About Me

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I'm married 40 years, and have 3 grown sons, all of whom live in other states. I miss them all terribly. I've been crocheting and knitting for about 38 years now. Nothing fancy, just baby stuff, afghans, and dishcloths. I'm hoping to learn some new techniques, especially felting, using circular needles, and maybe knitting socks. I became a grandma for the first time, and so far only time, 3 1/2 years ago. My granddaughter's name is Lucy and is absolutely adorable! Due to living so very far apart, and a one month hospital stay in 2011, we've only seen her once. I hate living so far apart!

Friday, July 27, 2012

"Ravellenic Games 2012" Project and Musings

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be participating in Ravelry's "Ravellenic Games 2012" beginning tomorrow. I will be attempting to start and finish a sweater, child's size, during the Olympics. It's just a basic stockinette stitch, raglan sleeve, crew neck pullover. There will be a "mass cast on" during the opening ceremonies and hopefully, we will all finish our projects before the Olympics closing ceremonies.
I'll be using a new-to-me yarn. I'm using Red Heart Soft Yarn. I'm using the colors, Plummy and Lavender, although I may just use Plummy.
Here are the colors
Plumy

Lavender
 I'm still undecided whether to use the Lavender for the ribbing on the hem, cuffs and collar. I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll have to stripe the whole sweater and I really don't want a striped sweater, at least not this time. 

I like the texture of the RH Soft but I have a hunch it may be on the splitty side. If it is, I'll just have to make the best of it. This sweater is for a child and I wanted something nice and soft, and cuddly for her.

I'm going to try to keep a running log of my progress. At least, that's my intention right now. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Playing Catch Up Once Again


Once again it's been a very long time since I've posted anything. There are lots of reasons, not the least of which is simple procrastination. Also, I was injured in a fall last year and spent a month in the hospital and am now in a wheelchair. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact. Complaining does no good and doesn't change anything. I'm just grateful that I no longer am in the constant pain I was in prior to my fall.

I am now a Grandma!!! My darling Lucy Marie was born almost 3 years ago. We went to see her for her Christening when she was 8 months old. We had planned to see her for her 2nd birthday but instead I was in the hospital. It broke my heart to not be able to make the trip! I'm so afraid she's going to grow up not knowing me and her Papa. We're planning on going to see her, and her Mommy and Daddy sometime this coming Spring. I can hardly wait!!


Naturally, since knowing I was about to become a Grandma, all my knitting and crocheting has been done for Lucy, and I've loved every minute of it!

The very first thing I made for her was this pair of baby tube socks. The pattern is Bev's Knit Tube Socks Beverly A. Qualheim. I love this pattern because it's so easy and so fast to work up. 



My next project for my darling Lucy was this layette.




I used Bernat Baby Coordinates in Green. I normally use Boye crochet hooks, but I found with this yarn a Susan Bates hook worked better for me. The yarn tended to split with the Boye hook. The pattern came from Baby Layettes to Knit and Crochet by Jeannine LaRoche from Leisure Arts #460, Baby Layettes Book 2.   Here is my sweet baby laying on the blanket on her first Christmas. The sweater was much too big for her to wear yet. Not living nearby it's hard for me to estimate what size to make for her. She eventually wore it for Mother's Day 2011.






I also crocheted a blanket for her Christening. The pattern is from The Little Box of Crochet for Baby. I neglected to get a picture of it once it was finished or with her using it on her Christening Day. It did turn out beautiful, though.





Once we got home after spending a week with Lucy and her Mommy and Daddy, I started on a couple of hats for her. I had never attempted using circular needles in the past, but decided now was as good a time as any. I bought a new leaflet All American Kid by Edie Eckman from American School of Needlework #1344, Quick-to-Knit Baby Hats & Socks and started what I thought would be the easiest. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected it to be. I used Red Heart Bikini because I love bright colors. This is how it turned out and how it looked on Lucy.








Now I'm in the process of making her another hat from the same book. This one will be a stocking style hat, sort of a Santa style, but longer. I'm making it in green, white and orange, the colors of the Irish flag. I hope to have it finished for her for Christmas.


I have more but I think I'll post them in a few days.


The Olympics will be starting in a couple of days. Along with many, many other members of Ravelry, I will be participating in what used to be called the "Ravelympics" but is now known as the "Ravellenic Games" due to a dispute with the US Olympic Committee. I will be attempting to make my Lucy a sweater.Wish me luck!!






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