Getting bigger

I packed one 100g ball of each color. Perhaps I'll be able to get to the point where I need to start on a second ball before we return. Guess I'll darn in the ends if I get to that point and perhaps continue with my just started first crochet sock.

Road trip CAL progress

Driving from Houston Texas to Ruidoso New Mexico.  Made good progress with the cozy blanket CAL. I did lose my favorite 4mm hook at the overnight stop hotel though! Grrr. Using a 3.75mm now and holding the yarn more loosely when I remember to hopefully match the tension.

Many many snowmen

These are the Christmas gift for 2014. Have made ten of these, maybe more!! 

Found the pattern on www.dappertoad.com

CAL progressing

Now on the 13th out of 15 color stripes. I think it's going to look delightful on my bed! Worked out I need 99 stripes so just over one tenth of the way there.

Cosy blanket CAL

Yay. The last balls of Stylecraft arrived and I'm underway with Lucy from Attic24's crochet along. Making a blanket for a double 180cm x 180cm rather than single 120cm x 180cm bed so it's going to be a long haul. The pattern is very easy, yarn soft and color choices pleasing.

Blocking

Working onward with the swatches for my crochet certificate. Just about there. Bought a set of blocking boards from Knit Picks.

Silk scarf

Completed my Hand Maiden silk and seaweed yarn shawl
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/evas-shawl by Milibo
Mainly worked on it in the car en route to Galveston. It's so smooth and I love the colors so much.

Swirling broomstick lace

Have been making further swatches for the CYC certificate 2 (broomstick lace, crohook and hairpin lace all involving unfamiliar additional tools and mastery of new techniques). The broomstick lace is so so pretty and pleasing with it's repeating swirls...... I may have to make some gifts for my girlfriends although the inevitable seasonal surge in projects at this busy time of year is wearing me down somewhat!

Crochet fish

Teaching a few of the girl scouts again. Making an ornament to decorate the tree at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Pattern says Easy Peasy but required five different stitches to produce the appealing curved edge: ch, sc, hdc, dc, sl st. The girls managed fine and the dear little fish were so cute they wanted to keep them, rather than send them off to the museum. Pattern was free from jennyandteddy.com

Crochet Certificate 2

Here I go again. Have registered for the Craft Yarn Council's second certificate. Have been working my way through the crocheted samples. Tunisian crochet is new to me as is filet, cro-hook, hairpin and broomstick lace. Of course, I'm hard at work on Christmas crochet gift making too so my coursework must compete with this.

Blocking ahead of me since Tunisian curls. I'm not a big fan of blocking but it's best practice for producing polished items.

Birthday present

It's my birthday today. I'm quite old. Look what one of my gifts is! This book is a veritable tome of essential knitting knowledge. Will come in very handy for my weekly yarn workshop where I get all kinds of questions. I take my Ipad and can quickly look for a video or term I'm unsure of but there is nothing like good old traditional printed matter.

Dear Mum

My parents are visiting from Scotland for Thanksgiving so she accompanied me to the yarn store on Friday and joined my workshop. She brought me a guide to crochet that belonged to my grandma : First Steps in Crochet published circa 1969. Some of the patterns have stood the test of time.

Baubles for workshop

Made some holiday ornaments for the store since the holiday season is almost upon us.

Patterns are on Ravelry:

Christmas Holiday Garland by Annoo Crochet

Christmas Lights by Amalia Samios

Had to make crochet and knitted versions because now I'm running the workshop myself supporting both knitters and hookers!

Silk for 12 year wedding ann

My dear husband knows just what I like :)

Minecraft dirt blocks

Made 21 of these using a modified version of a pattern at  http://draadjes-blog.blogspot.com/2012/05/free-pattern-minecraft-dirt-block-cube.html?m=1 

Attached each one to a camo clip to create party favors for my 8 year old's birthday.

Fantastic colors

This stash buster afghan was on sale at the Hearts and Hands market made by one of the Mission Stitchers. Love the use of color and stitches.

Latest make BOO

Simply Crochet had a pattern for this cute ghost. Couldn't resist it.

Have signed up for the Craft Yarn Council's crochet 2 certificate. Looks like I'll be learning some fun new techniques.

Still doing Nimblefingers' Facebook page and teaching their Friday afternoon workshop. Now I'm doing knitting as well as crochet.

Attended the Hearts and Hands event today. My friend bought my crochet cowl for her mother-in-law and I bought the knitted one which I'll give to my sister-in-law, both for Christmas presents.

Cowls for charity

It's been a while since I've posted but recently I've just completed a knitted cowl and crochet cowl for the Mission Stitchers who sell items at the annual Hearts and Hands holiday market using donated Glisten Kollage gray sparkly yarn. Patterns were Purl Ridge Scarf by Stephen West and Morticia Chevron Cowl by Erin Chastain-Harris. I'm pleased with both and wonder if they are a little too modern for the event.

Tinsy little post

Oh I know I said the blog is on hold but I just couldn't resist posting this chain link rope I made over the weekend away with family and friends in cabins on the edge of the Big Thicket State Park. The pattern is from Modern Crochet by Molla Mills. I just LOVE this book. Have made this functional rope on the request of the yarn store where I work and I can hardly bear to be parted from it!

On hold

I'm going to have to put my personal craft blog on hold for a little to devote time to helping out Nimblefingers, the needlecraft and yarn store where I teach crochet, with their social media. I'm really excited about being given the opportunity to do this! 

