The Best 7 Posts in 2011

1. Granny Log Cabin Potholder
2. Newborn Wool Soaker Pattern - check back later in January for a free newborn wool pants (longies) pattern.  I'm knitting it right now and working out the bugs.  =)
3. Granny Log Cabin Blanket - if/when I make this blanket again, I will use my Stylecraft stash!
4. Crocheted Treasure Bag Tutorial - these were so much fun to make for Abigail's 7th Birthday Party.
5. Rainbow Granny Blanket - I love this blanket ... such a riot of COLOR!!!!!
6. Cloth Diaper Tutorial
7. Trinket Box Blanket

Crochet pretty much sums up 2011!

I wonder if 2012 will be another year of Crochet or will Knitting, Dyeing, or Quilting take the drivers seat???

Happy New Year to You All!!!!

Love,

Erin

PS - Check out my new URL =)

What I've been up to in the Past 30 Days ... Bullet Style =)

• Dyeing lots and lots of yarn.  I set up a little workspace in the basement and it is marvelous!  It's not very big but all my dye bottles, pots, rags, etc are within easy reach.  The utility sink and washing machine is just a hop away so I can rinse and spin easily.   Thank you, Mr. K for letting me take over a small corner of your Man Space.  XoXoXo

• Abigail had a whole WEEK off school for Thanksgiving and we spent all but one day in Michigan.  It was lovely!  Lots of Grammy time for her.  Lots of Thrifting and Hob-Nobbing for me at the Yarn Shop.  =)

• I taught my very first yarn dyeing class last Saturday ... Crockpot + Kool Aid.  I had so much fun!!!!  My students had so much fun!!!!  It was 3 hours of 100% bliss for me ... sharing my love & passion for dyeing yarn with other knitters.  XoXoXoXo  They want me to come back and do more classes.  Ok, I can handle that.  =)

• Christmas presents are flying off my needles!!  Right after Thanksgiving I often get this "Bah Humbug" feeling.  I think it's because of all the Black Friday hype plus all the extra advertising that ends up in my mailbox.  I am so glad we don't have a T.V. ... the onslaught of glitzy commercials would drive me batty!!!!!!  Anywho, I am trying to combate The Grinch in me by hunkering down with my knitting (and stash yarn, of course  =) ) and seeing how many knitted gifts I can complete before December 25.  So far it is Working!

As always ... Love,

Erin

Pile of Colorway Swatches

SOOO very sorry for not posting more in the last week but I am bewitched by my dye pots (and crock pots ... I dye in those, too)!!!  Very appropriate for this time in October.  =)

I'm crocheting with this one right now ... the color blending is out of this world!

 

Which one is your FAVORITE and what would YOU make with it?

Love ... Erin
XoXoXo

Sushi Roll ... or Chevron Scarf?

I actually crocheted a scarf just so that I could take an artsy picture like this!

Shepherd's Wool  from Stonehedge Fiber Mill. 
They are located in Michigan ... I like supporting their Economy.  =)

No two skeins are a like ... they ply their Mill Ends with a strand of alpaca.

The result is scrumptiously soft yarn for a bargain basement price.  

Pattern is free on Raverly - One Skein Chevron Scarf 

(mine actually took two =) )

I'm looking so Happy because I'm ready for a Cold & Snowy Pittsburgh winter.

So, for those of you living in the Northern Hemisphere ... what are YOU knitting/crocheting/sewing for the Coming Cold?

Love ... Erin
XoXoXo

For Today ...

Outside my window ... it is wet and cold and cloudy.

I am thinking ... I'm glad I remembered to send Abigail to school with a hat on her head.

I am thankful ... that we live in a Small House here in Pittsburgh rather then the Big Box in Delaware.  We can keep the heat set higher and still save money on our Utility Bill!

In the kitchen ... not much is happening today.  I cooked up some Taco Meat a few days ago so I can fix an Easy Supper.

I am wearing ... a favorite outfit.  Jeans, black light weight turtle neck, and comfy shoes.  No hand knit socks today as they are all in the wash.  I should remedy that by either staying on top of the laundry or knitting a few more pairs.

I am creating ... more beautiful hand dyed yarn.  I can't wait to share pictures with you but that will have to wait until next week.

I am wondering ... is it possible to finish all my WIP's by the end of the year?  Wouldn't it be nice to start the year with Fresh Projects?!

