Little bags are fun to make.  I tend to procrastinate on the cords and finishing, though.  Most of these little lovelies are made from hemp.  The big brown beaded one is cotton, and the teeny one is fingering weight wool.  These are my favorite portable projects.  I'm working on three more beaded bags, planning to line them all (with fabric) at the same time.  A few months back, I decided to try to sell some of my work.  Mainly afghans, but also little items like this. 

However - it's that time of year where I love to knit socks.  I rarely finish a pair, as I'm a process knitter with a bad case of Second Sock Syndrome;  but when it's hot, I just can't stop.  I lean towards lace, because it's fun to do and looks great.  Here are some of my works-in-progress.

This is Knit Picks' Imagination yarn, 'Pirate King'.  Gorgeous stuff and I love it.  Recommend it, too, as it's a blend of superwash merino, superfine alpaca, and nylon.  You don't need to do any fancy stitches with it - it is striking by itself.  A total color junkie, it gives me a real yarn buzz.

More Knit Picks yarn.  Felici 'Dakota' this time.  I bought the book "Socks a la Carte" by Jonelle Raffino and Katherine Cade, and this is the fun I've been having with my finds.  Lace with self-striping?  I had to try it.

This last little gem is what I started last night, using the Malabrigo I bought at a fiber event a few months back.  This yarn is simply wonderful.

Of course, I'm still hooking my way though several afghans.  The Simply Soft puff stitch project didn't turn into pillows.  I sewed the squares together and am thinking it might make an interesting wall hanging.  Would look lovely on the back of a couch, too. 

Have had lots of time to work on projects, Ohio weather being what it has lately.  The high temperatures and humidity are really uncomfortable, but plants absolutely love it like this.  Ending with a shot of one of the flowerbeds in the backyard.  Happy times to all.

Of WIP's and Fiber Shows...

It's hot in Ohio now, which makes knitting and crocheting outside possible and extremely pleasurable.  Just don't take your posie motifs out and spread them on a blanket if you have a bee phobia.  Perhaps I should unearth the red Hippie Love Blanket I started years ago, in hopes of attracting our hummingbirds, who haven't come to the yard or feeders yet.  It's not the same without them.

Works-in-progress (WIP's) seem to be staring at me here in my work area.  I've been so busy on granny squares that I've neglected them.  One is a lap blanket.  Progress came to a halt last year because the yarn I needed grew legs and ran off somewhere.  I found it not long ago, so I'm ready to stitch.  I love the pastels in this wool blend yarn.

This next WIP is another pair of socks.  This is the second one.  I have the first one done to the foot, because I did them part-by-part at the same time (one cuff, then the other cuff, then a leg, etc...).  Ever so slowly, I'm getting there.  The yarn is from Knit Picks.  I don't remember which kind, since I've had it for a few years, but the colorway is called 'Jester', which is a word dear to my heart.  That being the case, this pair is going to be mine. 

I love crocheting with beads, though I don't do it often enough.  I was fortunate enough to reconnect with a friend from high school a few months back.  She makes beautiful necklaces with beads, and has graciously offered to show me how.  I look forward to meeting with her soon.  In the meantime, here's my latest beaded crochet project.  All that's left to do is sew the strap to the bag.  It looks a tad strange when I hold them together, so I'm trying to think of the best way to attach it.  Maybe some rings.

There is a fiber and spinning show in Wooster, Ohio this weekend.  Am looking forward to going with my crafty cousin and her daughter-in-law.  Cuz and I want to learn to spin.  We signed up for a class with the Black Swamp Spinners Guild a few months back, but it was cancelled because not enough people signed up.  Maybe in autumn?  I am interested in blending plant and animal fibers, if it's possible - for example, hemp and alpaca.  The spinners I have talked to are so enthusiastic about their work.  It's impossible not to be curious.

With that, I'm back to the grannies.  Eagerly awaiting a package of yarn to be delivered - mostly the black to edge and border the Vanna one.  Have a stitching good time, All.

Puffs on Pillows

Not sure what possessed me, but more grannies seem to be in progress.  Hideously ugly ones, I think, as the colors don't blend well together.  It's meant to be another never-ending scrap project, though.  Or an excuse to go to a craft store.  I could also stop when I have 24 of the buggers and make two pillows, which would do these puff stitches proud. 

Went to a discount outlet last year, and found some Lion Brand Jiffy in chunky weight.  Green is my favorite color, so I threw four skeins into my cart, having no earthly idea what I was going to make with it.  The next time I was on the Lion Brand site, this shawl-with-ties that they're calling a wrap came up almost immediately.  It called for exactly four skeins of Jiffy chunky, so I cast that puppy on.  It's not an exciting item to knit, but I grab it when I want something that doesn't require concentration.  The color is 'Citron'.  It's acrylic and will clash with everything within eyeshot, but I can't be expected to use reason when there's yarn on a clearance rack.

Here's my latest boring ole' washcloth.  I rely on this boring ole' stitch pattern way too often, and am probably in danger of losing an eye if I land on a needle falling asleep in mid-row.  That being said, I think I'll scout some patterns.  Round ones sound fun.

Have a great one, all, and happy stitching.

