Red-Does-Not-Go-Faster Scarf

Photo courtesy of Kris

I made another crochet scarf!  I promise, one day soon I'll be brave and move past scarves (though I still have one in progress), but this was a gift.  It was only two..  or three weeks late.  But it finally got to its new home.

The body of the scarf is a simple ribbed treble crochet (ie, a row of back loop treble [rs], then a row of front loop treble [ws]), and the ends are a funky stitch, the name of which I don't remember, but I think it looks and feels like a really really lush carpet, so for now I'll call it carpet stitch.  It sounds complicated (though it's not, I mean, seriously, I can even do it!), and I have no idea how to draw it, so I'll just explain it:

First Row:  tr in each stitch to end, do not turn

Second Row: ch 7, sl st into front loop of last tr, *ch 7, sl st into front loop of next tr, repeat from * to end, including top of turning chain of first row, do not turn

Third Row:  ch 3, *tr into back loop of next tr, repeat from * to end

You can vary the length of the chain for a different look, but because a treble stitch is three chain high, it will extend below the row you're stitching into.

I used an 8 ply wool because it came in a big enough ball that I knew I'd easily finish the scarf without having to buy more, but it was really really fine.  To make a thicker fabric I used two strands of wool at once.  For the first few rows, that was tricky, but I soon got the hang of it.

To finish, I did a border in crab stitch, one of the coolest simple edging stitch I know of.  Starting from the right hand side (yup, another r-l stitch) simply dc into each st.  Because you're working right to left, the wool from the ball is caught in the stitch and makes it look woven.  Really cool, especially if you have limited wool left, and once I worked out how to do it right (instructions are no substitute for experimentation), it worked pretty quickly.

So that's another project done!  Soon, I may start feeling accomplished!

Another Graphics Fairy-Inspired Pretty

I mentioned a long time ago now that I had taken a picture from Graphics Fairy, transferred it onto some calico, and stitched it for an engagement present for a friend.  Well, last weekend, I was finally able to give it to her, and so can now show it off.

I am really pleased with how it came out, especially as a few elements caused me some real frustration.  Here's the original picture:

The first thing I did was hand stencil the banner with 'Congratulations'.  Then I used my trusty (and much shorter now!) 2B pencil to colour the back of the paper, then pinned it to the calico.  Then, just as I have done with the canvases I've been doing, I traced over the image with a pen.  Then I just stitched it!

There are a few French knots, and almost-grub roses, but it's mostly backstitch and satin stitch.  I really must learn to vary the stitches I use, hopefully that way I will cut down the amount of time spent on each piece, as there are quicker ways of filling spaces and doing flowers.

I also must start recording the numbers of the threads I use, at least for the projects that are intended as presents.  I hate that I look at this picture now, months after I finished it, and think that a certain colour is lovely, knowing that I took a thread from three different colours to make it.  I'll never be able to recreate it from the photo.  Live and learn!

Have you got any projects that you've been meaning to finish?  I still have heaps and heaps of them.  I have changed my mind about what one of my canvases is going to be since I painted it far too dark for its original purpose.  I'll talk about that more next week.  I also have gnomey to finish.  I have finished project 'red does not go faster' scarf, it simply needs steaming and sending (I promised it'd be in the mail yesterday, but I forgot to ask Mum how to steam it).  So I'm keeping busy!

Another Absence

Hi!  The weather has been so depressing here lately that I haven't been motivated to do much other than cook and sew and crochet.  This is why last week's Links of the Week have come out today (and have last week's date on them).

I have finished my friend's birthday present scarf, and have to finish edging it, then block it, then send it.  The copies of my thesis that I had bound weeks ago are still sitting on the floor behind the couch waiting to be sent.  My gnome picture that was the stitch along at Feeling Stitchy LAST month, is still going (I even finished a whole flower yesterday), but I have realised that the beads we got at Spotlight last week are too big to use for everywhere I wanted to put a bead, so when Mum goes to the hospital for x rays (her doctor thinks she might have arthritis!) on Monday, I will tag along and pop into Spotlight again for some smaller beads.

I made a recipe from World of Cake that, if I had followed the instructions properly would never have worked (please people, check your quantities before recipe books go to the printer!) because it listed 1c of flour for about 3 or more cups of liquid, and assumed a bread-like dough would result.  Three extra cups of flour were, luckily, in the cupboard.  I made another recipe from that book and it turned out fabulously, so I stand by my claim that the book rocks.  I made this (delicious!), and also these (best chocolate chip/chunk biscuits ever!).

And today I am listening to hours of podcasts, broken up by listening to Bjork.  I will try to be better about posting more regularly again.  I was doing so well, too!  What are you up to?  Is anyone reading this enjoying the freezing weather here in NZ?  I'm sure we could amuse ourselves by asking everyone we talk to how many layers they're wearing (thermal singlet, t shirt, two jumpers, two pairs of pants, socks, thermal socks,...  does a wheat bag count as a layer?)!

