Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Well, it was a hard fought giveaway, with  at least a hundred (okay, seven) people vying for a chance to win these gloves.  I took the nine entries (two of the seven met the requirements to have more than one entry), entered them into Random.org, and voila!

Comment #1:

Jennifer GailOctober 8, 2012 1:21 PM

Very pretty . I jumped over from Melissa's blog.

ReplyDelete

Congratulations to Jennifer Gail!  

Over the Rainbow--A giveaway!!!

So, I DID made some rainbow fingerless gloves.

And, they turned out pretty cute.

Wanna see?



I made a bunch of pairs, and have already sold two of them, so that's been kind of fun.

There is a problem though.  See those two peach stripes on the gloves in the picture above?  I haven't been able to find that color and texture of yarn anywhere in town.  So, I was able to make several pairs of the gloves before my peach ran out, but my final pair only has one peach stripe instead of two.

See?





I don't feel like I can in good conscience sell these, since they are about 1/2 an inch shorter than the others, and are missing that all-important (yeah, right) second peach stripe.  But, if I can't sell them, I can certainly give them away, right?  RIGHT.

So, here's how it's gonna go down.  Leave a comment here, any comment.  That's one entry.

If you want more entries, here how you get them:

ENTRY #2:  Like the SalutationsCrochet page on facebook here, and then come back to this post to leave a comment saying so.  (If you have already liked the SalutationsCrochet facebook page, you can leave a comment saying that you've already done so.)

ENTRY #3:  Share a link to your favorite piece of salutationscrochet inventory on your own facebook page or on your blog, and come back to this post to leave a comment saying so.

And finally, for the most fun way to get an extra couple of entries:

ENTRY #4,5, and 6:  Go to this post over on my "quirky-ness" blog, and follow the instructions there.

I'll leave this giveaway open until next Monday at 10:00 p.m. (my time, which is mountain daylight) I'll draw a winner and post his or her lucky name!

Gloves, Avatars and Cocoons

So, remember how on my WIP list, I've determined that I need to go through this tote that I have and organize it?  In my mind I call it "the tote of forgotten projects".  Well, I finally went through it a week or so ago, and found a half-finished pair of creme fingerless gloves there, just waiting to be completed.

So, since I don't really like to just make one of anything, once I'd finished that pair, I made four more just like it.  Then I moved on, and made more black gloves.  Then I decided to make some brown gloves.  Next I think I'm going to venture into a rainbow pair, probably along the lines of the slippers here.   Then I'll probably be tired of fingerless gloves, and it will be time to go back to the tote and see what other mysterious forgotten unfinished beauties are lying there.

Oh, and when I was taking pictures of the brown gloves to list in the etsy shop, I went ahead and snapped a few like these, for a new avatar for the shop.  I was getting tired of the previous shot of me with the sun hat.  I know that I don't have to have my mug in the avatar, but I like being able to see the faces of the other etsy shop owners, so I guess it only makes sense that I like to have a representation of myself as well as my work in my own.  

In other news, a photograpic genius neighbor and friend of mine recently asked me to make her a baby cocoon for a photo shoot she had coming up.  Having never made one before, and wanting something new, I was happy to comply.  I used this pattern from illbeyarned, and about half-a skein of Lion Homespun.  It worked up quickly and turned out quite nicely I think.  There are better pictures on Aubrey's photo blog here.

(I'd post the pictures here, but I'm not sure whether or not the baby's mother is okay with pictures of her son being used on the blog of someone she doesn't even know, and heaven knows I don't want to do anything that would make a new mother uncomfortable.  So, until I'm able to find that out, you'll just have to either take my word for how cute it is, or you'll have to take the time to make one extra click over to AHPhotography to see for yourself.)

Here's a shot sans newborn that I took in my backyard photo studio (a/k/a the top of my deep freeze.)



UPDATE:  Permission received!  Check these out!

And that's what's up with me on the crocheting front.  On the life front I've been putting together birthday parties for my little girl (one family party followed by her first ever friend party), and doing some pretty time-intensive work with my church, and trying to squeeze out as much happiness as I can out of these end of summer/beginning of fall days.  Life is good.

Works In Progress-September Edition

Active Projects (work on one or more of these every day or close to that)

• Go through everything in the clear tote, decide if I'm going to finish it or not.  If yes, put it on this list.  If no, donate it or toss it.
• Restock Fingerless Gloves, try rainbow
• restock dishcloth sets (citrus grove, earth tones esp.)

• Make Circle dishcloth, contact NestOfManyColors about a trade.

Back Burner, but still on the stove

• Go through old stock, either donate or re-purpose items that are consistent non-sellers
• Crochet bow tie
• Ripple stitch blanket for Heather (?)
• Hat for Greg
• Ipad sleeve
• Christmas presents for those people that I can't put here on the internet.
• Secret present for Eric (c.p.)
• Several camo hats to go with picture that Harmony took, list in shop.

