Thank goodness I have listed gardening as one of the subjects of this blog. Because that seems to have been my only topic of late. I was feeling a smidge guilty about that for a little bit. The thing is that weeds wait for no one. You either spend time outside pulling them before they set seed or you spend a lot of time later when they multiply and spread.
I have snuck in a few non-gardening projects, but they have moved along sooo slowly I have not blogged about them.
Friday evening I put the finishing touches on a hat and scarf set. I blogged about the scarf here. But then it went into a black hole. Not really, I just didn't blog about it. I couldn't bring myself to commenting on "I added two more rows and they look fantastic". That seemed silly, even for me.
So here is the finished product.
At first I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it. I thought tassels on the bottom of the points might be cute. The pattern added scallops around the edges. Maybe I could give it a try and if I didn't like it, I could rip it out and go with my original idea. Well, the scallops were totally cute, so no tassels.
I really wanted to make a hat next. You might remember this pattern was for a baby blanket - not a hat. I decided to add one more repeat of the main pattern and make a large rectangle. Then I would add ribbing and and cinch the top together. If it was too small I could always add a couple more rows to the body of the hat and ribbing. Seemed pretty easy.
I used the tutorial written by Attic 24 for seaming the body of the hat and the ribbing. It worked very well, and I think it will be more secure than if I stitched it together with a needle. It also resulted in fewer ends to weave in.
The sweetie thought it needed a little something, so I added a tassel. Good idea. I think it turned out to be really cute.
Here is the set together. Awwh.
Now I am on the hunt for some cute crochet mittens! This has been a very fun project. I hope you like it.
Hi.
I didn't blog yesterday.
I thought about it, but it was just too nice to be inside. It was sunny and in the 60's. Yup. Like only the second or third time this year.
Hmmm.... Blog or putter in the garden. The garden won. It was fantabulous. (Fantastic + Fabulous = Fantabulous.) I am very sore.
So, a couple of weeks back I started a new crochet project. Likely when I should have been doing something else. Like vacuuming, or making dinner, or something. Crochet is such a great procrastination thing for me.
Any who. I am using a pattern I picked up from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas on Bainbridge Island last summer. My folks had come over for a visit from WI and we stopped in Winslow before dinner with my in-laws. I found this really cute pattern called Vintage Crochet Blanket.
Here's the image from their website. I fell in love with how graphic it was with only the two colors. There is a 10 color version, but that didn't say 'buy-me' in the same way.
The pattern had been languishing in a notebook, until I rediscovered it recently. I had tried to start it once or twice last summer. You know, just testing out the pattern with some stash yarn, but it wasn't meant to be.
So, a couple of weeks ago, I just happen to find myself at Acorn Street Yarn (which is walking distance from my house!!) and I found just the stuff. 5 skeins each of Baby Alpaca D.K. by Plymouth Yarn in red and black. I never intended to make a blanket - just an scarf - so I tweaked the repeat to adjust for the narrower width.
I am happy to report that this pattern comes together very quickly. Changing colors each row is a bit of a pain, but that's drama of my own making. I mean, if it was really that big a deal I should have selected a different pattern. I know, right?
So at last measure, Saturday, it was 7 inches wide and 43 inches long. But I have worked on it since then.
I don't think I will end up using all 10 skeins so my next idea is to make a hat to match. The stripe will go vertically, with black ribbing, and a pom pom. It should be great!
This blog is supposed to be about trying new things. With this post I think I took a giant step backward. I mean, I 'm making a scarf - again. And using Alpaca - again. Maybe next project..
Now, onto more mundane things - like re hemming a pair of pants for work that seems to have 'come undone'. But I am blogging instead - my second best procratination tactic!
