Showing posts with label Saturday's Smile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saturday's Smile. Show all posts

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Stash Busting Progress

I know there are lots of you out there who can relate to the need for stash busting. Yes we can never have too much yarn, but at some point we must admit to ourselves that we need to use at least as much as we buy, mustn't we?

Well I don't know about all that, but I did silently make a resolution to my self, and my pocketbook, this year that I would try not purchase any new yarn until I've used up the majority of my "peripheral" stash.

Flower Power washcloths, pattern can be found here.

I do like to maintain a "core" stash of my most used yarns, specifically Red Heart Super Saver, and Sugar'n Cream/Peaches 'n Creme/Handicrafter cotton. It pains me to know I won't be shopping for yarn for a good long while, but I think of all the money I'll save and it seems like it might be worth it in the end... maybe...

Doll Dresses, pattern can be found here

This is the remainder of my Cotton Tots Stash. Only a few yards of each left. I'll use it to make a few more flowers and maybe some little bows to add as embellishments. Can't waste a single inch!


Next is my stash of I Love This Cotton. Some more doll dresses. Some doll bibs. Maybe some more washcloths... Has anyone ever used it for a wearable? Was thinking of maybe making a sweater for Ben with the blue and neutral colors of ILTC I have on hand?

EDIT: added links for the patterns above. As an extra note, the little dresses I made smaller for baby dolls by using an H hook for the starting chain and first row, then use an I hook for the rest. I also only worked a total of 12 rnds.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

New Pattern!

You may have seen my post yesterday about Doni Speigle's flower ring decorations. While trying to figure out how to add the "poke" to my plant poke, I kept coming back to the idea of wire. So I went with it and this is what I came up with...

I used this floral wire that I picked up at Dollar Tree a while back. I've also seen it at in the craft section Walmart.


I first tried to make the loop at the top of the stem freehand, but quickly learned it's difficult to make a nice smooth circle this way. A 2oz paint bottle works much better. :)


And this is the stem before crocheting. I think it could also make a cute fairy wand if you add some beads (or something soft) to cover the cut ends of the wire. But that will have to wait for another time.


And here is the finished flower. I'm quite happy with it.You can download the pdf in my Ravelry store.


ENJOY! :)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

In Bloom

My geranium is back from the brink of death and in full bloom. 

Happiness abounds!


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Recipe for a Happy Saturday

Take one family (kids are a plus!), add 1 charcoal grill (make sure you have plenty of lighter fluid! LOL), sprinkle liberally with plenty of yummy good food and sweet tea, stir in lots of fun and interesting conversation, then at dusk top off with marshmallows toasted over the remaining embers for some ooey gooey yummy s'mores!


Picture taken 6/1/13

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Slippers & Smiles

It doesn't take much to make me smile these days. Today it was using a coupon at Joann's on a skein of Wool-ease in Rose Heather for another pair of slipper socks. $2.41 for a skein of yarn definitely makes me happy!


And after the socks are finished I should have enough yarn left over for the trim on a pair of these with a skein of Lemongrass Wool-ease from my stash as the main color. Green and pink are always a happy combination in my world. :D


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Saturday's Smile--Summer Vacation!

Okay, I'm a day late, but it's vacation time so I'm allowed to be lazy, right? :)

In my future skills/day 7 post from blog week I expressed my desire to make myself a pair of socks. Well I completed my first pair! They are actually slippers made with Wool-ease, a worsted weight wool blend. I used Mary McCall's Short Row Heel Socks pattern. I can't believe how incredibly easy they were! I will definitely be making more of these as gifts, and for myself. I'm also ready to tackle ones made with sock yarn. :)



4KCBWDAY7

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Saturday's Smile


I know I'm not the first one to think of the "Tulip Hat" photo, but I couldn't resist making my own. :)


I've been making hats.


Lots of hats. Doll hats to be exact.
 

They are all for the local Head Start. With all of the budget cuts I decided to do a little bit to help out. I will also be sending doll blankets, play kitchen oven mitt/potholder sets, shawls and boas for playing dress up, and assorted other toys and learning aids. All crocheted of course. :)


I don't usually promote specific charities on the blog, but if you are so inclined, give your local head start a call and ask them how you can help them with an "In Kind" contribution. :)

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Saturday's Smile/Cool Tools 4KCBWDAY6

Write about your favourite knitting or crochet (or spinning, etc) tool.

I thought today I would combine my "Saturday's Smile" with my Day 5 post for Knit and Crochet Blog Week since my favorite tool definitely makes me happy. :)

My favorite tool is my hook caddy. I bought it at Target a few years ago in their impulse buy section for $2.50. It has been worth every penny and then some! It is actually a child's "Art Caddy," but it serves me well in its current function so, oh well. :)


It has plenty of room to hold all of my crochet hooks, my "go-to" knitting needles, a few pair of scissors, and some other supplies. The bottom has a lazy susan type mechanism that allows it to turn giving me easy access to everything.

I just wanted to talk quickly about some more of my favorites. I prefer Boye hooks, Bates are okay, but they tend to split the yarn on me. I have a set of bamboo hooks but don't care much for them. They have a "tooth" to them that holds onto the yarn. The slick metal hooks allow me to move faster allowing me to be more productive. That's always a good thing! :)


Ironically, in regard to bamboo knitting needles, it's that drag that I love about my Clover bamboo needles. I'm not a great knitter so I need all the help I can get! The slick metal makes me drop too many stitches. Someone on a forum years ago suggested I try these. Oh my, what a difference!

The ones above are the sizes I grab most often, 6, 7, and 8. I have metal ones in all types and sizes but keep them tucked away as I never use them. I've been toying with the idea of creating this just so I can give them something interesting to do. :)

I also have a few specialty hooks, and with me being a Bee, I have to show you this one I picked up on ebay a few years ago. I had a hard time getting a good picture, but hopefully you get the point.




Well, that's it for today. I was out all day so am behind on reading posts from yesterday but I will be catching up over the weekend. I look forward to reading about everyones favorites!

EDIT: I meant to say... when I saw Bek's video on her blog Polka-Dots & Sparkles, like the bee that I am, I was instantly drawn to the Ten Stitch Blanket she had on her needles. The wip above is the beginnings of a Ten Stitch doll blanket for my daughter's classroom (she's a pre-K teacher). LOL


4KCBWDAY6

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Saturday's Smile

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I have a brown thumb. I keep trying though. I bought a few plants this time last year, and Ben gave me a geranium for Mother's day. I still have 3 of the 5, and they are happily growing. I am especially impressed with the geranium. By the end of Winter it only had 2 very sad looking leaves. I am amazed, and very happy, to see that it is making a comeback! I didn't think it was going to make it, but it hung in there. :)

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Saturday's Smile

I love fridgies. Especially cute handmade ones. I guess technically they may qualify as kitsch, but they make me happy to look at them so I don't care. Am I alone in this school of thought? What's on your fridge right now? :)

Front view of fridge:
Side view of fridge: