Back to FreeForm stuff

I have missed my scrumbling. There has been so many "pattern" pieces lately that I started feeling uneasy with my abilities.

So, I noticed, last night, for example, that my scrumbling was lame. Of course my hook was traveling through the loops, but the yarn was screaming "what are you doing?". One cyber friend suggested that I use one type of yarn, and do just texture. This is what I am planning to do today, thanks to Bonnie.

A friend of mine, Carol, told me to do my thing, that I have done more difficult projects in less time than 3.5 weeks. I told her that I wanted to make something wild for the show in PA, in July. She told me to go for it, Thanks, Carol. Now, it's only 3 weeks, the half week disappeared.

Now that I have gotten my inspiration to flicker, I might have to let my "pattern" phase pass.
Except the World Cup Knitting project. That one I will finish in no time, because I like making cables.

Those two pieces are not very talkative. And I am sure they look strange and impossible to fit into anything. But I must remember, I am planning to make something wild. Something that
would scream "what the heck is THAT?" I am not truly sure if I will be ready for that type attention, but a girl can dream.

I can't wait to see all the beautiful FreeForm pieces that are displayed at the Chain Link 2006 show, where I am going in July, King of Prussia, PA. I just can't wait to get there.

Ok, I promise not to talk too much about going to PA. I tend to yap about same thing over and over, so slap me, if I do.

Butterfly

Made a butterfly with the shawl yarn, added it on the bottom tip of the shawl.

Red Scarf

Now that I have knitted all last night, and most of today, my hands (fingers and wrists) are covered with menthol smelling cream. Sometimes I am too stubborn. Well, I needed to finish the scarf for tomorrow...birthday gift. I did it. Actually, I could have made it longer than it is now (140 cm), but I gave in to the pain in my fingers. My friend, Sherri, keeps telling me to take a break, not to overdo anything. Sometimes I listen to her, and sometimes not.

I quit knitting, and finished the scarf, because I started dropping stitches. Have you ever knitted with size 6 mm aluminum needles, 25 stitches on the needles, using Bernat's Matrix "yarn"? It's like some sort of ladder thingy. Two very thin side strings connected in the middle by a blob of something, in red and black. The side strings are black.
Oh, well, here is a picture.

So, if you ever want to make something with this yarn, use very pointy needles, and not heavy, and DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES drop stitches, unless you like picking stitches that don't make any sense whatsoever. Garter stitch is a simple stitch, but when Matrix ribbon starts running with a wicked laugh, you are in trouble. If your fingers are numb and tingling or aching, do not attempt to pick the running stitch(es), WAIT, until all the pain is gone, and then try, with patience.

Other than that, I truly like the way this scarf came out. I hope the recipient will be happy with it. At least I found a nice bag for the gift.

Sheer Shawl

Done. I knitted all night, finishing off the sides. I still have some yarn ends to hide, but not many, since the shawl only took 3 1/2 - 50 gr. skeins Yarn is Bernat's Cool Crochet, and the pattern is from Modular Knits, by Iris Schreier.

I took another picture of the shawl today, it shows more of the shape.

Now I will get back to my World Cup Knitting project.

Grandkids

How sweet!

When is the shawl done?

If you need to know, I am snacking on turnip.

I have neglected my World Cup Knitting. It's sitting pretty in a bag, on the floor, shame, shame, on me. I hav been knitting this (in the picture) Sheer One Piece Shawl from Iris Schreier book Modular Knits.

This morning, I decided that I needed to start another project. Are we already getting tired of this? I need to make some little flowers for my capri pants. That will not take long, right?

Well, the shawl takes longer to make than I expected, but it is gorgeous, already. I am not using the same yarn as in the pattern, do I ever? But I am using a great yarn from Bernat "Cool Crochet" in Neopealitan (you like the spelling?) like the ice-cream, which isn't my first choice, but that is another story.

I don't eat ice-cream these days, just turnip, carrots, apples, kiwi, etc. etc. and no chocolate. although I found some little christmas chocolate balls in a jar, on the bookshelf, so I had about 10 but it doesn't really count, because it took a great effort to get the foil wrapping off the little balls. Besides, I had diet Pepsi with them. oh, and broccoli, and such.


