Spring Equinox Sale!

To celebrate the arrival of spring, all my patterns in Ravelry are 20% off through 3/20/11!

Pattern Featured!

My pot holders pattern is featured at the Daily Crocheter!
www.dailycrocheter.com/crochet/exclusive-free-crochet-patterns/

Or click here to go straight to the pattern:
www.dailycrocheter.com/crochet/potholder-crochet-pattern/

Or, if you want the free PDF version, get it at Ravelry:
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crocheted-pot-holders

Greetings to all of you who came to my blog via that link. And thanks to the Daily Crocheter for featuring me!

Currently On the Hook and Needles

As I mentioned before, I have a couple of projects I need to finish before the Knit and Crochet show taking place in a couple weeks.

First is a case for my netbook (a mini-laptop). I've been playing with some design ideas and color schemes. Besides using part of a wonderful granny square pattern, the overall pattern for the netbook is being improvised as I go. I picked up some buttons and some fabric this weekend for closures and lining the case. I'm still not quite sure how it will all work out so I'm delaying photos until then.

Another project is to finish a hat for Sean's uncle who for Christmas had given me a gift card to an LYS (see review here). I was originially going to use the raspberry skein I purchased at the store but I instead decided to first try the pattern using the blue skein of Lamb's Pride that Perches gifted to me. So far, the hat is looking good though I'm very afraid that it will be too small. Perhaps that is because it looks smaller on DPNs than it would on circulars. Once it is completed, I'll have Sean try it on for size and if it does indeed fit, I'll go ahead and make another hat using the raspberry skein.

Will both hats be done in two weeks? Plus the netbook case?

I do believe in miracles.

Citrus Fruit Coasters Pattern

I was on a roll this week - another pattern is complete and up for sale on Ravelry...

Citrus Fruit Coasters Pattern

Featuring lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit for all your beverage needs. So quick and easy to make, you can have a set done before the weekend barbecue.

Watermelon Coaster Pattern

Just in time for the frosty cold beverages that accompany the warming temperatures of Spring and Summer, my crocheted Watermelon Coaster pattern is finally up for sale on Ravelry.

Another Pattern

The Froggie Coaster Pattern is completed and up for sale on Ravelry!

Supporting My Yarn Addiction

My first for sale pattern is up on Ravelry!!! Yay!!!!

Check out my store where the Susan the Ladybug Coaster pattern is available for purchase! Huzzah! (Note: The Crocheted Pot Holder pattern is also available for free download.)

I'm hoping to somewhat offset the major yarn purchase I just made from Smiley's. I needed more Colorwaves yarn for Sean's blanket and it's the only place I found the yarn for $1.99 (compared to $5.99 everywhere else). Of course, with a minimum purchase of $50 plus a flat rate shipping cost of $12.95, did I really save money on my 6 skeins of yarn???





Lots of yarn ordered plus some new circular knitting needles. Details to follow this weekend.

I'm A Designer!!!

Thanks to Ravelry, I'm now a designer! Huzzah!!!

The Crocheted Pot Holders are now listed on Ravelry. I'm just waiting for the Ravelry crew to link my profile up with my pattern.

I've added a section on the side bar of the blog showing the patterns I have and how many projects are in Ravelry. So cool! Once I get my other patterns written and in pdf, they'll be up for sale on Ravelry.

Thanks to all of you for your support!!

WTF?!

How the hell did it become the middle of August?? I don't mean - hey, it's August. I mean, hey, it the freakin' middle of August, where have I been?

While the posting has been non-existent, I have been busily crafting away. Thanks to the Queen for testing out my ladybug coaster pattern. I had high hopes of getting the pattern written, PDF'ed and posted over the weekend, but :sigh: that did not happen. I received my big order of cotton yarn and have made 3 of the 4 fruit slices for my other coaster pattern. Perhaps I'll have both patterns up on Ravelry before the end of the month.

This weekend, I won't be writing patterns and I won't be near a computer - cause I'm braving the great outdoors and going camping! And by braving, I mean I'm staying in a tent next to my friend's parent's camp (modular home with electricity and a clean bathroom) and I'll be sleeping on my uber comfy Aerobed. Sure, I could "rough it" more if I wanted to but why put yourself through that. It's bad enough I won't have fresh limes for my gin & tonic.

Just kidding - I'm not that high maintanence. I'll be making breakfast on the campfire and roasting s'mores in the evening. I should have some good photos to share when I get back. And yes, I'll be bringing at least one project to work on (which one that is remains to be seen). Should I brave ye olde shawl again??? It's been a month since I last picked it up.

