My Week 4 Project is Finished :)

I'm doing another happy dance! I finished the hat I wove in the ends just a little while ago. The hat is to small for me to wear, so I'm looking forward to passing it on to someone else!

I think it turned out pretty nice.

I'm looking forward to next weeks project, here's the link: http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Bags/Everyday-Market-Bag-from-Bernat

On another note I did my first party as myself! It felt really strange not having my wig, make-up and costume as a buffer! It went really well and everyone had a great time!!! Have a great Crochet day!

Progress is slow!

I've gotten a little more work done on the hat. I'm really enjoying it. Unfortunately, my husbands truck is going to need a major repair. I'm a little distracted in trying to decide if we should repair an old truck or not. I'll be posting pictures of my progress this weekend. My goal is to have the hat completed on Sunday then I'll be ready to go on to the next project! In the meantime here's a great article on organizing your yarn stash from Lion Brand Yarns. http://blog.lionbrand.com/2012/02/02/12-tips-on-how-to-organize-your-yarn-stash/
Have a great Crochet Day!

Oops, here's the start & progress of this weeks project!

I was so ready to start this new project that I forgot to take a picture of my supplies before I started. Here's the link for this weeks project. http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=107990

I got started and I'm liking the project so far. I didn't have the correct size pin for the broomstick lace portion, but I used what I had. I may need to add a few more rows along the way because my broomstick lace isn't as big as in the original.. I chose my yarn from my stash and unfortunately it didn't have a label, but it is a standard weight acrylic. I won't be choosing any non-acrylics, I'm allergic to wool and alpaca so I've given up trying those fibers.
On another note, it's over 60 degrees in Southern Indiana and we have SUNSHINE!!! We went for a walk as part of our Homeschool day. I would have liked to have made it much longer, I need the exercise, but we have other things to do today! I woke up to a beautiful foggy sunny day and just had to take pictures.

Have a Great Crochet Day!

Week 4 Project

I'm amazed that January is almost over! This week's project is going to be a little more challenging. I want to point out that this one "skein" project does use a 1 pound skein. I hope you'll join me and make your own version of this wrap this week! Here's the link to the pattern http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Sweaters/Simple-One-Skein-Wrap-from-Caron . Here are my supplies: Caron One Pound Skein in white, size N crochet hook, and a yarn needle.

I'm hoping to be able to wear this wrap this weekend, I'm going to a Ladies' retreat, I hope to be refreshed and renewed and come back more prepared to homeschool, lead the Made to Crave bible study, and stick with the Belly Fat Cure. I'm going to be challenged to stick with my meal plan and exercise while I'm away from home but since I will be with my sister's in Christ and discussing the study we'll be starting, I will be aware of my choices. Accountability is a powerful thing! Have a great Crochet day!

Happy Weekend, February's Plan

I've almost finished the "diet" bracelet. Talk about using "higher" math I planned it to count 4 16oz glasses of water, 6 servings of carbs and 15 grams of sugar to correspond with my current meal plan "The Belly Fat Cure". Then I needed to add beads just to make it large enough to fit my wrist. Here is a picture of the (almost) finished project. I need to pick-up a new tube of hypo-allergenic jewelry glue to finish off the knot securely and some jump rings to attach the charms to lobster claw clasps. Once it's completed I can move the charms for each item I'm counting and keep track of what I eat throughout the day. I plan on making another in colors that are a little more neutral sometime in the future.

Here are the projects that I'm currently planning on for February:

Anytime Market Bag from AllFreeCrochet.com
http://www.allfreecrochet.com/SummerBags/Anytime-Market-Bag/ct/1

Lovely in Lace Hat
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=107990

Beaded Coffee Cup Cozy
http://jspirik.blogspot.com/2009/07/beaded-coffee-cup-cozy.html

That's what I've planned so far in addition to the baby blanket for a friend! Have a great weekend! I'm looking forward to next weeks goal project, it will be more challenging than this weeks! Caron One Skein Wrap
http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Sweaters/Simple-One-Skein-Wrap-from-Caron


Have a great Crochet day!

Winter Blues

I'm having a less than productive day. Nothing major just seem to be spinning my wheels. Things like websites I went to yesterday for recipes for our homeschool co-op that weren't there today. I was able to find the same recipes on another site, just frustrating. I'm still planning on making a bracelet today, it's not crochet but I really like the idea of using it to track what I count on my meal plan. For me that means beads for water, carbs and sugar grams. I hope to be able to do that project tonight. After I work on filing our taxes. With my husband in school we have to get them done A.S.A.P. in order to do the Federal Financial Aid Form which is do in just over a month! I hope you make time to do something you enjoy today! Have a great Crochet day!

Doing the Happy Dance in the snow!

I'm so excited, I'm doing the happy dance! I finished the second cuff and this one fits. I'm really enjoying the broomstick lace pattern. I'm looking forward to including more projects like this in my plan for 2012. Here are the pictures of the finished one.

I found that it is difficult to button by myself and it's not easy to take pictures of your own arm!
It starting snowing this morning, so I ran out to get groceries and didn't get buttons. So I improvised, in a house with thousands of beads, who needs buttons?

I chose this pink yarn from my stash because this is not an item I would wear in my "real life" but I think it would look awesome with my clown costume! Pink is Callie's favorite color.

