• Crochet - hats - red hats

    All good things must come to an end…

    October 31, 2019 - By 

     

    The American Heart Association has ended its Little Hats Big Hearts program. Many of us who made hats for the organization were concerned. The hats that were already sent to the AHA will be donated. Those of us who hadn’t sent in our hats were looking for other organizations that would accept the hats. In the Little Hats Big Hearts Illinois group, another organization’s founders said they would gladly accept the hats. This isn’t the first time that a program has ended and won’t be the last. When one door closes another opens. Several years ago, another program which asked knitters and crocheters to make items for special Olympians ended. That was the first year that the women in a shelter also received a scarf along with other goodies that were donated from my church.

    While both of these endings made me sad, there are dozens of other organizations that seek handcrafted items made with love and would be ready to receive them. Some organizations are local or very small but they are out there.

    For a few days I was concerned that I wouldn’t have a place to donate 75 red baby hats to, but that didn’t stop me from making other items. Everything I make will eventually find a good home.

    Just keep going! Don’t get discouraged when you don’t like the yarn you are working with, put it aside and work on another project. Try a different hook or pattern with the yarn and the project will practically fly off your hook, There may be crafting setbacks, learn from the experience and move on.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Art of crochet - Crochet

    Crochet everywhere!

    October 12, 2019 - By 

    I’m not ashamed of the fact that I crochet. It’s just that I didn’t want people to ask me questions about crocheting when I crocheted in public. Reading in public is a closed activity, for the most part, no one will feel free to talk about what you are reading, unless they have read the book, or want to read the book. Generally, if you are reading, no one will bother you. When you are crocheting in public, however, that is a different story. Someone may decide to come up and ask what are you knitting, ask “is that for me?” or chat about your project.

    Now, I will crochet everywhere!

    By everywhere I mean I will crochet:

    at home,
    at a park,
    at a concert,
    at the talk before at the opera,
    at the pre-concert lecture at the symphony,
    in the bed,
    in a chair,
    in a restaurant or in a bar.

    I will crochet near – at my favorite coffee shop (Metropolis) or far – my most recent vacation in Costa Rica and even on a cruise with a group I met and still keep in touch with on social media.

    I will crochet in my home, in a friend’s home, or in a relative’s home.

    If I’m waiting, I’m crocheting because I can still be social.

    People will inevitably ask what I’m working on, this may be the reason that other people don’t crochet or knit in public. In certain spaces, people are too polite or unobservant to ask. What are The answers come easier now that I have been crocheting longer. One place that I don’t crochet is public transportation – that is my reading time and it’s easier to read on a crowded bus or train than it is to try to gather up the yarn or fight for elbow space. When I would visit my grandmother in the nursing home or even visiting people in the hospital, I crochet because it gives us both something to do.

    I don’t care anymore about people looking at me, because I can people watch and crochet and that’s just fine by me. Don’t worry about others, worry about yourself – crochet or knit in public and enjoy yourself. Taking your project “on the road” is exhilarating, unless it’s an afghan and too unwieldy to manage.

    Happy crocheting – crochet where you want!

  • Crochet - crochet motivation - Patterns

    Sea anemone hat

    September 23, 2019 - By 

    Here’s a hat pattern that I created and have made a few times. It reminds me of a closed sea anemone, hence the name.

    Sea anemone hat

    Size: Newborn – 3 months
    Made with Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday® Worsted in Really Red/ I hook

    Chain 3, slip stitch to join

    Round 1: Crochet 12 single stitch into the center, slip stitch to join. Chain 2, count chain as 1 double crochet.

    Round 2: Crochet 2 double crochet into each single crochet. Join. Chain 2.

    Round 3: Crochet 2 front post double crochet (fpdc), 1 back post crochet (bpdc) to end of round [turning chain counts as 1 bpdc at end of round]

    Round 4: Crochet 1 fpdc into each fpdc and 2 bpdc into each bpdc to the end of round (1 bpdc in last two bpdc)

    [Note: As you add more rounds, the circle will begin to curl on the edges and take shape.]

    Round 5: Crochet 1 fpdc into first fpdc, 2 into second (making 3 fpdc and 2 fpdc); 1 bpdc into each bpdc; crochet 1 fpdc into next fpdc, 2 fpdc into next [Optional: alternate the increase on the first or second fpdc – you may choose to increase on the first or the last]

    Rounds 6-16: Continue pattern of 3 fpdc, 2 bpdc (or desired height – roughly 5 inches)

    Round 17: Single crochet into next eight stitches, skip one, sc into next eight, skip one, sc to end

    Rounds 18-20: Single crochet into each stitch, then bind off and weave in ends.

