Sleeeeepy

But I have energy enough to say that this motif totally takes me back to grade 5 when I desperately wanted and got a pair of pink and purple Adidas running shoes.

Or maybe they were Adidas-esque running shoes. Faux-didas, if you will. That's quite possible given the economic climate at the ol' homestead in the 70s.

Whatever the case, they were pink and purple and I adored them. Which is why to this day I still get a little thrill when I see those two colours paired closely together.

July 31, 2009


I also had an Adidas bag. I kind of hated it, but feeling sooooo cool carrying one around kind of made up for it.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

...uh, well, Christmas.

And I know it's early for that. I do. But I'm all about listening to the spirit and going where it moves me. Creatively speaking, anyway. I can't help it if has moved me straight into the Christmas season in the middle of July. S'not my fault.

And so consequently the last few days have been about snowflakes and Christmas and all things frosty.

I was partly spurred on by my desire to attempt the last snowflake pattern again, only this time using proper crochet thread.

Crocheting with crochet thread is not for the faint of heart, it turns out. It's tiny. It's almost like crocheting with really thick hair and a safety pin, but once you get used to the feel of the web-like thread and the impossibly tiny hook, it's really no different than any other kind of hooking.

As long as your eyes hold out all the way to the end of the project, of course. And thank God I've attempted this before 40. My eyesight is already waning, so who knows how long I'll be able to hook with such wispy little tools.

Lord, that's depressing. But, also, that's life.

July 27, 2009


If you look closely you'll be able to see that this snowflake, the same pattern as the one I made on Sunday, is definitely finer and daintier.

And because it's just not Christmas without a little greenery, here's a wreath photo frame.

Well, that's what it's supposed to be. I imagine stiffener is supposed to be involved here, as is using the correct type of yarn/thread, but I opted for this pale green Moda Dea Beadnik, complete with seed beads and shot through with a sparkly little thread you probably can't see in this photo.

So my wreath is larger than the pattern intends, but still frame-size. And, I think, quite pretty all on its own.

July 28, 2009

Boy, I could go for a Terry's Chocolate Orange right about now. A stocking-toe staple in our house.

Snowstorm in July

I recently rediscovered a Leisure Arts Christmas crochet booklet I bought years ago, and I'm utterly enchanted by it. Snowflakes, angels, tree ornaments, runners, stars - you name it, it's in there. All done is crisp white crochet cotton.

Yum.

I have yet to experiment with authentic, uber-fine crochet cotton - the yarn I used for this motif is Patons Grace, which is very delicate, but not as fine as crochet cotton - but so far I'm pleased with the results.

There's no "wrong" in hooking when you make your own rules.

July 26, 2009


This would make a pretty present topper, but I can also see a string of these tumbling across a wintry window pane...

Big 'n little

I thought it would be interesting to crochet the same motif using different weights of yarn.

So I did.

The sage green motif is hooked in a worsted weight yarn (which shall remain nameless because it's a pretty crappy, cheap sort of yarn), and the smaller white one is worked in Patons Grace, which is a lovely, delicate cotton.

No bias here. None at all.

July 23 & July 25, 2009


I still like the sage green one - the cheap, crappy yarn isn't a total waste - but I know there's much yummier yarn out there. Much yummier indeed.

A flower for my Mom

My Mom celebrated her 69th birthday today (which still has me in shock since I think I have her stalled somewhere around 45), and so I crocheted this flowery motif in her honour.

It is nowhere near as beautiful or as sweet as she is, but it'll just have to do.

July 24, 2009


I love you, Mom. Happy, happy, happy birthday!

Frosty...

Frosty and a little messy.

I clearly need to invest in some fabric stiffener before I make any more snowflakes. There's nothing more pathetic than a floppy snowflake.

Unless it's a billion of them stacking up on my driveway...

July 22, 2009


The only person I know who likes to shovel snow is my Mom.

Yeah, I know. Insane.

Seeing red

I always find it amusing when I use the wrong weight of yarn for a motif. I mean, the wrong weight for the project for which the motif was intended.

In this case, it was a sweater. This motif, along with shaping half motifs for the neck and waistband, was the main part of a lacy summer pullover pattern I found in the most recent issue of a new crochet magazine from the UK whose name escapes me (I could go downstairs and check, but right now I'm entirely too lazy for that much activity. Stairs? Seriously?).

Anyway, the point is, when I used Red Heart Super Saver instead of the Sirdar baby DK the pattern called for, I created a motif whose scale is so off that the sweater, if I was to make it, would fit a Sumo wrestler. With room to spare.

But since I'm only making the one motif and have no intention of making a lacy floral sweater for a giant, it's all good.

July 21, 2009


I can't get the picture of a lace-clad Sumo wrestler out of my head now. Can you?