"Shades of the Rainbow" - a scarf for Syrina

I just started this on Tuesday evening, and finished it last night. All I had to do today was weave in the ends.

The scarf in its entirety

A close-up... but fuzzier than I would have liked.

Syrina with her new scarf!!!

You'll have to excuse the way Syrina's looking in the picture. She's not been feeling well lately. She's stayed home from school for the past 2 days, and I have a sneaking feeling that she'll be staying home again tomorrow too. I was lucky I got her to sit still with the scarf on and look in my general direction to get the picture in the first place.

I hadn't actually planned this particular project. It all came from Syrina "stealing" a scarf from the hat/scarf/glove box in the front hallway on Tuesday morning. It was one of my scarves (I have several). I asked her if she'd like to borrow it for the day, and she nodded yes at me. As Syrina is severely autistic and completely non-verbal, a nod is a BIG deal when it comes to communication. It isn't the first time I've gotten a nod (or a shake, for that matter) when I've asked her a question, but simply asking a question doesn't necessarily mean that I'll GET a nod or a shake. So when she so obviously wanted to borrow it, I couldn't NOT let her.

That evening, when I was cleaning up after the kids having dinner and such, I found it on the floor of her bedroom. I picked it up to put it away, and the lightbulb went off over my head. "You really like this scarf, don't you, Syrina? Would you rather have one like this instead of a furry scarf?" (I asked this because I had plans to make her a furry scarf, because she'd seen me making her sisters' and seemed to like it.) I got ANOTHER nod - even more emphatic this time. "I can make you one if you want. Would you like that?" Yet another emphatic nod.

So I grabbed a few balls of yarn out of my stash to try and figure out what kind of color or color scheme she liked, but to be honest, she looked like she couldn't care less. What she really likes are the patterns and the textures of the stitches. I don't think she CARED what color it was.

So I got the idea to make a rainbow scarf. But seeing as I had 2 shades of pink, 2 of green, and 3 of blue, I figured I'd make it with every shade of every color I had. The one color in the rainbow I didn't have was orange, but rather than go out and buy a skein of orange just to make the scarf, I figured I'd just leave it out. Considering all the other colors I already had, I didn't think it would make a difference.

I really thought I would have it finished all in one night, but it took me 2 days. However, seeing as she ended up staying home from school and didn't really need to wear it anyway, it was just as well.

I'm thinking I might add something to it, though. It seemed almost TOO plain. I asked for suggestions over at the 'ville, and somebody suggested I do curly fringe. I did something like it for an amigurumi I did last year (if you search through the archives I'm sure you'll find it, because I posted it), but I just didn't think of it when I was looking at the scarf trying to figure out what to do. I'm seriously leaning towards doing that. I may change my mind, of course, but ya never know. :D

Caitlin's Purse

The whole thing...


Close-up of the body of the purse...


And an even closer close-up, so you can see the cute little button I found for it!!!

Caitlin had gotten a little craft kit from one of her friends as a late Christmas present, and we were both disappointed to find out that it was for nothing but making pom-poms. Pom-poms are okay for certain things, but what the heck is a 10 year old supposed to do with a BUNCH of them???

So I came up with the idea of using the yarn inside to make a purse for her (which she'd been dying for anyway) instead. She absolutely loved that idea, so Saturday night I sat down with the box and started crocheting away.

She didn't even see the entire completed project before going to bed (because I still had to finish the lining) but already she kept asking me "are you going to finish that tonight, Mom?" So I'm guessing she likes it.

And really, that's all that matters. It's HER purse, so as long as SHE likes it, nobody else's opinions matter worth a damn anyway. ;)

Ellie's BICO

Hayley asked me a few days ago to make Ellie a cardigan. I explained to her that I'd never done one before, but that I'd seen the posts on the 'ville about the BICO (Baby It's Cold Outside) cardigan from Crochet Me!, and it was supposed to be super-easy, so I'd try that one first.

Well... here we are!

I used a different yarn and hook than what the pattern calls for, mainly because there's no way I could GET the yarn the pattern calls for (sold only in the U.S.). I ended up using baby dk yarn (slightly thinner than regular dk yarn) and an H hook. I made the pattern as indicated for the 12 month size, due to the changes in hook size and yarn.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks to me like this is something Ellie will be able to use now, instead of having to grow into.

