The Anniversary Cowl

So this one has a good story behind it.

I had originally gotten this yarn from a swap partner who had no idea what to do with it. "Its slubby" she said, and "wool" so I can't use it, it "itches" and such.

So I boldly said I shall take it! And make it into something nice!

I tried it on my looms. It didn't look good. In fact, it looked so bad I rolled it back up again and stuck it in my stash.

It then went to a garage sale my mother had two years ago. Everyone looked at it - "too itchy" "too slubby" "too...something".

So it went back home to Illinois from the garage sale in Minnesota. Mind you, this yarn has went through three states of moving now from its home to me to the garage sale and back to me.

The colors were right for Relay for Life. Kind of a silver, a purple and a white, I thought to myself that this just might be something unique. It didn't feel that scratchy, now that I'm more used to what wool feels like. And it didn't look "that" bad.

I tried the "Peasy Scarf" pattern. Didn't work. I tried crocheting with it. Didn't work. I tried a drop stitch scarf pattern with it. Not quite it, either.

Then it hit me. I could knit it larger than suggested, to make something that would account for the largest slubs while accentuating the laciness of the smallest slubs. And now I have a pattern that works great for any unusual yarns, great for handspun, and it shows off every yarn to its greatest potential.

Salt Lake City Climb4Life

I am deathly afraid of those kinds of heights, but I encourage everyone else to have a good time in Salt Lake City this September.

Climb4Life

Some of the Ravelers pointed this awesome project out, so I'm sure there's going to be a large contingent of knitters and crocheters there.

Maybe I can talk my husband into climbing. Anyone know if an AMA or MotoGP race is there in September ;-P

The Day of, it storms, again

So its once again the Relay for Life, and once again its storming and there's a tornado watch.

Sigh.

There's storms abrewin' at work too, so I'm just not happy. I was up until nearly 2, so I really was hoping for a calm and pieceful day. Of course, that won't happen when the bosses who were going to go golfing today don't.

Then, my addiction reared its ugly head. I saw this when I tried to log onto Ravelry this morning!



AWGHHHHHRHKHJHGKKJHJKJJJJJHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Its one of those things. I don't log on for a day or two at a time sometimes, but I always know its there. Its like a fiber arts community blanket, that keeps everyone in it warm all the time.

Then they take it away to get it washed. And then people go crazy!

So I ended up with a bag and part of a box full of stuff to sell at the Relay. I'm hoping to get more done during lunch today.

I really just want to go home and go to bed, but obligations arise, I suppose. I'll have some new patterns off of what I did last night - a couple new scarves. And we'll see what I get done between the time I get to Relay, the time it starts, and the time I'm probably going to spend in the car, waiting out the rain.

Much Less Frilly Moccasins

This pattern can now be found on Ravelry! Check out my latest post on the moccasins for more details.

Purple Flower Power!

You guys will probably see a flurry of posts from me in the next couple days as I try to make stuff to sell at the Relay for Life.

I know, I know, I got talked into another charitable thing. Again. With a tight deadline. Did I mention I know?

Anyway, this was an idea for something quick and fun and I think they should be a big hit with the kids!

Feel free to use them for your Relay for Life projects!

This project has two parts, the flower and the "chain". Here's what to do:

Creating the "Chain"

1. Slip knot (leave a nice bit of yarn free) and Chain 120.
2. Single crochet into the 2nd chain from the beginning, and each chain thereafter (118 sc)
3. Chain one, then turn, and Single Crochet into each Chain. (118 sc)
4. Slip stitch into each single crochet (118 slip stitches)
5. Fasten off, and make sure to leave a nice bit of tail.

Creating the "Flower"

1. Chain 6. (6)
2. Do 12 double crochets into the space (like doing a granny) (12)
3. Chain 3, and do 2 double crochets into each double crochet from row 2. (24)
4. Chain 4, and do four treble crochets into the first double crochet from row 3.
5. Single crochet into the next stitch, then chain 3 (so essentially you will have a single crochet with three chains on top of it).
6. Repeat rows 4 and 5 through the entire circle.
7. When you reach the last set of treble crochets, you should be back at the beginning with no space for a single crochet. This is okay! Do the single crochet in the stitch where you had started the treble crochets (they should scoot over just fine).
8. Then join the first treble crochet and the last single crochet with a slip stitch. Fasten off, and weave in your ends. Your flower is complete!

Creating The Necklace:
1. Take your "chain" and fold it in half. Make sure it lies flat against itself! Take the pesky beginning yarn tail (from the beg. chain) and thread it through a yarn needle.
2. Weave this through the back of the flower, preferably into the first set of double crochets nearest the center ring. DON'T CUT THE YARN!!!!!
3. Once that's completed, do the same for the tail from the other side of the "chain".
4. Now, while I mentioned "don't cut the yarn", I really mean "don't cut the yarn!" here, also!
5. Now, take the remaining tails and thread them through the other side of the yarn, and weave them in. NOW, you can cut the yarn, LOL! If you're much more adept with a sewing needle, you could use some new yarn, but I'd just as same use the same thread from before.

And there you have it, a cute little flower necklace, modeled here by my bear Groovy!

Relay Scarf

My newest pattern, created just for the Relay for Life of Berwyn Cicero.

I could REALLY use your help...if you can possibly donate your time or your dollars, here's where to go:

Concetta's Relay For Life Page

Anyway, to get the pattern, head over here:

Relay Scarf