BTW - This is the book!

Dosha

I got this little test from Janet's blog:

Your Dosha is Kapha

Calm and grounded, you are not prone to mood swings or anger. However, once you do get angry, it takes a lot to cool you down. You tend to think a little slower than most people, but your logic is astounding. Overall, you very loyal and trustworthy. You're not scared of being who you really are. With friends: You enjoy their company, but often listen more than talk In love: You crave connection and affection. It's hard for you to be single. To achieve more balance: Exercise vigorously (especially in the sun) and let go of attachments.

What's" Your Dosha?

My logic is astounding? Don't tell this to anyone I know, or who knows me; they will die from laughing.

What is logic anyway? I nearly failed logic in high-school.

I think slower, because I have too many things in my head at the same time. do I have to explain this?

BTW, This is for fun, not to be taken seriously....OH YEAAAH?

Monday not so blue

Actually, I am in a good mood, go figure. Must be the beautiful green teeshirt I am wearing. The green is beautiful, the teeshirt is just a teeshirt.

Just now, as I was quickly hiding the screen, my boss walked in with a shopping bag.
She had a red jacket and a long sleeveless dress, from Cactus, in the bag. Guess what! She gave
the outfit to ME, TO ME, TO ME!!! She said she knows I like their stuff. She buys that line when ever she goes to her trips.

This Monday is not even close to Monday stereotype.

Back to earth. I didn't get any more World Cup Knitting done, since the picture from the other day. Instead, I was knitting the shawl, the multidirectional, you know, plus a new project.

A friend of ours is having a birthday bash on Sunday, and I started to knit a scarf for her. The yarn is Bernat's Matrix, and it's red and black. Makes a nice summer scarf. I have to finish it
by Saturday, because I am going to be very busy on Saturday, so no time for knitting or crocheting. The piece in the picture is 21 (8.5") cm long, and I need to make it about 150 cm.

The picture is not showing the real red. I don't have my good photoshop here in the office, just the basic, and it does not give me too much choice to play around, like the one at home.

I might take a picture of it with my camera and see what happens. I think the scarf is going to be neat. In my books: unusual. And the birthday girl will love it.

Vesting interest

This is the last picture today. I am switching to knitting my multidirectional shawl, after dinner.

Day 2 World Cup Knitting

I promised not to post pictures of every stitch I make on my project, so I lied. Here are two.

I have not knitted this one continuously, because Iwas also knitting the multidirectional shawl last night. I need at least two projects at the same time.

World Cup Knitting project is coming nicely, in my opinion.

World Cup Knitting Project

I promise not to post a picture of each stitch I am picking, but here is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

New Project, again

I wish it was June the 9th, so I could start on the World Cup Knitting project.

In the book, Modular Knits, by Iris Schreier, there is a shawl I started last night. I am using
Bernat's Cool Crochet, which is fairly slippery, specially since the needles I am using are a tad too big.

Here is a pic of the start

It's now the 9th of June. I had saved the above as a draft, and forgot all about it. Well, the problem was that the blogger didn't allow me to post the picture, and was giving me hard time in general, so I got fed up. That was on June 6th.

I have done a lot more of that shawl, actually the side now measures about 30 cm, in this picture it is probably about 10 cm, I want to make it bigger, so a few more inches to go before I go for the next step.

Today is the kick-off , and I would start my project but don't have any of it with me at work. I could do some at lunch, but I go home at noon! YIPPEEE. Our summer hours, you see. Our staff has been divided into two groups, and each group gets half Friday off at summertime. It's still spring, but I am not complaining. We started these half Fridays in May.

Have to do some work now, bye, and good luck to anyone who is participating in WCK project!

Later in the afternoon, Friday the 9th.

I decided to put a picture of the shawl start, because I have lot more on it than the picture above has.

Friday stuff

I hate it when the week goes by and I have done nothing productive.

Our Granddaughter is now in the hospital and is diagnosed with asthma. Poor little thing.

