Stitch Sampler Afghans from 1995

I posted these pictures on The Crochet Crowd Facebook Page starting out the text: "Before there was Stitch-Cation, 19 years before, there was this." I got the pattern booklet and yarn for Christmas 1995 from the newlyweds Jim and Wendy. Over several years I did the squares and eventually put them together into two throws one 36 squares and the other 20 squares. I learned from that that you had to do extra sc rounds on some of the squares to bring the size up to the 10" specified. I think I learned this because I ended up with a lot of squares that would not fit. So I altered them and used them in the second smaller throw. I did not use the proper blocking technique on the squares. Instead I ironed them using a wet cloth. This flattened the yarn on some of the blocks, but I didn't know any better at the time.

Earlier this year I got new living room furniture and lo and behold, these two throws match the sofas perfectly. Instead of a sofa and loveseat, I bought two loveseat size sofas so I have a place for each of the throws. 

 

Market Bag

The Market Bag Challenge on The Crochet Crowd ended June 30. I started it and put it on hold because I needed more yarn/thread and because Jess and Brian's twins were born. Last week I finished it. IMHO this was a project for experienced crocheters only. I did so much frogging that the total amount of crocheting would have made three bags! I only got on the right track after watching the tutorial video on The Crochet Crowd. I started crocheting when I was 10 years old (60 years ago) and I consider myself very experienced, but I had trouble with this pattern. I'm embarrased to admit it. :-)

I got the yarn recommended by the Red Heart pattern, Luster Sheen. It is a 100% acrylic yarn but feels like 100% cotton. It has a hard feel and is less stretchy than regular acrylic yarns. An E hook is recommended in one place on the label and F in another place. I think I used the F. The yarn is rated No. 2 Fine. The pattern photo shows the bag in orange Luster Sheen. I did not want orange, so I got Natural. There are only a few colors available. I have two pictures, one showing a mistake that I had to frog and the other the finished project. 

The Wave Baby Blanket

I've had this softly rippling baby blanket in progress for several months now, working spasmodically in between the orange and grey baby items and The Crochet Crowd's Stitch-cation and Market Bag challenges. It is made with "Universal Yarn Uptown Baby Sport Colors acrylic fingering weight (2) with a G hook. I'm going to give it to the Knit and Crochet Ministry. The pattern was from The Crochet Crowd.

2013 Snowflake Christmas Tree

Christmas Hooking

Attempt at Graphgan-ing - Shelved

I've tried twice to do this Jungle Buddies kit I bought from Mary Maxim. I give up! I'm still pondering how to use this huge bag of yarn. One alternative I've thought about is crocheting the background only and then cross stitching the design on. Help! It is too cute to scrap it entirely.

Big buckeye Granny

I call this a solid stitch granny--no holes. I made this from yarns in my stash. I think I sent it to Lisa's for Jonathan to use on a "float" he was making for a project he did on the State of Ohio. Or did she decline it and I gave it to the Knit and Crochet Ministry. 

Infinity Scarf

This is the Infinity Scarf from Moogly. The yarn is, I think, something called Giggles. I made a pullover sweater for Charlie when he was 2years old! I've kept this for myself. It is very long and ca be wrapped one, two, or three times around the neck.

Shawl

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I got the yarn for this at the COGA show at New Concord, NC, 2013. I bought it from a vendor who makes yarns for the garment makers. This yarn seems very synthetic, almost plastic but has an iridescent sparkle that caught my eye. I've thought about trying to sell it on Craig's List or eBay. I've already forgotten the name of the pattern from a blogger or personal website..

Prayer Shawl

This shawl was made from the same pattern, the name and source of which I have forgotten. I altered the pattern by omitting the open work rows and using solid double crochet.  I really enjoyed making it. It is made from regular worsted weight yarn from my stash. I've already donated it to the Knit and Crochet Ministry.

Midnight Rose Shawl

I bought the thread at the CGOA convention in New Concord NC. It has a metallic thread running through it. The seller recommended an online pattern. I loved doing the filet crochet from a chart. The pattern recommended a fringe edging. I tried that but later redid it with a crocheted edging, the same one I put on the white shawl. It is rectangular with the pattern repeated at each end. I still have it. Should I sell it? 

Baby Round Ripples

Entrelac Stitch in Bernat Mosaic

Corner To Corner Throw

buckeye Beanies and Booties

Oreo Cookie Square Sample

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Stitch-cation Border

Road Trip Scarf

I love this pattern. It is what's trending on Facebook now. You can find it for free on the Zootyowl Blog.

I bought the thread at JoAnn's. It was on sale for 50% off. It is Premier Yarns Cotton Fair Multi in the Cotton Candy color. I5 IW 52% Cotton and 48% acrylic. Im adding a picture from the pattern which shows how it can be worn. It looks so chic! I loved making it but do I want to wear it???

1995 Sampler throws

Finished Stitch-Cation Photo

buckeye diaper covers

Crocheting for the Twins

Since March I have been crocheting for The Twins.  The due date was July 27, but there were problems and I began to expect them any day. That day did not come until July 10 and The Twins, Parker and Marissa were 5 + and 6+ pounds respectively. The first items I crocheted were preemie size. As time dragged on I leaned more toward newborn sizes. Jessica had chosen orange and gray for the nursery. Here are photos of some of the things I made:

Confession

OK, this is where I confess to feeling like a true senior citizen. For the past two days, I have been trying to add posts to my "I'd Rather Been Crocheting" blog. I was able to do text but could not add pictures from iPad Photos app. I've been fooling around with it for at least an hour and finally figured it out! I was trying to update through Safari. I finally found that I have a Blogger app. It is working perfectly. After googling "How to Upload Pictures to Blogger from iPad" and fooling around with adding pictures from iPad to Picasa. I'm ready for a nap :-) or maybe just another cup of coffee. 

Stitch-Cation Border

OK, it's all done. Ends all woven in. Border done. The border needs steam ironed. Then I need to decide where to do the photo to submit to The Crochet Crowd.

Frustration

Looks like I'm gonna have to frog again. I'm having so many hangups trying to make this Market Bag. It's a challenge from The Crochet Crowd that ended June 30, I think. First of all, I had to study and watch videos and frog because I did not get enough repeats on the first round of the star stitch pattern.  I got that worked out and then I ran out of yarn. It was supposed to take one skein. So I went to JoAnns for the express purpose of picking up another skein. I walked around the yarn department twice and never found any Luster Sheen yarn. A couple of days later I ordered it online from Amazon. And waited and waited and waited. Normally, Amazon orders come in, at the most, two days, not counting weekends. It took forever to be delivered. In the meantime, the babies arrived and I finished up some items for them and started the Stitch-Cation Challenge from the Crochet Crowd. Now I'm closing in on finishing up the Stitch-Cation project. I took a break from it and picked up the Market Bag project. I've had to frog and redo huge sections. I ran into a spot where one of the stars had seven legs instead of six. I watched the video a couple of times more to review the process for joining the end of a round with the beginning and beginning a new round. Finally abandonded the seven-leg star stitch and just went on. I'm closing in on the last couple of rounds and now I ran into this:

More frogging. And I'm beginning to think I'm gonna need another skein. Urrgh!

Interim Project

While the last of my Stitch-Cation finished blocking, I tried out the Road Trip Scarf that has been getting so much buzz on the internet.  I used Premier Cotton Fair Multi yarn, 55% cotton and 48% acrylic. I got it from JoAnn's for 50% off and it just called to me. I got 3.5 oz. Balls and used just a few yards over one ball. I probably could make another one by omitting the edging in the long side.