Progress Report: Basket Weave Scarf

Since the completion of the afghan, and while I am awaiting the arrival of my order from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, I have turned my attention to the basket weave scarf.

It's a quick project, one that would have been finished a while ago if it were not for the afghan and socks. I'm up to 30" in length and it's 5" wide. I'm not sure how long it will finally be - I usually just keep going until I like the length and look of a scarf. Anyone know what the standard length or width for a scarf are? Are there standard lengths or widths for scarves?

In a two-for-one type special, here are progress photos of the scarf showing different lighting techniques (thanks for the tips, Queen!).

Photo with natural sunlight without a flash




Photo with natural sunlight with a flash




Photo with natural sunlight with a piece of white paper over the flash




Quite a difference, would you agree? I'm impressed. I'll be using this technique from now on, especially if/when I start making things to sell on Etsy.

Here's one last shot of the scarf where you can really see the edges of the scarf. They kinda ripple a bit.



I'm thinking I'm going to need to edge/border this scarf...but I'm not sure how I'll end up doing it. Suggestions?

I *Heart* Ravelry

Oh, how I love Ravelry! I've spent sooooo much time there working on updating my current and completed projects. I'm very much looking forward to entering all my hooks and needles - because right now they are sitting in an Icelandic mug and a old glass vase and I don't know what exactly I have in there.



I inherted most of these hooks and needles from my Grandmother. Sadly, she died before she could actually teach me to use them. I picked up crochet from my cousin who learned from her grandmother. But when I use my Grandmother's hooks and needles, it's like a small tribute to her that I try to be as crafty as she was.

Completed Project: Afghan of the Sandman

Oh yeah...it's finally done! I woke up 20 minutes early this morning (which = 5:15 am) so I had time to weave in the ends and wrap it. I sent it off in the mail this morning and it should get to California for the baby shower on Saturday.

These aren't the best photos because it was 6:30 am when I took them. The lighting was bad so the color is off and I hadn't had any coffee so my creativity was lacking when I set up the shot. Oh well - this is as good as it gets.

*************************************************





Pattern: Afghan of the Sandman by The Crochet Garden

Hook size: F

Yarn:
Approximately 3 1/2 skeins of Bernat Softee Baby in

• Pink

Dimensions: approximately 33" by 32" (so close to being a square!)

Modifications: I did not do the final row 10 of the border because one, I didn't like the way it looked and two, I didn't have time to do another round.

Close ups of corner and border:





*************************************************

So - as an overall project, I do like it. The finished product looks great. I must be honest and say I didn't like the blanket much before I put on the border. The border holds the blanket together and gives it a nice, tailored or finished look. Would I make this pattern again? Yeah, probably. But right now I'm so sick of this pattern, it will be awhile before I do. Unless, of course, I get a phone call or email telling me someone is expecting.

Progress Report: Afghan of the Sandman

Yes, the title should read "Completed Project" - but it's not done.

The big box for the virtual shower got shipped out last night ($75!!!!) and only the starghan made it inside. I am so close to finishing it but, like the overall progress of the afghan, I can't seem to get it done in a timely manner. I'm onto row 8 of 9 on the border, so I'll have it done tonight and I'll ship it out USPS in the morning. Yes, it will cost a bit to get it to California by Friday, but that's the price of procrastination. No worries - I'll be sure to snap some photos before I wrap it up and send it off.

This will learn me not to give myself deadlines when it comes to projects. I never seem to meet them and I get stressed out about them for no reason. It'll get done when it gets done.

Progress Report: Cabled Crochet Socks

First of all, good morning to all! I'm in rare form today - awake and energized before 10 am. This bodes well for the weekend as I have a lot of stuff to accomplish.

Here's what a wonderful weekend looks like at the beginning:



And for a close up of the loveliness:



You thought I was going to focus on the yarn, right? Well, I loves me a good cup of coffee in the morning. And people love me when I've had a good cup of coffee in the morning. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

But on to the socks!

This is how far I've gotten with the yarn I currently have. As I was running out of yarn and trying to keep the length of both socks even, I started crocheting out of both ends of my ball.
(My inner-12-year-old: LOL!! You said 'ball'!)





As I posted yesterday, a new hank of STR is on it's way so I can finish these socks properly. I don't want cabled crew socks sans a heel.

Until the yarn arrives, the socks are on hold. But once that yarn gets here, I'm sure these socks will be finished in no time.

Crisis Averted

Can I just say how much I love my husband?

You see, we've been tightening our purse strings because we'll be closing on our new condo in September, maybe even as early as August. Needless to say, I've been very good with my yarn buying - none, except for MS&W last month and a couple of skeins for the Ohio Star Variant Crochet Quilt.

But oh, how I want my cabled crochet socks to be all STR in "Fire On The Mountain"...so I asked him if it would be okay for me to get another hank so I could finish my socks. Because in my mind, yarn that costs over $20 requires approval from both bankers.

Here's his response:

Of course! You need to match the colors and the quality, otherwise the finished product is not as good as it could be. I know you really love to work with the yarn, so you should always feel free to get what you like in order to work on a crocheting/knitting project--as long as you have a place to put it ;)

Isn't he amazing!

So as the post says - crisis averted. I placed my order over at Blue Moon Fiber Arts. And to reward Sean for his generous nature and understanding of all things fiber, I ordered two hanks of "In The Navy" so I can make him a pair of socks, too. :)

Progress Report: Afghan of the Sandman

:tick, tock...tick, tock:

The time is ticking by too quickly. The afghan must be completed by Sunday when I have to seal up the box for the virtual baby shower. And let us not forget that I have to make my slides, combine everyone's slides into the final presentation, burn the CD and wrap and prepare the box. I could have done some work on it yesterday, but I spent a LOT of time on Ravelry, adding projects and making friends. Oh - it is such a wonderful site!

I will finish the blanket on time, though. I started the border today and I'm hoping to finish the blanket sometime tomorrow. Or, if things get desperate - it will be finished in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I don't think I've ever pulled an all-nighter to finish a project - but there's always a first time for everything. Photos of the final project will be posted as long as I remember to take them before I wrap the blanket.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Blame the Queen of the Snow Cows for this entry.

The Crocheting Commuter -- [adjective]: Full of bees 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

When I read this, I immediately thought of Homer in this clip:

Good News | Bad News

Anyone watch Animaniacs? It was my FAVORITE cartoon during high school. Very funny and smart writing - until Pinky and the Brain actually did take over the world...er, all the episodes. Another show that was too smart for the tv executives.

So if you did watch it, you know the bit I'm referring to - Good Idea Bad Idea. Not that this post is exactly like that - or even close to it. It's just that the name of this post reminded me of the show.

Don't look at me like that! :P

So - here is my version of Good News Bad News.

Good News: The cabled crochet socks are coming along nicely. I'm working above the heal now.

Bad News: I don't have enough STR yarn to finish both socks. I definitely can't make the heels and I don't know how far above the heels I'll be able to go. ::sigh:: Do I frog the socks and make just plain ones or do I incorporate some blue Wool of the Andes yarn I have in my stash?

Bad News: That decision will have to wait because the Afghan of the Sandman must be done by Saturday. And it's not much closer than it was before.

Bad News: I'm going to have to cart the afghan on my commute tomorrow. No excuses - it's got to get done!

Good News: I received an invitation to join Ravelry!! Yay!! I'm so excited to use it! Some have called me anal retentive - I call it my zest for organizaton!

Bad News: I didn't have time to play with Ravelry over the weekend because of condo related stuff and I won't have time to really play with Ravelry until the baby shower is done. Gah!!

Good News: The virtual baby shower is coming along very nicely. People have sent in slides and gifts are on their way. Remind me later to explain what a virtual baby shower is...

Bad News: It's almost 11 pm and I'm kinda wide awake. This does not bode well for getting up tomorrow for work.

Good News: I'm up late enough to catch the Daily Show. See y'all later.

Progress Report: Cabled Crochet Socks

Voila! Photos of my progress! And I think it's quite a bit of progress since Sunday night when I started the second sock.





Because my vertical gauge is off, I've had to modify the pattern a bit as I go along. That's a bonus of doing a sock toe-up - you can try it on as you go to adjust the pattern.

My only worry right now is that I'm going to run out of yarn. You can see I don't have much yarn left on the right sock. While this currently means that my two balls of yarn were not even, I'm not sure how much yarn is left in the other ball and whether it will be enough to finish both socks with enough length at the ankle. I'm already 20 yards short of what the pattern calls for...so keep your fingers crossed that I have enough to finish.

Pants On Fire

I did not bring the sandman afghan with me on my commute today. It was just too bulky for my backpack.

Instead, I brought the sock yarn and started the second cabled crochet sock.

I'm on round 11. And oh, how I loved working with the gorgeous sock yarn!



Do I feel bad? Am I worried I won't finish the blanket?


No! For I am the Queen of Procrastination! I rule over all projects left until the last minute! I thrive on the pressure to complete something in an obscenely short amount of time! I laugh in the face of quickly approaching deadlines - Ha ha!!


And I told myself I would work on the blanket every night this week when I'm home. :)

Quicksand

The Afghan of the Sandman needs to get done NOW.

The original deadline was July 1st - when I was going to mail everything out.

But there is a baby shower on June 23rd - and the virtual baby shower I'm planning needs to be there on that day. So I need to mail the package, including the finished blankets, out on June 18th.

GAH! It's got to be finished and wrapped in two weeks! And I was going to make a small stuffed animal to go with it. (Type of animal yet to be determined. Ideas and patterns welcome! Email them or leave a comment.)

So I'm putting down the socks and carting the larger afghan on my commute. Wish me luck that I get it done in time!

Progress Report: Cabled Crochet Socks

No photos for you today - but the socks look pretty much like they did before, just longer with more cables.

It turns out that while my horizontal gauge is right on the money, my vertical gauge is off by about a quarter inch. I've sliced 4 rows off the pattern prior to the arch increase. I'm hoping that will work.

I've just started the first row of the increase and will probably stop on the first sock when it's done. I need to start the second sock and get it to the same point before I go further. The STR yarn is 380 yards - but the pattern calls for 400 yards. Thus I have to finish the socks together so I can monitor that I have enough yarn to make them even in length.

I'm having a hard time putting down this project in order to finish the Afghan of the Sandman that MUST be finished by the end of the month. The little Super Star is due in July and I want the blankets to be there before her arrival.

But I ... can't...put down ... the sock yarn... So beautiful...