You can still follow me on twitter @craftyescapism or find my mainly crochet related boards on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/craftyescapism/

Or even Like Nimblefingers TX Facebook page to see what I'm posting there.

http://www.facebook.com/Nimblefingerstx

Love crochet stripes

Enjoying making this diagonal striped crochet bag adapted from a pattern in Molla Mills' Modern Crochet book. Using stash yarn and hoping I have enough!

Yay Mollie Makes

Only one crochet pattern but it's a cute one - breakfast-themed scarf and mittens by Twinkie Chan.

Bright crochet bracelets

Just love trying out different colors with these bracelets. Love ByClaire's work and have downloaded her App (in English) which has three patterns in equally gorgeous hues. Bracelets are perfect for my beginners kids' class. Pattern is here:

http://hakenenmeer.blogspot.nl/2013/06/tutorial-armbandje.html

Quiet day crocheting

Have actually got around to blocking the granny square blanket. I'm not sure I have used enough steam. We'll see when I unpin it!

Finishing off border

One of my students asked me to finish off a baby blanket for her third grandchild due this Wednesday.  It's a four row crochet ribbon border - rows 1 & 4 single crochet. Row 2 & 3 - a shell pattern of 5 dc and sc. It's rather pretty! We didnt want too big a gap for little fingers to get in!

Spot the pumpkins

Spot my crochet pumpkin garland up in the yarn store. Interest in my Friday workshop session is growing. It takes a little time!

Coozie

One of my friends wanted to crochet a coozie so made this one this evening. It's crochet in the round with double, single and half double crochet stitches. Amazingly it doesn't fall off but I think using cotton was a mistake last time. It's doesn't have enough "give". I like this!

Simply Crochet

Look what arrived in the mail from the UK. Love Simply Crochet! What a super evening read!

Pumpkin samples

My pumpkin crochet coasters and garland were very much admired and found out the yarn store Facebook post has had 502 views.

Link crochet necklace

Making these crochet chain links, from my new book Modern Crochet, is seriously addictive. This is a gift for my mum's birthday.

Regular teaching gig

Will be at Nimblefingers on Memorial Dr, Houston every Friday afternoon 1-3pm. First student wanted help putting a crochet ribbon edging on her knitted baby blanket. My photo, posted on the store's Facebook page is getting some interest.  Loved it!

Another owl

My daughter wanted an owl for her bag. Realized the pattern I posted didn't match owl one. There is evidently more than one cute crochet owl pattern on the web! My modification is single crochet black edge which makes it stand out more. I do love their silly misshapen googly eyes!

Owls rule

Made this cute owl to brighten up a dull bag. You won't believe the number of compliments I've had. People love owls and it was my school emblem.  Love a super quick decorative hooky project.

Pattern came from Love the Blue Bird blog 

http://lovethebluebird.blogspot.com/2012/02/crochet-owl-pattern.html

DD has requested a purple one for her rucksack.

Pumpkins for Fall

Teaching Friday afternoons at my local yarn store now. Making what else...pumpkin samples for the yarn store...with some of their fine yarn. It is Fall after all! 

The pumpkin coaster pattern came from Crochet by Monet's blog. The shape of the pumpkin is very pleasing to me! http://crochetbymonet.blogspot.com/2012/09/crochet-pumpkin-coasters-pattern.html

I modified the pattern to make teeny pumpkins for a garland. Used a size 4.5mm hook and omitted round 3. I also used a magic ring instead of the chain 5 to start for both pumpkins.

Yarn is the very luxurious Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted 70% Merino Wool 30% Silk. Decadent pumpkins!

First student

My first student sent this to me - her first ever crochet baby blanket.  Its brilliant. So proud of her!

Modern crochet

This super book arrived.  Preordered it a while back. Love the geometric patterns and use of rag yarn!

Crochet Rag Rug

Had a huge amount of this material just lying around and used scissors to turn it into rag yarn. Was rather tough cutting it and only just had enough to make a small crochet rug. Used double crochet throughout. It's comfy to stand on and the color means it won't show dirt.

Vintage crochet pattern finds

Oh yes it's coming up to the holiday season. Time to make some garlands. These vintage pattern books were 75c each in an antique store in Jasper Arkansas.

Crochet rag basket

Back to school means decluttering to me. Made this with my big crochet hook and my kids too small old white tshirts and vests.

Retro crochet trivet

Found this retro crochet trivet in a junk store in Jasper, Arkansas for $3. It is comprised of bottle tops covered with crochet thread. Thought it was rather clever in it's design and functionality.

Shopping in Hobby Lobby

I have been meaning to buy a really big hook for sheets and t-shirt projects for some time. Found this very reasonably priced pack of three for $4.99 from The Crochet Dude. He lives in Houston like me so have to be a fan. The yarn is for a giraffe for my nephew who LOVES them. Criteria for choice - softness, colors and price.

Hobby Lobby does a 40% off your most expensive item coupon which I just love. Bargain.

Scottie Dog

DD wanted two little crochet dogs for her friends coming over for a birthday sleepover. This is dog number one created from Annaboos House blog  http://annabooshouse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scottie-dog.html

Used doubled up stash yarn, fluffy mohair.

First shrug

Decided to make a standard rectangular shrug using the six balls of moss colored clearance yarn. It's not as wide as it should be so will put an edging on when I finish five balls. The stitch is a rather super cable which I've never done in crochet before. Looks contemporary anyway but thinking I should have gone for a more open stitch. Never mind I'm onto ball 4 already. Don't want to turn back now.