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.

Rain Hat in Plarn

I started making a red plarn hat today.  I don't have enough red so I need to mix it with white. I wish I had more red, so I could make the hat in candy cane stripes.  It's going to be a rain hat, since it's been raining for 3 days. I think I need a brim on it to keep the rain out of my eyes.

Dollface

I've been busy making tutorials with http://www.allfreecrochet.com in mind. Today's tutorials are on how to crochet a circle or disk and how to use the disk to make a doll face pin (brooch) or ornament. Once I get the videos onto youtube I'll need to remember to come back here to embed them.

Halloween Necklace

I'm really digging this new necklace I made. And it's not even because it's a cool necklace. It's because I realized this fringe idea is going to look great on hats, cowls, and headwraps, and can hold all manner of beads and charms. It can even be done in a different colorway for holidays, seasons, or team colors. I'm even thinking of using the idea for a belly dancing hipwrap. I love when one good idea leads to another.Oh and what about kneebands to wear while hula hooping.

Chicken Hat

Yesterday at the archery range I got to work on my chicken hat. Here is a photo or two of me trying it on, figuring out where the feet go. I decided to add ear flaps which are the chickens thighs. When I get done with the prototype, I'll start listing them on http://www.carpebacon.weebly.com in various colors and styles. Too fun.

Plarn Tote Bag

I've been getting a kick out of cutting grocery store bags into strips to make Plarn. Then using the Plarn (plastic yarn) to make a tote bag. I think I'm about done with the bottom of the bag. I've heard plastic handles can stretch so I'll probably make the handles out of denim or hemp or something sturdy. I don't want to be bumping my eggs on the ground walking home from the grocery store.

I recently made a Plarn hat too. I can't wait until it's cool enough to wear it outside. Or if it rains tomorrow I'll see if it makes a good rain hat. It did sprinkle a few drops today. We are forecast to have thunderstorms near here, so I'm not sure if any will find their way to Anaheim or not.

Oh and if you are on Ravelry, my name over there is Knitabitofmagic. Come look me up.

New Videos May Be Coming Soon

I just wanted to express some gratitude that today someone saw my crochet videos on Youtube and offered to pay me to make future videos if I just mention their website. I am flattered and happy to be offered money to do something that up to now I've been doing without any financial compensation whatsoever. I'd sure do a lot more videos if someone was sending some cash my way. I could even get a real video camera that does decent close-ups and a tripod to put it on so my hands could be free to crochet. I hope something comes of this. I wrote them back and told them I was interested.