La mer

Hubby and I have been re-watching Lost. We got to the episode, "Whatever the Case May Be" where Shannon tells Sayid about the song lyrics Rousseau had written over and over. The song was called, "La mer". I really liked the way Shannon sung it and decided to research the song. It was originally written by and performed by Charles Trenet. Beautiful song. After a week or so of listening to it on YouTube, I decided to buy it from iTunes.

On Tuesday (7/1), Kim (CrochetKim on Ravelry) posted on the Tunisian Crochet forum about this hottest new pattern on Ravelry called La Mer.

I had this scarf listed in my Ravelry queue but my queue is 3 pages long!!!! Ravelry user, knita, suggested a CAL (crochet-along) for this pattern and alce, Moderator at the forum, started the crochet-along.

Yay. I picked up 2 skeins of Patons Grace in Tangelo. It's working up nicely. I'm using a J afghan hook. The pattern calls for Fiesta La Luz Multi, a sport weight yarn made of 100% mulberry silk. But, at $30 a skein (I'd need 2), I had a difficult time justifying the expense to myself on a scarf that I probably cannot pull off wearing for myself. So, the Patons Grace, priced at a more modest $4.00 a skein, will be used.

Depending on how this works up, I may head over to an LYS that is not too far away, relatively speaking, and see what sport weight silk they have and the prices. Although, I vowed never to return to that store again since they refused to acknowledge my existence when I walked in. They must have smelled crochet. *shudder* Well, we'll see...

La mer scarf pattern is found in Interweave Crochet, Summer 2008 and is designed by Sheryl Means.

Polymer Clay Hooks

I have a set of Susan Bates Aluminum Hooks with bamboo handles. However, they only start at size G. It was no problem since I was on a blanket making frenzy, but I'm wanting to go back to threads and smaller yarns.

The problem is that my hands are so used to the bamboo handles that they hurt when I use the smaller hooks. I decided to make some polymer clay handles on my smaller sized hooks. They came out pretty cool. I was going to do all my steel hooks, but then I found the Boye® Interchangeable Head Crochet Hook Set, 14 Hooks. So, I just added a handle to the hook I'm using now and when my set comes in, I'll see if I need to add a handle to the Boye handle or not.

Anyway, here's my little trip into polymer land.

1. Hooks with clay handles, 2. Shell on Thread hook, 3. Thread Hook in hand, 4. Polymer Clay Crochet Hook

Belles of the Ball

I was organizing my Ravelry projects and came across a pattern in Magic Crochet, June 1989 that I want to do. It's called Belles of the Ball, design by Mayumi Sato. I will be working it up in size 10 thread and a 7 hook.

It's amazing that after all those years of making doilies, then taking a couple of years off to make things with yarn, how difficult working with thread and small hooks are. I'm looking into either getting new steel hooks with larger handles or baking a polymer clay handle on my current hooks (that looks better to me financially). We shall see. In the meantime, I'll be working with a nakkie hook. ;)

Silent Night

Silent Night
Originally uploaded by cmama

Hass Design

7 hook, 10 thread

Snowman Doily in Filet

Snowman Doily in Filet
Originally uploaded by cmama

Hass Design

7 hook, 10 thread

Square Rose Doily

Square Rose Doily
Originally uploaded by cmama

Doilies, Star Doily Book No. 104, 1953

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Summer Breezes

Summer Breezes
Originally uploaded by cmama

Leisure Arts, Doilies for All Seasons, 1998

Design by Hazel I. Henry

25" diameter (approx)

Size 10 thread, 7 hook

Nature's Bounty

Nature's Bounty
Originally uploaded by cmama

Touched by Nature, Leisure Arts, 1998

Design by Delsie Rhoades

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Ecru Pinwheel

Ecru Pinwheel
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a few years ago.

Doilies, Star Doily Book No. 104, 1953

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Violets Doily

Violets Doily
Originally uploaded by cmama

Doily Bouquet, Star Book No. 71, 1950

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Ruffled Pineapple Doily

Ruffled Pineapple Doily
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a few years ago.

