I haven’t posted in a while, but that does not mean I haven’t been crocheting.   I have been working with a lot of different yarns, I bought some, and was gifted some on a trip (used some of that up already). I’ve been using some that I already had by creating new color combinations with different colorways of one of my favorite yarns with oddballs and making fun color combos. I had to take a little break because I needed to make a shower gift in a hurry. It’s the end of June and most excitingly… I have passed…

About a week or so ago I saw the crochet houndstooth pattern on YouTube and thought I’d give it a whirl. Traditionally houndstooth is with black and white but that didn’t stop me. Instead I used a couple of colors from my stash, pumpkin and slate. The houndstooth pattern is simple, one single crochet, one double crochet, alternating to the end or the row or round. Then, alternate the colors and stitches. A double in the single in the row below, a single in the double… I like the pattern and the look, so I made a hat and it…

Every year or so I have the urge to dye some yarn. Usually, I will buy some Easter Egg dye kits at the end of the season and make some interesting creations. I have a large bag of expired food coloring that was being tossed out from an office move, as well as specifically purchased drink mix packages for dyeing. I still had a couple of hanks of yarn that I had purchased to dye as well as several undyed hanks that I received as part of a mystery box. The goal was to dye at least enough for a…

I like using openwork stitches that work up fast. My favorite is the Granny Stitch. The term loosely lumps many fan or shell stitches together when they are worked in a square or other multi-sided work. The Granny Stitch isn’t the warmest to use for hats or scarves, because of the spaces but is wonderful for blankets. Bulky yarn isn’t my favorite but I was gifted two giant balls and figured why not make a lapghan in a granny rectangle? It’s working up nicely and bulky yarn gives an almost immediate sense of accomplishment. A lady asked me about blanket…

Before we get too far into the New Year, I need to share my totals for 2022: 115 hat and scarf sets 12 red scarves 36 hats plus… a few things made for family and friends.!       My crochet goals for the 2022 were 25 hats, 100 hat and scarf sets, and 12 red scarves. It may seem like I’m bragging but I’m proud of myself for what I made in 2022. Maybe my 2023 crochet goals will remain the same? 12 Red scarves 100 sets 25 hats There are a few other non-crocheting projects that I want…

Nineteen more days until Christmas. This is just a little pep talk for people who are stressing about making a gift or not making a gift. If you’ve decided to make a gift and you don’t have time to finish it, what about wrapping a promissory note? “I’m making you something but I will finish it by (future date)” and wrap the partially finished product. Unless you have to mail it off. Don’t stress, the holidays don’t need additional stress. Take time to enjoy the holidays. If you have made something or you still have someone else you need to…

It’s Halloween and that means that there are 55 days until Christmas! Time to get moving on those holiday gifts! No tricks… Just a treat and tip that the holidays are approaching soon and if you plan to make any gifts, you need to start working on them, especially if you need to buy materials. There are a couple of things that I am making for Christmas but I already made sure that I have enough, or at least I hope I have enough yarn to make a throw. This was yarn from another project. I have been in that…

I am a little behind on the goals I’ve set for myself. I crochet fast. It’s not a race, just years of practicing my craft. It’s the beginning of September, and I have 90 sets completed, 5 red scarves (goal 12) and 18 hats (goal 30). For sets I’m well ahead but haven’t made as much progress on the other categories. There’s still time. Like I said, not boasting but factually I crochet fast. It’ll all sort itself out. I’ll go on a tear and just get a few solo scarves and hats done in a short time. Though the…

I saw a yarn online and thought it would be interesting to try. It’s a nice red and black that I could use for the red scarves that I make. When I got it, I dove in and tried it. First attempt:  I made a set, double stranded and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t quite as thick as I thought, but it wasn’t quite right using two strands, either. Second attempt, I tried one strand and made a set. It was okay then after starting, restarting and after the third start of a scarf – I’ve given up on…