Afghans

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a couple of afghans that I made for a friend of mine. They have been living at her house for quite a few years now and I never had the chance to take pictures of them when they were completed. The first one is called Simple Times and is from the same pattern book as the Peaceful Interval afghan that I previously posted. The second afghan is a plain granny square.

More Tote Bags

I am really enjoying making these bags. They are simple and rather easy to make. I did try another round one and used another crochet stitch for the body of the bag. The stitch is called fish tail. I quite like it. But it uses a lot more skeins of yarn than the mesh bag does. I don't think I'll make another one. Although it was fun figuring it out. It's a lot heavier too. I also tried doing an oval bag, but I am not happy with how it looks so I'm not going to complete it.

I do however like the original bags more, now that I have made several of them. This latest one turned out quite nice. My friend really likes it, so I'm going to give it to her. Everyone who saw the bag said the same thing...you should make a lining for it. So I am going to go get some cotton and sew some up. I agree...it will make the bags better and ensure that nothing slips through those little holes. Now here's hoping I can get my sewing machine working.

Sherbet Blankie

I completed the 'Sherbet Blankie'. It turned out really well. The colours are so soft and the blanket feels very cuddly. Just right for a baby. It measures about 30" x 30". With all the pink and purple in it I hope the baby turns out to be a girl, although a baby boy wouldn't know the difference, eh?

What Not to Wear?

Lately I've noticed a lot of people talking about certain yarns not being 'wearable'. And it got me thinking about the items that I've made recently and whether they were made from 'wearbable' yarn or not. But then I thought, what does that matter? Isn't it just a matter of opinion? Besides, if I like it and work hard on a project, shouldn't I be proud of the finished sweater or hat and choose to wear it regardless of what somebody I don't even know thinks or feels? So here are a few of my 'wearables'. They are all knit as I've never crocheted anything wearable before. Although maybe one day soon I will.

The cardigan is made from Bernat Solo Yarn, the pullover from Red Heart TLC Amore and the poncho from Lion Brand Suede.

I also enjoy making scarves and hats. They are not only a fashion accesory, but a necessity during cold winter months. I have made many sets and given a lot of them away, but here are two sets as well as a hat that really like. Although I may have to give the green and yellow hat away as it is too big for my head.

The green and yellow poor boy cap is made from Scheepeswool acrylic/wool blend, the blue scarf and hat are made from Bernat Boa and the green and pink scarf and poor boy cap are made from Paton's acrylic/wool blend.*

*Oops! I thought it was Paton's yarn but I just found a ball that was left over and realized that it is Moda Dea Cache made by Coats. But it is still a wool/acrylic blend.

Crochet String Tote Bag

I enjoy knitting dishcloths with Bernat Handicrafter Cotton. They are quick and easy and they make great gifts. But I always end up with bits of cotton left over and never enough to make a full dishcloth. I have been hording the bits and pieces for ages now trying to figure out how to use them up. I noticed on one of the labels a pattern for a Crochet String Bag and I thought maybe that could be a use for the scraps. At any rate I could use them up and if the project wasn't to my liking at least I wouldn't be wasting new cotton. The pattern is easy and works up very quickly and I completed one in no time. It is not exactly like the pattern as I did not like the strap and so I invented my own. It's a wee bit colour crazy, but it will be useful for toting things about.

Once I completed one I got the crocheted bag fever and began searching the web for other patterns. I found several but only one really caught my eye. It is from the Berrocco website and called the Annie Bag: http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/annie_bag/annie_bag.html I wasn't sure if I wanted a bag that was solid like that because I liked the openwork stitch of the Bernat bag, but I really liked the idea of a round tote. So I used the base, again using up some cotton scraps:

And then I worked up the sides using the open mesh pattern from the Bernat Crochet String Bag.

Finishing it off with the Berrocco drawstring for the straps. The finished project came out quite well. And I'm so pleased with it that I am going to make several more.

I think I am going to try using some different stitch patterns for the main body of the bag just to give a change. The mesh is nice, but it would be difficult to keep small things from slipping through the holes. Such as, say...a crochet hook! *wink*

Now that summer is almost upon us it will be time for picnics and going to the beach and what better way to tote your bits and pieces around than with a stylish Crochet String Tote Bag. Of course now that I have the pattern mastered I will allow myself to use some new cotton such as the marvelous colours below, combined with white.