Disney Family Dvd Marathon

This week I've been sitting crocheting (this is why I haven't posted much in the last few weeks - nothing to post about, I'm just sitting, crafting, not finishing things), and to keep myself from going completely insane, I've been watching dvd after dvd.  It's a great opportunity to feel less guilty about watching some of my favourite movies for the first time in ages.

Yesterday I watched Swiss Family Robinson:

Stranded on a deserted island after an encounter with pirates, a storm, and then a rocky reef, the Robinson family settle in for what they think might be a long stay.  They build a fantastic tree house (it's worth watching the movie just for this!) with indoor plumbing and a cool box; tame animals as varied as zebras, elephants, ostriches, and even catch a tiger; and wonder what to do next.

So the two eldest boys set off in one of the boats salvaged from the shipwreck to circumnavigate the island.  On this journey they meet the pirates again, who have captured an admiral and a cabin boy to hold for ransom.  Saving the cabin boy enrages the pirates so much that they seek out the family to get the boy back and restore their honour.  However, they don't count on the initiative and resourcefulness of the family!

On Monday I watched Blackbeard's Ghost:

Blackbeard, the well-known and, in his time, universally-feared pirate is revered in the seaside university town of Godolphin and an Inn furnished with artefacts from his life, is run by his elderly descendents.  Steve, the new coach of the floundering Godolphin Track Team, arrives at the Inn to find they are holding a fund raising event to aid in the payment of their mortgage.  If this mortgage is not paid in time, the land will be sold to the local crooks who intend to open a casino there (based on an ambiguity as to which jurisdiction the land falls under).

Hoping to impress the head of the conservation committee, Steve buys an expensive bedwarmer, and taking it to his room promtly sits on it and breaks it.  Within the handle he finds the spell book of one of Blackbeard's wives, and brings Blackbeard back to life.  What follows is a very funny story about Steve's efforts to get Blackbeard off his back, save the Inn, and get the girl.  If you need more convincing, there's a great scene where Steve shoots the gangsters with his finger *pew pew*...  and it works!

Today I'm going to watch The Absent-Minded Professor:

Professor Brainard is brilliant, but completely unconnected to the real world.  The film opens with him missing his own wedding because he is so caught up in his scientific experiments, for what is obviously not the first time.  However, he has found something amazing - a substance that breaks the law of conservation of energy, which can be demonstrated by showing that a ball of the substance will bounce higher on its second bounce than its first.  The Professor uses what he calls Flubber to make his university's basketball team fly through the air, his car fly (into government controlled airspace, no less), and finally to win back the heart of his fiance.  It's a really sweet funny movie.

They don't make movies like this any more - ones that can appeal to children and parents because they are funny, full of action, and have great stories and characters.  The only place you do sometimes see this these days is in animated movies like Shrek, and some anime.  They don't talk down to children, but are still appropriate for them.  They're not afraid to have some slapstick and groan-worthy moments; they're silly.  "I like corny, I'm looking for corny in my life".  Do you have any favourite movies from when you were a kid that you still love watching?  Let me know!

Things

I've just realised I've not posted anything since last week!  What have I been up to?  I made brioches, I started yet another canvas (this time it's actually for me!), found out a friend got engaged :-), found out I didn't get the library job I was interviewed for :-(, picked up the copies of my thesis from the bindery (see the photo below), went bowling for the first time in two years (and my score really showed it!), continued working on another crocheted scarf (a bright red one for a birthday present), emptied everything other than furniture out of my room in an attempt to eliminate all traces of dust, then cleaned the walls, and have started to put everything back in.  So not all that much really.

 

Oh, I also started writing a book review, which I haven't finished, and decided not to finish China Mieville's The City and The City (mostly because I don't like his writing style - the story on the other hand, was pretty ingenious).  Instead I'm reading Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.  The last Verne I read was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, otherwise known as The Fish Directory due to its almost complete lack of plot and frequent ichthyological infodumps.  But hey, who can dislike a book where a giant cuttlefish tries to kill you?

This week, I am going to finish the new canvas, birthday crochet scarf, and mission bedroom-tidy-up.  And I think I will request Supernatural season two from the library.  And seeing as it's fine, I might just go for a walk.

Yesterday

Yesterday Mum and I had a hectic day.  Last week we had planned for her to take today off and we would go to the city, get my thesis printed for the last time, and then send it off (through the Auckland University library) to be bound.  However, I was asked to the first round of interviews for a job I had applied for (oh my gosh, so excited!!  It was my first interview in years!), so Mum changed her day off and came in to meet me after the interview.