I went to see her last night, and she was sort of ok, but breathing rapidly, still. She had some tubes in her arm and foot. She liked the gravy that came with mashed potatoes, turkey and broccoli. She also ate the raisins from the rice pudding. And lots of juice.
She is going to stay another night, and hubby and I will go and visit her today, after my work.
Hubby went this morning.

On the knit/crochet site, nothing, really, to report. It's been more or less looking for yarns, sorting them in the zip-log bags, by colors, or by brands. I have started a skirt for granddaughter, with Anne cotton, but made a mistake, in my humble opinion (read this like: in my wicked opinion) I don't like the turquoise/cream combo I am using. I SHOULD HAVE bought the light blue to go with the turquoise, but nooo, I wasn't thinking. I am sure I would have some other color combo in my stash, if I felt like lifting two million boxes and containers to get to the bottom container, where all my Anne and Clea yarns are. See, I am "somewhat" organized. Haha. Anne and Clea yarns are in one box, and Patons Grace yarns are in another box. I wish I could say the same with everything else.

I think I have the too many WIPs syndrome this week, I feel totally uninspired to start something that would keep my interest to the end. Hopefully this weekend will change my mood.

Stuff

While waiting for the days to reach June 9th, when the World Cup begins, I need to make some adjustments into my attitude of vest making. I must hurry up and decide on the process. I only have 12 full days to finish anything that is due before the CGOA summer show.

Granddaughter came over last night. I was showing her mom some yarns that I could use to make a summer dress for the little lady. She picked "peacock" by Patons Grace. Later into the
evening all of us decided to get a little package togeter for the new baby (born May 18th), and I said to my hubby that I had already started a blanket for the baby. This little man is the brother to our other granddaughter, who had her two-year birthday yesterday.

Early this morning hubby and I went to downtown. I got out of the car just before Romni store, to go and see if I could find some other yarn for the little summer dress, since I had decided this morning that Grace yarn was too thick. It would make a dress that was too warm. I found some nice cotton yarn, in the basement, but it's not suitable for this particular dress that I have in my mind. Of course I had to go and see what else was available in this humangous store, full of yarn and thread. I found a nice cotton and nylon mix yarn, made by Bernat, called "cool crochet". The color wasn't the most exciting on the skein, but my vision of a ready made dress told me differently. The color on the chart from the link isn't anything like the yarn I have on the skein. It has brown, beige and two shades of pink.

As soon as we got home from downtown, I dug out the blanket and started finishing it off. It's a MAM (mile-a-minute) baby blanket. The most simple pattern I can think of. I know that many of my friends don't even want to think about MAM blankets, but I find them relaxing and easy to make. Except now, when I want to have it done, so I can start on the dress for our granddaughter.

Then I have to work on the vest, which now has been sitting in the basket, looking totally rejected. What happened to my butterfly? The thread is staring at me from the pile of WIPs, the salmon color on top of some of the MAM strips.

Knitting World Cup

Now I've done it! I have joined the challenge for the World Cup Knitting.

OOPS.

I need to find the time to make a vest for hubby with blue and white team colors.

There was a nice pattern in the web, for a Tennis vest. Well, if I have anything to say about it,
it's going to be a soccer vest. Just try to stop me. Of course, if anyone knows me at all, I will definitely change something on the pattern. Only because this is NOT a tennis creation.

Now I must finish the butterfly (butterflies), the vest for the show, and some other started projects.

I have to find all my wrist supports, Ben Gay, Aleeve, Tylenol and lots of hours in the day/night.
The challenge begins on June 9th.

I can do this, I knitted a felted laptop bag for the Olympics, didn't I? (Finished Feb. 26th).

Butterfly fever

I am in the mood to crochet butterflies.
Saw this little creature in someone's web site, sorry, forgot where, and
now I want to make it. Of Course.
All I know is that there was no pattern for this.

Picture of my dysfunctioned dragonfly

If "dysfunctioned" is not a word from the adjective group, it goes well with my poor dragonfly that has not come out from it's cocooon. (have the check how that process goes).

Coaster lead to a butterfly

because.......I made a coaster from Ferosa's "Learn to Cro-Tat" -book.