I'll find out soon, though... I'm going to wash it tonight and hopefully I can get Hayley to bring Ellie over tomorrow for a fitting. Maybe she'll even let me take some pictures of Ellie in it! :D

Thread Pincushion

Made with Aunt Lydia's size 10 mercerized crochet cotton - "Ocean" color - using a Boye size 6 (1.80 mm) steel hook.

After making some of the "fun stuff" for my swap partner, and realizing I needed to buy straight pins, I realized I needed a pincushion. Hubby said to me "I can buy you one at the pound store, complete with pins and everything." But what fun would THAT be? Besides, I already BOUGHT the pins... I just needed something to stick them in!

And I just LOVE the color of this thread. I was dying to make something for myself with this stuff, but didn't know what. I need to make a pincushion, I have this thread that I want to use... make the pincushion with the thread!!!

I did take one suggestion from the hubby, though. He suggested I make it "smelly." So I put 5 drops of lavendar essential oil in the stuffing. It smells heavenly!!!

Crochet is definitely "IN"!!

I snapped this pic in the window of Monsoon in The Bridges today. From what I understand - from my SIL, and from the various people I've spoken to around town regarding shopping and fashion trends, Monsoon is one of THE places to shop. I'm talking like I'm a total freak of nature because I DON'T shop there.

But I happened to walk past there this morning on my way to another shop, and when I saw this, I just had to backtrack. I wasn't sure at first if it really was crocheted or not, but when I looked a bit closer, I saw that sure enough, it's definitely crocheted. So I had to whip out my phone and snap a pic (aren't camera phones great? *hehe*).

If they're putting things like this on display at a shop like this, then crochet is definitley "IN"! Now if only people would realize that these things ARE crocheted, then they wouldn't look at me like I've grown a second head when I tell them I crochet, NOT knit (or more accurately, I crochet WAY better than I knit!).

Blue and Yellow Rectangular Granny Afghan

Made from Erin Lindsay's rectangular granny square pattern, using baby dk weight yarn... although I can't remember what size hook. Because:

This is actually quite an old one. I started it back in June/July, and had it finished by mid-July. It was for my neighbor's niece (Ellie's mom's cousin), who had a baby boy in July.

I told my neighbor that it was done, and told her that when Gemma (her neice) came over to visit, to have her stop at my house and get her blanket. She never came. (Methinks my neighbor forgot to tell her.)

So while cleaning and organizing my stash, I put all of my FO's in a storage box, and this happened to be one of them.

Well, I happened to run into Gemma a couple of weeks back while the kids and I were out shopping, and I thought to mention this afghan that I have had for months... and months... and months!

Tonight (FINALLY!!), Hayley (my neighbor's daughter, Ellie's mom) came over and said that her aunt Carol (Gemma's mom) was over and had asked about the blanket.

So now I have a little more room in my FO box... what to put in it next? Decisions, decisions. *lol*

Ellie's Baby Granny

I **FINALLY** finished it!!!!

This was, of course, made without a pattern. Just make-up-as-you-go.

There are 3 squares each of purple, pink, green, and yellow, sc'd together (as you can see if you look at the pictures above). I prefer to sc squares together - it's quicker and seems stronger to me.

The border is 4 rounds of sc and 1 round of 3sc, ch 3, 3sc (without skipping any sc's). that's what gives it the ruffly/key-hole look.

The whole thing was made with dk baby yarn and an H hook.

Ellie's Baby Bonnet

Made from this pattern here.

I hadn't actually PLANNED on making a bonnet... but I had a pretty long bus ride to my oldest dd's school, and went looking for a small and quick project I could take with me to work on during the ride. I found this and just could NOT resist.

It's made with dk baby yarn and an F hook. I finished most of it on the bus ride and only had a few rows to do when I got home that afternoon.

As you can see, her baby doll is the model, as Ellie herself hasn't even seen it yet. I just washed it and it's in the dryer now. As it's already 9 p.m. here, I'll give it to her in the morning.

Ellie's Baby Doll

This is, of course, her head

And her bod.

