Boho Triangle Shawl

I loved crocheting this shawl! It is a free pattern from Expression Fiber Arts. Chandi has a number of free patterns on her site. I purchased the yarn from her as well, Resilient Superwash Merino Sock yarn in Pink Frost. I used three skeins. My shawl is 21 rows and for the fringe I cut 20" pieces. The yarn is so soft!

Nancy

Kitty Blankets

This all strarted because I had to wash the Kitty blanket my cats use. The blanket belonged to a cat, Tiger, I had adopted from the SPCA. A woman crocheted blankets for the cats there and they gave her blanket to me when I adopted Tiger.  Tiger passed several years ago, but my current cats love the blanket. I keep it in there cat tree condo and the cuddle with it.  I thought if I had to wash it, I should make a new one to put in there. Then I can rotate them. I have a lot of left over yarn from blankets and a poncho I made, so I used it for my kitty blanket.

My neighbor and friend Denise saw it and loved it.  She and her husband Timmy take care of my cats when on vacation and have helped out with my parents. So I made her kitties a blanket.

My kitties love there blanket and I know hers will too!  Here are some pics of my lovely kitties!

 Z, aka Azure Ice, aka Zippy

 Myka, aka Myka Rae of Devine Sunshine

 Chaos

 Jade

Chaos is the only cat that is not a Bengal.  Yes I am crazy enough to own three Bengals! 

Enjoy and spoil your fur babies!

Nancy D

Finishes this week!

I was happy to finish one older WIP, one new project, and a skein of yarn! I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a project, especially an older WIP!

The older WIP is my blanket with sleeves. The pattern is Winter Warmth in the booklet "Snuggle Up!"  I used Red Heart Super Saver. The dark color is actually Dark Teal, though it comes out more blue in the picture.

I finished "A Noble Cowl". This is an easy pattern and fun knit. It took a few nights to complete. The yarn is from A Hundred Ravens. The color is Here We Are Dragons. It is the softest merino wool I've worked with.

I finally plied the winter storm singles. I decided to try N-Plying (navajo or chain plying). It was the first time I tried this technique. I like it and it is easier than I thought. I ended up with 38 yds of a worsted or bulky yarn.  I will determine the weight once the twist has been set. 

I start spinning a fiber I purchased from Taylored Fibers. It is 50% SW Merino/50% Tencel. 

Fiber happiness! Enjoy!

Nancy

Forr Danielle's Baby

On November 15, 2014 my family had a baby shower for my cousin Danielle. Unfortunately I was unable to attend. My husband, friends of ours and I went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Hershey that day. It was a fantastic show, as always.

I sent my gift with my Mother. I made her a baby blanket. The pattern was on the back of the yarn label. It is called a Round Blanket to Crochet. It was more of an Octagon done in a Granny Square Motif. The blanket was very easy to do and took less than a week.

I really love how it came out! The yarn was Bernat Baby Sport in Baby Baby. I was nice to work with. I used 2 large skeins (1786 yards). There is enough left over for a small project. I have not been fond of this color choice for baby projects, but I really like how it turned out. However, I craved those pastel color buttermints the entire time I worked on the blanket!

Happy crocheting!

Nancy

Shamrock Cardigan

Since I saw this pattern in Crochet! Magazine in Spring of 2012, I've loved this sweater! I was not crazy about the color of the yarn in the model (brown and pink). Then I saw this color, sachet (purple, cream, green) and fell in love with it! It is Patons Lace yarn. It took 4 skeins for a large size. I love working with this yarn and I love how the projects turn out. I found it on the Knitting Wharehouse site for half price!

The button on the sweater was made by local artist and friend Nancy Bossert. I love everything she creates! She inspires me!

It needs laundering. Then we are good to go!

Happy Crocheting!

Nancy

While I was away......

I knew I had been neglecting my blog, but didn't know how bad it was until I saw the date of my last post. UGH! I guess I need to catch everyone up! Here we go!!!

I finished two throw rugs for my bathroom. They are knitted with cotton core/alpaca spun core yarn. I purchased the yarn at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC. I love them! They are so soft!! I'm not sure I really like using such large knitting needles!

Next up..a summer sweater. I wanted to have something I could wear over sundresses or sleaveless dresses in the air conditioning. I am ALWAYS cold! The yarn is a cotton/silk blend and pattern is called the Lime Swing.  Sorry for the terrible pictures. I still haven't taken a good photo of it!

Lion Brand Yarns did it to me again! Just as I was going to finish one of my WIPS they posted a free pattern on Facebook! I is a Ripple Stitch Crochet Poncho. I used Knit Picks Brava in 9 or 10 different colors. Love the results!