• Restock Chunky Beige Scarf
• Restock Lacey Scarf

• Restock Slippers
• Restock/add to newsboy cap stock (make grey, let welchva know)

• Restock fingerless gloves
• Make more peach fingerless gloves, then list with pics of Barbara's
• Make a scarf/cowl like the one Tonia asked about.
• Work on (finish?) garden of pink baby blanket, write up pattern.
• Make a hairband something along the lines of this.
• Dodger hat for Doug (?)
• Halloween costume (cowl) for Eric
• Halloween costume (rapunzel tangled wig) for Heather
• Make tassel hat in toddler size (and colors), list in etsy shop

Someday, (I hope!)

• Reclaim yarn from thrift store sweaters
• Make/Design Beret
• New Winter Cap for me, using that big button and 3 already made flowers.
• Design/Make Potholders (for wedding gifts)
• Design/experiment with long stocking caps (Robert)
• Afghan for M.E.C.
• Make/Design Soap Socks for family, gifts, possibly etsy shop.(popcorn stitch on one side, plain on the other.
• Re-learn to tat.

Image courtesy of vrangtantebrun

• Use up scrap yarn--new living room afghan?  Grandma Long Afghan?
• Make those dishtowels that hang from the stove
• Make/Design leg warmers for H and other girls?
• Make/Design/Refine Convertible Mittens pattern
• Go through specialty yarn, imaginate (scarves?)
• Make infant hats with interchangeable buttons to give as shower and general new baby gifts.  

One Last Dishcloth Post (for now)

Well, at times I might have thought this day would never come, but I'm finally out of dishcloth mode for a bit.  I finished the last set a few days ago, and (in keeping with my WIP list), checked my WIP pile, which I keep in a clear storage tote in the craft room that I share with my 3-year old, making it a craft/toy room.  (It's a small room, essentially it's the cupboard under the stairs.)

The next WIP that I'm on to now is fingerless gloves.  I'm restocking some of the old   ones, and before I'm done, I'll be adding a few new colors and styles as well.

But this post is all about the dishcloths.



I enjoy making dishcloths.  I love how they feel, I love how quickly they come together, and I especially love how they are appreciated when I give them as gifts.



I've yet to find something that is more enjoyable to use in kitchen cleaning than a hand-crocheted or hand-knit dishcloth, sprayed with a little homemade Clorox Clean-up.



Satisfaction.

Pick a Pick Dishcloth Pattern--a Charlotte Original

Here's the third of the three dishcloth patterns (but only the second pattern posted) that I discussed a little bit here.  I call this one "pick a pick", but I'm open to other names, it's just that none have struck my fancy quite yet.

At any rate, here are pictures, followed by the pattern.  Once again, my plan is to leave the pattern up here for the taking for the next little while, and then, when I have the pdf put together with the three patterns for the salutationscrochet etsy shop, I'll take this one down.  So, get the pattern while the getting is good, I guess!







PICK-A PICK Dishcloth

Materials:
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn, approximately 1.5 oz in color of your choice
Crochet Hook Size G, or size needed for gauge

Gauge:  in pattern rows, x st = 7”

Chain 20 loosely.  
ROW 1:  Sc in second ch from hook (counts as first sc), and in each ch across:  20 sc.
ROW 2:  Ch 2 (counts as first dc), turn; *sc in next sc, dc in next sc, repeat from * to end.  20 stitches.  
ROW 3:  Ch 2 (counts as first dc), turn; *sc in next dc, dc in next sc, repeat from * to end.  20 stitches.  
ROWS 4-18:  Repeat row 3.  

BORDER: With right side facing, ch 1, work 2 sc in same corner, *work 18 sc evenly spaced across to next corner, work 3 sc in corner; repeat from * 2 times more, work 18 sc evenly spaced across; join with slip st to first sc.  ROW 2:  Ch 1, sc in same st, 3 sc in next sc, * work sc in next 20 sc, work 3 sc in corner; repeat from * 2 times more, sc in each sc across; join with sl st to beg sc, finish off.  

Works in Progress, August Edition

Active Projects (work on one or more of these every day or close to that)

• Make 4 new dishcloth patterns, write up and put in shop
• restock dishcloth sets (citrus grove, earth tones esp.)

• Make Circle dishcloth, contact NestOfManyColors about a trade.

Back Burner, but still on the stove

• Go through everything in the clear tote, decide if I'm going to finish it or not.  If yes, put it on this list.  If no, donate it or toss it.
• Crochet bow tie
• Ripple stitch blanket for Heather (?)

• Hat for Greg
• Secret present for Eric (c.p.)
• Several camo hats to go with picture that Harmony took, list in shop.

• Restock Chunky Beige Scarf

• Restock Lacey Scarf

• Restock Slippers
• Restock/add to newsboy cap stock (make grey, let welchva know)

• Restock fingerless gloves
• Make more peach fingerless gloves, then list with pics of Barbara's

• Make a scarf/cowl like the one Tonia asked about.
• Work on (finish?) garden of pink baby blanket, write up pattern.
• Make a hairband something along the lines of this.
• Dodger hat for Doug (?)
• Halloween costume (cowl) for Eric
• Halloween costume (rapunzel tangled wig) for Heather
• Make tassel hat in toddler size (and colors), list in etsy shop

Someday, (I hope!)

