Happy Holidays 2010

Wishing all the cakesmix fans out there lots of holiday cheer and looking forward to sharing more crafting goodness in 2011. No major projects lately- still reading up on bobbin lace and practicing on some simple edgings for the most part. I only managed to make one homemade xmas present this year: a handknit washcloth to go along with a soap/candle set. Thought the washcloth would be a nice touch, and the recepient was happy soo... mission accomplished!

I love to use the Idiots Washcloth Pattern because you knit on the bias and it's garter stitch all the way with a simple edging you get by yarning over at the start of each row. So it's a fairly quick knit and doesn't require a lot of concentration, which is a nice break sometimes. If you enjoy quick knits I highly recommend the pattern. I use Sugar and Cream cotton yarn for these. I'll sometimes make larger versions and use them as face and hand washcloths too.

Anyways- I have a treat for the those who enjoy a little British humor. I think they're really quite clever!

Edgerydoo

I stumbled upon this while surfing the web yesterday. It appears to be a heavy-duty plastic template with pre-made holes to line up over fleece/flannel and punch out the holes, making a nice row of holes to crochet into. They are rounded to line up with corners, and there are also square templates to make and join blocks. I'm seriously intrigured. I really like the look of the crochet combined with the fleece- would be nice for gifts and baby blankets. Plus it's a tool I don't have!

These pics are examples from the website:
http://www.edgerydoo.com/

It's a bunch of fleece blocks crocheted together. Seems the templates help everything come out neatly.

We'll see... If I do decide on it I will definitely post some finished projects. If anyone else has tried or heard about this product let me know.

Meet Wormie and friend!

Busy last few weeks, but have managed to keep practicing my bobbin lace. Made two worm bookmarks using size 8 pearl cotton. Love their little bead eyes!

The Specimens: wormie on left has half stitch body with linen stitch (CTC) head and tail. Wormie on right is done entirely in linen stitch with a few twists here and there to create the open bar designs. Both patterns are from A Beginner's Guide to Bobbin Lace by Gillian Dye & Adrienne Thunder. It's a good book for beginners and they go over the basics in setting up your pillow, winding bobbins, and explaining the basic stitches.

The fruits of labor thus far...

Current Project: Simple Old Danish Edging with 10 pairs of bobbins. I'm 90% sure I'm doing it right...but don't look too close because there are a few glitches here and there ;)

Some of the components of this piece: spiders, diamonds, and fans. Looking forward to learning how to turn a corner for decorationg hankies, etc.

Return of the Bobbin Lace

A few weeks ago I went to Lace Day w/ the Lacey Ladies of AZ and had a fabulous time! I look forward to this event every year- there are lace lessons, lace vendors and amazing exhibits. Hats made entirely of airy, open lace! Ornate bobbin lace trims that use over 50+ bobbins to make. It's the ultimate inspiration for me. So this year I'm going to start practicing more on my bobbin lace. Here is what I've been doing lately:

Beginner's Pattern: torchon lace ground with fan edge; 9 pairs of bobbins. The brown thing is known as a "sanity saver" a crochet strip made with dc, ch1 that creates little holes for the bobbins to slip into and not move around when you're taking a break.

Size 10 mercerized cotton. Hope to use finer thread as I get better!

So far I have a mix of danish and continental style bobbins. No spangled-beaded ones...yet :)

Finished piece being wet blocked: 7 in long and 1.25 in in width. A good start! Really like this pattern too.

Meanwhile crocheting a baby blanket for a gift. This is my first time working with Sensations rainbow boucle (sold at Joanns). It's 100% acrylic with a mossy texture and very soft. It varigates in color from light green to white. It's an interesting yarn that works for crocheting into big spaces (like granny square patterns), but seems it would be tedious if crocheting into single or double crochet stitches. It's pretty fuzzy, so not easy to see where your hook is going.

Ultimate plan: 20 granny squares will be combined to make a sweet baby blanket.

Has anyone else tried these chocolate covered fruit candies..? Soooo good! You don't feel so guilty because there's fruit inside. heehee. My husbands not a big candy person but even he liked them too.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Has it been 3+ months since my last post here? Whoa- I'll have to do something about that! Just returned recently from Pennsylvania- where I went to: THE EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY!!!

Okay, okay- it's a tourist attraction now- I didn't actually get put in prison. *whew*

'"America’s Most Historic PrisonEastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone." ...from http://www.easternstate.org/

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Original Cell Door




Exterior of prison




Streetview of Prison




Prison Design




Inside of prison cell







Cell Block





Al Capone's Cell



I took like 600 pictures in Philadelphia, and probably 30 of the prison alone- it was just mesmorizing to be there, and feel the energy inside. I didn't *see* any ghosts, but we were there in the early afternoon... I think after dark might be a different story. We had an audio tour through the prison and then smaller tours on various topics lead by the park rangers: prison escapes, punishment, etc. Very interesting. I toured Alcatraz over 10 years ago and this is definitely a different feel. Very old... very dungeon like and very intimidating. The prison was purposely designed to make you feel that way and guess what, it really does. For those who plan on visiting the Philadelphia area I would highly recommend this attraction.

They Like Me, They Really Like Me!!

Woke up this morning to find my Red Striped Kitchen Towel w/ Crochet Lace was featured in BailiwickDesigns's Nautical Treasury on Etsy!! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c2decfc75d38eef392f25dc/how-nautical

Wow, what a great surprise! This will be the second time one of my items has been featured in an Etsy treasury.

Other recent exciting news: I finally ordered my knitpicks options set- the nickel plated ones. Being a "picker" or continental knitter, I specifically wanted needles with sharper points. As you can see above, the new knit picks needles (on right) have a much sharper point than my Susan Bates needles (on left) and yarn slides along the needles much better too. This makes for much faster knitting.

Got sizes 4-11 in the kit along with cables. Love that I can interchange cable lengths with the needles. The needles are fabulous- I am very very very happy with them!

New Yarn! I think it's official-I've become a yarn snob. While I still have the trusty acyrlic stuff in my stash, the fancy yarns are all I want to work with right now. Went a little wild at the local yarn shop last weekend.

(Above) Superior Filaturn Di Crosa- Lace weight 70% cashmere, 30% silk. Color 31: Mustard / 328 yds.

Currently being used for a knitted lace scarf (pics to folow soon)

(Above) Fiesta La Boheme, 2 stranded yarn, 50% Rayon, 32% Brushed Kid Mohair, 14% Wool, 4% Nylon. Color: 11084-Australia / 165 yds. This will become an enchanting triangular shawl. Hope to start soon!

Looking forward to a fun, relaxing weeking with lots of craft time. Wishing everyone a great 4th of July!

Sewing Crochet Edging to Towel- Tutorial

The following is one of my fav methods for sewing crochet edging to the bottom of a kitchen towel. It's a good alternative if you don't feel like crocheting directly into the fabric:

Make a length of crochet edging. Select a durable thread and cut a length about 2.5 times the length of the towel edge. I typically double strand the thread if it's fine. In this example I am using a single strand of size 80 mercerized cotton thread. Try to match thread to color of crochet lace.

Position the length of crochet lace in the desired position

Now "flip up" the edging so the wrong side is face up.

Pin into position.

Knot your thread in corner and bring needle from back to front of towel at tip of edging. Catch the edge of crochet lace before starting next stitch.

In this example I brought the needle through the lace on every 3rd stitch. Repeat to end of towel length.

Weave thread under some nearby stitches. Knot and cut thread.

Remove all straight pins and finger press lace down into normal position. Light iron if needed.

Walla! Pretty crochet towel edging!