Scarves for the Special Olympics Going in the Mail Today

My second set of scarves for the Special Olympics are going into the mail today. I sent some earlier to Georgia, the closest state to me participating and these go to Northern California. My sister has moved there.

Over-sized baby blanket

I had a co-worker request a blanket for her baby (probably not quite 6 months) that she would be able to use as old as five or six. To me that called for a blanket a bit bigger than normal baby blankets. She looked at patterns and found a few she liked certain things on. I tried to combine those elements in a blanket for her.

Two of the most important were the colors, softness and that it be a tight pattern....no "holes" she said.

I used Caron Simply soft (one of my favorite yarns). I chose to use HDC for the blanket. I find that stitch more visually appealing than the DC. As a hide sight, I believe it would have looked better as an offsetting shell pattern but I didn't give it the thought I should have I imagine. I heard what she wanted and envisioned something one way off the top of my head and that's what I stuck with. Shell patterns that I've worked with in the past have had what I felt she would consider holes. Since making this, I've revisited shells and I am even now making a scarf with a shell pattern that I feel would have been tight (not as tight) but more pretty.

Experience teaches me as I go along. Though I've crocheted for many years it is only within the last year that I have ventured to make my own patterns. I expect this may happen to me on more than one occasion. That I later think of how I could have improved something.

Anyway, here's the blanket.

Scarves

Pics of some scarves I've made.

This last is made out of silver cotton thread. Needed a silver accessory for an event.

Our Ponchos

I have three sisters. Often Mom, if she is traveling abroad, will get us each a gift alike but maybe a different color. I've come to treasure those gifts knowing my sisters and I, spread out across the country, can look at it and think of each other.

I made myself a poncho and first my mother wanted one, well, actually she got the one I had originally made for me, then it escalated into a total of seven matching ponchos in varying colors. One for Mom, one for each of my sisters, one for me and one for my two nieces.

Here's a picture of one of them.

Gwendolyn's Birthday

I wanted to make something handmade for her birthday. I didn't know that what I made would go over so well with her. I was very please.

Here's the hat.

And here's the purse that went with it. I used the charity daisy since this was a gift and not something I was selling.

Beachy throw

Here's a closeup of the pattern I made a friend/co-worker for Christmas. She likes beach themes. The colors didn't come across well, but they were of that nature and I chose a big shell pattern to complete the theme.

Asymetrical Jacket

Here's a jacket I made for myself and my son's girlfriend liked it so much she wanted one for Christmas (out of different colors).

Here's the link for the pattern from Caron.

Toddler Hat

Here's a hat I made out peaches and creme cotton yarn for a toddler.

Purse

I'm bad about not taking photos of my work before I give it away. I'm going to try and get better about that.

Here's a purse I made for myself.

Goals For The Year

As I stated when telling a bit about myself, I have set a goal to do more charity crochet this year.

I want to learn a new technique. Most likely that will be Tunisian. I’ve tried it a little and it is just never neat. I have a tendency to crochet loose and have to adjust my hook size with a pattern accordingly. Could this be why it just don’t seem to get this technique right?

I am currently working on an order for a baby blanket. I’ve never really sold my work in the past and I may try to do that a bit this year. Enough to feed my personal yarn needs/habit would be nice. LOL

This past year I designed a couple of things. The most popular among my family being a wallet. I couldn’t find a pattern to one I really liked. I made my own. I think I will try to design a couple of more things. I already adapt patterns as I think of a change I would like.

 And last but hopefully not least, is posting to this new blog during the year.

So, that’s my goals and I look forward to seeing how I progress with them.

Who I Am

I’m getting close to middle age. My grandmother taught me to crochet beginning when I was 8 years old. She passed away when I was 14 and I feel I’ve kept this up as legacy of sorts. I’ve tried teaching a couple of people but they have lost interest. I hope to pass the knowledge along to another one day.

I crochet. A lot. I usually always have something going. These days I’ve been really busy.
This past year, I gave away more than I have in a long time. I sent scarves to the Special Olympics and that was rather rewarding so I have a goal to do more charity crochet this year and I’ve been searching for the right projects for me.

So far, I’ve chosen Soldier Angels because I have family in the military and I so respect those who fight for our freedom. I may not always agree with a war or conflict but I ALWAYS am thankful for those who answer the call to serve our country.

Next, I’m looking at the Project Linus. For a couple of reasons. My husband loves Peanuts and has his own Linus Blanket. The cause is a great concept. Quoting from the website….”Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission which is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”"

Neither of these causes are really local to me so, I’m also looking for one in my area.