F.O. Gallery - Digging Through the Past
I recently packed my life away in boxes and suitcases, and moved across the country with my best friend. Life it San Diego wasn’t making me feel like I was moving forward, so it was time to shake things up a bit (or a whole lot!) by moving to New York City. We left the comfort of jobs and homes in San Diego to arrive in New York with neither. Luckily we had a place to crash while we found those things, but the whole experience has been much more than I even expected. I left a lot behind in San Diego, and living in this city is as expensive as everyone says it is! But 7 weeks in, we have a new home (albeit a tiny 1-bedroom apartment) in a nice neighborhood (despite a recent robbery that left me computer- and iPod-less) and new jobs! Not bad for moving on a whim, right? (If you want to know more, check out our blog about it, listed to the right.)
But the point of sharing that, is to bring up the fact that moving makes you go through everything you own and re-evaluate. In the process, I found a number of projects that I never really acknowledged or took the time to photograph. So here they are: small, mostly simple projects, but worth showing off in a finished object gallery!
A Goldfish! So it’s a little goofy-looking, I know, but I think this pattern is just too cute of an idea, even if my execution is a little off. Good use of a evening and some left-over yarn, to keep my itching fingers busy! Plus the girl who wrote the pattern is also named Kendra! (=
Pattern from: You Are Not Your Job
Yarn: Bernat Berella “4″ in Light Tapestry Gold on a size G/6 hook
Simple headbands - I love it! This took practically no time at all, and perfectly used up some remnants I just couldn’t throw away! And thanks to my lovely roommate Colleen for being my model (=
Pattern from: creativeyarn (she has some great patterns - check it out!)
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Bernat Berella “4″ in Tapestry Ombre on a size G/6 hook
Sushi! I love that when you think of a toilet roll cover, the image of lacy, frilly covers come to mind. Not anymore! I just adore this cover - very quick and easy, and fun to have around. I love it so much, it made the trek to the east coast with me!
Pattern from: MK Carroll - Crochet Me (another great site for patterns)
Yarn: Cascade 220 in a green color, Red Heart Super Saver in white, and remnants for filling
The other thing I experienced in the move was choosing which yarn to bring with me, and which to leave in storage with my mom. Let me tell you: had I not done it quickly and without much deliberation, it would have been so painful! I love all of my yarn and hate the idea of being separated from any of it, but NYC apartments don’t leave much room for storage. It was, however, a great opportunity to clean out the stash a bit, even donating a lot of it to the YMCA for their summer camp projects. And NYC is full of yarn shops to help me replenish! But my stash is something to discuss another day….
Thanks for reading!
Creepy, Crawly SPIDERS!
I’m not a fan of bugs, of basically any kind, and especially NOT SPIDERS!!! However, I do love my mom, and she requested spiders. So spiders she got! 2 kinds - a bitty little baby spider, and a big, ole creepy one. Good use of odds and ends of black yarn, and fun to make them less-scary with the fun eyes.
Pattern from: Sandi Marshall
Supplies used: Simply Soft in Black, with a G-6 hook. Instead of yarn eyes, I used small felt circles with little black craft eyes.
This other one still gives me the creeps…but I tried to make him fun too!
Pattern from: Caron International
Supplies used: Simply Soft in black, black pipe cleaners, and safety craft eyes.
Crochet Skirt - Catch A Wave!
My first crochet garment in a long while - and so happy with the results. It was made with Lion Brand Cotton Ease in 2 shades - charcoal and stone - and a size G-6 crochet hook. The construction of this piece is the most interesting: you make the “waves” at the bottom first, worked side-to-side with singles, doubles, and trebles to make the pattern, then attached in a ring, and turned to make the body of the skirt in circles. Kept it interesting for sure!
Pattern from: Crochet Today (March 08)
The best part? It fits! Put elastic at the waise as directed, and need to wear it with a slip (instead of trying to line it), but so very happy. For sure ready to attempt another garment.
Looking forward to down-sizing the scale of the waves to make more beverage sleeves - good way to use up the excess yarn and I think will be quite cute.
More Courtside Booties
On February 19th, I saw something amazing that I never thought I would. Days later, I still couldn’t believe that I was a part of something so special. On February 19th, my sister gave birth a beautiful baby girl, and I was there to see it. Not being a fan of kids, not being interested in children of my own or being pregnant, this was a miracle to see. My brother-in-law even got to help deliver her. The whole thing was incredible, not gross or weird as you would think. It was a very special bonding experience for our family. Thank you to my sister for letting us be a part of Landry’s birth.
My dad with Landry Kate
What does this have to do with booties? Well I had to make such a beautiful girl her own beautiful shoes! And the courtside booties I’d made before just seemed like the perfect choice.
Pattern from: Crochet Today (September 07 issue)
Made them with Cascade Fixation this time, to give them some added stretch, alone with white Baby Soft. Paired with a size F-5 hook, these work up surprisingly quickly and are fun to make.
She looks mighty cute in them, although she has some growing to do before they really fit.
Ravelry - Get On It!
If you are an avid knitter or crocheter, and read any blogs or listen to any podcasts, you have CERTAINLY heard of the amazingness that is RAVELRY. If you haven’t heard of it, wake up! Ravelry is so incredible, and completely to blame for my lack of blog updates recently. I’m UberOrange, please look me up and add me as your friend!
It is so many things, I can’t cover them all. My favorites?
- The perfect online tool for organizing your yarn, hooks, needles and projects.
- An amazing source of patterns, both free and for purchase.
