Random Photo Friday 5

It's so good to be back in Chapel Hill!  I'm only taking one summer course and most (all) of my friends stayed home, so I'm finding myself with a ton of time on my hands.  Truly disturbing amounts of time...  It's amazing!  In celebration, I braved the NC heat to photo the surrounding area. (I'll try to intersperse those photos throughout the summer.) First, my favorite place to go for a cool drink.  The area was much busier than usual; I think everyone was trying to get outside before it got too scorching...



Next, the bargain book store.  I can't decide if I like this place because of the variety, or the smell.  Not a great picture but I was in the middle of a book on ancient Japanese philosophy... you can't blame me!



I decided against any trite UNC pictures of the Bell Tower or the Old Well, so here's a different perspective.  There's the hospital, the water tower, and at least 5 different dorms, all seen from the end of my hall.



And finally, I was in desperate need of a haircut...  Here it is, right afterwards.  After showering, it has more life and bounce, but this will do for now.



Have a pleasant weekend!

-Cristy

Currently Listening to: "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" - We Are Scientists

Eating on a Budget: Part 1

Tomorrow is the first day of my Summer School Session and, desiring to pack lightly, I didn't bring much in the way of crafts (we're talking a single tote bag here, people).  I promise that the crafting will pick up when summer school ends (July 24th) but until then, we're going to talk about food!

The dining halls don't open during summer, so my parents sent me here with $300 in food money (it was the recommended amount).  This works out to about $8.33 per day.  I was also scatterbrained enough to forget both my refridgerator and microwave at home, severly restricting the types of foods I can buy.  I also realized that, the less I spend on food, the more I'll have to put to other uses (ie. yarn, my World of Warcraft subscription, household expenses, etc.) and well, there's no such thing as too much extra money.  So, you're invited along as I learn to cook... please make sure I don't blow anything up.

My restrictions:

• must be cheap eats


• must be light (I'm carrying everything back to my room across campus)


• may not require refrigeration


• lunch must be portable, since I don't plan on returning to my room


• must be healthy and satisfy the food groups

Here are my materials:



Minus the round bowls... and I don't even know if this stuff is microwave-able!  I'm heading to the grocery store tomorrow.

-Cristy

Currently Listening to: "Always" - Saliva (Pandora.com)

My Brea Bag

I've been so very pro-posting this week!  This is what I've been so busy with recently... The Brea Bag from Berroco!  It's a well written pattern, I'll give it that.  I've always liked cables, and I had the front and back pieces done in two days, but the gusset?!  (I had to google "gusset")  The gusset was so incredibly boring!  It took me a month to finish, all becuase of the gusset.  Something about seed stitch just bores me to tears.  Of course, I had to do things my own way too, so my bag is much more circular than it should be.  (Just use US 8s instead of 9s if you want the same look.)  I like it; I think it makes it more age-appropriate for all of my 18-going-on-19 years.  You know you're young when your age is an approximation, rather than a number.

Sick of me talking yet?  Here are the pictures!



For size reference:



Requisite zoom shoot.  I love how well my camera was cooperating on this one.  I wish I knew where the button came from...



I'd like to thank futuregirl for her great tutorial about sewing in linings.  It made it so much easier to do this by hand...

As a whole, I think I'm quite pleased with it...  but it gets it's first trial run tomorrow, for a trip to the movies!

-Cristy

Currently Watching: music videos on VH1

Parfaits for Summer!

I have a strange thing for yogurt, granola, and fruit.  Mix the two together and, well, I'm a very happy camper.  So here's a nice easy recipe for summer.  It makes a nice breakfast or, in my case, a midnight snack!

You'll need:  Granola, Fruit (frozen is the easiest, they're juicier and mix well), plain yogurt, a cup/bowl, and a spoon.  Oh, and saran wrap!



Layer your ingredients in the cup (this one isn't my prettiest...).  As a rule of thumb, I try to end with granola and alternate every other row with yogurt.  It keeps the granola from getting too soggy.  Cover your cup with saran wrap and stick it in the fridge for three hours.  Longer, and that bottom layer gets mushier than I like.  Shorter, and the top layer is still really crunchy.  Of course, it's good anytime, but I think that's the perfect setting time!



