A quick update

Here are a few of my most recent projects, both crochet.


First up we have my first (and possibly only) pair of crochet socks.  I used left over sock yarn from my last pair of knit socks.

These had an after-thought heel and I didn't particularly enjoy making them.  An afterthought heel is when you make the entire sock and then go back and pick up stitches in the heel hole, crochet in circles decreasing by two every round.  I just don't like how they turned out.  I usually like to crochet more than I like to knit, but socks are an exception.

Next up is a mobius I made using Misti Alpaca Chunky Solids.  I also bought a fancy wooden L hook to use.  This was an expensive project, but I love how it turned out.

I was inspired to make this by seeing Andee Graves's published pattern in Crochet!  The magazine messed up her mobius pattern but she explained to me how it actually worked in order to make it a true mobius instead of twisting after or working on both sides of the chain.  I wanted something in a chunky yarn so didn't use her pattern.  So I made up my own pattern after flipping through some pattern books for inspiration.  This was a quick project and will be a really warm wrap.  I'm a little afraid to block it because alpaca can grow or bloom (kind of fluffing out) when it gets wet and it's already almost too big for me.

I've also dabbled again in card making.  I made a card for Amy and Scott's wedding but I haven't pulled that picture off of my camera yet.  It came out pretty cute though.  Stamping tip of the month . . . When re-inking a stamp pad remember to put the ink dispenser on the pad.  If you don't the ink doesn't come out, then when you touch the ink bottle the ink leaks out under your fingernails and you get to go to a wedding with purpley-black finger nails :)

My first knitted sweater

This is my first knitted sweater.  I chose to make a baby sweater because it would be quicker and not as involved if I screwed something up.  I think it came out pretty cute.  I had a little trouble attaching the sleeves eavenly but got them to at least look good and be wearable.  I tried a new way (to me) of seaming the garment.  I used a crochet hook and slip-stiched the pieces together.  I love how it worked and will be using this in the future.  I got the idea from a tutorial on how to reclaim the yarn from store bought sweaters.

I've started the actual quilting on my quilt, am slowly working on crochet socks, and have started a Christmas latch-hook project.  I'll post pics once I actually finish this stuff (which could be awhile.)

I've been pretty busy for work lately.  I took a trip to CA and one to OR last month.  This month I'll be going back to OR, making a stop in the Boise area to see family for a weekend, and then going to the Head Start Research Conference in DC.  If anybody is going the American Indian Alaska Native HSRC will be doing a poster presentation on Tuesday of the conf :o)

I also squeezed in a trip last month to Kemmerer to see my brother.  He is doing pretty well.  I snapped a pic of him with his cast on his nose but haven't uploaded it yet.  My vote is still that he doesn't get a new Harley but I don't think my vote counts.

Hopefully everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.  Ours was pretty busy.  I had hoped to have a calm, do nothing weekend after all of the work travel but it didn't work out that way.  Friday night I got to hang out with Linda.  It was nice to sit and talk and just hang out. Saturday we ran errands and got new phones (Jerry & I both got the Motorola Droid).  Then we went and played poker.  I was the first person to go out (kinda) :-P.  Others actually were out before me but they all bought back in.  Jerry went out right before being in the money.  Sunday we went up to Ft Collins and saw Maile baptized.  It was great being with family for the morning.  Then we came home cleaned and went out to dinner with Fran and Tim.  It was a lot of fun but the restaurant was a first and last time choice.  Finally yesterday we went to a bbq.  Now I'm back at work and wondering what happened to my long weekend. :o)

Two Months of Work

I finally finished my Pretty as a Peacock shawl!  It took me 2 months and 2 days to finish.  I used 9 skeins of Louet Gems fingering weight yarn.  It is so pretty and I'm sooo very glad it's done.  After I finished the last row with peacock feathers I was tempted to bind off and be done, but it was worth it to do the extra 100 or so rows :-P  The second picture is a detail shot of the pattern.

My second finished project from this weekend is a baby blanket.  I actually got to go to Fiddlesticks Stitch n Bitch for the first time in awhile and finished it there.  I crocheted this using a pattern out of the Happy Hooker book.  It's just basic granny squares done in worsted weight yarn.  It calls for a bigger hook than normal and I really liked how that affected the drape of the squares.  With the stitches being so loose the fabric came out softer than usual.  I made this blanket to use up some of my stash yarn and tried to make it ok for either a boy or a girl.  Someone in my office is having a baby girl in the next few months, so it looks like they'll be getting a gift!