• Reclaim yarn from thrift store sweaters
• Make/Design Beret
• New Winter Cap for me, using that big button and 3 already made flowers.
• Design/Make Potholders (for wedding gifts)
• Design/experiment with long stocking caps (Robert)
• Afghan for M.E.C.
• Make/Design Soap Socks for family, gifts, possibly etsy shop.(popcorn stitch on one side, plain on the other.
• Re-learn to tat.

Image courtesy of vrangtantebrun

• Use up scrap yarn--new living room afghan?  Grandma Long Afghan?
• Make those dishtowels that hang from the stove
• Make/Design leg warmers for H and other girls?
• Make/Design/Refine Convertible Mittens pattern
• Go through specialty yarn, imaginate (scarves?)
• Make infant hats with interchangeable buttons to give as shower and general new baby gifts.  

New Dishcloth Pattern--Waterfall

I've been venturing out and working on a few new dishcloth patterns lately.  My plan is to put together a set of three patterns, and when they're done and have been tested, I'll format them to be sold as a set in my etsy shop.  In the meantime though, I figure I'll put the pattern(s) up here to give y'all a chance to enjoy them if you wish, and also to hopefully get a few more people working on them and letting me know if there are bugs to be fixed.  

Anyway, this is actually the second of the three patterns that I've made up, but the first that I've actually made into sets and photographed.

(Only the red/brown cloth is in the waterfall pattern.  The other two are a basic hdc pattern that I got off the back label of my peaches 'n creme yarn cone.)










Waterfall Dishcloth

Materials:
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn, approximately xx oz in color A and approximately xx oz in color B
Crochet Hook Size G, or size needed for gauge

Gauge:  in half double crochet, x st = 7”

With Color A, Chain 20 loosely.  
ROW 1:  Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across:  19 sc.
ROW 2:  Ch 1 (counts as first sc, now and always), turn;  sc in each st across:  19 sc.
ROW 3:  Ch 1, turn; sc in each st across, Change Colors..  
ROW 4:  Ch 1, turn; sc in next four sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind,  sc in next five sc, rep from* once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sc in last sc.  
ROW 5:  Ch 1, turn;  sc in each st across., change colors.
ROW 6:  Ch 1, turn; sc in next 3 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next five sc, rep from * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sc in last 2 sc.
ROW 7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,:  Rep Row 5
ROW 8:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 2 sc, * work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sc in last 3 sc.
ROW 10:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sc in last 4 sc.
ROW 12:  Ch 1 turn, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * twice.
ROW 14:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 6 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once.  
ROW 16:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 5 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, work sc in last sc two rows below.  
ROW 18:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 4 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in last sc.
ROW 20:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 3 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in last 2 sc.
ROW 22:  Ch 1 turn, sc in next 2 sc, *work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in next 5 sc, rep form * once, work sc in next sc two rows below, sk sc behind, sc in last 3 sc.
ROW 23:  Ch 1 turn, sc in each st across, fasten off.

BORDER: ROW 1:  With right side facing, join color B in in any corner stitch.  Work 3 sc in same corner, *work 18 sc evenly spaced across to next corner, work 3 sc in corner; repeat from * 2 times more, work 18 sc evenly spaced across; join with slip st to first sc.  ROW 2:  Ch 1, sc in same st, 3 sc in next sc, * work sc in next 20 sc, work 3 sc in corner; repeat from * 2 times more, sc in each sc across; join with sl st to beg sc, finish off.  

Possibly the Most Rewarding Afghan I've Made

So, I haven't been doing a whole lot of dishcloths, sunhats, hairbands, slippers, or anything else lately.  Wanna know why?

(I know you can hardly contain your curiosity.)

A dear friend of mine got married last month, and I was madly working on an afghan to give her.  I (perhaps foolishly) determined to give a new pattern a go, a pattern I bought many many years ago, but hadn't gotten around to making yet.

source

Sixty-three different patterns for one afghan?  Sounds like a lot of work, and it kind of was.  But, it was fun work, and it was really intriguing to see how the afghan started to take shape the more squares I got finished up.

Here's a picture I took after having worked on it for about two weeks:


My friend requested a green/tan/ecru color palette, versus the green/ecru/rose palette in the pattern.



It took me about a month and a half to complete.  Here are a few shots of the finished product:



I did a more simple edging than the one called for in the pattern.  That's because I ran very low on yarn and I was down to the wire time-wise.

(And, by "down to the wire", I mean, I finished this baby up the day before the wedding!)



I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and I just love the thought of it being in my friends new newlywed house.  Is that silly, or just sentimental?  Either way, it is what it is.

Makes me want to make one for myself.  Maybe someday . . .