Fighting UFOs

Yes, once again I find myself apologizing for neglecting this blog. But I’ve been battling against UFOs.

Really.

No, not the type that are discouraged by the wearing of a fashionable tinfoil hat.

The type that plague crafters. The bags, boxes, and bins of the dreaded UnFinished Objects. The afghan that needs one skein of a color that Wal-mart no longer carries. The WHY did I think I would have the patience to crochet myself a blouse with #10 crochet cotton and a steel hook? The “oh, crap, why didn’t I notice I had one ball of cream and one ball of ecru BEFORE I had used them both on the same tablecloth?” And of course the cute little doll and wardrobe from the pattern I saved on my computer. Would you be surprised if I told you the computer crashed and now I can’t find the doll pattern online?

I did make some significant progress on some big projects. A striking winter ensemble knit in a basketweave slip stitch in red, black and white. Mid-length skirt and long-sleeve pullover. A matching hat from the scraps, Still need seamed and blocked. Didn’t feel like hand sewing a worsted weight sweater set in August. In Florida. It’s still in the 80s here. By the time it’s chilly enough for me to want to finish it, it will be buried in the spare bedroom aka the set for the pilot episode of Hoarders: the Early Years.

I’ve noticed a lot of people featured in Hoarders are crafters. So I really am trying. Especially since we’re considering a 1000-mile move in 2014. I need to do some serious downsizing here. Let’s see. Yes, I could get rid of some of the yarn stash. Anybody interested in two 70-yard skeins of Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn in white?

This is going to take awhile. Ooh, here’s a pretty scarf that only needs fringe to finish….

 

I’m back!

Woo, how time flies. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted. Hubby had back surgery and got sent to nursing home for physical therapy, so I was on my own for the first time in my adult life. Grandson came for the first week to help make things more accessible from my wheelchair. Then I developed some medical issues and have been away from home 6-12 hours a day for treatments.

Have been working on a lot of projects in the meantime. 2 1/2 tablecloths, dozens of character hats and stocking up on doll clothes for Christmas season.

Dumb question time…Can anyone tell me how to configure WordPress so it only shows the current post? Last time I checked, all posts were displayed at once.

 

 

Hat in the Hat: the Design Process & First Giveaway!

Did I put my foot in my mouth when I said I could crochet a hat for any character as long as I had a good picture of the character? This one was a real challenge!

Normally I HATE swatching. Seems like such a waste of time and material–I want to get right to the project. But shaping and color changes in this project didn’t lend themselves to my usual “make the basic plain hat and add features” way of doing character hats. So I started with a miniature to test my solution to the the main challenges.  Here’s my mini Cat in the Hat finger puppet:

Cat in the Hat finger puppet

 

Things I learned: to shape the floppy top of the Cat’s hat, the top white stripe has a slight decrease in the round. Face shaping is done with increases and decreases.  The vertical color change from black to white couldn’t be worked tapestry style because the contrast showed through the stitches. So I worked those rows back and forth, slip stitching them together at the change point.Here’s the finished Cat in the Hat Character Hat:

 

Cat in the Hat character hat

 

Normally, my character hats sell for $10.Of course, the Cat is essentially a “double hat” so he’ll be priced at $15.

On Sunday, March 3, 2012, one lucky reader will win the Cat in the Hat finger puppet. To enter, just tell your Facebook friends, Pinterest followers, or blog readers about my character hats and comment below to let me know!

 

 

 

 

 

Free Crochet Pattern: Lover’s Knot Shawl

Today’s free pattern is for a lover’s knot shawl. It’s surprising how warm this lacy openwork shawl is! Takes less than 1 4 oz skein of worsted weight yarn (sample was made with Red Heart.) This shawl is a simple triangle. Once you get the hang of the knot stitch, these are quick and easy to make.

Lover's Knot Shawl

 

Materials
1 skein worsted weight yarn

4.00 mm crochet hook

Ch 161. sc in first ch. Work knot st as follows pull loop up about 1 inch, then sc back into the loop, pull up another 1 inch loop. Skip 3 ch on starting ch and sc into the next one. (Knot st made) Repeat across.

