Keeping Busy

Now that I have finished certain other projects (non-yarn related but just as important) I finally decided to start another yarn project. I am making a blanket for Lieder, a dachshund puppy that recently found a home with some friends of mine.

Naturally as soon as Henry realizes that I have started an actual project he must protect it all costs. It was that or he really wanted to play with the yarn that he knocked off of the couch when he sat down on the blanket.

The blanket itself is being made with Lily’s Sugar and Cream100% cotton yarn in Ecru, Sage Green, Warm Brown, and Soft Teal. The hook is an H/8 hook. I’m maybe a third of the way finished. The pattern I am using I am using is from The Cool Girl’s Guide to Crochet.

I have also been trying my hand and making something that is a little more fancy. You could even say lace-like if you want. My stash contains a lot of thread like yarn that is used for doilies. I inherited it from my mother when she gave me all of her crafting stuff. I’ve never really worked with this type of yarn, though I have plenty of items in the apt. made from it. (I have an aunt in Germany that loves to send me socks, and table runners that she has made. I have an entire set of lacy coasters…)

This was my first attempt at making something. The pattern is from The Crochet Bible by Sue Whiting, and the pattern is for a Potpourri Sachet. I only made one side of it. I used a C/2 hook. I must say I was really pleased with myself for having finished it. I must not be used to handling this thread like yarn as it kept slipping from my fingers and I had a heck of a time keeping the tension even. Over all I don’t think it’s a bad first attempt.

I also tried my hand at something a little more difficult. A square from an Heirloom Lace Blanket. I’ve only reached the fifth round on it but I think it looks really nice. At least now I know how to make the little pop-up flowers…forgive the poor quality of the picture, for some reason this yarn loves to reflect light and I this was the only picture that I could actually see the wip in and it’s fuzzier than Henry…

I am not sure that I am going to actually make the Heirloom Lace Blanket (the pattern is available in the Sue Whiting book) as I am really just testing the yarn out, but I think it may well be in my future projects. I’ll post a completed square when I have actually finished one.

I am beginning to like this yarn and can see the potential to make lots of lacy items. Now I just have to find some…

Hooks!

I love my husband. He may be a ninja and he may not understand my obsession with crochet, but he is always supportive.

Last night after dinner I mentioned that I would like to go to Hobby Lobby to pick up a new hook (I have some crochet thread that I want to start using but I didn’t have the correct hook for the thread) as well as some yarn for a new project.

While I couldn’t decide on yarn it took me 20 minutes or so to decide on which hook I wanted to get. I chose a Tunisian hook, a gauge reader and the single hook. As we were about to leave I notice a Hook kit and stopped in my tracks. I calculated whether or not I had enough pin money in my account to purchase the kit. I did not.

My husband asked what was wrong and after explaining that I would have liked to get the hook kit instead of the single hook but didn’t quite have the amount saved up for it, he picked the kit up looked at it.

“Get it.” he said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Matt nodded and began to walk toward the front of the store with the kit in hand. I put the single hook back on the shelf and quickly followed with my Tunisian hook and gauge reader. He paid for the kit leaving me to buy the rest from my pin money.

I walked out of Hobby Lobby with a complete set of steel and aluminum hooks!

As we walked to the car I made the comment that now all I needed was more yarn. Matt’s response:

“You’re on your own with the yarn. I may provide you with the crack pipe but I won’t supply the crack…”

Yes, my husband supports my hooking habit and he gladly admits it.

This afternoon we went back to Hobby Lobby and I picked up some crack yarn that I think will work for the afore mentioned project.