garter stitch blanket: ta da!

July 21, 2015 by 22 Comments

Started in May of 2014, this blanket really seems to have been a long time in the making.  I am so, so pleased with how it turned out!

garter stitch blanket

 

Using KnitPicks’ Comfy Worsted yarn (75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic), this stretchy, cozy, soft blanket measures about 42″ wide by 66″ high, perfect for a lap blanket or curling up in a chair (in particular the leather chair pictured).  I used 3 skeins of each of the 5 color blocks and 1 skein for the darker gray border:

garter stitch blanket border

 

It’s crocheted!  I thought after posting about the books that included both knitting and crocheting I would mix it up a bit and try something new, and I really like it.  I only wish I’d had enough yarn to go around a 3rd, 4th, or even 5th time, but I’d have to order more yarn and I’m so excited to be done after over a year that I can’t wait anymore!

The border is not nearly as stretchy as the body of the blanket, though, and I hope it doesn’t become a problem in the future.  It wouldn’t look very nice if the knitted portion expanded a great deal over time or in the wash and the crocheted border stubbornly remained the same size.  We shall see.

Now I’m all ready to go and start a knitted sweater, but I have a feeling my enthusiasm would not last the full time required by the project.  Crochet really is so much faster!

Well that’s all for today, thanks for stopping by!

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what’s on the bookshelf? books with knitting & crochet

July 18, 2015 by 7 Comments

My mini-series of posts about crafting books is coming to a close.  My knitting books and my crocheting books are great, but I have a couple  left to share that actually have both in them (& more).

Hannah's Crafty Books

 

First up is a book called Freeform Style, and just by the name you can probably tell it’s very whimsical.

Freeform Style

 

I have not made anything from it yet, but some of the ideas and techniques are cool and can be applied to other items.  Who else kinda thinks the hat looks like octopus tentacles?  I really like the wrap she’s wearing, though, so that might be a nice pattern to make!  Here’s another example:

Freeform Style example

I do like the idea of using both knitting and crochet in the same piece.

This next one though, while it has knitting, crochet, and embroidery patterns, doesn’t really mix them together like that.  This is more of a traditional book that, while older, is a great resource.  It’s the Better Homes and Gardens Complete Book of Knitting Crochet & Embroidery.  My ex’s mom gave this to me and I’m really glad I still have it:

Knitting Crochet & Embroidery

 

It has samples of various techniques for all of these specific crafts, and it even has specific methods such as aran knitting:

Knitting Crochet & Embroidery example

Another specific method it demonstrates is filet crochet:

Knitting Crochet & Embroidery example

 

And then of course it has full patterns, too.  I really want to make this hat (I tried back when I first got it but was still too new to crochet to understand the slightly older way of writing patterns):

Knitting Crochet & Embroidery example

 

Well, that concludes my bookshelf tour (well, my knitting and crochet book section, at least)!  Hope you enjoyed it.  Thanks for stopping by, see you soon!

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what’s on the bookshelf? crochet edition

July 7, 2015 by 10 Comments

I haven’t gone through my crafty books lately so I decided to look through and share with you at the same time!  Here’s my modest collection of knitting & crochet books:

Hannah's Crafty Books

Today I’m just doing the crochet books.  I’ll get to the knitting ones another time!  First up:

Creepy Cute Crochet

Creepy Cute Crochet is super awesome.  My ex got it for me but I still love it.  I’ve made many of the items, including the vampire princess, the Dia de los Muertos couple, the corporate zombie, and more (and I ad-libbed a Bobba Fett for Chris a long time ago).  They’re fun, quick, and adorable!

