The Details!!!

I can't believe I forgot to give you the details yesterday.  I was so caught up in all the pictures that I forgot about the details.  I LOVE the details.

So first up, my Martha Cowl:

Details:
Pattern: Martha Cowl
Yarn:  Berroco Pure Merino in color 8528, I used about 5.5 balls
Hook: 5.0mm H hook

I really enjoyed this pattern.  It is extremely simple.  The only thing I changed was that I made the flower a pin instead of sewing it permanently on.  I didn't want to have to worry about positioning it correctly.  I could just move the flower!

I know I mentioned this yarn in my first post about this scarf.  It is very soft and I really like it.  I think it is discontinued.  It does stretch, so I don't know if I would use it for anything but a scarf.

Now, Grandma Betty's Drops Afghan:

Details:

Pattern: 124-1 Crochet Blanket

Yarn:  Drops Delight in colors 10, 08, 11, and 09.  I used 5 skeins of the color 10 and one each of the other colors for the total of 8 skeins.

Drops Fabel in Black - 400, I used about 3.5 skeins to put it together and to do the border.

Hook: 5.0mm H hook

Size: 40" x 50" (102cm x 127cm)

I loved this pattern.  I worked on it for so long, since June!  This was my project where I would take a ball of yarn with me anywhere and do a square or two.  The joining method for this blanket was new to me and I really like it.  It was a pain in the butt to do, but I love how it turned out.  Each square was about 4.25 in square (11cm square).  I arranged the squares 8x10 instead of the 7x11 that the pattern called for.  I just didn't want it long and skinny like that.

This was my mobile project for so long.  Production on it screeched to a halt when it was stuck on the dinning room table.  I eventually got my butt in gear and spend some evenings putting it together.

This blanket was more expensive that my Mom's Granny Stripe because of the yarn it used.  I couldn't recommend this pattern and the yarn with it enough.  It just turns out so nice!!  I may have to make this again for me :-)

Sam <3

WIP Wednesday - sort of....

I've been working on my WIPs and I've actually finished one, but I haven't been able to get any pictures.  It has busy week filled with a hospital visit (BF, his Crohn's acting up), a funeral home (a good friend/coworker's mom passed away suddenly), and some major headaches  that made anything impossible. I've gotten headaches for as long as I can remember.  I went through a bunch of tests when I was 10 and was told I would grow out of them.  They grew less frequent, but they never fully disappeared.

I'll just give you a mini update and let you know what I'll show you soon.

• Martha Cowl is finished!
• I have all the vertical seams done on Grandma Betty's blanket and one horizontal seam done.  It's slow going now, because it isn't my portable project anymore.
• I have a good portion of my Grandma Donna's Lucy Bag done.  It is starting to look like a bag now
• I have all of my pieces done for my Joint Project with Grandma Donna.  I finished one corner square, which I showed you last week and I started the other 3 for my Gram.  She can complete them once I start them.  I'll post pictures when it is all together and done.

Don't forget to go over to Tami's Amis and check out the other WIPs.

Sam <3

Boston!

This past weekend my sister, her fiance, my boyfriend, and I went to Boston.  We got in early Friday morning.  During Friday, we explored around the city, using their T system, and we went to the aquarium.  These little penguins were the cutest!

We did a little more exploring around the boats and the beach.

On Saturday, we went to walk along a bit of the Freedom Trail, but we came across the Holocaust memorial first.  There were quotes on these glass panes from survivors.  There were the numbers on the glass, they were in tiny print and they went from the ground to the top of each tower.  It was very difficult to imagine that each number represented a person.

We did get to go along a small bit of the Freedom Trail.

We then met my friend Julie (she is this Julie) and her boyfriend Ken for lunch.  She requested a baby blanket (she saw this post and loved it) for a friend of hers a while back and I gave it to her while we were in town.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting any pictures of us together or her holding the blanket!!!  We hadn't seen each other in years and we were chatting non stop!

That night we had tickets to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park!  We went there in pedicabs!!

The Green Monster or as they say, "Monsta"

 We walked over to stand by the seats on the Green Monster.

Here's the view from our seats!!

On Sunday, my birthday, we went back to the area around the Freedom Trail. 


Paul Revere's house

I don't think this is on the Freedom Trail, but it says its the first Catholic Church in New England, founded by Italian immigrants. (not the best picture, I know)

We then went The Green Dragon (its an Irish pub that I didn't take a picture of) to watch the USA vs Brazil world cup game.  That game was SO EXCITING!!!  I couldn't handle the anxiety at times!

Then we went to the restaurant we ate at with Julie and Ken on Saturday.  We went back for my bithday, for some sangria and cake. 



BF being a goofball and me oblivious



Sister and Fiance

Overall, an amazing trip!  I had wanted to show you some other pictures, but my sister is a little slow with uploading her pictures (teasing, but really, upload them soon! haha)

Sam :-)

My First Pattern

Okay everyone, the title says it all!  I've created my first pattern!  Its a little one, but that's okay.  I got the idea when I was working on my granny stripe blanket.

So here it is, my Granny Stripe Cup Sleeve! 

