Pick of the Litter

My hard drive is littered with outfit of the day photos that haven't been posted, and it's time to pick some.

 

Shrug, handmade by me; dress, eshakti.com; shoes, Payless Shoes; pearl earrings and pendant, handmade by me; thread earrings, purchased in Las Vegas.

 

This is the lovely corset style sheath dress from eshakti.com.

 

The best accessory for any outfit is happiness and happiness is a warm puppy.  While I didn't take this one home, I'm sure she will find a family to love her.

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Convert

I've been having a tough time posting the past few days.  Outfits on the days I've taken photos have been boring.  I've forgotten to take photos on the days I've worn anything notable.  Hopefully this outfit bridges the gap.

 

Cardigan, Walmart; lace tank, thrifted; red jeans, Sam's Club; belt, gifted (thanks, Mom!); shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings, silverjewelryclub.com; necklace, crocheted by me.

 

These red jeans are a miracle of comfortable color.  I've liked them with everything I've tried so far.  I still feel less than dressed in jeans, but I'm becoming a convert.

 

Abalone

I adore abalone.  I love the swirly colors and how it always reminds me of the ocean.  Stephen gave me this abalone shawl pin and my friend Angie gave me the pendant.  The pendant is in the shape of the Hei Matau- the Maori symbol of safe passage over water.

 

Shawl, handmade by me; dress, thrifted; shoes, Younkers; earrings, World's Window; shawl pin, gifted (thank you, Stephen); necklace, gifted (thank you, Angie).

 

Gadget was feeling especially helpful today.  He wouldn't stay away long enough to take dog-free photos.

 

The shawl is one of the first things I crocheted when I learned how in 2011.  I still love the soft bamboo yarn and sea foam color.

Purls of Wisdom

The silver lining of these last few weeks was spending time with family, especially Mary Ann, my mother-in-law.  In addition to being an all-around lovely human being, she is the patron saint of knitting.  I've mentioned before that knitting is my craft nemesis.  I have crocheting down, but knitting only beguiled and frustrated me.  No more.  I think I have finally started on the road to successful knitting.

I chose First Fingerless Mittens for my first project.  I picked this pattern because it is worked flat and then simply sewn up with a hole for the thumb.  I liked that it is all knitted (no purling), though knitting on both sides created a garter stitch pattern.  I knitted the first mitten twice because I wasn't satisfied with the quality when I finished it the first time.  I added a scalloped crochet trim along the top edge to disguise some unevenness on the first mitten.  Once I had worked the bugs out, the second mitten was completed almost instantly.  I used Bamboo Ewe Yarn from Debbie Stoller from my yarn stash.  It is 45% wool and 55% viscose from bamboo, so it has the workability of wool with the softness of bamboo.  The mittens are warm and not itchy.

My first ever knitting project!

 Key to my success this time around was the fact that I chose a very, very simple first pattern.    Other times I've tried knitting I either didn't have a pattern in mind or I chose a beginning pattern that still used a variety of techniques and stitches.  For this pattern I only had to cast on 38 stitches, so the rows didn't take long to complete, and there were only knit stitches, so I only had to remember how to do the same thing over and over.

For my second project I chose the InstaCowl to practice purling and working in the round.  My final product didn't turn out looking much like the sample photos, but I was mostly just working on technique.  It was another quick, frustration-free project, and I finished it in just a few hours.  I used Homespun Yarn from Lion Brand Yarn from my yarn stash because it is bulky to work up quickly and its texture hides a multitude of new-knitter mistakes.  I'm going to give this cowl to Chenille.  It is warm and soft and wonderfully cuddly.

The length of my finished cowl is more like an infinity scarf, so it is quite versatile.

 

I'm now working on my third knitting project.  I chose this Ribbed Lace Bolero because it uses knit two, purl two ribbing.  I'm currently working on the ribbing, and I haven't yet decided whether I will knit the body of the shrug in lace or stockinette stitch.  I am using more Bamboo Ewe Yarn from Debbie Stoller from my yarn stash for the bolero.

I also had time to complete an adorable crocheted cowl.  I purchased this beautiful Lace Sequin Yarn from Patons a while ago, and I brought it along while I was spending time waiting the past few weeks.  I chose this mesh cowl pattern because it used just one skein of the yarn and it was an incredibly simple pattern to make.  I could work on it without frustration even when I was stressed and tired.

 

This yarn is an acrylic/mohair/wool blend with sequins, and it's wonderful.  Most sparkly yarns feel like sandpaper to wear, and this one is still soft and lovely.  Until next time, happy crafting!

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Comfy Cozy

Today was cold I just wanted to be cozy.  I started with my Closet Excavation Challenge piece, this black sweater dress, then added thermal tights, fleece-lined boots, and a fuzzy cowl.

 

Dress, Younkers; tights, I don't remember; boots, Younkers; cowl, handmade by me; earrings, purchased in Cozumel; ring, Shelia's Consignments.

 

Blue topaz is commonly considered December's birthstone, so I have quite a bit of it.  I found these earrrings on a trip to Cozumel, and they have lovely blue opals with the topaz.  I've started telling people that the new December birthstone is blue diamonds, but pretty much no one believes me.  (Possibly because it's not true.)