I'm working on a knitting project that's running a bit long... but when it's done, I'll be right back here!

-Cristy

Random Photo Friday 4

We've made it through another week!  I've worked on lessening the number of nature-y photos and, what with summer school starting up in another week, we'll have some all new subject matter!

But until then, nature photo! (I'm terrible, I know.)  I never manage to catch bugs when I want the for pictures (you may need to click for a bigger picture).  And besides, I wanted you to experience some of the sweltering heat that is North Carolina!



You know those tomato flowers I showed you a few weeks ago?  Here they are again!  (Though I still don't like tomatoes...)  They're rather.. kumquat shaped. (I love kumquats!)



Now remember when I said I lived in NC?  Not that I'm trying to confirm the redneck stereotype, but we do have this fabulously dilapidated old thing in our backyarn.  I popped my head through the broken window for this shot... (Note:  I *do not* have the accent either, thank you.)  The grate is actually off of the front of this jeep, but was placed here by what I can only assume was insanity.



And finally, did you know we celebrated our 10,000 Page Views Day about a week ago?  (Current: 12,196 views)  Thank you everyone!!  I realized that, despite the 5 months we've been together, I've never actually revealed what I look like.  Oops!  So, I present to you my visage, poorly photographed 30 minutes ago in my bathroom.  I can't decide if I look stern or flighty... What do you think?  Also, enjoy the free pass into my bathroom!



Have a good weekend!

-Cristy

Currently Watching: "House, M.D."

Art + Embroidery = Shortcut

As you may remember from earlier this month, I recieved a package with everything I needed to learn to embroider!  (I haven't worked out the sewing machine part of sewing yet...)  And I've finished my first embroidery piece!  I love it, and I'd like to display it in a frame someday...  Of course, proper embroidery protocol calls for an iron-on pattern, but who follows instructions??  For this quickie, I borrowed a technique I learned years ago in a middle school art class.  Steps after the image and the jump.



Look at it!  I know, tension's probably an issue, it needs to be ironed, and I should've waited for daylight, but I love it!!  The labeling was all freehand, and I'm still not sure whether I was to add the blood flow arrows.  I do like that it's color coded and everything, though.  I'm thinking I might try some satin stitch too, inside the heart.  I also initially made the blood vessels with 6 strands, but ended up pulling up all my stitches in favor of 3.  Thoughts/critiques? (please!)

-Cristy

Currently Watching: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

Random Photo Friday 3

I know, I've been very off these past few weeks so, to get back into the swing of things, I promised I wouldn't miss two Fridays in a row.  (Although it's already technically Saturday for me...  shh!)

Today, I tried to be more varied (aka less flora), but I couldn't resist these first two:

This one, I would buy as a print, seriously.  I'm not usually crazy about a lot of my pictures... (I usually take tons of pictures of the same thing to make sure at least one is decent.)  But something about this plant, and I knew I got it the first time!  No cropping or anything!



This one required zooming across the fish pond behind my father's house.  I generally avoid the zoom, but the birdhouse was so unexpected, especially considering that it's actually sitting in the lake.  I never actually saw any birds around it, though...



Here is my picture of a picture...  Okay, at least it's just a piece of the whole work and I did actually play with the lighting.  The original (which I, unfortunately, neglected to take a picture of) is by my brother.  While he's not at all crafty, he is incredibly creative, artistically.  I'm envious of those genes...  Anywho.  Even though this isn't the focus of the work, I particularly like the use of color and slightly disturbing luminescence.  So, my impression of art:



This final picture has no artistic merit whatsoever.  While I understand it's customary to present your stash, creative space, or whatever, I don't think mine deserves it's own post (yet).  My crafts share a closet with the kids' suitcases (for camp, college move-in/out, etc) and it's rather messy.  A perk of never inheriting a yarn stash: you don't have a lot of yarn to store!  Yeah, that's about the only perk. :p  See what you can spot!



Thank you for a great week in the comments, and have a good weekend!

-Cristy

Currently Listening to: "Feel So Numb" - Rob Zombie (courtesy of Pandora Radio)

Swap I: I received! Twice!

I'm so very, very sorry for disappearing this past week.  I left my power cord at my dad's and no power = no computer.  As a member of Generation Y, being so disconnected was a bit strange...  Anyways:

There was a bit of confusion during the swap, so I received both my original package and an angel package!  This is pretty much going to be a few pictures and me oohing and ahhing.  I've been watching VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90s (forgive my trip down memory lane...), so I'm in the mood for fangirlishness.

First, my original package, from Elensule!  She started me with sewing, with means fabric, interfacing, and lots of other terms I'm not quite familiar with yet...  There's some embroidery stuff in there too, but mostly, fabric!  See?



And I got a bag too!  I'll be using it a lot once school starts for books, but I've already taken it to the lake!  I was rather surprised it could holdeverything I needed, but I'm not complaining!  Ignore the weird shadows from the deck roof...



And now my angel package!  Elvissatx took embroidery instead and completely fitted me out!  First, the great crafting bag.  I wish I'd gotten a picture of the inside, becuase the lining is cute!   Blue background (my favorite color) with great big white spots.  And so fresh and summery too...



And here are the contents, all layed out!  I've read so much about how wonderful the Sublime Stitching book is, so I'm super pleased to get it!  I read the thing, front to back, the second I saw it.  And yes, it's pretty much all it's cracked up to be.  Look at all the pretty materials!  This isn't the clearest picture of the scissors, but they're quite ornate as well.



There, that wasn't too picture-heavy, was it?  I've actually already embroidered something, but since there's some technique involved, we'll save it for another post!  This was my first swap, and I loved it!  Really, if you've never tried swapping, give it a go around.  And I'd be interested in some personal swaps, if anyone's interested.

Thanks guy!!

- Cristy

Currently Watching: "Burn Notice"

Meet Gimpy, the crocheted jellyfish.

I'm back!  Thank you for letting me take a Memorial Day weekend break, and I hope yours was just as relaxing!  Or, if you're international, I hope your Monday morning wasn't too painful...

Anyways, this first post is really just shameless advertising for a fellow crocheter.  Sarah/Esshaych designed has a pattern (I helped test it!) that is adorable.  And I really don't use that word very often.   (I've linked her blog, but she has an Etsy too)  She's given me permission to post my pictures here.  This was a really fun, quick project and I really recommend giving it a go! (Although Esshaych isn't sure whether she'll sell it or post it for free yet.)

Meet Gimpy the Geryoniidae!  (Geryoniidae info) I ran out of yarn for his tentacles, but he's very self conscious about that and he wouldn't let me show that...



He first met the wellhouse squirrels, and I think he made a rather satisfactory replacement for their missing member...



Then, Gimpy played hide-and-seek with the baby bears.  (Check out the junk in my fantastic yard...)



Next, Gimpy and a squirrel decided to go on a little expedition...  Onward ho!



Poor little Gimpy was tired by then, so he relaxed and took at nap on the birdhouse.  I think he liked the view of the water too.



I hope you enjoyed my little departure from the mundane.  See you soon!

-Cristy

Random Photo Friday 2

I'm so proud I didn't forget!  This week brings a mashup of some long finished projects, pretty nature pictures, and a preview of my sorry attempt at cooking.

These are (pretty much) all the ingredients I had...  And the results will be posted soon!



Senior year of high school, I crocheted two blankets.  The first was  for my now-ex-boyfriend, which I never thought to take pictures of and this one, for me!  It's just a simple granny square style blanket (trite, I know) but I may give it a separate post some day...  It was an interesting proect, and one of my very first.



I love this guy!  He's depressed and possibly suicidal-looking, but really cute.  Because he's filled with rice, his head has limited posability and he has a nice weight.



Tomato flowers!  I don't really like tomatos, but I've always liked their flowers.



And finally, basil!  I love everything about these plants.



Time for me to pack...  switching between parents can be such a pain.  Have a great weekend!

-Cristy

Currently Watching: "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" – Lt. Jane Doe

Necessity is the Mother of Invention ...and Drink Coasters

I really like eating ice. Sure, it's a strange habit, bad for my teeth, and is just plain weird during the winter, but it tastes better some how. Unfortunately, glasses full of ice sweat, especially during North Carolina summers, and nothing ruins a nice drawing more than getting it wet.  So... I made coasters!  Although I suppose they could function as scrubbies just as well.  I also (finally) finished off the last of my Sugar'n Cream with this. I liked that yarn, but after 400 grams, the color gots tiresome. But these are cute!

This one isn't long enough to bother with a PDF, so you can find it after the jump! Oh right, I hereby proclaim this pattern to be named... the Cornflower Coaster. Clever, I know.  (I'm sorry!  I'm being sarcastic today.)

-Cristy

Currently Watching:  "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" - Siren Call

New bag for spring! The Skink Clutch

I'm forever losing my pens and pencils in the deep, dark recesses of my backpack, so I made this bag to keep them all in one place.  You can easily change the dimensions and use buttons, a zipper, or even a hair tie (pictured after the jump) to keep it closed.  It's an incredibly simple bag, but still looks stylish.



Pattern after the jump...

-Cristy

Currently Listening To: "Livin' On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi (courtesy of Pandora Radio)

Random Photo Friday 1

Welcome to Random Photo Friday!  It's new! I know, I'm a special kind of crazy.  But I hope you'll enjoy our weekly reprieve from yarn and crafting!  (And you can click them for a closeup.)

This is just a where-I-am this week.  I've been trying to get more into drawing, despite having *no* natural ability!  It all went to my brother.  And yes, I play World of Warcraft...  You know, the game that was mentioned in the media a few years ago as a "dangerously addicting" video game?  Well, I don't think it's addicting, and the box is quite appealing if you're into that sort of thing.  (And the doodle in the corner is possibly a preview of our developing mascot.)



The rest of these came from me running around my backyard in my bare feet with the macro on...  My neighbors are convinced I'm crazy.

Blueberries!  Another month or so until they're ready to pick.  (Do you see the heart?  It was an accident!)



I liked all of the weeds in this picture, and I think the rounded elements pulled it together, while keeping it natural...  I didn't pose anything.  What do you think?



And finally:  I don't know what kind of flowers these are, since I've never noticed them in our yarn before, but the leaves make them very... Amazon.



I hope you enjoyed!  And I promise, I'll be back my Monday with a new pattern.

- Cristy

Currently Listening To: "Home" - Three Days Grace (courtesy of Pandora Radio)

Mother's Day and a new pattern!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Let's get the business out of the way first, right?  I've got a new pattern posted on Ravelry!  The idea was suggested to me by a fellow Ravelry user, who also told me about the Condom Amulet Project (I feel like I've linked the hell out of them today... last one, I swear).  The idea is to spread sexual awareness, particularly in the 30+ generations.  With divorce rates rising, mothers and grandmothers are getting back out into the dating pool.  Since STDs are more common now than before, they may not be protecting themselves as frequently.  (Men, same thing!)  So in honor of my mother, I present the Little Swimmer 2.0 in never-before-seen PDF form!  It's on Ravelry too.

~*~

I really think my life is falling together quite well right now.  I have several more ideas in the sketch book (I draw, did you know?), my boyfriend feels more like a relationship and like a best friend, my mother is happier with her life than she's been in years, and I might be meeting the guy she's seeing soon!  After years dealing with divorce, changing bosses, more family issues, etc, it's such a relief.

For Mother's Day, my brother and I made lunch and dinner (and cleaned).  The meals were ...unspectacular, but we all bonded!  We've never learned to cook because my mother's so amazing at it, but I think we made headway today.  At least until Ben tried to boil peanut butter in the microwave...  Then mother and daughter crafted and discussed our respective relationships.  I made my pattern and my mother made her origami paper-style pisanka.  She does these when she doesn't feel inspired enough to draw.  Martha Stewart wrote about a similar method, though Martha uses real or wooden eggs, as opposed to clay.