So, you want to know how I did it?  Well, even if you don't want to know, I'm telling you. :-)

I used Lily Sugar n Cream cotton yarn, worsted weight (colors Vivid Orchid and Leaf) and an I hook (5.5mm I believe).

• Using color A (Vivid Orchid) I chained 30 and joined to the first chain with a slip stitch.  (make sure you don't twist the chain)
• Row 1 - Chain 1 and do a sc in the same stitch and every stitch around (30 sts)
• Row 2 - Chain 3 (counts as one dc) and do two more dcs in the same stitch, then *skip 2 stitches and do 3 dcs in the next stitch* repeat from * until you reach the end (10 clusters) and join with a slip stitch into 3rd chain of beginning chain 3.
• Row 3 - slip stitch into the next two stitches and the space between the clusters, then chain 3 and do 2 dcs in the same space between the clusters, then do *3 dcs in next space between clusters*  repeat between * until you get to the end and slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the chain 3 (10 clusters) fasten off yarn
• Row 4 - Attach color B (Leaf) to any space between clusters of Row 3.  Chain 3 and do 2 dcs in the same space, then do *3 dcs in the next space between clusters*   repeat between * until end then join with slip stitch to the 3rd chain of chain 3 at the beginning of row
• Row 5 - Repeat row 3
• Row 6 - Repeat row 4 with color A
• Row 7 - Repeat row 3, but do not fasten off yarn
• Row 8 - chain 1 and sc all the way around and join to first sc with a slip stitch (30 sts) fasten off and weave in ends and Enjoy!

It was such a small project, but I was so excited because I was just making something I saw in my head.  Similar things could be out there, but I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. 

Originally I did want to add a flower, but any flower I made didn't look right with it.

What do you think?  How'd I do?  Let me know if anything needs to be clarified or if you find any typos.

Sam :-)

Water Bottle Cosies Aplenty

There is a reason why I have been making all of these little projects.  It will all be told in due time I promise!!  For now though here are all of the Water Bottle Cosies:

The green one was first and I showed that to you in an eariler post, here.  I did end up removing two rows.

This pink one here was second.  I don't know what the name of the color because this yarn was part of the cotton stash my grandmother gave me and it didn't have the band.

The blue one was next and this is the same blue that I used in my Daisy Teapot Cosy, then again in the matching potholders.  I was really nervous that I wouldn't have enough left.  Thankfully it was a "supersize" skein of Lily Sugar n Cream.  Instead of their normal 2.5 oz it was a 4 oz skein.  I think I have about 10 inches left of that yarn.

Yellow is also the yarn from my daisy projects.

 

White, again from my daisy projects.

Here is all of them together.  Again, for most of the pattern I used this pattern, Girls Water Bottle Holder, but for the top part I used, Twenty First Century Canteen.  I got the carabiners from Harbor Freight Tools for $0.79 a piece!!!  That's because they are the cheap keychain kind, but that's all I need them to be.  They all the colors I show, blue, pink, green, and silver.

Also, I figured I'd show everybody how my bunting from Jennifer looks at me desk at work.  Please don't look at the clutter, I swear its stuff I'm currently working on and not junk! ;-) 

So, there's my little snippet of the corporate world.....

Sam :-D

I Received My Swap Present!!

Today I had a extremely busy and stressful day at work.  The day felt like it would never end!  When I got home, what do I find?!  My swap present!

A big squishy present!

All of the goodies were wrapped so prettily!!!

First I opened:

Its a towel with Scottish words on it!!  Makes me thing that I should have gotten Jennifer a t-shirt from the strip district with Pittsburghese on it (Pittsburgh slang).

Also in that package was this little guy:

Next I opened:




My picture is a little off center, not sure how that happened....

I already called my mom and we are going to have a baking weekend!!

Next I opened my yarn:

NORO!!!!!!!  I have drooled over it, but never bought it!  The colors are so me too!!!!!!  So exciting!

Next is a picture of everything and showing off my handmade item:

My handmade item is going up in my cubicle at work!!  It needs some crochet and color!

What do you think of everything?!  I LOVE IT!!!  Jennifer got everything that is so me.

Thanks so much Jennifer!!!

Sam<3

Amazing Yarn Scarf

I first mentioned this project a couple posts ago Pretty Pretty Scarf

It didn't take me long to finish the scarf, a couple of days maybe?  It was a very quick and easy pattern. (Silk Garden Sock Crochet Scarf)  I finally had some good light here in Pittsburgh.  I haven't really been using my digital camera to take pictures.  I've been using my Droid phone.  So far it has just been easier to take the pictures and email them to myself instead of getting out the camera cord and such.

So, here it is!

I am LOVING the pinks, purples, and blues and even the golden parts!  It fits right into my color palette!  Every time I look at it, it seems different.  I love how this project was full of instant gratification!

There's only one problem....we have started having amazingly warm weather since we are into Spring now.  This scarf is pretty warm...........

Thoughts?!

Sam

ETA:  The GIANT hanger at work (yeah I took most of the pictures at work...what can I say, my new seat is next to a WINDOW!!!  woohoo) where I usually hang my coat is making my blazer look weird.....