Getting this week off on a good start...

Have you ever had a project "speak" to you?? (Its okay...I'm not a fruit loop)
Well, Steph has a friend she borrows books from alot, so as a thank-you to Mary, I thought making her a book cozie would be a nice idea. Well, I started it right after Christmas, didn't like the way it was working, so I frogged it, and started over...adding black popcorns to break up the varigated colors in the yarn. I got it to the point where it was time to sew up the sides, and, it just said..."I wanna be a purse". I had to agree...cuz you know, I have this purse & tote feddish. So, I added a strap, added an inside pocket, and below, is the "I-don't-wanna-be-a-book-cozie" purse!





I used RH Strata yarn (I just love the way it is variaged with so many colors) and RHSS black. I added crochet fringe to the flap to extend it further & give it a funky flair, and the strap I used 1 strand of Strata & 1 strand of black in sc.

This is a close-up with some purse stuff to give you an idea of the overall size.

Oh...and I had to add a matching sweater to my coffee cup!!

(free pattern from http://sukigirl74.blogspot.com/search/label/cozies)

So now, I have a purse and no book sock for Mary...so I pulled some more yarn outta the stash basket, and worked this up. I started it on Saturday at the Trails End Craft Meet, worked on it some Sunday, and finished it up today. I really like how all the different shades of gray & pink blended so well, and the textures of the different yarns.

I used a combination of Vanna's Choice Pink, some baby yarn in a softer, pale pink, RHSS dark gray (?), Lion Boucle in a mixed gray, and Jiffy in light gray. All yarns were already in a ball, except the Vanna Pink was a new skein. Only busted one ball & rolled the Vanna skein into a ball, so this project gave me a +2 for my stashbusting score - the purse gave me a +1 for the Strata yarn (it was already in a ball when I started it). I don't plan to go yarn shopping, so I should end the week with a positive score. The stashbusting is a CAL (crochet a long) on Crochetville. Check out the link over on the right...

I'm planning on working on one of the WIP afghans I started after Christmas, getting as far as I can with the yarn I have for it, and then once that yarn is used up, I'll start working on the Circles lapghan I started a couple weeks before Christmas.

Have a good week!!

Steph's Christmas Scarf

I finally got this done!!! I have been working on it for over 2 weeks now...I really struggled with the black yarn. Its so dark, and sometimes hard to see the stitches, plus there was so much of it that was just "plain". If I do another scarf in black, I will have to re-think the length or do a different stitch that works up faster. Most of this is in hdc - I started doing it in sc, but soon changed - I'd be next Christmas getting it done!

Here's a pattern I created for a book sock.

This is my first attempt at writing a pattern so please let me know if something doesn't make sense!!

Book Sock Pattern
Created by: Crissie Marine 11/13/2008
You are welcome to use this pattern as you wish, as long as you do not sell the pattern - however, you may sell your finished work from this pattern. Please do not post or publish this pattern on your blog or webpage, but instead, please link back to this page.

I used a G hook, and Sugar & Crème cotton yarn.

To get started: Measure book from front cover to back cover - if you want to create a flap that is crocheted in the same direction as the body of the book sock, then measure to allow for flap – I would allow at least 2 or 3 inches for the flap to overlap 

(Photo A)

If you want your flap to go in the opposite direction (like I did), then only measure the book itself (Photo B). This measurement will be the length of your foundation chain.

Photo B

Photo C

The measurement of your book height (Photo C) will be equivalent to the number of rows you make. The book I chose (pictured) is 10” x 16”. I did not allow the extra inches for the flap. 

I tend to crochet tight, so it will be best for you to make your foundation chain and stitch rows based on your measurements.

Instructions:

My foundation chain was 54 and I sc 44 rows.
Rows 1-10, 17-28 & 35-44 were self striping yarn
Rows 11-16 & 29-34 were variegated yarn

Finish off.

Crochet an edging on one short end, this will be the edging on the inside pouch. I did one row of sc.

Finish off

Fold edged end 1/3 up short way. Pin, and crochet sides together to form pouch.

Finish off.

Flap: If you chose to crochet flap with the body of the sock, then crochet an edge of your choice on the remaining short end, or follow row 16 below.Otherwise, you will now make your flap as follows.

Row 1: join yarn to remaining short end of crocheted piece and sc across to last st. Turn.
Row 2-15: ch 1, sc in next st, sc across to end. Turn.Row 16: ch 1, sc in next st. *hdc, 3 dc, hdc in next st, sc in next 3 st. Repeat from * to end of row, ending with 2 sc in last 2 st of row.

Add button to flap. Add crochet chain to outside of pouch near bottom to wrap around button for closure.

Update on Crochet Projects

Here are crochet projects I have completed in the past couple months:

Scarves & Hats

Bright Granny Scarf

& Matching Ear Warmer

Puff Stitch Scarf & Matching Hat

I did this scarf in the Puff Stitch Scarf CAL

and decided to make a matching hat!!

Granny Stitch Scarf (for my Mom)

with crocheted fringe

January Scarf

(12 Scarves of 2009 CAL)

I used the popcorn stitch to

resemble snowballs

This scarf was done in ModaDea Sassy Stripes

which is a self striping yarn. Its a lightweight

yarn (3) and is very soft to work with. This scarf

was a gift for my daughter's friend, Crystal, for

her December birthday.

This was a really fun scarf to work on!

It was for another of my daughter's friends,

Kaitlyn, for a Christmas gift.

I did this hat for Jailyn, who is

now 4 months old. This was my

first attempt at a hat, and also at

the popcorn stitch.