The artist at work:



And her eggs:



But now it's time for me to do the dishes, like I promised.  Happy Mother's Day to everyone else!

Icebreaker!

So who likes Ice Breakers?!



Photo: acehardwareoutlet.com

Umm, no, not quite...  I meant those awkward games they made you play at camp and on the first day of school that most people secretly enjoyed.  Since it's high time for an interactive-type post, we're taking a trip back to those good old days.  I know that the majority of blog readers will rarely ever comment on posts, but I'd appreciate the feedback on this one!

Here are the Questions:

1- What are you listening to?  (A song, a show on TV, the broken air conditioner?)

2- Which decade that you've lived through was most memorable?  I'm assuming everyone is at least 10 and yes, the 2000s are an option.

3- Pay yourself a compliment.

4- What movie made you smile (that you saw recently in a theater)?

5- If you could start any completely new craft without worrying about expense or time, what would you most want to try?

Those aren't too bad, are they?  I guess I'll go first...

1- I've been watching NCIS, except it's being interupted every few minutes with weather warnings.  We've gotten severe weather, thunderstorm, and tornado warnings so far...

2- I kind of missed the 90s, really.  And the technology of the 2000s?  Freaking amazing.

3- My hair is fantastic.  After years of having a frizzy, tangled mess, puberty gave me soft, bouncy waves and barely visible red highlights.  I love it.

4- Benjamin Button was charming!  It made me want to dance.

5- It's a tough decision between glass and metal...  I like the fluid properties of both materials, and even a very simple piece can be gorgeous.  Or very complicated...  See: Dale Chihuly

Now please leave your responses in the comments!

-Cristy

My little swimmers...

It's my first (somewhat vaguely) NSFW post!  Though, I think, if your boss has a problem with these, then he's really just being self conscious and you should make him a happy one!  Also, for someone trying to get pregnant who has a Great sense of humor, these would make an amusing talisman or something...  Anyways, here's my baby, pattern and all!  I'm sorry mine is dead, but I forgot my yarn needle, so he's stuck with this face for now.

Little Swimmer Pattern

Materials:

Hook: 4mm

Yarn: Encore Worsted by Plymouth Yarn (White)

small amount of Cotton-Ease by Lion Brand (Charcoal) or other dark colored yarn scrap

Others: small ball of polyfill, yarn needle

Pattern:

With the White, make a small ball.  You can choose to add the features before or after stuffing.  Begin stuffing the body around the 8th row.

1: Chain 2.

2: Sc 6 into first chain and pull tail tight (magic circle method). (6)

3: 2sc in all stitches. (12)

4: *2sc, 1sc.* (18)

5-7: 1sc in all stitches. (18)

8: *1sc, 1dec*. (12)

9: 1sc in all stitches. (12)

10: *dec*. (6)

11: *dec*. (3)

Chain 20 and then sc in each, all the way back to the body.  Your tension will determine the amount of tail curl.  Cut your tail, pull the yarn through, and use the extra to close up the body.

You can use a variety of faces to give your swimmers personality and character.  For ideas for alternative expressions, see Wikipedia's List of Emoticons.

Enjoy!

-Cristy

Snore, Snore, School's a Bore.

That charming title phrase was introduced to me by my 8th grade English teacher, who was one of the best teachers I ever had.  There was an accompanying line, but I can't seem to remember it...  Anyone else heard the rhyme before and can fill in the blanks?

I know, I've been very remiss in my blogging duties.  I do have two new patterns, so my camera batteries are changing as we speak...  Unfortunately, I've misplaced my example of the first pattern, so it may be a while until you see it.  Again, apologies!

I've also started to plan for summer.  I really should be finding a job to help pay for college but really, the market's not looking very good and I'll probably end up working in the same company as my parents.  Anyways, here's my in-progress list of what I'd like to do:

• Harry's birthday present:  He turns 19 in August, but I got the idea for this months ago.  It's a completely different craft than my usual.


