A Little Organization on New Year's Day

My leftover odds and ends yarn stash has gotten out of control...

Every time I went digging through it looking for this yarn, or that yarn, it got worse; more messy.  It got to the point that as I'd open the closet door, bags of tangled yarn would fall out.  

Hmmmm, not the best way to store or keep my beloved hobby supplies. 

So, when I saw THIS post by Debi Y. at Hooks, Yarns, Crafts and Gardening,  I went ahead and ordered a large yarn winder knowing it was the answer to my dilemma!  

Friday and yesterday, I spent some time untangling yards of yarn, winding them into precise yarn cakes, and labeling their brand.  

I still have more to do, but I think I've made some headway.

The yarn, on the left of the picture, is my Vanna's Choice leftovers and scraps.  I'm setting that aside for an old fashioned granny afghan once I complete my current project.......that's the plan for now anyway!

Joy in winding (yarn that is).  :-)

HDP

Tweed Stripes

I know, I know........I said I wasn't going to buy any new yarn for a while.  What can I say, I'm weak. 

I have been wanting to try this yarn ever since it came out.  It's one of Lion Brand's newest yarns called Tweed Stripes.  Isn't it pretty! 

I'm looking forward to a little crochet time this evening and seeing how this yarn works up.

It's a bit more expensive than I usually pay for yarn even though it's an acrylic.  I was hoping for a good sale, but one never came up (or I didn't wait long enough).  In all reality though, it's not REALLY for me, I'm going to make a Christmas gift with it.

Enjoy your Saturday evening, I know I will!

HDP

Moorish Mosaic Afghan

I think I'm officially a crochet nut (as if there was ever a doubt).  But I've decided to start on another project and work on it along side the baby blanket I wrote about last week.  This afghan takes quite a bit of concentration.  It requires a lot of color changes and eventually turning a small circle into various shapes until it reaches it's final metamorphose as an octagon.  The pattern is called Moorish Mosaic Afghan and can be found in Interweave Crochet Fall 2009 issue.  I believe the magazine is out of print, but if you go to their website, it is my understanding, that you can download the pattern for a small fee.

Now, I'm no stranger to this pattern as I did make one earlier in the year in browns, blues and grays (see below).  I originally started making the first one to give as a wedding present, but decided it was too artsy to give as a gift to the particular couple.  So, we use it in our family room when we watch TV. 

 I hadn't intended on making another one of these for a while, but one of the on-line groups I belong to decided to do a CAL (Crochet Along) with this pattern so I thought I'd join in.  I also have a family in mind that I'd like to give the latest one to and have based my colors on a picture of their rug (yarn colors below).

I'll be using Vanna's Choice yarn, which is a very plush 100% acrylic yarn.  I really like using this brand of yarn and it can be machine wash and dried, which I think is important.  As a bonus, using acrylic yarn tends to keep the cost of a project down versus a wool or wool blend which can cost quite a bit more.  

So, as you can see, I'm going to be a happy camper (crocheter) for a good two - three months; or a good little piece of time anyway.  Joy for today is in the crochet!

Yarn, Yarn, Glorious Yarn!

And, a new project!

Today's topic is crochet.  I have to tell you, I love to crochet.  My very favorite thing to make is an afghan or blanket.  I tend to give away most of my projects to people (who hopefully) understand the thought, love, time, and bit of myself that goes into each one.  My joy is in the process, and hopefully, the recipients joy is in the end product. 

My next project is going to be a baby blanket for a cousin who is expecting in December.  The pattern is called Summer Garden Granny Square.  It is basically a circle to square motif using the granny square technique.  The free on-line pattern can be found by clicking on the title of the project.  It is a well written pattern with a nice tutorial, just keep in mind, she is in the UK and her treble crochet is a US double crochet stitch (which she notes in her instructions). 

The color scheme I will be using is slightly different as I'll be interjecting white into all my colors.  I think this will soften it a bit, but will still have the fun youthful look with all the bright and cheery colors.  I'll be using Rico 100% cotton yarn which is available from the UK and the white is Bernat, (also 100% cotton) which is locally available at Joann's. 

A new project always gets my creativity humming and brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction.  I'll keep you posted on my progress as I go along.  It's bound to be a fun project!