Old-Time Doilies, House of White Birches, 1994

13" Diameter

Size 10 thread, 12 hook

Rectangular Net

Rectangular Net
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a few years ago.

Crochet Fantasy Number 3
December 1982

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Red Band American Flag Bracelet

Red Band American Flag Bracelet
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a couple of years ago.

Sunburst Wristband, Crochet! May 2006

Design by Teri Dusenbury

Aunt Lydia's Double Strand

Size 3 hook

Blue Band American Flag Bracelet

Blue Band American Flag Bracelet
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a couple of years ago.

Sunburst Wristband, Crochet! May 2006

Design by Teri Dusenbury

Aunt Lydia's Double Strand

Size 3 hook

Forget-Me-Not Doily

Forget-Me-Not Doily
Originally uploaded by cmama

Flower Doilies, Star Book No. 64, 1949

Size 7 hook, 10 thread

Ecru Center

Tea Rose Runner

Tea Rose Runner
Originally uploaded by cmama

Touch of Color Doilies, House of White Birches

Design by Zelda Workman

12" x 28"

Size 6 hook, 10 thread

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made quite a few years ago.

House of White Birches Collectible Series, Old-Time Favorites

Design by Josie Rabier

13" x 19"

Pearls and Lace

Pearls and Lace
Originally uploaded by cmama

House of White Birches Collectible Doily Series, Heirloom Table Toppers

Design by Zelda Workman

22"

1,032 4 mm pearls

Size 6 hook, size 10 thread

Pinwheel Flower

Pinwheel Flower
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made quite a few years ago.

House of White Birches Collectible Doily Series, Perfect Pinwheels

Design by Lucille LaFlamme

14 1/2"

Size 7 hook, Size 10 thread

Royal Diamond Centerpiece

Royal Diamond Centerpiece
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made quite a few years ago for my mom.

House of White Birches, Collectible Doily Series

Design by Agnes Russell

30 1/2"

Size 7 hook, size 10 thread

Apple Filet Runner

Apple Filet Runner
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made quite a few years ago.

House of White Birches, Collectible Doily Series

Design by Connie Clark

10" x 26"

Christmas Tapestry

Christmas Tapestry
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made a few years ago.

House of White Birches Collectible Doily Series, Christmas Magic

Design by Agnes Russell

13 1/2" diameter

Tulip Circle

Tulip Circle
Originally uploaded by cmama

Made quite a few years ago. This doily ended up in Wales. :)

House of White Birches, Collectible Doily Series, Floral Beauties

Design by Karen Robinson

20" diameter

Size 10 hook, size 10 thread

All Hearts Come Home

All Hearts Come Home
Originally uploaded by cmama

Collectible Doily Series, A Touch of Color

Design by Blanche Frost

13 1/2" Diameter

Size 4 steel hook, size 10 thread in white and red

Pineapple Fan Doily

Pineapple Fan Doily
Originally uploaded by cmama

This doily comes from the Collectible Doily Series from House of White Birches. It's under the category, Pineapple Treasures.

Design by Della Bieber.

Pattern says 18" diameter.

Panda Blanket

Panda Blanket
Originally uploaded by cmama

Well, I found how to make mosaics and decided to show off the blanket this way.

The afghan measures 38" x 50". I had fun making it, but was really wanting to be done when there was only 5 more rounds left to do.

So, here is the panda afghan. All mine. :)

Rose Garden 'Ghan

I have been wanting to get a collection of afghans made for when situations arise such as births, hospital visits, etc, I am able to quickly get an afghan to that person. I have 2 already and the Rose Garden 'Ghan will be the third.

I found the pattern in the May/June 2008 issue of Crochet Today!.

I will be using Caron Simply Soft, Dark Sage and an I hook. It's a lovely pattern and I cannot wait to start it.

Panda Cross-Stitch Afghan

I've taken photos of my progress. I'm really enjoying this blanket although my fingers itch to use my crochet hook every once in a while. :) I'm "coloring in" the bottom panda (chart B) and then I'll be able to finish the top panda with chart C and whatever is left with chart D (bottom right of the blanket).