Row 2: sl st into sc in center of last knot st. Ch 1 sc in sc. Work knot st, sc into sc in center of next knot st. Repeat across, ending with sc in center of last knot st. (Each row will decrease by one knot st.)

Repeat row 2 until only 1 knot st remains. End off.

If you have trouble catching on to the knot st, here’s a tutorial:

How to Crochet: Knot Stitch

If you have any questions, email me at judy33873 at gmail dot com.

This week at Oak Hill:

Started a new separate blog for NameBlessings: http://nameblessings.blogspot.com  and added a custom option to put custom photos or graphics on NameBlessings;

Local Wal-mart finally restocked yarn so I can work on UFOs!

Filling orders for character hats, especially SpongeBobs;

Had several freelance writing assignments;

Coming soon: headband patterns in both knit and crochet.

 

 

 

Breakfast Burrito Recipe n Odds n Ends

I’ve been working on getting odds and ends finished. Got rid of 4 Walmart bags full of finished crafts on top of the dog cage. Now they’re neatly stacked in labeled bankers boxes with inventory lists in my notebook.  Makes me feel so organized!

Working on a tutorial for fixing knitting boo-boos with a crochet hook. Guess what? You can’t photograph a tutorial from the webcam. DUH!!!!! So I told Tim he needs to get behind me and take the step by step pics. Got the Look.  So I don’t know when I can post the tutorial. Especially since he got a new puter and he’s been playing with it all afternoon. (His old one died last night.)

I love McDonald’s breakfasts. But I’m not a morning person. Can’t say how many times I’ve ordered a breakfast burrito or sausage mcmuffin only to be told “we quit serving those five minutes ago”.  So I was really happy to find a copycat McDonalds breakfast burrito recipe on food.com

http://www.food.com/recipe/breakfast-burritos-copycat-mc-donalds-111725

Waiting for yarn from Herrschners. Love that they take PayPal. And the selection is so much better than the local Walmart. I ordered some black crochet cotton for some jewelry designs I have in mind.

Gotta go for now. Maybe I can find a Sausage Mcmuffin recipe!

Sesame Street Character Hats

Just finished my small character hats of Sesame Street characters. Have orders for 2 more SpongeBobs, so I’ll be working on those tonight.

 

Elmo

 

Bert

 

 

Ernie

 

 

Kermit

 

Still haven’t had much of a chance to play with my new camera, so still using the webcam. Just found out that our town’s monthly Friday Night Live event sometimes has craft booths. I’ll be looking into that for sure! Just have to talk Tim into helping me get there and set up. (I haven’t driven for over a year & he doesn’t want me to try yet. My bad knee makes it hard to brake.) Sent him to Walmart for yellow yarn while I waited here for electrician–we woke this morning to no power in the living room.

 

 

 

Free crochet pattern: Lavender Lace

When I first started looking up fingerless glove patterns online, I was kind of surprised. Where are the free patterns for pretty fingerless gloves? This lavender Simply Soft yarn demanded a pretty, lacy pattern. So here it is:

Lavender Lace Fingerless Glove

4.00 mm crochet hook

worsted weight yarn (sample made with Caron Simply Soft)

Make 2:

Ch 30, join without twisting. In same st as join, ch3,dc,ch2,2 dc (shell)*skip 3, in next ch work sc, ch3, sc, *skip 3, in next ch work 2 dc, ch2,2dc, skip 3, in next ch work sc ch3, sc* repeat around, join with sl st

Rnd 2:* in ch 2 loops work sc, ch3,sc in ch 3 sp work 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc* repeat around, join.

Rnd 3: repeat rnd 2

Row 4: continue in pattern but do not join. Turn at end of row (thumb hole start)

Row 5: repeat row 4

Row 6: repeat row 4. Join at end (thumb hole finish)

Rnds 7-10 work even in pattern. End off.

Ruffled cuff: join yarn in any ch. Working on opposite side of starting ch, work* 2dc, ch2,2dc,skip 1 ch, work sc, ch3,sc, skip 1 ch* repeat around, join. Work 2 more rounds in pattern. End off. Weave in ends.

