Idea: Granny Square House Slippers

I've been toying with the idea of making house slippers, but frankly a lot of them are butt ugly. Then I ran across this pair of House Slippers for granny square booties. I should try this.

Crocheting Right Along

When I saw that the pillow forms on Hobby Lobby were 30% off I decided to make a spiral pillow. I worked on it at the Fanciwerks Knitting shop on Wednesday and then again yesterday at home.

Also here is the daily afghan square I made yesterday.

The pattern is in the Complete Photo Guide to Crochet by Margaret Hubert

I just noticed 2 mistakes on this. I've already attached it to another hexagon so I'll probably just leave it.

Purple, Black and Yellow Hexagons For My Mood Afghan

I enjoyed using these colors so much last night that I decided to use them again today, only in a different order.

Mood Afghan Work in Progress and New Spiral Pillow Project

Today at the knitting shop I started making a four colored spiral to turn into a pillow. But I haven't taken photos yet. I did take photos of my last two hexagons for my mood blanket. And a peek of what the whole blanket is going to look like.

I'm sewing it as I go so it's not too tedious at the end.

Bright eyed hexagon.

More subtle shades.

Hexagon Mood Afghan Update

In order to have all my hexagons in one place I've made a Flickr album here. Hopefully anyone can see it and you don't have to be a member.

Thursday's and Friday's Hexies

Zingy colors

It got dark before I had a chance to join the new hexies last night.

I guess everyone interpreted the rules differently. I thought it meant 'see what mood you are in each day and choose colors accordingly' but it scrolling through the Facebook group I see many monochromatic afghans (as in all shades of brown or whatever). It makes my heart sing when I see multicolored afghans like mine though. I love color. The only time I would make a beige anything is if that was the only color available, like if I was in a prison camp or something.

Mood Afghan Day 7

I have photos of all but today's hexagon. Today's is fuchsia, purple and yellow. I couldn't find my camera before the sun went down. After searching five or six shopping bags and 3 or 4 yarn project bags, I gave up in frustration. I decided to check my purse even though I don't remember putting it in there. And there is was. I like the way the photos came out and I posted them to the FB group for the mood blanket.

The first six hexagons.

I made this one at Fanciwerks in Apple Valley, CA.

If I sew them together as I go it won't be so daunting at the end.

Embellishing Buttons With Crochet

A photo has been going around Facebook of a crocheted button tutorial. Only the directions look like they are in Czech or Portuguese or something. I don't mind a challenge and my friend Lisa told me about them, so I fiddled around with some today. I have no idea if they are exactly right, but they are pretty so I bought 2 more colors and I'll whip some up for her. If you are going to try this, make sure your crochet hook fits in the button holes, and make sure you buy buttons with four holes. One of the holes has to have two loops through it so the flower will have five petals.

Two colored crocheted button.

I stuck them to some blue painter's tape so the wind wouldn't blow them away.

Mood Afghan Day 2 and 3

Yesterday I was really feeling the purple. I even bought some purple tulle.
Today I felt a lot different. I was looking forward to designing a fox hood and I was drawn to the colors I chose for that: Burnt pumpkin, cream, and coffee. Sounds like dessert. A very strange dessert.

Day 2: Feeling the purple and the sparkles.

I used these 'fox' colors today, but I guess I forgot to take a photo of my square.

Mood Afghan Day 1

Good morning crocheters. I happened upon a Facebook group yesterday where you crochet one motif a day to represent your mood, and then after a  year (or 52 weeks if you prefer) you've made enough motifs to make an afghan.

I thought that was a pretty cool idea and I've been wanting to make something with hexagons. So I found a size G hook and some worsted weight yarn and a tutorial on Pinterest and made my first piece.

I really wanted a smaller motif, but I don't have nearly enough fingering  yarn to carry off a project like this. The middle color is peach because I feel pretty peachy this morning. The red ring (which looks too orange in the phone on my monitor is RedHeart Cardinal which represents how passionate I feel right now, and the turquoise calms me and it's been calling to me from my desk for three days.