Note to the Queen and Mistress: The viking hat will be making an appearance at camp. Muahahahaha!

Creativity Running Rampant

It started with the ladybug...now two more coaster designs worked up...

This one is called "Froggy love Daddy? Daddy love Froggy!" from the movie "Blazing Saddles". (Thanks for Sean for the name.)



And here's a watermelon. No fun title for this one yet.



I'm still working on writing up the ladybug pattern so these patterns are also waiting to be written. I have a set of three (related theme) coasters I also need to finish making, writing up the pattern, and photographing. I'm hoping to get some coupons for Joann's because I need some different color cotton yarn to finish those.

So here's the question - would you be willing to buy the pattern to make these? What would a good price be? Think of y'all as being my little focus group for marketing Crocheting Commuter designs and wares. And thanks in advance!

Lucky Ladybugs

It seems my creativity is making a comeback because this week, I wrote my very first, very own crochet pattern! Woo-hoo!

I give you - Susan the Ladybug (a coaster)







Now - I know it's not a complicated pattern and I'm sure the majority of experienced crocheters could look at it and figure it out. But I made it from scratch as I could not find a pattern listed on the web or on Ravelry so I'm claiming it as an original idea. And I'm damn proud of it!

Background on coming up with this design - I work with a wonderful woman named Susan and because she helps keep my sanity at work, I wanted to make her something for her birthday. She has various ladybug knick-knacks in her office and she is always using a napkin to catch the condensation from iced coffee - and thus, sitting in her office for a meeting and observing this, the idea was born.

During a later (very boring) meeting, I sketched out some designs and thought about stitch size and counts. That night at home, I found some spare red and black yarn and got to work. And it just all came together! The pattern came along great. The number of stitches worked, the stitch size worked, the colors worked - it was awesome. And during my train ride the next day, I wove in the ends and had a finished coaster.

Susan loved it! She then explained why she has this thing for ladybugs. She has always had ladybugs around her. They were in her childhood bedroom and every bedroom since (even college), they live in her gardens, they show up randomly on buses or in her car - they seem to always be near her. When I thought I would publish the pattern, I knew I just had to name the pattern, Susan the Ladybug.

The instructions for the coaster are still on paper and I need to type them into the computer and double check that they are 1) accurate and 2) easy to understand and follow. I may need a tester or two to help me out when it's done (any volunteers?). I also have 3 additional coaster ideas in the works which I'm hoping to sell all four designs together on Etsy or perhaps through Ravelry. (I know - free would be better, but I have a yarn habit and a trip to Ireland to finance.) But selling patterns is a whole other lesson to learn. Right now, I've got to make sure I can write a pattern for others to follow.

Ladybugs really are lucky...I feel like this ladybug coaster brought me out of my creatively funk. :)

To Do List

In anticipation of my Lion Brand order that is supposed to arrive today, I wanted to write out my current 'to do' list. I have a current projects list on the side bar, but it doesn't have links to the patterns or anything. I thought this would be more fun - and it would be an easy reference spot for me to click on the needed patterns.

I'm leaving out the couple of baby blankets I've already posted about - onto the yet to be started projects!

Baby Starghan - pattern by The Diva Crochets
I started this pattern using the Sweet Stripes Bernat yarn. While I loved the way the piece looked structurally, the changing colors of the yarn did not work at all. It looked uneven and sloppy. I know when I use my single colored yarn (Bernat Baby Coordinates), it will look great.

Skullholders - pattern from The Happy Hooker (another sample)
Not much of a surprise anymore, is it.... T'is the crafty project I'll be making for my girls. :)

New Wave Throw - pattern by Lion Brand
I bought this pattern with my latest order. I haven't had a chance to look at the pattern yet but I'm hoping to use different colors; perhaps blues or greens. There are a lot of Homespun colors from which to choose.

Daisy Crochet Charity Square by Krochet Krystal
I NEED to start this next so that I don't get labeled a bad swapper/sharer. Though in my defense, I didn't have an H hook until recently.
Depending on how much I like the finished product, I may make a bunch of these for a baby blanket. At the rate everyone is breeding, it's not a bad idea to have one or two blankets in the pipeline.

Afghan of the Sandman by The Crochet Garden
I absolutely love the way this blanket looks! All one color and yet the texture is so interesting!

Stained Glass Window Afghan by The Crochet Collection
This will be a great stash-buster project. Not sure when this project will be started...