I know some cro-tatting but not enough to be an expert, HAHA. After that, I was eyeing a butterfly doily, in the same book, and decided that it was way too much crotatted stitches for me at the moment.

I made just the butterfly. Good for me!
Ferosa has a dragonfly pattern in that same book, and of course I had to try that one, too. I was able to make the left side, wooohooo, BUT, how to get to the other side. My thread skein was too large to poke thru the loops. The dragonfly has now become a UFO. Not even a WIP. Maybe a whip, because it bothers me, that I was so excited about the dragonfly, and I couldn't finish it.

But, no fear my friends. I have a solution to this problem. My next attempt for the dragonfly is using embroidery floss, the one that is twisted, not the one that has trillion strands of thread. I tried with a fancy, Italian, expensive cotton thread last night, and it split like a school of fish in front of a shark. Yep, imagine that. Where was I? Yes, the flooosy floss comes in nice skinny skeins (?) and I can imagine would be easy to pull thru a loop that is created in the dragonfly project.

BTW, my GD was at the Zoo, and found Nemo.

In the mood for IC

Seems to me that I am really hooked on Irish Crochet.

I am supposed to make a vest of some sort to wear at the show in July. Supposed...hmm, my own idea, nobody expects it from me, just me. It will not be an impossible task, since I have already started, BUT, I get off the subject all the time, just like when I talk. Must be one of my better qualities.

Here is the result of the efforts from last night and this morning. I also made a chain with Clones Knots, but forgot to include it with the motifs.

Oh, my IC method isn't really "correct" since I tend to use like size 5 thread, instead of that thin, what size? 40 - 60 -100 or something!!!! nosireebobby. (where did that expression come from?)

Those motifs are fun to make, but I am still very slow, specially when I use the padding cord. And then I need coffee breaks, look for other threads, look at the books, and then get back to crocheting. I don't have a time limit for my new found interest. I am just enjoying the process.

My next step is to learn to join the motifs the "correct" way, not how I would, just sew them on top of a mesh. Have to think about that one for a bit.

Wind and Rain

But we went to the park anyway. We go, sometimes, to get a coffee at Tim's and then go to a nearby park to either take pictures or just sit at the table, drink the coffee and go home.

We did it today, too, although the wind was strong, it was raining off and on, and the air was cool.

I was wearing a nice, crocheted sweater that my friend Sherri gave me. It fits me perfectly and I love the color, too. What a nice gal!

Two birds in the little pond in the park.

Found in my stash

Looking for Grace yarn in several boxes this morning, the knitting, UFO, jumped at me.

For the few minutes, at my lunch, I had to think what was the stitch and how often and when, etc. do those little tricks, but I think I got it.

If only I could remember where the pattern is. This UFO is old, I bought the yarn at WOOLCO.

some of you might not even know what Woolco was. Haha.

Paisleys again

I have been making some paisleys in the past few nights. Not many, because Grey's Anatomy has been on, season finales, you know, on Sunday and on Monday. Wow.

Tonight is the season finale for 24, I think, and that will mean that I will be crocheting some more paisleys, or crocheting around the butterfly, which ever will interest me more. Just to take my eyes off the tv screen, since hubby is going to watch it, for sure. I cannot take all that
excitement, and I can't stand it when they think all is good and done, and something happens and all is back to danger again. Ok, so I'll crochet something that takes all my concentration. haha.

Here are some paisleys I made for an exchange thingy. There should be one more picture, but the black doesn't show all the details.

The paisleys on this one look brown, but they are black. I don't have the fancy photoshop program on this computer, so I can't fix the colors the way I want. Oh, well, this basic program has to do for now.

Book Finds

I had a strange urge to go out and check a bookstore in a nearby mall. I wanted to buy a Debbie MaComber book about knitting, but there was none. I did find three or four other books of hers, but didn't want them. I have read both books, the Shop and the Yarn, but I can't find my copy of the Good Yarn. I have the knitting pattern book that goes with the Good Yarn, but would like to get my hands on both books.