Top Panda

Bottom Panda

Both Pandas

Pineapple Motif Scarf

This project was fun. I made it for a friend out of Bernat Satin Sport and a G hook.

I used a vintage pineapple square pattern I found on the internet - Celt's Vintage Crochet.

I believe the scarf measured 62" long, but I don't remember the width. I'll have to measure it the next time my friend wears it. She wore it Sunday and it looked really nice.

This is my daughter modeling it.

Crochet Lacy Shawl

I found a wonderful pattern by The Crochet Dude called Lacy Shawl.

I used 9 skeins Bernat Cashmere and my Susan Bates Bamboo handle size K.

The pattern worked up rather quickly. Nice pattern, great yarn.

I haven't decided who I'm giving this to, yet. I have a friend online whose mom just had surgery that I'm leaning towards giving it to. But I have another online acquaintance who I may be giving a baby blanket to and I may also give this shawl to the wife/mom. I'm praying for the Lord to show me who to give this to. It may also go to someone at my church, I just don't know yet. But whoever receives it, they are receiving a gem. This pattern is beautiful and I really cannot wait to make up more of them.

48

It measures 20 1/2" wide by 48" long.

Star Blanket

I made a star blanket for an internet acquaintance that recently had a baby boy.

I had some Caron Simply Soft left over from some previous projects so I used that. It's dark country blue, country blue, gray heather and white. I edged the blanket with white in one row of reverse sc, and I used an I hook.

The blanket measures 27" across.

I like it. The pattern is easy. I started this blanket on May 22, in the evening and finished it this morning, May 24.

Pineapple Motif Scarf/Shawl

5/11/08 Update

This is not working out - I've tossed this in the, pineapple scarf? What Pineapple scarf? pile. :P

I wanted to make a friend of mine a scarf. No, not the wintery kind - we live in Florida. I had seen her wear a long scarf with a dress the other day and it gave me an idea.

I went to Michael's Art & Crafts and picked up some Paton's Brilliant in Crystal Cream. It's a good color for her and the specks of gold add a bit of classiness in my opinion. :)

I was going to to a lacy tunisian stitch, but wasn't loving how it was turning out. Then I remembered a pineapple motif pattern I had and got the book and decided to do that.

I'm on the forth motif, not sure how it's all going to turn out or how many more skeins I'm going to have to use, but I'll play it by ear.

Granny Square Bolero

When my issue of the may/june '08 Crochet today! came in the mail, I knew that I wanted to make the bolero pictured on the cover for my girls. It's on page 48 and designed by Jacqueline van Dillen. Another W.I.P.

Panda Bear Cross-Stitch Afghan

Even though I ranted about the Marshall Amp blanket (the cross-stitch part), I am going to work another cross-stitch blanket. I saw a book at Herrschners with panda bears and it was crochet. I simply had to get it. :)

It's called Cross-Stitch Crochet Afghans 2008 National Afghan Contest Winners. I had been happily working away on it when I got flooded with a few other projects, so it's setting aside for the time being, but I will get back to it because, well, it's pandas!

Personalized Baby Blanket

My second personalized baby blanket is finished. I used dark country blue and grey in Caron Simply Soft and an H hook. It is 28" x 31 1/2". Hubby helped chart out the crown on the mat. I used tunisian stitch for the mat and cross-stitched the name and crown in. I used a reverse sc for the border.

Striped Soy Baby Blanket and Cap

I had picked up some Bernat Soy from Michael's. It was on clearance for 1/2 off and I couldn't resist. I picked up some colors in blue, white, off white and brown. I then read that a couple whose music really ministers to me is having a baby. I e-mailed her and asked if I could make a blanket for the baby. She said yes. I knew I was going to use the Soy and simply adapted the pattern on the skein wrapper. It's a small blanket, but so soft and I really love the design. I had a bit of yarn left over so I made up a cap for him, too.

