2 week freeform challenge

Tonight I started work on what I've dubbed my 2 week freeform challenge... I decided I wanted to use up some of my elann sonata to make a top. I'm giving myself until July 8th to finish the top... Wish me luck

Yes, I'm still Here

I haven't disappeared I swear. I'm even managing to get some crochet in. I actually finished Doris Chan's Eve's Rib. I just work way way way too much now that I'm back to normal. So yes this is a drive by post but I figure it's better than nothing lol.

This One, That One, and That Over There

That's about how I feel right now. There are several Interweave Crochet patterns that I want, but find myself totally uninterested in the rest of the patterns from that issue. I think they should make the things available a la cart so that hip chic cool kids like myself can just buy the one's we want. Heck do it online and there wouldn't be much overhead (so I think)... I'm just saying you know.

J'adore Doris Chan

Man oh man do I adore Doris Chan. Her designs are beautiful and well thought out, and her patterns are well written. Couple that with the fact that she's wonderfully sweet and very helpful, and you have an incredible lady.

So why the random praise of Doris? Well I ordered her book, Everyday Crochet last Friday. I received it on Tuesday and began working on the Cameo camisole that night. Well last night I ran into some confusion with the body part of the pattern. I contacted Doris on Ravelry, and within a couple of hours, she responded. I was stoked that #1 I was doing it properly and #2 she responded so quickly. So now I'm working on my top and it's all thanks to Doris that I'm no longer stuck. I'm thinking I might go down a hook size for some waist shaping, but other than that I'm going to work as instructed. I just hope I can manage to finish it by next week.

*In other news I finished my Shoulder Lean and man does the Amazon yarn stretch. I'm thinking I might wash again and throw it in the dryer to try and draw it up some.

* I keep seeing these Namaste bags and I really want one. Perfect combo of two of my loves... huge purses and yarn (they're designed to hold projects as well as everything else).

One the Hard way or my random arm warmer

Size J Hook and half a skein of Vanna's Choice

This started out as the wrist warmer from Crochet that fits, but by the time I modified it to fit my forearm it definitely didn't look like Mary Jane's pattern. The problem arose when it came time to sew it closed, the wrist area is actually a bit loose, but the forearm wouldn't even close so I whipped out my hook and added four rows of varying lengths. This made it look a bit like the back of a skirt but it also allowed for a larger forearm. I did this because every since my surgery, cold makes my wrist hurt.

Stash Snap

Yes I just wrote about having too much yarn en stash, and no that hasn't stopped me from acquiring more. In my defense, the Lion Brand yarns were purchased for $1.50 a piece from Big Lots, and the Needful Amazon was a steal on elann.com. I don't have an excuse for the Elann Sonata, save I love the color. I am using the Needful and the Jiffy for projects.... see it's totally ok. Yes, I just did that to justify my yarn buying. No, I do not think I have a problem.

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.

I'm on Ravelry and Twitter

Come check me out nappythreadz on both.

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 :)