December’s Crafting Review

I decided to change the title from crochet review to crafting review, since I’m teaching myself to knit. Maybe I’ll break out the sewing machine and add that into the mix too.

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The last few winters I’ve been wanting to learn how to knit. I finally decided December was the month to try.

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I grabbed some books from the library, and watched a few videos on youtube. After many tries I got the hang of the long tail cast on.

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Let’s just say that at first I wasn’t so sure about knitting. There seemed to be more casting on and taking apart than actual knitting being done.

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I tried out several different sizes of needles, and many different types of yarn. After about three weeks I finally started to see some progress.

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I haven’t finished a project yet, but I am doing a bit better at knitting. Don’t ask me about purling though, I still don’t have the hang of it.

With the cold temps, I crocheted on lots of little projects here and there.

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I’m still using up some of my scrap yarn, I started working on a multi-stitch blanket. There isn’t a pattern to this blanket, just lots of practice on different stitches.

Speaking of scrap yarn…

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I finished up the scrappy blanket.

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Let me tell you a bit about this blanket. I used a size 8 hook, and half-double crocheted the entire thing. It is extra warm, and this blanket has become the most coveted blanket in the house. All of the kids are asking for one that is just for them. Time to save up some more scraps.

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Lastly I made a blanket for Lula. She prefers to be outdoors, but sometimes she likes to sneak in for just a bit.

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I chose lots of different shades of purple, plum, and pink.

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I went with the J size hook (me favorite) and stuck with the half-double crochet stitch.

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I worked on it off and on for about two days, and finished it up before the weather got too cool. James and the kiddos made a little outdoor hutch for Lula, and the blanket fit nicely in it.

Now it is January, and I don’t have any big projects going on… I kinda miss it.

 

 

Crochet Crafts

My hand is almost all healed, so I’ve been cooking and crocheting. I’m happy to have a hook back in my hand.

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I’ve been working on another scrappy blanket during the evenings. The weather is already cooling off, and this little blanket is extra warm.

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Just in time for Christmas. I finished all eight of my gift blankets for our family. I am so happy to have this project completed.

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I tried my hand at amigurumi for Miss Agnes.  At first this little animal was going to be a bunny, and then I thought a bear.

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It ended up being a little cat named Mittens.

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I’ve been making some scarves too. Some are for teacher gifts, some are for the kids since they have outgrown their other ones. I even made one for myself.

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I’m also crocheting Christmas ornaments for Agnes’ class. They have a little gift exchange on the last day before Winter break.

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The little wreaths are so cute. I might end up making some for Dylan’s class too.

School Is Out Today

The kids have an inservice day today, so everyone is home for the day. It has been a loud day, and I am looking forward to the quiet of Tuesday.

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Agnes lost her second tooth today, so she was extra excited!

I’ve just been cooking, cleaning, and trying to keep up with the kids.

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I’ve been sneaking in a little crochet here and there too. I’ve been working on a scarf for me.

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I finished it up last night while watching The Walking Dead and The Leftovers. I love crocheting during Sunday night t.v.

Monthly Crochet Review: August

August flew by. I spent time working on several crochet projects. I also finished crocheting two more blankets for Christmas.

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Here is a tiny Miss Lula mewing at me to stop joining hexagons, and play with her instead. She is a really noisy kitten, but seriously adorable.

I’ve got three big projects in the works, and all of them are for Christmas.

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Two grannysquare blankets, for two adorable ladies that should be arriving this month…

And a really big multi-stripe blanket for somebody awesome.

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I keep this project in a laundry basket and take it all over the house. I work on it a row at a time, whenever I get a minute.

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The three blankets are coming along nicely.

I finally finished these two.

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The granny-burst blanket is done!

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I loved how this blanket turned out. I think I’m going to have to make one for our house.

I also finished the multi-hued Hexagon blanket.

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This blanket turned out beautifully.

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I love all of the different colors.

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The blanket stack is growing. Three more to go before the holidays.

Monthly Crochet Review: July

I’m still working on Christmas blankets, and I’m happy to report that I have just three more to crochet.

One project I started and scrapped after about a week of pattern reading, and just not getting the hang of it.

I gathered up my yarn, and a book to get to work on learning how to crochet a chevron pattern.

I worked on it off and on for two weeks, and I just couldn’t get it down.

I swapped the project for some stripes instead. I’ll try to revisit the chevron pattern again, maybe once the kids are busy in school.

I did finish one more blanket for Christmas…

The warm and cozy Grey Blanket is finished!

The Grey blanket turned out nicely, and it is extra warm for Winter.

I also finished up one more project. I also have  five more requests for this same project.

Last month I made a scrappy blanket for Agnes. This month Dylan requested one too.

I gathered up my yarn, and got to work.

This blanket came together in about a week.

It is extra warm and cozy, and perfect for this little guy…