Fave Five: Quick Crocheted Gifts

Christmas is coming!  I know.  I know.  It's barely December, but I love Christmas.  I look for the perfect gifts for friends and family all year, and now I'm in the midst of crafting to complete my gift list.  I love handmade gifts.  I think of handmade gifts as a way of showing the recipient that they are worth more than money.  They are worth your time.  From a practical point of view, handmade gifts can allow you stretch your gift-giving dollars to even more loved ones.

Most of the items I've crocheted have been gifts for friends and family.  Many of those gifts have taken weeks or even months to complete, but sometimes I just don't have that long.  Sometimes I want a little something extra to add to a gift I've already made or purchased, and sometimes I unintentionally overlooked someone in my gift planning and I scramble so they don't feel unloved.  Here are five of my favorite lightning quick crochet projects.  Each project can be completed in an hour or less.  Sometimes quite a bit less.

I made a matching dish cloth and potholder set by making
three nubby scrubbies dishcloths and then crocheting two
together to make the pot holder,

• Dishcloths or Pot Holders:  Dishcloths and pot holders are great for a number of reasons.  They are quick; they are practical, and, if the recipient likes them, you can gift them year after year.  I like the Nubby Scrubbies and the Snowflake Dishcloth patterns.  Both patterns are free on Ravelry.
• Crocheted Neckaces:  I made Beaded, Crocheted Necklaces for the friends who went on our trip to the Dominican Republic this fall.  They could be customized with any charm or memento that represents your connection with the gift's recipient.  
• Crochet-Embelished Hoop Earrings: I first noticed crochet-embelished hoop earrings with the Lotus Earring pattern in the July/August issue of Crochet Today! magazine.  (If you crochet and don't already subscribe to Crochet Today!, you can subscribe for just $5 on Amazon through December 3.)  You can also find a number of free patterns for crocheted hoop earrings available from Ravelry.  These earrings can be funky, elegant, chunky, or delicate, depending on who you have in mind as the recipient.  

Hoop earrings small and large can be embellished with crochet.
Instructions are easily modified to fit any size earring.

• Amigurumi Ornaments: Who wouldn't love Teeny Tiny Lobsters to decorate their Christmas Tree or just their desk?  If lobsters aren't your thing, you can try Teeny Tiny Turtles or Bunnies.  You could use these to decorate gift wrapping.
• Collar or Scarf:  If you have someone in your life who, like me, aspires to try the Peter Pan Collar trend, the Georgette Collar is the perfect gift.  For men, one hour and one skein of super bulky yarn can yield a perfect gift that can be enjoyed all winter.

You can find more free crochet projects by visiting Ravelry.com and searching for free patterns.

I'll be working on these and other crocheted gifts as I spend time in airports and airplanes in the coming weeks.  What is your favorite quick gift idea?  I have more coming soon.

The Color Purple

I love many colors for many reasons, but purple always strikes me as opulent.  No wonder it has been associated with royalty for centuries.  I wish I had added some leopard print.  That would have upped the luxuriousness of the outfit.  Next time!

 

Sweater dress, thrifted; cowl, crocheted by me; booties, Rack Room Shoes; tights (both pairs), Younkers; earrings, etsy.

 

This has become my favorite non-hair washing day hair style.  It is so easy, and stays in place all day with enough bobby pins and hairspray.  I've been skipping the shampoo some days simply because wet hair makes me cold.  This time of year much of my behavior is focused on avoiding cold.

 

I have two pairs of Steve Madden tights layered for this look.  The top pair is dark purple mesh, and the bottom pair is light purple opaque.  I loved how my legs looked today.

I added the trench coat (c/o eShakti) for some Red Hat Society realness.  I don't know who made the rule against red and purple together, but they were obviously wrong.

For my two part review of this trench coat, check out In the Trenches Part I and Part II.

Shell Game

Our trip to the Dominican Republic was great because of the people who accompanied us.  The group ended up having four men and four women.  The men were fun.  The women were amazing.  There was so much sisterhood going on we should have been issued traveling pants.

In addition to Angie (whom I've mentioned here before),  we were joined by Katie and Tamara.  I had met Katie when I lived in Iowa but didn't know her well, and Tamara was new to me.  By day two it was as if we had been besties for years.  It would have been weird except it was so damn cool.  When I got home I was filled to bursting with warm fuzzies, and I wanted to make something for these extraordinary women.

I decided on crocheted necklaces because I could use some of the pretty sea shells I picked up on the trip and because these necklaces are sturdy and wearable enough for SCUBA girls.

Shell Game Crocheted Necklaces

Better than selling sea shells by the sea shore, these were free.

Materials:

• crochet thread
• sea shells
• glass seed beads

Tools:

• Drill with 1/16" bit
• flexible beading needle
• 1.4 mm crochet hook

I carefully drilled a hole in each of the four shells I chose for the necklaces using the 1/16 inch bit.   I drilled into a piece of scrap wood so I didn't damage the table.

After drilling the holes I added a small stainless steel split ring to make it hang nicely on the string.

Assembling the necklace couldn't be easier because the only crochet stitch you need to know is the chain stitch.  The most labor-intensive part of the process is stringing the beads.  Strining the beads is much easier using a flexible beading needle.  I used approximately 130 seed beads on each of the four necklaces.  I placed the shell midway through the beads

I simply joined the ends and tied them off when the necklaces were the length I wanted.  These  necklaces are very long, so they can be worn at a number of lengths depending on how many times you loop them.  I wear my crocheted necklaces on their own or layered with silver and gold necklaces for a different look.