Critical Mass

My stash has officially reached critical mass. I am embarrassed to say that it may now be considered a self-sustaining entity. I say this because as I packed it all away, it tried to escape from what will have to be its old storage place ( a plastic thing that a queen-sized comforter came in). As we were packing up my things, one of my best friends tried to zip the bag and it burst at top seam. The sad and possibly dangerous part was the fact that we continued to find skeins/balls of yarn as we packed up the rest of my small bedroom. I mean I actually found yarn that I didn't know that I had. I don't remember buying it or anything. This leads me to suspect that my yarn stash has actually found a way to reproduce and may be plotting to take over Music City U.S.A. The sad sad part of this situation is that all of the aforementioned yarn is acrylic/acrylic blend and wool. This means that I'm seeking lighter/summer-safe yarns. I'm also looking to expand the types of yarns I use as I'm thinking that acrylic is great, cheap, and good for a lot of things, but not always appropriate. I've been scoping out some cotton/linen/silks and reading up on them to see what I might be getting myself into. The stash is big, but at this rate it might be out of control soon.

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I HATE Sleeves

So I got my crochet mojo back. I've been working on Tammy Hilderbrand's "Chicago Swing Jacket" since late last month. I can only crochet for short stretches so I'm just now getting to the sleeves. I'm sure I mentioned my hatred when I wrote about Afya's "It's a Wrap". Well, Chicago hasn't made me love them anymore. It's my second "large wearable" and the sleeve construction was new to me. The shoulder (a sort of cap-sleeve) was made first and then the rest of the sleeve is worked. I'm including some pictures of the item and a close-up of the offending pre-sleevage
So far I've used just shy of 2 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather (it looks silver to me due to the sheen of the yarn). I'm guessing it'll end up being around 2 and a third maybe a half. I haven't found buttons I want to use just yet. I thought about finding some large sew on rhinestones and using those for a bit of pop. That or grey square buttons. I really don't want to crochet the buttons like the pattern suggest. Decisions decisions.

You have an addiction....

When you have crochet patterns in your blackberry and your ipod touch... This realization is brought to you by the Letter H, Happy Hooking :)

excuse my mess

The page will be down until further notice :( If you're here to see samples of my work. Look around, and contact me at nappythreadz@gmail.com

Crochet Christmas Randomosity

Okay, so no pictures today. Just a nice list of things that I need to make and package before Christmas. I have only managed to finish a neck warmer for my favorite newlywed. That still means I need to do a hat for the set, and a hat for "that man". I need to make a little purse for my friend's daughter, but I think it might be forced to wait until after Christmas. I don't like to make her wait, because I promised it to her soooo long ago, but I also have a paper to write, and a final to prepare for :(. I'm kind of happy to say it though, I've been abandoning my craft time in favor of quality time. Maybe I'll say more later lol. Oh yeah and let my not forget the top part of a sweater that's staring at me from across the room. I'm working top down and in the round based on the Sweet template on Crochet me. I started working it up in Lion-brand wool-ease, but I realized it'd be more cozy in homespun (I LOVE the Lagoon color) It's this amazing teal with wisps of plum-my purple. It's just gorgeous. Not the most expensive yarn, but hey I'm on a budget. I am going to finish the wool-ease version, maybe do something tunic length. (I have a butt load of the yarn; I purchased it for a project a year or so ago, and it didn't work for the pattern. There may be pictures... in January.

Rheatheylia's Cable Hat better known as Copper Cables

So, I've finished another item, yay me. It is Rheatheylia's now infamous crochet cables hat. I made mine from a coppery (looks straight up orange), 100% Peruvian wool, once again from the LYS. I took me about a week to finish and this is with random on and off working mostly on the bus. On Sunday, some random ass dude came up and asked if I was making a kufi.... I just gave him the stink eye and kept it moving. Now without further ado, Copper Cables

House Slippers

Ok so what the slippers are two different shades of blue lol I like them that way. I'm also like super ashy in this picture (I'm sick and it's cold lemme lone) I followed (loosely) a pattern from a forum on craftster. These suckers are warm and toasty, I used one strand of Lion Brand Homespun and a strand of worsted weight wool from my LYS (it's like multiple shades of blue same yarn as the wrist warmers). The pattern was supper easy and the only problem is I crocheted the darker slipper with an N hook (started ) and finished with a K so it's not as stiff as the light blue one which I worked completely with the K. Oh well Newbie-ness strikes again. What do ya think?

El Fin de Purple Passion

There it is the fruit of my labour lol. I actually finished it at about 3am Friday morning. I couldn't sleep so I decided to finish. My mother loved it. Now I'm off to work on some mittens, a hat, and a neck warmer (in the same purple). It's getting cold and I'm determined not to buy any knitwear accessories this fall/winter. The hat will be last as I need to figure out something big enough to hold may growing hair... any suggestions.

Afya's Wrap Top... Almost there

So I got a lot of discouraged when I realized that I had to frog my left sleeve (the final league, of my first real wearable's, journey). I've dragged myself up out of the dirt, and I'm on my way again. Tonight, while watching the debate, I began reworking it and added the necessary increases to the upper arm. I love Afya's patterns, but like a lot of patterns, it never fails that I have to do a bit of altering and changes to get them just right. When I look at the piece hanging on my closet door, the sleeves look crazy but it fits perfectly. I'm not complaining. There's a hint of chill coming on and I think that this top will aid me in my journey to warmth.. Oh yeah! I'm naming my top.... Purple Passion. LOL I know I know, but it's fun.

See just a bit further

Once I finish the sleeves I plan on finishing with two rows of half double crochet in black. Maybe by Saturday.