    Try it out! Feel free to link back to this pattern. Make a few and donate them to your local chapter of the American Heart Association for their Little Hats Big Hearts program. 

  • Crochet - Dyeing

    Dyeing Experiment

    September 6, 2019 - By 

    In one of my kitchen cabinets I found a stash of unsweetened Kool-Aid packets and in my working yarn stash I found a couple of four skein bags of undyed worsted weight wool. Obviously, I had a dye project in mind, because I do not drink Kool-Aid and there were multiples of each flavor in flavors that I wouldn’t drink if I did – grape, orange, blue ice and some color changing flavors. All of these were unsweetened as well and I have no sugar in my house, because I like my coffee and tea unsweetened. This was definitely for a dyeing project.

    The yarn however, I guess it was on sale because there were eight hanks waiting to be used in my working stash. I needed a refresher on how to dye yarn with Kool-Aid. I searched online and soaked the yarn, while I prepared the dye. This was something I had done before so I got out the squeeze bottles, poured in the flavors/colors that I wanted to use and then filled the bottles with vinegar. Many directions say to use vinegar and water. I just use vinegar and it works well.

    Wild Cherry, Grape and Orange were chosen for my test this time. Initially, I wanted to have mostly red in the color scheme. There were only six packets of wild cherry and I wanted a more vibrant color, more colors were added to the experiment. I added a little of a packet of grape to the orange dye to make it darker. The color ended up looking more like a muted than very bright. A couple of months ago when I was in an office supply store, I purchased some large rubber bands, to purposely keep some natural sections on the yarn.

    The yarn looks lovely and I was anxious to wind it up, though I am not sure what pattern I want to use for the hat and scarf. I dyed four hanks which is enough for a hat and scarf. Though, the next time I do this I would buy more or have more of the drink mix to have more concentrated color, as well as turn the work to make sure that the dye gets through to both sides. I’ve dyed before and know that it’s important to get enough saturation, but I wanted to see what would happen if I just let the dye go where it did, not turning the hanks, just squeezing it through (wearing plastic gloves).  Once all the dye was on the yarn, I wrapped it in plastic and heated it in the microwave to set the colors. After testing a section to see if the water squeezed through the skeins was clear, and it cooled sufficiently, I put the hanks in a bowl with a little dishwashing liquid and rinsed it. The water was clear, which was a good sign and I hung the skeins to dry.

    One hank has a little more natural color than I intended, that one will be used for the hat. If I turned it more or used more dye, maybe it would have turned out differently. The colors weren’t as far off as I thought. When the colors are wet, they are darker, but I was pleased with how they turned out. Eager to see how the yarn would look wound, I put it on my swift and wound the hanks up last night.

    A few years ago, I took a class through my favorite yarn shop. Since this was an at home project, I wanted to use dyes that are safe to use in dishes at home and are easy to buy. Drink mixes and food coloring are easy to find and use. Since this is just something I wanted to dabble in and not make a deep dive or further cash outlay, I went with what I had.

    Inspiration hasn’t struck yet… When I discover the right pattern for the hat and scarf, then I will start stitching, for now I’m content with admiring my newly dyed yarn and planning the colors for my next four skeins.

  • Crochet - Donations - red hats

    Too much of a good thing?

    August 27, 2019 - By 

    Two weeks ago it hit me, crochet project fatigue. I’m ready to make something larger. For the past decade or more I have been occupied with making afghans between 10-20 per year. When I decided to take a break this year for a crocheting sabbatical and only focus on technique, hats and scarves, I wanted to step back and not concentrate on large projects.

    When I decided not to make afghans this year. I thought that 50 scarves, and 60 hats were a manageable goal for the year. Well, not only was it manageable, but achievable. The new goal of 10 hat and scarf sets, 75 scarves and 75 hats, is going along well and when both symphony and opera seasons start again in the fall, there will be built in time to crochet during the pre-event talks. BUT I miss making afghans.

    The almost instant gratification and satisfaction of a completed work, has challenged me to seek out new motifs at a much faster pace than I normally would when working on an afghan. The fast pace has given me an opportunity to increase my speed, and work out new finishing techniques. There are pros and cons to this sabbatical year… The biggest benefit will be the number of groups that will receive more donations. I’ve become more particular about the yarn I use for certain projects, my speed has increased and I have tried more yarns than before since the amount needed for a scarf isn’t as costly as the amount needed for an afghan.

    I will keep plugging away at my goals, there are four months left in the year, much more to do and crochet. Stay tuned!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - Hats and scarves - red hats

    Setting new goals

    August 11, 2019 - By 

    Ten adult sized hat and scarf sets. That is part of the new goal.

