Another Cosy Plus Some Swap Details

I have yet another cup cosy finished.  I have just been churning through my mini projects it feels like.

This is my Granny Square Cosy:

I used this pattern, Granny's Cup Cosy.  I used some of my scrap yarn again, but listed again, it is:

Red Heart Soft Teal
Impeccable Tradewind
Red Heart Soft Grape

Next I wanted to show you a project that had to be secret for a bit, it had to get to the recipient first.  So, I joined a swap on http://www.ravelry.com/ in the We Love Lucy group (a group of people who love Lucy's blog over at Attic 24).  I had to put together a present for my partner, Jennifer, who is in Scotland.  The present had to include yarn, something handmade, and some other little presents and cute things.

This is what I sent her:

Four skeins of Vickie Howell for Caron, two skeins of Deborah Norville sock yarn, two skeins of NaturallyCaron.com Country, some natural soap, and some post cards of Pittsburgh.

The Soap was this cool all natural stuff that my local grocery store sells.  They have a stand where you can have a block of it cut.  I must have looked like an idiot standing there being the most indecisive person.  I couldn't decide what scent!  They all smelled so good.  Finally I decided on Spring Wild Flower because the theme of the swap is spring.

For the handmade item, I decided to crochet Jennifer a scarf using a stitch pattern from my new book, Donna Koolers Encyclopedia of Crochet.  The stitch pattern is Lattice Chevron.

What do you think?  I'm in love with it.  I used Lion Brand Amazing yarn in the color Rainforest.  I used two skeins of it.

I think its funny that I have modeled both of my scarves so far with my denim blazer, but it just looks good with practically everything!!

Alright, now its bedtime!  I can barely move, two nights of soccer will do that.  I'll have to get some soccer pictures sometime.  I know this blog has so far been primarily just my crochet projects, but I'll have to get some other things on here too....other ME things.


-Sam <3

A New Goodie & Some Updates

I have a new small goodie done!  It may still need some minor adjustments.  I think I might remove a row or two.  Here it is, my Water Bottle Cosy:

I used some old Lily Sugar and Cream Cotton that my grandmother gave me.  It said it was color Light Green.  I'm not even sure if they make this color anymore.  It was from a store that doesn't exist anymore.

For most of the pattern I used this pattern, Girls Water Bottle Holder, but for the top part I used, Twenty First Century Canteen.

Next I made yet another Hot Drink Sleeve, but I also added some embelishments!

The pattern I used for the Hot Drink Sleeve is still, Ten Minute Hot Drink Sleeve, but the flower is from the pattern, To Go.  I thought the buttons finished it off nicely.

Another update for you....better pictures of my first tea cosy, Daisy Tea Cosy.

Those pictures look SO MUCH BETTER! 

I love hearing your thoughts!  Everybody was so nice explaining the uses of a teapot to me!  My mom was always a person that just poured the water from the kettle directly into her cup or just made one cup.  Also, I found out I am not the only one making tea cosies when i don't drink tea!!!!

I'm gearing up for a nice loooooooong weekend off from work, so I'll probably get a lot of little goodies made.

-Sam

Mini Projects

After this weekend I feel SUPER productive.  I got so many mini projects completed.

First to be completed was my second Hot Drink Sleeve (first one I gave away to my Aunt Amy):

The yarn I used is left over from Super Secret Afghan.  For this pattern you use two strands together.  This is the Tradewind and the Grass color, both Impeccable.  The pattern is Ten Minute Hot Drink Sleeve.  I added one extra row of hdc (US terms).

Next mini project to be finished was my Flower Pin:

I struggled to find a good way to photograph it to show it off, so there's a few different options.  This yarn is also left over from Super Secret Afghan, but also my first afghan.  The dark pink is Red Heart Soft in Berry and the light pink is Vanna's Choice in Dusty Pink.  Its actually supposed to be all one color, but I ran out of Berry.  The pattern is Rosa Flower.  I don't think I did the pattern completely correct.  The back of mine does not look like the back as the pattern shows, but I like it anyway.

Next and final mini or not so mini as it took me ALL DAY SUNDAY, is my first tea cosy:

The light is terrible in these two pictures, but I wanted to share it with you and not wait for sunlight!  It is made out of Lily Sugar and Cream in Cornflower, Yellow, and White.  The pattern is Daisy Motif Tea Cosy.  I got the tea pot at Bed Bath and Beyond on Saturday.  Actually, here's the link to my tea pot, Everyday White Rim Teapot.  I had a $5 off coupon so I got it for $10!

I was so scared when I was making this yesterday that it wouldn't fit.  Finally at the end it all came together.  Its not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good!

Thoughts?  What are you working on?  Have you made tea cosies?  Here's a funny question since I don't drink tea....wait for it....sooooo how do you even use a teapot?  I mean, its not like a tea kettle that you put on the stove.  Do you use it in the microwave?  (This one said microwave and dishwasher safe)  I don't even drink coffee.  My hot drinks are limited.  They are hot chocolate because I have a total sweet tooth and hot cidar which I LOVE around Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Okay, I still feel like an idiot, but I'm done now.  Explain to me please.................