Jerry and I haven't been up to anything too exciting lately.  Last weekend we got to go take a tour of the Denver Mint with Linda and Karen.  I remember the tour being much more interesting when I was a kid.  On Saturday I got to go to Elitch with Karen, Jason and Linda.  I haven't been since Adele moved back to the UK so that was fun.  I am not as tough as I used to be, some of those rides that used to be so great now make my stomach a little unhappy.  The company made it all worth it though. 

Finished Quilt Top!

I finally finished the quilt top I've been working on!  I started it a looong time ago (more than a year) and kept putting off working on it.  It's a beautiful top, but I didn't do a very good job getting the rows lined up exactly so the bottom and top boarders had to be trimmed up a bit.  Now I just need a backing and to quilt it.  Mom gave me her quilting frame awhile back so I'm currently planning on hand quilting.  It's a queen size, so I may decide to switch to machine quilting.

The second pic is a picture of the border fabric close up.  The weird parenthesis looking thing is a string I didn't notice till posting the picture.  The border is actually a green fabric with the circles in a darker green.  My camera didn't capture the colors very well.  Now I just need to figure out if I want to keep, give away, give to charity, or sell it when finished.

Ravelympics are Finished & Rocky Horror

I participated in the Ravelympics this year.  It's an event on Ravelry.com that coincides with the Olympics (just in case the name didn't give it away).  You get a digital badge for each event you compete in.  Not much insintive but I did want to challenge myself to use up some of my stash, work on making my threadwork even, and finally make some Christmas ornaments.  So I give you my Christmas stars (please excuse the over-glittering.)

 

On the life front things are pretty much the same.  I went to my first theater showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday night with Linda.  I've wanted to do the audience participation showing of this since I was in Laramie and it was pretty fun.  Sadly, I was very tired by the time it was over (2 a.m.) so I must be getting old.  I did think it was fun, but I'm not sure if I'd do it again.  Maybe if I took a nap first :o)

I think I mentioned in a previous post that Jerry and I had repainted the kitchen.  We were hoping to go on a group trip to Vegas with our tax return but since no one else can make it we are now trying to decide between new counter-tops or a new couch.  Comfort or resale value, decisions, decisions.

Socks that fit!

I finished my first pair of socks that fit me!  Not only that but I modified my first knit pattern.  I modify crochet patterns all the time because I just get how it works much more than I do with knitting.  It was a pretty easy mod, I just made the lace pattern go down the top of the foot instead of ending at the ankle like the pattern called for.  Here they are:

I haven't worked on my quilt at all recently.  I'm not sure where that motivation went but it's gone.  I signed up for a swap on craftster for an art journal page.  I haven't started my page yet but have some ideas. 
I'm also working on making a bunch of crocheted star ornaments for the Ravelympics.  I meant to make them for Christmas and just ran out of time so I figured now was a good time.  I've done about 7 and I'm remembering how much of a pain thread work can be.  They look good though.  Haven't decided if I'm going to glitter them.
That's all for now.  I'm going to pajama jam at the Lamb Shoppe tonight so should get ready for that.  Hope everyone has a good weekend :)

CLASSy

The last week in January was a busy one for me.  I went to New Jersey to be trained in the Toddler CLASS.  It's a measure that will be used in our AIAN Head Start Research Center data collection, and is currently being used in the Baby FACES program.  Anyone who is involved in Head Start or Early Head Start has heard of FACES.  The rest of you are probably already board :o)  The training was in Plainsboro which is close to Princeton.  I unfortunately didn't get to see much of Princeton.  The night we went out for a group dinner I got a headache and had to go back to the hotel instead of exploring.  The worst part of the trip - I didn't have anything crafty to do.  I couldn't find my crochet hook before I left so just took books.  Jerry found the hook after I left in a very obvious place.  Seems normal for my life. :o)
On Saturday we helped DJ move.  It took awhile, but we got to eat at Roma's for a reward.  I'm not sure that Jerry liked it as much as I do, but I was happy.  Whoever came up with putting cream cheese in your carrolli/on your pizza was a genius.  I was exhausted when we got home, but we did manage to get up enough energy to go to Trent & Theresa's to play poker.  One round and I was done.  Actually not even one round.  I knew it was time for me to be done when I couldn't figure out how to break down my 500 chip to 100s after putting in my bet.  Simple math isn't so simple when you're tired.
On the crafty front I finished Kevin's hat before I left.  I like how it turned out, and hope he did too. 

Last night I finished Fran's gloves/mittens.  Since her hat was already finished I can take those over to her soon.

  

This week I'm hoping to work on the quilt some.  I only have 5 rows left to sew on (and then the boarder, and then quilting, and then binding) but only 5 rows left on the main part.  Friday we're having poker at our house.  I'm hoping for a good turnout, already looks promising.