    Since I have completed 57 little red hats and 50 scarves, I need a new challenge. The new red hat goal will be 75;  10 hat and scarf sets. Two sets are already complete and I’m working on more little red hats.  This doesn’t seem like a big enough goal.

    A big goal would be 60 scarves and 10 hat and scarf sets.

    It is possible. I want possible, yet challenging.

    New goal:
    75 scarves
    10 hat and scarf sets
    75 little red hats

    In 2019, I have experimented with color and yarns. There are some yarns that I prefer to others and some yarns are more suited to wearing than snuggling (i.e. a blanket or afghan). Though they fit and I have tried on a few of the adult hats that I’ve made, I still think that adult hats seem gigantic compared to baby sized ones. The most recent hat I started, had to be ripped out because I forgot about the stretchiness of the starting chain. Some people have large heads, but not that large. This sabbatical year has allowed me to work on different techniques and increase my speed a bit. I’ve also sampled some new yarns that weren’t exactly to my liking and then others that I fell in love with, but other people weren’t as infatuated with those yarns from reading their reviews. There’s a yarn out there for everyone. When I like a particular yarn or project, I tend to work faster, because it’s not a chore.

    Summer time is the best time to work on small projects, a hat doesn’t have to be on your lap like an afghan does and you can move a scarf around as it gets longs so you don’t get too warm. A relatively cool evening, outside listening to music or watching a movie is the perfect time to work on a small project.

    I need to get going and complete some of the projects that I have started.

    Since I’ve met my goal, I challenge my crafty readers to make at least one item and donate it to a charity of their choice (or a person in need) by year’s end. What are you waiting for?

    Happy crocheting!
  • Crochet - hats - red hats

    Inspiration is everywhere

    August 3, 2019 - By 

    A few weeks ago, I found a crochet-a-long for an afghan that piqued my interest because the center section would allow me to make a creative top down hat. I made a hat with a few modifications to the center section of the afghan because I didn’t want it to be too big. It was ok and on the smaller side, but the next one I made worked out beautifully, then I decided to make a third with a change in the pattern – same basic premise and it also turned out well.

    As I’ve mentioned before, patterns are like recipes. Instead of moving forward with the afghan crochet a long, I was inspired to use the beginning techniques to make a hat. I like the flexibility of the bottom up or brim up hat, but I like how the top down hats seem to be warmer and have fewer holes in them in the crown.

    I was online and saw the first portion of the Study of Planet Earth afghan and thought I could use that in making a top down hat that would be warm. I changed things a little bit since I’m making smaller hats and I know that the crown should be in the four inch range. The techniques used in the video can be adapted for an adult hat since the crown is larger. Once I got to the proper diameter of approximately four inches for the crown, then the decreases stop and I just continue crocheting in the round, until the hat is the right height, then single crochet in the last round or two.

    Since I’ve almost met my goal for scarves (four in progress as I’ve been concentrating on little red hats) I’ve been thinking of donating to the Seamen’s Christian Institute. I want to make sure that I follow the guidelines of an organization before sending any item. On their page there are several patterns, mostly for knitted garments. The Seafarer’s scarf seems enticing and I’m interested in challenging myself to create a crochet version. There are a couple of different ways to do it, but I’m up for the challenge. The knitted pattern has the dimensions listed and that will be my starting point for the crochet version. As much as I’ve searched Google and Ravelry, I can’t find a crocheted version of the Seafarer’s scarf. As I always say – patterns are suggestions. The approximate dimensions are given for the knit patterns as well as suggested yarn weight. To me, as a crocheter that means challenge accepted.

    Now all I have to do is pick a color and make sure I have enough for a hat and scarf. Stay tuned!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - hats

    Met my scarf goal… now what?

    July 18, 2019 - By 

    Forty nine completed scarves as of today, July 18, 2019. My goal was to make and give away 50 scarves this year. I have 49 completed scarves. I don’t know how that happened. This has happened before where I just finish something and then begin a new project or two after putting the last one away and not thinking about my goal being met. I guess I just lost count.

    The way that I discovered that I had two additional scarves was when I decided to consolidate my storage and put them all into one container. I counted the finished scarves several months ago and put 20 into one of the containers that I use. When it was full, I put the completed scarves in different nooks and crannies in my home. This weekend, I gathered them up to transfer them all to my workroom, which is when I discovered 2 scarves that were hanging out in another container.

    The red hat tally has also been inching upward. The goal for hats is 60 and currently I have 50 with two in progress. I reached the end of my preferred red yarn that I used for hats so I ordered more and it is ready to be used.

    This isn’t the first time that I have found more completed works in my workroom. My friends in my knitting group and my family members tease me about my crocheting speed. I don’t think I am that fast. But I guess I don’t think about how quickly I work and actually complete projects. Which may be why I have no problem taking things apart when I am not satisfied with how they look.

