Behind Once Again

I guess I don't mind the fact that I knit and crochet more than I blog but it makes for a lot of  "catch-up" posts. Let's start where we left off. Here is the shawl finished. I actually just kept this for myself and wear it all the time just here in our bedroom because the window air conditioner is on my side of the bed and it keeps me cold. In the future I would like to make myself another shawl that is a bit warmer.



I also finished another purse. This one is a cat one. There was actually a fox in the patterns as well and the yarn is right here by the bed but I wasn't fast enough and neat stockings patterns were started first.

This first stocking is knitted. I found a pattern in an old magazine. The problem with old magazines is that they sometimes leave things out. This one left out what type of needles to use and I cast on to straight needles and it was actually supposed to have double pointed or circulars. So I had some figuring to do to make this work with my straight needles but I managed it. I wrote down my changes in case I ever wanted to use them again but I don't usually do patterns more than once anyway.

Then I finally finished crocheting this fox stocking. I love these stockings, they are so CUTE but what pain to make. Such small crochet hook for the yarn and so many pieces! I had been working on this one for a while. It came out really cute and I have lots of these stocking patterns but I don't think I'll attempt another one for a while.

Then came a couple of patterns that are mostly my own design. The snowman stocking actually came from a pattern in an old Annie's magazine but it really didn't look very nice. I made lots of changes especially on the stocking which had no border and wasn't shaped right. It came out so good that I attempted to make another as Santa Claus. I am pleased with both results.

The only other thing I have crocheted or knitted was a Thor hat for an order. This is going to go with a little boys Halloween costume. Hats are so easy to make after doing so many stockings.

But these are not all I have crafted. Phil and I managed to get the spare room cleaned up and I have been doing some sewing. I did a pair of these pillows and liked them so much I kept them for our couch.

And, of course, there have been stockings! Lots and lots of different ones but I will spare you all those pictures. Don't really have sewing patterns so had to figure these out myself. They are easy to make and put together. I have a whole bunch more to sew up today and another crocheted (really neat!) stocking on the way.

Half Moon Shawl- Sneak Peek

I seriously could not understand the fascination with the new yarns that come in "cakes". I just couldn't understand how you would use a yarn that changed colors itself.

 Mainly because most of the things I make need a certain color at a certain time. And then someone posted on one of my groups this beautiful shawl made with Mandala yarn and our Wal-mart has just now gotten Mandala yarn and I couldn't resist giving it a try. Unfortunately, I can't find what I did with that pattern but I looked up more shawl patterns and found the "Half Moon Shawl" on the Lionbrand site. There are lots of free patterns on the Lionbrand site and I may try more of their shawl patterns with the Mandala yarn since this first one is turning out just beautiful. I just love the colors together! I had heard the yarn wasn't very soft but I found it to be just the opposite. I actually have never had an acrylic yarn be quite this soft. Anyway, here is a sneak peak of my shawl. It is only about half done and is going to take just two "cakes" when it is done.

Crocheting Getting Ahead of the Blog

Yeah, my crocheting kind of took right off and got ahead of the blog and now I need to do some catching up. I tried out a few crocheted dish clothes out off cotton. I made one for us to use but I can't say we were real impressed with it. It seemed a bit thick for s dish cloth but  I guess that is what people like to buy.
Anyway then this CAL came along on one of my facebook groups and it was such an easy looking thing to make....so I made it. I meant to make more of them but....yeah...didn't happen...

Then I was asked by a neighbor to make a pink horse with purple hair. I used the "Lucky the Horse" pattern as I already had it. Well, he's (she's) been finished for several days now but he's still here. Soon to be listed on Etsy, I guess.

Then there were cabled hats. I love cabling when knitting and had done some of the owl hats in crochet that are cabled but these hats were REALLY easy! I plan on making more colors...eventually.

The pattern is free here on Ravelry.   

Then lastly (not counting the Celtic blanket that I will do another post on...soon) I made these little girls owl purses. I changed the  handle however, as I couldn't do the handle they gave instructions for, instead I just did a braided handle. These are really cute and turned out nice. Also a free pattern and has 3 more purses as well (working on the cat one tonight).

So that catches us up now. Hope you enjoy the free patterns!