This N That
The filet is about 2/3 done. On row 82 of 110. Of course, it then needs a border which sometimes takes longer than the project. If you want to see a picture in progress, Anita took one at the Crochet Soiree in Oakland last Saturday, and has it posted on Crochet Partners. Take a look at the other work done there. A couple of beautiful afghans.
A couple of posts ago I was inventing a tool for working with these graphs, then discovered someone already did it for me. Check this out. http://www.marilyns.com/detail.cfm?ID=532 Well, I found this at Joann's and I can't believe what a difference it has made in how fast I can work across a row. Yea! But, it is short, so I have ordered the longer one. I have never ordered from this place before, so not sure how long it may take to receive.
Margaret was here from last Thursday til Monday morning. Really hated dropping her off at the airport on my way to work.. But we had a great time while she was here! Mostly visited and searched thru crochet patterns, showed off what we're doing and what we want to do. She started a doily for her grandmothers dining room table that she and her sister have in their home. I started a summer sling tote in Sugar and Cream. Went to the Crochet Soiree on Sat and then to Antioch to drop off fair entries for the Contra Costa County Fair which opens on 5/31. We have been friends for so long that we have seen each other at our absolute best and worst. It is so comforting to know that I have friends like this.
One of my biggest pet peeves right now is the yarn that is available in the stores. We were in Michaels & WalMart over the weekend and the yarn available would make you think winter in Alaska, not summer in California. Heavy, wool. The only sportweight yarn to be found is baby yarn or Microspun. I have nothing against baby yarn for babies, but I don't particularly like those colors for me.
I am probably noticing this most right now as I am in search of s/w yarn for a project. Bless the Cp'rs who helped me out. Sherri in So Cal sent some RH sport weight acryclic, Peter gave me Lily elite, Margaret brought Cool Crochet from FL, I bought Microspun and have some Lustersheen left over from another project. Now to swatch, swatch, swatch, and figure out which of the above yarns are best for this project. Then I will get online and order what I need.
I just added a list of some of my favorite authors to the side panel of my blog. If you're looking for a good book, check them out.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Graph Markers
I am working on a filet pattern that has 301 stitches across and is 110 rows high. Very easy to get confused where you are. I am currently using a metal board with a magnet strip to help me stay on track with the rows. Penny taught me a trick about using it the other night. She came in to see what I was mumbling about, and I explained that the magnet covered up the row just done, and you kind of build off previous rows. She looked at me like I was a complete idiot and then said, put the marker above the row you are working on. Duh! So that seems to be working ok, but I got lost somewhere on the way across the row. It doesn't help that you work one row right to left and the next left to right. So last night I frogged about 10 rows (that's over 3000 stitches) and I still haven't found my mistake.
I had tried using a hi-liter to keep track of where I was but I was spending more time marking than crocheting.One of my CP's suggested using something like a magnetic needle that you can push along as you go, but needles are round and would probably move too much. But it got me thinking!
So this evening I came up with the perfect solution, but have no idea how to do it. Take a clear plastic ruler (so you can see all the rows) make a channel in the center, insert a small arrow that you can move along as you work. When you get to the end of the row, move the ruler up a row, reverse the arrow and you're off and running. Now if I just knew someone who works in plastics.
I am working on a filet pattern that has 301 stitches across and is 110 rows high. Very easy to get confused where you are. I am currently using a metal board with a magnet strip to help me stay on track with the rows. Penny taught me a trick about using it the other night. She came in to see what I was mumbling about, and I explained that the magnet covered up the row just done, and you kind of build off previous rows. She looked at me like I was a complete idiot and then said, put the marker above the row you are working on. Duh! So that seems to be working ok, but I got lost somewhere on the way across the row. It doesn't help that you work one row right to left and the next left to right. So last night I frogged about 10 rows (that's over 3000 stitches) and I still haven't found my mistake.
I had tried using a hi-liter to keep track of where I was but I was spending more time marking than crocheting.One of my CP's suggested using something like a magnetic needle that you can push along as you go, but needles are round and would probably move too much. But it got me thinking!
So this evening I came up with the perfect solution, but have no idea how to do it. Take a clear plastic ruler (so you can see all the rows) make a channel in the center, insert a small arrow that you can move along as you work. When you get to the end of the row, move the ruler up a row, reverse the arrow and you're off and running. Now if I just knew someone who works in plastics.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Recent Doings
I just finished the afghan I plan to put in the fair circuit this summer. I think it turned out really nice. It will eventually live in Penny's media room so the colors are shades of purple. Took a picture, but couldn't get it to upload from the camera to the computer, so will have to try again. Maybe I need new batteries in the camera. Who knows!
I bought some yarn for the Diamond Patch sweater that I'm trying to convert from knit to crochet. It is Tofutsies sock yarn. More $ per skein than I usually pay for yarn, but this is a special project. The color is varigated aqua, lime, purple and white. Wrong yarn for this project! The design of the diamond is totally lost in the busyness of the yarn.
So, I have ordered another sweater pattern from Karp Styles for this yarn, cuz I really like the yarn. But now I have to find yarn for the Diamond Patch.
There is an article at Annie's Attic today about converting knit to crochet, and they are not exaggerating about it taking patience and being trial and error. I guess eventually I will get this sweater on the road. Don't think it will be difficult once I work out all these little problems. Just very time consuming.
So, while I am waiting for patterns, and yarn inspiration, I started a filet doily last night. It is bumblebees with a beehive and am doing it in sz 20 thread and 10 hook. Starts with a chain of 304 and is 110 rows. I did get the 1st 3 rows done last night. My goal is to have it finished in time to enter in the Alameda County fair, so have about 1 month to get it done.
I just finished the afghan I plan to put in the fair circuit this summer. I think it turned out really nice. It will eventually live in Penny's media room so the colors are shades of purple. Took a picture, but couldn't get it to upload from the camera to the computer, so will have to try again. Maybe I need new batteries in the camera. Who knows!
I bought some yarn for the Diamond Patch sweater that I'm trying to convert from knit to crochet. It is Tofutsies sock yarn. More $ per skein than I usually pay for yarn, but this is a special project. The color is varigated aqua, lime, purple and white. Wrong yarn for this project! The design of the diamond is totally lost in the busyness of the yarn.
So, I have ordered another sweater pattern from Karp Styles for this yarn, cuz I really like the yarn. But now I have to find yarn for the Diamond Patch.
There is an article at Annie's Attic today about converting knit to crochet, and they are not exaggerating about it taking patience and being trial and error. I guess eventually I will get this sweater on the road. Don't think it will be difficult once I work out all these little problems. Just very time consuming.
So, while I am waiting for patterns, and yarn inspiration, I started a filet doily last night. It is bumblebees with a beehive and am doing it in sz 20 thread and 10 hook. Starts with a chain of 304 and is 110 rows. I did get the 1st 3 rows done last night. My goal is to have it finished in time to enter in the Alameda County fair, so have about 1 month to get it done.
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