    I need to set new goals. Maybe I will reset my scarf goal to 75 and 10 adult hats. Then when I meet the red hat goal, extend that as well. There are still a few things that I have been planning and want to do before the end of the year – dyeing yarn with egg dye, making a color block scarf with some odd lots of yarn from previous projects and purging more yarn from my work stash that I don’t like to make more room for completed projects.

    Happy Crocheting!

  • crafting - Crochet - Vacation crocheting

    The right amount of yarn

    July 7, 2019 - By 
    KODAK Digital Still Camera

    Costa Rica was great! I had a relaxing time and saw monkeys, iguanas, colorful magpies, lizards, raccoons, pelicans, vultures and more. We stayed at a resort near the forest and Pacific ocean which I considered glamping because we were so far away from a town and I’m definitely a city girl.

    KODAK Digital Still Camera

    There was a lot of time to relax. I preferred sitting in the shade near the ocean where there were boats, birds, crabs, monkeys and other sights to occupy my time as I crocheted. For those who have been following I was wondering how much yarn to take on my trip. I took enough. I had a couple of skeins that I didn’t use for hats, but I did make six hats and seven scarves on the trip. The last row and a half I finished at home, because I don’t crochet on planes, not enough space to move about. I either read or sleep. There was some yarn left over and I will incorporate it into other projects but now I know how much to bring with me for a relaxing trip. There was a lot of time sitting around, though I did participate in a wine tasting, nature hikes, chatted with some other people at the beach, evening entertainment at the disco, plus other activities. I didn’t feel as though I missed out on anything and leisurely worked on my projects.

    On this trip, crocheting at the beach became “my thing.” People who saw me would come over and start a conversation about my work. A few people even said they didn’t think of bringing anything. I said “I can crochet and look at the scenery, so I brought crocheting, because I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the view by reading.” They agreed. I don’t always get to have several days with large blocks of time where I can just sit and crochet. Now I have a better idea of how much yarn to bring with me I feel like I am truly a seasoned traveler. Plus, I have learned something new that I can use when I am ready for my next trip – how to plan the amount of yarn to bring. The right amount of yarn is the amount that you will use and not be a social hermit or miss out on anything.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - Vacation crocheting

    Fear of not bringing enough yarn…

    June 25, 2019 - By 

    In a few days I am leaving for Costa Rica and I am getting ready for my trip. I still have a degree of uncertainty about how much yarn to bring, but I have decided to bring enough for a few hats (5 skeins) and enough yarn to make 6 scarves. I was thinking five until I started reading more about travel times. I can look out the window and be engaged with

    other people when I’m crocheting. Reading is a closed activity, whereas crocheting allows me to be able to still talk to people. Plus, the ride from the airport to the resort is approximately 90 minutes and there is time lounging by the pool or near the beach and that is definitely crochet time. Some of the people in our group are going to the spa one day. I’m not a spa person, but I can definitely finish a hat in that time.

    The yarn for the “Costa Rica collection” has been selected. Using my last trip as a guide and considering a day at the resort equivalent to a day at sea on a cruise, I think I have enough packed. Now I am considering this a personal challenge to make hats and scarves. This is going to be fun!

    I opted not to bring my Kindle because I only use it to read a little and I downloaded a game I like to play. The Kindle is also heavy and takes up room that I could have for souvenirs – I want to buy a mug for myself and of course yarn in my carry on.
    At last night’s knitting group meeting, I showed them a picture of the yarn I was taking, explained the time, place, etc and they think I’m bringing enough. In the back of my mind, there’s still the fear that I won’t have enough. A few years ago, I ran out of yarn when I was on a cruise where we had several days at sea and sightseeing, plus outdoor movies. Some people worry about the fear of missing out or the fear of packing too few clothes. I have been traveling since I was a child and my family’s motto is always make sure you have money and your passport, you can buy the rest. Warm vacation spots aren’t the places where you can easily buy yarn. When I’m sitting, I”m crocheting. Lots of sitting on this trip means lots of time to crochet.

    I’ve been topping off my toiletries in my kit which is generally ready to go, I have sun screen, bug spray (things I normally don’t carry on vacation) and have figured out some outfits to mix and match for the trip – day wear and a few nice outfits for the evening and an optional sightseeing trip. It’s this yarn thing that is giving me the flux.

    I’ve made my decision on what I’m taking and if I run out… it won’t be that I didn’t make a valiant effort. If I run out of yarn, I will just have to “be like everyone else and nap” as my best friend suggested.

    Look for pictures of the “Costa Rica” collection soon!

    Happy Crocheting!