Busy day

 

I kept myself very busy today. I found a cute Beaded Fidget Hedgehog pattern on Etsy, and I just happened to have everything I needed close at hand. I made the blue one first. I miscounted the rows for the eye placement. I think the purple one looks much better. I chose to use yarn for the eyes instead of safety eyes. I pulled the pony beads out of a tin without looking. Maybe I'll choose colors for the next one.

I finished another strip for my Mix & Match afghan. The pattern is extended double crochet. I have enough strips to make an afghan, but they're mostly blue. I'll keep making strips with the different patterns and choose how to put them together later.

Today was a three gnome day. I need to make three more, and then I'll pass them out to the 8th graders. I plan on finishing gnomes for the 7th graders by Thanksgiving and the 6th graders by Christmas. I love giving away gnomes!

I finished the first front panel for my Harvest Cardigan. I think I'll finish the other front panel and the sleeves before tackling the changes to the back panel. All in all, I had a fun filled Sunday!

Tollway Tatters to the rescue!

We had our monthly Tollway Tatters meeting via Zoom this morning, and it was just what I needed. Despite my efforts to be very careful, I tatted one too many spokes on this round of Renulek's Snow Doily.  I didn't want to cut the treads, so I was very slowly untatting 13 rings and the adjoining chains. Let me tell you, that was a very frustrating and painstaking task. 

When I was trying to decide what to work on during our meeting, I decided that untatting while chatting might be just what I needed. I was right! It took me almost three hours to finish taking out the rings and chains, and then tatting them correctly. In fact right before signing off, I realized that I had twisted the final chain. I said my goodbyes, took a few minutes break, and then fixed that final mistake.

Mistakes seem to be my thing lately. Yesterday, I finished the back pane of my Harvest Cardigan... or so I thought. When I started crocheting the first front panel, I realized I had crocheted more than half of the back panel using the wrong stitch. That's what I get for setting a project aside for a couple of weeks. My plan is to finish the first front panel, and then I will rip out the part that I crocheted incorrectly. There's not a big difference in the look, but there is a big difference in the drape of the fabric.

I'm thinking that's it time to focus on one project at a time!

Nothin' but gnomes!

 

I've been working exclusively on gnomes for the past week. Some of the 8th grade girls have been making pompoms for me with the hope that I would use them on gnomes. This picture is of the 14 gnomes I made to give to 8th graders. After taking the photo, I made four more. Now, all of the 8th graders taking art this semester have a gnome. Next up, I will make gnomes for the other half of the 8th grade who are in STEM class this semester.

I forgot to take a picture of the gnomes I made for the AP Euro kids, but six of them were delivered yesterday as well.

What's next? I need to finish one more scarf for my group of 7th grade girls. After that, I'll be back to cranking out gnomes for the 7th and 6th graders. With all of these gnomes, one would think that my yarn stash is dwindling. It is not!

Keepin' busy

Last week was busy with routine doctor visits, car maintenance, shopping, and crafting. With all of the activity, I simply forgot to blog. Yesterday, I decided to take some pictures of what I've been doing.

I purchased some inexpensive plastic wast baskets to sort project that I'm cranking out on my Addi circular knitting machine. One is for gnome bodies, one for gnome hats, and one for twisted headbands/ear warmers. Yes, I am trying to organize my crafts!

Inspired by daughter Joanne, I went Christmas shopping at Cracker Barrel after my car maintenance appointment. We're not decorating for Christmas yet, but there's no reason why I can't get a little shopping in!

I worked on Renulek's Snow Doily while watching the Bears game yesterday. I've been neglecting it for the past few weeks. It felt good to make progress on it yesterday!

Mom and I went yarn shopping on Saturday. We found these baskets on clearance at JoAnn, and Mom was inspired by some beautiful yarns. She'll be busy cranking out more throws in no time!

A former student was visiting at school last week, and I admired the sweater she had made. She sent me the link to the Harvest Cardigan pattern. I purchased it right away, ordered the yarn, and started it on Friday. It's crocheted in panels. This should keep me busy for a while!

I'm making good progress on this Ruddock scarf for my 7th grade girls. I have one more to knit once this one is finished.

I finished the Double Crochet panel for my Mix & Match afghan. Yes, I have started another panel!

While straightening up my craft corner, I found a gnome I hadn't finished. I added the bell to his hat, gave him a beard, and he is now in my basket of gnomes waiting for a new home.

I'm having a little bit of fun!

Another bookmark finished

 

Yesterday and today were slow craft days for me. Even though I didn't accomplish much, I did manage to finish another Curds & Whey bookmark. This has become one of my favorite patterns from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor.

I've been asked about my photograph background. It's the lid to my new tatting basket.

We went to Shipshewana, Indiana this summer and stopped at an Amish basket maker, where I found this beautiful basket.

There's a lovely little tray that, when organized, holds my current project.

There's plenty of storage in the bottom, so I can keep lots of supplies close at hand. Now all I have to do is organize my corner of the living room. It has become quite messy!

Sunday knitting

 

I wanted to finish another scarf for my 7th grade girls so that I could start the next one. So, while watching the Chicago Bears win yesterday, I knit! Yes, I did start the next scarf, which I hope to finish this week. Cooler weather should be coming soon, and I'd like these five girls to get the maximum use out of their scarves.

This morning I finished Traditional Clovers from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. I meant to have one less pattern repeat, but I didn't realize I had counted incorrectly until I finished the last clover leaf. So, the end peeks out of the sleeve. I think it will be okay. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #644 Boysenberry Dk.

My plan is to alternate tatting a Curds & Whey bookmark with one from Robin's book. I don't want to lose my momentum of following the patterns in the book, but I also want to finish tatting bookmarks four our local Daisy troop. I also have three knitting projects and a crochet project going. I need more hours in the day!

Bookmark day

I didn't finish a bookmark yesterday. I forgot to join on the next to the last ring, and it seemed to take forever to open that ring. I worked on it last night and this morning, and then successfully tatted the final two rings.

This is Braid: Five Rings from Robin Perfetti's Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks. I used size 20 Lizbeth #679 Lime Green. As I'm going through these patterns, I'm realizing that if I had understood math a little better when I was in school, I might have been able to design lots of patterns. Thank goodness there are designers like Robin who experiment and then offer up there designs for the rest of us!

When I became frustrated with trying to open that little ring last night, I shifted to another Curds & Whey bookmark. I then finished it this morning. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #103 Tutti Fruitti.

Since I'm on a roll with bookmarks, I decided to try out the next Robin Perfetti design, Frills. This is also in size 20 Lizbeth. The color is #107 Tropical Fruit. I think I could have made this one or two pattern repeats longer, so I may try tatting it again. 

We had a wonderful Tollway Tatters meeting this morning. Those of us who weren't fortunate enough to attend Palmetto Tat Days were able to hear about the classes and facility from those who did attend. It would be fun to make it back there. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the coming year brings.

I think it's time to start another bookmark!