- A simple way to see other people who have made a project, so you can see how a project looks made in different yarns and by different people. Priceless when it comes to making project decisions.
- An easy way to talk to other crafters and get help with projects
- The perfect way to become a new designer. I’m even one!
- Great pattern and book library, to organize your stash and browse others.
I can’t say enough about Ravelry other than to get on it yourself! It takes a little patience to get on the list, but so worth it. And the site itself has so much to it, it can seem a little daunting, but it is addictive once you start. And be sure to set up a Flickr account if you don’t already have one, otherwise no way to put pictures on your site.
www.ravelry.com
Crochet Circle Scarflette
This is a perfect stash-buster, as well as being a quick and easy scarf. Works up sooo much faster than a regular scarf, and is so much more fun! The original is made with really beautiful color changes, while I made mine with just three colors and changed them randomly. You make the scarf with rings, connecting them as you go. Great fashion accessory!
Pattern from: CrochetMe.com
Made with: Size H hook, small amounts of 3 colors of Simply Soft
Crochet Doily Update
The perfect frame finally materialized, and so did the perfect recipient. Remaining one of my favorite crochet ideas, the giant wall doiley is finally framed, and on the wall at my grandma’s - the perfect Christmas present. I’m very happy with it - and it looks much better than when covered with pushpins, as pictured in the earlier post. I’m not generally one to repeat a pattern, but this is just too fun to remain a one-time creation!
More Christmas Presents
So along with crochet ornaments, crochet bookmarks were my presents this season. It was stimulated by my rekindled interest in the Ken Follett novel, “The Pillars of the Earth.” I read it years ago, and felt it was time for a revisit, given that he just wrote a sequel. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. It chronicles the building of a cathedral in 12th century England. Little romance, little violence, lots of architecture. The sequel is equally good as well. But be prepared for a bit of time commitment - both books are on the larger side, hence the need for good bookmarks! I made 2 different types, and here they are:
This version was a complicated pattern, and I didn’t end up following it exacty, but it was a good starting point. If you follow the pattern, I didn’t do the final round, as I felt it was already large enough. I made mine with size 3 crochet thread and a tiny little hook.
Pattern from: Crochet Pattern Central
And the second, and more beloved version, is the “crochet book thong,” as the creator calls it. Made with size 3 crochet thread, a large bead, and three smaller beads, these make quick, elegant gifts.
Pattern from: Crochet Book Thong
Make one up and pick up that great book - the perfect combination!
Crochet Ornaments
So this post is a month too late - whoops. But this past Christmas these were my go-to presents - crochet ornaments! I looked all over the web and could only find knitting patterns for ornaments. I love to knit, but when looking for something quick, crochet is the way to go for me. Instead I improvised and made up my own pattern, and have it to share with you.
I used 1-1/2 inch styrofoam balls, covering them with a crochet ball of sorts. The ball is made with Sassy Stripes (a sock-weight yarn) and sparkly Size 3 crochet thread. The crochet piece is made almost to completion, then the ball inserted, and the rest of the piece crocheted closed around the ball. Attach a loop at the end, and hang it up. Simple! Below is the pattern, my first real one. Enjoy! And please contact with any corrections, but I hope the pattern makes sense.
Updated Doily - Crochet a Doily for Your Wall!
It was time for an adventure in thread crochet. Other than a simple bookmark, I’d never experimented with the tiny-scale thread crochet, until I saw this doily pattern. It uses size 3 crochet thread instead of the smaller size 10, and a slightly larger hook. Made in black, and in this larger scale, this is far from the doilies of our grandparents. (= I haven’t found the right frame or canvas yet, but this is going to make a great wall hanging. Try it out - and just know that you can block it in the end to even out the tension. This photo shows that process: pin the finished work to a surface (an old cork board in my case) in the shape that you desire, then spray with a water and allow to dry. When the work is removed it will retain the shape you pin it in. This makes your tension inaccuracies much less noticeable.
Pattern from: Crochet Today June/July
Happy Halloween! Crochet Pumpkin and Felted Skull
I love Halloween - I’m not even sure why, but I just love it! Something about getting to be whatever you want, planning the outfit, the people to dress up with, and how to celebrate it right - especially when you get to celebrate it for multiple nights, multiple parties. Good times, especially with brightly-colored wigs. So to honor the occasion, some crochet Halloween items.
A crochet pumpkin - I love the twisty stem the most. This project is so simple - try it today! Sorry this isn’t the greatest picture.
Pattern from: Craftbits.com
And my favorite, the crochet skull. I’ve already made 3, they take almost no time at all. For felting newbies, be sure you use 100% wool yarn (or other animal fiber) of the felting won’t work and you’ll just have a goofy looking skull. Then just toss them in a pillow case in a washer full of jeans, and you’ve got yourself a felted skull the make your Halloween spooooooky. Have fun!
Pattern from: LionBrand.com (you may have to register to view)
A New Clock - The Crochet Version
This is a favorite idea of mine - well, not my idea, but favorite idea I’ve seen. It is just so quirky, and I’ve taken the idea and run with it. I already did a knit version and love that one, but I needed a crochet one too of course. Now it adorns my new apartment’s bathroom wall, helping me get to work on time. (= It is made of Sugar ‘n Cream in red, made of bobbles and half-doubles, then black yarn was added around the edges.
The pictures don’t do it justice, but I tried - but take my word, it’s quite cute. My boyfriend is asking for a blue one for his office - I’m just working on a way to make it more masculine.
I used big square buttons mixed with little black ones in place of numbers - just too cute, I can’t stand it!