This little guy is a late Christmas present from my cousin.  Cringe if you will, but I love him.  He allows me to safely melt wax cubes, which fills my knitting lair with wonderful scents.  He's also reminding me to ask aforementioned cousin if I can borrow her sock monkey pattern book again.  I'm going to duck behind the monitor for safety as I write this, but Christmas is coming.

Only two projects haunt me now:  the beaded purse, and the Vanna 8-Color Afghan (mine has 14 colors).  Assembly always takes a long time - sewing 42 squares together. 

I must add that having a 5" weaving needle helps with the ends on projects like this considerably.  I don't know how I got along without mine for so many years.  They're a little hard to find, but worth the hunt.

I found a skein of Homespun on a clearance rack today.  Beautiful stuff.  This one is 'Harvest', which somehow manages to blend orange and red and green, just like autumn leaves.  I've been meaning to start a Homespun stash, to eventually make one of those round afghans.  If I don't, this will make a gorgeous scarf.

I said the "S" word?  Here's a fledgling scarf, hoping someday to adorn and warm a neck.  It's made with an old line of Red Heart cotton yarn that I loved.  Made two afghans from it and am using up the scraps.  What's that ivory thing under it, that looks amazingly like a motif for another afghan?  That's my first hexagon, in Caron's Simply Soft, which I also love.  I love Simply Soft so much that I look for excuses to use it.  I have a bed-sized granny square made with it, and it is perfect for summer nights.

I did order an Addi Swing hook.  Eagerly await its arrival.  After much consideration, I went with a "G".  I probably use an "H" more often, but when I use a "G", it's usually on something that takes a little muscle, like the flower afghan.  I'm totally sold on the Boye ergonomic handle that I picked up a few weeks back.  Wasn't sure I'd like it, and it took a lttle getting used to - but like with everything else, when you get the right project and yarn, it makes a tremendous difference.  Made working hemp with a small hook a breeze, and is really nice with the dishcloth cotton.

If you notice closely, it also works with a competitor's hooks, if you happen to favor them.  I'm a firm Boye fan, but always find myself grabbing a Bates for this yarn. 

I've got snoods on my mind now.  My cousin mentioned how she used to buy little "bun covers" for her hair, like a small hairnet.  Says she can't find them anywhere anymore.  Somewhere, deep in the scary recesses and stacks of my pattern books, I remember seeing a pattern for something like that.  I also happen to possess a wonderful thing called elastic sock yarn.  Seems like the two could be combined and something pretty neat could fly off a hook.

With that in mind, off to grab some grub and make some fibers fly.

Positively posies...

Hello.  My name is Dannie, and welcome to my blog.  Tonight, I'm crocheting out loud, making flowers for an afghan I started nine years ago.  A friend sent the pattern to me many moons ago, and there's nothing printed anywhere on it to tell where it originally came from.  All I know is that it's called "Flower Patch".  Over the years, I've made many afghans, but this one has probably been the most fun.  It started with a bag of donated acrylic greens, and I've used every kind of scrap imaginable - including those tiny balls of fuzzy novelty yarns that I couldn't bear to throw out.  Three rows of green surround each flower, making a hexagon shape when done.  I "only" need 50, and have 35 completed.  Can't wait to see it finished and assembled!

For some unknown reason, I seem to have afghans on the brain this year.  I have four or five more in various stages of completion.  I began working with yarn 30 years ago, after graduating from high school.  Because I didn't have a lot of space for tools or materials, I concentrated on afghans and thread crochet.  Ten years ago, I began knitting again.  It's very exciting and I love it, but there will always be a special place in my heart for crocheted afghans.  I take yarn with me everywhere I go, and crochet is just so portable. 

This is another work-in-progress.  It's the Bands of Beads Totebag, designed by Kathy Wesley.  I'm making it with a cone of dishcloth cotton - ivory with little specks of color here and there (can't remember brand).  With plastic multi-colored pony beads.  It's big, easy, and fun.  There are little gaps or holes around the beads, but it can be lined with fabric - something that I'm nervous to try but want to learn how to do. 

I've got hooks on my mind, too.  Specifically, the new Addi ones.  I have most sizes of their regular ones with the color-coded handles, and absolutely love them.  As I'm getting older, hooks that used to be no problem to use are becoming a little more painful to hang onto and maneuver, so I'm looking for bigger and better ones.  I also love wood hooks for some things, like lacework.  Still need a "K".  Am thinking Brittany.  I have a set of their double-pointed needles and really like them.  I love the homemade ones I see in places like eBay.  Maybe I should check Etsy?

I generally knit socks in late summer, but this one got an early start.  The pattern is "Embossed Leaves" by Mona Schmidt, from Interweave's Favorite Socks:  25 Timeless Designs.  The yarn is Destination's 'Ireland'.  The photo does not do this colorway justice.  It is gorgeous.  Hoping to finish them on this side of Heaven, to be able to give them to my Aunt Margaret (shhh... don't tell). 

This is Buster.  He sets my writing curfews.  Right now he says it's time to entertain the cat, because he's bored when I'm at the computer.  Not one to argue with ancient felines, it's back to the workbasket.  Thanks for visiting!