Creepy Cute Crochet Nosferatu

 

Creepy Cute Crochet Ninja

 

These pamphlet like little booklets were from my grandma:

pamphlets

 

The next one was from the mother of my ex:

The Great Afghan Book

 

The Great Afghan Book is pretty old fashioned, but I loved the cover image — that’s the only blanket I’ve made out of this in the years that I’ve had it.  Here is a sample of some of the other blanket patterns inside:

The Great Afghan Book blankets

 

Next is Super Stitches Crochet, which I’m scared to use to make my own patterns and write up for you all because I don’t want to break some sort of copyright rule (can anyone enlighten me on this?  It seems very vague to me…):

Super Stitches Crochet

 

And here are a couple of examples of what you can find inside:

Super Stitches Crochet example

 

Super Stitches Crochet edgings

 

The next one, The Cool Girl’s Guide to Crochet, is the book I taught myself with years ago.  In fact, the hat pictured was my first crochet project (only mine was all wonky)!

The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet

 

The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet hat

 

The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet mitts

The next one has a long name so I just call it 201 Crochet Blocks in my head.  It has an alphabet, flowers, blocks, other shapes, and full projects as well, and I’ve used it quite a few times over the years:

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects, and Ideas

 

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects, and Ideas example

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects, and Ideas example

 

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects, and Ideas example

 

Next is Amigurumi! which I’m ashamed to say I haven’t used once.  Chris got it for me years ago but I just don’t really have anyone to make little amigurumi toys for!  My friend that’s having a baby might like some but I’m sure she’ll get so many toys from well wishers that she’ll be wanting to get rid of some, not acquire more, hehe.

Amigurumi!

 

Amigurumi! deer

They have animals, people, food, and more cute things!

Amigurumi! Strawberry

The last one I want to share today is called Crocheted Socks! and I’ve only made one pair from it — I didn’t like them because they were harsh on my feet.  I thought maybe knitted socks wouldn’t be so uncomfortable…

Crocheted Socks!

These first socks pictured represent the pattern I tried and disliked, but perhaps if I’d used softer yarn… I dunno…

Crocheted Socks! example

 

Crocheted Socks! example

 

Well, that’s all for now.  I’ll do a post on my knitting books, and maybe another post on the books that have both knitting and crocheted items inside.  See you soon, thanks for stopping by!  Hope you enjoyed this list!

 

 

 

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mmmeeeeeeeehhhhhhh…

July 4, 2015 by 19 Comments

I’m sick.  I think it’s allergies.  My brain is all foggy from multiple medications.  I can’t muster up the energy to to serenely work on my Citrus blanket or my garter stitch blanket; all I can do is stare at them (and I wouldn’t want them to get covered in snot, anyway):

image

image

 

I’m also staring at the TV while Chris plays a game, Kleenex in close reach:

image

 

Might try to take a nap and sleep this off, but it’s kinda hard to fall asleep when your head feels like a mysteriously heavy balloon (super uncomfortable).

In other news, Chris, Mom and I are making progress with wedding plans.  It’s for realsies like 3 1/2 months away, so it’s way past time to get busy!

Also, coming up on Friday are our yearly staff evaluations at work, and I’m nervous.  The executive director of our organization is going to be there this year, and even though she’s super sweet, it’ll be a bit intimidating; I feel like I’ve worked hard this year and I want my boss and the executive director to think so, too.

As far as the summer goes, last week had temperature highs in the 100s, but this week it’s cooler — the highs are mid 90s.  Is that bad when mid 90s feel cool?  We’ve had lots of strong late afternoon/evening storms, too (typical for summers here):

image

 

That’s out our front window.  My car says hi.

Well that’s all for today.  Hopefully I’ll get back to crafting when I’ve stopped being sick.  See you soon (and happy 4th of July)!

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last chance for that Etsy coupon code for Ruth Plus Two!

June 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Ruth from Ruth Plus Two has generously given readers of Not Your Average Crochet a discount coupon for her Etsy Store!  Use the coupon NOTYOURAVERAGE10 at ruth plus two for a 10% discount on purchases over A$30 (approx. US$24) until midnight 30 June (AEST).

Thanks Ruth for the coupon code!

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