the Crochet blog of V is now the Crafty blog of V

Crafts - & Art - so I always have something to blog about - even when my inner crocheter is hybernating.

The Christmas Crafting Rush

Crochet is perfect for last minute Christmas gifts. It is so speedy and requires only simple materials. Am working on a last minute afghan in a chunky yarn for dh, and various little scarves and hats for family and friends. Friends are asking me to teach them to crochet which just makes me laugh because I only know the very basics - but you can still accomplish a lot with just basics!
I have found a site full of pattern sources at http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/345.asp. Good launching place for a search.
And while searching for special yarn for one of my knitting projects I stumbled across this site: http://www.twoswansyarns.com/. Couldn't find any crocheting tools- but they have gorgeous yarn at good prices and a fun special on red and green yarns (check out the specials link). Also, they have *very* reasonable shipping rates - $25 & over in the US ships free. That's pretty awesome. Please note I just discovered this site, so cannot completely vouch for them until my order arrives.

Missing it...

Well I am missing my crochet hook - have been stuck on a sweater I'm trying to knit up for Darling Daughter before the cold weather hits.
She has been feverish the past 4 days - but doctor could find nothing wrong. Just teething? What is this teething hell parents and babes must go through anyway? No one warned me...
Poor baby has slept and slept today - but keeps waking, crying for me, very distraught, then collapses back to sleep.
Have gotten nothing done in 2 weeks. Nothing. No art, only 2 rows on my knitting, no crocheting....and of course, no housecleaning ;)
This too shall pass is my mantra for the day!

Crochet in the Car

The weather here in good old Utah has been typically crazy, with strange nickel sized hail storms one day and pounding, brief rain, followed by sweltering heat. Alternating cranking the AC up and then wanting to turn the heat on - due to changes in the outside temperature - all just while driving to the Italian Street festival downtown.

My sister sang an Italian opera song, shocking me into stillness as I realized we were related, and that maybe I have this same gene? To get up in front of a crowd, a mere 17 years old, and belt out gorgeous music with absolute confidence. No, I don't think we share this particular gene! :) On the way out, rain splattered on the vender's paintings of acrylic and oil, typical landscape scenes, making me want to draw and paint more. So maybe my talents are more, well, quiet, than hers.

Back in the car the sun came out full force, and I returned to my latest crochet project, enjoying the slow, relaxing rythm. I consider myself a very slow crafter - sometimes speeding up at the end - but this time, as I started to feel impatient, I forced myself to stop. Gaze out the window at the passing scenery. Was it really about the end result? No, not really. Then to pick up yarn and hook again, and enjoy the feeling of crafting something pretty with my own hands.

DH and DD and I went to a little town fair, which turned out to be pathetic, except for some excellent children's books for sale, and a little old lady selling crocheted items. I was so excited to be able to recognize what they actually were. The yarns were harsh acrylic or even not yarn at all but plastic bags, recycled into pretty beach totes and ladybug hats. I kept walking though, a satisfied smile on my face, thinking of my own work in the car.

My Yarn Journal

OK - so I found a terrific little index card rolodex at the grocery store - and created my yarn journal. Yes, I love yarn more than making stuff from it - especially buying the yummy stuff. But hey - who can resist the textile appeal? It's like chocolate in touch form. The reverse side features projects made with the yarn. Finally, this ADD Crafter is getting organized!!

adult alpalca hat

Here is another hat, worked up in a gorgeous alpalca yarn found at my local yarn shop. Gorgeous but sort of hard to work with - especially since I had the wrong hook size -my cheapo hook broke :( The flower was made using a sport weight alpalca yarn also, but turned out kind of funky. Still - gotta love the end result, and the fact that is wasn't itchy like other alpalca yarns have been for me. I'll post the yarn brand as soon as I find it

Crocheted Baby Hat

This project was fun and easy. I adapted the pattern from Klutz's Crochet book for kids, subtracting one increase in the round to fit my daughter's head (trying it on her as I went). Used a size 3.75 hook, instead of the 4.0 listed in the pattern - but only because I couldn't find my 4.0 hook. Only took a few hours, over the course of a couple of days to finish. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for the dark pink and the trim was done in Baby Cashmerino. It is more of a salmon color than the picture shows.