• A shrug for my mother:  I have many, many skeins of charcoal Cotton Ease that I want to use up.  (If you'd like to swap for a skein or two, let me know!) I like the yarn, but the color is hard to work with.  My mother loves light shrugs, especially for the office.  I haven't decided if I'll make my own pattern or use one on Ravelry.


• A bag:  I need a smallish bag to carry daily necessities around, and I'd like to make it myself.  This one needs more planning...


• Some patterns to sell:  As much as I need the positive karma, I also need to support my yarn habit.  (I'm saving for a set of double points too!)  The free patterns will always be free, and I'll never stop making them, I promise!


• A needle/hook roll:  I want a big one to fit all of the doubles, circulars, and jumbos I will ever own.  Is that even possible?


• The Etsy:  I have one, I swear!  This is my biggest goal, to get the shop up and running, which means any feedback from you means a ton to me.

Thanks for letting me clean up in front of company, as it were...  Hopefully things will be back to normal soon.  But I will warn you, until exams and school are over, it's going to be very quiet around here.  I have to study!

- Cristy

In honor of the holiday...

We're five and a half hours into Easter Sunday and, while it's not a holiday I've ever felt any connection to, we might as well get into the swing of things. Easter is about resurrection and, probably since it happens in the Spring, has always been linked to renewal and growth. Right? I wasn't raised religiously, but you pick up certain things, living in the Bible Belt. In honor of the idea of renewal and Spring (and the annual breaking out of the allergy meds), I've worked on the Calendar. See the link in the top right corner? Yeah, it's been there for a while, but I actually worked on adding some Holidays today! I don't want it to get out of hand and start adding all of the National (insert random food here) Days or anything, but I'd like some suggestions. I want it to be cultural and enlightening and useful and give me something to write about when I'm out of ideas! So please, I know it's a bit sparse right now, but comment/email me with additions.

Edited to add: The About Me page has also been fleshed out a bit, and now contains contact information!

All of my candy-filled Easter Egg love,
- Cristy

Currently Listening to: "Walk Like an Egyptian" - The Bangles (courtesy of Pandora Radio)

Links to Inspire

Unfortunately, this week and probably much of the next promise to be absolutely insane, so I'd like to make up for my absence by directing you to all the blogs and sites that I read daily.

The links are vaguely divided into two groups.  The Crafty links are all nice and G-rated, and run the gamut from large-scale businesses to personal blogs that I just particularly like.  I think the two most important are the Recent Posts on Craftster.com and the Recent Patterns on Ravelry.  You'll find I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to following things, so Recent Posts gives me the last 100 posts with pictures.  I see every new tutorial, project, and idea on Craftster and I Love It.  I generally just keep it open all day and refresh every few hours.  Or minutes... depending how boring I'm feeling.  Recent Patterns on Ravelry lets me favorite projects I like as they come up.  Whenever I really need inspiration, I can check my favorites, instead of having to have a project or subject in mind.  I recommend these links because they post consistently and about topics that interest me.  Blogs that lose me generally get the boot.  I only have 24 hours in the day!

The Amusing links vary...  You may have realized that some may not be suitable for young children, but I try to keep a balance of educational and fun.  If you've got any suggestions, email/comment because I'd love to add more!

The Others:  These aren't sidebar links, but I like them...  The first is the Oxford English Dictionary's Word of the Day.  It's my favorite dictionary, especially since I read The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester.  The next is more adult.  It's still in Beta testing, and there're tons additions I'd like to see made, but I really think the premise is interesting.  For those of you with an interest in your own sexual health, check out Bedpost.  It's completely confidential and free, and the designers seem really willing to interact and take suggestions from their customer base.  Besides, who's not curious about how many times they've gotten nookie in 2009?  This is, of course, no recommendation to begin sexual activity, especially if you're a minor.  If you want to be an active minor, talk to your parents; get informed; and, as always, get tested!  If I had a pet issue, sexual health would be the one (or flagrant comma/semicolon use...).

I think I've finished my spamming for the day week year.  Please give them a look-see, and remember I was not paid in any way for a recommendation! (such a shame...)

