Sub-Contracting

Where has the time gone??? And how do I get some of it back so I can finish all this craftiness?

The craft swap is due this week, I've got double checking to do on my crochet Masters course, I've got 2 baby blankets to start and complete, 3 large afghans to finish, and ~50 squares for charity.

Yes, the yarn from Lands End arrived and it is a beautiful shade of red. It is so soft that I can't understand why Lands End doesn't sell it. I would seriously make every baby blanket out of it.

But there is a LOT of this beautiful yarn to be made in to a LOT of squres. And I've only made 1 1/2 squares so far due to the other projects that I have. So - if you're interested in making a few 7" x 9" squares - knitted or crocheted - I'm happy to send you some yarn.

The only requirements are

1) the squares must be completed by Dec. 15,

2) you'll be responsible for mailing them by this date to the donation address,

3) shipping for donation is your cost, and

4) you'll let me know when you've completed everything.

If you're interested, send me an email at onhooksandneedles (at) verizon (dot) net. Include your name and address and how many squares you can commit to. I'll then ball up some of the yarn and ship it to you (at my cost).

Any takers?

When It Rains, Turn on the Sprinklers

I have a long list of projects to finish between now and January. The craft swap stuff is going well and I'm doing pretty good on the blankets. But then there are two baby blankets to be made (for babies due in October and January), a lingering blanket that must be done by Christmas, and a pair of socks that I had hoped to make by Christmas, too.

Oh, and I need to finish the Crochet Masters Course in the next week.

So what do I go and do?

I sign up to receive yarn from Lands End for the "Warm Up America" project. I've got to crochet 51 squares by December 1!

FIFTY ONE!!!!

And that's after the yarn shows up!

But it is for a great cause and it will be a true donation to charity once I get the squares mailed in. You remember the hats I took out to donate? Yeah - they are still sitting on my shelf, waiting for an envelope.

If you're interested in making squares, check out the "Warm Up America" site for details. You can knit or crochet the squares using acrylic yarn. And you don't have to commit to 51 squares like I did.

If you are a CGOA member, check your email for information on how to sign up and receive yarn to make the squares. It's a 51 square commitment per cone of yarn requested but you can spread the work around with your guild or group members.

Wish me luck! I'll need it!

Daisy Flower Crochet Charity Square

After the mutant square was frogged, I was able to make this pattern correctly. Who knew all I had to do was count to 16!



Pattern: Daisy Flower Crochet Charity Square from Krochet Krystal

Hook Size: H

Yarn: Leftovers from my stash so your guess on brands is as good as mine. The colors are

• Pale yellow
  
• Pale blue
  
• Dark green

The front is really beautiful. After making just this one square (correctly), I am looking forward to making enough squares for an entire blanket. But that project can wait as I anticipate it being a gift to a 3 or 4 year old girl - and the current ones are still in their respective ovens!

Here's a photo of the back of the square - which is surprisingly very nice to look at. Not that I think this blanket could be termed reversible, but it's still very nice.



I'm hoping to send this off in the mail today - but more realistically, it will probably be sent out on Saturday. And if I have time, I'll try to make another one and send two.

Genetic Flower Mutation

I FINALLY started working on the daisy crochet charity square. Part of the deal of getting the pattern is that you have to make one and send it to the author. She does some great work making charity blankets and makes one beautiful pattern.

The pattern was a bit complicated - crocheting in front of this and behind that, changing colors, etc. But I got the hang of it and it was looking good.

Well, it was looking good until I got to the part where you create corners around the petals to make it a square.

I don't know how this happened. I don't know why I didn't catch this problem sooner but...as I rounded the last corner I noticed something was a bit off.

Here's what my square looks like:


Here's what it was supposed to look like:


How did I end up with 9 petals instead of 8??? I don't know. I don't know where I miscounted and I don't know why I didn't double check the number of petals I was supposed to have. I guess I was too busy concentrating on learning the technique.

Oh well. What I do know is that this square will be frogged and I'll have to start all over again. Mrah!