Photographing The Bug

I'm such a lucky auntie.  My niece is adorable.  And she sleeps.  A lot.

Mims is such a party girl that even when she was a baby she couldn't go to sleep if there was anyone else in the house.  She wanted to stay up and entertain them.  It was sweet and charming, but it made photographing her very difficult because she didn't want to be put down for even a moment.  

So when my sister brought Katie-bug over yesterday wearing the cutest angel onesie, I knew I wanted to shoot some pictures for the blog... And for myself, because The Bug is a cutie-pie.

I used my Think Pink Lapgan as the background.  I was lucky, she smiled in her sleep just as I snapped the picture.  I'm not going to say she smiled because she was sleeping on such a beautiful and fun blanket, but I can't stop you from thinking it... LOL!!!

xoxo

State of the Union: May 2013

Have you ever had one of those days that turned into one of those weeks, which then turned into several weeks?  Yeah, me too.  This is by far my favorite job, but it's not my only job, and my 'real world' job has kinda been absorbing all of my time lately.  Anyone who takes care of someone that can't take care of themselves will understand.

I don't have much free time, but I've gotten to do some more dying.  I even used my big-deal professional dyes, which splashed on my leg and gave me Smurf-Foot for a few days.  I even experimented with some cotton yarn and a tie-dye kit.  

I don't see things getting easier in the next couple of months, but I'll keep you updated.  I really appreciate the folks who have noticed questions in the comments, and answered them for me!  Triple Dynamo Points to you!!

I know I've got a post coming up on a really cool argyle cowl I made, but my photographer (Jake! Grrr...) botched them by taking a really beautiful set of photos of me, and managing to cut the cowl off in every single picture.  Seriously.

That's okay.  Now that I'm looking at it, I'm not crazy about the bright blue shirt with the aqua/brown cowl anyway.  I think it was for the best.

Okay, gotta run.  Kindergarten gets out in an hour, and I've got to finish the laundry and fix my grandma some lunch.  Love to you all!

xoxo

Argyle Crochet: Travel Hook Case

After I finished making the case for my new set of Clover Amour crochet hooks, I started to feel sorry for my other case-free hooks.  And I realized that if I had a little case that would hold just a few hooks, but all the other supplies that I need when I crochet, that would be really, really convenient.  I take my crocheting with me everywhere, and it's terribly frustrating to find myself at a "Fasten off." without a pair of scissors.  Or a yarn needle.

So I made a small travel case, that would hold all of the things that I need for a short jaunt out in the world with my crochet.  It will never take the place of my big tool case (cases!), but it's just the right size to fit in my purse with a ball of yarn, so that if a doctor's appointment takes too long, or Mims gets out of school a little late, I can squeeze in a little extra crochet time.

Folded up, it's 7.5" tall x 4" wide.  I made a very long strap to wrap around the case, instead of messing with a button.  I just wrap it around about 4 times, and then tuck the end under the wraps. All of the wraps keep the case from opening and dumping all of my tools into the bottom of my purse, which is a mighty fine quality in a closure! LOL!!!

I made this case using the Argyle Crochet technique (for more information, you can check out my book, Crochet Dynamite: Argyle Crochet available on Amazon.com in the Kindle store - free software is available to read it on your computer, smartphone, and tablet).  All sizes are approximate.

Argyle Crochet: Travel Hook Case
Supplies:
Worsted Weight Variegated Yarn - approximately 100 yards (I used Craft Smart Value Yarn in Fiesta)
Size E crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle
Pins (to pin pocket and top flap in place, this is purely optional)

Back:
Make a swatch of argyle, using a single color pattern length. Keep going until the piece measures approximately 6.5" tall.
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Pocket:

Make a swatch of argyle, using a single color pattern length. Keep going until the piece measures approximately 4.5" tall.
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Top Flap:

Make a swatch of argyle, using a single color pattern length. Keep going until the piece measures approximately 1.25" tall.
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.


Pin pocket to sides and lower edge of back piece.  Pin top flap to sides and top edge of back piece.
Sc around the outside edge of the back piece, placing 3 sc in each corner, to attach pocket and flap.
Using your hooks as guides, stitch a seam in the center of the large lower pocket.  Make 5 individual pockets for the hooks on the left side of the case. Leave the right side open to hold scissors.  Don't sew pockets into the top flap.  It's there to keep the hooks from sliding out of the case and to (slightly) protect the hook heads.

Strap: 

ch 136
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (135 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.


Sew the strap to the center of the side edge of the hook case.  Fill with your tools and go on a road trip!  Visit Disneyland!  Or Atlantic City!  Or The Grand Canyon!  And annoy your family by crocheting the whole time!  Sounds like a perfect vacation to me!  LOL!!

xoxo

Don't they look nice together?  You can check out my Clover Amour Hook Case HERE!

Clover Amour Hook Case

I'm 38 years old.  For a long time I really wanted to NOT be 38, or any other age past 24.   In fact, I refused to move past 24 for so long that I celebrated the 10th anniversary of my 24th birthday...  Recently, I've begun to see the advantages that being 38 gives me.  I'm wiser than I was.  I've got mad skillz that the 24-year-old me didn't have.  I've had life experiences.  I'm beautiful in an entirely different way, one that means more than a perfectly unlined face...

Last year, for my birthday, my parents gave me an Amazon gift card, and I bought a set of crochet hooks and a Blue Q tool bag and I used them to start this blog.  So, to continue the tradition, they gave me another Amazon gift card for my birthday this year, with the understanding that I was supposed to do something amazing with it too!  LOL!!!  So I bought a really swanky set of crochet hooks with it, a 10 piece set of Clover Amour hooks.

They took, like, 2 weeks to get here (they were out of stock when I ordered, there wasn't anything wrong with the shipping!), and then I didn't want to actually use them, I just wanted to look at them in the box for another week because they were so pretty.  Finally, this week I got them out and actually crocheted with them, and I am (pun intended) hooked.  The ergonomic handles are rubbery, but not squishy, and they fit nicely in my (on the small side) hands.  I made Katie-bug's hat and booties with them, and I was impressed that my left pinky (the one I broke 6 years ago, and now has arthritis) didn't ache afterwards.  That's the highest praise I can give a crochet hook!

I am not a terribly organized person.  It's my one flaw (LOL!!).  I tend to lose hooks A LOT.  I was determined that I wanted to keep this set together and complete.  So I got out some of my kettle dyed yarn and made a case for them.  It looks (and FEELS!!) as swanky as the hooks that it holds.  I am feeling ridiculously spoiled, which I can say, is one of the perks of being 38.

I added an extra slot to hold a pen, since I tend to take a lot of notes as I crochet even if I'm not writing it up as a pattern.  You don't have to add the extra pen slot, but if you do, I bet you'll love it!  I also used that space to hold a couple of yarn needles, since I never can have enough of those around...

If you'd like to make a swanky case for your hooks, Clover Amour or not, here's the pattern:

CLOVER AMOUR HOOK CASE

Finished size approximately 10" wide x 7" high
Supplies:
Sport weight or DK weight yarn - approximately 180 yards
Size D crochet hook
Yarn needle
Scissors
Pins (optional, to pin pocket in place)

Back:
ch 51
R1: (sc, hdc, dc) in 4th ch from hook, [skip 2 ch, (sc, hdc, dc) in next ch)] 16 times, hdc in last ch
R2-22: ch 2 (counts as hdc), (sc, hdc, dc) in next dc and each dc across, hdc in top of turning ch
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Pocket:

ch 51
R1: (sc, hdc, dc) in 4th ch from hook, [skip 2 ch, (sc, hdc, dc) in next ch)] 16 times, hdc in last ch
R2-12: ch 2 (counts as hdc), (sc, hdc, dc) in next dc and each dc across, hdc in top of turning ch
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Top Flap:

ch 51
R1: (sc, hdc, dc) in 4th ch from hook, [skip 2 ch, (sc, hdc, dc) in next ch)] 16 times, hdc in last ch
R2-6: ch 2 (counts as hdc), (sc, hdc, dc) in next dc and each dc across, hdc in top of turning ch
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Pin pocket to sides and lower edge of back piece.  Pin top flap to sides and top edge of back piece.
Sc around the outside edge of the back piece, placing 3 sc in each corner, to attach pocket and flap.
Using your hooks as guides, stitch seams in the large lower pocket to make individual pockets for the hooks. I made 11 pockets in my case.  Don't sew pockets into the top flap.  It's there to keep the hooks from sliding out of the case and to (slightly) protect the hook heads.

Strap: 

ch 91
R1: (sc, hdc, dc) in 4th ch from hook, [skip 2 ch, (sc, hdc, dc) in next ch)] to end, hdc in last ch
R2: ch 2 (counts as hdc), (sc, hdc, dc) in next dc and each dc across, hdc in top of turning ch
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Sew the strap to the center of the side edge of the hook case, 7" in from the edge of the strap.  You will have one long side of the strap, and one 7" side of the strap.

To fold up your case: Fold the outer third of the case to the center.  Roll that part over onto the last third (by the strap).  Wrap the long side of the strap around the case and tie it to the short side of the strap with a loose knot.  Tuck the loose ends of the strap into the wrapped part of the strap to keep them neat!

While I was at it, I also made a purse-sized To-Go case for my other (skinny, aluminum) hooks (and all the supplies I need for working on a project out in the world) using the Argyle Crochet technique!  I'll post the instructions for it on Sunday!

Katie-bug has arrived!

My niece is finally here!!  This is Mimsey's cousin, Katie-bug!

And this is my sister S, not to be confused with my sister-in-law S (LOL!).
Of course, I had to make her something special, because nieces don't come along every day...

I was so excited to get to use some of the yarn that I dyed last week.  I found THIS really cute hat pattern, and THIS pattern for booties.  The set worked up pretty quickly, and they looked REALLY good in person.  They're going to be my go-to baby gift from now on!

This is me and my little Katie-bug!  

Brand new babies are extra fun when you don't have to give birth to them yourself... LOL!!!

This is my Mema holding her newest great-grandbaby!  They've got a 92 year age difference!!