Cheers,

-Cristy

Knit Graffiti

I'm quite sure everyone's heard about this by now, as it's been around for a few years.  People disagree whether it's littering and should be punished or if it's amusing and harmless, but I think it sounds pretty damned fun, so I've decided to try graffiti-ing Chapel Hill.  Besides, what better excuse to practice some techniques and stitch patterns?  You can crochet or knit (I'm getting back to crochet with this, thank you very much) and join me in the comments or on the Flickr!  And there's some more links below...

Other People:

The Originators: Knitta Please

Masquerade, a Paris-based group

Micro-Fiber Militia

Fun Stitch Sources:

Mypicot

Free Knit Stitch

Crochet Pattern Central

Knitting Pattern Central

Good luck!

-Cristy

Too Hot to Knit, Too Bored to Crochet

Well, maybe bored isn't the right word... But I am feeling decidedly unmotivated and uninspired.  Welcome to spring/summer in North Carolina.  It's too hot (and will soon be too muggy) to even consider touching yarn, and the lazy weather has my brain neurons transmitting a little slow.  I'm also feeling the post-project ennui.  Every time I finish something large, I have no idea what to do next.  Inspiration anyone?

Being the brilliant person I am, I also left my crochet thread at home.  When my mother was pregnant with me, she spent her prescribed bed rest making crocheted ornaments (like the kind that come in a kit and you stiffen with a glue or starch).  My mother is absolutely notorious for never finishing anything (she says so herself!) so there's still a lot of crochet thread hanging around the house.  Unfortunately, it's all white, except for one thing of orange, and none of it's labeled. (Grr..)

~*~

After a quick tour of my favorites on Ravelry (my best source of inspiration), I've decided to give Sheldon a try.  I've been meaning to since I saw him, and this is the perfect moment.  I'll be using my trusty US 6 double points and some of that Vanna's Choice Baby I have left over.  I have the feeling that, if it doesn't get used soon, it will Never Go Away.  And, more accurately, I'll be using Three US 6's and a 4mm crochet hook because I managed to lose 2 double points.  Argg.  I really need a needle/hook roll.  Really.

Anyways, if you're willing, how about giving it a try with me?

Good Luck!

-Cristy

Currently Listening to: "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" - Jethro Tull

Swap I: I Want to Learn to...

I completed my first swap! (Okay, I haven't received yet, but patience is a virtue I need to practice.) And so we don't have to link back and forth to Craftster, I'll post the basics here. She wanted to learn to knit so...

Knitting Needles:


Yarn:


Scarflette:


Transformers Washcloth:


Stitch Markers (Repo themed):


Stitch Markers again (Jayne Cobb themed):


As well as chocolate and an instruction booklet with some patterns. I'm trying to make the book available online, but we're having technical issues... I also think I'm ready to do some personal swaps along the same vein, so if you're well acquainted with spinning yarn or cross-stitch and like my stuff, email me at cristy99@gmail.com and make me unbelievably happy!

Cheers,
-Cristy

My Baby Blanket, Complete!

Today, at approximately 2pm EST, I finished my baby blanket! It really only took me about a month, but I have the kind of personality that is incapable of devoting my time to a single project at one time. Of course, posting all those recent crochet patterns has really helped. (There's not a lot of photos right now and I just took them, so they're indoors and poor quality. I'll try to replace them with something better tomorrow.)

Anyways:



That's Harry holding it up for me. He doesn't craft, but he does like watching me. And yes, look at those edges curl... I tried crocheting the first and last row to try to straighten it out but with little effect, clearly. Serves me right for using acrylic, huh. Now would I have this problem with cotton..?



This picture shows the stitches a little more clearly. I actually intended to keep the number of rows of orange and yellow the same, but I didn't realize the error until I'd already bound off.

Again, I made a few changes to the original pattern, including using size 8 US needles and casting on with 114 stitches (for 7 pattern repeats). I also held only one strand of yarn, instead of the two the pattern called for. Yes, I like making things harder for myself! I think that's it... Time to get back to crochet!

-Cristy