Single Crochet Foundation Chain

Just in case you've never heard of doing a foundation row instead of a foundation chain, here's a link to an explanation.

Bags, bags, bags

I just can't stay focused on one project at a time. In checking out my Google reader, I saw that Laughing Purple Goldfish had a post on an easy yarn bag by Lisa Gentry. I immediately wanted to do the bag as I'm dying to make myself a new purse. I haven't made a bag yet but I really want to. So I scrolled down and started reading about LPG's easy peasy crochet bag pattern/tutorial and was then led to the simple lining tutorial she made. I stand in amazement. I've wanted to do a crocheted bag with a lining but I was intimidated by thinking of sewing into crochet. LPG broke it down into steps so it looks so easy, I'm going to try it out! I absolutely love her blog and highly recommend it. Now if only she'd make a tutorial on how to add a zipper closure to a crocheted, lined bag (hint hint!!) as I love my bags to close entirely. I suppose if she doesn't do it, I can figure something out, maybe make the lining longer to add the zipper? Hmm...

Bought a Hook

I was at the store and of course I made my way over to the craft section. I bought a B hook and a C hook because I couldn't remember which hooks I needed for the Care of Magical Creatures CAL. Of course, like I always do, I forgot the E hook. My stash says that I have one but I can't find it (kids got into my stuff). I'm going to see if I can find it before buying another hook though because even though I don't need the C hook right now, I didn't have one so I can't bring myself to return it!

I checked out "Super Crochet Wonderful" from the library. There are a few cute designs in the book that I'd like to try out.

My yarn order still hasn't arrived but I'm hoping it will show up today or tomorrow.

Supplies for the Harry's Happy Hookers CAL

So apparently the Harry Potter CAL that I joined is going to be a Care of Magical Creatures theme. And, the items that we'll be crocheting will be surprises until the end! The person running it has given a list of items that we'll need.

Quoted from the group:

Hooks - B, E, G, and H (or those that suit the yarn you choose)

Yarn - WW or DK in : 3 (or more, get scrappy!) in varigated (your choice of colors, but try to make sure at least one is in bright or jewel tones), black, brown or tan (or a varigated brown or tan), light pink, green (this is the only color we might use a whole skein for), yellow (or gold) and whatever color you want to make your Owl. Also, black crochet thread in whatever size you have; embroidery thread will work as well. If you don’t have that, we will discuss how black sewing thread might be used.

Notions: tapestry needle, black thread (see above), eyes of your choice: google, safety, felt circles, beads or embroidered on. You will need various sized-eyes, from about 1/4 of an inch up to 1/2 inch. All of these projects, if you elect to put eyes on, would look fantastic will embroidered eyes, and that would be a safe option for children.

Remember, you can also add the cauldron muttix2 told us about as a catch-all for your Creatures or as a great way to give them as a gift!

Tee hee! I was mentioned as I told them about a cauldron! :) I love when I show people new things. Anyway, I have most of the stuff needed, I'll just need to buy:

1. Black crochet thread
2. Jewel toned, varigated yarn (I'll likely get some Peaches and Creme as that is a good deal)
3. Black, brown, and tan yarn (I have varigated tan but I'll need some black for the cauldron and will get it for something else as well. So I don't technically NEED this.)
   

Wow, that's all I need! Originally when I looked through the list I thought that I needed more but I have yarn in all the other colors. That's great as money is pretty tight right now.

Whatever I make with this CAL will work for my Christmas Year-round CAL as I intend to give the toys to my boys for Christmas.

Edgery Doo

http://www.edgerydoo.com/

Me wants it.

I Moved My Crochet Blog...

I moved my crochet blog from another blog provider to over here. I was trying out the other provider but I've seen that they don't offer anything different (at least right now) than what I have here and in fact less than what I'm used to so I moved my stuff over here. Simplicity and all that.

Yet Another CAL (A Sock One This Time)

Just joined another CAL. Ravelry's Recipe for SOCK-cess CAL group is starting a crochet sock CAL September 1st. Whew! Too many groups!! But I'm hoping the deadlines will keep me focused.

Progress on Belle's Round Ripple

After working on the blanket some more I've realized that my original thoughts on how many more rows I'd do were out of proportion. I didn't realize how quickly the blanket would work up. Since I last posted my progress, I've done four rounds of red, five rounds of pink, and I'm working on a row of red. I'm thinking that I'll do four rows of red (including the one that I'm working now), four of pink (maybe five, I'll see how it looks), and finish it with one or two rows of red. I think it should be big enough at that point. Of course, nothing is set in stone, I'm just crocheting it until I think it looks right. I'm trying to dig out a camera so that I can take pictures of my progress. I've found a camera but no batteries and no camera cord. I had a great camera but it disappeared one night, I think my kids might have thrown it away while they were cleaning one day.

