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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Blanket of Many Colors...

Ok. I never make afghans just for the 'fun of it'. Is there such a thing? EEk.

No, if I make an afghan it's for a gift or because someone requested it. Someone special.

So it shocks me to the core of my being to know that I just cracked out an afghan for the 'fun of it' in the last couple weeks. I made this afghan pattern for my MIL eons ago. Then I made one for my mom. Then I think I either lost the book or lent it to someone. Either way, it was no longer in my stash of books. I kept looking at my mom's just wishing that I could make that afghan again...I know, sick... Well, anyway, I happened to be looking through the new pattern books on one of my favorite vendors on ebay (here is my other fave vendor for patterns and wools)and lo and behold....there it was. My pattern. I didn't care WHAT I had to pay to get that book..it was mine. Turns out I didn't have to pay that much and now I have my pattern back! Yay, me!

So I decided....stash only. Using up my stash. No purchasing yarn. Just stash. Yeah, that lasted about 2 days. I bought 4 skeins to finish it up because I wanted to throw a variegated in there and I wanted the red to continue throughout. Somebody saw it one day and said "Oh, are you making a Mexican blanket?" I'm like..."Um...Yeah....A mexican blanket." It had never occurred to me that my color choices totally looked like a mexican blanket! But, there it was....

So now it's called my Mexican Blanket. With lots of color.

Center medallion.

Gettin' worked on.

Finished in a fold.

Laid out, close up.

Finished.

Colors used were Gold, Carrot, Ranch Red, Rust Heather, Green fleck, Cornmeal, Fall variegated, Off White, Heather Gray, Oxford Gray, Warm Brown, and Williamsburg print.
Everything but the Oxford Gray and the Rust Heather is just basic Red Heart. The Oxford is Wool-Ease and the Rust is Bernat Super Value. Just in case you were wondering! :)

Book is by Leisure Arts. I believe the name is "Afghans for All Seasons". Could be wrong?? I hate it when I can't remember the names! This afghans name is "Fall Splendor".

K. Tah!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Big Girl Backpack

Ok, here it is (finally) for all of you who have requested this pattern. I do apologize at how pokey I've been getting it posted.





Big Girl Backpack


by Elizabeth Mareno 2009
Materials:
WW yarn- scraps work great- about 1/2 skn.
H hook
Yarn needle for assembly
row marker


BASIC-ONE COLOR
**do not join rounds unless stated**
ch37
Row 1- sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (36) (do not ch1), work down the opposite side of the starting ch, sc in each ch. (72sc)
**from here you start working in a circle, so mark your first sc of your first row and keep moving it up as you go.
Row 2-42 sc in each sc around.
Row 43- ch3 (cts as dc and ch1), (sk sc, dc in next sc, ch1) around to last sc, join with 2nd ch of ch3. (36 ch1sp)
Row 44-ch1, sc in sm st as join, sc in each sc and ch1 around, join with first sc and finish off. tuck in ends. (72sc)
TIES: make 2
ch101, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off leaving long end for sewing.
Assembling ties: First tie, weave over and under through dc. Sew ends together, pull on opposite end to hide. Do the opposite for second tie.
STRAPS: make 2
Holding 2 strands throughout, ch5
Row 1- sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (4sc)
Row 2-47- ch1, turn, sc in each sc.
Row 48- drop one strand, ch1, turn, sc in each sc and row end around, putting 3sc in each corner.
Strap placement: Approx 3sc from edge, 3rows down (top) and 3 rows up(bottom) sew ends into place using a whipstitch.
"CHECK" Pattern:
Follow basic pattern through row18, 19th row (sc 2, chg color, sc 2, chg color) repeat around(carry the unused color in your sc all the way around, this will keep the inside of the bag neat). There will be one sc off at the end of the row.
Repeat this pattern for one more row, then switch to the next color for another 10 rows. Repeat check pattern for 2 rows, switching colors again for 5 more rows. Do the check pattern one more time, finishing with 3 rows.
Complete with the basic top, ties and straps.
This pattern is great to have fun with! Use lots of scraps and make it striped. Or mess around and see what kind of pattern you can come up with!
Enjoy!
biz

I need some help!

Ok, people. I have some super patterns to post, but I'm lazy. I would like to just put a link to the .pdf of the pattern instead of retyping them here.........so...how do I do that???

Somebody help me, por favor!

Monday, January 05, 2009

Yarn Ball Winder

O.M.G.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you! My hubby and kids got me a ball winder from Knitpicks for my birthday. It's pretty ok. I am still learning how to make my cakes tight enough and big enough without stretching the yarn. You should see some of them....oh my.

I've decided I love knitpicks. When I can no longer buy yarn at wholesale...KnitPicks is going to be my new favorite place ever.

Oh, and I bought myself like 12 cones of cotton from Elmore-Pisgah in December (jeez, I'm behind!). In the hopes of making lots of baby bibs, burp cloths, baby kimono's, dish cloths and towels...ya know all the Mason Dixon Knitting patterns I haven't tackled more than once and would like to make more of!!

Anyway, just had to share that.

Crafting Memories: Section 5 of the Memories Blanket CAL

     Crafting Memories: Section 5 of the Memories Blanket CAL Oh my gosh!! It's the last week of the Memories CAL already!! I can't ...