I am reading ... the book of Joel for Bible Study.  Good stuff in the Minor Prophets.

I am hoping ... Abigail is having a good day at school.  I sure do miss My Girl during the day. 

I am looking forward to ... teaching a Yarn Dyeing Class in November.  =)  If you live near Hudsonville, MI you should sign up at the Library.

I am hearing ... the familiar sound of the clock ticking.  It was my Grandparent's clock and I remember sitting at their house when I was a little girl hearing the same sound.

Around the house ... lots and lots of crocheted blankets.  One in the Front Room, two in the Back Room, one on each bed.

One of my favorite things ... listening to Good Music  on Pandora. 

Happy Friday and Enjoy the Weekend!

Erin

Should this go to the Pillow Frog Pond?

I was so tickled to find Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky in the sale room of my LYS for a bargain basement price.  The colors called out to me ... bring me home!  

I decided a pillow or two would be nice and crocheted up this beauty.  What an experience to work with this yarn ... it flowed effortlessly over my hook ... sigh.  =)

I turned the square each time I joined a new color but it still turned out Wonky.  The Wonkiness is accentuate by the plump pillow form.  =( 

There is enough leftover yarn to make new pillow fronts.

Little squares perhaps?

I could salvage the two squares and use them as backs.

What do I do?  

Am I being too Fussy? 

Opinions Please!

Love .. Erin

Monday ... with a Side of Yarn =)

We had a LOVELY time in Michigan ... so GOOD to see Family & Friends!

XoXoXoXo

But the rest of the week was very strange ... a Holiday can do that to oneself.

I was off by a day thinking Tuesday was Monday, Wednesday was Tuesday, yada yada.

Very discombobulating to the household rhythm.   

So I decided to dye yarn instead.  =)

I am going to teach a yarn dyeing class at the local library of my hometown in Michigan the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  

Whenever I visit Painted Trillium Yarns I make Wonderful People and Nifty Things like that happen!

So I decided to dye 2 or 3 hanks a dozen hanks of sock yarn to flex my yarn dyeing muscles. 

Each one is SO BEAUTIFUL ... I can hardly believe these colors came from 

Kool Aid and Wiltons Icing Paste.  

And a few more hanging outside to dry.

On a side note ... I wore my Forest Canopy Shawl to church yesterday and received many compliments.  =)

Love ... Erin

Gading About ... Again =)

Visiting family in Michigan over the Columbus Day Weekend.  =)
See you back on Tuesday!

Love ... Erin

Not a Lace Flunky Anymore!

I can't KNIT lace but I sure can CROCHET it.  

=)  =) =) =)

I used a hank of hand dyed sock yarn from my stash.

The color is such a lovely green ... like a forest canopy with sunlight filtering through softly.

Or it looks like an over-fertilized yard!!

The pattern is from Ravelry (free of course!)

South Bay Shawlette

Slightly modified as I ran out of yarn for the border (doesn't that always happen!)

Self-Portrait

I love this shawl and have already made one for Abigail's teacher.  =)

If you have a favorite shawl pattern, please share it with me in a comment!

Love ... Erin =)

Additions to My Stash & Hook Information

I went to Lancaster this weekend and stopped in Zook's.

 Somehow these Lecien prints came home with me.  =)

They are whispering to me that they would like to become a new table quilt for the dining room.  =)

Monday I was at Joann Fabrics and this sock yarn hopped in my basket.  =)
It is a nice wool/bamboo blend and I'm looking forward to spending some time on Ravelry finding just the right shawl or stole pattern.  

There were a couple comments on the crochet hooks in the Giveaway.
I made them myself using "unbranded" fimo clay from Michael's.
I was very pleased with the results and sad that I'd used Boye hooks ... I don't like Boye hooks.  

Go Figure ... Erin =)

PS - My sister found the oops in the Autumn Jewel blanket!  Look at the sofa picture ... the border at the bottom ... turns from blue to purple.  =)  I ran out of yarn and "made do" with what I had.

I'll be Back Very Soon =)

Abigail and I are in Delaware visiting a best friend who has been missing her LOTS.

The weather is very nice and we are having a great time.

Be back Monday morning!

Love ... Erin

XOXO

Autumn Jewel Blanket

A gift for my Niece.  =)

I started it last Fall ... I even Blogged about it!

 Granny Squares  +  Join As You Go = Hooking Gratification.