 My mom is the happiest grandma (Pickleberry!) in the world!  

The happiest new family in town!   New daddy J is already a baby handling pro!!

My sister has been telling me for years (6 to be exact) that having a niece is like no other relationship in the world.  While I believed her, I had to take her word for it. Until now!  I get it now.  She's mine in a different way than my daughter is.  I don't have to worry about her rules.  I don't have to agonize over her future.  I can love her in exactly the place that she's in, for her whole life.  It's almost like getting to be a fairy godmother, only better, because she looks like my little sister!!

So, I wanted to introduce you all to her, since I'm sure you're going to be seeing a whole lot of Katie-bug around here.  I'm going to take a few days to be with my sister and her family, because this is just the most wonderful thing that has happened in a long time and I want to enjoy every minute of it!

xoxo

A fancy sweater and Award Ceremony

This weekend I had the awesome privilege to get to go to see my dad (artist James J. Eads) receive an Illustrator of the Future award.

I don't know which was cooler, watching him being announced by Nancy Cartwright (OMG!!!)...

Or watching him giving the best acceptance speech of the night (I'm biased, but it's true!).

The awards ceremony was very formal, and my gown was strapless, so I made myself a fancy wrap sweater to wear over the top.  I based it on a pattern in Curvy Girl Crochet by Mary Beth Temple.  I am so happy with how it turned out, and I felt covered but still fancy at the ceremony!

I think the best part about it was that no one asked if I made it myself.  In fact, none of my family commented on it at all.  Perhaps in other (um, supportive in a different way than mine?) families that might be an insult in the if-you-don't-have-anything-nice-to-say vein, but in my family everyone always assumes that I've made everything myself (even when I haven't).  So for none of them to mention it, good or bad, it means that they didn't even notice it.  So I'm coming away from it thinking that my little wrap sweater was appropriately formal for the occasion, and well made enough that everyone assumed I bought it somewhere.  LOL!!!  It's almost as good as winning a big honkin' award.

xoxo

Dying for some new yarn!

After all of the struggle to find any DK/Sport weight yarns that would work with my Argyle Crochet technique (still haven't found any), I got it in my head that I should just dye my own variegated yarn.  So I went online and ordered some gorgeous superwash wool/nylon blend yarn from KnitPicks, and I got a dying kit and a book on dying techniques.  I discovered that the precision that I was going to need to make evenly spaced variegations was going to be WAY too hard for me (a first-time beginner!), so I decided instead that I would just play around and experiment.  I went searching for some awesome videos on YouTube.  The yarn that was being dyed with food coloring was too cool!  I watched, like, fifteen video tutorials in a row.  Oh my goodness, I was having so much fun I felt like I'd opened Pandora's rainy-day craft box!!! And I hadn't even dyed anything myself yet!

For my first experiment into dying my own yarn, I decided to use (10-cent clearance!) egg dye pellets with my yarn.  It meant that I could use my regular cookware (no non-food chemicals!) to dye the yarn right on my stove!  Awesome!

 I wanted to follow this ChemKnits tutorial exactly!  Her yarn turned out so beautiful, and it was just the colors that I wanted.  I grabbed my box of egg dye and my yarn and headed to the kitchen to play!

Egg dye comes in mystery pellets.  The outside color of the pellet gives you very few clues about what the dye color actually is.  I ended up getting the edge of a paper towel barely-damp and making marks with them to give myself a color chart.

 I followed her instructions precisely, but my colors weren't as green as hers.  I like aqua blue, but I wanted a blue/green combo, so at the last second I tossed a green dye tablet into the center of the pot.  Um, that was a mistake.

 The green was a much more dominant color, and suddenly all of the yarn was green.  I yanked it (carefully, so I didn't get burned) out of the pot and rinsed it as soon as it was cool enough to handle.  It looked pretty enough, but as it dried, the colors lightened up a little and there just wasn't enough difference between the intensity of the shade of blue and the intensity of the shade of green.   It looked flat and boring to me.

 Especially when I compared it to the vivid variations in my second experiment!  The cantaloupe colored yarn had all of the gradations of a summertime sunset, with bright pinks and soft yellows and something new for my eyes to discover every time I looked at it.  I don't even particularly like orange, but I fell in love with this yarn!  I wanted to fall in love with the green, but I knew it wasn't going to happen unless I did something drastic.

 I over-dyed it!  The little jar on the side had (boiling! eep!) spring green dye, and the red pot had purple and blue.  It was quite a circus for a few minutes.  **Helpful hint, don't let the dry yarn rest against the hot pot.  I got two scorch marks that I will have to cut out later.  D:

It was so worth the extra effort.  I am thrilled with how it turned out!  I love it so much now!  If I had know how easy it was to dye my own yarn, I would have tried this much sooner.  I feel like if I have this much success with it as a complete beginner, I can't wait to see what I can create with more experience under my (crocheted) belt!

I've got two more skeins of 'blank' yarn left.  My mind is racing with possibilities!  As a creative, crafty gal, I think that having something new to occupy my imagination is well worth pursuing.  It's like planning a dream vacation, only instead of jet lag, I get new yarn!!

xoxo