A leg.

Her hair (as cute as it looks, it's a pain in the ASS to do!!!).


And here she is in her entirety.

I didn't follow a pattern when I made her... I made up my own!!! *yay me!!* *lol*

I wrote it down as I went along, and I'm going to share it here, just in case anybody's interested in making one like it.

Ellie – a baby doll to crochet
Suzanne Barrow
© 2007

Materials needed:
Yarn of your choice
Complimentary hook (you don’t want to wear the skin off your fingers trying to push the hook through your work, but you DO want your stitches nice and tight).
Stitch markers
Stuffing

Notes:
Use your stitch marker to mark the first stitch in the ring.
The adjustable ring can be found here.

Head

Using an adjustable ring, sc 6 sts into ring, and pull to close.

Round 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 2: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 3: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 4: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 5: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (36 sts)
Round 6: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 5 sts}, repeat from { to } around (42 sts)
Round 7: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 6 sts}, repeat from { to } around (48 sts)
Round 8: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 7 sts}, repeat from { to } around (54 sts)
Round 9: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 8 sts}, repeat from { to } around (60 sts)
Round 10: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 9 sts}, repeat from { to } around (66 sts)
Round 11: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 10 sts}, repeat from { to } around (72 sts)
Rounds 12 – 23: sc in each st around (72 sts)
Round 24: {sc 2 tog [sc dec], 1 sc in next 10 sts}, repeat from { to } around (66 sts)
Round 25: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 9 sts}, repeat from { to } around (60 sts)
Round 26: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 8 sts}, repeat from { to } around (54 sts)
Round 27: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 7 sts}, repeat from { to } around (48 sts)
Round 28: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 6 sts}, repeat from { to } around (42 sts)
Round 29: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 5 sts}, repeat from { to } around (36 sts)
Round 30: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Body

Using an adjustable ring, sc 6 sts into ring, and pull to close. Use your stitch marker to mark the first stitch in the ring.
Round 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 2: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 3: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 4: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 5: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (36 sts)
Round 6: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 5 sts}, repeat from { to } around (42 sts)
Round 7: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 6 sts}, repeat from { to } around (48 sts)
Round 8: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 7 sts}, repeat from { to } around (54 sts)
Round 9: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 8 sts}, repeat from { to } around (60 sts)
Rounds 10-34: sc in each st around (60 sts)
Round 35: {sc 2 tog, 1 st in next 8 sts}, repeat from { to } around (54 sts)
Round 36: sc in each st around (54 sts)
Round 37: {sc 2 tog, 1 st in next 7 sts}, repeat from { to } around (48 sts)
Round 38: sc in each st around (48 sts)
Round 39: {sc 2 tog, 1 st in next 6 sts}, repeat from { to } around (42 sts)
Round 40: sc in each st around (42 sts)
Round 41: {sc 2 tog, 1 st in next 5 sts}, repeat from { to } around (36 sts)
Round 42: sc in each st around (36 sts)
Round 43: {sc 2 tog, 1 st in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 44: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Fasten off

Arms (make 2)

Using an adjustable ring, sc 6 sts into ring, and pull to close. Use your stitch marker to mark the first stitch in the ring.
Round 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 2: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 3: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 4: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 5-9: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Round 10: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 11: sc in each st around (24 sts)
Round 12: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 13-29: sc in each st around (18 sts)
Round 30: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next st}, repeat from { to } around (12 sts)
Round 31: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Legs (make 2)

Using an adjustable ring, sc 6 sts into ring, and pull to close. Use your stitch marker to mark the first stitch in the ring.
Round 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 2: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 3: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 4: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 5: {2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (36 sts)
Round 6-10: sc in each st around (36 sts)
Round 7: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 4 sts}, repeat from { to } around (30 sts)
Round 8: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Round 9: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 3 sts}, repeat from { to } around (24 sts)
Round 10-30: sc in each st around (24 sts)
Round 31: {sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts}, repeat from { to } around (18 sts)
Round 32: sc in each st around (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sew head to body; arms to body; and legs to body. If you want to add hair, add it any way you want. If you want to make clothes for your doll, by all means do so. But if you prefer your dolls nekkid, that’s okay too.

