potholder madness!

March 26, 2012 by 3 Comments

Yes, I made another one!  Made with Caron Simply Soft (100% acrylic yarn), this will be just a decoration — I won’t actually use it because I don’t want to melt it.  This one’s a simple granny square backed with a square made of double crochet.

Sticking with my Cath Kidston-y colors!  I love it so much!

Sorry if you think potholders are boring, and are therefore tired of my multiple potholder posts.  I just think they’re so homey and quaint (in the best sense)!  I might make one more out of the same colors so that I have three that match and can hang them in a group.

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double take

March 25, 2012 by 2 Comments

I liked the first potholder so much that I made another one today, with the exact same pattern, just different yarn.  This time I used Berocco Vintage Chunky, which is only 50% acrylic and therefore less likely to melt on my hand if in use.  I think the first one would be OK, but I don’t want to chance it.  So anyway, here is potholder #2:

I used the leftover yarn from my flower sunburst granny square blanket.  I think it turned out really nice, even though it’s very large.  This one is 11″ wide, while the first one was only 8.5″ wide:

Despite the large size,  I really like it.  I’m going to give this one away as a gift, actually, but I’ll keep the first one.

Thanks for stopping by today!

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back to hooking

March 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After all this knitting, I realized I was neglecting crochet horrendously.  I therefore looked up a new pattern that I hadn’t tried yet and made an ornamental potholder!

Ta-da!  I found this on Ravelry, which sent me to this original pattern from Crochet with Raymond.  I did a few things in the pattern my own way, like centering the granny increases in row 7 to be above the petals, but I really do like this pattern!  The center motif is called an African flower, and it’s becoming quite popular these days in all kinds of projects.  I had a bit of trouble in a couple of places, just being uncertain exactly what the pattern meant, but I think I succeeded.

The pattern calls for a back layer, which you can see through the granny gaps, and that really does make it suitable for picking up hot kitchen items.  I’m afraid I won’t be using mine for that, however, because I used Caron Simply Soft yarn and I’m scared that the acrylic would melt on my hand instantly on contact with a hot pan, or something like that.  Scary.  I think I’ll just hang it above my kitchen sink to add some cheer to my dismal 1970s typical apartment kitchen.

I might make more potholders soon to hang beside this one — I think they’re really charming, even though the idea of hanging potholders is very old-fashioned.  I remember my grandma had some hanging on her kitchen wall when I was little.  Although the idea is an old one, I think it can be done in a pretty, modern way.  That’s what I’m trying to do, anyway.  Let me know if I’m failing.  It just seems so cheery and homey, which I’ve been big into lately.  Well, I’m out for the night — it’s past 2 am here and time for bed!

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the end of break

March 17, 2012 by 3 Comments

I’m so sad that my spring break is almost done, especially since I wasn’t nearly as productive as I thought I would be with my yarn crafts.  I visited my parents, had a few days of doing nothing, and watched both existing seasons of Downton Abbey in the past 3 days.  It’s been great, especially with the wonderful warm weather!  Hard to believe spring is already here, but the 80 degree weather is proof!

Today I went to my favorite yarn store and picked up some new things!  First off is a new book:

This book is all about knitting socks, and I’m super excited to get started on something!  I’m a little concerned that the patterns will be too difficult for me before I get some more knitting practice in, because none of them are very basic.  They’re all so pretty though!  Here’s the Amazon link if you want to check it out.

I also got some gorgeous, soft new yarn:

This gorgeous soft stuff is Merino 5, made of 100% merino.  I got the fall herbs color, even though it’s spring now, because I just loved the brightness.  I got 2 of them, so I think if I have enough of it I’ll make a knitted hat and  a crocheted hat, just to see the difference in them when placed side by side.  I hope there’s enough of it!  If not I’ll be really sad.  It’s just so pretty!

I’ll leave you now — I must go to Wal-Mart and look for some gardening things with the boyfriend, who wants to make some planter boxes and grow different kinds of peppers on our back patio.  I’m excited!  Tata!

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spring break is already productive

March 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’m off to a good start as far as being super-crafty over spring break!  This weekend I’ve already made a hat!  Now before you get too excited, I must say it’s a knitted hat, not a crocheted one.  It’s my second knitted hat ever, and I modeled it after something I found on Ravelry the other day.  I think it turned out well.  It was made with the remaining yarn from the two cushions I recently made, and I feel a couple more knitted hats coming on from those same leftovers.  Anyway, here’s the hat on top of my stuffed new craft bag:

You know, I think I like knitting partially because it takes more time and less yarn than crocheting does, both of which save me money on yarn (and for a struggling grad student, that’s awesome).  I do apologize, though, for not having any cool new crochet things to share with you today.  Hopefully there will be something in the works soon!

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