CALs

Crochet-A-Longs. I am joining them because it is fun and it will keep me on track. Right now I've joined one in Ravelry's CAL group, Ravelry's Harry's Happy Hookers group, and a Christmas Year Round CAL on Crochetville. The last one goes until Christmas and the first two are monthly CALs. Fun!

Socks to Make for the Husband

http://www.crochetandknitting.com/mensock.htm

Cabled Socks to Make for Me

http://www.scribd.com/doc/211932/Cabled-Socks

Peanutzmom's Pattern Page

This page has lots of cool patterns that I'd like to try out. I need to get all this stuff on a disk or something and print it out. Peanutzmom's Pattern Page

Little People

Little People - my very first pattern - Crochetville Forum

I want to make this doll. I also want to use this pattern as the basis to make a gnome.

Want to Make This Sweater... Maybe With This Yarn

Baby It's Cold Outside | Crochet Me

This looks really cool. I also want to do a cute ruffled sweater that I found on Ravelry but this sweater looks pretty easy and cute. Plus, you can't beat three hours for making a baby sweater. I'm going to add it to my list.

I bought some yarn today. Two skeins of 100% Superwash Merino Wool Swish Worsted Weight in Merlot Heather dye lot 24092 that are 110 yards per 50 gram ball. Three skeins each of 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal natural beech wood fiber Worsted Weight in Hollyberry dye lot 24140 and Terra Cotta dye lot 23810. Spent too much as we are broke right now but I actually bought the yarn with a project in mind. I'm going to make a scarf each for my mom and my sister for Christmas. The other yarn will be for a baby sweater or longies.

Adding in Another Color

After a few more rounds I've now added in some red. I'm working on the second round of red. I'm thinking I'll probably do four rounds of red, eight of pink, four of red, eight of pink, and end it with four of red. I think that will make it big enough. I'm trying to make it big enough for the baby to lay on and have some playing room on the floor but not so big that it becomes a bother to use.

Belle's Afghan

I'm working on a Round Ripple Baby Afghan that I found on Ravelry awhile ago. I frogged the baby mittens I was working on because I only had a thicker yarn than the pattern called for and trying to figure out the conversion was annoying me. I crochet to relax and that was definitely not relaxing. The afghan is surprisingly easy and I'm loving it. I'm just on the 8th round but I can already see that it is going to be very pretty. It is just pink right now but I'm going through my yarn to see if there is another color that I'd like to mix in. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out my camera situation and can post pictures soon.

Christmas List (A Work in Progress)

1. Husband
a. Cable Hat (saved pattern)
Needed: 3 balls Swish Worsted Yarn in Dublin.
b. Beanie (saved pattern)
c. Toes Up Socks (saved pattern)
d. Narrow Tweed Scarf (saved pattern)

2. Boys
a. Two (one each) Cute Kids' Earflap Hats
Needed: 4 balls Swish Bulky Yarn, one each in Planetarium, Marlin, Verdant Heather, and Adobo.
b. Gnome Home
Needed: 1 ball dark brown bulky yarn, 1 ball lighter brown (possibly mixed colors), tiny bit of green bulky yarn for base, green eyelash yarn, various yarns for flowers on walls.
c. Whimsical Castle Bag
d. Two Medieval Money Bags.
e. Crocheted Hot Dog
f. Easy Peasy Strawberries
g. Simple Crochet Balls
h. Baby Triceratops

3. Baby
a. Little People Doll
b. Baby Grab Ball
c. Blocks
d. Cute Butterfly
e. Baby Mittens

4. Mom
a. Shelly Scarf
b. Gulf Shores Hat

5. Dad
a. Starter Scarf
b. Remote Control Caddy

6. Sister
a. One Skein Scarf
b. L.A.M.B Inspired Hat
c. Quick Winter Headband
d. Fancy Filigree Bracelet (This is for a bookmark but I'm making a bracelet with it.)

7. Brother
a. Aran Scarf
b. Crochet Wine Bottle Cover

8. Niece
a. Hot Pink Bracelet Purse
b. Amigurumi Sprite Doll to go in the bracelet purse.