Finally!

Yes, it took me a while to screw up my courage and attempt to work out the problems with this "simple" scarf/shawl. If you remember, I was lamenting a bit ago about the neckline of this project (The “Simple” Scarf) and how I wasn't sure how I was going to fix it. Well, first I found a way to fill in the scooped neck area. Then I created an inside edge, rolled it on itself, and with needle and thread tacked it down. I also tacked down those little bumps at the end of the rows. Voila! Now with any luck I'll have the pattern posted  in my Bonanza shop (https://www.bonanza.com/booths/CrochetedButterfly) in about a week.

I am very pleased with how it turned out, despite all the trouble it gave me. I think I would change the yarn I used, though. Loops and Threads Woolike it a nice yarn, but I feel it was a little too soft. I would like to have a yarn with a little more body/stiffness to it so the ridges would hold better; perhaps a cotton/acrylic or wool blend. Or perhaps it's just my OCD is showing again!

I am currently on a crocheting hiatus. I went to a rheumatologist yesterday and received a cortisone shot in my left thumb. I don't know if any crocheters out there have had this problem, but I have had pain in my left thumb with crocheting for quite some time now, probably at least a decade. Up till January, however, I could always take a break for a couple days, the pain would go away, and I could crochet again. By January I was in the middle of making an afghan for my nephew and his to-be wife (Wedding Bells!) and sadly the pain became consistent in both thumbs.

I finished the afghan but ordered new wrist splints that also had thumb splints. (I have been wearing wrist splints at night for over a decade due to carpal tunnel developed from crocheting - oh, what we do for love!) The splints have helped with the pain tremendously. My right thumb only hurts if I stress it, like carrying something heavy or opening a jar. I started an afghan for my other nephew getting married in September and the left thumb flared up again, hence the trip to the doctor. I have to get xrays and visit him in six weeks. Gee, who says getting old isn't fun? Anyway, I have to take it easy for three days and I should be able to resume all activity in five, so that's not too bad. I shall survive!

Crochet a Father's Day

I Love Daddy! Pattern at  http://www.amigurumipatterns.net/shop/Little-Bamboo-Handmade/I-Love-Dad/

I certainly can't speak for anyone else, but Father's Day gifts were always a problem for me. My two siblings and I did the best we could, but I'm sure my father inwardly groaned at some of the presents we gave him! Anyway, I decided to check out what wonderful crochet gifts the creative people on Pinterest (and others around the net) might be suggesting for our hard-working dads.

A sports-themed afghan could be perfect for many fathers! Manly Sports Lapghan by Crystal Porter from iyarny.wordpress.com; pattern found at https://www.allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/Lapghan-Patterns/Manly-Sports-Lapghan/ct/1

Every coffee-lovin' man deserves a great cozy, and Sharon of Table Top Jewels has a very nice variety available in her shop - https://www.etsy.com/listing/180433786/crochet-coffee-cozy-cup-sleeve-a-kelly?ref=shop_home_active_6 I could imagine other appliques to personalize the cozy even more (tool, fish, gardener, computer, etc)

What better to go with sports but a beer bottle cozy? A free pattern from Evermine Occasions - https://www.evermine.com/blog/fathers-day-beer-and-crochet-cozy-pattern/

And let's not forget the golfers out there! Beautiful club covers by Sarah of Repeat Crafter Me - http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/05/crochet-golf-club-cover-pattern.html?m=1

So comfy Modern Men's Loafers by Lisa van Klaveren. Pattern available at https://www.lovecrochet.com/us/modern-mens-loafers-crochet-pattern-by-lisa-van-klaveren

For the periodic-table-inclined/"nerd" fathers, Megan of Left in Knots designed this clever "Dad, 24/7 365 days a year" tribute - http://www.leftinknots.com/home/2016/6/5/dad-247-365. This could also be cute done with crocheted versions of Scrabble letters.

And now for the Star Wars fans (you know who you are!) - their very own adult sized Darth Vader crocheted mask! Pattern sold by My Little Chapina on Craftsy - https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/darth-vader-crochet-hat-for-adults/275710

Last but not least, for the dad who has everything, the Viking or Dwarven Beard by Melissa Campbell - free pattern with link to helmet at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/viking-or-dwarven-beard.

There was another crocheted item for dad that I decided not to list because I rather enjoy the "G" rating for my blog. Besides, that item would be much more appropriate for Mom to give Dad!

Mother's Day Flop

About a month ago I found a beautiful Ice yarn, Air Baby Alpaca. It's a mix of alpaca, extrafine merino wool, viscose, and polyamide, and it's so soft. It has been made into a chain, and since I've enjoyed working with other chained yarns, I decided to try it. Plus it came in a very pretty shell pink (pink with an undertone of peach) that would look really good on my mom. 

I wanted to make a shawlette for my mom - just a little something to go over her shoulders without being cumbersome or heavy. I found the Dawn in the Woods Shawl by Elaine Phillips (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dawn-in-the-woods-shawl) which was perfect because the length.can be adjusted. I was set!