WIP updates

I don't have any pictures to show, but I thought I'd give an update on what I'm working on right now.

On the hook:

• Baby Granny Square Afghan - I'm not using a set pattern, just making it up as I go along. I'm doing the same kind of squares I used in the Green & White afghan. But I'm making them a LOT smaller, and in baby pastels. The girl I'm doing it for - who happens to be the daughter of the woman I made the green & white afghan for - is supposed to be having a girl, so I'm using pink, purple, yellow, and green. I'm doing 12 squares, and I've already got 7 of them done. I've promised myself to make at least one square a day - and I'm doing good so far - and if I keep up with it, then I should be able to start assembling the afghan Sunday night or Monday, depending on how much time I've got.

On the needles:

• Yes, I said "needles." I'm actually KNITTING something! I'm totally a novice knitter, but my girls asked for fun fur scarves. And I thought they'd look better - not to mention use up less yarn - if they were knitted. The girls really wanted them for Christmas, but I didn't have the money to get the yarn until just 2 days before Christmas. And then my littlest demon - that would be "child" - ruined the first one I started. She pulled it off my needles so she could use them as "drumsticks" while I was in the shower one night. And if you've ever worked with fun fur yarn, you know that frogging it is almost impossible. So I've got an almost-finished scarf that I can't do anything with and can't frog. *sigh* I've got 1 scarf done so far, and I'm nearly finished with another. I need to get some more yarn, though, because I've decided I need 3 balls for Caitlin's scarf... and now it seems my oldest wants one too. Every time I've got it out to work on, she stands there and stares at it. So I've told her I'll make her one too. Thankfully, I get paid in 2 days so I can go and get some more yarn then. I'm hoping I might be able to get hers done quickly, as her birthday is tomorrow! I'm also going to make the 2 little ones matching hats. I saw a pattern for a hat using regular acrylic yarn and fun fur, so I'm going to copy the idea, tweaking it just a bit. More on that when I actually get it done.

And I've got lots of ideas running through my head. I really ought to write them down in one of my crochet notebooks (I have 2 of them).

I'm already planning Christmas presents for next year. Yes, already. Why now, you might ask? Because if I start planning NOW, I just MIGHT actually get them DONE by Christmas! *lol*

For Christmas 2005, I made my aunt Denise a purple shawl with fun fur edging. She says she loves it and uses it all the time in the cold weather (she lives in Colorado). As I was working on the fun fur scarves for my kids, it dawned on me that this aunt would probably love a fun fur scarf for Christmas - in purple, of course! And I can't leave her husband - Uncle Michael - out... so I was thinking "make him a scarf, too!" Obviously not fun fur... that's a little too feminine. But I can always make him a simple scarf in a "manly" color.

And I had the greatest idea this morning for another thing to make with fun fur (can you tell I actually LIKE fun fur? *lol*). A throw rug! I don't want to say too much right now, because it's going to be an original pattern (which I WILL post when I'm done), but it's something I want to make for my daughter's room (the oldest, Syrina). I used to have a "furry" throw rug for my bedroom when I was a teenager, and I loved it. As she's going to be 12 tomorrow, and as I know she likes the fun fur, I think it would be a great (late) birthday present. I have a sneaking suspicion that my other girls are going to want one when they see it, though.

On top of all that, I'm planning a lapghan for my oldest daughter for use when she's in her wheelchair. She doesn't use the chair all the time, but when I need to take her somewhere, she does. She walks just fine, but gets very tired very easily, and when she does, she stops and simply refuses to move. And physically dragging a 12 year old child is VERY difficult. As she REALLY doesn't like the cold, I wanted to make her something to help keep her legs warm when she's in her chair. I've already decided what yarn I want to use, but I'm going to have to order it from the USA. It actually works out cheaper that way - because I can't find any yarn in Worsted Weight out here in the UK. I'd have to buy twice as much in the double knitting to get the thickness I want. And as Red Heart is pretty cheap in the USA, and I know a place that will only charge me $4-something for shipping, buying it online will be the better option. Not to mention they've got some GREAT colors!!

So many yarns... so many patterns... so little time!!! *lol*