Then I walked to a dollar store to buy the wrapping paper and a bow for the wedding gift that I had made. I had to make my selection quickly because I had only a few minutes left to get back to work. I walked back by the bookstore, again, and remembered a diet book that I had seen somewhere "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano. Let's see how much this will help me.

Very fittingly I am listening to Ginette Reno, right now, singing in French. Of course I understand nada, but she has a nice voice and nice songs.

I almost forgot to mention the book that the friendly girl in the bookstore found for me:
Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales. I don't spin, other than sometimes outside, when I want to be foolish and childlike, I spin around and then get all dizzy. I wonder how the yarn spinning feels. I am not sure why I bought that book, but since it was about knitting, I figured I could relate to that.

After finishing the coat, I have felt lost, and have not been able to even have startitis (word invented by Sherri). Ok, I tried to make some paisleys, but it was not joyful, because my mind was not with them.

However, yeah, this morning, finally, I got the bug again, I dug out the Grace yarn and anything else that was in that bag, or in those bags. I am determined to make a free form vest or top or something for when I go to Philly in July.

Here is the start (I made this butterfly over a year ago)
I will find a way to crochet around it. Somehow.

There is one lady on leave and two on vacation, and nobody else makes coffee in this place. Oh, well, when I make it, it's always too strong, but today I really don't care. I must go and make coffee, for me. The stronger the better. And it's good for me.

I am having true coffee withdrawal attacks...Headache, yes, it's from the lack of caffeine, and I thought it was the loud voices from another office earlier this morning.

Coat is done

I finished the main features on Monday night, and finished some yarn endings and blocking last night. IT'S DONE, ready to wear on Saturday!

I'm all set to party!






This is the purse that goes with the rest of me. The color isn't "matching" with the coat, but
it has to go with the rest of the package...me. I am not really a flower kind of person, but the flowers on the purse aren't really that flowery, right!

Spring Breeze Square

This is a square that is now done at Crochet-along group. It's from Priscilla's patterns.

I used, once again, Red Heart Comfort yarn, in soft white, and this square is exactly 8", which is perfect for our TH charity squares.

Oh, and I could not sleep, so I had to do something, right?

Go to sleep.

Pineapple throw

It's getting there...where? It's almost done, and the wedding isn't until the mid May. I am very relieved. It's 52" x 52", and that to me is a good size, because I am tired of making more squares at the moment. The throw took one ball plus of Red Heart Comfort. The ball is 1000 gr.

I started the square with Panda's Pineapple square, but got carried away, and started my own road later on, after I was comfortable with the pineapple method.

Wasted a good Saturday

We went to Sears Outlet store. they had a Scratch and Save sale, I got 10% off. I bought a skirt, two sleeveless tops and a dress with a little jacket. None of that is really a good choice to wear at the upcoming wedding. However, I can wear all that stuff to work. Then we went and walked around the rest of the mall area. Hubby found a suit for me, and, wow, it fit me, except the sleeves are too long, but that is nothing new.

Then we went grocery shopping and we bought nothing in the "goodie" section, because I was not feeling well. I took a nap at 2, woke up just before 5. I sat like an idiot all afternoon, feeling sick. We had dinner at 8, and after that I went to "lie down", and woke up at 6 this morning. So much for getting the rest of the squares done for the blanket. So much for getting the jacket almost done. So much wasted time. It's almost 10 this morning, and I have done NADA.

I am eagerly planning to go to Fairview Mall, and just walk around and buy nothing, with the nothing money I have for spending. But I can't stay at home, doing nothing, I much rather spend the time outside somewhere else to do that nothing.

While hubby goes and helps my gf to fix her printer, I might crochet some.

I wish me luck.

Tea Time jacket

I really want to make this one. It's in Magic Crochet December, 1992 issue. It has taken me years to drool over it. I have enough Opera thread in dark brown.
Oh, I don't think this will ever happen.

If it was named "Coffee Time" I would have done it a long time ago.

I am not a tea drinker. But I like this jacket.

Canterbury weekend Retreat

I just love this green!



Some of our crochet and knitting group members spent the weekend in Canterbury Hill.