The interview went really well, I think.  I would be disappointed if they didn't ask me for a second interview, because I feel like I did really well.  After that we went down to Warehouse Stationary, had the thesis printed (with dramas), then went back up to the library to get it sent off.  Now that doesn't sound like much drama, but I met Mum at about ten past 11, and we didn't get the thesis sent off until after 2.  But it's off and done and I'm pleased.  Then I looked at the bus timetable, read it wrong, and we ended up catching a bus that didn't come past our house (there are two different local routes), so Mum had the great idea to hop off that one and hop on the one that she usually gets home from work.  So it was a long day!

Now today...  I think I'll do nothing much, housework, maybe some crochet.  Oh!  I forgot to mention; while waiting for the thesis to be printed, we found that the wool shop that we both remember from 20 years ago is still in Downtown Shopping Centre (it's between the food court and the overbridge), so we popped in for a look.  We ended up asking the lovely lady behind the counter about crochet patterns because, for some reason, they're quite tricky to find, compared to knitting patterns.  She agreed and said that despite the fact that it's coming back into fashion, the patterns haven't caught up.  And, here's the great thing, she said she liked my scarf!  Someone who looks at wool crafts all day admired my very first crochet project.  How proud am I?!  Very.

So, what's been happening with you?  Any new projects to share?  Do tell!

Shell Lace Crochet Scarf (With Free Pattern)

Ages ago I posted that I had finished two projects.  One of them still hasn't been given to the person it's intended for, so I still can't post about it, but the other is my crocheted scarf.  Yesterday morning I made myself sit down with Stitch'N Bitch Crochet - The Happy Hooker, which explains how to sew in the ends (hey, I'm new at this!  None of the other beginner's crochet books tell you how to do this, by the way, so yay Debbie Stoller!), and actually do it.  I'm convinced I'm going to get a hairball from threading the needle, but it's done.

Isn't it pretty?  I'm really proud of this because it's my first project and it went so well and I can actually use it.  I taught myself to crochet about a week before I started this, and it only took me a week of evenings to finish it (and about three weeks to get around to sewing in the ends).  It has a base chain of 31 st, and is ~ 18cm by 184cm.

The pattern is really simple:
V:  1tr, 2ch, 1tr
Shell:  5tr

Multiple of 5st + 4
(add 2 for base chain)
Row 1:  V into 8th ch from hook.  *3ch, skip 4ch, V, repeat from *, ending in 2ch, skip 2ch, 1tr into last ch, turn.
Row 2:  3ch, *Shell into 2ch sp of next V, repeat from * ending in 1tr into 5th of 7 ch at beginning of previous row, turn.
Row 3:  5ch, V into middle tr of first Shell.  *3ch, V into middle tr of next Shell, repeat from *, ending in 2ch, 1tr into 3rd of 3ch at beginning of precious row, turn.
Row 4:  3ch, *Shell into 2ch sp of next V, repeat from * ending in 1tr into 3rd of 5ch at beginning of previous row, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until desired length is achieved.
 

Sorry about the quality of the chart, I did it myself on a piece of refill and scanned it in because I couldn't find a program on the internet that makes crochet charts (for free).  If you know of any, let me know and I'll redo it!

I found a variation of this pattern in Basic Crochet Stitches by Erika Knight*, where you alternate Shells and Vs on a row, then carry on Shell-ing into Vs and V-ing into Shells.  It's denser because it needs fewer ch (the Shell becomes the ch between two Vs):

(Click on the image for a bigger version)

*The entry on Mighty Ape for this book has a different cover picture to the one I'm looking at, so I'm not 100% sure it's the right book.

Home Theatre System

This is my current home theatre system (the speakers are from a c1999 Gateway computer, but are still pretty decent).

And that's the 20 year old 12" that's filling in for our tv after it blew up.

And that's my current crochet project - Mum's scarf.

Finishing is Winning!

I finished two projects yesterday.  Yes TWO!  The scarf I started last weekend is now beautifully long and warm and I will post a picture soon once the ends are sewn in.

Also an engagement present for a friend has been finished, finally (it's about two months overdue!), and a post will be dedicated to it once she has been given it.

If any of you are like me; someone who starts a lot of projects and never finishes them; you'll understand how confused I am.  Confused, but pleased!

Is it Thursday already?!

Sorry for the lack in posts, I have been busy.  Busy doing not much, but busy all the same.  I have scanned book pages into my computer as if my life depended on it (which it almost does; Mum's getting annoyed that books are always overdue and threatened to make me use my own library card!), and have continued working on my scarf (I seem to be addicted!).  Today I am aiming to start a new project (I know, I know, but this one's a time-sensitive present!), continue listening to the backlog of podcasts (I'm getting there, only another 190 to go, down from about 250 this week), and vacuum.  Exciting times!  Here's a pretty picture to tide you over til I get around to the next post (it will be about the books I have been busily scanning):