Considering how hectic my life is, I may end up making 3 or 4 motifs in a day and then none at all for a week, but in theory it is one a day. Care to join me?

Crocheting Hexagons

I've had a lot of fun lately crocheting hexagons. I just can't decide what I want to do with them.

Round Afghan

I've loved these for years and I just found a free pattern. I'd really liked to give it a go, but we are packing so I probably will have to wait even longer.

http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-smoothfoxs-beginners-round-ripple.html

Strawberry Pouch

Cute strawberry pouch: http://www.midnightknitter.com/knitpixiepatterns/uploads/strawberry_pouch.htm One of the people in my crochet group shared the link. I haven't tried it yet. But I bet my niece would love one for 'back to school'.

Crochet Sculpture

This is inspiring.

Source: foto.mail.ru via Kimanthi on Pinterest

I believe it is crochet.

White Snood

Yesterday I finished the white snood for my boyfriend's mom. Working with smaller yarn took longer, but I didn't even use up one skein. I like the way it looks and it's very stretchy.  She's got short hair so it's not an issue, but if I make one for me it needs to stretch enough to hold my waist length hair. The yarn had a metallic silver strand, making it festive enough to wear to a party. She'll probably wear hers to church. Do they still cover their heads at Catholic churches? Anyway, I hope to see her next week and then I can see how she likes it. There's a drawstring to make it adjustable.

Crocheting a Snood

I'm going to start teaching crochet classes very soon. Do people just want to learn the technique of crochet or do they want to focus on a specific project, like a messenger bag or a poncho? I'm in a snood mood lately. I'm on my 3rd snood. I ran out of yarn on the second one so I set it aside until I have a chance to check my stash for more. In the meantime my boyfriend's mom wanted one in white, so I'm working on that one. It's white with a bit of metallic silver, but the yarn is much finer. I thought of doubling the yarn but she only gave me two skeins and I thought the yarn might run out if I did that. It looks like I might be seeing her tomorrow but I don't think I'll be done by then. I hadn't planned on seeing her until later in the month. That's life for you.

Circus Hat With Braid Tubes

My newest hat creation. Someday someone is going to figure out I'm a genius and snap me right up. As silly as this hat looks, it's very comfortable. I have a bigger than average head which means most department store hats don't fit me. So it's really a blessing to be able to make my own hats in whatever size I desire. Some people have small heads but big hair so a hat like this works for them too. I wish I'd known how to make hats like this back in my clowning days.

Multicolored Crochet Sweater

I set my crocheted sweater aside to work on a knitted vest. But now it's time to get it out today and work on it before I forget how it goes. I love making multicolored things.  It's like painting with yarn and gives me great joy. I think solid drab colored items sell better, but I don't enjoy making those. It's a colorful world and I'm a magpie.

Green Elephant

I'm crocheting a green elephant. This time I did his ears differently with double crochet instead of single. I think I'm going to make the center of the body a contrasting color because I'm running low on yarn and that makes more sense than having 3 green legs and a purple leg.

Crocheting With Raffia

A new video I made on crocheting with raffia. I love the way crocheted raffia looks.  It's a natural fiber, and if you are vegan, it's a great substitute for animal fibers like wool, angora, or mohair.

It has all those ends to deal with though, and does require extreme patience at times. Still, I think the results of crocheting with raffia are worth it. And it makes great character hats.  You'll definitely have a one of a kind hat when you get done.  And raffia is fairly inexpensive. I get giant bundles of it at Frank's Cane and Rush in Huntington Beach CA.

You can also weave with raffia.  I've never tried knitting with it, but it would be a worthy experiment.
It also takes to dye well.  If my boyfriend is dyeing something, before he pours the batch out, I toss some raffia in there, then hang it to dry on the patio. 

Use it to make hats, purses, placemats, baskets.

So if you haven't tried crocheting with raffia, it's worth a try.