Chunky Crocheted Basket by Elizabeth Trantham

Once again found a pattern on Ravelry that I just had to make. This is the Chunky Crocheted Basket by Elizabeth Trantham, pattern found here. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick in the color Oatmeal, two strands held together for structure. 

The pattern is a bit hard on the hands since it's supposed to be worked tight, but it does come together really quickly. I see more of these baskets in my future. Definitely going to give it a try with t-shirt yarn.

Winter Whites

My mom is a really good present-giver. She got me a bunch of white yarn and dye packets. I haven't been adventurous enough to try the dye yet, but I did go crazy on the yarn.

The first is Lily® Sugar'n Cream® cotton yarn which I used to make a handbag from this pattern found on Ravelry. (Aran Sampler Tote by Ruth Shepherd)

I haven't lined it yet because I still can't decide if I want to dye it - I'm really digging it in white, as impractical as that may be. 

The other yarn I received was Bernat® Tizzy™ which has a really fun texture. Turned it into a soft and fluffy rug, no pattern, just kind of a shell stitch. This I definitely do want to dye.

Catching up - starting with an Owlie Blanket!

Let me start by saying that my intention was to make a granny square blanket using the random skeins of yarn I've been hoarding for too long. Well, you know, the best laid plans... I think I ended up back in the store 2-3 times to buy more yarn.

I was inspired by the pattern from the Repeat Crafter Me blog, pattern found here. But, I wanted to do something in fall colors (my secret goal was to get rid of the yellow yarn) with a little bit of a retro feel. I finished right around Thanksgiving.

It was 10 squares by 10 squares, and I think the hardest thing about it was arranging them - I must done have done at least 12 different color combinations. All of the yarn was worsted weight, most of it Red Heart Super Saver, some Loops & Threads® Impeccable™. 

But eventually it really did come together - I used a chain join described in this pattern.

And finally, four little owls in two opposite corners. It's pretty comfy, too!

Homespun Ocean Squishy Scarf

Made a scarf in a puff-like stitch with Lion Brand Homespun® yarn in color Ocean. It's so soft and thick, I kind of can't wait until winter to see how warm it really is. It took two full skeins (170g/185yd each) and it didn't come out quite as long as I wanted it to. Probably shouldn't have made it as wide as I did, but I just love wide scarves.

A close-up of the texture - it's "nubby soft", it's actually kind of squishy. Definitely something I want to put my face near.

Crochet Necklace

I have this yarn, Paton's Lacette, which is discontinued. I think I know why... when I first bought the one small skein that I have from Michael's several years ago, I thought I would never use it. I tried to pull out the beginning strand, and it was so utterly entangled, I figured it was beyond repair. And anyone that knows me well knows that I have and will spend hours un-knotting yarn. This one is a sorta shaggy mohair blend, so even when the actual yarn isn't knotted, the fuzz balls up and sticks to itself. Anyway, I was really irritated because it is so soft and has a nice sheen. By some miracle, I managed to sort out the tangles and make it workable.

It has two little buttons for a closure. I was thinking about beading it, but I kind of like it plain. I haven't blocked it yet, but I think I'd better. It's super soft and not at all itchy.

Momma Owl for Sandra

I love making small projects like amigurumi. This one is from the book Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet by Ana Paula Rimoli. I used a J hook and Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice yarn in Honey, Beige and Terra Cotta. I'd never used Vanna's Choice before but I've decided it's nice and soft for acrylic yarn and pretty ideal for amigurumi. I used polyester fiberfill and safety eyes with an extra backing in front, I thought it looked better that way.

The above picture was taken by Scott's iPhone and the colors are a little muted. The picture on the right features my friend Ilka who just moved to Philadelphia yesterday. The colors are more accurate in that picture.






I made this cute little owl for a lady I work with, Sandra. She's due at the end of the month and is expecting a boy who she will name Morel. She lets me touch her belly when he's kicking. It's so weird. She loved the owl and said it matches the baby's room!

Past Crochet Projects

Death Metal Pharmacy Scarf for Jason






 




Grapefruit Pouch for Avalon

Scarf for Avalon











Companion Cube from Portal for Scott