Finished Pile

Have you ever had a project that was so almost finished that it sat there for weeks almost finished? Oh, I guess that's just me. ;) I had 2 projects I was working on (4 actually, but we won't talk about the other two, yet). They both are baby blankets. One is commissioned by a friend and the other is a gift I'm making for a couple who's music has ministered deeply to me. The commissioned blanket has been almost finished for a little while, waiting on me to ask dear hubby to sketch out a crown for me to cross-stitch on the mat. The gift is basically finished but for the ends that need to be woven in and then snipped off. I finished them both tonight! YAY! And, in fact, I think the Lord sent an angel to help me with the gift because when I got halfway up the blanket, I saw that that half was already woven in! And I had done the other side of the blanket already. Double YAY! Thank you LORD! I'll be posting pictures of the final projects under separate posts, so stay tuned.

Personalized Baby Afghan #2

My friend has asked me for another baby blanket. Another family member on her son-in-law's side recently gave birth to a baby boy.

She said the first blanket was a hit with the family so we decided on a second one for this little guy. Since he has already been dubbed "The Prince", I decided to modify the border with crowns in place of the hearts.

When I first charted out a crown, I didn't take into account that my graph paper was square but the area I was working with was more rectangular, given I'm using dc. But I did think ahead to make up some swatches to see what it looked like. I decided to modify the border even more. The pattern shows 6 hearts along the bottom, top and 2 hearts along each side. Because I don't want my crowns look like they've been squished from the sides, I am making 3 crowns along the top and bottom with nothing along the sides.

I've also charted his name and need to chart another crown for the mat portion of the blanket. I've completed the bottom portion of the crown border and am about halfway done with one of the sides.

Unconventional Baby Blanket

About 2 months or so ago, a friend approached me, wanting me to make a baby blanket. She had no specifications, and I asked her if she knew if the baby was going to be a boy or a girl. She said, a boy and they are naming him Marshall. I said ok and she proceeded to tell me that the father is a musician and they are naming him after the Marshall Amplifiers.

When I got home that night, my mind wouldn't stop thinking about this blanket. I had an idea to make an amplifier blanket. I discussed this idea with my husband, who is also a musician and has a fondness for Marshall Amplifiers and we both were very excited about this idea. Now I had to talk my friend into it. After all, Marshall Amplifiers, unless you are a musician, aren't very pretty or cute to look at.

I told my friend about the idea and even warned her that if we went through with it, it would not be received well at the baby shower by anyone but the parents. She saw how excited I was about this blanket and told me to go for it.

I picked up several skeins of different kinds of yarns to experiment with. I knew I wanted to do the tunisian stitch as that would give me the look I wanted - squares, lots of squares, to look like the front of the amplifier.

I made several swatches and asked hubby to pick out the best one. He chose the one made from Caron Simply Soft Heathers in Charcoal Heather.

After I worked up the blanket, I did an image search on the logo and worked up a chart using photoshop. I then got some graph paper and plotted out the name.

This next step almost derailed me and made me scratch the whole idea. Cross-stitch. I had never done this before. My first 3 attempts (yes, I said 3), I was making the xs INSIDE the squares. This produced a black outline of each x. Not an attractive logo.

I almost gave up.

I prayed and asked God to help me with this. I knew He gave me the idea for the blanket and wouldn't let me down when I was so close to being done. I was looking through some crochet magazines I have, just browsing through, unrelated to the blanket, when I came across a piece that had cross-stitching over an afghan stitch. This is what I needed! Although looking at the illustration completely confused me, I finally figured out how to make the xs on the afghan stitch.

After the name Marshall was stitched on, I bordered the blanket with a round of sc in Lion Brand Homespun, color Golden. I had brought my husband into Michaels' with me one day and told him to pick out any yarn, any color to border the blanket with. This is what he chose. I then followed that up with 2 rounds of hdc in the Charcoal Heathers.

I also made up a hat, hoping to cross-stitch the name Marshall on that, but my lack of skills in cross-stitching prevented that from happening. ;)