 

The Rose Bag

Rose Bag

The Rose Bag crochet pattern is now available for sale ($3.50) as a pdf download by email. I’ll put in on Ravelry later this week. This bag is a perfect small purse, Bible bag, or netbook case. Construction is one-piece for durability and features my unique corners that help the unlined bag hold its shape. Center rose is an applique and smaller rosebuds are an easy embroidery technique.

I also offer completed Rose Bags for sale in your choice of colors for $10 plus $2 shipping US. Have to research shipping outside US for international orders. Don’t forget to specify both bag and rose colors.

Today’s recipe: “Ocky’s”

“Ocky” is a family word for enchiladas. When the kids were younger the older ones told the young ones these were “Ocky” so the little ones wouldn’t eat them and there’d be more for the big kids. It didn’t work. One of the little ones tasted them anyway and said “These aren’t ocky, They’re GOOD!”

1 pound hamburger, browned (can also use chicken pieces)

1/2 white onion, diced

1 can refried beans

10 flour tortillas

8 oz package finely shredded mild cheddar

8 oz can tomato sauce

small can enchilada sauce or red sauce

Spray (or line with foil) a 13×9 pan. In each tortilla, place a spoonful of meat mixture, beans, and cheese. Roll up tortilla, and place side by side in pan. Pour sauces over top. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese melts.

Hats,Gloves and Pinterest

Trying to tidy up my work area a little. So I’ll be uploading LOTS of pictures this week! Also, am finally starting to figure out how to use my Pinterest boards. Pinterest is a really cool way to share pictures. I’ve found craft ideas, recipes and organizing tips along with a few funnies and decorating ideas that make me drool!

Finished my Angry Red Bird hat this morning.

Red Angry Bird Hat

I’ve also made some knit stocking caps. I’ve noticed how hard it is to find quality handmade gifts for guys so three of these hats were made with guys in mind.

Cactus Rib Hat

Ocean Wave Hat

Hothead Hat

Told hubby he should wear the orange hat when we’re driving in traffic to warn other drivers he’s a hothead (stitches look like flames). He didn’t think that was funny. Maybe because we were driving in traffic at the time…

I just love lacy knit patterns. So I made the snowflake hat with matching fingerless gloves.

Snowflake Hat

Snowflake Gloves

So what do you think of fingerless gloves? Maybe its because I was raised up north where you need nice warm mittens for below-zero wind chills, but at first I didn’t get the appeal of fingerless gloves. But they can be really cute, like my black lace crocheted ones with the flared cuff.

Black Lace Gloves

It’s hard to see in the picture but these have ribs of front post doubles to add texture.

Making pineapple upside-down cake for Valentine’s Day.

1 can pineapple slices

maraschino cherries

1/2 c or so of brown sugar

cake mix (yellow or pineapple)

ingredients required by cake mix

In a 13×9 pan, lay out pineapple slices

place a cherry in the center of each pineapple ring

sprinkle brown sugar over pineapple slices

mix cake as instructed on the box. Pour batter over fruit and bake as directed.

Hats, hats, and more hats

I spent most of the weekend making hats. I really like how the simple features bring out the personalities of the character hats.

Pikachu

A couple of the grandkids are really into Pokemon, so my first character hats are Pokemon. The smaller grandkids like SpongeBob.

SpongeBob

Great-grandson has claimed this one without even seeing the picture. Finally, my favorite SpongeBob character, Patrick Starr.

Patrick

 

I can make almost any character into a hat as long as I can see a good picture of the character. Hats are machine washable and can be made in any size from baby to adult. Reasonably priced at $10 (plus $2 for shipping).

Experimented a little more with the slipper pattern. A circular needle does NOT work for the toe. Thought about trying dpns but I don’t have any 8s and walmart quit carrying dpns. So it will be awhile before I can try that.

Uploaded my Caribbean Star hat pic to Pinterest and got several likes and re-pins. The pattern (with 7 total color variations) is for sale on Ravelry.

Caribbean Star Hat

This is a really neat pattern because simple color changes make the hat look totally different. Using one color brings out the texture:

Aran Star Hat

White and any color, especially ombres, are a stunning combination:

Ombre Bright Star Hat

The hat is also stunning with ombre yarn and two coordinating solids:

Sunset Star Hat

Several granddaughters got these tone-on-tone variations for Christmas:

Shadow Star Hat