I'd love to hear what you think about this project. You can find the link for this project in Mondays post.
Have a great Crochet day! Terri

Week 2 project started!

I got this week's project started last night. It went really well, which means the pattern was written extremely well if I could follow it while I wasn't feeling anywhere near 100%! I love well written patterns, I also enjoy the challenge of figuring out some of the less well written ones. You know the ones, the ones that assume you will do certain things without being told or over complicate things  I've found the same issues with sewing patterns, knitting patterns and other craft patterns, it's just a fact of life!
So here are my supplies:

 I chose this yarn from my stash. Patons Silk Bamboo. It is very soft and was the "light" number 3 that the directions called for. I love the softness but it does come with a caution,  it is almost like working with embroidery floss. See the picture below. This caused a few "snags" as I was crocheting.

The yarn split very easily and I had a few issues with not being able to pull the crochet hook through smoothly and having a strand or two stuck from a previous stitch in my current one. It wasn't a big deal, it just slowed me down more than I would like.

I was able to finish one cuff! Unfortunately it is too small for me! I am going to make two more and I think I'm going to add a row of the broomstick lace and a couple of the single crochet (sc) rows to get the size I need. Maybe losing a few more pounds will help ;) .

I'm on the road to recovery, still not 100% but working towards it. I'm really enjoying working toward my goal of completing one project a week. As a bonus, I'm trying to focus on it when the "mindless munchies" are trying to attack! Distraction is an amazing weapon in parenting and dieting!
Happy Crocheting!

Week 2 project

I have an upper respiratory infection :( I started medications yesterday and am feeling somewhat better. I plan on starting my week 2 project this evening! Which can is the cuff I found of Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/longmeadow-cuff

I know only a few people have found my blog so far, I'd love to hear any comments and suggestions you might have. I know a ramble at times, sorry about that. I'm new to this and want to be improving as I go. Please let me know what you find helpful and what you don't!

Dieting when you are sick is stinks, I'm trying to stick with the plan and just increase the carbs a little to help my body combat the infection. Exercise is not in the picture at the moment, which has me bummed because it was 56 degrees today and for January 10th in Indiana! I would have loved to get out and enjoy the sunshine and warmer temps. Oh well, there will be other days to enjoy I am sure. Have a great Crochet day!

What I'm working on now & List of January Projects

 What I'm currently working on:


Currently I'm working on baby blanket. I'm working the diagonal stitch using Vanna's Choice yarns in Antique Rose & Dusty Purple with a J hook. I'll give instructions for the diagonal stitch in another post. When it's complete I'll do a border. This is my favorite blanket pattern and it's amazingly versatile.

My Plan for January:

Week 1 - Flower Power Scarf
 http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_party/sspar_flower_power_scarf.html
I won't be buying new yarns for this project. I have a huge stockpile to use this year so I'll be selecting yarns from it.

Week 2 - Longmeadow Cuff
 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/longmeadow-cuff
Stockpile yarns will be used. I'm looking forward to completing a broomstick lace project. Plus, I think these will be great for walks in the chilly weather!

Week 3 - Star Towel Holder. Link to follow. I'm excited about this one, it's a great alternative to the attached towel "toppers".

Week 4 - Caron One Skein Wrap. http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Sweaters/Simple-One-Skein-Wrap-from-Caron. I may take advantage of Jo-Ann's Big Yarn Sale after New Year's Day to pick a special yarn since this is a wearable project. Or I might dig for a hidden treasure in my stash :)

I hope you will join me as I try to stitch some sanity into my life! I'm off to do lesson plans, bake bread and make Christmas cookies and this is a slow day :)

Christmas presents wrapped!

I've almost finished wrapping my Christmas gifts! Here are pictures and instructions for my Broomstick Lace inspired bows.
Materials needed:
Yarn of choice
size J crochet hook
large knitting needle (I used a US35) or dowel rod
Hot glue gun
scrap cardboard

Begin with a chain approximately 40 chains long. Loop the end over knitting needle or dowel rod.

insert crochet hook into next chain and pull up loop, slipping it over the knitting needle.

continue pulling through a loop on each chain until you get to the end.

Cut yarn about two inches from the end. Tie the two ends together. Carefully slip all of the loops off of the knitting needle.

Cut the last loop and knot it together. Your loops won't come unraveled at this point, but they can still be pulled through. So handle it carefully.

Cut the cardboard slightly larger than you want the finished size. Hot glue the loops to the cardboard along the "chain" at the bottom. You can either do a circle or a "ribbon candy" pattern (zig zag). Be sure to keep all of the loops upright and out of the glue.

Glue the ends under. Then trim the cardboard. Then tape or glue to your package.

Enjoy!
I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions you have!

Giving Back and Broomstick Lace

The last couple of days have been crazier than usual around here. Between errands to run, gifts to make, food to bake and volunteering I haven't been able to crochet :(. I plan to change that in just a few minutes. I want to finish this post and then try a Christmas gift "bow" I saw. The original instruction were basically wrapping and then sewing the yarn. Since I've been experimenting with Broomstick Lace, I think I can get the same effect with much less effort! I'm going to try out my theory and then share with you the results!