Granny Cozy

Yes, its true, I’ve started yet another new project.  Crazy! But, in my defense, I’ve been wanting to start this project since May, but have been patiently waiting for the yarn to arrive from across the pond.  Well, yesterday my package finally arrived and I’m so happy.  I ordered the lucy-pack from Country Crafts in the 17 yummy colors that Lucy of attic24 used in her pretty granny stripe blanket.  Thank you Lucy for the tutorial and inspiration. (Love, love her blog!)
DK Special by Stylecraft is cushy soft.  So last night I made a foundation chain of 120, went on to crochet the first couple of rows and then decided it was a bit too narrow.  So, RipIt….Then I went up to 180 and started over and this time I’m happy with the width.  Just the right size to use as a cozy cover during nap-time. I’m hoping to make substantial progress tomorrow while riding on the train from O’side to LA.

Hope your weekend finds you happily enjoying your favorite projects.

The edge of sweet dreams

Make a pillowcase and then crochet a decorative edge?  Oh, that sounds like fun.

When I stopped by You go girl 's blog and saw the beautiful pillowcases she had made, I wanted to make some too. Yes, I did think I wanted to be that adventurous, but then, when I was at the big T store and saw they had these really cute pillowcases, I thought, lets take baby steps.  I'll try crocheting an edge on these first, and then, if I want to get all the sewing gear out of storage and up and available for my next whim, I’ll go the whole route. I followed Cassies wonderful easy to understand  tutorial. The only modification I made was 2 single crochet in between the blanket stitches instead of the 3 shown in the pattern. 

The purple pillowcase is edged in cotton yarn and the turquoise is edged in acrylic.

This was my first time working with acrylic yarn and I didn’t particularly like it.  It felt hot and sweaty in my hands and I had to be really careful with all that stretch or my loops became too big.  Guess it takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it. 

I’m planning on giving the purple pair to my number one daughter when I go up to LA and visit with her next Saturday.

Pillow talk

It has been an enjoyable week in my world of crochet.  I finished putting together this colorful cushy pillow. Ah, the end of a project is the best!   Thank you rosehip for this lovely granny square pattern.

For the backside of the pillow, I made a traditional granny square using the same colors as for the front.

For the filler, a 12-inch size pillow insert worked perfectly. 

For the edge, I chose white to edge and connect the front and back pieces and to make the colors ‘pop’.  The edge pattern mimics the larger flower round in the flower square. I enjoyed this project and working with bright colors kept it interesting.  Off I go to write about what I’m working on now. Have the best weekend...

Shadow play

Shadow play
Originally uploaded by knitalatte1

I'm so obsessed with kims textures. They are truly addicting!

So much inspiration in Blogland

I'm always looking for ways to improve my photographs and I found this wonderful opportunity.

See that new Inspiration Stay-cation button on my sidebar?  I signed up for Kim Klassen eCourse                              Stay-cation and then grabbed one of her cute little buttons. Her class starts in August and looks like it will be a really fun experience.  Check it out.  I’ve been a fan of her blog, photos and textures for some time and I’m so excited to participate and learn.  It was fun playing with her grubby texture in this photo of my bloomin perwinkles. 

I also found this 'must have' crochet pattern that I just adore. It is called Loopy Roses by Sarah London.  When I first saw it on her website, I knew I had to have one so I could make a flower pin for myself.  It’s a really quick project, the hardest part for me was gathering 9 different colors of the same type of yarn.  I used Jager Siena cotton.  I’d like to experiment with a squishier yarn on the next one I make. And I do plan to make many more.  Well I'm off to enjoy my Friday, hope you enjoy yours....

Just for fun

I went over to Michaels and picked up some really bright colors of of the lovely Sugar N Cream yarn.  I like that all their names begin with Hot; orange, pink and blue, etc. so Very summery. I found this wonderful granny square flower pattern over at Rosehip’s blog and have been steadily making progress on these fun little squares.  I’m thinking that I’ll attach them all together and then use them as the front of a throw pillow.

Horray for Friday! I was out in the garden this afternoon and found some color.  I’ve got apples and hydrangeas in bloom and it makes me very happy.  Have a colorful weekend.

Knitted socks, not me...

That has been my montra.  I will not ever, no never knit a sock.  Too much work for such a small item, and then to have to make two exactly alike? ridiculous.  Well, that was how I thought until I saw this photograph.  I am crazy in love with these knitted socks that paraded down the Prada runway. The first time I gazed at this photo I got so excited as I really really want a pair. It would be a double bonus if I could make them for myself. I just adore the cable!  It is so classy. Somewhere out there in 'knitting pattern land' there must be a cable down the middle sock pattern available right?  So I'm on a quest to find it, any suggestions?

Happy 4th!

Hubby and Son are finally back from football camp and they seem glad of it. (There is no place like home) We are enjoying this lovely three-day weekend.  We’ve bb’qd and sat out in the sunshine.

I was very appreciative that they went and picked up my new Old hutch. (Such manly men) It in now in place and I’ve been busy filling it up with lots of yarn stash.  I'm in awe of the fact that it has had many incarnations.  It has chips and dents and stains and scents that only add to its charm. It recently sat in a cute little shop where it displayed candles and lots of must-have home goods. Before that?  I can only imagine that it was used by people who loved it as much as I do. 

I decided to pull out a ufo, my log cabin throw, that has been in need of some attention and it seems to me to be the perfect 4^th of July knitting.  Enjoy your holiday!