Sam <3



Another Item Crossed Off the To Do List!

The baby blanket is DONE!  It took a bit longer than I expected, life got in the way.  Who would have thought, right? 

I always try to do too much (as I stated in an earlier post).  I really wanted to give a handmade gift for the baby shower I'm going to this Saturday.  Originally I kept making myself stay small and came up with ideas like little stuffed animals, but then I got the best of myself.  I went big.  I figured, how long could a baby blanket take?  Longer than I thought, but it still got done in time!

So, here it is!

The details:

The blanket ended up 25"x30"
3.25 skeins of Lion Brand Cotton Ease color Lake
J hook used (6.0 mm I believe)

In the end, I had to buy twice the amount of yarn the pattern called for.  Somehow, the pattern said you only needed 2 skeins of Cotton Ease.  I did use a smaller hook, but I didn't realize it would affect the amount of yarn used that much.  I didn't really see on http://www.ravelry.com/ anybody who could finish it with only 2 skeins.

The pattern, Little V-Stitch Blanket, was very easy and did work up pretty quick.

What do you think?  Not bad for the time frame available....
The shower is this Saturday, I'll let you know if she likes it!

-Sam

Feeling a bit overwhelmed....

I realize that in the month of May I have committed to a lot of projects.  Even after completing all 4 Mother's Day presents and most recently Super Secret Afghan (a post to come on that soon, I promise!!) I still feel like I have SO MUCH to do.

-I started a quick baby blanket for a soccer teammate of mine.  The pattern (Little V-stitch Blanket) works up really quick, but it will still take me a few days to finish.

-I have to make something for my swap partner on http://www.ravelry.com/ (more to come on this later).  I have some ideas, but haven't started anything.

-I offered to make some items for an event that is coming up (I can't explain on here too much).  For this I am making hot cup cosies, coffee cup cosies, and maybe a teapot cosy if I can find a basic teapot at a good price.

-My mom asked me if I could make one more kitchen hanging towel for a friend of hers that has helped her a lot recently.  My mom had foot surgery recently and this friend has been great.  Plus, my mom rarely asks for anything, so I want to help her out.

Its a lot right?  Sorry for a wordy post without pictures.  Let me see if I can just end with a picture.....

My dog Georgie, not liking the scarf and sweater I bought for him one Christmas.  This was also the year we had to shave off his beard because he got stuff stuck in it.  He seemed embarassed.  Teehehehe

-Sam :-)

It's Done!!

The Super Secret Afghan is DONE!  I finished it a couple of days ago and again had to wait for good light for pictures.  So let's just get to it!

So there it is!  What do you think?!  The edges still ruffle a bit like the last one, but only down the side of the stripes, not at the top or bottom.  I put one sc in the side of every sc and two in the side of every dc (US terms), was that too many stitches?


The details:

I bought:
2 skeins Aqua (Impeccable, top left in picture)             
2 skeins Grass (Impeccable, below Aqua)
3 skeins Tradewind (Impeccable, below Grass)
2 skeins Soft Taupe (Impeccable, below Tradewind)
2 skeins Navy (Red Heart Soft, top right in picture)
2 skeins Berry (Red Heart Soft, below Navy)
2 skeins Grape (Red Heart Soft, below Berry)
2 skeins Teal (Red Heart Soft, below Grape)

I had about half a skein or more left over from each color, but almost a whole skein left over of the Tradewind.

The pattern is Ribbon Afghan and the colors I chose were in random order, but each color has the same amount of stripes.

I'm just so excited to have it finished!  I'll have to post later on who this is for, as of right now it is still a SECRET!


-Sam <3

Mother's Day Present

I'm pretty sure that my mom doesn't even know I started a blog, so no worries about spoiled surprises here. 

This is what I made for my mom for Mother's Day:

When I was talking to my mom last week she got very excited about different kitchen patterns.  I really like the pattern I used, Big Girl Hanging Towel.  I had a super sized (4oz) skein of Lily Sugar and Cream in the color Ecru.  The pattern called for doing a final single crochet all the way around.  I didn't have a enough yarn for that, so I only went along the top part.

I found these really cool wooden buttons at Michaels.  I thought they went really well with the natural color of the yarn. 

After I finished this yesterday I figured I'd make a couple more for my Grandmas and my OH's mom.  I'm about halfway through my second one in a darker natural color.  My mom might not get the one pictured, now that I think about it, because I have some cotton yarn that will match her kitchen.

What do you think?

On another note, Super Secret Afghan is almost done, it just needs a border.  I have to finish the hanging towels above first though since Mother's Day is in 5 days!!!!  Also, I volunteered to do a couple more small projects that are kind of linked to Super Secret Afghan in a way (eventually all will be explained), and they have the same deadline.  All of a sudden I went from 2 WIP to a ton!

-Sam