While I was working on the last third of the shawlette I realized that it wasn't going to be symmetrical. This bothered my sense of design balance (possibly a little OCD?) but my real problem was that when I tried it on it really looked "old lady-ish". My mom's style is more like Olivia's in 'Scandal', not the Victorian lacy look, so I came to the realization this would be all wrong for her. I have come up with a Plan B, but this will have to be for her birthday because I ran out of time for Mother's Day! Amazingly (or maybe not), the shawl ended up looking MUCH better on the dress form - 

So instead of this shawlette, I decided to fall back on an old standby - pigs. My mom has a wonderful collection, mostly figurines, and told the family years ago to not give her any more pigs. I have chosen to completely ignore this directive. Hence, behold the sweet little piggy bookmark (pattern from Ashlea Konecny at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pig-bookmark) - 

                                                         

    

 I also found a very unique present at Faerie Magazine that I thought my mom would like - Flying Prayer/Wish Paper (https://www.faeriemag.com/products/flying-wish-paper-mini-wishing-kit-dandelion-prayer). You write your wish on the paper, roll it up, put it on the platform card, and light it on fire. At the last moment "your wish magically lifts off the platform and rises to the heavens!". How cool is that!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom - And to all of those wonderful mothers out there! We deserve it!

A Lacy Tribute to Mother's Day

As I'm sure with many of you, I've had Mother's Day on my mind. It's only a couple weeks away and I'm in the middle of making something for my mom (with luck it'll be done in time!). Of course, I can't show or discuss what I'm making because my Mom reads this blog and I wouldn't want to give away the surprise. So that will have to wait for later. (Hi, Mom!)

The following are a gathering of what I would consider wonderful Mother's Day presents - of the lacy variety, of course!

I love this bowl - it looks just like a crown! http://meninascrocheteirasemacao.blogspot.fr/2015/03/receitas-e-graficos-de-croche-endurecido.html (Many charts available at this site)

 

 

 

 

Every mom loves a heart box! http://crochetmuestras.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/ideas-y-modelos-para-hacer-cajas-crochet.html (Inspiration only, darn it!)

Elegant statement necklace/collar from http://www.silviagramani.com/search/label/Colar%20de%20P%C3%A9rolas (Patterns for purchase through designer's books)

Have a gorgeous doily already made? Frame it! http://crochet.postbit.com/photos/crochet-doilies/86620_1.html

Lovely tealight holder from http://www.soulouposeto.gr/2013/11/blog-post_5.html (No pattern but instruction on stiffening)

Who couldn't use a pretty purse like this? http://clubmasteric.ru/shemi-vasanie-kruchkom/sumki-kruchkom/1035-letnja-sumochka-kruchkom.html

Beautifully ethereal! http://meninascrocheteirasemacao.blogspot.fr/2015/03/receitas-e-graficos-de-croche-endurecido.html

Such a pretty candy dish - or for sparkly trinkets in the boudoir?  http://lanaecotone.blogspot.com/2010/05/scatolina-alluncinetto.html?spref=pi

You can find the pattern for the featured picture of 'Mother's Day Teacup' by Marjorie Jones at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mothers-day-teacup. Now it's back to present making for me....

The "Simple" Scarf

A little while ago I spotted a crescent-shaped scarf/shawl and fell in love; ever since I have been chomping at the bit to design one. This couldn't be all that difficult, could it? Little did I realize what I was getting myself into!

This adventure began at the beginning of March. I decided that I wanted to have a curved ridge to mimic the crescent shape and to give it a more modern look. Then, since I have also fallen in love with gradient color schemes, I chose to use Michael's Loops & Thread Woolike yarn in ivory, beige, and cool gray with just one row of charcoal to strongly define the edge. Seemed like a plan to me. Ha!

 

Gradient Color Bands

 

I am now on the third version of this scarf. (Amazingly, the yarn did hold up to all my frogging.) At first I tried to figure this out by myself and failed miserably. Then I found a free crescent pattern to give me some guidance, but after a few rows I didn't like the extreme "U" shape it was taking, so that was frogged. Then I tried my own version, but that turned out too straight. Finally I came up with what I have now, and I think it's going to be all right. Up to this point my designs have been very simple, so I just wasn't ready for one to give me such a fight!

There are still two problems, though. 1) It seems that when you start a crescent shaped scarf with a short neck row, you end up with a separately curved neckline from the body of the scarf (see photo below). This has happened to me three times now. I've seen a video where this was mentioned, but I also saw a photo of a full crescent shawl without this problem, so I'm not sure if it's just me or not. I am hoping that I can correct this with an inside edging of some sort. 2) I wasn't thinking clearly enough to realize that on some row ends I had three stitches and some I had four. The four makes a little bump-out that I don't want (see top of photo below). I can easily correct this in the written pattern, but I am hoping again that I can correct this with the inside edging of some sort.  (Insert deleted expletive of your choice here.)

Wonky neckline and end of row bumps

I have one or possibly two more sets of the three-color bands to go, and then to come up with my miracle edging. But I won't give up on the scarf/shawlette after this one is done, because I saw such wonderful designs while researching this project that I'll just have to keep on going!

P.S. - If anyone knows of a solution to the wonky neckline, PLEASE let me know. I will be forever in your debt.