Simply Crochet

Remember when I said I loved Robyn Chachula's booth Crochet with Faye at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival?  Well I was browsing her patterns, and there were so many that I loved.

Her book, Simply Crochet, seemed to have many of the patterns that I liked the most.  I ordered it and it came in last week I think.  I kept forgetting to tell you about it.

I think that these are my three favorite patterns from the book, but honestly there are a bunch more.

Here's a link to the book on Ravelry, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Check it out, I swear you'll love it!

Sam :-)

My Weekend - Grandma Donna's 70th Birthday!

My Grandma loved her present!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures with my Gram, terrible I know, but here are some of the pictures of the night.

Missy couldn't center us!

So, we asked for help.

My mom tried to surprise me with a kiss!

So she did the same with Missy!

Emily was on a hugging spree...

Missy is Emily's Godmother, so here's the two of them!

Overall it was a fun night and Grandma loved all of her presents!

Sam <3

FO - Saturday?

I needed to have this item finished for today.  Today is my Grandma Donna's 70th birthday.  I finished this last night, but was too tired to blog about it then, nor did I have pictures.

So, here it is!

Its a Lucy Bag!

That is not all my Gram is getting for her birthday.  My sister, Missy, and I picked out some additional items.

Yarn!  The purple has colors blended beautifully in it.

We also picked out another set.

Another color of Stylecraft Twirl.

We also picked out a couple of books.

I hope she likes everything.  I'll have to let you know.

Don't forget to check out Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Sam :-)

Yarn Diet 2012 Beginning Numbers!

So, I'm serious about this yarn diet!  I made sure I had all my yarn entered into my Ravelry stash and then I used their export to Excel function.  Watch out when I get going in Excel.  I'm serious, I'm an engineer.  I'm not counting any yarn as used or any portion of it as used until the project is completed.

*Deep Breath*
I have:
Total Yards:  52,387 yards (47,903.3 meters)
Total Kilograms (yes, kilograms):  19.323

BUT

over 40,000 yards of that yarn have a pattern picked out/bought
over 10,000 yards I am currently working with (Debbie Bliss Ripple, Knit Vest, a couple snoozed projects, etc)

I have excluded my Stylecraft leftovers.  I never entered it into my Raverly stash and I don't have a scale to weigh how much I have left.  The only project I am currently using it for is my Gram's Lucy Bag, which I'm trying to finish for tomorrow (her birthday party).

I didn't realize how bad I got.  I get so many ideas an I get the yarn and pattern for the idea and I can do them fast enough.

I'm not sure how often I'll update on this yet, weekly is too often, maybe monthly.

Is yours this bad?

Sam :-/

Sorry no pictures again, let me see what I can come up with....

a finished blanket always makes me smile :-)

Yarn Diet!!

I am officially on a Yarn Diet!!  I am no longer allowed to buy yarn in 2012.  Yes, I said it, ALL OF 2012.  I made my last purchase today and honestly I should be set for projects for a while!

The only concession Dave is letting me have is that if I need more yarn for items I am making for the craft fair I am doing in November.

Most of the yarn I have I have a specific project in mind for it, but in the next few days I'm going to get even more organized and make sure I have options for the yarn I have.

Is anyone else doing a yarn diet?  Is there an addict group I can join?

How should I calculate my progress?  I need an initial count of skeins, or should I do it by grams or yards?

What do you think?!  I need help!

Sam :-)

WIP Wednesday - Knit Vest and My Ripple

I told you on Monday that I started this knit vest, but that I had to start all over because I used the wrong needles.  This is where I am:

I am a few rows further than where I was before.  I finished about 3 rows after the ribbing, but you can't really see that in the picture.  I can't say it enough, I'm really enjoying this project.

My big crochet project that I am working on is my ripple.  I haven't gotten much farther than the last time you saw it, here.

My sister is actually the one for me to go from the teal color to orange.  That choice had to be made at her bachlorette weekend.  This blanket is so soft.  I actually have been continually been making adjustments to the  colors I am using.

These are my two core projects and I love them both.  I really wish I had more time to work on them.  Its one of those times where you can envision it and I just want to make it NOW.  :-)

Don't forget to go over to Tami's Amis and check out everyone's WIPs and go to Small Things for the Yarn Along.

Sam (sorry for the bad picture quality, I had to take these at night with a bright light on)

PS.  An update on my bf, Dave is finishing his 3rd chemo treatment today.  This was the first treatment we didn't have to go to the ER!  I think they've finally made the right adjustments.

My Weekend - Knitting Class and Bachlorette Dinner

On Saturday, Heather (Amaryllis Musings) and I had a knitting class.  We were going to learn about how to make a vest.  We had a really good time.  We learned how to read the pattern and how to do the shaping.  I didn't take too many pictures because I wanted to be a good student!

Here is my yarn all wound up!

This is the pattern we are using.  Its a free pattern on Ravelry.  You can find it here.

Heather had a hole in her gauge swatch.  She can't talk and knit at the same time. :-)  I can't talk and knit at the same time either, so I was VERY quiet during the class (its unusual if you know me).

Here's my gauge swatch:

We practiced decreases and increases in the middle.  The picture above of my yarn shows the color more true.

