A New Life

If you’ve been following my adventures over the last few months on Facebook, you will have already seen these photos. If not, I wanted to share them on my blog too.

As you may know, Christian and I relocated to a new state in April. It’s been fun and hectic and FUN.

We have a much larger place. Everything is fantastic. I love being here. I find that I’m easily distracted by many things. Take, for instance, these fruit trees.

My mother has been peeling and cutting apples like mad. I’ve been boiling plums for plum jelly. Because of the crazy schedule I’ve had, I haven’t even made it over to the other side of the property to check on the pears, peaches and crabapples. My grandmother apparently made a really good crabapple jelly one year and I want to give it a try.

I’ve never actually canned anything before. Making jelly is easy. I’ve made jelly before. I’ve just never actually canned it. I’m looking forward to it.

Christian has had an amazing time as well. He has gone fishing and actually caught fish. And, perhaps he has done a bit of this.

Oh, and sweet Lexie, our baby kitty. Christian and Lexie are best of friends.

Double-Ended Tunisian Crochet

Very soon, you’ll be able to read an article I wrote about Double-Ended Tunisian Crochet in the Summer 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet.

I had so much fun writing the article and hope you enjoy it!

New Design: Evian Vest

This week, one of my designs was published on the Naturally Caron website. The Evian Vest pattern can be found here.

I started designing this last summer. I stitched up the entire thing five times before I finally got it right, or at least the way I wanted it. Here it is before it got packaged and shipped out. (My fifth and final attempt.)

Here is my fourth attempt. I was very, very close.

In this version, I was planning on a button-loop closure. But, you can also see that the right front rides up.

A special bind off is written into the pattern because a normal bind off, even with a larger needle doesn’t do the trick. I strongly encourage you to use it if you’d like to make this because you know what will happen if you don’t.

Here’s the reason this design was so difficult for me. The construction was something I had never done or seen before. Plus, it was knitting and I’m just not as intuitive about knitting as I am with crochet.

But, getting back to that unusual construction. This garment is made vertically, in one piece. The straps are really long and are joined in the back like a halter before seaming to the top of the back. Here is a photo of it, showing how the seaming is done. It’s a bit confusing to read it in the pattern, so this will help. But, you’ll have to forgive the quick and dirty drawing. I just threw it together for you.

So, if you get something that looks like the Bat Signal, you’re on target!

New Family Addition: Lexie

My mom and daughter went to town today to run some errands and came home with this little guy for me.

It’s not every day that the Walmart cashier asks you whether you’d like a kitten with your purchase. ha!

He’s such a cutie. He was really scared at first. It’s only been a few hours and he’s adjusted very well. He snuggles and plays with Christian, which was pretty surprising. I thought for sure it would take awhile before he would go near Christian. And, the little guy had absolutely no problem finding the bed when he wanted to rest.

New Design: Purple Passion Pullover

The Purple Passion Pullover has recently been published in the July 2010 issue of Crochet! magazine.

This design is done in Berroco Seduce, a beautiful rayon/linen/silk/nylon blend.

Beaded Square Top: More Information

I wanted to give some tips for this pattern. It’s not a difficult pattern, albeit somewhat time-consuming because of the single crochets.

Because of the way this top is made, it has negative ease. The thread I used isn’t especially tightly wound. This means that there is quite a bit of stretch in the top. However, through research, it appears that all threads are not created equally. And, although using two size 10 threads together will bring you up to the proper gauge of the size 3, it doesn’t work with this particular pattern.

Thread that has been made specifically for doilies is usually very tightly spun. Then, when you add that they are held together, where one thread might have stretched, the other one is holding it back.

Due to this, if you are going to substitute yarns, or you’re just wanting to be safe with the yarn you’ve chosen, I’m going to suggest that you adjust the pattern to make the bodice first, rather than the skirting. This is really easy to do simply by making a starting chain, although a foundation-less single crochet would really be preferred to give more stretch.

The next tip would be to make sure that the bodice will fit (and stretch) after making the initial decreases. This draws it in quite a lot. If your thread does not stretch easily, adjust the pattern so that you don’t do these initial decreases. It may require a bit of an adjustment in the armhole. But, at least it will fit, even without the stretch required.

Additionally, if you choose to remove all the initial decreasing in the bodice, this is also the “fix” for the drapey look of the front. If you find that you don’t want the look in the photo and prefer something that lays more flat, you can remove all the decreasing to do so.

Hope that helps!

New Design: Darling One-Piece Romper

Yesterday, a Facebook friend let me know that one of my designs had been published. (Thank you, Carol!)

The “Darling One-Piece Romper and Hat” can be found at the Coats and Clark site here.

This design is made in Red Heart Luster Sheen and the pattern is written in sizes 3 months through 18 months. It’s a really clever design that starts off with the little shorts, adds the skirting then goes back to add the bodice.

Enjoy!