I did not darn in the yarn ends as I went along so it was not
Instant Hooking Gratification.

PSA ... Darn in Ends as You Go!

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Yarn:  Wool Ease purchased at an AC Moore in Delaware.
Color names ... Unknown.  Ball bands clutter up my project bag so they are promptly thrown away.  =)
The color order was random ... well, sort of random!

Hook:   I'm sure you guessed it ... Susan Bates H hook.  =)

Pattern:  Granny Squares ... my favorite Tutorial is at The Purl Bee.

Do you see the  "Oops!" ???

Thanks for letting me share another project with you.  =) 

The comments you leave Bring me Cheer and Brighten my Day!

Love ... Erin

5 Years & 250 Followers ... The WiNnEr!!!!

79 comments/entries from 13 different countries:

Germany ... Belgium ... USA ... Portugal ... Lebanon ... UK ... Netherlands ... Poland ... Spain ... Estonia ... Australia ... Canada ... India

That is SO cool ... we speak the universal language of Crochet.  =)

And the WINNER is .......................... Lynne @ pieceful

As soon as I click PUBLISH, I'm sending her an email!!!

On my Mind ...

Unloading the dishwasher is so much nicer when there are PRETTY dishes.

Visit Rhonda's blog to read more "On My Mind" posts.  =)

5 Years ... 250 Followers!!!!!

 All I can say is thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU all to the MOON and BACK.  =)

Let's celebrate with some Colorful Fiber Goodness.  =) =) =)

Leave a comment ... that's all you have to do!

I'll pick a winner on Monday (9/26/11)

Love ... Erin =)

Blocks N Balls Baby Blanket

Tee-Hee ... I thought I was pretty clever coming up with that name.  =) =) =)  

I am going to a baby shower on Saturday and just found out the Mama is having a BOY.  I took the leftover circles from the Fiesta Blanket, crocheted them together with navy and bright blue yarn, and added a colorful border.

Do you think I was successful????  I'm not sure since there are small bits of purple and pink but I think I definitely nailed Gender Neutral.  =)

My two favorite blocks:

IMPORTANT DETAILS

YARN - Style Craft DK from Deramores
HOOK - Susan Bates #7 (4.5mm)
PATTERN - Squaring the Big Circle ... free pattern @ Signed with an Owl

The Fiesta Blanket ... Ta Dah!

I started this blanket in April or May as a Vintage Vertical Stripe but I wasn't feeling the Love so I tucked it away for the Summer.  =)  The beginning of August I decided it must be Frogged!! Abigail and I spent a morning unraveling each row and carefully rolling all that yarn into neat little balls to be used on another project. 

One of my favorite blogs is Signed with an Owl and Kate has a wonderful tutorial for this Circle in a Square block.  Three weeks of hooking and the blanket is D.O.N.E.  I've never made a blanket so fast and I am so happy-happy-happy!!!! 

The border is my favorite part!

Oh my ... isn't it BeAuTiFuL?????  I made this for a Very Special Person's Birthday Present.  Alas, that is not until December but I am afraid if I keep it in my house much longer I will not be able to part with it.  So I will wrap it up in plastic, shove it into a Flat Mailer Box and send it to her this afternoon.  =)

Now for all the Important Details.  =)

YARN - Stylecraft Special DK in 13 different colors.  I bought all the Lucy colors from Deramores and used those for this blanket.

HOOK - Susan Bates #7 (4.5mm)

PATTERN - Squaring the Big Circle by Kate @ Signed with an Owl

The color sequence for each block was completely random.  I kept the project in a big LL Bean tote bag and would close my eyes, stick my hand in, and pull out the next color for the following round.

The border is 9 rows of granny trebles followed by a row of simple scallops. 

Fresh off the Hook ... Squaring the Circle Blanket

I'm in LOVE!!!!!!!!!!  

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

 

Granny Dolly Blanket for Felicity

I love simple projects that work up quickly and look so sweet when completed.  =)

 A few simple granny squares leftover from a pillow cover project joined together with natural wool yarn.

Edged in pink and and a bit more natural wool.

Felicity will be Warm and Cozy  this Winter.  =)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Can you guess how old I am???

Mr. K and Abigail baked me an Apple Pie instead of Birthday Cake.  =)

Abigail wrote me the sweetest Birthday Letter telling me how me how much loves my hugs, kisses, and snuggles.