good read or neat project.

Yarn Along: More Books and The Hundred Year Throw

More books for the yarn along this week :))  Last Wednesday after I posted we went to the library and one of my favorite things now is too look in the "free" box.  You never know what treasures can be found.  Welll I found all these.

 A mish mash of books for me and the kids and for homeschooling.  The blue book is my favorite to look at.

 I know my pictures aren't great but the illustrations intrigued me.  But that's not what I'm reading. I started this book in between everything going on.  So far good.

 Lastly "The Hundred Year Throw" is this crochetted grey soft throw that has made an appearance in previous yarn alongs. I'm having trouble finishing and now I'm going to unravel half of this.  Why?  Because it's boring.  Ever have those type of projects that feel like they go on forever and you never want to finish (like this one)? 

My solution for this  is "The Afghan Making Rule".  It's a rule I made up for myself when I need to make really big afghans or throws to break it up into pieces so I can try different stitches and designs then seam it at the end and I won't get bored doing the same thing. Done.

Yarn Along: Elving with yarn

Quickly dropping in for the yarn along.

 The bodies of the 5 headless bears.  This is the worst kept Chrismas secret present. I'm pretty sure I can get it done by Christmas.

Making cowls.  I'm on my third and 1 more to go we'll see how they look. 
Happy yarning!

Yarn Along: Headless Bears

Joining in this week for Ginny's yarn along.



 This project look familiar?  Yes it's the same bear but instead of pink there is a grey version and soon brown that I'm starting today. I need to make 5 for Christmas so I decided on a system to make all the bodies first and then continue with the rest of the pieces.

On the coffee table right now Christmas books and Falalala Felt for elving inspiration :)
Can't wait to see what your making.

Yarn Along:Memory Lane Crochetting

 Joining in Ginny's yarn along this week.  Over the weekend when we deocrated the Christmas tree I had forgotton about these ornaments I had made last year. It was nice to see and some of the ones the kids made.  I think my favorite is the little tree.

Lately I have almost started reading this book but haven't got past the first page knitting and catalog browsing have been calling my name.
Can't wait to see what you're reading and making?

Yarn Along...

Joining along in this week in Ginny's yarn along.  I had to to abandon the novel I was supposed to be reading and now I have these two books I got for Valentine's Day that I'm eyeing.   I'm leaning towards Organizing from the Inside Out because my library/office is an utter disaster. A friend recommended this book and I thought it's much needed right now while I'm in the mode of collecting receipts, filing and other administrative duties. 
I'm still working on the same hat.  It's been a good process project.  I was doing well but then had to unravel half of it because I made a consistent mistake which made the hat too tight.  Ooops.  Now that I know what I'm doing this hat is pretty easy and I think I can actually say I might be an experienced crochetter who can read a pattern :D   So since I have the same hat here for the past few weeks I thought I'd share how to make the popcorn stitch this week. 

 Crochet as usual and when you get to a stitch where you want to make a popcorn do 5 single crochet into the same stitch..

 It will then look like a fan like this.

 Take out your hook and put it through the first single crochet in this group of 5 single crochet.

 While the hook is in the first single crochet insert the hook back into to the loop.

 Yarn over hook and pull through both.

 The popcorn is complete and just continue crochetting along the row.

 As your project grows the popcorns will stick out. 

 On top of  popcorn there is only 1 stitch, so when you are on next row all the stitches are the same.

Random::
I wanted to thank everyone lately for leaving such nice and encouraging comments on my blog.  I just wanted give a blog hug.  I haven't been able to visit everyone's blogs (I'll be over on Thursday or Friday to visit) or follow up on comments lately just been taking care of stuff around the house so I won't bore you with that and too tired at night to be on the computer. Just wanted to say I really appreciate your comments and visits. Hope you keep coming by :)

Latest Addictions...

If there was theme for Tuesday it would be I have a doilie addiction. I can't stop making these for our Christmas tree. The two on the left I can't give a tutorial I just made it up I know it's obvious because they look a little off but on a tree from a distance who can tell. The tree on the right I actually followed all the directions and I am pleased how it came out.

Our family addiction latley has been collecting vinyl records. I never had a record player growing up and thought hey it's not too late. I'm actually surprised I found them online and in 2 sales adds. I'm still looking into either a thrifted one or a new one with a cd player. We have been talking as a family about bringing more music into our home in the form of records instead of cd's and downloads. So we will be on the look out at the thrift stores for records.

What's your happy addiction this week?

Crochetted make up removers

Past couple of days I have been working on these crochetted pieces cotton eye and make up remover pads. I made several different sizes and styles. Thought they would be great with baking soda to exfoliate or with a homemade toner. Found these websites for toners #1, #2, #3, and #4.

This was my smallest one. I decided to be a little daring today and give a tutorial on how to make one of these.

1. Use cotton yarn and crochet hook US H8/5.00MM. Chain four.

2. Slip stich into first chain. Put the hook through the first chain, then yarn over and pull through both loops. You will be left with ring or as I call it a tiny wreath.






3. Next chain 3 and place a stitch marker in the third chain.

4. Begin double crochetting into the center of the ring. Yarn over hook put through center of ring. It will look like this.

5. Then do yarn over hook pull it through the ring and there will be three loops on the hook.

6. Yarn over hook and pull through first two loops. Now there will be two loops left on the hook.
7. Do the same again yarn over hook and pull through two loops. One loop will be left remaining on the hook and the first double crochet is completed.8. Keep double crochetting into the center ring all the way around. This could be anywhere from 8-15 double crochets. It will look like this. 9. Now that your back at the beginning slip stich into the third chain where your stitch marker is. Put your hook through that third chain then yarn over hook and pull through both loops. This will close and you can begin the next row.

10. To begin the next row chain 3 and put a stitch marker in the third chain. Begin double crochet all the way around.

The second row is now complete. This may curl a bit. If you prefer it flatter then do 2 double crochets into each spot. I'm not sure if I said that right and I don't have a picture but this will make it a little bigger and flatter. 11. At the end of thsecond row slip stitch into the third chain where the stitch marker is. Put the hook through the third chain, yarn over hook and pull through both loops.

That's how the round ones were made with a few variations. As I was making this one I thought how about a few knitted squares lol?