I finished a fashion scarf. I received a coupon for a free kit when I went to Vogue Knitting Live. 

Of course in Spring I was busy in the garden....

The cats enjoy the garden as much as I do!

The boys found a lightning bug and didn't know what to make of it!

For my 50th birthday my husband purchased an Ashford Kiwi 2, unfinished, for me! I finished it and he put it together for me!

So now I'm learning how to use the wheel. I am registered to take a four week class at the Spinnery in Frenchtown, NJ. I can't wait! The class will teach how to prep fleece, card it, store it, use a drop spindle, and use my wheel!

I'm working on the Shamrock Cardi featured in Crochet! Magazine and older WIPs. This 4th of July weekend I hope to experiment a bit with Solar dyeing my roving.  Posts to follow soon!

Well now that we are caught up, I'm off to my next project! LOL! Will try to remain a bit more current in my posts!

Happy crafting!

Nancy

Falling Snow Shawl

And boy has the snow been falling! Yet another Valentines's Day storm in Pennsylvania. They day befor Valentine's Day we were the unhappy recipients of 17 inches of snow! What is a girl to do in a snow storm; crochet of course. The pattern for this shawl is Lion Brand's Falling Water Shawl. I saw it posted on Facebook the night before the storm and downloaded. I had Homespun yarn in my stash. I am NOT a fan of working with this yarn. However the end result is gorgeous! I love this shawl and have been using it since it was done! It is so warm!

Now I HAVE to get back to the lap blanket for The Chemo Bag! I need to get it finished before I do anything else!

Crochet create!

Nancy

Hand Spun Scarf

One of the other fiber arts I enjoy is spinning. I use a bottom whorl drop spindle. This is my tool of choice because they can be made so easily and cheaply.  All you need is something round, a CD, wooden wheel from the craft store, a gemstone donut, or guitar sound hole cut out. Then stick a dowel  in the center whole using a grommet or epoxy to secure it. Then either insert a hook in the top of the dowel or make a notch at the top. For a couple of dollars and a little time you have a spindle. 

The yarn I used for this scarf was my fist attempt at spinning. Some is chunky, over/under spun, plied and singles. I am slowly getting better at this, but still working on consistency and thickness. 

The wool (pictured above) was then used in an experiment with dyeing.  I soaked it in water and vinegar, added some McCormick liquid food coloring and micro waved. 

I think I microwaved it a bit too long or handled it too much afterwards because it slightly felted, but was was still useable. 

I combined this wool with some alpaca I also spun to crochet a scarf.  The scarf is done in triple crochet using a J hook.

It is a very warm scarf! 

Happy crafting!

Nancy

Lap Blankets for Chemo Bag

It has been a busy month! The monthly sock knitting has been suspended for February so I can get some of these projects done.

I've been working on two lap blankets for The Chemo Bag.  I have one completed. It was adapted from Lion Brands 5 1/2 Hour Throw. This one has 17 "V" stitches across rather than 19. I crocheted until it was long enough.  I used Loops & Thread yarn. I am pleased with the results. 

The second one is half-way done. I took a little break from it to work on two smaller projects.  I used the same Star Shell Afghan pattern I used for Pam's lap blanket.  For this one, when crocheting the bottom half of the shell, I crocheted in the back loop.  With Pam's I crocheted through both base loops. Crocheting in the back loop creates a "ridge" between sections.  I like both techniques.

The yarn for the burgundy and gray is Red Heart Super Saver. The dark and light blue is Brava from Knit Picks. Brava is softer of the two yarns and has a nice drape.

Enjoy!

Nancy

Lap Blanket for Pam

One of my co-workers will be having surgery in the near future. She lost her husband in February of 2013 and in February 2014 she has to have tumor removed from her small intestine. So I got a large Vera Bradley tote that our office will fill with goodies for her. I made her this lap blanket using Red Heart yarn.

It is in the laundry, which a plus of Red Heart. This yarn can be laundered repeatedly and holds up beautifully.  The pattern is the Star Shell Crochet.  This was my Grandmother's pattern of choice. She made these by the dozens and I have a pile of them! I love these blankets and I hope Pam loves it!

I got the idea from one of the Heartfelt Knitters, Nancy Bossert.  She requested that our group make lap blankets for The Chemo Bag, www.thechemobag.com. I thought the concept was a great idea and adapted to a bag for Pam.  Well now I need to get one, hopefully two, blankets for is wonderful organization!

Happy Knitting! Stay safe and warm! Just think of all these days we are getting dumped on by the snow gods as days to let the creative juices flow and enjoy!

Nancy