We did go yarn shopping on Saturday, some of us went to Len's Mill, and some of us went to a yarn store in Ancaster, and after that we got Tim's coffee, of course.

It was raining off and on on Saturday, but we still had a good time crocheting, chatting, learning new tricks, eating and relaxing.

This cat was dying to come in and learn to crochet or knit. She was cute.

And here is the ang:

Pillow talk

I had to come up with a birthday gift. The birthday was in early March, but I haven't seen the person since Christmas, so I sort of didn't worry about it.

Fortunately I had bought some pillows, some time ago, so I crocheted a cover for this not a square pillow. I had to make two squares, that were not too big, but big enough to reach the width. Hmmmm, took some maneuvering, but I did it, and here it is:

Makes me want to make one for myself, but not now, later, much later. I am still working on the jacket, and the next item is the throw for a wedding gift.

Mice and IC

don't go together, but then what goes together in my world. NADA.

So, here are the two projects I finished last night and today.

The mice will go to Australia, leaving today. Heard rumors that they don't have any in there, so I needed to help the environment in the OZ world.

You're welcome.

The Mice need stuffing, but it's done after they arrive to their destination. Jacqui is nice enough to do it for me.

I used two paisleys to make one mouse. I had no pattern, and will not write down what I did, because I already forgot. But if there are enough inquiries, I might write something down. Like that's going to happen.

One more thing, I didn't have a model for the mice. I thought that those rodents might look like this:

Bags

I just wanted to say, that I have dreams of these bags. This is the same but in another color, closer to my liking. I need to have some unrealistic dreams in my life, other than winning the jackpot in the lotto draw.

Not getting ahead

You would think that after the amount of work I have put on this jacket, it would be done by now.

NO, IT ISN'T.

It would be if it didn't have to be so big. I used to have a teeshirt the size of the sleeve I am making now. or at least close to it. I was a skinny baby, I think.

It would be if I didn't start doing those little Irish Crochet scrumblettes. I spent hours yesterday, and Saturday fiddling with the padding cord and crocheting around it. I am just asking once, why doesn't the instruction tell how long the padding cord is to be? Mine is either wayyy too long or way too short. Oh, it depends what direction my scrumblette is taking. If it is a free form piece, I have enough pc, because I stop when the pc ends. BUT, IF I follow a pattern from my book, "Irish Crochet Technique and Projects" by The Priscilla Publishing Co. then I don't have enough pc. Because I have not found the section where it tells how long it has to be for each project.


Another book that I have is

Maire Treanor, 'Clones Lace: The Story and Patterns of an Irish Crochet', which I need to get out from the shelf, and investigate the techniques.

I realize that I am not even close passing an amateur status, and will be the first one to listen to anyone who has experience in this technique. I was looking at Irish Shuttle's site, and "how it's made" postings, and started feeling really small. I wish it was true in physical feeling, too.

There is also an exhibit of IC, and don't even think that I will start making that type of work.
first of all, I am using size 5 and 10 thread, and maybe some that is thinner than 10, but I will always admire this work that is displayed here. It is a great inspiration for me.

If I get the picture to show up, you will see that my attempts are far from perfect, but I am sure anyone who is doing a perfect work now, started somewhere, as an amateur.

Here are pics of some of the things I made on the weekend. Oh, and the book that I carry with me everywhere, these days. Let's see how long THIS whim is going to last, HAH.

IC scrumblettes

I am obsessed with Irish Crochet - my way. I will take the cord and crochet around it. Now, usually one should follow a pattern of some sort, for a flower or a leaf or something else that looks like something. Mine twists and turns on a whim, just like me. I like doing this type of IC, because I don't have any experts in my immediate neighbourhood to tell me off.

And furthermore, if I don't show pictures or my pieces to anyone, who is to know, right.

Here is a picture of some of them, I scanned the scrumblettes, so the picture isn't the best, but
do I ever take the best pictures anyway, IMHO.

Nice pictures

Here are some nice pictures by Hector .

My granddaughter came to visit at my work. She was shy, and would only be with mommy, but when I gave her some Melba toast, that was it. Gramma was then her friend. LOL. She's 18 mos now.