That evening I had a bachlorette dinner for my sister.  Many of the females in the family were there, plus some of her friends.  We went to the Hard Rock Cafe.  They made Missy stand up in front of everyone and take a shot and we all yelled congratulations!

That evening, I went to the area around the Hard Rock (its called Station Square) early because it would have been pointless for me to go all the way home when I was passing it after my knitting class.  So I went into this area where there are some shops and I grabbed a bench and worked on my vest.

I eventually got it to be this big:

It is k1 p1 ribbing.  I went to start the next step and it said change to the larger needles.  Then, I wanted to cry.  I realized I was on the larger needles and that I had started on the wrong ones!!  So this is where I am now:

I'm really liking this project especially the yarn!  I told you back here, that Heather bought the yarn for me for Christmas!

I also got really cool new needles at the yarn shop Knit One.  The needles are Knitter's Pride Cubics.  When I was trying to find an appropriate link to show you the needles I found something I really want.  I want this set.

That pretty much summed up my weekend.  How was yours?  I'll give you another update on my vest come Wednesday.  I'll probably be working on it non-stop.

Sam <3

ps.  remind me to tell you about my new knitting app, its super cool!

My New Haircut

Earlier in the week I told you about new clothes and that I had a haircut appointment.  I don't have pictures of me wearing my new clothes....yet (I'm going to try, I promise, its tricky taking pictures of myself).

Here is my new haircut (not that you have anything to compare it to, but I chopped off a good big)

Here it is straight (above) and curly (below)

I'm loving the shorter length because I'm actually taking the time to do my hair.  That means no more ponytail every day!  Plus, it doesn't take as long to dry my hair because its shorter.

Next step is to try and get back into putting make up on in the morning....

Heather (Amaryllis Musings) and I have a knitting class today.  Fun!

Sam <3

FO Friday - Golden Hanging Towel and Dishcloth

This hanging towel has been pretty much finished for about a week or so.  I kept putting off putting a button on it.  The dishcloth I attempted a couple times.  I thought I would have enough yarn to do one with the detail through it, but I ran out.  I didn't even get to make it square.

Patterns:  Big Girl Hanging Towel and Plain and Simple Dishcloth
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton in color Mustard (140g, 236yards)
Hook: 5.5mm ( I )

Don't forget to check out Tamis Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins In Wonder.

Sam :-)

Crocheting with Georgie

This is what I did last night.  I had to take my comforter over to my parents to wash (they have a bigger washing machine) and I sat on the recliner and crocheted with my dog.

See its usually his chair...

It was Georgie's sleepy time.

Sam :-)

Retail Therapy...works for me!

I've been handling everything that's going on in my life pretty well I think.  Every once in a while I get down, but then I'm okay.  This may sound silly, but lately I wasn't feeling good and it was because of my clothes.  Through everything in the past couple of months with Dave being sick, I've gained a bit of weight.  Nothing terrible, maybe 5-7lbs, but its enough that a lot of my pants are snug and too tight in my opinion.

So, I finally went out and went shopping.  I swear this is the first time I went out shopping for myself in over a year.  I got 3 new pairs of business pants, 2 short sleeved button up shirts, and new leggings, for about $190.  THANK YOU COUPONS!  My mom had a couple coupons to my favorite store, Express, and they had a bunch of buy one get one 50% sales.  The pants are usually $80 full price!

There really is something to be said for clothes that just fit.  I did have to go up a size, but I don't care.  I'm not worried about it.  I'm an active person and when my life isn't so crazy I'll get back into my running routines.  In the mean time I just wanted to feel good in my clothes.

I had to get all of the pants hemmed, my highest of heels still had them touching the ground.  My gram was happy to do it for me!

I can actually tuck in my shirts if I want without fear of the dreaded "muffin top."

Some other form of therapy...a haircut.  I realized I haven't had a haircut since August.  I have an appointment tonight. :-)

I'm a whiz at taking care of other people, myself not so much.  I'm working on it.

I'll leave you with a pretty picture.

Sam :-D

My Weekend Part 2 - Surprise Bowling!

My sister told last week that she had a surprise for me on Sunday.  She picked me up around 11:30 and said we had an appointment at 12:30.  I love surprises, to the point where I got out of my way to try and not ruin them.

So, where did we end up?

That's right, your eyes are not deceiving you, a bowling alley.  You have to make an appointment for a bowling alley?  No, you don't, and I said that to my sister and she just laughed.

I started taking pictures of her and asking what were we waiting for.

She just kept texting away....

My sister has her own bowling shoes, can you believe it?  She's not crazy good or anything (no offense Miss), but she was in a league with friends and it was just cheaper to buy shoes than to rent them.

She stole my boots when she picked me up.  She wore my black ones while I wore my brown.  Can you tell I was getting antsy?

So it turns out we were waiting for some other girls from my soccer team!

Me and Tara

Brandy, Missy, and Katie

We played two games normal.

When we started a third, we were running out of our allotted time.  So, we decided to bowl a different way each round.  We did various things like lefty, grandma bowling through the legs, backwards through the legs, etc.

Here are a couple funny shots.

I was running away from my bad ball.

Missy you look scared or nervous...

I had a great time and I LOVE that it was a surprise for me!  I have a lot of great people around me that are so supportive and I am so grateful for them.

Sam :-D