Beaded Necklace

Yesterday I spent most of my crochet time on a beaded crochet necklace. I bought the materials for this about a month ago. I became thoroughly frustrated with stringing the beads onto the metallic embroidery floss. I exchanged e-mails with the designer on About.com several times. She eventually added some hints to the pattern that made it more understandable, so I attempted it again. The first time I tried it, I broke two needle threaders and one beading needle trying to thread the beads! This time I tried another beading needle and some gold floss and had no problems. First, ya make a chain adding a bead every fourth stitch. Then you turn and add two rows of slip stitch crochet with beads added every fourth stitch, so that they fall in between the first row of beads. I got to within 3" of the end and there is a knot in the floss preventing the beads from letting the floss slip through. Poop! So I stopped to ruminate on how to solve that glitch! I think it will be pretty nice, considering it is my first attempt at beaded crochet. I have a pendant and a lobster claw clasp to finish it off with.

Sock It To 'Em

I'm doing some practice socks in preparation for making alpaca socks for Brian. I bought the yarn last summer at the Jefferson Park Farmer's Market. It is so nice. It is 90% alpaca. And the label has the pictures and names of the animals from which it was sheared. But it cost me $20 a skein, and I have two skeins, so I want to try out some patterns using a cheap acrylic sock yarn before using the alpaca yarn.

I finished one sock on Monday. It looks pretty good but it is too big. But I got the general procedure worked out and can make some adjustments in the size. Basically, it is crocheted from the top down and includes shaping for the heel. The ribbing is back post dcs alternated with front post dcs. And the starting row is double crochet foundation stitch: no starting chain as usually instructed. It is supposed to be more stretchable that starting with a chain, therefore, better for socks.

Tuesday I started another sample sock in another pattern. This pattern starts at the toe and works up. There is a hole left for working the heel at the point where the top ribbing begins. I have my doubts about how that is going to work out! There is no picture with this pattern. The ribbing on this is made by doing a row of three front post dcs with 1 sc in between, ch 1, turn, and then a row of all scs. On the foot, the ribbing is only on the top of the foot, with the remainder being in sc. Then, after the opening is made for the heel, the ribbing is started all the way around. There are some general instructions added at strategic places in the pattern that make it possible to adjust for different sizes. Most of the pattern is pretty understandable. Except for the place where it says "Alternate Rows 2 and 3 until sock is 2 3/4 inches from the back of the heel when tried on." Which is the back of the heel??? I'm not sure! But the designer said that there were 30 rows when she made the pattern which she says is a man's shoe Size 9 medium width. So, in an attempt to make a small man's size, I'm decreasing the stitches per round and the number of rows. I was able to meet the gauge stipulated on the pattern, surprise, surprise.

If I like the way the heel works in, I'll probably use this pattern. I'm not sure I can meet the gauge with the alpaca yarn, though.

One down...., ? to go

Yesterday I finished the four-color one-piece square throw. I put it out on my sun porch today.


Today I also did some work on the CGOA notebook. I got out some velcro and started closing the sheet protector pages with it. I think it is going to work out OK. The adhesive is supposed to be set in 24 hours. I'm thinking I may not redo as many of the swatches after all.

Tuesday 62210

So far this morning, I worked 45 minutes on the Simply Soft afghan. Next, I need to put my CGOA swatches in the notebook, to get them off the floor of my living room. I've been thinking I would redo some of them, but I think I'd better put them away in the notebook and then analyze them for do-overs.

Today's Work

I started my day by spending two hours on doing the finishing touches on some granny squares I had stashed.

I working these with a white center and a white sc border. There are four rows total. I'm trying to use up the smallest balls in my stash. I'm hoping to donate it to Touching Little Lives or my church charity collection.

On my schedule today is building my portfolio notebook to submit to Crochet Guild of America. Hopefully I'll earn the Masters Certificate they offer. I have worked all the 48 swatches and now have to review them and put them in the notebook. I started out working the swatches consistently in white worsted weight yarn. Then, I ran into a swatch for which the directions specified using two colors! I used bright yellow and yellow orange. Then my white swatches started looking pretty drab, so I started using colors. I also experimented with white thread for some swatches and later switched to colored thread. I may be redoing some of the white swatches as time permits. I have until August 5 to submit my portfolio.

Another work in progress is a taupe, cream, sage and violet throw for my screened in porch. It is all done but the final rounds of the violet. I bought Simply Soft yarn for it and it has such a nice soft feel.